August 28

Prayer is so vitally important to the Christian walk.  We get strength from it, encouragement, wisdom, and power from it.  It draws us close to God and allows us to have an intimate relationship with him.  Knowing the importance of prayer though does not automatically give us all the benefits of prayer.  We need to use it and rely on it more often.  We need to stop trying to do things on our own and in our own power.  It is only when we are faithful in prayer that we can tap into the wonder-working power of God and we will see the difference in our lives.  When we pray, things change. Period.



August 21

Where do we go from here?  That is a great question to ask ourselves often.  But especially after a significant event happens in our lives.  And our church’s celebration of 125 years of ministry is significant.  So where does Groveland Missionary Church go from here?  Will we suddenly gain the 200+ people we loss over the last decade?  Will we now sink into obscurity?  I do not think either one is the answer.  The answer to continuing on in this church is the same as it has been for the last 125 year: faithfulness.  God wants us to be faithful.  And if we continue to be faithful to him, he will continue his faithfulness and blessings to us.  But how are we to be faithful.  Well in this week’s message, we are to continue teaching sound doctrine.  The Bible has always been our source of live and living and it will not stop if we stay true to God and his teaching.  It will continue to give this church the life it needs to last another 125 years, well into the future.  Know what you believe and why, and you will never stop seeing God work.



August 14

Thank you to all that helped and shared this last weekend at our 125th anniversary celebration.  We saw quite a number of former members of this church come out as well as representatives from many of the surrounding Missionary churches.  Thank you so much for your support and encouragement  down through the years.  Thank you especially to Jimmy Santiago for sharing the message with us this morning.  Thank you to the Hispanic worship team that came from Centro de Restauracion, our sister church in Peoria.  Thank you to Ken Synder, the Regional Director of our church for coming and sharing with us.  Thank you to all the former pastors and missionaries who came or sent their greetings.  God certainly was gloried this weekend.  And it is because of His faithfulness as well as the faithfulness of men and women down through the years that made this celebration possible.  And, if the Lord tarries, it will still be God’s faithfulness as seen in his followers that will allow us to carry on for another 125 years.  To God be the Glory, Great things He has done!


August 7

125 years is a long time for anything to exist.  But for a church, it is almost unheard of in today’s culture.  But as I mentioned, it was not because it had a large population to draw on or a populous attraction or the publicity of a famous individual.  It was because God knew that the people who started this church would win life after life after life for the kingdom of heaven.  Countless individuals can trace their spiritual journey to this church.  Over a half a dozen churches were started and are still reaching out to their cities and towns.  Several dozens of people have be sent out and/or supported by this church in works and ministries around the world.  And I did not even get a chance on Sunday to mention the acorn banks, or the sundresses made, or the children supported through World Vision, or the many pastors who went on from this church to other places to preach and teach.  Plus I was told after church that Dale was a pastor of the Eden Missionary church just a few years after Rev. Birkey started it.  All because God led just a few people to be faithful to him.
  And God still is not yet done with this church.  We too can live the kind of lives that our founding members lived.  Lives willing to reach out and touch those around us with the hope of Jesus.  Lives that touch other lives that touch other lives . . . And if we do, this church will last another 125 years, if the Lord does not return before that time.  But think about all those who we will see one day in heaven that made it their because of your testimony and mine.  May all who come behind us find us faithful.


July 31

Those three Hebrew children were able so stand up under the pressure of a mighty King and his huge statue because they knew that their God was much bigger and mightier than any earthly king or giant statue.  How big is your God when faced with the pressure to conform?  He too can deliver you from the fiery trials.



July 24

What is a Christian in your definition?  That is a tougher question than you might initially think and you cannot find it defined in the Bible.  However, the words disciple and servant are defined and have clearer meanings.  So maybe the better question is what is a disciple in your definition?



July 3

My family and I are taking today to spend at the Ark Encounter in KY.  It is a life size replica of Noah’s ark from Gen 6.  It is a wonderful experience and I would encourage everyone to take a day to go and see it.  It is part of an organization called Answers in Genesis and more information about them and the ark (as well as the Creation Museum (also in KY)) can be found on their website www.answersingeneis.org



June 26

Going to be another short post this week.  I am just going to ask one question about Jesus being the king of kings in your life.  It is not is he.  But how is he king in your life?  How are you letting him reign in your heart?



June 12

I do not like preaching sermons like yesterday which details the pain and suffering Jesus went through to be crucified for us.  I know that it happened and that it is an important concept to remember. It pains me to recall the horrors that Jesus willing took on so that I may have life.  And yet, it was because of his love for me that he sacrificed himself in such a way.  And every time I sin, it is like crucifying him again and again.  It is a reminder that I should live my life for him so that his sacrifice was not in vain, but gives me the free gift he offered.



June 4

I hope that I sounded excited yesterday preaching on the Jesus our Redeemer.  I do not know how else to preach a message like that.  When I think about what it means to be set free from the power of sin and no longer being a slave to my guilty past, I just need to shout and sing.  And I hope that you are not far behind me.  It is a message that brings joy to my heart whenever I think about it.  So sing and shout today for you have been redeemed!!