Been a While

Well it's been a while since I wrote. Much has happened since. Life has been going at warped speed the last 6 weeks.



I graduated from Rockbridge Seminary with my Master of Ministry Degree and spend a few days visiting Grandpa and Euna in Arkansas. What a blessed time that was. Mom and Dad teased me and said that I was the Presidents Pet. I don't know if I am or not, but Dr. Eldgridge makes me feel like I am special. He has a way of doing that with lots of people though I think. He is the greatest. I am so thankful to him and my family for all their encouragement in this area.


Justin has decided to follow God to Midwestern Baptist Seminary and participate in their FUSION program. He will spend half the year preparing in the classroom and working with the North American Mission Board and then spend the 1st half of 2010 on the international mission field working with the International Mission Board. We are so proud of his decision to follow God, but it is also hard for us to let him go.

He will miss our family vacation we have had planned for around a year. Mom is not happy, but she wants God's best for him.

Brooke is getting senior pictures taken today. WOW am I old or is she still too young to be having those done yet. Me and Tammy neither one are ready for her to be a senior. It seems impossible that next year all our kids will be in college. And we think we are broke now. HA, HA

Aldo is working hard to get ready to go to SVSU and saving for a car. He is such a hard worker and has saved quite a bit already. Hopefully his mom and dad will kick in a little while he is in Chile for his brothers wedding this month.

Church is great and busy. I am so blessed to serve in a church that really plans to follow God wherever He leads us.

Well, I am off to Lake Michigan for Pic's.

Buried at 101 years old

No I am not talking about the GM bankruptcy, although it seems everyone else is. Today I did the funeral for a 101 year old man. GM is only 100. He was married 75 years, retired 40 years, fished for over 95 years, and died with plenty of money to supply all he needed. Seems like we all, including some or our huge corporations, could learn from his life. Frank Remick at least did some things well. At 87 he danced with his wife. At 95 he re-roofed his garage. At 99 he still mowed his lawn. His knees never hurt and he died of old age. Wow!!! I wished I would have got to ask him what his secret was. The saddest thing was, the one thing no one really knew about him was his relationship with Christ. They knew he was a good man, they knew he was a generous man, but no one took the time to really check out and see if he knew Christ. He said he did not like the Catholic church and that he prayed daily. But no one knew. How Sad!!! Funny how we can seem to have it all figured out, but when all is said and done does it matter if we suffer with health problems? NO Does it matter if you have enough money? NO Does it matter if we loved life? NO Really when it is over the only thing that mattered is where do we spend eternity. I pray and hope that Frank accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I also hope and pray we all get the opportunity to ask those we love. It may be hard but it is worth it.

Pure Sex Pure Relationships Begins

Our new theme kicked off with a great start Sunday. We had a big crowd for our first service. Had over 100 adults in the early bird video session.

People seemed to be amused by the video and challenged by the message. I am so thankful that God made us different to complement one another.

I pray that this helps people realize that sex and realationships are important Godly aspects of our lives.

I also pray that our singles, college, and youth stick with this long enough to see the great information and biblical views on all of these important areas of our life.

Put on the Whole Armor

Tonight we discussed putting on the Whole Armor of God. We learned that the armor is not automatic. It needs to be applied wholistically. Not just in parts. They all support one another. Tonight I am too tired to put anything on. I hope I do not come under attack too bad tonight.

I am having a hunger attack. This 1200 calories a day are killing me. But I am losing weight.

Pray for my strength in all of this.

Welcome to Westside

Our Welcome video is now available online and on youtube. The link on youtube is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7JfTujxxWI

It is so great to be a part of a church that really wants to help people find purpose for their life and help them take their next step in God's Kingdom. If you have not taken that step I pray you will today.

Watch this video and listen to the stories of 3 people who have found meaning and purpose in their lives in Christ. They did and you can too.

Say CHEEEESE!!!!!!!

Yesterday was just picture perfect! Great day in worship as we seen a young lady give her life to Christ. How sweet that was. What a beautiful picture that was of her as she came down that isle and gave all that she knows of herself to all that she knows of Him. That's a picture I will not forget soon.

Then in the afternoon, the photos just started rolling. I heard the Baker clan was quite a big group. But it was so sweet to see people fellowshiping together in the hall as they waited so patiently for Olin Mills to call their name. Even waiting in line is not wasted in the Kingdom.

Group last night was AWESOME!!! I learned so much about encouraging people in my life. I only hope I can put into practice all that I learned. It really it important to focus on what is right with someone and not so much about what is wrong with them.

SEEING DOUBLE AND THEN SOME

Well it's been a long day already but we are now seeing double. We had such a great day as Brent, Corey and Ron put up our new dual projectors and screens. It looks great!!! You should see the difference with the new bright projectors. The center of the stage is now open and beautiful. I am so thankful for people who pour their lives into the Kingdom in so many different ways. As I type this Martin and Melissa are helping to keep our church clean as volunteers. Thanks God for servant hearts. Also right now several people are helping to unload a semi-truck load of food in our barn for us to give away tonight. In a couple of hours we will have overb 50 volunteers here giving the food away. So many people serving in so many ways. We may be seeing double with dual screens, but today God is seeing scenes all over Westside as people are serving. Together side by side walking in His Kingdom. God may you be blessed and lives be changed as we serve together.

1800

1800, sounds like a great number if it is your weekly paycheck, but that is not why I am focused on this number. It is a great number if it is the number of people you had at your outreach event, but that is not why I am focused on that number either. 1800 is the number of calories the doctor wants me to have each day. Sounds like a lot, but when I really count the calories, I mean all the calories, it is not too much. 1 Turkey sandwich has around 375 calories. 1 bowl of oatmeal has over 300 calories. 1 Apple or Banana 100 calories. It adds up pretty quick. But I need to do it. I pray for strength and self discipline to stick to this. I need so much more self control. Actually right now I need God control, because myself does not desire the right things.

1800 seems like the right number, but to be honest 3800 is more fun.

UFC for outreach

Who would have ever thought that a UFC fight would be a great place to share the love of Christ? Well today that becomes a reality. It's all in the attitude.

Just a reminder that our whole lives belong to God and His Kingdom agenda.

Even in our fun and crazy activities.

Went to a rugby game today. Trying to figure out how to share God's love there.????

Looking for any good ideas.

Had fun. Justin did AWESOME!!! Scored and made some great tackles.

Weird entry I know, but this is my day.

FREE FRIDAY'S ARE GREAT

Yesterday was such a great day. Just hung out at home most of the day doing nothing. I loved it. Then spent the afternoon a dinner with Tam and then shopping for her some summer clothes. I must be getting soft in my old age or something, but I really enjoyed helping her shop for some new summer clothes. I picked out some awesome super hot outfits, needless to say she did not pick most of them. But, she did pick some of the clothes I picked out. As a matter of fact all the stuff she bought I picked out.

It is such a blessing to see her feel good and ready to do things. I am so thankful to God that she is feeling better so much more of the time. I am so thankful to God's people for their prayers.

Finished the night with great friends just visiting and hanging out. I am so thankful for friends that you can just talk with. What a blessing.

God, thank you for a free Friday and time with my wife who was feeling good. Thank you for time with friends to hang with. Thank you for the little things I seen yesterday. Tammy smile, her feel pretty, her feel good, her energy, the servant attitude of a pre-schooler, the love of a family, the love of my family. I am so blessed.
Thanks God
Amen

All Stressed About Nothin

Well, the worst is over. Did my stress test and did fine, atleast I felt fine. It was a lot less eventful than I thought it would be. I guess the results could not be good, but I felt great during the whole thing.

Moving on. The stress of pastoral life seems to trump any physical stress in my life anyways. I wonder why the people of God do not desire to protect worship. Why do they put it second or lower on their life's scale. What are we doing wrong in the church when people do not want to pray and worship but they love to play and party. There is a disconnect somewhere.

God what will you do to bring us back to you and you alone. I pray we learn and return quickly and that total destruction does not need to come to wake us up.

I am probably over reacting to the situations of my life, but I do wonder when the people of God will trust the Body of Christ to truly worship in Spirit and Truth. In transparency and honesty, leaving behind the cares of the world and chasing only God and His people.

Now I'm stressed about something at least.

You Got to be Kidding, Kidney Stones???

Well our family got their first close encounter with Kidney Stones this last week. Justin had them and even though his rugby coach says he is so tough. You would not have known it watching him with kidney stones. Not that he is not tough, but they are just soooooooo painful! I have heard about them from many others and how painful they are, but just seeing Justin with them helped me to have a new respect and fear of them. I am such a big baby. I know I am.

This week is just full of medical stuff. I had my physical last week and so far everything is good, but tomorrow I have to take a stress test. They called it right, I am already stressed. The doctor thinks everything is fine, but due to my family history long past and recent, I should have it done. I am not stressing, or am I???

Either way tomorrow I will be stressed in more way than one. But for today I will just try and relax and enjoy the day.

The good news is that I get to go watch Brooke play tennis. A victory is always good to relieve stress, right?

What's Good About Good Friday???

Good Friday. Isn't that a funny name for the day our Savior bled and died? Suffered more than any ever has and yet we call it Good Friday. Rejected by His own people, beaten by the rulers, denied by His followers and yet we cal it Good Friday. Jesus died and we call it Good Friday. God turned his back and we call it Good Friday.

How crazy is that? or not?

You see, we can call it Good Friday because we know the rest of the story. We know that in 3 days it all changes. Jesus is no longer beaten, He is no long dead. He is free, He is Risen, HE IS ALIVE!!!

Jesus is alive and that makes every day a good day. But Good Friday is good because of where it was taking us. Not to death but to life.

Good Friday is good because Sunday is Comin!!!

Holy Week is here and so is the snow

Well it's been a while since I wrote. Life has been wonderfully busy. The church is going great. We had one man accept Jesus Christ as his personal savior yesterday. That put the icing on the cake. Still praying for a few more. Also got to talk to the sweetest little seven year old girl in our church and hear how she had accepted Christ with her mom as her mom read her a book about Jesus and His love for us, and how she wanted to be baptized. So next week on Easter we are going to celebrate that with her and her family.

Life at the Emmerling's is good. Brooke is back in Tennis on the Varsity Tennis Team playing number 2 doubles. They won their first match 6-0, 6-2. For you non tennis people that is like winning a basketball game 80-30 or football game 28-3. Anyway you say it. It was a major whipping. I am so proud of her. Not because she is playing #2 doubles, but because of the wonderful Christian young woman she has become.

We have had lot's of wonderful things happening, but none really compares to snow in April. Here it is April 6th and snow abounds in Flint. Makes me want to sing that old song that goes like this "anybody here want to go to heaven, say I do", but maybe this time we would substitute Flint for heaven. "Anybody here want to go to Flint, say I do" don't think I would have too many takers.

Good news though, they say by Easter it is going to be just beautiful. Probably 50 or so.

This week will be kind of crazy as we get ready for Good Friday Stations of the Cross service with communion like we have never done it before. Then Easter Morning Celebration.

It's gonna be a great week.

Holy Week is here and so is the snow. LET'S GO

Walnut Ridge Here We Come

Just got back from the Walnut Ridge Conference Center getting ready for the Men's retreat. It is going to be AWESOME!!!

The place is perfect, we have over 30 men attending and the food is going to be out of this world.
Kevin is leading worship. Sounds like a HOMERUN if I ever heard of one.

I am so excited that we have some new men coming that have not come before.

Got to go work out.

Men's Retreat Taking Shape

Well, our men's retreat is really taking shape. We have almost 30 men who are planning to attend. Can't wait to get away with all of them and experience all that God has for us.

Let's Get Ready To Rumble!!!

Today is the day. I start working out again at the boxing gym. I hope I am not too out of shape and have a heart attack or something. I am thankful for the Byrd family and how much they support me in my efforts and my slackness of effort to improve my health.

I pray that I can go today. I was supposed to start yesterday, but had to reschedule for today. I hope I can find all my stuff to work out with. Gloves, wraps, cup, mouth guard. Been a long time.

The older I get it seems to be harder and harder.

God Moved again on Sunday

Wow!!! After last Sunday I wondered what this week would be like, but God really moved as we began to see what it would be like and do the unthinkable thing of being honest with God. I am thankful that some of our people are willing to be open and honest with us about their struggles in life and how hard it is to be honest with ourselves and God.

God is working in the lives of some of the people who have been attending here recently and I am praying that God really empowers them to take their next step toward him.

Yesterday was exciting as myself and 3 of the ladies who are leaders of our new Side by Side ministry to new mom's and dad's, went to Saginaw and checkout a ministry to parents in that area. It was such a blessing to know that others are helping to celebrate the life of each new child that God gives us.

I am excited, scared, nervous as we really take a step of faith and begin this ministry.

Tammy is struggling with some of her meds and trying to get off of them. I pray that God really gives her strength and healing as she serves in His Kingdom. I get so frustrated that He does not heal her. I pray that He will. Sometime I am fearful for her and what it is doing to her emotional and spiritual health. She seems so strong, but I wonder how she stays that way. I do not think I would be so strong and faithful.

Here comes the snow

Can you believe it. It is snowing again. It's the middle of March and I thought that winter had gone, but I should have known better. Well I guess I can try out my snow blower since I just got it fixed. Glad I had a couple of backups this year for my driveway since my snow blower was on the fritz. You guessed it, Justin and Aldo. Even when the snow blower broke, these two strong young men are still able. Isn't having kids great!!!!

Not going to let the snow curb my enthusiasm for this weekend. "Do the Unthinkable and Get Honest with God." It is going to be hard to follow up on this last weeks service. I think it really struck a chord in the lives of many people. But God has a plan for this week also and I am excited for us to discover why we need to Do the Unthinkable and get honest with God.

It is so great to serve a God who knows everything about us and cares about us and who can actually do something about our circumstances. I hope others will be as blessed as I am to know that God is the one who holds us all together.

Oh yes, another thing to praise God for. I finally got my diploma, I am officially gradutated or graduated or whatever from cemetery or is it seminary. I am just overjoyed to be done, but I do already miss my classes. At Rockbridge Seminary the classes are so practical that sometimes they do no seem like class work, but just real ministry. I am so thankful for Rockbbridge and all of my great proffessors there. Special thanks to my friend and mentor Larry Allen for walking with me all the way through this process. Also to president Daryl Eldridge who has been such a good friend, mentor and encourager to me making it through.

Well I better get going on my sermon again.

Sunday was AWESOME!!!

Sunday was such a blessed day. Steph and Loren shared their testimonies and what a blessing that was. I think it really connected with the people and helped them to be challenged to be real with themselves and those around them.

One member said he thought that this may have been the best service since he began attending here over 2 years ago. And he said it was not a reflection of how poor the others were but how great yesterday was.

Praise God for working in our lives.

Sickly Weekend

Well, this weekend has been kind of a sickly one for me and my family. I have been a little sick and Tammy has still got strep throat. I hope this new medicine helps her.

I am so excited about our service tomorrow. I pray that God helps us to see the need and do the Unthinkable and Get Real. Get real with ourselves and those around us. I am praying for those who are going to be sharing tomorrow in our service. I pray that God uses their testimonies as powerfully in those there tomorrow as He did in my life as I have heard these.

Better get back to going over my sermon.

Thursday Blessings

Thursday started off great. It is always good to have breakfast with the "Gofors". Cracker Barrel is about as good a place as any to do just that. Our senior adults always bless me and challenge me to continue in my faith. Even when it is not as easy.

Then my day got better. I was able to spend some time with a new friend who just blessed me beyond measure. He showed me what it is to simply follow Christ and Him alone. To not be distracted by the things in life, but to focus on the most important things. Faith, Family, Friends as he said it.

His courage and passion for God have me ready to take on the world for Christ's sake.

This Sunday our people are going to get to know him a little and I know they will be encouraged in their faith through him.

This week we are going to do the "Unthinkable" and "Get Real"

Evangelism Conference What A Challenge

Monday and Tuesday were great days as I spent them at our Evangelism Conference out in Swartz Creek. I was challenged greatly to continue to do whatever it takes to share the Gospel right here right now.

Ed Stetzer challenged me to always be honest about where we are as a church and to look to see what we can do to better meet our culture where they are and not expect them to come and change for us.

Mike Licona challenged me to know the Word of God better so that I can not only defend my faith, but also be able to package the truth that I have come to know in a little different way. What A blessing.

The youth rally on Tuesday night was such a blessing. To see all those youth out there praising the Lord made me want to shout!!! Fowler Band was incredible and the speaker Larry Johnson did a great job challenging our youth to really have their own relationship with Christ.

I was also blessed again as I was reminded of how important it is for us a believers to do things together.

After all we are all part of one great Body.

What a Weekend

Wow, What a weekend!!! Early Saturday morning a crew of faithful Angels showed up to unload food for over 700 families for our Angel Food Ministry. These workers are so faithful each month to do all that is needed to get food to families who need it. We are so blessed to have such faithful people. I pray that God continues to bless them for this faithfullness.

At the same time men and some youth were inside building in the youth room. It is so unreal at all the people working in the Kingdom today. While all this is going on, Karate ministry starts up and soon the gym is full of kids and adults karate chopping away. Praise God for a facility that is used.

Sunday just kept getting better. The sermon was awesome!!! Ha, Ha. It wa such a blessing to see our worship center full again. We had some more guests who were such a blessing to me.

Wow, What a Weekend

Friday Free Day

Wow, I actually have a Friday that is free. Nothing to do, but some stuff for home. Pick up the snow blower, fix the toilet, do FAFSA, work on sermon. Well maybe my Friday is not free. But it is still nice to not have meetings and administrative stuff to do.

Hoping to do a movie with my boys tonight.

Got to love a free day!

Thrive is where it is at

Today was my 1 day a month that I meet with 5 other ministers for the day. We share about our ministries, read books together, challenge one another and pray together. One of my favorite days of the month. WE call this our Thrive Group.

Today was great. There was only 4 of us there, but we had a great time. It is so sweet to hear how God is working in each of our churches and to help encourage one another for the struggles and obstacles we each face. I am thankful for Jim Marcus, my friend and our missionary who helps lead this group. He is so patient with us as he encourages us to move forward in our ministries. I am so excited that my friends church is becoming more revitalized after 11 years of decline. I am going to recommend that some of my other friends attend there. It is so much closer to their new house and they have really been struggling to stay involved here at Westside. That is hard to do, but it must be about the Kingdom and not about Westside. Boy, I sound spiritual when I say that, but I have to be honest I really would love to keep them here.

God has still been working in my life of prayer this week. I have been trying to be more prayerful and more faithful in my prayers. Not faithful like doing it more, but seeking to have more faith in my prayers.

I am praying for my kids that they will chase after God like nothing else in their lives.
I am praying for my wife that God will bring total healing for His Glory.
I am praying for my church that God will strengthen us as we go forward together.
I am praying for our new ministry Side by Side
I am praying for each member of our church directory that they take another step toward Christ.

I am late for supper, so I better go.

ARE YOU A CALEB?

Got a call from a member yesterday about my sermon on Sunday. No it wasn't to complain, it was to let me know how God had showed them they needed to apply what I preached on. It is so awesome to know that people are actually listening.

I pray that I can be a Caleb among the people around me and I pray that our church will be a Caleb church that encourages people that they can do it.

Unthinkable Is Coming

We are well on our way to Doing The Unthinkable! The creative people are painting, lighting, and getting the videos ready as we enter into the Unthinkable. This week is flying by already and time is slipping away. It always seems like this right before a theme, but it always works out. It's been a while since we have had a back drop and all. Some people have been missing them and others have probably been enjoying it.

Speaking of missing, I have been missing some people lately. We have a few who have dropped out and a missing a lot. I am going to try to make contact with them this week. I will not mention their names because it might be you that I am missing. If you have been missing I hope to see you soon. This Sunday would be a great week to come back.

Also been getting ready for the Evangelism Conference. I am so excited about this meeting. No, I really am. It is the only meeting each year that I really get excited for, but it is always really good. I hope many of our people will make plans and attend.

Today is Fat Tuesday, and boy do I want one of those punch-key (sorry about spelling), but so far I have been strong and not given in. I have plenty of people who are watching out for me so that I do not falter.

Wow What a Weekend

Wow, what a weekend. Saturday we had our second meeting for Side by Side ministry and had a great turn out. over 20 people crammed into one of our rooms as we sought to find out what exactly God had for us in this journey. A leadership team emerged and now we are off and running. Soon we will be walking side by side with more people and helping them to take their next step toward Christ.

Sunday just kept getting better. Started the day off with 3 baptism's. That is always a blessing, but it is an incredible blessing when one of them is your daughter. I am so proud of how God has been working in her life and it is one of my great joys in life to watch her chase after God.

Finished unday night off with small group and what a great time that was for us. We laughed so hard as we learned about bartering in our marriages. It seems that one of in each relationship has the biggest bartering chip. I wonder who that is? You guessed it the ladies.

This week will be busy as we prepare to begin our new theme "Unthinkable." I pray that God will help each of us to begin and do the unthinkable things in our lives that need to be done.

Invaded by Gofor's

Well today the senior adults, our "Golden Gofors" are having their monthly fellowship here at the church and it is all wii day. They are going to eat and play the wii's. The staff was helping set up the systems and boy the fun began already. Lois showed us how to hoola hoop and she did so good, that myself and Kevin whipped her by doing more than her.

Have not had that much fun in a long time. The Gofors had a ball with Wii fit and Wii bowling. Ed Lee was the best bowler or was it Ellen. Hariett seemed to have the Wii fit down. She said she had never done it before, but I am not sure.

I am excited about Sunday as we explore what it is like for us as a church to charge forward together in God's Kingdom.

I am praying hard for this afternoon as we minister to the family that lost a mother and brother in the last week. I know is going with us and I pray we will be sensitive to His leading as we visit with the family. Thank you God for your presence in times like these.

The diet is going pretty good. I am 4 days into it and all is well. Last night was rough, but I did pretty good. Today I am much better. I am praying for strength day by day and sometimes moment by moment.

God is So AWESOME!!!

Jut got a call from a member saying that the Chiropractor next door to the church wants to help with out Side by Side ministry by letting us store things in their empty office space and let us use that to give out supplies a few days a month. God is working, we better hold on.

In The News

Yesterday there was an article in the Baptist Press about our church and how God has been working in and through us. It feels a little weird to read about your own church, but it is also such a blessing to see so many of the things God is doing right here in our midst. God has been so good to us. The past 6 months or so have been incredible.

Below is the link for the article if you are interested
http://baptistpress.com/BPnews.asp?ID=29889#

I am not sure why He has chosen to move in our midst so greatly, but I am so grateful He has. One thing that I believe has contributed to this is the fact that we are meeting faithfully to pray together each week. I wish more people seen the importance of making this a priority, but I am thankful for the ones that make this so faithfully important.

This Sunday we are going to baptize a few more of the people talked about in the story and what a blessing that will be. This Saturday we will meet again to begin our ministry to new mom's. It is called "Side by Side." This week we are going to begin to put some real practical plans to our vision. I can not wait to see how it shapes up.

How will we meet to pray tonight? I am not sure how to lead this time yet.

Catching Up

Wow!!! What a week. The last 10 days have been a blur. Dad had a heart attack. I flew out to Arkansas as soon as I could. Praise God he is doing great and we are all back home. It is so awesome how God uses even the worst things in our lives to bless us. I had such a great time with my Grandpa and Grandma. I had not seen their new place in Cabot, AR before. Loved seeing my Uncle Joe and Aunt Joyce. And had the best time with cousin Marsha and her Husband Jay. God so blessed me through them and their generosity of opening up their home for us to stay in after dad got out of the hospital. It was awesome to hear how God has been working in their lives and helping them take their next step toward him.

Being back is quite the rush. Trying to get back up to speed on all that is happening here at home and at church. My new friend lost his mother while I was gone and then this morning his brother passed away. It is so hard to know how to help in times like this. He is such a great guy and is really searching but this makes it so hard. I wish I had words to make this all better. But to be honest I got nothing. Pray for John and Diana and all of their family.

I am torn today, because I would love to be up north with Kevin at our pastors retreat, but I have really missed my family and feel like I need to be here for a while. God has helped me as I look ahead at our upcoming series this week to really make some progress in the sermon's for March. "Doing the Unthinkable"

Also in the midst of catching up today I realized that we have to keep looking ahead. Lot's of things to plan for this spring and summer.

Do you really ever catch up, or do you just keep chasing that elusive ball called life.

I am just thankful that I do not have to make it all work and mesh together. I may feel like I need to catch up, but God knows where I am and He has me right where He wants me.