Pastor Ken Dyer

I received word this morning that Pastor Ken Dyer will be going home today. On Tuesday afternoon, Pastor Ken had double heart bypass surgery. We give praise to God for the good things He is doing in and for Pastor Ken and ask that you continue to pray for full and speedy recovery.

I love you, but I hate your body

The following is something I read on Pastor Gary Langley's blog today. I just thought it was worth sharing!
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I love you, but I hate your body

If you said those words to your spouse, your marriage would be in serious trouble. In an intimate relationship, our love and affection for one another is most often expressed in various forms of bodily contact.

So why do so many people who claim to love Jesus reject contact with his body, the church?

Yes, I have heard all the reasons... the excuses.

"I can't find a good church in my area." Really? Seriously? With a dozen -- perhaps a hundred -- evangelical, Bible-believing, worshipping congregations within a few minutes of your home, you can't find one that meets your approval? You think maybe, just maybe, all those churches are not the problem after all?

"I was hurt before." Welcome to the real world. In any group or organization composed of people, it is highly likely, perhaps inevitable, that sooner or later somebody will say or do something that hurts you. If you let that keep you away, how do you survive in the workplace? In the mall parking lot, even? If you think people who attend churches get their feelings hurt now and then, you wouldn't believe how thick the pastors skin has to be! Get over it. Grow up. Go to church.

"I just don't seem to fit in anywhere." Then ask the Lord to help you plant a church for other misfits like you. Maybe what you are experiencing is "Divine discontent." The Lord might be allowing you to be an uncomfortable misfit because he has called you to a task you have resisted. Remember that story about Jonah? Avoidance is a bad strategy. Give up, give in, give all.

"Most Christians are just insincere hypocrites." Step away from the mirror, champ. You know the old cliché -- "You'll never find a perfect church, because as soon as you get there..." This excuse is among the biggest smokescreens of them all. Look, here's the bottom line: the church is not just a good idea, it's a GOD idea. It is such an important idea that Jesus gave his life for it. For you to disregard the church, avoid the church, criticize the church from the outside, or -- can we be straight here? -- just get so lazy, self-indulgent, and arrogant that you start to believe 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' should be sending up all kinds of warning alarms in your head and heart, because "you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

If you love Jesus, love his body.
Go to church.
Get involved.
Take a risk.
Allow yourself to possibly be offended or hurt again.

You can't really love Jesus and disconnect from his body. You wouldn't want to make the body of Christ an amputee, would you?

Read more: "I love you, but I hate your body - Kahu's posterous" - http://kahugary.posterous.com/i-love-you-but-i-hate-your-body#ixzz0Crps5gP3&A

Update on Pastor Ken Dyer

We praise the Lord for His goodness and His favor. Pastor Dyer came through his by-pass surgery yesterday just fine. The surgery took about 2-1/2 hours, a little less than had been anticipated. I received word this morning that he was talking and eating and that he will be leaving the ICU and going to a room a little later today.

There were a host of people who came to the hospital yesterday to offer their prayers and support for Pastor Ken and his family. At one point it seemed that almost half of the waiting room was there for Ken. We appreciate the prayers of all who prayed for Ken and we give praise to God. We are trusting the Lord, too, for a full and speedy recovery.

Easter Service

We had a wonderful service at New Beginnings today. The youth and children did an awesome Easter skit portraying the power of the resurrection. There were 65 people in attendance. This broke our last record attendance of 54 of just a few weeks ago.

I preached on the facts of the resurrection. At the conclusion, 2 people said they had confessed their sins and asked Jesus into their lives. I am so excited to have a part in the awesome things the Lord is doing in the lives of the people of Crossville, and I am looking forward to the future with great anticipation!

A Note From Pastor Ken Dyer

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, I was admitted to St. Mary's hospital last week. The doctors determined that Heart By-Pass surgery was necessary.

Therefore, on Tuesday morning, April 14, at 7:30 AM I will be going into surgery. I ask for your prayers during and after this procedure.

The recovery period will most likely be 4 - 5 weeks. So, thank you in advance for your prayerful support.

May the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you,



Kenneth Dyer
Pastor
Harvest Christian Fellowship
www.harvestrocmin.org

Prayer Request

Please remember Pastor Ken Dyer (of Harvest Christian Fellowship) in prayer. He went to the Emergency Room on Thursday with chest pain. They did a stress test yesterday, and a heart cath today. The blockage, apparently, is such that they are planning to do surgery perhaps one day next week.

Charles Holt

I received the sad news today that Paul Holt's father, Charles Holt, passed away Sunday night. Paul Holt is the former pastor of the Arrowhead church in Knoxville. Please pray for him and his family.

12 Baptized

This past Sunday was an awesome day for New Beginnings. For the past several weeks, we have had a tremendous increase in attendance in our Sunday morning and Wednesday evening services. Our new praise band is positively AWESOME! The Lord has been doing marvelous things, for sure.

During these past few weeks, there have been several conversions and re-dedications. So on Sunday evening about 28 of us drove to the Arrowhead church in Knoxville to participate in a special "Deliverance" service and baptism. Brother Ralph Reagan was the special speaker and several others gave their testimony of God's Deliverance in their lives...including our very own, John & Shannon Barnwell.

Following the service, I went into the baptistry and baptized 10 people. Brother Barnwell and Brother Reagan baptized 4 more, 2 of whom are also from New Beginnings.

We give God Praise for the wonderful things He is doing.

Visitation and Funeral Arrangements

Arrangements for Barbara and David Morris, Tim Kendricks mother and step-father, are as follows:

The family will receive friends at Evans Mortuary on Thursday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. (ET). The funeral service will be on Friday and 12 Noon in the chapel of Evans Mortuary.

Evans Mortuary is located at 805 North Gatway Ave. in Rockwood, TN.

Please continue to be in prayer for both families.

Special Prayer Request

I received word yesterday from Faye Kendrick that her husband Tim's mother and step father had been shot. Tim's mother was life-flighted to UT hospital in Knoxville, but the step father died at the scene. I was in Nashville when I got this news at about 1 p.m.

At about 5:30, mother and I were on our way to Knoxville. We sat with the family for quite some time. The prognosis was bleak, but the doctors were going to keep Tim's mother on life support through the night.

I received word this morning that they were taking her off life support. Please join me in praying for Tim and his sisters that God will give them comfort and strength and keep them calm in His love during this most difficult time.

A New Excitement in the Air

There is a new wave of excitement at New Beginnings! God has been doing some awesome things.

Yesterday, people began arriving earlier than usual--about 9:30. We have a time of fellowship with coffee and breakfast pastries at 10 a.m. and our worship service doesn't begin until 10:30. People just kept flowing in and filled the 40 chairs we had set out so that we had to pull out more chairs. In total, we had 54 people. Last week we had 37. For about a year our average attendance has been 18.

The worship was powerful and uplifting. It was awesome to see so many people responding to the Spirit as we lifted up the name of Jesus. Our new Worship Team is absolutely awesome! In addition to the keyboard, we now have a lead guitar, bass guitar, and drums.

The message, too, seemed to touch many people. As I gave the altar call, several people responded in tears. God is definitely doing something great at New Beginnings, and we are excited to be part of it!

Praise Report

I received an email today saying that the boy is free. His father told Gary Glover, "The Holy Spirit lead me to one place to look for my boy, and I got him."

We rejoice with this family and give God praise!!!

Prayer Request

I received an email about a brother in Nigeria whose 8 year old son was kidnapped last week. A ransom has been demanded, and the kidnappers are also making threats against the father and family. Please join me in prayer for this little boy to be delivered from these evil people and restored to his family.

A Special Day

It was a special day at church yesterday. The Spirit of the Lord was certainly present from the beginning.

The youth and children had a special program, and they did a superb job. I'm so proud of them all!

Also, we planned a little surprise. It was Bill's birthday, so we presented him with a gift--a small token of our love and appreciation for him--and had sandwiches and cake after church.

The church also presented me with a Christmas gift--new suit, shirt, and tie. I feel so honored to be serving with such generous and thoughtful people.

Christmas Banquet

We had a super Christmas Banquet last night! It’s times like this that makes a Pastor very proud. I would surely miss someone if I tried to name everyone who contributed to the tremendous success of this special event, but I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t give special recognition to two people who went above and beyond the call of duty: Kim and Lola. Kim outlined the program for the evening, decorated the tables, participated in a comedy act, directed “Rejoice with Exceeding Great Joy”, a youth and children’s presentation, and helped serve our guests.

Lola was responsible for the menu and personally oversaw all the food preparation. She has worked as a caterer in the past, and her experience was evident. Lola spent a great deal of time gathering supplies, soliciting and directing helpers, as well as preparing several items on the menu herself. In addition to all that, she hosted a lunch at her home yesterday afternoon, before the banquet, for those helping her.

I am so proud of Kim and Lola and thankful to the Lord that He has placed them at New Beginnings!

Of course two people couldn’t do it all by themselves. There were a number of people helping them, and no one’s contribution is inconsequential. For fear of missing someone, let me just say a great big THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make this such a wonderful success!

We had more than 85 people in attendance!

Preparing for Christmas…

We Pentecostals have often been loathe to celebrate the Christian seasons of Advent and Lent. I have discovered several reasons for this; however, none really seem to be sound. One person has said that “[Celebrating these seasons] ...is mainly tradition, and we are not traditionalists.” (I thought that one was funny). Another said, “We need to just stick to preaching the cross.”

Sometimes it seems to me that in our quest to throw off traditionalism we have divested ourselves of some of the most important aspects of the Christian faith. Our celebrations have become so mundane it is sometimes difficult to identify the real reason we celebrate.

Advent is Latin for 'a coming or arrival'. The idea behind it is that God came to earthly life and lived among us. That is something to celebrate, because just by being in this world, God was giving the supreme blessing to His creation.

Advent is a season of preparation. In Advent, we thank God for Christ's first coming, prepare for his final coming at the end of time, and celebrate Christ's presence among us today through the Spirit. God loved us and wanted to share that love.

Tomorrow is the first of four weeks of Advent leading up to Christmas day. It is the time to get ready by rejoicing that our God is not far away and unfamiliar with the struggles of human life, that Christ is here right now among His followers, that God has already begun to bring in the Kingdom, and that Christ will come again to make it clear who really runs the place.

Remember the words of Jesus: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).

May the Lord bless you and your family during this season!

Thanksgiving

The Meadows Family had a wonderful day of Thanksgiving yesterday. It was so nice to have all of our family together for dinner and fellowship. Mother always makes it very special. Everyone seemed to have a great time together. After dinner, each of us read a Scripture and shared something for which we are thankful. It was good to have my uncle Ken and cousin Denae and her husband Tim with us, too!

Family is very important, and I thank God for mine! I trust each of you had a joyous Thanksgiving with your family and friends, too.

Election Day

Today is the day we will elect a new President for these United States. If you didn't have the opportunity to vote early, please don't forget to vote today. Make your voice heard.

Bread of Life Rescue Mission

Once again, New Beginnings joined in the ministry of Bread of Life Rescue Mission on Saturday (10/18) by preparing a meal for the residents and having a worship service with them. This is a regular monthly event for New Beginnings, and we always look forward to it.

I am thankful to Lola Rudolph who coordinates our meal preparation, and to all those who so faithfully participate in preparing food and assist in serving and clean-up.

The worship services are a particular joy for me. Every time I have ministered there, I have received a very warm welcome by both the staff and the residents, and I have had great liberty in the Spirit to minister. God is doing something wonderful at Bread of Life, and we are pleased to be able to join Him, in some small way, in what He is doing!

Pray for the Election

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Without a doubt, our nation is in desperate need of help and direction from the Lord. In just a few days the people of the United States will go to the voting polls to select a new President and Vice President for our country. Speaking of this upcoming election, the National Day of Prayer Chairman, Shirley Dobson, said:

“In light of the approaching elections, it is crucial that we remain in fervent prayer for our beloved land. The presidential race is especially important. The individual installed in the Oval Office in January, 2009 will play a pivotal role in determining the future course of our country. It is, therefore, imperative that people go to the polls and elect a candidate whose leadership will reflect a moral, principled perspective. We’re living in serious times. Our country is at a crossroads. The decisions of our elected officials will determine America’s moral climate and national security for generations. We desperately need leaders with courage and integrity to guide us.”

It is my prayer that each of you will join me in prayer that the will of God be accomplished in this election, and that you will exercise your right to vote on November 4.