Updates

God is simply amazing!  On Wednesday, Audrey Justus was moved from Cookville Regional Medical Center to her home in Crossville via ambulance with an IV bag of dopamine.  The doctor said that once the dopamine ran out, her blood pressure would drop and she would die. 

I got to her house after the bag of dopamine had been depleted, and it certainly looked as if Audrey would pass on to her eternal reward.  We prayed for her and sang to her as she seemed so close to death; however, she began to perk up and talk and even laugh a little. 

At 10 pm I left to come home for the night.  When I returned on Thursday morning, Audrey was raised up in her bed, grinning from ear to ear.  Her color was back and she was quite cheerful.

As of last night, she is still doing well and enjoying being at home—without the dopamine.  Praise the Lord!

Also, I received an update about baby Bentley.  He is still at UT Hospital, but he is doing good.  He is expected to come home in a week or so.  

Please continue to pray for Audrey and baby Bentley.

Update on Audrey Justus

I went to visit with Audrey Justus again today at Cookville Regional Medical Center. Her daughter, Carol, wanted me to be there with them when the doctor came in to talk to them.

Audrey has been in and out of the hospital and nursing home since December ’09 when she had a growth removed from inside her heart. The Lord has touched her several times when it seemed she might not make it. Currently she is on dopamine to keep her blood pressure up. The doctor tried to lower the dosage this morning, but her blood pressure dropped drastically and quickly. He told her and her daughter and son today that without the dopamine, her blood pressure will bottom out and she will die. This, of course, keeps her from being able to go home, which she desperately wants to do.

Audrey assured me, both yesterday and today, that she is ready to go. In fact, she told her children today not to worry. “Everything will be okay,” she said.

In the next couple days a decision will be made about discontinuing the dopamine. We still believe that our God is able to perform a miracle for Audrey…and she believes it, too. In the face of such a grave discussion, Audrey was smiling, laughing, and speaking with confidence about her future. Please join me in prayer for her miracle!

National Day of Prayer

If ever this nation needed God, it is today! 

The National Day of Prayer is currently under attack.  A federal judge in Wisconsin ruled the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional Thursday, saying the day amounts to a call for religious action.

For more information you can go to the National Day of Prayer website.

Update on Baby Bentley

Baby Bentley was born March 27, 2010 and was transported to UT Medical Center very shortly after birth. He has been in critical condition and the doctors have not been very optimistic regarding his condition.

Yesterday I visited with J.J. Fragiadakis and Brittany Lane (Bentley’s parents), and Auntie Connie. I am pleased to report that Bently is doing much better. He is off the ventilator, and as I understand it, they should be taking out the feeding tube soon. The EEG showed improved brain activity, and the doctors are now expressing optimism.

While he is doing much better, he is expected to be in the hospital for a couple more weeks. Please join me in prayer for Bentley and his family.

Things are not always as they appear to be

I recently read an article that contained the following story.  Although it’s several years old, I thought it was worth sharing here.

Two of the best commercials shown during Super Bowl XXXIX   were sponsored by Ameriquest Mortgage Company.  Both had the same message: “Don’t judge too quickly.”

In one ad, a convenience store shopper is standing at the counter and talking on his cell phone. He says to the person on the other end, “You’re getting robbed.” The two clerks hear those words and react by squirting the man with pepper spray, slugging him with a baseball bat, and then zapping him with an electric cattle prod.

In the second commercial, a man is preparing a romantic dinner. He chops vegetables with a large knife, while tomato sauce simmers on the stove. A white cat knocks the pan of sauce onto the floor and then falls into the mess. Just as the man picks up his tomato-splattered cat, his wife opens the door. She sees him holding a cat dripping with red sauce in one hand and a large knife in the other. The scene appears to be unmistakably horrific.

As these ads show, things aren't always as they first appear.

(This story was related by Richard Kauffman, McDonald,
Pennsylvania, as seen during Super Bowl XXXIX—2/6/05).

Back to Sunbright

Pastor Jack Lawson has invited me to minister at Sonbright Christian Center on Sunday evening, March 21.  I am excited to be able to return to the church I was privileged to pastor for over 7 years.  I have heard many good reports about the congregation, and I am thrilled to be able to go back and worship with them.

Several people from New Beginnings are planning to join me on this night, including our Worship Band.  I am blessed to work with such wonderful people in Crossville.  Their love and support mean so very much!

Gospel Singing

Jesus Loves YOU!

This is really cool!

First Time to Minister

I am greatly looking forward to our service tomorrow night!  Our very own, Roger Dixon, has accepted his call to preach and will be giving his very first sermon at New Beginnings tomorrow night.   I know he is a little nervous about his first sermon, so I ask you to join me in prayer that the Lord will calm his nerves and that he will feel perfect liberty as he shares the Word of Life!

Can you see it?

Some of us are not very observant. Something may be staring us in the face, but we cannot perceive it.

Not too long ago my mother replaced some of the art work on her walls in the living room. When my two year old nephew awoke from a nap, he quickly noticed that things were not as they were when he went to sleep.

On the other hand, when I walked into the living room (even knowing that mother had made the changes), never even noticed….that is, until Josiah started pointing around the room.

And so it is with God and God’s people. God is at work, doing a new thing, and many people don’t see it. God is at work, making things happen that have never happened before, and many of us don’t perceive it.

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19).

These words were spoken by God—through the prophet Isaiah—to the exiled Children of Israel. He insists that they would just open their eyes and look, God is doing a new thing. He is already at work.

He cautions them in verse 18 not to allow their current situation or the things of the past hinder them from seeing what God is doing.

It is easy for us to become so engrossed in our own lives—the difficulties and challenges we face on a daily basis—that we miss out on all the wonderful things God is doing today. But He is doing a fresh, new thing today…can you see it?

The Joy of Difficult Times

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved." ~Helen Keller (1880-1968).

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”  (James 1:2-4).

Weekend Update

We had a great time at Bread of Life last night.  In addition to the 20 or so adults, there are about 6 children there, and they are awesome!   In spite of the fact that they are at a rescue mission, they are so happy and fun-loving.  It is a joy, indeed, to be part of this ministry!

I am looking forward to a great time at New Beginnings today.   It is so good to come together with friends and family to worship the Lord together.   I see thee Lord doing such wonderful things, and we are growing in Him.  When we started New Beginnings, we had about 18 people.  We now have about 40 people attending, and I expect that we will double that very soon! 

Tonight I will be preaching at a joint service of the Oliver Springs and Petros Churches of God of Prophecy at Petros.  Pastor Slone (Petros), and Pastor Massengale (Oliver Springs) have involved me in these services several times, and I always look forward to being with them. 

Bread of Life

We are looking forward to our monthly dinner and service at Bread of Life Rescue Mission tomorrow night.   We always have ample help from New Beginnings—cooking, serving, and clean up.  I am very thankful to serve with people who are so willing to give of their time and resources to bless others!

Get a Life

From HeartLight Gallery

Tonight's Service Cancelled

While we do not like to cancel services, some of the roads across the county are still hazardous, and with the temperature in the mid to low 20’s, there is the possibility that other roads still wet may refreeze. Because we do not want to put anyone at risk, New Beginnings has cancelled services for tonight (2/17/10).

For future cancellation notices:

Listen to 102.5 WOW Country or check out their website at http://www.1025wowcountry.com/news/closings.php

Listen to Mix 99.3 or check out their website at http://www.mix993.net/news/closings.php

Of course, we will post the cancellation here, too, as well as sending e-mails and texts to those in our congregation.

Upcoming Events

Bread of Life—February 20

Open Gym for Youth/Kids—February 27

Daylight Saving Time—March 14

Five Star Jubilee in Concert at New Beginnings—March 14

Calling All Laborers

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest”  (Matthew 9:36-38).

Happy Valentine’s Day!

1 Corinthians 13

Love

¹What if I could speak

   all languages

   of humans

   and of angels?

   If I did not love others,

   I would be nothing more

   than a noisy gong

   or a clanging cymbal.

²What if I could prophesy

   and understand all secrets

   and all knowledge?

   And what if I had faith

   that moved mountains?

   I would be nothing,

   unless I loved others.

³What if I gave away all

   that I owned

   and let myself

   be burned alive? ^[a] I would gain nothing,

   unless I loved others.

⁴Love is kind and patient,

   never jealous, boastful,

   proud, or ⁵rude.

   Love isn't selfish

   or quick tempered.

   It doesn't keep a record

   of wrongs that others do.

⁶Love rejoices in the truth,

   but not in evil.

⁷Love is always supportive,

   loyal, hopeful,

   and trusting.

⁸Love never fails!

   Everyone who prophesies

   will stop,

   and unknown languages

   will no longer

   be spoken.

   All that we know

   will be forgotten.

⁹We don't know everything,

   and our prophecies

   are not complete.

¹⁰But what is perfect

   will someday appear,

   and what isn't perfect

   will then disappear.

¹¹When we were children,

   we thought and reasoned

   as children do.

   But when we grew up,

   we quit our childish ways.

¹²Now all we can see of God

   is like a cloudy picture

   in a mirror.

   Later we will see him

   face to face.

   We don't know everything,

   but then we will,

   just as God completely

   understands us.

¹³For now there are faith,

   hope, and love.

   But of these three,

   the greatest is love.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20corinthians%2013&version=CEV

Another Beautiful Day

Here is a picture taken from my window at about 8 am.

Praise Report

We had an awesome worship service yesterday! I'm so excited about all the Lord is doing. We had 40 in attendance yesterday with a few people out sick. At the conclusion of the sermon, 2 people came forward to surrender their hearts to the Lord in repentance. How great is our God?