You know it is fall of the year and most everyone enjoys the beauty of God’s forrests during this time in the Four Seasons Area.  The other day, I was driving home from work and was reviewing the process that I learned years ago about the leaves and how they get their color. It reminded me of how God’s Word is the sap in our lives. If we are saturated in It then our outward appearance shows His strength in us. Even as the sap falls the leaves remain in a beautiful state for a while but when it is all drained, then the trees become bare. So it is with us when we begin to slack on studying God’s Word, we can still keep up the beauty for a short while but eventually we will run out and what is left behind doesn’t show to others. My point being if we don’t keep ourselves saturated in God, by studying His Word and meditating through song, thoughts and service, then we too can be sustained for a while but will eventually lose our lustre.  I so need to be more disciplined in my study habits.
God help me to saturate myself and study more because I fall so short in this area.Â
What a lovely name
No other name fills
My heart with joy and
Love like the name of Jesus
No other can stop
the flow of tears or start
them like Jesus
How sweet the sound,
The sound of His Name
Oh the power and gentleness
it sounds to my soul.
What a beauty I see when
I look through the
eyes of Jesus.
What a lovely name
No other name can be
found as lovely
Yesterday, today
or tomorrow-Jesus
What a lovely name.
written by Bill Vance
A witness of Love
I heard the music
and I knew the words
but I couldn’t sing them.
I saw the way but I
wouldn’t go.
He told me to follow
but still I wouldn’t go.
He reached out for me
and I turned away.
He cried out my name
but I wouldn’t listen.
I saw the tears shed
for me, I felt the shame,
still I would not accept
His sweet holy name.
To think that I might still
be that way today if the
devil got his way
but someone loved me enough
to pray and tell me about Jesus.
Thank you Father for sending my
brother who knew how to pray
the sinner’s prayer.
Today is Friday, Thank God. I have enjoyed writing this week for Phyllis; however, I feel all alone without comments from my friends. You all are a hard bunch. I was hoping to have some good interaction. So, I am not putting a subject here and if any of you that take a look today have something of interest, please feel free to comment.  I promise I will comment. Have a great day.  Don’t forget to pray for our churches getting ready for Sunday Services all over the world. Â
I want to take just a few sentences to elaborate on yesterday’s subject. Please read if you haven’t already. Phyllis had a very good point that we can’t always push Jesus down people’s throats and I believe that is what also keeps people from talking about Him. Have you ever read the book “The Coffee House Gospel”. It is about sharing your faith in every day conversations and it is worth the reading.
Those of you who have expressed an interest in leaving comments on Pastor Charley’s blog will be glad to know that we have set it up where you can now do so. So be sure to check it out. Today there is a new post about his brother and a special prayer request. I’ve copied his post to this one today so you can read it here too.
My brother (Rusty) is in the Leiber Correction Institute ministering to many inmates. They have started a church and are seeing many people give their lives to Jesus. This is a great ministry! Just this last week a Muslim surrendered his life to Christ. This is great, but . . . now the other Muslims in prison are enraged.
I don’t understand this mentality. I mean, if a professing Christian converted to Islam, I would be sorry for him, but not enraged. I would not threaten his life, or the life of the one who converted him, or the lives of the other mosque members. But this is being done against my brother, the convert, and their church. It seems to me, in the USA, we should be free to choose our religion without threat of bodily harm.
But this freedom of religion does not always apply in prison! So . . .
*Be thankful that we have Christianity: a religion of free choice, not one coerced by bodily force.
*Be thankful that we have a government that gives us the freedom to choose our religion.
*Be praying for those who are being threatened for Christ.
chas
The time is quickly approaching where we start our children’s programs again. The discussion last night gave everyone an idea of where the need is. So now is the time to decide what you will do. Start by praying and ask God to show you where He would have you serve. It does not always mean you have to be able to teach. The are many other needs there. So give it some thought and prayer. God bless you as you make this important decisions.
Sorry Matthew, I couldn’t resist. You guys are great. Your willingness to do all that silly stuff to make sure a group of kids has a great time. Thanks for all your hard work.
We have all had a great time this week with the Bble School. The kids have been taught some valuable lessons that I’m sure they will not soon forget. The Ramsey’s have been wonderful. Let’s continue to pray that God will use this week to change the lives of children.
The competition is really heating up for the blue and the gold teams in Bible School. Hopefully, we’ll keep it nice though. Remember this is a “total Church” bible school so if you haven’t come out yet, you’re really missing it. The lessons on Pilgrim’s Progress have been wonderful. We are learning so much. A favorite is the puppet time so I’ve added a picture.
Don’t miss the rest of the week.
Thank you to all of you who have lended a hand to help. We couldn’t do it without you.
Vacation Bible School has been a Blast. For those of you who are not attending are missing out on a great Blessing, bunches of fun, and some fine fellowship. The Blue and Gold teams are competing for the top spot and they are definately working hard and having fun doing it.  For those VA Tech fans who are in our Mountaineer competition, isn’t it great to be an eer? Donna Coleman looks great in Gold, doesn’t she? Much better than Maroon.  Donna, Blue and Gold are your colors.Â
Challenge for the day. Let’s help our Kids recruit a few more players for tonight and see who has the most Mountaineer spirit.  Â
See-ya tonightÂ