Speical Prayer Request for Paula

Paula has not been sleeping well for the last several months. This has taken a toll on her nerves. She is now in the hospital, they are trying to get her meds that will help her sleep and clam her down. They also have started her on the Nicotine patch. Please pray for my wife and our family during this time.

More Later,

Steve

My Take on Israel and Lebanon

Scripture tells us that we are to pay for the peace of Jerusalem. We know that God is going to protect his people and his land. Lebanon, is doing no more than promoting terrorism. Hezbollah, needs to release its Israeli prisoners.

Of course, we know that scripture tells us these things would happen. Let's just pray that this ends soon.

Steve

What a week!

Well the week started off crazy. I was scheduled to have an endoscopy for my throat Monday. It was rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon. My esophagus was so inflamed, that they could not dialate my throat. My doctor also did a biopsy so I'll get the results of that in a few weeks. I have to go back on August 15 to have my throat dialated. I also have been diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus. I have been told I have to change my diet....so please pray for me. I felt so bad Thursday, I didn't make it to church.

Pray for all of us,

Steve

Annoyed

I visted a church this evening, it wasn't my favorite type of church. It was a small church, and they have no structure to there service. If you ever visted a small country church, this is the feel. Service overall was good. However, the pastor opened up the service for testimonies at the end of service. Now don't get me wrong, I love real testimonies, we now call them praise reports. I was raised in a church where my Dad, would always ask for testimonies from the congregation.

There are always these wonderful people who give more glory to the devil than to God, and go on and on for ever in there testimony. This brother tonight had been facing some serioous problems, but took up over half and hour to share his pity party with the church. If it doesn't edify the church throw it out. If it doesn't build up the kingdom of God...get rid of it. Just one of my pet peeves.

One more thought, people who say Glory to God and Hallelujah when they speak.
A person tonight said, "My fiends's son commited sucide...Glory to God..Hallelujah."
I relize that we need to praise God, but come on these words have lost there meaning and have become filler words.

Just on my soapbox

Steve

Paula's Dr. Appointment

They did a CPX Test on Paula. It is sort of a stress test, to determine how much oxgen is going to her muscles. She scored a 14 which according them is not good. They are scheduling a sleep study for Paula, so she can be tested for sleep apena.
They told Paula not to do anything, they even told her not to go to church. She told them she will go tp church if she feels like it.

According to the Docs, Paula is a good canidate for a heart transplant. It could take several months of testing before Paula gets on the list, but it looks like this is the route we are going.

Please prayer for us all,

Steve

What's going on....

I ask that you remember our family in prayer over the next week.

Paula has to go to the transplant doctor Thursday and have a stress test to decided where she will place on the transplant list.

I have to go to the gastrologist, Monday to have my throat streched.

My sister Rita has surgery next Tuesday on her parathyroid.

Have you ever noticed that God's people seem to fight sickness alot. I believe in many cases it is a form of oppression against God's people. We believe in healing, but many times fail to see it happen in our lives. Jesus was stripped for our healling. Matthew 10:1 tells us through Christ we have power and authority over sickness. I have been doing something different in my prayer life. I have not been praying for God to heal a particular illness I have, I have been praying for divine health. I am assured God can keep me healthy.

Try it pray for divine health, wealth, and what ever else you need in your life. Remember Romans 8:28 tells us God is working all things for our good.

Steve

Guess who stopped me this morning.....

Jehovah's Witnesses stopped me this morning. I was outside talking to a friend, I noticed out of the corner of my eye 4 people get out of a car with briefcases. I instantly knew who they were. Normally, I just ignore these people. (You may object to that, but scripture teaches to not even bid false prophets Godspeed.)
In the past, I have debated scripture with these people, and they won't recieve the truth so in most cases its casting my pearls before the swine. This may be a tough statement, but some people will believe a lie and be damned.

Two nicely dressed ladies, started to my door, and I stopped them. They said they wanted to talk to me. I proceeded to tell them I was pentecostal minister, and I new who they were. She asked me if I wanted some of her watchtower magazines, of course I told her no. I explained I did not agree with there doctrine. They persisted on talking to me. I then went on to say, your doctrine says that salvation is by good works, when scripture teaches it is by grace you are saved, through faith...not of works. This lady insisted on reading passges of the Bible from Matthew. One was Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." The other was Christ great comission form Matthew 28:19,20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen"

I proceeded to tell her I was familier with both passages. The other lady interjected they were doing the work of the gospel sharing the good news. I told the ladies that the message the were speaking was not the truth of the gospel. I told them no scripture is a priviate interpertation, and there doctirne was not the truth of the gospel. It was Christ death and ressurection that purchased our salvation, and only by the shedding of Christ blood can we find salvation. I guess, at this point they got tried of our conversation. The one lady said she was doing the work of God, and it was not her job or mine to judge. They then said goodbye.

I got to thinking later, and I checked out there website. I knew several of the false doctrines they believe. One of there false doctrines is that Christ is not equal to God, and the denial of the Trinity. They also do not believe Christ was crucified on a cross, it was a stake. The deny the exsistance of hell as a place, there version of hell is the grave. The deny the bodily ressurection of Christ. The profess he was only a spirit. The believe in soul sleeping.

Yet, what really got me to thinking was there amennialist view of the last days. I have always known this was there belief, but it has never hit like it has today. I guess it is because of a former associate of mine, who ascribed to this belief. It is amazing to me how many good people can be decieved and led astray to believe hersey. '

I am glad I am assured of what I believe. I am glad I can defend my faith. I thank God for being raised to believe the gospel.

I think this morning I put Jude 1:3 in action.

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

Later,

Steve

Something Spiritual....The Big Picture

So many of us, are always seeing what is happening now. We only see what is happening from our viewpoint. However, scripture teaches us, that God's ways are higher than our ways. In the midst of your storm or trial, all you may see is the problem. The old gospel song says "Ride Out Storm". Hold on for dear life and don't give up. Try to enjoy the ups and downs of your life. Like Paul, say what ever state I'm in I am content. God sees the big picture, we don't. Remember Romans 8:28 teaches all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, who are called according to his purpose. It doesn't matter what your going through, God sees a great outcome for you.

I had a great friend in the ministry, who ever time I say him, told me God was doing great things in my life. He has gone to his reward, but his words of encouragement live on in my life. He knew there was a bigger picture I didn't see, yet he knew God was working on my behalf.

I thank God, for those who have encouraged me on this road. Sometimes the pressures of life get you down, but God is faithful. Faith causes me to put my life in God hands, and when I don't know where I'm headed, trust Jesus.

God Bless,

Steve

Superman

I went to see Superman Returns last night. It was a little slow getting started, but once it did, it really came out be a good movie. Kevin Spacey was great as Luthor. Brandon Routh did an outstanding job as Superman. His portyal of Clark Kent, was a real tribute to Christopher Reeve.

Steve