Jesus Fest

We had a wonderful Jesus Fest this past Saturday. It was great time of fun and fellowship!!!! Great people came together to make this a great event. We had so many that help make this Jesus Fest, a real joyous time. I've been to many church events and something always goes wrong or tention can be come very high. Yet, always was fairly good. We had no major crisis and a lot of wonderful comments.
We had just a fine array of music and plenty of food. Those who worked with us in the drama, did a outstanding job. May God always place. Check the church website for pics.
Steve

Just Thinking

Reading a blog by my friend Paul, got me to thinking. Sometimes we can forget how faithful God is and has been in our lives. Most people who know me, understand that I have been in church all of my life. I started preaching the gospel at age 14. I served with Dad in his church over 10 years. I started working in children's ministry then worked my way to associate pastor before my father's death. In all this time I remember how faithful God was to me. Yes, there were times I questioned WHY? There were times I got wore out. I remember once instance, when I felt God tell me, all that I was doing was becoming work and not service. I started laying done jobs that I had not asked for. I am sure you can understand being a pastor's son and a minister alot of the tasks fell on me.

God adventually opened a door for me. I walked out on faith!!!! I felt the call to go to WV and start a church. It just seemed to me there was a Macedonian call for me to go there. God opened door after door for me. I was able to see great miracles. The ministry God had committed me with excelling. Then through some circumstances I met Paula, who would become my wife. Little did I know when I left KY to go to WV this established bachelor for the Lord, would change his mind.

Since then everything has not been peaches and cream, but God has blessed us. I have had the privilige of seeing God do some great things. I pray I always live up to that standard of faith.

Sometimes the faith walk, is just stepping out not knowing where your going...just knowing God is with you.

Steve

God is so Good

Many times I get on here and it seems I'm complaing. Sometimes, I do vent on this blog. Yet, I want to tell you how great and awesome our God is. There is no stopping what he will do for his children. In time of trouble, he is an every present help. He is worthy of all praise. He gets me up in the morning and takes care of my family. He has given the precious gift of Salvation and the Holy Ghost. Like the old spiritual song says He's done so much for me I can not tell it all. What an amazing God we serve. Remember no matter what your problems, he can lift you up to soar above the trials. One of my life verses is Isaiah 40:31. Just like the eagle we can rise above it all.

Steve

The mean smears toward the Palin Family

Saturday Night Live is the newest to smear the Palin family. In a skit on this past Saturday's broadcast, two reporters made reference to Todd Palin having incestous relations with his daughters. Now come on, how low will they go to smear this family.

I think they are so scared of this articulate lady and her normal middle class family, they are shaking in there boots. They are afraid of her because she goes against everything a "woman" is suppose to believe in. They don't know what to do with one as conservative and pro-family as she is. She went from PTA Mom to Governor of her state. That's a great acomplishment.

I think this lady will be a breath of fresh air for America.

Steve

What is the church?

I have been doing some thing and study on really what is a church suppose to be.

I have been in the church all my life. I have seen God in many different prespectives. I was raised in the Church of God, Cleveland Assembly. My Dad preached in a lot of independent churches and even pastored a few that held to mainline, conserative holiness tradition. I saw how the two types of churches operated. They had some similarites, but also some major differences. I became acustom to the Church of God. They seemed to be more family oriented. The pentecostal churches put a greater emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit and physical manifestations.

Then when I became a teenager, I went to a southern Baptist High School for one year. That was long enough for me. They seemed to be more ridged in there worship style. I finished my high school years at a Pentecostal High School and seen another world of Pentecostals. They were not of the holiness doctrine. What the holiness people would call worldly, beacause of there dress code.

Each one of these churches had there own tradition. When I started preaching, you name I've proably been to many mainline denomations. I have preached in churches from Baptist and Methodist to Holiness and Apostolic. However in all my years of being in church, I find church is define differently by all these labels.

When we go to church, the first thing on our mind ought to be worship. It should be a place to commune with God and fellow believers. It should be a place were everyone feels accepted. However, it should be a place that still has the convicting power in the service. The service should be uplifting. God is a good who encourages his people. He does not want his people to come to church and leave feeling worse.

When you come to church have a praise on your lips. Have joy in your heart. Don't let situations hinder your relationship with God.

STeve

Editorial Cartoon and Election Smears have me Outraged!

I apologize for the curse word in the above cartoon. Yet, when I saw this I was really upset. Anyone who knows me for long, will understand I am an advid follower of poltics and a committed Republican. However, that does not make me demean others. This cartoon was a ment as a smear on Sarah Palin. It was to show her as some sort of irrational person, following some fringe/cultic religion.

Sarah Palin is refreshing. I believe she is such a normal person, that the media and the democratic elite don't know what to make of her. They are trying to get some dirt or discredit her everyway they can. What is really shocking is how women have done a 180 turn on having a woman as the top 2 in the county.

Then Mr. Pat Oliphant makes this slanderous cartoon. It not only be littles Pentecostals but all Christians. It slanders God Almighty. I am amazed at the brazeness of some people. Who would ever think of such a blasphemous cartoon.

If you remember a year ago about the anti-Muslim editoral cartoons. They cause all types of outrage in the world. There were riots in the middle east. Yet this blantant attacks go unchallenge by most Christians. It seems the only religion that can get persecuted in this country with out fear of outcry in the Prostant Church.

Poltics have stooped to a new level. These attacks make me sick. We really need to pray for our country.

More Later

Steve

Our church is energized!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night we had our first service at our new location on Turkeyfoot. We are using the Open Door Church of God to hold services on Sunday and Thursday Evening at 7PM. Did we have a blow out service last night. God really moved last night and we felt like we were home. Plenty of room to worship. We seen people shout all over the church last night. Paul Estep led worship last night and with him on keyboard, Johnathn on guitar, Findley on bass and John on Drums, we showed that we have a great band. God is really touching lives. We see people happy and smiling that we have seen the joy of the Lord in for awhile. I was feeling poorly, but I pushed to be there. I can't wait for Thursday, I be feeling better and hopefully pumped and prayed up. Thanks to all the folks at Open Door for letting us use this facility.

More later,

Steve

Fred Thompson

What a speech Thompson gave last night. He showed a lot of passion and great emotion. Where was this when he was running for president? Take a momment and listen to what he had to say.


More Later

STeve