July 12, 2006

  • Okay, it has been a long, long time and I don't feel good about that, though, as I've stated in the past, it seems that as if time is speeding up as mankind rushes towards the end of the age.  Time also has a way of rushing by when you are busy and I have been busy, especially with my work.


    I took on a lot of responsibility this year in order to be able to work at my old workplace.  About 75% of that work has been outside my field (Electrical Engineering) so it has been a learning experience for me and, as a result, takes me  a bit longer to do than the work I am more familiar with.  Some people thought I was crazy to attempt it but I know that God led me there and He would see me through it, as He has done so far.  The only down side at the moment is the fact that the budget for the Corps of Engieers is not looking good for the next year, which starts in October, so I may be back to my Federal Building cubicle doing design work, which is not my preference at all.  That is still in the future though and I'll let God work that one out also.


    I took last week off of work and my wife and I removed our old bathtub and shower surround and installed a new one.  Owning an old and decrepite house it of course took longer than planned and the rest of the bathroom is still awaiting my attention, which I should resume sometime soon.  After the drudgery of last week I don't think the rest of it will be too bad so I'm trying to stay upbeat about it.  I just need to get all the scratches healed and the muscles rested before I get too far into it again.


    The Saturday Night service has not been doing all that well.  We spend time trying to make it something God wants and something that will grab people's attention but I sometimes have to face the fact that it is still a Methodist Church.  I've been reading so much about the younger generation, their different way of perceiving things, and how the modern church needs to change in order to address their needs but it is pretty hard to get people who are set in their ways to allow the changes, especially when they won't take the time to try and figure out why we need it.  I'm beginning to feel that my time at that church is growing short though I'm not ready to throw in the towel until God leads me to do so. 


    Well, that is about all I have for now.  Hope to get back here soon, especially to read some of your blogs.


    Be Blessed!


     


    God IS Good!

    Go Ahead: Say It! Believe It! Confess It!

    You're Invited!!


     

Comments (6)

  • Well hey there, whoopty do, and welcome back!!!! I have checked your blog often to no avail............Sorry that things have not been going well for the Sat. night service. I attended the Mehodist Church until I was 30, so I know what you mean about the older generations that think that they own the church because their great-grandfather donated the pew they currently sit in. The Lord gave us a clear sign that we were to leave the Methodist Church, which was hard to do because it was not only our church home, but the center of our social life. But He has never led us astray. One thing I will throw out there for your consideration........your church shouldn't be your mission field. It is the place you go to get your batteries(spirit) charged and your soul fed. Soooo glad you'r back.....now stay back.

  • Wow! Missed you! New blog for me........

    Please keep me in your prayers.

    Mat

  • God is good!  I certainly do believe it.

  • Hi dale, thanks for the comment. i can relate to the older generation wanting to be mroe traditional as well. i went ot Christian Reformed church ina dutch community. Oye vey! I agree with missbew in that you need to be able to go to church to reengergize. It should drain you to go to church. I ended up having to leave behind my old church because of certain issuse as well. With worship team and also the fact there they were really restricting me in what I was able to participate in. I won't go into the whole story but I will tell you that it's refreshing not to have to "deal" with church and to be able to attend church without that tension. Just do whatyou feel led to do.

    couldn't you use a community hall or school gym or something on saturday nights? that might give you a little more flexibility. Just a thought. Good luck!

    Tessa

  • Dale, there are tons of unchurched people in our town. My prayer is still that HZ will be stripped down to a core of missional followers of Jesus who are willing to do whatever it takes to take the message of Christ to Harmony and Zelienople. As the church gets reshuffled, seek the place where you are excited for mission and spurred towards living your faith. If that is still SN and your heart beats wild for its mission, stick with it. If everyone has lost passion for it, perhaps God is pruning it and it would be sin to resist the Gardeners shears.

    We sure do miss playing with you, though. Our new missional church did music for the first time Easter Sunday morning at Hereford Manor...we sang 'Christ the Lord is Risen today' and 'Lord, I lift your name on high.' Everyone asked if I wrote the songs or not! I love unchurched people, but really miss the fellowship of the saved. If it weren't for our weekly prayer/communion meeting, I'd be lost. Nevertheless, if you ever want to jam with us on Sunday nights, we'd love to see you and Kathy again.

    Love, mark

  • Thanks for the comment!  It really made my day 

    Kristen

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