Coming to the Still Waters

It is a really odd feeling to not be preaching behind a pulpit on a Sunday morning for me.  I am in my 35th year of ministry and God has been working on me to better handle His Word for which I am very thankful for and humbled by.  This Sunday found Stephanie and I in not one but two churches.   Churches are dealing with the COVID-19 crisis as we are back in Machias, Maine so things look very similar in practice.  Some are wearing masks, physical distancing is being practiced, orderly entry and exiting and hand shaking and hugging has its own warning.  I have noticed that because of these measures, it is very hard to get to know the people of the congregation. The first church is the  Grace Bible Church of Tampa .  It is not in Tampa but on the way from Zephyrhills off of the famous Florida highway 301.  It is about a 20 minute drive and we attended this church last year when we were setting up the mobile.  I also blogged about ...

It might be hard to see but the foreground is the white vinyl the way it is supposed to be and the background is what happens in Florida to mobiles in just a years time.  Another chore checked off the list and my arms are tired from scrubbing back and forth.  So since my arms are sufficiently tired I headed into the next thing on the list. " Oh, you own a palm tree?!?"   I don't think you own a palm tree but rather it owns you, kind of like cats.  Pruning off the lower dead fronds is a very dirty chore and you have to work with your hands above your head.  It looks nice when it is done, you just don't look too nice when you're done.  Notice that I didn't post an after picture of me!  Yes, I see that you have noticed that my lawn is longer than my neighbor's.  So that is on the list for tomorrow.   I haven't gotten to "the fun in the sun" yet. Adam

Hard to believe but 53,000 gallons of water came out of that hole in a month's time.  Not sure how the precision hole got there but the repair has been made and we are back in business.  Home ownership, you got to love it!   We have a couple of weeks to be with family but also to recharge before heading north again to our assignment in Maine.  When we get back it will be the year mark and even though COVID-19 made its appearance, God has stopped His kingdom work through His Bride, the Church.   I have also had the opportunity to connect up with 3 other IPM interim pastors who are stationed in Maine.  We connect through ZOOM and it is great to talk "shop" with one another and be praying for each other.  I am learning a lot from those who have done this multiple times and usually being the youngest of the group, I take a lot of notes.   Today's Wednesday in the Word is John chapter 20 and verses 19 through 25, which ...

The lupines are blooming again.  I said "again" because it signifies a year when I set foot in Maine and specifically the beautiful little town of Machias.  It was a full weekend and the members and elders of Machias Valley Baptist Church were evaluating if they wanted this  "green" interim pastor to serve them through this transition.  I am so glad that they said "yes!" I have learned so much in this year not just about this church and community or even the ministry of being an interim pastor but also about myself.  I have asked myself many times, "Was this the right decision?"  I am thankful to say that as many times as I asked that question, I also received some confirmation from God to keep going forward.   So when I return from vacation, year 2 will begin.  I don't think we will be here another year because the ministry opportunity of this church to this community is obvious to anyone seriously considering MVBC as a ministry...

Maybe our passage of scripture was the inspiration for the song, "I Come To Garden Alone" or known as "In The Garden."  A little research and the answer is "yes!"   Here are the words of the song's author referring to our passage this morning. One day in March, 1912, . . . I drew my Bible toward me; it opened at my favorite chapter, John 20 [1-18] . . . That meeting of Jesus and Mary Magdalene had lost none of its power to charm.   As I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life, when she knelt before her Lord, and cried, “Rabboni!”. . .   My hands were resting in the Bible while I stared at the light blue wall. As the light faded I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches.  I awakened in full light, gripping the Bible, with muscles tense and nerves vibrating. Under the inspiration of this vision...

Three young men and one old guy.  I'm glad that I can still remember when I graduated from high school.  (So I'm not that old!)   My adult life was before me just as these three who have shared much of their lives together.  We are praying for them during the morning worship service as they enter their graduation week and it is a great reminder for us to pray for the next generation.  There are young men and women, especially from small town America, who will uphold the values of our great nation. The sermon this morning covered the 4th trial of Jesus.  Pilate has his first one on one conversation with Jesus and even though we sense Pilate's indifference with this man brought to him named Jesus, his judgment is that Jesus is innocent.  Done, right?  No, because that would not fulfill God's will and complete why Jesus came this first time.  Each time I read and study this section of Jesus' life I can't help but be amazed at God's hand in ...

The CSI forensic evidence is being reported by John, described as "the disciple that Jesus loved."   We get the witnesses' names, the day of the week, the time of day, the physical evidence at the scene, the placement of the physical evidence, and the initial assumptions of what has happened.  More evidence will be uncovered but I will let you read of the conclusions of Peter, John and Mary Magdalene.   Today's Wednesday in the Word covers John chapter 20 and verses 1 to 10, which read, v.1 - Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. We ended last time with Jesus in the tomb on a Friday evening.  The women saw where Jesus was laid by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.  They were now coming back after the Sabbath Day to prepare the tomb for the mourners to gather.  The main concern on their minds would be, "How will we move that...

Here is the mighty Katahdin after a trip north and finding a meadow opening amongst the many trees of Maine.  It was a goal of ours to see this mountain in person. It also happened on the day that marked our 35th wedding anniversary!  It was a great break to spend the day together and explore God's wonderful handiwork.  We are in front of the Grindstone Falls of the East Branch of the Penobscot River.   Our Sunday service brought out about double what we had last Sunday and it was so great to see all the smiling faces.  I think it was also beneficial to gather God's family together to reinforce from God's word how we are to respond to the world around us.  The church body was created by God as part of His plan to mature us so we can respond with Christ-likeness. I wish I could have captured the excitement of one church member this Sunday at the mention of Jesus telling the High Priest Caiaphas that this was not the last he was going to ...