A recollection of the previous week.

A beautiful view.

As I write this I am looking out of a window at Eastern Maine Medical overlooking the Penobscot River. My wife has had a few problems fixed that had arisen from having children, working hard and – hum – getting older. Also, I am on vacation.

Sitting, relaxing, nothing on my schedule. For a few days this is nice.

Later – we are home. Yet my wife is not recovered. Of course, that will take a long time. Our life is not 'normal'. At the same time some in our household are on a normal schedule. While 'tension' might be an overstatement, there is some pulling and tugging in different direction. Also, the household items are using this interruption as an opportunity for mischief. Something my wife notices more than myself.

The week continues.

Oh yes, our daughter has volley ball practice and a couple of games. Someone needs to take her to our Friday home school group. An elderly saint is close to being called home. We are in need of a few groceries.

My wife has had a steady stream of cards, phone calls and visitors. Meals have been accompanying these visits as well.

The Lord has been gracious, bestowing his love upon us. My wife has five more weeks of 'taking it easy'. As she feels more like herself, 'herself' will want to be on the go. Perhaps the hardest part is yet to come.

Sunday morning has arrived. I am the only one up. Soon others will be joining me. Lydia and I will worship and fellowship while Bobbi and her mom will stay home. Week one is above over. I'm looking forward to John's teaching today. May the Lord bestow his blessings upon His Word.

A humble 'thank you' to all who have contributed this week to our needs and our comfort.

Sunday School

Princeton Baptist has a very faithful adult Sunday School class. Over the years we have had a robust teaching staff for all ages, but things have changed. Fewer children are available to come to Sunday School. Another group which seems to be slipping through the cracks, for some reason, is that of the younger adults. Why? I don't know for sure.

Who is available, and also able, to teach these few young children and even fewer teens? Or, do we need to have the traditional classes?

In some games, like scrabble, or chess, for example, as the game progresses one has few and few pieces with which to work. In such cases one has to own up to his limitations, adapt to them and use what resources are available. So must we.

What are the real important elements of a Sunday School?

That the Word is taught well, soundly.

That the Word is taught with love.

That anyone coming in must be loved by those teaching and by others in the Sunday School.

That the Word be received well, as God's Word.

That it be received in Faith

that it be received in Obedience

That as a church we engage in prayer for our Sunday School

expressing our dependence upon him

asking for his blessing

that God's name might be honored

that those who are dead might be made alive

that fruit might be born in all of us.

Expressing thankfulness for the Gospel and for what He has given so far.

Elements that might be not so important.

Age segregation

The best lesson material (colorful, 'exciting', 'age appropriate', etc.)

Programs

Other items might be added to both list.

Lastly, Sunday School ought not to be in competition with or against the family. Rather it ought to support and complement worship at home.

Just a brief note. I recently read an article, which I am recommending. The topic is "naturalism".

http://henrycenter.org/pdf/birkett.pdf

Sunday evening.

Princeton Baptist has not had an evening service for some time. So the question of what do to with oneself on a Sunday evening has to be addressed.

We have decided that we would use the time to have the church people over for supper. We have one or two families over, depending upon the size of the families, and my wife tries to invite an older and a younger couple for the same evening if possible. This is giving us opportunities to become better acquainted, and perhaps, make this possible for our guests.

At this point we are just getting acquainted, discussing the backgrounds of each of us, local history, jobs and family. With some spiritual conversation seems to flow much easier than with others, and sometimes not along lines that we might expect.

We consider this as part of the our Christian walk. While hospitality is much larger than having people over for dinner, having dinner guests is at least a part of this concept. The elder is to be a person demonstrating this service: ESV 1Ti 3:2 “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” However, I must give a great deal of credit and thanks to my wife, for without her help I could not do this.

However, this trait is not to be reserved for the 'clergy'. Read the following verses: Acts 28:7; Rom. 12:13; 1 Tim. 3:2; 5:10; Titus 1:8; Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:9.

May we also be an example of hospitality, for the glory of God.

One last closing point. Hospitality, in the sense of ministering, it not to be limited to our friends. Have someone over for an evening whom you do not know well. Make plans to minister the grace and love of our Lord.

The memory verses for our church: why are they so difficult this time or what goes through a pastor's mind – if anything?

In June, as a church, we started learning some Bible verses. Our first set was 1 Cor. 1:28-31. There was a good response both regarding how many learned the verses plus comments and discussions keep cropping up regarding application of these truths. Our set for July and August is Heb. 10:22-25. Members have been a little slower this time, at least in their public response. Why?

While acknowledging that I may have overlooked keys factors, here is a list of several factors that I have considered. (This is the part where you wonder what is going through the pastor's mind, if he has one!) I have not polled anyone in an attempt to verify any of these.

Maybe people are busier, with vacations and company. This might not only contribute to busyness but also to a break in one's daily routine. For some of us, a break from the regularity of our daily schedule is not healthy for a memorization plan.

A second factor might be the lack of novelty. The first set was The First Set. Now that that experience has passed and we have enjoyed it, we are not so excited about the second and third repetition.

And, a third factor might be this issue of self discipline. We might jump on the memory-verse-bandwagon for the thrill of trying something new, and maybe because we do have some conviction that this is something that we ought to do. Yet the discipline of incorporating some new habit into our life is not easy. Work is require, and sometimes, even for a good cause, we will not put out effort nor will we 'force' ourselves to adhere to a new schedule.

A forth issue might be the difference in the emphasis of the passages. The Corinthians passage was a delightful theological passage emphasizing the work of God in our salvation. The Hebrews passage is one that places a strong emphasis upon our responsibility to 'work out our salvation with fear and trembling'. This passage contains three 'Let us' statements.

The third of these 'let us' statements direct our attention not to the relationship between ourselves and God but towards our fellow believers. 'Consider how to stimulate one another'. This concept may be uncomfortable, and might grow more so as the implications of this statement imposes itself upon us. Even in our small church there are a lot of people with whom we are not close. Are we to consider how to stimulate these people as well? Even to think about this might move us out of our comfort zone.

A fifth factor might be the things I have not thought to mention. (You probably by now see a realistic glimpse into a pastor's mind. We do, or at least, I do, have some inclination to think of what might be going wrong, is it pessimism or a desire for excellence – for perfection?)

Since I have begun writing this - I usually spend a couple of days off and on polishing it up; however, this one has taken longer as I changed its theme a couple of times - I have heard a couple of comments.

One person said: “I like these verses better than the 1 Corinthian ones.”

Another said: “I just don't want to get up in public and say them.” “And,” she added, “I'm really thinking about how to put them into practice in my life!”

The benefits and blessings of knowing and practicing God's word are great, so we will continue, whether I hear a lot of positive feed back or not. We are doing this for the glory of God and not for the pastor's satisfaction. (And maybe the pastor needs to relax, to not think of all of the reasons why not, to be faithful in the Word and to allow God to bring forth fruit in its season.)

“I know a brother is praying”, or, what is true spirituality?

I was talking with a 'brother' the other day. It is said of this brother that he can tell, that is, he knows, when a 'brother' is praying for him. The details of how this is known were not disclosed.

This is not, of course, the complete conversation. However, as I have pondered our talk I have had an increasing concern regarding the soundness of this brother. There is a mystical aspect to his claim to spirituality which has little or nothing to do with what is revealed in God's Word.

I remember, as a much younger man, thinking that I was spiritual because God had answered a couple of specific prayer requests. God graciously answered prayer, however, I was not mature in the Lord

There are two aspects of this issue. First, what convinces me (or the whole church) that another is spiritual? Is it working miracles? Casting out demons? Special gifts? Or is it a steadfast life of faithfulness to God and his Word? The second is the issue of what one would present to others regarding one's own spiritual status. Jesus spoke these words. (^ESV Joh 10:37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; ³⁸ but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.")

Perhaps we would do well to follow Christ's instruction: ^ESV Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Dropping hints regarding how spiritual we are might back-fire, and may tip people off that we don't know what we are talking about.

Walking in the Light or Believing in Christ.

As a married man how often should I remember that I am married, and how often should I seek to please my wife? Lapses in this area are not to be views as proper. Yet for too many Christians, members of the bride of Christ, it is the norm to forget their Groom, along with a disregard concerning what might please him.

Too often in the Church the call to believe in Christ is limited to the area of one's salvation. For example we might understand that Christ is our 'ticket' to heaven, while other aspects of our life are left up to us. Yet God calls us to trust the Lord not only for the eternal safe keeping of our soul, but for his advise, counsel and commands regarding our walk through this world.

All of us, in some areas of our lives, do not listen to the Lord. While there are some who seek to listen to the Lord more than others, sadly there are too many people in our churches who consider listening to and following the counsel of the Lord as an optional part of their life. For the Lord's sake, because His name is upon us, let us forsake our own way, and own him as the Lord and Redeemer of our whole life.

^ESV 1Co 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Dreaming!

If I were God I would plan for my ministry here to be, not too spectacular, but steady and faithful with the church body growing in the knowledge of the Lord and in faith. And yes, the number of people, not just attending, but coming to know Christ and joining the church, would be noticeable. However, as you may have guess I am not God. He is the Lord and master and I am, but, his servant. He has not told me what is ahead.

Two months have flown by since I started here. While some aspects of this ministry are going along as I might have hope there are a couple of items that God has seen fit to do differently that I would have.

The first item, my first funeral would have been an older faithful brother or sister. It wasn't.

The second, one member has told the deacons and myself “You do what you need to do, but I will do . . .” I do have a desire to see each of these sheep walking in the paths of righteousness. But sometimes some do not! If we would be a faithful body of believers we must address the one(s) who get caught up in the desires of the world, the flesh or the mind and, at least for the moment, do not desire to walk with the Lord.

Why am I sad regarding this person? Is it over the soul of one who has been one of us​? Or am I sad because something is not going according to 'my dream'?

Yet these circumstances give the larger body of believers an opportunity to be faithful in addressing the issue of sin in a brother. This is something this fellowship has not handled well in the past. However, this times we have, so far. Praise his Name!

My friend, Owen Strachan, has just posted a blog addressing the topic of memorization of Scripture. http://consumedblog.blogspot.com/ If you read this at a later date look for the post dated July 8.

Somewhat accidentally we started a church memorization project. I need to work on this myself. To see members of the church, husbands and wives or friends working together, encouraging each other, to learn Scripture, has been a joy. At present our plan is to memorize a short passage each month.

God in his grace has gotten us started. To paraphrase a verse, “How can we neglect so great a gift?” Owen's post was a timely reminder that we need to plan to make this project a success, With the blessing of the Lord, we shall.

We have moved.

Last night I was tired, and woke up with a few muscles complaining about being overworked. We are back in East Machias today to pack some more things and to clean out the Mother-in-law apartment, which will be rented shortly. That adds another dimension to the work of this move.

Over all the move has good well. For weeks now I have been hauling things my wife has prepared for me to move. Some of the men in the church helped move in the heavy items.

Last evening we had a delicious supper brought for us.

Bobbi's mom will be having a room right with us, rather than her own apartment. This will be better for her but also will present some challenges. From her perspective, we are living in her house.

It is a warm day here in East Machias. Some friends are swimming in the river. I'll do a bit more work than join them for a while.

Thoughts on being Busy.

Commuting, moving items from our current home to the parsonage each trip to Princeton, family time, cutting wood, and other things have been bumped to a higher priority than writing this blog. Smoothly written sentences do not just flow from my fingers, so there is a bit of labor involved in posting on this blog.

We move next week.

This does not mean that I will be less busy, at least for a while. I am behind on building shelves, fencing in an area for the dog, and other important things.

Hopefully I'll start posting once a week tit-bits shortly.

^ESV Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴ "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

My ministry has begun!

April 30, 2008 at approximately 7pm prayer meeting begun with me leading the service. No fireworks could be seen or heard. Nor was there a group of protesters marching out front. We just met together for study and prayer.

My first request to the church for prayer was that God would enable me to carry out this ministry and secondly, that he would also give ears and a heart to his people to hear his word.

^ESV Act 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

To God be the glory.

Leadership in the Church, part 2.

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Heb 13:7,17 ESV

These two verses speak of specific duties that God has placed upon the leadership of the church. In order of appearance: leaders speak the Word of God to the people and they live a life, with faith, that is to be imitated. Leaders are to be obeyed and submitted to. Thus we conclude that they are in a place of some authority so than the giving of orders or at least the giving of good advice is in order. However, the context does not allow for arbitrary bossiness. The ministry of God's word is ultimately the foundation for this call to obedience. As the leaders are setting an example with their own lives of a life submitted to God's Word, the reader ought not to be able to charge the leadership with hypocrisy, rather the life of the leadership ought to stimulate respect because of its godliness. This statement to submit is connected to two others: the leaders keep watch over your souls, and they do so, administer this charge, as being held accountable. The verse ends with a charge to the reader, one under the authority of the church leadership, to let the leaders do this job of soul protecting with joy, not with groaning, for it does you no good to cause trouble for your leaders.

A calling into church leadership is fearsome. We are watching over souls. The teaching, as well as our lives, is not just to be about teaching the Word because it is so wonderful, or the teaching itself is a intellectual stimulating exercise. A connection must be established between the teaching of the Word and the souls who are being watched over. The Word is to be aimed at these souls.

Truly, the leadership can not know the whole congregation so well as to have every sermon or every conversation arranged to meet all the needs of each soul. We are after all very human ourselves. However, with the blessing of the Spirit of God souls will find all that they need in the ministry of God's Word.

In saying this I am emphasizing the likelihood of these verses finding fulfillment, it can be done, just not in and of ourselves. Yet, the care, not just to some vague group of souls, but to specific individuals, ought to influence what I teach and how I live my life, for God has placed these souls in my hands.

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

1Co 3:10-15 (ESV)

Leadership in the Church.

^ESV 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

In three and a half weeks I shall become the pastor of a church. Does this mean that I will become the leader of the church? And just what do we mean by leader?

The Princeton Baptist Church has been without a pastor for only six month or so. Not a very long time. In this time the church has not fallen apart. The deacons continue to lead the church along with the interim pastor. The church continues to worship, to serve the Lord and to serve each other.

After I arrive on the church staff (the only paid staff member as far as I am aware) the present deacons will continue to lead the church. The interim pastor and his wife have now joined the church and will be a regular part of its fellowship during the nice, warm months of the year. He will be active with the leadership and the teaching in the church.

On my part I look forward to working with these men. They are godly. They have various gifts. I see the potential of a wonderful working relationship as we seek to service the Lord together. We are rich, and greatly blessed.

My desire is not to push these men out of leadership or move them to the back burner, out of the sight of the church. Rather, I hope to keep them before the church as the leadership that the church has confidence in, with the hope that, in the Lord, we will lead God's people in love and truth. Two of several benefits of having multiple people in leadership is that, if the major decisions are made as a group, than the pastor can not be seen as the one running the church. Also, the collective wisdom of the body of leaders may counter some of the short-sightedness, sinfulness, and other failures of the pastor.

All those in leadership and otherwise, must place ourselves under Christ's authority for we all must give an account unto him. As the pastor I have chiefly accountable to the Great Shepherd for my shepherding. Thus I praise God for a wise and godly group of advisers who desire that Christ might be glorified as the Lord and Head of His Body.

May Christ be praised for his wonderful gifts.

The centrality of the Word.

^ESV Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

This verse is often thought of in applications to the individual believer. Here are three ways that it may apply to the local church.

First, the pastor is to be living this verse. God's word is to guide his own life both in his personal walk and in his duties as a pastor. The wishes, desires and needs of the congregation are not to be his light. Also, his own wishes, desires or needs must not become the light for the church. Yes, the congregation is paying his salary but he is working for someone else, and is to walk in His light.

Secondly, the believers who make up the local church are subject to the light of God's word as much as the pastor is. There is no verse stating something like: “You are not a professional Christian like the pastor, just stay sort of near the light and you will be fine.” God is light and He requires all of his children to walk in the light so that we might be like him in this world. (See 1 John.)

Lastly, the leadership of the church along with the congregation as a whole are to make the Word of God their light together. There is to be no dichotomy between the individual's walk in the light of God's word and that of the cooperate body. What light does traditions and pragmatism offer to the church that is lacking in God's word? All that comes into the church ought be be there because God's Light is shining upon it.

While living in this flesh we will not walk by the light of God's Word perfectly. I recently heard part of a discussion on a Christian radio station regarding how blind Christians are regarding the imprint of their culture upon themselves. In the context they were advocating a knowledge of church history to help counter some of this blindness. Well enough, this indeed may be very helpful. However, the ultimate correction for my life, for other believers and for the local church must be the light of the God's Word.

A pastor is to be about the Word; seeking it's light, walking in it's light and pouring out that Light into the people of God and to the world. The church is to seek the Word to no less extent.

Nothing else will do.

To the glory of God.

Amen.

An item of Praise!

The arrival of a pastor to a church is a transition, to say the least. On my part there is some work of preparation. Pondering the course one ought to bring to this church is perplexing, and a heavy burden. However, in the Lord's providence I was led to a book. The story goes along this line. A long time ago a young man was in a church I pastored. Eventually, in college the Lord brought the doctrines of Grace to his heart and mind. He went on to seminary and is now working towards his doctorate. Along the way he started writing a blog which I have been reading regularly. One of the many links on his blog site (http://www.consumedblog.blogspot.com/) is for http://www.9marks.com/, a site which I have found to be very edifying, guiding me to books by Mark Dever. I am now close to finishing The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel by Mark Dever and Paul Alexander, published by Crossway.

This book offers guidelines for moving one's church from a less healthy position to a spiritual healthier walk. As I read this book my soul was filled. Here, in these pages, is what I was looking for without knowing for sure what was on my heart. This book is not the Bible. While our church seeks to be based upon that greater book we may benefit from the struggles and walk of others who have gone before us. Praise the Lord for those who write edifying books.

I can not claim to have all the answers to such things as: what to teach in Sunday School or how to conduct a certain meeting, nor may I predict that all will be well in ten years for our church; however, an outline has been cast and I have peace with what the Lord has laid before me, before us.

What do the titles of my blog and those in its address signify?

I would love to say that I put a lot of deep thought and prayer into these, however, I did not. Some time ago I secured a gmail account so that I could comment easily on a daughter's blog. At that time I also set up a blog. Much time passed before I started this blog, in the meanwhile I confess that I had forgotten the name of the blog and the address. I had to search to find it.

However, after reflection, I have with satisfaction accepted theses titles.

Growing.

As a believer I inspire to never stop growing. As a pastor I should never stop growing. As a student of the Word I would never stop growing. In 2 years or 10 years or 30 years I ought, by God's grace, to be more godly, have a better understanding of the Gospel and God's word, and have greater skill and wisdom in applying it to my own life as well as to the lives of others.

Others whom I minister the Word to/with, again by God's grace, will be growing in their likeness of Christ.

If the above is true than the church ought to be growing. This is not an assumption of numerical growth, while with God's blessing this might take place. A more important aspect of church growth would be that the whole would be united in faith, knowledge and service of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, may this be so.

The website address: http://sonlight-dad.blogspot.com/ is a combination of a couple of titles.

First I am a father, and so 'dad'. As mentioned above, I acquired this account particularly to comment on my daughter's blog, so titled myself 'dad'. However, now that I will be having millions, if not billions, of people reading this – soon. I have dropped 'dad' as my signature and adopted my name: “Al”. This should eliminate some confusion.

Secondly, the term 'Sonlight' is from my business name: Sonlight Creations. My wife and I took this name for a couple of reasons. First, we live in Washington County, Maine. One of the first places in the continental USA to receive the light of the sun each day. We do our work in the day, well, sometimes late into the night, but the day is for working. We rejoice in the time to work that God has given us, and the provisions for life that come from the sun.

However, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the light of the world, and is our light. His light is far greater than that of the light coming from the sun. We would live in the light he provides in His Word, the Bible. So over the years, with a great deal of imperfection on our part, we have set our hearts on building our lives, our marriage, family, and our business upon his Word, i.e. to walk in his light, and thus give glory to him.

I would like to comment on two aspects of glorifying God. As the light of the sun gives life to the world so the light of the Son is what gives life to his Kingdom. Therefore, the first aspect is in receiving and growing due to the 'energy' Christ's light supplies. The second aspect is simply acknowledging that all of our lives, everything that we do, is done through the strength and blessings that He supplies. If I show love for my wife, it is because of and through Him. If I turn a useful and beautiful bowl he must be praised. If I open the Scriptures so that others may be fed, to him be the glory. If I am alive today it because he holds my life together.

ESV Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
ESV Revelation 21:23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it,

God is calling me.

How does one know that God has called them to serve as pastor/teacher of a certain church?

As this is not an exhaustive study of the topic I will seek to answer this from my own experience. A subjective response, if you would.

Upon hearing of the Princeton Church’s need for a pastor my first response was that I was doing well with my woodturning and that I did not wish to make a change at this point in my life. Each year the income and skill level has been growing, this year would be a good year, Lord willing! I enjoy turning, as well as, to some extent, the selling process. Yet, I believe that over the years God has shown that I have a gift of teaching, and I do meet the standards of godliness put forth in 1 Tim. 3 and Titus 1. An awareness of this opening in Princeton was always present with me. Further, our Tuesday evening Bible study group was just finishing the book of Judges at the time. An additional nagging thought was: would I be cowardly or hesitant in respects to stepping forward as some of the judges had been? I determined that I would not be like that, and therefore I gave the deacons at Princeton Baptist a letter asking to be considered for this position.

The Lord has graciously allowed me to have joy and peace in my heart regardless of the prospective outcome of this step. If the Lord closed this door I would take this as His will, likewise, if He opened this door for me that too would be an indication of His will. Thus I was able to approach the messages and interviews with a freedom to teach and speak what I believed. I was not doing this to please man.

Two aspects of ministry have pulled at my soul. Seemingly these are opposites, yet I think a case may be made that these two elements complement each other in the service of the Lord. First, I have never felt so unworthy and unqualified to look after the souls of others and to teach the Word of God. At times the urge to run away from the responsibilities of this service has been strong. Countering this has been the knowledge that I am most likely in the position of being the most qualified I have ever been for this task. I have, by God’s grace, a wisdom, strength and knowledge of the Word and the task of ministering that I did not have in the past. There is in my heart a sense of the man that God has been making. I don’t think this is arrogance, but is simply taking an honest look at the work of God in a person, in this case, in me. (Rom. 12:3) As this is God’s work, my understanding of my inadequacies are good and proper. May this remain until I die! Yet this is God’s work, and therefore I must press on with fear and trembling for it is God who is at work both in the willing and in the doing. (Phil. 2:12,13)

Lastly, I have had over the years people who have thought I was total off base and that I should not be in a position to teach – period. However, I have also had people who prayed with thanksgiving for God’s continued blessing upon my teaching ministries. I have not counted to see which side would have the most votes. Paul was faced with such issues from time to time. His response: ^ESV 1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. ⁴ I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

It is the Lord who judges me.

My prayer: Lord, may I be a faithful servant of yours.

On February 9th, 2008, the Princeton Baptist Church in Princeton, Maine voted to call me as their pastor. I have official accepted. This will be my story. Or, to say it in a better way, this will be an account of the work of God in a man in a small town in Eastern Maine.

I will assume the position May 1. After school is over in June I, along with my wife, Bobbi, our daughter, Lydia and my mother-in-law, Shirley, will be moving to Princeton.

My grand plan for this blog is to post something at least once a week that relates to my growth as a believer, as pastor and of this church in such a way that God might be glorified and his people edified.