A Christmas Tree Farm

Today we went to the Christmas Tree farm to pick out our tree, and it is so pretty. This time though I brought along my Dewalt SawZall, and boy did it do the job. When we first came to Louisiana we went there and I used there hand saw to cut a tree down and it about killed me, but not this year. That SawZall worked awesome. Not only mine but Todd and his Grandmas tree was cut along with Bro. Eric's Tree as well. But wait that's not it. 2 complete strangers asked me if they could borrow my saw, off course I loaned them the saw and they were grateful for that. 6 trees came down today with the help of my saw. It was totally awesome, I felt like a hero today. I did manage to cut my finger though, and it hurts. I will try to post a pic of the tree once we decorate it in a couple of days. It is still wet due to the rain today. That's why it would have been tough to cut with a regular saw also. I guess that's why those people asked for the use of my saw also. Next year I am going to rent it out. (j.k.)

The First Black Friday I Miss

I had to work this Friday and I missed on seeing all the excitement and people fighting over good deals. Diana had a comforter ripped from her hands, I wish I would have seen the look on her face. John was bullied by some Lady's trying to get what he was told to hold on for. Some men were threatening to beat up anybody that would get in front of him to get a Xbox. He literally was laying on the pallet of games. Some other lady told Ms Cindy (Todd's mom) That she couldn't get any towels she was holding for and like the typical Cajun reach over her and said,"Oh Yeah, watch me." she took it and left. She is a nut. She scared Melinda because she was running red lights to get to the next store. It was crazy. I wish I would have been there.

The Lord Gave Me Liberty Tonight

Had a opportunity to preach tonight and God filled Me With His Power. Brother Howard dropped it on me Sunday night if I would preach and of course I said yes because it has been burning in me for a while. So I was honored to be called. He said to bring a Thanksgiving message, so I prayed and God had me to preach out of Psalm 100. That whole chapter is a Thanksgiving chapter. So it was fit for the occasion.
Now that church is over me and Todd and his dad are going to shoot some rabbits tonight. It is a delicacy down here to eat rabbit for Thanksgiving. These Cajuns are weird.

Those were the good years......

No not really, because though today is my first born sons 13th birthday he told me today that he does not feel like a teenager, In fact he said,"I feel the same." That in a nut shell is my son. Today he officially became a teenager. Wow 13 years old. I still remember him as a 1 year old playing on the deck of our mobile home in Harlingen. As a kid he was a good child, slept all night and ate all his favorite foods. He used to eat onions raw up until I saw him take a bite out of one like a apple and asked him,"What are you doing?" Well that scared him off of onions, so with that my wife would say."Thank you John Edward."
Happy birthday son, I love you so much, you are a good boy. I am also proud of you so much.
So with that I will sing a little song.
You say its your birthday, Taadaadaadaa, Its my birthday to,Taadaadaaadaaa. Happy, happy birthday baby, I know I'm acting kind of crazy...
Happy Birthday John Jr.

The Upward Pull

A little boy sat on a rock by the side of the road, holding a spool of cord, whistling to his hearts content. A passerby noticing the happy lad , stopped and asked, "What are you doing?" The lad replied, "I am flying my kite; its way up there in the sky!" The man strained his eyes, but saw nothing, and so remarked, "I don't see any any kite up there." To this the lad answered, "Neither do I, but I know its up there, for I feel the tugging on the string." By holding on to the cord the lad knew his kite was still flying.

In closing to this short message, I want to remind you to keep hold of God. You may never see Him with your eyes but by faith you will feel his tugs on your heart.

Lester Roloff once sang about, How there is something mighty sweet about the Lord, It really doesn't matter what the world has to say, there is something mighty sweet about the Lord.

God has been so good to me lately and I love to proclaim it, for He is worthy to be praised. He has blessed my family, home and church. It definitely has been worth traveling all these miles, There are times of hardship but yet God has been ever close by our side.

Its Caldo Time

Well today we had our first taste of the winter that is to come, so we figured why not start out right and make Melinda's famous Caldo, we even made home made corn tortillas and it was so good, the family is still eating while I am posting this message. Todd tried it for the first time and he has had 3 bowls so far, That boy can eat. It is good to have a taste of the valley every now and then. We had a tradition in the valley with the Deleon's, up until we moved here. My wife is the only one that makes it the way I like it, allot of meat and cabbage, and all that other good stuff.
The Cajuns have there Gumbo for the colds and we have our Caldo. I will take a Caldo every time, especially my wife's. YUMMY!!!!!

Thank You Veterans

Thank you for doing what it takes to defend this country, It is said that a citizen will never know the real meaning of freedom until he fights for it, and to our soldiers THANK YOU.

YOU SAY ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD,, WHERE EVER YOU ARE,

The Concealed Weapon in Your Mouth

Inside of your mouth lies one of the most dangerous weapons ever used by mankind. It has destroyed friends, families, churches and peoples. It is such a little member, but it packs a wicked punch. That member is your tongue. It ought to be used to praise the Lord and spread His word, but is most often used to devour others and spread gossip. This member of yours is so dangerous that the Bible likens it to a sharp sword or razor (Psalm 52:2; Psalm 57:4; Psalm 59:7; Psalm 64:3), to a serpent (Psalm 140:3), and to a fire (James 3:5-6). Perhaps we ought to pray like David when he said, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3).

Sombody Go get the Lord....

Almost seems what our churches are lacking today is the Lord leading the services, While there is still hope in our nation and our churches and our families and our children, it is worth going after the Lord in all these situation, We are leaving God Out of our lives today, Some of you who used to stand for all that is Holy have done left the Lord. You have let the pleasure of this world comfort you and keep you busy.. There is still hope You are so concerned about what other people aren't doing but wont look at your own life, if your heart was right you would have the attitude of, If you could do better please help me.... But no you will carry it through till you drive it straight to the ground.....You cant do it with out the Lord....Somebody Go Get The LORD!!!!!
I may not make sense to you now, but there was a time when you would of shouted amen!!!

LET ME SAY THIS, SALVATION IN THE SCRIPTURE IS DESCRIBED LIKE THIS:
""SO GREAT SALVATION""
It was so great for me 10 years ago.
So great but yet I failed him,,, I am sorry God......
It is worth taking a stand.....

The Trip was Great

This is a pic of the church parsonage we stayed at this weekend. What I like about the parsonage is that it is about 1 mile from the church in a beautiful neighberhood with huge houses, Gramercy is a very small town,with about 2,500 people. combine with the other communities surrounding there is over 30,000 people. Batoun Rouge is only 38 miles away and New Orleans is about 47 miles away, We did go to New Orleans, well at least the outskirts of the city. And that in itself is huge. We did go to LakeSide Mall which was big, It took me 30 minutes to find a parking lot, Diana wanted to go to the 4 story parking building and remake the scene were Jerry Seinfield and Elaine, George and Kramer couldnt find there car, Diana was Saying, Jerrrrryyyy, Jerrryyy, it was funy you had to be there.
I thought Nicole took pics of the church but she didnt so I am sorry not to have a pic, You can see it on GoogleMap and put in First Baptist Church Of Gramercy LA, the church is on Airline rd, The church Building is huge and the souronding buildings also. The people are great and I fell in love with there sweet spirit. I knew ahead of time they were Southern Baptist but I felt lead to still come and the pulpit commitee wanted me to come also, they have expressed that they dont want to really break away from the convention but that you can never tell really. The services was great and the people were receptive. One family settlted some things and One joined the church, after wards one lady asked me, "You are not a S.B.C. preacher are you." I told her no, and she said oh because we have never heard preaching like that before, One lady said,"If this is Hells Fire and Brimstone Preaching, I like It." Almost everybody told me how they enjoyed the message and the service and how they never had it like this before. That one family still needs alot of prayer, Bro. Dennis told me later that during the preaching he knew God sent me here because His son needed to here this message, they hadnt been coming and they were told they had to be here. After church Bro. Dennis Hugged me and thanked me because they had been praying that the family go to the alter and get right for along time but they wouldnt, I remember during the service How Bro. Dennis and his wife were rejoicing but I wasnt sure why until after the service. I thank God that he could still use me and come to this church, I pray they do right and find a preacher in the convention who will steer them right, What was so good about this S.B.C. is that they belive the King James Bible is the word of God. And that is Huge for a church in this organization

A Message the Lord gave me this week I hope to preach on a Sunday Morning or a Wed. night.

A SURE FOUNDATION
II Timothy 2: 19-21
I want to say that without excuse I am saved and glad to know it. Aug, 17 1998 I got gloriously saved.
And I am sure of my Salvation.
And as our Scripture reading says it is a sure foundation. Turn to ! 1 Peter 2:6

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
That word Confounded means that there is no shame in serving God, and that there i no disgrace in whom you believe in.
I can shout to the highest heaven that I love Jesus. There is no shame in telling others of your love for God. I am Honoured to be a child of God

To be a Christian is my goal in Life. It is not just a title but a goal.
To be a Christian is to be Christ like.
To walk like Him, To talk like Him.
I owe God to much for me to be lukewarm in my daily living here in this earth.

It is a sure thing this foundation scripture says; That word sure in our text means:

It is strong and stead fast it is both literally and figuratively,

Turn to Psalm 18, This Psalm is a thanksgiving psalm to God for delivering Him of his enemies, Listen to what it is said here in our Scofield Study Bible.

Ps 18:1
¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
Ps 18:2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

David here says figuratively you are my unmovable rock, ((There are rocks on this earth me and you cant lift and David likens God to this, an unmovable rock, A fortress that is impregnable A fortied fortress. No breaches to it defense against its enemies, the deliverer of sorrows,

Aren't you Glad one day there will be no more sorrow, pain, and death, One day in Heaven.

You got to remember that the God of David is our God today. Just as sure as David was in His God so should we.

Can you like David say," Lord thank you that you delivered me through my trials and endured temptation, and Lord I can gladly say,"I will love thee O Lord, My strength."

It is By His strength that I can stand today, Grace has abounded in my life.

And we are sealed by this truth: That He knoweth them that are His.

You that are saved, He knows you. I can rejoice in this for awhile. If this is all the Bible said I could be comforted with that truth. He knows me,

And the greatest demonstration of this love is found in Romans 5:8

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

While yet I was a sinner He died for me, John the drunkard, the liar, foulmouthed, the hater of all thing good, He still loved me enough to die for me.

While He was on the cross I was on his Mind, I was unworthy was I, but yet the Love of the Father saw through that and said there is hope. If you don't know Jesus as savior you can know this, He loves you even though you are a sinner and undone he died for you.

And now that I am saved, he knows me.

John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

[[....Elaborate on the Shepherds dutys....]]

And as we continual in our scripture we see that at salvation through repentance we flee iniquity,

But you see even as Christians God is careful to help the child of God in his walk with Him.

David knew that he to could fall into sin again, You might say what do you mean, well remember Bathsheba, and the sin there, not only did he not be were he should be, but took her knowing she was married (II Samuel 11:3), then found out he impregnated her, tried to hide it by bringing back Uriah to be with her and when that didn't work had him set up to be killed.

David knew he could sin again. Listen to what he said," Psalms 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Don't think that you are spiritual enough not to fall, If the one who was said, he seeked after Gods own heart, prayed this way, what makes you better.

God so beautifully puts it in this way in our text,

2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

I like what the old puritan writer John Gill once said about this verse,

and some to honour; who are designed for honourable service, and behave honourably, and are worthy of honour in the church; are honourable officers, or members in it; and are to the honour of Christ, and the Gospel; and shall at last enjoy honour, glory, immortality, and eternal life.
And some to dishonour; who are to the disreputation of the church, the dishonour of religion, and scandal of the Gospel; by them God is dishonoured, his ways evil spoken of, his doctrines blasphemed, and his name reproached; and who are themselves dishonourable among men now, and will be covered with shame and everlasting contempt hereafter.

In contrast, there are some things in our lives that will bring Glory to God, and there are things we hold on to that will not please our Lord.

You may hide your sin to your wife, husband, family, friends and church but to God all things are seen.

Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

What is that you are holding on too that holds you in Bondage?

What Numbers 32:23 ought to grip you as you study the word of God.

Ye have sinned against the Lord,

This is what you do continually, when you and I sin, We do it against the Lord, I f you are saved,

For the Christian there is a sin unto death.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

There is no escape when it comes to the hand of God!

But there is hope through true repentance, God said in I John 1:9 that through Confession we have forgiveness,

Sometimes we don't get to this until after we are chastened by the Lord,

Chastisement is meant for the child of God to get back in His will, Though some go further into sin due to disobedience it is for correction.

Just as a parent chastens a child for reproof.

God Loves us enough that He will do anything it takes for us to get right.

Listen to what God says about the situation.

Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

And though some don't flee from sin God will deal with them. Even to the effect of the Sin Unto Death. Some will say, Is there really a sin that Christians commit that carries a death penalty?

1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

Lets turn to Amos 4:6-12 and we will see how ungrateful a Christian can get.

What is the beging of this sin? I believe it is found in this one thought the Lord gave me.

You get your eyes off of God. In other words, you start loving the blessings more than the one blessing you.

And once your eyes are off of God you start looking to other things of this world.

Sin will take you further than you want to go.

Backsliding is an awful thing for the child of God.

((( Elaborate on the young boy who backslid on God and though they pleaded with him he crossed Gods deadline and died )))

In closing on this point i will Quote 1 Corinthians 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

You see we have to forsake sin. Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

You as a child of God are to Shun Evil.

Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Psalms 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

1 Peter 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

To Ensue is to literally pursue or follow this daily in your life as a Christian.

And to what is the result? To get to that answer we turn to we look at the last verse in our text.

To purge is to cleanse, Those few short words; He Shall Be, Means that it will be or should come to pass, The result is a Vessel, literally meaning to be contributing or to be useful,

Can you imagine the thought, being useful in the will of God. Useful in His ministry, useful in the church, useful in soul winning, useful in the workplace, useful to leading your family to the Lord, Field almost hard to reach.

To be used of God. That word Meet in this verse is to say in the Greek, Easily Used, or profitable

Can you say you are a prepared vessel this morning?

If a man therefore purge himself from these - He that takes heed to his ways and to his doctrines, and walks with God, will separate himself, not only from all false doctrine, but from all wicked men, and thus be sanctified and proper to be employed by the Master in every good word and work.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary2Ti 2:21 Put it like this
21. If a man . . . purge himself from these--The Greek expresses "If one (for example, thou, Timothy) purify himself (so as to separate) from among these" (vessels unto dishonor). sanctified--set apart as wholly consecrated to the Lord. and meet--Some oldest manuscripts omit "and." the master's--the Lord's. Paul himself was such a vessel: once one among those of earth, but afterwards he became by grace one of gold. prepared unto every good work-- (2Ti 3:17; Tit 3:1)

Are you willing today to #one Praise God for your salvation, having confidence in God And sure of Gods Promise.

Depart from iniquity, in other words forsaking those weights that easily besets us, or to ware down. Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

purging your self from those things that dishonour God.

Coming to this old fashioned alter and seeking the Lords face in your life.

IS it worth it. Look at your children and answer that question, look at your grandchildren and answer that.

Is ever body you are accountable given the opportunity to accept the Lord or reject Him. Are you living so that others see Jesus in you.

Are you saved this morning, Do you know Jesus or do you Know of a Jesus.

WILL SOON BE IN GRAMERCY LA.

For awhile now a church had been after me to send my resume, but due to 2 hurricanes a trip to Texas for a view and some mail trouble and a Revival they finally got it. I have been praying about this church off and on and kept contact with them. I spoke to them on the phone Thursday and they asked if I would go down and preach at their church. They had told me that the pulpit committee saw my DVD of a message I preached against Halloween and discussed how they would like me to go down. The Church is called First Baptist Church of Gramercy La. A small community next to the Mississippi River. It is about 2 and half hours away and about 20 to 30 minutes from Baton Rouge. We will be leaving this weekend to be there on the 2nd. I am praying Gods will on this and excited to meet more Christian on this side before we get to Glory. I often wonder how God has moved us here to Louisiana, but what I do know is though I have been to alot of churchs and met countless of Christian, I would have never met them had I never left the Valley. There are more to meet this side of Glory, so I am willing to go or move, I know I alot of preachers who when God called had to sale their home and move were comfort is to were God says I will comfort you. I didn't have my own home when I left but knowing me that probably would have been my excuse why not to leave. I often think of Abraham when God told him to leave Haran, your home and family and all you posses, Now Haran means; Comfort in Jewish tradition. So to God I say any where any time Lord. I had to learn not to let even family control where to go, I remember when I told my wife we weren't moving to Texas after all, it broke her heart, but she knows to trust me for my Faith is in God

So many Chevys

I can now with a full confidence in my statement, that A Chevrolet is least likely to break down than a Ford and a Dodge. Fords and Dodges break down more frequently dew to fast production as what we at the Chevy place guess. But no matter the cause it is true. It is not a theory or left up to debate, We even have our own Chevy seasoning for food, Talk About, As my Cajun friends say. I am learning a whole lot more working here. And I am sure to learn alot more as I continue to work here. I would have never thought to be working at a dealership, and at that a part salesman. I don't even know how to work on cars much. I own tools like if I can though, But I let my friends bower them. Even when Juan comes up to visit he cant wait to get a hold of my tools. Oh and as for my Brother Juan, I can still hook you up with parts for your truck, Good discount and all Chevy parts. Today I ordered a small covering that hides all the wiring on the rear view mirror, You might think so! But you see it is amazing to me how so many little parts go into those new mirrors that once used to be for simply looking behind you for other vehicles or backing up. Now they have Onstar, heating temps, warnings and a bunch of other stuff. Its not like getting some glue and putting back up any more.
Anyways I want to say I love my new job.

This Morning

I start my new Job this Morning and I am both excited and nervous, but I know My redeemer lives so I will Make it with Gods Help. I got a thrill Of that, just knowing who I am, Knowing I am saved, I like what the preacher says," My momma told me about my first birth, but my second birth I told my momma." I thank God I am saved to the uttermost, And like Bro. Hutson sang, I am on the winning side.
Please pray for me today, and maybe the rest of the week, not just for my new job but just for prayer in general, and I vow to pray for you as you ask.
There is a song I love to hear that says that Somebody prayed for me today.
Lord help me,