God if Faithful!

Yesterday was a little tough for the first moments; as I entered Huff Lane School, the hallways were dark because we couldn't get the lights to come on. I guess they turned them off the other day but anyway, it first looked like we had no electricity....turns out we only had to find the breaker box and get the switch taken care of. But then upon entering the library, I was sort of taken back that all the tables and chairs were gone. I was starring into an empty room. Looked a little sad and dismal but I located some chairs in the library and soon had enough for our soon to be 21-person crowd that God was going to send out way. Besides our usual crew of me, Ginny, Andy, Ashley, Steve, Karen, and Matthew---we also added my sister Melanie, Emilly, Benjamin, and Rachel----and Benita was with us, along with my brother Tim, and Ben and Nicki, who have came to our services quite a lot, and Brian Nicely came and brought his family with him, including his in laws, so we had a good day with a lot in attendance. I am not sure what we will find next week but God does, so I will just talk to Him a lot this week and look to Him for His provision. Thanks Jesus.

Happy Birthday Ginny!

With all the things that I wrote about just now in the last post, I somehow forgot to mention another blessing from the Lord and a chance to celebrate His goodness! Ginny's birthday was on August 23rd so we went to Liberty Station in Bedord and had a good time. And it rained as it usually does so we felt right at home. Since that was the first time we visited Liberty Station since it had been built back since it burned down, it was nice to go back to one of our favorite spots. I am blessed to have Ginny as a wife, friend, companion, and great encourager and worker for the church plant we have stepped out to establish, I sure couldn't do without her and her valuable help. And Ginny's day finished with Binita's family coming over again reminding me and Ginny that she is loved by a lot more people than just her family! Happy Birthday Ginny!

God Leads On!

Wow, once again I can't believe I have waited so long to blog some of the important things happening for Life Pointe Church! It seems every day or every week at least is both a challenge and a blessing. Consider the following items:
1. In May the Roanoke City School Board voted to close Huff Lane School.
2. The gym began to be filled with boxes limiting us to half the space.
3. The gym then began to be totally filled with boxes thus causing us to move to the library.
4. Jeff Ginn came to visit us on August 8th and speak to about 27 folks who were with us that day.
5. We had lunch after the service with Jeff Ginn and provided a 6 foot tasty sub for over 20 people! The fellowship was good and the day went very well!
6. With one week finding the LCD projector gone and then the next week finding the laptops gone, it seems every week something new was coming our way.
7. This past week for example, the furniture started leaving the library with the chairs being the first to go. So this week we may not even have a place to sit! I told you it was exciting!

But with all these "trying" times coming our way, the past Friday, on August 20th, I had a day that was just awesome and God directed! I met with a former student of mine during my RVCS days and we ended up being at McDonald's from 8:30 am until 2:05 pm!! It was great! Brian, the former student I was meeting with, later told me via the facebook route, that he felt like God was sitting at the table with us! I tend to agree! And then I prayed with someone when I was leaving and even was able to invite a couple to Movie night, and THEY CAME! So God was good and I had a great day!
So even now with all the driver's ed. stuff going on, it's good and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for us. Sometimes, I wish I didn't even have to go back to the school routine because I want to do so much through Life Pointe Church, but then again, God has things in place, so I will stay where I am in some ways, but look to soar in new ways with Him! Well it's time to get ready for tomorrow's message, so I'll close, anticipating yet another good day, week, and life, as I live for the One who gave His all for me!

Good Service!

Today, July 18th, was a good day for us at Life Pointe Church! We stayed faithful and continued having our services at Huff Lane School. We had 8 people there today but that's ok, I think God blessed us no matter what the number present was. Today I talked about John 2 and Jesus turning the water into wine. Reminds me of how He turns us into something special before God. I await further instructions for what we are to do next. I feel similar to what the soldiers did at D-Day as we wait for the go ahead to head to our next "beachhead" landing. God is good and so we are faithful in the Army of God, serving as faithful "soldiers" to the King. We had a good service today and enjoy talking a lot after; I think they call that "fellowship" which is so good to see as we continue to "point lives to Christ!"

Gradual Peace

Well, here it is July 15th and I realize once again it's been quite a while since I have posted anything, yet God continues to work and bless my heart. Tomorrow is our Life Pointe Church's monthly movie so we continue to be faithful and do the things God has called us to do. Yesterday I went up to Round Hill Elementary School and this was only the second time yet a much different experience than my first time. The first time I went up, I was almost scared to go in the building after hearing from my wife how bad the place was. I am afraid everything she said was true. Or at least it sure seemed that way. The place looked trashy, dirty, and just left me feeling a little disappointed if not defeated about what the future held. But then came yesterday. And this was after I had spent a week at Camp Ta-pa-win-go experiencing God working on young hearts there. Perhaps it was an extended blessing from there, but nevertheless, as I went in to the school yesterday, I had a different expectancy. As I walked in, I felt "this could work!" and so as I walked down the hallway, which looked "warmer" this time instead of so dirty as I previously thought it was, I felt God impressing upon my heart that He could do a work there. And then as I walked through the cafeteria, I actually felt that God would bless our efforts there. I started blinking back tears as I felt that God could indeed make this a place of "hope" and "encouragement" to all those who would come visit us. It just seemed so different this time. God had obviously given me a new spirit about being at Round Hill and so for that I am grateful. Does that mean it is always going to be easy?? Probably not but at least for now, I am much better than I use to be. I walked around the school and prayed a lot and just ask God to place His Hand on our ministry. I just was burdened and blessed all at the same time so I am so thankful for that. I kept thinking: I used to be sort of aggravated; now I am alright; I use to dread going to Round Hill; now I am sort of looking forward to it. Only God could change my attitude that much. So while we are still in transition going from Huff Lane to Round Hill I feel better and know that God is with us. Praise the Lord for that. Oh, and one other thing. I stopped by the church beside the school hoping to see the pastor. It turns out he about came out the door as I drove up. He was positive and upbeat and glad to have us close by. He was an encouragement to me and seemed very willing to help. Again God is opening doors and I believe we can accomplish many things if we just stay faithful and keep going. It's tough but God has renewed my vision and I know He's with us. We can do it. May we be found faithful. Amen.

Time Goes On,,,Faith Gets Tested!

Today is June 27, a mere 15 days or so from my last post. As I read my last post I noticed I had wrote "it is with great sadness" and I am happy to say that I am trying to no longer look at the closing of Huff Lane with great sadness but rather with anticipation and eagerness to serve God in a new and better way! How's that for just accepting what God has in store for me and most important what He has in store for Life Pointe Church! I pray we will actually be able to live our our "motto" or goal and that is to "pointe lives to Christ" and with almost 500 kids at Round Hill we should be able to do that more effectively. That's 479 kids getting a monthly mailing about our movie night and potentially telling their parents about the new church that is meeting at the school! God is moving us for a reason and that reason is to bring folks to Him. The picture gets a little clearer as times passes..,doesn't mean it's still not tough to leave our familar stomping grounds but since God is moving us, it's got to be good and the best thing for us! Praise the Lord!

Huff Lane School Will Close

It is with great sadness that I type this post. This past Thursday, the Roanoke City School Board voted to close Huff Lane School. This is not only where Ginny has worked for almost 15 years, this is the place where lives have been changed and altered for eternity. As I went over to the school yesterday, I walked into the doors and saw boxes already being filled, taped shut, and placed in the gym. Having our Sunday service is probably going to be difficult to do with the all the things already in the way. But we will have it and continue to be faithful as God makes His will more clear to us. It is a trying and confusing time. I love the Lord and want His church, the church He has called me to plant, to continue, but right now there is a lot of uncertainity. I have been told by Ginny, that the principal at Huff Lane will let us meet at Round Hill next year, so God can still change lives there. It is just not the same and it is very tough right now. These are the times that try men's souls, I believe was a quote from George Washington but my soul is not being tried, but my spirit is. May God get the glory as always and may we see the picture clearer soon.