a church in pursuit of God, with a passion for people

01... Jim Bruce 15… Juan Leiva

01… Lauren Wilnau 15… Neal & Tonia Hayes
02... Steve Doggett 16… Grady Anderson
03… Zachary Varnum 16... Mary Sommer
05… Randy & Rhonda Gideons 19… Jamie Cochran
07... Regent Weber 19… Kalen Harbaugh
08… Abbie Light 20... Devyn Levia
08… Steve Porvaznik 21… Saige Blum
10… Terri Eldridge 23... Tina McGall
10… Tim & Jennie Walleker 25… Duane & Tonya Sturgess
11… Evan Wall 25... Ron Sellers
12… Patrick & Danelle Wall 26… Amanda Varnum
13… Samantha Symonds
13… Sonia Shearer
 Randy Gideons Lead Pastor The Warehouse Church

happy. He asks for something specific and we give him

something else.
I think of the scripture that says “OBEDIENCE IS BETTER
THAN SACRIFICE.”

As a pastor I want everyone to like me…impossible but true…

and I sometimes hate to have to point out the obvious when I
can see where God’s children are missing what He is saying
and giving Him what they want to give Him instead of what He
wants.

True or false, does He not say in the Scriptures:

__forsake not the assembling together,
__bring into the storehouse the tithe,
__feed those who are hungry,
__Go and make disciples,
__Train up your children in the way (His way…not ours!),
__worship Him is spirit and in truth.

I believe that there is a river that most married men come to Who are we pleasing with our actions? Obedience is
and have to decide how to cross. So many times I have better…
heard…I do all these things for her but she doesn’t thank
me for what I do. I too have suffered that river. At times I think
we men are not that smart. Our wives ask us to fix the cabinet
door and we go paint the house. They ask us to repair the light Check out Randy’s blog on the Warehouse website.
in the bathroom and we mulch the flower beds. We are asked www.vcfleesburg.com
to repair the rotten wood on the eve of the house and we put
up new shutters…and then we wonder why they don’t seem
happy for all of our efforts.
One day I was griping to God about how I felt Rhonda did
not appreciate the things I was doing around the house and
yard for her. In just a matter of minutes God’s voice broke
... "What PLEASES
through. He (God) said to me, “Why don’t you listen to what
she is saying?” I got defensive with Him at that question and
the LORD more?
starting defending my position, and I heard the challenge come Burnt offerings
through…“Why don’t you listen to what she is saying?” Over
the next little while I could hear in my head clearly many of the and sacrifices,
things she had asked me to do.
I then realized the problem… (the river)…I was trying to please
or obeying him?
her through my own understanding of what I was thinking It is better to OB E Y
would make her happy. Instead of doing the simple things she
was asking, I was inventing all of these other ways that I than to offer a sacrifice.
thought would please her…in other words…the things that
would please me thinking they would please her…GET IT? It’s It is BETTER to do
a major barrier in our relationships of marriage.
It’s a major barrier in our relationship with God. In the what he says...
scriptures of the Bible there are many requests that God makes 1 Samuel 15:22 NIRV
of His children. What do we do? We respond by giving Him
what we think will make Him happy in a way that makes us
THERE IS ANOTHER WAY

O kay, I admit it; I still love to watch Little Folks, we are no different than the members of the Walnut Grove church.
House on the Prairie. I grew up with it, When we deal with people, we will often see things one way or the other. We
and I still watch it if I find it on TV. That will choose up sides and not budge. I am sure that churches have split for
is where this article originated. Read on and much smaller things than a church bell because nobody could see another
follow with me. way out of the situation.
In this episode, the Reverend Alden told the Can’t you see God doing much the same thing that Tinker did? Standing at
church that he would like to have a church bell. the back of the room getting aggravated and hurt because nobody asked Him
Everyone thought it was a great idea and were for help. Tinker had the answer that would appease both sides. God is the
deciding on the details and how much they could same. You see, when we are in the middle of something that we are
afford. Mrs. Olson stood up and volunteered to struggling with, we get discouraged. We get down and attitudinal. We try to
purchase the bell and the plaque that said that rationalize things out with our carnal minds and eventually make a decision
the Olson’s donated the money for the bell. The from there.
point of views ensued between the two sides of People, there is another way. God’s way! He has a reason for why you
the argument. One side said to let them buy the are where you are. If we would just stop and ask Him the way, we might not
bell since nobody else could afford it. The other be in the wilderness
side said that no other part of the church had a for nearly as long.
plaque on it and the bell will be no different. In Remember; just
the weeks to come, the argument got more and because YOU can’t
more heated and eventually split the little see another way,
church. You see for them, there was no other doesn’t mean that
way. If the Olson’s win, the opposing side would GOD doesn’t already
leave. If the other side won, the Olson’s side have the way. The
would leave. Eventually, they asked for the people of Walnut
Reverend Alden’s resignation. There was no Grove couldn’t see
middle ground. There was no negotiation. It another way to solve
was one way or the other. Nothing else was the bell problem until
even worth talking about and would not be it was revealed to
discussed by either side. them that Sunday
In the back of the room, there was a man morning. Ask God
named Tinker. He was very hard of hearing and to reveal your
could not speak. He saw what was happening solution before you
to the adults and saw that it was being passed trust yourself to
down to the kids as well. So he decided that he make the wrong one.
would use the kids help and build the bell
himself. You see, he saw another way. A way
that neither side could argue with since it didn’t
gain favor to one side or the other. The ultimate
goal would be achieved in that the bell would be
made. In the weeks to come, the kids gathered
all the metal materials they could find and they
were melted and poured into the form that they
had made with Tinker. Then, Tinker went to the
church and mounted the bell above the steps
and began to ring the bell until the entire town
came to investigate one Sunday morning.
T he past couple months we have been using “High Voltage”
kids ministry curriculum.
In June and July we were “Dealing With It” (different issues
facing kids.) Then depending how long the main service goes we play the
We dealt with fear, peer pressure, conflict with friends, game “sink or float” or freeze dance. The kids love to dance!
forgiveness, stress, attitude, anger, depression, and the
tongue. Great topics for kids! Each week we give a family devotion for the kids to take home
to their parents and if they can tell us their last week’s memory
July and August we have from the same ministry curriculum, verse they get a blow pop.
“Life is a Highway” series.
Officer Jay Walkin and trucker Big Pappa take us down the If you’re interested in joining our team, see me on a Sunday or
road of life and we discuss different road signs that we see give me a call.
along the way.
 “One Way” to heaven,
 “Stop” sinning,
 “Merge” and work as a team,
 “Construction Zone” building our faith,
 “Detour” dealing with disappointments,
 “Wrong Way”,
 Caution Children Playing” and
 “Dead End”

Each week we have exciting kids worship, a greeting from

officer Jay Walkin and Big Pappa, a memory verse game
called Phase craze, puppets Hobbie or Sunshine talk to the Pastor Ron Sellers
kids, a game, a Bible story, object lesson, and conclusion.

Julie Macrae ~ What happened to my mum to make her so unloving and unforgiving?

Sonia Shearer ~ Why did you make me so hard headed?!!!!

Brenda Petersen ~ What ministries do you want me involved in?

Jeff Light ~ Why my mom and brother?

Sandy Lindsay ~ How can I serve You better with others You have called me to serve with?
Every Sunday ~
averagejoe’s Café
Free continental breakfast served from
10:00am to 10:20am
Contact: Renee Stoffel @ 253-2465
THEWAREHOUSE BAND
Contacts: Aaron Symonds @ 330-1928
Mela Striker @ 365-1006
WAREHOUSE NURSERY & PRESCHOOL
We believe in ministering to the needs of even
our littlest members. Our qualified teachers
create a positive experience that introduces
nursery and preschool children to the love of
Jesus early on.
Contact: Jill Porvaznik @ 793-1326
WAREHOUSE KID’S
Warehouse Kid’s is for all boys and girls in
Kindergarten through 6th grade. We provide a
combination of games, interactive characters,
and fun filled songs capture kid’s attention
while showing them that living for God is the
best way to live!
Contact: Ron Sellers @ 787-0385
2nd & 4th Sunday ~
S T A T U R E Youth Group @ 1:00pm
Stature is about experience, connection and
influence. Teenagers can have an authentic,
first-hand experience with God while they
connect with others, forming purposeful
relationships. As they grow, they learn how
to make an impact on the world they live in.
Contact: Neal Hayes 365-1496
Next Meeting: Sept 12 & 26
Monday, Sept 13 ~
Women of Heart meeting @ 7pm
Grace Tabernacle in the children’s room.
Speaker: Jody Powell
Contact: Charlotte Meeks 728-1213
1st Wednesday ~
Light Home Group @ 6:30pm
Our group is about RELATIONSHIPS;
building them and maintaining them. We are
studying the Five Love Languages by Gary
Chapman.
1304 CR 245A, Oxford (West)
Contact: Jeff Light @ (352) 427-9211
Next Meeting: Sept 1
2nd & 4th Wednesday ~
* S OA K IN G @ 7:00pm
4th Friday ~
The Lindsay Home
The Plantations off Hwy 27 Older Gents @ 11:30am
24113 Peekskill St. South Leesburg Older Gents is an opportunity for men over
Contact: Sandy Lindsay 315-0245 50 to meet for lunch and enjoy great
Dinner served @ 6:30pm conversation over a variety of topics that
Next Meeting: affect all of us.
Surely Goodness Deli
* Soaking is simply spending time in God’s 2255 Citrus Blvd., Leesburg
Presence rather than striving in prayer. It’s Contact: Randy Gideons 793-9270
about resting in His Presence, experiencing Next Meeting: Sept 24
Him and choosing to be intimate with Him.
ation
Every Friday ~
Warehouse Volleyball elev
Leesburg Rec Center Young Adults of 18 to 29 years old gather for
fellowship and different activities. Contact:
1851 Griffin Rd., Leesburg
from 7-7:30 until you drop. Vance Harbaugh (941) 720-3912
Cost is $2 per night until you reach $20,
then you are covered for the rest of the year.
These are pickup games open to the public.
Contact: Derek Striker 551-9535
CREATIVE ARTS
1st Friday ~ Drama! Dance! Pantomime! Sign language!
Flags! Children's ballet! These are just a few
READER’S Book Group @ 6:30pm
venues that have been incorporated into the
This group is for the discussion of books Creative Arts Ministry at the Warehouse
pertaining to the Christian Faith. Church. The message of salvation through
Barnes & Noble @ Lake Sumter Landing Jesus Christ and the ministry of worship are
Book to read for the summer: key factors in the foundation of our Creative
The Great House of God by Max Lucado Arts Ministry. Many people are blessed
Contact: Brenda Sims (352) 787-5266 through the visual arts and this is why this
Next Meeting: Sept 3 ministry exists. Look for future opportunities
that will allow community oriented theater and
2nd & 4th Friday ~ dance.
Harp & Bowl - Worship & Intercession Contact: Barbara Smith @ 315-1400
Cochran Home
3233 Indian Trail, Eustis, 32726
Snacks at 6:30; Harp & Bowl at 7:00
Harp & Bowl is based on Rev. 5:8-10
... one had a harp and they were holding golden
bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the
saints...
Our goal is to worship God and to pray the heart of
Jesus in every situation that God leads us to.
The format is simple--worship and pray--which
works out very free flowing, with sensitivity to the
Spirit expected. We worship and minister in many
various ways, along with focused/pointed
intercession. Everyone is expected to participate,
encouraging everyone that they
have the freedom to fail--just go for it! When we
feel like God's done with us we stop. Everyone is
encouraged to slip out earlier if they need to.
Our worship is led primarily by Ernest & Rita
Machamer and Jamie & Cliff Cochran. Ernest, a
former church worship leader, plays the keyboard
beautifully, while Rita sings beautifully and
prophetically. We’ve got three guitars, a piano, and
another keyboard just waiting for those who can
play them.
Contact: Cliff Cochran @ 483-3140
Next Meeting: Sept 10 & 24
 Brenda Petersen

Beware of E-Mail Tracker Programs

J ust a bit of info we all need to learn about or a reminder for those who do
already know.
The man that wrote this article is a computer tech. He spends a lot of time
You can do your friends and family
members a GREAT favor by sending this
information to them. You will be providing a
clearing the junk off computers for people and listens to complaints about speed. service to your friends. And you will be
All forwards are not bad, just some. Be sure you read the very last paragraph. rewarded by not getting thousands of spam
emails in the future!
He wrote: Do yourself a favor and STOP adding
By now, I suspect everyone is familiar with snopes.com or your name(s) to those types of listing
truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just regardless how inviting they might sound!
that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites. Or make you feel guilty if you don't! It’s all
about getting email addresses and nothing
more.
Advice from snopes.com
You may think you are supporting a
VERY IMPORTANT!!
GREAT cause, but you are NOT!
Instead, you will be getting tons of junk
1) Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to '10' (or however many)
mail later and very possibly a virus
of your friends", "sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck" or "you'll get good
attached! Plus, we are helping the
luck" or "you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever
spammers get rich! Let's not make it easy
-- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies
for them!
and emails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each
ALSO: Email petitions are NOT
time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to
acceptable to Congress or any other
use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that
organization - i.e. social security, etc. To be
demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus - that is email
acceptable, petitions must have a "signed
tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don't care how
signature" and full address of the person
they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them. Also, emails that
signing.
talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease "how would you
feel if that was your child" - email tracking. Ignore them and don't participate!

2) Almost all emails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are
similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to
the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the
most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of email is, is a way
to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for telemarketers
and spammers -- to validate active email accounts for their
own profitable purposes.
 Cliff and I go way back to the days of Mylon Lefevre and David
& The Giants... (some of you know who they are). Our different
church backgrounds have blended over the years and brought A FEW OF YOUR
us back together for a time such as this. What a blessing he is FAVORITE THINGS
to so many.
RG
Color: Iridescent
Full name: Clifford James Cochran
Cliff Cochran

Food: Boiled peanuts

Nicknames: Cliffy
Words: Grace, peace, hope
Born where & when: Ocala, Fla., Feb. 28, 1958
Vacation spot: Peter Island Resort, British
Family stats: Married to Jamie with 3 kids Emily, Christian, & Catherine.
Virgin Islands
Pets: None, the rest of the family has 4 cats.
Bible Verse: (hardest question - too many
Last movie seen: National Treasure 2 (free tv); last time in a theater - One
choices); probably a tie between 2 Peter 1:3 -
Night With the King, before that was Driving Miss Daisy (with my best friend
"His divine power has given us everything we
Jamie).
need for life and godliness through our
First job: Carnival ride operator at Six Gun Territory.
knowledge of Him," and Romans 5:8 - "And
Worst job: Rainbow vacuum cleaner salesman.
God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
Worst subject in school: English Literature
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Your favorite sport to play: It was softball, now a geezer sport like golf!
Song: Whatever the one the Lord is singing
Who is your favorite sports player: Tim Tebow
over me at the moment, or the one I'm singing
Best way to make you laugh: Bad puns (What happens if you don't pay
to Him.
your exorcist? - You get repossessed!)
Dessert: Crustless New York style
Most annoying habit: Constant drumming or whistling.
cheesecake, no toppings.
If you had to pick another profession, what would it be: MMA fighter or
Cologne: None
President.
CD: Rend the Heavens by Jason Lee Jones;
Word or phrase you overuse: Whateva'
Glory by Klaus Kuehn; Glorious by Christ for
Worst trouble you got into as a child: Stuck tongue out during 6th grade
the Nations
class picture.
Movie: None, maybe old Mel Brooks movies
Hidden talents: Song writing, 300 yard drives (usually into the trees).
filled with bad puns, but I don't recommend
Most unusual thing in your fridge right now: Aloe juice, homemade by
them to anyone else!
one of Jamie's friends.
Book: God Catchers - Tommy Tenny;
Most embarrassing moment: Asking Jamie's parents permission to marry
Lectures in Systematic Theology - Henry
her (took me 3 nights to work up the
Thiessen; Just Who Do You Think You Are? -
courage).
Cliff Cochran (coming soon).
Best advice you've ever been given:
Restaurant: Luigi's - Eustis; Abio's - Ocala;
1. Make God your first resource, not your
Angelo's - Sanford (all pizza places - NY style)
last resort. 2. There are no permanent
Spiritual song: Revelation Song; or whatever
jobs, only steady!
song we're freshly creating and singing to the
How many speeding tickets: Two. Last
Lord at our Harp & Bowl meetings at our home
one in 1985 (speed trap in Westwego, LA,
on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month.
on the way to church).
TV show: It's Supernatural; live revival feeds
When you see God, what do you hope
on GodTV and Daystar; live sports.
He'll say? Hey Cliff, I've been dying to
Toothpaste: Ultra Brite
see you! We're going to have so much
Plant: Seed Potatoes; Oaks of Righteousness
fun...
F or those who may not have known it the Warehouse Church has a art that anyone can do, and is a great way to
puppet team. Though you have not seen much of us lately in “big” share the Gospel. I have not met a person
church, we are always doing something in Kid’s Church. Since you yet that did not enjoy watching puppets.
haven’t seen a whole lot of us the last couple of years I thought I would God is doing great things with our church
give you some history about the team. and I believe that He is going to even more
Not long after I started coming to the Vineyard I started assisting with Kid’s through creative arts. I hope and pray that
Church, helping with puppet skits and helping with the object lessons from the you enjoy the shows and lessons we bring
Kid’s on the Move Curriculum from Willie George ministries. Since I had been a to you and that it reminds you how to be a
Jr. Worker at my old church growing up (age 12-18) I wanted to share what I had kid again. Thanks for all the support that you
learned with a new generation, but it seemed that while we were at Shoney’s Inn have given us over the years and Lord
at the time the Lord would not let it go anywhere. willing we will be around for many more.
Things changed in 2002 when we moved into a building of our own. I had
met some people from another church doing street ministry in front of my work,
who told me about a puppetry festival down in Wesley Chapel, FL. I bought a
new puppet and some training material and before I knew it I had about 6
puppeteers. We were able to borrow a PVC pipe stage from another church that
we had to duct tape and finagle to make it big enough to put on a couple of
different shows in the main church. Thankfully, due to our hard work and making
do with what we had the Lord blessed us with a nice tripod stage, which is still
used today, as a Christmas present from the Vineyard. The first couple of years
were pretty fun; I even had a competition for creating a sock puppet in order for
one of the team to win a puppet. The first winner was Kim Coulson, but she
wanted it to go to someone else so it went to Sarah Smith, with Tiffany Terhart
and Tierney Lanzer Dubi next in line. They were very creative and the
characters were, to me, good enough to be on the Muppets. Kelley Gideons,
Jessica Lancaster rounded out the first six. They were all very talented and all
had a hand in coming up with some of the choreography, songs, skits and props
that we used and together built. We even performed at 3 different puppet
festivals, winning a bronze each time.
Through the years the team grew and shrunk. The most we had was about
14, but through it all I kept my core for about 5 years. Some eventually moved on
to other ministries, some moved away but I am always grateful for them. They
taught me as much as I taught them. They even did their best to get me to ask
Ms. Torrey, now my wife, out. They new I should marry her before I did.
In 2007 Torrey and I got married and things changed a bunch. Pretty much
all of my core had moved on and things got really hectic. Between helping with
the youth group, being the kid’s church coordinator, it was all becoming too
much. So the team kind of fell away. Torrey and I have done a few things
together and that has been nice, we have both enjoyed it very much. I have
been able to develop some of my old characters and have since added some
new ones.
Now as for the future, things are looking great. I have a couple of things that I am
working on, and hopefully I will be able to debut them soon, including a new Steven Bennett
puppet character, that has already been a hit with the children and a video. Puppet Master
Also, Torrey and I have been disciplining under Pastor Ron and Mrs. Cheryl
in Kid’s church and are leaning a lot and having fun doing it. We have talked and
would like to start the team full force again but things probably will not start until
we are in the new building. I cannot wait. When we do, I believe the Lord will do
some amazing things through the team and will hopefully inspire a new
generation of puppeteers. I would like to see more adults involved. There will be
need for set builders, prop makers, costuming and various other support roles,
but if you really want to, you to can be a puppeteer. Puppetry is a wonderful, fun

Jumping To Conclusions
H ow many of us get our exercise
by jumping to conclusions?
Have you ever gotten little
tidbits of something and then played the
whole thing out in your mind, just
knowing that has to be the way it is and
find out later that it just wasn’t the case
at all. Have you ever been with people
and someone has said something or
looked at you a certain way and you
automatically think you know what that
statement or look was about only to find
out later that you were totally wrong?
I never buy the magazines at the
checkout in the grocery stores because I
think they are disgusting but I do read
the headlines. It amazes me how people
can take a statement and use it totally
out of context to come up with a lie and
make it look like the truth.
Without going into any detail, and
because I’m not willing to expose myself
completely, I will tell you of an
experience recently that got the best of
me. I thought something was happening
with a friend of mine and was sure I had
the evidence to prove it. Absolutely
everything I thought to be true was totally
wrong. Not one piece of information I
had was correct! It looked correct. I read
it, I saw the pictures, it had their name on
it and it looked right. I managed to get
myself all worked up, praying the whole
by Sonia Shearer
time and thought I was listening to God
and found out that what I had believed to
be true was totally incorrect, wrong, a lie,
not even close. I was thrilled that I was
wrong, but I was wrong. As soon as I
sounds good, it isn’t the right time. It
might take away from, instead of adding
to. I have found that God very rarely
needs my help when someone else is
speaking on Sunday mornings.
found out the truth I distinctly heard God My exercise that week was jumping
whisper in my ear, “You shall know the to conclusions. As embarrassing as it is
truth and the truth shall set you free.” to admit, I think we all do it. This time I
How right he was. I was so relieved! got really carried away.
Fortunately for me, I didn’t say anything It showed me how easily I can get off
to my friend whom I was so suspicious track by taking my eyes off of Christ and
of. What I thought they were doing lean on my own understanding, which in
would have been innocent on their part; this case was totally false. I’ve decided
it would have sent me reeling. I to join the gym and take Zumba classes,
apologized to God almost immediately it is so much healthier.
and asked him to forgive me. It was a
lesson in humility and made me face
some issues that I hadn’t wanted to deal
with.
I have a very vivid imagination and
have to keep myself in check all of the
time. Having a good imagination is great
for designing window treatments and
telling stories; it isn’t so good sometimes
when you are trying to hear clearly from
God. My mind goes all over the place
imagining what could, would or should
happen and many times, none of that is
the case. There are many times that I’ve
thought I had a word that I should share
on Sunday morning, but haven’t, only to
find out later that I would have been very
wrong to do so. Sometimes even if it
Find the Cross!
Hidden somewhere in the newsletter is a “cross” similar to
the one below and possibly a different color.
If you find it and you’re the first to call the church office
@ 365-2594 or email to vcfleesburg@embarqmail.com,
you’ll win a treat! Happy Hunting!
Last newsletter the cross was in the pencil
graphic in Bloopers.
Grady Anderson was the first to find the cross!
Congrats to Michael Wilnau and Dottie Hannon, also!

HEY STUPID
M
any years ago, I read this quote by John
Hagee Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church
of San Antonio, Texas. “You say preacher I
haven’t been fed here that is why I’m leaving this
congregation. Hey stupid that dissatisfaction you
experience is the salt I imparted so you would thirst for
more.”
My wife Betty though this quote was crude and
un-loving. I must agree it is crude yet I think there is a
loving side to this quote. In the past years, I have
found a mentality in the church that everything is up to
the pastoral staff to make my life easier. Now when
this does not happens then a person has the right to
look around to find fault with something or someone.
Then concoct a seemly good reason for leaving that
community. The mentality is that today my problems
are because of my parents, my wife, husband, my
teacher, or even my pastor and a certain church or
domination.
I have an acquaintance who blames her
miserable life on her mother who didn’t love her. I feel
so sorry for her and her poor relationship with her
mother (her list gets longer each day). I am willing to
give her the benefit of doubt and say she is right, and
her mother was the culprit.
This woman will not receive Godly counsel or
even good counsel for it usually is what she doesn’t
want to hear. Yet she comes very close to demanding
that people listen to her problems, she will wear you out
or wear you down. Although she is a well-meaning
person, people stay away from her because they
cannot take her pitiful nature. She has such a need to
be accepted that she pushes even harder for love and
validation.
In the church we are looking for someone to feed
us, coddle us and will give us a magic pill that will keep
us happy. We want someone who is popular,
irreligious, and socially acceptable, someone who tells
you what you want to hear and one who makes you feel
good about yourself.
Periodically I would cover for Senior Chaplain
Samuel Perry on Sundays doing services at North
Central Correction Institution (NCCI) in Gardner,
Massachusetts. There usually were three voluntaries
from the Jehovah Witness in “outer control” waiting to
get in for Bible study. Because this group was not
accepted by the mainline denominations, (they are the
ones who irritate you by coming to your door) they were
left waiting to be the last group to go to E Building. I
would come into Security and mention to the officer at
the desk that they were a part of my group and they
would call them when that clerk checked me through for
clearance. The group leader and I became politely
friendly. I did this for years until one of the new officers
assigned to the desk was Jehovah Witness. He made
sure the group was cleared as soon as they checked in
at outer control.
A number of years ago, when we were on
vacation in Fitchburg, Ma. I went in for a special service
in my honor. As I walked into inner control, the JW
Check out Leo’s blog on the Warehouse website at www.vcfleesburg.com
all culminate in his capacity as Lord of all. This is not
only in the heavenly but also in the invisible realm that
surrounds our present situation, time, sphere, arena of
spiritual actions and daily activity. Christ’s hierarchy,
authority, presence, power is in the here and now. Not
something only futuristic, “...when he raised him from
the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms, far above every rule and authority and
power and dominion, and every name that is named,
not only in this age but also in the one to come”
(Ephesians 1:20-21). The reality for you to understand
group leader was so happy to see me. We did
in these verses is that the power required to live a life
everything but embrace. He shared he had cancer,
pleasing to God is the same power that raise Christ
had found a Jewish Doctor who would treat him in line
from the dead.
with his beliefs and that I need not worry for the
Paul says, “Now those who belong to Christ have
Jehovah Witness do not believe in hell therefore he
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we
was looking forward to the new kingdom one day on
live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with
this earth.
the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25). He is telling us to walk
We were two old warriors believing in a life lived
inline with or live under Holy Spirit control, obey every
according to Biblical principles. We perceived
leading of the Holy Spirit and know that through
Scriptures differently but both of us were focused on
repentance (the crucifixion of the old life of sin) He will
living a life pleasing to God. Neither was willing to
produce His graces in our character. Instead we want it
change his values to what society dictated. The
fast and easy, we want magic (we call them miracles
appreciation for each other had not softened.
for religious reasons) we prefer being spoon-fed
In mainline Protestant denominations, as well as
irrelevancies and meaningless chatter, exercising our
large segments of American Catholicism, liberal and
mind with feely thoughts. We demand for someone
modernistic theology has been hailed as the future of
anyone to do something right now.
the Christian church. There is a push or a movement
The Scriptures tell us that the Truth will set you
within the churches that has blurred doctrine and
free. The world will know us by how we serve one
softened moral precepts. Note, “within the church”, we
another and our character, the fruits being love, joy,
encounter the same spirit as we find in the arena that
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
we are to influence.
gentleness, and self-control not because we tell them
we are followers of Christ. These virtues are produced
through grace to benefit our social relationships. The
The world will know us by how
we serve one another and our character, Holy Spirit is the key to living in God’s grace.
We must pray to our loving Father that he would
the fruits being love, joy, peace, give us a thirst for the things of God. “As the deer
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, longs for streams of water so I long for you, O God! I
faithfulness, gentleness, thirst for God, for the living God. I say, ‘When will I be
and self-control not because we tell able to go and appear in ([to] the face of God) God’s
them we are followers of Christ. presence?’ I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day
long they say to me, ‘Where is your God’” (Psalms
42:1-3).
As we move closer to the Lord’s return, we will
Recently there was a poll taken that people will be
witness good things in the midst of troubled times.
much more receptive to name calling such as liar,
Judgment is coming to the nations as God shakes
cheater, and abuser or unfaithful than to a racial slur.
everything that hinders our love for him. There needs
Where do we stand on principles? What are we
to be a cry in each of us, a need for a fresh personal
thinking as a nation as well as individuals?
cry, not based on someone else’s passion or our past
We hear all these voices that say look at me, poor
experiences. The Holy Spirit is waiting and willing to
me, and you don’t understand. The Bob Newhart Show
push us to be hungrier and more desperate for God
created by David Davis, Lorenzo Music. With Bob
than ever before.
Newhart, Peter Bonerz, Suzanne Pleshette. The
Some things come easily. However, others –
professional and personal misadventures of a
especially those relating to our faith and commitment –
psychologist and his family, patients, friends and
can require some real digging and 8careful
colleagues. Sometimes Bob would yell at a patient he
consideration. When you have tasted that which is
was counseling with these words, “Stop it.”
good, yearning for the things of God is a life long
I have to say that there comes a time that one has
pursuit, God always appears when you pour out your
to deal with just living with these traumatic times in our
soul from deep within. God will create an insatiable
life and go to Jesus on our knees. Crawl, cry, weep,
hunger and thirst. We must anticipate that this will
yell or pound your fists do whatever you have to do to
result in wanting to spend more time with him. Time
be connected with Father God. We call Jesus Lord but
alone with him will reveal that his devotion for you and
is he really lord of our lives? We must believe the
me and in return will form an element of certainty in
Scriptures are for today and every word in Scripture
your soul. God is remarkable, especially with his
means just what it says.
people who
God’s elective purpose through both the Old
hunger and thirst
Covenant and the New Covenant (a covenant has no
for kingdom
termination date) was the work of salvation through
dynamics.
Jesus the Christ. His death and resurrection, the
glorification of his physical body and his final exaltation
to the right hand of God interceding for us continuously Hand me that
saltshaker.