A Thought for Today...

"Never measure the height of a mountain, until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was!"

---Dag Hammarskjold

Enjoyed the time....

One of the many things we did on vacation this year at Greenwood Furnace State Park in PA, was for Caroline and I to take some time to shoot some possible senior pics. I am a photographer wannabe, but still had fun. Aaron Johnston will take the professional pics for us.

One of the neat things about Greenwood is that it has LOTS of great backdrops and we only had to travel a total distance of 500 yards (except the mountain climb) to get the variety! Our family has camped there for 13 years straight with two other families who are friends of ours. So, Caroline really wanted to have some pics taken at this spot. I took over 500... but here are a few of my favorites.

I really enjoyed the time spent with Caroline! It was FUN!

Something to think about...

In a book that I am reading, (The Rabbit and the Elephant) the authors write.... "All too often, we cheapen Christianity to the point that it becomes a religion of rules in which do's and don'ts (particularly the don'ts) govern our lives. In an effort to please God by being separate and not loving the world, we often live by the rule book rather than trusting that God has indeed transformed us from the inside out. When our spiritual walk is based on obligation and duty ("this is what a good Christian should do."), it eventually leads to a dull, lifeless religion or even more devastatingly, drives people away from the Lord altogether.... There is no question that the gospel should be preached. But what motivates us to do it? The grace and love of Jesus operating inside us causes us to want to do what legalism or shame-based religion says we ought to do. When we become alive in Christ, HE transforms us from the inside out. We find ourselves motivated by His life within. He gives us new desires. What was drudgery under the old system becomes life under the new. Paul could say, "The love of Christ compels us. (2 Corinthians 5:14) Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light.""

More PA Amish Country Pics

Gotta love the beauty of the farms and the rolling hills.

After a rain storm one night, my friend Brian and I rode around and I snapped most of these photos.

The Yellow Top Buggies are linned up at their Sunday Church Gathering. They meet every other week at someone's house. This was what we saw on Sunday as we made our way to worship at the first church we pasotred... Spring Run Church of the Brethren in McVeytown, PA.

Central PA Amish Country....

Every year when we go to Greenwood, we are in the midst of Central PA Amish Country... Belleville PA... And every year I try to get a good Amish pic for our living room... here are some to share...

more pics of camping...

We had a great time at Greenwood Furnace State Park ... our 13th year with our friends.

Between the rain showers we hiked to the mountain top lookout and encountered a rattle snake. Emma was less than a foot away when it started rattling.... glad it didn't strike!

What a fun week!

Back in the saddle and blogsphere....

We had a great but rainy camping week with our good friends in PA. It was good to sign off for a week... fast the use of the computer for that time.... and limit the use of cell phones. I so needed a break... and that is what I got! YEAH!

Had some fun running around the state park two days in between showers to take some pics of Caroline.. possible senior pics. We have been going to this same place for 13 years straight and she wanted some shots from the park... it was too far to ask Aaron Johnston to go, so I took the pics she wanted there... in less than 500 yards we found all the spots, except the mountain lookout.

A BIG thanks to Charles Schultes for providing Pastoral Care to James and Stacey Maddox in my absence and giving me regular updates, so, I knew how to pray for them. It was so nice to know that they were being cared for and I could rest.

It is good to be back!

Signing off....

Headed for the Hills... so signing off for a while!

Please be in prayer for James and Stacey as they undergo surgery to donate and receive a kidney on Tuesday the 21st and the long recovery process!

A Great Attitude....

I guess, I a preparing for being on vacation this week and logging out of the blogsphere...



Had an email the other day from a person who recently joined our Ministry Center Cleaning Crew. She said in the email... that she had cleaned the building the other day... and she said, that she found it to be a "very rewarding experience" and she doesn't even like to clean! WOW! What a great attitude and a blessing!

Another reason why I love pastoring at Community of Joy! Great attitudes and serving hands and hearts!

God is Awesome...

Today as I was preaching and sharing lots of God encounters we have had here at Community of Joy over the last 10 years, I realized one of the benefits to long term pastorates is hanging around long enough to see God connect the dots that you have long since forgotten about, but in the process of following God, the connection happens.

It especially hit me when I realized that 9 years ago, we met a person, who came a while, but then stopped and then ultimately went to another church for a while... found the Lord there, but wanted to serve...so came back to CoJ and recently became a member and now her entire family comes... wouldn't have seen this if we hadn't hung around this long.

Can't wait to see what God does in the next ten years! I have this hunch that we are just on the cusp of some great things that God is doing!

Amazing....

So, the folks at Community of Joy never cease to amaze me! Actually incredible bunch of people!



I changed the design of the the seating for today's services. And based on the reactions of some of our Leadership Team on Monday night, I was confident that there would be some strong reactions. So confident, that I set up a video camera to record the reactions. But I won't even have to review the footage! Folks proved again something that I have always appreciated about CoJ people... they are very adaptable. Always willing to rise to the occasion no matter the challenge. Folks walked in, noticed the change, and kept moving... many even moved to the center of the row to sit down! AWESOME!

This is one of the reasons I so enjoy being Pastor at Community of Joy! And so thankful to God for the privilege!

Working on a Saturday....

I usually take Saturdays off... at least as much as I can... that will change more when the Sat. p.m. worship gathering starts. But today, I am working so that I can take off Monday and have a bigger block of time away from the grind, at least that was my intention... but now gonna meet with someone on Monday for an hour or so... I am so looking forward to our vacation next week in the mountains of PA....

Using the web to connect and stay connected....

The internet is a great tool for connecting with people and staying connected.

I have enjoyed having a facebook account and re-connecting with friends from years past as well as new friends. Just this week, I decided to make a wall for Community of Joy on Facebook. It will share pictures and announcements of upcomming events. If you don't have facebook... you can access it from our website's home page .

Also we are working on a redesign of our website! Many thanks to Stacy Habig who created the awesome one we have! But believe it or not... it is 9 years old and is in need of an overhaul. Look for the new one to be up in the next month or so!

2 Years....

Coming up on July 22, it will be two years since we had our first worship gathering in our ministry center on South Blvd. And that fact that we are in it is a testimony to the greatness of God!

On Sunday, we will look at Psalm 136, where David recounts the journey of God's people and God's faithfulness to them... a recurring response is ..."O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Thought it would be fun to remember what it was like....

and Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!