Vacation; what a restful word. But isn't it odd that the very same word triggers different anticipations in each of us? The professional driver looks forward to being a home body for the duration of his time off work. The stay at home mom likely thinks happily ahead to long days on the road going somewhere, anywhere other than "here".

The truth is, God has built into the apex of creation a strong need for rest. Doing without sleep is harmful to us beyond what we yet comprehend. Working seven days a week without time off for rest will burn any person out in a hurry.

And rest doesn't necessarily always mean a total lack of activity. Once in a while we just need to spend time doing something other than what we do each day of our lives. Even God in His wisdom rested after the frenetic six days of creation. "And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy...", says the book of Genesis. We don't know exactly what He did on that seventh day, just that He did not continue with the project in which He had been involved. He rested.

If God took time out to rest, shouldn't we? The writer feels that God rested more to set an example for us than to catch up on His own weariness.

With the convoluted and hectic schedules most of us keep, it is important that we deliberately take time to rest. Sunday should be a sacred time for us to worship and spend quality time with family. This allows recuperation from whatever our week held. Similarly, it is necessary now and then to take some time off away from the pressures of the every day world for vacation. Maybe this is the year for a "stay-cation". Perhaps the family budget has no room for a long trip to any of the incredibly expensive popular vacation destinations. But with enough planning there are many things close to home that can be wonderful day trips with loved ones.

Enjoy your work but take time off for rest.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Richard Orrell

CELEBRATE FREEDOM

Memorial Day is such a special day in the lives of Americans!    I choose to celebrate our Freedom each day of the year and not just on this one single day, but Monday is the official celebration in the USA.   So enjoy the holiday on Monday - and be thankful for AMERICA.

John 8:36 New Living Translation (NLT)

^{36  "}So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free."

As Memorial Day approaches each year, I think of my Uncle who gave his life in WW II in the Coral Sea Battle.    I think of the literal thousands who have died to provide America it's freedom.

I recall my Navy days as we  circumnavigated South America on a 1968 goodwill cruise, sharing America's bounty with others.

Then in 1970,  I  served aboard the U.S.S. Josephus Daniels off the coast of Vietnam, and thank God that our crew was kept safe by our Creator, as we served our country in an attempt to provide freedom for others.

Today I'm thankful for all who served in our military, and also for their families, who served with them by supporting them and being here for them when they returned.

And a "Special Thanks" to those who are serving in our military during this time when so little honor and respect is given for their sacrifices.  Let's let them know we appreciate them every chance we get.    A firm handshake, a hug, a smile - let our Vets know you appreciate them this weekend!

As Christians, the SON has set us free!  As Americans we are free by God's grace and the sacrifice of many who have served.  

Freedom is NOT free.    Jesus and our Veterans paid the price for our freedom.  Thanks to all who served, and thank You Jesus for salvation, healing and protection provided by Your sacrifice on Calvary!

GOD BLESS AMERICA and bring revival again to our thirsty land.

Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

Ask any sailor who has served aboard one of our navy’s fine ships. He will quickly say that the most important survival technique is to keep what is outside the vessel from getting inside. Probably a bit of over simplification in his statement but you get the idea. As long as the beautiful cobalt blue of the ocean’s depths remain outside, the vessel will stay afloat, complete its mission and return home safely.

Hmmm…Reckon there might be something here we could apply to our daily life with Christ? Yep. Thought so.

So…One can successfully navigate the dangerous depths through which we sail simply by keeping the things of the world outside? Yes. Loudly and enthusiastically yes.

The heart filled daily with the wonder of His presence will have no room for questionable entertainment choices. The life brimming over with the Word of God will scarcely have appetite for some vile tidbit offered by the spiritually bankrupt media through which we sail. Friendship with Jesus and His lovely people leaves a flashing “No-Vacancy” sign at our heart’s door. He who has tasted and seen that the Lord is good can easily recognize the skull and crossbones emblazoned on the world’s chalice so enticingly offered.

Batten down the hatches. Secure everything that might have gotten loose in easier times. We may be headed for a storm as the End Times develop before our very eyes. But as long as we keep what’s outside from getting inside, we can weather ANY storm

Sail on!

Pastor Richard Orrell

One old song uses the acrostic MOTHER to spell out how the author felt about his own mother. 

Using the same method may shed some light on motherhood in general. 

Mature

Other-centered

Thoughtful

Hard-working

Embracive 

Redemptive

All-in-all, our mothers have accepted their God-given role as the first one to teach us about life and how to live it. They have made no attempt to be our chum nor our best buddy. They have exemplified maturity laced with much love and laughter. We wound up with the choicest piece of the old red rooster while they seemed content to take the lesser cut.  No question was too simple nor could mom be stumped in those early days of "why". If she didn't know the answer she made a learning moment out of it for the one with the question as well as for her own inquiring mind. Oddly, mother was the first one up and the last to bed at night.  Most of us grew up thinking, "Moms don't require much rest, do they?" Only later did we accept her as the definition of stamina. And how refreshing it was to bring a friend home from school and discover mom's loving embrace invariably expanded to include whomever that might be. No matter the strata of society to which they belonged, when they were at our home, they were included.

One of the really important lessons we learned from mother was that everyone was worth the investment of time necessary to effect positive change in their life.  As a school bus driver, mother assigned the toughest kid with the worst reputation to help her back the long yellow monster as she turned it around at the end of the route. No doubt she could have done it without his "assistance". But she was looking for some means to raise his dismal opinion of himself. Too long he had been told how worthless he was. He just needed a calm gentle voice to say, " I couldn't have done it without you! Good job!"

Oh that we all might be wise enough to emulate the finest and best character traits we saw in our mothers! They showed us how it is done. Now let's get busy and carry the torch. 

It's our turn...

Lovingly,

Pastor Richard Orrell

One favorite scripture says, “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that ye ask or think…”

My heart is encouraged when I read these marvelous words.

The fact that God is “able to do” suggests that no matter how daunting today’s crisis might appear, there is Someone who can handle it. His resources tower majestically higher and stretch infinitely wider than any mountain His child may face.

Considering the fertile imagination resident in most of us, for scripture to say that God is able to do so much more than we ask or think crowds the load limits of our minds. It would seem that the limitations of prayer’s possibilities are self-imposed by our failure to dream and believe commensurate with God’s limitless power. So go ahead and fire up your imagination. Dream big. Believe big. Ask big.

A wise old country gentleman once said; “Better to aim at the moon and hit a fence post that to aim at a fence post and hit the ground!”

See you at the altar!

Lovingly,

Pastor Richard Orrell