Isaiah 40: 28-31-NLT
^28 "Have you never heard?  Have you never understood?  The Lord is the everlasting God,  the Creator of all the earth.  He never grows weak or weary.   No one can measure the  depths of his understanding. 

²⁹ He gives power to the weak  and strength to the powerless.

³⁰ Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 

³¹ But those who trust in the  Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."  Not much we can add to His Word.  He is all we'll ever need!

This Valentine's weekend let's thank the Lord for His  blessing in providing soul-mates for those of us who are married.

 To those who are not married or whose spouse has passed, God has promised to be a husband or companion to them.

Let Him fill that role for you.  He's a friend that is closer than anyone!

As the old song says, "Our God is an Awesome God".  

Not only do we have our Valentines and great friends to be thankful for, but God Himself, the best friend we could ever have!     

He is our peace, our provider and ever-present companion!  Let's love Christ with our Worship this weekend!

Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

Isn't it odd how a decision that seemed to be just another whim on the part of a junior high kid could turn out to be such a part of the fabric of life for the adult that kid was to become?

Under the careful tutelage of the band director, reading music from the bass clef had become second nature.

Alas, rules are rules. If he was to play football the kid would have to switch to the high school Glee Club and learn to read vocal music.

What was a bit frustrating to the youth turned out to be mysterious direction for his life task.

The strong background in music from the bass clef served him well as he sang bass in quartets and choruses in various venues over the ensuing decades of time. The tedium of hearing parts punched for sopranos, altos and tenors taught him to harmonize as needed. As time went by, the upper end of his vocal range was revealed when out of necessity he had to lead worship.

The guitar fit him like a glove and became yet another element of mysterious direction for a life under construction. The basis for many of the chords struck in leading worship heartened back to his foundation on the sousaphone in the junior high band.

When life seems to have dealt you a random hand. When nothing seems to makes sense. Trust God. He has a plan and will bring it to fruition if given time and opportunity. 

A satisfied heart,

Pastor Richard Orrell

Matthew 24:44 NLT

"You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least  expected."

This warning from God's Word is so true.     He is even at the door.

As children of God, we are awaiting His soon return.   The admonishment to  "BE READY" rings  so loud and clear to us today.

We often get weighted down with the cares of this world, but I encourage you today to rise above the mediocrity of everyday life.

Set your sights on our Eternal Home.  He is, I believe, standing at Heaven's portal asking the Father,  "Abba Father, is it time yet?  

Can I go and receive my children home?"   

Let us all be ready today, this may be the day.

Even so Lord Jesus Come.

Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

I was a young pastor serving my first larger congregation. Vacation time finally arrived about the same time as the allergies. As usual, I started the trip in the driver's seat with Linda on my right and the children asleep in the back seat as we headed east. Since some of the interstate system was not yet complete we dropped down to a two lane blacktop after getting through the maze of St Louis. I thought I knew which road we needed to be on. I thought we were on it. But I discovered about two hours later that no matter how sincere one's intentions it is possible to be sincerely wrong. My first clue was when I saw the welcoming sign announcing we were entering a town we were not supposed to be anywhere near. In fact, my hours of poring over the atlas in the weeks prior to our departure let me know immediately...I am lost!

In my stubborn naïveté I might have continued forging ahead into the night getting farther and farther away from the correct pathway. But I was suddenly in possession of crucial information; I was headed the wrong way. And no matter how sincere and earnest my efforts, a change of direction was the only thing that would affect my destination. So...after admitting to a man's worst nightmare...being lost...I did the only smart thing, I turned the wheel over to Linda! Remember the allergies? Probably not my wisest choice, tanking up on allergy meds and trying to drive all night. Hey, nobody ever said pastors don't do unwise things sometimes! Well, I did stay awake long enough to help get Linda on the right road. And to this day, I have no clue how I wound up on the wrong road. After many more hours driving the right direction on the right road, we got to the right place where loved ones and friends were waiting. What a vacation!!

Life is a lot like that less-than-clever start to a badly needed family get away.  One may not realize he is headed the wrong way and he may never understand HOW he got on the wrong road. But God begins to reveal the sad truth, it is not Heaven that awaits at the end of this particular road.  The signs are as unmistakeable as the sign welcoming us to that city in Illinois that night. The traveler will get somewhere on the wrong road. But he absolutely cannot get to the right destination by traveling the wrong road! "There is no other name under Heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) Ask Jesus now to save you. If you ask, He will forgive all the wrong you have done and get you onto the road that DOES lead to everlasting life.

I'll meet you at the altar of prayer...

Pastor Richard Orrell

Hope for you today!

Psalm 18: 1-3 NLT

^1 "I love you, Lord; you are my strength.  ² The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;  my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.   ³ I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies."

Sometimes the cares of this world seem to overwhelm us, yes even Pastors feel the enemy's attacks.   Every child of God will face tribulations, but the scriptures tell us to "Be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world." 

As we face this New Year we have many changes facing our world.    ISIS, Affordable Care Act, changes in tax codes and many other dilemma's.

It would be easy for us to despair in times like these, but the constant thread that runs through Scripture is that we are NOT to fear.  We are to put our trust in Him, for HE will never fail us.

Last week Andre` Crouch went to be with the Lord.  He wrote Through It All, a powerful song that says "I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God."     Let that song become an earworm to us in these coming days.  Sing it over and over again.

Don't let the enemy sneak up on us with doubt and fear.  Jesus said, "Be of good cheer for I have overcome the world."   

Yes that means OUR world  today! God is our source, and our ever present help in trouble.

God's got your future my friend!  He is bigger than any problem that might come our way!

Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

Moving air is fascinating to think about. On a miserably hot August day, the stirring of a breeze can be so refreshing. But in early January with the actual outside temperature at a blistering 12 degrees, the accompanying 21 mph "breeze" is life-threatening without proper clothing. Wind can move ships or topple buildings. Eagles soar on the breast of the very wind wreaking havoc on the ground below. Often, the set of the sails determines how the wind will be characterized. Will it be thought of as a terrible foe bent on destruction? Or will memory recall the wind as an indispensable ally moving precious cargo to a desired destination?

How will your current winds of adversity function? Will they drive you into the ground? Or will they bear you up to soar as an eagle over some chasm beneath your feet? What appears to be an ill wind might actually be the breath of God sent to lift rather than crush.

A dear friend was approaching the end of his battle with cancer. In a testimony given at our church he spoke these incredible words, "I'm so thankful for God allowing me to have cancer. Before my diagnosis, I was far from God. As I have struggled against this disease I have found a closer walk with the Lord than I have ever enjoyed!"

The very wind that looked as though it would crush him lifted this dear brother to new heights of spiritual maturity. He turned into the wind, spread his wings and soared!

Without a doubt adversity will happen. How we respond will determine the outcome.

Be blessed of the Lord as you wait upon the Lord!

Lovingly,

Pastor Rich Orrell

A Fresh New Year

Psalm 122:1 NLT

"I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the House of The Lord."

This week we begin a New Year, with the opportunity for us to begin a victorious walk with our Lord daily.    Being in church this Sunday is a good first step, we should be here for each of our church services.

Secondly we need to read His Word, The Bible, daily and then let His Word shine through us to a lost world, as we're the only Bible many will ever see.  Let's be a mirror image of Him.

God's got 2015 in focus—let's see what He has in store for us and be willing to let Him guide our every step in this New Year.

He's got our future under control.  Expect great things from Him in 2015!

Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

I remember during high school days being required to read George Orwell's creepy novel, "The World of 1984". As I read the fiction about the intrusiveness of big brother government I thought a couple of naive thoughts.

First. I thought such a thing could never happen here. Second, I mused that 1984 was so far into the future it might never get here. It would appear I was mistaken on both counts. Not much I can personally do about the first issue except vote. I certainly do that at every opportunity.

But that 1984 thing has me buffaloed. HOW can it have become 2014? And is it really possible we are turning the page into 2015? The year I thought might not arrive is now ancient history. And if things rock on as they tend to do, 2015 will soon fade into life's rear view mirror.

So...what to do with another half million plus minutes being handed to us on 1/1/15?? How about these suggestions?

1. Determine that I will not let my yesterdays affect my new year. Repentance works!

2. Accept that God loves me and will help me make the most of 2015.

3. Receive the new year as a gift from God.

4. View the new year as a blank sheet of paper on which I can write success rather than failure.

5. Lay concrete plans for change. This is based on the sage wit that as long as I keep doing the same things I have been doing, I will keep getting the same results. Change is vital.

6. Make daily devotions my habit. There is NO substitute for cultivating a relationship with God.

7. Determine that I will be a regular in my Bible believing, Christ centered church.

Happy New Year!!

Pastor Rich Orrell

Rejoice, Jesus is Born

Matthew 2:10 "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."

Christmas is such a joyous time of the year.   We celebrate Jesus' birth, we gather with friends and family to exchange gifts and eat far too much at this time of the year.

In the hustle and bustle of the season let's make sure that we don't overlook the true meaning of Christmas!    Take time today and all this Christmas time to honor Christ and to remember HIM in all of our celebrations.

Sometimes we get so busy we overlook the Christ Child.  Honor Him always, as   JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

Please make sure to be in attendance at all the Christmas services at Battlefield Assembly, and take every opportunity to Worship the Christ Child!

Sunday evening the 21st at 6 pm we have our Children's Christmas program followed by our annual 'Tasting Party" in the Upper Room.    

Christmas Eve at 5 pm is our annual Candlelight Communion service in which the Pastors serve each family group communion and have personal prayer with each group.   The service is designed to last just one hour so you can then celebrate with family on Christmas Eve.

Twila and I wish each of you a Very Joyous Christmas!   

Love ya,      

Pastor Phil      

Christmas can be the most dangerous season of all. Just think about it. There's the danger of over stuffing our tummies with all the goodies. Credit traps yawn invitingly on every corner. Cars, clothes, phones, gizmos of every kind and description lurk waiting to sate our appetite for the good life. Alas; January with its overdue bills and catastrophic stress levels is thinly disguised behind the tinsel and glitter of a commercial X-mas.

For some, family disasters from the past dominate memory lane as they try to put a happy face on yet another awkward and painful Christmas. A loved one's December passing, the divorce that culminated too close to the holiday, the heart attack that changed everything: all these conspire to rob the unsuspecting of their happiness as Christmas closes in.

But for the wise and mature believer, none of these really interfere with the joyous celebration of the birth of Christ. Their solution is simple. They buy what is actually needed rather than falling for the latest fad. They do not spend money they don't have for things their loved ones will return the following day. They make it their business to know their family well enough to be aware of their actual needs. And if Christmas sales make it easier to acquire necessities, so much the better.

Shattered promises and broken hearts from yesterday are not allowed to rob them of the peace of God. The mature believer focuses on the fact of Bethlehem's miracle. Shepherds, Magi, Angels, Mary, Joseph, Jesus...THESE crowd out any misery clamoring for their attention.

Be blessed as you celebrate the true meaning of Christmas...the birth of our Savior and Lord, the returning Christ!

Lovingly,

Pastor Rich Orrell