Hello world! I hope all is well with you and that you are entering into a very meaningful time of prayer, worship and contemplation of this special season.
As I am writing you, I am thinking of the second candle we lit today at NLCC and the message we heard from Pastor Jim. Waiting passionately. What a term, an idea, concept...do we wait passionately? Do we do this act AT ALL?! Not just this time of year, but any time? That message has rung so true with me. This is a series that we are in the midst of and I think it is so very true for this time of year. The people that we read about in scripture were waiting. Some were waiting passionately, while others were waiting not so passionately. We too, are waiting; anticipating that day that we celebrate as the day that Christ was born. But more than waiting for that day, we waiting for THE DAY...that day that Christ comes back to take us to his father's kingdom. What a glorious day (I know, that is a song....thank you Casting Crowns).
I am excited about this season. I, too, have an advent wreath in my home and my wife and I will light our second candle this evening and share in the reading of God's word. What a joy it is to contemplate what this time of year is all about. Thanks be to God for all is and does.
I am also preparing myself for the leading of a small group that will be starting up in the new year. I am preparing which studies I will be doing and when. I pray that God continues to guide me and direct the path that I need to take, but also the individuals that will be a part of that small group. There is a reason this is all happening and I am so excited to be a part of this. God is good and I am thankful He saved me.
Until next time......
Blessings to you all
Aaron
P.S. Love you Connor!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Camping Trip #2
What a beautiful time!! Wow, God is so good! I am currently sitting in my house watching a football game and reflecting on the weekend. This weekend found me camping out again with my wife. We took a trip (with our two dogs) about an hour away to a campground and spent time away from really anything other than the outdoors. What a spectacular time we had....great weather, wonderful quiet times, great food. The experience was a great one and I walked away from all of that thinking, "God created so many awesome things and we were able to catch a small glimpse of those things."
After such a difficult past month with so much loss in my family, it was such a refreshing time to see God at work and hearing him. I am thankful that God has provided me some time to step back and to reflect on God's love.
I will most definitely miss all those loved ones and friends that I have lost, but I know that they are in the presence of God and one day I will see them again. And seeing the beauty I saw this weekend, it is exciting to think of that moment when I will get to see the Father and those that went before me.
Camping this weekend help me more than I would have ever thought....thanks be to God.
Until next time...
After such a difficult past month with so much loss in my family, it was such a refreshing time to see God at work and hearing him. I am thankful that God has provided me some time to step back and to reflect on God's love.
I will most definitely miss all those loved ones and friends that I have lost, but I know that they are in the presence of God and one day I will see them again. And seeing the beauty I saw this weekend, it is exciting to think of that moment when I will get to see the Father and those that went before me.
Camping this weekend help me more than I would have ever thought....thanks be to God.
Until next time...
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Baptism
I have to do a better job at this blogging thing. It has been such a long time. It is, however, good to be on here. I hope everyone is doing well. This past weekend was full of events for me. It, too, was a roller coaster of emotions. I realized after all was said and done that 1) God is good and 2) I was tired.
I started the weekend off by having a very busy day at work. I came home and got as much sleep as I could. I got up Saturday morning and headed to a memorial service for my great-aunt who had been truly fighting for her life for 11 years (that's when she suffered her first huge set back...a severe stroke). She passed away and we had to bury her Saturday. A few hours after that we had to get dressed up in our Sunday clothes to be a part of a wedding. My cousin was tying the knot. This was a truly wonderful event...it was a great reminder of my wedding (which happened just over a year ago).
Then, on Sunday I had the EXTREME pleasure of baptizing six....yes, SIX of the children I and my wife ministered to when we were serving at their church. What an exciting time! I had a blast and loved seeing them. It was truly a God thing and it was definitely worthy of praise towards God.
As you can see, it was a very full weekend and a roller coaster of emotions. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good! I can't tell you how much this past weekend drained me, but I look back at all the events that took place then and all I can say is that I was so aware of our Lord and Savior being in those places. I love my Lord and am very thankful HE saved me!
I hope those who are reading this are in a close relationship with our creator or if you are not, my prayer is that you will seek that relationship...it's AWESOME!!
Until next time.......
Take care and God bless,
Aaron
I started the weekend off by having a very busy day at work. I came home and got as much sleep as I could. I got up Saturday morning and headed to a memorial service for my great-aunt who had been truly fighting for her life for 11 years (that's when she suffered her first huge set back...a severe stroke). She passed away and we had to bury her Saturday. A few hours after that we had to get dressed up in our Sunday clothes to be a part of a wedding. My cousin was tying the knot. This was a truly wonderful event...it was a great reminder of my wedding (which happened just over a year ago).
Then, on Sunday I had the EXTREME pleasure of baptizing six....yes, SIX of the children I and my wife ministered to when we were serving at their church. What an exciting time! I had a blast and loved seeing them. It was truly a God thing and it was definitely worthy of praise towards God.
As you can see, it was a very full weekend and a roller coaster of emotions. God is good all the time. All the time, God is good! I can't tell you how much this past weekend drained me, but I look back at all the events that took place then and all I can say is that I was so aware of our Lord and Savior being in those places. I love my Lord and am very thankful HE saved me!
I hope those who are reading this are in a close relationship with our creator or if you are not, my prayer is that you will seek that relationship...it's AWESOME!!
Until next time.......
Take care and God bless,
Aaron
Friday, July 29, 2011
What I saw
Hello world! It's been an EXTREMELY long time since I last wrote and for that I am EXTREMELY sorry! I wanted to just write today about my recent experience because I could not help but see God in what went on. This past week I had the pleasure of a vacation (and yes, I said pleasure) with my parents and in-laws. I spent half the time at a beach with my parents and the other have with my in-laws. That in and of itself was awesome because not many families get to do that. Now for God. Throughout my time away from home I saw little snippets of God, from beautiful land images to the love shared towards one another.
I had gone almost the entire trip and was headed back when I was a part of viewing this great landscape called Earth. I was aboard a plane headed to the halfway point of my trip and as we began to circle to line up for our landing on the runway and as we were in our descent, I could not get over just how beautiful the landscape was and how things were designed and the layout. I know, I have flown before but not on as beautiful of a day as this. And, I normally am not in the window seat (I love you honey). But, back to the view....it was beyond marvelous and as we began closing in on the runway I began thinking of God our creator and how marvelously He put all this together. I began looking around the plane at those traveling with me and saying to myself, "He created people to build something so big as in this plane (so heavy too) that could lift us 20,000 feet or more up in the air; that could travel hundreds of miles an hour. Wow!" What a mighty God we serve! The view was beautiful and it made the trip (without my wife) so much more bearable and allowed me to refocus on what life is really all about.
I made it safely and am back to the grind (still without my wife...I hope she DOES come back). I can't tell you all who read this just how blessed I am because it wouldn't be enough! I have a mighty God who has watched over me and a very loving family that has done the same. I love ALL my family, blood related and in-laws...you all mean so much. I am blessed to be in such an awesome family. I saw a great view of God on vacation.
Until next time......
Take care an God bless.
Aaron
I had gone almost the entire trip and was headed back when I was a part of viewing this great landscape called Earth. I was aboard a plane headed to the halfway point of my trip and as we began to circle to line up for our landing on the runway and as we were in our descent, I could not get over just how beautiful the landscape was and how things were designed and the layout. I know, I have flown before but not on as beautiful of a day as this. And, I normally am not in the window seat (I love you honey). But, back to the view....it was beyond marvelous and as we began closing in on the runway I began thinking of God our creator and how marvelously He put all this together. I began looking around the plane at those traveling with me and saying to myself, "He created people to build something so big as in this plane (so heavy too) that could lift us 20,000 feet or more up in the air; that could travel hundreds of miles an hour. Wow!" What a mighty God we serve! The view was beautiful and it made the trip (without my wife) so much more bearable and allowed me to refocus on what life is really all about.
I made it safely and am back to the grind (still without my wife...I hope she DOES come back). I can't tell you all who read this just how blessed I am because it wouldn't be enough! I have a mighty God who has watched over me and a very loving family that has done the same. I love ALL my family, blood related and in-laws...you all mean so much. I am blessed to be in such an awesome family. I saw a great view of God on vacation.
Until next time......
Take care an God bless.
Aaron
Monday, June 6, 2011
Camping
Well....
I had a brand new experience this weekend (who says I'm not open to learning new things). I have "camped out" before ONLY as part of working at a youth camp and NEVER for a 24 hour period or longer! I have to say that I had a great time, even if I was awoken by the bright bolts of lightening and loud rolls of thunder at 4:00 A.....M.....that's IN THE MORNING!!!
Actually, it was a cool experience! I have talked about it often to my co-workers today. I had a blast and, as a friend of mine said before my wife and I went, we bonded. We worked together and had a good time. The rain is not going to keep me away! I will be going back to camp out again. We worked to get things done (though we did this before the adventure of camping) and did have fun with each other and our rambunctious dogs. This was an experience that helped build our relationship even more. I truly was blessed throughout this time.
It is amazing, the creation of the world, how things work, the beauty found in nature and the friendly attitudes of campers who were strangers. This was NOTHING like camping out at some kid's week-long camp! I am glad I said, "let's go." I learned a little bit and I got away from all that was going on, except my wife and our dogs. If you have a chance, go to a campsite and just stay the night....you will appreciate so many things.
Until next time....
Take care and God bless.
I had a brand new experience this weekend (who says I'm not open to learning new things). I have "camped out" before ONLY as part of working at a youth camp and NEVER for a 24 hour period or longer! I have to say that I had a great time, even if I was awoken by the bright bolts of lightening and loud rolls of thunder at 4:00 A.....M.....that's IN THE MORNING!!!
Actually, it was a cool experience! I have talked about it often to my co-workers today. I had a blast and, as a friend of mine said before my wife and I went, we bonded. We worked together and had a good time. The rain is not going to keep me away! I will be going back to camp out again. We worked to get things done (though we did this before the adventure of camping) and did have fun with each other and our rambunctious dogs. This was an experience that helped build our relationship even more. I truly was blessed throughout this time.
It is amazing, the creation of the world, how things work, the beauty found in nature and the friendly attitudes of campers who were strangers. This was NOTHING like camping out at some kid's week-long camp! I am glad I said, "let's go." I learned a little bit and I got away from all that was going on, except my wife and our dogs. If you have a chance, go to a campsite and just stay the night....you will appreciate so many things.
Until next time....
Take care and God bless.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
I'm baaaaack!
Hey guys! Long time since I wrote last! I'm hoping you guys forgive me for that, but I have been beyond busy. I'm glad that I have been busy, but it's nice to have some time off.
So.....
What about church? I attended that same church again today (though the sermon series was different) and I must say it was well worth the drive. I'm telling you what, this church seems to understand what REAL CHURCH is suppose to be. I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits and have felt the Holy Spirit in that place.
You see, the ministerial team there presents a message of Jesus Christ through music and word that gets down to the business of what we need to hear. There is no "small talk" during the sermon time....instead it is let's get to the scripture and dive into to what God has to say.
As we made our way in to sit down, I couldn't help but notice the happiness that was among so many people and the attire that so many were wearing. So many churches today spend more time on putting people down about clothes than teaching the Bible and because of that there seems to ALWAYS be doom and gloom in the air. NOT at this church....God was there, people were happy and the Bible was taught! That really got me thinking again about what real church is. I see real church as being, as the lead pastor spoke, a real place where real people meet a real God who has a real love for them and helps with their real problems.
Today, there was mention of a church-wide relief effort to help those in Joplin, Mo. and I have a feeling that they will fill that tractor trailer so full that they can't get the doors closed....that's REAL CHURCH. Real church is forgetting about yourself and sacrificing for others to know the true love of Jesus Christ our Lord. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to be a small part of real church. Recently, I haven't been able to say that, but in the past couple of months I can say with certainty that I have been a part of a couple of real churches. God is at work in some of the churches and WOULD BE in others if the people only will allow Him.
If you think or feel that your church isn't a real church, PLEASE pray that the leaders of your church will relinquish the power and let GOD GUIDE your path and if you are a part of real church.....GOD BLESS YOU! Don't let that slip away! Do ALL that you can to continue being a real church. God is awesome and wants people to come to know Him, personally....real church allows that.
Until next time......
God bless.
So.....
What about church? I attended that same church again today (though the sermon series was different) and I must say it was well worth the drive. I'm telling you what, this church seems to understand what REAL CHURCH is suppose to be. I have thoroughly enjoyed my visits and have felt the Holy Spirit in that place.
You see, the ministerial team there presents a message of Jesus Christ through music and word that gets down to the business of what we need to hear. There is no "small talk" during the sermon time....instead it is let's get to the scripture and dive into to what God has to say.
As we made our way in to sit down, I couldn't help but notice the happiness that was among so many people and the attire that so many were wearing. So many churches today spend more time on putting people down about clothes than teaching the Bible and because of that there seems to ALWAYS be doom and gloom in the air. NOT at this church....God was there, people were happy and the Bible was taught! That really got me thinking again about what real church is. I see real church as being, as the lead pastor spoke, a real place where real people meet a real God who has a real love for them and helps with their real problems.
Today, there was mention of a church-wide relief effort to help those in Joplin, Mo. and I have a feeling that they will fill that tractor trailer so full that they can't get the doors closed....that's REAL CHURCH. Real church is forgetting about yourself and sacrificing for others to know the true love of Jesus Christ our Lord. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to be a small part of real church. Recently, I haven't been able to say that, but in the past couple of months I can say with certainty that I have been a part of a couple of real churches. God is at work in some of the churches and WOULD BE in others if the people only will allow Him.
If you think or feel that your church isn't a real church, PLEASE pray that the leaders of your church will relinquish the power and let GOD GUIDE your path and if you are a part of real church.....GOD BLESS YOU! Don't let that slip away! Do ALL that you can to continue being a real church. God is awesome and wants people to come to know Him, personally....real church allows that.
Until next time......
God bless.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
What is church?
What an awesome day this has been! I got great sleep last night and I was excited to see what God had in store for my wife and I as we visited a local church.
As we went in the facility to be a part of an assembly of God's people, there was a busyness in the air. The busyness wasn't to try and avoid guests, but there was a great deal of things happening. We were greeted a few people and we made our way to the "sanctuary"....it was a grand place, a place where God was worshiped and felt.
Once we made our way in we found seats and sat down, excited to participate in the service. After the worship was concluded, a small video clip was shown on the screens. At the end of the video clip, the statement came up, "Real Church." The pastor proceeded to speak from the books of Acts and Matthew and went through what the church IS and IS NOT. And the REAL CHURCH is invovled in the work of God, not the technical things that tend to allow evil/negative things to happen.
Thank you to OBC for a great service and the encouragement that there are churches that realize that this world has changed but not so much that we don't use the book of Acts to refocus on who is the church. Notice I said "who" is the church ....that's right, THE CHURCH is its people.....NOT the building and NOT an organization, BUT....BUT it IS MESSY! Jesus never said that it would be a neat and clean thing that can be stuffed into a box. God is good and He forgives!! What a blessing because if He wasn't we'd ALL be in trouble.
I am sooo excited to see what God has in store for my wife and I at this point in our lives. I am joyful knowing that I'm going to get to travel this road with such a wonderful wife.
I thank God again for leading us to OBC this day! What a great day.
What is church?
Until next time....
Aaron
As we went in the facility to be a part of an assembly of God's people, there was a busyness in the air. The busyness wasn't to try and avoid guests, but there was a great deal of things happening. We were greeted a few people and we made our way to the "sanctuary"....it was a grand place, a place where God was worshiped and felt.
Once we made our way in we found seats and sat down, excited to participate in the service. After the worship was concluded, a small video clip was shown on the screens. At the end of the video clip, the statement came up, "Real Church." The pastor proceeded to speak from the books of Acts and Matthew and went through what the church IS and IS NOT. And the REAL CHURCH is invovled in the work of God, not the technical things that tend to allow evil/negative things to happen.
Thank you to OBC for a great service and the encouragement that there are churches that realize that this world has changed but not so much that we don't use the book of Acts to refocus on who is the church. Notice I said "who" is the church ....that's right, THE CHURCH is its people.....NOT the building and NOT an organization, BUT....BUT it IS MESSY! Jesus never said that it would be a neat and clean thing that can be stuffed into a box. God is good and He forgives!! What a blessing because if He wasn't we'd ALL be in trouble.
I am sooo excited to see what God has in store for my wife and I at this point in our lives. I am joyful knowing that I'm going to get to travel this road with such a wonderful wife.
I thank God again for leading us to OBC this day! What a great day.
What is church?
Until next time....
Aaron
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