tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80063328179957099072024-02-08T05:36:37.527-06:00Vision 2918 MinistriesPastor Lee Wells, Personal BlogLee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-8976587700492150232012-05-30T01:25:00.003-05:002012-05-30T01:25:47.935-05:00Pray 4 Rockwall<br />
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</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As the summer season approaches we have begun an effort to pray for our city. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We understand that the most powerful tool we have to affect our city is prayer. Everything we do at Landmark Fellowship will rise or fall upon our commitment to pray.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Pray 4 Rockwall will be organized in 4 ways: </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">1) We will place a prayer door-hanger on every home in our area.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">2) We will pray for needs of anyone who:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #505050; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">- emails: <a href="mailto:pray@landmarkfellowship.org?subject=Special%20Prayer%20Request"><span style="color: #0e23a3; letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;">pray@landmarkfellowship.org</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">- calls: (972) 961-4960</span></div>
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<span style="color: #505050; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">- submits:<span style="color: #0e23a3; letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.landmarkfellowship.org/prayer-request/">www.landmarkfellowship.org/prayer-request</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">3) We will pray for collected requests in our Sunday morning service. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">4) We are dedicating time each week to specifically pray for our local neighborhoods.</span></div>
<br />Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-20429772547816965762011-12-15T13:24:00.003-06:002011-12-15T13:32:35.043-06:00Here's the text of our latest effort to invite our neighbors to visit Landmark. If you are visiting this site and live here in the Rockwall, TX area, please accept this invitation. We would love to share what God is doing with you and your family. <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=LandmarkMail-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/LandmarkMail-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">December 12, 2011</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Dear Neighbor,</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Hello, from the newest church in Rockwall, TX! As pastor of Landmark Fellowship, I would like to introduce myself and invite you to join us. We have been holding services for just over four months. We began on August 7, 2011, and we have been growing ever since!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Landmark Fellowship is a family-centered church, and we would love for you to visit and experience the power and presence of God.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Sunday mornings are a special time of worship and teaching, beginning at 10:30 a.m. At Landmark we sing a blend of modern worship choruses, along with established church hymns. Then we move into a time of teaching and preaching the Word of God. It is our belief that the Word of God is as powerful and relevant in this contemporary time as it has ever been.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Wednesdays are dedicated to children. Children’s Church is a great time of singing, puppets, clowns, and games. We start promptly at 7:00 p.m. and are finished by 8:00 p.m., with transportation available for your convenience. So please let us know if your child is interested.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Each Tuesday evening we have a group meeting where we discuss the end-time prophecies of the Bible. Perhaps you would like to join us as we enjoy the teaching of Rev. Irvin Baxter. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">With the holidays upon us, we simply want to let you know that we are here. We would be honored to have you come visit us during the next few days and weeks. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; color: #5f0503"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">On December 24, we will be having a special Christmas Eve service. It will be a warm time of carols, celebration, and communion beginning at 6:00 p.m. until 7:15 p.m.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; color: #9e234e; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">You may visit our website at </span><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px">www.landmarkfellowship.org</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"> and join our monthly newsletter for more updates and information if you are interested. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">We pray the Lord’s richest blessings upon you and yours.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Sincerely,</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Rev. Lee E. Wells, Pastor</span></span></p></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-17231601743401412782011-10-10T15:30:00.004-05:002011-10-10T15:39:20.361-05:00Dear Friends:<div><br /></div><div>Here's the body of a thank-you letter that I was privileged to send to almost 30 friends. Each have been a great help to us. We are blessed! God is doing some big things for us!<div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Landmark Fellowship has been holding services now for 10 weeks! It took a while for the dream to open up; but once it began to happen, it has exploded!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>I am writing today to thank you. We have been able to do so much very quickly because of your help, along with the help of others. Your generosity and understanding are enabling us to see great success.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Here’s an idea of what God is doing at Landmark Fellowship. In the past four weeks we have averaged over twenty in our mid-week service, with a record attendance of 27! Our Sunday service consists of a strong core group who are committed and working diligently to see the church established.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>This past Sunday we hosted a Friends Day. We had a great day of worship and preaching followed by a complimentary lunch with activities for the children. With 34 there we broke all attendance records while seeing three new families experience a life-changing service at Landmark Fellowship!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>On October 20<sup>th</sup></i><i> Landmark Fellowship is excited to host an EndTime Prophecy Conference at the Rockwall County Library, where we are expecting hundreds of interested people to attend. Our prayer is that at least twenty families will sign up for Landmark Fellowship’s Tuesday Bible Study. This will allow people to come to our church to learn more about Bible prophecy as well as other important biblical truths.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Our goal is simple - we must tell every person in our area about Jesus Christ. Our dream is big - to build a church for Jesus Christ. With over 80,000 people to reach, it is no easy task. But with God, and friends like you, all things are possible. Thank you for everything you have done for us. We are grateful for your support!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Please continue in prayerful support of Landmark Fellowship. We are praying the Lord’s richest blessings upon you and yours.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Thanks again,</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>Pastor Lee Wells</i></div></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-64540185035713458032011-08-31T12:46:00.002-05:002011-08-31T13:26:20.989-05:007 Things a Young Church Should RememberAs the pastor of a brand new church in Rockwall, Texas, I have been thinking about things a little differently. <div>
<br /></div><div>This post is from a message I taught last week to our young church. Maybe someone could draw some strength from these points as well. <div>
<br /></div><div>It is so easy to see the negative in the world if we choose to allow it to become our focus. The first thing we must do as a young church is: </div><div>
<br /></div><div>1) Stay Positive. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Philippians 4:8 teaches us that we should think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and things that are of a good report. We should think on things that add virtue and not take virtue away. </div></div><div>
<br /></div><div>2) Keep faith alive.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Luke 18: 8 reminds us that when the Son of Man comes, he will be looking to find faith on the earth. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>3) Never Neutral.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>As a young church we can never afford to shift our spiritual life into neutral. Chrysler has an ad campaign right now that simply says: Never Neutral. I like it. Let's remember it each day and apply it to our hearts and lives. There is no time for coasting, no time for idleness to take over the church. We should never shift into neutral. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>4) Prayer Wins!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Ephesians 6 shares the design of our spiritual warfare. We are to be equipped with God's protection each day. We are not battling the things of flesh, we do not fight people or the things we can see, but we war against the enemy of our soul though prayer. The Lord grants us the win when we fight the spiritual battle His way through Prayer!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>5) Reach.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>The only reason our young church exist today is to reach into the lives of people who are needing more of God. There are enough religions, churches, and social helps in the world, but not enough people willing to really reach into the lives of others. We are here to reach every soul we can for Jesus Christ. The day we quit reaching is the day we discontinue fulfilling the great commission given to us by Jesus Christ himself. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>6) Give.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>We must be givers. We must share with our community those talents God has given each of us. The only limitation that we see limiting our blessings is the amount of giving we allow ourselves to give. Luke 6:38 says, Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>7) Understand Seasons.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Everything has it's own time to grow and develop into what God intends for it to be. Nothing that God creates is expected to be fully developed overnight. Ecclesiastes 3:1 explains that to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>There is nothing more frustrating than trying to circumvent seasons and hurry along a process God has established. Don't frustrate yourself. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Take the pressure off of yourself. Live for God with all of your heart. Let God build His church. </div><div>If we are available to grow and mature in Christ, He will bring the increase into our lives and church, in due season.</div><div>
<br /></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-72690129391336626402010-05-08T15:51:00.000-05:002010-05-08T15:52:59.468-05:00The Beauty of Holiness<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We have been in the Birmingham/Talladega area of Alabama for a couple of weeks now. My wife and I are really enjoying the beauty of the mountains along with the trees, flowers and lakes. It's just beautiful here at this time of year.<br /><br />Right behind the church where we are parked, there is a great view of the mountains. You know, the kind of view people pay hundreds of dollars to see from a cabin or lodge window. The funny thing is, when we mention the beauty of this area to the locals they brush it off by saying, "That's just the way it is here."<br /><br />As awe-inspiring as we find the beauty that surrounds us, those who have grown up here see it as ordinary and pedestrian.<br /><br />Today my mind goes to those things I have grown up with in my life. The surroundings of my life, such as: The church services. The prayer meetings. The Saturday outreach efforts. The time spent at church camp and holiday youth convention. The Sunday School teachers. The Pastors we have been privileged to submit ourselves. The youth pastors. The nights spent in prayer. The days spent working and cleaning around the church. The precious moments spent teaching a Bible study. The wonderful feeling of allowing the Lord room to speak a conviction into your spirit. The times I have watched my parents weep in an altar.<br /><br />All of these beautiful things could become, "just the way it was," if I am not careful.<br /><br />Then I am reminded of the stories my parents have related about their childhood. The stories of a father treated wrongly by his father, and the way he had to leave home at 15 just to make something of his life. Stories of a failed marriage, and a daughter who was taken from him and never allowed to be in his life. I am reminded of the tales of nights on dance-floors and mornings with hangovers.<br /><br />I am reminded today, of the almost two-year search my mom and dad went on to find the truth about God and His promised help for whosoever thirsts. As they waded through the falsehoods, formalities, and word-games of the denominational leaders. Which led them nowhere. Then only to find out later that these 'trusted men of God' knew the correct answers to their questions all along, but would have jeopardized their positions if they spoke the truth of being baptized in Jesus name, or the true power of being filled with the Holy Ghost-evidenced with speaking in other tongues.<br /><br />So today I am relishing the beauty of the life I get to live. I never want to lose the beauty of what I have been given just because I grew up in it. There have been many go before me that have suffered to be able to hand my generation an understanding of living in the beauty of holiness.<br /><br />I refuse to lose the appreciation of what we have today. Contrary to popular belief, holiness is not ordinary nor pedestrian; it is a beautiful surrounding, and a gorgeous habitation that many would give their life to have if they could just see it for themselves.</span></span>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-86506120620533200422010-03-30T16:32:00.005-05:002010-03-30T21:40:23.520-05:00The Favor of God? It doesn't feel favorable...The in-thing today seems to be a constant talk of being "highly favored" and how that gives us all the things we want in life.<br /><br />Some will say things like this is my season of God's favor... So I will not be sick, I will not need anything, only good is coming my way, etc.<br /><br />However, when I look at the people God favors, I don't see a "rosebed" life.<br /><br />Joseph was highly favored, by both his earthly father and heavenly father- but his life was anything but easy.<br /><br />Noah was as favored as anyone could have been- but he was dealt a life of toil and a ministry of ineffective preaching.<br /><br />Job, the most blessed man to walk the earth in his day. A life of blessing and increase, highly favored of God. But we know the rest of his story.<br /><br />Moses was a man who was hand-picked and born with favor upon him, but the life he lead was not one of royalty and ease.<br /><br />Daniel- a man who with the great favor of God found himself face-to-face with hungry lions.<br /><br />Mary was highly favored above all women, and she had one of the most unpleasant lives a mother could lead.<br /><br />John the Baptist- talk about favor, to be hand-picked as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. To lead the way and baptize Jesus himself. But we know the end of this life of favor as well.<br /><br />Jesus Christ- if favor could exist it would have to be in him. But he had a life none of us would really want... Right?<br /><br />Steven, Paul, Peter, John... You know it is hard to find anyone who was a difference-maker in the kingdom, without this thing called favor.<br /><br />In my own life I have questioned many of the events that I have had to face. None that I felt I had deserved, but in hindsight it simply looks like favor.<br /><br />No one could possibly know the pains, hurts, seeming misfortunes that I have faced. Just like I could not know yours... But at the end of the day, it was my choice to be placed on a potter's wheel, it was my fervent prayers that demanded to be used in the kingdom of heaven, on earth. It was me that asked for the favor of God, he chose to honor my plea.<br /><br />The course is set, I must decrease so that He can increase. I must be placed in what seems a prison in order to be able to preach a gospel of freedom. I must carry the greatest truth in this world, or any other. I can only do it with the favor of God. Even if favor means pain, suffering and injustice. I am honored to be called worthy of His divine favor.<br /><br />If this post is unsightly to your spirit, please do not pray to be different, never pray for the favor of God upon your life and ministry. You will never be happy until you come to the great revelation of what the favor of God really is. Favor is the process He uses to make you into a weapon of mass destruction aimed at the forces of hell. It is what makes the difference between soldiers of the Cross and spectators of the Cross. <br /><br />Unfortunatly, favor is not a pain-free ticket to paradise, but it is a life full of joy. Jesus said he went to the cross... "for the joy set before him." <br /><br />Most may not understand this post, but I hope to understand it more and more each day.Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-43428094485957007222009-11-14T17:42:00.003-06:002009-11-14T17:54:04.634-06:00The Problem with Perfection<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As you can see, it has been over a year since I have taken the time to update this blog site. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have been alive this whole time, I have been online all the while, and believe it or not, I have continued writing the entire year... I have just not been posting here on this page... my own page! </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I believe in perfection. It is part of my internal makeup. I try my best to do things with the very best of my ability. SO, you ask, what does this have to do with a neglected blog? Well, I have felt that if I could not submit the perfect blog post, I just would not do it at all. For this I apologize. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Something is always better than nothing. The problem with perfection is, many times something is nothing because it just can't be perfect. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am vowing today, to begin again, and to update this blog at least once every month... and if I fail, I will try again the next month... and the next. :o)</span></span></div></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-44618308270977035142008-11-01T00:46:00.006-05:002008-11-01T18:54:27.754-05:00Just sitting here... an outsider-looking in<span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5pxfont-size:13;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This week I sit in a privileged position. <br /><br />It is not very often that I feel like an outsider. <br /><br />God has been good to my family and me; we are always treated with great hospitality and care. It may be a Kent Smith hand-made goody basket in our room at the Baymont or a bag of hickory-smoked ribs from Van’s Pig Stand as Sis. Bowman hands them in the door of the motor home. It could just as easily be the homemade noodles of Sis. McNeely, the one-of-a-kind sweet tea you get at the Shindolls' home, or a steak with a shrimp cocktail at St. Elmo’s, compliments of the Longs; but one thing is certain: we usually feel right at home and on the inside. <br /><br />Today is different. <br /><br />Today I am in a privileged position. <br /><br />We are parked at a certain church somewhere between the two great oceans, while preaching in other churches in the area. It’s a large church with ministries for all ages. They have masterful preaching and a ministry team that is second to none, facilities that rival the largest denominational churches of the city, and a budget that is used weekly to help missionaries, both foreign and stateside. I have not preached for this certain church--yet, I am the one who is privileged. <br /><br />Tonight is their church's community-wide fall fest. We have watched them work hard as they have set up booths, moved in trailers, set up sound systems, bounce houses, and bags of toys, and hooked together their large train ride. The work has been constant and done with cheer. But I sit today as an outsider. <br /><br /></span></span></span><div><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=fall-fest-for-web.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/fall-fest-for-web.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5pxfont-family:verdana;font-size:48;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5pxfont-size:13;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I cannot tell you how many carnivals or festivals I have been a part of, worked, or led. It would be easier to list the number of years I have <em>not </em>worked on this type of effort than to try to count the times I have been involved. <br /><br />There are things I would have been happy to do. I would have loved to help them work out the last-minute details, pull the boxes out of storage, come up with that last booth or prize, drive a tractor, or sell tickets. But today any of my experience or ability will go unnoticed as I sit idly by and watch. Today I am an outsider looking in--to their programs, efforts, and festivities. <br /><br />I am sure the pastor and each one of those who work in the local church here would be mortified by my thoughts today. If they knew how I felt, they would begin to make excuses for their actions; and without a doubt, they would be apologetic in the most convincing way. But they will never know, because today, I am an outsider. <br /><br />Don’t be sad for me. I don’t mind others' being involved and happy working in the kingdom… I just realized what it feels like to be an outsider – looking in. <br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: right"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=cbc1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/cbc1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5pxfont-size:13;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I got the privilege today to feel like so many may feel. I wonder how people feel driving down our streets when they look at our churches. How many people would be willing to get involved with our churches, but they do not feel like they have any right to offer their time, talents, or treasure? They are the outsiders. <br /><br />The Bible still says that we have the duty and responsibly to go out and compel them to come in. We are biblically required to literally insist that they get involved with our churches. Many people, like me today, do not feel they have the right to intrude into an established program. <br /><br /></span></span></span><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=DoctorwithToddler-1.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/DoctorwithToddler-1.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Do they have something to offer? Sure they do. There are doctors who could help your church minister to thousands more than they do today. There are licensed counselors, legislators, business owners, chefs, and many, many more who could walk in the door and add value, talent, and treasure to your established church. But as an outsider, they don’t feel comfortable just barging into your program uninvited. <br /><br />I think there are many who would be honored to be part of our churches. I will go one step further and say, I believe they <em>desire</em> to be part of our churches; but in our efforts to provide a program, we have inadvertently built a wall. So, we fail to reach those who would gladly step in and become part of what we are doing. <br /><br />Just a few thoughts from an outsider today – who wanted to be an insider.</span></span></span></div></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-44163161808233576692008-09-21T14:48:00.003-05:002008-11-01T00:58:54.433-05:00The Condition of the Church<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As we turned left onto Palmyra Road, I saw an unusual and seemingly out of place structure:</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">just sitting on the other side of the tree line was the Palmyra Community Presbyterian Church.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We were only a few miles outside of Vincennes, in the rich farmland and beautiful rolling hills of western Indiana.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Nestled within the huge old trees sat a church—red bricked, with stained-glass and a bell tower standing as high as ever, but with a sad and wanton appearance of abandonment. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0404-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0404-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--StartFragment--> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As we parked our motor home in the beautiful cleared grove next to the parcel that contained the old church, I could not stop thinking of that great testament of faith and community – just sitting there forsaken and forgotten!</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Then, as I began to ask about the church, I learned that it had been unused for almost twenty years.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Today we took a few minutes to explore the old cemetery and look around the building. Some of the head stones were nothing less than fascinating.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">One was reminiscent of a man from Liverpool born in the 1700’s. Then there was the ten-month-old baby from the 1800’s and several more. But my mind continued to contemplate the church. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0390-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0390-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Its cornerstone bore the date of 1892. The stained-glass windows were as beautiful as any in the world. There were not more than two alike in the entire building. The bell tower still contained the bells of the original design. I found a window with one small pane broken out and used my camera to capture what remained on the inside. I saw pews, instruments, carpet, stained wood, books, an American flag, and a pulpit. But I also could not help but see what used to be. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0416-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0416-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0383-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0383-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0384-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0384-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0387-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0387-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0409-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0409-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My mind went back to how it must have been 116 years ago as the excitement of the first brick was laid upon the foundation.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What it could have taken to cut and hew the great beam rafters. The homemade scaffolding it must have required to create the bell tower and steeple. I am sure everyone there would expect the church to carry on for centuries, even to continue without end.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">* * *</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My mind has fought the reality of the lonesome look of this great church. The doors overgrown by untrimmed shrubs. Doors that used to open and allow the community to hear the sound of a preacher and the resounding chorus of the choir. . . now shut. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The windows of stained-glass that used to allow the sunlight of a Sunday morning to glimmer in the hair of those who went to seek the Lord, and represent to the passer-by what the building was dedicated to and what the church stands for. . . now only a tribute to what used to be.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The bells of marked time that used to signal the measure of a day to a people whose ears were tuned to hear from miles away the sweet sound. . . now quiet. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The organ and piano with hymnals opened whose sounds used to fulfill the scriptures admonishing us to praise the Lord. . . collecting dust. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The pulpit that once held the Word of the Lord along with the notes of a prepared minister and the perspiration of a fervent message. . .now silent. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">* * *</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My mind raced to our day and the need to pray: </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A day when true men of God are few and far between; and the compelling desire to be the true church is in direct competition with the fleshly desire to enjoy a Christian concert and call it church. I saw today what many thought was an indestructible structure. And I fear, that without the direct help of the Lord, we too could very easily become a lonely memorial of what used to be. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oh, God, do not allow our doors to become overgrown by our lack of effort to be the church you desire for us to be. Please do not let our prejudice and pretense dictate the condition of the welcome at our doors.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oh, God, do not allow our windows to be just a memorial to what we used to be. Oh, that we would fall in love again with you and our hearts would be in tune with you and our bodies your temple! Oh, that we would continue to gladly display ourselves as separated and set apart from this world and unto you! </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oh, God, do not allow our outward sounds to be silenced by our times and the preferences of others. Oh, that we could boldly proclaim your greatness to our communities and that our families would know the certain sound of your house. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oh, God, do not allow our instruments of praise to be silenced by the sounds of this world. Oh, that the voice of your people would still come up before you as a sweet savor, a welcomed accompaniment to our lives dedicated to your will and purpose. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oh, God, please do not allow our pulpits to become silenced by the pop culture and faddish ministry methods that abound today.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Let us</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">not cower to the lowly, fleshly desires of the masses and multitudes, but proclaim the truth that you are the only way. Would that our fervency for your word and your way would outweigh the pull of the flesh and its carnal desires. Oh, to preach you and you crucified, buried and alive again with all power!</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In a day oh, Lord, where the call to minister in your sanctuary is drowned out by the cultural appeal for secular security, please help us! Help us so that in another 116 years, if you tarry, men will still be preaching your gospel, baptizing sinners in your name, praying for them as you fill them with your Spirit, and seeing your people live holy lives before you.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Amen and amen.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0389-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0389-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> <p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-46050786687194518462008-05-22T12:25:00.008-05:002008-06-08T09:23:20.844-05:00Delay is NOT Denial<div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We know that God's word states that His ways are above our ways. I have found that when we say we trust the Lord, it must come with the commitment to endure his timing and do so without question. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's easy for us to get up and preach faith. We can talk about Job and his losses, but we always follow with his blessings (with a hearty emphasis on his blessings); but to say the words "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" takes more than just a good feeling on a Sunday night. It takes a solid assurance that the Lord is working for my good, along with the understanding that not everything will be comprehended by my finite mind, and not everything that takes place within my life is going to be good. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have been to the point of frustration many times since late last year when we placed our house on the market. We priced it very competitively and then dropped the price to make it more appealing. It has not sold. It has had very little traffic other than the ton of flyers that we have put out by the sign. I know we are in the will of God, for He is doing mighty things in our lives. I have been the target of more prophetic words this year than in my entire ministry or life. We know without a doubt that we are going in the specific direction the Lord wants us to... but the sale of our home has been in question for a while now. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Each time I drive through the neighborhood, I see more homes going up for sale. I see more homes being built by our builder. About two months ago, construction began on the new addition going up right next to ours, and now there are twelve homes in various stages of completion in that area. A couple of weeks ago I noticed the start of a new addition about a half mile from us. And all along I am wanting to be free from my home, out on the road full-time in our motor home. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 11px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/89271177_f5426d98fb.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I drive out of my addition and think</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, God, I guess you just want to show your might and ability to do the impossible. God don't you see these "for sale" signs? I know you see the many houses being built –and while I know you are able to sell our home in this environment, even with the housing market instability....</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Frankly, I did not understand why he was dragging his feet... HA! I now know why we have not sold our home! Let me try to explain. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As many around us know, we have been working for a couple of months to buy a motor home. Everyone knows about the housing market and the slump it is in. I have had much difficulty because in the various lenders’ minds, the two markets go together. Lending on RVs has become a tight business. You basically have to not need the money to buy one before you can borrow the money to buy one! </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So in order for us to qualify to buy the motor home, I had to put up some acreage I own outside of town. No big deal, but here is the miracle—above my human understanding. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Texas is one of the two states with a Homestead Law (of this nature) still in existence. Which in short means, the state is unable to take your final 200 acres. This is probably a great thing for the protection of your land and assets, but it also eliminates the possibility to pledge it as collateral for a loan. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=homestead-certificate-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/homestead-certificate-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My bank would not make a loan for an RV right now, but they will loan on acreage. This is how we have structured our loan. However, it would have never been a possibility without owning our home in town. Our home we reside in is the portion of land the state recognizes as a homestead. Therefore without owning the house we live in, in town, the acreage in the country could not have been used to acquire the loan we needed for the motor home, and thus fulfill the will of God in our life! </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica; min-height: 11.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 9.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">All the while I have tried to trust Him without understanding the details and why. But I can say today, he knew all along. His ways are above our ways. His wisdom is without limits. His understanding is infinite! I am glad we can trust him. When our lives are evaluated, all we can say is, We are so small, while He is so GREAT—and the Victory is still His! </span></span></p></div><div><br /></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-48904246878052210112008-05-06T16:50:00.003-05:002008-05-06T16:53:35.445-05:00My Time Has Been Short<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I wanted to stop long enough to say we have been super busy since our recent spring break. It is my intention to get back to the blog-world in the next few days. We have much to tell, but need the time to post it for you. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">God bless you all!</span></span></div><div><br /></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-62216271417333281072008-03-21T00:49:00.006-05:002008-03-21T11:44:33.989-05:00Still Havin' Some Fun<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Well, it has been a few days since I have stopped to update the countless masses who read this thing. :o) I do apologize for the delay in my posting. How do you write and post pictures about rest and relaxation? </span></span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We did see some pretty good rains and and some minor flooding while in the St. Louis area. However, we survived and were able to get out of town without much delay. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Yesterday afternoon we arrived in Branson, Missouri, to stay a couple of days. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This morning we visited a man named Jack who has a motor home for sale. Jack and I have become friends over the course of this year. He told me today that from the second time we spoke on the phone he was convinced that we would be the next owners of the motor home. He has, since that time, taken his "for sale" sign down and turned away potential buyers until we are in position to buy it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Today we toured it and took it out for a drive. I look forward to fulfilling the will of the Lord through the use of this vehicle.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">You can see a few pictures of the motor home by visiting our website at: <a href="http://www.theapostolicmessage.org/">www.theapostolicmessage.org</a> and then go to "about us" and click on the "our dream" link. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here is a picture of Kayla playing inside the motor home today...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0535-1.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0535-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And then a picture of Addie for good measure...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0520-1.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0520-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">.</span></div><div><br /></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-28906126331475218062008-03-16T20:28:00.004-05:002008-03-16T20:45:26.254-05:00The Gateway...<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Today started out much different from most all other Sunday mornings. Usually we get up early, get the family ready, and then head out to get to Sunday School on time. Yes, this morning was different. After we finished our breakfast, I got a few practice holes in on the golf course. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Then we set out to go see the Gateway Arch along with some other sites. We all experienced the tram ride to the top and back down again... so from now on, we can say we have ben to the top of the monument. It was, I guess, monumental for us all... </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We finished the day with a great meal from The Old Spaghetti Factory just a couple blocks from the Arch, on First street. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Here are some of the pictures of the day.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0470.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0470.jpg" border="0" alt="Capitol" /></a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0475.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0475.jpg" border="0" alt="Plate- Arch" /></a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0471-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0471-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0473-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0473-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0490.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0490.jpg" border="0" alt="St. Louis" /></a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0488.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0488.jpg" border="0" alt="St. Louis" /></a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0502.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0502.jpg" border="0" alt="US" /></a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-26182912336389527002008-03-15T23:10:00.004-05:002008-03-16T18:21:38.654-05:00Just Havin’ Some Fun!<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I decided today that I would temporarily change the pace and purpose of my blog to reflect our spring break get-a-way. So, beginning now and running through Easter Sunday, you may want to check back each evening to see and read the happenings of the day in the Wells’ lives. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We kicked off our trip today with a group of friends at Lambert’s Cafe in Sikeston, MO. Great food with great people and quite a few throwed rolls! </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0461.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0461.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Here are some of those friends...</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0459.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0459.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0457-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0457-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0456.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0456.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0458.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0458.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0452.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0452.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;">Then we arrived at the Timber Creek Resort just south of St. Louis. </span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0464.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0464.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Taking a short round of golf with one of my favorite little buddies, my older daughter, Kayla. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Tune in tomorrow night for another blog episode or blogisode.... </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">.</span></span></p>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-18279554398266274382008-03-10T21:39:00.005-05:002008-03-10T22:11:08.523-05:00The Power of Perhaps<p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana;">Several years ago, having just started my first real job at a major communications company as an engineer, I realized that my education was not really what got me the job. </span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I studied hard and enjoyed most of my coursework on my way to my beloved degree. I thought I had learned enough to run a space station or single handedly operate the world's communication networks; however, after the first two weeks in my small six by six cubicle, I came to the understanding that I knew practically nothing at all about anything. With my brain feeling like a ball of wet spaghetti, I pondered why I spent so much time learning things that had absolutely nothing to do with anything. It took a great deal of on-the-job-training for me to be the engineer I was expected to be. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Somewhere along the way I figured out that higher education is not about teaching people everything they will ever need to know about their chosen field of study. Rather it is dedicated to teaching people to think on a higher level. A person who graduates with an Associates has proven his or her ability to "think and perform" on an Associates level of education; likewise, a person who holds a doctorate has proven a much higher level of thinking and performance. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=US-MA-Cambridge-Harvard-Universi-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/US-MA-Cambridge-Harvard-Universi-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Harvard, Yale, Rice and other schools of high regard are dedicated to a single purpose. While most think of money, that must be number two. More importantly, these institutions are focused on the task of teaching people to think. If an individual can be taught that </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">perhaps</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> they have not seen everything, then it is possible they can imagine that there is more. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">We as humans have learned that we will only go as far as we can imagine ourselves to go. The scientist works hard to expand his thinking to allow for more opportunities and possibilities, while the attorney will try with everything he has to see every possible angle of his case. The inventor tries with all his might to think beyond the invented to find a place of possibility. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Just as we understand the only way to move forward and expand our horizons is to allow an environment for open thought and the next new great idea, we see the opposite mindset will condemn us to settle for much less than is possible. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The power of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">perhaps</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> has fueled the search to move forward since the world began. Virtually everything that has been gained in this earth has come through the simple yet profound power of </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">perhaps. </span></span></i></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">My mind goes to a young man who was a son of a great king of the children of Israel, Jonathan. The heavy hand of the Philistine army had taken its humiliating toll. No mighty warriors were attempting to do anything about the dire situation. It was an unfortunate day. The Bible tells us that there were no swords to be found in all of Israel—except with king Saul and his son Jonathan. I cannot imagine how these men allowed this type of situation to overtake them; nevertheless, it had. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal 'Times New Roman'; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=DSA-Knight-Large-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/DSA-Knight-Large-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Then seemingly out of nowhere the thought struck Jonathan: </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Perhaps Jehovah will work for us today, </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">and the Power of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">perhaps</span> began to drive his every move. At the end of that particular day, there was a great victory celebrated within the camp and the rule of the Philistines had been broken—by the power of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">perhaps</span>. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">There is a power made available to us when we allow ourselves to ponder the concept of possibility. It is not about our human ability to think, nor is it found anywhere else within us. It is found when we allow ourselves to think that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">perhaps</span> the almighty God could go to work for us. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps</span> today God will work a miracle for me. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps</span> today God will provide for my need. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps</span> God can change the course of my life. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps</span>….</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Bible clearly states, we have not - because we ask not. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps</span> he will provide if we can conceive within our minds that He will. For my God's able to do exceedingly abundantly and above all I can ask or think... so <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">perhaps</span> he is big enough!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I submit to you today that the concept of "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps</span>" can be a powerful proposition in the hands of my God. </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">.</span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:12px;"><br /></span></div>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-38001763894708122572008-03-04T22:40:00.006-06:002008-03-06T14:23:51.339-06:00The Ministry of ‘The Rocks’<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This morning as I awoke, my mind was upon the rocks of life and their ministry to us. Maybe I should take a moment to explain the concept of the unexplainable. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In the animal kingdom we find birds that are designed by God to eat various seeds and grains. The interesting thing I learned sometime ago was that these birds, such as chickens, blue jays, and doves, do not have a stomach that functions as other animals. Instead, they have an organ called the gizzard. The gizzard works in a unique way with something called grit, and grit is simply dirt, sand, and small pieces of rocks. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: right;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=bird-seeds.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/bird-seeds.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">With regularity and strength the gizzard will squeeze and constrict the grains and seeds against this grit or rocks to produce a usable nutritional substance for the growth and development of the bird. Without the rocks the nutrition of the seeds and grains would never be realized, and without those rocks there would be no development or growth in the bird's body. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My mind goes to a man by the name of Abraham and his wife Sarah who desired to have a child so much, but somehow were unable to conceive. The time spent throughout their early years was probably filled with much frustration and perhaps even envy of those who had as many children as they desired. But on the other side of the miracle of conception and while they held their baby boy, it was the time they had spent without a child that made him that much more special. It was that time of lack and frustration that I would like to term “The Rocks.” </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It seems that anything of value we ever gain in the Kingdom of God will be produced against the ministry of the Rocks. Any victory worth claiming and enjoying will come as a result of a battle. The times we spend on the mountaintop will always be balanced with the struggle it took to get there. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=FillDirt.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/FillDirt.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Any joy we have in this life will be a direct result of the ministry of the Rocks.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">An interesting thing I found in my reading of the bird’s digestive system was... the rocks never digest. The rocks will pass on, but only to be replaced by other rocks. They never break down in the process of digestion. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In life we often face these rocky types of situations knowing that we will never be able to break them down. We will not be able to analyze or explain the whys surrounding our rocks. They come into our life for a season. Then they pass without even the simplest explanation. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It can be somewhat liberating to realize that I do not have to be able to understand what the trial was about, who brought it into my life, or why I had to go through it. The bird simply eats and grows as a result of the amazingly designed system it is blessed to have. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I believe we would do well to take a lesson from the Ministry of the Rocks and allow God to develop and grow us as He sees fit. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It is the times of discomfort and pain that bring the most peace and power on the other side. He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (from Psalms 46:10)</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The following passage from the book of Isaiah comes to mind: </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(Isaiah 55:8-12 KJV)</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">.</span></p>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-81995131568970350552008-02-25T12:57:00.007-06:002008-02-25T13:22:24.745-06:00Banana Peels and Power<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">This morning I was feeding my 14 month old baby girl a banana and I saw a profound truth being displayed in front of me, I just had to share it with you. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">My little girl Addison Anne, we call her Addie, was enjoying a wholesome breakfast which included a ripe yellow banana. As I reached up and grabbed it off of the counter, she said, “nah nah” to which I replied, yes baby it is a “nah nah.” </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=IMG_0054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_0054.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">She smiled as I peeled back the outer layer and presented her with the exposed meat of the banana. She took a bite and then another... somewhere during her breakfast, she decided she would hold the “nah nah” and so I let her. The funny thing was, instead of getting into where the meat was, she wanted to chew on the dried stem. I told her, no and showed her the good stuff again... then I looked back and she had the stem in her mouth again. All I can think is, maybe she liked the way it felt to her teething mouth? </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As I finished helping her with breakfast I felt like the Lord shared with me the concept of this writing. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">How many times, in our walk with the Lord, do we have fulfilling and sustaining power provided to us; and rather than enjoying the meat and substance of God, we settle for just a surface and sometimes insignificant portion? </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Just as my little girl knew what the “nah nah” was, she knew what to call it, and she knew what it looked like on the outside, but even with that bit of knowledge she was happy to settle for much less than what was made available to her. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">As a 21st century Christian, we know all the right things to say, and we seem to know a great deal about God and His word, but I pose this question - how often do we really experience the portion of meat that He has planned for our lives. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 26, 139); font-family:verdana;"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/banana_peeled.png" border="0" alt="Banana" /></span><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">My desire is to enjoy all my Father has for my life. It may take more effort than we initially want to put forth, and it may go beyond our understanding of what we need, but there is enough power available at the hand of our Father than we could ever need if we will allow Him to feed us as He desires to. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I don’t ever want to settle for the peeling and stems when I can enjoy the meat of the power of God. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">.</span></span></p>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-42744106096500340482008-02-21T22:36:00.007-06:002008-02-21T22:48:31.182-06:00I Feel Compelled to Testify<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Late last night, or early this morning rather, I was praying and thanking the Lord for what he had done for me. When I begin to think how insignificant, weak, and powerless I am - and then let my mind wander into how significant, powerful and mighty he is, I am brought to tears to think that he cares for me. I feel like God impressed me to testify of his greatness and share some of what he did for me last night.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For the past several weeks I have been working on the next phase of our ministry (which includes a motor home and the selling of our home). While working on this, I would turn to different people in my life, some even on this forum, and end up with their thoughts and ideas about our future.... Most have been incredibly positive, and a few have been somewhat negative. Perhaps we should be cautious, lest we begin to sound like Job’s friends without even realizing it. Sometimes, I think we just need to let a man hear from God....</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I spent a couple of hours with a wealthy retired banker this week, and as he and I talked... I became more and more down-heartened about the situation. It seems impossible. On my way home I stopped in to talk with my dad about my findings, and he simply said, “You know God does his best work when we can’t do any more.” I said, “I know this, I preach this, and I have even seen the Lord prove this concept with my own life many times.” But somehow, each time we find ourselves facing a new situation of impossibility, it seems to leave that exact same feeling of hopelessness in the pit of our stomach, just like the other times before, no matter how much faith we have in God’s ability. Well, at least I do. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I went to church last night and was able to sit and be a part of the service since I was not out preaching anywhere... I was just enjoying myself and my night off... needing a word from the Lord, but not really expecting one. The song service was nice, and the specials were done well. When the man of God got up to preach, there were a few words of exhortation, then tongues and interpretation, twice. The second applied to me and where I am right now. The Lord kindly said to quit listening to others around you, that he was in control. I took this word to heart. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I think that there is a time when we should seek out the “multitude of counsel,” maybe when we are dealing with situations or decisions with people, but not when we have a word from the Lord. He does not need the counsel or the opinion of man to bring about his word. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I have been struggling through the thought-process of man - when to man it is literally impossible to accomplish what the Lord has given to him. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This is the part I have been wanting to get to. Towards the end of service the minister came over and sat down beside me. He began to give me a word from the Lord, which included things like: we are in the perfect will of God, the time is right for the the things God has put in our heart, God will move on the hearts of men for the finances, that he will sell our home... wow! You talk about a God who cares for us!</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I had just about decided that afternoon that we were somehow making a wrong turn, and the doors were being shut, not opened... but the Lord cared enough to stop by and vocally speak his message into my life last night. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I just had to share my heart of joy today with someone. God is on the move and I am humbled to be a part of what he is doing. Out of the multiplied millions of people on this planet, God took time for a simple and grateful servant last night. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I am not special; He is. I am not good; He is. I am not worthy; He is. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Who am I, that the God of heaven and all eternity would be mindful of me, the least of servants? I am brought to my knees by the greatness of my God. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thank you for allowing me to share my testimony with you today.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; line-height: 18.0px; font: 12.0px Verdana"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">.</span></span></p><p></p>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-62434905632618385522007-12-07T13:01:00.001-06:002008-02-21T22:44:01.671-06:00The Privilege of Preaching<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"></a></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The call to preach is as old as the Bible we read. Noah was a bold preacher of righteousness. Jonah preached to the metropolitan city of Nineveh. The Old Testament prophets were anointed to preach. Jesus’ earthly ministry was introduced by John the Baptist, a preacher from the wilderness of Judea. Jesus himself preached in synagogues, in ships, on the seashore, in the mountains, in houses, and in the streets. The early apostles were anointed to preach Christ crucified throughout the then known world. </span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"></a></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/IMG_1879.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Jesus began his ministry by speaking the words of the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”<br /><br />He then commanded, in the book of Mark, chapter 16, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”<br /><br />The apostle Paul further expounded on the call to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, not to the glory of man, without abuse of power, making full proof of the ministry, to preach believing to the unbelieving, and to preach among all nations the unsearchable riches of Christ. Paul sums up his call in this fashion: “It is laid upon me to preach and woe unto me if I preach not the gospel.” He exhorts young Timothy to “preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”<br /><br />The call of God to preach is not something we should take lightly. It is a great privilege to handle God’s timeless word, the saving gospel of “Christ Crucified, Buried, and Alive Again, with All Power!” </span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.<br />(1Co 1:21)</span></em></span></p><p></p><p><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></em></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;color:#c0c0c0;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></span></p>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-4606681730423176062007-12-05T17:04:00.001-06:002008-02-21T22:42:37.819-06:00The Proven Process of Winemaking<div align="right"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></a></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><img height="164" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Rand65/red-wine-glass-bottle.gif" width="134" border="0" /></span></span></a></p><p align="left"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">This was a message written in the immediate weeks following my pastor’s tragic and shocking death, and preached to his congregation as a message of hope and healing from the Lord.<br /><br /></span></span></p><blockquote><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">It was a sunny day in July when he decided, I have a few minutes between meetings, I will take my motorcycle out for a quick ride through the outskirts of town. After kissing his wife goodbye, he mounted his Goldwing and headed down the street. Only minutes later, rounding a well-known curve on the service road beside the Interstate, a truck crossed the center stripe and collided with him... knocked him from the motorcycle and under the moving truck.<br /><br />Without making any sense to the humanity that loved him so dearly - the Lord chose to take him to his glorious reward. He was 51 and in the prime of life.<br /><br />[These comments have been inserted for the benefit of the reader.] </span></span></blockquote><p align="right"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=BroMcManus.jpg" target="_blank"></a></span></p><p align="right"><a href="http://s152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/?action=view&current=BroMcManus2.jpg" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><img src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/BroMcManus2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></span></a></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Why do bad things happen to good people?<br /><br />It seems as if life progresses so beautifully for a while, but then… seemingly out of nowhere… Bam! The gloves come off and blow after blow begin to pound upon you. Like the driving wind and rain without mercy and threatening as though it will never let up.<br /><br />The Bible says well that it rains on the just and the unjust. While the words are true, to the hurting, this statement seems to lack a much needed substance at a time like this.<br /><br />It would not be prudent to try to minimize pain or try to trivialize hurts. But I believe there can be an answer to the situation. There is a biblical explanation to the quandary we find ourselves in when trying to make sense out of the pains of life. It can be further understood through a study of “The Process of Wine Making.”<br /><br />Within the Word of God the process of wine making is mentioned many times. The word </span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">wine</span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> is found hundreds of times. In Genesis chapter, nine, we learn of Noah’s ability to make wine. Throughout the Bible we find references to wine, wine-skins, winepresses, vineyards, and even Jesus mentions wine on many occasions. Jesus’ first miracle was making wine for a wedding party. And during his last supper address, He picked up a cup of wine and made a connection between it and his blood that would be shed.<br /><br />Isaiah shows us of the Lord talking about his chosen people as His precious vineyard.<br /><br />Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes....<br />(Isa 5:1-2)<br /><br />The passage is a beautiful description of a husbandman who loved his vineyard. It was so precious to him that he went to great lengths to insure its success. The Lord called it his well-beloved vineyard in a fruitful hill.<br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br />He took special care to fence it for safety, gathered the stones out of the soil for a pure garden, and planted it with the best vines; he built a watchtower for protection, and then you will notice a part of the vineyard that seems to be mentioned out of place - the winepress.<br /><br />The process used to obtain wine is not a mystery… you do not just let the grapes grow on a vine and then come back after a period of time to collect the wine. Wine making is a specific and time-proven process.<br /><br />The simple steps of winemaking are as follows:<br />1) Pick ripe fruit;<br />2) Use a winepress to crush the juices from the grape;<br />3) Fermentation and purification.<br /><br />There is a specific process that one must step through to get from the volatile fruit to a purified and stable wine.<br /><br />From the first mention of the making of wine in Genesis, chapter nine, until today thousands of years later – without exception, to arrive at a drinkable and pure wine you must follow the same exact process as they used.<br /><br /></span></span></p><div align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/blackgrapes.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span></span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Step 1: Harvest Ripe Fruit<br /><br />Ripe fruit is the result of growth and maturity. The only way blossoms become ripe fruit is through a process of time and patience.<br /><br />The writer of Corinthians said: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (I Corinthians 13:11-12)<br /><br />It takes maturity to realize you may not ever get an answer on this earth. We must understand that to be mature we must realize that “we see through a glass darkly” or at best only “in part.”<br /><br />Part of maturity is the understanding that we may never know the reasons and whys of life here on Earth. The word of the Lord says, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)<br /><br />To trust is maturity.<br /><br />The Bible says clearly that we only see in part what God is doing – but that never excuses us from trusting that he knows what is best for our lives. We never run away and stop trusting him just because we only understand a little of what is happening.<br /><br />The proven process of winemaking takes time even when you lack a clear understanding of the circumstances that surround your life. There is still only one way to get a pure wine, and the exact steps and process must be followed. We must stay true to the process that we are in for only the husbandman knows the results he is working to achieve in you.<br /><br />Step 2: The fruit must be pressed<br /><br />In the process of winemaking the perfectly whole fruit is of no value. It must become broken, disfigured, and literally pressed away from itself before it can be of any use.<br /><br />This is the part that does not make sense to the casual observer. People unfamiliar with the process of winemaking do not understand why a perfectly good harvest of fruit must be all but destroyed before it can be of use to become something more than itself.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><div align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/0178weinstrasse_web.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a></div><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">This is the part where we want to jump out of the process.<br /><br />It is my understanding that the bacterium that produces pure wine within the proven process is the very same bacterium that will completely destroy the whole fruit that becomes rotted on the vine or upon the ground.<br /><br />That bacterium for us is life. The life that can destroy men and drive them to insanity is the very same life that produces great men.<br /><br />The very same trials will either cause you to give up on the Lord, and discard him as a careless and heartless master– or they will drive you seamlessly closer to his bosom and bring you to the place of complete and total surrender.<br /><br />Life happens to us all – I would rather have Jesus with me while he works me to perfection than to allow the junk of this world and the pains of life to completely destroy me.<br /><br />The winepress will change you. You will not be the same when you come out the other side of this process.<br /><br />At times like this we feel that we cannot take another ounce of pressure. The Lord knows what he is doing.<br /><br />Paul encouraging the church in Corinth reminds them that “There hath no temptation (trial/proving/adversary) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."<br /><br />The great husbandman knows exactly what it takes to produce perfection within us.<br /><br />Step 3: Fermentation or Purification<br /><br />The final step in the process of wine making will let us know everything is going to be alright.<br /><br />James, the brother of Jesus, writes “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."<br /><br />After we have been through the winepress and into the stage of purification, we find ourselves patiently entire and wanting nothing. Once we have matured to the place where we can trust the Lord in any situation, we have a solid confidence that he is going to meet our entire need.<br /><br />The book of Romans speaks of an interesting progression of truth: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that [A] tribulation worketh patience; And [B] patience, experience; and [C] experience, hope: And [D] hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.<br /></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br />It is popular in the day we live in to preach about “rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.” Anyone can do that, and be right most of the time, but it takes life hitting us hard to preach the other portion of this scripture, which is “we glory in tribulations also.”<br /><br /><br /></span></span></p><div align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/bottle.jpg" border="0" /></span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">There is a proven process of winemaking and the only way to come out on the other side of the process purified is to continue in the process until it is complete. One day very soon there will be a descent from heaven with a shout and those who have not leaned to their own understanding but in all their ways acknowledged the Lord, who are mature through time and purified by life and the blood of Jesus – who have trusted in the Lord through all manner of trials in this life and gloried in them, will find themselves face to face with the one who made us, and as the old song says – we will understand it better by and by.<br /><br />For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Wherefore comfort one another with these words.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br />(1Th 4:15-18)<br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;color:#cccccc;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></span> </span>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8006332817995709907.post-33179432238364801962007-12-04T21:33:00.000-06:002007-12-13T01:17:16.129-06:00Our Obsession with the Obvious<div align="left"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">While walking around the living room with my 11-month-old daughter in my arms, I turned and began to walk toward the front door when my eye caught a shimmer of light coming through the peep hole. It seemed as if she saw it, too, so we went to check it out. I first looked out through the portal to see a beautiful sunshiny day, with green trees and a freshly trimmed lawn. </span></div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/peephole.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><p><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Then, I pointed out the looking glass to my daughter. She was instantly obsessed with the hole in the door. She began, with wonder, to poke her tiny finger into the hole, and then she looked at me with her sweet toothy grin. It was something she had never played with before. She really enjoyed poking and playing with the newfound hole in our front door. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I then placed her head up to the hole to show her the view and thus the real purpose for the hole’s existence. She drew her head backwards and then continued with her fingers to play with the hole in the door. After a few tries to get her to look through the hole in the door rather than just toying with the obvious existence left us both a little frustrated, we went about playing inside the house until our lives were consumed with other simple items to pass the afternoon. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />It was at this time that my eyes were opened to a truth I hope will continue to change my outlook on both the natural world we live in as well as the spiritual world we desire to explore. </span><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/yardsmall.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><p><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">How many times do we become obsessed with the obvious things of life when the Lord is desperately trying to move our eyes to a place where we can see things outside of our direct place in this world? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am convinced that most people live in the realm of the obvious. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Our lives are a series of predictable repetitions. Our friendships tend to be superficial even when we claim to have known people for many years. Our relationship with the Lord, for most people, consists of a ritualistic set of actions that have been learned and perfected to the point we do not have to engage our mind or emotions to look as if we are involved. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We have become obsessed with the obvious. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Worship to most is a song, a repetitive series of words, a clapping of the hands, perhaps the lifting of the arms into the air, or the utterance of words fitting for the occasion. We find ourselves obsessed with the obvious mechanical reciprocations of worship, when true worship will lead us beyond the mechanics and the obvious and into the Shekinah Glory of God himself. </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/worship.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p><br />The time we set aside for communication with the Creator is ruled by the obsession of our schedule which always prohibits us from seeing the greater realms of the heavens, and again we find ourselves simply settling for the obvious.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In my life these thoughts touch many areas of the obvious. I have learned to be content with much less of God than he is comfortable with. I choose to be satisfied with the things that I can understand, rather than allow for him to show me into places I cannot go by myself. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I find that simply going through the motions of the obvious leads me to predictable ends. I know how prayer meetings will go, I know how my song will go forth, and I know before I begin what my sermon will produce. My reciprocated actions within the obvious have a way of predicting the results of my simple obsession.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. <span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit</span>:</span> for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; <span style="font-size:100%;">that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.</span> Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1Co 2:1-16)</em></span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I would to God that I could consistently see beyond the simplicity of the obvious. I am weary of being considered according to man’s wisdom. I want to see beyond the ordinary to exist in the realm where the demonstration of the Spirit and of power is normal for consideration. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I remember as we went through this time of discovery that afternoon in my living room, I realized clearly what my daughter missed out on; but greater than that – I realized that I had been obsessed with the obvious in my relationships, my ministry, and my walk with the Lord. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />I discovered that the world we live in will do a great job of keeping us busy with the obvious things of life. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">We must somehow catch the vision beyond the door. Then, and only then, can we see things God is willing to reveal to us by the spirit - the things only the Holy Ghost can teach. </span></p><p><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket" src="http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s186/lwells_2007/door.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Oh, that we would partake of things promised, things found only beyond the door that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jer 33:3)</em></span></p><p><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:#cccccc;">.</span></em></p>Lee Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995007284119372116noreply@blogger.com4