Yesterday in worship we had Holy Communion. This morning I went to our Church kitchen and got out my communion kit that I use to take Communion to those who could not be in worship. I had just put some of the fresh bread in my kit and was then going to put some of the grape juice in my little jar from the kit when I found that none was left  from the day before. Now what, but there I saw in the fridge some Capri sun grape kids drinks. This should work. So I began to put the juice from one of these kids drinks in my jar and found out it was White Grape juice! Even though it tasted just like any other grape juice, it just wasn't going to work for Holy Communion! I found it hard to talk about the blood of Christ spilt on the cross for you and I, while in the cup was a clear drink. 

Symbols can be very powerful object lessons! Just like red grape juice must be used to remind you and I of what Christ did for us on the Cross. For the forgiveness that He offered and the Salvation that comes unto us in no other way and in no other name. So the next time you take Communion, don't just taste the grape juice or wine, also look deeply at the color of that drink and remember then not just the power of this symbol, but more importantly that there is power in the blood of Christ! 

Love ya' All Pastor Rick     

 

"I Got One"

I spent last week at Church Camp with 29 3rd & 4th graders. I could tell you many things about that camp experience, but today I share simply one that took place on Thursday and lasted only one hour and forty-five minutes. During that time frame I had 8 campers signed up to go fishing. That is how many poles I had! Helping me was a teen-age guy, Aiden, who was great help and very patient! There was also one dad whose time was dedicated to his autistic son. In that short time span these campers went through 8 dozens wiggly worms! I heard a lot of, "Darn, he got away"! But I also heard a chorus of "I got one"! You would have thought these kids were reeling in Moby Dick from their excitement and commotion that took place, when much of the time it was a bluegill no larger then my hand. When the bait was all gone they had reeled in over 40 fish! As they made their way back up to the camp, the fishing stories were already being told and re-told! And the fish kept getting bigger!
      The heat that afternoon was relentless, but it got over shadowed by 8 little campers with stories to take back home. Thank you Lord for this miraculous catch and for the smiles You put on their faces!
      Love ya' All Pastor Rick 
    

"I'm Getting Old"

“I’m Getting Old”

There, Ahh, I had just sat down in my Adirondack chair around the Campfire while attending Church Camp with my 8-year-old grandson Ty. I was about to bite in my smore when Ty proclaims to me, “Grandpa, I’m bored!” Bored, how could he be bored, we had been going at break neck speed since 10:30 that morning! And now my 56-year-old knees and feet were barking at me.

          There was a time in my life when I could keep up this frantic pace. Earlier in the day, I was right in there keeping up with and at times even out doing some of these teen-age Counselors. But now this comfortable chair beckoned to me. And if it wasn’t Ty wanting to do something else, it was those same blasted Teen-age counselors telling me stand up again and this time to sing the new “Extended” version of Father Abraham! Come Sunday morning, when I am to be at my best, all I could think of was hoping the Ibuprofen would kick-in quicker! And guess what, I get too do it all over again this coming week as I will be at Church camp once again. I’m gonna’ need a bigger bottle of Ibuprofen!       

Love ya’ All , Pastor Rick

211 miles

211 Miles

A fact that I shared in church yesterday is this. It is just 211 milers from where the Israelites crossed the Red Sea to the Promised Land they were now headed for. So why did it take them 40 years? Because they Complained and Grumbled against God a lot! 211 miles, a distance the average person should be able to walk in less then 2 weeks. Are you beginning to see the correlation between how our complaining and griping to God keeps Him from blessing us? So today, quit living as if you were weaned on a dill pickle and give God the thanks and praise He deserves and then see how much more blessed your life will be.

Love ya’ All Pastor Rick