church family, Life experiences, Media, Ministry

Pastor Bill Wilson – The “Clint Eastwood” of Christianity

It was great to see my youth pastor/mentor of 35 years ago on a news program early this morning and I just had to post a blog about him.

In the summer of 1975 in a mid western church a hand touched my soldier and a guy by the name of Pastor Bill knelt down to pray with me. He knew I needed a lot of change in my life a long with my praying parents and family.

1975 inner city outreach. (Anita Norman, Lisa Letterman, myself and Yogi)

For a few years, I was able to hang with Bill and a few others at all hours of the night and travel on a couple of west cost adventure ministry trips with Bill that opened up my mind to another world that I never knew existed.
Anyway the 30 years have come and gone and this morning as I was getting ready for another normal day, I looked up at the screen for the morning news and there he was being interviewed by a news anchor.


Yep, 30 years and he still is going at it.  Sure not as quick but just as edgy as I knew him by in the mid 70’s .

God bless you Bill as you continue to educate, motivate and sometimes irritate all of us. You do exactly what God purposed you to do.

Here are a couple of links Bills web site.

http://www.metroministries.org/
http://blog.metroministries.org/post/45

That same hand now has become a far reaching compassionate hand that touches  who knows how many.


Thanks always Bill for not quitting,  always fighting, and speaking through the distance.

Steve

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outdoors, rivers, What I'm missing right now

Do not burn yourselves out

I love this picture of the middle-fork of the Snoqualmie River because it keeps things kinda in balance.

And this writing by Edward Abbey  goes right along with the pic.

“Do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am — a reluctant enthusiast . . . a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic.

Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the  lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much: I promise you this one sweet victory over those desk-bound men with their hearts in a safe deposit box and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators.

I promise you this: you will outlive them.”

Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire

Jesus said it perfectly when he instructed us to come apart so we don’t come apart.

Mark 6:31 “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while:”

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family, marriage

TWO ARTIST ONE PAINTING

Are you as a couple working toward a portrait of what your lives will look like in 20 years….or are you on separate paths?

This is a great little message that will help you as a couple in the University of Marriage paint one portrait throughout your lives.

“a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”   Genesis 2:21 (NIV)

1. MARRIAGE MYTHS.

1. Marriage will meet ALL MY NEEDS.

2. Marriage will end my LONELINESS.

3. Marriage will heal my BROKENNESS .

4. Marriage will ensure my HAPPINESS.

2. WHAT A STRONG MARRIAGE LOOKS LIKE.

Six “Cs” you can see in a strong marriage

1. Commitment     2. Communication     3. Compatibility

4. Control     5. Consideration      6. Coping Skills

3. HOW TO BUILD A HEALTHY MARRIAGE.

Learn to LOVE.

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents… Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us, but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” Ephesians 5.1-2 (The Message)

Practice FORGIVENESS.

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3.14

Accentuate the POSITIVE.

“Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4.8

Place yourself in SUBMISSION.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5.21

4. Keep at IT  –   keep at IT  –  Keep at IT.

Keep painting the portrait of your lives together…Keep the colors flowing and keep the passion growing.

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Books I'm Reading, church family

Did 2009 turn out the way you thought it would?

If 2009 did not turn out the way you planned it,  You might relate to one of my favorite children’s books.

I read this book to the entire church every Christmas and the kidos sit up on the plateform while the congregation looks on.

The story begins with three little trees growing on a mountaintop. Each has a dream. The first wants to be beautiful and hold marvelous treasures. The second hopes to be the strongest ship carrying kings across the seas. The third never wants to be cut down. She dreams only to grow tall and point people to heaven.

The years pass and the three trees grow tall and strong. Three lumerjacks come and cut them down. The first two are initially excited, but then disappointed as they are turned into less than they had hoped. The first is built into a feedbox for animals. The second a small fishing boat. The third tree is simply cut into planks and left in a pile. They’re dreams are all but forgotten until one night a young mother lays her newborn baby in the manger. That tree knows he hold the greatest treasure of all. Then the small fishing boat watches a weary traveller calm the stormy sea. He knows he holds the King of heaven and earth. Finally, the third tree is taken from the pile to form a cross. She feels ugly and ashamed when a man’s hands and feet are nailed to her. But when the earth trembled on the third day, she knew “God’s love had changed everything. It had made the first tree beautiful … the second tree strong … And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.”
I love the simple story. It reminds us that God always gives us our desires, but sometimes they materialize in ways drastically different than we imagined.

GET THIS BOOK NO MATTER YOUR AGE.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Can’t wait to read this book Sunday morning @ PFA 10:45 AM.

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Just sayin', Prescott

Ed-onomics and “THE BOOK”.

This blog post is about “sustainable communities”.

Sustainable communities are built on sustainable relationships.

If you are old enough, you might remember the local country store where you could be “On the tab”.
The store owner would allow you to purchase a limited amount of goods on credit based not on  your credit score but rather the relationship you had with the owner.

I love living in a town and doing business at a local vender who allows me to be “IN THE BOOK”.
Good local relationships are the best. That is called “community” and economics are so much better when the people you do business with are your friends.
If I could personally choose , I would not go for Reaganomics or Obamanomis…I would love to live in a Relational/economic society called  EDonomics .
That in part, is what we are missing on the globe. Connectable and sustainable relationships with people we do business with who you trust and who trust you. The relationship you have with someone is much more valuable than the goods you buy from them.

I just had to grab a pic of THE BOOK with my name along with other locals who are in THE BOOK.
I have faded out the dollar amounts to respect their privacy ….but I couldn’t resist posting such a cool group to be with in THE BOOK.

Edonomics rule.

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Arizona, Bikes, Mountain biking

MORE ROCKS THAT TALK

Last Saturday morning some of the locals wanted to get a ride in before the hurricane hit Preskitt.

Yes, I said hurricane. Winds where clocked at 77 mph hour in our little Mayberry town up here in the high desert.

Any way we did trail 95 by Lynx Lake and we ran across some  petroglyps.  The other guys thought the lower drawing was a mountain biker but I’m bot sure about that.

Here are some of the buds that made for a great morning of biking through the woods.

Keith Beesmer, Steve Lummer, Robert Middlemore, Steve Becker, Dave Mangan, Jeff Combs.

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leadership, Ministry

CRAVEMAN – MEAT FOR MEN SERIES

We are continuing a new series in @ CRAVEMAN tonight called Meat For Men.

The entire study is based from 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 that says’

“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

The last two studies have been great. and tonight will be just as good.

The study begins at 7:15 tonight @ Prescott First Assembly .

Also, there is a facebook group if you are interested in joining. Just go to http://www.facebook.com and search for CRAVEMAN.

I wanted to end this short blog post by giving this great quote by Leonard Ravenhill “Let me die climbing”.

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marriage

MARRIAGE MATTERS FACEBOOK GROUP

Just wanted to send out this blog post and let everyone know we have started a Marriage Matters Facebook page.

Just go to facebook and type in Prescott First Assembly Marriage Matters.

What a great way to stay connected, share stories and resources with friends.

here is the link in case you are interested.

http://www.facebook.com

http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=tim+black&init=quick#/group.php?gid=118100244949&ref=ts

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church family, Ministry

CHRISTMAS HANG UPS

So proud of our children’s workers at PFA.

The team of adult volunteers have been working with all the children for this weekends Children’s Christmas program.

December 13th, 10:45am

Prescott First Assembly

1455 Willow Creek Road, Prescott778-1455

If you are in the Prescott Area come see this humorous and engaging musical, featuring delightful songs and a solid message that will not only teach your children what Christmas is all about, but will remind kids and congregation alike that Christmas is truly a time to celebrate! It is going to be a fun Sunday for sure.
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