All is well in Charlotte!!! America may be another story?

Today is a beautiful day (in the 70’s).

We (Joyce and I) are in Charlotte, NC, and learning how to get around (thank God for GPS). I am in culture shock in a few ways.

One it seems so strange (but good) to see people from all different races in one place. When in Kane, PA, (last 5 years) it was almost all white, with a few exceptions (like George a black man in our church). This is one thing that has always been in my heart-to minister to all races. Charlotte will give me that opportunity – PTL! Sure wish I had taken Spanish class more seriously 3+ decades ago in high school. Also, in the last couple or few years I have had an interest in prayerfully ministering to college students (people in their twenties). Here in Charlotte that can become a reality as we are near University of North Carolina (UNC) with a yearly enrollment of 25,000 students.

Second area of culture shock is the abundance of stores everywhere. I’m like a kid in a candy store (even though it is mostly looking not buying). But we will finally get to use our “Family Christian Bookstore” and “Barnes and Noble” gift cards we got at Christmas! Everything I need is 5-15 minutes away in most cases. Some stores are packed showing no sign of a “recession or depression.” Yet, in other areas of town the recession is evident with stores closed down, many houses for sale, and lots of foreclosures. Any item I need is here! That is quite a difference again from being in a town (Kane) of 3,500 for the past 5 years where we have to drive 45 minutes to get to the nearest WalMart, and nearest Home Depot is over an hour away.

Third the traffic is obviously an adjustment. Compared to Kane with our one traffic light, there is a lot of traffic, but it is much less than what I experienced in Atlanta, GA, where I lived for 12 years. Charlotte sort of reminds me of a smaller Atlanta.

A few areas of prayer are needed:

1. To sell our house in Kane, PA, quickly (at a profit).

2. To find employment in Charlotte. Job market here like everywhere else in the country is slow. So I need prayer that the Lord will open a good job for me.

3. To find a permanent home/apartment to rent here (we are currently staying with friends).

4. That God would use “Go Proclaim Ministries (www.goproclaim.com) and Christian Pool Players Assoc. (www.christianpoolplayers.com) for His glory as we regroup and get established here in Charlotte. We have a new ministry address: Go Proclaim Ministries, P.O. Box 480551, Charlotte, NC 28269 . Ministry cell stays the same (814-558-7600) as it is known by all and all over the ministry websites and blogs so we’re not changing it.

In closing, I won’t get into the politics of the situation, but my title mentioned America. So here’s my quick take on the matter. I do feel America is going through a time of judgment and purging. Has America seen its finest hour already (in the past)? In my opinion, likely yes.

How about the spiritual landscape of America? It is yet to be seen, but at present, we are in a spiritual decline, although there are signs of some reviving, especially among the 20 something group – PTL! Overall, people are statistically more ignorant concerning basic Bible truths and even the basic things that make for salvation (clue –it’s not of works – Eph. 2:8, 9). I will hit on this subject more at another time, but sufficient to say PRAY FOR AMERICA!

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" - Psalm 33:12

It's March!!! Spring's around the corner - Really!?

I share "My Journey in Christ" in this blog. In my last blog I felt led to share one of my "BibleFood Devotions" (Part 1 of 2). If you would like to see Part 2 "True Conversion – Making your Salvation Sure!" Go to: www.biblefood.blogspot.com or www.biblefood.org

Back to our normal format in this blog.

We are already at the beginning March! Only 3 weeks until “spring.” It has been a typical, cold winter in Kane, PA (and it isn’t over here yet), but surprisingly it has been cold across much of the USA (so much for global warming).

Lately my mind has been occupied mostly with moving to Charlotte, North Carolina. I’ll be going down sometime late March (and Joyce will come with me or come down later). We still have a house to sell in PA, but won’t put that on the market until a little later in the Spring. As ministry is not able to support me at this time, I’m still looking for a church family or brother in Christ to give me a place to stay while I find a job and a house or apartment. Also, we need to discern where the Lord is leading to make our home church (often not listed as a high priority when people move, but a high priority for us). At this time, there are at least 3 churches we are looking into…I’m very pleased that we should be able to find a good Bible-believing church in the Charlotte area.

Besides everyday life, for the last few days I have been thinking a lot about memorizing scripture. I’m not the greatest at memorizing scriptures, but I have done it for the better part of almost 35 years. I do feel it is so important that we should do it throughout our lives. Yet, it takes a lot of discipline to keep at it, but it is necessary if we are to grow in Christ and glorify God. I have seen some people on the internet quote large passages from memory. I have known of others who have a vast amount of scripture memorized. I’m amazed that people can memorize so much of the scriptures. While I am amazed, I’m not impressed because if they are doing it and just getting head knowledge and not putting it deep into their hearts, what a shame. When you’re doing it for your own glory (saying "look at me") and not the Lord’s, it means nothing. I have personally known two people who knew vast amounts of scriptures, yet their spiritual lives had some major flaws. So showing off your ability to memorize large amounts of scripture does not impress me. On the other hand, if we do it from the right heart attitude (you might initially start with a wrong motive), then it will be very valuable to have God’s Word in our hearts. I always wonder hypothetically, what if we were stripped of our Bibles, how much would we be able to recall from our hearts? I hope the Bible hidden in my heart wouldn’t be too small. As Psalms 119:11 "Thy word have I hid (stored - ESV) in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee". This year I’m changing some of my memorization methods and seeing how it goes.

One new tool I’m using is found at:
http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/memorysys/
I’m excited about this new tool in my memorization of scriptures.
I also recommend the following 47-minute message by John Piper on
“Scripture Memorization” at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOkLP6VHtWk

In the midst of packing, organizing and getting ready for the move to NC, I have made an effort to not neglect God’s Word and time spent in prayer. That is how we should live, that needs to be a way of life. As I hope to encourage all who read this, I ask for your prayers that I keep my focus and priorities on Him during this busy, transitional time in my life. I excitedly look forward to seeing God’s faithfulness as we move, in selling our home, and getting our ministry, finances, etc and lives settled in our new location (Charlotte, NC). Praise the LORD!