My Journey - Spring is here!!!

This site is primarily for family, friends, 

and whoever cares to read about my journey in Christ.

Have A Jesus Blessed "Resurrection Day!"

As we "officially" celebrate Easter, I personally call it "Resurrection Day."  This day would prove whether Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or LORD!  His Resurrection showed He is indeed LORD!!!  

For more on this, see my devotion

"Lord, Liar, or Lunatic? at : www.biblefood.blogspot.com

Now to what's been happening over the past 3 months...

ME CYCLING!!!

Cycling continues.  I have only missed one week since starting to ride.  Not bad considering I thought the winter would be a problem, but it was such a mild winter, I was able to get out on my bike regularly (although it was cold a few times).

My longest ride is 19.65 miles (done on March 31) and my total miles in March is 185 miles (a record month). 

WEIGHT LOSS/NUTRITION

Weigh in:  I have lost a total of 30 lbs. and kept it off. I have changed most of my eating habits permanently. I am now working on exercise (cycling), and trying to eat more alkaline foods rather than acidic.

HOUSE CHURCH
We are now involved with 2 (sometimes 3) house church groups (two in Charlotte, one in Mooresville, and occasionally one in Huntersville).

JOB
I am still working at a local vitamin/health store. It has had its challenges - Especially battling against my memory issues and brain fog (nothing new), but at times it can be very discouraging.  And to top it off the pay is low!  Please keep praying for that right job to come along in ministry or otherwise.

MINISTRY
This has been a quiet time for ministry outside of House Church, and occasional opportunity at work.
So, I'm open to ministering as an interim pastor, missions, teacher, etc. I just want to serve Him in a meaningful way.  I recently went through Ecclesiastes, and really could relate to it.  Apart from Christ being in every aspect of your life, life really is meaningless.  Solomon had everything, but when He left the Lord out of the equation, his life (existence) was meaningless.


Christian Pool Players Association (CPPA) - I have been tempted to give up (pull the plug) on CPPA due to time required, lack of supporters, and needing a person to help take it to the next level. Plus in 2011, my playing went from fair to worse.  In the last month or so, I have been playing a little to see if it is even still in me. I haven't lost the joy for the game or the burden for the lost in the pool industry.  As with any outreach, you have to go where the people are. Contrary to popular opinion, people don't just come to church, and we have to go to where they are, and in my case that means pool rooms.  Please do pray for my game to improve enough to play a respectable game and to also (and most importantly) give me a platform to share Christ. If ANYONE has this same burden and would like to work with me, please email me or comment below.

Missions - I have also been asked by a ministry in India, who I know well, as I spent 3 weeks with them in India, to be the USA contact in helping organize groups to go on mission trips to India :-)

CONCLUSION

So, here we are at the the beginning of a wonderful warm Spring.  I am happy also for the longer days :-)
There is still some stress and breakdown with relationships with family members (not Joyce - She's the BEST).  Some do not understand some of the stands I take and feel I must take, but there again, I must live how I believe is right, and will be ultimately accountable to just one, that is God.

Please pray for me as I deal with these family issues and resulting emotional pain, and for me to be used of God in 2012.

Thanks all for taking an interest in my life :-)

Jim

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

Back in the USA after 6 exciting weeks in Nigeria, Africa!

Due to my 6-week missions trip and still not being home yet, this is the longest gap between blogs since I started this blog in 2007.

Lagos, Nigeria, Africa was an awesome 6-week trip (Nov. 25 - Jan 7)! Revival is happening in Lagos,Nigeria!

I preached 28 times in 3 denominations in approx. 8 different churches. It truly was an exciting time, and I can say the Southern Nigerian Christians are fired up for Jesus and experience much more revival than we do here in the USA. They are establishing mission churches to America!

Pastor Seyi of Livingstone Assembly, who invited me to Lagos, Nigeria, and housed me for six weeks. What a blessing he and his family were to me!

I also was able to go to one orphanage and support 2 orphanages. It was a glorious time.

I will share some of my audio messages from Africa on http://www.sermon.net/

When you go there, search under "biblefood" and you'll be able to listen to my sermons.

Also, I had time to build relationships with many ministers; they would like me to come back at the end of July (we'll see - but hope to).

Note: Meanwhile, we need to pray for Christians in Northern Nigeria (especially Jos) since there are deaths happening as the "Christians" and Muslims fight each other.
Upon leaving Nigeria, I flew back to Atlanta and spent a week with my family (who live in the Atlanta area), and now are currently in the Savannah area with a minister friend. I was able to preach and do a powerpoint presentation for the Sunday evening service about my trip to Nigeria.

We leave (driving) for Pennsylvania on Friday with stops in Columbia, SC, to visit the ministry that ordained me and possibly visit a church there and then to check out Charlotte, NC.

We are moving our ministry (www.goproclaim.com) to Charlotte, NC, in Spring 2010. We are excited about the move, we are not sure if we will pastor there or not, as we forsee much more travel in our ministry. Travel will be to churches and events in USA, as well as overseas (as the Lord provides). I am also seeking God's direction on full-time ministry or tentmaker.

Glad to be back blogging, writing devotions, chatting, etc.

Lots to share but this will have to do for now, in my next blog I'll share some of the unique things I learned while in Lagos :-)

New ministry direction, countdown to Africa, and much more...

October is here Kane, PA style! Yep, these are pictures of front of our house and backyard (taken today - October 16, 2009) we already have snow on the ground but it is snow in MID-OCTOBER!

After a little over 4 years of pastoring Community Fellowship Church in Kane, PA, we have officially resigned from the church leadership (other leadership is in place) and are moving on. It is always a bitter-sweet situation leaving a church, but the Lord will care for our former sheep (they are really His). During this time, we have taken opportunity to visit some churches, something we could never do when pastoring. I will be doing some interim preaching and guest preaching during this time.

My biggest activity right now is getting ready for Africa. I leave in 41 days - November 26 and will return to USA January 7, 2010 (41 days of ministry). I am blessed to share the Lord is faithful.


The LORD has raised up over 92% of our support (through His faithful). It would be nice to go over our goal, that way we are covered for an unforeseen expense or we will give the balance to the poor. No Africa money will go to USA ministry - 100% going to this Africa mission trip. I would love to have more than expected to leave with them.

For more on Africa trip go to my website: http://www.goproclaim.com/africa.htm and to support go to: http://www.goproclaim.com/easygive.htm

I desperately need your prayers. I will be preaching 40 or more times. Please pray for my safety, my health, my strength, and that God will minister mightily to people as I open His Word (Bible) to them. I'll be there almost 5 weeks, to me that's a long time overseas. Preaching 40+ times is a lot of preaching. Preaching is a joy and awesome priviledge for me to do, but that much preaching can be physically draining (so pray).

Upon my return in January 2010, I will be visiting a minister friend and then prayerfully be ministering full-time with Go Proclaim Ministries, or full-time as a pastor somewhere in SouthEast USA; hopefully, closer to our children and grandchildren.

On a personal note, I do ask for prayer for our personal finances as we are going through the hardest time in the last decade. We are believing God to take care of us, but that is a totally different support base than the missions trip. Isn't it strange that we can believe for others (and missions), but when it comes to our own personal needs we feel our faith is stretched (a little scary). Same God will take care all needs, ministry and personal.

With all the changes in our life and ministry this year, please keep us in prayer (Joyce and I). I believe when we come through all these "changes," we will see God's hand in ALL of it. It's just the path to get there (whatever that is?) that can be quite draining, stressful, etc.

In closing, a theme that has been just touching my heart lately is found in a book I'm reading "Pleasures Evermore" by Sam Storms. It is making alive the truth that our ULTIMATE PLEASURE should come from our relationship with Jesus. Nothing should fulfill our lives like JESUS!

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psa. 16:11