On the Road

After third service today we had close to fifty men from Christway Church hit the road headed southwest. The CWC men were invited to attend a two-day men’s conference. The Little Country Church (which is not small at all) of New Caney, Texas, have been our guest at our last two men’s retreats. Lots of guys rode their bikes, and many of us loaded up in our trucks, and away we went. It’s an awesome thing to get to hang out with men of God. I am expecting great things to happen! I kinda feel like Willie Nelson, I’m on the rode again.

Lord, I ask Your blessings as we travel, I ask that You pour out Your Spirit on us as we follow you. Please be with our families in our absence. Help us be the men of God that you have called us to be. AMEN.

Success

Our tenth anniversary was a tremendous success!  Everything was spot on. Brother Dale Yerton preached a couple of great messages that challenged Christway Church to new levels. Pastor Dino Rizzo batted clean up on Wednesday night and hit a home run! As Pastor Dino Rizzo shared the history of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge where he pastors, I was blown away at the similarities that Christway Church and Healing Place Church have in common!  He said the first ten years are about finding our identity in Christ. The second ten years is about using our influence to further the Kingdom of God.

A special thanks to these men of God for coming to hang out at CWC.

Good Stuff!

Dale Yerton brought the heat tonight at Christway Church of Deridder. I can honestly say that his sermon was so good that it could be in my top ten list of the best sermons I have ever heard. If for some reason, you were not able to attend Tuesday night’s service, you need to put in a request for the CD. Yep, it was that good!

A special thanks to Brother Dale Yerton and Vince Ferrell for traveling to DeRidder to help make Christway Church’s tenth anniversary a great success.

Tomorrow night (Wednesday) Pastor Dino Rizzo from Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge will be bringing  the message. It’s gonna be some good stuff!  All you couch potatoes need to turn off the TV and put down the remote. Come see what the Lord is doing at CWC.

OMG!

Talk about bringing a word from God! Brother Dale Yerton preached like a man on fire tonight. It is easy to see why he is one of the most sought after speakers, not only in America, but the world. Talk about favor, that’s what we have here at Christway Church, to have a man of God who could be at any church in the world, yet here he is in DeRidder Louisiana at Christway!

Thanks, Jesus, for all you do for us.

If you missed it, you missed an incredible night. I can hardly wait until tomorrow night.  Get up, get out, and get blessed!

Praise & Worship

Faithful Journey did not disappoint. They ushered in the presence of God through the gift of praise and worship that the good Lord has placed upon them. The anointing was strong at Christway Church, and I could not have been more pleased with the job that Faithful Journey did for CWC.  Don’t miss out on what God is doing.

It’s been ten blessed years for us, and I am so excited about what our future holds.  Christway Church, we ain’t seen nothing yet! The BEST is yet to come.

Faithful Journey

Monday night we are gonna get our praise on!  We have a music group called Faithful Journey coming to Christway Church. This praise and worship team can Bring IT! I have a couple of their CDs, and their sound is first class. I so look forward to hearing them live and can hardly wait for God’s presence to fall!

I am pumped about this week, its gonna be one to remember.

Monday

I am looking forward to seeing Brother Dale Yerton today. It’s been about a year since I last saw him, and even though we speak on the phone often, it’s gonna be nice to sit down and have a meal together. The last time he was at Christway Church here in DeRidder, he preached all three Sunday morning services. But he preached a different sermon for each service!  I told him I hope the CWC folks didn’t expect that from me every week.

Dale Yerton has been in the preaching business for at least 50 years. This brother can preach! It’s a special treat for me to get to hang out with him and pick his brain about challenges Sandy and I face as pastors in trying to stay on the cutting edge of ministry.

Monday and Tuesday nights are gonna be awesome, don’t let nothing stand in your way, come hear what this man of God has to say to Christway Church.

It’s Here!

Well, we got our Tenth Anniversary Celebration kicked off today!  We had lots and lots of folks pass through Christway Church. Good food and great fellowship was the order of the day. We had some really cool bikes and muscle cars to check out too.  The kids had a blast inside the sanctuary. Two big air jumpers and lots of games keep the little one busy and happy. We tried to get a count on just the kids inside but it was almost impossible.  It was around two hundred!  That’s a bunch of kids. We are greatly blessed to have so many little ones call CWC home.

Shannon Burgess won the car show.  He had a very cool old muscle car. Thanks, Bro, for bringing it out.

Leilani (aka The Lemur) Maddox won the Bike show. She was the only lady who entered the bike show. I think she cheated because I thought all the guys bikes were better!   Congrats, chick!

Don’t forget, Christway Church, we are just getting started. Tomorrow night Dr Dale Yerton will be bringing the word!  It starts at 7pm. Be there or be square.

How Cool!

Check out these prizes that Christway Church has provided for the Muscle Car Sunday.   We are gonna have  the folks vote to make the difficult choice for the best car and bike.

Get up off the couch and bring the kids out for a great fun filled day at Christway Church. Starts at ten n the morning.

Pastor Dino Rizzo

I don’t even know where to start when it comes to Pastor Dino Rizzo.  This man of God, who founded Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, is a man on fire for God! Healing Place Church is one of, if not the, fastest growing churches in America. They have 8000 people  attend their Sunday morning worship services. I guess if you have that many folks showing up for church you got something to say that is changing lives for Christ. I have known Dino Rizzo for many years and have been blessed to work with him on many PRC Compassion projects.

We traveled together to Washington DC a couple of times to speak with our Congressmen about issues that are important to the Body of Christ.  He’s a great guy all the way around.  We have great favor from the Lord here at Christway church!

Big Kids

For all the older or more mature kids at heart that come and hang out at Christway Church’s Muscle Car Sunday. We are gonna have the new youth building’s AC kicking on high so you will have a place to go rest and cool off from the heat and visit. But for all you ladies, I don’t want no gossiping going on. I would say that about the men, but we don’t do that kinda stuff. Ha!

Ms. Mary Beane is gonna be serving up some good chow there in the new youth building. Come eat, enjoy some great fellowship, and look at some cool cars.

Burn Out!

I am suffering from something called burnout. But it’s not what you think. It’s a lack of burnout that this old country boy is suffering from! I was thinking of the last muscle car event we had here at Christway Church. We had a burnout competition as the last event of the day. Tire smoke and the sound of burning rubber filled the neighborhood. It was awesome! I met a dude who could smoke ‘em down in his Ford. (I’m a Chevy man myself but all of us can’t be perfect.) That brother’s name was David Vickers. Now he is a very active and important part Christway Church. Just think, it all started with a burnout.

Kidz & Muscle Cars

Christway Church of DeRidder is pulling out all the stops for the kids who attend Muscle Car Sunday. We are gonna have lots of games and fun things to do. We are gonna clear out the Sanctuary and put up the big air jumpers and games inside. We decided to buy our own jumpers a couple of years ago. We were renting them so many times it only made sense. We have also been able to bless other churches in the area by letting them use the jumpers.

Monday & Tuesday Celebration

A couple of years ago, I traveled with Dale Yerton on a missions trip to southern Mexico.  I flew from Houston, Texas into Mexico City where I met up with Brother Dale. We hopped on another plane and went south to Chiaphas, Mexico. I have never even heard of this place. A small town in a big valley. Mountains all around. I thought all of Mexico was desert?  It is some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen. The next morning we got into the back of a small pickup. Not back seat, way back, tailgate back. We rode up those steep mountain trails in the back of this truck for six hours to reach a small Indian village where Dale Yerton had helped this village build a church.  A place of worship in the middle of nowhere.  I remember thinking, “How did Brother Dale find this place?”

Celebration Day 2

We are blessed to have Brother Dale Yerton speak at Christway Church here in DeRidder. Brother Dale Yerton will be bringing the heat to CWC  Monday, August 30th and Tuesday, August 31st at 7pm on both nights.

Dale Yerton is a Globe Trotter! I’m not talking about the guys who play basketball either. Brother Dale Yerton has established ministries in 35, that’s THIRTY FIVE different nations!  He helps build 25 churches a year!

And now he’s headed back to Christway Church.  I think it’s because all of the CWC people are so good looking?      Don’t cha think?    HA!

Crazy Crazy

This past sunday was CRAZY!  I am amazed at the ability of Christway Church folks to keep a secret. During the second service, after an awesome time of Praise and Worship, Bro Vic was doing announcements, and then, he said the men of the CWC had somthing to talk to me about??  Then to my complete surprise, I was presented an all electric hunting buggy that is called” The Beast”! Even had a custom paint job from allthingsartpossible.com here in Deridder Louisiana.

I had to try it out so I drove it up and down the steps, across the platform. I even ran into the piano.

I still can’t believe it! I Am Blessed!

I now have  the coolest hunting buggy in the world. But that in itself is not the blessing. The buggy is a manifestation of the real blessing.  Having a church full of men who are not ashamed of the Gospel and who care for each other and walk together in Unity!

I am blessed that the Lord has put me in this Crazy church called Christway Church! I am blessed to have the CWC men by my side.

Muscle Car Sunday

I can hardly wait! We are going to get some great word from some great men of God next week.

Christway church will kick off four days of celebration and thanks to our Lord and King next Sunday.

Muscle Car Sunday will start at ten in the morning and end around two. Gonna be lots of muscle cars and good looking bikes. Of course, when Christway Church gangs up we are gonna have lots to eat.

Music, the word of God, and lots for the kids to do. Come hang out and enjoy!  I’m so looking forward to this.   Thanks Jesus, for ten great years here at Christway Church of DeRidder.

Baby!

Sandy and I find ourselves in Shreveport this morning. We got up early and made a cruz up here. We are at St. Mary’s hospital. But it’s not a bad thing this time! Chris and Kim are having a new baby. We are so happy for them. It never ceases to amaze me how God’s plan for life on this earth works. He gives us these wonderful little bundles of joy. We don’t have to get to know them before we love them. It’s instant, true love at first sight.

God’s love for us is a perfect love. We take from God, and in reality, we have little to give back to Him.  The closest thing to perfect God love that we can experience on this side of heaven is the love that we have for babies. They take our time, money, and completely invade our  space. In reality, they have nothing to give us, but we would give even our own life to save them without hesitation!

Sound familiar?  Thanks, Jesus, for laying down Your life for us, Your Kids.

Hungry

Sandy and I are sitting in the surgery waiting area at Lake Charles Memorial hospital this morning. Big James is having his knee operated on. He’s a big dude, so he’s gotta have good legs to get around.

Anyhow, I’m looking at the vending machines, and I am sure that the Twix candy  is singin a sweet song of temptation to me.  Be strong, don’t give in!!!  Oh why not? One little candy bar won’t hurt anything.  Ha.

I thank you, Lord, for your healing power. For all that was done on the cross. Thanks for a full recovery for Big James.

Pray

I know that without a doubt, prayer is the key that unlocks the door to our  personal destiny. Which is such a cool thing, knowing what Jesus wants you to do with your life. But prayer is like the Master key! I have a master key that will open every exterior door of my home. So I’m getting in.

Spiritually speaking, there will be many, many doors in this life. Most will be locked as the enemy does his worst to stand between you and God’s best for you. But remember, We have the Master’s Key, and it will unlock the doors that lead to greatness.

Christway Church shall be called a house of prayer!

Big Ten!

Time flies when you are having fun. It hard to believe that ten years ago Sandy and I jumped head first into the unknown. Jesus waved to us and said, “Get out of the boat and walk on water”. Not literally walk on water of course (although that would be a dang cool thing to do) but to put our trust in Him. We were clueless about the how to part, but our faith was strong!

Fast forward ten years, and we are still pretty much clueless, but we keep getting out of the boat!

I hope you all will join us at Christway Church to celebrate ten great years.

Dale Yerton and Dino Rizzo, both who have done incredible things for God’s Kingdom will be speaking. How blessed we are to have these men of God come to Christway church here in DeRidder Louisiana.

Can you say FAVOR!!!

Getting Close!

Soon and very soon we are going to see the King! Remember that old song?  It was and is a keeper. But in the mean time we are to be about the Father’s business. Doing and being what He has commanded us to do. That means WORK. But it’s an awesome thing to be a part of the family of God and very rewarding to see what He can do with a group of people who have a mind to work!

Any day now (after months and months of preparation) we will start the construction of our new building. It’s gonna be great to have more room. I am excited about the potential for more growth. Guys, it’s a numbers thing, how many can we pull from the darkness into the light? It’s also gonna be good to go back to two services on Sunday morning.

I give you praise, God, for using us to further the Kingdom. I praise you for your Power, Purpose and Provision.  Amen!

Funerals

It’s been one of those months!  It seems like every time I look up some one has passed away. It is always a sad thing to say good bye to a loved one. If they are twenty of even a hundred years old it still hurts.

I do not know how many funerals I have done in the past 15 years? But it is the one thing in ministry that I have never been able to just handle as “part of the job”.  It is an honor and great privilege to be asked by family to be part of the Goodbye Process. My heart still breaks every time and it never gets any easier for me. (Yea I know, I’m a crybaby.)   I covet your prayers.  Please remember Amanda and Benny in your prayers as they lost their grandma yesterday. She was also the sister of Ms. Betty Sharp who was one of the original founders of Christway Church.

Nothing is more important than family.

Company

It was great to have part of our family in from Covington, Virginia. Sandy’s sister Marg and her family. Unfortunately for me, it’s been a very busy week so I didn’t get to hang around and visit much. I have been working on the last few details, and of course, paperwork (always lots of paperwork) so we can began construction on Christway Church’s new sanctuary.

My brother-in-law Bill and I have lots in common so we get along great. He loves to fish and hunt and that’s music to my ears. We slipped off to Pa John’s camp on Toledo Bend Tuesday night and did a little bass fishing, but I had to cruz on back home Wednesday morning.  My nephew Colton also went with us. I was cooking us some eggs for supper and asked him for help. I talked him into wearing a bag on his head like a Chef’s hat. But he was a good sport and played along.

Guys, family is the most important thing we have on the earth. Take a little time to enjoy them.

New Youth Building

Our new youth building (multi purpose building) is almost finished! It brings Sandy and me great joy to be involved in building stuff that will help Christway Church add to the body of Christ. It’s a very large building, and I have total confidence in Larry and Kacy and their God given abilities as youth pastors  to reach the young people of DeRidder. Christway Church, our future is so bright that we gotta wear shades!

Duck Commander-Big Hairy Men’s Event

I can not tell you how many calls and comments I have received about our recent men’s event. It was a great night in Christ, and all who attended were well pleased. So many Christway men worked very hard to make the night an astounding success! The food was excellent. Bro. Vic and his cooking crew made the beast feast as good, if not better, than you can get anywhere. Our Presentation Team headed up by Chris Hayner made sure everything flowed with the seating and clean up. Ricky B(Rick’s  Guns Plus) brought out an awesome display of weapons that Big Hairy Men could look at and wish for. Sound guys, music teams, decorations, and the great variety of mounts made Christway Church here in DeRidder look GREAT!  Just wanted to say thanks again Christway men for being such a blessing. I am honored to be called your pastor. To all of you who helped and I didn’t mention your name, I will catch you next time. Last, but not least, a big thanks to Jase Robertson and the Duck Commander team for a great word from God.  Lookin’ forward to next year.

Cake

I don’t know if you have ever seen any of the cakes that Mary Cross makes. They often depict a certain nature scene or really, anything you want it to look like. She made a cake for the Big Hairy Men’s Event that was very cool. It looked like a duck blind complete with a hunter. The problem was that it was such a work of art that nobody wanted to cut it! I finally talked Jase (aka Duck Commander) into trying a piece of it. He said it tasted great, but he didn’t want anyone to know he did it. Well, you know me, not only am I gonna tell, but I got some pictures to prove it.  Thanks, Mary, for a great tasting cake that looked better than all of the duck blinds I have ever hunted in!

Harley Shop

My Bride and Emily took me on a trip to the Harley Davidson shop in Lake Charles the other day. I can’t ride my Harley yet, but I sure do like to hear it rumble. We had a great time looking at all the bikes. Of course, my girls didn’t mind taking a look at all the cool clothes either. Sandy is trying to talk me into buying a trike, but I’m gonna wait awhile before I do that. But she is wanting to get back on the road. She loves to ride as much as I do. My little Emily is already talking about the kind of bike she is gonna ride when she gets older.
I’m am blessed to have my girls!

Big Hairy Men’s Event

What an awesome night we had here at Christway Church. Over 300 men attended our Big Hairy Men’s event! We were blessed to have Jase Robertson as our main speaker. He gave a great word about being a Real Man of God. Jase is a well known member of the Duck Commander crew. The Duck Commander TV show can be seen on the Outdoor Channel, and they have many videos on the market that, of course, showcases their skill at  duck hunting.  If you missed it, you missed a great time in the Lord. There is much more to tell so I’ll write some more about it tomorrow. It’s been a long day!

Kids

Today after church, most of our folks who will be working at kids camp all this week moved into Ingallwood Park. We had our camp leaders’ meetings and prepared for the rush of CWC children in the morning! We had a great supper and fellowship.

We did find one snake in the kitchen, but I introduced his head to my walking stick and he agreed to move out. Ha, remember a good snake is a dead snake!