June, 2017

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UpdatedLook

Thursday, June 8th, 2017

If this is your first time to my blog then you will say, “What’s the big deal?” But if you have been a reader of any length (one day counts) then you will notice some big changes around. Several things were in operation.

First, I tire of the same thing. I like change. Not just for the sake of change for change’s sake but if there is a purpose, by all means, CHANGE! I had long been wanting to change the look of my blog but had to find the time and give my mind a chance to form concrete ideas.

Second, I needed time to do it. I am technologically-challenged so I rely (very) heavily on Ryan (techgeek). Ryan and his family just moved about 1/2 hour away and while we have had a few meals together, finding an extended time to deal with the blog was an adventure in futility. Until last night when Jo, Tami and I went to their house for a meal and a visit. After the meal Ryan and I sequestered ourselves in his office (with one of his monitors as big as a TV screen. BTW: he has three monitors for his work) and pounded out the new banner and look. I had ideas and pictures; Ryan had the know-how and the brains.  That is how my Sanguine personality (ideas with no clue how things work) combines with his Melancholy personality (perfectionist given to details).

I wanted my blog to represent me more. I hope I am never pictured as a hoity-toity big shot pastor. Get that thought out of your mind completely. I’m an everyday “joe” (or Bill) who loves life and loves doing what God has called me to do. As the tag line says: I am a Christ-follower, husband, father, pastor and road cyclist. It is true the banner does hit more of the cycling and even some advocacy, but that is who I am.  If you want to know who I really am, click on the About in the right column. You will even see a picture of me and my lovely bride. She’s much prettier than I am. 🙂

On the right bar you will see three badges I am passionate about: OVCF (the church I pastor); RoadID (which was used in my second bicycle wreck); and 3FeetPlease (an advocacy for safe distance between cars/trucks and cyclists). Browse the sites. I’ve streamlined my blog for faster loading and have also taken out extra information no one really gives a rip about. 🙂

I hope you like it. But most of all, thanks for reading.  I have written over 5600 blogs. No wonder my fingers are beginning to curl up. They are tired. But, Lord willing, I plan to keep blogging for as long as God gives me ideas.

Quotes/Thoughts

Monday, June 5th, 2017

I find myself today running in a few minutes to a hospital close to an hour away for a man in the church who is having a knee replacement so I have precious little time to write a blog. So I thought I would give you some of the quotes/thoughts from the New Morning Mercies devotional I reviewed last week here.

From June 1: “God’s care comes in many forms. He cares enough to break your bones in order to capture your heart.” Tripp closes his thoughts with this: “You care enough to give me what I need, not what I want. You care enough to break my bones in order to recapture my heart.”

Of course, that hit home for me. Once in November (which didn’t take) and then again in February, I had bicycle accidents. The latter broke a collarbone and 3 ribs among other injuries. I don’t believe God literally reached down with His finger and had that car hit me, nor do I believe He put His finger on me and then flipped it sending me to the pavement in an endo. But He can use events in our lives to get our attention. In this case, He used it to recapture my heart.

From June 3: “It would be amazing if a God of awesome glory recognized our existence, but for Him to welcome us into His family is grace beyond amazing!” I’d say John Newton used the right word. Don’t you think so too?

From June 5 (today): “God’s grace is active, rescuing, transformative grace. You celebrate this by being as serious about your need as the God of grace is.” It took me three times reading that until it finally began to soak in. God took sin-the Fall-seriously. So much so that He immediately meted out punishment and put in motion the wheels for our salvation. Sin is no laughing matter. Gal. 6 tells us, “God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows that shall he reap.” Two words: not pretty.

Chew on those today and then let me hear your thoughts if you can to respond.

Limits

Friday, June 2nd, 2017

Because I live in Spencer, IN near the White River, I am familiar with boundaries. Part of our town flooded in January of 2005. More of our town and and homes were flooded in June of 2008 when the so-called “100 year flood” hit us. Most recently we saw the White River crest over 22″ (which is about 8 inches over flood stage).  Many of you may be old enough to remember the devastation of 1993 when the Mississippi overflowed its banks in a huge way.

Boundaries are good. No, make that essential. We may not like them. We may have trouble tolerating them and accepting them, but sometimes they are absolutely essential. Think young people. How many bristle at boundaries put on them by their parents only to yearn for the freedom from the limits of “parental confinement”?

2 John is about limits…about living life with limits. I decided to extend the Branded series two more weeks to include 2 John and 3 John. Then I’ll preach a sermon for Father’s Day called The Man God Uses. Then I’ll preach a summer series on Grace. If you are close by, I invite you to come visit. If you are a part of OVCF, I’ll see you here. If you would like to listen you can do so by podcast on the church’s website.  (Yeah…sounds like a commercial). 🙂 But it really isn’t! Just an invitation to join us.