I've always loved Dolly Parton. Her songs touches the heart and stirs up so many memories of our own lives. She also can preach through her songs. I borrowed this video from a post on Facebook so I sure hope you can see it.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Dang Butterflies
Some have heard me preach using the theoretical physics "Chaos Theory". Chaos Theory is the theory basically of one event or action results in consequences totally a way and separate from the original action or event. An illustration example would be the "Butterfly Effect". In the Butterfly Effect, a butterfly flutters its wings in China causing a disturbance in the atmosphere around it which continues causing a disturbance as it spreads, eventually causing a tornado to touch down in North Carolina which causes massive destruction. I've always loved butterflies and thought they were some of the prettiest of creatures, but if I could find that butterfly from China today I would probably rip its wings off. I have a feeling that others have felt this way in moments of their lives also. Thankful just the same.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Details
Isn't it amazing the details the Lord puts into the beauty of a flower. If he cares this much for the flowers, just rejoice in how much he cares for you. As I saw these flowers outside the office today I could not help but to be reminded of the words of Matthew 6:28-30. A little Bobbyology for the road.Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Beulah Landers
Allow me to tell you about one of the churches I serve. Beulah United Methodist Church is a small congregation church located just out of Salemburg, N.C. It has been serving the Lord as a church since 1900 and was greatly influenced by the Azusa Street Revival as the Holy Spirit swepted across America. I've read the history of these early days of Beulah but I'll save that for another time.
From the first Sunday that I preached from the pulpit at Beulah I have felt the mighty presen
t of the Holy Spirit there. I know what everyone is thinking as you read that, that the Holy Spirit is everywhere and in every church as well. I understand that and know that, but what I'm saying is that it's as if its different, as if the Holy Spirit is waiting for me to walk in to sit me on fire each morning that I walk in. You walk in knowing that you are in a special place of refuge, where nothing can bother you, where you are in a different dimension than the world you just stepped out of. You can walk in with the weight of the world on your shoulders and as you step through the door the weight is lifted off and you do not feel that heaviness any longer. It's a God place, a Thin Place, whatever word one may use to describe a place they know that they are in a special place where you feel an especially closeness to God. Doubt if you must, but though I may not use fancy words, I know what I am talking about.
And the people! This small but powerful group of people are used by the Holy Spirit to be an extension of His arms. I have seen it time after time after time people who came through the front door who has never been inside before act as if they have known everyone there all their lives. The people of Beulah, all of them welcome everyone as if they are family. Almost everyone who comes will not leave without a hug from somebody. I learned that on my first Sunday there.
Over the past nine years since I've served as the pastor, we have experienced many ups and downs in the numbers during worship. We've had many who have moved into the area who came and then moved away, many who still stay in contact with members. We have a saying that "once a BeulahLander, always a BeulahLander". We've had many who went home to the Lord. We've had some who have left and we've never heard from them again. We've had as many as 40+ in morning worship and as few as 10+. Up and down, up and down. Sounds familiar? But we've never stopped praising the Lord.
The music and singing is amazing, full of the Spirit. Many times I have seen people start crying during the opening songs because the Spirit is using Sue Fann, our worship leader, and her gift of playing and singing to touch our hearts. When you come to Beulah, you don't what is going to happen.
Everyone, is a family when they come through those doors. We laugh together and we cry together. We rejoice with each other's joy, and we suffer with each other's suffering. We worship even at meetings. If we think one of us need prayer, we don't wait to see one another, we pray on the phone for one another. Beulah is just a fun place to be!
At the presence time, Beulah is experiencing a low in attendance since we have had many who have moved on in their journey. We pray that many more will come, knowing some like many before them will be there for a season in their spiritual journey. We pray for those who are going through trying times in their lives who are searching for a place of refuge where the burden will be lifted. We pray for families who decides that they need to bring their children to church to plant the seed of Christianity so that when it comes time for those children to decide for themselves whether they will continue their journey in faith, they will know they have given their children a special gift. We pray for those husbands and wives who needs to find a place they believe will give them something to have in common to give their relationship a sense of peace it has been missing. We pray for those who are seeking a church home. We pray for those who are looking to re-connect with the God they once knew. We pray for those we have never met, the stranger, who will be a stranger no more. We pray for you, and we pray for our church.
At Beulah we gather for Sunday morning worship at 9:45. Morning worship is over most of the time by 10:45 and then some will stay for Sunday School. Some leaves and heads to some of the local eating establishments, beating the 11 o'clock church crowds. I always like telling people that. It also gives more time for folk to spend more of their day visiting or traveling to see family or going on special drives. Whatever they like to do. Like I said, Beulah is just a fun place to be!
If you would like to come and experience Beulah, we're located at 4610 Corinth Church Rd., Roseboro, N.C. We're only a few miles down the road from Salemburg, but have a Roseboro address so don't let that confuse you. We look forward to meeting you. If you have questions give us a call at 590-4372. Come and let us worship with you.
If you have a special memory of Beulah, please leave a comment.
From the first Sunday that I preached from the pulpit at Beulah I have felt the mighty presen
t of the Holy Spirit there. I know what everyone is thinking as you read that, that the Holy Spirit is everywhere and in every church as well. I understand that and know that, but what I'm saying is that it's as if its different, as if the Holy Spirit is waiting for me to walk in to sit me on fire each morning that I walk in. You walk in knowing that you are in a special place of refuge, where nothing can bother you, where you are in a different dimension than the world you just stepped out of. You can walk in with the weight of the world on your shoulders and as you step through the door the weight is lifted off and you do not feel that heaviness any longer. It's a God place, a Thin Place, whatever word one may use to describe a place they know that they are in a special place where you feel an especially closeness to God. Doubt if you must, but though I may not use fancy words, I know what I am talking about.And the people! This small but powerful group of people are used by the Holy Spirit to be an extension of His arms. I have seen it time after time after time people who came through the front door who has never been inside before act as if they have known everyone there all their lives. The people of Beulah, all of them welcome everyone as if they are family. Almost everyone who comes will not leave without a hug from somebody. I learned that on my first Sunday there.
Over the past nine years since I've served as the pastor, we have experienced many ups and downs in the numbers during worship. We've had many who have moved into the area who came and then moved away, many who still stay in contact with members. We have a saying that "once a BeulahLander, always a BeulahLander". We've had many who went home to the Lord. We've had some who have left and we've never heard from them again. We've had as many as 40+ in morning worship and as few as 10+. Up and down, up and down. Sounds familiar? But we've never stopped praising the Lord.
The music and singing is amazing, full of the Spirit. Many times I have seen people start crying during the opening songs because the Spirit is using Sue Fann, our worship leader, and her gift of playing and singing to touch our hearts. When you come to Beulah, you don't what is going to happen.
Everyone, is a family when they come through those doors. We laugh together and we cry together. We rejoice with each other's joy, and we suffer with each other's suffering. We worship even at meetings. If we think one of us need prayer, we don't wait to see one another, we pray on the phone for one another. Beulah is just a fun place to be!
At the presence time, Beulah is experiencing a low in attendance since we have had many who have moved on in their journey. We pray that many more will come, knowing some like many before them will be there for a season in their spiritual journey. We pray for those who are going through trying times in their lives who are searching for a place of refuge where the burden will be lifted. We pray for families who decides that they need to bring their children to church to plant the seed of Christianity so that when it comes time for those children to decide for themselves whether they will continue their journey in faith, they will know they have given their children a special gift. We pray for those husbands and wives who needs to find a place they believe will give them something to have in common to give their relationship a sense of peace it has been missing. We pray for those who are seeking a church home. We pray for those who are looking to re-connect with the God they once knew. We pray for those we have never met, the stranger, who will be a stranger no more. We pray for you, and we pray for our church.
At Beulah we gather for Sunday morning worship at 9:45. Morning worship is over most of the time by 10:45 and then some will stay for Sunday School. Some leaves and heads to some of the local eating establishments, beating the 11 o'clock church crowds. I always like telling people that. It also gives more time for folk to spend more of their day visiting or traveling to see family or going on special drives. Whatever they like to do. Like I said, Beulah is just a fun place to be!
If you would like to come and experience Beulah, we're located at 4610 Corinth Church Rd., Roseboro, N.C. We're only a few miles down the road from Salemburg, but have a Roseboro address so don't let that confuse you. We look forward to meeting you. If you have questions give us a call at 590-4372. Come and let us worship with you.
If you have a special memory of Beulah, please leave a comment.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Beyond the Possibilities
Seeing beyond the possibilities and believing in what we can't see is the faith we have when we say, "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord."--BobbyologyTuesday, February 23, 2016
He Heard Me The First Time
I have not flown in a very long time and I have grown into certain fears over the years, including the fear of heights. I used to love flying, especially helicopters having flown many times while in law enforcement as well as small planes. But as I said, I have grown into certain fears and this was playing somewhat on my mind as the time approached. Approached it did, and there I was sitting on the plane waiting for the moment when we would roll down the runway and lift up toward the wild blue yonders. Didn't have to wait long.
I began praying before we even started rolling and when we finally lifted up, I just kept on praying and praying and praying. No matter how high we were getting I just kept praying the same prayer asking for protection. It didn't take long before I realized this and thought to myself that at this rate I would call out to God and ask for his protection somewhere in the count of a billion before we landed. It finally came to me that the Lord was probably holding his hands over his ears saying to one of the angels, "I knew I shouldn't had allowed that boy to fly."
I thought how silly I was being, after all do I not trust God, and if I do trust God, why would I keep praying the same prayer over and over as if He did not hear me the first time. So I took in a good deep breath and prayed one more time, though this time I started by asking for forgiveness. I then said to my Lord, "Lord, I know you heard me all the way up here, I'm not worried about it no more, you have it." And that was it, no more worries, no more praying, no more doubting, no more fear.
I often picture Jesus and Jairus standing side-by-
side as the crowd came up to Jairus and said those horrifying words, "No need to bother the teacher anymore, your daughter is dead." I see Jesus laying his hand on Jairus' shoulder and with that reassuring hand of God in the flesh upon his shoulder, Jairus hears those amazing words of instructions and love, "Do not fear, only believe."
Somewhere around 37,000 feet above the earth, I felt the hand of Christ upon my shoulder, and yes, I believe.
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