Otterbein Chapel McArthur Ohio

10/16/2024

Change is Happening
This is my story and I’m sticking to it:
I’m a man who really truly likes routine. Waking-up just before the alarm sounds, hearing my dog arouse and eagerly wag her tail, which says to me, “Good morning, Dave. I love you.”, then the smell of sausage and eggs as I’m exiting the restroom ready for a new day, this is my routine. That is what I expect and what I appreciate.
Today, I walk into the restroom, hop into the shower, turn the water on just like usual but this time, the handle turns and turns and turns. All I can say is, “Where’s the hot water?” I bend over to pick up the soap I had dropped and “POW!” ... A spasm hits my hip! Then a thought hits my mind, “I have to bowl tonight! Oh NO! There go my scores.” ... “Come on Dave... don’t let a little thing like this get you down.” I force a smile, head to the kitchen to finish cleaning up with warm water, so I can get back to my old routine.
“Violet, that sausage smells better than ever. Thank you for breakfast.” “Good morning, Logan Keck. Have I told you lately that I Love you?” I wait for the usual reply. “Can I fix you a cup of coffee?” I always ask that of the boys every time they stay with me over night. It’s my routine.
Now it is time to let Ginger out to do her #1 thing. I walk out onto the dark porch. Like every morning, suddenly the motion detector senses my movement and the light brightens the area. This is when my Killdeer always says, “Good morning, Dave.” in their killdeer talking voices. Three, four or more birds welcome me every morning. Not today.
Yesterday, only one Killdeer talked to me. Today, it was totally silent. I could see my car just beyond the gate, where the birds always stayed. The windows were white. Frost must be covering everything. “I’ll need to heat up the car this morning.” I started thinking. I paused a while longer... and still not a sound. This coldness felt just like my shower. “Come on in, Ginger. Your breakfast is ready.”
Today, Joshua and I are not permitted to walk between the buses anymore. So, I park in a different spot. I just hope I can remember where the car is after work. Sometimes, I hate change. When things change, I must change with it. Take the shower for example. I usually drive straight home, run to my Lazy-Boy recliner, shut my eyes and nap for about an hour. I wake up, smell the aroma of my coming supper and compliment the chef. “That looks and smells like the best dinner ever.” Not today!
Today, it is a drive to Jerry’s Do-It center in Logan. The shower I have is unique. It has special fittings, thus I must go there to buy a replacement part, unless I wish to do the cutting and soldering of pipe parts. As I am working on problem of this morning I will probably be thinking, “I miss my nap!”
CHANGE! It can be both bad and good. CHANGE, I hope leads to another routine and I really truly like routine. But change sometimes takes time to adjust as to become routine. I’m explain it this way.
When I was a teenager, I was a curser. My friends cursed, so I cursed back. It became an everyday thing, except when I was with family. Dad should never hear a cuss word come out of my mouth... OR ELSE. I always hated the OR ELSE. I became quite proficient in cursing. I carried it well into my adulthood until one day when CHANGE HAPPENED.
I was put under conviction by the Holy Spirit for two days. Those two days caused me to totally hate myself and made me look for help. Help came while kneeling at a sofa and praying to God. “God forgive me!”
Something happened. It’s like the old Dave died. Another Dave stood up. By another, I mean, when I walked out and got in the car, that Dave searched for a Christian Radio station, found it, and listened to it all the way home. That Dave has never cursed again. He didn’t just try to not cuss; the curse words were just not a part of my language anymore. My best buddy in Columbus, got so mad at me a few weeks later. I followed him home that night. I wanted to explain the new me to him. Before I could even get the word out, he said, “You’re not the same person anymore.” He was right. I had changed. I now needed to explain that I would be an even better friend. Jesus does that. He changes you.
Since my change, I have ministered to thousands of people, offered solace during funerals, gave counseling and love during weddings, baptized many and watched their change take place. The OLD DAVE could not nor would not have done those things. Without that sofa experience and getting off the sin-routine there would be a totally different man and one not able to write a post like this.
Friend... I have a sofa and you are invited to drop by to pray anytime. Maybe you too need a change.
PS. Change is happening at Otterbein CCCU. We have a new pastor, Mark Poling, a new worship leader, Randy Minton, and new people coming almost every week.
The address is 26001 Goose Creek Road, McArthur, Ohio. Use you GPS for directions or just message me. You can do this for I believe in YOU!

10/04/2024

Just that kind of day. 1/04/2024
This is my story and I’m sticking to it.
The alarm woke me up this morning. That is a rare occurrence. I seem to always wake up just before the blaring of my phone. I don’t remember dreaming or waking up during the night. My dog, a Sheltie, is so quiet and knows the routine we follow every day. This is pretty typical for us on a workday.
Next, I clean up, while Violet is frying up some great food for Logan, my grandson, and for me. She knows the kind of food Logan likes, eggs, sausage and bacon, pancakes and a tall glass of chocolate milk. The aroma tells me that a grandson stayed here last night. My main meal is usually the pills I take every morning. Today, however, I have sausage, eggs, cheese on an English muffin. Followed by hot coffee and my pills. Yum-Yum.
After eating it is my routine to take Ginger out to do her business. The air is cool and very damp. The bugs must be sleeping, for none is flying around the light, which is shining up the fenced-in area Ginger is squatting. Toward the east the sun has not even started rising yet. My vision is hindered by the darkness but there is this one sound.
I have listened to the squealing or call of my favorite bird. Yes, I wrote the word, MY, because I have adopted these birds and their offspring every year. The bird sound, I heard, was that of a Kill Deer. Only one bird called out today. About one month ago, I was on my back porch and counted 30 Kill Deer searching for bugs in the grass. I felt so blessed. This morning my thoughts turned to the knowledge that soon this sound would cease to be heard. Some Killdeer have already flown south and the few remaining are destined to follow. A gloominess fell upon me. Then, I see that Ginger had finished. We again walked into the kitchen to an opened computer and another hot cup of coffee. “Thanks Violet!”
Now, I get back to my routine. I pick up a grandson, drive to Burger King, present a coupon, pay for the food, compliment the cashier and head to school and work. This day now turns a little different.
I have an appointment to see a doctor at 8:30. I head to the car at 8:00. I push the fob button to unlock the door. Nothing happens. The entire car is locked. A call to the doctor’s office is made. They moved my time to 9:45. Good! I call Violet to tell her I need a ride. Then things change.
I begin using my head instead of my feelings, which is WORRY. I go to my computer and type in, “How to put a battery in a 2017 Camry fob, YOUTUBE.”
It seems that there is a key hidden inside the Fob and the video demonstrated how to get it out. I took out the key, went to the car, opened the door and the car started. I now know that my problem is a dead fob battery. I also knew how to change the battery because of the YouTube video and just happened to have about 70 of them.
Now during my lunch break, I get to think about this morning. What have I learned so far?
One, I’ll miss my birds and am bless to have gotten to know of them and I get to watch for their return. Two, Fobs die! Yes, they do. When I went to the doctor’s office, I had to sign at the window. While there, the lady saw where I had called in for a time change. She commenced to tell me that just three days ago the same thing happened to her. She took her fob in and it cost her a lot of money. Fobs do die and yours just may kick the bucket someday also. Third, I learned the value of looking things up in a place where good answers can be found. In this case it was a YouTube video. Why did I look here? From prior experiences and because my son Davey give me great advice, I just figured that it would not only tell me but also show me how to fix my problem.
Fourth, Like I have just told you how-to and where-to look for help you with your fob problem, I have figured that God gave us His Word, the Bible to help us with a myriad of personal problems. Like I have Davey as a tech guide, we have a good pastor, Mark Poling, to instruct us. He helps lead us to have God as a spiritual guide. Like I have YouTube, I have the Bible for answers. The difference between the two is this, YouTube helped me for today. The Bible will show me how to live so I can be confident and will know how to get to Heaven. So, use both, YouTube, when necessary, the Bible all the time.
Now, come worship with me at Otterbein CCCU, 26001 Goose Creek Road, and I’ll even give you a BIBLE of you own. If you are in the area and you need a ride, call 740-219-1940.
From just a servant of The Most-High

09/03/2024

Missing Opportunities:
This is my story and I’m sticking to it.
I’m old RIGHT? Age is supposed to make one make one WISE. Right? If that is the case, I must be very young. Right? I mean in the light of deduction; I think I’m onto something. Allow me to explain a thought that has been permeating my mind several times in my lifetime as a pastor.
My journey in the ministry started in 1979. That is the time I told my wife about hearing God call me to minister, even though I did not know in what area He wanted me to follow. In 1985, I graduated from Circleville Bible College, just two weeks from being laid off permanently from the Timken Company. I had no job, but I had an education and the CALLING. Violet and I started interviewing to be the pastor of a Church. This caused me to think.
We went to several Churches, that were without a pastor. We traveled to several places inside Ohio. One Church was in New York. Three Churches laid in the state of Indiana. The next year, 1986, I was asked to take a Church in the great state of West Virginia. Since then, we came back to Ohio and I’ve been here pastoring in four different Churches. Now, understand, as a CBC graduate, I have been taught, raised and followed the Holiness doctrine. My ministry has varied as I have served different congregations.
As a point of location, I was saved in the front room, kneeling beside a sofa, belonging to a Baptist deacon. My life has changed for the better since that day.
I was baptized in a baptismal at a Church of Christ, which was right across the street from my house. Then, later in the summer, I felt the need to be sanctified. This time, I am at the Wellston Campground. Following that occasion, I heard THE CALL while driving east on route 70, heading home after work.
During one service, a thought began. I was sitting there in a pew as my mind wondered away from the service. I was moved outside and over the Church. Sounds crazy. Right? What I saw was that the Church, as a building, sat empty almost six days and 21 hours each week. I Just did the math. That is 165 hours of emptiness. Sure, some Churches meet on Sunday night and possibly a mid-week service. Still, 160 empty hours each week seemed a very long time.
Then, I saw servants wanting to minister but could not do so for various reasons. I saw people who could make it to Church on Sunday night but did not go because the Church doors was closed, locked, and open only at certain times.
Now for my idea!
If a Church is not open on any given night of the week, if a minister can serve a group of people at times other than the Church is already used, why not allow that servant of God start building another Church in the same place. The cost would be minimal. The time of use would be also few and not interfere with the regular Church. More people might come to hear this new pastor. It is my belief that doing so would only increase attendance and show to the community that God’s people can work together.
I pastored, but I also know that others can minister better than I can. I preach but I’ve heard better preachers. The people of the Church are not my sheep, (as called by Jesus, the Good Shepherd). They are His sheep and we pastors are just serving God’s sheep. “Let the greater of you be a servant!”
This thought about sharing the building with another minister may never come to pass. If I again did pastor a Church, I’d do anything to get more people to attend, even by sharing my building. But that’s just who I am.
If you are looking for a Church, come visit Otterbein. Then, just don’t visit, but become a part of our family. You will be loved by all. Our address is 26001 Goose Creek Rd. McArthur, Ohio. For just another servant of God, David McManis.

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09/01/2024

We had 20 people in Church today. We even had kiddos in a Sunday school class. Try to come out th Otterbein CCCU next week.

08/07/2024

I Fell Off the Ladder
This is my story and I’m sticking to it.
Yes, I truly did fall off the ladder, not once nor twice but three times, as I can remember. But then, I may have bumped my head and forgotten the other times. Did I get seriously hurt? No. But did it hurt? They sure did. If I fell off the ladder that many times, there must be something I need to learn. Right? Now what would that be?
Before I go into my story, I have a couple of stipulations. Here they are! If you are a person who has determined that God is not real, if you are one who has decided that sinning is your thing, then stop reading right here. STOP!
However, if you are looking into becoming a follower of Jesus, if you have in the past repented of your sins and had the grace of God save you from your sins but find yourself slipping from the grace, KEEP READING!
OK! Let’s go!
One time I was in the gymnasium of a school. We had the task of installing two overhead projectors, (The Movie Style type), which were large and very powerful. To do the task, we needed a very long extension ladder. We stretched it to its max and still be safe. Now I’m not very fearful of heights. When I was younger I believed that I could dance on ladders and roofs. When I was climbing this particular ladder, I was in my sixties, but still not afraid. The good news is that the ladder did not break. The bad news is the one leg of the ladder slipped between the seat holding it and into a space about 4 inches deep. I didn’t hold on. I fell onto the seats, which had steal and wooden arm rests. The ladder was slower than Me. After slamming my back, the ladder came to rest on top of me. Breath had escaped my lungs. Pain jolted my back and ribs. All it took was one mistake. Did I go back up? You bet your life I did. I found some boards to fill the space. We reset the ladder and this time, I gingerly climbed to finish the job.
Another time, I am on this fold-up ladder. It had four sections, which could be used in different variations. It was great for steps, low hanging gutters, and even used as a horse’s leg. Add a board across the top and “abracadabra” ... I had a horse. I was hanging vinyl-siding on the home. I worked my way from the front, down the right side, across the back of the house. I had been working on the left side and had just reach the top row. Three more pieced and I might get something to drink. By the way... I drink WATER. On the first of my last three pieces, the Ladder broke. With hammer in one hand, nails stuck in my teeth, while holding onto that piece of siding, I could not hold grip of something I wasn’t holding onto. There was no riding the ladder sideways. It was a backwards fall. The nails were spit out. The siding came down in my tight hands, the hammer flew up, up and thank the good Lord, AWAY.
I’ll spare you another story, but try to let you know the lesson I have learned.
THE LESSON:
I was just reading the Book of Geneses. In chapter 28: 10 – 22 is the story of Jacob. Tired, probably very hungry, he chose a stone as his pillow. While sleeping, he had a dream. He saw angels ascending and descending on that ladder. Every picture I have ever seen depicts the ladder as stairs, stairs of clouds. There could be some other views. How about a rope ladder? You know! It has two heavy ropes hanging down with wooden slats spanning the two ropes apart. But why a ladder? Could this ladder mean something to the Jew and to us, who are seeking or following Jesus? You will find many interpretations.
For me, I see the ladder handing from Heaven and it must be climbed up, up to our Promise land. The first rung of the ladder is just out of our of reach. It takes effort to grab ahold of it. That first rung is salvation. It is God’s grace reaching down to me, to you. Many reaches for it, but gives up. Many are blind to it and even when told that it is there to save them, they will not open their eyes.
Then, I pray this is us. We reach up, believing that we can and will be saved, we jump, we climb on the pew, we walk our way down that aisle, we kneel by the bed and through God’s Love and Mercy then that rung becomes near enough for us to grab hold. We then KNOW we are forgiven and that we are new inside-out. It all starts with the first rung.
Each of the other rungs may represent the days or the years, we have climbed. With each rung climbed, we should grow stronger in Jesus. We are climbing out of being a baby-in-Christ and starting to become more mature. I see Christian-teachers, preachers, laypeople, working, helping, ministering in Jesus’ Name. They are
climbing. Then... ... someone or something shakes their rope. We take our eyes off the prize and begin looking at those around us. We get tempted to stop following, stop climbing and to take up fishing instead. Our hands slip. That rope-ladder is rapidly getting out of our reach. Examine yourself right now. Are you still climbing? Do you want to begin your climb to Salvation and to Jesus? Pay close attention!!!
THE RESOLVE:
When you grab hold of that rung, really grab tight. Give it a fierce grip. Then, never, never let go of it. What am I writing about? That first rung is your salvation story. The first steps a baby takes is the most important step. Why? He of she can never take the second step if not for the first.
How do I keep hold of that first rung and keep it? Tell your salvation story over and over again. Tell it in Church, at work, on Facebook, to that man or woman who may be giving that certain smile. Tell your family, and ask them to watch you climb. The ladder may shake. The devil may tempt. You may even start to wobble and to fall, BUT!!! The bottom rung is with you. It is in your hand. It’s you salvation story. You can then say, “Get thee behind me satan! I am a child of God.”
So, tell your story!
We would love to hear your story at Otterbein CCCU. We are at 26001 Goose Creak Road, McArthur, Ohio. My number is 740-219-1940. If you want to jump in our Church, come JUMP.
From: Just a Servant of God.
David McManis.

08/06/2024

Laying on of the Hands:
This is my story and I’m sticking to it.
It was August 4, 2024 and the start of a new-beginning at Otterbein CCCU. But first, before I get to that day, let me go back one week to the day I preached my last sermon as pastor of Otterbein. It has been said that the first and the last sermon from a pastor are the best ones. That probably is not true. I, however, studied and prayed each day for guidance on the scripture I should choose. What was the result?
In Deuteronomy 34, we find the story about the death of Moses. He was 120 years old, still very strong for an OLD man, and he still had good eyesight. Wow, 120 yrs. Old! That is 50 years older than I am today. God call Moses to climb Mt. Nebo. (Mt.) stands for MOUNTAIN, not a hill, but much, much higher. God sure didn’t make dying easy, did He? But the reward was out of this world. From the top of the mountain, Moses saw all of the Promise-Land. All the way to the sea, both north and south, every piece of ground God had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The point of the story, I preached, was not about Moses. No! It is about God. God KEEPS His promises. I did not mention verse 9 in my sermon.
It is now August, 4th. Today I will no longer be the Pastor. Like Moses, today, I felt like I was climbing that mountain. (Otterbein does sit on a hill, but one I can drive up). In my minds eye I see, continuation, growth, the Church shining brightly, people coming to the Lord. Then I see Mark Poling. Probably like Moses looking at, Joshua, his replacement as the leader of God’s people, I also saw Mark. What do I do?
An idea came to my mind and it followed alongside verse of Deuteronomy 34: 9. “And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.” That’s it! I now know what to do.
I briefly told all the new people about what I had just written above. Then I called Mark to the altar. I got out the anointing oil. Many of the Church came forward. We laid hands on Mark. Anointing his head, we all prayed. At that point, I passed on my leadership to God’s anointed. Unlike Moses, I haven’t died just yet. I now get to help Mark and the Church shine like the SON.
I love our Church and the people who just would not give up on me. Now... Let’s march into the PROMISE LAND.
PS. The Church location is 26001 Goose Creek Road, McArthur. Use GPS or just call me for directions at 740-219-1940.
From: Just a Servant of God.

08/05/2024

MY PERFECT KIDS
Yes, you read that right. My babies were perfect.
A long time ago, late at night, I called Gallipolis-Hospital, when it was down by the river. I lived in Wellston, Ohio in my parent’s home. “Hello! My name is David McManis and my wife, Violet, says that she is in labor.” I talk rather loudly and in a rushed manner. “What do I do?”
The reply was, “How far is the pains apart?”
“I don’t know! Hey, Vi! ... How far are your pain apart?” I yell upstairs.
“I haven’t timed them. But I am in Labor. The baby is coming!” Violet replied.
I’m trying to relay messages, when I heard the nurse say, “WAIT UNTILL THEY ARE THREE-MINUTED APART!”
“LISTEN HERE NURSE, I LIVE IN WELLSTON AND I AM ON MY WAY... NOW”
What does a new dad or mom do for their babies when the TIME COMES?” Answer, anything and everything.
I sped down old route 35 and made it to the hospital in record time. ... I think.
Violet was not having pains when we arrived. So, they laid her in a cot in the aisle. I stood there holding her hand. Soon came a spasm, then another. The nurse checked her and said, “It’s time!” Off they went.
I, along with my in-laws, sat in the waiting room, waiting for the announcement. Back in the day... dads always waited to find out what s*x the baby was. The announcement came. “Mr. David McManis, your, wife has delivered you a BABY GIRL! She weighted 6 lbs. 4 oz. Now the waiting began.
THE PERFECT GIRL!
I did not get to hold my baby at first. OH, HOW I WANTED TOO. I did look through the window. She was beautiful, black hair, great color for such a newborn, 5 fingers and 5 toes, and get this... she did not cry. I never once seen the nurse change her diaper. She was always happy, kicking just like she did in the womb. Friend... I am not lying. She was literally perfect in this man’s eyes. I did not want to change a thing. I have figured out through the years that feeling, that response, that vision, is LOVE. Read 1 Corinthians 13.
I read this verse, “God is Love!”
In our Church at 26001 Goose Creek Road, we had lots of babies. In God’s eye, as our Father, what did he see? He saw BABIES! His babies, in which, I am one of them. Every person makes mistakes and even sins. Each one is there to learn how to like Him and how to become a part of His family. He is not looking for our flaws, our short comings, instead, He is calling so to continue in Him. If I loved my children and still see each one as perfect, Jesus loves us even more.
So, Yes, Otterbein is perfect in the eyes of God. Why don’t you try to see it as Jesus does? As his Body.
From: Just a Servant of God

08/05/2024

The Perfect Church.
Welcome to Otterbein CCCU at 26001 Goodge Creek Rd. McArthur, Ohio.
I’d guess that you do not believe that statement. But we are. So, if you want to attend a perfect Church, please come visit ours. I’ll explain:
1. Today, our Sunday-school started six minutes late. We did not have enough books for the numbers of the people who attended. Most of the people came in late for service and I even missed greeting some of them. Kids were noisy and even playing with toy cars in their seats and on the back of the seat in front of them. I, for one, sure did sing off-key and some sang so low they could not be heard. Some may have thought the service was boring and others had tears of joy flowing as things took place. That doesn’t sound like a PERFECT-CHURCH, does it? But it was!
2. See, I read Paul’s writing to the Corinthians and to his many other epistles. The Corinthian Church sure had its problem. It was divided into 4 groups. They had s*xual sin inside the group.
Their service was very chaotic to say the least. Some didn’t even believe in the resurrection. Yet, in chapter 1 verse 2 Paul writes, “2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:” Paul calls this body of believers a CHURCH. He also is writing to those SANCTIFIED, or SET APART ONES. See I believe that Paul had a completely different understanding about the Church than some of us do! What difference?
3. Paul saw the CHURCH as the body of Christ. In Paul’s eyes, Christ’s body can and will always be perfect. It may be fill with noisy kids, stumbling preachers, late arrivals, bad singers and terrible musicians, but to Paul and in Christ eyes, the CHURCH will always be PERFECT. Then, one day, Christ will return and find a Church adorned as a bride, without spot or wrinkle and invite us to the marriage feast. So, what do I wish?
4. I pray that you find a Church just like the one I attend. We screw up. We make mistakes. But we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. We talk to Him. We sing to Him. We worship Him. We offer our sacrifice and our praise. Then, through His righteous blood He washes us clean making us PERFECT in His sight. Now what?
5. Stop finding fault with the Church and its people, but instead follow God inside those doors and help make it even more perfect.
Written by a Servant of God.
David McManis.

07/20/2024

STONES
Saturday, July 19, 2024
This is my story and I’m sticking to it:
I traveled to another Nipgen District Council meeting yesterday. This is the second year I have attended but this time I went all alone. Sometimes being alone is not all that bad and even has its benefits. A little over one-hour drive, gives a person time to think, listen to their own preferred radio station, and sometimes to just hear silence. I did enjoy the drive and the alone time.
At this council meeting there was a lot of worshipping. Except for a pastor sitting behind me, in whom we connected instantly, I was there alone. Four rows from the back of the front section and in the corner seat, I was all ears. I heard about the major point of the meeting was to be strong and courageous. I’m neither of those. Back in the 70s I did exercise and lift a lot of weight but 50 years later I’ve seemed to just put on weight and moan a lot when I move.
I think the speakers are just preaching to me. Right? They used scripture from Joshua chapters 1 and 4 as their reference. Believe me, that message was for me. Allow me to give a very sort context of the message.
Moses was now dead, God said. Joshua is being appointed, at God’s wish, to lead the twelve tribe over the flooded Jordan River into the Promised Land. Several problems faced this new leader, Joshua. One, the flooded river. Two, the new land was occupied by armed cities and even giants. But God gave the command to, “GO!” Joshua went.
God provided miracles for Joshua’s obedience. He parted the Jordan as he had the Red Sea many years ago. The people crossed the river on dry ground. Such bravery!
Then God instructed Joshua to have twelve men to gather a stone each and to build a monument in the middle of the Jordan where the Ark stood. The waters came against that monument when the waters came together again. They must have been large heavy rocks for at the writing of this book they stood above the water as a testimony of God’s presents when they crossed.
On the other side of the river, and near the bank, they were told to gather another 12 stones and to build another monument as a teaching lesson for generations to come. They could always remember what God had done.
The other day I drove to the Logan Cemetery where mom and dad lays. There sat a monument, engraved with their names, and dates and words of comfort. And... do you know what I did? I remembered!
If you want to talk about my parents, I will give you a lot and very long testimonies about them. That one monument stands and tell its own story. I have other monuments in my life. When I go to Church, I remember dad and mom siting in the third row every time the door was open. I remember falling to sleep during the preaching. I’d lay my head on dad’s lap or on his shoulder. His arm was better than any pillow I have ever slept on.
Then there are my posts, which I read sometimes. When I do, I am transported back in time to when I wrote them and to the time, they each refer. Like, the story I wrote about knocking the stick off the shoulder of another kid (I heard recently that he has passed away) and one time off of my closest friend. Each resulted into a fight. I suppose my monuments can be so positive and uplifting. They can also bring the thought, that I really screwed up. Both serves to motivate me to keep going and also to change who I am.
It takes strength to change. It is easy to remain just as I am. Joshua chose 12 men to do the choosing, the heavy lifting, and where to place each stone. I’m kind of like the man who says, “I can do it all by myself.” But face it! People needs help. AA, a student, and a doctor, only names a few that requires help. Where do I get my help!? My family: brothers, sisters, kids, wife they have truly helped me set up some monuments. The Church is a very visual monument for me. Each Church I have pastored, each person that had accepted salvation and was baptized, are all monuments. The biggest and greatest monument of the all is when God spoke to me.
There is more to this story, I will share in another post. You have your monuments also. I pray they are the kind that when your kids and friend hear your story and see your life that you too will learn and continue to change. God led Joshua into the Promise Land. May He lead you into Heaven.
From a Servants Heart.
PS. Next Sunday is my last day of being the pastor at Otterbein CCCU. This means that I have only two more sermons to develop and to preach. If you can come out and worship with me, I’ll try to keep it SHORT. Our new pastor takes the helm on August 4th. Pray for both of us. Will you?