The View From My Window Pastor's Weekly Blog



May 17, 2015

I’m fresh back from vacation & trying to get my brain to function like it did before I gave it a week off. Of course, the time flew by, yet, it’s funny how unfamiliar my routine has become to me after so short a respite. Little things like sleeping in & staying up later than usual, eating every hour on the hour, having a diet that consisted mostly of pastries, doing only what I felt like doing … Oh how my flesh grew in just a few days!

Suddenly it’s time to get up, shave, eat bran-heavy cereal, & go to work. You’ll be happy to know I was able to find my office okay. After my computer updated itself I was thankful to discover I can still type. Later I may even try my hand at writing something useful but I’m sure you’ll understand that I don’t want to overdo it my first day back.

I made a quick trip through Wal-Mart this morning on my way in — they have a display of Hawaiian shirts for just nine dollars a piece! Why are men my age so drawn to such displays? I would have bought one but vacation is over, after all. So, if a year after I retire you happen to see a very large bald guy with a long beard wearing a loud tropical shirt — that will probably be me.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

April 26, 2015

 

spray bottle

Last Sunday I visited the Children’s Church with a squirt bottle in my hand & a towel over my shoulder. Their theme for the day was Jesus washing the disciple’s feet. I asked them to imagine what else Jesus could have done with the basin full of water … He could have pretended to be washing someone’s feet then just dumped the whole bowlful on them! Imagine what a laugh He & the other disciples would have had while the one sat there dripping wet. But Jesus didn’t come to entertain Himself or to take advantage of others; He came to serve. You can take the lesson from there.

I washed a few of their shoes with the water & wiped them with the towel but, soon, everyone wanted squirted & I had a good time obliging them. The next morning I was out on my run when what had been a drizzle turned into a rain. At one point a goliath raindrop landed square on the top of my head. Immediately I thought about squirting the kids the day before & this verse came to mind: Give & it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, & running over … Luke 6:38. So if you have a kid in Children’s Church last week, tell them that God got me back good the day after I squirted them!

– Pastor Joel Everhart

April 15, 2015

 

Barb's-View-01-PS

I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following truth. 3 John 1:4

My kids’ birthdays have recently passed. It has been a reminder of the ultimate blessings they are to me as God has given me the privilege of watching them mature & grow in Him. Both came to know the Lord at a very young age. Both continue to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord in their lives. They, their spouses, & children are walking in the light of the Word. I truly could have no greater joy than to know our children are following the truth!

– Barb Everhart

April 12, 2015

 

old rugged cross

I’m still glowing over the teamwork I saw displayed here on Easter Sunday … Curvin, Jamie, Sam, Donna, John, Lacy, & many others set up a beautiful display, cooked up a delicious breakfast, then served up a wonderful time of fellowship. Dwayne & Missy lead a team for a powerful human video. Bridget delivered a timely word on how we approach God in prayer. I thought the worship team starting out with The Old Rugged Cross & ending with Victor’s Crown (a song that was new to us but perfect for Easter) was simply inspired.

How much did the pastor have to do with any of that? Absolutely nothing; I got calls or texts from our friends volunteering to do the breakfast, human video & testimony. Some of it I even forgot I had approved (sorry Bridget). The week before a guy walked in with a ram’s horn (Old Testament type trumpet) & we had the best Palm Sunday ever. I had no idea he was coming.

You might think it would bother a pastor to have so little control over what goes on in a church service. Not this guy — I say, A Holy Spirit led congregation filled with people willing to obey His voice is as good as it gets! Kind of makes you wonder what He’s going to do next; doesn’t it? Lead on, oh King eternal.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

April 5, 2015

 

easter 2

 

I Peter 1:3-12

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

6 So be truly glad.There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your soul.

10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

 

– Happy Easter from all of us here at New Life –

Thanks for celebrating with us today!

March 29, 2015

 

man cooking-web

I’ve mentioned it before: I like to cook. That can be problematic when there are only two people in your household. Leftovers are inevitable. There have been weeks when we’ve dedicated several days to cleaning up leftovers. But I have this bad habit of taking what’s left over and adding things to it until we have more left over after that meal than when I pulled whatever we’re trying to finish up from the refrigerator!

Right now there’s a ground turkey – rice – vegetable – cheese casserole sitting in our fridge that started out as a meat loaf a couple weeks ago. It’s a very simple concept: take what’s in the ice box, nuke it in the microwave for a minute or two & eat it. That’s what I intend to do but somewhere between the fridge & the microwave I get struck with a thought like: That beef would make a wonderful beef-vegetable soup. That would really taste good on a chilly day like today… Before you know it I’ve got enough soup to feed a family of five.

Eventually much of what I’ve made ends up in the freezer in one form or another. So, if you’re ever having company from out of town & you’re low on groceries or you’re up for a different taste combination than you’ve ever had before (something that’s not readily identifiable just by looking at it) … give me a call.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

March 25, 2015

 

As a youngster I can remember being very shy, holding on to the hem of my Mother’s dress as she stood to teach Sunday school. Not quite the picture of courage or boldness! In my teen years, however, I grew in my faith in the Lord. I became increasingly aware of His presence in my life, which provided me with a strength & courage that caused me to boldly stand for the truth of the Word. I was not afraid to carry my Bible with me to school to read during study halls.

I’m so thankful for the Christian upbringing my parents provided for me in those early years. Sometimes as we age we tend to revert back to being afraid, but if we stay in the Word we will have the daily reminders we need that will assure us of a possession of strength & courage in the Lord. Today’s world can be a scary place, but with the help of the Lord we can & WILL overcome! This is my command be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

– Barb Everhart

March 22, 2015

 

busy kitchen

I’m busy but I’m not busy like people with their kids still living at home or those taking care of their parents (or both kids and parents). People are like time sponges: the more of them that live in your home the less peace & quiet you will experience. There may also be more laughter, activity, entertainment, purpose &/or help, but there will definitely be less privacy.

It’s really a balancing act, isn’t it? An empty house can be lonely, depressing, or too quiet, yet a full house can be too hectic. Babies don’t come with a money back guarantee good for thirty days after you bring them home from the hospital. Parents can’t be traded in for a more cooperative set. Children & teens don’t have a knob you can turn to control their energy level or volume (someone really ought to invent one of those).

Other people in your home get in the way of many of your plans: what you’re going to cook for dinner, where you are going to spend your “free time,” what you’re going to watch on television, if & when you will get to sleep, sports car or minivan …. Yet no matter who or how many make your house their home there always seems to be room for them. And when they’re gone you’ve got more time, space, money, rest … & a hole in your heart. As it turns out the whole time they were sponging up your time, they were stealing your heart!

– Pastor Joel Everhart

March 18, 2015

 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

The wonderfulness of the human mechanism is so great that, if realized, it produces a sensation of fear. It has been said that if we could see one-half of what is going on within us, we should not dare to move. Each of us is given special abilities & talents from God. As we use them for Him it brings marvelous glory to His name. We are not to compare ourselves with others, but to give thanks to the God who made each one of us, unique in their own way, to minister His grace so that others may come to know Him.

From the view of my window this past Sunday morning, I witnessed two amazing young people use their (musical) talents for God. What joy it brought to my heart to see God’s creation acknowledging & praising Him. God’s work in you Lathan & Libby is wonderful, & I know that full well!

– Barb Everhart

March 15, 2015

 

old tea cup 2

My wife and I have been visiting our neighbor, Ann, who went into the Brethren Home a couple months ago. She has been battling cancer & bipolar disorder for some time, but more recently — Alzheimer’s. She’s been in four different sections of the home because her conditions have deteriorated since she’s been there. Now she’s in a lockdown unit with others coping with dementia.

When we first started visiting her there, Ann was a little more like a staff member helping with the other patients & we wondered if it was really necessary for her to be in that section of the home. On one occasion she insisted we have a cup of tea & some cookies with her. As we sat there visiting, another patient walked up beside me, spoke three sentences (none of which had to do with the others nor did they make any sense in the context of what was happening). She reached down & took several sips of my tea, placed the cup back in front of me then scooted a chair along in front of her as if it was a walker until she disappeared around a corner.

Well, it finally happened … Ann didn’t recognize us the last time we stopped in to see her even though it had been less than a week since our last visit. It was sad but at the same time we’d never seen her happier. All the stress & worry was out of her system. She lives in the moment because that’s all she has. Her painful past with its memories are gone. Not all Alzheimer’s patients are pleasant, of course — one seemed to take great pleasure in growling at our Yorkie pup we like to take along to visit the patients. As Callie runs behind me the patient beams with delight. May God richly bless those that care for them! Such concern they show, such patience, such strength! Those caregivers take such abuse but respond with such grace. And God bless those of you taking care of loved ones!

– Pastor Joel Everhart

March 8, 2015

 

white runner

Last week we considered how to dress for winter temperatures when running before sunrise. This week we’ll talk about weather conditions:

Don’t run when the roads and sidewalks are covered with ice. A day without a run is better than a day in the emergency room. When there are patches of ice, use extreme caution & slow down whenever anything looks remotely slippery. I love running on newly fallen snow & especially if it is snowing while I run. Fresh snow has a grip your shoes can grab if you run a little more flat-footed than the normal exaggerated heal-to-toe. Snow also has a way of lighting up an otherwise dark landscape. Snow that others have trampled is pretty much ice (especially if it’s a day or more old).

As for rain, I choose not to run in heavy downpours but find that a gentle shower is not a problem; you’ll be wet with sweat by the time you’re done anyway. If a little rain keeps you from running you are not a runner. Maybe we can put all this to the old tune Kenny Rogers used for “The Gambler” … “You got to know when to go out, know when to stay in, know when to take a walk, know when to run; you never skip a session just because you’re lazy; they’ll be time enough for resting when your body’s dead.”

And there it is again: that whole thing about everybody dies. Are you more ready for your date with destiny than you were last week? You ought to be because you are one week closer to it.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

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