Piano sounding good!

Jeremiah Blasi on the 88's.

I'm Like a Speed Limit Sign

I take a lot of guff on Facebook and this blog for taking a stand for God, God's Word and traditional values. I've been called lots of names on my blog and on Facebook, but it really doesn't bother me.

I'm like a speed limit sign.

I'm not the judge; the judge sits in the court.

I'm not the policeman who arrests you and makes you go to court.

I'm not the actual law; I'm just the device with which people can be either made aware of the law or reminded of the law.

When I say "God hates homosexuality" I, myself, am not passing judgment; I'm just declaring what has already been declared by God.

When I say "homosexuality is wrong" I'm not judging you; I'm simply reminding you of what God, the Judge, has to say about it.

When people see the speed limit sign that says, "40 MPH" and they choose to ignore the law and go 63 MPH, they have to realize that it doesn't offend the sign for them to ignore it. You shouldn't take offense at the sign for telling you what the law is; it is just doing what it was created to do.

You shouldn't be angry with the officer for stopping you for speeding, unless the sign didn't do it's job. If you saw the sign, then you shouldn't be mad for being caught.

If you feel that you are being judged by what I say, be sure to examine what it is I say. Maybe I'm just quoting God's Word. Maybe I'm just declaring the law. Maybe I'm just doing what I'm made to do.

 I'm like a speed limit sign.

Done!

Video to follow

Basically the same thing Bachman said

Just speaking the truth!

My TV Interview

I was interviewed by KOTV-6, the local CBS affiliate, regarding the rapist on the loose in Wagoner. Click on the link below and it will take you to the video.

Wagoner Police Search For Rapist, Community On Edge

Playing her flute

Audrey and Madison

Audrey in the band

With her flute.

2011 Wagoner Band

Audrey's in there somewhere.

Any guesses?

What the Devil Doesn't Want You to Know

I've been reflecting on "things" lately and have decided that there are several things that you have either been lied to about or, perhaps, had hidden from you.

Satan is a liar and never wants the truth or the TRUTH proclaimed. 

So, without further ado, here are some things that the devil doesn't want you to know.  (in no particular order)

• Satan is real.
• God exists and is in control.
• Hell is real.
• There is absolute right and wrong.
• Truth is not relative.
• Homosexuality is sin.
• So is gossip.
• Islam is not really a religion; it is an ideology.
• Allah is not the same as God.
• Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven.
• Being good doesn't get you to Heaven.
• You don't ALWAYS have to say what's on your mind.
• God really does hate sin.
• It really is possible to hate the sin, but love the sinner.
• Being conservative doesn't make you righteous.
• Being liberal doesn't make you unrighteous.
• It is EVERY Christian's responsibility to share the Gospel.
• And to give their time and money to Kingdom work.
• Legalism is one of Satan's favorite playthings for Christians.
• So is bitterness, grudges, and immorality.
• A TRUE Christian cannot lose his salvation.
• Evolution is STILL a theory; not a fact.
• Abortion may be a choice (according to the government) but it is a sin according to God.
• Not everyone is going to be saved; many will go to Hell.
• Being "politically correct" is generally not compatible with God or His Word.
• It isn't a sin to question God.
• A dead relative, a saint, nor Mary can hear your prayers.
• Dead relatives are not your "guardian angels."
• Native American religious ceremonies are pagan ceremonies.
• Religion doesn't get you closer to God; a relationship with Jesus does.
• Lighting candles, burning incense, and repeating prayers mean nothing to God.
• Being part of a certain denomination means nothing to God.
• A man cannot proclaim "Ichabod" on a church; that's God's job.
• Just because you don't understand something about God doesn't make it valid or invalid.
• Mormons are not Christians.
• Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult.
• Salvation is a gift; you can do nothing to earn it or to keep it.
• Generally, the Devil doesn't make you do anything; you do it yourself.

This list is no way near exhaustive. If you don't understand why I added something, just ask!  If you can think of one to add, feel free in the comments.  

107 wasn't the high today

It was 108

Piano Repair

Jeremiah Blasi, pastor, sharp-shooter, musician, and piano repairman, arrived today to fix my grandmother's piano.

She got it for her 13th birthday in 1929.

He said is was in pretty good shape for being out in the garage for so long.

I can't wait to hear how it sounds with all the keys working.

Finding the "stuck" keys

Pulling pennies and other objects from the key board

Removing the Action Board

Repairing and adjusting

Rainbow!

Photo by Emily

To My Friends With Whom I Disagree

To my friends who smoke: just because you are hurting yourself and others with your carcinogenic smoke and just because you make you and me stink and just because you think you have the right to smoke anywhere anytime despite my right to breathe clean air; it doesn't mean that I love you any less.  I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who do drugs: just because you are hurting yourself and others with your reckless behavior and bad judgment and just because I may have to see you in court or in prison or just because I may have to go to your funeral WAY before your time; it doesn't mean that I love you any less.  I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who get drunk: just because you are hurting yourself and others with your reckless behavior and bad judgment and just because I may have to see you in court or in prison or just because I may have to go to your funeral WAY before your time; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who are racist: just because you don't realize that everyone all of races are created in the image of God and just because you feel that you are superior is some way to a fellow human being; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who are homosexual: just because you have chosen to live a life contrary to God's plan for male and female and just because you get mad at me for pointing out that God considers homosexuality a sin and just because you think I am homophobic because I stand with the Bible and traditional values regarding sexuality and marriage; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who are liberal: just because you support things that I consider to be counter-intuitive or just because you have bought into the idea that big government is better for our country or just because you support ideology and theology that goes against the Bible and traditional values; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who gossip, slander, hate, and look at internet pornography: just because indulge yourself with things that do not edify yourself or others and just because you hurt yourself and others in the process; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.  (I'm a sinner, too)

To my friends who disagree with me in areas of politics, religion, end times, government, current events, conspiracies, or whatever else that may come along; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

I hope you can love me in spite of me, too.

My Grandma's Piano

We went to pick up my grandmother's piano today. She received it as a gift on her 13th birthday (1929).  It needs LOTS of work, but it will receive LOTS of love!

Following it

On the trailer

Emily cleaning the keys

In the "music" room

107

Again

My Girls

At Boomerang Diner

Obama FAIL (or 50 Cent Fail)

Ask Me Anything - Really

Ask me anything.  I'll give you an answer.  I'll take your question and make it a separate post.

This ought to be fun!  :)

Outdoor Goofy Girls

Emily and Audrey enjoying our "new" yard set

"Free!"

Yeah, Me, too!

Surprise Visit!

We love to have company, what what fun it is to have a surprise visit from friends who live on the other side of the world!

The Gardner Family

Rainbow!

After the storm.

Muslim Americans???

Recently, at the White House Iftar dinner, (to celebrate the end of the daily Muslim Ramadan fast), President Barak Hussein Obama praised "Muslim Americans" for their service to the country during and since the attacks on September 11, 2001.

Muslim Americans?

I've heard of Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, and even a tongue-in-cheek description of ghosts as "apparition Americans" but what is this "Muslim American" thing?

I've not heard of Catholic Americans, Baptist Americans, Christian Americans, Buddhist Americans, or even Mormon Americans.  Why Muslim Americans?

In fact, why Native Americans, African Americans and Mexican Americans and not just Americans???

Obama said at the Annual White House event (another "why?") “...an America where we treat one another with respect and with dignity,” he continued, “remembering that here in the United States there is no ‘them’ or ‘us;’ it’s just us.”

If that is indeed the case, then why did he refer to Muslims as Muslim Americans?  Sounds like he is perpetuating the "them" and "us".  It just makes me wonder which side he's on when he talks about such things....

We are NOT learning from what is happening in Western Europe.  British Members of Parliament who are Muslim are excited that Islam is spreading across Europe and that soon, there will be a Muslim majority in many areas of Great Britain and that Muslims will one day be a majority in Parliament!

 Islam is NOT a religion of peace. In fact, I would go so far to say that it is an ideology parading as a religion.  The ultimate goal of Islam on earth is to rid the world of infidels and convert everyone to Islam so that the earth is essentially one large mosque.

To call Americans who are Muslims "Muslim Americans" is a slap in the face of American decency. It is personally offensive to me.

What's next, "Homosexual Americans?"

Gimme a break!

Still Blaming Bush???

US DEBT - Over $16 trillion by the end of 2012. Look when it was spent.
1789 thru 2008 (219 years) - $9 trillion
2009 thru 2012 (4 years) - $7 trillion

Can someone explain how 2009-2012 is the fault of Reagan, Bush, the Tea Party or Fox News? Anyone?

Emily's New Guitar

Emily has been saving up her money and bought herself a new electric/acoustic guitar this past weekend.

So pretty. And the guitar is, too!

Already hard at work

Birthday Pics

We celebrated Sally's birthday last Friday.  Here are a few pics....

My Three Girls

A New Wok to.....

Ammo!

The Cake

The Candles

Practice makes perfect

Audrey driving

Split Ground

From the drought.

118. Yeah. 118

Oh my word!

110 at 1 pm

Wow

You're doing it wrong!

At Sonic

Happy Birthday, Sally!

In Mongolia in 2004

Beijing 2004

Guinea 1998

Cozumel, Mexico 2002

Koh Samui, Thailand 2004

No matter where we go, no matter where were are... I love you!!!

Funds Needed for Mission Trip to Ukraine

Monday, I received an invitation to participate in a mission trip to Ukraine in October. It is called a "Witnessing and Crusade Trip."  It is scheduled for October 13-25. I will be preaching 2-3 times each day and 4 or 5 times each Sunday in the Donestsk region of Ukraine.

Here's the "tricky" part.  The $3000 required for the trip is due September 1st, paid in full.

I simply do not have the funds to go.  I am trusting God for these funds and am appealing to my friends, family, and acquaintances for donations.

If you would like to participate with me in this mission trip, you can send your tax deductible donations to:

Ukraine Mission Trip
c/o Immanuel Baptist Church
611 N. Gertrude Ave
Wagoner, OK 74467

Make the check payable to Immanuel Southern Baptist Church and mark it: Ukraine Mission Trip.  Please do not put my name on the check.  You may attach at note, but please do not make the check out to me if you would like a tax receipt.

I do have a Paypal account, but will be unable to provide a tax receipt.  Please contact me if you would like to use this option.

If you would like more information about this ministry opportunity, please see this link: http://bobbysmithministries.com/Ukraine%20Missions

If you are not able to participate financially, I desire your prayers. While I may have served as a career missionary for more than 10 years, I have never been on a preaching crusade such as this. 

Thank you in advance for your prayers and financial support.

God bless!

Rick Boyne

111

111 at 8 pm

4 years as Pastor of ISBC

Yesterday marked four years of my being pastor of Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Wagoner, OK. 

I can hardly believe it's already been four years.

Sunday was, perhaps, one of the best Sunday's I've had in the first 4 years here.  A little girl was saved during Sunday School and a man was saved during the morning worship.

Not during the invitation, but during the sermon.

Our congregation has grown and is going through a few growing pains.  My first Sunday, we had 25 people in attendance.  There were 84 here Sunday morning and 70 here Sunday evening!

We had an extremely successful Vacation Bible School this year where several children were saved and several new families are among us!

We took children to children's camp and youth to Falls Creek.

Some of our Sunday School classes are running out of space.

People seem to be genuinely enjoying each others' fellowship.

People see the need to be involved in more than just "going" to church.

God is at work at Immanuel Southern and I am humbled to be part of that and pray that I don't get in the way!

Bill at Walmart

Keeping cool.