Don't Focus On The Burden!

I read that line in a book somewhere and it stuck with me. "Don't focus on the burden!"  I used to do landscaping work. Landscaping is hard work. I'd call it a of type of burden. I would look at someones yard that had a problem. Maybe it was overgrown with old unkept plants, weeds, uninviting and ugly. I would look at it sometimes for several days imagining what it could look like. When I had the "vision" of transformation, I would order the materials. Rock, boulders, dirt, plants, trees, mulch, pavers, etc...

When all the materials were delivered there would be literally "tons" of potential sitting there in piles. All those materials would have to be lifted and moved usually by my back, one wheel barrow at a time. Shovel full by shovel full. Hard laborious work. If I focused on the burden of moving all that material, it would have been very easy to become very discouraged, and just quit and go home to the air-conditioning. But I was not focused on the burden! I was focused on the vision! That is what kept me shoveling, and lifting, and sweating, and moving toward the finish line which was my vision of what the yard could be, a beautiful landscape.

We all have burdens. Stop focusing on them! Do what I did when I was called to redo someones yard. I first had to develop a vision of what could be! Ask your self, "Even though I have this burden, what could be on the other side? What are the possibilities?"

When you have the vision, order your materials. By materials I mean, what is it going to take to get beyond your problem? What is it going to take to change your life from drab, overgrown, maybe even ugly into a life of joy, completeness, gratefulness, and beauty? A new job, healthy lifestyle changes, schooling, counseling, an attitude change? Take the steps to line up what ever you need to get to your vision. It's not easy but you have a secret weapon if you choose to use it. You are a child of God! Go to Him and have a long conversation with him. Let Him help you find the vision. 

I'd say the number one reason people get stuck in their problems is because they cannot develop a clear vision outside of their problem. The problem becomes the all consuming focus! If that describes you, ask for help! I did and still do. Start dreaming again. The possibilities of a focused life are amazing! 

Habakkuk 2:3New King James Version (NKJV)

3 

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come,

It will not tarry.

WOW, AMAZING and THANK YOU! The special offering for Beverly Farm's Camp Bell last week raised over $2,100 dollars!  and there are still checks coming in. Wonderful, what a blessing! 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

This Sunday is a 5th Sunday so there will be only one service at 10:00am. This Sunday our vacation bible school kids will be presenting and pastor Jackie will have the sermon. The VBS program is a tremendous success this year. I think there 38 children attending. The volunteers are doing an amazing job. I know my grand daughter Dylan loves it! 

See you Sunday at 10:00am!  Don't forget. 10:00am this Sunday!  one pastor kent and pastor jackie.

Are you stuck and would like to talk with someone about getting unstuck? 

Call pastor kent @618-334-3575  or pastor jackie @ 618-656-4648.

WOW!

Great Service Yesterday! We heard two amazing testimonies from Krista Kell and Lori Rodgers, both who work at Beverly Farm located in Godfrey Illinois. I am also very happy to report that we have made an impact for many residents at Beverly Farm. Krista is so excited and moved that we are able to help get Camp Bell up and running. She told me today that this is going to give many residents  who cannot afford the other camps, to now have a place they too can enjoy. A BIG thanks to all who were so very generous at this special offering. There will be many happy smiles and good times in the near future for these very special people.  

I have had numerous requests on how we can help Beverly Farm's Camp Bell.  Here is the answer:

If you would like to donate money, please make the check payable to Praise Community Fellowship and write "For Camp Bell" in the memo. We will be writing Beverly Farm one check in a couple of weeks after everyone has had a chance to get their donations to us. 

Another way you could help!  If you have an item you would like to donate to the camp, please call Krista Kell in the activity department at 618-466-0367 ext. 624. You can discuss with her what you have and she can coordinate the process. I know they are in need of folding chairs, beds, fire pit, and kitchen appliances such as a coffee pot, crock pot, etc...Call Krista for more details. If Krista is not available, leaver a message for her so she can get back with you. 

Lori and Krista's testimony will be online soon at www.praisecommunityfellowship.com.

You can also learn more about Beverly farm at www.beverlyfarm.org.

There are many more amazing Sunday's coming up in our series, "Do You Dare To Believe What the Bible Says?" 

I Hope to see you soon. Love, pastor kent and pastor jackie.

Need to talk with a pastor? Call pastor kent @618-334-3575  or pastor jackie @ 618-656-4648.

Got Weeds?

In accounting there are Profits and Expenses. When you tally up the two columns, hopefully in the end, you will come up with a positive balance. The words you use everyday also can be tallied. They either go into the uplifting, loving, kind, positive column, or they go into the downer, degrading,  negative column. How does your word balance sheet look?

Words are like seeds. Are you planting flowers or weeds? I guess all you have to look at is your current garden of life. Is it filled with beautiful things or has it become overgrown with weeds? Some people have a weed garden in their mind. I used to have that problem. My negative, oppressive thoughts were creating a weed garden in my real life. I fixed the problem. It wasn't quick or easy, but the good news is, as I removed the weeds from my thoughts, my outer life also began to change. 

Got Weeds? There is a solution! It's called renovation. Sometimes it can be done fairly simply by wetting the soil and then pulling the obvious weeds. Sometimes you can treat large areas with Roundup. But sometimes the weeds have taken over so much territory that the best way is to rototiller the whole plot. 

Don't like your current garden? As a former landscaper I have many ideas for renovation. Come this Sunday and I'll share some of those ideas with you! I am going to give you a biblical remedy for treating that weed garden that may be growing in your mind and in your words. 

This Sunday we will also have special guests, Krista Kell and Lori Rodgers who will be sharing their story about their work with the residents of Beverly Farm. It will be a special Sunday of love and sharing! Come get renovated because God wants you to blossom and be beautiful!

Announcement

We are sorry to announce the passing of Sally McLaughlan's mother, who was 88. She passed away last Week. Sally we send you our love and condolences. 

Hope to See you this Sunday! 8:45am at 800 North Main St. Edwardsville. Love, pastor kent

Two Ways To Change Your Life and the World!

You Choose! There are two ways to change your life which in turn begins changing the world. You can change things through Love or through Fear.

Jesus' way is the way of love. It is living your life with forgiveness, compassion, patience, kindness, respect, integrity, generosity, joy, a positive attitude.

The evil way is through Fear. It is living your life as an intimidator, with force, anger, revenge, hate, persecution, prejudice, and death.

Which way would you prefer to change your life and the world?

Both choices require a source! Where are you getting your food for thought? Who has final authority in your life? Because if you say Jesus, then you have all the instructions you need to begin living a life of love and peace. 

I have people say to me, "But Kent, the real world doesn't allow us to always walk in love! What if someone attacks you or your family, are you going to allow them to hurt you and your loved ones while just sitting passively with a smile on your face?" 

My answer is absolutely not, I would defend myself and my family to death if necessary! However there is still a huge difference between me defending myself and me living my life as an aggressor using force on people who disagree with me. Being a disciple of Jesus, I see everyone as a child of God. To me, everyone needs love, Jesus' forgiveness, compassion, and respect. I interpret life through the eyes of Jesus! There are some in the world who interpret life through hate, anger, frustration and domination. 

You must choose whose eyes you will use to interpret your life experience. I highly suggest you use the eyes of Jesus! There is great Peace and Compassion from His perspective. 

Because we live in a fallen world, it is easy to put on the wrong glasses at times. Choose Jesus' eyes and ears. Let your life be filled with the fruits of the Spirit! 

Galatians 5:22-23New International Version (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

This Sunday! PCF will be leading the worship service and we will be continuing our theme, "Do You Dare To Believe What The Bible Says?" We will also be hearing from Krista Kell and Lori Rodgers who have both dedicated their professional lives to the residents of Beverly Farm. And, there is rumor that there may be some other special guests joining us. You won't want to miss this Sunday!

See you soon! Love, pastor kent. 

Sunday Service is held at 8:45am at 800 North Main St. Edwardsville Il. 

Kerry's testimony now on Line

I have had numerous requests from people wanting to hear Kerry Baugher's testimony. It is now on line at www.praisecommunityfellowship.com. Scroll down to sermon replays. It is the July 10th sermon.

PCF will be leading worship again on Sunday July 24th. Again we are going to continue "Do You Dare To Believe What the Bible Says?" and again I am going to have two surprise speakers, Lori Rodgers and Krista Kell. They both sing in the PCF Praise Choir, and they both work at Beverly Farm. For those of you who aren't familiar with Beverly Farm, it is a residential community located in Godfrey Illinois where 380 mentally and physically challenged adults live. Lori and Krista have both been employed there for many years. Here is Beverly Farm's website. www.beverlyfarm.org
if you want to learn more about this facility.

I hope you will mark it on your calendars to join us on July 24th for a very positive and moving talk from Lori and Krista. More to come!

Praise Community Fellowship and Immanuel United Methodist, two congregations coming together to glorify God by making a difference in peoples lives. Sunday service is held at 800 North Main St. Edwardsville Il. at 8:45 am.

Love Always Wins!   Hope to see you soon. Love pastor kent and pastor jackie.

Need to talk with a pastor? Pastor kent can be reached at 618-334-3575. Pastor jackie can be reached at 618-656-4648.

Do You Want to Improve Your Life?

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

As a Man Thinketh by James Allen

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

All of the books listed above have sold millions of copies. They are some of the best selling self improvement  books of all time. I have read all of them and would recommend them. The one thing they all have in common...... they have all taken truths from the bible!

They are simply applying biblical principles that God gave to man 1000's of years ago. 

I am going to be continuing a series on "Do You Dare To Believe What the Bible Says?"

Not into church? Well let me ask you this, "Are You Into Improving the Quality of Your Life Experience?" 

If you cannot step foot into a church for what ever reason, all the sermons will be recorded and be put online. You can find the first sermon in the series posted this past week at www.praisecommunityfellowship.com. During this series we will be hearing testimonies from real people who have had their lives changed by the power of God's teachings. People who have come from nothing and built million dollar businesses. People who have over come drug addiction, loss, and people who have found peace and hope after walking thru the valley of the shadow of death. 

We, Immanuel Methodist and Praise Community Fellowship, are a group of people seeking God's Grace and His Blessings and Favor in this crazy world. All walks of life are welcome to join us. We believe in loving our neighbor as much as we love ourselves! We believe in the power of prayer. We believe that God has a plan for our life but that it is our responsibility to "Ask, Seek, and Knock, so that the door to God's grace and wisdom will be given to you. 

Hope to see you soon. Love pastor kent

This Sunday Just Got Even Better!

This Sunday's service was already shaping up to be amazing but it just got better. Besides having the PCF singers and praise band doing some great music, and besides having some of the most positive teachings in the bible, Kerry Baugher has agreed to give His testimony. Kerry is a very successful business man and has overcome cancer! I've known Kerry for over 20 years and I've seen his faith in action! You won't want to miss this motivating and uplifting testimony.

To me there is nothing better than hearing what God has actually done in peoples lives. Lydia Bertels gave a wonderful testimony to Gods grace a few Sunday's ago. I hope you will put this Sunday on your priority list on things to do because it is going to be mighty powerful. 

The theme is, "Do You Dare To Believe What the Bible Says?"  This is teaching for everyone! All of us have questioned our faith. All of us have had mountains to face. But Jesus taught: 

Matthew 17:20-21New International Version (NIV)

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  

 This Sunday can be the beginning of a brand new life for you and your loved ones! Come join us and let the "words" of God open the possibilities in your life!

Join us. 8:45am Sunday morning at 800 North Main Street at the Immanuel United Methodist Church. The small church where BIG things are happening!

See you Sunday!  Love, pastor kent and pastor jackie

This Sunday!

Do You Dare To Believe What the Bible Says?

I don't know about you, but from my perspective there are a lot of friends and family that need some miraculous changes in their life for the better. 

There are people with illnesses, money problems, relationship problems, worries, anger, frustrations, fear, and on and on. These people need a dose of the miraculous that only God can give. 

This Sunday I will be getting into the promises of the bible. "Do You Dare To Believe what God's Word Says?" 

Hebrews 11:7 the bible says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!"  

Matthew 17:20  "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you."

Do you or someone you love need a mountain moved? A dose of the miraculous? 

Come join us this Sunday at 8:45 am at 800 North Main St. Edwardsville. The PCF praise team will be leading worship and I will be giving the message. 

I will see you Sunday, love, pastor kent

What Do You Want To Change In Your Life?

God created us with the ability to create. You and I have been given the ability to change things. And, no matter what you want to change, it begins with your thoughts and with your words. Your words are powerful because they have creative power. Your words contain the seeds of change.The seeds of possibility.

Moses used words to the Pharaoh of Egypt to release the captive Hebrews.

King David used words of Faith before he killed Goliath!

Jesus used words to heal, to calm the storms, and to raise the dead.

Start speaking words of Faith, words of health, words of peace, words of gratitude into your life and into the lives of others. Start speaking the words of change that you want to see happen. 

God, today I will begin speaking the positive words of faith to the Goliaths and the storms and the captors of my life. 

"Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world!"  

"No weapon formed against me is going to prosper!" 

"God always leads me to triumph!"

I am overflowing with God's Holy Spirit and blessings follow me all of my days.

See you Sunday.  Let's start changing your world for the better!  Love pastor kent