Monday, Hot Afternoon Thoughts

Personally I find great peace in knowing that God is in control of every good and bad thing that ever happens. I know now without a doubt that there is no such thing as a coincidence. Even in the smallest and what appears to be the most mundane things in our daily life, God has ultimate control.

What this means to me is that even when things appear to be the bleakest, the impossible, the worst, God knows exactly what He is doing and is allowing whatever it is that is happening to happen for a greater purpose.  Many times I think it is His way to slap us up the side of the head to get our attention.
Write this on your heart, God always has your best eternal interest in mind with everything that happens in your life.

Take a look at these scriptures:

Psalm 33:10-11 "The Lord foils the plans of the nations, He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations."
Psalm 115:3 "Our God in Heaven does whatever pleases Him!"
Psalm 135:5-7 "I know the the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on earth, in the seas and all their depths. He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth, He sends lightening with the rain, and brings out the from His storehouses."
Amos 3:6 " When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it?
Acts 2:23 "This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you with the help of wicked men, by nailing Him to death to a cross."
Acts 4:27-28 "Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
Isaiah 46:9-10 "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is still to come. I say, "My Purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please!" 
Matthew 10:29 "Not one sparrow will fall to the ground without your fathers will!"

I am small, God is big!  I am weak He is strong!  Yes Jesus love you!

See you soon. Love, pastor Kent

"Delight Yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the Desires of your Heart!"

TONIGHT:  I am praying that God will lead us by the power of  His  Holy Spirit as we look at Psalm 37:4.

PCF family, God is doing so many things right now in our midst I can't even talk about all of them yet. But if you are in for the journey, hang on because it is going to be a magnificent adventure with God.  That is what church should be, a magnificent adventure, not a routine, nor an obligation out of duty.

NO way, when you get into the presence of God, when you learn to "DELIGHT Yourself in the Lord, hang on to your hats because life is going to get real interesting. And that is exactly what i am seeing happen right before my eyes with PCF.

Come join us tonight for worship and let the fun, love, and adventure of God begin in your life.

See you tonight at 6:30pm at the Crystal Garden 1230 University Drive, Edwardsville, Il 62025
One of the most unique places to worship in Edwardsville.

See you tonight. Love, Pastor Kent

Sometimes you have to experience "it" to believe it!

What is  the "it" in the title of this post?  The "it" can be many things. Take marriage for example. You cannot really put into words what marriage really is until you experience "it".  I mean you could try and explain marriage to someone who has never been married but there is no possible way you could cover all the feelings, connections, responsibilities, joys, sorrows, communication, and on and on to really understand marriage. Sometimes you have to experience it to believe it.

And that little Adam is the only way I can tell people about  developing a loving close relationship with God. There are not enough words or sermons, or books to ever let you fully understand it. "Sometimes you have to experience "it" to believe "it!"

I want everyone who reads this blog to "experience God!"  Because when that happens, you are not going to believe it!  

So just how crazy can life get when you tune in to God? Of course you are not fully going to understand this until you experience "it!"  But let me give you a real life example:

I have a college friend who came into town. I don't get to see John, my friend very often, but when he comes to town we try and get together. We spend time reminiscing and one of the ways we do that is by going to some of the places we used to hang out when we were in college.  Thus enters the Stagger Inn!  Have I captured your attention yet?

Now here is where God enters the picture… So we are going to go into the Stagger and continue our conversation of days long past over a brew and we come across a guy sitting outside with a goat!  Yes a real goat. Well what are you supposed to say to a guy who looks like he has been on a long journey with a goat?  Now before I continue this story you have click on the link below and check this out.

God, a Goat, and PCF

Ok can you start to get the God connection?  Anyway to make a very long crazy story short…for now… Steve and his goat, LeeRoy" will be coming to our July 6th service in the park at 7:30 AM!  He will be giving the message. He is being followed all over the internet and has been on TV and radio shows across the country! This could be a very large turn out because he is going to be posting where he is speaking including Praise Community Fellowship.

And one more thing, Steve and Leeroy will be staying with Bonni and I Sunday so let the fun begin. Yes God can even use goats!  Hey no one can ever say that we are a boring church!    Make plans and tell your friends to come out to Glik park Sunday July 6th at 7:30AM for music, a goat, a story, and Gods blessing. 

See you there!  Love, pastor Kent

REMINDER: Jerry Godins memorial service is tomorrow at the Crystal Garden at 11:00 am lunch to follow. 

Up coming Service Announcements

This Saturday there will be a memorial service for Jerry Godin at 11:00am. at the Crystal Garden. There will be a lunch following the memorial.

This Sunday we will worship at our regular time at 6:30 Pm. Come join us in one of the most unique places of worship in Edwardsville. Come find all that God has for you. He loves you and has a plan for your life.

On July 6th we will have a morning service only at Glik Park at 7:30 AM. 

Mark your calendars!

Please lift up Chuck Weiss in prayer. He has been admitted to the hospital with pneumonia.

Our mission team is serving lunches to children as part of the twigs program. And we are gearing up for more fellowship dinners and starting a new choir. Let the Lord lead every one of us in all that we do.

See you soon. Love, pastor Kent

Deep Thinking

I've had some people ask why I sometimes stop posting for a while. When I go several days without posting it is usually because I am praying and thinking. I don't want to post just to be posting. Just like i don't want to preach just to be preaching. If I am not getting something from God I would rather be silent. There is way too much "talk" hitting us from every angle everyday so sometimes silence is golden!

In the mean time, keep loving and seeking God in all that you think, say, and do.

See you soon.  Love, pastor Kent

Is Your God The God?

Your life is a direct reflection of how powerful and real God is in your life! Jesus said it like this, If you know me and love me you will keep my commandments.

This Sunday we have a special guest, Pastor Andrew Phiri from Zambia will be presenting the word from God to us. Come and hear.

Hope to see you there. 6:30!

Love, pastor Kent

Just One Question

Here is a way to simplify your Christian Walk. Just ask your self this one question through out your day.

"Is what I am Thinking, Saying, or Doing, or about to say or do, Glorifying God?"

Pretty straight forward. Have a great Wednesday!

Love, pastor Kent