This would be Tombstone Arizona. Tomorrow I fly to Arizona but unfortunately I will be at least three hours from Tombstone with no car or time to go there. I have visited there several times and I never get tired of this sleepy little town. Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and a lot of other notable historic figures spent quite a bit of time in this place. Besides the OK Corral and Boot Hill, it's still feels like an authentic western town with a lot of history. There are still bullet holes in some of the saloons from a bygone era. I don't know why I enjoy the west so much but I do.

These pictures are of my home away from home. I love to be in this room surrounded by some of my best friends. My best friends are often these books. Authors from both the past and present remind me on a daily basis that there is much work to be done. God's call is clear. "Go and make disciples, teach them and train them to observe all that He has commanded." I am reminded that I am part of a mighty army called by God to move forward into the culture and light the darkness. We are called to leave our comfortable "homes." (Even our home away from home.) We are called to proclaim the good news in the highways and byways of life. Jesus left the comfort of heaven and came to earth that we might have life and share that life with others.

Out of all the title slides from our services here at Newark Naz. this one is probably my favorite. Props to B. Haas the creator of the slide.

What are you sold out for or to? Who or what controls what you do with your life or your time, talent, treasures and touch? There is an experience for every Christfollower that only comes to those who hunger and pursue God with all their life and soul. This experience is called by some sanctification, holiness or even perfect love. Some struggle with the word perfect, but simply put it is being so devoted to Christ that the thought of doing something you know to b e a sin would not even cross your mind as a serious temptation. You are sold out to God. Your devotion is at such a level that you are repulsed by anything that doesn't reflect biblical values.

How "cultured" we in the church have become. Too many of us find the offensive things of this world to be funny and even entertaining. We have no problem with filling our minds with meaningless and often impure humor done in the name of harmless entertainment. We wonder why we can never gain a strong faith or ever seem to love God enough to gain victory in certain areas of our lives. It's simple. Love God more than the garbage this world has to offer. Pick up your cross and follow Him into a world that will not understand you and may even ridicule you. The may even persecute you. . . they may even crucify you! You do want to be like Jesus don't you? Sell out, sell all, take your hands off and let Him have all of you.

Why do churches keep putting dumb things on their signs? Do they really think the offensive and childish things they put up will draw people to Christ? Is it an attempt to let the world passing by know that the IQ of the average person that attends the church is really low?

I wonder how much our words, actions and attitudes are like the ignorant signs certain churches keep putting up? It seems to me that the church would be much better off if those claiming to be the "body" would just live like Jesus.

Wouldn't that be far more attractive? Wouldn't it be better to avoid conflict, concentrate on loving people instead of showing your ignorance by throwing your self around as though the world owed you something because you are a Christian. Congratulations on being a Christian now go live like the Christ whose name you bear.

What you are looking at is a brief photo essay of today's roadtrip to W.V. I was joined by two friends who made the journey with me to my in-laws farm. Our goal was to tear down and dispose of a 75 year or older shop building. We started at 10:00 a.m. and finished at 2:00 including a great country lunch. Without a doubt we were a wrecking crew.

Life is full of changes. This farm has been in the family for 5 generations and use to have some impressive barns but they are long gone. Other buildings have been built and they are much more functional. I am continually amazed at the crazy things that people hang onto. Change is not always better but it is inevitable. Embrace it, learn to adjust and enjoy it. Or you can keep on using your outhouse. . .makes no difference to me.

This is a picture of four of the five member team pursuing victory in the weight loss challenge. At weigh in we tipped the scales at a combined 1100 plus pounds. I am sure it is less than that now! I will post our total as it drops in the future.

I am very serious about this. Over eight years ago, I lost sixty eight pounds and now I have managed to put thirty back on. I will not stop until I have lost at least fifty pounds. I will still weigh more than the government standards.

I feel as though I have been living at the hospital. When you are a pastor you spend a fair amount of time walking with people on their road of grief. Of course, there is only so much you can do but you do your best to pray the right prayer, say the right words and sometimes you just shut up and sit with them in silence.

When you are around serious illness and death you tend to think about life in a different manner. It is a gift really to have these experiences. I try hard to not take them lightly but allow them to motivate me to make every second count. Death comes to everyone and when we pass from this life all of the stuff we have acquired will matter very little. In fact, before we pass from this life the things of this earth can become not quite as important as we thought they were. I believe that what matters most is how we touch others lives. How we give of our time, talents, treasures and touch to others. The legacy you leave will more than likely not be a building with your name on it but it will be the memory of love that you leave behind you in the minds of those around you.

The picture above is not meant to be morose but simply the plain pine box that I have requested to be used when my time on this earth is over. Don't be afraid to think of death especially if it leads you to live your life in better more effective way.

This is a picture of the chapel at the college I attended for my undergrad degree. I have many memories of this place and most of them are good.

I remember Thursday prayer and fasting times every week. I remember night prayer meetings at 9:00 in the evening every Friday night. They were most often student led and in fact I led a few of them myself. I remember connecting with God in this place where I would pour out my heart to Him. Those days were filled with uncertainty and yet safety. Uncertainty of where in the world I would end up and what I would be doing with my life. There was safety in the community that is normal on a small college campus. It was in this place that I underlined a lot of scripture in my Bible. Verses would seem to have been written for me and whatever challenge I was facing at the time. I am thankful for most of the words that were spoken from this pulpit. I am thankful for this heritage and the presence of God which often dwelt in this place.

The question is do you have a sanctuary in your life? Do you have a place where you connect with God and let Him connect with you?

Recently I retired my journal efforts on Xanga.com although you can still search for "pastorwes" and find me as a user there. If you are really bored you can read back through a year of ups and downs.
Have you ever had the blues? I mean the kind where your life right now just doesn't seem to make sense? I talk to people on regular basis who are struggling with some kind of sin or habit that controls their life. They are often blue about their weakness and inability to overcome their faults.

I am suggesting that almost every problem and maybe all problems can be solved by a diligent attempt to draw near to God. He said, "IF you draw near to me I will draw near to you."

Our weaknesses can be made perfect in His strenths. What ever has you down or is giving you the blues is not greater than God and His power.