Pastor Joe

Wonder what this week will bring-God help us to use every opportunity for His glory. I am headed to Col. SC for the Evangelism Conf. 2 days of good preaching- well a night and a day- I will be blogging again Wed.
A special I am sorry to those I fail to wave at when I am driving- I will try to do better- will you? Pastor Joe

The old joke is told of a preacher who was on a small radio station in the 1950's. The range of the station was maybe 100 miles. He would start off his broadcast by saying, "Hello world". That was then, but now we can sent out to the whole world by the world wide web.
I wish to announce that now you can learn about the church I pastor by going to www.refugebc.org Go to it read it often- we will change it weekly or more often- soon sermons will be on it- and you can hear me preach.
Wow! God is good... Tell others about the web site- they might be blessed. Pastor Joe

Last night in art class- we said see you later to a new friend as she moves on to grad school. She is nice. With a great personality, and cute. We will miss her until she returns.
The thought is- can we make friends, and when if ever does a friendship end? The truth is a friend is a friend-is a friend.
I am glad God is our friend, but the big question is-ARE WE A FRIEND OF GOD? We can be, and should be- try it you may like it. PASTOR JOE

Yes these are exciting times-God is blessing-God is good. Great things are happening. Soon I will announce the new Refuge Baptist Church Web site. John and I are working on that and Francis will start helping today- God is good. Sitting in my office, I can reach around the world and preach any where, and I mean anywhere WOW!
Hope and pray that you have a wonderful day- Pastor Joe

This step is very important. As you study-take notes and have a space for questions. I hope you have someone you can ask questions-ask them. If you have no one to ask ask me at vanjoe1944@yahoo.com I am waiting for your questions. I don't know it all, but I might be able to help you find the answers. God help us to be nosey about the right things. Pastor Joe

If you can be part of a small Bible study group- my Sunday School class is such- get together often with friends for sandwiches, tea, and study a book of the Bible. Try it it may help-many are being blessed by it.... Pastor Joe

Step 2 of how to improve our Bible study is- get a good Bible dictionary. There are several on the market. Some used computer programs like Bible Library or other programs you can obtain at a good christian book store. Be careful there,too. A regular dictionary will not be a great help, because they do not define Bible words well. If you want to know more email me at vanjoe1944@yahoo.com. God bless you and yours on President's day. Pastor Joe

AS PROMISED-HERE GOES. 1. READ IT- A PASSAGE 3 TIMES IN PROBABLY 3 TRANSLATIONS, BE CAREFUL WHICH 3. IN SEMINARY WE USED THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD UPDATE-THE MOST ACCURATE, THE KING JAMES, AND MANY NOW READ THE NEW LIVING TRANSLATION. DON'T READ LONG PASSAGES, BUT READ TO UNDERSTAND. TAKE NOTES IN A SPECIAL NOTEBOOK. CIRCLE AND UNERLINE AND HIGHLITE SPECIAL WORDS. SOME CIRCLE VERBS-UNDERLINE KEY NOUNS,ETC... TRY TO FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU. BUY A BIBLE WITH LARGE PRINT FOR YOU TO USE AS YOUR STUDY BIBLE. MAYBE BUY A STUDY BIBLE WITH GOOD NOTES. STEP ONE. MONDAY STEP 2...

Today I want to challenge you to tell 3 others about the blog- I blog 6 days per week. Todays blog... Try-yes try- you and me. What could we do if we would just try. I wonder. I am in art class with some who are at all different skill levels. If we all keep trying- we shall all improve yet. What do we need to keep trying at? Is it Bible study. Tomorrows blog will be on how to study the Bible better- SHARE THE BLOG. PASTOR JOE

Psalm 119:4Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. Yes God gives orders for happiness and peace and joy. We can follow them or not, but God tells us how to be fulfilled. How? Live as God says in the Bible. Think about it it makes sense, and it pays off well. Notice it is not a part time joy- we must do it continually. Try it you may like it. Pastor Joe

We all have them- yes we do. God has given us a chance to get back where it feels good on Wednesday. Yes that is part of what the Wed. night service is about- so go to church tonight- shock the preacher and God. We are in Ephesians 2, and I can't wait to share with those who come to Refuge. Have a great one-Pastor Joe

I sure am glad God loves us every day. We are to love each other every day. Yes we are. Who do we not love and why? Jesus loves sinners. We should too. Lord help us to advance to a love like yours. Pastor Joe

It is when you do as I say? Really? Yesterday I started a series on real love. We made 2 main points. 1. Love is patient. Are we? How can we learn patience? 2. Love is kind. Yes, to all. We need a kinder world. Are we a kind person? Why not. Be kind today always- yes, I mean it. Try it-it may shock your friends. More to come on this later...Pastor Joe

It is the Lord's day- go to church and worship today-go to be a blessing and to be blessed- do it Pastor Joe

SATURDAY- FOR MANY A DAY OF ERRANDS AND HONEY DO. TAKE TIME TO FOCUS ON THE LORD AND WHAT HE WOULD HAVE YOU DO TODAY. WILL WE HONOR HIM TODAY? THINK ABOUT IT-PASTOR JOE

TODAY IS MY GRANDSON KYLE'S 12TH BIRTHDAY, AND BOY HE IS GREAT-I LOVE HIM SO, AND MY OTHER GRANDSON JUSTIN,TOO PAPA JOE

Read the Matt. 9 passage- 27. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
28. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30. And their eyes were opened;
How many will we touch today? How many will touch us today? How many will we take to Jesus for HIM to touch? Think about it-Pastor Joe

As I do this blog my new computer is copying a DVD-wow!!! What an age we live in-thank you Lord. But the thought came to me- there are those who do copy us- yes us. Who is copying us- we may not even know it. The next question is- what if everyone was just like us what kind of world would we have? THINK ABOUT IT-Pastor Joe

As I do this blog my new computer is copying a DVD-wow!!! What an age we live in-thank you Lord. But the thought came to me- there are those who do copy us- yes us. Who is copying us- we may not even know it. The next question is- what if everyone was just like us what kind of world would we have? THINK ABOUT IT-Pastor Joe

As I do this blog my new computer is copying a DVD-wow!!! What an age we live in-thank you Lord. But the thought came to me- there are those who do copy us- yes us. Who is copying us- we may not even know it. The next question is- what if everyone was just like us what kind of world would we have? THINK ABOUT IT-Pastor Joe

I need help often, and so do you. Let's look at Acts 25 for some help.
23. And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.
24. And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
25. But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.
26. Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O King Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.
27. For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.
Notice the gov. Festus needed help.
He turned to able people to help hum.
He shared his concerns.
He listen to their advice.
He allowed them to help him.
Think about it- yes you...

OF COURSE WE DO NEED HELP. WE ALL HAVE MUCH ON OUR WAGONS. GOD PUT US HERE WITH OTHERS. SOME DO CARE ABOUT US. DON'T HURT ALONE. YES,GOD CARES, BUT OTHERS WILL IF WE TURN TO THEM. THERE IS GOOD HELP AND BAD HELP. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU TURN. THE BAR, DRUGS DON'T HELP- THEY CREATE EVEN MORE PROBLEMS. TRY GOD-TRY CHURCH-TRY THE BIBLE. REALLY-PASTOR JOE

OF COURSE WE DO NEED HELP. WE ALL HAVE MUCH ON OUR WAGONS. GOD PUT US HERE WITH OTHERS. SOME DO CARE ABOUT US. DON'T HURT ALONE. YES,GOD CARES, BUT OTHERS WILL IF WE TURN TO THEM. THERE IS GOOD HELP AND BAD HELP. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU TURN. THE BAR, DRUGS DON'T HELP- THEY CREATE EVEN MORE PROBLEMS. TRY GOD-TRY CHURCH-TRY THE BIBLE. REALLY-PASTOR JOE

Isaiah 58_8-14 teaches us that blessings from God aren't normal. They are merited- they must be earned. How? Good question. 1. Care for the hungry. 2. Care for the hurting. 3. Keep the Sabbath. Do all three and God promises special blessings. Are we fully blessed? How maybe we know why not. Repent and be really blessed. 8. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.
9. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
11. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
13. If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14. Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
if you want more info email me.

I do try to stay sane. Most might say I am doing a poor job of it. But they may be the one with the problem, or at least I hope so. How do I stay sane?
1. I read my Bible daily-3 chapters.
2. I often pray- I try to live in a spirit of prayer.
3. I have good friends.
4. I have a good hobby- I am an artist. I take lessons, and have for 18 years, and most say I need to. But I enjoy losing myself in my art. What do you do to lose yourself?
Think about it-Pastor Joe

tODAY THE lORD WILL GIVE US OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP MANY. WE CAN BE A BLESSING TODAY? WILL WE? DO WE WANT TO? LOOK FOR THOSE AND ALLOW GOD TO USE US- YES GOD. WE ARE HIS BODY ON EARTH TODAY. THAT IS PART OF WHY WE ARE HERE-THINK ABOUT IT-PASTOR JOE...

That is not good enough. Wasted time and energy. We need to move beyound what if. Plan. Set steps AND GO TO STEP ONE NOW. I am serious-NOW. Soon you will thank me. Think about it-Pastor Joe