Pastor Joe

Yes, we got the needed rain-thank you Lord. What else do we need to thank the Lord for? Why not take a while today and thank the Lord for his blessings....thank you for reading my blogs-have a great one-PASTOR JOE

Yes it is almost a new year. How did we do this one? Did we make some good choices? Let us reflect today on the choices we made in 2007, and think about how we can help 2008 to be better-
Today my brother Paul has a birthday-what a hoot he is-is he older than me?-please don't ask him, he might start crying-how much I love Paul.
God bless us one and all-PASTOR JOE

Louise my precious bride of 43.5 years and OUR DAUGHTER MICHELE AND I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year-PASTOR JOE

Our daughter said for us to do something different this Christmas-so we 6 loaded up in Justin's truck and went through the Horse Pasture. The highlight was this view of Lake Jocassee- do something different, and fun, and enjoy God's handy work-PASTOR JOE

We love Santa, but Christmas is about Jesus the Christ-He is the Saviour-is He your Saviour-he can be-ask Him now!!!-one day you will wish He was if He isn't.
Make it a Merry Christmas by trusting Jesus-PASTOR JOE

Let me go ahead and wish you and yours a very merry Christmas. I know many of you will not read the blog tomorrow.
The way to have a merry Christmas is to know Christ as your Saviour- John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Never forget- Romans 10: 13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
That would enable you to have an eternal Merry Christmas-PASTOR JOE

All of us are known for someting-our hair, our smile, our spirit, our brain,our looks, etc...
Refuge Church is know for its sign and its trees among other things. Our sign is often quoted, and often noted by many. We have been blessed with people who tell others about what our sign says. Now the sign has a keeper- JESUS IS THE REASON FOR ALL SEASONS.
HAVE A GOOD ONE-PASTOR JOE

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.



Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.



My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, .......perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,

It sounded like footsteps outside in the snow.



My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled there in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.



"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right ,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."



"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask ........or beg or implore me

I'm proud to stand..... like my fathers before me.



My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.


I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... An American flag.


I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.


I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother....

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."



"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?


It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,

"Just show us you love us and never forget.



And when we come home, either standing or dead,

Honor the ones who have fought and have bled,

That's payment enough, and with that we will trust

That we mattered to you as you mattered to us!"

Written by a soldier from SC

My dear friend Dan Wardlaw's Mother passed away yesterday, and he rejoices that she is now with Jesus and her beloved husband in heaven.
How do you react to the death of a loved one? Are you ready if death comes your way?
Think about it-PASTOR JOE

Sunday night we were blessed as the children sang-they did so well. Check out these 2 pictures.

Today, I highlite the Adult choir that sang Sunday morning, and were such a blessing. Thank you one and all.
Tomorrow I shall have a picture of the children's choir as they sang Sunday night.
Have a blessed day-PASTOR JOE

I love the music of Christmas. It speaks to the soul. It blesses me. How does it effect you? What are some of your favorites? Think about it and enjoy the season, and the reason for the season-PASTOR JOE

I have just spoke at Riverside Middle School-such nice friendly people- I spoke on DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU-THE GOLDEN RULE-LET'S ALL TRY THAT TODAY, AND MAKE IT A GOOD ONE-PASTOR JOE

I love Wednesday night church service. It is a pause that refreshes me. Some others feel the same way. I love my God, my Saviour, my church, and my church family-so I look forward to the pause that refreshes-hope you do-try it you might like it-PASTOR JOE

Is there any standards? Should we do as we like? Who says right is right?
Then there is the Bible-God's Book-God's Word. It makes many claims. Is it our standard? It appears we need something, and the world under the Bible a few years ago was sure much better than the world today. Don't you agree?
God help us to go back to the Bible-PASTOR JOE

3 Christmas parades-yes we had a float in 3 parades- we had fun-I had forgotten how much work is involved in just doing it. Our float looked great-the kids and youth did well-but it is hard to wave and say merry christmas for 30 minutes non stop.
We did it-God use it as a witness. God bless all who helped.
Have a great week-I am off to see my dentist-I chipped a crown this Friday.
God bless you-PASTOR JOE

Who will we honor today-God or Satan? God has a plan and a will for our today-as He revreals in His Word-the Bible. We can be like Him, and honor Him-or we can let the devil reign today. Who will we be like today?
Think about it-hope to see you in church Sunday-PASTOR JOE

As I said yesterday, grief work is the hardest work we do. Let me suggest that we run to it, and not away from it. Face it-deal with it-discuss it-own it.
But there does come a point where we nedd to move on, yet realizing we will need sometimes to go back briefly. If we fail to move on, we shall waste away in self pity.
God and His Word can help us-learn to enjoy HIM-PASTOR JOE

Today, I have a funeral service of a friend who died early of cancer. How does one grieve? What is the process? What helps? That is what I shall talk about the next 2 days.
Let's start with feeling our feelingS. It is ok to hurt, and to feel our feelings. To express our feelings properly is helpful. Notice the word properly. Honor God in all we do-He is up to something, and can use everything to make us more like Him. He knows grief-His son died, but God also knew there is a resurrection-glory!!!
More on this tomorrow-PASTOR JOE

When did you last read a good book? I challenge you today to get a good book and read it-really-we find time to do what we want to-do it. How about emailing me and telling me the last good book you have read?
Be a blessing today-PASTOR JOE

Yes the greens have been hung- are you preparing for Christmas? Are we ready for the second coming of Jesus to earth-we can be. I pray that this will be our best christmas ever, and with us ready for it-PASTOR JOE