Change

Okay, so it’s been three months since I’ve blogged. But if there be any defense, know that things have changed drastically for me in three months. In case you don’t know me or do know me and have been hiding under a rock, my wife and I have moved. I wanted to take time in this blog to share the story with you.

In April, Aimee and I felt that perhaps God was getting ready to make some changes in our life and in our ministry. We weren’t sure what those changes were. The Lord lead us to Psalm 5:8 which says, “Lead us in the right path, O Lord, or our enemies will conquer us. Make Your way plain for us to follow.” So we began to pray that verse over our lives and our ministry.

Not long after we began praying, we were contacted by Manley Baptist Church in Morristown, Tennessee about the possibility of serving with them. We went to visit with them a couple of times and talked with them very diligently.

We still didn’t have a word from God about whether or not this was what He wanted us to do. Life in Mobile, Alabama was a very comfortable life for us. Aimee was almost finished with school. I’m in school. We loved our church, we loved the people we served, we loved every single person on staff. We loved it in Mobile. We didn’t want to leave this very comfortable life in Mobile.

But after praying for God to reveal His will to us, He lead us to Matthew 10:37-39. Jesus said, “37If you love your father or mother more that you love me, you are not worthy to be mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

We realized that this was the conformation we had been looking for, and that God had indeed given us a new assignment. And if we tried to cling to the life of comfort we had in Mobile, we would lose it. But if we would give up our life of comfort and serve God regardless of where, when, or how much money, or any other reservations we may have, we would find life more abundantly than we could ever plan or hope for ourselves.

On May 24, 2009, we said goodbye to Cottage Hill Baptist Church in Mobile. Our Pastor, Dr. Keith Thomas, was nothing but supportive of Aimee and me through the entire experience. He offered invaluable insight and guidance and prayer through this very new adventure. The people of Cottage Hill overwhelmed us with their love and blessed us in our new journey.

On June 7, 2009, Dr. Richard Emmert and the loving people of Manley Baptist Church welcomed us into their family. We truly have been loved, accepted, and cared for in ways we could not have imagined. We are truly blessed to serve with such a gifted staff and amazing church. We are so excited about the days ahead. Check back soon to see what God is doing.

The End of Any Nation

These are definitely difficult days in which we are living. Our government seems to be working on the economic crisis day and night. Unfortunately it seems as though their work is to no avail. I received an email today from the late Dr. Adrian Rogers’ Ministry, Love Worth Finding. In the email was a profound quote that seemed more relevant for the United States today than 25 years ago when it was spoken. Dr. Rogers said:

“Friend, you cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. And what one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government can’t give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody. And when half of the people get the idea they don’t have to work because the other half’s going to take care of them, and when the other half get the idea it does no good to work because somebody’s going to get what I work for. That, dear friend, is about the end of any nation.”

I only pray that our leaders will make the right decisions in re-shaping our country’s economy.

-Patrick

For more information about Adrian Rogers visit www.lwf.org

One Good President

I know this is a bit lengthy but take a minute and read a portion of the personal diary of former President Ronald Reagan from the day he was shot:


Monday, March 30, 1981

My day to address the Bldg. & Const. Trades Nat. Conf. A.F.L.-C.I.O at the Hilton Ballroom - 2P.M. Was all dressed up to go & for some reason at the last min. took off my really good wrist watch & wore an older one.

Speech not riotously received - still was successful.

Left hotel at the usual side entrance and headed for the car - suddenly there was a burst of gun fire from the left. Secret Service Agent pushed me onto the floor of the car & jumped on top. I felt a blow in my upper back that was unbelievably painful. I was sure he'd broken my rib. The car took off. I sat up on the edge of the seat almost paralyzed by pain. Then I began coughing up blood which made both of us think - yes I had a broken rib & it had punctured a lung. He switched orders from White House to George Washington University Hospital.

By the time we arrived I was having great trouble getting enough air. We did not know that Tim McCarthy (Secret Service) had been shot in the chest, Jim Brady in the head & a policeman Tom Delahanty in the neck.

I walked into the emergency room and was hoisted onto a cart where I was stripped of my clothes. It was then that we learned I'd been shot & had a bullet in my lung.

Getting shot hurts. Still my fear was growing because no matter how hard I tried to breathe it seemed I was getting less & less air. I focused on that tiled ceiling and prayed. But I realized I couldn't ask for Gods help while at the same time I felt hatred for the mixed up young man who had shot me. Isn't that the meaning of the lost sheep? We are all Gods children & therefore equally beloved by him. I began to pray for his soul and that he would find his way back to the fold.

I opened my eyes once to find Nancy there. I pray I'll never face a day when she isn't there. Of all the ways God has blessed me giving her to me is the greatest and beyond anything I can ever hope to deserve.

All the kids arrived and the hours ran together in a blur which I was operated on. I know it's going to be a long recovery but there has been such an outpouring of the love from all over.

The days of therapy, transfusion, intravenous, etc. have gone by - now it is Saturday, April 11 and this morning I left the hospital and am here at the White House with Nancy and Patti. The treatment, the warmth,the skill of those at George Washington has been magnificent but it's great to be here at home.

Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can...


I am too young to really remember Ronald Reagan, the policies he introduced, or the principles he stood for. However in reading quite a bit about Reagan I have discovered what (in my opinion) a remarkable president he was. If I were to read nothing more than the journal entry above my opinion of Reagan would still stand. Oh how I long for the day that America may have a president like this again.


















Good President's Day,
Patrick

Happy New Year's Resolutions

I know it has been a while since I last posted. I tok a break from writing during the holidays. But I'm back now with that I hope to be some useful advice. The New Year is fast approaching (or has aready come depending when you're reading) and with it comes the New Year's resolutions. Do you have yours yet? If you haven't already, you will more than likely make plans to do some things differently in 2009. I'd like to share a couple os helpful tips in making and keeping your New Year's resolutions.

When first making your New Year's resolution, Decide A Fixed Direction. Do you know what your goals are for 2009? Without goals you're like a ship without a rudder, as sail, a compass, or an anchor. You're wandering aimlessly without the right tools. Have you considered writing your goals down? Sociologists have found that 95% of people never have any written goals. But of the 5% that do have goals, 95% of that 5% have reached their goals. Decide upon a Fixed Direction and write down your goals for 2009.

Once your directio nis decided, Develop A Firm Devotion. Instead of doing things for your sake, do them out of devotion to God. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23). If your goal is to loose weight in 2009 don't think of it as loosing weight to look better, think of it as taking care of your temple. Do you not know that your body is a tample of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)? If your goal is to get out of debt in 2009 don't think of it as getting ahead financially, think of it as obeying what God has commanded. Owe no one anything, except to love each other (Romans 13:8). Whatever your goals for 2009 are, do them out of a Firm Devotion to God.

I hope 2009 brings the fruit of God's Spirit and His blessings to you and your family. May success come to all of your goals and resolutions this year!

Check back soon for more posts!


-Patrick

God Is In Control (Even in Presidential Elections)

It was though an alarm had been set. My wife and I woke up at 1:00am asking one question: “Who won the election?” By then it was clear who would be our next president. Now that the race is over, I would like to offer a word of encouragement. I was recently given to priviledge to preach in the morning worship celebration of my church, Cottage Hill. God gave me a word of encouragement for His people. I know this to be true because I have had to remind myself of some of things God allowed me to share. Regarding the recent presidential election, remember this thought that was given to me for my recent sermon: Our faith, hope, and victory does not depend upon who wins the election. Our faith, hope, and victory depends upon Jesus Christ and He has conquered death, hell, and the grave. There is nothing our God cannot do. Let not your hearts be troubled. Barack Obama will be our new president. We must pray for him as we have prayed for George W. Bush the past eight years. And remember God is in control (even in presidential elections).

-Patrick

To view Patrick's sermon "Avoiding Distress During Difficult Days" click on the link below, scroll through the List tab and select the service from 10-19-08.
http://www.cottagehill.org/video/sermons/sermons.html