A CRISIS THAT WILL TEST THE METTLE....

Senator Biden made a statement the other day that generated some negative publicity for his running mate, Senator Obama. He said, "mark my words, we're going to have a crisis to test the mettle of this guy." To test the mettle means to test the courage or fortitude of; to see what someone is made of. Athletes are given mettles for winning the games. The testing of someone is to see if they are mettle worthy. While Senator Biden's comments were meant, I assume, on his part to be a statement that Obama could pass the test, his words were jumped on by the McCain camp. They quickly ran spots stating that Obama could not pass the mettle test, while he, McCain, could.

My blog today is not about which candidate I think can pass the test. It is about you and I. You see, in the real world, it is everyday people that are being tested. Paul said the faith walk is an adventure that sometimes requires a fight. (1 Timothy 6:12) The word fight is defined as a battle, conflict, struggle, war. And sometimes life contains those elements.

Yes, there are times when the struggle is great. And the battle may not be of your making. A sickness, a disease. A financial crisis. A marriage breakdown- he or she walked out on you. You feel abandoned, lonely, isolated. Your problem may be none of these, or it may be all of these. It could be something else entirely. Regardless, the odds are that we will eventually be in a fight, a battle, a conflict. You may want to run, but to run is not an option.

The single mom, the cancer diseased patient, the struggling family with three kids and an income that makes it difficult to make ends meet. Difficult times test our mettle. I know what it is to endure intense trials and to feel as if I am not going to make it. But I have come to tell you today that you can pass this test. Fight the fight of faith. Stand when you don't feel like standing. Don't quit. You can make it.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo made it. Daniel made it. Hebrews chapter eleven is a story of people who made it. Some made it when others gave up and quit. You may be going through a crisis today. It may be testing time. You can pass this test. I know you can. God knows you can. He sent me today to remind you.

Love and Prayers,
Pastor Ronnie

CELEBRATING THE DEVIL'S DAY?

Our annual harvest festival is coming up this Friday. This is our 7th straight year to have this event in the present format we are doing. And, over the years of ministry, we have done so many times. Of course, the occasion to many is known as Halloween.

Halloween. There, I said it. To some believers, even the mention of the word is like using profanity. Some pastors spew from their pulpits, "How dare you celebrate the devil's day?!" They review the history of this dark day, and make sure their congregants are trained on the evils of this day. Some include Christmas along with it.

Yes, I have read the history, and yes, I understand darkness and witchcraft. But I believe that every day is the Lord's day. We don't celebrate Halloween at New Harvest Church, but we do offer a safe and fun event for the entire family, in a Christian environment. And, if someone shows up in a costume dressed as a witch, I am not going to send them to hell. I am going to love on them. I teach my church family to avoid the symbols of darkness associated with the day, but we don't stand at the entrance and exclude someone who may not meet the appropriate "Christian attire."

You know, some folks see a devil in everything. I'm not one of them. I'm not locked into a 100 year time warp, and afraid of something because of age old "demons." If that is where you are, it's ok. I'm just not there. If your convictions are that you can't step out of the house on October 31, it wont bother me. And if you don't want to put up a tree at Christmas, that will be your decision. But I plan on getting out on October 31, eat some candy and have some fun. All the while, I plan on shining for Jesus. And come mid to late December, I'll be taking some kids to see some lights and putting out some decorations... and still shining for Jesus.

Come and get on the hayride, pulled by a tractor. Join 20 others on it, from toddlers to seniors. Play the games, enjoy the inflatables, get in the cakewalk. Win prizes, see the crowd of people standing in line for trunk or treat, where they get tons of candy. More fun than you can handle. All free of charge. Yeah, that sounds pretty devilish to me-- I had better stay in and hide until sun up the next day, I sure don't want the devil to get on me:)

Go ahead. Look at the pictures on our website from last year's event. The kids were simply having fun, and so were mom and dad, grandma and grandpa. I dare you to see the devil in there. No, I see Jesus in all of it!

Happy Fall Festival,

Pastor Ronnie

1000 JOB LOSSES IN COUNTY

Rutherford County, NC remains among the high unemployment counties of the state. Our local newspaper, The Courier gives the following information: In just three months, nearly 1,000 in Rutherford County have lost their jobs. Continental AFA announced its closing on July 25, dropping 200 employees; Hanesbrands, Inc. shut down its Forest City plant a month ago with 470 employees; and the Town of Forest had to layoff at least 30 employees as a result of the plant closings. A Steve & Barry’s store also closed recently. It employed 100 work­ers at its peak.“ This is a terrible loss for the coun­ty, especially for families that are involved in the closing,” said County Manager John Condrey. “ I can only say that the county is working very hard to recruit new business and work with existing companies to cre­ate jobs. The current financial situa­tion of the country makes this a very challenging time for job losses.”

These job shutdowns affect other segments of our community. The county suffers not only from high unemployment, but low wage scales. Sadly, churches are suffering as well.

While trying to stay neutral on the political arena, I said several months ago that the candidate who would address the economic situation in our nation would win the election. I believe this crisis has hit the hearts of our citizens more than other issues. Whether the nominee will be able to follow through with his promises will take a while to be seen, but it is obvious that the heart of America desperately wants help in this area. They are voting with their pocketbook in mind.

Blessings,
Pastor Ronnie

WE DESERVE A BREAK TODAY...

Remember the old McDonald's commercial? It said something like, "you deserve a break today, so get up and get away." The jingle continued, to McDonald's. Although I have frequently visited the fast food giant more than I could ever remember, I never thought of my time there as taking a break and getting away.

Truthfully, all of us need a break occasionally. You will find me blogging about this about once per quarter. I don't get to break that often, but I feel I need to. A few years ago, after our kids had all left the nest, Trish and I would take a little break and get away. We found it to be very refreshing. There is nothing like pulling aside from the normal busyness of life and relaxing. We often would take our bibles, a couple of good books, and just pray and relax. Nothing else would be on the agenda. When we would return home, we were refreshed. As a result, our ministry at the church was often blessed and refreshed because of our refreshing. Yeah, we deserve a break today.

Truth is, the budget has been tight. We've been needing to get away, but it has been difficult to do so. Now we're headed to the mountains. We're going to spend a few days there, thanks to an offering from the church. Some of our people put on an appreciation service, collected an offering, and pretty much insisted that we get away (thanks to those who did this, you know who you are). So we're mountain moving in the morning.

Zach, our grandson, is going with us. He has been planning this since our family getaway at the beach in June (pictured with me above). He said the other day that he was ready to go to the mountains and stay for a year. It seems he is burned out from spending a half day at the daycare. Boy, life is rough!

You deserve a break today, so get up and get away to McDona, er, ah, to the mountains. Pigeon Forge, here we come!

Blessings,

Pastor Ronnie

IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS

I think the saying is a jingle to an old tv beer commercial. Wherever it originated from, it just came to my mind as I sit here relaxing on a Sunday afternoon. We had an awesome service this morning. As pastor, I tend to evaluate everything. It's just one of those things pastors are prone to do, I guess. I reflect on everything from the attendance, to how people respond, to the excitement level, to the offering level. I haven't seen the offering amount yet, but the others were pretty good. It was a great day.

I am sitting here flipping channels between the football games and the nascar race that is on. I am in what my grandson Zach calls "the comfortable couch." It is one of those small ones, we used to call them love seats, but I'm not sure if that is the actual term. In my "comfortable couch love seat" double recliner next to me is my beautiful wife of 37 years. It is not really cold, but we are sharing a throw my daughter gave me for Christmas that has "daddy" on it. Mom has more of it than daddy.

I don't have a ton of money, in fact the account is very limited. I guess if I counted things as some do, I could be disattisfied with what life has given me. But I am content with where I am in life. No, I haven't arrived, and there is definitely room for improvement. So, yes, things can improve and get better.

But I've got a God who loves me so much He gave His only Son for me. I've got a wife I am more crazy about than the day we married. I am blessed with 4 wonderful kids who are grown, and a great daughter in law and son in law. And I've got a grandson that thinks Paw Paw is second only to Maw Maw (I can live with that). I've got a church that is exciting to attend, and people who love and support Trish and I. No, I don't have everything. But I am so blessed to have the important things. AND IT JUST DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!

(The pic above is an oldie of years gone by when our kids were small)

Y'all be blessed,

Pastor Ronnie

DEVALUED? NO, I DON'T THINK SO!

Like the economic downturn and the devalued dollar, some lives are in a tailspin. Problems and adversities tend to cause us to look at ourselves and think maybe we somehow deserve the calamities that have come upon us. I want to speak an encouraging word to you today. Your worth is not linked to how well things are going in your life. Your worth is determined by the ONE who formed you.

I understand pain, discouragement, and despair. Most of us have had some degree of this, if we will be honest. Some have had what seems to be more than their share. It is during the difficult times that Satan gives us what may be his biggest weapon- He tells us that God doesn't really love or care for us. If God cared for us, why would this be happening to us? As with Eve in the garden, the serpent plants the seeds of doubting God's word and His good intentions toward us.
Someone is reading this blog who feels as if they are a failure. You think you are not worth being loved. But I want to tell you the devil is a liar.

For some reason, I am compelled to continue on this thought, a link to my last blog, "you can make it." You may feel as if your best days are behind you, but I want to encourage you to hold on. This, too, shall pass.

Your worth is not based on your health or your wealth. It is not based on what you are going through. It is not based on what has been done to you. He walked out on you? They walked away from Jesus. You are suffering.. so did he. I am not trying to minimize your pain, I just want to tell you that your worth is set by God. And He never devalues His child!

God cares for you so much. He is just a prayer away. You are of great value.

I love you in the Lord. I'm praying for you. I don't have to know you to feel this way. It is the love God put in my heart. If I can help you, let me know. I don't want your money, I want you to be free and feel good about yourself.

Pastor Ronnie

YOU CAN MAKE IT

Struggling today? Feel as if the weight of the world is on you? I've got some good news for you. You can make it past the present pain. There's a Heavenly Father watching over you, who loves you so, so much. He knows how it feels. He understands disappointment. Our God has promised to be with you in every situation, and His promises do not fail. You can trust Him. He loves you with a love so great that He gave His only begotten Son for you. Wow, what a sacrifice, what a love.

Whatever the crisis may be- it's not too deep for God. However long the pain may have been afflicted-- there is a God who can rescue you. Put your problems in the hands of Him, and He will take control. You may not can handle it, but He can.

My 4 year old grandson thinks his dad can do anything. He pretty much thinks that of me, too. And I will do anything within my means or ability to make sure he is not disappointed. Those who know me have seen the love I have for Zach. Multiply that love one trillion times over, and you still haven't measured the love God has for you.

I know you can make it today. We're praying for you. Hang in there. This is your day!

Love and Prayers,
Pastor Ronnie