Everything

Another post...

Well Bible school is over now and, wow, what an awesome time we had!! Our average was 95 a night with 46 bus kids and 59 who had perfect attendence! Our commencement was this past Friday night and we had a FULL HOUSE! Praise the Lord! Pastor Setzer preached a wonderful commencement message.

Then Saturday morning we had a service at Poarch Chapel Missionary Methodist Church. WOW!! It was one of the best services we've had yet!! The spirit of the Lord was just so awesome and I firmly believe he touched lives and lives were changed. Some of the young people performed a skit called "Everything." And, oh my goodness, I cried like a baby! I have this video posted on my blog. Get your tissue ready. I'm serious! It gave me the Holy Ghost goosebumps!!

That night we headed down to Greenville, SC, to set up sound at the First Wesleyan Church. What a beautiful church!! I had went there back in April to see my friends The Collingsworth Family during a service. During their set, Bro. Phil (Mr. Collingsworth) asked me to play a piano solo while the church took up the offering. I played "I've Just Seen Jesus" and gave the minister of music my card and the group card. At the end of June, he called and asked if we would like to sing (and me play) at a piano dedication concert at their church! I was overjoyed!! So, this past Sunday morning, I played and the group sang, and the spirit met with us! It was an awesome church! Everyone their was so sweet! Read more about it on Blood Bought's Blog.

So now things are beginning to calm down a little bit, at least until this weekend then we'll be hitting the road again for a busy, busy, busy August! But I'm glad. It keeps me on my toes. :)

'Til next time, I love you all!

-Jacob
Pro. 3:9

Update

Bible school is going just great!!! Praise the Lord at the amount of kids we've had this year!! We started off Sunday night with 78 kids + many many helpers; then Monday night our number grew to 91 kids + helpers; Tuesday we had close to 100 kids!!!; and tonight (Wednesday) we had around 91 again! God is just doing awesome things, and I'm actually learning things I've never really noticed before. I'll share with you later on what these things are. Please continue praying as we have 2 more nights left.

God's best to each of you!
Humbly serving the King of kings,
Jacob
Pro. 3:9

This is good!

I got this in an email today. I thought it was interesting; you may have already seen it, but enjoy!

SOMEBODY'S RAISING THEIR KID RIGHT!
One Nation, 'Under God'.
One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom. The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children.
The teacher asked a little boy: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God up there?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see
God because he isn't there. Possibly he just doesn't exist.A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions.
The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass
outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today in school, she possibly may not even have one!
(You Go Girl!)
'FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT'
II CORINTHIANS 5:7

The Shack

I told you all in some previous blogs that I was reading a book called The Shack. Well, I have finished the book and all I can say is, wow. It is a very good book, but you should be very strong in your view of God before you read it. If not, some things can be confusing. But it was a wonderful read!! If you are looking for a good book to read, I do recommend The Shack by William P. Young.

Weekend

Hey!!! Hi!!!! Hello!!!!! All that good stuff. lol.


Had a great and busy weekend. On Friday night, we sang at Ebenezer Garden's Christian Childrens' Home in Wilkesboro, NC. My, oh my, what an awesome time we had!! This Children's home is SO special. They have four homes that house 33 children. These children have either been abused "physically" or verbally; it is really a sad situation, but the ministry at Ebenezer is awesome! Courtney did an awesome write-up about it on the group's new blog. Please go check it out!! http://www.bloodboughttrio.blogspot.com/ On Saturday morning, we sang at The Lutheran Nursing Home in Hickory and we had fun! I love going to places like that and singing and playing to the older folk that can't get around easily. Then Monday night we sang at Happy Trails Cowboy Church. And boy, did we have fun!! I think Brittney will be posting a write-up about it on the group blog so, I won't spoil any surprises. :) This weekend we're off to Columbia, SC, to sing in a big talent show down there. Please say a prayer for us! The grand prize is studio time and a single on the radio!!! :o :D I'll be blogging about it when we get back. There are pics of this past weekend, and of all our services, on our website.

I hope that you all have a wonderful rest of your week!

-Jacob

There's a new blogger in town!!

Hey everyone!!!
I wanted to let you know that my sister (Brandy) has started blogging!! Her address is www.brandyandcaleb.blogspot.com . Please go check it out and blog with her!!

JDC

It's raining, it's pouring!

We have received a good amount of rain this week, and I'm very thankful for it!! The Bible says to "give thanks in everything" (Heb. 13:15)

America is experiencing something I think is interesting. On the west coast, they seem to be having no end of wildfires; in the great plains region, they have been almost washed away; and on the east coast, we have been nearly parched. You might wonder where God is in all of this, but I assure you, He's the one controlling it. Praise His name, for He is awesome!!

Fiery Sermon

This is very powerful!! Enjoy!

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.Guessing the reason for his preachers visit, the man welcomed him, led him to comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything!

-Jacob :)

Camping!

I got home last night at about 12:00AM after two days of camping, and boy was it fun!!! I went with my sister, my nephew (Caleb), and some ppl from her church. We left at about 1:30 Thursday afternoon and went to Elk Creek in Happy Valley. We unloladed and set up all our gear, then we just kinda sat around and stared at each other for a bit. lol. All the kids (There were 4 - Caleb, Jordan, Ryan, and Mark) wanted to play in the creek, so we pumped up some pool floats we brought and they went and splashed around there for the rest of the evening. Kris started making some hamburgers and hot dogs around supper time, and they were good! After everyone ate, we all went down and built a campfire. Preacher Ron asked everyone to get in a circle around the fire and we had a devotional from the book of 2 Corinthians. After he read and explained the Scripture, he asked everyone to share something they were thankful for. It was truly a moment. After we did that, Preacher Ron opened in prayer and everyone who wanted to pray aloud could after Ron opened up. It was so special. After our prayers we all had a big group hug, then made the most traditional camping treat... Smores!!! We even had strawberry flavored marshmallows!! They were yummy! By now it was nearly 1:00am and everyone was starting to turn in, so we all said goodnight and headed to the tents. Well, at least the women and I did, all the other guys and the kids were fishing! I'm not real big on fishing so I just turned in. Later that night (probably around 1:30), Everyone came back from the fishing. Caleb was asleep, but he was a little chilly so Brandy asked Kris to get him an extra blanket from her car. This is how the conversation went:
Brandy whispered, "Kris,... Kris,..... KRIS!" Come 'ere." He came with his flashlight. B, "Shine that light in here so I can talk to you." (lol) He did. She said, "Will you go to my car and get that Winnie the Pooh blanket?" The preacher's wife in the next tent just BURST out laughing as did Kris. He said, "Winnie the Pooh? Ok." So while he was walking to her car he started singing, "Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh, cuddly little..." (I can't remember all the words, but that's what he sang! lol) The whole camp started laughing.
The next day, everyone was awakened by Kris singing "Winnie the Pooh." The men started making breakfast, and when they finished, out came eggs (at least I think that's what that was... lol) bacon, sausage, and gravy. Everything was great, except for the gravy! Sorry Jonathan! The kids pretty much played in the creek all day, as did the adults and me. We walked up the creek, Kris found just the backbone of a snake, and we even got hit by a thunderstorm. But it was fun!!

Reading

I just finished reading "The Left Behind" adult series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. There are 12 books in all to this series, and each one is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! If you're looking for a book to read, this series will keep you glued to your seat until you finish the last book! They are awesome! Now I'm reading a book called The Shack by William Young. I'm only a little way into it, but it's going to be good!

We are blessed

I received this information in an email devotional yesterday. I hope you enjoy. It makes you think about how blessed we REALLY are.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.
If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.
If your parents are still married and alive, you are very rare, especially in this World today.
If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.
If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder, you are blessed because you can offer God's healing touch.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.
You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.

I would like to leave you with the words to one of my favorite hymns, "Count Your Blessings."

Verse 1) "When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged thinking all is lost, count your many blessings name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!"

Chorus) "Count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings see what God hath done; Count your blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God hath done."

Be blessed!

Jacob