Good morning,

Let’s be honest with ourselves and with the Lord, it is hard to live the Christian life.  It is not easy to live by Ephesians 5:3-4 “But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints, and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”

Yet the fact remains that not only are we called to live that life it is of utmost importance for others whose lives we touch each day that we be Christ-like.  So how do we walk each day in such a way that honors God and pleases Him?

As one writer put it, “There is only one preventative course to take: Stay very close to the Lord.  Admit to Him your weaknesses and surrender to Him your fears . . .and then flee.  Flee every form of evil and take yourself out of harm’s way.”

Sounds like a simple solution but please know, walking close to Him, running away from temptations always works.  Stay close today and be blessed.

Pastor Carl

Good morning,

What a week it has been here in the church office. On Monday afternoon lightening hit our phone/internet line not only frying the line but also frying some of our network connections. So for almost two days we sat in the dark with no connection with the outside world. Yet, with all the issues that caused, work got done, ministry took place and by the end of the day we’ll be caught up. You see Romans 8:28 really is true, “all things work together for our good when we love the Lord.”

I don’t have to tell you that in life things like this happen all too often. Life does throw us curves, just like the Henry’s, one of our families, as they experienced a lightening strike just as we did, loosing their new heat pump along with other damages to their home and auto. Or even more intense, the Nuckols, as Tamara found out that she’ll have to have surgery at Duke to deal with what may be a brain tumor.

How do we deal with life’s challenges? James chapter 1 tells us when we encounter various trials and we can’t figure out how to handle them pray and ask God for His wisdom, for He gives it generously. He tells us to ask in faith as God answers our prayers as we believe He can and will act.

Life happens, however the promise of God is that whatever happens, as we stay close to Him, He’ll be the dynamic in your life that allows those things to be good.

Here is the link to May’s newsletter, be sure and read up on what God is doing and how you can be a part of building His Kingdom here. http://www.hhbc.net/wp-content/uploads/minutes-agendas-newsletters/Newsletter_2013-05-01.pdf

I’ll see you Sunday as we honor our moms and celebrate God’s presence.

Pastor Carl

Well you might say we had an unusual Wednesday evening around here. About 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon a transformer on the power grid blew and we lost power. I apologize if you showed up and we were not here as by 6 o’clock we had to make a decision because of all the children who get dropped off and picked up at 8. We could not notify anyone as all our systems were down here at the church. Just a bump in the road.

Let me say a huge “Thank You” to all of you who voted for our Food Pantry Ministry. We ended up in the top 5 and with that we will receive a $20,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation that we will use to expand our ability to feed the hungry children of our community. Thank You also to Shawn Ames who put together our proposal and dealt with all the issues we had with voting.

Speaking of voting, I would ask that you continue to vote for Kristal as she is trying to win a handicap vehicle. Kristal attended here while going to law school. She completed law school and passed the bar in Minnesota. She is a very special young lady who loves the Lord and is serving Him in spite of being in a wheelchair. Here is the link to vote for her; http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/kristal-dahlager-sacred-heart-mn/

In preparing for our study in the book of James for last night I came across a statement in reference to James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind”. The statement was this, “To ask in faith is to expect God to do in your life the supernatural, of which He, and only He, is capable.” That statement challenged me as I asked myself, what am I praying for in my life that is supernatural and that only God can do. On this, the National Day of Prayer, let me challenge you to examine your prayer life and ask yourself what is it that I am seriously praying for that only God can do. I have decided to accept that challenge and seek the Lord for what only He can do. Don’t forget to pray for Steve Keesee as he has his surgery today.

One last thing, and this is a little selfish on my part so give me some grace. My wife took a picture of our granddaughter that I have as my screen saver. My daughter decided to submit that picture in a contest to be on the cover of a nationwide parents magazine. If you would like to vote for my granddaughter, Evie, to win here is the link: http://www.parents.com/photos/parents-cover-contest-2013/2013-04-29/xfbd I know a little self serving here but I’m a proud grandpa and think she’s the cutest thing ever. By the way, you CAN vote everyday. Don’t worry I’ll let you know when she wins!!!

See you Sunday,
Pastor Carl

As you know by now, Friday evening and Saturday May 3rd and 4th we are hosting the Art of Marriage conference. We have over 30 couples signed up and we are anticipating great things for each of these marriages and families! Just as we are excited about marriages and lives being transformed, Satan is busy about the business of destroying those very relationships. Please join me in praying for this effort as we approach next weekend.

In addition to those prayers, I would like ask that we have continuous onsite prayer going on during the event. The hours of the event are Friday 7:00 PM until 9:30 PM and Saturday 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. We need multiple volunteers to come to the Prayer Room in the Welcome Center (immediately to the right of the Library) DURING the Art of Marriage event. If you can pray for 15 minutes or an hour or even two hours, we need to cover these families with protection from the enemy and for softened hearts to be transformed by the Spirit. You will be making an eternal difference by helping us with this!

Please email shininggodslove@gmail.com to let us know when you would be able to come in and pray for the families and their marriages some time during the Art of Marriage.

Thank you
Pastor Rick

Good morning,

Seems like at some point in our lives we ask the question, “Why am I here, what’s my purpose in life?”. People challenge us to come up with an answer to that question or to write out our life’s goal. Yet for many of us we don’t feel particularly creative or innovative. We struggle to know what to say. We feel like we should be able to tell why but we can’t.

Well I’ve discovered good news for you. Reggie McNeal in his book, “Get a Life”, made a statement that has helped me. He said, “Since we are intentional creations of God, we do not invent our life mission; we discover it. When you adopt this perspective, life becomes a journey of discovery, an adventure into the meaning and mission of your life.”

If you’re struggling to come up to a special statement that says, “This is my purpose in life”, don’t worry about it. Each day seek to please the Father, seek to find and do His will for that day. Don’t worry about being like anyone else, allow God to use you where you are and keep seeking to know Him personally. Listen, God is not hiding His will from you so take a deep breath, relax and stay on the journey of seeking Him. You’ll be amazed as you look back and see what God did through you to accomplish His will in your life and in the lives of others.

I know you’re probably tired of me telling you this but we still need your vote to win the Wal-Mart Foundation grant so we can feed the needy of our community. You have to be on Facebook to vote but just go to our Facebook page and you’ll see the child with the sign and the link will be there. Let’s finish strong.

I’ll see you Sunday as we look into the life of Lot and discover how small things mean a lot.

Pastor Carl

Good morning,

Yesterday Martha & Carol said goodbye to their dad, tomorrow Mike Neighbors and his family will say goodbye to his sister’s husband Tom Harvey, and this morning the Garbee family will say goodbye to Dick. For each of these families their goodbye is only a short one as each of these loved ones is now in heaven reunited with family and friends who have gone on before.

The fact is we will all face death. Years ago there was a Christian scientist by the name of Sir Michael Faraday. As he lay dying a newspaper report asked, “Sir Faraday, knowing that you are about to pass into eternity, what are your speculations about the great beyond?” With a glow on his face Sir Faraday made this statement, “I know nothing about speculation, sir, my hope is built upon Him. ‘I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.’”

How many of us are able to answer as Sir Faraday answered? Death comes to all of us at some time in life. In Boston the youngest victim was 8 years of age. Just the other day near Loveland Pass in Colorado five snowboarders between the ages of 30-35 died in an avalanche. Everyday the paper tells us that people of all ages, all skin colors, all economic standings die.

Paul opened 2 Corinthians 5:1 with these words, “For we know that”. Be honest with yourself today, do you know that? Do you know that when this life ends, for whatever reason, you’ll have a home in heaven? God is reaching out to you and is asking you to commitment your life to Him. He is asking you to make Him the priority of your life. He is asking you to admit your need, turn from rejecting Him and surrender your life to Him. Today sure is a great day to take that step and be ready and certain that you can say, “I know.”

Remember, vote everyday.
Pastor Carl

Good morning,

A.W. Tozer said, “Much of our difficulty as seeking Christians stems from our unwillingness to take God as He is and adjust our lives accordingly. We insist upon trying to modify Him and to bring Him nearer to our image.” If we’d be honest Tozer is exactly right as we want God to conform to our image instead of us being conformed to His image.

Look around and listen to folks on TV and in the media. We constantly hear “their” opinion of God, who He is, how He should be acting and creating God in their image. Ever heard anyone say, “Well I think God wants us to”. Seldom do you hear anyone say, “Thus says the Lord.” You see life is easier when we make God conform to what we think.

Let me challenge you with this, if you are seeking to know God then allow Him to be who He is and you adjust to Him. Quit trying to make God into your image and allow Him to make you into His image.

Be in prayer for the Bucky & Carol Cawthorne and Martha Towler as they will be saying goodbye to Carol & Martha’s dad’s funeral is today. Remember the Garbee family as Dick’s funeral is tomorrow here at the church. Dick is a charter member of HHBC.

Here’s the new link to vote for our Food Pantry to receive the Wal-Mart Foundation grant. We really do need to rally the troops and vote as we’re falling behind in voting. <http://apps.facebook.com/walmartlocal/?applet=hunger&organization=93&agency=3>

Bless others today as you live for Him,
Pastor Carl

Good evening,

I know, a late night email? Yep, there is one thing I needed to remind you of that skipped my mind today. This Saturday you need to Go Fish! Our Outdoor Ministry is hosting a trout fishing day on our ministry land.

This is a great event for the whole family to be a part of. If you’ve ever wanted to introduce your children to fishing this is the event. If you want to spend a fun day with family and friends this is the event for you. I’m going to be there and I tell you what, if you catch a trout and want it cleaned come find me and I’ll filet it for you. Obviously I can’t clean them all but I’ll have my knife sharpened up and ready to go.

The cost is free for children under 5 and only $5 for the rest of us. Our webpage has all the details so go to hhbc.net and check it out. The gates open at 9:00 a.m. and the fishing starts at 10:00 a.m. We’ll have bar-b-que, hot dogs and more.

See you there,
Pastor Carl

Good morning again,

You just never know what God has planned around here. Listen to this, world renown Gospel Singer Babbie Mason will be with us this Sunday in both worship services. Babbie is a lady with a deep walk with the Lord and graced with a wonderful spirit and voice. She is in town this week and contacted David and was looking for a place to sing on Sunday morning so we said yes.

What a blessing we’re in for on Sunday morning as God will use Babbie to challenge and inspire us. Don’t miss out on this blessing. Be sure and tell others about this. What a great day Sunday will be with baptism and now Babbie Mason, one of God’s choicest servants.

One other thing, not so big news, but tonight I’ll be leading our adult prayer time. Shawn Ames has been leading for me as I’ve been taking care of a host of church needs. I appreciate him greatly and know that he has blessed those who were here.

I’ll see you tonight,
Pastor Carl

Well it looks like spring has sprung and the weather is getting warmer. Another way I can tell it’s spring is that my wife and I spent the weekend redoing the outside of our house. We changed shutters, painted the front door, changed all the hardware on the door, painted the front porch and a couple of other things. With a small adjustment and moving porch furniture back in place the job will be done this week.

One of the small things I ran into was having to cut screws and not having the right tool to do the job. God was smiling on us as when we were in Lowe’s we ran into a church member, Bob, and after telling him my dilemma he said he had just the tool I needed and yesterday morning brought it to church. Talk about a blessing, it was a small thing but huge to me and to getting the job done right.

As I thought about the need to have the right tools for a job I thought about Daren’s message yesterday. He shared with us “the” right tool we all need in our lives on a daily basis in meeting the needs we face, God’s Word. When our thinking is stinking we turn to God’s Word and we find that we’re able, through His power, to think His thoughts and to make the decision to set our minds on things above. The problem with most of us is that we fail to read and to learn God’s Word so we have the right tool for the right challenge.

I challenge you today to remember that God has all the tools you need to live a godly life. He promised us that in 2 Peter 1 when He said, “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

Don’t forget to go to our webpage and click on the link to vote for us to help stop child hunger through the Wal-Mart Foundation grant.

Pastor Carl