Thomas

This is one of my favorite Wade Spencer's songs!

Camp Meeting Day 6 and Sunday School Rally

Friday night was the last night of camp meeting 2009 and God moved upon hearts again that night. People were going to the altar during the singing and when it was time for Brian to preach, he said he was going to sing. He sung "God's Been Good." Brian said that he has always wanted to described God's goodness but he never has been able too. So he said he would sing the song to tell people how good God's been to him and his family. He sung it once then he sung it again. The altars were lined. After the altar call they had some different people sing and they ended with all the groups from each service (10am, 2pm, and 7pm) to come to the stage and sing together. We are so blessed to have had an AWESOME camp meeting and I believe this is the first year that we have only had preaching for three nights in the evening and three nights we didn't have preaching. The holy spirit just simply moved upon people.

Saturday we had our Sunday School Rally they ended up having 14 churches that had banners. Each church will usually have a skit or song. It is so wonderful seeing what each church does. As promised here is photos of each banner and the name of each church that made the banner. For next couple of weeks I'll tell about each banner and post a bigger photo.

Camp Bennett CBC

Sandhill CBC

Bonser Run CBC

John's Run

Jeanettes Creek CBC

Logan CBC

Highland Bend CBC

Reedville CBC

North Moreland CBC

Hayport Road CBC

Russell CBC

Columbus First CBC

7th Street CBC

Vanceburg CBC

Camp Meeting Day 5

Last night we had our "Red, White, and Blue Night!" We had all the veterans to come and we sung God Bless America and we also said the pledge of allegiance. I'm not sure which preacher said this (I think it was Paul Hagen), but he said that we needed to thank those men that we still had the freedom to gather. We gave them a standing ovation.

Also last night Paul Hagen wrote a note and had Nathan to come and get it. I saw Nathan reading it then I saw Paul give a thumbs up and I knew something good was going to happen. So Paul said that he ask Nathan if he had a song to sign. Nathan signed "Amazing Grace My Chains Are Gone." Nathan did a very outstanding job and we all gave him a standing ovation and when he came off the stage he pointed up. It was so wonderful that Nathan didn't want any of the glory he wanted it to go to God.

Delmar Rogers preached last night and he talked about every time he sees the flag he gets chills up and down his spine. He said he didn't worship the symbol but it was a reminded of what people had to go through for freedom. He also stated every time he sees a cross no matter where it is at, he gets chills thinking about the cross. The title of his message was, why I love the cross.

He read from Galatians 6:14 and he said the word glory in the verse was a verb because it is an action word. He stated that glory was to rejoice. He said Paul didn't want people to look at him but to the cross.

Then he went on to ask the question, what's so special about the cross? He said every time he sees a cross he is reminded that the love of God is made known to us because of the cross (John 3:16). He read Romans 6:23...

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

The wages of sin is death but the gift is manifested because of the cross and the cross reminds us that God loves us and Jesus loves us. Also we are reconciled by the cross or protected by the cross (Romans 5:8 and 9). By the cross we are separated from the world. There is power through the cross. It is the cross that reminds us that God will supply our every need (Romans 8:31). God gave us His best (His son) and he can freely give us our needs. Their is no other remedy for sin but the cross (Acts 4:12 and Isaiah 53:4 and 5). The good news is that it didn't end at the cross because three days later Jesus Christ arose again.

During altar call there was again many that came. Tonight Brian Baer will be preaching. Paul asked if people would pray extra hard for the service tonight. There has been people coming every night that needs either to be saved or helped. I thought I would go ahead and mention this, I don't know when I'll be able to post about tonight. Tomorrow we have our Sunday School Rally and tomorrow night I'm going to stay with a friend. It may be Monday when I make my post. I'm looking forward to posting because I have pictures of all the Sunday School banners and I can't wait to share them.

Camp Meeting Day 4

All week I have went without mentioning the camp meeting choir that has been singing every night. They have been doing an awesome job. Last night The Libby Family sung a song with the choir, "Long As I Got King Jesus." I love the song. Camp meeting last night started with shouting. Then it sort of mellowed out but it was because the holy spirit was talking to people's hearts and people were going to the altar.

After most of the people that went to the altar was finished praying, they had a man come to the stage and he told the exciting news that his mother was saved. He said that he has been praying for years for his parents. He was also excited telling how his girls love coming to camp meeting. It was so wonderful to hear the good news. Paul was suppose to preach but he said the preaching didn't need to be done if people were coming and getting saved and receiving help. Usually every year we have a camp meeting service that they don't know what to do and last night was one of them. Paul said, "I don't know what to do, some body sing. When in doubt sing!" So they sung and that is how the night was finished and it ended with more shouting.

Tonight if the Lord permits, Delmar Rogers will be preaching. Looking for another exciting night. Also I have been meaning to mention this all week, but to the right on my side bar you can see my Twitter updates. I try to post a new update after service each night.

Camp Meeting Day 3

Last night was another wonderful night at camp meeting. I haven't talked any this week about the young man by the name of Nathan that has been coming, I believe he was saved in February of this year. He is deaf and we've been to his church and watched him sign songs. Anyways each night when we sing along with the songs he signs them and they will usually have him come up on the stage and sign them. It is so awesome watching him and it is a blessing. Dave Libby had Nathan to come on the stage while he and his family sung. I love watching Nathan sign the song that they sung but don't ask the name of the song it is a newer song and I don't know the name.

Also besides The Libby Family singing we had the girls from Kentucky Mountain Bible College sing. Their group is called New Hope. They did a great job singing and the one girl had a great testimony of being down and frustrated here lately and she said she had a peace come over her and at that time is when her future husband said he had a urge to pray for her. Isn't it wonderful that God uses others.

Last night Brian Baer preached and he preached from Psalm 84 (the whole chapter). His main verse was verse 1. The theme is, "I love the church" and the scripture doesn't mean the church body (which we should love) but it means the tabernacle (or building). Brian said he wanted to go on the record and say that he loved the church. He said there is a place of security in the church and the security is found in verse 2 where it says "the living God." Praise the Lord we serve a living God. The church is a shelter for your family, a protecting shelter. There is pools of strength in the church (5-7). You have problems but there is strength for the problems. There is potential for service in the church (v. 10), your either living in the house of God or your living in the tents of wickedness. In verse 10 it says that they would rather be a doorkeeper and the meaning of doorkeeper is like a greeter at Wal-mart. There is perpetual supplication in the church (v. 11) and there is perfect solutions in the church (v. 12).

The message really wasn't for the lost but it was a call to the Christians. I know there were preachers that went and others who needed help. Tonight Paul Hagen will be preaching, The Libby Family will sing, and Remnant drama team will also be preforming. Looking for good things to happen.

Camp Meeting Day 2

Last night Paul Hagen informed us there would be no more offerings to be taken during the week. The debt for camp meeting which was $8,795 was taken care of with an offering that was received Monday night of $8,900 and some dollars. Praise the Lord!

The Libby Family is singing every night of camp this year and last night was wonderful. They sung beautiful songs and many was praising the Lord. Delmar Rogers was suppose to preach but the holy spirit showed up and Paul Hagen had an altar call and people went. I went myself because I have been really frustrated lately and all I knew is I wanted to be able to enjoy camp meeting. I didn't know exactly where my friend Dawn was sitting but I turned around and there she was. She waved and I pointed to the altar and she went with me. There was also a young man that was saved.

After church we went to find a lady that goes to our church to give her some salmon patties that my mom made. My dad went to put our stuff in the car and my mom and I started going the other way. When I walked away from my dad I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned and there was this guy standing there and he said do you remember me. I am terrible because I don't remember people very good especially if they change their looks. He told me his name and I got so excited that I hugged him. We had went to school together and he told me that he was saved at a church that my dad's cousin is the pastor of. It was so wonderful to see him and find out that he had gave his heart to the Lord.

Tonight Brian Baer will be preaching. I am so excited to hear Brian. It has been a couple of months since I've heard Brian preach and I'm looking forward to what Brian has up his sleeve. He always does something out of the ordinary. Some girls from Kentucky Mountain Bible College will also be there tonight to sing, this makes the third year they have been with us.

Spring Jubilee Day 5

Last night was the last night for Spring Jubilee (sighing). The choir sung "Won't It Be Wonderful There" and "Heaven's Jubilee." I really enjoyed the choir a lot last night. I love both songs. Mike Upright & Standing Tall sung. There were three songs that I really enjoyed, "Adam, Eve, and Me," "Gone," and "Winning Either Way."

Last night they done a special presentation of Show & Tell (cardboard testimonies). Calvin Ray Evans said that he was going to have 30 to 50 people help preach his message. He read from Luke 5:12-15 and said that God has no limitations! He said that he didn't like when people said they don't believe in prayer or miracles because getting saved is one of the biggest miracles in any one's life. Then they started the presentation. There were so many signs and I can't mention them all but I will mention a few.

One family came to the stage and the lady was in a wheelchair. They held her sign up and it said, "Sitting here in my wheelchair waiting on my change." They turned the sign over and it said, "What a change that will be." Jacob Berry's sign said, "People said I'd never be able to talk." His mom helped him turn his sign over and it said, "God said he would be my mouthpiece." A man and woman came on the stage and their sign said, "Prayed years for children." Then a boy came out and his sign said, "Mom and Dad adopted me in 1990." He turned his sign over and it said, "Jesus adopted me in 1997."

After the presentation they had altar call. Some people went to the altar for healing and some went to get saved. After the service they told that all together 11 souls were saved. So that means they had 3 saved last night. I can't believe it is over, but that's OK because this coming Monday they are starting a revival at the church here in the community. I'm really looking forward to it.

Spring Jubilee Day 4

Last night the Spring Jubilee choir sung "Meeting in the Air" (one of my favorite songs from the hymnal) and "Looking for a City." The veterans were honored and we also sung The Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America. The offering last night was taken up for Veterans Helping Veterans. This is a group that helps needy veterans. Beside the offering we took canned food to give to the group. The offering was counted and Brian Baer said that there was a total of $4500. God is good! Ricky Atkinson & Compassion sung last night and they also sung one of my favorite songs "Inside the Gate, Inside the Portal."

Brian Baer preached which I had already heard the message before but it was even better the second time around. He told the story from the Civil War days that a flag bearer was called a standard bearer. One day during one of the battles the standard bearer was shot and the flag fell to the ground. Another man picked the flag up and someone yelled from the back, "move the standard back here!" Then the man said, "no you move up to the standard." He also told the story about how the flag stood at Fort McHenry because of brave men who held it up and after the attack on Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key wrote The Star Spangled Banner.

Brian read from Hebrews 2:1...

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Hebrews 2:1

A standard is something fixed and cannot change. It is a rallying point. He had three main points. The first point was the standard of the scriptures. The second point was the standard of salvation. He stated that there is only one way to heaven and read Hebrews 1:3 and John 14:1-6. To be saved you must admit you are a sinner. Be willing to repent. Believe that Jesus died and rose again. Ask through prayer and faith believing for forgiveness of sins. Then his third point was the standard of separation. He read 1 Peter 1:15 & 16 and Romans 12:1 & 2. It is God's perfect will for you (as Christians) to live a separated life (Colossians 3:5, 8 & 9).

Tonight Mike Upright & Standing Tall is singing. I have never heard them before. All I know is "The Winner Either Way" song. Also a special presentation of "Show and Tell" which really is cardboard testimonies will be done tonight.

Where is Kristi? I need my Thimble Thoughts!!!

Spring Jubilee Day 3

Last night started with pouring down rain. We arrived a little after six and my dad and I went to visit with our friend Bud Mefford. I had a gift I wanted to give to him (Twizzlers Black Licorice). When I handed it to him he screamed out, "my favorite." His wife doesn't like them and doesn't really like for him to eat them so I told him to hide them, lol. After this we (my mom, Pat, MaryAnn, and myself) went to the building next door to look at the different tables set up. While we were there we talked with Jacob Berry's dad and sometime during this time period it started to pour the rain. I elected myself to go out in the rain to get umbrellas.

The Spring Jubilee choir sung again last night. We know one song they sung was "He Set Me Free" but we can't remember the other song and Brian Baer didn't send out a e-mail about the service. There was 1575 people in attendance and 2 souls were saved last night. The Primitives sung and after they sung Calvin Ray Evans stood and ask everyone if we trusted him and he said he was going to do something different. He had a group called The Joyful Three to come and sing a song for The Primitives. I was so proud of them, I've know them for a while. They are not a big name group but they really sing for the Lord. I think the whole crowd enjoyed it. The people in front of us were asking us who they were. Also I almost forgot that The Primitives let Brian Baer play guitar with them when they played while the ushers took the offering up.

Calvin Ray Evans preached last night from Hebrews 6:13-20. He preached that God has not changed his mind, it still takes the blood to be saved! Salvation is based off a covenant, but not a covenant on you. We are the beneficiaries. We benefit from the covenant and we didn't even have to be there when Jesus died.

Tonight Brian Baer will preach, unless the Holy Spirit moves and that will be fine with all of us. Ricky Atkinson & Compassion will sing. Tonight they we be honoring the veterans and taking up canned food for needy veterans.

Spring Jubilee Day 2

Last night was youth night at Jubilee. The Spring Jubilee choir sung first and they sung "I Know My Name Is There" and "Wonderful Grace Of Jesus." These are two songs I had never heard before. The Browders sung last night. This is really the first time I had heard them in person. I'd seen them on TV before. The one son sounded like Adam Crabb of the Crabb Family (before The Crabb Family started to blur the lines of Southern Gospel music). They sung "Waiting on my Change" at least two or three times and Jacob Berry took a rolling spell. They also sung a song I really like called "My Heart Will Never Break Again."

After The Browders finished singing Jacob had Mike and Teresa Blanton and Brian Baer to sing "One Step." Mike Blanton had wrote "One Step" in memory of the late Calvin Evans (Calvin Ray Evans' dad). Then instead of Jacob quoting his scripture they played a video of the late Calvin Evans reading 1 Samuel 20:3...

...there is but a step between me and death. 1 Samuel 20:3

Jacob used the late Calvin Evans sermon and made it his own. The title of his message was "The Step of Death or The Step of Life." Jacob preached about how Calvin Evans preached this message called The Step of Death and eight hours later he passed away and really he didn't take the step of death he took a step of life. He quoted many scriptures and I tried to write them all down, Hebrews 9:27, John 5:24-26, John 11:25-26, and John 3:16.

He preached that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Jesus took the step of death so we could take the step of life. Also for the Christian the step of death is a sweet step. He said that there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus (John 14:6). He told that for the Christian there is a step of life, but there is a step of death for the sinner and he quoted Romans 6:23 and Revelation 21:8. And when you've taken the step of death you can't step back! He finished his message telling a story of a teenage boy who was walking on the railroad tracks listening to his Ipod with the volume up loud. He didn't think he would be hit and as he took his last steps into eternity he couldn't hear his last warning (the train whistle). Satan has sinners that they can't hear the warning.

After the service 3 souls were saved and it being youth night they had pizza for the youth. Also I was very happy to be able to go to Jubilee with my friend Trish last night. On Sunday Trish went to the altar, she is one person I've been praying for a long time. Tonight The Primitives will be singing. I'm not really sure who will be preaching. If I had to guess I would say Brian Baer might preach tonight.

Spring Jubilee Day 1

Spring Jubilee started off real good last night. The Spring Jubilee choir sung two songs, "He's My King" and "Make Me A Blessing." This year the choir decided to sing songs from the hymnal. The McKameys also sung and they did a wonderful job and it was so spirit fulled. Peg shouted and kicked her shoes off, it was great. Even Jacob Berry took a running spell (well a strolling spell in his wheelchair).

Calvin Ray Evans preached last night from 1 Chronicles 4:1...

The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. 1 Chronicles 4:1

I'm not kidding that was his scripture. He talked about how Judah's name meant praise. Then he said all the names in this scripture means something. The title of the message was, "This is what comes from praise!" Pharez means breaking forth and this shows power in praise. Hezron means surrounded by walls. There is protection in praise. Carmi means a gardener or vine dresser this shows praise is productive. Hur means purity there is purity in praise. It's hard to sin while praising and praying to God. Shobal means overflowing. There is something about it spilling over on others.

There were 2 souls saved last night during the invitation and 1 soul saved after the service. Tonight The Browders will be singing and Jacob Berry will be preaching. Also to let all you know out there, I will be posting everyday about the meeting if nothing else happens. I'm also going to try every night to make a Twitter update after the service and you can read my Twitter updates on my sidebar on this page.

Upcoming Event: Spring Jubilee

Every year in May they always have the annual Spring Jubilee (scroll down to the May section) with wonderful preaching and singing. This year won't be any different. Spring Jubilee starts May 11-15. On Monday night they will have The McKameys singing. Tuesday night will be The Browders singing with Jacob Berry preaching, also this night is set aside for the youth and they have pizza after the service. I have never heard The Browders sing in person but I've seen them on TV the father (Tommy) of the group battled polio and now he is confined to a wheelchair. He sings that when he gets to heaven, "I'll be strollin' instead of rollin." Brother Jacob and Brother Tommy I know will probably have a good time together. Instead of running they might be wheeling around praising the Lord.

Wednesday, The Primitive Quartet will be there. Thursday, Ricky Atkinson & Compassion will sing. Friday night Mike Upright and Standing Tall will have a reunion and sing, they will also have a special presentation called "Show and Tell." The guide they sent out telling about Spring Jubilee says that Mike Upright and Standing Tall will only be making 10 appearances together this year, so this is really a special time to see them together. Below is some videos of some of the groups.

God on the Mountain

The other night when we were coming home from my friend Buck's church. We were listening to The Cruz Boys sing "God on the Mountain." I always did like how they sung it. I don't know if they could sing it like they use too because three of the boys have grown up and they probably couldn't hit their high notes now. The other Cruz Boy was the boys' dad. I wish I could share their version of the song, but I only have the song on a tape. I found another video on YouTube of the song though.

Psalm 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

In the first verse of the song it says we are never alone. And Psalm 139:3 says God knows when I lie down and he knows my ways. So if you ever feel alone, remember God is with you in the valleys and on the mountain tops.

When We March Through

I should have posted this last year sometime, but I never got around to it. This is a video with photos from our camp meeting that we have at the end of July every year. The song is sung by Witness, one of my favorite groups. I hope you all enjoy.



Other things going on in my world. We had snow early Tuesday morning. Then it started to rain. I am still thanking God that we have electric. Back in February 2003 we had a very bad ice storm and our electric was out for a whole week. I'm already crazy but that made me more crazy. Also with no electric we played Scrabble so much, that I wouldn't play it for months after the ice storm.

Tuesday night when my mom was watching the weather I was getting so depressed. I actually told my mom that I wish they would have lied to us and told us that the sun was going to start shining. Also during that night (Tuesday and early Wednesday morning) we had some old familiar sounds around us. Just say it was the sound of gun shots and then a swooshing sound. If you have never heard those sounds before then I will tell you what it was. It was trees around us. The limbs cracking and then sometimes they would break off, that was the gun shot sounds. The swooshing sound was the ice falling off the tree limbs. We had a tree that was in our yard fall and knock the power off at the fire department next to us. They did get the power back on. Pray for other people who still does not have electric.

New Song

Well here lately this song has been playing a lot because it is a new release from The Booth Brothers. It is a great song. When I first heard it I didn't think much about the song. The music is so laid back and I really didn't listen to it. Even if I wasn't listening to it very closely it was becoming one of my favorite. Isn't that odd, now every time I hear it, I truly listen to the words of the song. I hope you enjoy this song, "What Salvation's Done For Me" by The Booth Brothers.

The Love of God

A month ago when I was staying with my papaw, his pastor came to visit him. I don't really know what exactly we were talking about, but he told me the song "The Love of God" the last verse of the song was found wrote on the wall of an insane asylum by an inmate. That verse says this...

Could we with ink the ocean fill And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill And every man a scribe by trade.

To write the love of God above Would drain the ocean dry;

Not could the scroll contain the whole Tho stretched from sky to sky.

This person had to at some time during their life seen the love of God. 1 John 4:12 says this...

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:12)

No one has seen God but if we show love then God dwells with us. So if he dwells with us, then people have to see God through our love. There have been many times that I have seen many people claim to be Christians who does not share God's love. I've seen people speak badly of other people, say hurtful things and called people terrible names and that is not showing God's love. I've seen people shun others because they are different. In fact, I read this verse and say, "oh my what have I done?" I see how I have been annoyed with people or said things I shouldn't. 1 Corinthians 13:4 says this "Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind;" love is patient and kind.

Lately when I've been down, I've thought of the love of God. God is patient with me and he is kind and I don't deserve it. I tell him how much I love him, but I know as much as I love him he loves me more. Sometimes when I feel like no one cares, I know God cares. I was thinking the other day how much Jacob in the Bible loved his son Joseph. That is how much God loves us, but unlike Jacob, God can share his love with everyone. He doesn't dote to one person more than another. He makes us all feel special.

The 18th Day of the 25 Days of Christmas

My grandpa had been sick, so my dad and I were taking turns staying with him. Well he officially kicked us out yesterday and if nothing happens I should be able to start reading the blogs that I like reading everyday now. I think my grandpa got tired me following him around and worrying over him. Yesterday I went with him and my aunt to his doctor's appointment and I believe he told me three times to go on that he was fine. LOL! Today I am posting a video of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and here is a link to the song story. (CLICK HERE)



Remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

When God Ran

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

This song has been playing on our Southern Gospel radio station and I know two different groups that sing it. One of the groups that I've recently heard sing it is my Pastor, his wife, and children. This is a very beautiful song. There are just some songs that you instantly like and this was one of those songs.

What Sin?

I forgot to mention this the last time I posted, but it was my 200 blog entry. Yay me, LOL!!! I've only heard this song one other time and I decided to look it up on YouTube and they had some videos for the song. It is a really beautiful song.



Last Sunday night I went and heard Wade Spencer sing. I really enjoyed myself and I also bought his newest CD. It is awesome. I love Wade's version of "Too Many Times" wrote by Ronny Hinson. I also had my dad to take a picture of me, Wade, and his wife Theresa. It was a great night.

Last night I went with my friend Dawn and her mom, dad, and grandma to hear Brian Baer preach. Also Mike Blanton & Evidence sung and we had a wonderful time. Mike Blanton & Evidence has a very special ministry, because they give CDs away. Please pray that God will supply the money that they need and that they will be blessed and see many souls saved. After church we went out and ate with the most crazy people in the world!!! Some people think Christians are boring, well those people are wrong, because last night was far from being boring. And I found out that I am rather normal, lol.

Then You Don't Know God's Love

There is one line in this song that says, "if you think a promise is something that you can't trust, then you don't know God's love." I am very glad to say that I know God's love and he never makes a promise that he won't keep. Sometimes when people start to make promises to me, I will let them go into one ear and out the other. That is so awful to say, but when some people keep making promises and they don't keep them, then you begin to lose trust in them. God is so much different from people, even if God lets something happen, he has a bigger plan. Us as people can only see the small picture, we can't see what God has for us in the future. That is one reason why you should keep trusting God and don't listen to the devil because he will tell you lies and try to get you to turn your back on God. I hope you enjoy this song from The Dove Brothers.