Pastor Bruce’s blog

Just sitting here in sunny Indiana, drinking a smoothie with my buddy Paul King and enjoying a few minutes on the internet.  We’ve been swimming, playing and just plain catching up with our friends here.  You know, God is definitely a “fan” of rest.  It’s been so good to get away, even though our hearts are always connected to home in good old Brockport.  We’re refueling, refreshing and getting ready for a busy Fall season.  Looking forward to seeing everyone next week! 

I was thinking about it this morning as I was reading through John chapter 10.  He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep and it says that we hear His voice and follow Him.  So much of the time, we as humans don’t even consider that God might have a different plan for us than we have for ourselves.  So we plan our day, our calendar, and ask the Lord to bless it.  Then we go and live out our lives without too much thought about Him being there; until there’s trouble.  Then we cry out to Him and wonder how God could let such things happen to us!  We really need to be God followers.  We need to ask the Lord about His thoughts and plans, His priorities, and then follow whatever He indicates to us.  Our thoughts during the day should be, “Lord, what do you want me to do here?” and we should be ready to change our plans to accomodate.  I had a dead car battery this morning, shortly after my devotions and before I hit the office.  I had just prayed and told the Lord that I wanted to follow His plan for the day, even though mine was highly scheduled.  I managed to get the car going with Tim’s help, and got it to the auto parts store where they confirmed it was the battery and got me going with a new one.  I had a great conversation with the man who installed the new battery; one I wouldn’t have had if the car hadn’t died when it did.  Was that the Lord’s plan?  Absolutely!  Yet not mine.  I’m determined: Lord don’t let me live the life I plan out with my PDA, let me have the privilege of living alongside You and what You’re doing.  Blessings on your day! PB

PS; tell me what’s wrong with the photo I’ve included here, as far as sheep and shepherds…

Today’s services were great.  I really felt the Lord’s Presence with us during worship and when I shared what the Lord put on my heart for the message.  I was looking back on my last post; guess I had leadership on my heart all over the place this week.  For those of you away, that was the center thought of the message today, leadership.  The call of God to each one of us is the call to leadership within our sphere.  It is so important for every person who knows the Lord to see that they have a particular sphere of influence and even authority.  We need to lead in that sphere, for the good of those we touch in that sphere.  There were six principles of leadership to be learned from Hezekiah in 2Chronicles 32 where Hezekiah was challenged by the Assyrians in his day.  My question is still this: will we lead others in the ways and Word of the Lord so that every person may know His great love and grace? 

Tonight we had a great prayer meeting, and one of the folks who has a special need, Ed O, was brought before the Lord.  Within an hour he received a call at Strong Hospital from our NYS Senator Maziarz with some encouragement for his situation.  Thank you Lord!  God hears and answers prayer. 

Today the producer, Chad, from the Christian film that is being developed in Brockport, worshipped with us.  Had a chance to meet him and we prayed for him and the film to enjoy God’s favor and protection as the weeks go on.  They’ll start the actual filming near the end of the month…May the Lord translate that into changed lives!  Blessings, PB

John Maxwell is quoted as saying that everything rises or falls on leadership.  I really think that’s true.  There’s been a great more attention placed on leadership, its development, its nature, than ever before.  In the business world, the church world, everybody’s talking about leadership.  But are we “doing” leadership?  That’s the question I’m pondering right now.  Because leadership is really service and sacrifice, many people who are qualified to grow in leadership don’t ever put one foot in front of the other and lead.  That goes for husbands who ought to be servant leaders in their homes, to bosses, to those who hold political office; you name it.   It’s work to lead!  And the enemies of good leadership are many.  But the rewards are great, especially in the Kingdom, as the results of good leadership are changed lives and a “well done” from the One Who matters most.  Should you become a leader?  Absolutely!  Will you and I actually lead?  I think the Lord leaves that choice to us.  Blessings on your day-PB