Friday, October 31, 2008

Councilwoman McClellan

We had a great meeting with the Councilwoman and her assistant, Melissa Hopkins. We were able to lay out our vision and address concerns she anticipates the community could have. We were also able to articulate the use of our property for the good of the greater community. Overall, I believe it was a great meeting, thank you for praying.

The Councilwoman will be holding a Community Meeting about our project on Thursday, November 20th at 7pm. WE NEED EVERY MEMBER AND REGULAR ATTENDER TO COME, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE IN NEWARK. LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED.

Along the same lines, Sunday Night's "Informed Family Meeting" is very important. Our site Engineer, Bruce Tease and our builder, Jim Nowland will be giving short presentations and fielding questions from the congregation. PLEASE BE AT THIS MEETING. WE NEED A GOOD CROWD FOR THE COMMUNICATION OF THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE PASS THE WORD TO EVERY MEMBER AND REGULAR ATTENDER THAT YOU KNOW TO BE THERE.

There have been some very exciting and some challenging developments in our building project. The factor that is most an issue is money: Both General fund cash-flow (extra money for building) and Building fund offering. Our giving is Super, don't get me wrong, but for a young church with a land mortgage, we are attempting an aggressive project. The need is real; our God is rich; his people pray and believe in faith; God will provide at the time needed.

PW

Mischief Night

Now you may think me crazy by the end of this post, but think what you will.

Mischief Night is always a big thing in the Witmer home. Every year since we have lived in our house we have gotten hit by eggs on this night. It is usually our car that sits on the road, and sometimes our van in the driveway. Needless to say, I'm tired of it happening and vowed this year would be different.

I thought many schemes to prevent and punish the perpetrators this year. One of the best was a semi-auto paint ball gun offered to me by Jeff Baker. I imagined laying on the peak of my roof when some destructive teenagers drove by (windows opened, eggs flying). They pull past my corner-lot arms back, ready to launch an Annual series of eggs, and.......WHABAM!!!!!! From the rooftop in full camo and A-Team music in the background comes Pastor Rambo, paintballs shooting at a furious pace. I can see the red balls making their mark, covering car and passenger with a vengeance unknown since our boys stormed Normandy.

Well, I forgot to borrow the paintball gun........so.....

I installed a fake security camera from Harbor Freight for 8.99. Yeah...that will detour them. It occurred to me after installation that you can't see that thing during the night. So, I go down stairs for the spotlight and send Daniel to the garage for the extension cord. As I do this, I am thinking, "In WV, I would just load some shotgun shells with Rock salt and we would be done with this foolishness."
So, I run the extension cord through the front window of our entrance way and clip the spotlight under the "security camera" to shine on my yard and 2 Presidential Candidate signs. (BTW, I had two stolen, one at a time, so I replaced them with 2 large yard signs back-to-back and one fake security camera watching them). Anyhow, the spotlight illuminates the entire yard, car, road, and through most bedrooms of Salem Woods) Excellent. One final precaution: I sent Daniel downstairs for Andrew's aluminum T-ball bat. Yes. Bring it on. (for the squeamish among you, I did not prepare to use Amy's 9mm pistol because the "servant of God must not strive."

Amy and I go to bed.....we hear yelling voices out front -- I jump out of bed with the fury of Jehu and run to the window. Its steamed up....I can't see...through a crack I see crazy a teen driving up and down the road with open windows. I think of my 270 rifle with scope, not 20 feet away in the closet --- no, no, their driving away and they have no apparent eggs. (a few unapparent ones, but no apparent ones). (BTW, an unapparent egg is a a chick with no Rooster-figure in his life)

Anyhow, I go back to bed and shut my eyes.....more rutkas.......I look out the window and there are eggs everywhere....the car is covered, yard covered....it looks like it was raining eggs --- no cars or teens in site. NO, wait......I'm dreaming....the alarm rings. Now I'm awake.....I grab my sweats, hat, flashlight, and run for the front door..... political signs are eggless, car, yard, road....eggless. WITMER PARANOIA HAS PREVAILED.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

A few of my Favorite Things

There are some things that are better by opinion, and some things that are flat-out better. It is this last "flat-out" better that I would like to jot about. In my very short life of 38 years, I have found some things that are downright "better". Here is my not-so-serious, but truthful list:

1. Planters Brand Salted Cashews

2. Panasonic home portable phones

3. Rockport shoes

4. Michelin tires (worth the extra in the longrun)

5. G-2 Pilot pens

6. Honda Sedans

7. Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home

8. Jake's Black-and-White Milkshakes

9. Google

10. The English Inn in Virginia

11. Echo or Stihl weedeaters

12. Craftsman handtools

13. DeWalt Powertools

14. Hershey's liquid Chocolate (and Milk Chocolate for that matter)

15. More Food: Oreos, Cheesesteaks, Sharp Cheddar, PayDay Bars, Coke, Sunkist, Sprite, Velveeta, Cheeseburgers, Lasagna, Mozzarella Sticks....

OK - there's 15 to make your life better

Great Men's Conference!

I am happy to report that that Men had a tremendous time at the Men's Conference on Monday night. There were about 25 men that came and we made quite an impression on the service as we walked in 2 minutes late.

We heard good preaching, tons of Amens and good music. Afterward, we stopped at the Charbroil Pit and ate like mad men without their wives :)

Ladies, your Jubilee is this Saturday - don't be a stick in the Mud --- Go!

PW

Friday, October 10, 2008

Revival, Picnic, and McDonalds

I praise the Lord for the wonderful Revival Meetings we are having. There is certainly Revival taking place in families and individual hearts. Dr. Behren's is preaching Spirit filled and Word filled messages that are exposing issues, sin, and the path to change. We praise the Lord for 2 saved on Sunday, and several more under heavy conviction. We praise the Lord for filled altars, weeping, and the evidence of renewal on people's lips. The message last night on "Beauty for Ashes" out of Isaiah 61 spoke to many hearts.

We are looking forward to the Church Picnic on Saturday. Please come and bring your lawn chairs, whatever you signed up for, and one 2 liter per family. Don't forget your sports equipment men --- does anyone have a Bocce' set?

Last night was a night of Victories -- I will share one --- You know of my rantings about joining the American Family Association to boycott McDonalds who recently joined the National Gay and Lesbian Association and placed a McD's VP on their board. They also were running pro-Gay advertising in California. Anyhow, because of the pressure of AFA and conservative believers like us, the CHANGED THEIR PUBLIC POSITION. Please read this first hand AFA release below and may the Lord truly bless those that publicly stand for God's Holy and Moral way:

Read the great news below! You all know what my stand has been on McDonalds for the past year or so. I'm happy to say that I can now go back to McDonalds. My children were jumping for joy tonight.
You see, when we all ban together and do what's right good things do happen. If you have participated in this boycott you have something to be very proud of!

AFA ends boycott: McDonald's agrees to changes

October 9, 2008

Great news! Because of AFA supporters like you, McDonald’s has told AFA they will remain neutral in the culture war regarding homosexual marriage. AFA is ending the boycott of McDonald’s. As you know, AFA called for the boycott in May after McDonald’s joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).

McDonald’s said McDonald’s Vice President Richard Ellis has resigned his position on the board of NGLCC and that his seat on the board will not be replaced. McDonald’s also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December.
In an e-mail to McDonald’s franchised owners the company said, “It is our policy to not be involved in political and social issues. McDonald’s remains neutral on same sex marriage or any ‘homosexual agenda’ as defined by the American Family Association.”
We appreciate the decision by McDonald’s to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations. You might want to thank your local McDonald’s manager.


Thank you for caring enough to get involved. If you feel our efforts are worthy of support, would you consider making a small tax-deductible contribution to help us continue?


Sincerely,



Donald E. Wildmon,
Founder and Chairman
American Family Association Donate with confidence to AFA