:: the PAC blog ::

Everyone grabbed a Hymn book....

This past Wednesday,our Worship Pastors were out-of-pocket (Patricia is in the East Coast visiting family, and Eddie was home sick), so I volunteered to lead worship...."retro style".   Everyone grabbed a Hymn book and we belted out a few of the timeless songs, such as "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus" and "Grace Greater Than Our Sin".

Wow, these classics are so saturated with beautiful truths and powerful doctrines.  In fact, they are so well written that they could easy serve as sermon outlines. Many of their lines are tremendous poetic and inspiring, like..."O precious is the flow that cleanses white as snow"...."Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled".

Suggestion.  Find a Hymn book and simply read some of these classics out loud during a personal devotional time.  You'll be amazed how much of a blessing this will be.

Another "fun" thing to do is play with the website called The Cyber Hymnal.  There you can read, listen, become acquainted and simply enjoy hundreds of hymns.

The first "Christmas Tree"

If you think about it...The Cross was indeed the first "Christmas Tree"

It was decorated not by ornaments...but by our Savior

It was topped not by a flickering star... but by a crown of thorns

It was surrounded at the bottom not by beautifully wrapped gifts, but by the greatest gift of all...His precious blood

Christmas...a reminder of His style

Jesus was born in a humble, lowly manger.

Jesus died on a rugged, lonely Cross.

In between, Jesus did not even have a place to lay down His head.

I wonder how Jesus' life would have "fitted" into some of today's popular Christian teachings.              Mmmmm....just a thought.

Christmas...a reminder of His style.

Little Italy and Chinatown were nearby...

The university that I attended a 100 years ago is located in Greenwich Village in Manhattan.  That was (and still is) a crazy part of town, very "bohemian" with lot's of wanna-be actors and musicians living there. 

The Village was also populated with extremely unique "hole-in-the-wall" restaurants and funky cafes.  Folks, this was the days prior to Starbucks.  Little Italy and Chinatown were nearby.  So during my time as a student at NYU, I regularly ate meals at wonderfully diverse and unique restaurants. 

Regrettably, no longer do I have that type of easy access to ecclectic and enjoyable cuisine on a daily basis (even though Katy does have a few great places).

But good news!  I do get to enjoy "divine food" every day, regardless of where I am.  You see, Jesus said: "Feed on Me and live" and "I am the Bread of life".   Everytime that I go to Him, I have access to a "heavenly feast" that satisfy my soul.  Greenwich Village is simply no comparison.

It was good to see in church...

It was good to see in church this past Sunday morning a couple of our young adults that have been away at college.  Chase Dowling is a freshman at Central Bible College (he had to slip out during the service to catch a plane back to Springfield, MO), and Vaughn is a student at an elite production/media school in Orlando.

Several of our out-of-town students stay in touch with me, either by email or text messaging.  On occassion they have called just to say hello.  It makes me feel good to know that they still see me as their pastor.

Larry, Moe or Curly?

Larry, Moe or Curly?

Laurel or Hardy?

Krazy Kat or Yogi?

Micky or Bugs?

"There ain't no Mr. Lyon here!"

This is a TRUE funny story that happened years ago when I served as Crusade Director for an international evangelistic ministry based in Tyler, TX.

Cindy, the administrative assistant to the Boss often teased me about being "sooo New York".  One day I decided to forward to her an "urgent phone message".  It requested that she return an urgent phone call ASAP from a "Mr. Lyon" regarding permits we were trying to secure in NYC for a tent crusade.

Well, she rushed to her phone, dialed the number and told the person answering the call that she needed to speak with Mr. Lyon regarding an extremely important matter.

"Hey, lady," said the person that answered the call, "you gotta get a life!"

"Excuse me," said Cindy "but I really must insist on speaking with Mr. Lyon!"

Just before slamming the phone down on the cradle, the person on the other end of the call yelled to her, "Lady, there ain't no Mr. Lyon here!  You're calling THE BRONX ZOO!!".

Nicky Cruz...glorious testimony

Nicky Cruz...a tremendous man of God with a glorious testimony, and a dear friend.  I was privileged to serve as his Crusade Director for a couple of years.  Here is a video of his testimony in his own words.

                                                     Nicky's Testimony (Click Here)

Turkey...gravy...stuffing...

Turkey...gravy...stuffing...mashed potatoes...cranberry sauce....corn...green bean casserole...pumkin pie...apple cider...

Ok, folks, go ahead and add this this list!

She was a "classy" lady...

This afternoon I was privileged to speak at a special memorial service for Roberta Keel.   Roberta was a member at FLAG, and a very "classy" lady with a contagious laugh.  She loved the Lord dearly, and her life touched so many people.   Even though the past few months she was in great pain, Roberta still came to the house of God whenever she could....always looking like a million dollars.

Although there were many tears during the memorial service, we all knew exactly where she now was.  I am going to sorely miss her joyful "Amens" during my messages at church.  Let's remember in prayer her best friend and husband, Doug Keel, and her two adult children, LaNeal and Brian during the upcoming holidays.

Hey, Roberta...if you can read this blog, please say "hello" to my sweet grandma in heaven!