"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3
Wow! It is hard to believe we are wrapping up yet another year. This is the second year that we have sponsored ESL learning within our walls here at Mt. Olivet. This has been a wonderful opportunity to make an eternal difference. I would love to take this opportunity to thank each one of you who have given such great verbal support to this program. I wish each of you could receive the blessing of seeing eyes sparkle and heads shaking, and verbal acknowledgement when the understanding becomes real and the word or lesson is understood. The laughing, the graciousness in ways that God has given each of us to understand in our minds, hear with our ears and feel in our hearts the understanding of communication. There are many ways in which humans communicate. This is truly a fascination area of psychology. I certainly have had such a joy in being a part of this. My goal in a few years will be for one of my students to be teaching the class. It can happen. I just pray every day that as we read and study scripture at the beginning of class that God will open the minds of understanding for the students, that not only will they learn English, but they will learn about Christ and the love that has been given for each one of us! My goal for 2012 will be to continue to be an effective outreach resource for our church, demonstrate Christ-honoring character and infuse each lesson with meaningful instruction while sharing the practical gift of love in Jesus' name! I hope your Christmas is filled with unending joys! Keep watching ..... Fonda
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Pastor's PenPoint - "Needle in the Haystack" - December 2011
For many of us this year, we are searching. Hopefully we will find, in a simple haystack, a silver needle. On the head of that needle we will find an eye, and running through that eye we will find a golden thread. And somewhere in the golden thread in the eye of the needle in the middle of a haystack we will find our name written on a small gift wrapped in plain paper.
Some of you might recall a time when something very special, or something you have lost which you wish to find again, remains hidden longer than you can stand; and there seem to be haystacks everywhere and not one of them holds your lost treasure ... the one with your name wrapped in plain paper.
No shining star appears to guide us and, Hark! - No angels sing with good tidings, praising God and singing, "Glory to God in the highest heaven"; ... and there is no peace on earth, not even in our little space.
But the shepherds trusted the angel's words, "To you is born today a Savior." The great prophet, Isaiah, told of the promised coming of Jesus. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light", he said, "those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them the light has shined."
"For a child has been born for us ... and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
How easy it was to find the right haystack that night on the first Christmas Eve! It was the only haystack to be found and with the only silver needle with golden thread, and it wove around a small gift wrapped in plain clothing. On the golden thread the shepherds found their names, each written by the hand of God, each tied around a small gift, labeled with one small word, "HOPE".
It was the gift of "hope" - the gift that too often has been laid aside, forgotten like a needle in a haystack somewhere, waiting for us to remember. It is the gift of Hope that waits for each lonely child, that none should go to bed hungry and none should be without a bed. The hope that consoles each isolated man or woman, and lifts every sick or crippled soul.
It is the gift of hope that comes to every prisoner, where Jesus sits waiting by his side. It's the hopeful gift of laughter, of smiles exchanged with strangers who pass it on again, and when we say "Merry Christmas", we mean it all year long.
It is the gift of Hope that waits on all the battlefields - waits expectantly to turn a "Christmas truce" into lasting peace.
It's the gift of Hope God sent us in a little child named Jesus - to teach us what a child can teach us best.
Hark! Christ, Our Savior is born! ~ Pastor Todd
Some of you might recall a time when something very special, or something you have lost which you wish to find again, remains hidden longer than you can stand; and there seem to be haystacks everywhere and not one of them holds your lost treasure ... the one with your name wrapped in plain paper.
No shining star appears to guide us and, Hark! - No angels sing with good tidings, praising God and singing, "Glory to God in the highest heaven"; ... and there is no peace on earth, not even in our little space.
But the shepherds trusted the angel's words, "To you is born today a Savior." The great prophet, Isaiah, told of the promised coming of Jesus. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light", he said, "those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them the light has shined."
"For a child has been born for us ... and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
How easy it was to find the right haystack that night on the first Christmas Eve! It was the only haystack to be found and with the only silver needle with golden thread, and it wove around a small gift wrapped in plain clothing. On the golden thread the shepherds found their names, each written by the hand of God, each tied around a small gift, labeled with one small word, "HOPE".
It was the gift of "hope" - the gift that too often has been laid aside, forgotten like a needle in a haystack somewhere, waiting for us to remember. It is the gift of Hope that waits for each lonely child, that none should go to bed hungry and none should be without a bed. The hope that consoles each isolated man or woman, and lifts every sick or crippled soul.
It is the gift of hope that comes to every prisoner, where Jesus sits waiting by his side. It's the hopeful gift of laughter, of smiles exchanged with strangers who pass it on again, and when we say "Merry Christmas", we mean it all year long.
It is the gift of Hope that waits on all the battlefields - waits expectantly to turn a "Christmas truce" into lasting peace.
It's the gift of Hope God sent us in a little child named Jesus - to teach us what a child can teach us best.
Hark! Christ, Our Savior is born! ~ Pastor Todd
Friday, November 4, 2011
Ordination Service - October 30, 2011
We just experienced a great day in the life of Mount Olivet, the ordination of Pastor Todd Lilley. We were also honored to have Bishop Phil Whipple officiating.
Pastor's PenPoint - "The Rightness of Scripture" - November 2011
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. (Psalm 19:8)
Stan bought his grandchildren a new toy. After glancing at the directions, he set the booklet aside to get busy building. A few frustrating hours later, Stan humbly opened the instructions again and followed the steps to assemble the toy. Soon he was done, and the grandkids were playing happily.
O.K. ... I admit it ... this could easily be me, except the grandfather part. I hate to read directions, which usually creates a lot more work and less than stellar results.
Stan knew that the manufacturer had a plan for putting together the toy. But he assumed he could figure it out too. Many people take the same approach to the Scriptures that Stan took to those directions. In stead of treating God's Word like a manual to live by, they glance at it occasionally when they aren't sure what to do next.
This has certainly been a wonderful, emotional and God centered couple of weeks. While true my going through the process of ordination had a huge impact on me ... it also had an impact on the church. This was a wonderful day in the life of the church; when the affirmation the members and Administrative Board relayed to the denomination and the Bishop resulted in another piece of God's plan for Mt. Olivet being laid in place.
Further, the planning that we are doing not only for our annual ministries and programs, but for the coming years is another step toward a permanence in seeking God's plan ... or in this case, reading in God's instructions!
The Bible is like God's diagram of Himself. He teaches believers who He is, what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing the ways of the Lord ensures that we make wise decisions, which honor Him.
The Bible is like God's diagram of Himself. He teaches believers who He is, what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing the ways of the Lord ensures that we make wise decisions, which honor Him.
The Bible is also God's instruction book for living. I advocate reading it every day because believers cannot be spiritually successful or victorious without it. In the above passage, we read that if a person wants to be righteous, his or her life must comply with the rightness of Scirpture. Of course, the only way to know what those principles are is to read, study, and meditate upon the Word.
God's Word is our most valuable possession. Casting it aside is as foolish as tossing away a wallet full of money. Among the Bible's riches are stories teaching us how to serve the Lord and principles about pleasing Him. And there is a wealth of instruction for building a righteous and meaningful life.
I pray blessings on each and every person who calls Mt. Olivet home. Thank you also to those who have affirmed me, our family and the call for us to join Mt. Olivet in the business of Kingdom building.
You ready??? Let's get back at it!
~ Pastor Todd
Stan bought his grandchildren a new toy. After glancing at the directions, he set the booklet aside to get busy building. A few frustrating hours later, Stan humbly opened the instructions again and followed the steps to assemble the toy. Soon he was done, and the grandkids were playing happily.
O.K. ... I admit it ... this could easily be me, except the grandfather part. I hate to read directions, which usually creates a lot more work and less than stellar results.
Stan knew that the manufacturer had a plan for putting together the toy. But he assumed he could figure it out too. Many people take the same approach to the Scriptures that Stan took to those directions. In stead of treating God's Word like a manual to live by, they glance at it occasionally when they aren't sure what to do next.
This has certainly been a wonderful, emotional and God centered couple of weeks. While true my going through the process of ordination had a huge impact on me ... it also had an impact on the church. This was a wonderful day in the life of the church; when the affirmation the members and Administrative Board relayed to the denomination and the Bishop resulted in another piece of God's plan for Mt. Olivet being laid in place.
Further, the planning that we are doing not only for our annual ministries and programs, but for the coming years is another step toward a permanence in seeking God's plan ... or in this case, reading in God's instructions!
The Bible is like God's diagram of Himself. He teaches believers who He is, what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing the ways of the Lord ensures that we make wise decisions, which honor Him.
The Bible is like God's diagram of Himself. He teaches believers who He is, what He thinks, and how He acts. Knowing the ways of the Lord ensures that we make wise decisions, which honor Him.
The Bible is also God's instruction book for living. I advocate reading it every day because believers cannot be spiritually successful or victorious without it. In the above passage, we read that if a person wants to be righteous, his or her life must comply with the rightness of Scirpture. Of course, the only way to know what those principles are is to read, study, and meditate upon the Word.
God's Word is our most valuable possession. Casting it aside is as foolish as tossing away a wallet full of money. Among the Bible's riches are stories teaching us how to serve the Lord and principles about pleasing Him. And there is a wealth of instruction for building a righteous and meaningful life.
I pray blessings on each and every person who calls Mt. Olivet home. Thank you also to those who have affirmed me, our family and the call for us to join Mt. Olivet in the business of Kingdom building.
You ready??? Let's get back at it!
~ Pastor Todd
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Freemason Run Road Cleanup
7 people from the missions groups and the youth picked up trash along Freemason Run Road this morning. Mount Olivet is responsible for cleaning from the square in Mount Solon to Stokesville 3 or 4 times a year through the Adopt-a-Highway program. It was a great morning to enjoy the fall colors.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Pastor's PenPoint - "Tick Tock Tick" - October 2011
"I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
You've probably seen this quotation many times. It's over 200 year old and from the Quakers.
May I ask you a question I have asked myself recently: If you knew that today was the last day of your life, who would you call? What would you say? What act of kindness would you provide? What broken relationship would you try to heal? Whenever we ask a question like that, it always tends to be theoretical because deep inside, most of us expect to live many more years. That's certainly a reasonable expectation, and I hope it comes true for you. But perhaps we should take Martin Luther's advice to live every day with the day of our death placarded before our eyes. Leadership experts call that "living with the end in view."
I wish to everyone who reads these words long life and good health, but I can't guarantee it for myself or for my own family ... much less for anyone else. Things can change so quickly. Just one phone call and life will never be the same again.
We can reach out to people around us. There are things we need to say now:
If you intend to serve the Lord someday, why not now? Time moves fast ... tick ... tock ... tick ...
Grace ~ Pastor Todd
You've probably seen this quotation many times. It's over 200 year old and from the Quakers.
May I ask you a question I have asked myself recently: If you knew that today was the last day of your life, who would you call? What would you say? What act of kindness would you provide? What broken relationship would you try to heal? Whenever we ask a question like that, it always tends to be theoretical because deep inside, most of us expect to live many more years. That's certainly a reasonable expectation, and I hope it comes true for you. But perhaps we should take Martin Luther's advice to live every day with the day of our death placarded before our eyes. Leadership experts call that "living with the end in view."
I wish to everyone who reads these words long life and good health, but I can't guarantee it for myself or for my own family ... much less for anyone else. Things can change so quickly. Just one phone call and life will never be the same again.
We can reach out to people around us. There are things we need to say now:
- "I love you."
- "I'm sorry."
- "Please forgive me."
- "Thank you."
- "I miss you."
- "I wanted to see you one more time."
- "I wanted to squeeze your hand."
- "I wanted to give you a hug."
- "I wanted to hear you laugh."
- "I wanted to see your beautiful face."
If you intend to serve the Lord someday, why not now? Time moves fast ... tick ... tock ... tick ...
Grace ~ Pastor Todd
Monday, October 3, 2011
Hayride
67 people from Mt. Olivet enjoyed a hayride yesterday on a brisk afternoon. We rode from church to Showalter's Corn Maze, ate lunch, played games, huddled by the fire, then returned safely to church. It was a great day!!!
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