My reading in 2011 was very rewarding! I had the opportunity to read many books and gained much from each one. Here are a few of the books that I read this year. They are given in no particular order. Read more..

Finally a Break! Casey has been taking Brody to Miami twice a month since the first of the year. Needless to say this has been a pretty grueling schedule for our little warrior and his mommy and mimi. The monthly EUA’s bring another opportunity for hope as we long to hear the Doctor say that we can stop the chemo. I must admit that it seemed it would never come, but this morning (Friday) we got the word that we had been waiting to hear…no chemo this month! Now granted it is only a one month reprieve, but at this point even a one month break is WELCOME! The Good News continued…Dr. Murray says that Brody’s eye looks better and stable! He wants to see how the tumor reacts without the treatment and then evaluate the progress when Brody goes back in December for his EUA. The Doctor was careful to point out that there is still some concern because it was so bad when we started, but for now Brody has a month off! Finally a Break! Thanks for your persistent prayers and concerns!

Blessings!

Sometimes we forget that things are not always as they appear! Brody has been doing so well that we sometimes forget that there is cancer in his body. However, this week we were reminded that Brody’s Battle is not over! Read more..

Progress is sometimes hard to determine, but Dr. Murray assures us that we are seeing progress. Brody went to Miami this weekend for his monthly Evaluation Under Anesthesia. The Report was good, but stressful. Good because Dr. Murray could see results from the extended chemo treatment and the tumor is smaller. Stressful because he said more chemo is needed. So the roller coaster ride continues. This trip down to Miami seemed a bit more trying than others, perhaps because Brody spent his birthday in Miami. Of course that probably bothers us more than it does him. In fact, he excitedly told me on the phone Thursday night that he was in Applebees and the waitresses sang “Happy Birthday” to him and brought him some ice-cream! He was so pleased!

Thank you for continuing to pray for our little warrior! He continues to amaze us. When he goes to Miami he is very brave. Brody goes back to Miami on Thursday for more chemo.   Please continue to pray for his mom. I know she is getting tired and weary of the battle. She continues to lean on the Strong Arm of her Savior and covets your prayers!  Blessings!

Memorial Day is drawing to a close, but I can’t let it end without sharing some of my thoughts. It has been a great day. I have been trying to “practice what I preach” today and make this Memorial Day more than just another day of fun in the sun. I will say unapologetically, that we did have some great fun in the sun today! My daughter Casey and her troop came over last night and stayed until mid afternoon today. We had all the grandkids last night and then a full day of fun in the pool at John and Angela’s house today. The Grandkids had a great time and wore G-Daddy out! However, the day was not absent from time to think, ponder, and remember.

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This weekend I have been reminded why this battle against cancer is so difficult. The journey is filled with ups and downs. This weekend we experienced a down moment. When I made the decision to journal my thoughts and experiences through this journey I promised myself that I would be honest and share my true feelings. It would seem much easier to leave out the low moments and only talk about the highs, but that would be less than honest. Read more..

Stable. That is the word used by Dr. Murray this morning. Brody went to Miami for his monthly EUA and laser treatment this morning and the word back from the Doctor was “stable.” Read more..

Praise the Lord! It is time to celebrate the grace of God in Brody’s life! I just received word from Miami from Beth and Casey. Brody had his EUA this morning. This was an important morning for us because Brody has just finished the last of his scheduled treatments and it was now time to see where things stood. I must admit we were a bit unsettled going into this exam, knowing that decisions would be made about further treatment. Our confidence in our God’s provision never wavered, but we were trying to prepare for whatever the doctor might say. Read more..

Another Valentine’s Day rolls around and presents us with an opportunity to do something special for the people we love. I finally did the math and realized that I have celebrated this day with my Sweet Heart for 42 years! I am happy to say that number 42 is as sweet as the first!

I figured out a long time ago that the secret to having a Happy Valentines Day with your sweetheart is to do special things throughout the year and not just on Feb. 14! Sometimes bringing flowers home during the year is more appreciated than bringing them home on V-day! Try giving candy for “no occasion” days or “just because” days. It will make V-day more exciting!

Some years ago  I ran across some interesting questions. Read more..

What an incredible day! I have a better understanding of Isaiah 35:6 “then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.”

We traveled down to Masada to see the fortress built by Herod the Great and the site of the last stand of Jewish zealots against the Roman invasion (AD 70-73). It is always a special trip, having the opportunity to step into history and also offering breath taking views of the Judean wilderness and the Dead Sea, but today it gave us a special treat. We saw a rare but glorious sight…water gushing forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert! Read more..

Today was a day to remember. I don’t mean that in the way you think. Maybe I should say it this way…today was a day for remembering!

Our pilgrimage took us around the city of Jerusalem. We started the day in the Old City and finished it in the more contemporary section of Jerusalem. What did I remember? I remembered how blessed I really am! Read more..

I learned a new Hebrew word today: yachad. It means “together.” We were visiting the ruins at Qumran when I heard he word used. The caves at Qumran gave us the wonderful treasure we know as the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea Scrolls are incredible. They are the oldest collection of scrolls (Scripture) that we have – over 2000 years old! Read more..

No wonder our Lord often chose to leave the hustle and bustle of city life in Jerusalem in favor of some quiet time among the olive trees on the Mount of Olives. It was an easy walk, just outside the Eastern Gate and across the Kidron Valley to a lovely Mountain called Olives. There among the olive trees was a particular garden known as Gethsemane, or “Olive Press.”  He often came here to pray and today I also came here to pray! Read more..

Shalom! Hello from Jerusalem! I had hoped to start blogging earlier, but distractions and bad internet connections made it impossible. But today we arrived in Jerusalem and thanks to the Olive Tree Hotel, internet service is now available! Praise the Lord.

Where do I begin? This is my fifth trip to the Holy Land and I am not surprised that I am as excited as ever over each and every place we visit. This place never gets old to me! This morning when we left the Sea of Galilee I was a little sad. Each summer our family enjoys staying at the beach. When it comes time to leave, I am a bit sad and often think, I won’t see the beach for a whole year. I felt the same way today. Read more..

I have given much thought lately to some of the things that rob us of margin. I know you know it, but I don’t know if you have come to terms with the fact that we live in an age of escalating norm. For whatever reason, people want bigger, better, louder, larger, faster, and fancier without regard to cost, consequences, or contentment. Of course we’ve always had a tendency to grab upward – but never at the levels seen today. And its effect on our margin has been devastating! I had noted this trend but I didn’t have a name for it until I read Dr. Richard Swensen’s book, In Search of Balance. Swensen says, “What we are experiencing is a continuous escalation of the norm followed rapidly by a normalization of the escalation!” In other words, this escalation, or perceived need for more is seen as the norm for most Americans. As long as we have this perceived need (greed) for bigger and better, louder and larger, and faster and fancier, we will not have much margin in life! Read more..

I have been reading this morning about the Glory of God! I once thought that the glory of God was some kind of an usual glow or the power of God coming in some unusual way. I have learned over time that God’s glory has to do with His Name and His nature. When Moses asked  God to “show me your glory” God responded by mentioning His name and by revealing His character. His character is revealed in His Name!  God explained to Moses the content of His glory which is seen in His attributes.

Exodus 34:5-7 says, “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Bob Mumford wrote: “God’s character or DNA is the content of His glory and the significance of His name.” God’s glory is the manifestation of His communicable attributes! And what are those attributes? Compassion, Grace, Slow to Anger, Mercy, Truth, Faithful, He Forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. What a Mighty and Awesome God we serve. I want my life to reflect His glory!

Yesterday was another power packed day at The Orchard! A great crowd, great music, great response, great fellowship, and great Discovering Membership Class after the service! Just a few thoughts from yesterday…

1. Kevin did a great job leading worship in Michael’s absence. Pray for Michael as he battles illness.

2. The sound was awesome. Maybe the best yet. We added a couple of speakers that really help. Thanks Danny, Keith, and sound team.

3. I love the addition of the black curtains beside the stage. Let me know what you think. Thanks to Bro. Jon for creativity and willingness to serve.

4. I loved the new graphic for the sermon series!

5. Chair set up team was incredible. We missed our fearless and faithful leader, but the gang handled it well. One chair team member told me while putting up chairs, that he went to Winter Jam in Tampa the night before (Saturday night) and got in after 2:00 am. YET he was there putting up chairs at 8:00! The commitment of our chair team inspires me!

6. Loved having my son, daughter in law, and daughter in the Worship service with us yesterday!

7. Met a lot of great folks during our Discovering Membership Class. Can’t wait to see what God does with some new partnerships!

8. Already looking forward to next Sunday!

I am so blessed to be called to serve such a wonderful church! I love you all and am glad to be your Pastor!

Blessings,

Pastor Eddie

Ah the good ole days! I’ve heard that statement all my life and frankly vowed to never say those words myself. Yet here I am fighting the urge to say what I heard my parents and grandparents say while telling us how spoiled we were. They reminded us that we were fortunate to not have to “walk to school in the snow” and trade cat-head biscuits for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I’ve been around long enough to see the world speed up in the name of progress. It seems that life has become much akin to the treadmill I find myself on each morning. It just keeps going faster and faster, and I’m trying my best not to fall off! And…sometimes it seems that we stop in the very same place that we started! Read more..

It’s Monday morning but I am still basking in the glow of yesterday’s excitement. The rainy dreary weather outside can’t put a damper on the warm light that is in my heart today! God has blessed me with another day of life – and – if you are reading this, He has done the same for you. I have come to realize that my days are numbered and my time is limited so I want to do all I can to “redeem the time” that God has given me! This morning, I have several things that I’d like to share particularly with my Orchard Family, but ultimately to all who want to read it! Read more..

How much more can be crammed into a schedule? It seems that our days are just not long enough and our nights are far too short. One would think that in our world of electronic time savers we would have plenty of time and energy, but as I look around I see Americans moving through life at breakneck speed, driven by the need for progress, and stressed to the point of, well, popping! Recently I was watching some kids blowing up their balloons. As they blew air into the tiny rubber balloon, the result was expansion. The balloon grew and grew. They kept on forcing air into the balloon. It was getting bigger and bigger. As the size of the balloon increased so did my interest. There was now very little margin on the inside of the balloon. Soon the air would fill the balloon to beyond capacity! When that point was reached….POP! The balloon burst and nothing was left but the stretched rubber that was left in shambles. Read more..

Happy New Year! The new year has begun and I’m sure we have all made plenty of resolutions, goals, and commitments for the new year. I enjoy the beginning of the year because it brings me to a place of renewal and commitment. It also offers me an opportunity to set goals for the coming year. Some are critical of making goals for the new year citing the fact that many of those goals fall quickly by the wayside. Granted I don’t always reach the goals that I set, but at least I have something to shoot at! Like the great spokesperson Lucy once said to Charlie Brown, “aim at nothing Charlie Brown, and you are sure to hit it!”

One of my goals this year is to get a little more serious about blogging! It is still a little hard for me to believe there is anyone interested in reading things I write, but I have found that even if blogs are not read, it is good therapy for me! However, I do hope that you will occasionally tune in to the site and let me share some thoughts with you (your comments are encouraging)!  Read more..

It’s very early in the morning on New Year’s Eve. I probably should be writing these thoughts in the evening, but those who know me best know that my brain functions much better in the early morning hours. The Holiday break has been welcome if simply for the change of routine and the slowing of the pace. It’s given me some extra time for thinking. An important part of my thought process has been thinking back over the past year and all of the many blessings that God has given to me and my family.

When Joshua led the people of Israel across the Jordan River he had the leaders pick up some stones out of the river and directed them to build an altar. He called that stack of stones a memorial and wanted it to remind the people of God’s faithfulness in delivering the people from slavery and for giving them victory at the Battle for Jericho. Joshua understood the importance of looking back to see where God was at work. As I look back on 2010 I realize that my Heavenly Father has been a good companion through every season of the year. Therefore, in the coming New Year, I have no reason to doubt He will be a good companion for all that lies ahead! As I think back on the blessings of 2010, here are my thoughts… Read more..

What a day! What a Celebration! Our third Harvest Celebration may have been the best yet! I admit that I was feeling quite nostalgic throughout the day as we celebrated our third anniversary at The Orchard. It is hard to believe it has been three years! When God laid on my heart the burden to plant a new church in Lake City, I had no idea that this is what He had in mind. I must confess that my vision was way too small. He reminded me yesterday that He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us!” Ephesians 3:20 Read more..

There are few events that capture the world’s attention like the one in Chile this week. I love it when the news media finally brings some “Good News!” It was certainly good watching the Chilean miners rescued from the pits of the earth. It touched my heart to see men reunited with their families and friends as well as seeing the light of day for the first time in so many. It was inspiring to see so many of the men pausing to thank God for their rescue. Amid the many angles and views of the coverage, there may have been something you missed. Read more..

Today I had the privilege of attending the 2010 Catalyst Conference. The Catalyst Conference was intended in the beginning to raise up next generation leaders, that is,  leaders who are under 40, but fortunately for me, the team decided to invite some of us older guys as well! This is my second year and so far the conference is every bit the equal of my first experience. Read more..

It’s Sunday night and a long full day is coming to an end. As I ponder the activities of the day,my heart is filled with thanksgiving when I realize that we are half-way home! Brody returned home today from his third round of chemo. The doctors have said that he needed to have 6, so he is now half-way! We are thankful that he seems to be tolerating the chemo better each time around. He is still very sick while they are giving him the chemo drip in the hospital, but he responds well after the drip is completed and begins to get better quickly. Read more..

I was thrilled when a good friend of mine, Dr. Bill Jenkins called and invited me to speak at the Revival Services for Sopchoppy Southern Baptist Church. Now some of you are probably asking, “where is Sopchoppy?” If you ever go there, you’ll find some of the finest people in the world! Beth and I quickly fell in love with this loving and generous fellowship. We were invited to come on Sunday, September 19 and speak through Wednesday night on this subject:  ”The High Cost of Discipleship.” Read more..

I love football season! But when I am watching an intense football game, I welcome an occasional “break in the action.” During a fast paced, hard fought, tight game, I sometimes need half-time, or a time-out, or a change of quarters, just so that I can take a deep breath and rest for a minute. I haven’t written or communicated much about Brody this week because I just needed a “break in the action.” With Miami behind us for a few weeks, I think we are all glad to just catch our collected breath! Read more..

I don’t know if it’s a fair comparison. It certainly is no thrill ride and I don’t want to give roller coasters a bad name. However, I have found that it is full of ups and downs and there are many scary curves along the way. At times you wonder if life is going to come off the tracks and the sudden drops can really turn your stomach upside down – so maybe it is fair to say that this thing that we call chemotherapy is like a roller coaster ride. Read more..

Just a couple of weeks ago our grandson Cash, went for a regular visit to the doctor. He came back and proudly announced to us that he was  48 inches tall and weighed a whopping  41 pounds. Read more..

Another amazing Sunday at The Orchard! Read more..

Beth and I had our Valentine’s Date on Friday night. It was a little bit of an unusual date, but it was an important date. Read more..

Few things rally the hearts of mankind like a tragedy. We have observed a horrible tragedy in the tiny nation of Haiti and the world is coming to aid the small country. In times like these Americans tend to be very generous and indeed we should. Just thought I would mention a couple of things that you may not have thought about… Read more..

I continue to be amazed at the technological advances that have allowed us new and amazing ways to communicate with the world! For example, recently my grandson, Cash, was in the hospital with pneumonia. He was very sick. While I was sitting in the ER waiting room, I wrestled my phone from it’s case and got on Facebook. Within minutes my friends were praying all over the world. I was amazed as messages started coming in from people who were promising their prayer support. Some came from Lake City, some from Branford, some from around the State, some from other States, and some from other countries!

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Spending two weeks in Kenya, East Africa has changed my life. Many people have dreamed about the opportunity to travel to Africa, but frankly, I’m not one of them. If you had told me two years ago that I would be traveling to Africa I would probably have laughed out loud. I love to travel, but Africa has never been one of the continents on my itinerary. All of that changed a little over a year ago when God spoke clearly to my heart about planting a Church in Nairobi, Kenya.

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