Other Than Sunday

Tomorrow Anita, Micah and I will be going to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola to attend the yearly rodeo which they hold. I can't remember ever going, although my wife and my dad tell me that I have been there. Ususally I remember things that I have done long ago better than I remember what I did today, but such is not the case this time. Anyway, we are going with our Young at Heart group. This is going to be a great time, although a long day. We leave early in the morning and will not be home until late I don't think. Please be in prayer for us as we travel.

Thank the Lord for the Good Rain
We got a good rain today and Oh how we needed it. But our gracious Lord knew that and gave us just what we need when we needed it and when He wanted us to have it. Aren't we so very grateful for this wonderful rain.

I was out at Anita's family place. I had to do a little pump repair and did a little more cleaning up around the yard. I got the old tiller out and got to till up a small vegetable garden place, before the belt broke on the tiller. But at least I got it done. Now, I'm almost ready to plant some tomatoes and maybe a few other things. We'll see. John and Margie Thomas planted about 60 tomato plants I think, and would have plenty for us. But, isn't it great just to watch those little plants "shoesting" up (remember Green Acres... Mrs. Douglas' cute little foreign accented remarks...sorry, I digress).... and then enjoying those fresh off the vine tomatoes for lunch or supper or whenever. Ummmmmmmm.. I can't wait... but, first I must get them planted.

Yankees 5 - Red Soxs 3
No, I'm not talking about the major league baseball teams in the Northeast, I'm talking about our own little leagues teams. It was a close game and a good game. But, we knew it was going to be. Both teams were undefeated, now only one is, the Yankees, which is Jason Nielsen's team. Micah is on the Red Soxs. All the boys did a great job! Good going guys. Keep playing hard and doing your best, for the Lord!

Looking forward to the Weekend
I hope to see everyone this coming Lord's Day! Please be in prayer about our services. I will be continuing my series in Revelation on Sunday morning with the letter to the sixth church, the Church at Philadelphia. Sunday evening we will be beginning new study in our Discipleship Training class called "The Acts 1:8 Challenge: Empowering the CHURCH to Be on MISSION." I hope that you will consider being a part of that study. In the evening service I will be preaching on the post-resurrection appearances of the Lord Jesus to His disciples.

I hope to see you all there. Prayer for our services. We wouldn't want to miss out on anything that God is going to do in our fellowship.

Saturday afternoon we had about 40 children attend our annual Easter Egg Hunt. It was a great time to be had by all. What a joy it is to see our children scampering about looking for those prize eggs. I don't know how many eggs were hidden, but they found most of them. I know of two that were not found, because Mr. Bilbo Davis found them yesterday while he was mowing the yard. So, everyone did really well. We also had a very nice Easter bunny present who did a great job. I know the children enjoyed him as well. I would like to recognize and thank the New Journey Class for their leadership and hard work for our annual egg hunt. Jessie and Gina Nielsen and all the gang did a terrific done this year. Keep up the good work guys. We appreciate your faithfulness.

Sunday Services
We had 35 present for our 7:00 AM Sunrise Service Easter Sunday morning. I was very glad to see that crowd come out to commemorate and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior in such a way. All of you are to be commended. Not many people like to do that kind of thing anymore. Time was when there would be as many for sunrise service as for regular morning service, but that is just how things are today. What a wonderful way to greet anyday, early in the morning.

Our 10:00 AM Easter services was also a big hit. Our children's choir lead by Mrs. Gina Jones did really well and we enjoyed the children' presentation very much. Thank you children and Mrs. Gina for your hard work. We look forward to see you all again very soon.

Mrs. Marlene Stanley performed a piano solo that we all enjoyed very much. Then our adult choir presented "Behold The Lamb." I believe it was amazing. I know that everyone present enjoyed this musical very much. I heard comments like, "its the best they have ever done." Thanks to our fearless leader Milton Ringle for putting up we us and helping us to do the best we could for our risen Lord. Button Cooper and Gina Jones both performed solos and Kathleen Parker and myself did the narration. I know that Kathleen did a wonderful job. We also thank Michael Ford for working so hard, not only during the performance, but also during all those nights of practice. Michael, we couldn't have done it without you. Great job everyone! I know that our great and mighty God and the Lord Jesus Christ were honored and glorified!

The Bad News
All I can say is this....yesterday was tax day.... enough said, except to say, I'm still bleeding.

Little League Baseball
Several of our children are on little league baseball teams and several of our men are coaches on those teams. Micah is on the Red Soxs, Jason Nielsen coaches the Yankees, on which his son "Brother" also plays. Those two teams are undefeated and play against one another this Thursday. What a game that is going to be! Jessie Nielsen coaches a team of 6-8 years olds called the Astros.... who else would they be with Jessie coaching them. Last night his team had they first "non-loss," that is they tied. I know there are other playing and coaching, but right now my feeble mind looses their names. As soon as I get them back, I'll put a word in for them.

We also have some of our youth playing baseball with the Delhi Charter school. I understand they have a big district game this Wednesday afternoon. Play hard guys. Do you best for your team and for the Lord. Congratulations to all our boys and men playing baseball this summer.

Everyone have a great day! Pray for one another.

I've oftern wondered that, haven't you. It was the darkest dark in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, the day of His sacrificial death. It was the day our Lord Jesus took our sins upon Himself, "He than knew no sin, became sin for us." Because of that, the Father turned His back on His own son, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" the Lord Jesus asked at one point. It certainly doesn't seem so good, at least for the Lord Jesus at this point.

So What is "Good" About it?
The one thing that I can think is that Jesus, infact, did take our sins upon Himself, thereby making a way for we who have sinned and therefore become separated from God, to have the relationship with God that He desired and for which we were created in the first place. That certainly is "good" news.... isn't that what the gospel is all about? So it was a "good" thing that Jesus willingly gave Himself that day for us.

Origins of the term "Good Friday"
I looked the term up in several resources. Apparently the origins of the English "Good Friday" are rather unclear. To make a long story short, some believe that the day was originally known as "God's Friday," a reference to the crucifixion event. There are references to the German term which means "mourning," as the disciples certainly did on that day so long ago. They mourned the death of Jesus, the one with whom they had walked for some three years and the others that knew Him. It was a day of mourning. Today in Europe it is "Mourning Friday." We too certainly mourn the fact that Jesus had to die in order that we could have forgiveness and life. It is a day of fasting for many denominations and people individually. And it is certainly a day of prayer and reflection and the events of this day so long ago.

What Will You Do Today?
Will you be thinking about what Jesus did for you on that day? Will we spend some time in prayer; will we perhaps even fast? How about attending some religious ceremony. I know that there will be prayer services of all kinds during this day. I have had candlelight services at churches which I have pastored in the past, as well as attending them at other churches. How about private services in the home with our families to commemorate this day; we should certainly do that together.

However you celebrate it (if that indeed is the proper term), remember that Jesus died in order that we might have life eternal and abundant, the forgiveness of sins and a secure future with our God.

May God bless each of us today as we continue to love and serve Him, who loved and served us, and ultimately gave Himself as a sacrifce for each of us. Maranatha, even so, come quickly Lord Jesus.

Yesterday, I was telling Micah about a couple of meetings that I had to attend. One was an Associational Nominating Committee meeting at FBC Rayville, which was yesterday afternoon and the other is this morning at the Missions Office in West Monroe for a FOCUS meeting, formerly known as "Ridgecrest on the Ouachita." Micah's reply was, "All you do is go to meetings." It sure seems that way sometimes. But, that is life. There IS always some kind of meeting to attend. It is the nature of the beast, the beast being life, or work or any combination thereof. Some meetings I actually enjoy, some are just to be endured. But, it is part of my work, my ministry. Meetings allow me to use the gifts that God has placed within me to carry out HIS ministry that HE started within me. And I'm glad to be able to do that. What a blessing it is to be a child of God (AMEN?), what a blessing is it to have the gifts of God actually dwell within us, what a blessing it is to be able to us them.

Your Ministry
What gift(s) has God given you? Are you using them effectively, for HIS glory? Take an inventory today of those gifts. If you don't know what they are, find out. How, you say. Ask. The giver of the gifts will be glad to inform you of the gift(s) that He would have you to use, not only for His glory, but for the good of the Body of Christ. The gifts that He has given you ARE your ministry. We don't create a ministry for God, He has a ministry (aka. service) for each of us already designed. We need to find out what that is and get in on it. Are you accomplishing the ministry that He has already designed for you? The other side of that is, are you attempting to carry out a ministry (service) that He did not design for you? There is something for us all to think about.


Word of the Day
Every day, on my computer, I have a "word of the day." Yesterday the word was "rusticate." That is an interesting sounding word. It came for a word that originally meant "country," as to be in the country. I like that. To rusticate means to be banished to or place yourself in a country setting. I'm for it. I think later on today Anita and I will rusticate for a while out at her dad and mom's old place. Smell the fresh air, listen to the cows and birds and bees. Yes, we have a couple of hives of bees out there. And, to admire the work that we have been able to do out there in the past few months. One day, we'd like to have everyone over for a little get together. But, first there still remains a lot of work to be done. (We'll gladly accept some help there, hint....hint...)

Everyone have a great day. Let's continue the work, the service, the ministry that our Lord has for us. Love you all.... God bless you.

I am so excited about the outcome of our dramatic presentation of The Living Lord's Supper. In both morning and evening services our guys did a tremendous job! What a wonderful portrayal of our Lord's last meal with His disciples. I can't stop thinking about how it would have been like to actually have been there. This is as close to it on this earth that we will be. For all who were in attendance, I know that they were blessed, as were we in the presentation. I think God was pleased also.

The Congregation
We had a near full house for the morning service. Sunday School attendance was pretty good, 116 I think it was. Thank God for those who are so very faithful in their Bible Study hour attendance. Encourage you class mates to be there the next time that your class meets. Remember, that will not be this coming Lord's Day.....no bible study hour. I was a little disappointed that there was no apparent response to the Lord's invitation following the presentation of the gospel through this medium. The gospel DID go forth. But then, I ask myself that question each and every time I preach. Why is there no apparent response to God's word? Is it I? Is it I? (Sorry, couldn't help myself).

The Week as a whole
It was a very busy week last week. Meeting and church related activities abounded. I even cancelled a trip out of town just to cut down on the going and to spend time with my family last Monday and Tuesday. Instead of going to Alexandria for a board meeting at Louisiana College, Anita, Micah and I spent last Monday going to see and movie and eating out. I was a very good day for the Duchesne family. We need to spend as much time, quality time, together as a family as we can, don't you think?

Baseball!
Something else that Micah and I were able to do together last week was attend a Texas Ranger baseball game, along with Jessie Nielsen. Our youth invited us to come and join them in Arlington and watch the game with them. Thanks to our youth and Tanya, Jason, Annette and David for asking us to join you! We really did enjoy it, even though it was pretty chilly, and we didn't really dress for that. But, we made it anyway. It was a great game, even though Texas lost to the Detroit Tigers 5-2. Just being in that stadium with church family and friends made it all worth it! We even got a free Texas Ranger's cap. We really enjoyed it. Hopefully, we can make another game before the summer is gone.

I'll write more about last week later. Everyone have a blessed day. Please be in prayer for our choir as they prepare for this coming Lord's Day presentation of "Behold the Lamb."

Yeap, I've been gone a while again. There is no particular reason, other than.....dare I say it....laziness. After all, it doesn't take THAT much time to write this little journal does it? It doesn't take THAT much effort, does it? And, it isn't THAT important, is it? No....No....YES! Every day, since my last post, I have said to myself, "Self, you need to go write in your blog." Then I answered myself...."I'll do it in a moment." And the moment never came. There was always something else that "came up." And it got put off and put off and put off and....well, you get the picture.

My brother in Christ, Jessie Nielsen, will prod me every once in a while to get back to it. So, brother, here it is..... keep prodding. We all need a "prodder," don't we. We may not actually appreciate the concern at that very moment. But, we do need someone to encourage us in the faith, not to grow weary in well doing..... not to be.... lazy. Thanks brother I appreciate your faithfulness.

Reflections on Sunday's Sermon
I was also thinking about part of my sermon Sunday morning. Remember, Jesus told the church at Sardis, that dead church, to strenghten that which remained, but was about to die. That's what I'm doing this morning, strenghtening something which remains to be done, but could possibly die....from neglect on my part. Like that church at Sardis, God had started something days earlier which that church had started to neglect and they were going to let it die. Someone had to encourage them. That is what Jesus was doing through his preacher, John.

What Remains to be done at DBC
Okay, so here I am back at it again, with the resolve to not grow wreary in well doing and do as I had committed to myself, to God and to my flock and write in my blog....everyday. What about you? What "thing" at some point in the past had you started, or rather God started withing you, that you have for whatever reason neglected to finish or continue? I don't know what that is, but you do....and God does. Let's all get back to it. There is a job to be done. There are promises to keep and there is our God to honor and glorify.

Opeing Week of Baseball
It's here! Opening week. So far, the Rangers lost and the Yankees won. I know those two for sure. And one more thing I know for sure, well, pretty sure, we have the tickets in hand. We're going to see the Texas Rangers play the Detroit Tigers at Ranger Stadium this Friday. Alright!

Everyone have a blessed day! God is so good.