Category: OVCF News

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #113

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #113.  The weather this week has been pleasant so far and I hope your week has been the same. Prepare yourself for a somewhat disjointed MM.

I wanted to let you know that I will NOT be doing a MM next week. I know you are disappointed but with the July 4^th holiday and the office closed that puts us a day behind. The Building Team will also be heading to Graber Post Buildings in Montgomery, IN on July 7^th to look at possibilities for our new addition.  Thanks to your continuing generosity, we now have $211,538 in the Building Fund. We promised at the outset we would do this wisely and in a way we felt would honor God (doing it debt-free) so it may seem slow to you.  But this is a significant step for the Building Team because we have an idea of what we would like to build. We now need some clarity for direction.  All that to say: it will be a short but very full week, especially for Diana, so I’ll be a super good guy and let her have the week off from her editorial duties. J

On Friday, December 10, 2021 an EF4 tornado with winds cresting at 190 mph and lasting 2 hours and 54 minutes crashed its way through Mayfield, KY and surrounding areas leaving at least 57 confirmed dead. Besides the death toll, the devastation of property is beyond imagination.  Rescue efforts began immediately by FEMA, Samaritan’s Purse, and other organizations. Pastor Ryan has wanted to get the youth group involved in some way but has been unable to make connections. Until now. Now that the main rescue organizations have closed up shop, it is up to others to help with clean-up and relief efforts. During the week of July 18^th, Ryan and Hope East and Cassie Linville will be taking a number of our youth with them to help with the clean-up of communities near Mayfield.  To help with funding for the trip, the young people will be hosting a Mac & Cheese bar with all the fixin’s on Saturday, July 8^th. The dinner will be from 5:30-7:00 with doors opening at 5. There is no charge but donations are welcomed and accepted. If you cannot make it, there will be a jar for you to make a donation. Speaking personally, I am thankful that Pastor Ryan models and teaches a servant’s heart to our young people.  After the trip I will list all the participants.

Since this coming weekend is Independence Day weekend, I wanted to give myself some space to share something from my files that I clipped back in 1996 from Focus on the Family Citizen. It was a piece written by Tom Minnery, VP of Public Policy. To make room I will be editing it from its original writing:

“In the early decades of our nation’s history, a devout, learned lawyer named Francis Scott Key became so taken with the power of Christ’s gospel that twice he considered entering the ministry. Although he never did, Key became known around Washington, D.C. for his acts of charity and generosity. He worked tirelessly to improve the lot of Georgetown’s poor children, and, along with others, toiled to create a free nation in Africa for the liberated slaves-thus inviting the displeasure of Southern slave owners some 50 years before the Civil War began.

Key was a follower of William Wilberforce, the Christian statesman in England who spent his entire adult life in his ultimately successful pursuit of ending England’s slave trade. {Note: he was on his deathbed when the vote was taken to abolish the slave trade} Wilberforce’s writings confirmed Key’s growing belief that religious faith and patriotism went hand in hand, and that the Christian Gospel was a blueprint for public service.

On the evening of Sept. 13, 1814, at the height of the War of 1812, the 35-year-old Key gave of himself yet again. This time, however, he embarked on a mission of mercy fraught with danger. An elderly physician named William Beanes had been captured by the British and was imprisoned in the hold of a British warship. With President James Madison’s blessing, Key set sail from Baltimore along with a prisoner-exchange officer to search the ship and negotiate Beanes’ return.

Incredibly, they found the ship and freed the doctor but the small party was barred from leaving the warship that night. They were about to attack Baltimore and their first assault would be on Fort McHenry, which protected the city.

Key and the others were forced to watch as the British warship bombed the fort all night long. Cannon after cannon blasted away and it wasn’t until the first light of day Key was able to see the American flag still flying above the fort- a majestic emblem of the failure of the British attack.

Swelled with pride for his country, and grateful to God for sparing the city (the British had sacked and burned D.C. just three weeks before), Key wrote what we now call our national anthem, the “The Star- Spangled Banner.”  We know and hear sung over and over the first stanza of that great anthem. But it is the unknown and seldom-sung fourth stanza that shows Key’s intent with the song. Here are the words: “O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand/ Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation/Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land/Praise the Power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!/Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just/And this be our motto– ‘In God is our trust!’/And the star-spangled Banner in triumph shall wave/O’er the land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”

There are a lot of people spouting a lot of hate these days. We have people using vulgarity to describe their feelings. One musician said, “(Expletive deleted.) I’m renouncing my citizenship in America.”  I say, “Good-bye.” America has it issues, no doubt about it. BUT, and this is a big BUT, it is still the greatest nation on this planet. For those who want to disgrace America with their vulgarity and disobedience, try going to another country and do that.  Their head will be on the chopping block, if it makes it that far. I am proud to be an American, but I am more proud to be a follower of Jesus. My citizenship may be as an American, but my greatest citizenship in in heaven.  I may “love” my country, but I love Jesus more.  And while I may live in and enjoy the benefits of this country, I don’t worship it nor can I forget the benefits I have from the Father in heaven who loved and loves me and gave His only Son for my salvation.  THAT IS THE GREATEST FREEDOM OF ALL. Celebrate Independence Day but if you are a Christ-follower, you have a greater independence nothing on earth can compare to.  He who has the Son is free. That truth will set you free. (John 8: 32)  I love you all.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #112

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #112. I am so grateful you allow me into your world each week. I don’t ever want to take that lightly or waste your time.

As you know by now, my surgery is history.  See the end of this MM for some thoughts on that whole thing. I’m definitely not moving as fast I normally do but I simply pray each day brings improvement. I have to remember not to overdo it.

Father’s Day 2022 is history! You already knew I was excited about the special Father’s Day event we were having. I can honestly say I loved it and relished hearing some of the men speak. I heard chuckles, laughter, and applause, and have heard from a few of you who totally appreciated it. I can’t take any credit for it other than pulling it together. The real “heroes” of the morning were the men who put themselves out there and spoke. My thanks to Will Schneider, Daniel Hamlin, Rob Anderson, Mike Edwards, Bruce Fisher, Tony Courson, Jim Markland, and Bruce Davis.  Three other men also made contributions to the morning: Brad Brinson, Mike Basey, and Dave Keith.  I have several stories to tell:

• Some of our folks forgot about the time change. One of them told me she was ready to just turn around and leave when Jeff encouraged her to stay and helped her and her son find a seat. After it was over she told me that and said, “I am so glad I stayed” and got a little teary-eyed.
• Another came up after me and said, “Thank you! It was so good and I just wanted to tell (name removed by me) to just keep on talking another hour.” Hmmm. How come no one tells me that? ☺
• “Each man was real and it was so good to hear stories from different perspectives.”

Long story short: thank you men for taking part and thanks to many of you who took the time to thank them and to say a few words to me which I could pass along.

REMEMBER: WE ARE BACK TO TWO SERVICES THIS SUNDAY!  9:00 AND 10:45

This next part is something I held off from sharing in last week’s MM. In fact, I had it written and included, but then decided to hold off. In last week’s MM I gave you a list of upcoming sermon series: “7 Cancers” and “8 Cures,” as well as a series focusing on what the church is all about.  November and December seem to carry their own focus.

What you don’t know is that I have been giving 2023 some serious thought.  What I am about to say might interest you, blow your mind, or completely turn you off (I hope not). In thinking of 2023, I am considering the theme of “Victory.”  I can hardly believe I am telling you what I am about to tell you. From April 18th to June 2nd, I did a series of blogs on my “Shadow” blog on the book of Revelation. I took a chapter a day to blog about, except when I read Revelation 2-3 (the 7 churches). I am considering starting 2023 by preaching through Revelation- not on interpreting it, i.e. “this means this” and “that refers to that” and “this is a sign of the times” (I’ll leave that to the scholars), but on the main thoughts from each chapter.  What is strange, at least as you look at it from man’s viewpoint, is that a brand new book came out last week that piqued my interest. It is called “Blessed” by Nancy Guthrie. I trust the publishing company she uses but know nothing of her. But after reading the first 5 chapters, she takes the absolute same approach I did in my blog and plan to for the series. Anyway, here is where you come in at. I’d like to know your thoughts on that. I realize this is June and that is January, but it is running through my head now and when you get old you have to “put things on the table” when you think of them.  ☺  My desire is to preach the Bible, and to avoid a book or some subject because it is difficult or “scary,” is not doing so. However, at the same time, I do want to preach what you might be interested in (I’ll hold off on preaching through Leviticus), so please feel free to put in your .02 worth.  You may email or text me if you want.  And just to put a further perspective on it: I have NEVER in almost 50 of being a pastor, preached on Revelation. In fact, except for sermons on the 7 churches in chapters 2-3, one from chapter 4 on worship, and maybe one on heaven from chapter 22, I have not preached a sermon on or from Revelation. To put it bluntly, I have avoided it like the plague. No more! So, again, let me hear your thoughts.

Please let me remind you again to pray for Pastor Ryan, Hope and the other faculty and campers who are at High School Wilderness Week at Hilltop. Temps are to be close to the mid ‘90s. In fact, Tami thought it was funny because her weather app showed a sun with a cactus on it. ☺ I think that means it is supposed to be really, really hot and that means they will really need covering with our prayers.

Just one last thought before I go:  I wrote the following the morning of June 20th for my “Shadow” blog. I hope it helps you.

Surgery was a success so the doc says. It is 6 days in and in my mind the jury is still out. I know part of it is being a man. You know…I want healed yesterday. I want to feel better yesterday. I want to be able to ride my bike yesterday. But with him having to do more than he thought, this is to be expected.

Except in my mind.

I had visions of my last back surgery. The removal of a bone fragment on a nerve brought instant relief!! Maybe too instant.  Not this time. It is going to take some time for my spine and legs to function normally.

That reminds me of today’s verse from Proverbs which I highlighted: “A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord; how then can a person understand his way?” (20:24 NASB2020)

Exactly! I have in my mind the way things ought to go or to be. God has something different in mind. The reality is that He will reveal His ways and His thoughts when it is His time. And only His. Not mine.

The lesson about my back (Heal me yesterday!) is mine. The lesson from the Book and from the Father is God’s timing is right and true and will prevail. My steps are ordered by Him and I cannot know His way or timing.  So are yours. Walk in His steps.  Love you much.

Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #111

Hello! Welcome to Midweek Message #111. It has been a couple of weeks since I wrote a MM.
I hope you missed me.  If not, please don’t tell me. I’m not sure my ego could handle that.
Whether you missed me or not, I’d like to let you know why I was AWOL when it came to the
MM.

The first week of missing was Memorial Day weekend was busy and with the church office
being closed on Monday (Memorial Day), I knew Tuesday would be a big catch up day. I
normally tend to write the MM on Monday and Tuesday; Diana proofs it on Tuesday; we make
improvements to it; then it gets published on various platforms and sent to you on Wednesday.
That is our goal. Knowing the week would be short put a crimp in my plans. I decided to take a
break for both of us.

The second week Jo, Tami, and I went to Ohio to see Braden play ball and to visit Janna. Every
time we have visited this Spring, except for once, it has rained and the games have been called
off. The one time we were able to watch him play it was so cold my face froze off. One time we
went they rescheduled a game for that Thursday and then no umpires showed up. (Face palm)
The next day was the regularly scheduled game and…you guessed it…rained out. Our thinking
this trip was it is June and surely they will play. NOPE! We dropped him off for his game and the
coach stopped me to say the game had been cancelled by the league, only they failed to tell
him. The other team? Yes. So he said they were going to practice until 7:00 or the rain came. It
rained like cats ‘n dogs for about 30 minutes so we made our way back to wait.

So here I am three weeks later. Knowing the “zoo” of a week I have coming up, I decided to
start this on Saturday, hopefully having it ready for Diana and I to make corrections on Monday.
We have a staff meeting on Monday morning and with Ryan having been gone to Wilderness
Camp all last week, I know it will be a lot of catch up. So the staff meeting will be busy.

Plus, many of you will remember about a month ago I told you why I was having to sit a lot
during my sermons. By the time you get this, I will have had my back surgery yesterday
(Tuesday) morning. This will be more extensive that the one I had in 2017 but much like it.
Instead of one vertebrae to be drilled, there will be three. I have some spurs closing off the
nerve routes and he will be opening up the space so the nerves will not have that pressure.
That is the simplified version. Please don’t ask about the medical version.   I may or may not
stay overnight depending on how I do with the surgery and recovery. It had been scheduled for
11:30 but a cancellation of the previous one moved me up to 8:00. I’m okay with that! I would
appreciate your prayers for my recovery and for Jo’s patience with (whom she says) is a very
poor patient. 

Enough of that! I am super excited about Father’s Day Sunday. The Mother’s Day special
program was so well-liked and appreciated (many of you told me), that I decided to see if I
could get some men to talk about their hero from the Bible. One caveat: it had to be someone
other than Jesus. I asked a total of 15 men and 9 of them said they would. 9 men! I was super excited to have that many. I did have to change the way it will be done. My original thought
was to have it similar to the ladies by having them sit on chairs and share their thoughts. But
the stage isn’t big enough and I also know you want to go to lunch that day! So, each man will
speak about 3 minutes to give their hero and why. You will need to be here or watch online to
see who the men are.

*****ONE VERY IMPORTANT ITEM TO REMEMBER: there is only one service on Father’s Day at
10:00***** The nursery will be available and children’s programs will meet at 10:00, too.

I started a new series this past Sunday called 7 Cancers. Sunday’s sermon, “Whatever Became
of Sin,” was a prelude to that series. The series really gets underway on the June 26 th . Here is
the list of sermons for that series:

• • The “Queen” of Cancer
  •  The Green-Eyed Cancer
  •  The Explosive Cancer
  •  The Lazy Cancer
  •  The “Gotta Have It” Cancer
  •  The Respectable Cancer
  •  The Hidden Cancer

Lord willing, unless He changes things or something comes up, that series will take us to August
14 th . My plan at this point is to follow that up with a series I’m calling 8 CURES. I figure we
would look at the cancer and then at the cure. Immediately following that series I might be
doing one on “What is the Church All About?” That is not the title of the series but it is the
contact point of what I am considering. November and December are months which are pretty
typical in their focus. Look for next week’s MM for a special request I will have.

I’d like to remind you to pray for Pastor Ryan and his faculty for the Senior High Wilderness
Week at Hilltop camp. It starts this coming Sunday.

One more item before I close this MM. June 25 th is the date for the Serving Owen County
Together (SOCT) event. SOCT is a joint effort of many in OC and some outside organizations to
meet the needs of citizens of OC and surrounding areas. There is a shoe tent, clothing tent,
game tent, diapers and toiletries, furniture and other items. Volunteer help is needed. You can
sign up on the sheet at the information table. We really need your help! There are 4 separate
time slots: 7-9 (Set up). 9-12:00. 12-3:00. 3-5 (Tear down). Even if you can’t stay for the whole
time slot, any help would be appreciated.

Well, my space is up. I have babbled on some, I’m sure, but what else does a preacher do who
hasn’t had a chance to be in contact for a couple of weeks?  But just know I love you.
Pastor Bill

MIDWEEK MESSAGE #110

Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #110.  I hope your week is going well.

Well…for most school is out. Graduation has taken place. Summer jobs have begun. Monday, Memorial Day, is considered the official start of the summer hoopla. Pools will be opened. Summer trips will begin. Sports teams will continue in earnest. I can remember thoroughly looking forward to Memorial Day because our school had just dismissed for the summer and I wouldn’t have to see the inside of another school until after Labor Day (unless you had to take summer school). Now, keep in mind that was in the ‘60s when school was very different. There were no such things as Fall and Spring breaks; lengthy Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks; or some of the other breaks there are today.  So this will be a tad different MM. As of this writing, I will be taking a break from writing the MM next week due to Memorial Day. The focus of this MM will be Memorial Day but first, a few reminders:

• This coming Sunday is our 5th Sunday Family Worship. Except for the nursery and Pre-K class (during second service only), the young people will be in with the adults during the worship service.  An added bonus is the youth worship team will be leading our worship at both services. We will have both services: one at 9:00 and the other at 10:45.
• Just a heads up for you! Father’s Day, June 19th, will be a special day. We will only be having one service that day at 10:00. I think you are going to love this service!
• Remember to pray for Pastor Ryan, his family and all the faculty and campers during the weeks of June 5th and June 19th as he leads the Wilderness weeks at Hilltop Camp.

Now, regarding Memorial Day, I hope you will find this inspiring.  First, the following article was sent to me several years ago by my Uncle Bob, a 32 year Air Force veteran, now living in Texas.

“Richard, my husband, never really talked a lot about his time in Vietnam other than he had been shot by a sniper. However, he had a rather grainy 8×10 black and white photo he had taken at a USO show of Ann-Margaret, with Bob Hope in the background. Ann was doing a book signing at a local bookstore and Richard wanted to see if she would sign his treasured photo. He arrived at 12:00 for the 7:30 signing and was told she would only sign her book, and no memorabilia would be allowed. Richard was disappointed but wanted to show her the photo anyway and let her know how much it meant to lonely GI’s so far from home for her to come. As 2nd in line it was soon his turn. She signed her book and then he took out the photo to show her with many shouts from employees that she would not sign it. She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes and she said, “This is one of my gentlemen from Vietnam and I most certainly will sign his photo. With that she pulled Richard across the table and planted a big kiss on him. She then made quite a to do about the bravery of the young men she met over the years, how much she admired them, and how much she appreciated them. There weren’t many dry eyes among those close enough to hear. She then posed for pictures and acted as if he was the only one there. Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet. When I asked if he’d like to talk about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears. “That’s the first time anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army.” Richard, like many others, came home to people who spit on him and shouted ugly things at him. That night was a turning point for him. He walked a little straighter and, for the first time in years, was proud to have been a Vet. I’ll never forget Ann-Margaret for her graciousness and how much that small act of kindness meant to my husband.” {Story was edited by me to fit this MM}

One more story:

One day a poor boy, who was selling goods door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry, so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly and then asked, “How much do I owe you?” “You don’t owe me anything. Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.” He said, “Then I thank you from my heart.”

As Howard Kelly left the house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later, that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled so they finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for a consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. He immediately rose and went down the hall to the hospital room. He recognized her at once and determined to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to the cause.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it but finally looked and read these words…”Paid in full with one glass of milk.” (signed) Dr. Howard Kelly {edited by me for space}

My words:

Two things to remember this Memorial Day. Say thanks for and to the men and women (dead and alive) who have served our country to preserve its freedom. Two, remember the Christ who has paid our debt IN FULL!

I am grateful to the men and women who have and are serving. I am grateful to God for the gift of His Son. And I am grateful for you.

Pastor Bill