Humphrey Baptist Celebrates Valentine's Day...

Sunday, February 14, 2010

We made a big deal of Valentine's Day in Humphrey this year. We had a back-to-back service with a picnic-type lunch. Mrs. White prepared "Beef on Wick" which was delicious. The rest of our folks made potato and macaroni salads, and many lovely valentines cookies and other desserts.

We had a wonderful day in church with 42 in attendance. We restarted our Jr. Church with Avin at the helm. He had quite a few children in his class due to Gary Chapman bringing four of his nieces and nephews.

I did not feel well on Sunday at all, and I think it was noticeable. My stomach was just churning in knots. I preached on the "Kiss of Charity" and the "Kiss of Salvation."

It was good to have my wife's sister, Jackie in town with her three adorable children, Zac, Jeff, and Amy. I'm thankful for their willingness to come to be an encouragement to us every once in a while!

The First Couple of Valentines!

We went all-out with the "Love" theme in the fellowship hall.

Michelle looks hard to make the right choice!



The fellowship as always good at HBC when its surrounded by food!

I think Joey ate something he didn't like.

Humphrey Baptist visits the Sportsmen's Dinner...

February 5, 2010

Dexter Bartlett, Avin Burrell, and I took a journey up to Palmyra to attend the Sportsmen's Dinner put on by the Heritage Baptist Church at which I served as Assistant Pastor for the last five years. We had a wonderful evening. Pastor Young did a marvelous job moving the evening along with many speakers which included a representative from the NYDEC, Senator Mike Nazzolio, and Congressman Robert Oaks. As always, Charlie Alsheimer's presentation was spectacular with all the photos and description of Whitetail hunting.

I must admit, the highlight for me was seeing the dear Heritage people. My heart yearned for the people I served for the last five years. I was so proud of all the effort they put into the evening. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many of my good friends and especially the young people. They had a wonderful spirit that night!

If you are reading from Heritage, I love you and miss you so. I was very proud of what a wonderful job you did. God bless each one of you. Please be reminded, there's always a seat saved for you at Humphrey Baptist Church if you want to visit (Ha Ha)!

Charlie Alsheimer did a fantastic job in his presentation of the Whitetail deer and also the spiritual aspect was wonderfully interwoven.

There was a great crowd that night - Everyone served a delicious Venison Dinner in around twelve minutes!

If you are wondering what Dexter is focusing his attention on, look below!


What a meal! We were absolutely stuffed!



Pastor Young and all of the workers from Heritage deserve much praise for all the work and oragnization that went into that night. It was a well-oiled machine!

This is the day...

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Sad to say, we spend most of our lives wishing it were yesterday or tomorrow. We look forward all of our lives to the coming events: birthdays, teen years, 16 - driving, graduation from high school, college, marriage, children, our dream vocation, retirement, etc. Rather than enjoy the moment, we are constantly looking forward with anticipation to the next event. Then after all is said and done, we sit around and reminisce about the "good ole' days."

Jim Eliot, Missionary to Ecuador, said...

"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God."

It doesn't do us any good thinking about what might have been, or what could be. God has given us "today." God will not give us "tomorrow" if we are not good stewards of "today." Those dreams you have of tomorrow may come true, but you first must receive the day the Lord has given to you and make all you can of it! A wise man once said, "Live in the present for the future." Don't live in the future, live for the future!

There is no promise of tomorrow, but God has given you a wonderful gift of "today." Enjoy it to the hilt!

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Sunday, January 10, 2010

This morning the temperature is -5 degrees with a windchill of -16 degrees!

Humphrey Fire Department 2010

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Today my wife and I had the privilege of attending the annual Recognition and Swearing in Ceremony at the Humphrey Fire Hall. I was asked to give the invocation. I expressed my appreciation on behalf of the community to the firemen for their dedication. It is a volunteer department. I also took a shot at the Chief with a funny joke! He was very gracious to me. My wife and I sat with him along with an area Pastor. I then led in prayer for the food in which I ended "...in Jesus Name."

It was a blessing to get to know some of the community and I hope we made a good impression for the Lord's sake.

Katie and I posed for a picture with Senator Cathrine Young from our district. I was very impressed when she mailed us a letter welcoming us to the area, and she didn't disappoint me in person. It was a blessing to meet her.

This year marks the 40th Anniversay of the Department. Mr. Halladay pictured here with his wife (sister of Don Potter - member of HBC) spoke a word of testimony. It was he and Don Potter who helped put up the trusses 40 years ago!



The Fire Chief allowed me to have a picture with him. He had recently fallen on the ice and broke his leg.




There were around 70 folks who attended.
I think that's about all of them.

We had a wonderful spread of food. The afternoon began with delicious appetizers followed by your choice of steak, stuffed pork chop, or veggie lasagna. As you can guess, I chose... One of each - just kidding! I enjoyed a delicious steak!

Jude 1:21-23 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

I read the preceding verses to the people gathered there and compared the church to a fire department. They save folks from a physical fire while we strive to save souls from a spiritual fire! They seemed to enjoy my brief words. Later a few came to me and assured me that I had done well.

I want to thank Autumn Burrell for giving us her afternoon to watch our boys so we could be able to attend the event! God bless her.

A Winter Wonderland...

Tuesday, January 5, 2009

The Cialini Men are hard at work!

I know a lot of places are getting hammered with snow worse than us, but here are some pictures of our winter wonderland

Here are a couple of views of our back yard.

On Sunday evening, we took part in the Lord's Supper. I mentioned to the people before we partook of the juice of how beautiful the snow is in the middle of winter. As we sit inside in our cozy homes, warm and comfortable, we look out to see the beautiful sight of the snow as it lays peacefully upon the bushes and the trees. It paints the landscape a gorgeous, pure white.

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Imagine the pleasure it brings our Heavenly Father as He looks upon his children to see the precious blood of His dear, only begotten Son. The sight of a sinner, cleansed in the pure, sacrificial blood of the Saviour is something our Lord must find great pleasure in. Maybe that is one reason why the Bible says...

Luke 15:10

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence

of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

A Beautiful Manger Scene...

December 28, 2009...

About twelve minutes from our house, in the town of Allegany, is the most beautiful manger scene I have ever seen personally in my life. The lighting, especially at night, is just stunning.

The sad thought is that it is placed there each year by St. Bonaventure University, a Catholic College. As I reflect on what it means to them theologically, it saddens me that they worship the mother rather than the Son. They work to receive a gift that's already been paid for. They go through ritualistic tradition to establish their eternal destiny only to find out some day that they will be bitterly disappointed. Would to God, that He would open their "religious" eyes. Would God that they would see the Babe for Who He is and His earthly mother for who she is - a good woman, but by no means deity!

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.