Written on 3:34 AM by Pastor Coon
A godly farmer was doing business in 'the big city' and stopped at a restaurant to eat lunch. When his meal was brought, he bowed his head and silently gave thanks. A group of loud young men at the next table saw what he did, and one of them called out: "Hey, farmer, does everybody do that where you come from?" "No," replied the farmer, "the pigs don't."
Giving thanks at the table can often become routine. We forget that this simple act of worship is really at the heart of our Christian faith; we are acknowledging our utter dependence upon God. To eat without giving thanks is arrogance and pride.
Posted in
Misc
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Written on 11:45 AM by Pastor Coon
A friend put this on
his blog and I thought it was funny so I copied it to share with you:
They Tell Me There Is A ...
Bumper sticker seen in Dallas,Texas:
“I’'ll keep my freedom, my guns, and my MONEY, YOU CAN KEEP THE CHANGE!”
Vote for McCain/Palin
Remember it is the Church-house not the Whitehouse that makes the difference in the lives of people.
Isa 40:15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.
Posted in
humor
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Written on 3:14 AM by Pastor Coon
I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive text messages?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we included our family on it's share plan?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we used it to keep in touch with our best friend?
This is something to make you go...hmmm...where is my Bible?
Sadly, like our cell phone, we should worry about keeping the signal strong and clear of obstruction; otherwise the communication is going to break down.
Oh, and yes there are no dropped calls from the other end.
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priceless
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Written on 3:13 PM by Pastor Coon
Well, friends it is official I have started the web design business (Baptist Ministries Worldwide - Online) that many desired and encouraged me to start. I have been building websites for nearly 10 years now which started from my interest of keeping my widely spread out family informed of the latest happenings in our life, as we travelled around the world while serving in the Marine Corps. I eventually graduated from personal websites to creating professional websites for the churches we attended. This has become very much my favorite hobby over the years.
Understand that I love pastoring and am not replacing my ministry with this hobby of mine. I'm not looking to build a large business or a means of financial support through this business, but I am looking to help churches and missionaries create a web presence. The more I talk to pastors & missionaries and I realize the large expense of websites; the more I see a real need for top-notch website development with very affordable (read: cheap) web services.
I pastor a very small church (September's average Sunday Morning attendance was 23) and have to work a 2nd job just to make ends meet. I know without my knowledge of web development that we could not afford (and probably would not see a need for) a website, but we have had two different families that visited our church because they searched for a church in the area via the Internet and found us. These are visitors from outside of the immediate area of the church and where we have gone canvassing. So a web presence is a real blessing and I would even go so far to say it is a necessity. As more and more people are accustomed to 'googling' on the Internet than reaching for the yellow pages in their search for restaurants, hair-dressers, video stores, and yes even churches, we find more of a need for churches to have a web presence.
I also think that ministry websites need to be updated regularly and give people (members or visitors) a connection to the ministry. These websites need to stay current with the use of the appropriate and coordinating colors, pictures, embedded Javascript or Flash, availability of audio sermons or videos online, easy to use layout, and so much more that the average pastor or missionary doesn't even consider. Most churches may have a member who has an interest to help with website but doesn't always have the experience or commitment to the website and so it quickly becomes impractical to maintain or outdated in its content.
I say all of this to share with you why I started BMW-O and if you or your ministry needs a web presence I would encourage you to consider Baptist Ministries Worldwide - Online for you online needs. Thank you for your time and prayers.
Posted in
Current Events,
Misc
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Written on 9:04 AM by Pastor Coon
(According to a man)
Cats do what they want.
They rarely listen to you.
They are totally unpredictable.
When you want to play, they want to be alone.
When you want to be alone, they want to play.
They expect you to cater to their every whim.
They are moody.
They leave hair everywhere.
They drive you nuts and cost an arm and a leg.
CONCLUSION: They are tiny women in fur coats!
By the way, I would know this about cats and women, since I have two ladies and 3 female cats in the house!! Pray for us guys!!
Smile people will wonder what you have been up to?!!
Posted in
humor
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Written on 8:40 PM by Pastor Coon
~ Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church in Racine. Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
~ Announcement in the church bulletin for a National PRAYER & FASTING Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals."
~ Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 pm in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
~ Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again" giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
~ "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands."
~ Next Sunday is the family hayride and bonfire at the Fowlers'. Bring your own hot dogs and guns. Friends are welcome! Everyone come for a fun time.
~ The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled due to a conflict.
~ The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water" The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus"
~ Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
~ Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.
~ The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing "Break Forth into Joy."
~ Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.
~ Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
~ Don't let worry kill you off --let the Church help.
~ Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
~ The service will close with "Little Drops of Water." One of the ladies will start quietly and the rest of the congregation will join in.
~ Next Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the cost of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will come forward and do so.
~ The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind and they may be seen in the church basement Friday.
~ A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
You gota learn to spell-check!!
Posted in
humor
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Written on 2:09 PM by Pastor Coon
This is the first thing that I've seen that makes sense in the expensive efforts to rebuild New Orleans.
For complete description of materials and exact instructions on how to build it, please refer to Genesis 5:14-16
Posted in
Current Events,
humor
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Written on 11:50 PM by Pastor Coon
Just three little words-
But oh how much they say.
"I love you," "Hold me tight,"
"Stay by me," "Let us pray."
Learning words in childhood
At my mother's knee
Was, oh, so very simple
As they were taught to me.
And there are many others
I've learned along the way-
"Take my hand," "I need you,"
And "Never go away."
These words have never left me-
I use them o'er and o'er;
And as life is slipping by me
I use them even more.
God hears these words-
Each simple little line.
Now I wait for Him to say,
"Come...you're mine."
--by Erma Fajen MacFarlane
Posted in
priceless
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Written on 11:19 AM by Pastor Coon
Dwight Nelson told a true story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and drove slowly away, the tree would bend and he would be able to reach up and get the kitten.
That's what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be sufficiently bent for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke.
The tree went "boing!" and the kitten instantly sailed through the air and out of sight. The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they'd seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, "Lord, I just commit the kitten to your keeping," and went on about his business.
A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his church members. 
He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, "Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?"
She replied, "You won't believe this," and then she told him how her little girl had been begging for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child had begged again and the Mom finally told her little girl, "If God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it."
She told the pastor, "I watched my daughter go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her."
The moral of our story is "Never underestimate the Will of God, the Power of Prayer, and His unique sense of humor."
Posted in
humor
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Written on 6:58 AM by Pastor Coon
Let us take sometime to think of the tragedy of 9-11 another way. Let us look at the stories of those who survived death in the Twin Towers -
As you might know the head of a company survived 9-11 because his son
started kindergarten that morning.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed the bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the phone.
One had a child who dawdled and they didn't get ready as soon as they should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
The one that struck me the most was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his heel. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now when we are stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer the telephone -- all the little things that seem to annoy us; let us think to ourselves, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.
Posted in
Current Events
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Written on 6:48 AM by Pastor Coon
Charles Spurgon said this regarding prayer-
Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly, others give but an occassional pluck at the rope; but he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might.
Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. ~Søren Kierkegaard
No one is a firmer believer in the power of prayer than the devil; not that he practices it, but he suffers from it. ~Guy H. King
Trouble and perplexity drive me to prayer and prayer drives away perplexity and trouble. ~Philip Melanchthen
The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him. ~William McGill
Prayer may not change things for you, but it for sure changes you for things. ~Samuel M. Shoemaker
Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: prayer is a life attitude. ~Walter A. Mueller
The Lord's Prayer may be committed to memory quickly, but it is slowly learnt by heart. ~Frederick Denison Maurice
It is good for us to keep some account of our prayers, that we may not unsay them in our practice. ~Matthew Henry
Posted in
priceless
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Written on 12:21 AM by Pastor Coon
"The proper way for a man to pray,"
Said Deacon Lemuel Keys,
"The only proper attitude
Is down upon your knees."
"No! I should say the way to pray,"
Said Reverend Dr. Wise,
"Is standing straight with outstretched arms
And rapturous upturned eyes."
"It seems to me, his hands should be
Devoutly clasped in front.
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground."
Said Reverend Dr. Blunt.
"Last year, I fell in Hodkin's well,
Head first," said Cyrus Brown.
"With both my heels a stickin' up,
My head a-p'intin' down.
"And I made prayer right then and there-
Best prayer I ever said!
The prayinest prayer I ever prayed
Was standin' on my head."
I would surmise that prayer is not a position as much as it is a passion. Don't wait until you are desperate to pray...God is always taking requests.
Posted in
priceless
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Written on 11:12 PM by Pastor Coon
1. Give something away (no strings attached).
2. Do a kindness (and forget it).
3. Spend a few minutes with the aged (their experience is a priceless guidance).
4. Look intently into the face of a baby (and marvel).
5. Laugh often (it is life's lubricant).
6. Give thanks (a thousand times a day is not enough).
7. Pray (or you will lose the way).
8. Work (with vim and vigor).
9. Plan as though you will live forever (because you will).
10. Live as though you will die tomorrow (because you will die on some tomorrow).
Posted in
priceless
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Written on 3:02 PM by Pastor Coon
A little boy and his cat were playing quietly on the kitchen floor.
The boy's mother came to see what they were doing, and she heard the little boy preaching God's Word to his cat. So she smiled to herself and went about her chores.
Later she heard the cat fussing quite a bit, so she went to see what was going on. 
The little boy had the cat in their kitchen sink full of water. The mother told him that cats don't like water.
The boy sharply replied, "He should've thought of that before he joined the church!"
I pray that this added a smile to your day and that your smile added to another's day!!
Posted in
humor
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Written on 5:00 PM by Pastor Coon
An elderly gent was invited to an old friends' home for dinner one evening. He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every request to his wife with endearing terms such as: Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc.
The couple had been married almost 70 years and, clearly, they were still very much in love. While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his host, 'I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still call your wife those loving pet names.'
The old man hung his head. 'I have to tell you the truth,' he said,
'Her name slipped my mind about 10 years ago and I'm scared to death to ask her what it is!'
Posted in
humor
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Written on 4:02 PM by Pastor Coon
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.
-Anonymous
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
-Ben Williams
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.
-Andy Rooney
Dogs love their friends & bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love & always have to mix love & hate.
-Anonymous
If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise
-Unknown
My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money.
-Joe Weinstein
Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
-Robert A. Heinlein
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
-Mark Twain
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
-Roger Caras
If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them.
-Phil Pastoret
Posted in
priceless
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Written on 12:53 PM by Pastor Coon
Feel free to groan (with delight, of course).
Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married Ruth?
A. Ruthless.
Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds.
Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.
Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.
Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury.
David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.
Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.
Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.
Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.
Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.
Q. Who is the greatest babysitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath to a very deep sleep.
Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.
Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck. (Groan...)
P.S. Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee?
Yup, it's in the Bible. It says . . . "He-brews"
KEEP SMILING!!!! GOD LOVES YOU BUNCHES AND BUNCHES!!!!
Posted in
humor
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Written on 6:06 PM by Pastor Coon
Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is a husband.
*************************************
A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen. 'Careful,' he said, 'CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my gosh! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my gosh! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful. CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the! salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!' The wife stared at him. 'What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?' The husband calmly replied, 'I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving.'
*************************************
A Polish immigrant went to the DMV to apply for a driver's license. First, of course, he had to take an eye sight test The optician showed him a card with the letters 'C Z W I X N O S T A C Z.' 'Can you read this?' the optician asked. 'Read it?' the Polish guy replied, 'I know the guy.'
*************************************
One day, a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very sexy nightie. 'Tie me up,' she purred, 'and you can do anything you want.' So he tied her up and went golfing.
*************************************
Life is funny at times and at other times it is scary...I find it healthier and more fun to laugh!!
Posted in
humor
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Written on 11:09 PM by Pastor Coon
Two Little Boys ~
After a hardy rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys, a young mother watched her two little boys playing in the puddle through her kitchen window.
The older of the two, a five year old lad, grabbed his little brother by the back of his head and shoved his face into the water hole.
As the younger boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother runs to the yard in a panic.
"Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?!" she asked the older boy in anger.
"We were just playing 'church' mommy," he said. "And I was baptizing him.....in the name of the Father, the Son and in the hole-he-goes."
Posted in
humor
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Written on 3:34 PM by Pastor Coon
George Washington’s Prayer
Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Daniel Webster Said:
“Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary. Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this influence still more widely; in the full conviction, that that is the happiest society which partakes in the highest degree of the mild and peaceable spirit of Christianity.”
Posted in
Current Events
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Written on 8:27 PM by Pastor Coon
I can't! Apparently something has crashed on my computer 
And oddly enough the mouse is missing, too...hmmmm!?!?!
Smile and have a great day...God is still in control and caring for you!!
Posted in
priceless
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