Thy Kingdom.......

Well here we are as a nation - 5 days away from an election... I hear alot of people talking some excited, some angry and more than a few fearful or discouraged. There is apprehension on both sides due to the turmoil in the economy, and tension in the middle east (Iran,Israel,Syria etc).
As Christians what is our response or mindset when all around us things seem shaken? The answer is we are to be at peace. Not just any peace but the "namebrand" kind. Christ didn't just say He would give us peace - but HIS PEACE and not as the world gives either. Colossians 3:3 tells us "For you died and your life is hiddin with Christ in God." Like the words of the old hymn - He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock and covers me there with his hand. How wonderful to be hid in Him, covered sheltered and in peace!
An ever present danger in Christian circles is the idea that politics or political activism will change America. While yes as citizens we do have responsibilities such as to vote and support our government let us not forget our first responsibility. It isn't one political party or another that will truly bring about the change so desperately needed in our great country/peoples lives only the Gospel can do that. Ever red blooded American should be excited or interested in the political activities in our country but let us remember we have dual citizenship and "here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Heb. 13:14"
Father help us to remember to pray as your Son taught us - Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as in heaven..... Help us to remember the great commission was to spread the Gospel. Keep us from getting so entangled in the affairs of this life that we forget that our warfare is spiritual and are weapons are not of the flesh. Thank you for holding our times and seasons in your hand. In Jesus name.

My Family

Ricky and Benjamin... dogpiled

Its hard to believe that he's 6'6

Summertime getaway...

My first wedding to officiate this summer, Kara and I got to enjoy a little vacation in Florida.

Rehearsal night... a walk on the beach.

The wedding photographer happenes to be a friend and relative... We sent this one to our agent : )

The harvest is so ripe!

I was struck by something a retired pastor said not long ago, he was talking about the shape the U.S. / world is in. He stated that his kids had discussed with him the bleak outlook for his grandkids. How their future could be so different than theirs and what would/could they do. Bro. Moesers perspective was so refreshing! He told his kids this is perhaps the greatest time for a Christian to be alive in all of history. The harvest is so ripe and the laborers so few! What better time to be about the Kings business! You know he is so right. We see an election that some think is already lost, a global economy that appears to be at the least very troubled and people everywhere who don't know what to do or where to turn. Just think we have what there looking for - hope,joy, love and a "deep settled peace."
Sometimes we lose touch with reality - SPIRITUAL REALITY. The "cares of this world" choke out the fact that eternity is a date we must all keep. How easy it can be, if we are not on guard, to forget that we will all stand before that "Ancient of Days".
There are times when I'm waiting in the car at wallymart for Kara (way to often it seems = } ) and I just watch people pass and wonder oh God are they ready to meet You. I used to pray Lord wake them up, let them come to a saving knowledge of You. Then I realized that in some ways my prayer was backward - it should be Lord wake ME up, set me on fire, set your church on fire to get back into the business of bringing the lost to you. I often think we have everything their really looking for.
Lord help me to spread the wealth that I have in Christ Jesus.
Thou wilt keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in thee. Isaiah 26:3

Violin,new words and old trucks

RickyIII went for his third violin lesson and can now identify the different parts of the fiddle, oops I mean violin. He can now play Mississippi hotdog. Benjamin is constantly coming up with new phrases. While at Branson a couple weeks ago the waitress had just brought our plates at which Benjamin looked at his plate and said "well its better than nothin' ". We still don't know where he come up with that, another one he pulled from out of somewhere -kara was going to pick me up at the mechanics were I was takin my truck. Unbeknownst to her I had took the back way. She got there and came looking for me as I had yet to get there and Ricky wanted to know momma where we going? Kara told him to find daddy his truck may be broke down, at which that little nasal voice from the back (Ben) said "that's horrible". Cody is doing well and adjusting just fine. He is working on an old truck to drive back and forth to school since my lil Honda isn't cool enough. He is also doing very well at breaking/training a colt right now (his first one for a Payin customer) and has decided after "retraining" a mule that he will stick with horses. God has blessed me so.

In times like these......

Remember the old hymn "In times like these we need a Saviour......" or "will your anchor hold in te storms of life

the horses mouth

10/13/08 Straight from the horses mouth is another way of saying to tell the truth. It seems the older I get the less tolerance I have for lies, half-truths or falsehoods. My beautiful wife would probaly say i get a lil' grumpier with age as well! She's probaly right.

I would like to give glory to God for all of his blessings. They are so undeserved! It is so nice to know we serve a God of second chances. ( even though it is ALWAYS better to take the first one and run with it) I often feel like the psalmist when I think of God's mercy/grace ........ Such knowledge is to high for me!

In Reeces blog she give an update on me and the rest of the Hollenbecks so at the risk of being redundent - I met my wife in Depew, ok where I was working as an asst. horse trainer. She brought her horse in for some retraining and God helped me in my lost condition to realize this could be my last chance to choose life. She dated me on the condition I would go to church with her. In a little over a year we were married. Approx. year later RickyIII was born, three years later Benjamin Neal was born. God answered prayer and brought my oldest son (17) Cody home this fall. he will spend his jr./sr. year with his dad - all 6'7" of him. Thank the Lord.

During the past 6 years God renewed His call on my life and annointed me to preach His word..." Though the least of all...." He allowed me to be involved in the starting of a new church here in Bristow,Ok. I feel such a burden for the church at large! I think of a quote by the late Leonard Ravenhill - The world isn't looking for another definition of Christianity but another demonstration! How true! Oh that the we could wake the sleeping giant that is the church.