Pastor Pete
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Hadley Pawelek Is Here...
In case you have not heard, our baby girl arrived at 9:27 pm on Tuesday, July 27th 2010. She weighed in at 6 pounds 1 ounce and was 19 1/2 inches long. Mom and Hadley are both doing great. We are all just tired. Peter Isaac is adjusting well in his new role as BIG brother. She will not be at church this weekend of course but I will be sure to bring some pictures for all to see. Some are posted on my Face book, and I should have more up there sometime tomorrow as well. Abby and I both would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support. We are so blessed to have a church family like you guys at Cowboy Fellowship!
Pastor Pete
Pastor Pete
Monday, July 26, 2010
Police Demolish House Church in Indonesia
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100723/police-demolish-house-church-in-indonesia/index.html
JAKARTA, Indonesia (Compass Direct News) – Public order personnel on Monday supported Bogor police officers who demolished a house where a church regularly met in a village in Bogor Regency, West Java.
Clashes broke out with church members and others as police tore down the Narogong Pentecostal Church building in Limusnunggal village, Cileungsi sub-district, and officers arrested 10 people. The structure was located on the Narogong Highway in Bogor Regency, south of Jakarta.
Those arrested were questioned and released, according to Police Commissioner Zulkarnain Harahap. Some officers and a civilian were reportedly injured.
Dozens of people tried to stop Bogor police from demolishing the building, as rumors of the impending destruction had spread far beyond the area. Church members had been guarding the building since the early morning the day it was to be demolished, but a senior police official told The Jakarta Post that he suspected many of the demonstrators were from outside the area.
Eddy Hidayat, head of Bogor police operations, said officials were forced to destroy the building because it lacked a use permit.
“The permit was for a home, but it was used as a place of worship,” Hidayat told Compass.
The building coordinator for the Pentecostal church, Hotlan P. Silaen, said police were not neutral in the dispute but succumbed to the pressure of the Muslim group.
“The clash with citizens could have been avoided if the police had been neutral and not been goaded into a situation that caused bodily harm,” Silaen said.
Area residents, including non-Christians, had accepted the presence of the church, said local Block Captain Junaedi Syamsudin. He said local people had no objections to the church and there had never been any problems with its presence.
“It was named a house of worship, and there was no problem,” he told Compass, adding that conflicts may have arisen because the church was located in a house rather than in a traditional church building.
The church met without incident until the emergence in 2008 of an opposition group calling itself the Forum of the Muslim Brotherhood of Limusnanggal, Syamsudin said. This group worked persistently to have the church eliminated, and three months ago its members went to Cileungsi offices to object to its presence.
The Islamic group “met with regency officials and had an audience with the regent,” Syamsudin said. “In the last meeting with the regent, he promised that his orders would be carried out on July 19.”
Deputy Senior Police Commissioner Tomex Kurniawan maintained that the police presence had been positive and kept the conflict from spreading.
“Hundreds of people were blocking the way and prepared to fight when the house of worship was demolished,” he said, asserting that officers were able to calm emotions and forestall further violence. “We worked to keep the hundreds from being drawn in to fighting against officials.”
Kurniawan said two of his men were injured while trying to maintain peace.
The Rev. Rekson Sitorus said the more than 200 people who attend the church, which has existed since 2006, have lost their place of worship. The nearest venue for worship is far away for the congregation, many of whom work in the Bantar Gebang garbage dump, he said.
The church is in the process of applying for a permit for a church building, he said.
Sitorus said the church will take legal action against those responsible for demolishing the house, including the Bogor administration.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (Compass Direct News) – Public order personnel on Monday supported Bogor police officers who demolished a house where a church regularly met in a village in Bogor Regency, West Java.
Clashes broke out with church members and others as police tore down the Narogong Pentecostal Church building in Limusnunggal village, Cileungsi sub-district, and officers arrested 10 people. The structure was located on the Narogong Highway in Bogor Regency, south of Jakarta.
Those arrested were questioned and released, according to Police Commissioner Zulkarnain Harahap. Some officers and a civilian were reportedly injured.
Dozens of people tried to stop Bogor police from demolishing the building, as rumors of the impending destruction had spread far beyond the area. Church members had been guarding the building since the early morning the day it was to be demolished, but a senior police official told The Jakarta Post that he suspected many of the demonstrators were from outside the area.
Eddy Hidayat, head of Bogor police operations, said officials were forced to destroy the building because it lacked a use permit.
“The permit was for a home, but it was used as a place of worship,” Hidayat told Compass.
The building coordinator for the Pentecostal church, Hotlan P. Silaen, said police were not neutral in the dispute but succumbed to the pressure of the Muslim group.
“The clash with citizens could have been avoided if the police had been neutral and not been goaded into a situation that caused bodily harm,” Silaen said.
Area residents, including non-Christians, had accepted the presence of the church, said local Block Captain Junaedi Syamsudin. He said local people had no objections to the church and there had never been any problems with its presence.
“It was named a house of worship, and there was no problem,” he told Compass, adding that conflicts may have arisen because the church was located in a house rather than in a traditional church building.
The church met without incident until the emergence in 2008 of an opposition group calling itself the Forum of the Muslim Brotherhood of Limusnanggal, Syamsudin said. This group worked persistently to have the church eliminated, and three months ago its members went to Cileungsi offices to object to its presence.
The Islamic group “met with regency officials and had an audience with the regent,” Syamsudin said. “In the last meeting with the regent, he promised that his orders would be carried out on July 19.”
Deputy Senior Police Commissioner Tomex Kurniawan maintained that the police presence had been positive and kept the conflict from spreading.
“Hundreds of people were blocking the way and prepared to fight when the house of worship was demolished,” he said, asserting that officers were able to calm emotions and forestall further violence. “We worked to keep the hundreds from being drawn in to fighting against officials.”
Kurniawan said two of his men were injured while trying to maintain peace.
The Rev. Rekson Sitorus said the more than 200 people who attend the church, which has existed since 2006, have lost their place of worship. The nearest venue for worship is far away for the congregation, many of whom work in the Bantar Gebang garbage dump, he said.
The church is in the process of applying for a permit for a church building, he said.
Sitorus said the church will take legal action against those responsible for demolishing the house, including the Bogor administration.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Do it all... Genesis 6:22
Genesis 6:22 NIV Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Noah got right to work when God told him to build the huge boat. Other people must have been warned about the coming disaster (1 Peter 3:20), but apparently they did not expect it to happen. Today things haven’t changed much. Each day thousands of people are warned of God’s inevitable judgment, yet most of them don’t really believe it will happen. Don’t expect people to welcome or accept your message of God’s coming judgment on sin. Those who don’t believe in God will deny his judgment and try to get you to deny God as well. But remember God’s promise to Noah to keep him safe. This can inspire you to trust God for deliverance in the judgment that is sure to come.
Life Application Study Bible, Accordance electronic ed. (Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004), n.p.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
Brokeness Nehemiah 1:4
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
This text calls attention to several questions every true believer must dare to answer. First, what breaks your heart? Nehemiah was not just moved when he heard about the plight of his country and countrymen, he was broken. His heart was not just touched, it ached with pain. His spirit was not just stimulated, it was shattered. He sat down and wept bitterly over the things he had just heard. The Hebrew text implies that this horrific news caused him to abruptly become torn and broken before God. Have you experienced this same brokenness as you passed a homeless man on the street or witnessed a single mother struggle to feed her children? Has your heart been shattered at the news of children who drink contaminated water, die of hunger, or remain uneducated in third world countries? What have you seen or heard that caused abrupt and sudden brokenness in your life?
The second question is what will you do about that which breaks your heart? Nehemiah sat down and wept, he prayed and fasted continually for some time, through his shattered heart. He was immediately moved to become spiritually involved. His spiritual involvement then lead him to approach the king for permission to become physically involved in the situation. Brokenness is worthless if we refuse to act. Your shattered heart is God’s prompting for action. Certain cases will demand only spiritual action such as praying and fasting for that which breaks your heart. However, at times God will demand that you act physically as well. This may entail going, giving, recruiting, fund raising, leading, serving, or even moving among other things. There is no greater tragedy in all the world then a broken heart that is wasted when one refuses to respond with the action that God desires.
The second question is what will you do about that which breaks your heart? Nehemiah sat down and wept, he prayed and fasted continually for some time, through his shattered heart. He was immediately moved to become spiritually involved. His spiritual involvement then lead him to approach the king for permission to become physically involved in the situation. Brokenness is worthless if we refuse to act. Your shattered heart is God’s prompting for action. Certain cases will demand only spiritual action such as praying and fasting for that which breaks your heart. However, at times God will demand that you act physically as well. This may entail going, giving, recruiting, fund raising, leading, serving, or even moving among other things. There is no greater tragedy in all the world then a broken heart that is wasted when one refuses to respond with the action that God desires.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3–5)
"Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you." 2 Corinthians 1:3–5 NET
Life Application Study Bible
Many think that when God comforts us, our troubles should go away. But if that were always so, people would turn to God only out of a desire to be relieved of pain and not out of love for him. We must understand that being “comforted” can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us. If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles.
[1]Life Application Study Bible, Accordance electronic ed. (Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004), n.p.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
"Haiti" Will You Go? Part 4
Hey here is the last post for Haiti in this series. This was the last day and when I started off the morning I was really excited about being able to work all day and put in a good day of work. Ha ha... my body had other plans I did not know about! I did good for the first 3 hours, then I got sicker then a dog.
I went to a small room close to the school to cool down and the next thing I knew I had passed out. I woke up right before lunch and felt great. I took some time, ate some lunch, talked with our Medical staff and went back to work.... Thankfully the clouds blew in and it was cloudy and windy.
The next thing I know, one of the workers wives came running up to us and was in tears. Their baby had a seizure and they did not know what to do.
One of the greatest things that we often forget, and is one of the first things that people of third would countries do first, the workers came around, grasped hands, and started to sing. After a song of intercession, they all started to pray at once. This went on for thirty minutes. I have no idea what they sung. I have no idea what they prayed. All I knew was that I was there in this circle of men and was a part of what God was doing in their life and the life of that little boy.
It's overwhelming, I remember that my prayer was this, God hear the prayers of these men. I know that Daniel had prayed and the answer was coming but was delayed, so I had prayed with tears in my eyes that a mighty host of angels would be able to deliver this message to our God and that they would fight to come and help deliver His answer for this little boy. That was what was on my heart and in my mouth as I prayed along side of these men.
This is where the video blog picks up, after this time of prayer that I had with them.
I did not deserve to be a part of that time, but yet God allowed me to be a part of those people's lives. If you listen you to will be able to be a part of the lives of other people not your own. My question to you is this: who does not deserve to be used by God and continually are? Will you go somewhere? Will you join in the work God is doing? Will you Go?
I went to a small room close to the school to cool down and the next thing I knew I had passed out. I woke up right before lunch and felt great. I took some time, ate some lunch, talked with our Medical staff and went back to work.... Thankfully the clouds blew in and it was cloudy and windy.
The next thing I know, one of the workers wives came running up to us and was in tears. Their baby had a seizure and they did not know what to do.
One of the greatest things that we often forget, and is one of the first things that people of third would countries do first, the workers came around, grasped hands, and started to sing. After a song of intercession, they all started to pray at once. This went on for thirty minutes. I have no idea what they sung. I have no idea what they prayed. All I knew was that I was there in this circle of men and was a part of what God was doing in their life and the life of that little boy.
It's overwhelming, I remember that my prayer was this, God hear the prayers of these men. I know that Daniel had prayed and the answer was coming but was delayed, so I had prayed with tears in my eyes that a mighty host of angels would be able to deliver this message to our God and that they would fight to come and help deliver His answer for this little boy. That was what was on my heart and in my mouth as I prayed along side of these men.
This is where the video blog picks up, after this time of prayer that I had with them.
I did not deserve to be a part of that time, but yet God allowed me to be a part of those people's lives. If you listen you to will be able to be a part of the lives of other people not your own. My question to you is this: who does not deserve to be used by God and continually are? Will you go somewhere? Will you join in the work God is doing? Will you Go?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
"Haiti" Will You Go? Part 3
Wednesday was a busy day. The California team left, and it was a hectic morning, so I did not get to video blog. I did take several videos of work being done. Again, it started to get hot during the day, it was 100 degrees in the shade and the humidity was very high. I had not worked like this since college really. Or I am just older now and I was having a flashback to working back in the day... ha ha ha.. Just working slow and consistently seems to be the key. That's what the men here in Haiti do. Here in America we work hard and fast. If you do that in Haiti, you will be picking yourself up off the ground like I did once or twice, or if your not careful, someone else will be picking you up off the ground. You find out more about that on my next post.
God was faithful to provide energy when I needed it. Thursday ended up being our day alone. The Cali team had left and it was just Michael and I. He was working with the clinic and I was working with the workers. It started off a great day with some clouds and showers, and it was a good day, but still very humid.
Still my question to you is, where is God opening the door for you to go? You have to get that passport, you have to challenge your friends to come with you. Don't be satisfied with just being safe. Take yourself outside of the comfort zone and go and explore and see where else God is at work besides just in your home town.
Have a great day and I pray you have gotten something from these posts that help draw you just a little bit closer to God.
Have a great day everyone.
Scotty
God was faithful to provide energy when I needed it. Thursday ended up being our day alone. The Cali team had left and it was just Michael and I. He was working with the clinic and I was working with the workers. It started off a great day with some clouds and showers, and it was a good day, but still very humid.
Still my question to you is, where is God opening the door for you to go? You have to get that passport, you have to challenge your friends to come with you. Don't be satisfied with just being safe. Take yourself outside of the comfort zone and go and explore and see where else God is at work besides just in your home town.
Have a great day and I pray you have gotten something from these posts that help draw you just a little bit closer to God.
Have a great day everyone.
Scotty
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