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Trade Winds Newsletter 

TRADE WINDS

THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF TRADE LAKE BAPTIST CHURCH 
VOL 3 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2010

COOKBOOK NEWS

Cookbooks are still available while supplies last.  Get yours before they are gone.  They make great gifts.  The cost is $12.00.  Speak to Nancy Lundeen or Mary Danielson if you would like to get one or two or more….   

 

RECIPES--RECIPES—

 

Chocolate Cherry Bars

1 pkg. Devil’s Food cake mix

21 oz can cherry pie filling

1 tsp. almond extract

2 eggs, beaten

 

Mix all ingredients together and pour into a greased and floured 15 x 10 x 1 inch pan or a 13 x 9 x 1 inch pan for thicker bars.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. 

 

Frosting

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup milk

 5 T. butter or margarine

1 cup chocolate chips

 

Combine sugar, milk and butter.  Bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 1 min.  Removed from heat and stir in chocolate chips.  Spread over warm bars and allow to cool. 

 

TO LAUGH AGAIN!

“I got this great new hearing aid

the other day.

It really works fantastically.”

“Are you wearing it now?”

“Yep, cost me a small fortune, but it’s really top of the line.”
”What kind is it?”

“twelve thirty.”

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP AND BIBLE STUDY

 

Sunday

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.
Sunday School for adults and youth

 

9:15 to 10:00 a.m.

New Believers Class
(see Pastor Andy for meeting location)

10:00 to 10:15 a.m.

Social Time

10:15 to 11:30 a.m.

Morning Worship


10:45 a.m. or just before sermon

Children’s Church

Wednesday
6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Bible Study

6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  AWANA’S

Ages 3 thru 17

 

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Please join us.  Everyone is welcome!

 

April 14

AWANA grand prix
May 9

Mother’s Day

May 12

High School Graduation Banquet

May 19

Annual Business Meeting

THE BIBLE ON THE SHELF

by: Stan Miller

 

It comes down, at least once a day

That old Bible on the shelf

To read and to study

As God reveals himself.

 

Many authors, yet one truth

For God has surely said

Its basic instruction

Until the day you’re dead.

 

So take that old Bible down

To read and then to pray

Soak up the truth inside

To use against that day.

 

And when you have occasion

God’s word with man to share

It won’t be said of thee

“That you don’t have a prayer.”

 

Prayer and study was your joy

To arm and gird yourself

With God’s truth and mercy,

Ere you took it from the shelf.

 

That old Bible on the shelf

A sword, and faith your shield

Preparing for the battle

Well armed, you won’t have to yield.

 

To the doubts that Satan plants,

Or his lies that cause defeat

For the word of God sheds light

On his sinister deceit. 

 

It pages are soild and worn

From digging insided for wealth

But Gods word will never fade.

Like the Bible on the shelf.

 

THE HOLY BIBLE

by: Arleth Erickson

 

We remember the hymn:

“Holy Bible, book divine

precious treasure

thou art mine”

 

Yes, it is holy!! It is God’s love letter to us, and He is our Holy Father. 

It is a very special book so we treat it with special care.  We handle it tenderly, carefully, lovingly. 

 

From early childhood we are taught the reverent care it needs to please our Father.  We don’t overload it with extra pages; bulletins, leaflets, and things to remember.  If God speaks to us through a certain verse, we carefully underline or highlight it.  When we have used the Bible we don’t just toss it on a table.  We set it down lovingly and gently.  If other books are near we never place another book on top of the Bible.  We love the Bible!

 

We honor it and we honor God by lovingly honoring His word. 

 

We read it often and carefully, prayerfully, and quietly as our hearts listen to God speaking to us through His word. 

 

Psalm 119:105 “God’s word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

 

 

SENIOR OF THE MONTH

by: Stan Miller

 

Mary’s hobbies include jig saw puzzles, reading, yard work, and care giving.  Care giving has been a big part of Mary’s life.  Yard work also gives her great pleasure, and like the rest of us, she is looking for springs soon appearance so she can commence the re–beautification of her outdoor habitat. 

 

As a youngster, on the farm, she began her care giving.  Since her father owned a trucking business besides farming, there was always plenty of work with as many as nine hired hands and household duties, she assisted her mother in meeting the demands of the family, plus the hired help.  A lot of cooking was done in the summer kitchen, she says. 

 

They were active at Trade River Evangelical Church and it was there, during Bible school, she gave her life to Christ.  This church rented a campground at Chetek for their summer camping schedule.  Her mother, Vivian was a cook there. 

 

After graduating from Grantsburg High School, she began work in the cities for an international milling company.  This company kept track of the worlds grain prices.  No doubt a demanding job with ever changing prices, and buyers, sellers, farmers, and news media needing to know. 

 

She came back to the area and married Roger.  They raised two children on their farm and now boast of 7 grandchildren and 4 great–grandchildren. 

 

Mary also worked at the Grantsburg bank for 24 years and recalls having to write letters dictated on the spot.  That was before machines and white out, a disconcerting job, since the boss was there, peering over her shoulder.  She remembers Walter Jensen as a nice boss and banker. 

 

Over the years she has been a Sunday School teacher, as well as held other offices at Trade Lake Baptist.  She was also involved in one of the circles over the years demonstrating her servant hood and hosting gifts.  God Bless the Danielson’s real good. 

 

 

TRADE LAKE BAPTIST ON TELEVISION AND
THE INTERNET

 

Trade Lake Baptist’s services are broadcast every Tuesday evening at 6PM on Lakeland. In some areas it is channel 3 and others it is 7.  If you would like to check with Lakeland cable their phone number is: 
715-825-2171. 

 

If you are on the web you can check out Pastor Andy’s message only (not the entire service) on Youtube.  The links are available on our website or you can go directly to Youtube and search trade lake or tradelake and you will find Pastor Andy’s sermon’s. 

 

 

MEMORY VERSES John 5:28–29

28"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned.


DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP

Diabetes affects about 24 million people in the United States or about 8% of the population. It affects people of all different ages from infants to the elderly.

Diabetes has always been a part of my life. My grandparents had it and my uncle had it. Every family get-together had sugar free Jell-O, sugar free desserts and other food for the diabetics in the family.

So, when I started dating Mark and learned he was diabetic, I didn’t think anything of it. But it wasn’t until we got married that I learned so much more about the disease, its complications and effects on day-to-day life. What I hadn’t realized before we got married was how much our life would revolve around the diabetes, the testing, the insulin shots, the carbohydrate counting, the doctor’s appointments, etc. And most of the time, even though we knew there were other people going through the same thing, we still felt so alone.

This encouraged me to start a diabetic support group to help others through this disease. I knew that if Mark and I felt those feelings of loneliness, there had to be other people feeling the same way.

I started the support group at Trade Lake Baptist Church. Our first meeting was March 9. We talked about diet, the carb counting, the constant testing and the 6 shots a day some had to face. We talked about the struggles with eating out and potlucks. We shared stories and laughed. It was a good time. We had people of all ages from young to old. We had diabetics and family members of diabetics. One family member drove over 2 hours to show support to a family member who is a diabetic.

We will be meeting the first Tuesday of every month. Our next meeting will be April 6, 2010 at the Trade Lake Baptist Church in Frederic at 6 p.m. Some of the topics we would like to talk about in upcoming meetings include dining out, exercise, pressures of having diabetes as a teenager, complications of diabetes and how to handle parties where there will be a lot of cake and sugary foods. We will also be sharing recipes.  There will always be beverages and snacks at our meetings geared toward diabetics.

We hope through this support group we are able to help each other out who are dealing with a very complicated disease. We welcome all people:  diabetics, family members of diabetics, friends and family who want to show support or anyone who would like to learn more about diabetes.  You never know when you or a family member will be diagnosed.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Tammy Wondra at 715-483-3115.  We hope to see you!

 

HOW DO I KNOW

How do I know my youth has been spent? 

‘Cause my get up and go has got up and went.

But in spite of all that, I am able to grin

When I think where my get up and go has been!

 

Old age is golden, I’ve oft heard it said, 

But sometimes I wonder as I go to bed.

My ears in a drawer, my teeth in a cup

My eyes on the table until I get up.

 

Ere sleep dims my eyes I say to myself,

Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?

But I’m happy to say as I close the door,

My friends are the same as in days of yore.

 

When I was young my slippers were red,

I could kick up my heels right over my head:

When I got older my slippers were blue,

But I could still run the whole night through

Now that I’m old my slippers are black,

I walk to the corner and puff my way back.

So the reason I know that my youth is spent,

Is my get up and go has got up and went.

 

But I really don’t mind when I think with a grin

Of all the place my get up and go has been.

Since I’ve retired from life’s competition,

I busy myself with complete repetition.

 

I get up each morning and dust off my wits,

Pick up the paper and read the obits.

If my name is missing, I know I’m not dead,

So I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed!

                                    – author unknown

 

 

From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 3 Issue 3 - Mar 10

04/14/2010 -

Things are alive here at Trade Lake. We just had a wonderful time together at our "Bring a Friend Day" service. We were blessed with many visitors and the presence of the Lord was surely felt. As Spring is beginning to show we think of new life. The grass starts turning green, the birds are singing and soon many of the animals will begin to appear with little ones in tow. It is a special time. It is also a time we think of celebrating Easter. Although our focus on the cross should certainly be more than once a year, it is around this time that it surely gets more attention. The world would like less and less attention paid to the cross. In fact they would prefer it not be mentioned at all. There is a great reason for this and that is because the cross reminds us of our lost condition and the sins of man. It is because of these that Jesus went to the cross. He did it for each of us. People today do not want to accept that or hear it in many cases because it creates ownership. By that I mean that each of us plays a part in why Jesus came to die. After the fall of man we are all born into sin and because of that sin we are eternally separated from God. There was only one way that could be fixed and that was through a sacrifice, but not just any sacrifice. This time it could not be a bull or goat or sheep, this time it could only be perfect blood that could atone. The only source this could come from was God Himself. He loved us so much and wanted to give mankind another chance, so taking the form of man He came to earth to give His life. When we begin to realize the depth  of such love it makes us realize we must really be special to Him, that He would love us so much that He would give His life. I am amazed each time I think about it. I know without a doubt I would not be who I am today if it were not for the love of God. I am so blessed that a friend took time to tell me about Jesus. It changed my life. I have spent my entire ministry trying to share this message with all who will hear. I will spend the rest of my ministry trying to share this message with all who will hear. We have a wonderful time together here at Trade Lake and the Gospel of Christ is preached. I urge you if you are in our area please come by for a visit. It is truly unsettling to realize that the salvation of souls is not always the focus in everychurch. I am not saying that every message needs to be the same nor repetitive but somewhere within our words from the pulpit the opportunity to know Christ must be offered. I have made a vow in my ministry to make sure this happens each and every time. Many people know about Jesus, but do not know Him personally. There is a big difference!! As the Easter season approaches and spring burst forth new life on earth, think of the new life we each can have in Jesus. If you know someone who does not know Him today do not hesitate to tell the most wonderful news they will ever hear. It will bless you and them. Always know I am only a phone call away. I am proud to serve with all of you. I thank the Lord each day for the life He has blessed me with. Until we meet again, may His grace and mercy find  you.

 

In Christ, Pastor Andy

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 3 Issue 2 - Feb 10

04/14/2010 -


Well the year is off to a quick start, here we are in February and things at Trade Lake are moving right along. We have many exciting things going on. I have started a new believer’s class on Sunday mornings and I believe with all my heart that it will be a blessing to all who come. We have been blessed with many new people as we all come from different backgrounds this class was formed in order to help answer questions and make what we believe and teach here at Trade Lake very clear. Our first meeting went very well and I am looking forward to the next several weeks. One thing I am most looking forward to is our bring a friend day coming up next month. I believe this will be an exciting time for our church and our community. We are reaching out like never before and spreading the Gospel of Christ just as we have been called to do. I am so proud of the direction that we are going. Being a part of this ministry has truly been a blessing in my life. I would not trade where I am right now for anything this world could offer. This past Sunday was Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love and romance. I certainly hope that all of you told the love of your life how you felt about them. I was given a message to preach called "but the greatest of these is love." If we examine our lives we can find all kinds of things to love, some good and some not so good. There are always things we want to change or make different. There are days that we don't feel so good, there are days that we want to quit, there are days we just don't know what to do or where to go. In all of this we can find one constant if we have Jesus as Lord and Savior and that is that we are loved by God Himself. Nothing can take that away. When we feel that all hope is lost we need to remember and say to ourselves, "GOD LOVES ME!!" When you really think about that then everything else seems to fall into place and order starts to take over. I am not telling you that things will be perfect just because God loves you,

that is not true. What I am saying is that when we are reminded of that then we must realize that we still have hope and as long as we have hope then all hope is not lost. Life can be and will be tough at times, the Bible tells us it will be, but we also must not forget that we have One we can go to that can help us even through the hardest times. The key is listening instead of hearing. God will answer our prayers in one of three ways, yes, no or wait. The key to answered prayers is whether we really believe He will answer first and then what we will do with that answer. If we hear the answer then that is only part of it. We must also listen which means we will actually do something to make the needed change or apply the answer that we have been given. I have been preaching a lot about the difference between listening and hearing. The Bible teaches that we are not to be just hearers of the Word but doers. We all need to examine our lives and see which one we are, a hearer meaning sure I hear it and know what it says or am I a doer meaning that I not only hear it but I actually apply it and let it change my life, just something to think about.

 

If you are near by next month please join us on March 14th for bring a friend day. I look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you soon. Drop me a note if you ever have a question or just want to say hello. You can write me at:

 

pastorandytlbc@yahoo.com

or you can send a letter to
20750 County Road Z Frederic, WI 54837.

 

Until next time, may His blessing be upon you.

 

In Christ,   Pastor Andy

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 3 Issue 1 - Jan 10

02/15/2010 -

Hello and Happy New Year to all,

2010, something about that just seems hard to believe. Growing up it always seemed that the years would always start with 19__. Time is certainly going by at an extremely fast pace. Just 10 years ago many were bracing for what they thought would be the end of the world or at least a terrible crash of business and computers. Well we all know that was mostly media hype and here ten years later we are still moving along. The Bible is very clear about date setting. We are told, "no one knows the hour or the day." Of course this pertains to the return of Christ. We have been given signs to look for and other situations that let us know that clearly the time is getting closer. We still do not know for sure when it will be, but we as believers, know that it will indeed happen. I believe that the Lord has given us a challenge here at Trade Lake this year. I started the year off with a sermon called “What will it take to build?” This message was not about building a new building but building the church by adding souls to the kingdom. The time we are living in right now is one of great confusion and people are looking for answers. God has given us the answers in His Word. The problem is that so many places have stopped teaching His Word or they leave out certain parts. Our focus, our purpose, if you will, is to see people come to Christ, to see people get saved. I feel God calling us step up, to take it to the next level and reach our community like never before. I know in my heart we can do it. We have a strong foundation on which to build and I know that the Lord will give us the direction and ability to meet this challenge. I believe this will be our greatest year ever when it comes to outreach and spreading the Gospel message. We have been blessed over this last year with many new people and I know this year will be even more. Why are people coming to TLBC? It is simply this; we have taken a stand to only preach the Word. There is no watering down, there is no compromise, there is no agenda, no politics, no prosperity, just Jesus and you can't go wrong with that. I take no credit, I am honored that God uses me and allows me to do what I do. I know that without Him I would be nothing. I am very excited about what He has in store for us this year. We are planning many events and outreach efforts throughout the year. We are very pleased to have Dr. Dan Erickson joining us in October of this year. Brother Dan is a wonderful speaker and will challenge and encourage all who are able to attend his meetings. Brother Terry Hall will also be joining us in October to bring a message in song like maybe you have never heard. He was with us briefly this past year and it was a real blessing. If you are near when he comes please join us, you will get a blessing. Other events will be announced later, I will do my best to keep you updated not only here in this letter but also through our website which I encourage you to look at. Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support of this ministry. May your new year truly be blessed and my challenge to everyone is make sure you make every effort to keep God #1 this year. Really let Him show in your life and let everyone know that you are His and proud of it. Until we meet again, always know I am only a phone call away. Love, Pastor Andy

 

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 11 - Dec 09

01/15/2009 -

FROM OUR PASTOR

My, how time flies.  It is hard to believe that another year is nearly over.  Christmas is just around the corner and unless something happens we will for sure have a white Christmas here in Trade Lake.  Growing up in the South a white Christmas was extremely rare.  In fact I am not sure if I can honestly remember a white Christmas growing up, but it was still a nice time.  For me though there is something about the crispness of the air and the bit of the cold that ushers in this time of year the right way.  Christmas is a wonderful time and absolutely my favorite.  We have many things going on here at Trade Lake this month that are always so enjoyable.  Our candlelight service is always special and Julotta is truly a wonderful time of worship.  I encourage everyone to not let only the month of December be your time to celebrate Christ.  He truly is the gift that keeps giving.  We can enjoy all the aspects of the season but may we never forget the real reason we celebrate, the world is trying to take that away.  We are told that saying Merry Christmas is offensive; I personally think that is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard.  Sure not everyone celebrates the birth of Christ, but almost everyone takes the day as a holiday.  Our same elected officials who take a stand against Christmas don’t mind having the day off I am sure.  But, I will not get political that is not why I mentioned the issue.  My plea to every believer is to celebrate this season with joy and gladness.  Our savior has been born!! He came to save all those who are lost and give us a hope that will keep us going during these very hard times.  Christmas is not just about gifts and fun songs, it is a time that we remember why Jesus came and how He came.  He humbled Himself and came as an innocent babe.  He came as one of us so that we would come to Him.  He knew exactly what He was doing.  Everything that happened in His life was for a reason and ultimately that reason was to save me and you.  Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas celebration.  Enjoy family, fun, gifts, songs, Santa, enjoy it all, but please keep Jesus number one. 

 

In closing I must tell you that I have had an incredible year.  The ministry has been wonderful, but personally I could not have asked for more.  God blessed me with a wonderful wife that I love with all my heart.  He opened the door for Morgan to be home full time, now for almost two years. To finish off the year with a bang, I got another blessing or should I say two.  Yes, for the first time in 13 years, I get to be Daddy again.  God has opened the door for Melissa and I to adopt and we have been given the most special and sweet little girls that you could ask for.  Twins, I would have never dreamed, but I am learning that God never does anything half way.  Jordyn and Jaelyn have been such a wonderful addition to our home.  We have much to celebrate this year.  God bless you all.  Until me meet again, Merry Christmas and May your New Year be blessed. 

                                      Pastor Andy

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 10 - Nov 09

01/15/2010 -

FROM OUR PASTOR

 Well it appears that winter is taking a little longer to get here than expected. It is not unusual for the weather to be unpredictable but the forecasters would have us to think they are fairly accurate in their determining of what will happen with the weather. However, when something is going to happen but you just don't know when, there is only one way to prepare, just be ready all the time that way you are not caught off guard. There is one other event that fits this description, the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He could show up at any moment, are you ready? We are told in the Bible that no one knows the hour nor the day. How do you get ready for that? Think of it this way. If you have a friend or family member that tells you Sunday afternoon, "Hey sometime this week I am going to stop by for a visit" but they do not tell you what day or what time to expect them, how do you prepare for their arrival? You just prepare each day as if it could be that day. The return of Jesus must be handled the same way. He never said when, He just said He was coming. Do not be caught off guard; don't miss out on what will be the most awesome event ever. Be ready today! Make sure that you know that you know that you know. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior today. Ask Him to come into your heart, forgive you and save you for eternity. It is without a doubt the greatest decision that you will ever make and the greatest gift you can ever receive or give. The gift of salvation is one that never stops giving. You can share your faith with all your friends and family and continue to share the good news of Jesus all throughout life. It is also a great gift to give others in that it gives peace. If indeed your time comes and you step into eternity, those who knew without a doubt where you were with your faith do not have to worry if all is well. They will be at peace to know you are resting in the arms of Jesus. Speaking of gifts, the Christmas season is fast approaching. We have all been given a wonderful gift in the person of Christ. Be proud of this gift and share it all throughout the up coming holiday times by saying Merry Christmas. In this world of political correctness, do not give in to the silliness of "oh that offends me"! Instead share a warm and heartfelt greeting and at the same time honor our Saviors birth by not doing as the world does. Jesus taught that we are to never be ashamed or that He would be ashamed of us. One interesting fact is that Christmas was declared a United States Federal holiday in 1870, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant. All those who are offended by the name of the day need to look at history. Even if one does not observe the meaning of Christmas as far as celebrating the birth of Christ, it is still the official name of the 25th of December, so how is that any more offensive that telling someone Happy Monday? Foolishness abounds in our world. May we as believers remember that this world is not our home, we are just passing through.  Have a blessed and bountiful Thanksgiving and may the Lord give you much to be thankful for. I will have a very special report in next month’s letter that involves some special additions that are coming to our home. May the Good Lord Bless and keep you.

 

Until we meet again 

Pastor Andy

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 9 - Oct 09

01/15/2009 -

FROM OUR PASTOR

Where do I begin?  This summer has been incredible.  We have had incredible services, and powerful times of worship.  We have seen lives changing, people baptized and our wonder church continue to grow.  We have truly been blessed and I could not be happier.  I am looking forward to the days ahead.  I believe as we wait on the Lord to come and take us out of the world to our home in Heaven we have lots of work to do.  I am so excited about all the new faces we see each and every week here at Trade Lake.  New doors are beginning to open and new opportunities are on the way.  We have greater capabilities than ever to reach as many as we can with the wonderful Gospel of Jesus.  We will greatly improve our television broadcast and our sound for the services will be premium. 

 

In September I turned 40.  It is a time to reflect for just a moment.  I have been on my own since I was 17.  I left home for college, went on to work and started my journey in this world. As I look back over all these years, I sure have been blessed.  I have made more than my share of mistakes, but we serve a mighty god who loves us and forgives us when we come to know Him.  I am so thankful that in September of 1998, my friend Ted Dibiase, took the time to share Jesus with me.  It really changed my life.  It took me some time to realize what it all meant, but now I can honestly say that being in God’s will is a great place to be.  This year has without a question been one of my greatest ever.  I have a wonderful church to serve, I have a great place to live, my daughter is with me, my health is good and I have been granted and blessed with the most wonderful wife that anyone could ever have.  God has been so good to me.  I could write on and on about His love and mercy, but Melissa has been one of my greatest blessings ever.  She has changed my life and I love her more than I will ever be able to find words for.  I thank God for her today and everyday.  I will share with anyone who is searching for that special one for your life, let God do.  Get out of the way and let Him do it.  All the years I tried I on my own I surely did not do a very good job.  I made a real mess of it, but when I gave that part of my life over to God completely and quit trying to help, everything changed.  It happened really fast and some might have thought “what’s the hurry” but when God is in it you just know.  At 40 I find myself happier and better off than I have been at any point in my life.  God is good and if you allow Him to work in your life, He will show you just how good He really is.  Come by and visit with us any time.  We are here every Sunday, Tuesday or Wednesday.  Our services are a great time of worship, fellowship and getting closer to our Lord.  We hope to see you soon.                        Love to all, Pastor Andy

 

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 7 - Aug 09

01/15/2010 -

Hello to all of you,

I pray that this month's newsletter finds you doing well and experiencing the blessings of God. Here at Trade Lake things are wonderful. We have been blessed with many visitors over the summer and even more blessed that many have decided to stay and make Trade Lake their church home. It is wonderful to find a place to worship that makes you feel welcome and truly in the presence of the Lord. God has blessed my sermons lately in a way that has been amazing. I always like to think that what I present is exactly what He wants, but lately there has been no doubt. We have seen lives changed and people coming to know Christ. Recently at a baptism one young lady prayed to receive the Lord and got baptized right on the spot. It was awesome! God is moving here on our little corner in Trade Lake. It is hard to believe how fast time is moving. The summer is nearly over and school will start soon. The fall will quickly follow and then goodness it will be Christmas. Over half the year is already behind us. We watch as things are happening around us and must ask ourselves "what in the world is happening?" As I study more and more there is only one answer to that question, Jesus is on the way!! The signs are everywhere and there is little doubt it will not be much longer. I know preachers have preached that forever and I know that many have said that over and over. This time is different. Everything that the Bible tells us MUST happen has happened or is happening right now. There is not one Prophetic thing left to take place that would prevent the Rapture from taking place right now. Before you finish reading this it could take place. My question to you is are you ready? Have you made things right with the Lord? Have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior? Are you faithful in your service or just a ‘whenever I have time’ person? What will He talk to you about when your time comes? The Bible teaches that we will be judged for what we have done both good and bad. That is not our sins that we have been forgiven for, but what have we done for Him since salvation? Do we show others Christ through our lives or are we secret agents and no one knows who we serve? Are we proud of what He has done in our lives and willing to tell others? When worship time comes around do we get excited and ready to go or do we say "well maybe next time, I think I will sleep some more today or go fishin?" These are questions that all of have to answer from time to time. They are ones that make you think. If Jesus showed up today and said “ok its time to go,” would you be ready or have some things to take care of? The fact of that situation is that we will have no time for getting ready for it will be in the twinkling of an eye, so fast you will be there before you realize what happened. Because of that truth the only way to truly be ready is to get ready now. I urge you if you have not surrendered to Christ do it today. Find a good Bible believing church and worship Him with all your heart and stand each day in the light of His return. Keep looking up; He is coming back!!! Are you ready for His arrival? I am and I cannot wait to spend eternity with you. Until next time, I will see you again either here, there or in the air. God Bless and keep you always.

 

Love, Pastor Andy

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 6 - June 09

06/30/2009 -

Hello to all,

My prayer is that everyone is well.  We just had an incredible time here at Trade Lake.  For those of you who could not be with us, you truly missed a wonderful celebration.  We had many, many visitors and everyone seemed to have a great time.  It was good to see so many people be able to attend.  We started on Friday night with the smorgasbord and then Saturday had a great time with the drama that was presented and then Sunday morning we worshiped God in a tremendous time of grace and mercy.  His presence was truly felt.  He anointed the music and the Word as it was delivered and the name of Jesus was glorified.  I am so proud of the entire event and truly pray that everyone who was a part of it felt the same blessings that I did.  As with all things, the end does come and a time to move on begins.  We now look to the days ahead.  I am very excited about where God is taking us.  I have felt from the first week I came here that Trade Lake was in position to be a true light to our community.  I have seen that come to be a very true feeling and have seen that coming to be a fact over these almost two years.  I know that God has great plans for us here and I certainly ask for all of your prayers and support as we keep moving forward toward our goal, the upward call of Christ.  It is hard for me to realize that it has been nearly two years.  The first week of August will be two years ago that I made the long journey from North Carolina to Wisconsin.  I have never been so tired in my life as after that drive.  Looking back it has been quite a journey, but as always God has been faithful.  He has given me everything I have needed to do what He called me here to do and one of those most important gifts He blessed me with was great people to work with.  I am so blessed to have around me great men and women of God.  I have been on the opposite end of that and be out there all alone trying to get things done and that is not a good place to be.  I thank Him every day for bringing me here and allowing me to be used for the Kingdom.  I look forward to the days ahead.  Morgan is out of school now and is glad to have the summer to do some fun things.  God continues to bless me in so many ways in my personal life.  He has brought someone very special to me and I look forward to what He has planned for us as the days unfold.  Being a dad is not always easy, but I am proud to have raised Morgan over these years and I pray that as she gets older that she will become the young lady God would want her to be.  I have tried to be a good example.  I have fallen short on occasions, but the grace of God is so big, He always picks me up and shows me the way back to His path.  I am glad to bring you this little note each month.  Although I do not get to meet all of you and some of you I do not even know, but somehow this seems to open the door for that opportunity a little more each time I write.  These words are from my heart.  I love the Lord and want nothing more than to complete the task He has for me and see as many people go to Heaven with me as possible.  Until we meet again or until our journey is over and we meet on the other side.  I will be in touch again soon.  May His blessings find each of you.

 

In Christ, Pastor Andy

 

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 4 - April 09

05/04/2009 -

Well the snow is beginning to go away and Spring will soon be upon us. The ushering in of new life and the return of songs of the birds filling the air. Seasons are amazing to me. God truly is awesome. He has a purpose for each one. I know that we all have our favorites, but each are needed for making things work the way they should. This year has been a busy one so far and I can only imagine that will not change. I am looking forward to a wonderful time during our anniversary celebration and hope to see many of you over that weekend. I just know it will be a great time of fellowship and worship that will honor God and thank Him for the blessings that have been upon our church over these many years. Easter will soon be here and we celebrate our Risen Savior. Of course we should do that everyday, just as the song was written, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." We are living in a time that to many seems uncertain. We read the headlines or hear the news of one tragedy after another, or one more person who has given up or had a disaster. I have been preaching a lot lately on the promises of God. He has assured all who trust in Him and have accepted Christ that we do not have to be among the worriers. Sure, life is hard some times and we all have had our storms, but we know that One who can tell the winds to stop. Psalm 118:8 reads, "It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man." If we look at the state of the world right now, I certainly think it is time to put this principle to work. God will never and has never made a promise that He will not keep. Trust Him today and find peace. I know things seems hard, people are out of work, some have lost their homes, but my friends, this is not our home if we know Jesus. We are just passing through. Turn your life over to the One who will not fail you, the One who does not need a bailout program, the One who can bring real change, Jesus Christ. My life has never been the same since the night I made that choice just over ten years ago. It is the best thing I ever did. I know in my heart that the time is near. I urge all who have become consumed by the worries of the world, "cast your cares upon Him." He will guide you in a way and to a place that nothing here on earth can compare to. My prayers go out to all of you and I always want you to know I am available anytime. Please never hesitate to call or write. I always look forward to hearing from you. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You, whether near or far away.  Love, Pastor Andy

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 3 - Mar 09

05/04/2009 -

Well the snow is beginning to go away and Spring will soon be upon us. The ushering in of new life and the return of songs of the birds filling the air. Seasons are amazing to me. God truly is awesome. He has a purpose for each one. I know that we all have our favorites, but each are needed for making things work the way they should. This year has been a busy one so far and I can only imagine that will not change. I am looking forward to a wonderful time during our anniversary celebration and hope to see many of you over that weekend. I just know it will be a great time of fellowship and worship that will honor God and thank Him for the blessings that have been upon our church over these many years. Easter will soon be here and we celebrate our Risen Savior. Of course we should do that everyday, just as the song was written, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." We are living in a time that to many seems uncertain. We read the headlines or hear the news of one tragedy after another, or one more person who has given up or had a disaster. I have been preaching a lot lately on the promises of God. He has assured all who trust in Him and have accepted Christ that we do not have to be among the worriers. Sure, life is hard some times and we all have had our storms, but we know that One who can tell the winds to stop. Psalm 118:8 reads, "It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in man." If we look at the state of the world right now, I certainly think it is time to put this principle to work. God will never and has never made a promise that He will not keep. Trust Him today and find peace. I know things seems hard, people are out of work, some have lost their homes, but my friends, this is not our home if we know Jesus. We are just passing through. Turn your life over to the One who will not fail you, the One who does not need a bailout program, the One who can bring real change, Jesus Christ. My life has never been the same since the night I made that choice just over ten years ago. It is the best thing I ever did. I know in my heart that the time is near. I urge all who have become consumed by the worries of the world, "cast your cares upon Him." He will guide you in a way and to a place that nothing here on earth can compare to. My prayers go out to all of you and I always want you to know I am available anytime. Please never hesitate to call or write. I always look forward to hearing from you. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You, whether near or far away.

Love, Pastor Andy

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 2 - Feb 09

03/17/2009 -

It seems that I was just writing to all of you wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Here we are now in the middle of February; my goodness time sure does fly. I recently preached a sermon on the Rapture. I truly believe with all my heart that the next big prophetic thing to happen will be the Rapture of the church. I know that many churches today are not being taught about this incredible event or are being told that it is not true. Let me assure you that the Bible is very clear on this subject and one day God will call His church out of this world to be with Him forever. The time that will follow, known as the Tribulation, will not be a good time. I urge all of you who read this to make sure you are ready, settle this issue by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life and then share Him with all those you know, friends or family. I am not a gloom and doom preacher. I continually let everyone here at Trade Lake know that our best days are ahead of us. I know the world situation seems very uncertain right now. Many people don't know where to turn; they feel that all hope is lost. I can assure you today that all hope is not lost if you know Jesus Christ. He gives hope to the hopeless and He loves all of us more than we can ever measure. The word love will be celebrated this month because of Valentine's Day. If you are a believer today, you can celebrate unconditional love every single day. The Bible says that God so loved this world that He gave us Jesus. Think about what that means. He knew there was no other way for us to get to Him. No other way that we could share in the joy that He wants us to have. He made a sacrifice that we can not even imagine. He gave His life so that we could live. That is love beyond compare. Jesus said "no greater love does anyone have than to lay down His life." I tell you all today that we are loved more than words can express. Knowing this and understanding how this changes our lives should make each of us anxious to meet this One who loves us so much. Each day we get one day closer. I teach and preach a lot about being ready. The Bible tells us that we are not promised tomorrow. Every funeral I preach, every obituary I read, and every grave yard I pass by is a great reminder that this promise is very true. The Word of God is just that, the Word from God and He has given all the information we need to make it in this life and how to prepare for the next one. I pray with all my heart that all of you will join me in Heaven one day. I look forward to the day that I see Jesus, I look forward to the day when I go home, oh how happy I will be when I cross that crystal sea and walk through Heaven's gate up to the throne. I pray each day just as the Book of Revelation closes, "come Lord Jesus." If you do not know for sure today if you will go when He calls, please make sure before the day ends. You may go through life not knowing a lot of things or even questioning a lot of things and that is fine, but the one thing that we absolutely must know is if we are saved and ready to go when the Lord calls. It is the one thing you cannot afford to wait for and check on later. Now is the time because the time is near. If the Lord so tarries, I look forward to meeting many of you when you come this year to the anniversary celebration. It will be a wonderful time had by all. Until then you will all be in my prayers. Have a blessed day.  From my heart,  Pastor Andy
 

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From Our Pastor - Trade Winds Vol 2 Issue 1 - Jan 09

03/03/2009 -

COLD!!!!!!! Oh my goodness is it cold!!!!!!!!!!! I can honestly say I have never seen such cold weather in my life. Down south where I grew up, we never saw anything like this. This is what I would label as a real winter. Growing up I always enjoyed the cooler weather. It was a time that allowed me to wander around in the woods and just enjoy the outdoors without the worries of snakes and such varmints that scared us during the summer time. I hear from friends and family quiet often about how they are having some "cold" days and I can only laugh now and let them know they have not seen cold until they come and visit me here. Enough with the weather report. I hope and pray that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and a joyous beginning to your new year.

Here at Trade Lake we have been very blessed. Christmas was wonderful, our Julotta service was very special and the Lord's presence could surely be felt. In 2007 during my first year I suggested that we hold a New Year's Eve service to fellowship and pray in the New Year. We did and had a great time. We did it again this past year to pray in 2009 and what a wonderful time we had. Along with a few other men in the church, we cooked a southern style breakfast with the works, bacon, sausage, pancakes, eggs, biscuits and gravy and of course to complete this we had to have some GRITS. The first time I cooked them here a year ago, many had never tried them. They only had heard of this southern tradition. Now I believe this will be a staple at all of our New Year's celebrations. I have brought a little bit of the south here to TradeLake in the form of ground up corn, but oh boy is it good. We are looking forward to a great year. I believe and have said from the pulpit many times, our best days are ahead. I just know in my heart that the Lord has some wonderful plans for us this years. I am looking forward to our anniversary celebration, what a wonderful milestone to reach and I just know it will be a great time of fellowship and praising the Lord together. I urge all of you who are able to plan on being here that weekend. There will be something for everyone.   One of the traditions here that I truly enjoy is the first week of January. We call this prayer week. Each night we gather together in a different home and pray. This year’s theme was To know God Hears Us. I must tell you every night was anointed. God was honored and blessed during this time. I could feel His presence. It was a true joy to share this with all those who came out. Now into my second year here at TradeLake I can honestly say, I have never been happier and never felt closer to the Lord. I serve Him proudly and I thank Him everyday for allowing me to be used and for sending me here. I will leave you with this:

A man decided to take a tour around the country and visit different churches. As he made his journey he noticed in each one there was a telephone sitting in the entry way that had a sign that read "Direct line to Heaven, Please pay in advance" He asked each pastor what does that mean. Each one would tell him that from that phone he could call heaven for a certain price. He was amazed as he continued his journey and even more amazed at how much some of the calls would cost, some as much as $10,000. He made his final stop here in Trade Lake. He asked where our phone was that called Heaven. I said “What are you talking about?” He went on to explain about his trip around the country and the phones that he encountered. I told him that no payment would be needed here and he asked why? I said it is very simple, this is God's country and it is a local call.

I pray that this newsletter finds each reader blessed. My prayers are with you and  I ask that the Lord watches over you always. Until next time, may His grace and mercy find you all.   

From my heart, Pastor Andy

 

 

 

 

 

 

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