Who Will Take Their Place

This past week I had the honor and privilege of doing a funeral for a sweet lady who was an inspiration to many.  Her name was Mamie Breese and she was 101 years old.  She was an amazing lady who up until a few weeks ago came to church every Sunday morning.  She also lived by herself and was very independent.  Her body didn't "rust" away, but just wore out.  Ms. Mamie was known around our church as the best coconut cream pie maker.  In fact she was known for her pie making, crocheting, sewing, and much more.  She was known as the oldest member of our church and also a prayer warrior.

In fact, there are many things that she did that are becoming lost arts.  Krystal and I have pastored First AG in Siloam for over 9 years now.  When we came, there were many "Prime Timers" that filled several rows of the sanctuary.  Over the past several years, the number of "Prime Timers" has been shrinking.  I have done many of their funerals.  Along with Ms. Mamie's, there was C.W. Cargill, Gerry Hays, Anice Roberts, Naomi McCullough, Wilda McChristian, Jerry Riebe, and others who are now in heaven.  Many of these wonderful people had their own gifts and talents.  For example, C.W. Cargill would make wooden cars and stick horses to give away to children on our missions trips.  Anice Roberts was also known for her pie making skills.  But my question isn't who will take their place of these skills and gifts, but who will take their place as prayer warriors and those who touch heaven?

You see, each one of these people had a special desire for prayer.  Each one of these wonderful people knew how to touch the throne room of God.  I will miss the pies, crocheting, etc., but I will mostly miss the powerful prayers of these dear saints. 

I would love for us to learn some of the "arts" and skills that these dears saints had, but most of all I want us to learn the skill of touching heaven from them.  Just the other day Krystal and I were talking about these wonderful people who have gone to heaven and the question came up, "Who Will Take Their Place?".  Not the pie making.  Not the crocheting.  Not the wood working ability.  But who will take their place and stand in the gap to pray?  Will It Be You and Me? 

Horse Camp at Devil's Den

Ashlyn's Horse ~ "Catcher"

This past weekend was a great time for me and Ashlyn.  We both really enjoy horseback riding.  Krystal's dad invited us to Devil's Den State Park to camp out and be a part of the Northwest Arkansas Cavalcade's fall ride.  The NWA Cavalcade is a riding club that was established in 1951 and they hold three annual rides a year at Devil's Den State Park.  There are organized rides that leave out each day at 10am or you can go on your own.  This was the first time for me and Ashlyn and we had a great time meeting new people and seeing the beautiful scenery at Devil's Den on horseback. 

The timing worked out great for us since Ashlyn was out of school on Friday.  We left Thursday evening and arrived just in time to crawl in the sleeping bags.  I had gone earlier that afternoon and set up our tent so I wouldn't have to do it in the dark.  I have done that before and that is no fun. 

"Whiskey Cave"

Ashlyn at "Whiskey Cave"

The next morning we headed out to see the "Whiskey Cave".  It was about a 3 hour ride that took us to a cave that a family had built and lived in up until the 1960's.  It was a beautiful ride and very interesting to see how the family built a rock wall against the mountain to make a one room "apartment" in the middle of nature.  We were able to take a few photos of it.

Ashlyn & her Papaw at "Yellow Rock"

After returning for lunch and having an auction, me and Ashlyn headed back out for an evening ride.  It was great to enjoy the cool evening and enjoy God's creation.  We got back just in time to dig into the fish fry that the club had for everyone at dinner. 

"Yellow Rock" Overlook

Saturday morning we went out on another ride that took us to a place called "Yellow Rock".  It was a huge "yellow rock" that was an overlook. WOW, is all that a person can say as they look over the Ozark Mountains from Yellow Rock.  It was a great way to spend the Saturday.  We got back to camp, ate lunch and began tearing down.  Looking back is when I say to myself, "Why don't we do this more often?" 

Krystal and Mitchell stayed at home.  They had a picnic at Sonic and then Krystal's mom met them in Fayetteville on Saturday for a day of shopping.  We all were able to do something we really enjoy but don't take the time to do it very often. 

All of us made it back home to enjoy the ending of a perfect weekend by watching the Razorbacks beat Texas A&M in football.  Wow, life it good!

Back In the Groove!

Last week a team from our church was preparing to make their way back to Siloam Springs from their missions trip to Brazil.  We got back last Saturday around noon.  It was just enough time for me to get home, unpack, clean up, get a bite to eat and then settle in to watch the Arkansas & Alabama game.  Unfortunately, the game didn't turn out the way I wanted it to.  The first three quarters were great but it fell apart in the last quarter.

This week has been one of catching up and getting "Back In the Groove".  Monday was a day of going through mail, email, phone calls and catching up on the "sick call" list.  We have had many people in our congregation who have been sick or in the hospital.  I also was catching up on my duties of being Sectional Presbyter as well.  Thankfully it wasn't too crazy.  That is because I have a great staff & a great wife who keeps everything going smooth while I am away.

Our family was able to eat dinner and watch a movie together this past Monday as well.  I think that was the highlight of my day.  Tuesday was soccer.  Wednesday was church.  Thursday was soccer and so on.  Mitchell has begun his soccer career.  It is hilarious.  So far he has played three games and he has scored a goal in every game.  Too bad all three goals were for the other teams.  He didn't care because he "made it in the goal."  We have really laughed at his soccer team and the fun they have on the field.  We have 11 more games to go and hopefully by that time Mitchell will know which goal to kick the ball toward.

There is a book that I want to recommend for your reading.  The book is called Radical by David Platt.  It has really been challenging me and my walk with Christ.  It is also challenging me in how we do ministry at our church.  Are we really following the Bible and the words of Jesus Christ.  If you haven't heard of or read Radical, I would highly recommend it.  Our men are studying it on Wednesday nights and it has been an eye opener.

Just one question comes to me after reading this book.... "Do I really know the cost of being a follower of Jesus Christ?"  Christianity can become a label and not a lifestyle if we are not careful.  Our schedules, commitments and even "church" activities can make us feel like we are making a difference.  But I don't think these things make us a true discipleship or even make a difference in other people's lives.   We have to be willing to obey and give up everything for the cause of Christ. 

Not only am I getting "Back in the Groove" of being back home but I believe there is something that is getting me "Back in the Groove" of being a follower of Jesus Christ. What are we doing to make an eternal difference?  Maybe we all need to "Get Back In the Groove".

On the Amazon In Brazil

This past Saturday, Sept 18th, a team from our church headed out to Manaus Brazil.  Our goal was to visit two churches that we had sponsored to be built along the Amazon River.  We would also be delivering water filtration systems to the people that go to these churches as well. 

When we arrived in Manaus, we went straight to the boat that we would spend the next four nights sleeping in hammocks and going up river to visit the villages.  We stayed docked in Manaus until we left at 3am to go up river.  Not all of us were wrestling to get comfortable in our hammocks because there were two air conditioned cabins that four of our team members used while we were on the boat.  We actually got used to sleeping in the hammocks and they were quiet comfortable when you learned how to lay in it.

We arrived at our first stop in a town called Manacapru. It has a population of about 75,000 and it is also where we went to church on Sunday morning.  Actually, we were late arrivals because of our travels and the service didn't begin until around 12:30.  We were greeted by the congregation holding a sign that read "Welcome Champions of Jesus.  God Save America."  We were warmly welcomed and the service began.   I preached and Missionary Mark Lemos was the interpreter.  One teenage girl gave her heart to the Lord and the altars were filled with these wonderful Brazilian people seeking the Lord. 

After service, we gave one of the water filters to the pastor.  He was very appreciative as were all of the people who received one.   As we continued to travel up the Amazon River, we stopped at two more churches and handed out the remaining water filtration systems.  The water filtration systems will help the people because it will filter out the bacteria, parasites and other items in the river water. 

Everyone seems to be enjoying the trip and trying new experiences.  The people are very friendly and we have had a wonderful time.  As we have traveled the Amazon, we also have been able to do a little peacock bass fishing.  That has been a blast.  We have caught several peacock bass, Parana and another type of fish that is pronounced "try-eata".

We are now in Manaus and staying in a hotel.  That is the reason that I am able to update.  Where we were at on the river, there was modern conveniences that we enjoy.  The hotel is nice and we will go to the last church that we had sponsored to be built here in Manaus.  Tomorrow we will visit the leper colony and then begin making our way back home.

It has been a great trip and everyone seems to appreciate how blessed we are.  Personally, I am ready to be home and see the family.  I am missing Mitchell's first soccer game while I'm away but hopefully someone will have photos or videos.  That should be funny to watch.  Missing the family and ready for my bed. 

A Night With Two of My Favorite Ladies

It has been another "whirlwind week" as we live this wonderful life.  Life is wonderful when you get to take special moments and enjoy those who God has placed in your life.

Krystal and I were able to go to Chicago with some friends last year on Labor Day weekend and spend some time enjoying the "Windy City".  It was our first trip and we'd love to go back.  Ashlyn has always wanted to go to Chicago, but she went to her first "PK" (preacher's kid) retreat instead.  While Krystal and I were in Chicago, we had the opportunity to see the Blue Man Group and we loved it.  If you haven't seen or heard of the Blue Man Group, you need to take a look online at www.youtube.com and put in "Blue Man Group" in the search and get a taste of the show.  It's fun and intriguing.  (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOL8-qIYemg)

 Well, last night we were able to take Ashlyn to see the Blue Man Group at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.  I had seen an ad and we ordered tickets a couple of months ago, but never told Ashlyn until this past Tuesday night.  She was excited.  It was a great time as we ate at one of our favorite resturants ~ Taco Bueno!  After eating, we headed to the show.  It was a nice evening of hanging out, laughing and making another memory.  It seems like I'm desiring to make more memories with those I love as I live this life. 

I am blessed to have two beautiful ladies in my life that God has blessed me with.  Krsytal and I have been married 19 1/2 years and Ashlyn has been part of our life for 14 years.  I don't know what I would do without them.  They both are very talented and intelligent.  They are also an inspiration to me spiritually as well.  I don't know what I did to deserve them in my life, but I'm glad God gave them to me.  In fact, I really didn't do anything to "deserve" them.  They are just another wonderful gift from my Heavenly Father.  Thank you Lord for giving me two wonderful ladies to live my life with.  I will be forever grateful.

Oh, by the way...Mitchell didn't go.  We have some great friends who were willing to let him hang out at their house.  Don't feel sorry for him.  He loved going to the park, swinging and just having fun.  He let us know all about his evening too.

"Heat Stressed"

This has been a hot and dry summer.  I heard on the weather report the other night that it has been 47 days since our last measurable rainfall.  Combine that with 100+ degree weather and it becomes dry very quickly.  In fact, you can see the effects of the hot and dry weather as you drive through the neighborhoods and look at the brown crisp yards.  When you walk across your lawn, the brown grass sounds like a bowl of Rice Krispies as it "snaps, crackles and pops".

This past week was the first time that I had mowed our yard in about three weeks.  I drove home from running errands to begin the task.  There was a note on our front door from our lawn care service.  I have our yard sprayed and fertilized through the year to keep the weeds away.  The note made this statement, "Mr. Wheat, ...The lawn is very heat stressed.  Need to water 3-4 times per week for about 30 minutes each."  My first reaction was, "duh, do you think".  I chuckled at the obvious then I began to mow. 

As I was mowing, the words written in the note kept coming to mind..."the lawn is heat stressed".  I began to think that a lot of times our lives become "heat stressed".  In life there are a lot of things that go on that brings about stress.  Jobs, family, bills, calendar activities, blended families, deadlines, are just a few and the list could go on.  Then my mind began to think of ways to combat the "heat stressed" lives that we live.  "Water them and take care of them".  The reason why my lawn was "heat stressed" and basically dying was because it had been neglected.  I have always tried to have a nice looking lawn but this year I had neglected it.  Schedules, heat and other reasons come to mind and they sound like good reasons.  But the bottom line is that my lawn was dying because of neglect.  It is the same with our spiritual lives too.  If we neglect watering our lives with the word of God and worshiping God, it won't take long before we will have "heat stress" and begin to die.  We have "good reasons" or "excuses" why we can't read the word of go to church, but the bottom line is the "heat stress" of life will kill us spiritually if we don't water it.

We need to pay close attention so we live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and be strong.  In Psalm 1, it shares how we can become like "trees planted by streams of water."

Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV) 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.  


May we not become "heat stressed" and die, but may we live for the Lord and prosper.  Oh by the way, I have been watering my yard to help it become green and alive again.  There is the hassle of getting moving the sprinklers and turning on the water, but the results will be a fresh, living, green lawn.  It will take time, but it will come.  It is the same spiritually.  There is work, but with time it will come.

Back To School "Firsts"

Well, it has taken place.  "Back to School" took place this past Thursday, Aug 19th.  It was a lot of "firsts" for our family. 
It begins with Krystal.  This is the first time in several years that she will be teaching full-time and the first time she will be teaching full time at Siloam High School.  She taught full time at the middle school before we adopted Mitchell.  After the adoption, she took time off to be a full time mom and my part-time assistant at the church.  We all know that a pastor's wife is never "part time".  The opportunity came up to teach full time this year in the business department.  After much prayer and discussion, she applied, offered the job and she accepted it.  I'm proud of her and know that she is going to do a great job.

The next of the "firsts" is Ashlyn going into high school.  Wow, how time flies.  She is on a different campus this year as she begins her 9th grade year at the high school.  It's hard to believe that when we moved to Siloam 9 years ago she began at Northside Elementary in kindergarten.  She said she enjoyed her first couple of days and likes her classes.  Basketball has already begun and she starts her day with practice at 7:30am.  I can't believe she is a 14 yr old 9th grader.  She really enjoyed not having too much homework for the first couple of days, but she also knows that will change quickly.  She's a smart young lady and is doing very well!  We are proud of her.

The last of our "firsts" is with Mitchell.  He began his kindergarten year this past Thursday.  If you know Mitchell, he doesn't like change and loves a schedule.  He didn't really know about going to kindergarten.  In fact, he told Krystal that he was going back to being 4 yrs old so he wouldn't have to go to kindergarten.  She explained it didn't work like that and he would love it.  We met his teacher at open house and her name is Mrs. Kindy.  In fact, at open house Mitchell saw that she had street signs he could play with.  After seeing Mrs. Kindy's street signs and the computers in her room, he was ready for the start of kindergarten.   After the first day, he told Krystal and Ashlyn that he didn't get into trouble or have to sit in "time-out".  I guess for a kindergartner that means you've had a great day at school.

First Day of School Tradition ~ photo in front of the fireplace

So far so good.  I know we have only had two days of school.  There are going to be some big adjustments with Ashlyn in high school and Mitchell getting used to going to school full time but they will be fine.  I am probably the one who will have the biggest adjustment.  All my family is in school.  It just means that we'll have to do really good at making time for our family and make a lot of memories throughout the year to come.

School is great, but his year we have several "firsts" that the Wheat family will have to get accustomed to.