I agree with President Obama, but ......

For months I have been concerned about the values of the Christian community let alone those we are trying to reach. I have spoken to those beyond the walls of my own denomination and church. It really seems the church in north America has slide back in its values. Issues from the Emergent church to creationism verses evolution and the rapture verses the great tribulation. The Church is in decline while the lost have no interest in traditional church.

In my own ministry I have seen lives changed and some growth, but never the way I had hoped and thought would be when I entered the ministry. I could blame others, but I’ll take my fair share of the blame upon myself. In large measure, trying to be politically correct combined with a lack of prayer time has probably hurt more churches then most would be willing to admit.

Within the last year I discovered that one of my old professors from College is still teaching science, but now he has adopted the theory of evolution as part of his Christian faith. I don’t know how he believed the lie from the devil on that one, but he continues to this day to teach that man evolved and that it fits right inside the creation story perfectly. Truly his writing in my opinion are a bunch of bunk and junk. Even one of the students on campus currently told me that everyone knows him as the professor who teaches evolution.

Then there is the emergent church mystery of the day. What is it and who are they? Well after a year of reading about it and discussing it, I finally came to my own conclusions. I can look back now and see that I was headed into that slippery slope myself through the blind acceptance of the Christian pop culture theology . Even within my own denomination I see many whom I am friends with that have accepted evolution and emergent thinking as the way of the progressive Christian thought. But as for me I am sticking to the bible regardless of what anyone says including President Obama.

So what did Obama say? He said we were no longer a Christian nation, but a nation of many thoughts and religions. Well, as much as I did not like those statements, I must admit, that he is right. I wish he were not right and I would rather he made a more politically correct statement so as to not offend so many Christians, but nevertheless he said what he said for reasons of acceptance I am sure among the secular world. Yet his statement was so true! Snce indeed so much of our culture has gone by the wayside of Christianity we are not a total Christian nation as we once were.

Recently I watched the Ken Ham broadcast from the Creation Museum and his presentation on the state of the Union 2 as he spoke about the Presidents comment. He really nailed it as to the true situation we are in. He did not give solutions per se, but at least he has given me a solid perspective that feels accurate for us as bible believers to respond too.

What do you think?

The True Meaning of Christmas

Christmas year is the most celebrated holiday of the entire year. Regardless of what someone’s faith might be, there just seems to be an acceptance of the giving of gifts in the Christian tradition. However, let us remember the truth behind all the traditions of Christmas and its trimmings. With children at home, I love this time of the year. My seven year old gets so excited and my special needs son starts singing Christmas songs. Everyone in my family enjoys the season in so many different ways. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year. But behind all the man-made traditions of Christmas trees, Santa Claus, reindeer and so forth, there is a true story that is historical, biblical and very miraculous.

A child named Jesus was born to a virgin woman named Mary. It was first and only time that this encounter has happened between God and man. It is true that they travelled likely a six day journey because of the census bureau of the day. Please keep in mind how easy you have it this year when your form comes in the mail from the 2010 census bureau with 10 questions, What can take us 10 minutes of our time took Mary and Joseph on a journey of a lifetime when they went to register for the census.

When the day for his birth arrived, they ended up in an animal shelter in a busy city with no available rooms. After Jesus was born, angels proclaimed this historic news to a group of hillside shepherds who probably smelled as bad as the animals they worked with. Jesus was born as the King of the Jews, but he certainly was not born with a silver spoon in his hand or in a palace.

Sometime later, while this new young family was adjusting to life with a newborn in the city of Bethlehem, a caravan of Magi arrived after a brief visit to King Herod in Jerusalem. This was when the political and religious world were clued in. The prophesied Messiah was born. I still am amazed at how many of the religious leaders of the day missed it. However, the wise men from the far east had been watching, looking in the scriptures as they discovered a historical event. This event caused them such excitement, that they journeyed perhaps months to find this child. When they did find the child born of a virgin they presented the family with 3 precious gifts to acknowledge him as a Prophet, Priest and King.

Within a day the family headed south to Egypt, the wise men returned by a different route, and King Herod had approximately two thousand male children ages 2 and under murdered in Bethlehem. He was hoping to kill the new King of the Jews.

Centuries later, we still find ourselves celebrating His birth. It is the day when God birthed His own Son from eternity into the human race, announced it to poor shepherds by way of a host of angels and placed a star in the sky to lead foreign rulers to the Roman Empire acknowledging Him as king.

Today children still learn, adults still wonder and many truly believe. I am glad I can enjoy it all, but especially the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus was born as the anointed Messiah and King.

A Very Merry Christmas From the Migners

12 Months in Review!

2009 Has been the fullest year of activities of our lives. God indeed gives us times and seasons that vary from year to year, but this past year was indeed the fullest of everything. The video associated with the letter is truly only a snap shot.

In January we moved to Deland Florida to fulfill the call to pastor after 9 wonderful years of our children’s lives in Central Virginia. After many boxes, moving vans we are almost adjusted in our new home.

In February I was off to a Revival session on Saint Simmons Island where we webcasted, taught and enjoyed the presence of God with Elaine Pettit Ministries.

In March we celebrated a couple birthdays as we enjoyed the warm Florida winter and I took in my first Biker Week in Daytona as we adapted and to living in a city among a great people of God in DeLand.

In April we enjoyed many great church services as welcomed a new church staff member to our church. Becky headed to Boston by car to take Chelsea to the regional Teen quiz competition where Chelsea was picked for the world quiz team. Peter took the boys to Atlanta for Newman’s first Regional Invitational Quiz.


In May we adjusted to the warm summer kicking into to gear along with trips to the beach which is only 25 miles away as we entertained many friends who travel to Fl for vacations. Peter headed to Columbus for second Revival Waiting School.

In June we drove to Virginia for Chelsea’s high school graduation and the day after people went to Maine to celebrate with His mom her 90th birthday and then fly home with her just in time for revival. The day after revival it was off to Orlando for the General Assembly of the church of the Nazarene where Chelsea competed in World Quizzing and Newman as well in Children world quizzing.

In July we hosted 29 adults from Papua New Guinea (PNG) that will forever impact our hearts and lives and Peter worked daily for over 10 days hosting many of these visitors to America. They slept on the floors and throughout the parsonage. During part of this time Becky and the kids returned to Virginia to visit family.


In August Peter, Becky dad and a few others headed to Alaska for a work and witness team while Becky with the kids in early August to Virginia for family camp. In mid August we hosted VBS in our church and saw a great influx with new lives in our church. In late August Peter went to Maine again for a revival with Elaine Pettit Ministries, while Becky took Chelsea off to College in Mount Vernon Ohio to Mount Vernon Nazarene University. ( MVNU).

In September we stayed home and started up health children and youth ministries and got use to Chelsea being away from home the best we could. We made several more trips to the beach and continue to enjoy our ministry and families times in our new home while Peter made a short 7 hours trip to Panama City for the pastor retreat on the district.


In October we headed to the soccer fields with Brigette and Newman, while Rayna discovered new friends and new connections through Young Life and Levi discovered the world of bowling. Chelsea fly home for a fall break as we celebrated her 18th birthday with her.

In November we celebrated 20 years of marriage enjoyed the warm weather and welcome more people into our new church home as we have seen health growth over the past 11 months. We took a week’s vacation as we headed to Lynchburg, Va for Thanksgiving and reunited briefly with Chelsea who drove with Aunt Phyllis from College.

Now December is moving fast with Christmas parades, parties and lights. Now is a time to thank you our friends and family for your love and blessings throughout the years. It has been a very busy year and our collective driving and flight miles as a family rounded off just over 40,000 miles.

Why do you attend the church you do?

As a pastor I seek to grow and develop our church so that we might win some to Christ.

When I began thinking about why people attend a certain church it made me think about my why as well.

First my why changed from not being a Christian to becoming one. Therefore, from that point on the Lord lead me to a church.

Once inside the doors it was the people that keep me coming back. It was not the music, the buildings or the programs or activities, but the people. In particular at age 19 it was a young teenage that kept me coming back.

Now as I fast forward 20 something years ahead I see we live in such a different day. Attending a church as a Christian is a must from a biblical point of view, yet it has become somewhat optional from those who make a profession.

As I think about even the few times we visited strange new churches on vacations as a family it was always the people that we were attracted too. It was ALWAYS about connecting with someone or several. Since Christ is in our, who is the hope of glory it makes sense that we are the attraction or not

Some churches are truly very friendly and people hang around chatting after a service or function while many come and leave as quickly as possible it seems.

As I begin to think about reaching into peoples lives today with a message of the gospel I process several things. One, if they attend a church already or not. If so, I ask more questions to see how close we might be on the same page in Christ and enjoy that common bond as God allows.

Two, If they do not attend or belong to a church or fellowship or do not really have a clear profession of faith, then I look to find some common ground and begin try to begin a relationship without the constraints of Church having to be part of that connection or relationship, even though I will share and invite when the timing I feel is best.

Truly people want to be loved and cared for without expectations. After living in FL for 10 months now I have a number of new and growing contracts. Of those, 4 have attended some sort of church function and meet other people, yet most have not gone much beyond that yet. It takes time, prayer and common interest to win people to Christ. But it especially takes a friendly church environment to keep them as well.
The next time you attend church think about your availability to be connected with someone new. You may not invite someone new, but your friendliness or lack there of could determine if someone who came once will want to come back again.
When was the last time you invited someone new into your home, church, life events or out to grab a coffee or meal?

Let us win the lost and connect with people in truly caring ways.

8 years ago my daughter was on a T- ball team and we connected with one family out of dozens and today they are full members of our last church and serving the Lord with all their hearts.
Let us wins some by our love and friendships .

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