Our condolences to the Vinson Family

Brother Robert "Chuck" Vinson, a member of The Church of God in Bald Knob, Arkansas passed this life on Saturday, October 30th, 2010.  Visitation, Funeral and Graveside were all conducted in Wheatley, Arkansas.  He will be greatly missed in the body at Bald Knob.  We love you Brother Chuck.  You will be remembered! 

This picture was taken at the beginning of the General Assembly 2010.  Brother Chuck was very excited about the General Assembly this year.  He loved to attend church.  The last church service Brother Chuck was able to attend was the Sunday morning program of the General Assembly.  It was a truly awesome service.  Brother Chuck didn't begin serving the Lord until late in life but he had an urgency and faithfulness in his walk and service of the Lord.  We praise the Lord for his life and example. 

Thank You from the Wantulok Family

We want to thank everyone for their kindness during our families time of loss. 

Floy "Granny B" Brook passed this life on Saturday, October 30.  Visitation was conducted at McNabb Funeral Home in Pocahontas on Sunday and the funeral followed at Maynard Cemetary in Maynard, Arkansas.  Granny would have been 95 on her birthday November 8, 2010. 

Granny B was grandmother to Brother Willard and great-grandmother to the boys.  She was very special to our family.  We all enjoyed visiting on the farm and have many stories that we share frequently which if you haven't heard you will, for those memories will never leave us.  One of my fondest memories with Granny is sitting in the porch swing sipping ice tea and the memory with grandpa was rocking around the old wood stove listening to him talk politics.  We thank the Lord for the times we were able to share together.  She really enjoyed visiting while we were pastoring in Russellville and would tell everyone how Sean would say, "Let's keep her." 

During our time pastoring in Walnut Ridge, just a few years ago, we were able to visit with Granny and all of Brother Willard's family which we have not had the pleasure of doing with the responsibilities of being in the ministry.  Granny talked to us about how much she enjoyed the time we shared together and how she loved each one and never wanted anyone to forget that.  Willard's mother also speaks frequently of the Thanksgiving Celebration we had together during that time.  Although we were only in Walnut Ridge for one year, due to appointment changes, God knows the blessing it was to the family.  We thank those of Walnut Ridge who helped make that time special for our family and wish we could have continued to minister to the family and their spiritual needs but God knows that.

Granny spoke frequently of the time she was able to attend the Arkansas Ladies Retreat (the time the rock was given to each lady attending) and often stated to others that it was the best week of her life. Thank you ladies for making that time special to her.

November 2010 WMB

WMB service for November 2010 involved Washing Dishes!

We compared the process of washing dishes on an old wood stove to spiritual things.  Soaking was compared to being spiritually awakened, Washing to Salvation, and Rinising to Sanctification.  The drying process and washing of iron skillets with oil and fire were compared to the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.  Then finally we had the table set and ready.  Last month we talked about vessels.  We want to be vessels of honor ready for the masters use.  We don't use dirty dishes to set the table and neither does the Lord. 
We all really enjoyed all of the speakers and their personal comments.  Each one had special thoughts of personal experiences that added to the uniqueness of the service.  We also enjoyed our team of dish washers.

We also talked about what was on each of our plates and how we keep ourselves ready for service. At the conclusion of our service we all came to gather and prayed together and then began to pray one for another as request were made.  It was an uplifting service filled with memories.  Thanks to everyone who helped and attended.

VLB Cookout and Fall Fellowship

We all had a wonderful time of fellowship and worship out at the Troy and LeeAnn Dixon's home.  Stephen Wantulok coordinated the event and Jessica Heitman brought the devotion.  David Wantulok kept the cooking fire going.  Stephen and Sean Wantulok prepared the firepits, and the maze which was a BIG hit.  Michael helped bring up the wood to keep us warm and for us to cook our hotdogs for later.  There were prizes and snacks.  We had 20 attend.  Games and prizes were given.  Michael was the number one worm collector and the girls wrapped the mummy faster.  Glow sticks were distributed before the maze and they had a blast with that.  Great fun!  Thanks to everyone who helped and attended.

It was very relaxing and pleasant to sit under the stars in front of the fire.  We all needed this break with the sickness and losses that were taking place in families and within the local church.  Everyone is talking about doing it all again soon.

District Tea Party at Russellville, AR

A special thank you to Sister Sherry Cox from Arkadelphia, Arkansas, for organizing, planning and conducting District Ladies Teas.  The ladies of Bald Knob have been anxiously awaiting the first.  Here are a few pictures from the day.  Bald Knob Ladies are called the Blue Bonnets.  Bald Knob ladies look forward to hosting the next tea in March 2011.

The Pink Ladies (Pink) of Russellville hosted the first District Tea and did a wonderful job helping with decorations and other preparations for the event.  Thank you Ladies!

Ozark Mountain Ladies (Purple) of Mt. View, Arkansas.  Thanks for coming and bringing some great deserts.

Blue Bonnet Ladies (Blue) of Bald Knob, Arkansas will be hosting the next District Ladies Tea in March.

Keepers of the Light Ladies (Green) of Arkadelphia, Arkansas.  Sister Dixon provided activities for the younger ladies and Sister Cox organized, planned and brought all kinds of wonderful treats and the devotion for the day.  She also provided parasols for each Pastor's wife of each group.  Tea Cozy's were also distributed and these were the craft ideas of the day.

Look for your invitation to the next Ladies Tea and enjoy the wonderful fellowship of the Ladies in our District - bring your friends - the will love it!

Revival in Princeton, MN

We had a wonderful time in Princeton, MN, with the Saints of God.  We really appreciate the folks at Bald Knob, AR, allowing us this time of ministering outside the region.  Thank you, Stephen Wantulok, for taking care of services during our absence.  Here are a few pictures.  I just realized that most of my pictures had only one person in them at a time or they were blurry.

Brother Bacon is busy making us a treat for dinner.  Just his best casserole ever!  And we now know the secret!

Smiling Sister Bacon!  It was such a pleasure to visit in their home.  They are gracious hosts.  They certainly keep you fed.  They had BBQ sandwiches ready for us as soon as we arrived. We had pumpkin and apple muffins, bananna muffins, donuts, potatoe casserole, grilled beef steak, sandwiches...even some of Brother Bacon's B-day cake!  Oh, yes!  We apprecaite them and their hospitality.  I enjoyed resting on the deck and Luke enjoyed running in the yard.  It didn't take Brother Willard long to find a recliner - smiles.  Sean enjoyed walking the neighborhood.  We all enjoyed the laughter and fellowship.  I hope Sister Bacon was able to perfect knitting - our lesson was very brief.

Men visiting at church in Princeton, MN.

Young talent in the local church - Montana Thompson playing and singing an original song that she wrote.  Beautiful!  Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the B-day party for Luke.  He turned 11 years old while we were in MN and they organized a surprise party for him at the Thompson's home.  Grilled burgers and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.  Happy B-day, Luke.
We had a bonfire that evening after services with singing, marshmellows and hot chocolate.  It was good fun and fellowship.  My pictures didn't turn out in the dark.  I haven't learned how to do that yet.
We also had a lunch of soups at the Bock's home on Sunday.  It was great having the opportunity to fellowship with everyone from the church.  We had a great time and hope we were able to be a blessing.  Sister Bacon tried her hand at knitting before we left - time will tell if that will be a fruitful venture or not.
We were blessed with great weather.  It was very pleasant during the day and slightly cool in the evenings.  Beautiful sunsets and I have pictures of a few.
We really had a GREAT time worshiping with everyone and fellowshipping with everyone.  Thanks for inviting us and for all the wonderful treats. 
Oh, Luke spent his B-day money before we left MN on a tent that came in handy just the other day.

WMB October 2010

The thought for the October WMB Service had to do with being a vessel of use to the Master.  We all have plenty of useless gadgets around the house and some good ole' faithful utensils or vessels that we always reach for when we really want to get the job done.  The word VESSEL was taken and spelled out and scriptures were used to remind us of our need to fullfil the different characteristics that we should possess to be a vessel of honor before the Lord.  We must know him, not be satisfied with the ordinary, we must be empty and clean of this world, we must be good examples and we must not hold back but DO the work.  If we do not possess these characteristics then we are one of the gadgets that fill the cabinets and are never used because they take too much effort to produce the desired results. 

We discussed the age old question, "Is the cup half full or half empty?"  What ever happend to just being FULL!  Why is it that we continue to sit in the valley of decision and debate if we are half full or half empty, judging one another by our responses, when all along we should simply be FULL and over flowing!  If we were FULL then there would be no need to debat the question.  We would know that the vessel was ready to be used instead of trying to figure out if there would be enough or if it should be saved for a later time.  We are satisfied with just a little to say that our vessel is being used. 

We used several scriptures from Phillippians chapter 4. 

We are not here to simply take up space or to decide if we are top shelf vessels or not.  We are here to simply be used of the Lord as he sees fit.  If we are not prepared (FULL) and ready to be used - what good are we?  We simply bring on the confussion and questions of the previous thought. 1/2 ful or 1/2 empty.

We discussed Acts chapter 3.  Peter said - "such as I have".  We cannot give what we do not have.  If the river of life isn't flowing through us then others will not feel its power nor be refreshed by it.  We must act out of "selfless" reasons.  let us not take our eye off of Christ reguardless how much our flesh cries for attention.  Peter wasn't at the temple to heal a man.  Even even rebuked those around for thinking such.  Signs were simply following Peter.  But Peter had his eyes open and when he saw that the attention of those around was arroused, he recognized that God had opened a door to speak to souls concerning their salvation.  Continue to read chapter 3 and you will see how Peter lead this crowd to repentance.  Do we waste or make full use of opportunities that God provides?  God does NOTHING without considering the soul of man.  We are here to reach souls not to make people feel better in body or mind.  However, we may find that healing is used to get their attention.  Do we simply stop at that and say - Praise the Lord for healing?  God help us SEE the open doors before us that we might minister to souls.  Help us be willing, as Job, to suffer and bear whatever cross God has laid before us so that opportunity to minister to a soul is available to us.  Let us be FULL and ready vessels but let us minister to the FULL need and not stop with touch for the body but continue and reach the soul for Christ.

John 15:11 is a beautiful scripture to me.

These things have I spoken untio you, that my (Jesus is speaking) joy might remain (we do not want to be cracked and leaking) in you, and that your joy might be FULL! (A vessel of honor and useful to the Master)

Before service everyone was given a tiny box.  They were told not to tell anyone or show anyone what was in their box.  Toward the conclusion of service each one was asked to open their box and to raise their hand if they found something in their box.  All but one had something in their box.  We talked about how that made her feel.  One of the other ladies came and shared with her what filled her box.  Silver and Gold have I none but such as I have, give I thee.  The woman received a piece of paper and read it.  It was hopeful and a scripture to go with it.  Each one then shared what filled their boxes.  We had several "ful's" that were shared from hopeful, thankful, truthful, worshipful, cheerful, helpful, etc.  There are many good things of which we may be filled. 

We are adults - we want a full glass - fill it to the brim, that is what it is for.

Let us be FULL Vessels!

October is World Mission Month.  Each one needs to find a vessel and make it FULL. 

Sister Debbie will be available to take family or individual pictures to help raise funds for Missions and for the Local Church Building Payment.  Call for an appointment.