Is Anyone There?

I decided to finally put something on here. I know - it has been way too long. I think it's the result of being way too busy!
I was going to try putting some pictures on here but Blogger wasn't cooperating with me, so I guess that's something for me to work on some time.
Hopefully it won't be very long until I get that figured out.

Stay Tuned

Yeah, I know, I know - it's been way too long since I put anything on here.
But, I do have a lot of pictures and I'll try to put some of them on here within the next week.
So, stay tuned for some pictures of our adventures over the past few months.

I'm Still Alive And Well - Almost!

Contrary to how it may appear here sometimes, I'm still among the living.
The past couple months have been interesting to say the least.
Let's see, there was Revival here at our church with the Cassadys (it was great!), Dad preached a Revival at another local church (He did great - I know, I'm biased - but it's the truth!), there was a week off for IHC (a much needed break and a relaxing, refreshing week), our local library book sale (I stocked up on a few more books, records, and tapes), and the BIG book sale over at Penn State (I REALLY stocked up there!).
Throw into the middle of all of that mix - teaching a Sunday School class every third Sunday, mowing grass (the Church and the neighbor's), working full time, getting a wisdom tooth pulled (that was in the morning, then I went to work - I think a few people thought there was something wrong with me for that!).
Yeah, I've been a little busy. There have been a few bumps in the road, but nothing worth complaining about - it's like someone said, "Life is hard, but God is Good."

What Does PC Mean?

One day a young man was out working in a field on the farm where he lived.
He looked up and saw the letters "PC" in the sky. He immediately thought that God was telling him to "Preach Christ," so he went off to Bible School.
After he had been there for a little while, it became obvious that he "didn't have it" so the school president called him in to his office. He asked the young man why he felt that he should be a preacher, so the young man told him the story of seeing the letters "PC" in the sky.
The school president, with great wisdom, told him that maybe the letters "PC" meant "Plant Corn."
That young man went back home to work on the farm and, with the money that he made there, became a great blessing to preachers and missionaries around the world.

Here I Am!

Yes, I am still alive and well - though I feel like it's barely sometimes!
We just got back this past Wednesday (the 2nd) from our annual trip to Florida for our church camp down there. Camp was great - God really helped a lot of people, me included. It was great seeing old friends and making new ones. We had a good time sightseeing for a couple days. The flight from Tampa to Atlanta on Wednesday went good, with the exception of a stress-causing email. The flight from Atlanta to Harrisburg was another story. The story of that flight includes some rather unpleasant details that I don't want to put on here and I really don't think you want to read on here.
All in all it was a good trip and we're getting settled back into our normal routines here.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What Is Christmas?

Is it bright lights on a tree
All strung so carefully with care
Causing children to squeal with glee
While others just stop and stare?

Is it parties that seemingly never end
Lasting long into the night
As we visit with family and friends
Even until morning light?

Is it people singing pretty songs
That lift our eyes above
This world and its wrongs
And fill our hearts with love?

Is it pretty paper and bows
Wrapping toys and other gifts so nice
Found up and down each row
and bought at such a high price?

Is it cards stamped and signed
Each with a message and our name
Sent to every name that we find
As who to send to becomes a game?

All of these things are fine
And may even have their place
To each of these there may be a time
As we go through life's race

But Christmas is really about a child
Born in a stable so very long ago
To a mother that was tender and mild
Who laid Him in a manger so low

But in that manger He did not stay
He went out and faced the world's strife
He lay down on top of a hill one day
And upon a Cross He gave His life

He was buried and rose again
To purchase eternal life for one and all
So that we can live a life without end
And make atonement for Adam's fall

So, Christmas is about One who was born
And now to His Father He does pray
For us when we feel so forlorn
That we may live with Him some glorious day

May we all remember the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Thankful For God's Help

Our Sunday School lesson this morning was titled "Delivered Because Of Grace" - it was about God delivering Lot out of Sodom - and it was my turn to teach the adult class.
I told the class that I didn't know what was going on with these lessons - the last time I taught, the lesson was about God destroying the world with a flood!
I said later that I didn't think the devil ever fought me on a lesson the way he did this one - but, the Lord helped me with it. In one way, I feel like I'm not the person that should have been teaching that lesson (and I still don't), but on the other hand, I've experienced so much of God's grace that this just gives me a fresh perspective on it.

You're Invited!

The Central PA Interchurch Holiness Convention will be held September 7 - 10 this year.
The Thursday evening service will be at the Lewistown God's Missionary Church at 7 pm.

Camp Work Day

Yesterday was Work Day at Penns Creek Camp. Over all, attendance was down but we had a good turnout from our church. Here are some pictures from the day.
Sis. Stoner vacuuming the front of the tabernacle.

Bro. Stoner proving that he really can operate a vacuum cleaner!

Jim Bair vacuuming seats.

Reagan Shaffer helped clean the piano.

Mom dry-mopped in the tabernacle.

It looks like Dad's answering somebody's question.

Father and son - Bros. Kenny and Alan Walters.

Joanne Shaffer vacuumed the platform and front of the tabernacle.

Al Fritz working on the rain spouting.

A big group of young people worked outside.

Bro. Jeff Stratton pulled weeds - his daughter was off to the side supervising!

Bro. Plank Sr. giving a speech before lunch - Bro. Plank Jr. is in the background listening.

Dad and Reagan going back to work after lunch.

Bro. Plank spreading mulch.

Dad taking a turn vacuuming seats.

Sis. Martin Sr. and Jr. worked in the flower beds.

Sis. Stoner spent some time on her knees - cleaning!

Bro. Plank running the weedeater.

Lauren Plank even showed up!

Thanks For Dropping In!

He Supplies Wants Too!

I think it's great how God supplies our needs right when we seem to need it the most. But I also think it's neat how, from time to time, He'll supply our wants too.
For quite a while now, I've been wanting a telescope, but just never did a whole lot about it. After all, in town isn't the best place to try to use a telescope!
When I came home from work yesterday, this telescope was sitting in the living room with a sign on it that said "For Sale Make An Offer." Mom & Dad had gone to some yard sales yesterday and found this at one of them.
Now I'm just anxiously waiting for the chance to use it.
By the way, Dad sold it to me for what he paid for it - so he didn't make any money off of me!

Thankful For God's Blessings And Help!

Although we weren't able to attend IHC in person this year. We were able to attend via the livestream of the services on the internet.
Words can't describe how thankful I am for the help and blessings that I received through the services that I was privileged to see either live or through the archives.
If you go to the convention website here you can go to the archives and see the services yourself!

Some Of My Projects

Yes, I still do like to do some woodworking . I don't do as much of it as I would like to though! I should do more considering how much I can relax when I'm working on these kinds of projects. Here are a few of my most recent projects.
You can click on these pictures to make them bigger.
I made this one for Dad to give to a friend of ours. These are his two favorite Bible verses. There are only 14 pieces of wood in this, but there are well over 100 cuts in the letters.
I made this one for Mom for Christmas. She has wanted a camper for a long time and this was the best I could do at the time! There are 115 individual pieces and 12 different kinds of wood in this one.

This is what I made Dad for Christmas. There are 55 individual pieces and 12 different kinds of wood in this.

This is a cat's paw back-scratcher that I made for a guy at work. He got me to make it for him for a Christmas gift for his daughter. He said she liked it.

This is my latest project. The Relay For Life team at work is going to be having a Crafty Coworker fundraiser in a couple weeks and the one lady asked me to make something for it. This is what I ended up making.

Getting Back In The Swing Of Things!

I just thought I would pop on here and say that I'm getting back in the swing of things after spending about 9 (or 10 - depending on how you count them!) days in Florida.
I'll try to get some pictures on here soon!
Thanks For Dropping In!

Shopping's All Done!

Well, I believe my Christmas shopping is pretty much done now. Yesterday, we went on our annual trip to Altoona. We didn't really go for anything in particular, but this has become an annual thing that we enjoy.
Mom & Dad and / or I went to: Five Below - didn't buy anything, Panera Bread - cinnamon rolls and brownies - expensive but good!, Barnes and Noble - bought a book for myself - not too sure about it, Unkel Joe's Woodshed - yes that is spelled right! - it's a really neat store that has a little bit of everything, Prime Sirloin Buffet for lunch - all you can eat steak and much more - as usual, I ate too much but it sure was good!, Logan Valley Mall - bought a few things there - it's a really nice mall, Salvation Army Thrift Store - bought a couple more things.
Our next stop was home - it was a great day!

In Disguise or A Hypocrite?

After my last post, I was recently asked if I really was still here, so I decided I better put another post on here.
Here is a picture from our service Sunday night.
Dad preached a message on not man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart and how we shouldn't judge by appearances.
He turned this into an object lesson by having a soldier, a nurse, a graduate, a mother, a waitress and a policeman.
These people are usually known as Joel Sickler, Linette Sickler, Angela Sickler, Hannah Sickler, Serena Sickler and myself.
As a result of our appearances, Dad accused the six of us of being hypocrites!
Thanks For Dropping In!

I'm Still Around!

Yes, I'm still around!
There's been a lot going on around here, but we're doing pretty good.
I have a lot of pictures, I'll try to get them on here in the not too distant future.
I realize that a lot of people have migrated to Facebook, but there are still some things that I like better about the blogs, so I'll see how this goes for a little while anyway.
Thanks For Dropping In!

Penns Creek Camp 2009 - Part 2

I know, I'm way behind in doing this! Here are some pictures from the second week of Penns Creek Camp.
Mary Braun and at least some of the kids in the VBS program
The three ministers (and their wives) who were ordained this year - Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Stratton, Mr. & Mrs. Jonas Hight and Mr. & Mrs. Eric Kuhns

The Lebanon Valley Gospel Band

Bro. Plank trying to find the owner of a set of keys that was found on the camp ground

A view from the back of the tabernacle during the last service of camp

Thanks For Dropping In!

Penns Creek Camp 2009 - Part 1

Here are some pictures from the first weekend of Penns Creek Camp. These pictures aren't in any particular order.
Here is one of the quartets that sang during the Penn View Bible Institute service - Aaron McCarty, Dwight Rine, Dan Durkee and Steve Davis
Heritage Ladies Trio from Penn View

Majesty Mixed Quartet from Penn View

We got to see our good friends, the Calhouns - Laura was there, she's behind Lizzie on this pic (if you look close you can see her hand up on the neck of the bass!)

Mom & Dad managed to acquire three more "grandkids" at camp this year! Here's the youngest one, Laura Shrout (the other two were Laura's big sisters - Emily and Mariah).

Here are Lucas and Hannah Shrout singing - they did a great job!

Check back later for more pictures!

Fourth Of July Celebration

This past Saturday was the annual raft regatta and fireworks here in Lewistown (yeah, I know, we do things different around here!)
Here are pictures of some of the rafts.
The big raft to the left had 69 people on it.
This one won the prize for being the prettiest raft.

This guy was the fastest one - he made it 4.7 miles in just a little over an hour.

I am glad to say that these two were just costumes - fortunately!

Here are a few pictures of the fireworks - they were very nice this year.

Thanks For Dropping In!

A Snowstorm?

No, it's not really a snowstorm!
I was sitting on the porch this morning waiting for Mom & Dad to come over from church when I saw the wind blowing the petals from our neighbors' tree across in front of their house. I thought it looked neat, so I tried taking a picture of it. If you enlarge the photo by clicking on it, the petals show up even better.
Thanks For Dropping In!