Tag Archives: Park Avenue Baptist Church

We Are All Sinners

21 Mar

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

This Coronavirus crisis is scary and I am not ashamed to admit that my courage is weak but I am thankful that God is strong and true.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says:

 … “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

A popular and true slogan is that first responders run into danger when others run away. They make that choice. We can make a choice as well. We can run to God in our uncertainly and experience His rest or we can run from Him and know fear and exhaustion. Some might ask, why would God care about me? I am a sinner.

Well, we are all sinners.

Church services have virtually been suspended here in the US. To stay connected and to encourage each other, many will either be live streaming on Facebook or on their webpage. Traditional service time is 11:00 am, ours is 10:30am. Larger churches have multiple online service times. I encourage anyone who feels uncertain or lonely to find one of the live streams.

If you know of a church in your area that you have heard good things about, look then up and see if they live stream or have an App. I am going to list some of the churches I know.

The Grove, Titusville, Fl Contemporary service https://www.facebook.com/thegrovechurchfl/videos/206574347077265/ Link to past services https://www.thegrovechurchfl.org/media

Gateway Community (my church) https://www.facebook.com/GatewayTitusville/

Indian River City Methodist IRCUMC has multiple times https://www.facebook.com/IndianRiverCityChurch

First Baptist Orlando 10am https://www.facebook.com/FirstOrlando

Cornerstone Church, Athens, Ga https://www.cornerstoneathens.cc/watch

Park Avenue Baptist, Titusville, Fl (Canadian pastor) 11 am live stream https://www.facebook.com/ParkAveFL Webpage https://parkavenue.org

Cowee Baptist Church, Franklin, NC. Contemporary service 11 am webpage http://coweebaptist.org/sermons/crossover/ Traditional service is 8:45 am http://coweebaptist.org/sermons/traditional

I’m all the way a Southern girl but I frequently listen to Times Square Church in NYC on their App. They have multiple pastors.

We will make it through this time. Let’s pray for the ones who are sick, the ones out of work, the business owners who can’t open their doors. Let’s be kind and sprinkle love and encouragement. If you can, volunteer to deliver food or help health care providers.

Ending this with humor. A call has gone out for retired healthcare workers to volunteer their skills. Doctors, nurses, maintenance, clerical, all hands on deck. Do they not realize the retired are in the age that is vulnerable and suggested that they stay home and avoid close contact? LOL

If you have a church to suggest, leave it in comments.

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Matching My Mind to My Location

27 Apr

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Yesterday we loaded up the car and left Florida behind. Today we are saying hello North Carolina mountains. Both are beautiful and we are blessed more than we deserve to have precious friends and family in both places.

My first step toward settling in was a trip to the grocery this morning.  I was intent on mentally checking off the items on my list and taking advantage of the large store to get in a brisk walk. I wheeled around a corner and almost crashed into another shopper. People walk slower here, they take the time to smile and ask how you are. I realized I needed to switch my mind to match my location.

This past weekend I attended a women’s retreat at Park Avenue Baptist Church.  Old Things R New blogger, Janet Perez Eckles was the featured speaker.

Janet’s sessions were filled laughter, but with the purpose of leading us to think more deeply and to see how God equips us with strength and courage. In the days before the retreat I had been mulling a mental change of direction. I was tired of rehashing old hurts in my mind. I knew they were attacks from the enemy and I was so over the attacks.

Step back in time with me, about forty years or so. I was expecting our first child and even though I watched my food intake, I dreaded the monthly weigh in at the Obstetrician office. Being a football fan, I had heard that a good offense is the best defense, so at my next check up I took up an offensive approach. I moaned about my weight gain and was so dramatic in my distress that the doctor ended up comforting me rather than exhorting me!

At the conference I decided to go on the offense with the one who accuses. Each time an already confessed and settled episode comes to mind I am going to fling it like a flaming sword straight to heaven, but on the tip of the sword will be prayers of good  for the person.  I am changing my mind to match my eternal location.

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As Sweet as Perfume

30 Mar

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

On Monday we had the fun of an impromptu friends reunion of the members of the Park Avenue Baptist Church Young Married Sunday School class. Of course, someone had to mention that five of us were turning seventy this year! How can that be? One friend made an excellent point as we marveled over this milestone. She observed that we look much better at seventy than our parents did. We laughed and agreed. In the interest of full disclosure, I must mention that I am the baby of the group! All too soon it was time for everyone to move on and resume their busy lives, but for a brief afternoon we laughed and shared our lives. I would say it was just like the old days but I believe it was better!

Wednesday was another fun day. but it was scheduled. Lynn and I have known each other even longer than my Young Married friends.We met in the tenth grade and remained in touch throughout the years. She and her husband recently relocated to Florida and  live two hours from us. We decided to meet half way for lunch at  De Leon Springs State Park. We camped there during the child rearing years and I had been longing to revisit it and I was sure my nature loving friend would enjoy it.

The park, set on the land of an old plantation, has a unique restaurant, the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Grill and Griddle House. Pancakes are their specialty but they also serve salads and sandwiches made with homemade breads.

  Their website describes it this way:

“Each of our tables are equipped with a griddle and we bring you pitchers of homemade pancake batters (both a stone-ground mixture of five different flours and an unbleached white flour) you pour them on and flip them over right at your table.”

From their website

After our lunch we walked around the springs area then Lynn and I  settled down under a covered pavilion to catch up while the men people watched near the spring , talking as men do, solving the problems of the world.

Swimming area
The springs run.

We enjoyed both the company and the scenery. It was a beautiful day, with a gentle breeze. I look forward to visiting again.

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9 NLT

 

 

 

Did you know that DiVoran’s first novel is set at De Leon Springs?

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