Spiritual Dryness

It's Saturday afternoon. I am finally getting well into finishing up my messages for preaching tomorrow in church, but this week has been one of those "dry times" that every pastor gets. It's not too often (thankfully), but when my spirit dries up, it is terrifying - really. I hate being spiritually on empty. Since my new birth 26 years ago, I have known the joys of being filled with God's Holy Word, and His Holy Spirit, so when I am on empty, it is a tough experience. I am not talking about a "charismatic" kind of feeling, but rather an awareness of God's presence, and a kind of flowing joy that just comes naturally because of walking with Jesus every day. But then holidays come, and busy-ness takes over, and the tank runs dry trying to do everything, as well as just trying to rest a bit, only to find that the Lord and you are kind of far apart. I hate that. And that was this week. So last night and this morning I began again to beg God to speak to me, and teach me, and walk with me as I seek Him in His word. I was reading in James chapter 1 this morning in my daily time with God, but I knew I needed to head back to Matthew 4, just to have a good long look at my Lord as he started His ministry, and two precious words jumped out at me - the words that started everything off for me - "Follow Me!" I heard those words loud and clear! Quickly the Lord was back in front of my life, and I was back in motion behind Him, following Him. That's what God wanted, and that is what I needed! I'm glad it is so easy. I had to do some confessing, and some spiritual inventorying in the process, but that allowed me to be ready for the Lord of lords to be back in charge of me once again, instead of the world, and all its demands.
If you have ever had times like this, then you know what I am talking about, and you hate those times too. Boy is the flesh sneaky. When you think you just need to rest - well, that is when I have found I need to get even closer to the Lord Jesus - because THAT is where I will find perfect rest!
Just a thought on this Saturday afternoon! God bless you!
Pastor Craig Ledbetter

Winter Storms

I just love winter storms here in Ireland. Ok, so they are nothing like hurricanes, and tornadoes are extremely rare, but the wind and the rain and the sound of is all is just so incredible to me! I wish life's storms were the same! But alas - the reason why I love a good weather storm is because I can enjoy it from the protection of a warm, sturdy home that allows me the luxury of watching and slightly experiencing the storm without the danger. Life's storms are usually head on, and natural protection is pretty minimal. But then there is Jesus!
I am more glad to be saved then ever before, because I know the value of a sturdy "Rock" to be surrounded by, and protected by! Yes, I may go through many a storm, but my Saviour has his mighty hand AROUND me, and protects me (actually shields me) from the brunt of every storm that threatens my soul!
I need to just remember to enjoy the storms of life just as much as the storms of weather, since in both storms, I am protected! Hallelujah

"And the LORD ... shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain." Isaiah 4:5,6

Bits and Pieces - Trying to Catch-up

Just a brief note since I am still "up-the-walls" as they say and still trying to get unburied from all the stuff that I have left undone since the beginning of this summer here in Ireland. I have had certainly the busiest Summer ever, and am not physically recovered as of yet, but hope to get away with my family for at least a few days just to do NOTHING and get a bit recharged. Summer here has been a good time with so many people getting saved, and visitors coming out and staying in church here in Ballincollig. Hunger for the word of God is good - I just hope to always be able to feed and serve up a great meal for everyone, but it does take a lot of work studying and preparing practical messages from the Bible that are pleasing to both God and the people here. I am most burdened for an older man here named Ken who has been in the hospital for over two years since having cancer and a stroke and is basically completely paralyzed. He got saved two months ago and needs a lot of fellowship and encouragement, but I just haven't had the time that he deserves. I plan on making him much more of a priority.
We have had a great response from the new tracts I wrote called "Are You Good Enough?" and are handing them out by the hundreds every week! The teens are so full of energy now, after completing our Target the Heart meetings, and we will be going out again this Friday going head-to-head soul-winning of teenagers! Pray for fruit to Christ's glory!
I better go. Keep us in prayer, and keep testifying of a living Saviour! Pastor Craig Ledbetter. www.biblebc.com

Our Sensitivity to Wickedness

I have been noticing lately a heightened sense of awareness by people of the wickedness that is just exploding around us in the western world. This is not a good thing. What I immediately recognized was not that evil was rapidly on the increase (that has been true for the last 60 years), but that people in the main are only aware of it when it gets very far ahead of the comfort zone of the population. What I mean is this: sin is tolerated when the general population is comfortable with that sin. If a new amount of sin, or even a new sin is introduced to the public, people may be shocked, but only until they get comfortable with that new sin. Society is on a genral downward slo, constantly just behind the sins that are pulling it down. The only time there is outrage by the general public is when the amount of sin is way far ahead of our tolerance. Hence my sadness because, sin is sin, and brings forth the judgment of death no matter who you are (Romans 6:23). Christians must begin to analyze their own comfortableness with sins and begin to cry out against them whether other people are comfortable with them or not, and begin to bring people back to a walk of righteousness and holiness that comes with knowing Jesus Christ as both Saviour AND Lord. People need to not only be saved from the punishment of their sin, but also from the "pull" of it downward as well. The way you will be able to tell the amount of pull that sin has on you is the amount of "comfortableness" that you have with what's showing on the TV, and what is spewing out of the mouths of your friends.

Just two Scriptures will suffice for God's view about our tolerance of sin in this world:

Tit 2:11,12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

1Pe 2:11,12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Think on these things. Until next time, God bless you, and look-up... Jesus is coming again! Pastor Craig

Spiritual Close-Call

Hmmmmm. Some things just don't make sense on the day they happen. Take for example the fact that for a month we as a Church in Ballincollig were looking at renting a warehouse to use for our Drug Addiction programme, and our Teen Activities, and especially Church Dinners. But the decision of renting the building had to be put off until after the revival was finished. Many of the church folks had already gone over with me during the revival meetings to personally take a good look at the large room, and see its possible uses. The very next week (this past Sunday evening), the Church stayed after the normal preaching for a short business meeting to discuss how we were going to pay for the warehouse. We talked, and took up pledges that exceeded the cost of the building - praise God! The Church had spoken with its pocketbook that this step, even though expensive, was what the Lord would have us do! The very next day, I rang the man who owned the building, and before going too far, he stopped me and sadly told me he had JUST let it out to another man on Saturday! We missed getting the building by just two days! I was very disappointed. As I told others in the church, they too were disappointed. But we took courage that the Lord knew what He was doing, even though WE didn't know what He was doing. Well, to our greater surprise, yesterday, we were notified by the owner of the place that we currently meet (the Westgate Foundation), that rent was sky-rocketting starting in April! I mean, the cost of renting the Westgate Foundation rooms was trebling - starting in April, we would be paying THREE times the fees that we were paying just in December!
So, what's the moral of the story? Well, if we HAD gotten that warehouse, it would NOT have sufficed for us to use as a Church because it is just too small, and we would be having to go and find other accomodations for the Church, and expenses would be far too much with us still trying to purchase some land here in the Cork area soon (more about that later)! So, the Lord STOPPED us from renting that warehouse because He knew we needed to find better rented facilities, or be ready to purchase some land, and we could not do that if we also had the rent of this warehouse hanging around our necks for a year long lease! All of that exercise was to get us ready to either rent a BETTER building (with better value for money that what we currently are getting from the Westgate Foundation), or to purchase finally some land! I think we are ready!
God is so good to us! We don't deserve His intervention, and yet He does! Praise God!
Now, on to finding a better place for our people to meet! Please pray that we find the right place, and pray we can ultimately get our own property - all for the glory of God and His Son Jesus Christ!
Pastor Craig Ledbetter - Ballincollig, Ireland (www.biblebc.com)

Wonderful Changes

Four days of revival meetings, and you can start to see some wonderful changes – people realizing just how good church can be; people’s hearts softening to the gentle work of the Holy Spirit of God; a deeper love for the word of God; better awareness to the attacks of the devil, and the obstacles he sets up to keep people from getting saved and getting victories over sin. It’s all quite a lot of work to see happening in our Church.
Last night, Brother Buddy Blunkall preached on the disciples having “no” faith in the storm in Mark chapter 4, and yet still getting safely to the other side of the Sea of Galilee! He showed us that if we would just trust the Lord Jesus enough to obey Him, and just into the boat, He will get us through! The message is worth listening to (I will put it on our website in the Sermon Audio section (www.biblebc.com) , and the message is worth learning from! I was so blessed at the truths of the Bible that just never are exhausted! No matter how many times you preach something from a portion of Scripture, there is always more to learn and enjoy!
Every evening, after the singing, and preaching, the people just “hang around” and fellowship, and soak up the afterglows of the meeting. Two hours a night is normally pretty long for any kind of a meeting, but I normally have to yell at everybody after TWO and a HALF hours and tell them that we HAVE to leave now! It is so good to watch God’s people LOVE preaching and each other!
Well, a few more days – tonight, Friday, and then Sunday, and the meeting will be through. What will we be like when it is all said and done? I am praying that we will be more like Jesus – that will be good enough for me! Also praying for a few souls to get born again too! Amen!
Until later! Pastor Craig.

Revival Meeting Starts

Well, I thought I was going to be able to sit down and write this blog yesterday (Monday), but we all decided to take a trip out to Killarney and go see the Gap of Dunloe, and Ross Castle. Both were worth the effort! The Killarney mountains were beautifully snow-capped, and the group from Hot Springs Arkansas were easily impressed with the view! In a flash, Joel and Cameron, Joshua, Bro Buddy, and even the three girls were headed up the side of the Gap! The girls made it half-way, while the boys pressed on up a 45 degree incline! It was kind of cool, and the wind made it even cooler, but we enjoyed the short trek in the Gap of Dunloe!
After the trip of the Gap, we risked traveling to the Ross Castle to see if it was by chance open, and behold, it was both open and taking tours! The woman giving the tour was really a blessing and spent a lot of extra time with us.

Let me bring you up to date on the Revival Meetings so far. Buddy Blunkall, his wife Phyllis and three Champion Baptist Bible College students all arrived Saturday afternoon of course, as planned. I had planned on taking the mini-bus to go pick them up from Shannon airport, but at the last minute, the bus just would not start! I guess that the -5 deg celsius weather might have had something to do with it! The Lord worked it all out anyway! That evening, the prayer meeting was so awesome! God was busy working on us, readying us for this week!
Sunday was a full day, with all three meetings well attended, and the Lord showing His people how He was going to work on our hearts! Sunday evening’s meeting was the best so far, but that was just the beginning! Last night (Monday night), Buddy preached on believing Faith, and it was just excellent! If you are in the area, you just have to come along and experience the great preaching, and singing and fellowshipping for yourself.

By-the-way, I actually met someone yesterday that had read this blog! Wow! I was very surprised, since this is just an experiment. I hope it helps some people get a feel for the Christian ministry that goes on here in Cork, Ireland!

Be sure to check our website (www.biblebc.com) and click on the graphic for the Revival for links to photos and other information!

Back from Scotland

Tired! That's how I feel. My trip to Scotland was flat-out tiring. I can't explain it, except that I must be fighting the flu or something. I've been fighting it the whole time in Scotland. Oh well. Needless-to-say, I preached 6 times in three churches, and once on the radio in Arboath, just north of Dundee. All the Christians in all three churches were such a blessing to me and my son Joel, who went along with me. I was so glad to have him along. He even got to go skiing (briefly), and I beat him in hockey (grin), and the Lord blessed in everything we set out to do. I went door-to-door in Dundee, and learned a lot. Praise God for faithful men who stay on their field of ministry and stay knocking on doors, and stay witnessing of our risen Saviour, because that is the only way people are going to be reached with the Gospel. Period!
I'm back home now, and already in high gear to get final preparations under way for our Church Revival meetings in full swing. The revival begins this next Sunday, and I kow I need it! Pray the Lord steps down from heaven in a marvellous way, and changes His people, and saves the lost!
I'll keep you posted! Craig

Church 11th Anniversary Memories

Anniversary Memories
From the Pastor’s Pen
1994 - 2005
A dream – a vision – a burden. That’s what I had – that’s what I still have. Eleven years ago I and my family opened the doors of an old shed called the Total Abstinence Hall (TA Hall for short), located on the edge of Blarney village, and we had “church.” Not normal church that people were used to, but a meeting that was far simpler, and far more direct – “What will you do with Jesus Christ?” I preached, and people came. A few every week, but always hungry, always yearning to know this Person named Jesus. Thousands of Gospel leaflets were handed out, thousands of people were met and witnessed to at the doors. People got saved – born again - by repenting and believing completely on the Lord Jesus Christ! And then they got baptized. First in a pool over near Glanmire, and then others in the river. Usually the water was cold, but the zeal for God was burning hot.
Sunday School classes, Men’s Retreats, Church Picnics – every year people came and got saved and got excited about living for the Lord! And the church grew. We all handed out ten thousand specially written Gospel tracts to people at the Tour de France in held in Cork that day back in 1996. We advertised the Gospel in the Echo and in the Examiner; We published The Open Challenge paper; and people got saved! And they went on to be baptized as well!
And then we went big – we invited Dr. Kent Hovind to come and present Biblical Creationism here in Cork – he spoke 8 times in four days to over 300 people. And people got saved! And people grew! He even came back a second time, and 300 more people came! Miracles still happen!
One of the best things I get to do as pastor besides preaching and leading a soul to Christ, is marrying Christian couples! I “hitched-up” Bill and Geraldine Daunt first, and then others, and their extended families and friends saw what a Christian wedding and family was really all about!
And then there are other memories… even miracles… watching my own family grow, and seeing God’s good hand on our churches as we just stay faithful. So many other events… maybe I will write them all down someday. They are all worth their weight in gold, and were all a privilege to be a part of!
It would be easy to look back and start thinking of what should have been, or what could have been, but thank God, we know better – our focus is forward, on the future, and we have the promise of our heavenly Father…
The Best is YET to Come!And I can’t wait!

Finally Starting

Well, I'm finally starting to blog here in Ireland!
It's something I thought I would never do, but it has always facinated me that I could record a journal that might be a blessing to others who want to know of the day to day things and events that go on in the ministry here in ireland!
My oldest daughter Sharon just finished recording 13 hours of chior singing at West Coast baptist College and really enjoyed it! She is learning so much and growing so much! I am truly proud of how the Lord has blessed my family!
We just heard back from the head of the building that we rent from for our Church meetings that we are allowed to stay indefinitely, and we are so relieved! What an answer to prayer! Thank you to all who have prayed about this situation! We continue to look for suitable church property, and will know more tomorrow about some very serious sellers and see if anything will fit our needs!
There's more to come, especially with our revival starting in less than a month, so pray with us for God to change us, and grow us as a Church and as Christians here in the land of Ireland.
Until later, Pastor Craig