Mission Trip 2010

The youth group at Peters Creek Presbyterian Church will be heading to Scotland this June for a mission trip to work with Calvary Christian Fellowship Motherwell. Stay tuned for more details and updates. www.calvarymotherwell.org watch the video.

Hunting Camp 2009

This past week I went home for Thanksgiving to be with my family and Jen's. It was great to get together with all of them again. As an added bonus I touched base with my good high school buddy Thomas Lee Miller. We talked about where we might be doing some hunting for the opening day of buck season. He said he was headed up to camp and I told him I hadn't yet nailed anything down yet. Tlee said; "Hey why don't you come up to camp?". After I thought about it for a quarter of a second I replied; "Oh yeah, I'm going to camp!!".

It had been almost 15 or so years since I was last at the Big N Little Buck Camp in Elk County. I have so many great memories of being at hunting camp with the guys. I met Tom at his parents and after surprising his mom and getting a big hug we hit the road and headed up to camp. We talked the whole way there catching up on things and next thing I knew we were headed up the big long muddy lane to camp. At last I was back home again.

Once we arrived we hopped out of the car and straight into the camp. Right inside the door was Denny Montgomery and Mr. Miller. Wow...two guys I have the utmost respect for. After hearty handshakes and greetings we launched into a couple hours of conversation catching up on each others lives. Man that was some good stuff. It was just like the good ole days.

The next morning we were joined by one of my best buddies Curtis James Montgomery. He arrived just as breakfast was being served (imagine that, like that has never happened before). Breakfast consisted of pancakes, sausage patties, eggs to order and toast. Man that was good...and I usually never eat breakfast...only at camp. Mr. Miller can make a mean breakfast. It was nice sitting at the table with my buddy Curt and laughing and catching up on things.

After breakfast we hit the big woods for a bit of scouting for the big opening day. We decided to hike up the hill to our spots for the next day. We spent an hour or two scouting the place out where we would take down the trophy that Denny spotted a few days earlier. After our hike and a few pictures we headed back down the hill to camp where Tom took one of the 12 naps he would register that day. The rest of us talked, got gear ready and relaxed.

After a great dinner of burgers we took time to jot down some thoughts in the camp journal and welcomed the last two hunters to camp Ben and Remington. Then it was off to sleep.

Monday morning the first day of buck season we were up at o dark thirty (4:30). Mr. Miller had breakfast ready,we ate and headed out to our stands. After a wet cold walk to the stand I got turned around in the dark and had to search for a bit until I found my spot. After I got situated I took a seat and waited for shooting hours to begin (6:49). It didn't actually get light until about 7:10 because of the rain and overcast weather. I waited about two hours without seeing a thing and decided it was time to get up and take a walk to see what I could kick out. I saw a couple does and that was it for the day. I spent the rest of the day walking and sitting, walking and sitting and finally got turned around (lost) and spent two hours finding my way out of the 24,000 acres.

What a great day of being out in God's creation. We arrived back at camp and had dinner, packed up and headed back home. Tom and I had another great conversation on the way home. I realized how much I really missed being with my best buds.

I can't believe how quickly time flys and wonder where the years go. As much time as passed I couldn't believe how we picked up where we left off, it really didn't seem like anything had changed. I believe God knew that I needed to be at camp last weekend. It really helped me to remember how much I have. I really love those guys and so appreciate the friendship that we share. I pray I will have more opportunities to get together with them.

Thank you guys for welcoming me back to camp and I look forward to getting back together again real soon.

As The Days Go By...

I cant believe we just had another fall kickoff. Where does the time go? I am coming up on 1 year as the Lead Pastor at our church. Time has just flown by. We have been so busy trying to make a difference in the lives of others. I think we finally have our momentum back and are moving in a great direction.

As the days go by I am learning more and more about our church family and certainly about myself. I am so thankful for God's goodness and His plan for my life. I never would've pictured myself doing the things I am doing now. I know I would never have had the courage or confidence to step up and out and do the things God has called me to now. I really enjoy what I'm doing and working with the people God has put in my path.

As we move further into this fall season I pray we will continue to listen for His still small voice and be faithful to what He is calling us to do. I truly believe our best days are ahead of us.

Let's hold on for the ride of a lifetime.

New Addition to the Family

Well...it's not a new baby. It's a new puppy. Yes...Jen finally broke down and said the kids could get a new puppy. The first dog we tried didn't work out so well...maybe two or three days. It was a hyper beagle from the humane society. This is a Shih Tzu. His name is Harley and he comes home next Friday. We are going over to Ohio to pick him up. Needless to say the kids are excited and I think mom is too.
Pray for us...this is a big step in the Such household.

Stop by and meet Harley sometime.

It's Been Awhile

First of all I wanted to say I'm sorry for not blogging in awhile. I have been crazy busy as of late. You always think..you know what things are going to slow down soon and they never do. I'm leaving for vacation in 3 days so this is a slow week as I prepare for some time away. Some friends from church have offered our family their place in Myrtle Beach. What a blessing!! They are awesome and we love them.

Lots of great things have been happening at the church and I'll fill you in on that at a later date. Still waiting on a decision from the judge on our church property. Whatever happens...happens...it's in the Lord's hands.

I'll try and update things as we are on vacation...I'll post some pictures too. Our kids always provide some interesting things to blog about.

Hope everything is well in your world...drop me a line and let me know how you are doing. Peace.

Crazy Week

Well it's Holy Week and I love this time of year. I love taking time to reflect on the wonderful gift of our Savior Jesus Christ and what that means in my life. Unfortunately this year I have been so busy that i haven't been able to do that as effectively as I would have liked. This week I have been busy preparing for a Thursday night service, Friday night Service, Saturday night service and 2 Sunday morning services. I'm thankful that God has given me the opportunity to work with such a wonderful church family. I pray this weeks services are a blessing to Him. Please pray for me this week as Satan has been having a hay day trying to disrupt things. Thanks my friends.

Myrtle Beach Outing 2009

I can't believe I've been back almost a week from my trip to Myrtle Beach with a group of guys from the church. Let me tell you something...it very well may have been one of the best times I think I have ever had. I have never laughed so much in my life. These guys are incredible. We ate and golfed and laughed and ate and golfed and ate and laughed some more. Real authentic fellowship. 12 guys from different backgrounds and places coming together for some good old fashioned fellowship. I'm pretty sure Jesus assembled 12 guys to walk with during his ministry. What a hoot. I honestly can't wait for next year's trip. (March 24th, 2010). It's already on the calendar!! Thanks to Mike, Ken, Mike, Steve, Dan, Doug, Dave, Eric, Don, Jim, Terry and Jeff. We will see Carl, Jay, Aldo and Ray next year!! Thanks men for a great trip and for your incredible friendships.

My Friend Jill

Well...I finally have a night when there are no meetings to attend or emails to answer or phone calls to return so I decided it would be a good idea to spend some time updating my blog which I have neglected horribly over the last few months.

I have settled into my new position as the Interim Pastor for our church as we go through some transition. It keeps me extremely busy but I love what I'm doing. God certainly has a way of keeping the job interesting. I continue to work with the Youth and Family of the church and maintain my duties as the Executive Pastor. It is a full plate but I have a great team I work with.

A short time ago I found out that a dear friend of mine from high school learned that she had cancer. It was devastating news for her and her family. Frankly I was pretty upset too. She is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and it just didn't make sense. Why Jill? I suppose we all wrestle with that "Why" question but this time it made me mad. She is a great mom and wife and had a awesome love for God. It just didn't make sense.

We have talked and written several times over the last number of weeks after losing touch for almost 20 years. I believe God reunited us for a reason. Jill has an incredible husband who loves her more than anything and they both have an unshakable faith. Together they have leaned on God through this terribly trying time and they have held onto the promises of His Word. I'm so thankful for their friendship and for the example they set with their faith.

Please pray for my friend Jill and for her family. Our God is good and is love endures forever.

Spring-The Good-The Bad-The I Just Don't Know

This spring has been rather difficult. Usually for me spring is a time of new beginnings and all things new. I'm excited about Easter and the fact that summer trips are just around the corner. I got to do a wedding for a really great couple last weekend and see them off to a fresh start. It's usually a really happy time of great expectation. This year things have been a little different. We have had at least 6 or 7 funerals this spring already. I learned that a few of the people I am close to have cancer and others are being deployed overseas. It's been a troubling time. But I guess that's kind of how life goes...there's the good, the bad and the I just don't know kind of days.

A New Hobby

So I picked up a new hobby over the last month. I got together with some of my good friends and accountability buddies and they took me out shooting at the range. I decided to get a handgun and they helped me pick out a Glock 45. It is pretty sweet if I do say so myself. We then added a Ruger SR9 to the collection. My personal favorite. We have a great time hanging out at the range and doing some target shooting. It allows us some great time to enjoy God's creation, talk and catch up with one another. I really missed shooting since I left the Army those many years ago. We are starting a Sportsmen's ministry at the church in a month or so to help teach Gun Safety and as an outreach to some of our unchurched friends who like to hunt and shoot. We'll see where God leads this new ministry.

Legal Defense Fund

Hey everyone...Our church has just established a Legal Defense Fund to help with the legal costs that we continue to incur as a result of the battle we are in for the church property. Please take time to visit our Legal Defense Fund website: www.pcclegaltruth.org and please make a donation to help us as we move forward. Thanks so much for your help.

Jeff

Winter Blast 2009 Update

Well, we are down to a day and a half before we head north to what could possible be the best Winter Retreat ever. Not only is Jay Higham speaking but Justin Bowers and Brandt Fuller are leading worship this weekend. (Well at least Brandt will be there Friday night). What a blessing. It's gonna rock. We have a lot of first time students coming along so praise God for the opportunity to share the Good News with them. I'll make sure to post pictures and an update when we get back. Stay tuned...

Wow...What a slacker...

Man...I'm so sorry I've been away for way too long...I hope to get on here in the next few days and get this thing updated...I've been running non-stop...my bad.