What a day...Thursday is typically my longest day of the week and this week it did not disappoint. It has been so hot here lately. Today was only 84, but the humidity was something like 100%. As good ole Charlie Brown would say, "Good Grief!"
I've got a long night ahead of me. The only reason I'm taking time to type is 'cause my supper is in front of me, and it is not portable. I'm having nacho's with cheese, and a "beef" pot pie out of the microwave. Yes, it's wonderful, thanks. Yes, my wife is at work. The girls aren't here so I didn't want to cook. I am quite the cook, but it's not as much fun to cook for just ones self. Niether Marsha or myself have time for that today anyway. We leave in the morning early for Mayfield, KY. That is where Bro Kevin and Sis Cyndi Brown pastor. Their church is playing host to a sort of youth rally/retreat-esque sort of thing we are having this weekend. Our state was unable to have camp this year, so we all decided to go down there and have a cou0ple nights youth revival, the girls will stay with Sister Cyndi, and us guys will mostly camp out. It should be a blast. We will be there thru Sunday. I'm really looking forward to the time there with the kids, and my wife and all the good church folk who get to be there.
Well, my pot pie is nearly gone, and I need another coke, so I'm gettin' off here for now.
God bless...
Brother Donnie
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Been Thinkinn'...
Hey, everybody. It's been a few days since I've blogged. I've been working, hanging out with the girls in the evenings while my wife is at work. I've been trying to do a lot of praying, more Bible study, and I've been thinkin'. A lot. My mind hurts. My heart hurts. And tonight, for whatever reason, my back hurts.
I was just considering some people in the Bible, and realizing that many of those who we think of as great people, some even great warriors for the Lord, had pretty bad things in their past. Yet God was able to use them. Gives me hope for me. And you. Everybody really. Think about it...
Moses killed a man once. David committed and adulterous act with a woman, and then had her husband killed; At least one of the twelve disciples, Simon, was a zealot(a political/religous sect who advocated violence as a means of overthrowing the Romans); some of Jesus' key followers had been demon possessed, even one, I believe was a prostitute; one man had been a tax collector, but when he met Jesus he decided to sell his things and give back to those from whom he had stolen; Peter denied the Lord, THREE TIMES!!!; the Apostle Paul, when he was still known as Paul, had persecuted, and wreaked havoc on the church, even having Christians arrested, and stood and held the coats of the men who stoned Brother Stephen, consenting unto his death. Isn't God's grace a wonderful thing? God is just. That is true. But He also is merciful. We cannot forget that. Some didn't want to trust Paul at first, but look how God used him. He was the chiefest of sinners, in his own words. It was under the blood.
Thank God for redemption, for Grace, and Mercy.
God bless you all...
Brother Donnie
I was just considering some people in the Bible, and realizing that many of those who we think of as great people, some even great warriors for the Lord, had pretty bad things in their past. Yet God was able to use them. Gives me hope for me. And you. Everybody really. Think about it...
Moses killed a man once. David committed and adulterous act with a woman, and then had her husband killed; At least one of the twelve disciples, Simon, was a zealot(a political/religous sect who advocated violence as a means of overthrowing the Romans); some of Jesus' key followers had been demon possessed, even one, I believe was a prostitute; one man had been a tax collector, but when he met Jesus he decided to sell his things and give back to those from whom he had stolen; Peter denied the Lord, THREE TIMES!!!; the Apostle Paul, when he was still known as Paul, had persecuted, and wreaked havoc on the church, even having Christians arrested, and stood and held the coats of the men who stoned Brother Stephen, consenting unto his death. Isn't God's grace a wonderful thing? God is just. That is true. But He also is merciful. We cannot forget that. Some didn't want to trust Paul at first, but look how God used him. He was the chiefest of sinners, in his own words. It was under the blood.
Thank God for redemption, for Grace, and Mercy.
God bless you all...
Brother Donnie
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Back in the Saddle Again...
Hey, everybody...
I haven;t had a chance in a few days to post, but here I finally am, blogging again. It's been a very busy week. I went back to work Tuesday, after a week and one day off by doc's orders. This week I am back on my route, but with a helper. I have to do light duty until next week. No lifting more than 10 lbs, etc. I'm a delivery driver for goodness sake, so that makes it hard to perform my duties. Thus the helper. He's a nice guy and we've had some opportunityies to talk about the Lord, so it has been quite nice, actually.
Our Regional Convention for The Church of God in Kentucky and Illinois (South) was held this past weekend. It was really good. Saturday night in particular. Brother Lanny Carter from Roanoke, VA and his son-in-law, Brother Paul Horton were there. Brother Carter preached so well Saturday night and the Holy Ghost really took over the program. So many were blessed. Probably 65 % of the attendees were in the altar area worshipping and praying together. We all needed it. Very little has been said about it anywhere on the internet that I know of, but there are some people who were very hurt in this region this past year by all the turmoil, besides those who sometimes are called "the Stand." Brother Lanny Carter preached very straight to us and we needed that. We need to have the right spirit about things. I am praying that God will help us start working towards some major reconciliation in this region, as well as in IN and OH. My family is one who was hurt badly, nearly destroyed emotionally. We lost 65% of our local church, our only source of income, as we were full time pastors, our home in the parsonage where we were serving. There are other pastors who have endured similiar hurts. For sure there has been hurt and wrong on either side of this situation. Ok. Having said that, I want to say that I love each and every member who has been disfellowshipped, as well as those who have not. I want reconciliation in every corner of this region, and have begun praying and working in earnest to see it come about. I don't know what will happen in the coming months, but I do know that we need to get just as close to God as possible, and allow Him to work on us, in us and through us. May God help us to see our faults, and give them over to Him. Please, God, help us to have the broken and contrite spirit that would so please you.
Before I close, I want to change the subject. As you mostly know I have been quite sick for a couple of weeks (several months, honestly). First with the chest pains, which it turns out were not from any sort of blockage or heart failure, Praise God! Then the doctors thought it was perhaps my gall bladder. I was convinced, and was preparing mentally for a surgery. Then I started thinking more clearly, and Spiritually. I decided to start praying in earnest for healing, and many of my dear friends who knew about were praying, too (thanks so much!). I went to convention Saturday and was so very sick. Almost as bad as when I had went to the hospital a week before. I had been so sick all week long. During the wonderful Saturday night service I received such wonderful blessings. But I never thought much about my sickness during it all. The next day I felt bad, but more worn down and tired than anything else. I woke up Monday mornign feling better than I had in weeks on end! The man who did the ultrasound to look for gall bladder problems said he didn't see anything to worry about at all. I haven;t received the other test results yet, but it is late Wednesday night and I have felt great all week with no chest or stomach pains! Thank God!! I am really starting to believe that God has healed me. I am so thankful.
God bless you all and thanks for all the prayers...
Brother Donie
I haven;t had a chance in a few days to post, but here I finally am, blogging again. It's been a very busy week. I went back to work Tuesday, after a week and one day off by doc's orders. This week I am back on my route, but with a helper. I have to do light duty until next week. No lifting more than 10 lbs, etc. I'm a delivery driver for goodness sake, so that makes it hard to perform my duties. Thus the helper. He's a nice guy and we've had some opportunityies to talk about the Lord, so it has been quite nice, actually.
Our Regional Convention for The Church of God in Kentucky and Illinois (South) was held this past weekend. It was really good. Saturday night in particular. Brother Lanny Carter from Roanoke, VA and his son-in-law, Brother Paul Horton were there. Brother Carter preached so well Saturday night and the Holy Ghost really took over the program. So many were blessed. Probably 65 % of the attendees were in the altar area worshipping and praying together. We all needed it. Very little has been said about it anywhere on the internet that I know of, but there are some people who were very hurt in this region this past year by all the turmoil, besides those who sometimes are called "the Stand." Brother Lanny Carter preached very straight to us and we needed that. We need to have the right spirit about things. I am praying that God will help us start working towards some major reconciliation in this region, as well as in IN and OH. My family is one who was hurt badly, nearly destroyed emotionally. We lost 65% of our local church, our only source of income, as we were full time pastors, our home in the parsonage where we were serving. There are other pastors who have endured similiar hurts. For sure there has been hurt and wrong on either side of this situation. Ok. Having said that, I want to say that I love each and every member who has been disfellowshipped, as well as those who have not. I want reconciliation in every corner of this region, and have begun praying and working in earnest to see it come about. I don't know what will happen in the coming months, but I do know that we need to get just as close to God as possible, and allow Him to work on us, in us and through us. May God help us to see our faults, and give them over to Him. Please, God, help us to have the broken and contrite spirit that would so please you.
Before I close, I want to change the subject. As you mostly know I have been quite sick for a couple of weeks (several months, honestly). First with the chest pains, which it turns out were not from any sort of blockage or heart failure, Praise God! Then the doctors thought it was perhaps my gall bladder. I was convinced, and was preparing mentally for a surgery. Then I started thinking more clearly, and Spiritually. I decided to start praying in earnest for healing, and many of my dear friends who knew about were praying, too (thanks so much!). I went to convention Saturday and was so very sick. Almost as bad as when I had went to the hospital a week before. I had been so sick all week long. During the wonderful Saturday night service I received such wonderful blessings. But I never thought much about my sickness during it all. The next day I felt bad, but more worn down and tired than anything else. I woke up Monday mornign feling better than I had in weeks on end! The man who did the ultrasound to look for gall bladder problems said he didn't see anything to worry about at all. I haven;t received the other test results yet, but it is late Wednesday night and I have felt great all week with no chest or stomach pains! Thank God!! I am really starting to believe that God has healed me. I am so thankful.
God bless you all and thanks for all the prayers...
Brother Donie
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Feeling Alright...
Hey...
Feeling alright so far this morning. It seems anything I eat gets me pretty ill the last few days/weeks. I just had a small breakfast with my wife and the girls. That's the one perk of having a few days off work. I get to be with my girls. (btw, I nclude my wife when I say that.) I ate a bacon sandwich on wheat bread. We'll see if that gets me ill. I'm eating so much less and better stuff than usual. If I'm not sick within an hour, I'll be happy. I'm praying for God to come in and heal me of this so I can be done with it. Please help me pray.
This time off work is nice in some ways, but, man, in other ways it's driving me nuts! I am NOT the sit around kind of guy, at ALL!I'm on restrictions...no driving(until TOMORROW-YEAH!), no lifting, pulling, or pushing ANYTHING over ten pounds. That includes almost everything under Heaven. I haven't picked up my daughters in days. I just get on the floor and let them climb on me. That's pretty fun. I've been doing most of the cooking this week just to be able to do something. I love to cook, anyway. I'm searching all my cookbooks for some healthier stuff to eat. Better ways to cook foods I love. Last night we had a rotisserrie style chicken(Marsha did that), but I fixed some glazed carrots, green beans, and some oven roasted red skinned potatoes with some herbs(about a third of the oil/grease that would be involved the way I normally like to fry my taters). Good food. I figure I'm not just going to go nuts and suddenly be a health food nut or a vegan or something, but I can cut portions, lay off the pop, and learn less damaging ways to cook. The highlight of my short hospital stay was that I found out my heart is in ok shape. (Glory to God!) I'd be better off if I take measures now to keep it that way.
Well, I have written a book. I better go. Thanks for all the prayers...
God bless you all...
Brother Donnie
Feeling alright so far this morning. It seems anything I eat gets me pretty ill the last few days/weeks. I just had a small breakfast with my wife and the girls. That's the one perk of having a few days off work. I get to be with my girls. (btw, I nclude my wife when I say that.) I ate a bacon sandwich on wheat bread. We'll see if that gets me ill. I'm eating so much less and better stuff than usual. If I'm not sick within an hour, I'll be happy. I'm praying for God to come in and heal me of this so I can be done with it. Please help me pray.
This time off work is nice in some ways, but, man, in other ways it's driving me nuts! I am NOT the sit around kind of guy, at ALL!I'm on restrictions...no driving(until TOMORROW-YEAH!), no lifting, pulling, or pushing ANYTHING over ten pounds. That includes almost everything under Heaven. I haven't picked up my daughters in days. I just get on the floor and let them climb on me. That's pretty fun. I've been doing most of the cooking this week just to be able to do something. I love to cook, anyway. I'm searching all my cookbooks for some healthier stuff to eat. Better ways to cook foods I love. Last night we had a rotisserrie style chicken(Marsha did that), but I fixed some glazed carrots, green beans, and some oven roasted red skinned potatoes with some herbs(about a third of the oil/grease that would be involved the way I normally like to fry my taters). Good food. I figure I'm not just going to go nuts and suddenly be a health food nut or a vegan or something, but I can cut portions, lay off the pop, and learn less damaging ways to cook. The highlight of my short hospital stay was that I found out my heart is in ok shape. (Glory to God!) I'd be better off if I take measures now to keep it that way.
Well, I have written a book. I better go. Thanks for all the prayers...
God bless you all...
Brother Donnie
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Kind of a rough night, so far...
Hey, all. Thanks again to everyone for your prayers. No doubt God is helping me. I'm sure it is Him who has protected me from this being a heart problem.
Today started off fairly well. Marsh and me went to Wal-Mart to get some groceries. Whew...that place has gotten bigger or something. They told me that my strength would be low for a few days after the heart cath, but I didn't think it really would. (yeah, dumb, I know). Came home and went straight to bed. Got up a little later feeling fair so I fixed Marsha a grilled cheese sandwich and some fries before she headed out for her new part time job. She treid to get me to sit down but I hate just sitting and laying around all the time. Still felt pretty good. My sister Janna came over to baby sit me and the girls, as I am not allowed to pick up anything bigger than ten pounds. I decided to fix more sandwiches and fries for Janna and the kids. Once again, she didn't want me to, but it was no big deal. Turns out I may have overdone it a bit. I've had kind of a rough time the last couple of hours. A lot of pains in my stomach and chest, very weak and short of breath. I took a short nap on the couch and when I woke up my heart was just pounding, plus some other weird stuff was going on with my arm, and ver nauseated. Went to bed, but not much better. I am actually feeling a little better right this moment. I got up and walked around the house a couple of minutes, and drank some ice water. I'd like the Lord to just go ahead and heal me of this, whatever it is. I don't know what is wrong with me yet, but He does. He'll take care of me, I'm sure.
I think I'll try and lay down again.
God bless you all...
Brother Donnie
Today started off fairly well. Marsh and me went to Wal-Mart to get some groceries. Whew...that place has gotten bigger or something. They told me that my strength would be low for a few days after the heart cath, but I didn't think it really would. (yeah, dumb, I know). Came home and went straight to bed. Got up a little later feeling fair so I fixed Marsha a grilled cheese sandwich and some fries before she headed out for her new part time job. She treid to get me to sit down but I hate just sitting and laying around all the time. Still felt pretty good. My sister Janna came over to baby sit me and the girls, as I am not allowed to pick up anything bigger than ten pounds. I decided to fix more sandwiches and fries for Janna and the kids. Once again, she didn't want me to, but it was no big deal. Turns out I may have overdone it a bit. I've had kind of a rough time the last couple of hours. A lot of pains in my stomach and chest, very weak and short of breath. I took a short nap on the couch and when I woke up my heart was just pounding, plus some other weird stuff was going on with my arm, and ver nauseated. Went to bed, but not much better. I am actually feeling a little better right this moment. I got up and walked around the house a couple of minutes, and drank some ice water. I'd like the Lord to just go ahead and heal me of this, whatever it is. I don't know what is wrong with me yet, but He does. He'll take care of me, I'm sure.
I think I'll try and lay down again.
God bless you all...
Brother Donnie
Monday, July 10, 2006
Home from the Hospital
Hey, I'm home...Tough day, man. I guess some of you have heard that I ended up in the hospital last night. I have been having recurring episodes of chest pain, shortness of breath, etc., for the last six months or so. Well, Sunday it got to be pretty bad. Now I'm not one to go running off to the doctor very often, or very easily. During church yesterday evening, I could barely play, sing or do much of anything. I even cut the sermon short because my breath was pretty labored and my chest hurt very badly. By the time we got home about ten, I had my wife take me to the ER. They admitted me and today I had a heart catheterization. Thank God, after three different EKG's and the cath, there is no evidence of any heart attacks. They are not sure yet what is causing the pain, but we have eliminated my hear as the culprit. The doctors say that often gall bladder problems can mimic heart pain. So the next thing to be tested is that and my stomach, which is also giving me problems. Tomorrow I have to schedule an upper g.i. and some other things. I may have u;cers, and likely have some problems with acid reflux. They think stress could play a role in it. Stress? Me? One can scarcely imagine. Obviously my high blood pressure problems, and my weight problems, not to mention terrible eating habits, play a big role in the troublke. I'm going to start rearranging my eating habits. I want to get in better condition so I can work easier, and enjoy life a little more with my family.
I give all the glory and honor to God in all this. I know He has protected me from a major heart problem. I really thought I was having a heart attack. Thank God, I didn't.
Also thanks to anyone who heard and said a prayer for me. And thanks to my lovely wife, Marsha Renee, who was beside me every step, as always. Without her prayers and support I'm afraid I wouldn't amount to much. Also my daughter Haley for her prayers, and baby Tater, just for being herself.
God bless you all...
Brother Donnie
I give all the glory and honor to God in all this. I know He has protected me from a major heart problem. I really thought I was having a heart attack. Thank God, I didn't.
Also thanks to anyone who heard and said a prayer for me. And thanks to my lovely wife, Marsha Renee, who was beside me every step, as always. Without her prayers and support I'm afraid I wouldn't amount to much. Also my daughter Haley for her prayers, and baby Tater, just for being herself.
God bless you all...
Brother Donnie
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Happy 4th of July!!!
I love this day! It's always one of my favorite days of the year. Of course I love my country, and for all it's warts, I am so glad to be here, but there are a lot of other reasons I love this day.
1.) I love to see stuff blow up. I like explosions any way, but pretty explosions? Oh, yeah!
2.) I am a fire bug. Yes, yours truly, Pastor Estep, is a bonafide, certified FIRE BUGG!! I love to light fires...trash fires, fireplace fires, I love to light charcoal (otherwise I'd take the easy way out and get a gas grill), I love to light candles, fireworks...man, you name it. The fourth is hardly the fourth until I've burned myself one good time.
3.) My wife's dad always throws a huge cookout/picnic on the family farm on this day. We get to hang around lots of family and church friends, and it's just really nice. People, after all, are among my favorite things. Plus we don't have to buy any presents.
4.) I love it at the end of the night when a whole bunch of us get in vans and pick-ups and go to the big park at Lake Reba in Richmond to watch the fireworks show. It's a huge deal with lots of people, and concession trailer(which could legitamately be reason #5...I love anything that is deep fried behind a concession trailer...especially great big corn dogs...mmmm, corn dogs...). The fireworks show there gets bigger and better every year. I love to sit on the grass or the bed of a pick-up, next to my wife and baby girls and watch the fireworks. I'm like a little kid when that stuff goes off. I like to see the look in my daughters' faces or see the reflection in my wife's beautiful eyes as I steal a glance at what I'm certain is the most beautiful face I've ever seen, (followed at some slight distance by our daughters Haley and Taylor, in no particular order. Man am I in love with Marsha Renee. And Haley Renee. And Taylor Nicole. God has blessed me with an amazing and wonderful family. That's really the best thing about this day. We spend it together. That makes any day special.
In addition to all that, I must say that it is pretty great to live in the United States. I've lived across seas, in the Philippines. That was an incredible experience. I love that place, and hope to go back some day. A beautiful country, filled with wonderful, precious people. But I most say it was a great comfort while there to go by any place where the American flag was flown. An embassy, or one of the military installations. It was an awesome thing to see my country's flag flying over foreign soil. It let us know that our country had a presence there, and it helped us to fel safe. I saw a lot over there, even as a child that has helped shape who I am. I'm thankful for that experience and for some life-long friends from there, like the Orcino's.
At any rate, I'm very glad to be a Kentucky boy from the U S of A. It's a blessing, in my book.
God bless...
Brother Donnie
1.) I love to see stuff blow up. I like explosions any way, but pretty explosions? Oh, yeah!
2.) I am a fire bug. Yes, yours truly, Pastor Estep, is a bonafide, certified FIRE BUGG!! I love to light fires...trash fires, fireplace fires, I love to light charcoal (otherwise I'd take the easy way out and get a gas grill), I love to light candles, fireworks...man, you name it. The fourth is hardly the fourth until I've burned myself one good time.
3.) My wife's dad always throws a huge cookout/picnic on the family farm on this day. We get to hang around lots of family and church friends, and it's just really nice. People, after all, are among my favorite things. Plus we don't have to buy any presents.
4.) I love it at the end of the night when a whole bunch of us get in vans and pick-ups and go to the big park at Lake Reba in Richmond to watch the fireworks show. It's a huge deal with lots of people, and concession trailer(which could legitamately be reason #5...I love anything that is deep fried behind a concession trailer...especially great big corn dogs...mmmm, corn dogs...). The fireworks show there gets bigger and better every year. I love to sit on the grass or the bed of a pick-up, next to my wife and baby girls and watch the fireworks. I'm like a little kid when that stuff goes off. I like to see the look in my daughters' faces or see the reflection in my wife's beautiful eyes as I steal a glance at what I'm certain is the most beautiful face I've ever seen, (followed at some slight distance by our daughters Haley and Taylor, in no particular order. Man am I in love with Marsha Renee. And Haley Renee. And Taylor Nicole. God has blessed me with an amazing and wonderful family. That's really the best thing about this day. We spend it together. That makes any day special.
In addition to all that, I must say that it is pretty great to live in the United States. I've lived across seas, in the Philippines. That was an incredible experience. I love that place, and hope to go back some day. A beautiful country, filled with wonderful, precious people. But I most say it was a great comfort while there to go by any place where the American flag was flown. An embassy, or one of the military installations. It was an awesome thing to see my country's flag flying over foreign soil. It let us know that our country had a presence there, and it helped us to fel safe. I saw a lot over there, even as a child that has helped shape who I am. I'm thankful for that experience and for some life-long friends from there, like the Orcino's.
At any rate, I'm very glad to be a Kentucky boy from the U S of A. It's a blessing, in my book.
God bless...
Brother Donnie
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