Pastor Tony's BlogPastor Tony's Bloghttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010-07-14T18:13:20ZSquarespaceKristen and Jeremiahhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/7/14/kristen-and-jeremiah.htmlTony Buchanan2010-07-14T18:09:03Z2010-07-14T18:09:03ZWell it's official.  My baby girl is engaged to be married.  I have both prayed for this moment and dreaded this moment for many years.  Jeremiah is a fine Christian young man who has been called to ministry.  In fact, he is taking his final college class on-line and will have a Bachelors in Youth Ministry.  Kristen will graduate in December from UAFS which will also be the month the two of them get married.  I would ask my church family to be in prayer for them (and for me).  

]]>Update on Ediehttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/6/28/update-on-edie.htmlTony Buchanan2010-06-28T19:50:55Z2010-06-28T19:50:55ZEdie is doing much better today.  The doctor was thrilled with her progress.  The blood work confirming some type of tick illness will not be back for a while, but since the medicine in making her better he is confident that that is what it is.  This medicine really only treats tick illnesses.  He said today that he suspects it is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  Thank you all so much for all the prayers, calls, and messages.  We love you all dearly.  Hallelujah, What a Savior!

]]>Prayerhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/6/28/prayer.htmlTony Buchanan2010-06-28T14:37:55Z2010-06-28T14:37:55ZHere are some things that I am praying for this morning:

1.  Edie's health.  We has seen great improvement over the past couple of days.  To God be the Glory!  Blood work should be back today (Monday) or tomorrow.  Dr. appt at 1:00pm

2.  New Mexico mission team.  We have about 32 missionaries there now.  

3.  Youth in Texas.  Drew and a few youth have joined Zach on a mission trip.  

4.  Our church during transition.

5.  The McLamb family.  IMB missionaries to Peru.  They will change assignments and need direction.

6.  There are several names of folks suffering with sickness and disease.  I'll not mention their names on this blog, but I am praying for them.

Please join me as I pray for these.  

 

]]>I miss this!!!!http://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/6/2/i-miss-this.htmlTony Buchanan2010-06-02T21:14:58Z2010-06-02T21:14:58ZLast week, Edie and I went to Stu and Sarah's house for the "thank-you" party for the children's workers.  We enjoyed the fellowship and food.  We stayed after everyone left (typical for us) and started watching the finale of American Idol.  At one point, Emily got a quilt and climbed up in my lap and Caroline did the same with Edie.  It has been a long time since I had kids small enough to sit in my lap.  Honestly, I wanted time to stand still. It was as sweet as it gets.   I love my children being grown, but every now and then, I miss them being little.  Thanks Emily and Caroline for sharing that special time with Miss Edie and me.  We will never forget it.

 

 

]]>Bless Lavaca Dayhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/5/10/bless-lavaca-day.htmlTony Buchanan2010-05-10T15:07:55Z2010-05-10T15:07:55ZThanks for all who helped in making our "Bless Lavaca Day" a complete success.  It was an awesome day and a real blessing to many.  

]]>A Disciple of Jesus Christhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/5/5/a-disciple-of-jesus-christ.htmlTony Buchanan2010-05-05T15:56:49Z2010-05-05T15:56:49ZWell, it sure has been a while since my last post.  Sorry!

For the past few weeks I've been studying what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  I've read and am reading books on the topic. (The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Radical by David Platt,  Crazy Love by Francis Chan) Mostly, however, I'm searching the Word of God.  Jesus said some strange things about being a true disciple.  Here's a couple of them:  "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23,NASB); If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26, NASB).  If we believe the Bible is true and without error (and we do), then we must believe what Jesus said is right.  Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is more than church attendance.  It's complete surrender. Bonhoeffer said, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."  Are we willing to pay the price for becoming a disciple or are we good with casual Christianity?  A frightening question indeed?

]]>Back to Abnormalhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/1/12/back-to-abnormal.htmlTony Buchanan2010-01-12T16:16:15Z2010-01-12T16:16:15ZAs I was preparing to come to the church this morning, a weird feeling came over me as I was leaving the house.  Josh returned to OBU yesterday, Kristen left for an early class this morning, Edie was already at work, mom is back in her apartment and I felt alone.  Not like God's presence had left me alone, but empty house alone.  I said out loud, "everything is back to normal."  Then I realized that Josh being gone, Kristen finishing college is not the normal.  It is the abnormal (for me).  Life is changing!.  I speak of it often.  I'm learning a new "normal."  I love the changes and I dislike the changes.  I miss little kids and I love having older kids.  I miss little league and am so glad we're past it.  I love Josh being home and know its good for him to be gone.  I'm not even thinking about what the next year will bring for my little girl.  I have no normal.  God spoke to me in this moment that He will never change!

]]>Creation by Christ and for Christhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/1/9/creation-by-christ-and-for-christ.htmlTony Buchanan2010-01-09T23:55:19Z2010-01-09T23:55:19ZI have been studying the details of creation for several weeks. My Sunday night messages this month are the fruits of that study.  With this topic ever before me, I remembered a verse of Scripture that added  some perspective.  "For by Him (Jesus) all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him." (Col. 1:16, NASB) This marvelous creation was for the glory of Jesus!  

]]>2009-2010http://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2010/1/1/2009-2010.htmlTony Buchanan2010-01-01T17:06:04Z2010-01-01T17:06:04ZI can hardly believe another year has come and gone.  Seems like yesterday that the Y2K scare dominated our attention.  2009 brought many blessings to our family and also some challenges.  Josh graduated high school (blessing), then left for college (challenge) in the fall.  We are getting used to it, but we sure miss him.  Kristen is getting really close to graduating with her history degree.  She is praying about whether her next move will be seminary or teaching.  Edie was certified as a teacher in Arkansas and was hired in the Lavaca Schools system.  She loves working there.  My mom is recovering from her stroke and is getting better.  In fact, last night she slept, for the first time, in her apartment upstairs.  My grandmother went home to be with the Lord last year.  She was my last remaining grandparent.  As for my ministry, disciple-making took center stage.

2010 will bring lots of opportunity.  Disciple-making, missions trips, family, fun, fishing, etc.  Also, there will be challenges this year just like all the previous years.  The one thing I know is that God will guide us.  Happy New Year!

]]>Happy Thanksgivinghttp://www.firstlavaca.com/tony/2009/11/25/happy-thanksgiving.htmlTony Buchanan2009-11-26T01:32:50Z2009-11-26T01:32:50ZEdie, Kristen, Josh and I would like to wish our church family a very happy Thanksgiving.  We love you all!

]]>