Reality Outreach Ministries

Dwayne and Renee Corbin, U.S. Ministry President/Team came to the sleepy little town of Mena, Arkansas and it changed my life. I have never been a part of anything as rewarding as working with this wonderful Christian family that is so dedicated to bringing people to Jesus.

To be in the production of Heaven’s Gates & Hell’s Flames, you have to dedicate some time but it is well worth it. There was a lot of praying, learning lines and practicing involved. We started on a Saturday in the morning at 9 a.m. and was at Church all day, praying, reading our lines and practicing, then we went home memorized our lines and came back Sunday, sang worship songs, prayed and practiced for our show that started Sunday night at 7 p.m., again all day, then had another show Monday and Tuesday.

I have to say, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. It’s more fun than fishing (and I love to go fishing), going to a water park, or anything, I can think of. It was very rewarding to watch people accept Jesus into their lives. And I have grown spiritually as well. There is a lot of prayer involved to be a part of Heaven’s Gates & Hell’s Flames. It also brought our Church closer together. I would recommend every Church to reach out to Reality Outreach Ministries and book them to come to your Church. Honestly, I don’t want them to leave.

https://realityoutreach.org/

Heaven’s Gates & Hell’s Flames

The production Heaven’s Gates & Hell’s Flames is in our sleepy little town of Mena, Arkansas and when they arrived and asked for people to be in the production, to be honest, I really didn’t want to be in it, but since there wasn’t many people I was chosen to be in more than one scene, but I sure am glad I was picked.

But I have to say in the first scene, I have to beat Jesus up and nail him to the cross. Do you know how hard it is to beat the man up that died for all of our sins? And even worse, to nail the man responsible for all us to be able to enter Heaven to the cross? And even worse than that stab Jesus with a spear, which is the reason he dies. I’d much rather be in my Christian family scene.

But it is so rewarding seeing people accept Jesus into their lives as their Savior. It’s like nothing I have ever been a part of and frankly, I don’t want it to end. We have two more nights of the production. I pray that there are so many people tonight and tomorrow night that they stay for more nights, we’ll see.

Heaven’s Gates & Hell’s Flames is life changing for the people in the production and the people being saved. If you get a chance I encourage you to be involved in it in your Church.

My Cup Runneth Over

I have been strengthening my walk with Jesus and spending more time building a relationship with him (my wife and I have joined the Church, my wife and I have been reading our Bibles, daily, and I have been praying more) and I can see small miracles being performed everyday.

I commute 1 hour and 45 minutes one way to work and the road I travel is heavily populated with deer. I pray that the deer stay on their side of the road and they have. I have passed deer right on the shoulder of the road. I try to slow down and move over to the other lane, if it is possible. I pray for my safety when I travel to and from work and the last few months have seen a lot of rain and thunderstorms to include hail, strong winds and sometimes tornadoes. And God is looking out for me, whether that means my boss sending me a message to work from home, or the storms along my way dissipating and weakening, missing me, or me being allowed to adjust my time to travel to and from work, whatever the case may be God is taking care of me.

Our Pastor at Church is also leaving and we’ll be looking for a new one. God put it on my heart to be a part of the committee to search for a new Pastor and I didn’t tell anyone about this feeling to be a part of this committee, but one of the Deacons unexpectedly asked if I wanted to be on the pulpit committee. It was such a welcomed surprise and an honor to be nominated, God certainly works in mysterious ways. While I don’t want to lose the current Pastor we have, I certainly don’t want to stand in the way of God’s will and I look forward to helping find a Pastor to fill the void of losing the current one.

I feel blessed beyond measure, my cup is definitely running over and I believe the more time you spend getting to know Jesus, reading your Bible, spending time at Church, attending Church events, helping when you can, and praying the more you will be blessed. And I feel Blessed!

Fourth of July Weekend

My wife and I hosted some friends this Fourth of July weekend. Our friends came from Virginia, on their way to Colorado. They were our neighbors in Germany, where Greg and I would sing old country songs and have a few beers. I was concerned that our friendship would take on a new dynamic since I don’t drink nearly as much as I did in Germany, more on that later.

First, we took them to Parrot Island Waterpark in Fort Smith, my wife promised our kids we would go. I wasn’t totally sold on the idea of taking them there. I wanted to show them some more local areas of beauty, but it turned out to be a very good time swimming and floating down Crocodile Creek or Lazy River. Oh and Greg even tried his luck on the new attraction, Flow Rider. http://parrotislandwaterpark.com/attractions/

The next day, Saturday, we showed them Little Missouri Falls. It was beautiful, however, when we arrived it was raining so we decided to eat at one of the park benches in hopes that the rain would pass. We thought we would ride out the thunderstorm in the van and when it let up we proceeded to walk to Little Missouri Falls. We got wetter walking to and from the Falls than we did in the Falls, but it made for a funny story that we will never forget. http://www.exploretheozarksonline.com/activities/parksnature/nationalforests/ouachita/caddowomble/littlemissourifalls.html

Greg and I also got up early Saturday morning and went fishing at an undisclosed location. Greg had his line broken by a monster bass, another “the one that got away” story.

Sunday, we got up early and went back fishing to try our luck on finding this poor fish with a lure stuck in it’s mouth only this time we tried our luck in a flat-bottom boat that conveniently just happened to be there (I’m glad we didn’t tip over.) We were able to fish different aspects of the pond and I “hooked” the biggest fish I have ever seen. I reeled it to the boat side twice and Greg couldn’t grab it before the monster broke straightened out my swivel and swam away. I didn’t even get a picture of this mammoth bass and no one probably even believes me. But I’ll dream of catching this fish again, and I will certainly attempt to soon.

Then we went to bible study and Church and took them to see Queen Wilhelmina State Park, where we rode the miniature model train modeled after the original Glory Train.

https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/parks/queen-wilhelmina-state-park

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arkansas/ar-mountain-glory-train-ride-mountain-glory-train-ride/

We had a great time enjoying the beautiful view that is literally right in my backyard. And we had a great time even if I wasn’t partaking in having a few drinks. My friend stated he hasn’t had that much fun in a quite a while and I have to agree even without a few beers.

God Is Working Within Us

As we celebrate this fourth of July, I wanted to share with you the change that is occurring within my life.

My wife met some very nice people at the Holly Springs Homestead and they invited us to their Church. I was reluctant at to go at first, probably the devil making his case that I didn’t need to or want to go, but we attended the Church. Soon, we started attending Church events, gatherings and even various occasions to eat, Baptists like to eat and I could feel the Holy Spirit working inside me.

I noticed my wife reading her Bible every night. I would watch TV while she read and after about two months I started joining her, now we read the Bible together for about 30 0r 40 minutes a night. She has a plan inside her Bible; how to read the Bible in one year. http://firstbible.org/resources/helpfullinks/Bible%20Reading%20Chart-%20In%20One%20Year.pdf

We read the Bible every night, we attend Church every week and we pray. I pray several times a day, maybe five or six times and the difference it makes in my life is astonishing.

I want to share this scripture with you that I read last night:

Psalms 1:1 1. “Oh, the Joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. 4. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. 5. They will be condemned at the time of judgement. Sinners will have no place among the godly. 6. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction”, (Holy Bible, Gift & Award Edition, New Living Translation, Second Edition.)

This is so true. everything that I do now that I am improving my walk with Jesus, and getting to know him more, is better. I am more motivated at work. I am more organized at work. I am in a better mood. When I commute to work, I see deer quite frequently on my commute to work and sometimes they will be standing right beside the road looking like they would pounce right in my lane as I drive by, of course I slow down and get over into the left lane if I can, but they stay right in their tracks and that is something I pray about on a regular basis.

I have also been praying that the storms are not severe in our area, due to my commute to and from work and the last few weeks the weather has been very good. There was a tornado that didn’t completely form in Mena a few weeks ago, again something I frequently pray about.

When I pray, I ask to be able to hear God, to let me know the right path to take in life and I was having an un-pure thought and I instantly threw up in my mouth. The timing was remarkable. I told God, ok, you’ve got my attention. I am sorry.

Another time, My five-year old was really pushing my buttons and I told her to go in her room and we were arguing. I was overreacting, I was about to put her into her room and at that split moment there was a loud lightning and thunder and that was the only loud thunder and lightning of that storm. Again, I said ok, God you’ve got my attention. I’m sorry.

God is working in me and my wife’s lives and it is truly remarkable, and its my contention that my wife finds me more attractive because we are doing something together. Enjoy your fourth of July and join in on reading your Bible in one year.

The Big Bang Theory

“Scientists” would have you believe that first there was nothing. There was so much nothing there was something. There was so much nothing there was an incredible explosion and then the Earth formed, (The Big Bang Theory). I could go on and on and on about what scientists believe but I won’t instead I’ll try to relate the nothing story into something. This is going to be fun follow along with me.

A very long time ago there was this woman we’ll call her Mary. Mary lived in Mena, Arkansas and she was the only person that lived in Mena. There was absolutely nothing in Mena, except Mary. We’ll say Mary had an apartment to live in. She needs a bed right!

One night Mary went to bed, when Mary woke up she noticed this big building across the street from where Mary lived. When Mary went to bed there was nothing, when she woke up there was something. Mary was intrigued, so she went across the street to see what this new shiny building was. When Mary got there the people that worked there was waiting for her. They even knew her name. The big building that just appeared over night was a bank and the receptionist told Mary to go to a bank representative they had been waiting on her, now Mary is very curious. The representative tells Mary she has an account at the bank. Mary can’t figure out how or why, that she has this account, but she just does. The bank teller tells her she has 100 million dollars in that bank (you can insert your own number in there.)

One day there was nothing and the next day, there is a bank across the street from where Mary lives, not only is there a bank, let’s say there is a whole City in Mena with lots of stores, even a Wall-Mart, not only a bank and a Wall-Mart and other stores, but there are people and houses now. We’ll say that around 5,000 people live in Mena literally overnight. There was so much nothing that today there is something that is what scientists would have us believe.

I’ll just stick to believing in God, instead of a bunch of nothing. Mena sure is a nice place to live, especially when you believe in God.

God Opens Doors

My family and I just moved back to my hometown in Mena, Arkansas a little over 1 year ago. I wanted to move back home after retiring from the Military and spending over six years as a civilian. I thought it was time to be around my family and I missed the beautiful Arkansas countryside.

I work for the government and there are not many government jobs in Mena much less near Mena. I applied for many jobs. I feel like I am not a great interviewer and I was interviewing over the phone because we lived in Germany. I prayed about it many times, praying if it is God’s will that I would be hired, while reminding myself that I am on Gods schedule, not mine but I finally got hired in Arkansas, not in Mena, but close enough. I felt like if God gave me the opportunity to be hired that I should take it even if it is a long commute every day especially with all the competition for jobs and my interview skills.

Not only am I back living in my hometown around family, but we met some great people that invited us to their church. I was apprehensive at first, but after a few weeks we went and in a month or two we joined the church and it has been so awesome to be accepted by the congregation. I truly believe God sent us here for a reason, to be around family, to help out when called upon and to join this Church and to help them as well. God has a plan for us. I don’t know how this is going to end, but we’re just getting started.

My story may not be all that exciting, but I wanted to share it with you, so I could share a very exciting story how God opened up doors for Stephen Baldwin. This is an amazing story. It is long, and it starts out slow, but trust me it’s awesome. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdctQJHvpkI

The Perception of a Christian

I have this perception of a Christian and I have pretty high standards for Christians, it’s pretty much perfection. And maybe I need to work on that. We are going to make mistakes, we are not perfect, sometimes we may say a curse word (under our breath), we may overreact to a situation, or we may even get a ticket as long as we realize our shortcomings and work on changing them. It’s like having weaknesses. I have many. When you are in a job interview and are asked what are your weaknesses. I think the best thing is to state them (one of two, don’t offer up too many.) It shows that your cognizant of your weaknesses, you have identified your weaknesses and you are working on them to change them from weaknesses to strengths.

As a Christian, I believe in Christ. I am saved and I have asked God to forgive me of my sins. I believe (faith) when I die, I will live eternally in Heaven. I will strive to be a better person each day with strong morals and ethics. That’s the best we can do as Christians.

What is your perception of a Christian?

Lend a Helping Hand

Last Sunday, I got a phone call from my Cousin and she said that my Uncle was stranded on Oklahoma. His foot was swollen and he wasn’t able to drive back from a family reunion he was attending. She wanted to know if me or my wife could drive her up there and she would drive his car back.

I guess the devil was in my ear, but I didn’t really want to help, part of me wanted to push it off on my wife, but I changed clothes and went to pick up my Cousin so we could get my Uncle back home.

We drove to Clayton, Oklahoma and it was such a beautiful God-given day. We got a chance to talk and visit with each other. When we got there my Uncle had a flat tire on his car. Now, I’m really glad I went on this trip so I could not only get Allen back but I could change the tire on the car. I’m sure Allen’s brother and my wife could have changed the tire, but it wasn’t a problem for me to get the donut out of the car and change it.

I’m not trying to brag, but I think I had that tire changed in about 10 minutes or less. I followed them back and we took the Talihena drive back it was so beautiful and majestic. I’m really glad I didn’t listen to the devil and shirk this task off to my wife. I’m glad I went and lent a helping hand. I felt so good on the way back knowing I helped someone that needed me. I felt good for a couple of days.

The intent of this article is not to brag, but to remind you to help others out when given the opportunity. It was a special day for me and I made sure I didn’t forget how to change a tire.

The Power of Prayer

On Thursday, my wife called me and told me that a tornado was spotted in Mena and it was headed our way to take cover, so I got in the safest place I know in the house, the bath tub and I started praying for not only my safety, but our safety. The kids were at Church camp and my wife wasn’t home yet.

Another friend of mine, on Facebook, said that it took a few seconds for it to register, that it wasn’t noon on Wednesday, when she heard the sirens warning people in Mena.

I’m not going to lie, I was somewhat afraid, but I also knew that God had my back. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to me, unless it was time to call me home to heaven and that did comfort me.

God heard my prayer and the tornado didn’t fully develop. It could have been much worse than it was. I truly believe God heard me and possibly others praying and his hand was on that cloud. There definitely is strength in prayer.

https://www.fox16.com/news/local-news/watch-possible-tornado-caught-on-camera-near-mena/2059209529