Here are some recent pictures...our kids are growing up fast!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Bussard Update
It has been awhile since the last update (surprise, surprise). Someday I will get to updating this thing regularly. I apologize to those who think we dropped off the face of the earth.
Much has happened since the last update. We went to Tennessee, for the last time for a while, at the end of July for Pastors' College. That week changed my life and God got a hold on my heart. When I was eighteen years old, God called me to full-time Christian service. Over the years I have felt the calling to be a pastor of a church. I went to Crown College and Seminary and am finally complete with my studies (other than life itself). This Pastors' College, the Lord moved on my heart to start looking for a church to pastor. Ever since that day, we have been moving forward with that. Sarah is all for the move and we are praying for God's will and, while we have a few open doors, we are still waiting for the Lord to give us a church.
It truly is hard to be patient, because you feel that God has called you to do something, and you want to do it NOW!! But through some wise counsel, the Lord has taught me to be patient and wait on His timing. We do not know when, where, or how this will come about, but, just like with Victory, we know that God's timing is perfect. We appreciate your prayers with us as we search for a church. Right now we are working with Dr. Charles Horton who has been very kind and gracious in assisting us. We are in kind of a lull time now and are just praying for God to work.
As far as other news, Phoebe is now four years old and out of the nursery! She has started attending Sunday School and really loves it. She is also learning Bible verses and becoming a smart little girl. Jimmy is now two and starting to talk a bit, while Andrea will be one in about one month. Andrea is crawling now and pulling herself up. She is off formula and eating easy to chew foods. All of our kids are growing up too fast!
The ministry at Victory is doing well and growing. We have added people to the church and the choir (which is a blessing), and will be working on Christmas music soon (once I can get the Cantata worked out). We had the Merrill family down for meetings throughout the week at the church. If you have never had these folks at your church, you should do so. They are genuine Christians who love the Lord and preach the Word. We were blessed to have them in our home and get to know them a bit; they were a great blessing. Pastor Wade has been preaching on Revival and teaching on Genesis on Wednesday Evenings, while we have been studying the lives of the twelve disciples in Sunday School. Thank you all for your prayers for us, please continue to do so as we seek God's will for our lives and look for a church to pastor.
Much has happened since the last update. We went to Tennessee, for the last time for a while, at the end of July for Pastors' College. That week changed my life and God got a hold on my heart. When I was eighteen years old, God called me to full-time Christian service. Over the years I have felt the calling to be a pastor of a church. I went to Crown College and Seminary and am finally complete with my studies (other than life itself). This Pastors' College, the Lord moved on my heart to start looking for a church to pastor. Ever since that day, we have been moving forward with that. Sarah is all for the move and we are praying for God's will and, while we have a few open doors, we are still waiting for the Lord to give us a church.
It truly is hard to be patient, because you feel that God has called you to do something, and you want to do it NOW!! But through some wise counsel, the Lord has taught me to be patient and wait on His timing. We do not know when, where, or how this will come about, but, just like with Victory, we know that God's timing is perfect. We appreciate your prayers with us as we search for a church. Right now we are working with Dr. Charles Horton who has been very kind and gracious in assisting us. We are in kind of a lull time now and are just praying for God to work.
As far as other news, Phoebe is now four years old and out of the nursery! She has started attending Sunday School and really loves it. She is also learning Bible verses and becoming a smart little girl. Jimmy is now two and starting to talk a bit, while Andrea will be one in about one month. Andrea is crawling now and pulling herself up. She is off formula and eating easy to chew foods. All of our kids are growing up too fast!
The ministry at Victory is doing well and growing. We have added people to the church and the choir (which is a blessing), and will be working on Christmas music soon (once I can get the Cantata worked out). We had the Merrill family down for meetings throughout the week at the church. If you have never had these folks at your church, you should do so. They are genuine Christians who love the Lord and preach the Word. We were blessed to have them in our home and get to know them a bit; they were a great blessing. Pastor Wade has been preaching on Revival and teaching on Genesis on Wednesday Evenings, while we have been studying the lives of the twelve disciples in Sunday School. Thank you all for your prayers for us, please continue to do so as we seek God's will for our lives and look for a church to pastor.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Pictures and More Pictures!
Andrea, our now 7 month old
Jimmy in one of his happy moments
Two beautiful girls...Sunday School and Church...
As most of you know, we are serving at Victory Baptist Church in Boonsboro, MD in various places in the ministry. Please pray for our church, as our pastor is the only one the church can support full-time. It is worth it, of course, but it is hard for myself and our youth pastor to have to work secular employment and at the church...effectively having two jobs. We enjoy it, don't get me wrong by any means, we just need your prayers. I would like to be doing something God gave me a gift to do, because it is what I enjoy! I would like to be teaching somewhere or even pastoring (if I didn't know that God wanted us at Victory), instead of being a cable technician. Despite what I would like to be doing, this is what we are doing, while waiting on God.
Victory has doubled its attendance since this time last year...praise the Lord! We are looking for many good years ahead. I do not foresee that our family is moving on from this church anytime soon; we are grateful to have a part in this church's restructuring. The people of the church are like family to us and are great to work with. We have had many join and get baptized this year and have seen God work in people's lives. The music ministry is growing as is the youth ministry; we are very excited. Thank you for your prayers.
Please pray for Sarah's parents, who are coming from New Hampshire to visit us next week! This is the first time they have been to MD to visit and will be the first time since we have been married that they will be in our church and see James' parents. We are looking forward to a good visit with them!
Victory has doubled its attendance since this time last year...praise the Lord! We are looking for many good years ahead. I do not foresee that our family is moving on from this church anytime soon; we are grateful to have a part in this church's restructuring. The people of the church are like family to us and are great to work with. We have had many join and get baptized this year and have seen God work in people's lives. The music ministry is growing as is the youth ministry; we are very excited. Thank you for your prayers.
Please pray for Sarah's parents, who are coming from New Hampshire to visit us next week! This is the first time they have been to MD to visit and will be the first time since we have been married that they will be in our church and see James' parents. We are looking forward to a good visit with them!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Happy Memorial Day!
We had a great Memorial Day service at Victory Baptist Church! Our attendance is increasing for both Sunday School and Morning Worship, but the great thing was that a young lady was baptized Sunday! We had a God-honoring patriotic service, where our servicemen were honored and the national anthem played. For all our problems, we still live in the greatest nation on Earth. If it stops be so, it is because we failed to do something about it! Anyway, we hope your Memorial Day was a great one! No pictures this time...we haven't taken any recently!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
More Pictures
Some more pictures for you...enjoy!
Phoebe on the way back from Tennessee
Phoebe on the way back from Tennessee
Victory Baptist Graduation Party
Well, if you've never seen our back yard...
Praise The Lord!
We thank the Lord for all his blessings He has given us this week. I found that my new schedule at Comcast is the one we were praying for and starts this coming Monday! This will be a blessing to our family, as it gives us a more normalized schedule and will allow us to help more in the church and our Sunday School class.
I want to thank the Lord for the country we live in and for our soldiers who fight for us. We live in a nation that is far from the Lord, but not lost. I believe that we need to stand as Christians and fight for our rights, especially today. We cannot just sit by and allow the nation die while we wait for Jesus to return. I expect Him to come back any time; but what if He does not come back during this generation and we pass a destroyed nation on to our children because we did nothing?!? Politics is not the answer, of course, but we do still live in this nation and should be the Americans and patriots God expects us to be!
Right now we live in a nation that is shifting from Humanism to Nature Worship! If you do not believe this, look at the rising oil prices and all that is being done in the name of "Global Hoax, er, Warming"! We are allowing the enviro-wackos take over the policies of the nation and cause our lives to be miserable. Do you know why? Because they are willing to stand up for what they believe in (however wrong it may be), while Christians (and conservatives in general) sit around and complain! It takes two minutes to pop up Internet Explorer and email your Senator and to encourage your friends to do the same! How far is this going to go before we wake up and actually do something about it?!? Ask yourself that question...and the following...
I want to thank the Lord for the country we live in and for our soldiers who fight for us. We live in a nation that is far from the Lord, but not lost. I believe that we need to stand as Christians and fight for our rights, especially today. We cannot just sit by and allow the nation die while we wait for Jesus to return. I expect Him to come back any time; but what if He does not come back during this generation and we pass a destroyed nation on to our children because we did nothing?!? Politics is not the answer, of course, but we do still live in this nation and should be the Americans and patriots God expects us to be!
Right now we live in a nation that is shifting from Humanism to Nature Worship! If you do not believe this, look at the rising oil prices and all that is being done in the name of "Global Hoax, er, Warming"! We are allowing the enviro-wackos take over the policies of the nation and cause our lives to be miserable. Do you know why? Because they are willing to stand up for what they believe in (however wrong it may be), while Christians (and conservatives in general) sit around and complain! It takes two minutes to pop up Internet Explorer and email your Senator and to encourage your friends to do the same! How far is this going to go before we wake up and actually do something about it?!? Ask yourself that question...and the following...
- Do I want the government regulating my thermostat?
- Do I want to be paying 5.00, 6.00, 7.00/gal of gasoline in the future?
- Do I want my heating bill to go up 300.00/yr because of a Cap and Trade System?
- Is it really that bad to misplace a few caribou so we can get our own resources?
- Why do we buy oil from people who hate us?
I think these are valid questions, because they have been brought up by our three candidates for the presidency (except 4 and 5). We have to do something folks...how far does it have to go before you do...?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Thank You To All!
We had a good, but tiring time in Tennessee and hit the ground running again when we got back to Maryland! Sometimes you can still be tired and have a good time, but it is good to have a couple of days to relax mid-week.
I was given the opportunity to preach last Sunday and the church gave us an ice cream social to celebrate my graduation. I want to thank everyone at Victory Baptist Church for their love and support for our family. We have been greatly blessed by helping in this church and look forward to the upcoming months (and maybe years), as the Lord allows. We really do not know how long God wants us at Victory, but we have a feeling that it will be a while yet. The Lord Jesus did not start His ministry until He was thirty years old, and I agree that most believers need to help in a church first, then start their own ministry. Not everyone can pastor a church right off the starting block! We also believe in leaving people behind to take up where you left off (aka: Teaching Others Also). I am not leaving Victory without training someone to take up the music and carry on from there; it is not biblical to do anything else!
I would like to thank everyone too who was praying for my upcoming schedule change with Comcast. As of right now, I am going to a Tues-Sat 7:30am-4:30pm shift, which is awesome! This will allow us to do so much more in the church and get some rest during the week! Having a day shift will allow for us to go to nursing home services once in a while and actually be at Sunday School gatherings. It may open up some other things in the future as well. This shift will take effect on 05/25/08; please continue praying that all continues as planned.
I was given the opportunity to preach last Sunday and the church gave us an ice cream social to celebrate my graduation. I want to thank everyone at Victory Baptist Church for their love and support for our family. We have been greatly blessed by helping in this church and look forward to the upcoming months (and maybe years), as the Lord allows. We really do not know how long God wants us at Victory, but we have a feeling that it will be a while yet. The Lord Jesus did not start His ministry until He was thirty years old, and I agree that most believers need to help in a church first, then start their own ministry. Not everyone can pastor a church right off the starting block! We also believe in leaving people behind to take up where you left off (aka: Teaching Others Also). I am not leaving Victory without training someone to take up the music and carry on from there; it is not biblical to do anything else!
I would like to thank everyone too who was praying for my upcoming schedule change with Comcast. As of right now, I am going to a Tues-Sat 7:30am-4:30pm shift, which is awesome! This will allow us to do so much more in the church and get some rest during the week! Having a day shift will allow for us to go to nursing home services once in a while and actually be at Sunday School gatherings. It may open up some other things in the future as well. This shift will take effect on 05/25/08; please continue praying that all continues as planned.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Master's Graduation!
After four long years, I was finally able to walk for my Master of Ministry degree. I thought that it took longer to become a Master of the Ministry, and that it did not come from academic studies, but oh well. I told some other folks, at least I am not a Master of the Divinity, at this point. The world would be in lots and lots of trouble. Borderline heresy aside, we are back from our trip to Knoxville, TN.
We arrived on Saturday Evening and stayed with Bob and Joyce Westervelt until Wednesday Morning. The entire trip was busy, tiring, but very worthwhile. We got to visit with many friends (very briefly most of the time), here some great messages, and graduate (which is the reason we went down!). God has truly blessed us with some good friends that we hope to keep for a long, long time. Here are some pictures from the trip. Thanks for looking!
Contemplating the meaning of mulch...
Bob, Joyce, Phoebe, and Myself at their house
We arrived on Saturday Evening and stayed with Bob and Joyce Westervelt until Wednesday Morning. The entire trip was busy, tiring, but very worthwhile. We got to visit with many friends (very briefly most of the time), here some great messages, and graduate (which is the reason we went down!). God has truly blessed us with some good friends that we hope to keep for a long, long time. Here are some pictures from the trip. Thanks for looking!
Contemplating the meaning of mulch...
My wonderful, supportive wife
Bob, Joyce, Phoebe, and Myself at their houseGraduation Video
As Promised...
Recently we were in Knoxville, TN for a brief visit, and I was confronted by a few friends about updating the blog. Well, here we go again! Now that I know people read this blog, we will keep it regularly updated. Sorry for the huge gap in Bussard history and thank you for keeping up with us! Here are some new posts, as promised!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Snow Day!
To all in Tennessee, be jealous, very jealous...we just got four inches of snow yesterday! It is all melting off today (25 degrees in the sun), but was beautiful to see. Phoebe and I went out and played in the snow for about an hour or so. She absolutely loved it! We were throwing snowballs and making really little snowmen. She had a blast!
We also decorated for Christmas this week. Our tree is put up and many festive decorations are around our house. Our family loves this time of year!
We are very busy at church as well. I am creating a Christmas Cantata (23rd) based upon the biblical account of Christmas and incorporating choir songs. It seems to be coming along very well, thankfully. We are also going Christmas caroling later this month as well as having a church Christmas party (16th). Sarah and I are in charge of all of these. We are praying that the Lord will use these for His glory and honor and that many will be saved through them. Hope you enjoy these pictures!
Our one month old, Andrea
We also decorated for Christmas this week. Our tree is put up and many festive decorations are around our house. Our family loves this time of year!
We are very busy at church as well. I am creating a Christmas Cantata (23rd) based upon the biblical account of Christmas and incorporating choir songs. It seems to be coming along very well, thankfully. We are also going Christmas caroling later this month as well as having a church Christmas party (16th). Sarah and I are in charge of all of these. We are praying that the Lord will use these for His glory and honor and that many will be saved through them. Hope you enjoy these pictures!
Our one month old, Andrea
Phoebe and Jimmy
Our beautiful snow
Sarah shoveling snow
Phoebe and her snowman
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
We Are Back Online!
Okay, we are going to try this whole blog thing one more time...
Since the last post, we have moved to Hagerstown, MD from Knoxville, TN! God led us back to my home area to serve at Victory Baptist Church in Boonsboro (near Hagerstown - Mapquest it). I am serving as Music Director and Sunday School Teacher of a young adults class. Sarah is very busy with three (yes, three) kids and is the Church Organist/Pianist! Phoebe is the Church Socialite and keeps abreast on everything and everyone. Jimmy is, well, Jimmy, but he is happy!
Are newest addition to the family is Andrea Grace Bussard. She was born at 3:15am on 10/21/07. She is now one month old and doing great. Included are a few pictures of Andrea and the kids. I will do my best to post often to keep everyone updated. The Lord is working! Thank you for your prayers!
Since the last post, we have moved to Hagerstown, MD from Knoxville, TN! God led us back to my home area to serve at Victory Baptist Church in Boonsboro (near Hagerstown - Mapquest it). I am serving as Music Director and Sunday School Teacher of a young adults class. Sarah is very busy with three (yes, three) kids and is the Church Organist/Pianist! Phoebe is the Church Socialite and keeps abreast on everything and everyone. Jimmy is, well, Jimmy, but he is happy!
Are newest addition to the family is Andrea Grace Bussard. She was born at 3:15am on 10/21/07. She is now one month old and doing great. Included are a few pictures of Andrea and the kids. I will do my best to post often to keep everyone updated. The Lord is working! Thank you for your prayers!
The newest addition to the Bussard family: Andrea Grace
A very proud big sister
No caption needed
One month old already!
Jimmy (now 14 months) and Andrea (1 month)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Well...You Know...
Of all the things that we have to do, keeping up with something like this is probably the hardest. I guess we are just lazy too...Anyway, sorry for the long wait, for anyone who still reads this thing. Many things have happened since the last posting (I would hope...):
01. I have been promoted from Tier 1 to Tier 2 High-Speed Internet Technician for Comcast
02. Phoebe and Jimmy are growing, like weeds, and are learning much.
03. I have completed my Spurgeon class, finally, and only have the thesis, internship, and Pastor's College left.
04. Many other things that escape my mind right now
We are still in Knoxville and probably not moving this year due to circumstances, but the Lord knows and will move us in His time. I am still at Comcast, Phoebe is still potty training, and Jimmy is working on crawling. More will probably follow, but I wanted to at least update with this. Have a good night!
01. I have been promoted from Tier 1 to Tier 2 High-Speed Internet Technician for Comcast
02. Phoebe and Jimmy are growing, like weeds, and are learning much.
03. I have completed my Spurgeon class, finally, and only have the thesis, internship, and Pastor's College left.
04. Many other things that escape my mind right now
We are still in Knoxville and probably not moving this year due to circumstances, but the Lord knows and will move us in His time. I am still at Comcast, Phoebe is still potty training, and Jimmy is working on crawling. More will probably follow, but I wanted to at least update with this. Have a good night!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Yahoo Answers!
I discovered something pretty cool the other day called Yahoo Answers on the Internet. It is a website where you can post questions and have other people give you their best (or not so best) answers on the subject and vice-versa. I have not posted questions yet, but have been helping people with some answers. It is a good way for me to keep sharp on biblical things as there are a lot of people with questions about God and the Bible. Whether they listen or not is up to them, but I feel it is a good way to get the Word out and help people. So far it is going very well. Check out some of my answers by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Hope everyone is well!
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Baby!
No, the baby is not ours...thankfully, but my brother Justin and his wife Riley had their baby at 9:00pm on 12/30/06. His name is Jeremiah Samuel Bussard and is 6lbs 9oz and 20in long. He has black hair and dark blue eyes! Both mother and baby are doing great and should be home in a few days. This baby is the third grandchild for my mom and dad (who must feel like they are getting old by now). These pictures were taken with our new Canon a540 digital camera, which the Lord allowed us to get at a very good price! Our old Fuji Finepix camera started formatting our memory cards, so we decided to get another one (more out of need than anything, because of the kids). This camera is a 6.0 mgpx with video mode and sound! My dad has had this model for six months now and loves it, so we decided to try it. Anyway, please pray for Justin, Riley, and Jeremiah as they embark on the journey of life and parenting. They need the Lord's help with this new responsibility and our encouragement. Here are a few pictures...talk to you later!
Justin, Jeremiah, Jimmy, and Phoebe
Riley and Jeremiah
Justin, Jeremiah, Jimmy, and Phoebe
Cute new baby!
Riley and Jeremiah
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Merry Christmas!
To everyone from our family, we hope you have a blessed and merry Christmas holiday. You don't need a lecture about needing to remember Christ at Christmas; I think that has been said to most of us already. What I do need to say is that I appreciate each and every one of your prayers and value your friendship and love. This year has been the leanest Christmas for us due to circumstances (considering material things), but we have been reminded that we are truly rich in the Lord. Thank you for staying with us through the tough times and having faith that we are following and seeking the Lord's path for our lives. It has not been an easy year, not by far, but God has brought us through. When we have fallen, He has raised us up; when we needed Him, He is always there. As the apostle Paul stated, "Brethren, pray for us..." we are facing some important decisions in the near future and need God's provision more than ever. But, as ever, "Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever..." and we are thankful that it does...
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Doing Well...
Thank you for all who prayed for me to get this new job at Comcast. I am in my third day of training and loving the company more and more. I learned that Comcast is the largest cable/internet provider in the nation and has 22 million customer nationwide. We also have over thirty call centers all over the United States. It was started in 1963 and has grown exponentially since then. I am working in the HSI (High-Speed Internet) department as a Tier I HSI Rep and am excited about the things going on here! The company is run off the principle of supporting the people who work here and making the products work for the customer. We also have a dress code of business casual attire and in-center VP emphasizes character and common sense daily. Many opportunities will open up in the future (after I work in HSI for six months) that will supply us with more money and I am excited to see what the Lord has for us. I am hoping to train to become a service technician as it will actually give me some experience in that trade, which can be helpful anywhere. But, again, thank you for your prayers...I love it here and hope to continue enjoying my employment...
Friday, December 01, 2006
Our Little "Helper"
God has given us many wonderful things in our lives. One of the best being Phoebe. She has blossomed, virtually overnight, into a little helper. She loves to do things that are actually helpful, like putting away dirty and clean laundry as well as entertaining her brother. Here are a couple pictures of her helping with Thanksgiving.
Helping with Thanksgiving's Peanut Butter Pie.Cleaning Up is the fun part.
New Job!
Sorry about the lack of posts, life has been busy lately...I know, no excuse. Anyway, I finally got a call yesterday finalizing my employment with Comcast, praise the Lord! I am going to be a Tier 1 Tech Support Rep, helping people with their technical issues. Eventually I will be able to work up to a Tier 2, meaning more pay and responsibility, but I am excited to learn more about the field. My last day at Cracker Barrel is tomorrow, which I am excited about to, with some reserve of course. I know, though, that this is the Lord's will. There are so many benefits to going to Comcast that I cannot list them all, but at the top is that ability to see my family more. I will miss the friends I have made at Cracker Barrel and will never forget the lessons God has taught our family through working there. Please pray for us as we go through this transition and praise the Lord for answering prayer!
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