Introducing John Carmer, US Navy, Retired, Eternal Brother in Christ

It is a real pleasure to introduce this good man to the GIBC website.  Since the first day I laid eyes on Bro. John Carmer, I knew he was a man of a kindred spirit.  He is my brother in Christ and fellow veteran.  Retired from the United States Navy, Bro. John has not had an easy go of it.  Life has been hard and the pressures have been great.  It is the same in the production of expensive perfumes and the formation of the best diamonds, both of which are metaphors for John Carmer.  John is faithful and unwavering.  I have every confidence in, and depend on His prayers.  John has been and continues to be a real blessing to GIBC.  He loves God’s Word not only in word, but in deed.  Chief Carmer is a man – a real man who would not desert his brothers under fire.  It is men like John Carmer we would not hesitate to occupy a foxhole with. Despite the pressures he faces daily, John is faithful and watches your back.  I am not ashamed to say I admire John Carmer.  He is my Brother in the Lord and I love Him.  There is nothing fake about him.  What you see is what you get – he is my friend and I am proud to introduce him in his debut to the church website.  If the Lord tarries John’s blessing to others will continue to increase as he has much more than mere words to offer.  I am honored and humbled that this man of God chooses to call me his pastor.  Sincerely, R.S. Brewer, Pastor

Man, I Really Love This BOOK!

By Brother John Carmer

Man, I really love this BOOK.  It is alive.  It talks to me every day of my life.  What BOOK is that that you are talking about? You may ask.  The King James Version of the Holy Bible would be my reply.  Here is a short explanation of what I am talking about.

On Sunday, August 28^th, 2005, I awoke with the feeling that there was no one in the world that really loved me - for me.  I felt that if I jumped into my truck and drove it off a cliff that no one would really care.  Oh sure, I knew that my wife Cora, would miss me when there was no longer a weekly paycheck to help her to continue living the life she had come to enjoy.  And I am sure that some of my coworkers would miss me when I was no longer there to help them with various problems that come up in a daily routine…Boy I was really having a real pity party and I had not even gotten out of bed yet.

Well I shoved myself out of bed and made it to the shower and cleaned some of the earthly filth off my body and got dressed.   I then started my normal daily routine.  After getting dressed, my daily routine consists of checking my “e” mail…checking my bank account to make sure no one has ripped me off, and then to study “The  Book”.  That morning I opened The Book to the book of PROVERBS chapter 3 and started reading.  As I got to Verse 11, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction” and verse 12 “For whom the lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighted.”

As I read these two verses I knew that there was someone who loved ME very much and he died for ME on the cross to wipe out all of my sins.  I knew that even if I had been the only sinner on the earth that he would have willingly gone to the cross for me. Man that sure is a “whole lotta love.”  As I continued on studying the book of PROVERBS chapter three, I had such big tears in my eyes that I could hardly read the words, but I knew that “THE BOOK” was talking to ME the same as it does almost every time I open it and study it. 

The book of 1 JOHN chapter one and verse 8 also has great meaning to me where GOD’S BOOK tells me, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  I lived my life for about 28 years without truth in me because I thought that there was no sin in me.  When I “heard” the message of salvation for the first time, at about the age of 28 I realized for the first time that most of my life up to that time was a sin…no not just a sin but 28 years of days of sins.  When I confessed my sin of unbelief at the cross that night some 37 years ago a great weight was lifted of my shoulders and realized the real meaning of 1 JOHN chapter 1 and verse 9 where GOD’S BOOK tells me that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I am sitting here at my computer at 1:30 AM on the 5^th of September after promising preacher on Sunday evening that I would get this thing done.  I was unable to get to sleep, so I figured that the best way to while away the time was to make good on the promise; so here it is for what it is worth.

Bro John Carmer