100 entries!!!

I have officially reached my goal of 100 blog entries for the year!!! Yeah!!! I know not all of them have been actual thoughts of mine but I have tried to at least put something interesting on the blog each time. For example...check out this video that was played at Newspring during their Christmas series...good stuff...

Christmas Opener: Just Come Home from NewSpring Production on Vimeo.

Advent-Christmas Eve

The final Advent devotion this year was not one that I wrote out but is one we talked about at our Christmas Eve service.

Luke 2:41-52
41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.
43And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,
44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.
46After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." 49And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?"
50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.
51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

At a very early age Jesus showed that His life was all about ministry. To Him ministry was listening to the Father and doing what He said. Jesus gives us some simple commands. Love God and others. Make disciples. Sometimes we try to make life waaaaay too complicated. Everything boils down to those simple things. Life is ministry. You may not be in a paid position somewhere but as a believer in Jesus Christ you are a minister. Listen to Him and do what He says.

The Promise-Advent #4

The Promise

Luke 2:25-33 (English Standard Version)
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;30for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."
33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.

Devotion
God is the keeper of His promises. If God says it then it must be true. It may be hard for some people to wrap their minds around those statements. After many disappointments in life it becomes easy to not trust anyone. Broken promises can harden our hearts towards people and even toward God.
Simeon lived a long time with only a promise to hang on to. The promise was he would one day see with his own eyes the salvation of the Lord. We don’t know how long he waited but we do know that eventually God fulfilled His promise.
No matter what anyone else says, we serve a perfect, all-knowing, faithful God. He always keeps His promises. He always has and He always will. He is not like anyone else.
Jesus said, “I am with you always.”
Jesus said, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”
This advent season we celebrate a God who refuses to leave us by ourselves and who promises that one day we will see Him face to face. We can believe these promises and because of this we can celebrate with hope, joy, peace, and love.
Let us listen to the promises of Jesus this season and know they are true.

Prayer:
Dear Father, Help me to be like Simeon, a person who is so excited about seeing you that no matter how long it takes for You to return, I can wait with a sense of eager anticipation. I pray that You will help me to wait in such a way that I don't ever become ho-hum, callused, or just give lip service to Your return. I also pray that You will use me as you did Simeon, to be an example to others. I ask that You give me the desire to be a "righteous" and "devout" person, and that others will recognize those qualities, benefit by my actions, and as a result come to a saving knowledge of Your Son, Jesus. Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness, Your promises, for loving me unconditionally, and always being with me. Help me to be a "light" for You as I eagerly wait for Your return.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.
(prayer written by Rev. Jim Crouse)

world of adventure

I love this picture!!!! Right now it is the background on my computer. Others have seen it and love it also. It's just a really cool picture. However, today I realized that there's more to it than that.

At 3 years old my daughter has a lifetime of adventure and opportunity ahead of her. She will test some waters.
There will be times when she will dive right in.
There will be moments when the waves will be over her head.
There will be beauty.
There will be noise.
There will be places to go.

Through it all she will have a daddy that is right behind her.
Encouraging her.
Supporting her.
Loving her.
Watching her.
Enjoying the moments.
Guarding her.
Laughing with her.

I love being a dad. It seems like when I start having those overwhelming paternal feelings God taps me on the shoulder and says, "You're my child too."

Wow! Thank you God for always loving,
always encouraging,
always guarding,
always supporting,
always watching,
always being God.

Tiger Woods

Everywhere you turn lately everyone seems to be reporting on Tiger Woods and his family. You hear more about them than what's going on in the Middle East with Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc...

I have to admit that I am becoming more and more frustrated. I don't really want to hear any more about it but every time I check the news there seems to be a new development that they can not wait to tell me about.

Then today I found the following two posts on one of my favorite blogs.
Here's the first one that brought back some memories of several years ago.

Now read the followup to that. I think we all need to read this one from time to time.

Wow! We all need a savior! This Christmas we celebrate His birth! Thank you, LORD!!!!!

The Community-Advent #3

Luke 2:8-20 (English Standard Version)
The Shepherds and the Angels

"8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."

Devotion
One angel’s announcement made way for a host of angels praising God together. The news they shared that night was given to a group of individuals. Shepherds knew what it meant to be together. They worked together and ate together. They lived life, one day at a time, together. So when they received the good news that a Savior was born they immediately went to find Him and worship Him…together.

The Bible calls the church “the Body of Christ.” We can only be a body if we have many, multi-varied members. Raising our different voices together is to follow the example of the angels in a Holy Activity.

Together God uses us to bring glory to Himself. It may be in song, in corporate prayer, or even through lending a helping hand. Together we can celebrate this advent season by encouraging each other towards our Lord and Savior just as the shepherds did that starry night long ago.

Prayer-

Father God,

During this Christmas season may you instill in us a spirit of oneness that speaks to our love for you and bring glory to your name. As the body of Christ may you give us the vision to look beyond our personal needs, problems and opinions in order to see into the hearts and lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Show us how to encourage one another on towards love and good deeds, and may we do it as long as it's called today. Help us to remember that how we love and encourage one another is our greatest testimony to an unbelieving world.

In Jesus Name we pray,

Amen.
(prayer by Rev. Ken Latimore)

Way too many...

Romans 10:14-17 (New American Standard Bible)

"14How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

15How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!"

16However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?"

17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ."

There are way too many people dying without knowing Christ. Sometimes we don't say anything because we label ourselves by what we think we are NOT.

Not a preacher.
Not an evangelist.
Not outgoing.
Not good in front of people.
Not one to intrude into other people's lives.

There are way too many people dying without knowing Christ.

We do our best every week to present the Word of God in a way that people can come to know Him or know Him better. Who have you invited to church lately? You may not be any of the things listed above but you can invited someone.
You CAN encourage someone.
You CAN point towards Christ.
You CAN bring someone to church.
You CAN overcome the excuses.
You CAN make disciples of those around you that God has placed there.

There are way too many people dying without knowing Christ!

Florida Christmas

Do these pics really need a description? It's Christmas in Florida!!!

The Message-Advent #2

The Message
Luke 1:26-38 (English Standard Version)

26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"
35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. 36And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God." 38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Have you ever felt honored and humbled all at the same time? From the first words of Gabriel’s message to the end Mary was informed that an impossible event was about to fall on her. She had been chosen to carry the Holy Son of God. How overwhelming, especially for such a young girl!

Every parent knows how huge the task is. How do I make sure this child is healthy? Am I feeding him enough? Is she getting enough tummy time? Is he sleeping too much? Is he sleeping too little? I’m sure Mary had all of these questions and more.

But Gabriel also offered words of assurance.
“The Lord is with you.”
“He will be great.”
“Nothing will be impossible with God.”

The message Gabriel poured into Mary was one of an overwhelming task surrounded by an almighty God.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 28 to “go and make disciples.” Our task is overwhelming. Our minds and hearts fill with questions. Where? How? When? But Jesus goes on to say “I am with you always.” This is not a task we figure out on our own. It is a lifestyle that happens while walking with our Lord and Savior.

What is the message you hear God telling you this Christmas Season? Whatever God is calling you to this season do not forget the Almighty God is with you.

Prayer-
Our Father,
Our lesson today is a link in the chain of promise. It assures us that we, too, have a job to do. While our task may seem overwhelming we are reminded that You are with us. Just as You prepared Mary for her task, You have prepared us for ours. Thank you for the tasks. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your assurance that you will “never leave us or forsake us.” Thank you for your promise to return for us soon, maybe today.

We humbly pray,
AMEN

(prayer written by Rev. Orville Harvey)

Friday randomness

• Be careful about taking things at face value. Check out Scot McKnight's post here.
• What a difference a year makes...see here.
• The coolest baby in the world here.
• Stocking stuffer idea here...OK this one is for me but you may enjoy it too. :-)
• This Sunday is the second Sunday of Advent. Look for this week's devotion posted here on Monday morning.

Is Zechariah 4:6 really true?

I like to think of myself as a fairly competent person. If a problem arises I can think through it and come up with a course of action to solve it. I love information and learning new things. If there is something I don't know I can usually find someone who does so they can educate me in the matter.

I have put together enough furniture in our house to have a sense of accomplishment in that area. I am also certain this Christmas will provide several opportunities to install batteries, open difficult toy packaging, and simply "make it work Daddy".

In thinking through all of the above the word "I" keeps jumping out at me...reminding me of Zechariah 4:6...

Zechariah 4:6 (English Standard Version)
6"Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts."

Some times I realize that I have WAY too much confidence in myself and pay WAY too little attention to the real power of the universe...GOD's SPIRIT!!!!

What are you trying to accomplish today? What are you surrendering to the Holy Spirit today?
Notice a difference?

questions

Asking questions is really an art form that way too many of us ignore. It's through asking questions that we really absorb as much around us as possible. When we ask...we get answers. When we get answers...we learn something new. When we learn something new...we grow. I'm all about growing but it does take a little bit of effort to get there.

Craig Groeschel has a great post here on asking the right questions. Do you have any productive questions you would add to his list?

The Silence

This year I'm once again writing out our Advent devotions for the lighting of the Advent candles at church. I will be posting each devotion here on the site. If you need some ideas for Advent in the future or you want to just copy and use these feel free. I have the previous years available also. Just look under the "Christmas" tag. Merry Christmas.

THE SILENCE

Isaiah 7:14 (New International Version)
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (New International Version)
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Micah 5:2 (New International Version)
2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."

For years the people of God had heard the prophecies. A child will be born. He will be called Wonderful, Mighty, Everlasting. They knew He was coming. The prophets of God had spoken truth for years. The people believed these things. They taught their kids about the one who was coming. They taught their grandchildren to believe the prophecies. Year after year they waited.

After a time the prophecies ended. The silence was almost deafening. The old prophecies didn’t seem to hold the same punch as they used to. Are they still valid? Surely this “special one” would have come by now. The silence lead to questioning. The questioning lead to doubt. The doubt lead to complacency in their worship, their relationships, and their lives.
We have an advantage today. We know that He came and His name was and is Jesus. We know that He lived a perfect life. We know he died on a cross and rose again. Because we know these things we also know that He is coming again one day. It may not be as quickly as we’d like but it IS going to happen.

This is a great way to begin the season of advent. We remember the first coming. We look forward to the second coming. We celebrate in the in between time!

Prayer

Father God, I know that you are from everlasting to everlasting. You are the same yesterday, today and forever. But as I enter this Advent season, it seems but yesterday that we celebrated the same things last year, and the year before. One Advent season seems to flow into another.

Lord, as we enter this Advent may I see beyond the busyness, the glitz and the glitter to a renewed awareness of your message of Advent. May I see Jesus, Immanuel - God with us. May I once again celebrate the birth of Christ with the expectancy of a new believer and the hope of one who believes that this same Jesus is coming again to establish peace, justice, and righteousness upon this earth made new. In the name of Jesus, The Prince of peace, AMEN.
(prayer written by Rev. Frank Hall)

best of all

This Sunday I am preaching on our identity in Christ. I'm kick starting the message by reading Max Lucado's children's book titled "Best of All". As I was reading this book it struck me that there were two types of people in this world.

1-People who need to know who they are.
2-People who need to know who others are.

One of the best ways to enter the Thanksgiving/Advent season is to realize that the ground at the cross is level. What I mean is, we all have the same access to a holy, almighty God that was provided by our gracious, merciful, savior Jesus. So I have no reason to look down on anyone else because we are all walking through this life together and need each other to continually point to our never ending need for that Savior.

Let's enter this season with an attitude of celebration. Celebrating the fact that God can and does use any or all of us to bring glory to Himself. Now that's a reason to be thankful.

Jesus wants the rose

Today I really had the urge to blog something but I really didn't know what. I've been reading and studying several passages in the Bible today and God really spoke some good stuff to me. I thought "I'll share some of that". I've also listened to some good music. I've spent some time with my son Micah. All of these things were good experiences and very blog worthy. But as I was preparing for Sunday's message I came across this video clip. It may be a little offensive to some. It may be a little distracting to others. However, the last few lines are worth the 4 minutes it takes to watch it. This video is not meant to promote anything or anyone other than Jesus himself and how much He loves you and me.



I hate that this type of thing happened in a church setting. I love church and as a pastor I am always trying to be creative in my attempts to communicate the gospel. My prayer for all of us is that in our efforts to be creative we would not distort the true gospel message. Jesus wants the rose!

Friday's randomness

• Check out Mark Batterson's 5 creativity equations...good stuff.
• This is, in my opinion, Perry Noble's post of the week for pastors and church leaders check it out here.
• If you ever get the chance to look at Ed Young's blog at http://www.edyoungblog.com/ you will notice that under other bloggers he has his wife Lisa listed before TD Jakes. Good move! I always knew he was a smart man.
• Leadership/team lessons we can learn from the rock band U2...mmmm....check it out here.
• Finally...here is a video about managing money that is priceless...enjoy it and your weekend.

Elijah Offering Video from Elevation Church on Vimeo.

Leadership check

Just this morning God brought up two thoughts that compliment each other as I had some very needed quiet time.

As I was reading Isaiah 58 I found these words, "They delight in the nearness of God." (vs.2) This, to me, describes a life that is flowing in the waves of the Holy Spirit. God is always with us. God is always at work around us. A submitted life will see this and delight in it while a life that is in rebellion will resent it and even fight against it. One who delights in the nearness of God is one who has nothing to hide and doesn't want to hide anything because they know that God is love and grace and does not reject His own.

The other moment that connected with this was when a friend talked about pastors/leaders wanting accountability. His thoughts were that any pastor or leader with any decency about him/her would welcome accountability. This is especially true when the goal is not our own personal glory but the glory of God and the betterment of the organization/church.

Here's my encouragement today. Just take a few moments and "delight in the nearness of God". Then write down what He is telling you today. God is good and that never changes.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13 ESV)

Seriously????

Wow...and I thought men played rough...check out this story.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Monday morning thoughts

• Great service yesterday! We walked through Psalm 30 yesterday and talked about different things to be thankful for.
• My Bible has this Psalm labeled as one used in the dedication of the temple.
• 2 Corinthians 6:16 say that "we are the temple of the living God."
• So is it far to say that this Psalm is not only "for" the temple but also "to" the temple?
• God never ceases to amaze me at how He sets things up some times. It's almost like He really is in control like He says He is....mmmmmm :-)
• It's that time of year where budgets are being combed through for the next year and people are getting more and more stressed about money...personally, corporately, and otherwise.
• Lord, help us to live and move and have our being as if You really are sovereign...Lord thank you for having a plan long before we realize we need one.
• Pastors and church leaders...it would benefit you greatly to read this post from Perry Noble...click here.

Clayton on fasting

Here are some highlights from a message Clayton King gave this year at Newspring Church in S.C. this year. Clayton does a great job of just laying things out there for people. Here's a sampling...

Lincoln Brewster

Here's Lincoln Brewster's album version of "Salvation is Here"...enjoy!!!

It's Friday!!!!

Today is Friday...it's been a good week overall...here are some thoughts for today...

• Check out Perry's blog on leadership here...even if you don't agree with all of his points he at least makes you think...
• There is nothing in the world that sounds like a baby laughing...Micah rocks!!!
• This morning when we found the shirt Natalie wanted to where her response was a loud "Hallelujah!"...never a bad time to praise the Lord.
• I can not wait 'til Sunday. We are going to walk through Psalm 30 and God WILL be praise and He WILL be exalted!
• There are a few video clips that I want to share so keep checking back for those.
• Tomorrow some friends are running in a race to help end human trafficking. You can read more about it here. beherfreedom.com
• If you get the chance read Psalm 30 in whatever translation you usually use...then read it out of the Message Bible...good stuff!

Monday Morning reflections

• Yesterday's service ROCKED THE PLANET! There is nothing in this world like the love of Jesus!!!!
• We switched our service time and Sunday School time yesterday. With the later service time we actually saw some folks that haven't been in a while because the earlier time was too difficult for them. It was great to see them.
• There is nothing like Trick or Treating at the mall. Lots of people. Lots of costumes. Lots of security.
• The Candy Store at the mall gave out little peppermints to all the kids. YOU"RE A CANDY STORE...GET A LITTLE CREATIVE!!!!!
• Sorry about that last line...I'm not bitter...not at all...:-)
• November is here and that means Thanksgiving is coming up. YEAH!!!
• Here's today's quote..."It's kind of fun to do the impossible."-Walt Disney

What are you listening to...

Just thought I would share what I'm listening to while I work today...

Quote of the day

“In the total expanse of human life there is not a single square inch of which the Christ, who alone is sovereign,does not declare,'That is mine!'”
Abraham Kuyper quote

Monday morning thoughts

• Yesterday the church had a time of pastor appreciation during the service. Several people had very encouraging and kind things to say about myself and Logan. Everyone was very gracious and you will probably never know just how much your expressions of gratitude mean to the both of us and our wives. Thank you.


• Yesterday I preached on the flow of the Holy Spirit in and through our lives. I was so excited to get to preach that message. As I was preparing it this question kept coming to mind. What if we are not only saved by Grace but we are to live by Grace as well?...and how does that look?
  
• I have started writing this years advent devotions for the Advent season and God is showing me some cool things in the process. (Each one is based out of the Gospel of Luke)


• Today we had our second funeral in three days. I can not wait until Jesus comes and there will be no more death!
  
• Allison went back to work today. That means Micah is with me and so far we are having a fine day bonding. I think he kinda likes my office. (He should...it's looking more and more like his place anyway:-)


• This Wednesday is the fall festival at church. This is going to be a great time of celebrating with the whole church together. Everyone please come out and be ready to have a good time.


• This year Halloween is going to be a trip. I know some people are against Halloween for one reason or another. That's fine...but I'm excited because my little girl is going to be Supergirl...and that pumps me up!

Friday

Today is Friday and I'm looking at the next few days thinking..."Wow, what a weekend." Over the next three days we have 2 funerals and our Sunday morning service. I know this is not the busiest schedule out there by any means. However, when you think about how much each of these things means to people it can be over whelming. Death hurts. It is an enemy. Thank goodness it has an end. In the mean time we must all endure the separation we experience when our loved ones die. These funerals will be more about the celebration of life than the tragedy of death but we could still use your prayers as we walk these families through this.

Sunday's sermon is one that has been on my heart and mind for a while now and I am absolutely pumped to bring it. God is at work and we need to recognize that He will accomplish His purposes. The question is...how can we ride the waves of His Spirit?

Here are a couple of quotes that I came across recently that tie into this whole weekend.

"The Bible without the Holy Spirit is a sundial by moonlight."-D.L. Moody

"In commanding us to glorify Him, God is inviting us to enjoy Him."-C.S. Lewis

Have a great weekend and please pray for us that we would be open channels to God's Holy Spirit.

Darkness

I just finished reading Matthew 26-28. I don't know that I have ever read those three chapters straight through together...without stopping. Although, I have to admit, I was tempted several times to stop...take a break...it's so much to take in...really you can come back to it.

The story is dark. To say that it is difficult to read is an understatement. The emotions. The betrayal. The neglect. The abuse. The lies. The mocking. The isolation. The hopelessness. The Crucifixion. The pain. The bitterness. The punishment. The suffering.

The obedience. The grace. The love. The victory. The resurrection. The celebration. The good news. The commission. The promise. The King. The Lord. The Savior.

My description can not even begin to accurately describe all that Jesus went through and accomplished because He loved us and still loves us that much today.

It overwhelms me. I don't deserve it. I never have. Yet He generously pours out His love and grace even today. Wow!!!!!!

I encourage you to read Matthew 26-28 today. Don't stop. Keep reading it. It will be hard to read. It will be difficult to watch as Jesus is punished. However, when you reach the end you will witness a hope and joy victory that is like nothing else. The eternal. The everlasting. Amen and amen.

Monday reflections

• Yesterday was Youth Sunday and the youth ROCKED THE HOUSE!!! They did a great job at presenting the gospel through greeting, drama, music, and the Word of God.
• Aunt Jo's surgery went well this morning but she is in a great deal of pain so they are keeping her in the hospital overnight. Please pray that her pain will ease soon.
• Getting back in the office when you have been gone for a week is harder than it looks.
• Vacation is over and the 1600 calorie/day diet officially begins today...ugh!
• I can not wait for this coming Sunday. I have been rolling this message around for over a month and this week I'm putting the polish on it. I'm am pumped about how God's grace works in and through our lives!
• Traveling with a 3 year old and an infant can add HOURS to your travel time. (...but you get to see a lot of bathrooms along the way...)

seriously??????

So I've been on vacation this week and we have had a great time seeing family and friends. We even had the chance to see some of the fall leaves throughout the mountains. I have actually worn long sleeves all week. The temperature dipped down to the 50's the other day and Natalie was convinced it was about to snow. Ahhh my poor little Florida child.

In any case I was having a great week relaxing when I came across this news story. My first reaction was "SERIOUSLY???". Then I couldn't help but just shake my head and be reminded of other well meaning people who are sooooo guilty of taking things out of context. Whatever your reaction is to this story please pray for these folks because I'm sure there is something more productive they could be doing to build God's kingdom.

Here it is...

The Journey of Giving-3/3

So God woke me up in the middle of the night with a question. I had been working and studying the concept of giving, especially as it relates to our giving to God and His ministry. Most of my thinking up to this point had centered around how much I should give or with what type of attitude I should give. However, here is the question that God brought to mind that really rocked my world.

"What if it's not about you?"

What???? At first I was a little stumped. Of course it's not about me. However, I soon realized that while I agreed that it was not about "me" it was only "me" that I was thinking about. How do I give? How much should I give? What's the best way for ME to give?

I was dumbfounded by my own selfishness.

What if it's really about a Holy and Almighty God who is always giving and refuses to stop giving? What if He is the best at giving and pours out generously based on His love and not our efforts? What if He is simply inviting us to be open to Him so that He may not only pours in us but through us as well?

Then I began to read familiar passage of scripture in a new way as God's giving jumped off the pages.
Read Romans 8:28-39.
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.
Notice how God gives. Notice what He gives. Notice who He gives. Notice and recognize the giving God.

When I realized that it is actually God who is the true giver and... when I recognized what a holy activity giving was and...when I admitted that my efforts were not adequate to be considered sufficient and...when I confessed and submitted to my Almighty God...He opened a whole new world of giving that I had not known before.

I'm not saying that I have this perfected today but I am saying that God is at work in me, molding me into His image...the image of a giving God.

The Journey of Giving-2/3

Many people take Malachi 3:10 to heart when it comes to their giving. They faithful give their 10% every week or every month or every year. They give it out of obligation, duty, fear, or maybe even worship and love. However, recently there has been a thread of teaching that sees giving a little differently.

People are beginning to point out that Malachi is actually in the Old Testament and we are living in a post-cross, post-resurrection world that is not bound strictly to the letter of the law and the 10% that Malachi speaks of.

At first this line of thinking made me nervous...until God took me a step further in my journey of giving.

In 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 the Apostle Paul is relaying what has been happening in the Macedonia churches. They have been giving what they can and then giving even more! They are so consumed with the idea of giving that they can not even stop themselves. Paul sees this and it is his desire to see that same passion flow through all the believers. In verse 8 he even tells them that he's not commanding them to give but wants to see the desire flow out of their hearts.

Don't give because you HAVE to. Give because you WANT to! Don't be so consumed with the idea of giving 10% to the point where if you don't have it you don't give anything. Give out of your love for Jesus Christ no matter the amount. Give what some would call a "love gift" to God.

Wow! That is so freeing in some ways. To not be consumed with the logistics and calculations figuring up 10% every week. That is awesome! That sounds so much easier to me.

Then in the middle of the night God asked me a question about my giving that rocked my world and I still can not shake. This question took me yet another step forward in my journey of giving...

The Journey of Giving-1/3

When it comes to giving, especially in the context of church, I believe my earliest understandings came from Malachi 3:10. God instructs his people to bring their tithe (or a tenth) into the storehouse. It's the only place that I have seen where God tells the people to test Him and see if He doesn't open up the very windows of heaven and pour out blessing.

Ever since I became serious about tithing I kind of took the approach of "why not". Why wouldn't I give a tenth of my money. After all if God really is almighty and can do anything then let's see what He can do with just 10%. What do I have to lose? I still have 90% to work with.

Even though God has always supplied for my needs I have to admit that I am tempted sometimes to give God less than a tithe. I start to think..."I could make more progress in paying off ______ bill." "I could make an extra car payment." "I could put that much more towards the house payment." The funny thing is that even while all of that is true God brings me back to the fact that He tells me to "test" Him with the tithe and He has never, ever failed any test before and never will. Do I really trust Him to do what He says? Do I really trust that God can do far more above and beyond all that I can imagine?

Sometimes I don't want to give to God. Sometimes I do it out of habit. Sometimes I do it out of obligation. Sometimes I just do it because I'm afraid not to. Sometimes it really is an act of trust and worship. But this is where I started the journey of giving.

Then God took me a step further...

Monday morning reflections

• Yesterday we experienced a great God service. God's word. God's music. God's generosity. God's people. God's timing. WOW!
• Saturday was a great day in the life of WJACC as so much of the church came together for the purpose of celebrating a wedding and a marriage. Congratulations Marshall and Sarah!
• My brother and sister-in-law were visiting this weekend and we had a blast together. Natalie took about 1 1/2 seconds to warm up to both of them.
• I will be blogging some of my thoughts from yesterday's sermon on giving soon so keep watching.
• Quote of the day...this one is for all pastors and worship leaders. "The hour on Sunday can be a time of wonder, a time of transformation, maybe even a time of awe."-Nancy Beach
• Check out this blog from Clayton...it should make all of us pause.

Back to the Basics

I've heard people from time to time say, "we need to get back to the basics". When asked to define what the basics are many definitions surface. A lot of times people define the "basics" as their own personal preferences. However, I do think the basics are not only needed but necessary. What basics do I mean? I think Ed Young does a great job of describing it here.

Who's growing what?

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."

1 Corinthians 3:7 (English Standard Version)

We get so caught up a lot of times on what we are producing. "I have to do this or it won't get done." "If I don't do it no one will." It can become as if we don't think God is actually at work. It's almost as if He has left everything up to us to accomplish here on earth. However, I keep being reminded in God's Word that it is not about me.

God is the one who makes things grow (physically, spiritually, mentally, etc.). He invites me to play a part in it. I may get to water or plant a seed or maybe even be present for the harvest but it is God that does the actual growing. If I don't play a part God will use some one else in the process. He does NOT need me. He wants me. So that we walk in this process NOT out of obligation but out of the privilege of being used by the Almighty God of the Universe.

What is God inviting you to be a part of today?

Monday morning thoughts

• Yesterday's service was "off the chain"! Terry brought a great message, the music was flowing, the people were celebrating and the food was good and plentiful.
• We saw at least 16 people baptized between the two churches yesterday. Yeah God!
• We are seeing groups come together for Bible study and fellowship more and more throughout the church. Who knows what all God is up to...
• I found out that an MP3 player does not fair well in the washing machine.
• A 3 year old IS able to sleep through the night without waking Mommy or Daddy...now if we can do this on a consistent basis...
• Next weeks sermon is going to be a mind-bender. We are going to look at money and finances in a way that I have never preached before. Come next week and check it out.
• Going to a birthday luncheon today...Happy Birthday Uncle Robert!

Random stuff

Here's some links and random thoughts for the day...enjoy.

• Here's some special words about the flow of life here.


• John Ortberg answers who the Spirit is up to here.


• Read Phillipians chapter one today. Ask yourself, "Is the Apostle Paul thankful for the individuals in his life or the work of Christ that he sees in others around him?"
• This coming Sunday we are going to see people baptized! That is Awesome!
• Happy Birthday today MOM!!!!

The Chasing Song

We all chase something in our lives. We chase deadlines. We chase toddlers. We chase dreams. We chase each other. Today God reminded me that even in the midst of my chasing everthing HE chased me and caught me and loves me and will not let go.

Here is a song by Andrew Peterson that I think sums up a lot of what I'm trying to say today. Enjoy.

Isaiah 48:18

Isaiah 48:18 (English Standard Version)
18 "Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;"

God's commands lead to a river type of life. Obedience allows us to flow and be active and be refreshed. A river moves, constantly flushing the impurities and making room for fresh water. Your righteousness will keep beating the shores of life...over and over again. Only God can stop the waves.

The more we obey God's commands the bigger the river...the mightier the wave. If we are seeing little flow or little waves in our lives then we need to ask...is there somewhere or something in our lives that we need to repent of?

God has called us to an intentional life of impact. The BEST way to live that kind of life is to flow with God's Spirit. Now how much impact we are allowed to make seems to be directly linked with how much we obey God's commands. How much we obey God's commands is directly linked with how much we believe God is worth obeying.

What do you believe about God today?
Is He worth obeying?

another quick quote

I know I haven't written much lately and today is no exception. However, I did want to at least offer another quote I came across this week that I really liked. Here it is for pondering...

"He didn't choose you to lose you." -T.D. Jakes

Brief Quote of the Day

“If we're growing, we're always going to be out of our comfort zone.”
John Maxwell

Are you growing today?

Tuesday Morning reflect

I hope everyone had a great day yesterday. We took advantage of Chick-fil-a's free chicken sandwich offer for lunch and loved it so much we almost went back for supper. You gotta love the cow!!!

Sunday's service was a little low in number. A lot of people taking advantage of the Labor Day weekend. I hope and pray you all have been able to take advantage of a little more family time this weekend. We had a great service. The music was hummin' and God worked despite my state of sleep deprivation.

Speaking of which, Micah had his two week check up today and he is healthy and strong. He seems to be changing by the hour. I look at Natalie right now and find it hard to believe that 3 short years ago she was that small.

In any case, enough rambling. Here are some cool links for you to check out today.

• Perry once again has another great, humbling post on leadership here.
• Tomorrow is the free online leadership conference "The Nines". Check out the info here.
• Here's a quote from Duke Ellington-"The most important thing I look for in a musician is whether he knows how to listen."
• Clayton challenges with the use of boundaries here.

Have a great day!!!

dead vs. alive

“A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it.”
G. K. Chesterton

Sometimes I think..."I would just like to go with the flow and see where I end up." The only problem is this is anti-biblical thinking. Throughout the Bible God calls us to "intentional" living. Jesus was the perfect and most visible example of this. Everywhere He went He was intentional about who He was with and what He was doing. No matter the circumstances Jesus' message of love and grace and the mightiness of God was consistent.

The Apostle Paul wrote..."And you were dead in the trespasses and sins"..."But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2).

As a child of God we have been placed into a reality that allows us to be intentional. Alive with Christ. If nothing else, I want to be so intentional about praising His name that I don't have time to worry about floating down a river of circumstance.

Prayer quote

"One can believe intellectually in the efficacy of prayer and never do any praying. "
--Catherine Marshall

Wow! That one can hurt if you have just identified with it. I'm realizing that a lot of times people are most offended by something if that is what they struggle with. For example, if the above quote just made you squirm a little it may be because you need to pray. I know I never pray enough. If you can honestly you pray a sufficient amount in your life then I have to question if you are really praying. C.S. Lewis said that he prayed because the "need flowed" out of him. The more you commune with God in prayer the more you realize He is God and you are not and that is the way it's supposed to be. You can believe in prayer all you want but until you commune with a holy, living God in prayer you are missing out on one of the greatest privileges we have in this universe.

"There is a mighty lot of difference between saying prayers and praying."
--John G. Lake

Dear Father,
Please show us today how we may so wrapped up in prayer that we hear Your heartbeat, see Your visions, and feel Your presence. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Amen

College Freshmen

Beloit College has released their latest "mindset list" for the incoming class of college freshmen this year. Here are some highlights...or low lights for some of us.

• The Green Giant has always been Shrek, not the big guy picking vegetables.
• They have never had to "shake down" an oral thermometer.
• Bobby Cox has always managed the Atlanta Braves.
• There has always been a Cartoon Network.
• They have never been "Saved by the Bell"
• Everyone has always known what the evening news was before the Evening news came on.
• There has always been a computer in the Oval Office.

For the entire list you can check it out here.

Monday morning thoughts

Finally, I have a semi-normal Monday again. The last few weeks have been anything but normal. Last Monday we celebrated the birth of our second baby (and first son) Micah Christopher Hall...7lbs. 11oz. 20 inches long. I am still amazed that God has seen fit to entrust two children to my care. This is definately taking my trust in God to a whole new level. Here are some pics from the past week.


Happy Grandparents!

This is how he fit in mommy's belly.

Sissy is not sure about Micah's first bath at home.

But she is a proud big sissy.

Monday morning

For the second Monday in a row I started the day by receiving an early morning phone call. Today it was my Uncle Robert letting me know that my Uncle Raymond passed away in his sleep last night. Please be in prayer for all who are now traveling to Jacksonville and for all of the arraingements that are being made. Thank you for your prayers.

Refreshing

This has been a week of ups and downs. I have been at the hospital for births and I've been at the hospital for people's cancer and other ailments. I've been on the phone and on the computer a lot this week trying to keep people in the church up to date on all that is happening. I really didn't realize how drained I was getting until I read these words from Isaiah this morning and the refreshing poured over me like cool waters. Even if this has been the best week ever for you read these words and let them just pour over you.

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
4Because you are precious in my eyes,
and honored, and I love you," (Isaiah 43:1b-4a)

links

Perry raises some very interesting "what if" questions here.

Here a little bit from "The Fray"...enjoy.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Tuesday morning reflections

• This past Saturday was another great day of serving our community. Even though numbers were down for the Back to School Bash God still allowed us to share His love in a tangible way for students and their families.
• We received a good number of prayer requests from people Saturday and we will be lifting those up in prayer.
• Our house had family come through this weekend and it was great to visit with Uncle Rob, Aunt Pam, and Diana. (We even let Rob pray in the service Sunday am:-)
• Sunday's service went very well. Another great day to Praise God for all He is and all He does.
• Please be in prayer for Logan and his family. Logan had a seizure yesterday morning and they are running tests today to try and find out what triggered it. Pray that the doctors have wisdom and insight into what's going on.
• This Sunday we are looking at Psalms 21-23. I can not wait! I get pumped when I think about God as our shepherd.
• Baby Micah is not here yet but could come any time now!!!!!!!
• The Randalls are at the hospital right now anticipating the birth of their twins.
• Remember, in all things..."To God be the Glory...Great things He has done!"

6 more countries

My normal Monday morning reflections has been put on hold today. I received one of those early morning phone calls today that required me to rush off to the hospital and I've been caught up in other stuff today. I will update on the past weekend at some point but I do want to let everyone know that as of today we can add 6 more countries to the thoughts and things blog hit list. Wow!!! Check back soon for updates.

cartoon from 1994

Scary to think this was 15 years ago.

pastors/leaders

Acts 20:28 hit me square in the face today.

"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."

I think most pastors can agree that paying attention to the flock seems pretty simple. After all, that's really what the job is all about right? It was that first part of the verse that grabbed me.
"Pay careful attention to yourselves..."

That led me to ask several questions that I think are productive questions for every pastor and leader to ask themselves from time to time.

1. How am I doing spiritually? Am I spending intentional time with God and His word outside of sermon/lesson preparation? God has led me this year to systematically reading through the Bible and it is one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had as a believer. Am I being intentional about my prayer life? God is showing me the value of praying His scriptures. Wow! Now there is power!


2. How am I doing physically? Am I exercising? Am I eating healthy? Am I sleeping? I'm not the best at any of these areas. Actually, I even had a delicious bowl of cookie dough ice cream last night and did not feel bad about it at all. But am I consistently making healthy choices for myself or is that bowl of ice cream the most consistent part of my diet. Also, God has really pressed on my mind the need for a sabbath. Without proper rest we are not proper administrators of grace.


3. How's my family? I love my family soooo much. If something is not right at home it affects everything else in my life. Am I communicating love towards my wife? Am I available to my kids (both physically and mentally)?


4. How's my attitude? What is the state of my mental health? Am I more positive or more negative? Am I focused on spiritual things? Am I more concerned with what God wants or what anyone else wants (including myself)? Am I more irritable than calm? Do I have a sense of hope? Positivity is an intentional thing. I really don't think it just happens.


5. How are my relationships? Am I helping the people around me live out a Great Commission/Great Commandment life? Are they helping me in the same way? Putting God's purposes into every relationship really puts things in perspective.

I don't write all of this as if I have it all down. I write it to say these are things that God is putting on my mind. If I'm not checking my own health in these things then am I really being the most effective minister of the gospel that I can be? I pray that these thing may help you as well.

Qoute of the day

"The difference between believing that God is gracious
and tasting that God is gracious
is as different as having a rational belief that honey is sweet
and having theactual sense of its sweetness."

- Jonathan Edwards

Car tunes

This morning I had an awesome worship time with Natalie as we were driving into the daycare/office. We were listening to a Veggie Tales cd filled with praise songs when we started singing "God of Wonders". The next thing I knew I here this little voice belting out..."You are Hoooooooly, Hooooooly". It really almost brought tears to my eyes to think that my daughter is praising God. Even if she doesn't understand exactly what that means God is being glorified through her.

My next thought was how little I really understand God and His praise yet He uses my feeble attempts to bring honor and glory to Himself. Wow....what a cool God He really is.

Even Natalie knows this isn't "right"

Greatness of God

Isaiah 40:28 (English Standard Version)

"Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable."

There have been tooooooooo many times that I have looked at the last several verses of Isaiah 40 and never taken into consideration the rest of the chapter. Today as I was reading through it I was smacked in the face by the GREATNESS of God. To say that God is anything less than Awesome is a serious injustice to who He really is. I encourage everyone to go read the entire chapter of Isaiah 40 today and be amazed at our God.

Monday morning reflections

• Yesterday I had the opportunity to preach at New Life Community Church in the heart of Jacksonville. The folks there were very warm and welcoming. These were some of the MOST laid-back church people I've ever spent time with. It was fun.
• Had the opportunity to go with Logan, Scott, and Joe and share communion with some of our shut-ins yesterday. Someone PLEASE ask Joe about his balloon. :-) Great afternoon.
• Watched "Fireproof" again last night. This time it was with our Sunday School class. It was fun watching a movie with such a diverse group of people. Feel free to ask Laura how a mom should be treated...she'll be more than willing to tell you.:-)
• Right now I am using a reading plan I found online to systematically read through the entire Bible. It is one of the best things I've ever done in my walk with Christ. If you have never done this or journaled or scheduled regular time to pray I highly recommend giving it a try. If you need help getting started with something or need some suggestions feel free to ask me and I'll do my best to help you out.
• Micah is due three weeks from today!!!!!! The countdown continues.

Benediction

Here's a verse in Romans that I read recently that I think makes a great benediction for a worship service. See what you think.

Romans 15:13 (New American Standard Bible)

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Amen.

Psalm 22

Psalm 22:30-31 (New American Standard Bible)

"Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born,
that He has performed it. "

God's works and righteousness will be told to the coming generation....then the next and the next...etc. God will get the praise for the things He has done. Generations will learn from past experiences. The question is do you and I want to be a part of that? Cause it will happen with or without us. Let's figure out today what it means to "declare His righteousness".

Only in the Bible

I was reading my Bible in bed the other night and I could not help but laugh...then I laughed again...then I was about to fall out of bed from the laughter. I was reading Genesis 28-31...a story I was familiar with but had not visited in a loooooong time. Here was Jacob who not only had two wives but his wives also gave him two maid servants for him to sleep with. Then when he got the maids pregnant the wives praised God for it. Then Rachel wants mandrakes from Leah's son and so offers Jacob as the price for the mandrakes. Now I'm not sure if that's a testimony to how good mandrakes are or not but this whole thing just made me laugh out loud. The Bible is just funny sometimes.

still international

I have received a hit to thoughts and things from another country. Last year sometime I received a hit from Spain. This year we add another country to the list. Drum roll.......South Korea!

Who would have thunk it?
Fascinating.

Monday morning reflections

• God is good. All the time. Even when nothing makes sense.
• The nursery is ready for baby Micah. Four weeks from today is the due date.
• I am loving the "Love Dare" Sunday school class running right now. Although I'm a little behind on the homework. oops.
• The last couple of Sunday nights I have not slept well. This is getting frustrating.
• The Back to School Bash is coming up fast and I'm excited to see how God pulls it off this year.
• I'm realizing more and more all the time how easy it is for leaders to set a certain atmosphere in a worship service.
• I really want to do my part in setting an atmosphere of praise and celebration for our worship services.
• I love my family.

Today's quote

I read this quote today and I laughed, then cried, then smiled, then got quiet, then thought, "I wish Groucho Marx could be a guest on "The Daily Show with John Stewart".

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it, misdiagnosing it, and then misapplying the wrong remedies."(Groucho Marx)...

Prayer qoute

This is what Juliana of Norwich had to say about prayer.

"Its ground: God, by whose goodness it springeth in us.
Its use: to turn our will to His will.
Its end: to be made one with Him and like to Him in all things."

Now that's one way to start the day.

Monday morning reflections

• Preaching through the life of Joseph in just two weeks is an overwhelming task.
• I pray that many will go to the book of Genesis and read about Joseph for themselves.
• The last two weeks of worship services have been fun!
• Micah is coming soon and the crib is up and ready.
• Wow!!!! Micah is coming soon!
• It has been very cool to go through the "Love Dare" book with several other couples in Sunday School.
• I actually worked out in the gym this morning before coming into the office. That was an accomplishment all by itself. Thank you Lord!
• Walt Disney once said, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."
• I like it this way, "It's kind of fun to watch God do the impossible."
• I watched "Madea goes to jail" this weekend. I got a little animated in the pulpit Sunday morning. Madea does that to me.
• Wow! Micah will be here soon! *gulp*

Today's quote

"The careful balance between
silence and words,
withdrawal and involvement,
distance and closeness,
solitude and community,
forms the basis of the Christian life
and should therefore be the subject
of our most personal attention."

-Henri Nouwen

Today's Prayer

"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV)

Monday morning reflections

• Yesterday was the first part of a 2 part series called "The happiest place on earth." The first place was the "place of obedience".
• Joseph (in Genesis) was almost always surrounded by horrible circumstances but God saw fit to make sure he prospered despite his surroundings.
• Next week we'll finish up the life of Joseph and see what "happy place" he ends up at.
• Allison and I were overwhelmed by all of the baby gifts at the shower yesterday. Everyone was so gracious and we appreciate you all.
• Allison told Natalie that she could pick out the outfit that "Micah" will come home in from the hospital. Now I have to figure out how I can get Natalie to pick out the guitar outfit. hmmmmm
• Several people took the weekly challenge from Wednesday night to heart and really stepped up with their efforts to greet people and to try a different style of dress yesterday. It was a very cool thing for a pastor to watch happen.
• Giving eye drops to a 3 year old can be hazardous to your health.
• I can not wait to see baby Micah! He'll be here soon!

Joseph

I've been looking over the life of Joseph in the Bible lately and I'm noticing some keys to his success throughout his ups and downs. Every time Joseph gets kicked down he then ends up in a place of leadership and responsibility. The natural question to ask is, "what is Joseph doing that leads him to such success?" The key is to answer that with a super-natural answer.

Genesis 39:2
2 "The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master."

The Lord was with Joseph. This is stated several times as you read about Joseph. The most important key to Joseph success has nothing to do with what Joseph did but rather what God did. Joseph was always careful to give God the credit (Gen. 40:8) but even then if God did not take the initiative to "BE" with Joseph then his life would lack serious purpose and meaning no matter the measure of "success" he may experience.

Of course now my temptation is to ask God to "be with" me in order for me to have success but that misses the point entirely. The fact that God was "with" Joseph is simply an indication of the relationship that the two of them shared together.

So instead of seeking ways to be successful maybe we should all simply seek God and enjoy the results of seeking HIM first. (Matthew 6:33; Jeremiah 29:13)

leading worship

Los has the best 7 keys to being an effective worship leader that I have ever seen. Every worship leader, pastor, teacher, etc. can benefit from these. Check them out here.

Monday morning reflections

Here are some random thoughts from yesterday's service and the weekend as a whole.

• Dunkin' Donuts coffee is a decent pick-me-up to get ready for a worship service.
• "Your Everlasting Love" is a fun song to play and worship with.
• 5 young people were baptized yesterday. The KINGDOM is GROWING!!!
• I can not believe my daughter is 3 years old!!!
• I can not believe we are about to start over with a new baby in August!!!
• I can not believe Bob Copeland is still speaking at summer camps (he spoke when I was a camper...mmm...how old is he? :-)
• My in-laws are full of surprises.
• A swing set can take about 9 hours to put together when you have at least one person who knows what they are doing. (not me)
• Troy Henderson rocks the planet and is great at putting together a swing set.
• I am much better at baking and decorating cakes than building things. (yep...that's right...I'm a real man)
• Smoked chicken makes great chicken salad.
• Senior camp started yesterday at Suwannee. Pray for a great week for everyone there.
• I love my wife. She is amazing.

Top 10 Ways you know it's HOT!

The following list was inspired by the last several days here in Florida. Several have said that they haven't seen a summer this hot in a looooooong time. So here you go...

Top 10 ways you know it's hot!

1. You take the trash out and before you get to the curb you have sweated through your shirt.
2. Your wife and daughter go to the pool and report that the water is warm enough to take a bath.
3. Your A/C says..."I Quit!"
4. The little window unit you borrowed because of #3 can be heard muttering..."I think I can, I think can, I hope can..."
5. The dogs start to go outside then say..."Nope, I think I can hold it."
6. You find yourself getting closer to the TV any time there is a beer commercial because it just "looks" like cooler weather.
7. You go to the zoo and the animals who are from Africa will not come out to be seen. (The zebra exhibit was closed.)
8. You fill up your daughter's sippy cup with just ice before leaving for the zoo and it is mostly water before you even get in the gate.
9. The most popular line at the zoo is the line for shaved ice. (Tutti-frutti ROCKS!!!)

and finally...

#1. You don't even have enough energy to chase the ice cream truck.

happiest place

It recently struck me how some people call Disney World the "happiest place on earth". While I know this is just a phrase that people may or may not mean at the time it did get me thinking. What IS the "happiest place on earth"? How would you describe the "happiest place on earth"? Please feel free to leave you comments here or e-mail me. I'm looking forward to what you have to say.

links

1. Perry answers one struggle a lot of pastors have with this post.
2. Here's a dangerous post by Craig on giving.
3. I've never read this blog before but the title is one that grabbed my attention.
4. Just something here to keep your mind sharp.

This is REAL children's ministry

Surrounded by the Sacred

I don't usually recommend books that I haven't read yet but this one is definitely on my "to read" list.

Surrounded by the Sacred by Clayton King

I know Clayton well enough to know that his passion for Christ is real and deep. God has given Clayton adventures all over the world and here in the U.S. as he has learned to listen and follow what God is telling him.

I can not wait to get to this book myself. Check it out and if you read it before me be sure to tell me your favorite part.

What do I owe?

"Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Romans 13:7

Everytime I think of owing something my first thought is money. I owe, I owe, so off to work I go...

But this verse grabbed me this morning. To whom do I owe respect or honor or something else not mentioned here? Is it veterans or current military personnel? Is it those older than myself? Is it those with more experience?

To each of us we may owe honor and respect to someone different. I know I owe honor and respect to my wife and family. Someone else may owe to a good friend or a boss or a classmate.

Never the less we all are called to love.
Romans 13:8-10 clearly tells us that to love our neighbor fulfills the law and does our neighbor no harm. Therefore, if we make it a point to love then debts of honor and respect should be paid by the very love that is shown.

Wow my head is starting to hurt a little...must go pray now.

Read the Bible. Listen to God. Follow God's instructions. That's the theme of this weekend.

be careful about labeling something "blasphemy"

Check out this pastor...he means serious business.

Nicole Nordeman

This past Sunday I used the song "I AM" by Nicole Nordeman to help illustrate God's faithfulness throughout life. Here are the lyrics...hope they encourage you today also.

Pencil marks on a wall, I wasn´t always this tall
You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed
You watched my team win
You watched my team lose
Watched when my bicycle went down again
And when I was weak, unable to speak
Still I could call You by name
And I said, Elbow Healer, Superhero
Come if You canYou said, I Am

Only sixteen, life´s so mean
What kind of curfew is at 10pm?
You saw my mistakes
And watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I would never love again
And when I was weak, unable to speak
Still I could call You by name
And I said Heartache Healer, Secret Keeper
Be my best friend
And you said, I Am

You saw me wear white by pale candlelight
I said forever to what lies ahead
Two kids & a dream, with kids that can scream
Too much it might seem when it´s 2am
And when I´m weak, unable to speak
Still I´ll call You by name
Shepherd, Savior, Pasture Maker
Hold onto my hand
You say, I Am

The winds of change & circumstance blow in & all around us
So we find a foothold that is familiar
And bless the moments that we feel You nearer

When life had begun,
I was woven & spun
You let the angels dance around the throne
And who can say when, but they will dance again
When I´m free & finally headed home
I´ll be weak, unable to speak
Still I´ll call You by name
Creator, Maker, Life Sustainer
Comforter, Healer, my Redeemer
Lord & King, Beginning & the End
I Am
Yes, I Am

foundation

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock." (Matthew 7:24-25)

The words of Jesus come at us not as simple instruction or command but rather as pure love from a holy savior to His beloved. Wow!...that sounded like a preacher.

But it's true. Jesus doesn't tell us things just to hear Himself speak. He offers His word as an act of love for each of us and as we obey His word to us we can experience the joy of His love.

"to obey is better than sacrifice," (I Samuel 15:22)

It's really pretty simple. Obey = solid life Not obey= shaky life

Storms come either way. Things can get rough. You can even get shaken a bit. However, when all is said and done only one kind of house is still standing. The one built on Jesus' word. It's a great home to live in.

Command or Blessing?

Some are familiar with Acts 1:8.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (ESV)

I've heard many preachers and teachers use this passage to motivate people to go out and witness to their neighbors, family, and friends. They promise the power of the Holy Spirit if you'll just go out and witness to someone. They use this verse as if it's a command to us. That's not quite what the passage says.

BE-ing God's witness is a blessing that comes from the empowerment provided by the Holy Spirit. In other words...
1) Holy Spirit comes on you.
2) You receive power from the H.S.
3) You enjoy the blessing of BE-ing a witness.

You get the chance to be a witness because God empowers you through His Holy Spirit.

God does not empower you because you witnessed. God's actions are motivated by the core of who He is...LOVE.

By BE-ing a witness that includes all of life. It's not just one activity on some spiritual to do list. It's life with Christ.
Nothing is a greater blessing than being used by Almighty God for His glory and His purpose and His Kingdom.
Enjoy BE-ing a witness today as God empowers you.

ok...

I think I have most things recovered. If you notice something missing that you would like to see again feel free to comment and I'll see what I can do. Hopefully this will be a very "user-friendly" blog for people.

Don't forget to check the bottom of the page for random thoughts.

temporary set back

I have made a huge error and have basically wipedout most of the features on my blog here. I will be in the process of restoring these later today but it is time for our ACTS prayer group to meet. Please check back for updated features and since I have to start from scratch again I'll try some new stuff as well.
God's speed...

David's Prayer

"Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.

Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.

Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all.

In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name."
(I Chronicles 29:10-13)

couple of links

Scot has an interesting question about Obama's trip to Latin America. See his post here.

Los made me even more excited for my son to be born in August. Check it out here.

Miss USA

So this morning on the news I heard a report about the Miss USA pageant that caught my attention. *insert wisecrack here* Apparently, Miss California was given a question about gay marriage. She answered that she believed marriage should be between one man and one woman. She went on to finish second in the pageant. Here's the interesting part. The judge that asked the question said she should have given a more "middle of the road" answer. His argument was that as "Miss USA" she would represent "all" Americans and therefore should have given an answer that would not have alienated anyone. Her personal opinion was what, he thought, cost her the title.

Now I'm not trying to make some big statement on gay marriage this morning but here is my question.

How in the world are you ever going to answer a question without offending someone, somewhere, somehow????
She was asked for her opinion. She gave it. Now she is criticized for giving the opinion she was asked for. How twisted is that?

Seriously! I could just walk across a room and someone might be offended by something I wear. People make choices everyday and sometimes we choose to be offended whether the offense was intentional or not. I say stand up for sanity and choose to NOT be easily offended today.

It'll make your life a lot less stressful.