Don't Just Go To Church ... Be The Church
When someone asks you "Where is the church?"
Do you point to the building or to your heart?
6/7/07
6/6/07
New Christians
We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. -- 2 Thessalonians 1:11
Paul prayed for God to be active in the lives of new Christians -- to maximize the good they intend to do as well as fully bless every good deed they do out of their commitment of faith.
What new Christian do you need to pray this for?
Paul prayed for God to be active in the lives of new Christians -- to maximize the good they intend to do as well as fully bless every good deed they do out of their commitment of faith.
What new Christian do you need to pray this for?
6/3/07
Perils
When you face the perils of weariness, carelessness, and confusion, don't pray for an easier life. Pray instead to be a stronger man or woman of God. -- Luis Palau
5/31/07
I'm Tired
The past two weeks caught up with me this morning. I finally rolled out of bed around 7:30 a.m., ran a brush through my hair, threw on some clothes and rushed to work. I'm tired.
My left eye really hurts. I'm thinking it's from all the reading the past couple of weeks. Then there is the tinnitus - the constant rushing water sound in my head. Stress and caffeen make it worse. Guess I'm lucky it's not any louder than it is!
So where do I go from here?
Am I supposed to count it all joy?
Am I to keep running the race as if to win?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
.... I feel better already.
My left eye really hurts. I'm thinking it's from all the reading the past couple of weeks. Then there is the tinnitus - the constant rushing water sound in my head. Stress and caffeen make it worse. Guess I'm lucky it's not any louder than it is!
So where do I go from here?
Am I supposed to count it all joy?
Am I to keep running the race as if to win?
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
.... I feel better already.
5/26/07
I'm Back
Class is finally over .. unfortunately the work isn't. I still have a research paper to write and a comprehensive final to take. I hope to get it all finished by Wednesday - PRAY!
I really didn't want to take this class but something kept telling me I should. I never know if those promptings are the Holy Spirit or something I ate the night before so I am careful about making big decisions based on "feelings". Still, this one was strong enough that I listened to it and I am glad I did.
Not only did I have the opportunity to learn a lot about evangelism but I met some great people - including the instructor. Wayne clearly has God's hand on his life. He is a gifted preacher and teacher. I hope our paths cross again. That, however, was not the best part of the class.
One assignment was to interview a vocational minister. I had the opportunity to interview a pastor from DeSoto. I think it was a divine appointment for both of us. I came away from that meeting with a renewed spirit for reaching the lost world. He came away with a awareness of some changes his church needed to make - and already have begun!
This class not only changed my life but the life of a church. Pretty amazing for a two week class.
I really didn't want to take this class but something kept telling me I should. I never know if those promptings are the Holy Spirit or something I ate the night before so I am careful about making big decisions based on "feelings". Still, this one was strong enough that I listened to it and I am glad I did.
Not only did I have the opportunity to learn a lot about evangelism but I met some great people - including the instructor. Wayne clearly has God's hand on his life. He is a gifted preacher and teacher. I hope our paths cross again. That, however, was not the best part of the class.
One assignment was to interview a vocational minister. I had the opportunity to interview a pastor from DeSoto. I think it was a divine appointment for both of us. I came away from that meeting with a renewed spirit for reaching the lost world. He came away with a awareness of some changes his church needed to make - and already have begun!
This class not only changed my life but the life of a church. Pretty amazing for a two week class.
5/11/07
Schedules
I am so busy! Work is really picking up which is great. I have been asked to take on some new responsibilities at my church which I love. I start back to school on Monday and for some reasons registered for two classes this summer! Oh, and did I tell you there is a new man in my life? My days are going to be full!
Do you see the problem here?
Uh huh ... where is time for God in all this?
Gotta keep our priorities straight.
Do you see the problem here?
Uh huh ... where is time for God in all this?
Gotta keep our priorities straight.
5/6/07
Thinking
I am in a quandary and of course it involves men, but not like you are thinking. These two men are righteous, admittedly at times self-righteous, but on the whole good men. Both are pastors of thriving churches. I call both men my friend.
Here is the thing. One of them has greatly disappointed me. Why? I have looked up to him as a leader of the faith for some time now. Unfortunately, I think he has compromised his ethics to look good in the eyes of man. All I can see that it has done is severely damage his witness for the Lord. I tried to tell him so in private, but he was not ready to listen.
The other one has always struck me as being a bit self-centered. Especially so to be a pastor. Don't get me wrong, he is a great guy and clearly loves the Lord - but I was never too sure about him until this week. This man had a rough couple of days and was disappointed in some colleagues. He told me as much. The next day he came to me and apologized for complaining! I really had not given much thought to his comments, but his apology moved me.
Two men of God with two very different witnesses. Which do you think most pleased the Lord? The one saying the right words to make things go smoothly even if it is contrary to what is right or the one who said the truth but where it did no one any good and came back to apologize for it?
If both these men share their faith with me in the future I can tell you which one I am more apt to follow.
For me it is a strong reminder that it isn't the big things that determine how we serve the kingdom but rather the small daily decisions of how we live our life that make the most dramatic impact.
Be careful what you say.
Here is the thing. One of them has greatly disappointed me. Why? I have looked up to him as a leader of the faith for some time now. Unfortunately, I think he has compromised his ethics to look good in the eyes of man. All I can see that it has done is severely damage his witness for the Lord. I tried to tell him so in private, but he was not ready to listen.
The other one has always struck me as being a bit self-centered. Especially so to be a pastor. Don't get me wrong, he is a great guy and clearly loves the Lord - but I was never too sure about him until this week. This man had a rough couple of days and was disappointed in some colleagues. He told me as much. The next day he came to me and apologized for complaining! I really had not given much thought to his comments, but his apology moved me.
Two men of God with two very different witnesses. Which do you think most pleased the Lord? The one saying the right words to make things go smoothly even if it is contrary to what is right or the one who said the truth but where it did no one any good and came back to apologize for it?
If both these men share their faith with me in the future I can tell you which one I am more apt to follow.
For me it is a strong reminder that it isn't the big things that determine how we serve the kingdom but rather the small daily decisions of how we live our life that make the most dramatic impact.
Be careful what you say.
4/23/07
Fraud
I discovered someone wrote me a check on a closed account. Then I went to the post office and my credit card was declined... turns out it was on hold for fraud. Someone tried to charge a $3000 security system on it.
I didn't pay bounced check fees since I thought to verify funds on this person and my credit card company had put a hold on my account so no more false charges could be made. In the scheme of things I was blessed. Still ... I feel a little violated.
Read John 10:1-5. We are at war, they are coming over the wall to get us! Don't ever forget it. Put on the full armor of the Lord every morning!
I didn't pay bounced check fees since I thought to verify funds on this person and my credit card company had put a hold on my account so no more false charges could be made. In the scheme of things I was blessed. Still ... I feel a little violated.
Read John 10:1-5. We are at war, they are coming over the wall to get us! Don't ever forget it. Put on the full armor of the Lord every morning!
4/21/07
Philosophy of Christian Principals
Have you ever been asked to develop your own philosophy on a topic? You know you have one but you never really thought about how to put it on paper? Let me challenge you to do just that. I am currently writing a paper on my personal philosophy of Christian Education.
Something you might want to think through is your own philosophy of Christian living.
For example, how do you handle marginal issues in the "secular" world with your Christian lifestyle? I am not talking about the clearly right and wrong issues - I mean those that either Scripture does not directly address or that could be viewed differently depending on your perspective.
At what point have you compromised your Christian values?
Try putting that on paper!
Something you might want to think through is your own philosophy of Christian living.
For example, how do you handle marginal issues in the "secular" world with your Christian lifestyle? I am not talking about the clearly right and wrong issues - I mean those that either Scripture does not directly address or that could be viewed differently depending on your perspective.
At what point have you compromised your Christian values?
Try putting that on paper!
4/17/07
Tomorrows
The tragedy at Virginia Tech, the needless loss of life, brings home how temporary this world is. We have no promise of another day. Have you shared your faith with the people important to you or have you been waiting for tomorrow? Don't wait any longer.
4/14/07
Listen
For some strange reason my instructors at school think if I am going to develop Christian education programs that I should be able to teach them as well. I am not so sure I agree with that logic, but regardless, I will be teaching a Bible study lesson to my class in 2 weeks.
I have decided to teach on listening. A bit of a double meaning since I am an audiologist by trade..haha. The scriptures are James 1:19 and Psalm 116:1-2. Here are some of the discussion questions:
1. What is it like to be a good listener?
2. What do you appreciate about being listened to?
3. How is listening to a friend like how God listens to us?
Be still and listen for God ... He is just waiting for you to ask Him to speak.
I have decided to teach on listening. A bit of a double meaning since I am an audiologist by trade..haha. The scriptures are James 1:19 and Psalm 116:1-2. Here are some of the discussion questions:
1. What is it like to be a good listener?
2. What do you appreciate about being listened to?
3. How is listening to a friend like how God listens to us?
Be still and listen for God ... He is just waiting for you to ask Him to speak.
4/12/07
More Time or Better time?
| Sorry I have been quiet this week but you know how your life can get busy with all the little things. My week has been like that ... work, school, chamber, Rotary, and of course, church. Busy is good when it is productive but busy just to be busy is not good. Last night as a group of us shared before praying the comment was made about devotional time. That person said they needed more time in prayer. My thought was not MORE time but BETTER time. When you sit and pray or study Scripture where is your focus? Are you already thinking of the 100 things you have to do that day or is your focus on the Lord. I think for me my focus has been off center a bit this past week. Was good to be reminded where I need to keep my gaze. How about you? |
4/8/07
4/6/07
Good Friday
It's Friday. By this time Christ was already nailed to the cross. The sky was dark as the Son of God hung there suffering not only the anguish of the world's sins but also the temporary separation from His Father. He will soon be dead.
Put into a tomb that belonged to another His fate was cast. His followers bewildered by the events scattered.
Fearful someone would steal the body and claim Jesus had risen from the dead Roman soldiers were told to stand guard over the tomb. Isn't it ironic that the only people that thought He might return were the very people that killed him?
Christ had told the disciples that like Jonah in the belly of the big fish for 3 days He would be gone but would return.
Things fell silent on Saturday. What will Sunday morning bring?
Put into a tomb that belonged to another His fate was cast. His followers bewildered by the events scattered.
Fearful someone would steal the body and claim Jesus had risen from the dead Roman soldiers were told to stand guard over the tomb. Isn't it ironic that the only people that thought He might return were the very people that killed him?
Christ had told the disciples that like Jonah in the belly of the big fish for 3 days He would be gone but would return.
Things fell silent on Saturday. What will Sunday morning bring?
4/1/07
Self Righteous
Heard a great sermon this evening. It was based on the "lost" parables. You know, the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. I must have heard preachers talk on the prodigal son passage more than a dozen times, but I never heard it like this! Turns out it isn't about the lost son at all ... it's about the amazing grace of the father .. or more specifically the Father.
The concluding points were for self examination. Am I like either of the two sons? Am I unrighteous? Am I self righteous? I pray I am no longer unrighteous, but must confess there are times I am self righteous.
How about you? Been on your knees lately?
I think I will head there right now....
The concluding points were for self examination. Am I like either of the two sons? Am I unrighteous? Am I self righteous? I pray I am no longer unrighteous, but must confess there are times I am self righteous.
How about you? Been on your knees lately?
I think I will head there right now....
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