FAITH

Sunday I started a new series on faith with Abraham being our example. It is amazing to see someone walk by faith in Jesus. Growing up I had a great example of walking by faith - my parents. They packed up everything they owned in a few suitcases and moved to Israel to be messengers of the Good News that Jesus gave us. I look back now and wonder how they did it. The whole thing comes down to trusting God. Trusting that when He said, "He would never leave or forsake us", He meant it! One of the points of the talk on Sunday was a quote I read by Mark Batterson out of his book- "Wild Goose Chase". "Faith isn't logical. But it isn't illogical either. It doesn't ignore reality; it just adds God into the equation." In our lives we put a ceiling on what we think God can do. But God told Abraham to look at the stars and count them and his descendants would be as many as the stars. Not that big of a deal (you might be saying). It was a big deal seeing Abraham was old and his wife wasn't able to have any children. But the Bible says that Abraham was absolutely convinced that God would do what He said He would do! ABSOLUTELY!!! What a great word. No room for doubt- just FAITH! In your life has God promised you something and you just shrugged it off as impossible? Maybe it's time to shake off our doubt and put our faith in God and see what He can accomplish in us!

Special Becomes Routine

I know it's been a while since I've written anything but I had the opportunity to take a little vacation last week. It was nice to get away from the routines and just relax for a few days and believe me I did! I'm amazed every time I get to the beach and watch the waves come up on the shore. It reminds me of what an awesome God we serve. If you lived in Florida and drove up to Tennessee and into the mountains it would be the same experience- WOW! I guess we get so used to the things around us we take them for granted. I was talking to a friend the other day and she begin to talk about her marriages. She had divorced her 2nd husband a year or two ago. She looked off in space and she said, "I should've stayed married to my 1st husband". I guess what I'm trying to get at is the fact we take the every day good things for granted until they are gone. Then and only then do we realize what was there. Stop and look around you and truly appreciate what you have. Today so many people were tuned in to the news waiting and wondering what was going to happen to the economy. It's true everything we've worked for all our lives could be gone tomorrow but there are a lot of things no one can ever take from you- your love, your peace, your faith. So hang on, help is on the way!!

Just to let you know I still believe in the "DAWGS" as well as the Falcons! They'll bounce back and be better next game. By the way I am proud of myself for the self-control I had Saturday night during the 1st half of the game. Nothing was broken although I thought I was going to have to ask Josh to leave. He reminds me of myself at his age when it comes to football.

Tough Times

I don't know about you but everywhere I go people are talking about the economy. Since Deana is in the banking business, I wake each morning to these tv personalities telling us what we need to do. Then if that was bad enough it seems like everyone is laying off workers or threating to. It could really get scary, couldn't it? It would be nice if I was writing the answers to all these problems but I'll go ahead and tell you, " I'm not". I guess you can click out of this now,huh? If you stayed this is what I would like for you to hear today, "It came to pass!" That is my favorite beginning in the Bible because just like it says it came to pass. It didn't come to stay, it passed on by. This "to" will pass! No matter how bleak it looks we know that it is just a bump in the road. I remember the time when my boss called me in his office and told me to get my things they were letting me go( FIRED in other words). I don't know about you but "let go" sounded better than "fired". Anyway, I felt like my life was over ! I mean OVER!! I drove around several hours before I went home trying to think how I was going to tell Deana. I got home and I already had a message from another business offering me a job! Here's the truth, I would not be where I am today if they had not let me go. It is true what Paul says in Romans that all things work for the good! I know times are tough and may get tougher but look and see how God will use these times to stretch us and open new doors!

President vs Jesus

I've been following the presidential race that we are in the middle of. I've enjoyed parts of the race so far, but I've also grown tired of the empty promises that both candidates have made. Sometimes we as Americans believe that whoever gets elected will solve all our problems and get our country on the right track. I hate to bust your bubble but no one will be able to accomplish this feat by him or herself. I was just thinking, if believers in Jesus believed in the power of Jesus as much as we believe in the power of our president what could be accomplished? I don't know if you are familiar with the scripture where Jesus tells His followers that greater things than He had done they would do. That really doesn't sound like the church today, does it? We've fallen into the trap that government is the answer to all our problems and if I get in trouble then our leaders are supposed to come and get me. Where did the the idea of personal responsibility GO? Or the fact that our help comes from above as David tells us in the Bible! I know I sound like I'm preaching today - that may be because I am! Honestly if I make a bad decision I don't need to look for someone to blame, all I need to do is find the closest mirror and I can look the problem eye-to-eye. I challenge you to put your trust in the One who can actually help you. His name is Jesus!!

Monday's Thoughts

It's been a very busy week and especially the weekend but honestly I feel so refreshed this morning. That's amazing to me!! It might have been the chest bump I did with Paul yesterday in church. I was speaking about when Jesus sent 72 disciples out to speak and heal the sick and cast out demons. They came back and reported all that had happened! The Bible says that Jesus rejoiced with them. We think of that statement in light of how we see church- quiet, reverent. But I believe He acted a lot like college football fans last Saturday when their team scored the winning touchdown. I believe He danced, gave some high fives, and maybe a chest bump or two!!
Why? Because Jesus was overjoyed at what God had been able to do thru these disciples of His. I read a quote ( I can't remember where I read it- sorry) "there is no limit to what we can accomplish if we don't care who gets the credit." Awesome!! Jesus didn't look at His disciples and tell them, " Don't you realize this is my ministry and no one needs to do these miracles but me?" No, He rejoiced at what they had seen and done. So what's your point? Well the way I see it, at work, home or play if we work together so much more could get accomplished. Try it - you might actually like it!

Remember

If I asked you what you were doing 7 years ago today, you could probably tell me. There are certain times in our lives that we never forget. Growing up my mom would talk about the day that JFK was shot and what she was doing. I know what I was doing on September 11th, 2001. I had gone to Gainesville to a conference on Monday and was scheduled to stay for two more days. That night Deana called and she extremely sick so I packed my things and headed home. The next morning when I turned on the tv the first plane had struck the trade center. Wow! I remember the anchor on the news saying our country would never be the same. No truer statement had ever been spoken. In the Old Testament in the Bible, we see several instances where God met man and the only thing he could do was build a altar or a monument so he would never forget. How long has it been since you went back and revisited your monuments to God. For some it was the day you asked Jesus into your life, or the day you asked Jesus to heal you or a loved one and a miracle happened. Each of us have a moment in time when the sacred invaded our routine and we will never be the same. Jacob wrestled with an angel all night and got his hip out of joint and walked with a limp from then on but I bet he never regretted the experience. Sometimes we leave our encounters a little scarred but also with a healthy reminder of just who God is!

ARK - Acts of Random Kindness

I have several blogs I read each day if I have time. I'm amazed at what God is doing all over the place. I read where a church in Baton Rouge is feeding over 1800 people a day and God continues to provide the food. But I also read about a church that seems to be "me" focused. What that means is they seem to be consumed with me, myself and I. When I read their blogs, it was amazing the different feelings that they produced in me. The one outward focused brought a sense of godliness and satisfaction but the one that was inward focused gave me a sense of pride and self-confidence in their own abilities. I not saying that is how they felt, I'm just saying that's how I felt. I believe they are both great ministries and God is using them both. I was thinking about my life. Do you ever step back and do that? When I'm in the state of mind where all I can see is " gloom, despair and agony on me, if it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all". For those of you that are young that's from a tv show called "Hee Haw". Isn't it true that when we focus on ourselves that our vision gets smaller and our life becomes less meaningful? But on the other hand, when we look outside ourselves we see how big this world is! If we all did one random act of kindness today without seeking any recognition or praise what a better world we would have! Try it! You might like it!!

Monday Thoughts about Sunday

Good Morning! I was just sitting here thinking about our service yesterday. I spoke on loving like Jesus loved ( I guess I shouldn't use past tense because He still loves us the same today). But for our purpose, we were looking at some of the examples from His life. Sometimes we look at Jesus' death on the cross and just go on like it's no big deal. I asked the group yesterday which one of their children they would be willing to give up for the salvation of the world. I didn't have anyone that was ready to let their child die so that the rest of us could live. It's hard to under-stand the love of God, isn't it? John 3:16 says that, "God so loved the world that He sent His only Son" to die so we could live! I hope you will think about that today.

Just a few more thoughts!
Falcons will win at least 8 games this year!!
Bulldogs will run all over South Carolina!
I had the best weekend with Deana just doing nothing!!!

Mind + Tongue = Foot in Mouth

Philippians 4:8 - "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

If we were able to do just what this verse tells us to do today, what do you think your day would be like?

The ability to just think on good things is really not that easy. If you decide you will not say anything negative about anyone today, you will be tested! That person in the office that you really struggle with will hit you with criticism and you will want to make them pay. Someone else will come in with the ugliest outfit on ( you know what I'm talking about). Not to mention your boss!! ( I don't need to say any more do I?) You may be asking, "well how do we do it then?" How do I get through a day without gossipping or being negative or holding my tongues although I know they need to hear what I've got to say?
Paul answers that question a few verses before this one we just read. He gives us a few pointers on what to do. First, pray about everything. Tell God all about it. Tell Him what you need or what you think someone else needs. Second, thank Him for what He has already done. When we do this we will begin to experience God's peace. Then His peace will guard our hearts and minds. If He's guarding our hearts and minds, I think it will be easier to think on good things. So when you think you've just got to tell someone what you think, take it to Jesus first and let Him direct you!

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

You know how sometimes it seems like after vacation you have to go to work to get some rest. Well that the way it is around my house right now! Deana has gotten a hold of some lady that is supposed to help you get your life in order. Honestly it's not as bad as I'm making it sound. We have seen a lot of things that we have let go and need to spend some time and effort to get cleaned up. Each night we are working on a particular area until we have it straightened up. On Labor Day I worked out in the yard mowing grass, cutting the shrubs and spraying Round-up in the islands. Well let me tell you, it sure feels better driving into a driveway of a house that looks clean and neat. My sister was over at a friends house looking over their yard that needed cutting 3 months ago when the grass started dividing and she asked," what is that?" The family said,"Oh, that's just our dog." We think our messy life doesn't affect anyone but ourselves but the truth is - it affects everyone around us even our dog. Thanks Flylady for the push! We needed it!!!

Facing Fear

Well I just got back from the dentist! I guess I won't have to go back for another 6 months. Do you have things that you have to do that you just dread? I do and #1 on that list is going to the dentist. After I get finished and get in the car, I always think that wasn't so bad. But if you could see me on the way there I get nervous, I begin to sweat, I want to turn the car around and just go home. My wife asked me the other day what is the one thing you dislike about being a pastor? I hate to answer this on this blog because some of the church members read this, but I'll go ahead. The one thing that I find the hardest to do is to call someone who is always negative and depressed. I think the reason is that in some ways I fight those same feelings and when I listen to them it's harder to get myself motivated. Just like the dentist once I make myself call and check on them it's never as bad as I thought it would be. I know in our mind it will always be bad but once we do the thing we dread we get to experience the joy of a job well done ( or at least the joy of facing our fears and winning). The Bible tells us that we have someone who sticks closer to us than a brother so we're never going in alone! Remember that the next time your facing a giant in your life!