Friday, September 25, 2009

God and I

Hello everyone,Sorry it's been a while since out last post. September is usually a crazy month for John and I. Fall time means busy time! This is usually when new ministries or church programs get started. Folks are getting back into a routine, the kids are starting school, your favorite college or NFL team has just started to play. But don't forget a couple things as we start all this craziness, your time with God. Do you have a God and I time? A time where it's just you and the Lord spending time together. No church program or ministry is a substitute for your God and I time. We all need it! Your spiritual strength depends on it. -John 17:17, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. God bless!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Would you die for a liar?

Guess what? Here in a couple weeks I will no longer be in my 20's. I will start headfirst into my 30's. A little weird, but I think I'm ok with it. Turning 30 this month I can't help but to think about how Jesus started His ministry at the age of 30, and he only ministered for 3 1/2 years. In December I will have been here at HBC 3 years. Let me tell you these last three years have flown by. While Jesus' ministry did not last long it impacted the whole world. While no one can deny Jesus lived here on the earth, some question whether he was who he said he was. Some think He was God in the flesh, some think he was just a good person and others think he was some kind of con-artist. When you boil it down people really have one of three views about Jesus. He was either God, a lunatic or a liar. You see you can't say Jesus was just a good man and bypass the fact he claimed to be God. Think about it! How many people do we call a good man that also claims to be God. It doesn't happen. We normally call them crazy! I think one of the best ways to see if Jesus was who he said he was, is to look at those who spent the most time with Him. Here are the names of the men Jesus spent his three and a half years with. These men knew him and were not willing to deny that Jesus was the Christ. Check this out!

Matthew as killed by the sword in Ethopia...Mark was dragged to death in Alexandria...Luke was hanged in Greece...John was boiled in oil and stranded at Patmos....Peter was crucified upside down in Rome...James was beheaded in Jerusalem...James was thrown from the wall in jerusalem and then clubbed to death...Bartholamew was flayed to death...Andrew wsa crucified...Thomas was speared in the east Indies...Jude was killed by arrows...Matthias wsa stoned and then beheaded... Barnabas was stoned to death...Paul was beheaded in Rome.

You see men and women have no interest in dying for liars, but men and women who lives have been changed because of what Christ has done in their lives will. Jesus was who he said he was. The Son of God, the I AM, The LAMP OF GOD, THE LORD OF LORDS, The KING OF KINGS! God bless!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Help your self-step aside

In Dr. Suess' story, "The Zax," he tells of two creature he named Zax. One, was making his way up North and the other was headed South. When they bumped into each other in the prairie of Prax neither one was willing to step aside. Their pride and determination locked them into place.

The North-Going Zax complained that his path was blocked and demanded the South-Going Zax to get out of his way. The South-Going Zax was insulted. He insisted that he always went South and that the North-Going Zax was in his way. The situation escalated and with each one unwilling to serve the other by simply stepping aside.

The story ends with those two stubborn Zax standing in the middle of a highway, which was built right over them. They had become a memorial to selfishness. The highway was called the, "Zax bypass". Those poor creatures didn't realize that by serving each other they would have been helping themselves.

Sound familiar? Whether it's dealing with people in church, family, or friends there is time to put pride to the side. How often do we not do what makes since because we have always done something a certain way or how many friendships are ruined b/c it's our way or the highway? As Christians we must look past our own noses and not get stuck in our selfishness. God bless!

Phil 2:1-4
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.