"One of the marks of true greatness

is the ability to develop greatness in others."

-J. C. Macaulay (1889-1977), writer and theologian

The greatest of all are servants!

Jesus is our greatest example of servant-leadership that we will ever find. I love to think of Him with the towel wrapped around his waist and washing the disciple's feet. It is a good reminder for me of how I should be.

Well, I ran into this great story on the web and I thought I would share it here. Another example of servant-leadership...

A noncommissioned officer was directing the repairs of a military building during the American Revolution. He was barking orders to the soldiers under his command, trying to get them to raise a heavy wooden beam.
As the men struggled in vain to lift the beam into place, a man who was passing by stopped to ask the one in charge why he wasn’t helping the men. With all the pomp of an emperor, the soldier responded, “Sir, I am a corporal!”
“You are, are you?” replied the passerby, “I was not aware of that.” Then, taking off his hat and bowing, he said, “I ask your pardon, Corporal.” Then the stranger walked over and strained with the soldiers to lift the heavy beam. After the job was finished, he turned and said, “Mr. Corporal, when you have another such job, and have not enough men, send for your Commander in Chief, and I will come and help you a second time.” The corporal was thunderstruck. The man’s name was General George Washington.

Isn't it true that we all want to be honored, respected and appreciated? So badly, sometimes, that we almost demand it. However, the fact is, that these things cannot be demanded or even requested, because true honor, respect and appreciation only come one way. When we become servants.

Keep these passages in mind when you are thinking of the need to be humble and lowly...when you need to be reminded that we have to serve others, and chafe at the thought...

Matthew 19:30 - But many who are first will be last; and the last, first.
Mark 10:44-45 - ...and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. [45] "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Again, Jesus was the greatest example...especially when He laid down His life for our salvation.

Why should I go to Church???

This is the general jist of a question that I am giving some thought to this morning. Is going to Church imporant for a person to do in order to be "saved?" And if one is a Christian, should attending Church be a priority or not?

Now, for me, I have already answered this question. I have already made the decision for myself. However, I know that there are numbers of people in our modern world that really question the significance of Church, and it services; even deeming them un-necessary any longer. Well, as I have been digging around for some imput, I have come across a few reasons why Church and attendance is important, which I will paste below from clarifyingchristianity.com The obvious is the first one, with the Hebrews verse about "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together." But, I thought the others were valid as well. Please leave a comment yourself!

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Can a person be a Christian and not attend church?
This is a valid question, since going to church does not save people. They are saved (and get to go to heaven) by getting right with God. Still, getting right with God is only the start of being a Christian, as a birth is only the start of having a life.
We understand that some people may find themselves in a position where they do not attend church for a short time. (Perhaps they just moved to a new city and have not found a church, or are in the hospital and can not physically go to church.) That is not what we are referring to in this section. This section is about people who can not be bothered with going to church and purposefully and consistently stay away from church. We believe that such people can not remain Christians for at least three reasons:
1 - The Bible has no examples of anyone who was right with God but also stood alone and did not spend time with other believers. Hebrews 10:23-25 tells us clearly that we should gather together and encourage and spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
2 - In Ephesians 5:21-33, Paul tells us how husbands and wives ought to relate to one another. There, he teaches that Christ relates to the church as if it were His “bride.” He always wants the best for her and loves the church so much that He gave himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). If you told someone, “I love you and I want to have a close relationship with you, but I can’t stand being around your spouse at all,” you might get a punch in the nose! In the same way, people who say “I love Jesus, but I do not want to have anything to do with the church,” are putting up a wall between themselves and Jesus.
3 - Using figures of speech, Ephesians 5:23 and Colossians 1:18 refer to Christ as the “head” and the church as the “body.” 1 Corinthians chapter 12 further explains how the church (the body) is made up of individuals who work together, pooling their talents, skills, and strengths—all for the purpose of helping as many people as possible get right with God and grow closer to Him. To refuse to be a part of the body is to say that we do not want to follow God’s plan. In a sense, such people believe that by acting on their own that they have a better plan than God does. There is a lot of arrogance in such thinking.

Wedding Wisdom

I was priviledged to perform a wedding this weekend for a young man from our Church, and at the reception his brother shared this clever quote that I thought was good advice for all of us who are married. Hope you get a kick out of it...

"To keep your marriage brimming,

with love in the wedding cup,

whenever you're wrong, admit it;

whenever you're right, shut up."

-Ogden Nash

Recycling at its finest...

I was watching Fox News this morning and they did a story on these booths that are scattered across NYC. Remember the days before you had a cell phone...go back a couple years, and you will remember that we used to occasionally use a pay phone. Right? Yeah... Well, those booths still linger around that city, and someone has come up with a way to use the bones of the booth, and "converted" it into a prayer booth. I don't know if it is wrong for me to think this to be a bit comical, but it is to me.

Anyhow, as I was checking this out on the web, I saw a comment by someone who said this couldn't be from the Church because there is no place to give an offering! Maybe they should have left the slot for the quarter??? :)

Hey, as I think about it...it seems that there is some prejudice here... It seems to me that this is taylored more for the catholic that us Pentecostals! ;)

The Paradox of our Age

I was sent an e-mail today about "The Paradox of our Day" and it seemed to be something that we all need to hear so as to re-prioritize our lives because so much of it is true. And in researching this essay, I came to find out that it was written by a pastor, who unfortuantely later was found to be lacking himself... Nonetheless, the essay is worth the read today still...

The Paradox Of Our Age

by: Dr. Bob Moorehead

We have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less common sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more more medicine, but less wellness. We spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom and lie too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less.We've learned to rush, but not to wait; we have higher incomes, but lower morals; more food but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort but less success. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men and short character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one-night stands, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom.

I am sure that this is a variation on the original because there are so many of these out there...even under different authorship.

Gays gone wild in a Christian Church

I had this article e-mailed to me today, so I thought I would share it with you here. Christians, this gives us all something to prayerfully consider in the days that are ahead of us. What will it be like as the months pass, and evil increases as the Bible describes? Sadly, but not surprisingly, sin is becoming more bold because it is more widely accepted.

Check this article out...

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I also wanted to drop this in here because it sort of relates. I found this on pastor Paul Grabill's site today. It is a video of a woman being treated very badly as she protested a protest in CA against the homosexual agenda...

Watch this at...

A Nation Blessed...

Just a thought today about our nation, and its blessings...

I know that we are a very blessed nation, and that we have MUCH to be thankful for. However, with the recent elections, many are getting a little down in the mouth because we have concerns and even fears about what our future holds.

I read this verse today, and thought that it applies so very much. Proverbs 11:10-11 - When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, there is glad shouting. [11] By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. I am led to believe that as the Believer is blessed by God...a city (or nation for that matter) will also be blessed. Likewise, a nation will be torn down by the mouth of the wicked. Here again, we see the battle between the good and the bad, the Lord and the devil.

And, as I read this, I am seeing the need for us (the Body of Christ) to BE what God has called us to be, because I see it that God brings His blessing upon a nation through the Body of Christ. The problem is, is that right now, there are a few things to be concerned about. Now, I am not saying that it is our fault; however, it does make me question our presence in this nation. Are we the powerful force that God wants us to be? Are we making the difference to the magnitude that He envisions for us? Just think, when prayer was taken out of school back in the '60s, was the Church, as a whole, fighting that in any way? Since then, we have to admit the Nation has not been blessed by that action. Or abortion... Etc., etc.

Now, please don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that WE are the blame. But what I am saying is something I remember hearing from T. D. Jakes when Bill Clinton has his little escapade with Monica... I remember that Bishop speaking about how at a time like that, the response should not be so much on booing and hissing Mr. Clinton, but instead, we (The Church & Nation) should be searching our own hearts, and asking the Lord to know us, and to forgive us. Afterall, we elected this man in, and he, in many ways, represented us Americans.

I like that thought...that we search our hearts out. It brings new light to the verse that we have all heard many times over...2 Chronicles 7:14 - ...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Friends, I want our Nation to be a blessed Nation...and I want to be a reason that God commands His blessing towards us. I know that these days are growing more increasingly evil, but that is just when our light should shine a little more brightly, right?

Remind yourself of that childhood song you used to sing, "This little light of mine. I'm gonna let it shine." And remember that we have work that needs to get done, before the return of Christ. In light of what we see happening in our world, I am only reminded that the retun of Christ is all the more closer...so let's work while there is still light! Let's see our Nation be blessed as we all want it to be!

Married FOUR times!

I get a weekly e-newsletter from one of our District's pastors, and at the end of them, he has a funny joke to share, which I like to post here...

The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married – for the fourth time.
The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband’s occupation.
“He’s a funeral director,” she answered.
“Interesting,” the newsman thought. He then asked her if she wouldn’t mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.
She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she’d first married a banker when she was in her early 20s, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40s, later on a preacher when in her 60s, and now in her 80s, a funeral director.
The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.
She smiled and explained, “I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go.”

Wesley's Covenant Prayer

I came across this prayer from Nick Poole's blog and I thought it was great for every believer to read and know. I plan to plug this into my message on Sunday Morning...it is a good one for us all to consider and meditate upon.

John Wesley's Covenant Prayer

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;

put me to doing, put me to suffering;

let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,

exalted for you or brought low for you;

let me be full, let me be empty;

let me have all things, let me have nothing;

I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal
And now, O glorious and blessed God,

Father,Son and Holy Spirit,

you are mine, and I am yours.

So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

This prayer was the heartbeat of one of the most dynamic movements for the renewal and expansion of the Christian movement. Maybe it can be a motivating prayer for a movement within our hearts once again?

Mr. President

Well, I want to drop a few comments here on my blog in regard to the elections last night. I have to admit that I am disappointed with the results, and have a certain amount of hesitation in reference to our nation and where it may be going in the near future. However, I must remind myself that God is STILL on the throne, and He has not changed His heart towards America or Americans. Truth be told, we might get too wrapped up in the whole election thing anyhow...

In any event, I want to give some thoughts from my heart in regard to what we see happening in our country.

First off, Judges 21:25, "...everyone did what was right in their own eyes." This is what I see transpiring with our own country. As for voting morals and looking at the character and integrity of a man...I feel that these days are over. It seems to me that people are more concerned with the "what's in it for me" kind of thing. I saw this one lady on the news who said she was voting for Obama because when he is president, she won't have to worry about putting gas in her car, or food to eat...as if he will cure everything. What was she doing.? Exactly what seemed right in her own eyes.

Which leads me to this second thought. In I Samuel 8, when the people didn't care for Samuel being their leader, and they wanted a king to judge them instead. It was not God's best, but because they wanted something, ie. the king, God gave it to them. Then Saul came on the scene, and we all know where that ended up. Well, here we are as Americans. But for those who know the Word, we know that sin and lawlessness will increase. Not to mention the liberal mentality of Americans...therefore, it is not surprise that a liberal won. It is only a reflection of the heart of Americans. What is more sad than that is that it reflects far too many "Christians" too. I mean, just as simple as this, what Christian can vote for a man that supports the act of killing the unborn? Who can support something that is clearly unBiblical?

This only reminds me of Matthew 24:12, where it says that "because lawlessness is increased, the love of many will grow cold." This election reminds me that we are living in the last days, and that we who know the Lord must get busy telling others about Jesus! So, let's get motivated because the time is short.

All in all, I am not mad that Obama won...I have no anger about that. But what is happening in my heart is that I am sobered at the thought that we (Believers) must get busy to reach out, and make a difference because the Lord is coming soon! The trumpet is about to sound!

My last thought as to why the elections went in the direction they did. Isaiah 55:9 - "So are My ways higher than your ways. And My thoughts than your thoughts." Maybe we don't understand why things went this way, but we have to trust in our reliable God who has everything under control. Again, He is STILL on the throne!

The elections are coming!!!

Came across this from one of our District's pastors...thought it was some good advice for us all.

Will You Speak About the Election?
by Jeff Leake

As Election Day approaches, I am being asked this question from a growing number of people. What do you think? McCain? Obama? Who should a Christian vote for? Now, I know in just listing this question on the blog, there is the potential for a flurry of comments for or against candidates and issues. Can I ask for you to guard your words in leaving comments? Please don’t use the comment section as a plea for one or another of the candidates. (Read on to see why)

First, my hope for the future of the USA does not rest in this election. I believe in voting. I also believe that good leadership is critical to any nation, church, family, or business. But I believe that God is big enough to work in and through whatever happens on Nov 4th and beyond.

Second, my primary concern is with the Kingdom of God and not with the United States of America. I know that sounds almost offensive to some people. But the USA is not the centerpiece of the vision that God has for the world. His primary concern is with souls coming to know Jesus. Often it seems that Christians in the USA think that God’s main concern in the world is with our own nation. The world is so much bigger than that. He is just as concerned with Rwanda or Nicaragua as He is with the USA. Mostly He is concerned with the lost, the hurting, the poor, the innocent, the vulnerable.

Third, I believe that a believer should consider moral values, character, and vision when they make their decision to vote. I think that every voter should get educated about the candidates that are running, not just for president, but for local offices as well. Some of the values that I will be thinking through will have to do with the unborn, the definition of marriage and the family, with helping the poor, the end of racial injustice, and with standing up for human rights in parts of the world where people are at risk (just to mention a few).

Fourth, my responsibility is to pray for and even bless governmental leaders, even when I disagree with their policies. Whoever is elected as President, I will bless. I am not going to speak evil, spread false rumors, or run down my leaders. Some people’s Christianity will be tested on the Wednesday after the election as to whether they will act in love, faith, and blessing toward the person who has been elected.

Fifth, I think at times we can over-estimate the election season. As I look back on the past 16 years, we have had 8 years of Bush, and 8 years of Clinton. Neither one proved to be the messiah and neither one was the devil. Both have been imperfect people who accomplished some good and some not so good. The next President will be the same. And regardless of who is elected, we need to remember that we can still influence policy and decision making by staying engaged in the process.

Sixth, my passion is to represent Jesus well in the world. Partisan attitudes often divide. When we speak harshly or unfairly of one candidate or another, we affect things as much by our negative fear based attitude, as we do by our words. One reason why younger people in our nation are closed to the church is due to the perceived anger and self-righteousness of people identified as Christians. I believe we should stand for what we believe in, but with humility, kindness, patience, and grace.

Seventh, I want to protect the unity of the church (not just APC but believers all throughout this nation). I personally know many believers who are passionate for Obama. I know many who are just as passionate for McCain/Palin. I like to imagine what it is like to worship in Rwanda where Hutu’s and Tutsi’s worship in the same church. Remember that 800,000 or more died in genocide a few years ago in Rwanda, but somehow these of different parties have learned to forgive and live in love. In the church where my father-in-law pastors, there are Contras and Sandinistas who worship together. These two groups had been in civil war for years. Surely, Republicans and Democrats can worship together and yet disagree on who to vote for?

Finally, I like to consider what Jesus did regarding politics when he walked the earth. The Governmental Leaders in his day were corrupt, evil, and murderous. King Herod slaughtered 2 year old boys. A few years later in Rome, Nero burned the city and blamed Christians. Some Roman Emperors fed believers to lions in the Coliseum. Wow.

Do you know what happened? The Kingdom of God advanced! In fact, in harsh governmental environments, the Kingdom of God often flourishes most. In the past 80 years, China has been under some severe rulers. But the Kingdom has exploded in that nation in spite of the fact that it is against the law to openly preach Christ. Jesus never hung his hopes on a change in political leadership. He worked for a greater Kingdom reality in the hearts of men and women.

I think it is safe to say that neither Obama nor McCain is the hope of the world. That is Jesus. It is also safe to say that neither candidate will be as much a threat as Nero, Herod, or Mao. If the Kingdom can expand under their leadership, I am confident God can continue to work no matter who is elected in 2008.

So I will be voting. I will vote based on character, values, and vision. I will pray for the election. And when I wake up on Wednesday, I will commit to pray for whoever is elected. I will not give into a spirit of fear but I will continue to walk in faith. And more than anything I will seek first the Kingdom of God.

as seen in Pastor Jeff Leake’s blog “The LaunchPad” on Wednesday, October 29, 2008.

Hope this was of some help in regard to your voting choice this Tuesday. In any event, just vote!

Converting a Bear

A priest, a Pentecostal preacher, and a rabbi all served as chaplains to the students of Northern Michigan University in Marquette. They would get together two or three times a week for coffee and to talk shop.

One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn’t really all that hard. A real challenge would be to preach to a bear. One thing led to another, and they decided to do an experiment. They would all go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to convert it.

Seven days later, they all came together to discuss their experience.

Father Flannery, who had his arm in a sling, was on crutches, and had various bandages on his body and limbs, went first. “Well,” he said, “I went into the woods to find me a bear. And when I found him, I began to read to him from the Catechism. Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to slap me around. So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and, Holy Mary Mother of God, he became as gentle as a lamb. The bishop is coming out next week to give him first communion and confirmation.”

Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, had one arm and both legs in casts, and had an IV drip. In his best fire-and-brimstone oratory, he claimed, “WELL, brothers, you KNOW that we don’t sprinkle! I went out and I FOUND me a bear. And then I began to read to my bear from God’s HOLY WORD! But that bear wanted nothing to do with me. So I took HOLD of him and we began to wrestle. We wrestled down one hill, UP another and DOWN another until we came to a creek. So I quickly DUNKED him and BAPTIZED his hairy soul. And just like you said, he became as gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus.”

The priest and the reverend both looked down at the rabbi, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was in a body cast and traction with IVs and monitors running in and out of him. He was in really bad shape. The Rabbi looked up and said, “Looking back on it, circumcision may not have been the best way to start.”

White haired!

Here is a great quote about wisdom...

"A wise man learns by the experience of others.

An ordinary man learns by his own experience.

A fool learns by nobody's experience."

James 1:5 tells us that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God for some... Could anyone use any wisdom? We all could use it, and the only one who can truly give it is God, who holds ALL wisdom.

This weekend I will continue one with the series, "Jesus is in the House!" and we will be looking at what John saw of Jesus...His white hair. Speaking of His wisdom He has for all who are in His house!

Noah's Ark

I was sent an e-mail about this amazing feat by a creationist in the Netherland. This guy built a replica of Noah's Ark. Pretty amazing pictures of what he created, and seeing the size of this thing makes you appreciate what Noah did by himself, with ridicule, for years on end.

Here is the link to pics and info... http://www.pbase.com/paulthedane/noahs_ark

Couch Potatoes

Went to our Sectional Meeting today and had a great conversation with the other Pastors there. We always have a great time of discussion, and today's meeting was no different. We got in a conversation about growth. Which branched into the idea of quantity verses quality...

In any event, my friend Ron, from Clarion, made this statement which I thought was so good. He said, "Consumpsion without movement is not good." (Or something to that effect.)

Well, we know that this is true in regard to our physical bodies. If we take in more calories than we burn on a daily basis, we will gain weight. Then, you become more sedate and less productive, which is all the more worse for you. In turn, this makes for a neat thought in regard to our spiritual lives. If all we do is attend Church and just soak in the truth of God and His Word, but yet never do anything with what He has invested in us, then are we not "Spiritual" couch potatoes? Are we not only pew warmers? And, are we not missing out on what the point of what the Word would have us to do in the first place? Jesus commanded us to GO into all the world and preach the Gospel! To be in joyful, and fruitfull service for Him.

Think about the guys that were given the talents in Matthew 25. Their master expected them to do something with what was given to them. They acknowledged that their master was a hard man...so they knew that He would expect something from them, and from his investment.

With that thought in mind... What about our productivity? What do you think God willl expect of us someday? Will we wish we were more productive one day? Do we need to get up off our pew and do something for God today? Does our activity match our consumption?

New Sermon Series...

Colossians 1:18

He (Jesus) is also head of the Body, the Church.

Once I return from vacation this week, I am starting a new series of messages that I have entitled, "Jesus is in the House!"

The text will be from Revelation 1, where John sees Jesus reveal Himself in the midst of the Church. I will be highlighting each of the items in regard to Jesus, and how that speaks to us today.

Hope you don't miss one Sunday! And, for you who jump on the blog and don't attend GTAG, I will try to post a thought from each message on here for you...

Church: Tearing it down, or Building it?

Saw this neat little ditty, and thought I would share it here...

Ten little Christians standing in a line,

One disliked the pastor, then there were nine.

Nine little Christians stayed up very late,

One slept in on Sunday, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians on their way to heaven,

One took the low road, then there were seven.

Seven little Christians chirping like chicks,

One disliked the music, then there were six.

Six little Christians seemed very much alive,

But one lost his interest, then there were five.

Five little Christians pulling for Heaven’s shore,

But one stopped to rest, then there were four.

Four little Christians, each busy as a bee,

One got her feelings hurt, then there were three.

Three little Christians knew what to do,

One joined the sports crowd, then there were two.

Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,

Differed with each other, then there was one.

One little Christian can’t do much ’tis true;

Brought his friend to Bible study, then there were two.

Two earnest Christians, each won one more,

That doubled their number, then there were four.

Four sincere Christians worked early and late,

Each won another, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians, if they doubled as before,

In just a few short weeks, we’d have 1,024.

In this little jingle, there’s a lesson true,

You belong to the building, or the wrecking crew.

Bridge Out!

Have heard this joke a few times, and thought it could make a good point for us Christians / Clergy if we think about it...

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Two men of the cloth, a Catholic Priest & a Episcopal Pastor, were out on a roadside one day hanging a sign which said, "The end is near! Turn yourself around now - before it's too late!" Just as they were tapping it into the ground, a car sped by them, and the driver yelled out, "You leave us alone, you religious nuts!"

After a moment, from around the curve, they heard the sound of screeching tires and then a big splash. After which, the Priest turned to the Pastor as asked, "Do you think the sign should just say, 'Bridge out?'"

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Have you ever wondered why people don't listen to us (Christians) anymore? Maybe because they already know what we are going to say... Judgement, condemnation, etc. We might have to change our strategy, not the Message, but the methods...? Try showing them the love of Christ.

Like the old saying goes, "Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care."

Canality VS. Spirituality

We had an Evangelist, Rev. Carl Harris with us here at Glad Tidings A/G all last week. What a great time we had, and what a powerful time it was. By the end of the week, I was able to witness a wonderful change in the attitudes and spirits of the people. Our lives were changed to say the least...

Anyhow... I wanted to share a quote from one of the messages from Bro. Harris that just struck a chord with me in regard to complaining, he said...

"A carnal man complains about a thing.

A Spiritual man proclaims a thing."

I just thought that was a great line, that came from God, and was able to zero in on the hearts of men. We all need to hear this once in a while...that we need to keep positive and focused on the Lord. Philippians 4:4 tells us to "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" Then, a few verses down, we are given another verse that is important for us to remember in regard to our thoughts and attitudes (since our thoughts produce attitudes). Philippians 4:8 -Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

Case and point...get Spiritual about our situations and circumstance, and avoid complaining. Easier said that done, right?

Why go to Church?

This seems to be an age-old question. One that many, if not all, struggle with on a weekly basis. So here is some advice for that personal debate that I thought was worth posting here.

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A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to Church every Sunday (or Saturday). "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

Well, as you can imagine, this started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for two weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals but I do know this... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to Church for nourishment. I would be Spiritually dead today!"

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Remember, when you are DOWN to nothing...God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and recieves the impossible! Thank God for your physical AND Spiritual nourishment!

Arrogance trips someone up again...

I am watching a pretty awesome Monday Night Football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. So far, it is a pretty great game. The first half of the game has proven to be the second best scoring game of all time in the first half, with 54 points.

Anyhow... The play I want to highlight is in regard to the rookie, DeSean Jackson (Eagles) who was about to score a touchdown towards the beginning of the second quarter, but because of his arrogance, he threw the ball down (as if to say "did you see that?"), thinking that he had already scored. To his dismay, the play was called back and those six points, were pulled off the scoreboard, and his touchdown was erased out of the books under his name; for no other reason than his arrogance which led the way to his fall.

There is an obvious Scripture verse for this play. Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. And oh, how true that was for this instance. From listening to the commentary on the television, it seems that this has been an ongoing problem for DeSean, and they sited a play that Desean did back in his High School career, if I am not mistaken, when he took a swan dive towards the end zone, while running the ball in from the five yard line, and fell short at the one yard line. Ouch!

DeSean, I guess that it is time to get that pride under wraps before it really costs you and your team some losses. As we all need to do... Pride is a horrible attitude that works in opposition to God and His will in your life...so get victory of it before it gains victory over you.

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BTW - I was able to attend a Monday Night Football game back in '95 between these same two teams in Philly. It was an awesome game to be at, especially being that this is a great rival. And, I hope that the outcome is the same as back then. Go Cowboys! They just scored again, and pulled ahead!

A Fresh Perspective...

I read this from Pastor Tim Satryan's e-newletter today, and I thought it was worth sharing here. It really makes you think about what you have, and what you have to do to get it...then, it gets you to wonder if it is worth it all anyhow.

One day, a financially comfortable father decided to take his son to the country, with the purpose of showing him how poor people live, and that the son could understand the value of things, and realize how fortunate they were.
They stayed overnight at a very humble family’s farm for 1 day and 1 night. As the trip ended, and during their return home, the father asks his son:
So what did you think of the trip?
It was great, dad!
Did you see how poor and needy some people have to live?
Yes!
And what did you learn?
I saw that we have one dog in the house, but they have four. We have a huge swimming pool, but they have a river that never ever ends. We have imported lamps in the patio, they have the stars. Our backyard ends at the fence, but theirs goes on and on into the horizon. Especially though, dad, I saw that they have time to talk to each other and live as a family. You and Mom have to work all day, and I hardly see you both!
As the conversation ended, the father remained silent, and his son added: Thanks Dad, for showing me how rich we could be!!

We'll never forget...

New York City - Washington D.C. - Shanksville, PA

It is hard to believe that seven years have past since the attack on September 11, 2001. We remember the people who died from this tragedy, and the heroes who took the plane down in Shanksville, PA. Plus, we can never forget just how much we need the good people who work in emergency services in all of our towns.

What is amazing is how I so vividly remember what I was doing on that morning. Do you?

Making the time...

Our Assistant Pastor and I were talking the other day in regard to people making time for doctor's appointments, but yet many fail to make time for God. Hear me out in this...

If you think about it, all of us have to make time in our busy schedules to get to doctor appointments, dentist appointments, vet visits for our pets, take the time to get our kids to their sport practices, etc., etc. Yet, when it comes to God and our need for Him, we become very passive. Thinking, if I can get there to Church, I will, if not, I won't.

Now, taking this a step further, think with me... As you read the Bible you will find many who went out of their way to be certain that they were able to connect with God to meet their needs. Consider the blind man named Bartimeaus in Luke 18. He would not be quieted, but yelled out all the more when asked to leave Jesus alone, "Jesus, have mercy on me!" The woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5, pressed in to just touch Jesus, even though she was not invited to do so. How about Naaman the leper in II Kings 5, here was a guy that went out of his way to seek out the Lord by going to the man of God for a healing in his body. Story after story in the Bible depics for us this idea of going out of our way to connect with God to recieve a special touch for Him. Bottom line, it takes some effort from us. In spite of our not wanting to impose. It's funny how we will go out of our way for our health to get to a doctor's visit, but we fail to go out of our way to go to the GREAT PHYSICIAN. What is wrong with us?

Last guy to consider... King Asa in II Chronicles 16. He was a Godly King, but it ended up that at the end of his life, he got sick, in fact, the Bible says that he became diseased in his feet, according to II Chronicles 16:12. What is sad about the whole of is life is shared in that verse too. It goes on to say that "His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians." Now, don't misunderstand me here, I am not against going to the doctor. However, I am against those who prefer to consult the physicians, and neglect to consult the Lord.

My exact point is this...we take all the time we need to tend to ourselves for the physical body (our hair, nails, doctor's visits, the chiropractor, the dentist, etc.) Yet, we give God only an hour on Sunday and expect Him to meet every need that we have. I think the Biblical pattern is opposite that. We have to get determined to pursue the Lord and seek Him out for our lives and our life's needs (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional).

All in all, my heart is simply wondering why we, as Christians, don't make getting to God a priority, so much so that we would tear through a roof to get to Him? Consider this thought with regard to your life today, and see if the Lord wouldn't say that maybe you (and I) haven't been guilty of doing this.

"Flip-Flop" Religion...

I was doing my devotions out of Malachi 1 from "God's Word for Today" and it had a great thought which I want to expand on...

It says in Malachi 1:6-8 - " 'A son honors his father, and a servant his master. Then if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is My respect?' says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests who despise My name. But you say, 'How have we despised Thy name?' [7] "You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, 'How have we defiled Thee?' In that you say, 'The table of the Lord is to be despised.' [8] "But when you present the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick, is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor? Would he be pleased with you? Or would he receive you kindly?" says the Lord of hosts.

Sadly, what is happening is that God is disturbed at the people who give Him only what they want to...not what they should. Instead of presenting the very best for a sacrifice as was required of them, they would offer a crippled or blind animal to God. Surely they supposed, they were going to die anyhow, and God wouldn't want us to fall short, they must have reasoned. But they all to quickly forgot that God is a jealous God! He is not one to overlook His requests of us just because it might be too hard or trying for us. No! God must come first, and we show Him that He is first by the sacrifices we make for Him on a daily basis.

While I know that I am not sacrificing a lamb to God today, my life is a "living sacrifice." Romans 12:1 - I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Therefore, it is considered "reasonable" for God to require the best for us...not just what we have left over once we have worn ourselves out. That is where the "flip-flop" idea comes in. We intend to give our best, but when the actual moment of requirement comes, we hold out on God and give Him what we can, because our best would hurt too much. Aren't you thankful that God didn't do that to us? Aren't you thankful that Jesus didn't do that to us? I sure am! They gave their best! They gave their all!

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One more thought...

I heard this recently from a missionary, Rev. Denny Seler, missionary to Jamaica. He was speaking to our Church from Mark 12:13-17. In it Jesus is being questioned about paying taxes, and whether they should do it or not. Jesus picks up a coin and asks, "Who's image is on the coin?" The obvious answer is Caesar, to which Jesus replies, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."

The point to be made here is in the answer to this question..."Whose image are you made in?" Come on, you know... Genesis 1:26 - Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness..." You and I are made in HIS image! So then, as LIVING SACRIFICES, what should we give to God? Our best...not just what we can "afford." We were made in His image, for His pleasure.

So, when God requires something of us, should we hold out on Him? Should we commit and then abandone our commitment? No! We must be faithful and stay faithful. DON'T FLIP-FLOP! There is enough of that today in the Church. People saying, I'll be there, and then you never see them. People who make a commitment to serve the Lord and the Body, and then they never come around again. People who make the decision to be committed to God when they are in trouble, but then abandon ship when the going gets good. People who can never get up to go to Church, but will not miss the early morning men's breakfast. People who can't seem to find the time to do service for others, but when there is a concert they want to go to an hour away, they won't miss it. People who...you get the point.

All in all... Christian, give your best, and don't flip-flop on God. He does not simply overlook it as we might think, because there is no immediate consequence. Malachi 1 is an example of how it makes God feel.

BTW - Don't you love the Red Sox too?

Gov. Sarah Palin, Republican V.P. Candidate - an A/G girl!

Hey, I thought this might be of interest, Gov. Sarah Palin at the Wasilla A/G Church in Wasilla Alaska; of which she was and her family were a part of, up until 2002. So, check out this link here http://www.netbroadcasting.tv/sarah_palin.html to learn a little bit more about her and her faith.

BTW - I am not working on the McCain - Palin Campaign. :)

The Doctrine of Balaam - #3

Here is the final installment of my thoughts on Balaam and his long decline into narcissism. Hope you have enjoyed it, and I also hope it has exposed some failing in your heart as you may have sought your will over God's.

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The TEACHING of Balaam.
Revelation 2:14 - But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality.

Balaam is given ample opportunity to repent and change…
-On three occasions, Balaam goes to curse Israel, and yet…Israel is blessed by God.
-And each time Balaam returns home, burning with the desire to HAVE THAT MONEY!

So, he devises a plan to get Isreal in trouble, and get his money!
He creates a “teaching” for the King of Moab to share, getting the children of Israel to stumble into sin, and loose God’s blessing…

You can read of it in Numbers 31:16 - "Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord."

-Basically, Balak corrupted Israel by leading them into idolatry and immorality.

Psalm 106:28 confirmed the falling away when it says…”They joined themselves also to Baal-peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.”

Therefore, this “teaching” caused Israel to violate God’s call for them to SEPARATE from this world…to come out, and “be ye separate!”

-Therefore, judgment came upon them!

So, just what was this “teaching of Balaam?”
It was the misconception that they, being the chosen people of God and blessed by Him because of their covenant with God; could not be cursed again.
-A sort of “once-saved-always-saved” mentality…
-Or a “hyper-grace” teaching…which means that it is a grace that forgives sin without repentance. FALSE!

So, because of this false teaching that Balaam spread among them, they were cursed, in spite of their believing otherwise…
And people were STUMBLING in their faith because of it!

All in all, it was COMPROMISE! And, compromise will never pay, will it Church? In fact, as we know, it is dangerous to compromise with the world!

There is an old Russian parable that goes like this: A hunter went into the woods to shoot a bear for a fur coat. When he found a bear and was about to shoot the bear startled him by speaking in a gentle soft voice, “Isn't it better to sit down and talk this through, maybe we can come to some agreement or compromise.” They sat down, the bear asked, “What do you want from me?” The hunter replied, “A fur coat.” The hunter then asked, “What do you want?” The bear replied, “A full stomach.” The bear then said, “Good, I think we can help us both.” Soon the negotiations were over...and out from the woods came the bear...ALONE! The bear had a full stomach and the hunter had a fur coat!!!
-Compromise rarely satisfies both equally!

Listen friends…Paul warns us all to take heed…1 Corinthians 10:11-12 - "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. [12] Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

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BEWARE of Balaam's doctrine in our world today...rest assured, it is out there!

Save our Economy - Vote for John McCain!

I was sent this clever little piece of information and I thought I would share it here...quite funny actually, and very practical. With its advice, we can "kill two birds with one stone" so to speak.

How To Save the Government (and us) $5 Million.

A president's pension currently is $191,300 per year, until he is 80Years old. Assuming the next president lives to age 80. Sen. McCain would receive ZERO pension as he would reach 80 at the end of two terms as President. Sen. Obama would be retired for 26 years after two terms and would receive $4,973,800 in pension. Therefore, it would certainly make economic sense to elect McCain in November. How's that for non partisan thinking???

The Doctrine of Balaam - #2

Here is the next installment on this thought of Balaam and his wanderings... Hope it helps you.

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2. The ERROR of Balaam.
Jude 1:11 - Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Woah! This is quite the motley crew, and people you do not want to be associated with…
-And in the middle of them is our old pal, Balaam…

Now, the original word used for “error” here is the Greek word for “delusion, deception fraudulence, or to wander.”

Therefore, Balaam’s error was in his persisting in search of that “reward” from the King…
-Because he wanted to get his hands on that loot, he opened himself up to trouble and error.
-Why?
-Because he would have done anything to get it…

And, that is just how sin works in us too…especially if it is something that we really want…
-We will find a way to get it…we will also then, justify it!
-Even if it means that we have to follow a false line of reasoning…thinking that it really won’t bother God all that much.

Oh, we couldn’t be more wrong if we get into this position…and you probably won’t hear much from God either, because you won’t want to hear it! (Balaam’s donkey came into play because of it.)

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This short lesson ought to help us to see just how delusional we get when we are going in out own direction, against the Lord. Pray that God would send you a "donkey" to help you when you get this stubborn. :)

The Doctrine of Balaam - #1

I have been wanting to place these thoughts about Balaam's downward spiral on this blog for quite some time now, and I am finally just going to make the time to do it...

I have found this stuff to be facinating as I have come across it while studying for a message from a series I did on the Seven Churches in Revelation, chapters 2 & 3. When I came to the 3rd Church, Pergamos, I found it...the Doctrine of Balaam. We remember him from the Old Testament and his talking donkey; but there is so much more that we rarely catch. Hopefully these next few blogs will catch some of us up on his ways and teachings that seem to still be creeping their way into the Church at large in 2008...

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1. The WAY of Balaam
2 Peter 2:15 - …forsaking the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness…

You see, Balaam typifies all of us who try to pressure and persuade God into our plans…
-So that we can do what we want to do? Have you been there?
-And while we rationalize what we are wanting to do…we are giving in to compromise…and ultimately, the devil!

Church, the “way of Balaam” refers to those who nag God into letting them do what they want to do…even in direct opposition to His will and purpose.

It means that you are going YOUR WAY instead of GOD’S WAY!
And, God will permit it, only because you have “free will.”

But, listen to the truth in this one passage… Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

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I know this is a very short synopsis of it, but more is to come. However, in your spare time read up on the history of Balaam, and see just how he handles his temptation. Check it out in Numbers 22.

I leave you with one thought in Balaam's story that can be applied to us all...

“Any praying about the known will of God is rebellion against God!”

An atheist walking in the woods...

An atheist was walking through the woods. 'What majestic trees!' 'What powerful rivers!' 'What beautiful animals!' He said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charging towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the Atheist cried out, 'Oh my God!' Time Stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. 'You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist, and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?' The atheist looked directly into the light and said, 'It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?' 'Very Well,' said the voice. The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke: 'Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's off to work we go...

I saw this from a sermon on-line and I thought it was interesting...

We have seen or heard some of these saying before, I am sure...

“I Owe, I Owe, It’s off to work I go.”

“How can I soar with the eagles, when I work with turkeys all week?"

“I’m so broke I can’t pay attention.”

Everyone has an attitude about work...good or bad, and sometimes mixed. But, work is a HUGE part of our lives... It takes a large part of our time and demands much of our attention. In fact, it is said that over the course of a lifetime, from 18 - 65, if you work a 40 hour per week job, you will have spent 97,760 hours at work. Now, that doesn't include any overtime... Boy! Aren't you glad you got a day off from work today? (At least, I hope you did...)

One verse comes to mind for us on this Labor Day. Colossians 3:23 - "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." For as much time, or as little time we spend "on the job" remember that we must do it as unto the Lord because we represent Him on the job as well as off.

Hit him again, Lord!

A crumbling old church building needed remodeling. After the sermon, the preacher made an impassioned appeal looking directly at the richest man in town. At the end of the appeal, the rich man stood up and announced, “Pastor, I will contribute $1,000.”
Just then, plaster fell from the ceiling and struck the rich man on the shoulder. He promptly stood back up and said, “Pastor, on second thought I will increase my donation to $5,000.”
Before he could sit back down, plaster fell on him again. This time he cried out, “Pastor, I meant to say $10,000.”
He sat down, and a larger chunk of plaster fell on his head. He stood up once more and proclaimed, “Pastor, I will give $20,000!”
This prompted a deacon to shout, “Hit him again, Lord! Hit him again!”

Hope your Church never get to this state of disrepair; but if it does, I bet you might pray for God to "hit someone again!" LOL!

"Tender Loving Care"

Came across this story about how love makes a difference to our health...enjoy!

Lessons from Rabbits
by Richard Innes

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” – Romans 12:9-10

Scientists were studying the impact of a high-cholesterol diet on heart disease. To measure this effect, they fed a group of genetically similar rabbits the same high-cholesterol diet. To their amazement, half the rabbits developed heart troubles, while the others were normal, with no noticeable heart disease.

This outcome was not explainable, so they bought new rabbits and repeated the study. At the end of two weeks, they obtained the same results. Something was wrong with the research design, but they could not determine the unaccountable variable.

Eventually, they discovered that during the evening the assistant who fed and cared for the rabbits took the rabbits out of their cages and cuddled them and petted them while she changed their bedding and food. However, because she was short, she could not reach the rabbits on the top shelf, so they were simply fed and changed without being picked up. Sure enough, after two weeks, the rabbits on the top row all had heart disease, while the rabbits on the bottom row were healthy. The environment and diet were exactly the same. The only variable was expressed love through touching.

I’m not suggesting that we ignore a healthy diet. Not at all! But every one of us also needs a healthy diet of love and affection if we are to be and stay healthy.

May we be so filled with God’s love that we will always be loving and affectionate towards our loved ones and also (with discretion) to all the people He brings into our life.

Worry...

I came across this quote in preparation for my message I am speaking to the Church on Sunday morning about worry...

"Worry pulls tomorrow's cloud over today's sunshine."

-Chuck Swindoll

History in the making...

I am not huge on politics, but I do have to say that I love this season in America. When the Presidential Elections are in full tilt. I have such fun watching the debates and listening to the banter that is involved in the process. (Although, I do not enjoy it in Church.)

Anyways... This time around, we are about to see history made with either side winning. Either there will be a woman on the ticket who wins, or a non-caucasian in the white house for the first time ever. "The race" is always exciting to me, but to see history taking place right before your eyes is an awesome thing. We have told our son, who is 13, that he ought to pay close attention because of it...not that it matters to him anyhow.

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In any event, I wanted to comment on something Obama said with regard to McCain's choice as his VP, Gov. Sarah Palin from Alaska. Not an exact quote, but the jist is that, here is a person who was the mayor of a town of about 9000, who is just one heart-beat away from being the President of the United States; inferring that this was a poor choice for McCain, and for the American people.

Well, regardless of how you feel, I couldn't help but recall the passage of Scripture that tells us to "not despise the day of small beginnings." And even David was overlooked for God's choice placement...

BTW - Gov. Palin was the president of her high school's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Trivia...

Jesus is "spotted" on a moth?

I don't know... What do you think?

When I came home from the office this afternoon, CNN had a story on a moth that looked like it had a picture of Jesus on it. I guess you could make out the image of some kind of man on it's back if you look at it hard enough, but the bluish spot on Jesus' forehead makes me wonder if it really is him??? :)

Romans 1:20 says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." But, I am not sure that this is what God meant specifically...? Maybe the moth got a tatoo?? LOL! However, creation does testify of God.

I had to chuckle at the report because they had a pastor on there from Pittsburgh, PA that said we were supposed to worship the creator, and not His creation. I totally agree, but I was not tempted to worship this bug in the least; nor the grilled cheese that looked like Jesus was on it, or the variety of things whose pictures race over the web day by day...

Keep focused on Christ! Hebrews 12:2

Shh...

I found this quote on a friend's blog today, and I sparked some good thoughts...

"There are silences harder to take back than words."

-Poet, James Richardson

We have heard it said before that "silence is golden." Although, there is truth to that and it might be fitting for many situations...there are times that we need say something! I think of when Madalyn Murray O'Hair was able to get prayer removed from the school system back in the 60's...where were the Christians who stood up and said something? Even in our society today, there are many laws being passed that oppose the Scriptures...why don't we say something?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

-Edmund Burke

That is a powerful statement for us to hear. Plus, it ought to motivate us to not just "be" but to also "do."

Silence isn't alway golden, is it?

Do you think we (Christians) need to be more vocal about our faith? Drop me a line...

Some fun Bible humor...

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married?
A. Ruthless.

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?
A. German Shepherds.

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?
A. Pharaoh's daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a little prophet.

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, becausethe apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longerlived in Eden?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.

Q. Which servant of God was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible?
A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments at once.

Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.

Q. Who is the greatest baby sitter mentioned in the Bible?
A. David. He rocked Goliath into a very deep sleep.

Q. Which Bible character had no parents?
A. Joshua, son of Nun.

Q. Why didn't they play cards on the Ark?
A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.

PS... Did you know it's a sin for a woman to make coffee?
Yup, it's in the Bible. It says . . "Hebrews"

Moving video...

This is a great video that depics our blessed assurance in Christ and what He has done for us.

Plus, it is a pretty moving presentation with a different visual stimulation.

Pitfalls & Quicksand

Remember the old video game Pitfall? (I know I might be dating myself, but I am not really that old.) It was a classic game that was exciting to most, after all, at the time it was the thing...today, it would be considered a dinosaur compared to the games that are out there today.

Well anyways... I got thinking about this old game when I was doing my devotions this morning. I was reading from Ephesians 5:15-17 - Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, [16] making the most of your time, because the days are evil. [17] So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Two thoughts caught my attention as I was reading...

First, was in verse 15, and in another version of the Bible it says to "walk circumspectly" and the idea that it is giving to the reader is that we must walk with caution as one would walk through dangerous and rough terrain. I couldn't help but think of how dangerous and difficult it is to navigate our lives through this world. So much so, that even well meaning people fail at their attempts every day. Which tells me that good intentions are not good enough...you know what they say about good intentions? The key then, for us to walk with this wisdom is not found within ourselves...it is found within God. We need the Lord, and verse 18 tells us that we must "be filled with the Spirit." In the context of the passage here, "being filled" is not a one time event, but instead it must be done on a continual basis. Then, we are best equipped to walk circumspectly...as the Spirit of God leads and directs us.

The second thing that captured my attention was in verse 16, "redeeming the time." I love this thought because it goes in direct opposition to what the world says. It tells us that what we "do in Vegas, stays in Vegas." However, we must remember that God sees all, and He doesn't let things slide. We have to redeem the time because there is an enemy of our souls who will capitalize on every moment in order to get us to compromise and stumble...he attempts to hurl us into the pitfalls and quicksand of life. We must redeem the time because, as the verse goes on to say, "the days are evil." They do want to lead us to misfortune and demise. The day and age that we live in is peppered with compromise and easy living, but we must not yeild to it all. We cannot yeild to the mantra of our society. We have to be like those salmon who swim upstream...we must go against the culture of our day if we are going to be successful at avoiding the pitfalls and quicksand of our world.

So friends, walk with caution as you traverse this world. And remember that we are pilgrims just passing through. This old world IS NOT our home. Hebrews 13:14 - For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

Sin is selfish...

I have just recieved some terrible news today. A friend, a young man that attended our Church we pastored in Buffalo, NY died today. It is a tragic story really, and I will not go into details, but I will say that his struggle with drugs is what beat him. Please pray for his family.

Although he had things going in the right direction for himself... He had a wife, a child with another on the way. He could not find the fortitude to overcome his "demons" and lost it all to the addiction.

I couldn't help but think just how selfish sin really is. It thinks nothing of your life, your family, your finances or future. It thinks only of itself. How it can grow and take over another. The Bible makes it clear that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy...and what is more sad is that we are the door-keeper to that transition in our lives. We have choices to make. We hold those keys.

Sin is so selfish...and yet, we give into it and let it take the wheel of our lives. Why? Just thinking about the nature of sin, and the enemy's intent in for us should make us hate him and what he offers all the more!

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 - "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, [20] by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

Just food for thought...

LOUD CHURCH!

Here is another report on a Church in our region... Thought this to be interesting, especially in a day when we are typically toned down, this Church seems to be pumping up the volume! It must be a Psalm 150 type of place...

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Revloc Church Faces Complaints From Neighbors
REVLOC, Pa. -- It was a typical Sunday service at Believers Fellowship Church in Revloc, Cambria County.
The service included prayers for America's leaders and music from the church's band.
"We have a contemporary worship service," said Pastor Brian Tunstall. "Some might say our services get a little loud."
The Believers Fellowship congregation moved into the church about six years ago.
Since then, some neighbors have complained that services there are too loud.
They've also claimed that the church's Wednesday service lasts until late at night.
Church leaders disagreed and said services are usually over by 9 p.m.
They added that they don't want to cause problems in the community.
"We're working very hard to resolve this," said Tunstall. "We don't want conflict with anyone in Revloc."
Tunstall said the church plans to install air conditioners to help damper the sound from their services.

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I have to say kudos to them for lifting up their shouts to God. And I also have to ask, "When was the last time a pentecostal Church has been accused of being too loud by the passers-by or our neighborhoods. Not that we want to be trouble makes, but we do have something to shout about too...

Slain in the Spirit

I have come across this interesting article in our local news about a guy in Tennesse who is suing his Church because he was slain in the spirit and hit his head, causing injuries. Take a read...

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Man Sues Church Over 'God Injury'
Man Prayed For 'Real Experience,' Not Medical Bills
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- A man said he was so consumed by the spirit of God that he fell and hit his head while at a Knoxville church.
Now he wants Lakewind Church to pay $2.5 million for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering he said he's endured from his injuries.
Matt Lincoln, 57, says he decided to sue the church after its insurance company denied his claim for medical bills.
Lincoln has had two surgeries since the June 2007 incident but said he still feels pain in his back and his legs.
The Sevier County man said he was asking God to have "a real experience" while praying at church.
He said he has fallen from the force of the spirit before but has always been caught by someone.
Lawyers for the church said other congregants saw him on the floor laughing after his fall. They said he failed to look out for his own safety.

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Is there any wonder that we need to have "catchers" in the Church today? I know that I have seen people fall over in the spirit, hit their heads terribly hard on the pews, and walls, etc. and NEVER even know it happened to them. Which only causes me to question this man's experience; and acknowledge that we need a TRUE move of God's spirit once again.

humility

I recently came across this quote in an e-mail I recieved and I really liked it, hope you do too.

"Although God is aware of all things, He is searching for something in particular, something that acts like a magnet to capture His attention and invite His active involvement. And that something is humility. God is decisively drawn to the humble." -C. J. Mahaney

There is something to that, isn't there? God does embrace the humble, and He wants to build humility in each of His children.

In Proverbs 6, God lays out six things He hates, actually...SEVEN. And at the top of the list is A PROUD LOOK. In James 4:6 the Bible tells us that God is actually opposed to the proud, or that He resists the proud...that is a side of God that none of us should want to be on the recieving end of. However, He continues on to say that "He gives grace to the humble."

So my blogging friends, in God's eyes...humility is where it is at! I know it goes in direct opposition to who most people are today, and that might explain why people are having trouble in their faith. Try it God's way...try humility.