Ra

Ra (pronounced as Rah, and sometimes as Re) is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the fifth dynasty he became a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the mid-day sun, with other deities representing other positions of the sun. Even today on Sunday mornings in Florida from 10:30-2:00PM some part-time worshipers of the God of the Universe still worship the sun god.

Tough times, the sharpening agent

"Difficult moments can make men mature in ways that age and time can't, ... once you go through some tough times, your focus starts to sharpen and you know what you have to do." ---Mike Singletary, NFL Coach

Honor

Honor one another above yourselves. r12:10. Treat someone as if they are more important than you. That is all part of dying to one's self. It is part of how we show love to one another. "All men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another."---Let's get off our can and live for Him who died for us! Drop the excuses. You either are a Christian or you are not. If someone had to guess by your lifestyle...what would they say about you....you are or your not???

Bonus Round

Have you ever had a near death experience? Most people have whether they know it or not. But there is a true near death experience that I missed out on that has not only changed my life; it has drastically changed my eternal destination. For I was dead in my sins until Christ saved me. The wages of sin is death, and that is what I had due me. Yet God saved me once and for all. Jesus paid the price on the cross, and He is my Redeemer. I am alive, because I am alive in Jesus. I am now living in the Bonus Round. Everything is gravy from here on out. Those like me should live our lives like we are racking up points in the Bonus Round. God's grace has allowed me such a life. I need to live like a man that has been rescued and living in Extra Time. I was lost, but now I am found.

Put it on

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's scheme. e611 The word for scheme here transliterated from the Greek is methodeia. Can you see it? METHOD. He has a method he works on you to take you down. We could call him crafty and sneaky, but that's not true at all...is it? Because he uses the same old thing on you and me. We see it coming. He doesn't even have to hide in the dark or get tricky with his method. Unless...unless we get serious and put on the full armor of God, and then we can stand (not fall) against his scheme or method. Our real battles (as Christians) are not with people. Our battle is with rulers, authorities and principalities of this dark world and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. Put on the full armor of God. That is the only way to prepare for an unseen enemy.Don't let him get sloppy. At least make him work for it.

Communicate Now

"It's all about the kids."---brrnnnn-wrong. It's all about the couple...which is all about the marriage...which is all about the family. If the couple relationship breaks, the family crumbles; and if the family crumbles, then the kids suffer the most. YOU DO NOT COMMUNICATE BETTER AFTER DIVORCE. Communicate now, if you really care about the kids.

Thanks for the Surprise

So, I had to wait a couple of days to collect my thoughts. Our kids threw a surprise 25th Anniversary Party for us. I don't feel worthy yet, because we still have a couple more months to go to be officially 25 (I think we'll make it though). I want to thank them for surprising us[Brittany, Josh, Melanie, Jordan]. I want to thank their mother for raising such good kids. I thank the Lord Jesus for being the center of our relationship and being the very glue that has kept us together. Teresa is a good woman, and I am blessed to have her. And I do thank God for my parents who set the standard thus far with 52 years of marriage.

Out of the Fire

Working my way through Daniel--into chapter 3. I guess it was too much for King Neb to learn in the previous chapter that he was a bigshot. So, he has this huge 90'x90' statue built and commands all the people to bow before it when the music plays. However, there were 3 young men on location that had character, morals, Someone they believed in. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow down and worship this man-made image. They were outed by some locals (that probably were jealous of their position). ----I think this story isn't told enough because it is almost too amazing. When God really shows off like this, people seem to disbelieve. So, why should He show off? Anyhoo---The 3Boyz are brought before the king who sentences them to be tossed into the fiery furnace which he has turned up 7x's hotter than usual. Just in case, someone years later would say it wasn't a real fire...it was not a literal fire, the Scripture tells ust that the brave, strong soldiers that tossed the 3boyz into the fire were burnt to death. "...what God will be able to rescue from my hands?"-v.15 King Neb found the answer to that shortly. He saw four men, not three walking around in the fire. Astonished, he yelled for the 3 to come back out. They came out of the fire unhurt, not even smelling like smoke. Yeah, God showed off. Their faith and God's work didn't necessarily make King Neb a believer, but it did capture his attention; and he gave respect to their God (at least for the moment. Memories are so short.) What fire has God brought you out of, and you forgot about it? Stop and thank Him today. More importantly, live for Him like the Boyz.

Winning Streak

The Colorado Rockies have won 11 Games in a row. That is pretty hard to do. I listened to the new coach explain what was happening. He said that before the streak some guys were doing what they were supposed to be doing, but others weren't pulling their weight. Now that the ones that were slacking have started coming around, good things are happening. Now, they are just feeding off of each other. They are winning. It's not so much different for church. If the slackers (yeah I said it) would step up and do something, then some crazy things would start happening. Good things. Don't look around and play the blame game. Do your thing, and encourage others to step it up. Read the Book, we win! Live like a champion. Championship teams have teammates, not gripers. Don't gripe, Jesus didn't.

Da Land

Boyz playing in the rain? A search party? A feasibility study. A first look. A call to prayer.

His Purpose Will Stand

It's no secret that I love competitive athletics. I really enjoy watching athletes battle it out with their skills and pit their will up against another to victory. It is a rare feat, but awesome when one person dominates the field of play.Or even greater when someone calls their shot like Babe Ruth did on at least one occasion; or when Joe Namath proclaimed victory for the underdog Jets years ago before the game was even played. Since then, many pretenders and wannabees have come and gone. But I was just having an incredible time hanging out with God and just working my way through the book of Isaiah when I stumbled across something that just proves how totally AWESOME God is. Isaiah 46:10 says: I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.---It's true. We can read the beginning to the end of our existence in the Scriptures. We can read THE END and it hasn't happened yet, and there is nothing or no one that can change it! Talk about dominating the Game! Satan can't touch this. <--That ends with a period!Yeah, just like that. It is called the Sovereignty of God. Our God reigns!

Kudos

It's a privilege to serve with such an outstanding group. I have to throw out some kudos (as usual forgive me if I leave you out). Andy did a great job with the Baby Dedication, and I am so proud of the parents for being forthright about their desire to raise their children in a godly manner. The Nursery Team was hit with an overload today, but you all stepped up your game. Several compliments were directed toward the nursery---way to go!

Integrity

They say when the integrity of a building has been compromised that the building collapses. It has also been stated that when security has failed that the integrity has been compromised. If the structure of the mightiest building is compromised it can all fall down. Even though the flaw may be miniscule, if it is properly placed it can bring the whole thing down. Whether high-tech security or a series of locked chain-linked fences, the tiniest breach can allow the whole system to fail. Integrity in a man works the same. We’ve all heard the adage “we are only as good as our weakest link.” Let’s say that inside a man is a series of links that makes him the man that he is. Let’s call these links character. On the surface we see a good man, but below the surface one of those links is flawed. The enemy (satan) preys on that weakest link (like a time-bomb planted in the structure of a large building).
He bides his time because this is a good man. And at just the right time the enemy pulls the trigger. Will it be a dud? Will integrity be compromised? Will the man fall, or will someone get there in time to diffuse the device (scheme of the devil)? Integrity has been defined as what a man is when no one else is looking. There is no room for compromise in a good man. Way too many people are hurt when a good man falls. Stay true. Expose the flaw and save lives. What link in your life needs to be exposed to keep the whole house from falling? Get help.

What is in your heart?

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart...Well...What is in your heart? Replace the forty, with twelve or three. How have you passed the journey of life with all its trials and tribulations. To whom or what would God say you pledge allegiance to? You know, Moses, Abraham aren't the only people God is interested in. Take to time to reflect on your honest answer to the question: According to the way you are living (budgeting your time, talents, wealth)what would God say is in your heart?
Deuteronomy 8 is a good read.

Struggling Citizens

"...many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."---phil.3:18b-20
Lord help us see with your eyes, and stay strong. Help us live for You.

Col.2:6-7 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
As you were taught…---
When does that take place in our church? All of the children/student classes, CPR (adult small groups), Church, quiet time alone with God, radio, internet
The opportunity is out there and available in multiple venues for the individual. The choice to grow is up to you. The sermon based studies are taking us deeper into the Bible than we even hoped they would. Learning is taking place, therefore growth is taking place. You are the key to your personal spiritual growth. Get involved!

All

Love the Lord God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deut.6:5.
Love the Lord with all you’ve got, because truly, He is all you’ve got.

Beware

We seem to think these cults that pervert the Good News of Jesus Christ are new. The few popular ones that started in the USA began around the 1850’s. They all tend to say some nice things about Jesus and the Bible and even use some of our lingo; but they mean totally different things. Some treat Jesus as a god, and disbelieve the Trinity. All of them have another book or prophet to “help” interpret the Scripture, when we are told clearly that the Holy Spirit will do that. WORD: they have another book and another prophet so they can misinterpret Scripture.
Paul said: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!—Gal.1:6-8
Paul was already dealing with this. It’s not new. It’s always a red flag when someone needs some book other than the Bible to interpret Scripture. Secondly, they will need some extra folks (they’ll usually call them prophets or something distinguished like that or a society) to do some explaining. A guy once told me:” When you’re explaining you’re lying.” Although that is not Scripture, there is some wisdom there. If you read the whole Bible it explains itself! Let Scripture interpret Scripture.

Would alone time with God kill you?

For 40 days Christ was alone in the wilderness and fasting while Satan tempted him. This was to be an alone time with the Father being led by the Holy Spirit. No food, just the wilderness and the occasional sounds from nature and wild animals. Can you handle alone time with God? Let’s take away the whole fasting thing. Eat. Let’s say you are in reasonable accommodations on a beach or a mountain, not the desert. Skip the electronics. No book except a Bible. No twitter or facebook or email. You have no outside connection…just you and the Almighty. Could you deal with yourself being alone with God? For one, two, three, or even forty days? Jesus maintained his focus on the Father amidst the distractions. We have different distractions. Steal that time away, and get alone with God. It won’t kill you.

a prayer to God

Thank you for the faithfulness of your children. MHS students testified of WHOSE they are Grad night. Awesome! I pray that you will honor this rebellion. I pray for a great spiritual awakening. I pray that you would awaken the sleeping giant. I pray for one more spiritual awakening before you come take us away.

Forever and ever and ever

His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and [men] shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed. ---Ps.72:17
Praise Him today!

Da Bottle

Sitting outside a convenience store talking with someone I couldn't help to notice people coming out one at a time with a bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag. They don't make you wrap a Coca-Cola in a bag so I knew what it was. Later on I reflected on that and thought that if nothing is wrong with it, why does the state (secular) have us hide it in a bag? Listen, you can do what you want, I ain't yo daddy...I'm just sayin'. Sometimes common sense prevails even in the legislature.