At the mall...

Preparing Our Hearts for Tomorrow

Powerful.

Disturbing.

True.


Everything from SouthLake on Vimeo.

Friday Funnies.

Sometimes... you need a break.

Take a few minutes and watch this!

Sorry about the advertisement at the beginning... there is nothing I can do (that I know of) to remove it.

Happier than an Pachyderm under a waterfall?

It has been a while since my last written entry.  There has been so much going on.  I have been thinking through a lot these days and I am so glad that our joy is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Take heart, you who are hurting.

Be comforted, those who are troubled.

Find rest, those who are anxious.

Be bold, you who are weary.

For Christ is our Rock.

As the great hymn of yesteryear so aptly declares:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

Until next time...

Be blessed y'all.

From a good friend TOMMIE ZITO

Miami Campmeeting from Tommie Zito Ministries on Vimeo.

This is a promo video that was made by/for a dear brother in Christ and soldier of the cross: Tommie Zito.

His ministry info can be found at www.tommiezito.com

Be blessed y'all.

2 Samuel 22

David's Song of Praise - 2 Sam 22 (03-22) from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

Do yourself (and the church) a favor

Do yourself (and the church) a favor and do the following:

1. Block out two hours.

2. Spend the first 30 minutes of this block of time to pray... asking the Lord to open your heart and eyes.

3. Watch Hell's Best Kept Secret below.

4. Stop. Think about what you just saw and heard.

5. Spend the rest of the block of time in prayer.

I would love to hear how this teaching affects you.

Be blessed... be encouraged... be real!

The Consequences of Sin

The Consequences of Sin 03-14-10 from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

Preached at Bethany Baptist on 03-14-10

A Graphic Scene (part 4)

Luke 16...

As I reflect on this passage at least 2 things become clear.

1. While it is true that the Lord wants to bless His children, we are
also tasked with proclaiming the Gospel.

2. It is obvious from the (formally) rich man's cries that the
residents of heaven and hell want the Gospel to be shared.

May the Lord grant you boldness as you tell others of Him.

(sent from a spellcheckless device)

A Graphic Scene (part 3)

Luke 16:19 - 31...

Abraham said "remember my son..." He saw... felt... touched... AND HE STILL DOES!!! Imagine an eternity of anguish involving the senses! That is horrible.

But the retention of memory.

In heaven all tears are gone for, we believe, the thoughts of our
former life will be wiped away.

"And there will be NO MORE death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the
old world and its evils are gone forever."
Revelation 21:3-4

God certainly does not remember our former life or our sins.

In hell you will remember every sin and worse still, every opportunity
you had to reject the Gospel. You will remember the faces of those
who confronted you with the life giving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As a believer, I am haunted by the thought that there will be people
in hell who remember my face and wonder why I never told them about
Jesus.

Let us be bold in our witness and in our willingness to serve the King of kings.

Until tomorrow.

Sermon Video from Last Sunday -- 2 Samuel 11

2 Samuel 11 (03-07-10) from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

A Graphic Scene (part 2)

Luke 16:19 – 31 . . . Yesterday we began a short look at this passage and we left with the following charge:

It would be wise to put the things entrusted to your stewardship to eternal use... missions... the proclamation of the Gospel... these sort of things.

Today, let’s look at some of the characteristics of hell.

1. In hell = The rich man does not simply “stop existing”. There are definite places where people can spend eternity.

2. he was in torment = Why is this one of the most remembered aspects of hell? As one commentator has well said: one knows that he is separated from God. No more grace… no more mercy.

3. he looked up and saw = We will see (no pun intended) that the residents of hell have total sensory perception. This makes the torment that much more unbearable.

4. Abraham far away = We will not get into some of the technical aspects of hell and Abraham’s Bosom and these sort of things. If you feel that urge, take some time to study it out. But for now… notice that there are those who are in torment for eternity and others who are not.

5. he called to him = This shows both volition (exercising his will) and emphasizes the fact that this takes place in a body… one that can feel and see and experience pain.

6. I am in agony in this fire = This man will experience agony without end, though he enjoyed the “finer things of life”.

7. you are in agony. = This is not just an illusion… not something the rich man is simply mistaken about. He is, and will remain in, agony. Abraham realized it just as plainly as the rich man did.

8. between us and you a great chasm has been fixed = There is a very clear demarcation between those who are saved and those who are not. As much as our society wishes to blur the distinction… the reality is that in God’s eyes you are either one of His children or you are not.

9. those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' = The citizens of heaven do not desire this sort of agony on anyone… but God is just. The occupants of hell do not want to be there either… and they can not escape. The old adage remains true: forever is a really long time.

10. Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. = We will speak more on this later, but notice that the rich man now desires to see souls saved!

Tomorrow we will examine a few facets in greater depth, but for now consider the following:

a) Those that do not trust in Christ have been promised this place of unending torment. (John 3:36)

b) Those who are under the wrath of God in hell will have to bear the unbearable. THAT IS A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH!

Brethren… who do you know is on a collision course with the wrath of God that needs the Savior? Who must you tell the Gospel to?

Until tomorrow.

Our outing today... Daniela & Chris fall out!

Funny!

A Graphic Scene (Part 1)

Please allow me to set the stage...

Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, who Scripture pointedly says where "lovers of money" (Luke 16:14). This story was told both to teach the lookers on and rebuke the Pharisees. Remember this: although the religious bunch caused Jesus so much trouble, He still sought after them.

When the Pharisees ridicule Jesus in verse 14 He says in no uncertain terms: what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. After explaining the integrity and everlastingness of the Word of God in verses 16 and 17, Jesus both rebukes their wicked thoughts about money and condemns their cheap view of marriage with the simple statement: Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. (Luke 16:18)

Jesus then masterfully elaborates on His point by telling the story we commonly refer to as "Lazarus and the Rich Man".

There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' " (Luke 16:19 - 31)

Now that the stage has been set, tomorrow we will examine the rich man's condition and what those who reject God and His grace can expect. Until then, consider the following:

1. Most Bible commentators do not believe this is a parable. The simple reason is that Jesus did not indicate that it was. That leaves us with a pretty graphic picture of what hell looks like.

2. Remember, this place of torment was not created for man. It was created for the enemy (Satan) and his minions.

3. All the riches in the world do not mean much once we are gone. It would be wise to put the things entrusted to your stewardship to eternal use... missions... the proclamation of the Gospel... these sort of things.

Until tomorrow....

A Graphic Scene (preface)

This coming week, my blog posts will focus on the scene painted for us
by Christ in Luke 16. This account is commonly known as the Rich Man
and Lazarus. It will be a five (5) part installment and I would like
to ask you to read Luke 16:19 - 31. I will most likely be using my
favorite translation, the ESV.

Be blessed

Better Together

We love Jack Johnson around our house.  He did the soundtrack to the CURIOUS GEORGE movie and his music is great. One of the tracks off the IN BETWEEN DREAMS album is "Better Together".  And that is exactly how I feel about my family.

We play best together.

We learn better together.

We laugh harder together.

We sing louder together.

We are better together.

So here's my question to you:

Do you do life better with Christ?

The answer should be a resounding YES!

Why don't you take a minute to thank Him for his promise to never leave you nor forsake you (Matthew 28) because you are better together.

Be blessed y'all ! ! !

From the Sky!

This was originally composed on Friday February 26^th at 2:44 pm Eastern Standard Time (from seat 29-f several thousand feet above America.)

I just flew back from a thriving metropolitan area of almost 7 million. The 2010 Census data will most likely confirm conservative estimates that the actually population is greater than that.

Miami-Dade County ties the greater Seattle / Portland area for "least churched" area of the country. +90% of the population is unchurched... claiming no religious affiliation at all. That is shocking to say the least.

I looked out the window of the plane and saw creation like few have. Almost all day... a bright sunshiny day.... clear and clear across the country.

All the way I was thinking:

Who am I that you would choose me? More than that Lord, who am I that you would choose me to care for a segment of your people. Who am I that you should be so kind to me?

The answer is GOD'S GRACE!

Be blessed today as you ponder the matchless grace of our God.

THE THOUGHT I HAS OCCUPIED MOST OF MY THINKING.

God has NEVER led anyone to the point of indecision…

It's NOT that we don't know what to do most of the time…

but rather we know EXACTLY what to do.


The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. 
Psalm 23:1 - 3

He took your place.

As I reflect on this this Sunday's message from 2 Sam 9, I am at a
loss for words in awe over God's mercy.

Think this through...

- Adam turned his back on God.

- God had to turn His back on Adam.

- Christ, who knew no sin, became sin for us.

- As such, God had to turn His back on Christ.

- The last point above was done so HE CAN TURN TO US!

Brethren, what joy is yours in Christ. How our hearts should overflow
with passion for the gospel and our hands abound with works fitting
for the Savior!

May the Lord bless you today as you seek to serve our risen Lord.

(sent from a spell check-less mobile device)

Braced for sleep.

Sin is NOT adorable.

There are times when my children are rebellious and Daniela and I
would forgo punishment because we want to demonstrate mercy. There
are other times when they make a funny face or say something very
funny that all we want to do is hug them.

SIN IS NOT ADORABLE.

I had the opportunity to share my testimony several times while on
vacation and this truth has occupied a lot of my thinking:

SIN IS NOT ADORABLE.

It was because of our sin that Christ went to the cross.

SIN IS NOT ADORABLE.

It was our sin that caused our Lord to weep at the tomb of His friend
(John 11).

SIN IS NOT ADORABLE.

Remember that next time you are tempted....

The Father loves you but your sin is not adorable.

Written and and sent from a portable device...
sorry about the spelling.

From this evening's missions conference.

The Jesus Fish meets Pac-Man

That is awesome!

11am worship at Old Cutler Pres.

Amazing time with Life Church Miami this am.

7:30 every morning so far... this is what comes knocking at the back door... Oodles of sunshine!

From today! (too 2)

From today! (too)

From today!

Lunch @ a great pizza joint on South Beach.

Daniela and the Hurricane Sim!!!

What 8 years has taught me...

Every year, on Feb 17, I think my wife needs a medal of honor. She is
not only an amazing woman... she is a godly mother, a great servant of
Jesus, a true friend, and the best wife on this or any other planet.
Feb. 17th was our 8th anniversary and, if anything, there is one thing
I know for sure:

I love Daniela Johnson.

But here's the secret to 8 years of joy (and I imagine the secret to
80 years) - I wake up every morning and choose to love her.

Folks, the person you are married to or the one you are preparing to
marry is not the most lovely person EVERY DAY. Therefore, you must
make the conscious decision to love them every day.

Read (and then re-read) Ephesians chapter 5.

Men, are you up to the task?

--- Sent from a spell check-less mobile device ---

That's me and my sparkling vampire homie. Don't be hatin'.

My ride for this afternoon... A caddy! It's for sale too... if you're interested.

Sweet!

First Flight (part 2)

The guy that gave up his seat for us....

If you have ever traveled in a large group, then you know that
sometimes you can not sit together on a plane. Such was the case with
both our flights (Portland - Texas. . . Texas - Miami). The FAB 5 had
almost the entire row behind me.

So I asked the man behind me to switch.

He seemed a little reluctant at first, but then he saw that I was
traveling with my family. We traded seats.

It turns out that he was also traveling with his family and he gave up
a seat close to them so I could be close to mine.

Does that remind you of Anyone?

Jesus Christ gave His life so that we could have life in Him. That is
awesome.

Why not take five minutes and read (then re-read) Romans chapter five?

Blessings.

(sent from a spell check-less mobile device)

While the older children home-school... the Izz and I just chill :)

Sunrise, Bible Study, and Coffee. What else do you need to start the day?

First Flight (pt 1)

On the first leg of our outing to Miami, someone, while in the
restroom, passed out and they called any doctors to the back of the
plane. Just so you know... a "code red" on American Airlines means
medical assistance is needed. I had people around me freaking out...
"code red? What is that? Are we going to crash?"

There were not any doctors, but we were sitting behind a med student.
After some initial shock and, what seemed like terror (she was just
about hyper-ventalating over the whole "what is a code red?", she made
her way to the rear of the aircraft.

As I watched all this happen, two things came to mind.

1. I am not a doctor (I do t even play one on TV).

2. I can not even imagine what it must have been for the angels in
heaven to look upon Jesus on the cross! Here was the Prince of glory
and there is nothing they can do... He was on a resue mission. If you
remember, He could have called thousands of the host of heaven to
attend to Him... He had the power. He had the authority. But by His
grace He chose to remain on the cross.

Take a few moments to read (and then re-read) the second chapter of
Philippians.

Blessings!

(sent from a spell check-less mobile device)

Our landscape last night!

Awesome.

Daniela on Vacation... and loving every minute of it!

What do you do in S. Florida after a big lunch of the best Chinese food on the planet? Nothing but sit in the sun and relax!

What do you do in S. Florida after a big lunch of the best Chinese
food on the planet?

Nothing but sit in the sun and relax!

More photos from the plane!

Pictures from the plane!

DAVID'S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

What a blessing this morning was!

Here is the "pew's eye view" for those who were not able to join us.

The text is 2 Samuel 7:18 - 29.

(AGAIN... SORRY ABOUT THE POOR AUDIO QUALITY)

David's Prayer of Thanksgiving from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

Happy Valentines Day

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

Too wild!

One down...

Ana and the Izz

Two wild kiddis watching THE WILD

Count your blessings

I love old hymns!

There is one that encourages us all to:

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Sometimes that is hard! But if you think through your life, even during the most trying times there is always something to praise Him about.

This Sunday at BBC we'll see the proper response to God’s grace:
1. Recognition of God’s character.
2. Recognition of our proper place in His plan.
3. Trusting in His faithfulness.

Hope to see you there!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28-29

Great article from Bob!

Here is a great article about verbal assault and how to deal with it.

http://bobparr.org/2009/08/24/walk-it-out/

Cheers.

(sent from a spell check-less mobile device)

Valentine’s Day

Daniela and I do not celebrate Valentine's Day, but we know several
people who do. Seriously, this is not a message against Valentine's
Day.

Years ago I vowed to seek to love Daniela as Christ loves the church
(Ephesians 5:25 - 27). Since then, I have sought to show her everyday
that I love, cherish, and honor her. Why? The work that Christ does
on behalf of His church did not end at the cross… or even at the
resurrection!

* On the cross, Jesus paid for our sins!

* At the resurrection, He secured our victory over death!

* HE CURRENTLY SITS AT THE FATHER'S RIGHT HAND INTERCEDING FOR HIS
CHURCH! (Hebrews 7:25)

What a thought… Husbands… how often do you show your love for your
wife?

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave
himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with
water through the word, and to present her to him self as a radiant
church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and
blameless.

Ephesians 5:25 - 27

You have a great and awesome task before you…

To show the gospel in your marriage!

The Davidic Covenant (02-07-10)

The Davidic Covenant (02-07-10) from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

This video was captured on an iPhone.

MADE TO STICK

Made to Stick (Heath and Heath) Book Review below:



Well... what can I say about this amazing work by the brothers Heath?  Their ideas will certainly stick with me.  I have begun incorporating some of the time tested principles of this book into every form of communication I use (preaching, teaching, writing, blogging, parenting... everything).

Basically, this book sets out to teach you how to make your point stick... sort of fitting considering the title eh?

The authors cover 6 essential characteristics of ideas that last and impact those they come in contact with:

1. The core message should be simple.

2. Presentation should be unexpected.

3. The imagery should be concrete.

4. There must be credibility to the idea.

5. People are emotional and ideas that stick should not forget the emotional element of "human-ness"

6. Stories can carry ideas farther than facts and figures can.

The authors have also included extremely helpful exercises reinforcing these areas on vulnerability.  If you decide to check this book out, I highly recommend working through the exercises.  One warning though: This book will most likely make you think, but more than that, it will probably make you act on what you think.  The last thing you want is to share tons of data with someone or a group of someones and find that NOTHING LASTED... nothing stuck!

Bottom-line: I only recommend this book if you want what you say to be remembered and acted on.

One of the places you can get Made to Stick is here.

GOOD QUESTION

I got this question recently [paraphrased]:

In 1 Samuel 31, it says that Saul fell on his sword and in 2 Samuel 1 it says that an Amalekite killed him. What's going on?

Good question.  What do we do with texts like these?

How would you answer this?

Here's my response:

Remember... This is the account of when David heard the news. Scripture doesn't say that the Amalekite was telling the truth.

We must always be aware of who is speaking in the Bible.  Remember, the serpent lied to Eve (Genesis 3).

May the Lord bless you as you seek to please Him.

The Davidic Covenant

This Sunday we will be looking at 2 Samuel 5 – 7... The Davidic Covenant.

When you think of covenant, what comes to your mind?

Rules? Contracts? …?

When we look at the Davidic Covenant in 2 Samuel 7, there are (at least) two things that stand out:

David is under no obligation to the Lord in the covenant. The throne is simply offered as a gift from the God in whom he trusts.

The fulfillment of the covenant rests in the character and integrity of God... not David.

Consider your own salvation... do you see these two facts shining through?

Blessings as you go about your day today... refreshed and joyful!

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 1 Peter 1:8–12

David –vs- Goliath 01-17-10

1 Samuel 17
David –vs- Goliath
01-17-10 @ Bethany Baptist Church

This week we looked at a very familiar story... David and his battle with Goliath.

(NOTE: The audio, for some reason, does not correspond to the video in segments. I apologize.)

01-17-10 from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

Here are a few points and questions to ponder from this text:

- God chooses what we go through; we choose how we go through it. (John Maxwell)

- David’s boldness came from his trust in the Word of God.

- David allowed his theology to interpret his circumstance; we would be wise to do the same.

- God is still looking for men and women after His own heart… will you be one of them?

And probably the greatest truth of this passage is:

- God is not bound by your deficiencies… He is glorified through them.

Blessings!

The Kingdom Handed Over (01-31-10)

The Kingdom Handed Over (01-31-10) from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

This week (01-31-10) we look at Saul's end.

Such potential... such opportunity... wasted.

We also ask the question: WHO DO YOU SERVE?

The end.

What does that mean? When you think of the end, what thoughts come to
mind?

One of the things I love about the gospel is the promise that, for the
believer in Jesus achrist, we are simply transported to a new life
with Christ. But here's the great part... THAT HAPPENS AT THE MOMENT
OF SALVATION!

What great news!

We have life in Him... because He lives.

Blessings y'all.

(sent from a spellcheck-less mobile device)

Avatar Depression?

Please take four and a half minutes and watch this video then read on:



Now... I don;t know about you, but I write fiction as an “escape”. When things get a little hectic in my life, after prayer and rest... I write. Usually it is fiction for youth. One of the tricks to good writing is getting into the minds of your characters. Having said that, let me say this:

I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN DEPRESSED OVER FICTION... EVER.

I'll be honest, not that I'm in the habit of lying... I have a real hard time sympathizing with this. It seems that there is a cross-section of our culture that believes they are owed something. Apart from the promises of God, they are not owed anything.

For the believer: a glorious inheritance and a home in heaven.
For the unbeliever: judgement.

Forget fiction for a moment... let's talk reality.

Brethren, we have a great high priest who not only is interceding for us at the right hand of God the Father but has also secured us a home in heaven and an inheritance this world knows nothing of. Whether it stems from engrossing fiction or the trials of life... you have a remedy for depression and angst. You need only to look to Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

David Spares Saul's Life 01-24-10

David Spares Saul's Life 01-24-10 from Chris Johnson on Vimeo.

NEW VIDEO SECTION!

Greetings.



You can check out weekly sermon video here:



www.vimeo.com/pastorchris

Talk about gaining perspective...

Today I had the opportunity to visit with a dear saint who was
thankful "they are able to get around". Talk about gaining
perspective...

Why don't you take a moment or two and thank the Lord for the everyday
things that allow you to function daily.

Shalom.

(sent from a spellcheck-less mobile device)

Sam's birthday party!

Great times....

Happy Birthday!

Upping the Anty

My youngest, the Izz, is at the stage of her life where repeating everything we say and mimicking our actions occupies a lot of her time.  Charles Caleb Colton once wrote: Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.  I'm going to agree with him.  It also ups the anty. 

Not that Daniela and I are in the habit of using inappropriate language, but her constant observation certainly keeps us aware of what we do and say.

Folks, remember... young children are not the only ones looking at us and taking notes.

. . . Even angels long to look into these things.
1 Peter 1:12

The Father is also observing us, comforting, rebuking, and encouraging His children.

So what should our response be?

. . . whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17

Batman... er... Samuel turns 3!

Happy birthday!

Willing and Waiting

"Everyone who does any of these detestable things—such persons must be cut off from their people. Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God."

Leviticus 18:29 - 30

 

This morning I was reading through Leviticus and this passage stuck out… actually… it jumped out, smacked me around, and then went back about its business.

 

Brethren, we are not to be conformed to this world… we are called out to be God's instruments of righteousness, pointing people to Christ (Romans 12).

 

Will you present yourself as a willing vessel?

Seriously...

Seriously...

I mean... really?

I checked my spam account today. This is the email address I use to register for things so I won't get bombarded with tons of nonsense. Looks like I got several "once in a lifetime opportunity"'s (I stopped counting at 11)!

Apparently, all I have to do is send _____ my contact info and I will be the recipient of millions.

WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING?

(Editorial note: If you get these emails either delete them immediately or reply with the Gospel. They are scams.)

I am so thankful that the Lord gives most people eyes to see those scams that sound too good to be true.

But more than that I am thankful that Christ suffered and died for my sins. While I am sitting here thinking about how evil these people are for trying to scam those who are desperate and lack discernment... I am reminded of my own sin. My failure to obey my God and King.

Thank you Lord for your grace.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11 - 14

You don't scare me...

This morning's text was a powerful one... 1 Samuel 17.

David, strengthened by his trust in the Lord's provision takes on what
seems like an impossible task.

Folks, what has Christ called you to that only you can do?

Will you follow His leading and allow Him to glorify Himself through
you?

What are you afraid of?

This house is protected by Batman

WALK BY FAITH

This Sunday we will be looking at the story of David and Goliath.

 

This is not an inspirational story about an UNDER-DOG.  

 

This is an exhortation to walk by faith.

 

What we are looking at today is the recounting of a young man's total confidence in God.

 

He allowed his theology to interpret his circumstance.

 

He did not see Goliath as a threat to himself, but as an offense to God.

 

 

This is an exhortation to walk by faith.

 

 

Windows 2010 home edition

That's just plain funny.

:)


(sent from a spellcheck-less mobile device)

Daddy, did you see me?

"Daddy, did you see me?"

...

"Daddy, did you see me?"

Last Saturday I went to my oldest daughter's ballet class. She is
really getting the hang for dance. When her class let out and the
herd of young ballerinas came through the door to their parents I
overheard again and again, "Daddy, did you see me"? Not only do
children take great joy in pleasing their parents, but as a father I
certify that that parents take great pleasure in rejoicing with them.

Believer, remember that, "...whether you eat or drink or whatever you
do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31)

When was the last time you went to the Father and told Him about your day?

Why not today?

Izz is...

Bye bye...

:)

You Have Today...

"Dream as if you have forever, Live as if you only have today."
-- Author unknown (to me anyway)

 

I am so thankful that the Lord laid out His plan for us.  We are told to seek His will for us (Psalm 40:8; Romans 12:1 – 2, and elsewhere).  Probably the most telling statement made in the life of Christ about seeking the will of God is found in John 7:17:

 

If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.

 

The Book of Proverbs exhorts us to live wisely and plan for the future and at the same time, James cautions us to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:15).

 

We are called to be steadfast in our faith, and look to the glorious reappearing of Christ! (2 Peter 2 - 3)

 

There is so much to be done and often times we feel like there is too much for us to do for the Lord.

 

When you feel like that remember:

 

You have today.

 

Then ask yourself:

 

With all of today's potential... what will I make of it?

YOUR FAITH IS SHOWING

Why is it "God" always tells crazy people to do crazy [stuff] like kill people, why doesn't he tell them things like.....Do the dishes, or walk the dog???

-- A friend of mine

 

Wow… what a telling statement.

 

How would you answer this? What would you say to my friend?

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is a real concern.  This is why the Scriptures declare:

 

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

-- Ephesians 4:17 - 24

 

Folks… the world is watching and taking notes.

 

Watch your life and doctrine… they are showing.

Gadget, Gadgets everywhere...

I have a confession... I love technology.

I appreciate the tools that have come along in the last few years and
it is amazing to see what have been developed in just the few short
years that I have been breathing air. Some readers out there can not
appreciate this... but I remember when Mario was 8 bit and a 32 inch
TV was considered MAMMOTH! Good night... there were no Pentium 3's,
2's, or 1's... (Sorry for the time warp there.)

Recently I listened to a couple of pod casts on technology and the
direction it seems to be headed. Listening to some of these tech guys
talking about technology as "advancements"... I wonder how many of
these tools, ideas, procedures, and techniques are, in fact, NOT
ADVANCEMENTS... But retreats?  Some of the most "innovative" stuff can
actually be a retreat to more comfortable and familiar territory.

Here's something all of us should consider: Do I take the easy route
for the sake of comfort?

Certainly Jesus didn't.

Technology is great... utilize it.

Gadgets are great... allow them to make you more productive.

But the end goal of these modern marvels on ingenuity should be to
make us better servants of the King. And at the end of the day,
that's what should matter.

A book review for you preachers out there

Happy New Year!

 

What better way to begin the year than with a book review?

 

Haddon Robinson offers the church a concise and extremely helpful volume on preaching in Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages.  I love his use of language and the fact that Robinson, as a master teacher, speaks on "my level".  As a writer, and a preacher… I respect that.

 

If you are looking for a book to help round off a few rough edges in your sermon(s), I wholeheartedly recommend Biblical Preaching.

 

The copy I read is a first print from 1980. (Yep... this book is as old as I am.)  Here is the updated edition (2001)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Preaching-Development-Delivery-Expository/dp/0801022622/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262302636&sr=8-1

 

Robinson gets high marks from me on this one and, infinitely more important, what this book aims at producing glorifies Jesus… namely, Biblical Preaching.  If I had to sum the book up in one thought it would be:  The preacher is to communicate truth to those who need it.  If it is not properly communicated... we have failed in our task.  Clarity over profundity.

 

Note:  If you enjoy listening to podcasts on sermon development and would like more from Haddon Robinson... here's the link in iTunes.  The podcast is called PREACHING POINTS.

http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/gcts-public.2209853432