Another day... Another opportunity...

What do Pastor's Believe about Creation and Evolution?

2012-01-25T05:55:00.000-05:00

For the past two Sundays, the messages have covered Genesis 1 and 2. This Sunday on Genesis 3 will finish the short series "In the Beginning..."

As I studied the Scripture text, referencing over 20 commentaries and books, I was surprised to discover the varied opinions among scholars and pastors on the issues of Creation. Arguments between old earth and young earth was expected, but even the dismissal of creation itself in favor of an allegorical story of Israel's covenant relationship alone was promoted.

Though I may be a self-proclaimed simple minded person, I fail to grasp the desire to elevate science (especially unproven science) over the plain reading of God's word. Did God really hide the meaning of His Scriptures in intellectual superiority or scientific theory? And why would theologians seem so eager to to view Scripture from the lens of science, rather than see the world through the lens of Scripture. There are a growing number of scientists who show evidence for the Biblical account. Why not trust the Bible and be encouraged with these discoveries rather than adopt secular views and make the Bible try to fit science?

With these thoughts in view, I want to share a graph and study that was forwarded to me that shows where Protestant Pastors are currently on the issues of Creation.

(click to enlarge)

See the article here

http://www.lifeway.com/Article/Research-Poll-Pastors-oppose-evolution-split-on-earths-age

Does this really happen in the USA?

2012-01-18T05:55:00.000-05:00

Police, last Thursday, arrested 43 New York City pastors and lay people who were protesting the city's ban on church use of public schools for worship services. The ban is scheduled to go into effect Feb. 12.

The arrests came after more than 200 people gathered in the rain outside a Bronx public school where Mayor Michael Bloomberg was giving his State of the City address. After singing songs and cheering speeches, protesters walked out in orderly groups of five to eight to kneel in front of barricades and pray. Police warned them to leave and then made arrests on charges of disorderly conduct read the rest here...

7 Reasons You’ve Never Made a Disciple

2012-01-11T05:55:00.001-05:00

At the church I pastor, there is a group meeting to discuses disciple-making. We are asking the tough questions and seeking God's wisdom for our context.

In my research, I ran across this article by Nathan Creitz titled 7 Reasons You’ve Never Made a Disciple. I appreciate the article and passed it on to the group I am meeting with. Perhaps it will be a help to you as well.

*************************************

Jesus tells His disciples to make disciples. That’s our mission. But apparently, only 1 in 20 Christians has even shared the Gospel.

Less than that will ever lead someone to Christ.

Less than that will ever invest time in leading that new disciple toward Christlikeness.

What are we to make of so few disciples actually making disciples? If you’ve never made a disciple (or haven’t in a long time), there are at least 7 factors that might be contributing to your disciple-making slump.

1. You aren’t obeying

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

What you can do: Confess your disobedience and ask God to equip you to become a disciple-making disciple. Remember, it’s in the context of the Great Commission that Jesus says, “I am with you always…”

2. You aren’t praying

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak. Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.” (Colossians 4:2-5)

What you can do: Stop right now and pray for the first person that comes to your mind when you answer the question, “Who am I close to who is far from God?” Begin praying consistently for that person.

3. You aren’t preparing

But honor the Messiah as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are accused, those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame.” (1 Peter 3:15-16)

What you can do: Answer the question, “What is the reason for the hope that is in you?” Be ready to share the answer but also be ready to explain why your experience of faith makes sense.

4. You aren’t preaching

But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14)

What you can do: If you’ve never talked about Jesus, your friend will never know about Jesus. It’s simple; the Gospel is a message. Messages need to be communicated. Let stories about Jesus permeate your conversations every day (but don’t force it)!

5. You aren’t fleeing

Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s slave must not quarrel but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading [them] to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 2:22-25)

What you can do: Ask God to point out your sins and give you victory. If your lifestyle conflicts with your message, then no one will believe you. Ghandi said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Don’t let that be true of you.

6. You aren’t enduring

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

What you can do: Obeying, praying, preparing, preaching, and fleeing from sin all take discipline and endurance. You need to beat your body and make it your slave so that you won’t be disqualified in your task.

7. You aren’t accountable

And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our [worship] meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

What you can do: Let’s be clear: I’ve written this post to YOU but being a disciple who makes disciples is impossible without US. That is, apart from the other members of the Body of Christ, you will find it extremely difficult to be a disciple who makes and multiplies other disciples. So with that in mind, consider sharing this post with your small group and begin working through this list together. Make sure everyone in your group is obeying, praying, preparing, preaching, fleeing, and enduring.

Finally, don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t currently making disciples! Satan would love to defeat you before you start. Hopefully, I’ve given you a few reasons why you might not be fulfilling your mission and also some practical steps to get you started.

12 MUST Do's for 2012

2012-01-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

2012 is Another Year... Another Opportunity...

God has given you the gift of being alive in another year. So how will you make it really count? Here are 12 thoughts on how to make 2012 the best year!

1. Seek God first!

Seek Him, Read His Word, Pray, Serve, Give, Listen to God’s Whispers…

2. Prioritize Family!

Set some times, dates, and activities on the calendar NOW to spend time with family. If you don not do this, they will only get the leftovers of you.

3. Be SMART in Goal setting!

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented, and Time-Based.

4. Simplify!

You've only be given one life to accomplish your calling. Don't get distracted by everything, simply focus on the main thing!

5. Don’t Try... DO!

If you say that you’re going to do something, do it! Someone told me recently, the difference between try and triumph is the "umph" you put in to it!

6. Be Accountable

Share your ideas, goals, struggles and desires with your spouse and one or two others of the same gender and ask them to hold you accountable.

7. Evaluate!

Assess the areas of your life. What modifications or improvements need to be made. Do a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual review.

8. Expand your experiences!

Expand your "comfort zone" and do something brand new.

9. Use the Word "No"

You cannot do everything, therefore learn and use the smallest word that can make the biggest difference. Saying "no" will free you up to say "yes" to the right and best things.

10. Pray BIG!

God promises to do abundantly more than we ask or think. So think BIGGER! Ask BIGGER! Prayer BIGGER!

11. Read More!

If our minds were our stomachs, would they be suffering from malnutrition. Read at least one more book this year than you did last year. Just like the food we choose, make sure the book has substance and will improve your thoughts and actions.

12. Serve Others

Demonstrate the servanthood of Jesus. Help others when the opportunity arise. Have the attitude that you didn't come to others to be served, but to serve. Consider, what am you are doing to help others?

Questions to Ask Before 2012

2011-12-28T05:55:00.001-05:00

GOOD QUESTIONS TO ANSWER BEFORE 2012

EMOTIONAL

Is there anyone whose forgiveness you need to seek?

Is there anyone you need to forgive?

Where is the clutter in my life?

SPIRITUAL

Am I closer to God today than January 1 of 2011?

What is my spiritual growth plan and process for 2012?

Have I scheduled some Spiritual retreats for 2012?

Dedicate daily, Withdraw Weekly, Modify Monthly, Abandon Annually

RELATIONAL

Would you rate your marriage a 10? Would your spouse?

If it’s not a 10 ask this question, “What would it take in 2012 to make it a 10?”

Same question for each of your kids?

Have you scheduled your date nights for the next few months?

PHYSICAL

How much do I weigh? Is that OK?

Do I have a physical plan and process for 2012?

What’s my major physical focus area for 2012?

FINANCIAL

Are my finances in order?

Do I have debt beyond my mortgage?

Am I stuck in a weird mortgage?

Should I make a year-end sacrificial offering to my church?

INTELLECTUAL

What are my reading goals for 2012?

What 3-5 books will I read this year?

Add you comments and answers below

Do You See People As God Sees Them?

2011-12-21T05:55:00.002-05:00

Who might you invite to the Christmas Eve service this week?

Why I'm Glad My Church Needs Money

2011-12-21T05:55:00.001-05:00

The following is an article worth reading. It is in the context of church funds, but as you read it you will see the even broader implications for family life. This story impacted me as I thought of my own family and the church I pastor.

Why I'm Glad My Church Needs Money
by Don Linscott

“I wish we didn’t talk so much about money,” is a comment I have often heard while working with churches to raise funds for their important purposes. I understand the sentiment but hold an opposing viewpoint. In fact, I hope my church always needs money. Here is why.

My son, Lance, was born before it became acceptable for the father to be present in the delivery room. (A fact for which I have always been grateful!) I waited in the hallway just outside the delivery room. At precisely 4:13 p.m., I heard the unmistakable cry of a newborn baby, Lance’s first sound. The nurse emerged with a smile and said, “You have a baby boy.” Only a new father can know the wonder of those words!

The wonderful glow of fatherhood was soon dimmed, however, when I was asked to visit the business office of the hospital. They wanted me to pay for Lance! In fact, it seemed to me that my child might be held hostage until the hospital bill was settled.

I wrote the check paying all the expenses in full, freed my family, and we made our escape. That check turned out to be only the first of hundreds, maybe thousands, I would write on Lance’s behalf. Children are expensive. There was formula and food to buy. Doctor visits and vaccinations assaulted my banking account. Diapers and toys took their toll. And clothes were a constant drain. Just when he would get a good wardrobe, he would grow a smidgen and we would have to start all over.

As Lance’s age and size increased so did the expenses. Soon it was baseball gloves, Nike shoes and uniforms. Then he needed glasses for his eyes and braces for his teeth. And then, disaster struck. Lance became a teenager! Now it was cars, electronic gadgets, and cool clothes.

Then came college. Lance had always, and only, wanted to be an architect. To me it seemed he would be in school until he was forty‑two years old. Expenses soared! Tuition, books, and drawing tools led the long list of essential expenditures.

But, of course, just like loving fathers everywhere, I was happy to be able to help him and I did all I could to support his growth and his dreams. I never thought of these expenses as “sacrifice.” I was his Daddy and was prepared to give everything possible toward his life and dreams.

And then, one day, Lance died.

On a bright, beautiful, and horrible Halloween Day, twenty-one-year-old Lance was buried in his church’s little country cemetery. That afternoon I walked away from his grave and since that day I have never spent another nickel on Lance.

That is how I learned it. Death is cheap. Death can be sustained without expense. It is living that is costly. It is growth that is expensive. Our dreams, visions, and hopes require resources. Death doesn’t! And that is why I am glad my church needs money. A living, growing, thriving church will always require the continual, consistent, and conscientious financial support of its members. And that’s the church I want to belong to.

Don Linscott, for over twenty-five years has been helping churches raise funds for causes they care about. It has been his privilege to work with some of the finest churches in America, small and large. He has met exceptional people and witnessed remarkable stories of transformation and generosity. For the most part, his blog will deal with fundraising, stewardship, generosity, leadership, and church opportunities and challenges. Visit Don at www.donlinscott.com

Living Radically - 21 Year Old Adopts 14 Girls in Uganda

2011-12-14T05:55:00.000-05:00

Are you sitting to death?

2011-12-12T05:55:00.001-05:00

Simple Christmas

2011-12-07T05:55:00.001-05:00

The Weight of Walmart

2011-12-03T08:53:00.001-05:00

10 Questions Unchurched People Are Not Asking About Your Church

2011-11-30T05:55:00.000-05:00

1. “What do you do to disciple people?” (This question is usually asked by people who want to “microwave” spiritually, not understand that they themselves actually became mature in the “crock pot.”)

2. “Who is speaking this weekend?” (They usually don’t care about the WHO…it’s the WHAT that matters to them.)

3. “Are you reformed in your theology?” (Most of them have no idea what in the heck this means!)

4. “Is your church spirit filled?”

5. “What version of the Bible do you use?” (Many unchurched people don’t even really know there are different versions!)

6. “What denomination are you affiliated with?”

7. “How many different activities can I sign my family up for in order to add to the insane schedule that we already have?”

8. “Does your pastor teach expositonally through the Scriptures?”

9. “Are there lots of crosses and pictures of Jesus in your church?”

10. “Are you guys pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, or partial trib?”

I am not suggesting the answers to these questions are unimportant. Rather, are we bringing the good news to the unchurched, showing that Jesus is the answer to their real questions!

$129 Annual Membership - FREE GIFT FOR A YEAR!!!!!

2011-11-23T23:11:00.002-05:00

Monthly leadership training by New York Times bestselling authors.

Normally $129/year. Free because a G5 member is thankful for what you do.

Click HERE to sign up for the

Practicing the Attitude of Gratitude

2011-11-23T05:55:00.001-05:00

This week, I pass along an article by Michael Hyatt, the Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Several years ago, at the encouragement of a friend, I started carrying a gratitude rock in my pocket. It’s really just a small, smooth stone that I picked up from the fish pond behind our house. I carry it with me where ever I go.

The idea is simple. Whenever my hand contacts the stone–usually several times a day–I give thanks for whatever is happening at that moment, whether good or bad.

It is amazing how this simple act changes my perspective and, ultimately, my attitude. Instead of seeing the glass half-empty, I see it half-full. Instead of focusing on what I don’t have, I focus on what I do have–right now.

Someone once wisely told me, “You won’t get what you don’t have until you learn to be grateful for what you do have.” I think that is so true. We so often focus on our lack–what’s missing.

For example, we complain about our lack of a vibrant, real relationship with God. We wish our church were bigger–or smaller. We wish we had a spouse. Or perhaps we wish we didn’t have a spouse. Or maybe we want to change our spouse.

Or we wish we could get a different job, a different boss, or a bigger paycheck. We wish we had more interesting work, more sensitive coworkers, or different hours.

We wish we could live in a different city, a different part of the city, or a different house. We complain about our furniture, our car, and all our other stuff.

To state the obvious, this is not healthy. And do we really think this complaining spirit will lead to better relationships or more abundance?

I’ve always given thanks when I pray, but often it’s just perfunctory. Now, I am trying to give thanks more deliberately. The gratitude rock is one tool that is helping me.

Let me challenge you to push the pause button and write down twenty items you are thankful for right now. Here’s my list:

Michael Hyatt's Gratitude List

1.My relationship with God
2.His constant presence with me and blessings in my life
3.My relationship with Gail
4.Thirty-three years of marriage
5.Gail’s constant support and encouragement
6.Gail’s wisdom and timing
7.Gail’s incredible parenting skills
8.Gail’s sense of humor and her incredible servant’s heart
9.Our home and the joy of sharing it with others
10.My daughters and sons-in-law and the varieties of their personalities
11.Their love for Gail and for me
12.My grandchildren, who always make me smile
13.The joy of laughing with Gail and the family
14.The little town of Franklin and the fun of being able to walk to almost everything
15.This new season of my life, where I am living my dream of speaking and writing
16.The fact that I have enough to eat today
17.Dark chocolate
18.The fact that I am warm, dry, and comfortable
19.The fact that I am healthy and able to exercise regularly
20.My church and the the people I have worshipped with for twenty-seven years

What’s on your list?

Amazon is amazing!

2011-11-21T08:12:00.001-05:00

Source: Frugaldad.com

Tech Gurus

2011-11-16T05:55:00.001-05:00

For those who are behind the scenes, giving their all with so little reward, this is for you!

Every week, our church benefits from the skills of Theron Rose, Scott Bowden, and their team of faithful volunteers who serve in the "Tech" dept in our church. Thank you for all you do!

click on video to see a tribute to the "Tech Gurus"

Do you Have What It Takes to Be Biblically Courageous?

2011-11-09T05:55:00.000-05:00

Do you Have What It Takes to Be Biblically Courageous?

Francis Chan challenges leaders to wipe out all of the conclusions they've been taught about Church and to seek the Scriptures.

Click on video below, ot use the link http://vimeo.com/30870730

God helps those who helps themselves?

2011-11-02T17:36:00.003-04:00

At his daily briefing, White House press secretary Jay Carney was asked about President Obama invoking God in a pitch for his jobs bill at the Key Bridge. Here is Carney's response:

"Well, I believe the phrase in the bible is, the Lord helps those who help themselves."

Should someone tell him that this is not a verse in the Bible? I wonder if any of the reporters and "fact check" guru's even picked up on this?

180 Movie

2011-11-02T05:55:00.000-04:00

Recently a 33 minute movie titled "180" was produced by Ray Comfort and Living Waters. We have the DVD at the church I pastor.

Take a few moments to read some thoughts from Randy Alcorn. Then carve out 33 minutes to watch this in it's entirety.

Some of you have heard about the excellent 180 Movie, done by Ray Comfort and his ministry. It’s mind-blowing and unforgettable, a reminder that the truth can change your heart and set you free. My friend Joni Eareckson Tada described it as “Riveting!” and John Piper said, “I give my unflinching, joyful, trembling Yes to ‘180.’ Unflinching, because it's right. Joyful, because it's good. Trembling, because our defeated enemy is still vicious.”

If you haven’t yet watched it, I’d encourage you to check out this fast-moving 33-minute film. I enthusiastically recommend it. (It’s available in its entirety free online; you can also order DVDs for as low as $1.00 each or an entire course curriculum, which includes Why Pro-Life?)

Ray recently sent an e-mail with some of the responses so far to 180:

“I had always thought I was an ‘open minded person’ when it came to abortion. But after viewing this movie, my stance has changed.” —Greg

"Today, I watched the movie for the second time and the gravity of what I did 14 years ago brought me to sobs.” —Penny

“I’ve had multiple abortions, and I’ve heard abortion compared to the Holocaust before. But I've never understood why…This video has been popping up all over Facebook. I finally clicked on the link. I am a history buff with a passion for WW2. My attention was immediately grabbed. As soon as the switch to abortion began, I wanted to stop watching, but I couldn't. Part of me needed to keep watching. I don't know what to do with this information, but I think it is changing the way I view these things. I might need to watch it again. That's something I never thought I'd say.” —Candice

I echo Ray’s closing comment in his e-mail: “May lives be saved and sinners reached.”

Are You Living Your Own Dream or Someone Else’s

2011-10-28T05:55:00.004-04:00

This week, I read a great article written by Michael Hyatt. The title alone is enough to make you think, consider, and reevaluate.

As I read the following, I translated "my dream" as "God's calling on my life." With that in mind... read, consider, and share your thoughts.

Hyatt shares a story found in Tim Ferriss' book The 4-Hour Work Week, and then shares just a few points that I would commend to you.

Are You Living Your Own Dream or Someone Else’s?

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor’s orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

“How long did it take you to catch them?” the American asked.

“Only a little while,” the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.

“Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American then asked.

“I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends,” the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.

“But … What do you do with the rest of your time?”

The Mexican looked up and smiled. “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.”

The American laughed and stood tall. “Sir, I’m a Harvard M.B.A. and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats.”

He continued, “Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course, and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and eventually New York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with proper management.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, señor, how long will all this take?”

To which the American replied, “15–20 years. 25 tops.”

“But what then, señor?”

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”

“Millions, señor? Then what?”

“Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos …”

The only thing worse than drifting without a plan is having your plans hijacked by someone else.

You can avoid this unfortunate end and make sure you are fulfilling your unique, God-given calling by answering these three questions:

1.Am I living my own dream (God's calling on my life) or someone else’s? If we are not careful, we can unconsciously be following someone else’s agenda for our lives. This usually happens because we are unwilling to take responsibility for our own lives.

2.What is my dream (God's calling on my life)? This can get lost in the complexity of life. As a result, we need to pause and remember our own (God's) agenda. What is it that we believe God is calling us to be and to do? What is our passion? What would we do if we were brave?

3.What can I do now to move in the direction of my dream (God's calling on my life)? The only way to reclaim our dream (God's calling on my life) is to reject all substitutes and begin moving in the direction of our dreams (God's calling on my life). We don’t have to do anything heroic. We can start small and take baby steps. The issue is to make sure we are making progress toward our goals (God's calling on my life).

Don’t spend your life fulfilling someone else’s agenda. Accept responsibility for your own life. Pursue your goals and live your dream (God's calling on my life). Live an intentional life.

Question: Has your life ever been hijacked by someone else’s agenda?

John Piper & Kevin DeYoung Discuss Holiness

2011-10-26T05:55:00.000-04:00

John Piper and Kevin DeYoung discuss the need for a better understanding of sanctification and holiness in the church today.

Free Video Teachings of R.C. Sproul

2011-10-19T05:55:00.001-04:00

Select one of the following to watch the entire teaching series for FREE!

Watch on-line for FREE!!!!!

Free eBooklet: "Discerning Your Calling"

2011-10-12T05:55:00.000-04:00

Download and share this eBooklet in PDF format with young adults and others in your congregation who are seeking out God's direction for their vocation.

From Redeemer, "Tim Keller lays out guidelines that Christians can use to discern their specific calling."

Booklet here

Download Instructions: To download this resource, log into your free Redeemer account. Once you've logged in, you can download this eBooklet.

Should a Christian Vote for a Mormon Presidential Candidate?

2011-10-07T05:55:00.000-04:00

Dr. Norman Geisler has presented an interesting argument against voting for a Mormon as President of the United States of America. Read carefully and add your comments.

Should a Mormon be President of the United States?

Should there be a religious test for being president? No, for the First Amendment declares that “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion….” On the other hand, it encouraged belief in religion and God in general by adding, “nor forbidding the free exercise thereof.” So, the Constitution encourages belief in God in general, while it forbids establishing one national religion in particular. This is evident from the following facts.

First, five of the 13 colonies which ratified the First Amendment had their own state religion at the time of ratification. And they were never required to disestablish their state religion. Gradually, they did so later of their own account, but not from constitutional compulsion.

Second, Congress itself prayed to God before opening its session, and it has been doing so ever since. This has never been ruled a violation of the First Amendment.

Third, many states even required belief in God as a condition for holding a public office. For example, Article IV, Section 8 of the North Carolina Constitution reads: “Disqualifications for office. The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.”

Fourth, even the Supreme Court of Massachusetts ruled that “[The First Amendment] embraces all who believe in the existence of God. This provision does not extend to atheists because they do not believe in God or religion” (Kneeland, 1838).

Fifth, and most importantly, every US colony and territory had to agree with “the principles of The Declaration of Independence” in order to become a state. As late as August 21, 1959, Hawaii was admitted to the United States based on the fact that it concurred with “the principles of the Declaration of Independence” (see Gonzales, 2007). But what are these principles? The most famous ones are found in the immortal lines of our founding document, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Whatever other principles there may be, one thing is certain—the belief in Almighty God, the Creator of humankind is one of the fundamental principles on which our government is founded.

Sixth, the Preamble of every State Constitution has a reference to God. He is called variously “Almighty God,” “God,” the “Author of Existence,” the “Supreme Ruler of the Universe,” etc. One thing is clear—our country, with all of its states, has a monotheistic basis. It is based on the belief in God, the one supreme Creator of the universe and of humankind. Of course, under this umbrella there is freedom for citizens who do not believe that way. But as for the country and its states, there has been from the very beginning a belief in the one and only monotheistic God.

Now this is precisely the problem when it comes to having a Mormon president. While earlier Mormonism affirmed one God (The Book of Mormon, Mosiah 15:1-5; Alma 11:28,29; 2 Nephi 31:21), later Mormonism is a form of Polytheism (Doctrine and Covenants, 132:19-20). Its founder, Joseph Smith, declared that there is “a plurality of Gods” (The Prophecies of Joseph Smith, 370). Further, Mormonism affirms that God the Father has a tangible body of flesh and bones (Doctrine and Covenants, Sect 130, 22). There is a series of Gods wherein each God was begotten by a previous God in an endless series of Gods (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 322). God the Father had a “wife” who is our “Heavenly Mother” by whom we are all begotten (ibid., 516; Journal of Discourse, vol. 9, p. 286). The fifth Mormon president and prophet, Lorenzo Snow, said, “As man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.” Joseph Smith himself said, “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!… I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see.” He added, “God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did…. and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves” (The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 345-47).

This raises a critical question for every Mormon candidate for president: Do they agree with the basic principles of America’s founding document, The Declaration of Independence? Or do they agree with the traditional teachings of the Mormon Church? Every American needs to know the answer. Are they monotheists or polytheists? Why? Because Polytheism is contrary to our founding document, The Declaration of Independence, the grounds for statehood, and the history of our country! Further, when the president takes the oath of office, does he swear upon The Bible or on The Book of Mormon? Every president since George Washington has taken the oath of office on the Bible—a monotheistic Judeo-Christian book (see Deut. 6:4; Isa. 43:10; Matt. 22:37). America was founded on a monotheistic basis. But the polytheistic teachings of Joseph Smith and other Mormon presidents (prophets) are simply incompatible with our founding American document. Indeed, even the Preamble of the Utah State Constitution declares: “Grateful to Almighty God [singular] for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution” (1896).

Indeed, belief in the one and only supreme God is a basis of statehood. Further, we pledge allegiance “under God.” And “In God We trust” is inscribed on the coins in our pockets; it is in the last stanza of our National Anthem, and it is written large on the wall in the House of Representatives. And I for one am not willing to see it changed to “In Gods We Trust”! While the Government cannot force anyone “to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion” (Torcaso, 1961), nonetheless, every American voter has the moral right to know of every Mormon (or non-Mormon) candidate for the highest office in our land whether or not they believe in the principles of our American birth certificate, The Declaration of Independence, and in the one monotheistic God inscribed therein. So my challenge to every Mormon candidate for president is this: Are you willing to publicly repudiate the polytheistic teaching of the founder and of other presidents (prophets) of the Mormon Church and affirm your firm belief in one and only one “Almighty God” who is “the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.” If not, then with all due respect, Sir, I believe that you do not qualify to be president of the United States of America.

So, to answer the question with which we began. Yes, I believe a Mormon can qualify as a candidate for the presidency of the United States, if he denies Polytheism and affirms the Monotheism of our founding document, The Declaration of Independence. If it is a ground for statehood, then why should it not also be a test for the presidency of all the states, that is, for the United States of America.

Norman L. Geisler, Ph.D., Professor, Author, and Lecturer (www.normangeisler.net)

How and Why of Exercise

2011-10-05T05:55:00.000-04:00

Daily exercise is common among some, and avoided by others. There are various reasons how people work out and even why. Some go from "Couch to 5k" to lose some weight. Others have been told by their doctors that exercise is necessary to recovery from surgery or overcome some ailment.

As for me, I have to admit that I am not consistent with excersise. When I was younger, even through college, I was involved with sports, working out, and even running consistently. Somewhere along the way I lost my enjoyment of it. I pick it back up in short spurts, but nothing to brag about. Recently, I went to one of those "40 year old check-ups" with my doctor. To be fully transparent, I use the phrase "my doctor" loosely, since the doctor and I hadn't seen each other in many years and neither of us knew each other. But after looking me over and taking my blood, he recommend a daily multi-vitamin and some fish-oil pill. Then he strongly advised a consistent exercise routine. So I am taking my pills like a good patient. That's the easy part. But I need to begin and continue with some type of exercise.

What about you? Do you have a regular routine for exercise? What do you recommend for me? Share in the comments your thoughts and practice.

Some of these thoughts were prodded along by a recent article by John Piper. He shares what he does to keep in good health and then shares the reasons why. Read these short articles and let me know what you think.

The importance of Systematic Theology

2011-09-28T05:55:00.002-04:00

What is Systematic Theology? Is it important? A leading theologian, Wayne Grudem explains why we need the Bible's big picture on important topics.

Homeschooling Blind spots

2011-09-21T05:55:00.001-04:00

Recently, someone sent me a link to the blog of Josh Harris when he republished an article by Reb Bradley. It first grabbed my attention, because Reb Bradley has been very influential in the homeschooling community. As a homeschooling father and a pastor of a church that has many homeschooling families, I was interested to know what are "blind spots" for these families.

The article lists 9 blindspots that are well defined and illustrated.

Exposing Major Blind Spots of Homeschoolers by Reb Bradley
1. Having Self-Centered Dreams
2. Raising Family as an Idol
3. Emphasizing Outward Form
4. Tending to Judge
5. Depending on Formulas
6. Over-Dependence on Authority and Control.
7. Over-Reliance Upon Sheltering
8. Not Passing On a Pure Faith
9. Not Cultivating a Loving Relationship With Our Children

As I read through the article (found here), I readily recognized many of these in families I have known or heard about over the past 13 years of being a parent. In some cases, I have been very concerned about this "blind spots" but have been unable to communicate it as clearly as Reb Bradley did.

Much more needs to be said, but I encourage you to read the entire article and consider his claims and warnings. At points where you agree, make a comment. At points of disagreement, make a comment.

As parents and grandparents, we need to have some serious conversations about raising the next generation. The Bible is our authority and the Spirit of God is our guide. Let us be humble to receive and bold enough to adjust where needed.

Free E-book - Jonathan Edwards "Freedom of the Will"

2011-09-16T08:00:00.000-04:00

Download this eBook in PDF format, Freedom of the Will, by important American theologian Jonathan Edwards.

From the description written by Christian Classics Ethereal Library, "In this text, Edwards investigates the contrasting Calvinist and Arminian views about free will, God's foreknowledge, determinism, and moral agency. Freedom of the Will is relevant to every Christian because it addresses difficult questions about desire, choice, good, and evil."

FREE Audiobook

2011-09-14T05:55:00.001-04:00

GET this FREE Audiobook!

Prayers: A Personal Selection read by Michael York and composed by Michael Hoppe contains some of the most significant and most beloved prayers in Christianity. Our Lord's Prayer, the prayers of both Old Testament and New Testament saints, and some of the most famous Christian prayers are beautifully and warmly narrated by Michael York. These classic devotional prayers are sure to encourage and grow one to greater faith in Christ.

http://christianaudio.com/free

Free Video Teachings of R.C. Sproul

2011-09-07T05:55:00.001-04:00

Predisan

2011-08-31T05:55:00.000-04:00

Our church is partnering with Predisan to serve the people of Honduras and bring the gospel to lives currently without the hope and salvation of Jesus Christ.

I would like for you to consider helping in one or more of the following ways:

1) Pray for Honduras and the work of Predisan
2) Participate in the Walk for Honduras on Oct 2 (like here)
3) If you cannot walk, sponsor a walker for that day.
4) Consider going to Honduras with a team from CCMA in 2012 (dates to be determined)

How to Refute Evolution in Under 3 Minutes

2011-08-24T05:55:00.000-04:00

This short video from Answers in Genesis offers practical points for refuting evolution in under three minutes.

Charles Spurgeon Rap

2011-08-17T09:09:00.002-04:00

This is not my style of music, but I am impressed by the accuracy of the content. Listen and learn about Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers.

Is Your Church A Movement or A Museum?

2011-08-09T05:55:00.000-04:00

"Church Planter" by Darrin Patrick from Crossway on Vimeo.

Why sould a Church of reformed faith continue in the Southern Baptist Convention?

2011-08-03T05:55:00.007-04:00

Recently, I was asked by a pastor of another church why a church with reformed beliefs join and/or remain affiliated with the SBC. Though not an exhaustive treatment, I jotted a few notes to him, and thought I would post it here for your review and comments.

Why should a Church of reformed faith continue in the Southern Baptist Convention?

There is an old saying, "You can pick your friends, but you're stuck with your family." When it come to denominations, or partnerships between churches, is this a family that you are born into or a set of friends you choose? While there is a family feel to it, for autonomous churches, there is a freedom to choose what other churches you will or will not partner with.

So how does a church decide with whom it will partner? Must it be like-minded? Must it look alike? Must it be a carbon-copy? Must it focus on the majors and less on the minors? Who decides? These are important questions. If God gave you the choice of which family you were born into, would you have picked yours? When you looked for a spouse, by what criteria did you choose? My guess is that the family you were born into and the spouse that you chose is not a carbon-copy of you. There were some similarities with likes and dislikes, common thoughts and beliefs, and certain characteristics that when people meet one of you, they can tell a family resemblance. But because everyone in a family and in a marriage are not exactly alike, there is room for growth and a lot of learning to get along.

When we considered our church and how we might connect with the larger body of Christ, by what criteria we would partner was at the forefront. To make a long story short, we did not find any group or denomination that was perfect, nor one that had all the elements that reflected our church. What we did find was that the Southern Baptist Convention was close in many areas and growing closer in the past several years. Here are a few examples:

1) Long History - The SBC was started in 1845. It included people of both reformed and non-reformed persuasions, yet the first educational institutions, early doctrinal statements and documents, and many influential pastors were conservative in doctrine and reformed in their understanding.

2) Evangelism - The SBC was started and has continued as the evangelistic denomination. Preach the word and call people to repentance has been the rallying cry for the SBC. Now we may disagree at times on how this is carried out, but there is little disagreement that the lost must be found and blind made to see by the power of the Gospel.

3) Missions - This goes in line with the Evangelism in #2. The SBC has been the leading missionary sending denomination in all the world. We have thousands of missionaries all over the world, fully-funded, and effective at bringing the message of Jesus Christ. In my personal interactions with SBC missionaries, I have discovered that many (if not most) hold to a reformed understanding of the faith. They tell me that the only hope of success in missions is the divine sovereignty of God, therefore they go out of obedience and share the gospel trusting the Spirit will draw people to Christ.

4) Cooperative Program - Because of the C.P., 45,000 SBC churches are able to make a significant impact on ministry around the world. Gone are the days that missionaries have to be "super sales-men" and incredible fund-raisers. God has called the church to give and the missionaries to go. Through the C.P., missionaries can go to the field immediately after training. They are not waiting for years while trying to build a nest egg of funds. Small churches and big churches alike have an opportunity to contribute to these missionaries. Also, when a SBC missionary comes back to the US on furlough, he can go to any church without asking for money. Actually, SBC missionaries are prohibited from receiving any money for themselves while visiting a church. There should be no barriers for a missionary to come to a church and tell about what God is doing. The C.P. also funds seminaries, Disaster Relief (like the tornadoes of Alabama and Hurricane Katrina), North American church plants, children's homes, etc.

5) Autonomy of the local church - Though the SBC is a denomination, the convention is a partnership, not a dictatorship. Each church is free to act and believe as they wish, as long as they do not contradict the basic beliefs of the Baptist Faith and Message document.

6) Reformation currently happening - The SBC started as a primarily reformed denomination (and has always kept a remnant of that), yet in the early part of the 1900's there was a slipping away. Churches in the SBC began to be influenced by the liberalism and higher criticism of the day. Even the educational institutions began rejecting the inerrancy of the Bible and the historical beliefs once held. But there was a strong movement to gain back a foothold and move into a strong hold in the 1970's. People of strong convictions in the inerrancy of Scripture began to influence, teach, and regain control of the SBC. Praise be to God! In every denomination where liberalism had crept in, the conservatives eventually had to abandon that denomination. Not with the SBC. There has been a biblical reformation happening, by the grace of God, in the SBC. Over the past 30 years, there is no longer a fight for the inerrancy of Scripture, but now a growing trust in the sufficiency of Scripture. Along with that, reformed teaching and doctrine is beginning to surface. Why? Because when you uncover the truth and allow God to be seen in all His glory through His word, the heavens shout, men rejoice, and lives are changed! Right now in the SBC, educational institutions are raising up young men who hold to the solid faith revealed in the Scripture. Men like Al Mohler and Danny Akin (just to name 2), are having profound impact on the next generation of church leaders. Many of the next generation are discovering the truths of the reformed faith. Church planters are rising up, trusting in a Sovereign God to reach and disciple new converts. Missionaries are begging to go to the hardest areas of the world, certain that God will fulfill His promise of calling people from every nation, tribe, and tongue.

It is not time to retreat. It is not time to resign. It is time to join the REFORMATION that God is bringing in and through the SBC.

On March 22, 2007, Tom Ascol, Executive Director of Founders Ministries, said it well, "I am greatly encouraged to see how the conversation in the SBC has turned toward issues that Founders has been talking about for the last 25 years. It is gratifying to hear denominational leadership admitting publicly that most of our churches are in real trouble when it comes to the issue of regenerate church membership and biblical church discipline. At some point, the dialogue must necessarily shift to an honest consideration of how we got into this mess. Then, many of the unbiblical and unhealthy approaches to evangelism that have crept into our denomination can be reassessed."

http://www.edstetzer.com/Calvinism%20and%20Southern%20Baptist%20Church%20Leadership%20presentation.pdf

http://blog.founders.org/2007/09/interview-with-baptist-center.html

http://blog.founders.org/2007/03/akins-8-theological-essentials-for-sbc.html

http://blog.founders.org/2009/08/southern-baptist-convention-must-change.html

http://www.founders.org/blog/2007/12/building-bridges-conference-final.html

Free eBook: Systematic Theology, Volume II

2011-07-27T05:55:00.001-04:00

Download this second volume of Systematic Theology, by Charles Hodge, one of America's most significant theologians.

Chapters in this eBook include:

•The Fall
•Sin
•Soteriology
•The Covenant of Grace
•Theories of the Atonement

3 New Scripture Sharing Plug-ins

2011-07-22T10:19:00.002-04:00

Would you like to have some simple and intuitive tools to share Scripture on your blog or webpage? Here are three new plugins at Biblia.com you can add to your webpage.

With the Verse of the Day plugin, visitors to your website or blog will be greeted with a carefully selected verse in the translation of your choice. You will see a unique verse displayed nearly every day for two years. Each verse has been selected by hand and verses are aligned to dozens.

This is Discipleship

2011-07-20T05:55:00.000-04:00

How to Disagree with Grace

2011-07-13T06:00:00.002-04:00

Tim Keller, Matt Chandler, and Michael Horton discuss effective ways to disagree with grace.

Chandler, Horton, Keller on How to Disagree from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

A Call to Anguish

2011-07-06T05:55:00.001-04:00

Making Disciples or Memorizing Words?

2011-06-29T05:55:00.001-04:00

Francis Chan - Making Disciples from Verge Network on Vimeo.

Men were created for WAR

2011-06-22T05:55:00.001-04:00

I Have No Relationship Today With My Dad

2011-06-19T06:45:00.002-04:00

Here is an article I recently found from Christian businessman and motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar:

There are many reasons for strained or broken relationships between parent and child. Damaged relationships are always painful to those involved. The good news is that relationships can be mended. The hard part is that you must initiate action that will lead to forgiveness and reconciliation. Here’s how.

I’m confident, based on sheer numbers, that many people who read this article will say that they haven’t spoken to their father in years or that their father is dead. In the event that your father is dead, I encourage you to forgive him for any wrong he might have done to you during his lifetime. If your father is still living, I encourage you to make some contact – either in person, by phone or through the mail – and tell him you forgive him for what he did to hurt you as you were growing up. (Now, don’t just tell him you forgive him, FORGIVE HIM.)

You also need to ask your father to forgive you for the part you may have played in the negative side of your relationship. I know that for many this will be extremely difficult. You might even need counseling to help you do it, but as my friend and fellow speaker Vicki Hitzges says, “One of these days you will say either ‘I wish I had’ or ‘I’m glad I did.’”

Recently a young man shared with me that he and his dad had been at each other’s throats for years and he hated his father. He took my advice and went to his father and confessed his hatred. He told him he had forgiven him and asked his father to do the same because he wanted to have a good relationship with him. The young man told me that they shed many tears, embraced warmly and are steadily building a great relationship. Think about it this way – you have little to lose and a great deal to gain by giving this a try. Do it and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator. He is the author of 29 books and numerous audio and video recordings. He brings his message of hope to thousands on the stages at the Get Motivated Seminars. See him in action!

Creating Your Personal Life Plan

2011-06-15T05:55:00.003-04:00

People spend more time planning their Friday night out or their upcoming vacation, than they do planning and preparing for their life.

Because of this, I recommend Creating Your Personal Life Plan. This is a FREE e-book by Michael Hyatt.

Click on the picture below to download and read.

Click picture above or click here

I Am a Disciple

2011-06-08T05:55:00.002-04:00

John Piper and Rick Warren

2011-06-03T16:00:00.001-04:00

This is one of the hottest video interviews on the web over the past week. John Piper interviews Rick Warren in a direct, yet humble and appreciative way.

Take time to watch this and leave a comment with your thoughts on this interview.

Shallow Small Group

2011-06-01T05:55:00.003-04:00

Flash Mob Worship

2011-05-28T06:00:00.001-04:00

Over 2,000 people from Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas, gathered at Discovery Green to participate in this worship flash mob. Every participating member left a new pair of shoes on the field to be donated to those in need.

Practical Idea: How might your church use creativity and the power of crowds to both worship the risen Christ and show love to those in need.

Zac's Story

2011-05-25T05:55:00.003-04:00

Video #1

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.

Video #2

A Story | Tears of Hope from Adam Kring on Vimeo.

Herman Cain Makes an Impression

2011-05-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

Perhaps the Next President of the USA?

2011-05-23T08:15:00.004-04:00

The family and I went down town today to attend the Alive! Expo. We planned on having a picnic lunch at Centennial Park, then going over to the Georgia World Congress Center where the Expo was being held.

To our surprise and amazement, Centennial Park was packed with people awaiting the official announcement from Herman Cain that he is running for President of the United States.

It was fun being caught up in the crowd of supporters for Herman Cain. The children received balloons and a goodie bag full of Herman Cain materials.

Though I have not decided whom to support for the 2012 election, I will admit that Herman Cain surely does draw some worthy attention.

Here is a video of his announcement.

7 Principles for Sharing Christ with a Busy Summer Schedule

2011-05-18T05:50:00.000-04:00

7 Principles for Sharing Christ with a Busy Summer Schedule
by Larry Moyer

The summer months provide excellent opportunities to cultivate relationships with unbelievers and tell them about our Savior. However, finding time to do so can be a challenge. After all, our summers are often filled with vacations, outdoor events, children’s activities, etc.

How do we take advantage of the summer months to impact the lost for Christ even in the midst of a busy schedule? Here are some principles to remember and put into practice:

Be balanced - How balanced is your life between non-Christians and Christians? There is nothing Biblical about spending all your time with believers. Jesus Christ spent time with sinners. He was even known as their friend (Matt. 11:19). We cannot have personal evangelism without personal contact.

Be proactive - View relationships with the intent to see the unbelievers come to have the greatest relationship there is – an eternal relationship with Christ. Go to them. Don’t wait for them to come to you. Consider the broad base of non-Christian contacts you already have including:
Immediate friends and family
Neighbors, co-workers, employees, landlords
Newspaper carrier, mailman, barber or hairstylist, grocery store checker, waiter or waitress
Car dealer, insurance agent, accountant, attorney, banker
Doctor, dentist, nurse, pharmacist
Plumber, electrician, mechanic
Teacher, professor, coach, classmate

Be intentional - Take the initiative. Look at everything you are doing this summer. Then ask, “Could this be done with a non-Christian included?”

Be sensitive - People that take time to listen are rare in our fast paced culture. Take the time to give someone your undivided attention. Letting them know you care may provide an opportunity to tell them about Christ.

Be prayerful - We are totally dependent on the Holy Spirit in evangelism. Pray that the Lord will provide opportunities, give you the sensitivity to recognize them, and give you boldness to share the gospel.

Be prepared - Move into the gospel presentation as God gives you the opportunity. If you don’t know what to say, EvanTell offers free on-line evangelism training at http://www.act111.org/. Get trained so that when God gives you the opportunity, you’ll be ready.

Be creative - For practical tips on how to develop relationships with non-Christians during the summer check out this blog series (Summer Evangelism Ideas, More Summer Evangelism Ideas, And More Summer Evangelism Ideas).

All I Have Is Christ

2011-05-14T07:00:00.003-04:00

Would You Have Smiled At Him?

2011-02-28T06:25:00.000-05:00

The following is a story told by Christian businessman and motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar:

The story is told of a man who went to the top story of the Empire State Building in New York for the purpose of jumping off. When he got to the top he discovered that it was fenced in. Committing suicide there was impossible. As he was riding down the elevator, it occurred to him that by doing it that way he might injure or kill other people in the process. He re-thought and decided to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. Since it was a long walk, he had time to do more thinking. He decided that, if on the way even one person smiled at him, he would consider life worth living and not take his own life. The question is, had you been one of the people he met that day, would you have smiled at him and saved his life?

I recognize that the question is rhetorical. However, the fact is that there are approximately three billion people on the face of this earth who go to bed hungry for food – but there are over four billion people who go to bed every night hungry for a smile, a word of encouragement, a friendly greeting. Wouldn’t it be tragic if one of those people was your mate, your child, your parents, a brother or sister, a neighbor? Maybe someone you work with who is a nice man or woman, but life has dealt them some cruel blows lately. A simple word of encouragement, an indication that you know of their difficulties and are concerned, can make a big difference in that person’s life. The interesting thing is that in the process of encouraging others, whether it’s with a smile, a friendly greeting, or a humorous, encouraging thought, we ourselves benefit. So, give that smile to the person who doesn’t have one. It could make a difference. Give it a try and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Zig Ziglar is known as America’s motivator. He is the author of 29 books and numerous audio and video recordings.

Thoughts worth considering

2011-02-23T06:20:00.000-05:00

A person worth following is a follower of Christ.

To show others what Christ will do for them, show them what Christ has done for you.

Word of the Day

2011-02-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

billet-doux

Noun
“bil-ay-DOO”

1. A love letter or note.

Chris always writes a billet-doux to his sweet wife when he is out of town.

Negative Comments

2011-02-01T08:00:00.003-05:00

Just so you know, I am writing this during a time that I have not received any negative comments in a long while.

Ever had the sting of someone's negative comments. Even if well intended, negative words and complaints can hurt. There have been nights in my past that I have lost sleep mulling over someone's words of criticism.

If you have been a leader in any capacity (anytime you make a decision that effects someone else you are a leader), you will receive negative comments. It is simply a part of life.

The question is not, "why do I receive negative comments and criticism" rather you must ask yourself, "how am I going to respond to it."

Here are a few suggestions for dealing with negative criticism (it's going to happen, so you might as well get ready):

•Give it to God. Cast all your anxiety upon Him... He cares for you!
•Don’t let it weigh you down – it happens to the best of people... and besides you've already given it to God!
•Respond to the person with grace, thanking them for their willingness to share their thoughts and feelings. Regardless of whether you think they are right or not, you have a choice to respond with Christ-likeness.
•Always assume that the person means to help not hurt. Even if they mean to hurt you, it does no good to always assume that.
•Pray for that person. Don't let your heart be hardened toward anyone. God either prompted them or allowed them to approach you in that manner. Allow God to mature you through it and pray for them to grow through it as well.
•If the feedback is constructive, use it as a teachable moment and adjust.
•Don’t get discouraged and don’t give up. If what you were doing is meant for good and is not directly violating Scripture, then press forward with a humble attitude. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Five Principles We Must Teach Members

2011-01-17T06:20:00.000-05:00

Last year, John Piper (pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church) rocked the reformed world when he invited Rick Warren (pastor of Saddleback Church) to his Desiring God National Conference. This surprised supporters of both men, but some of the reformed "followers" of John Piper reacted especially shocked, offended, and even belligerent. Some even accused Piper of being a "sheep in wolf's clothing" for inviting a "heretic" to the conference.

Regardless of what you believe about either of these men, I wanted to share what Rick Warren actually said at the conference. Though Rick Warren was unable to attend, due to some family emergencies, he was able to share via video the message that he prepared.

Read below Rick Warren's notes. Were these "heretical" words shared at a conference sponsored by a "wolf"?

*********************************

Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

Five Principles We Must Teach Members

1) Don’t Believe Everything You Think

We all have a mental illness. It’s called sin. This means we can’t trust what we ourselves even think.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

We have an amazing ability to lie to ourselves.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)

The upcoming generation places great value on authenticity. But it’s important to see that you’re not authentic until you can publicly admit how inauthentic you are most of the time.

Reasons we can’t trust ourselves:

We all have blind spots.
We don’t stop to really think.
We fail to notice important details.
We have background biases.
We jump to conclusions.
We get trapped by categories.
We miss the big picture.
We see what we want to see.

2) Guard Your Minds from Garbage

A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash. (Proverbs 15:14, NLT)

Nutritionists will tell you that there are three kinds of food: brain food, junk food, and toxic food. The same is true with what you see and hear. We need to fill our minds with the right things.

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. (Psalm 101:3, ESV)

How do you guard your mind against garbage? There are two ways from Philippians 4:6-8:

Conversational prayer (“pray about everything”)
Concentrated focusing (“fix your thoughts”)
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.... Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:6-8, NLT)

One of the keys to overcoming temptation is not to resist it, but to replace it. It’s “the expulsive power of a new affection” that helps us overcome temptation.

3) Never Let Up on Learning

Growing churches require growing pastors.

The mind of a smart person is eager to get knowledge. The wise person listens to learn more. (Proverbs 18:15, ICB)

Wise men store up knowledge . . . (Proverbs 10:14)

One of the ways you can store up knowledge is to start a godly family library and leave it as a legacy to the next generation.

You should read 25 percent of your books from the first 1500 years of church history, 25 percent from the last 500 years, 25 percent from the last 100 years, and 25 percent from recent years.

Those who get wisdom do themselves a favor, and those who love learning will succeed. (Proverbs 19:8, NCV)

The Five Levels of Learning

Knowledge - “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6, NIV)

Perspective (Wisdom) - “I don’t think the way you think, and the way you work isn’t the way I work.” (Isaiah 55:8, MSG)

Conviction - “Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5, NIV)

Character - “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT)

Skills - “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed. But skill will bring success.” (Ecclesiastes 10:10)

You only believe in the part of the Bible that you actually do. We’re supposed to be doers of the word and not hearers only. The problem today is that we are teaching too much. We’re learning more than we can do. There’s a wide gap between knowing and doing in American Christianity. It’s because we’re teaching too much.

4) Feed Yourself Daily with God’s Word

Another problem is that we’re not teaching people to be self-feeders. We’re not teaching them to study the Bible on their own.

Interpretation without application is abortion. We have huge heads but little hands and hearts and feet.

People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every Word of God. (Matthew 4:4, NLT)

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3, NLT)

5) Let God Stretch Your Imagination

Nothing happens till somebody starts dreaming. What we need today are great dreamers.

Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:8)

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. (Acts 2:17, NIV)

What is your dream for your next ten years? For your church? Your family?

Innovators see what everyone else sees but they ask questions that no one else asks.

Why do we do this? For the glory of God.

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. May he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 3:20-21, LB)

Conclusion
Some of you are naturally great thinkers. Some of you are naturally great doers. Those of you who are thinkers, you need to do more. Those of you who are doers, you need to think more. It’s not one or the other. It’s both / and.

I want us to have a covenant together. It’s a mental covenant for the mind.

Test every thought.
Helmet your head.
Imagine great things.
Nourish a godly mind.
Keep on learning.

Pursue Holiness... for FREE

2011-01-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

Right now Christianaudio.com is offering a FREE download of the classic book by Jerry Bridges, "The Pursuit of Holiness." This book ranks up there with with R.C. Sprouls book on "The Holiness of God".

Here is an excerpt from this book...

The apostle John said, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin" (1 John 2:1). The whole purpose of John's letter, he says, is that we not sin. One day as I was studying this chapter I realized that my personal life's objective regarding holiness was less than that of John's. He was saying, in effect, "Make it your aim not to sin:' As I thought about this, I realized that deep within my heart my real aim was not to sin very much. I found it difficult to say, "Yes, Lord, from here on I will make it my aim not to sin:" I realized God was calling me that day to a deeper level of commitment to holiness than I had previously been willing to make.

Can you imagine a soldier going into battle with the aim of "not getting hit very much'? The very suggestion is ridiculous. His aim is not to get hit at all! Yet if we have not made a commitment to holiness without exception, we are like a soldier going into battle with the aim of not getting hit very much. We can be sure if that is our aim, we will be hit - not with bullets, but with temptation over and over again.

Jonathan Edwards, one of the great preachers of early American history, used to make resolutions. One of his was, "Resolved, never to do anything which I would be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life"' Dare we modern-day Christians make such a resolution? Are we willing to commit ourselves to the practice of holiness without exceptions? There is no point in praying for victory over temptation if we are not willing to make a commitment to say no to it.

Get your FREE today

A disappearing dot

2011-01-12T08:57:00.000-05:00

Close your left eye and stare at the cross. As the circle moves left and right, it should pass through your blind spot and disappear completely! You may need to lean in closer to get this to work.

Leading with Love

2011-01-07T09:00:00.002-05:00

"...so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19

The only sure foundation for servant leadership is love. Power and knowledge are poor substitutes for being grounded in the immeasurable and unconditional love of God. Leading without love sets the stage for the potential misuse of both power and knowledge. Jesus’ love provides the foundation and creates the atmosphere for serving others. How fully have you grasped Christ’s love? What difference does the His love make in your life and leadership?

No matter if you are leading your family, your church, your company or department, we must lead with love.

Helicopter lines....

2011-01-05T08:54:00.000-05:00

Can you tell which of these lines is longer? Test them with a ruler or a piece of paper -- you may be surprised.

Goals for 2011

2011-01-01T08:00:00.004-05:00

At the beginning of every new year, people typically make new commitments (resolutions) or run away from commitments. Some say, "I'm really going to stick with it this year!" Others respond, "I know I'm going to break it anyway, so why even try."

Could it be that we either fail to commit or fail in our commitments, because our "why" is not big enough? Except for the precious few, people rarely gravitate toward change. Yet, when change does take happen, it rarely lasts, unless the reason behind changing is BIGGER than the temptation to abandon that change.

If you consider changing anything in 2011... ask yourself this... "Why do I want to change?" Get down to the nit and grit of it. Is it for selfish reasons? Is it for the benefit of others? Will it make things better or simply make life more complicated? Will any person notice 6 months after this change?

If the "why" is big enough, the "what" becomes doable.

Personally, I have started and stopped more things than I would like to admit. But one area that I have never abandoned is my relationship with God. By His grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, I look for ways to improve my relationship with Him and my service for Him. My "why" is the glory of God. If I commit to something that I know would honor Him, I am more apt to stay committed. Why? First off, because He helps me. I am paralyzed from accomplishing anything of eternal value without Him. Secondly, I am constantly asking Him for help and guidance. He is eager to sanctify (grow) me in many areas. By being in constant communication with Him about it, I am always reminded of "why" I am doing it. Thirdly, I know that if my life is reflecting the glory of God more clearly, others will see it and glorify Him also.

So as you consider your goals for this year (if you have any), remember to change the things that He desires to change in you. And remember that...

Godly

Objectives

Assure

Lasting

Success

FREE Spicy Chicken Biscuit

2010-12-27T09:33:00.001-05:00

Click on the picture below to reserve your FREE Spicey Chicken Biscuit!

or click http://www.getspicychicken.com

Prayer for your church (pt 2)

2010-12-26T08:00:00.000-05:00

As you pray through each one, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to any specific areas He would have you pray about for your own church.

Holy Spirit, lead us to level ground. Show us ways we grieve, quench, or resist You. We live by You; help us keep in step with You. Reign in us so we experience Your freedom (Ps. 143:10; Eph. 4:30; 1 Thess. 5:19; Acts 7:51; Gal. 5:25; 2 Cor. 3:17).

We eagerly desire the spiritual gifts You’ve given for our common good. Help us understand the various gifts and how they work. May we use what we’ve received to serve others, administering grace in love and with renewed passion(1 Cor. 12:4-7, 14:1; 1 Pet. 4:10; 2 Tim. 1:6).

We desire to be pure and obedient so our love for each other will be sincere and from the heart. Give us a spirit of unity so we glorify You with one heart and voice. Help us accept one another in love (1 Pet. 1:22; Ro. 15:5-7; Col. 3:14).

May we sow generously into our church without reluctance or compulsion. Make grace abound so we have the finances we need to do every good work You’ve assigned us. Make us rich in ways that result in generosity so You will be praised (2 Cor. 9:6-11).

Remind us that sharing with others is a pleasing sacrifice to You. Keep us outwardly focused so we don’t become self-absorbed. Enable us to extend mercy to people in every kind of need (Heb. 13:16; Phil. 2:4; Jude 22-23).

Help us as we struggle with sin. Keep us from the enemy’s condemnation. Thank You for doing away with sin on the cross so we are no longer slaves to it. Help us throw off everything that entangles and persevere in the race (Ro. 6:6, 8:1; Heb. 12:1).

Protect and deliver us from the evil one. May we be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves as we deal with him. Show us how to test every spirit. Help us recognize the enemy’s schemes so he won’t outwit us (Mt. 6:13, 10:16; 1 Jn. 4:1; 2 Cor. 2:11).

Make us a house of prayer! We want to pray first, always, and continually with thanks. May each of us recognize that this is Your desire for all, not just a few. Transform us into righteous men and women whose prayers are powerful and effective Mk. 11:17; 1 Thess. 5:17-18; Ps. 32:6; Jas. 5:16).

Revive us so we burn hot for You. Give us singleness of heart and action that we may always fear You and follow Your precepts. Open our minds to Your Word and set our hearts ablaze within us (Rev. 3:14-16; Jer. 32:39; Ps. 111:10; Lk. 24:32,45).

CCMA Elders Wish You a Merry Christmas

2010-12-20T08:00:00.003-05:00

One Last Christmas - True Story

2010-12-16T08:00:00.002-05:00

Prayer for your church

2010-12-13T08:00:00.003-05:00

Every Christian should pray this prayer for their church...

Father, encourage the pastoral staff when ministry gets tough. Help them remain faithful with the things You’ve entrusted to them (2 Cor. 4:1; 1 Cor. 4:1-3).

Lord, teach us to respect and honor our elders/deacons. May they give wholehearted attention to prayer and ministry. Keep them devoted to their families and above reproach. May they be gentle, honest, and wise as they carry out their responsibilities (Acts 6:4; 1 Tim. 3:1-2, 5:17; Titus 1:7).

Daddy, appoint worship leaders who stand in awe before the splendor of Your holiness. Use their praise to defeat the enemy. May they be true worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth. Let them glory only in You, Jesus (2 Chron. 20:21-22; Jn. 4:23-24; Phil. 3:3).

Holy One, may every speaker/teacher correctly handle Your word of truth, admonishing and teaching wisely. Let them speak with faith that springs from relationship with You (2 Tim. 2:15; Col. 1:28; 2 Cor. 4:13).

Gracious King, let those who minister to the younger generations set examples in speech, life, love, faith, and purity. Cause them to be strong, alive-in-the-Word overcomers. Give them discernment to deal with troubled children and youth as they teach them Your life-giving principles.(1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Jn. 2:14; Prov. 7:7,2).

Spirit, thank You for every behind-the-scenes worker who is devoted to service. Bless them for their obedience and generosity. May You receive praise as a result! Reward them for serving You humbly and wholeheartedly rather than seeking to be noticed by others (1 Cor. 16:15-16; 2 Cor. 9:12-13; Eph. 6:7).

Redemptive God, increase our number through new converts. Let the gospel be presented to the lost among us with power, the Holy Spirit, and deep conviction, not only through the words of the sermon, but also through our lives. Teach us to make the most of every opportunity as we spread everywhere the fragrance of Christ(Acts 2:47; 1 Thess. 1:5; Col. 4:5; 2 Cor. 2:15).

Great Healer, may the hurting come to know You as El Roi, the God who sees them. Bind up the brokenhearted. Set the captives free. Replace mourning with Your oil of gladness. Comfort them so they will have a ministry of comfort to others (Gen. 16:1; Is. 61:1-3; 2 Cor. 1:3-4).

Share Your Faith in an unusual way!

2010-12-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob

Stars?

2010-11-30T09:52:00.000-05:00

Stare at the moon long enough, and the stars should begin to fade away. How many can you get to disappear?

How many pencils?

2010-11-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

How many pencils can you see here? What's going on?

From this lips of children...

2010-11-23T14:12:00.001-05:00

A friend sent this to me. If we could all understand and retell the Bible in this way!

The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.

An email to encourage...

2010-11-22T15:11:00.004-05:00

Each Sunday, I receive prayer requests for various issues. Some are related to health, others for relationships, still others for financial issues. Then there are requests for hope, wisdom, and encouragement.

This week was no different, but I thought I share my response to one of them. The request was something that many people have asked before. This person is feeling somewhat stagnant in their Christian growth and needing fear to be removed to trust God with the next step in life.

Here is a portion of what I shared...

"I read your prayer request this afternoon and want you to know that I am praying for you.

Stagnation is a difficult place to be. In reality, we are either growing or slowing. And since growth is upward, when we slow down and lose connection with Him and His body, we start slipping in the wrong direction.

I know your heart... You do not desire to simply exist, but to excel!

Each day you must make your will match His will. Every day is a new opportunity to set your head, heart and hands in the right direction.

Don't go conquer the world... just let God conquer you! Then He will accomplish THROUGH you all that He desires.

Make sure to stay IN the Word, IN Fellowship with Christian people, and IN places where you use your spiritual gift(s).

Also, within your relationships make sure you have 3 types of people:
1) Someone ahead of you that you can learn from
2) Someone with you to grow with
3) Someone behind you that you can mentor and teach

In life, we must have a "learn and return" mentality. We learn from others and grow. But our greatest blessing is to return that to others down the road. We are to be like a sponge. A dry sponge soaks up the "water of life" and then He squeezes us in order to release that "water" to others (but we still remain wet). Without the squeezing of life, we simply stay soaked and then we sour. God desires to live not just in us, but through us. THAT IS THE JOY OF LIFE!

Trust Him! Step out in faith! Get His perspective of your full redemptive potential.

And don't ask yourself, "What do I need to do to grow?"

Rather, ask yourself, "What is keeping me from growing?"

Remove the barriers, and receive all that God has in store!"

What would you say to this person? How might you be an encouragement to them or others feeling the same way?

Disappearing spots

2010-11-18T20:39:00.001-05:00

If you stare at the dot in the center, the colored spots around the edges will fade into the grey background and disappear.

Signs You Are Getting Older

2010-10-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

~ Everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work.
~ The gleam in your eyes is from the sun hitting your bi-focals.
~ You keep repeating yourself.
~ You feel like the morning after, and you haven't been anywhere.
~ Your little black book contains only names that end in M.D.
~ Your children begin to look middle aged.
~ You keep repeating yourself.
~ You finally reach the top of the ladder and find it leaning against the wrong wall.
~ Your mind makes contracts your body can't meet.
~ You look forward to a dull evening.
~ Your favorite part of the newspaper is "20 Years Ago Today."
~ You turn out the lights for economic rather than romantic reasons.
~ You sit in a rocking chair and can't get it going.
~ Your knees buckle, and your belt won't.
~ You're 17 around the neck, 46 around the waist and 105 around the golf course.
~ Your back goes out more than you do.
~ You sink your teeth into a steak, and they stay there.
~ You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet.
~ You know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions.
~ You're asleep, but others worry that you're dead.
~ You're proud of your lawn mower.
~ Your arms are almost too short to read the newspaper.
~ People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"
~ You have a dream about prunes.
~ You answer a question with, "Because I said so."
~ The end of your tie doesn't come anywhere near the top of your pants.
~ You take a metal detector to the beach.
~ You wear black socks with sandals.
~ You can't remember the last time you laid on the floor to watch TV.
~ Your ears and nose are hairier than your head.
(from Mikey's Funnies)

In God We Trust

2010-10-01T18:02:00.004-04:00

An unusual request from American Family Association

With your help, YouTube has agreed to feature an AFA-produced patriotic video on their front page!

A few months ago, AFA commissioned Christian songwriter/singer Eric Horner to write a moving patriotic song to honor our national motto, "In God We Trust."

Without any fanfare, AFA posted it on YouTube. The response was so overwhelming that YouTube called AFA to find out what was going on!

The fact is, the video is patriotic and inspiring, and it shares the message of faith. People love it!

YouTube has told AFA that if 20,000 people to watch the video, they will feature it on their front page. That means that the tens of millions of people who visit YouTube's website each day will be offered the opportunity to watch the video - a video with a Christian message!

Morning OR Mourning in America?

2010-09-27T14:31:00.003-04:00

Here is a TV ad used back in 1984 for President Ronald Reagan.

Here is a remake of that commercial here... yet against President Obama.

What are your reactions of the 2 commercials?

Aug 11, 2010 - President Bush greeting the troops @ DFW

2010-08-19T12:11:00.003-04:00

Getting an Approachability Checkup

2010-08-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

Every person should have an "Approachability Checkup" that is evanluated frequetly. People will flex their spiritual muscles, exercise their gift of gab, and show off their big brain of intelligence, yet are the really impressing anyone. Better yet, are they really making a difference in others lives? We may be able to impress from a distance, but we can only influence upclose.

I recently read this article by Ken Sande, President of Peacemaker Ministries that addresses the approachability of ministers. I could not agree with him more. Although he wrote this with pastor's in mind, I belive most of what he writes would equally apply to all people.

Take time to read, digest, and apply that which you think would be best. I would love to read your comments the article.

***************************************

Craig was well-equipped for teaching God’s Word. He was committed to Christ, thoroughly educated, solid in his doctrine, and well-read. He loved to study Scripture and could preach outstanding sermons Sunday after Sunday.

He also saw himself as a gifted pastor. He loved to discuss theology, debate doctrinal issues, and tell people how to apply the truth of God’s Word to everyday life. When people came to him with questions or problems, he prided himself on helping them to quickly get to the heart of the matter by identifying underlying sins in their lives and developing practical plans to grow in godliness.

The trouble was that, as time went by, fewer and fewer people were coming to him for pastoral advice. He would have been shocked to learn that while most of the people in his church respected him as a gifted preacher, many had lost confidence that they could approach him safely with questions, personal problems, and especially criticism, no matter how graciously it was offered. So while Craig’s pulpit ministry seemed to be thriving, his pastoral ministry was withering day by day.

Jason, a pastor in another church, was flourishing in both his preaching and shepherding ministries. He loved to dig into God’s Word and prepare practical lessons and sermons, but he was equally passionate about coming alongside his people, understanding their struggles, and helping them live out the gospel in the issues of daily life. Like the apostle Paul, he had an “Acts 20:20 ministry,” teaching God’s Word “publicly and from house to house.” His people loved him, shared their struggles, ideas, and even their criticisms freely, and together they were growing in their love for God and their passion to build his church.

Craig and Jason shared many characteristics: excellent education, solid theology, and a passion to teach and preach. But there was one major difference between them: Month in and month out, Jason’s flock found him to be consistently approachable, while Craig’s congregation saw him as so distant and above them that they gave up coming to him with their life concerns. Craig was a fine preacher, but he had failed to earn the relational passport needed to shepherd the flock God had entrusted to his care.

Countless leaders in other settings—whether the home, ministry, or workplace—fall into this same habit, which destroys their ability to lead and minister to other people.

Without a Passport, You Cannot EnterA passport is an authorization to go somewhere. There is no more difficult place to enter than the inner life and deep struggles of another person. If you want people to welcome you into their world—their real, messy world, not the smiling façade we all put up—you must earn a relational passport.

In order to gain a passport into the lives and struggles of other people, you must relate to them in such a way that they would answer “yes” to three key questions, each of which contains a variety of sub-questions that roll around in the back of people’s minds:

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE HERE

A 12 Point Cure for Complaining

2010-08-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

Here is an article written by Bill Izard. This 12-point cure may actually be able to cure many other areas of our lives that have been infected by this deadly "virus"!

A 12 Point Cure for Complaining

Complaining is unbecoming of the true Christian and yet we are proficient at it. The cure is found in these verses. In Christ we are never hopeless or forsaken. Every trial has meaning. Meditate on this cure in order to change both your language and your heart.

1. GOD COMMANDS ME NEVER TO COMPLAIN.

Do all things without grumbling (complaining) or disputing. Philippians 2:14

2. GOD COMMANDS ME TO GIVE THANKS IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

3. GOD COMMANDS ME TO REJOICE ALWAYS, AND ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF TRIAL.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Phil. 4:4

Rejoice always. 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. James 1:2

4. I ALWAYS DESERVE MUCH WORSE THAN WHAT I AM SUFFERING NOW. IN FACT, I DESERVE HELL.

Why should any living mortal, or any man, offer complaint in view of his sins? Lamentations 3:39

Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:2-3

5. IN LIGHT OF THE ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND GLORY THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE IN HEAVEN, THIS PRESENT TRIAL IS EXTREMELY BRIEF AND INSIGNIFICANT, EVEN IF IT WERE TO LAST A LIFETIME.

The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Rom. 8:18

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:19

6. MY SUFFERING IS FAR LESS THAN THAT WHICH CHRIST SUFFERED, AND HE DID NOT COMPLAIN.

Who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when he suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. 1 Peter 2:23

7. TO COMPLAIN IS TO SAY GOD IS NOT JUST.

Shall not the Judge of all the Earth do right? Genesis 18:25

8. FAITH AND PRAYER EXCLUDE COMPLAINING.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

9. THIS DIFFICULTY IS BEING USED BY GOD FOR MY GOOD AND IT IS FOOLISH FOR ME TO COMPLAIN AGAINST IT.

And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

10. THOSE MORE FAITHFUL THAN I HAVE SUFFERED FAR WORSE THAN I, AND DID SO WITHOUT COMPLAINT.

and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. All these, having gained approval through their faith. Hebrews 11:35-39

11. COMPLAINING DENIES THAT GOD'S GRACE IS ENTIRELY SUFFICIENT.

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

12. THE GREATEST SUFFERING, THE WORST TRIAL OR DIFFICULTY, CAN NEVER ROB ME OF THAT WHICH IS OF GREATEST VALUE TO ME AND MY GREATEST JOY, NAMELY THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

Copyright © 2001 Bill Izard. Adapted from the original publication. Distributed by Christian Communicators Worldwide, 201 Main, Parkville, MO 64152. Permission granted for non-profit duplication. All other uses require written permission.

Real Christians Vote

2010-08-07T10:05:00.005-04:00

God has established government. As Americans, we have the privilege to live in a Republic that allows us to participate in the process of government. As Christians, we have the moral obligation to be informed and involved. This should not be taken for granted. There are many in the world that have no voice under the dictatorship that they live with. We have been granted a voice and that voice must be used. Christians should not shy away from politics, since God is the one who has set up government AND has told us to be salt and light.

For all Georgia Voters, there is a run-off election this Tuesday, August 10. Prepare yourself, then participate and vote.

Below is a link to a voter guide done by the Eagle Forum of Georgia. This is a non-profit, non-biased, information guide to the candidates in the run-off.

Take time to read this, pray for each candidate, and then vote as God leads you.

Click on picture above or go here

Bible illiteracy

2010-08-04T13:03:00.000-04:00

(all italicized words are taken from article)

In 1800, DuPont de Nemours reported to Thomas Jefferson that, in the United States of America, “not more than four in a thousand are unable to write legibly,” while in many European countries less then twenty percent “of the population can read.”

And why were Americans in 1800 more literate than their European counterparts? NeMours’ conclusion: “The Bible is read... fathers read aloud to their children while breakfast is being prepared.”

The simple act of fathers reading the Bible aloud to their children led the fledgling United States of America to have the highest literacy rate in the world. From infancy, children in American homes were exposed daily to Holy Scripture, and through this process, they learned to read and write. American boys and girls became literate even as they became versed in the teachings of God’s Word — the most important training of all.

How far we have come as Christian Americans since Nemours’ report of 1800. Yet the significance of his observations should not be lost on us, for our prowess as a nation during the early days of the republic was no accident.

I tremble to think that how many children are growing up (even in local churches and Christian families) lacking clear instruction from the Word of God.

Fathers and mothers: it is time to assume your God-ordained position!

Church: it is time to recapture this generation!

Children: it is time to be transformed by the Word of God!

Transformational Church

2010-07-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

A super DOG that leads people to GOD!

2010-07-26T12:16:00.004-04:00

She's 18 inches tall. She eats flies. But as far as North American Mission Board missionary Andrew Mann is concerned, his Labrador Retriever is a full-fledged albeit four-legged "missionary." See how God is using a trained therapy dog, and her owner, to bring people to Jesus in one of New York City's toughest neighborhoods.

Family Worship - SBC Resolution

2010-07-21T06:00:00.005-04:00

In June of 2010, over 10,000 messengers met for the Southern Baptist Conventions. Though as varied as hair colors and blood types, these messengers joined hands to affirm several non-binding resolutions for churches affiliated with the SBC.

Below is one that I particularly appreciate. Our church has beat this drum, displayed this banner, stoked this fire, and laid out the red carpet for such a resolution as this.

Read it slowly and thoughtfully. Then ask the Lord for His empowerment to implement it consistently for all those in your household.

2. On Family Worship
June 2010

WHEREAS, The Bible teaches the spiritual discipline of family worship for the glory of God, the strengthening of the church, and the spiritual nourishment of the family (Deuteronomy 6:1-18; Psalm 78:1-8; Ephesians 4-6); and

WHEREAS, Scripture pictures the Christian home as a place in which parents are instructed to teach and disciple their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:1-18; Ephesians 6:1-4); and

WHEREAS, Family worship has been a cherished Southern Baptist principle reflected in church covenants which have called believers “to maintain family and secret devotions” and “to religiously educate” their children; and

WHEREAS, In recent years, family worship has been emphasized in The Baptist Faith and Message, which states that “Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth”; and

WHEREAS, Southern Baptists have launched major initiatives which have brought to the forefront the need for families to pray, read from the Bible, memorize scripture, and give praise to the Lord within their homes; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention included family worship as a key catalyst for a Great Commission resurgence calling on Southern Baptists “to build gospel-saturated homes that see children as a gift from God and as our first and primary mission field”; and

WHEREAS, Family worship is integral to laying a foundation for multi-generational faithfulness to the gospel (Psalm 145:4) and a necessary complement for the strengthening of the local church to fulfill its commission (Matthew 28:18-20); and

WHEREAS, Family worship serves as an important preparation for the corporate worship of the local church on the Lord’s Day (Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:25); and

WHEREAS, In recent generations, the act of family worship has been neglected, evidenced by the breakdown of the family in our time; and

WHEREAS, The embracing of the spiritual discipline of family worship in the Christian home has the capacity to nurture stronger families, a stronger church, and a stronger nation; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 15-16, 2010, encourage churches and families to rekindle the spiritual discipline of family worship; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we define family worship as the regular meeting together of a family for a time of prayer and Bible reading, which may include other activities such as scripture memorization, singing spiritual songs and hymns, and discussing biblical truth and Christian mission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage families to cultivate not only structured times of worship together, but also ongoing intentional and informal conversations about the things of the Lord; and be it further

RESOLVED, That as we call families and churches to embrace family worship, we urge fathers particularly to fulfill their divinely mandated responsibility to lead their families toward spiritual maturity (Ephesians 5:22-6:4; Colossians 3:19-21); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all parents to consider times of family worship to be an opportunity to introduce their children to the gospel, to train their children to seek the salvation of their friends and neighbors, and to pray for the nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage churches and families to make use of the many resources produced to aid in family worship; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to promote family worship and encourage the families of their congregations to place the highest priority on embracing this foundational spiritual discipline for the well-being of families, the spread of the gospel, the making of disciples, and the glory of God.

See full article on the SBC website

Freedom of Religion or Freedom of Worship?

2010-07-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

Is there a difference in thinking between "Freedom of Religion" and "Freedom of Worship"? What may seem a minor change in description, may very well be a BIG difference in application and enforcement. As a Pastor of a local congregation, this difference brings great concern.

Recently, I read an article from a Catholic website that brought to my attention the change of these words in our current President's speeches. Both President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton have switched from "religion" to "worship." Speculation has risen that leads some to believe that by narrowing the term to "worship" the government may desire to limit the expression of "religion" to only "worship." This of course would have consequences for speaking in public about your beliefs, sharing the gospel in public, expressing faith in any way outside of a "worship" service.

Could the day be approaching that the government's position is "keep your religion to your worship gathering but leave it out of the public arena"?

Something worthy of pondering and praying about. Read the article to further your thinking.

Bryant Wright, SBC President

2010-07-18T09:00:00.005-04:00

Click above to hear from Bryant Wright, the new SBC President.

His heart is for the churches in the Southern Baptist Convention is...

1. A return to Christ as our first love. When we return to Jesus as our first love in our pulpits and pews, we will begin to see a rekindled love for the gospel reaching all people.

2. A radical change in priorities in order to fulfill the Great Commission. This begins with each individual believer seeking to fulfill our role through the local church and continues with pastors and churches recognizing the immense need of getting more and more Cooperative Program dollars to the unreached people groups of the world and into the under-reached areas of North America.

3. Churches must begin to look at global ministry differently. It is my hope that every church participates in sending its pastor and members on at least one mission trip annually. I also am praying that this fall every church will step out on faith and set its largest goal ever for the Lottie Moon offering.

He has also set up a new website – www.pray4sbc.com – where you can receive monthly video updates, access daily devotionals to use as resources with the unchurched and enlist as part of our prayer team for the SBC.

I Am America

2010-07-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

The Heart of Courageous

2010-07-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

Centrality Of The Gospel - SBC Resolution

2010-07-14T06:00:00.004-04:00

Though the following resolution seems obvious. Some may even question why it is needed, "isn't this already assumed?" I am encouraged that the messengers desire to affirm what is vital for Christianity and the denomination. Though churches may or may not struggle with this, the landscape of modern evangelicalism shows that the gospel has been lost at worst or pushed aside at best.

Read the following slowly. Then ask yourself, "Do I see the Gospel as central to my life?" Ask God for His grace and guidance in making sure that there is evidence of the centrality of the Gospel in your life and in your church.

1. On The Centrality Of The Gospel
June 2010

WHEREAS, We are, every one of us, sinners against God and, apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ, deserving of only condemnation (Romans 3:23; 6:23); and

WHEREAS, The gospel is the good news of salvation that reveals who Jesus is, what He has done, and why it matters (Mark 16:15; Romans 1:16; 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4); and

WHEREAS, Repentance and faith in the finished work of Christ brings believers into right standing with God through the blood and righteousness of Jesus (Mark 1:15; Romans 4:5); and

WHEREAS, The power of the gospel transforms believers (Romans 1:16) so that we are able to put sin to death and to pursue holiness (Romans 6:8-22); and

WHEREAS, The hope of the gospel assures us of life beyond death through the promise of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14); and

WHEREAS, The value of the gospel shows us the relative poverty of the love of money and the pursuit of worldly success (Acts 8:20-22); and

WHEREAS, The stewardship of the gospel has been entrusted to us by our Lord Jesus Christ in His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 9:16-17); and

WHEREAS, The grace of God in the gospel grants salvation to anyone and everyone who believes, regardless of who the person is or what the person has done (Ephesians 2:8-9); and

WHEREAS, Apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no salvation (Acts 4:12); and

WHEREAS, The Great Commission Resurgence conversation has prompted Southern Baptists to a heightened awareness of the vast scope of lostness in our communities, across our nation, and around the world; and

WHEREAS, Any claim to personal self-righteousness or racial supremacy stands in contradiction to the gospel of free grace in Christ alone (Galatians 2:21; 3:27-28); now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 15-16, 2010, call on Southern Baptists to reaffirm our commitment to the supremacy and centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our churches; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage pastors to keep the gospel foremost in every sermon they preach, so that the whole of Scripture and every aspect of life can be seen in the context of how every promise of God finds its “Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20) in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage churches in preaching, teaching, and discipleship to proclaim the gospel to unbelievers, showing them how to find peace with God, and to proclaim the gospel to believers, that through the renewing of our minds we might continually be transformed by the gospel; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge churches to display the gospel by transcending ethnic, racial, economic, and social barriers due to our unity in Christ; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage our churches to celebrate the gospel through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, teaching our congregations the joy of the gospel therein; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we recommit ourselves to the glory of the gospel by greater faithfulness to the Great Commission both in personal witness and in sending more gospel workers to the unreached peoples of the world; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge churches and individual believers to study, identify, and act upon the lostness of their communities, the nation, and the world; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage each church to support its pastor as he leads personally in ongoing Great Commission involvement, both locally and globally; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commit to speak to the outside world as those who are forgiven sinners, who have received mercy as a free gift, and not as those who are morally or ethically superior to anyone (1 Corinthians 1:27-31; 4:2-7); and be it further

RESOLVED, That we seek to live as those who have been rescued by the gospel, evidenced by forgiving our enemies, setting aside personal offenses, crucifying selfish pride, breaking down carnal divisions, and loving one another joyously, counting others as more important than ourselves; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That we pray that God would pour out His Spirit to make us truly gospel-centered, gospel-saturated people whose lives and words point the world to our Lord Jesus Christ.

See the full resolution on the SBC website

New Jordan BABY!

2010-07-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

Chris and Jennifer Jordan,
along with
Nehemiah, Mordecai,
Hadassah, Deborah, Barnabas, Jeremiah,
and first time big sister Priscilla,
announce the arrival of:

Thaddaeus James Jordan
8lb 6oz
21 inches
born at 7:58pm
on 07-12-10

Both mom & baby are doing wonderful
at Gwinnett Medical Hospital
in room #232.

More pictures to be posted on
http://www.jordanfamilyhappenings.blogspot.com/

New Jordan Baby has Arrived!

2010-07-12T22:17:00.001-04:00

The new Jordan baby #8 has arrived. It is late on Monday night and the Jordan children will not have the opportunity to meet the new baby until Tuesday morning.

So the NAME and PICTURES will be withheld until after the entire Jordan family has been to the hospital.

But I will let you in on one piece of news....

.... the baby is a BOY!!!!!!!!!!!

Drive-through prayer

2010-07-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- On an early Wednesday morning in west Charlotte, Pastor Jonathan Richardson gets ready to go to work."I'm out here because he sent me to this time and place," said Richardson as he... READ THE REST AND WATCH THE VIDEO

Answers by Kids on Science

2010-07-10T09:00:00.004-04:00

~ One horsepower is the amount of energy it takes to drag a horse 500 feet in one second.

~ You can listen to thunder after lightning and tell how close you came to getting hit. If you don't hear it, you got hit, so never mind.

~ When they broke open molecules, they found they were only stuffed with atoms; but when they broke open atoms, they found them stuffed with explosions.

~ When people run around and around in circles, we say they are crazy. When planets do it, we say they are orbiting.

~ Most books now say our sun is a star, but it still knows how to change into a sun in the daytime.

~ A vibration is a motion that cannot make up its mind which way it wants to go.

~ Many dead animals of the past changed to fossils; others preferred to become oil.

~ Vacuums are nothing. We only mention them to let them know we know they are there.

~ Some people can tell what time it is by looking at the sun, but I have never been
able to make out the numbers.

~ We say the cause of perfume disappearing is evaporation. Evaporation gets blamed for a lot of things people forget to put the top on.

~ I am not sure how clouds get formed; but the clouds know how to do it, and that is the important thing.

~ In making rain water, it takes everything from H to O.

~ Rain is saved up in cloud banks.

~ Thunder is a rich source of loudness.

~ It is so hot in some parts of the world that the people there have to live in other places.

(From Mikey's Funnies)

7 Reasons for Small Groups by John Piper

2010-07-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

I've been doing a lot of research on Small Groups lately, hoping to develop a better purpose, environment, and participation for them in our church.

Here is a list from John Piper on why Small Groups are important.

1. The impulse to avoid painful growth by disappearing safely into the crowd in corporate worship is very strong.

2. The tendency toward passivity in listening to a sermon is part of our human weakness.

3. Listeners in a big group can more easily evade redemptive crises. If tears well up in your eyes in a small group, wise friends will gently find out why. But in a large gathering, you can just walk away from it.

4. Listeners in a large group tend to neglect efforts of personal application. The sermon may touch a nerve of conviction, but without someone to press in, it can easily be avoided.

5. Opportunity for questions leading to growth is missing. Sermons are not dialogue. Nor should they be. But asking questions is a key to understanding and growth. Small groups are great occasions for this.

6. Accountability for follow-through on good resolves is missing. But if someone knows what you intended to do, the resolve is stronger.

7. Prayer support for a specific need or conviction or resolve goes wanting. Oh how many blessings we do not have because we are not surrounded by a band of friends who pray for us.

NASA's foremost mission: Better Relations with Muslims?

2010-07-05T20:00:00.002-04:00

(just watch the first 2 minutes)

In a recent interview with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, he said, "When I became the NASA administrator -- or before I became the NASA administrator -- he charged me with three things. One was he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science ... and math and engineering," Bolden said in the interview.

Full Article here

Doesn't this seem odd? Why would the USA's government space agency have as their "foremost" charge "reach[ing] out to the Muslim world."

This seems misplaced and misguided. With all of the good that NASA could accomplish, reaching the Muslim world seems very strange.

What is this Administration doing? Why is a faith group even in the discussion of NASA? or this Administration? Would they try to reach out to the Christian world? Our current president has already declared that we are NOT a Christian nation, nor any other faith for that matter.

or maybe we are an All faiths nation...

So, if the faith of a nation is of limited importance, then why reach out to the "Muslim world" through NASA?

Maybe there is more than meets the eye... and the ear...

God Bless America!

2010-07-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

You Know You're in a Redneck Church if...

2010-07-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

**The finance committee refuses to provide funds for the purchase of a chandelier because none of the members knows how to play one.

**People ask, when they learn that Jesus fed the 5,000, whether the two fish were bass or catfish, and what bait was used to catch 'em.

**When the pastor says, "I'd like to ask Bubba to help take up the offering," five guys and two women stand up.

**Opening day of deer season is recognized as an official church holiday.

**A member of the church requests to be buried in his 4-wheel-drive truck because, "It ain't never been in a hole it couldn't get out of."

**The choir is known as the "OK Chorale."

**In a congregation of 500 members, there are only seven last names in the church directory.

**The baptismal pool is a No. 2 galvanized "Wheeling" washtub.

**The choir robes were donated by (and embroidered with the logo from) Billy Bob's Barbecue.

**The collection plates are really hubcaps from a '56 Chevy.

**Instead of a bell, you are called to service by a duck call.

**The minister and his wife drive matching pickup trucks.

**The communion wine is Boone's Farm "Tickled Pink."

**"Thou shall not covet" applies to huntin' dogs, too.

**The final words of the benediction are, "Y'all come back now, Ya hear."

Excellence can be obtained if...

2010-07-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

“Excellence can be obtained if you:

…care more than others think is wise;

…risk more than others think is safe;

…dream more than others think is practical;

…expect more than others think is possible.”

Thought from Tom Peters in Little Big Things

Signs You Are Broke

2010-06-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

If any on the following are true for you, it's time to go through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University or read Randy Alcorn's book Treasure Principle.

Signs You Are Broke

~ American Express calls and says: "Leave home without it!"

~ You're formulating a plan to rob the food bank.

~ Long distance companies don't call you to switch.

~ You look at your roommate and see a large fried chicken in tennis shoes.

~ Your rob Peter...and then rob Paul.

~ You finally clean your house, hoping to find change.

~ You think of a lottery ticket as an investment.

~ Your bologna has no first name.

~ You give blood everyday...just for the orange juice.

~ Sally Struthers sends you food.

~ McDonalds supplies you with all your kitchen condiments.

~ At communion you go back for seconds... and thirds.