What does Jesus want?

Well tonight is my turn for the wednesday night lesson. With Christmas upcoming we always look at what everyone wants but do you actually think of what Jesus would want for Christmas? For the man with everything what possibly could I get him? Come out tonight to Church to find out!!!!

Remembering last night

Mr. Bill brought up some good stuff in his lesson last night. Are you a leader in  a church? Are you doing what a leader is suppose to be doing? Are you training your replacement so if God calls you to another position or place that there is someone to replace you? Have you even thought about it? What happens if you were called today? Would you want you church to suffer because God called you to another position or place? So with these questions asked what are you going to do to change it today? Or are you just going to sell yourself short and think you wont be called anywhere?

Are you a reject?

You know it is bad enough if your world crumbles because you are doing a bad thing. But it is even worse you are trying  to do a good thing and people reject you. I mean look at Moses... he thought he was doing the right thing by standing up for his people but oh man was he wrong!!! Not only did they not care that he saved the man now Pharaoh was hunting him like a dog. Talk about a grave miscalculation!!! But just like Moses we are well intentioned. We have the right desire but we have to understand we can't do the right thing the wrong way. We might be trying to rush what God has planned cause we aren't where we want to be or doing g what we think we are suppose to do. But when it comes to God timing is everything!!! You may want to do something so bad, so bad that it hurts, and you know God wants you to do it but is it his time? Or yours?

Are you forgetful?

Last Sunday Pastor Paul spoke about forgetting your past. Reading today another man of God came up... Joseph. If this man isn't a pure example of letting g God handling it and forgetting your past I would ask you who is. All the wrong that was done to him at a young age but yet in his families time of need God put him in the right place. Now just think, if he was still letting the past get to him he wouldn't be at a place of authority, he probably wouldn't have the chance to help his family at all. How many times have you felt or heard God's call and was like but do you remember what I did God? Do you remember who I was? We are so wrapped up in ourselves because if we would listen he would probably say I do, do you remember when you repented? Do you remember why my son died? We all have done things in our past that we regret but instead of letting them linger in our minds we need to forget. If you think you have a lemon of a life God can make lemonade.  Use what you have been through for the glory of God!!!

Do you have the strength?

Reading a new book it brought up a very good point. In Romans 12:17-19 it says 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” [a] says the Lord.  For the flesh in us this is a very hard prospect. Even though we know be will take care of it the man in me says.... I got this. Or, he did what..... I will take care of it. We all try to say we would turn the other cheek but do we?  Like Pastor Paul said yesterday, are we really any different than Judas? At least in the end Judas knew what he had done but do you really care or do you just pass it off as it isn't really that big of a deal. As Christians we are suppose to be Christ- like at all times not just on Sunday mornings. So do you have the strength to turn the other cheek when it is hard or are you going to do what everyone else does?

Faith... is yours Ordinary or Extraordinary?

Getting done with the lesson for tomorrow night and as you might have guessed it is on faith. Going through and writing the lesson has got me thinking allot. So much we ask for what is normal or something man in general can do but we have a God that raised people from the dead, caused the waters to part but for some reason we know that it all happened but we many times don't have the faith for him to help us in our own lives. We say we do but do we really. Stuff goes through our heads... I only have this much money so i cant tithe this week. Now many of us have said that line but we should have the faith not to only believe that we will have the money but that we will have more. Our God is all powerful why do we always put limits on him? So how about this, next time something happens, don't just ask for that, ask for something much more and have the faith that it will happen. If our God can raise the dead why cant he get you a little thing like money? Just a thought...

Wow, that was close!!!

Yesterday morning on the way from taking the kids from school I had a little vehicle incident. A young lady crossed the yellow line accidentally and we hit mirrors. Thank God the only thing that happened was damage to vehicles!!! It could have been allot worse especially since she had a child in the back. I am very thankful also that her and her family are God fearing people that go to church. An that also makes the point to not over react because you really don't know who you are talking to or how close they are to you or your family. You know saying that it could have been allot worse should get you thinking... What would have happened if it was worse. Would you go to heaven? Would people remember you for trying to walk with God or trying to walk in the world? We can look over our lives with a fine tooth comb but the only thing we can change is what we are going to do not what we have done. Some people need a wake up call like this or something allot smaller but the same holds true for both. Are you where you need to be and if not then you have from this point forward to get there. No one says it is going to be easy, no one is saying that you wont make mistakes. But i pray it doesn't take something drastic to change your outlook on your future in Jesus. So start right now!!! don't wait another minuet to change the way you think, talk, react... work for a future of being more like Jesus!!!1

Don't Settle

Last night I had the gracious opportunity to speak to the adults.  The lesson was on are you going to settle with half way of what God has planned in your life or are you going to go into your promised land. So many times in our lives we settle because either the journey seems too hard, too long or we think, God has provided for me until now so why not just stay here.  We need to put that to the side and start striving for the greatness that God has put in us. All of us have that passion, that deep down burning desire that will keep you up nights and make you skip being with friends to do. We all need that back!!!! God has so much better planned for all of our lives even if we feel like we are favored right now. If you think you are favored, good job, nice cars, nice house just think what God has planned is much greater than that!!! You can't even imagine where you will be in the future if you follow God and let him lead you to YOUR promised land. So I beg you... don't be content with where you are now because you might think it is great but God has much more planned for your life!! So don't settle start striving for greatness!!!

Are you like everyone else?

So today they announced that the replacement refs are out and the regular NFL refs are now back for tonight's game. So much controversy has surrounded the replacement refs it is unreal. What I find really amazing is how many can be so quick to judge even though they have never been on the field and done the job. They are getting death threats, laughed at and straight up just mocked for a job they are trying to do right. Have you made any off comments when they miss a call? As Christians we are suppose to forgive. This should be even easier saying that haven't done anything directly to us but many of us really into football take it very personally. So where are all the Christians saying to forgive them or just standing up for them. Have you been supporting them or have you been like everyone else and calling them out. Just because we understand what we are suppose to do doesn't mean that we do it. Many times we act way too quickly in life instead of thinking first. This has been brought to the forefront because of the refs but how about how you react to your kids, people in church or work. So instead of doing like everyone else and jumping on the band wagon so to speak, go against the grain!!! We are suppose to be Christ-like so..... could people say that of you?

The outside....

After watching my wife go over the lesson that she is going to do for the women's meeting it made me think if something. As people and Christians we are so quick to put up a fake outer appearance towards everyday people and even more to our fellow church people. We don't want them to know the personal struggles, family struggles or just let them in at all. This hurts the new people coming to church most of all. A newcomer to church would view that as I am trying to do the right thing but these people are perfect. How can I live up to their standards?  You know it is OK to fall, stumble or have a hard time because in the end we know God will take care of it!!! If we don't show that we believe that how can we expect new people to?  We need to show that GOD'S GOT THIS!!!!  And not to just say it but to truly believe it with all of our heart. 

Let it show!!!!

Andy Mineo Lyrics video

Above you see a link for a video by Andy Mineo ft. Lecrae called Let there be light. One of the verses in the song goes...........................

We livin' in a dark world, how they gonna know
If we don't put His glory on display and let it show
So let there be light, let there be light,

Very straight forward!!! So with everything going on in the world today how are we suppose to bring people to God if they don't see it in us? Actions speak louder than words so how about we start letting Christ shine in our lives instead of living in the world!!! That line is clouded so much on a daily basis so slow down and instead of doing the easy thing we start doing the right things becuase guess what.... you never know who is watching!!!

Do You Represent Christ?

Looking back on the past week man I am glad it is over. It just seemed like everything that I did either messed up or cost more money. We all have weeks like that, thinking will we ever get past this or good grief can anything else really happen. But if we really look at what we are going through it is is minor compared to most things we could think of in this world or read in the Bible. I mean lets really look at it, Job for instance, lost EVERYTHING!!!!! Not just something, not just a couple of things but everything that he held dear. So now how does your problem compare? Not even close right?  Just think how mad you got, how frustrated, the things you said over things (for the most part) you wont remember in a year. Was it really worth the headache or what happened for something that when you look over your life really doesn't mean that much. NOPE!!!! It is hard to see that when it is all going on but hind site is 20/20.  As Christians we need to remember the way that we act (even when we think no one is looking) should be a direct reflection of Jesus. Yes this is hard sometimes especially in the world that we live in today but what do other people think when they see us do that or say that? Why would they want to be a Christian if you act the same way that they do? What do you think it looks like when you like a picture on facebook that has profanity on it? Yes whether we like it or not as a Christian we are under a microscope and we should take more pride in who we are and who we are suppose to represent!!!!

Encouragement

You know we all have good days and bad day... But as Christians it is our responsibility to try as hard as we can to look past what we have going on and encourage everyone else. Just think when we are having a hard time we have people that can be there for us and Jesus that loves us no matter what. For everyone else if they don't know about Jesus or have just gotten away from God they don't have that piece of mind. They don't have the right people in their lives to help them the right way and really don't have a close enough relationship with God to feel comfortable talking to him. That's where we come in.... how awesome would it be if you are there at the right time, the right place and what happens if your not right with God to give them the word that they need. Wouldn't that stink!!!! To leave and know you could have done more, you could have said something different, you could have changed the way they think about God.  Don't let that be you!!! Do your studying... your praying....involve yourself in church more that the hour on Sunday and Wednesday!!!!! And just think if you do this you might be able to make that mark that helps lead someone in the right direction! So for the question.... has God put that person in your walk that you were able to help? If not ask yourself this question.... Are you doing your due diligence for God to even put that person in your walk??

Are you ready?

Have you ever felt like I could do more but you don't know what that is. You start praying and something hits you like a ton of bricks. So you hook up with some people and start doing what you felt like what the Lord said to do but there is this feeling.... I feel like I got more. God has out people in our lives to help get us closer to him but what's to say we don't progress faster than that person. What happens if we rely so much on the person helping us that we don't reach our full potential in our own lives? This can be very frustrating!!! You don't feel like you are ready but you know you could do more. Then when you finally step out on faith woooo what a climb up that mountain!!! It seems lime everything is going against you. Everywhere you turn something is going on and you start second guessing what God called you to do. You know God never said it would be easy, he never said it wouldn't take time. What I can tell you that you are there for a reason whether you know it or not. He did not put you there to sit in a recliner but to weed the garden. He knows what you have in you even when you don't think so!!!!!!! So stop sweating the small stuff and start thanking God for everything that you do have !!!

Will you take the rough road?

I heard a good question this morning. If the going really got rough would you stick it out for the Lord? Seems like an easy question when you first think about it but lets dive a little deeper. Say for instance the world starts going really downhill, and lets say congress starts blaming Christians for what is going wrong with the country. They start taking away our churches, persecuting us for our faith and it goes downhill from there. What happens if it gets so bad that we have to denounce our faith or we face the unthinkable death? So many people actually have to go through that now!!! We take so much for grated because we live in the good ole USA. We have missionaries in countries that have to have secret church meetings just to have church. Most of the time the hardest thing we have to worry about is whether to get up or not to get up or where are you going to eat afterwards. So lets put some of our local problems out there. How about when someone is telling a bad joke or when someone is cheating some time at work. Will you stand up for whats right? Even though you will be looked at differently or even be tormented because we stand up for whats right? No matter how big or small the choice you will have to make about doing the right thing, will you stand up for whats right or will you just go along with the world? Take the easy way out? Act like it doesn't really matter?

The apostles had a degree??????

You know so many times as Christians  trying to strive towards Jesus we get discouraged because of the people around us. Me for example, I don't have any schooling like allot of the pastors that I know. I don't have all the time in either but I feel a strong call that the Lord has put on my heart and I won't let a piece of paper hold me back from doing what the Lord has called me to do. We should not feel down because we don't have degrees like other people. God has called us to do his will and it doesn't matter if we have a piece of paper hanging up or not. As long as we are doing his will everything will work itself out. God has many ways to get us where we need to be in our own way and time. If you still think this is not true think about this, did any of the apostles have a degree? Did Abraham? Moses?  The apostles didn't have the luxury of Jesus sitting behind a desk and putting everything he said on a blackboard.  They didn't have to make sure that they were in class twice a week for 2 hours to make sure that they got the credit. They were called to do very specific things for the Lord and got real world training!!! Just think how much different the Bible would be if instead of seeing all the wonderful miracles that Jesus did they just heard him talk about it and had some pictures. So my reason for all this is to let you know not to let yourself be discouraged!!! Don't let the intimidation take over but instead take the work that God has laid on your heart and run with it!!!! He will do great things in those who listen!!!

Do you act like a Christian?

You know this would seem like a pretty simple question at first. If you are a Christian you try to act like one but how is one suppose to act? Unfortunately looking at it from a worldly stand point Christians in general are condescending. We are always looking at the bad and quick to condemn someone when they do something wrong. This is the exact opposite of what we are suppose to act like!!! Like we haven't ever done something wrong that we regret but boy don't let someone in the church do something wrong... Boy when that happens we are all over it, quick to judge, quick to talk about them, quick to be anything but Christian. I hate to sound cliche, but WWJD... We should ask ourselves this question every time before we open our mouths. Would Jesus do that? Would Jesus say that? Would Jesus listen to that? Would Jesus watch that? I hear so many churches talking about how to get more people in the door and get their name out there but really, who would want to be a Christian and go to church when they see what the people are really like. They see people talking about coworkers on the job, other church members at lunch and the pastor at church!!! I wouldn't want to go to church if this is what I saw looking in for the first time. This means you cant just be a Christian on Sunday morning for that one hour. You have to be a Christian in everything you say and do!!!!  How can we expect someone to want to become a Christian if we can't practice what we preach?

What will the devil do?

At the end of Pastor Paul's sermon he brought up an awesome point. He said I hope when I die hell rejoices!!! So this brings up the point will hell rejoice when you die? Will the devil say... thank goodness, he is finally gone!!!? Are you just like the pastor said...just shouting to shout or are you shouting to praise. Are you going to church for the right reasons and not just so someone sees you there? Is your mind clear of the things of this world when you go so you can actually praise and worship and take in all that the spirit has given your pastor? Are you too worried about what baby is crying and who is walking in and out instead of what the pastor is preaching?  These are things that all of us need to change because I know when I die I would like hell to rejoice!!! The devil to say good grief it took him long enough!! But then for the devil to realize that just because I am gone that the Lord will still be working in all the people that I knew so he still didn't have a chance!!! I know we would all like the devil to say that when we die but would he really say that about you? Are you just allot of noise and show or are you true to the bone for God? Will he dance that you finally died or will he say, oh he didn't matter anyways.  Only you truly know that answer but I challenge you to make that choice now, that from now on you won't care what other people think or do. That you won't go to church to make some noise and put on a show, but that you will go to church not just to listen but to hear. Not just to sing but to worship, not to see who is there and what they are wearing but to seek God!!!

Half the year gone!!!

Today at 12 noon officially  half the year will be gone... Wow how time flies!!!  Undoubtily we have all had good times and bad times. We all can look back and say, maybe I could have done that different, maybe I could have said that different. All of us have things we wish we could take back no matter how small the issue was.  Was is the key word.... It is in the past, take this time now to look at the future. You have a half of a year left to make an impact on your family and the people around you.  How about the next time someone makes you mad instead of saying something you will regret you walk away... instead of getting road rage you take some deep breaths and slow down...instead of keeping all of your time to yourself you put down the remote and help a neighbor that needs it!! We all have a half a year to make a final impact on 2012, will you take this opportunity to turn this year around and end it with a bang?

Do you....Really???

After camp meeting last night it got me thinking allot.   Are you taking the bible for what it has in it or are you taking it for all that it is? So many times in our lives and in this world  we make stuff conform to us when we don't like where it is going.  If we don't like where someone goes then we drive ourselves. If we don't like a government official we vote them out, if we don't like a part of the bible we just ignore it or say me and God have it worked out.  I am here to tell you that you need to start taking the bible for what it is. You and God don't have it worked out, it is not OK, and no you are not doing what God has called you to do.  Thomas Jefferson had that same problem, he cut certain parts out of the bible which was Jesus doctrine. I know for most of us that isn't what we are trying to do but in a sense it is.  The bible is meant to be interpreted but for the most part on the way we are suppose to live our lives and for him is relatively clear.  It is not our part to change or say it is OK with God because we prayed about it. Just because we think we are good are we really? Just because we rationalize our problem or the way we think about it doesn't make it right.

God loves Youth!!!!!

I know that sometimes  the summer months can be lonely for youth. Things slow down. You  are not at school, contact with other youth is reduced. There is a lot of time to think. And when you spend more time alone, it’s also common to think that you are alone in your struggles. There is an activity that we are going to do as an icebreaker to simply to create an awareness that regardless of what you are going through, there are others who gone through it before us and others that will go through it later. And even if it seems there is no one who can understand, Jesus does.

So Here We Go……

We are going to Take It to the Next Level

We often feel we are alone in our struggles and that no one understands us or there’s no one who can relate to us or understand what we’re going through.

We don’t often realize there are people all around us that have the same life situations as us – people who share so many things in common with us. We were never created to function alone. That’s why God gave us a community.

In fact, to prove we were never alone and that there was someone out there who was familiar with our struggles, Jesus Christ, our King left His throne room and became man. He walked the same land and lived the same life. He was God with us – Emmanuel.

Looking at the Scripture

I have a lot of scripture today to show you that even when you don’t think it God loves you and worries about what you think about and how you feel.  Like in….

(Hebrews 4:15-16)

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

1.    Jesus knows how you think and feel

                                                        (John 2:24-25)

• “But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man”  see he is saying that he knows you, not just the you that you let everyone else see, the you behind closed doors, the you that you are happy with, sad with, disgusted with. We all that person that we hide when there are other people that are around but he loves that too.  To show you again, in…

 (Acts 1:24)

• And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen”
                                    2.    Jesus knows you inside and out

                                                         (Psalm 103:14)

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust

 Psalm 139:1-4,

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

3.    Jesus knows your suffering (Isaiah 53:3-7)

³ He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

⁴ Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

4.    Jesus will be with you and take care of you in all things

   (1 Peter 5:7)

 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

All of these scriptures were written long before any of us were thought of and hold true for each and every generation.  So God has shown that when you think no one else loves you he does. So how will you let him show through you this week and show someone else that God loves them?

Challenge to be Positive!!!

There have been some good points brought up this past week while I have been in church. One is What are Christians suppose to be like? There are so many different opinions on this subject it would be hard to put it in a blog post. I would like to say that as Christians we try to do the right thing and act the right way but do we really? Right after church you can hear people talking and saying I can't believe that happened or did she really say that!! I am guilty of this far too often and if you aren't then comment because you are doing allot better than allot of Christians that I see. This is human nature to criticize but as Christians we need to step back and as a book that I saw, Think before we speak!!! We all do it, as soon as something happens we have to talk about it and 98% of the time it is something bad. It is so normal that we need to start making it a mission for all of us to stop doing it. So what I would like to do is place a challenge to everyone, before you say anything today I want you to think about it first then say something positive instead of negative. Yes some of us have kids so it is a little more challenging but none the less do it!!! Take a few more seconds of your time and instead of fussing or saying something bad even if someone did something to make you mad say something good or encouraging!!! Breathe before you say your first word and think about how what you might say will effect that person or how about this, how it will affect the people around you and that person! So try to go all day without saying anything negative!! So I can tell you if you actually do this after the first hour you will notice a difference of not being negative. If you don't feel a difference did you really say everything positive?  Try it and let me know what you think.

Man don't we have it easy!!!!

I was listening to a podcast from Mark Driscoll this morning and some stuff really struck me. He was speaking in Turkey to one of the few churches that are still there. What really stuck out was as Americans we take so much for granted. Overall you can find a job, plenty of restraunts,  so many different activities and a church practically on every corner. When he was done with his service he was approached by a young turkish man who was in tears. He had been a Christian for awhile and knew that God was calling him to be a pastor and plant a church. He was in tears because for his culture, just being a Christian you were outcast from your family. Cut off from the family money and possibly killed. All the things we worry about, where are we going to eat tonight, what are we going to do and this man in Christ has to worry about if he is going to be killed!! There are going to be very few times in our lives in America that we would have to even come close to feeling like that. We have it so easy!!! Just think what he would think if he came over here and saw the little things we fight about and bicker over when right now he is watching his back just to say the Lord's name. How about we take the time to step back and relize how easy we do have it and step up for the Lord and let the world see it!!!!

What are we doing? (part 3)

Church Level

So we went over the personal and group levels now on to the big one the Church level. I am not talking about our church. I want to go into church in general. I will say that there are lots of churches doing the right things and a lot doing the wrong things. But as a church we also need to get back to basics. We aren’t unified at all on any front and losing the battle in so many ways because we don’t have strong men standing up for what they believe in. For example I can’t tell If someone talks bad about your dad or someone that you love dearly what do you do, you have a 1 on 1 conversation with him because we take it that personally. So why don’t we take it that personally when someone talks about God, Jesus or the bible. We pass it off like oh there’s nothing we can do about it or that is just the way that it is. How about we study and pray more so when someone attacks the bible we can stand up in a Christian manner and show them for one how a man of Christ is suppose to act and that we have the knowledge to let them know what the bible actually said and meant.  See the people of this world want to see us fail as Christians. They want to catch us in that one bad moment especially as men. They are quick to point it out when instead of doing something the Christian way we let our emotions get the best of us and go about it the wrong way. Take the whole Barak Obama thing, as the world sees all the Christians are belly aching about the leadership and what is going on in Washington, but I’m here to tell you if all the Christian men of this world would stop complaining and start praying it wouldn’t matter who is in office because God would be taking care of it.   As men we are suppose to be the backbone, the strong tower, the rock that our families and people around us depend on. What does complaining do, nothing. What does praying do, everything! In Matthew 18 verse 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.  See everyone is just so use to doing everything the same ole way and not willing to step out on faith to take yourself and the people around you to the next level.

To wrap it up, we went through ourselves, a group and the church in general but it DOES start with every one of us. What are you going to do differently to show that you are a man of God. Yes works will not get you into heaven but actions speak louder than words. A lot of times you can talk till you are blue in the face and until someone sees you practicing what you preach a lot of times it doesn’t matter. How can we as men expect to lead people to Jesus if we can’t even convince ourselves that we are doing God’s will? So what are you going to change? Is it your work schedule? Is it your hobby? Or do you just have the time and choose not to dive deeper in the word? Either way how can we expect to have an influence on others if we aren’t where we are supposed to be? So we have been asking what are we doing, to end it how about, what are we going to do.

What are we doing? (part 2)

Group Level

I have seen this in almost all ministries in general. So when someone starts a ministry, everyone has the best intentions on what they could do or what they could accomplish. But like most ministries that are starting out that drops off pretty quick in participation and drive. We all know of all kinds of ministries that have been doing the same thing for 10 years and nothing really changes. If God wanted us to be like everyone else he would have made us like that. He was not mediocre so why are we so content with being mediocre? Just like the pastor has been trying to reiterate lately we are LIFE GIVERS we are suppose to be giving life!!!   I mean let’s just put it out there, is everyone really content in coming here every two months hearing a word, eating and leaving about our business because I am not. I mean don’t get me wrong, as we all know I love the food too,  but I would like more from all of this. I love coming here, eating and spending time together, I think it definitely helps when all of us get together and start sharing ideas. That’s why so many men’s conferences are called stuff like Iron sharpens Iron and such. But what good is it if we don’t do anything with the time that we are together? We can do this time and time again and if we don’t change what we do what can we really expect out of it? Do we use work or what we like to do keep us from stepping up and doing the right thing? Do we use this time like some people use church, they dress up, make sure that they are there on time just to make sure that people saw them. Not really hearing the word but doing everything for the wrong reasons. I can tell you it will take some hard work and determination to start but just think what awesome things we could accomplish!!! Not taking the easy route and doing like everyone else but doing what we are suppose to do, what God wants us to do.  What do you think we could accomplish if a group of God fearing men came together proclaiming the lord and going out in the community and making stuff happen? So I will change it now from what are you doing to what are we doing?

What are we doing? (part 1)

I have been thinking quite awhile on what to talk about. So many things that we could get into when it comes to a men’s meeting but one really sticks out to me. What are we doing? I mean, what are we really doing? As men we have so many expectations on us that come from God and ones that have been put on us from man. I’m here to tell you today we put way too much on the expectations put on us from man. We need to get back to the basics and back in the bible.  

Personal Level

How about this, if you were to ask someone you work with right now would they say you were a Christian? What do you think they would say about you and not what you would want them to say but what they would say from actually what you do and act like. Would they be able to say that they have even heard God come out of your mouth? (And the people that know you go to church don’t count.) We need to be telling the people that don’t go to church. Do they even know that you go to church or even know the church name? It is always nice to say we want more people in the church but more people won’t come if they haven’t heard the word or how about this, they don’t want to go to church because of the way you act or talk? We all know what I am talking about; you even think it in your mind. I can’t believe he just said that or man can you believe she just did that. And I’m not even just talking about cussing or carrying on, this also means the way you talk to people and treat them. Do you go above and beyond in your community without being asked?  Do you let work or something you want to do keep you from reading the word, helping a neighbor or praying?  You don’t have to change everything now but you need to look deep into your own lives to make sure you are doing the right thing. I had to battle this with video games, some of us hunt, fish, or even work keeps us from doing what God wants us to do. So I will ask again on a personal level, what are you doing?

Are you really happy?

Pretty obvious question to start off but it is more than meets the eye. Most of us think happy is having a big house, driving a nice car or having the newest or best thing. So out of all those things are you really happy? For a long time I thought it did. I worked 2 jobs, was never home but made pretty good money and I thought that was what I was suppose to do. As a father be able to give my kids what I didn't have and my wife be able to shop when ever she wanted. It was all good but we always wanted something more, something new came out that we had to have and now looking back on it I really don't have alot to show for all of those years. I thought I was happy but figured out that I could buy everything in the world and it was "nice" but I wasn't truly happy. I worked all the time, didn't really see my kids and even when I was home I was working. I started going to school for ministry but had to quit becuase I couldn't juggle that and work. My job didn't allow me to be in church as much as I would have liked.
      So I quit my job, very hard descision being it goes against everything we are taught as men. To provide for your family!!! I was wanting to get more in the word and leading up to making that descision I finally relized that there is more to being happy for you and your family than making money. All the time I thought giving my wife and kids things made them happy but for the kids most of all they only wanted me.  They wanted me to be home, spend time, play, or just hang out. All those years of putting up with jobs that I eventually hated and didn't allow me to go to church my family wanted me. So I ask the question again, are you really happy? Do you like your job or is it a product of what you think makes you happy? Is everything you do in a day really make you happy or do you do it becuase it is the normal thing to do. People look at me funny sometimes because we don't have money like we use to and sometimes I did in some ways wish I did. I see so many people that need help and we just get by. But I can tell you one thing I am happier now than I have ever been in my life. I don't care about money like I use to, I relized my kids like the newest stuff but they are fine with the normal things, and I am back in school for ministry. How much better can you get than a family that loves you and you love what you are doing. I am in church everytime the doors open, run the board and help whenever needed. My open schedule allows me to help when most people can't because they do have normal jobs. 
        So are you really happy? Do you like who YOU are? Just like my kids just wanted me this is all God wants. To have a personal relationship with you. He doesn't care how much money you make, the house you live in or the car you drive, he cares about you!!! Are you just going through life working a job that you don't like and doing the normal thing because that is what everyone else does or are you doing what God called you to do? He wants us to be happy and I can tell you once you get there it doesn't matter what people think or say!! We are always as people so worried about what everyone thinks instead of looking at what God thinks. We all have a purpose and once we figure that out we will but truly happy.

Why are we like that?

        Lately I have had the pleasure of going to many churches talking about the awesome youth night coming up.  Along the way you hear all kinds of stories, about pastors, leaders and just normal people.  At this point it is about a 50/50 good to bad ration which I found is normal at this point.  What kill me is that yes leaders and pastors should be held at a higher standard but they do not deserve any less forgiveness than anyone else?  When they fail it is out there for everyone to see but we don't treat them the same even though we make the same mistakes.  Are we so naive in our walk with God that they are not worthy of forgiveness? Worthy of a helping hand? Every one will make mistakes so next time a leader does how about we all pray and try to help instead of talking about it and nothing changing.

Conviction

      Such a simple word but in a Christians life it has so much meaning. You could have a conviction of something as small as what you do on a certain day to a conviction on what you are going to be doing the rest of your life. To most practicing Christians that is what you are always striving for. To find what  you are convicted about and what God is calling you to do. If you are feeling convicted about something  you need to get in your prayer closet and start praying and fasting.
      Conviction is a challenging thing in general. It will take you in places that you have never been or thought you would go.  All too often we brush off convictions because it doesn't fit into our lives, schedules or our job.  There is a definite reason for the conviction that you are feeling and if you don't follow it then it will rock you to your core. God has a plan for all of us and the conviction that you are feeling is in that process. Yes it will be different and yes it will challenge you in way that you never could imagine. I challenge you next time you get that feeling deep down in your heart that you are suppose to be doing something, speak to someone or stop doing something that you are doing that you just don't brush it off.

Not always how we like it

You know going through the book of Isaiah in chapter 30 it it makes a huge point that is very relevant in so many lives. 
Isaiah 30:10
  They tell the seers,
“Stop seeing visions!”
They tell the prophets,
“Don’t tell us what is right.
Tell us nice things.
Tell us lies.
In this passage he is warning a rebelious Judah.  What kills me is we want to look at only the good and not the bad. We are fine with doing something even though something is telling us not to. We want to look for more in church but when it isn't good we ignore it. There are lots of people that only want the good stuff preached. this miricle happend, this great thing was brought up or did you see what happened there. But with all the good things come the bad things. Especially with being a Christian you have to look at this point. The day you get saved the devil is going to try and make you fail but how better is it when the mountain is so high and you reach the top. The road will not be how we want it and it will not be good all the way by any strech of the imagination. But i will tell you, if you follow his word, through the good times and bad the reward will be yours.
   

Will you do it?

Looking from the outside in, everyone is always wanting more. More from this, more from that. But are you really, and I mean really going to take the time to help it go further? Are you willing to go the extra mile when it will be hard because of the learning curve? This is what we need to accomplish in church.  We need to take the people that are just getting started helping and help mold them into a leader in every aspect. It is hard enough for some people to even get up to help and more times that none the new ones are very timid either because one they are just so new to the process, or two they are timid because they dont want anyone mad at them. So are you willing to go the extra mile? Are you really willing to help through the growing pains to help make a leader? If you are I challenge you to start now. There are people that need help and we need to help them become the leaders that God is wanting them to be.

Why

Why do we always ask why do you forsake me oh Lord? Why does your hand come down so hard on me and not the people that do me wrong? There are so many wrong doers in this world why do you persecute me?  Why I ask are we asking the Lord this? Is it not us from our own iniquities, has brought this upon ourselves? Has the Lord not shown you favor for you to only turn your face away from him. Why do we always try and blame the Lord when we are the ones to blame for the wrong doings that we have done in our lives. Do you only cry out when something goes wrong in your life and not when something went right?  Yes we need to cry out to the Lord when we are going through trials and tribulations in our lives but we also need to cry out in thanks for everything the Lord has given us. Did he not say...

"Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil."

So we are to pray thanks to you oh Lord even when our lives are in disarray that no matter what we have done to bring this upon us and what plan you have for our lives that you always love us and will guide us in the right direction.  That you give us the strength to look past what is going on in our lives at this moment and lift our hands and put our lives fully into yours no matter what.

Is this for you?

* READ FIRST*      1 Kings 13:12-24
  
        This passage is very powerful to the instance that we should always follow God. For we should never listen to our mother, father, brother, sister, prophet or anyone else when it defiles what the Lord has commanded.  This he says unto you should be done in haste and exactly as he comandeth. Stray from his word by deception or by this world and his blessing will not be upon you. this he says unto you this day. I have commanded you to do this thing but you chose to listen to whom you want and not to the will of the Lord God almighty. Do you not have the faith in what you hear or do your ears deceive you? You have clearly heard me but still you choose not to obey. Now fall on your knees and worship the Lord whom you know now has given this word to you.

Who are you?

So while on the paper route this morning I passed one of the many churches on the 40 + miles that I drive.  They have had it on their sign for 2 weeks for a BBQ dinner today and I was suprised at what I saw. When I passed, they were completly set up for the morning. Three vehicles were beside the set up and the men were sitting in the trailor passing the time away. I told them that I was running my route and figured that since they had to get up early to make sure all the food was done on time that the least I could do is give them something to read to help pass the time. They invited me to dinner but of course I told them thanks for the offer but I will be at my church bright and early in the morning. Pretty good start to the night in my opinion.
      After I started back on my route those men got me thinking. They probably got out there late Saturday night, set up, chilled out, got some sleep and are probably about to get up in a bit to start cooking. See too many of us take the stuff that happens around us for granted. They see the experience but not the work to make it happen. I'm sure for that church lots of people will enjoy the food but very little will think about the three men that stayed there all night so they could eat after church.
     With all the stuff that churches want to do to grow ministries and get the word of the Lord to the masses we need people who will stand up for their faith and get their hands dirty. Not to stand around and look at whats happening but to get in the middle of it and get the job done! So what are you going to do? Are you going to stand around and say wow look at what they have done, or are you going to pray and find out what the Lord is calling you to do and go with it? You never know what you might be called to do if you don't pray, listen and try. So next time you are at an event or doing whatever, think about what it took to make all the things you see happen to where all you have to do is go and enjoy.

What do you do?

     So just getting done with the book of Judges and just like most of the books there are many reoccurring themes. One very prominent right now is even though all God did for Israel, when they had it good they turned right around and started worshipping fake gods and not obeying his word. But right when it finally got too hard for them they called back to the almighty to save them. Is that what you do, yeah I know that you don't necessarily have a golden calf in your house but I bet you have done exactly what Israel did. Pretty easy to say but are you man enough to admit. So we all have those bad times in our lives where we turn to deep prayer for God's help out of our situation. Things get better, life goes back to normal, so are you still praying like you were? Are you still worshipping like you were when you needed his help for the situation that you were in?
     We need to do better than that!! We need to pray and worship in times of need and times plenty. Not just get what we want then turn right back into the person that we use to be. But to worship and pray when times are hard and times are awesome. So how are you going to change so instead of your way to God going up and down it goes in a straight line for his awesomeness?

Do you know?

Do you know the books of the Bible? How many books are there? Old testament, New testament? Pretty straight forward questions to start out but not really. We take these little things for granted. As Christians we are suppose to take this whole book allot more seriously than most of us do. So what do you say can you name the books...bet you can name allot of songs that you love, movie lines that you hear over and over  because you love the movie so much. So why don't we take as much time to learn our Bible as we take to watch our favorite movies, TV shows, listen to music? Is it a matter of convenience? Are we all just too lazy to take the time to read and understand what matters? Because instead, we take way too much time in the worldly things. So how about this, instead of watching that rerun, listening to that song again or playing that video game one more time, take the time to open up your Bible and start reading. You never know what you might find!!!!

Why?

A little bit further in the book of Genesis we come upon the story of Joseph. Wow what a life he had!!! Because he was one of his fathers youngest sons his father payed more attention to him. . Even at this young age Joseph started having dreams that even his father didnt think were true because it meant that he would bow down to him. Of course you know his brothers got jelous because of the dreams and plotted to kill him but God would not allow it.

 God watched over Joseph even when he was sold into slavery, put in jail becuase of lies from a woman that could have him for herself.  With all of this, God blessed him with interpeting pharoh's dreams. With this he rose to second in power in pharoh's land. So look back, one of the youngest in a household and well liked, sold to slavery because of his brothers, rose to be over Potiphar's house, his wife lied so Joseph got put in jail, kept doing God's will by interperting dreams and Pharoh brought him out of jail to be second in his house!!

 What a rollercoaster ride!!!! Over all of this time Joseph never stopped doing God's will or stopped following his laws. Even when was a slave or in jail God always blessed him and the people around him knew it.

So this bears the question, are you one of the people that would cry out and ask why to God when something bad happens or do you have the faith to know that he has a plan for what has happened. You know no matter what happens in our lives it is our human nature to ask why. We won't always see the end result of why something happened but the when the worst things happen, the best things come of it. I know that this is hard to believe but it does happen. Sometimes we all need a slap in the face to get back on the right track!!! Maybe it is something as simple and not getting our way in something that we want to do or as harsh as loosing a loved one.

So next time you are praying and somehting that you want doesnt happen or something bad happens just remember, God's time isnt nessacaeraly our time. Just think if it was, we would all win the lottery tomorrow, have a big house in the country and 0 bills!!! If it could only be that easy right. You can always go back to the old saying, if it doesnt kill us, it will make us stronger.

How strong is your faith?

While doing a little listening to the Bible this morning the story of Noah came up. Pretty much a story that most children even know at  this point. What really got me thinking was the faith that it took to make that happen. First, to get a calling to make something that massive to begin with was a tremendous test. While building it you know every day multiple people probably came up to him and made fun, called names, and lots of other things because he was not doing the normal thing. Not only just that Noah was not a young man by any stretch of the imagination, he was 600 when the flood came to the earth.  So when the flood came it rained 40 days and 40 nights, and it took a year and 10 days after it started until he came out of the ark to dry land. Can you even start to imagine not only are you going through rough seas during the flood but to stay on the water that long and not see any dry land? Then to get stuck on something and then to take 40 days to start seeing other mountain tops. Just that in itself would have gotten your hopes up. Just like the pastor was preaching today on trials and triumphs, all the trials that Noah and his family had to endure that you really don't truly see the end result. Just because you are going through the trial God has the plan and it will greatly affect more than just you. Noah brought his family and all the animals on the ark with him and we wouldn't be here today if his faith wasn't strong enough to keep him on the right track. So for all his trials and tribulations that he had to endure during the building of and the flood itself had the triumphs of saving his family and Gods creatures. Wouldn't it be awesome to see all of God's children have enough faith to strive through the trials only to know that there is a plan that we may not see but will have a profound effect on us and the people that we have contact with.

Wow, I can't believe I am going to do this for Lent!!!!

Tis the season for Lent. I hear a lot of people talking about it and saying what they are giving up but do you really know the reason behind it? Lent is a way of fasting of our luxury items as a form of repentance for the wrongdoings that we do on a normal basis. So what are you giving up??? The whole point is to give up something that normally you don't go without. I.e. if you drink lots of sweet tea (this guy) then out of respect I possibly could give that up. But what is the point of giving something up if it doesn’t mean anything to you? Last year my family and I went on a fast of no media for 1 week. Coming out of that week there was definitely a different outlook on things that we didn’t see before. But, as always because it was only a week it wasn't normality for us so we went right back to the daily routine. Most people say you need to do something for a month to make it become a routine so this is a perfect time to make that happen.

So as most of you know I am a very and I mean VERY avid gamer!! So to put that on the spot I am giving up my games i.e... Xbox, 360, ps3, phone, iPod, ds. This is a big leap for me since on most nights I use gaming to wind down before I go to sleep. What I want to come out of this time is to make what we as a family had last year when we fasted a routine and not just something that we do for a week. 

So, think of something that you basically can't live without but really can i.e., TV, video games, music.... now think what time would you have in your day if you took that time and devoted it to reading the Bible, listening to preaching, getting stuff done around the house that has just been sitting there... I know personally and I am very ashamed to admit it that I spend entirely too much time playing games!!! But unfortunately it has become a normal thing for me and I don't want it to any more. So now you know where the title came from!!! Please pray about what God is calling you to give up for lent and don’t take it for granted, you never know where it may lead.

A challenge for you.

Lately I have seen a lot of good people that have been brought up in church only to have so many bad things happen in their lives to turn away. It is sad to see this since I know deep down the feelings or teachings never really go away. So my question this week is what have we as Christians done to help them out? A really good friend of mine wears a shirt and it says " so  I am a Christian, Now what?"  This is an awesome question by itself but I want to narrow it down. What have you done to take these people and do something as even small as invite them to church. So that is the task this week to find someone that normally doesn't go to church and spend some time with them. It might change you as much as it changes them.

Advertising

      I have allot of time while doing the paper route to listen to the radio. I hear all the commercials about everything from hair loss products to dysfunctions of every shape and size. None of these are bad but we need to hear more about GOD!! He isn't in any commercial, clip or even someone saying his name or anything about him off of the cuff. Don't you find this kinda weird? I mean no commercials for a church, a event that a church group is having or anything christian in nature? What do you think we as Christians in general can be doing to promote what we believe in better? Yes I said promote, if you have a problem with that when is the last time you heard anyone talk about Jesus or church out to just anybody? Have you promoted your church service, youth ministry, or just walked up to a complete stranger and talk about the one who saved you? Who changed your life in ways that you just cant imagine? With all that said are you a walking promotion for your faith?