Sticks and Stones

Man am I tired! I had a jam packed weekend and I can still feel the weed eater, pitch fork, and the root I slept on Saturday night when me and Sid went camping with some friends.

We camped with the Gilreaths at some new property they acquired not far from the house. They had a bulldozer down there and had been making some roads through the woods. When we got there Sid played with the kids at the creek and I went to the campsite to set up the tent. We took the bulldozer and cleared us out a spot. Now that is roughing it when you take a bulldozer camping :-). Anyway I worked on the spot for our tent about 30 minutes. I raked it, walked it, and even kicked the ground to loosen some of the packed dirt. I was certain that it was the perfect site. I unpacked the tent and began putting it up.

I took our only tent....a 10 man tent for me and Sid. Everybody else had 2 - 4 man tents and they were joking that we had had a plasma in the foyer and a bathroom somewhere in the west wing. You know that jealousy is a sin. Anyway, fast forward a few hours to midnight (why is it when camping kids can stay up forever) and we finally got the kids in their sleeping bags. We had 4 more join us in the tent and there I was laying on a root, stick, or stone. Too late to do anything about it and no more room to move around.

Reminds me of my daily walk with Jesus. I can read the bible, pray, and do the best I can to prepare myself for the daily grind, but I always end up with a root, stick, or a stone that brings me discomfort. It could be anything from a crazy driver who cuts you off to the peer pressure to join the crowd in doing something you know is a sin. We are constantly bombarded with choices and there is nothing we can do to keep the devil from attacking us, but we do have the choice on how we act when it does happen. Make a commitment today to choose wisely.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

The Weekend

I hope that y'all have had a good week! I hope you have an even better weekend! I know that I am still trying to turn a few obstacles into opportunities, so your prayers will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Invite somebody new to church this weekend. Pray for each other and remember those around us who need our help. Mandy is doing good and don't forget about the running Nazi's as they will be in Nashville this weekend for the marathon. Pray for your church staff and lift them up today and everyday.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

The Fight

In a hurry this morning so I wanted to share a scripture with you. I got this from Ron Carpenter Jr (from one of his telecast). He was talking on vision and the importance of following God's vision for your life and not the worlds. He used this scripture and I wanted to share it with you. It is taken from the 6th chapter of Proverbs.

16 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.
Prov 6:16-19 (NASB)

I think we can all agree that we have some work to do. Do you wish that following Jesus was easy? That after you beat a whole list of sins in a day that they were gone, only to start over the next day with a new batch coming at you. Well, here's a little secret.......it ain't easy. Following Jesus is hard and you have to have the full armour of God on 24/7. The devil is good and he comes at me with the same stuff day after day. They may be dressed up little different, but still they come. Some days I win and some days I fail, but in Jesus we are covered. Covered with the blood that was shed, the precious blood that has the power of eternal life in it. But don't be foolish and get caught up just living in grace and not even trying to win, God wants and deserves our best. Are you daily giving Him your best? You can do it and with God's help we can can defeat the devil, just ask God for the help every minute of every day!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Sharing

I've got two things I want to pass on to you this morning. One is a letter from the father of Melissa Greer and the other is a very good message that you have just got to take the time to watch.

Meleah Thomas shared the letter by email and Matt Wurst shared the video. You have just got to take 15-20 minutes to watch it the video, and the letter from a father is very emotional. They both deserve to be passed around. I hope both of these bless you.

The Letter:

it is with the greatest broken heart of my life...yet with a heart still full of faith that i write to all i can to say that my beautiful daughter left us for heaven this morning at 11am, april 20th, 2007....she died with all her family at her side and very peacefully.....i saw my daughter take
her first breath in the delivery room and i saw her take her last breath as well...the lord giveth and the lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the lord....tonight we watched as wbtv channel 3 remembered melissa all evening on their broadcasts and it brought a great peace to our hearts....we had a great week of quality time with our entire family here and stayed with her until the end and even many hours afterwards....it does not seem real but yet this is a reality show and yes my daughter is gone from this life but the reality is also i will see her again in heaven...i was able to spend very private moments with melissa this week and she was at peace with her god and at peace with what was about to take place....she fought a valliant fight and i am so proud of her and for all the lives she has touched..but again i have always been so very proud of this very smart and talented young mother....all i can say now is thank you, a thousand times over for all the support our family has received since november......it is my hope and prayer that no one i care about ever has to go through this kind of earthly hell...her service will be at the church of the holy comforter episcopalian church, park rd in charlotte at 2pm on tuesday, april 24th, a public invited memorial service with a private reception for family and friends following the service....there will also be a visitation at chandler jackson funeral home from 6-8pm on thursday, april 26th...so many people have done so much but still desire to do more for us and what we need most of all is for anyone who would like to do more, to make a memorial gift to the melissa greer polsky, connor polsky cancer fund either at wachovia or commercial bank of due west, sc ...we would appreciate no flowers but rather desire a continued effort to help roger with medical expensives and other expensives...again thank you and to all the other thousands of people around the world who approached the throne room of god on our behalf, and although it was not god `s will to answer those prayers the way we would have liked, we still believe that this is the day that god hath made and we will rejoice in it, and one more time i will say to every single human being that god is good all the time!!!!!! melissa was ready, unafraid, and will leave behind a testimony of faith greater than any thing that i could ever achieve...melissa greer polsky always rose to the occasion and she did this time as well!! make no mistake about it, my friends, my life will never ever be the same without melissa and it is very hard to understand and to remain faithful, but i now have an even greater incentive to want to be in heaven when i die to be able to hold and kiss my daughter once more.......melissa i miss you so very much................................................pray for me and martha and brad and brittany, as we all now have a big void in our life....until we meet again, on either side of glory, god`s grace and peace be with you all...with all my love...terry greer

And the link to the message, just follow the directions Matt put below. It is a awesome simple message that everyone needs to hear. Pass it around to everybody.

Go to http://www.adriandespres.com/ Click on multimedia at the botttom of the page. Then click on view message. The message you want to view is called the four chairs. It is a life changing message. You WILL be blessed. Take the time to watch it.

Thanks Matt and Meleah. Have a Blessed Day!!!

Celebration Of Life

Good morning everyone. I hope all had a great Monday! Yesterday at Lillie's school we had the opportunity to go and participate in an event they call the celebration of life. They do this for the kids on their birthdays. Now Lillie's birthday was in March and due to some scheduling conflicts we just have gotten around to it.

We show all the kids pictures from Lillie's life, from birth to now, stopping at each birthday. Then at the end all the kids sitting around in a circle pass around a heart on a stick and tell Lillie what she means to them and happy birthday. It really is heartwarming to hear 3, 4, and 5 year olds tell stories of how they like Lillie because of what she does for them. And the greatest reward for me was to hear the teachers and what they had to say about the way Lillie cares for her fellow students. I was very proud of her.

I was also a little concerned ( as her father) because all the little boys said they liked Lillie because she was beautiful and had pretty hair. Yes I made a point to stare them down and committed their name to memory. Just kidding. We had a great time and it was neat to see that some of the things we teach Lillie is sinking in and better yet that she puts it into practice.

Today take some time to just hang out with your kids (if you have any) and just let them know that you are proud of them and how much you love them. Remember they are gifts from God and we only have them for a little while.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Busy Weekend

Let me start out by saying that I had every intention of posting on Friday, but the devil got in my computer. No matter what I tried I couldn't get on line. Anyway, got all that fixed for know.

Man what a great weekend! Let me give you a brief synopsis. Friday night we had a T-ball game. Saturday morning we as a Sunday School class went out and served hot dogs and had crafts for the kids at an apartment complex here in Belton. We had a real good response and it was great to see the needs that we have right here in our town. Once the people realized that we just wanted to hang out with them it was great. Thanks again to Matt and Tonya Lusk for your vision in coordinating this event and making it all work. Saturday night my cousin Katelyn Jordan got married. It was the first western wedding I had ever attended. The groom wore a cowboy hat and then Katelyn rode in on a paint horse (side saddle of course), it was very neat and the setting in my Aunts backyard was beautiful. Sunday morning we had a great time of worship. Two choirs from Anderson College lead our worship and it was truly a time of worship. Preacher Dale made the comment "if that didn't get your fire burning then your wood is wet", how true. And then last night Matt Wurst led us through the third study on Facing the Giants. He really does a good job and I appreciate his willingness to lead this study.

I am ready this morning to face the world and with God's help, turn all my obstacles today into opportunities! Will you commit to do the same?

Have a Blessed Day!!!

God's Guidance

How do you act when you don't get your way? Lets say you see a clear solution or direction and you know it will work, but you seem to be the only one on board with it? Do you act like a Christian or a spoiled brat?

I have to confess to you this morning that God is really working on me in this aspect of my life. I am one who really doesn't understand why it can't be a certain way. I used to get very discouraged when I could not convince others of the way I see it. I believe that I have been gifted with being a visionary and along with that comes dreaming. I dream big based on how I see it, and sometimes the devil gets on me. I get mad, talk about people, and spread stuff that has no business being talked about. I know that God has a plan for everything and that it will be worked out in His perfect time. I also believe God has put several people in my life who kinda keep me grounded and encourage me at the same time. They keep me moving in the direction, but at a slower pace with more people on board.

I don't always see this at the time it is happening, but as I look back over certain instances where I thought I was alone, I can clearly see how God worked it all out. God is at work in our lives, in our churches, in our communities, and it is when we lay down our agendas and accept His that we see the differences happen. Thank you God for being a God of second chances, for giving us the opportunity to get a do-over, and for the strength and humbleness to correct what we have messed up. Pray today for the courage to stand firm and the knowledge that God is with you and He will guide you if you let Him.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Wholehearted

Good Morning! Last night we had an awesome meeting in preparation for the '08 Upward Basketball season. Matt Lusk did a great job with his presentation and he really led by example last night and conveyed his wholeheartedness (for this ministry). You can just tell that he is sold out and he is willing to do whatever it takes. Thanks again Matt for your stories and for your commitment. May God continue to bless you.

I was talking with a customer about my friend (the one I shared with you yesterday) and he pointed me to Hebrews 10. I want us to look at that scripture this morning. These verses really cover the whole walk. From the call to become a new being in Christ to the penalty for rejecting it. Take a look, I believe it is a call to be wholehearted in all we do.

19 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body. 20-22 So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. 23 Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. 24 Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, 25 not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. 26 If we give up and turn our backs on all we've learned, all we've been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ's sacrifice 27 and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be! 28 If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, 29 what do you think will happen if you turn on God's Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit?
Heb 10:19-29 (MSG)

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Tough Love

I want to start this morning with a prayer request for all the parents of all Va. Tech students, especially the ones who just 24 hours ago were going through life with everything seemingly fine. Like I said yesterday Life is Precious and we don't know when we will check out. Martina McBride has a popular song out now that says "God is good, but sometimes life ain't great", that sums it up. God never promised us a rose garden and sometimes we question God when things like the shooting yesterday happen. I don't know whether this is right or not, but I do know that He is in control and that is the only comfort I get in situations like this.

Yesterday I had the chance to share Jesus with one of my business associates who happens to be a bad time Christian. By this I mean he only seeks the counsel of Jesus when he hits a bad time. We talked about his current situation ( a mess). His wife has left, in debt up to his eyeballs, and he recently got fired. I told him that it would not get better with him at the wheel. I told him he needed more of Jesus in his life. He argued that he had said the prayer and that Jesus had abandoned him. So I asked him a simple question.....since you said the prayer and asked Jesus into your heart (about a year ago) has your life changed any? He said not too much, so I shared that Jesus wants to be our Lord along with our Saviour, and it isn't until we submit to His Lordship that we are truly saved. I just don't believe someone is truly saved if they keep Jesus at an arms length and only look to Him in bad times. That is just what the Bible tells me. We ended the conversation with a few scriptures and I shared with him that I wanted to meet with him and pray with him or just talk some more. He agreed, so y'all pray for him and me.

I know some of you out there may think of me a little harsh or blunt, but when you think that he could have very well been one of those students yesterday at Va. Tech.....blunt or harsh seems to be an after-thought. When you are dealing with eternity, I ask you, where do you draw the line?

Did you have an opportunity yesterday to share Jesus? With a national tragedy like we had yesterday, this will be a perfect opportunity to bring it up. Give it a shot today!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Life is Precious

Good Morning all! Hope your weekend was a good one. I was reminded this past week at just how precious life is and the importance of being ready. We are all walking time bombs in a sense and we never know when our ticket will be punched, yet we all act like we are going to live to a ripe old age. But we know that is a dream. Sure some of us will live a long life and then some of you reading may check out today. The Mt. Bethel community got turned upside down last week with the death of a 10 year old boy and I had a 66 year old cousin die last Thursday. Both were very healthy and both had no idea it was coming.

We learn from these type instances that we just need to be ready and we need to insure that those around us are ready too. Take a step of faith this week and share the life changing message with someone. Ask God to give you the opportunities this week to share Jesus with someone. If you interacted with one person a day during the work week.......that's 5 people who may not go to Hell. God will direct you to the people and He will give you the courage to bring it up. So take a stand this week. Make an eternal difference in someones life. And if anyone has any stories on how they have had this opportunity to share Jesus in a random setting.......please share it with us!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Speech Important???

With all that is going on in the media with Don Imus, I wanted to touch briefly on what the Bible says about our speech. We all know that the tongue is very powerful, and let me say that I am not defending or persecuting Don Imus here...I just think there is a lesson here to be learned. Lets look at what Paul says about it in his letter to the Colossians.

2 Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. 3 Don't forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I'm locked up in this jail. 4 Pray that every time I open my mouth I'll be able to make Christ plain as day to them. 5 Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. 6 Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.
Col 4:2-6 (MSG)

I like the way Paul lays it out very simple and James as well talks plainly about speech.

19 Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. 20 God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. 21 So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
James 1:19-21 (MSG)

Lesson this morning, be ever mindful of not only what you say, but how you say it. People are always watching and looking to see if you are really smoking what your selling. And finally just be nice and smile, we have so much going for us that it is hard not to be happy. So act like it.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Religion

Don't have time to rev up the brain this morning, so I want to leave you with this quote that Dad shared with me. It has to do with Religion. Side note.......I very much dislike religion and I don't see the need for it. Why can't we just all be Christians or better yet Jesus Freaks. Back to the quote......"Religion will either burn up on the way down or fall off on the way up." What do you think? I love it and the simple truth it embodies is great. From what I can gather about Heaven there won't be a Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, or Pentecostal sections, only Heaven.

So let us be mindful of this and remember that we are all on the same team. Just love Jesus and strive daily to become more Christ-like.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Get Out Of The Way!

For those who didn't check out Cynthia's post yesterday, do it and pray hard for her friend. And I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of Kyle Payne for stepping in and helping out. Kyle thank you for being willing to help out and use your experiences to counsel someone in need.

I have been trying to get more Kingdom Minded as most of the regulars know and I was led to Philippians 2 yesterday. The first few verses of this chapter can be applied to almost anything and if you haven't read this book lately....take a few minutes to read it. It is a short book that really is encouraging. Take a look at verses 1-5 of chapter 2:

1 If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— 2 then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 3 Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. 4 Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. 5 Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself.
Phil 2:1-5 (MSG)

This should be our desire and I think a good lesson for us as a body of believers. When we don't get in the way, Jesus can shine through us, and through us complete His will in our lives. We just have to let Him. Are you daily allowing yourself to be used in a way that will bring glory to Him?

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Missionaries

This weather is crazy! It snowed in Atlanta yesterday. This just reminds me that God is in control. No matter what happens here, He lives, He reigns, and He loves and cares for each of us. Isn't it funny how we can concern ourselves with things that don't really matter.

I had the opportunity to watch a video last night of a church in Berea and Gowensville who went to Africa on a mission trip. It was awesome. I prayed a while back for God to give me some direction on how I could do more than just the hum-drum life I've been living. I am really being honest when I say that before I even saw the video I was pumped about watching it and the possibilities that it held for me. I am seriously going to look a lot further into this. The looks on the people's faces was something that I want to experience. Not only the tribes in which they were teaching, but the people who went. I really feel led to do so much more than what I am currently doing. I want to ask you to pray for me as I search this out, and for all the missionaries who are daily out there making a difference in peoples lives who have never heard the truth......Jesus Christ loves them and He provides a hope for an eternal tomorrow.

As the video ended these words flashed on the screen.....Will You Go?

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Great Weekend

I want to start this morning by thanking God for allowing His son to build a bridge for us almost 2000 years ago using 3 nails and 2 boards. The pain and suffering that He endured for you and me, the triumphal defeat of death, and His glorious homecoming as He took His seat to the right hand of the Father. WOW! It paints a pretty awesome picture doesn't it?

Props to Dodd Wilson for his Sunday school lesson that he went all out on. What a great job and man did he leave it all at the podium. For those not there he used a media presentation using clips from The Passion. It was very draining to watch and listen to, and I imagine Dodd was exhausted. Thanks Bro for what you do and more importantly for allowing God to use you!

Hope everyone had a great Easter and take that enthusiasm with you as you head out this morning. Be strong and fight the fight!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Happy Easter

I hope that everyone hasn't packed up those winter coats like we did? The sunrise service all across the southeast will be a chilly one. I think the low Sunday morning here will be around 27.

Have a great Easter and remember just why it is that we celebrate. Take some time this weekend to remember The Walk and The Resurrection. What exactly do they mean to you and how do you reflect that meaning?

And if you have a few CEO's (Christmas, Easter Only) Christians show up at your church Sunday.....show them the love of Jesus and invite them to come back next week.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

The Walk

I don't have much time this morning so I am going to share an email with you that I received yesterday from my sister and dad. It paints a picture of love.

STILL HE WALKED
He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"...
He could hear the hatred in their voices,These were His chosen people. He loved them, And they were going to crucify Him. He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... His heart was broken, But still He walked. He could see the crowd as He came from the palace. He knew each of the faces so well. He had created them. He knew every smile, laugh, and shed tear, But now they were contorted with rage and anger...His heart broke, But still He walked. Was He scared? You and I would have been
So His humanness would have mandated that He was. He felt alone. His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him. He searched the crowd for a loving face and He saw very few. Then He turned His eyes to the only one that mattered And He knew that He would never be alone. He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting at Him, Throwing rocks at Him and mocking Him and He knew That because of Him, they would never be alone. So for them, He walked. The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through The crowd. The sounds of His cries echoed even louder, The cheers of the crowd, as His hands and feet Were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow. Loudest of all was the still small voice inside His Heart that whispered "I am with you, my Son", And God's heart broke. He had let his son walk. Jesus could have asked God to end His suffering, But instead he asked God to forgive. Not to forgive Him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting Him. As He hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death, He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd, But also, the face of every person yet to be, And His heart filled with love. As His body was dying, His heart was alive. Alive with the limitless, unconditional love He feels for each of us. That is why He walked. When I forget how much My God loves me, I remember His walk. When I wonder if I can be forgiven, I remember his walk. When I need reminded of how to live like Christ, I think of his walk. And to show Him how much I love Him, I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to Him, And I walk.
Author Unknown

What Do You Want To Be?

Last night Sid and I went to cut grass. He is turning into such a good helper. At 6 he can handle the riding mower pretty good. And for me, his help is very much needed. Now I can run the weed eater while he mows. And he doesn't view it as really helping because he likes to operate the lawnmower. On the way home we were talking in the truck about what he wants to be when he grows up, and he really amazed me. He said that he wants to be a singer so he can get on the radio to tell others about Jesus through a song. I swelled up a little bit. He sang me a few songs that he made up to the tune of Casting Crowns song Who am I. He is constantly amazing me at his innocent understanding of Jesus.

All I pray is that I continue to be the teacher, role model, and influence that he and Lillie need. And I thank God everyday for allowing me to be these to His children that He has entrusted to Lori and I to raise.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Random Thoughts

Just a few thoughts this morning.

1. I need more time in day! Do you ever have this feeling? I am a provider, a husband, a dad, a handyman, and a Christian. There is always somethings that doesn't get the attention it needs. Am I alone on this one, or does somebody out there have it figured out?
2. Cynthia had a great blog yesterday, I highly recommend checking it out!
3. Easter is coming up and I don't have a suit yet. Isn't it funny how we are more concerned about how we look on the outside versus the inside? However, what's on the inside eventually works its way to the surface. When this happens, what do you look like?
4. Newspring is having B93.7 do a live remote for 2 of its Easter services on Saturday. For those who aren't in the area, this is a hip-hop/top 40 station, I think this is awesome. Talk about getting the word out!
5. THE TOMB REALLY IS EMPTY, SO GET OUT THERE AND ACT LIKE IT!!!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Prep Work

Saturday we had us a good ole fashion workday around the house. I even had Sid sanding and painting some boards. Lori was on the inside and I was in the shop and we worked. Looking back it appears as if we only worked for a few hours and then watched movies on the couch the rest of the afternoon. If you were to come by you would hardly be able to tell a difference between Friday and Saturday, but we did a lot, it was just mostly prep work that leads to the next step.

Have you ever noticed that there are a lot of steps in completing any task? You have to do the prep work. It all goes toward the completion of the project, but you rarely notice the prep work until it is finished. I think this has always been true, especially a long time ago when my Jesus died on the cross. Jesus did a lot of prep work with miracles, parables, and just being Jesus. But it was when He finished that the results were made apparent. The road leading to the cross was a short one, only around three years, but the impact (or the finished product) can still be seen today and will be seen for an eternity. The end result is called salvation and it is still as new today as it was 2000 years ago. It still has the power to change lives and it still has the everlasting power over death. Jesus completed the only task in the history of the world that has the power to daily change lives.

Matt Wurst lead the study on the movie Facing the Giants last night and he did a great job. We talked about wholeheartedness and what that means in the eyes of God. We had a good discussion on what it meant to love and serve God with all your heart. Matt shared with us a statistic that really blew me away. He said that 95% of Christians never share their faith with anyone! That was incredible to me. So question to you this morning; are you in the 95% or are you trying to make a difference in someones life by telling them about Jesus? Do you care enough for the people around you or are you just satisfied with the fact that you are going to heaven and to hell with everybody else? Just think about that today, because in essence that is what you are telling them!

Have a Blessed Day!!!