Snakes in the Grass

I apologize for the Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule on the blog this week. It has been a busy one. I've wanted to blog each day, but just haven't had time.

The other night I took Sid and Lillie fishing and we had a great time. Lillie learned how to cast and even caught a sunfish on a rooster tail. She was so funny and I was so proud. Sid caught more than me and Lillie combined, he is really turning out to be a good fisherman. When we got to the pond Sid wanted to fish on the dam and I wanted to take Lillie to the dock so I gave Sid some instructions. I told him he could walk around and fish, but with the high grass to watch out for snakes. The dock was a little over 50 yards away and I could clearly see him at all times. So me and Lillie started our walk to the dock. She was behind me and we were talking when all of the sudden she didn't answer........I turned around and she was just standing there. I said Lillie whats wrong, and she pointed to where I had just walked and whispered SNAKE. And there was about a 10' long black snake coiled up. She said very calmy "Daddy, now you just told Sid to watch out for snakes and here is one that you just walked right over." I was amazed she wasn't freaking out and then Sid came running over and they wanted me to catch the snake. My kids are freaks, there is no way I'm touching a snake. In my book there is only one kinda of snake I like and that is a dead one. But I stayed there and we watched it for a few minutes and I told the kids to be on the lookout for snakes and how easy it was to step over them no matter how hard we looked.

Our encounter with Jesus is a lot like this. The snake could represent sin in our lives, but not too many of us have Lillie's to warn us and show us what we did. And before we know it we are in a pit of snakes and not really aware of how we got there and no clear path on getting out. Thank you Jesus for meeting us in the pit, holding our hand and leading us out. Without Jesus we would all still be in that pit.

Next week I'm taking a week of vacation and going to Walt Disney World. WooHoo!! Y'all pray for me, because after booking everything we found out it was GAY week next week at Disney. I'm not a homo-phob, but it not really something you want a 6 and 4 year old introduced to. God hates the sin, but loves the sinner and we are all God's children so pray hard that if given the opportunity next week I can convey the love of Jesus to a dark group of our culture. Check out Kyle Payne's blog next week and I am taking my computer and may blog as to what is going on in Florida.

Got a video you guys just have to watch, its the new Michael W. Smith video and it is awesome. Just click on the high bandwidth if you have high speed and watch it here. Enjoy and get some tissue ready.

I hope everybody has a great Memorial Day and please take some time to remember the troops in Iraq and all the fallen soldiers and their families.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

MARGIN

Good Morning! I am looking for some M-A-R-G-I-N, has anybody got any to spare? Margin is a good thing, but here lately the only thing around me that has it is the notebook paper that I write on. I am stretched so thin in just about every aspect of my life. I don't have time this morning for a great word, all I can say is that we were created to live with Margin! God put certain limits on us and we are all living life to the edge...........WHY? That is the question for the day. I long for the days 50 years ago when everything moved at a slower pace. Does anybody have a good explanation of what happened? Blogging minds want to know! I hope God will richly bless you today and everyday!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Heaven

Thank you for your prayers, the move went better than anyone could've expected. This week we will be having the normal grand opening stuff. If anyone wants to drop by, I'll be in the office all week and we will be serving breakfast and lunch Monday through Thursday. Our new location is right beside the Greenville Harley Davidson dealership on Chrome Dr.

Last week I heard a message on Heaven by David Jeremiah, he is one of my favorites. He talked about John's vision of Heaven from Revelation and I wanted to share it with you this morning. This is the reward that we all seek. No, we are not worthy, but this is what our Father who made us has prepared for our eternity.

21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple . 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; 26 and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. 1 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; 4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. 5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. 6 And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. 7 "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book." 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. 9 But he said* to me, "Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God."
Rev 21:20-27 (NASB)
Rev 22:1-9 (NASB)

What a great day that will be when we all get there. Like the song says "We Shall Behold Him then Face to Face". What a great day that will be.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

A Few Randoms This Morning

1. This will be my last post of the week due to my upcoming work schedule. We have a brand new building at work and this is the weekend we are moving. Y'all pray for me, we are closed tomorrow and will be working through the weekend.
   
2. My friend who is dying has agreed to go to church with me. Y'all pray hard!!! I am still talking with him regularly. Thanks to my cousin Paul Kent for the literature you sent up. I have not had a chance to get it to him yet, but I have it in the truck ready when I do see him. And a big thank you to all who have prayed and are continuing to pray for my friend.
   
3. Had lunch yesterday with Brandon Whitworth and we had a great time of fellowship. God is really doing some great things in our community, and I'm just glad to be a part of it. To those of you who know Brandon, he hasn't really changed at all. OK, he's lost a little hair, but since I'm bald I really don't find that noteworthy. He leads the music at Beech Springs over in Ware place and God is really blessing them.
   
4. If you get a chance go here and click on the Extreme Makeover video to watch the Mothers Day service from Newspring church. They gave a single mom a house and it is a very moving message. Check it out.
   
5. Tell someone today about Jesus and invite them to church. It really is that easy. The Holy Spirit will give you the words.
   
6. Rejoice. The tomb is empty and Jesus sits to the right hand of the Almighty God!!!!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

The One That Got Away

These are truly busy times. Monday night me and Sid went over to the house we are moving to and cut the grass. As we were loading up the mower Sid asked if we could go fishing after the grass was cut. I quickly responded that we didn't have enough time because of all we have going on. As I came in the house to change my shoes I thought that I sure do tell him that a lot, so I came out of the house and told him to help me get the rods. You would've thought he hit the lottery.

Fast forward about 2 hours. The grass is cut and we are heading down to the pond behind what will be our new home. I quickly caught a few bass and Sid was getting a little down, because he wasn't catching any. He hooked one and let the line get slack and it got away, but he was excited and with each cast held the possibility of the "Big One" again. It was getting dark so I said last cast, let me point out that these are the words no fisherman wants to hear, and just like his old man he argued with me. I don't know if it is the thought of accepting defeat or the thought of not knowing when you are going fishing again. Anyway about 20 cast later I told Sid that this was in fact the last one and I it had been a while since either of us even had a bite. Sid put his right by a stump and the water immediately looked like a sub was surfacing. He had hooked a big one and he fought him a few seconds and unfortunately the line broke. I was bummed and I thought he would be too, but he was truly excited about the big fish he just caught (I didn't have the heart to tell him it doesn't really count unless you land it). He was shaking and laughing and nothing else right then seemed to matter. The stress of work, the move, fixing up our house to sell,.......it all disappeared and it was just the two of us on a bank talking about the last cast. It was awesome, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

On the way home I realized that God is like Sid in that He wants just to spend time with us. We are the delight of His heart and He just wants us to spend a little time Him. When did you last take some time out just to hang with God? That is what we all need to do more of!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Worship

I hope all the Mothers had a great day yesterday! Mothers are very special and you just can't beat a Godly mom. I know that I was blessed beyond belief to have a Godly mother, father, family, friends, and town. Yes, the Belton-Honea Path area is very special and I thank God everyday for these little towns and the experiences I have had that shaped me into what I am today.

We had a great lesson yesterday on worship. I want to share with a bit from our text concerning worship.

Worship is central to our life together with God. Yet discussions of worship often revolve around aesthetic taste. One person likes hymns, another prefers praise songs, another goes for cutting edge music, and a fourth likes silence. Formal or informal, in a church or on a mountaintop - we all have preferences. But the words, music, and the setting are secondary. Worship begins with an attitude of our hearts before God.

How true and yet how often we overlook this certain fact about worship. Try and remember that it is all about the attitude of the heart. How is your heart when it comes to worship - is that where you start the experience?

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Hidden Treasures and Undiscovered Truths

Thank you for your prayers concerning my friend. I will continue to update you from time to time on him. A couple of days ago I was reading the bible. I had nothing in particular that I wanted to read I just started reading where it opened. It was Matthew 17 and I read something that I have never noticed before. I have never heard a message on it nor have I ever heard anyone mention it. It talks about the transfiguration of Jesus. Y'all take a look.

1 Six days later Jesus took* with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led* them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!" 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified. 7 And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, "Get up, and do not be afraid." 8 And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."
Matt 17:1-9 (NASB)

How cool is this; Moses and Elijah appeared and were just hanging out with Jesus, and then God spoke to Peter, James, and John. I don't know how I have never noticed this, well primarily because I read sometimes and don't retain, but anyway I just wanted to share it with you. Praise the Lord that the Bible is alive and every time I pick it up I find something new. When is the last time you have picked up your Bible and went exploring? It is like a Indiana Jones film, it is never boring!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Prayer Request

I need some help. I have a friend who is going through some rough times. He just found out that he has around 6 months to live and he is so confused about everything. Last night we talked for about 2 hours and it seemed that I could not get through to him. He wants to be sure he goes to Heaven, but he has talked to so many different people that he is confused about God. He says that he has prayed the sinners prayer and he has confessed everything to God, but he is too caught up in the past with his previous sins that he can't focus on the future. He has a hard time with the fact that God has the ability to forget once He forgives. So every night he goes to sleep afraid that he is going to Hell if he were to die. He wants to know how I am so confident that if I die I am going to Heaven. I told him that it is just what I believe to be 100% true based on my decision to follow Jesus and what the Bible teaches. I know that the Holy Spirit gives guidance in this area, and I just pray for this when we talk today.

He is so caught up in what he has heard and what he thinks to be true that he is blinded to what I am trying to share with him. I have stressed to him that only Jesus can save him, not me or anybody else and all the answers to his questions are in the bible. I am praying for him right now as I type this and I want you to join me. I know it is all in God's hands, but I want him to get it before it is too late. Do y'all have any advice for me that I can relay to him? Thanks in advance for your prayers and advice.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Sunday School

At Belton 1st we have a problem!! Let me back up and give you some history. A little over 18 months ago we started a new class for adults for any age, but that were not already attending Sunday School. We had a core group of six that saw the need and this past Easter Sunday we had a little over 40 people there.

Back to the problem.........let me point out that it is a good problem. We have divided our class into 2 smaller classes and after one Sunday it is very evident that God has not abandoned us. You see in churches; especially in Sunday School, people can get comfortable and when we as a group of teachers (and I use the term teachers loosely) sat down to talk this out, we did not want to do this. We liked our class the way it was, but we did see that the closeness of the small group we started with was not really shared with the newcomers. This is simply because there just isn't enough time to get to know everyone. Then you have the research that says if you divide a big group into smaller groups that they will flourish. So we left it at Gods feet and under His direction we divided this past Sunday. Well, it was awesome!!! I can see already that this has been a need for a while. We were more relaxed and I feel like everyone got ample time to share with the group and I am so excited to see where God is leading.

As I sit here writing this the alarm just went off for Lori to get up and it was the song Amazing Love by the Newsboys. How fitting giving everything I just typed, God is Good. Anyway we are starting a new study based on the Purpose Driven Life principles by Rick Warren. The memory verse we are called to learn for this week is Romans 12:1 and the more I read it trying to memorize it, the more I get from it. Take a look at it. I'm going to include the Message and the NASB translations for your reading pleasures.

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
Romans 12:1 (NASB)

1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Romans 12:1 (MSG)

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Relay Update

Good Morning all. I trust everyone had a great weekend. Relay update: Frank walked for 7 hours and finished 3rd in the beauty/ugly contest. I wish I had been there to get a picture so I could have seen and then shared it with y'all. I heard that he looked like on of Cinderella's sisters. I got to the track about 3:50am to start walking at 4 and I was surprised at the activity still going on at this early hour. Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) kids and their fearless leader (Matt Wurst) were cutting up and having fun. No doubt I was going to make the 3 hour stretch of walking (4-7), but then came the thunder storms and at 4:45 the local authorities told everyone to pack it up and get home. I was a little bummed but what do you do. So I came back home a slept for a few hours.

Be in prayer this morning for the people in Greensburg, Kansas. Try to imagine waking up in a town where 95% of it is gone.......destroyed by a twister. Pray also for the countless volunteers who will be searching, cooking, and hopefully showing them Jesus in a time where hope is probably hard to find.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Relay For Life

Tonight is the Relay for Life. You can check out the website for this Nationwide event here. It is an event to help raise money for cancer research. I am attending for the first time tonight, and y'all pray hard for me......I have signed up to walk from 4am - 7am in the morning. Frankie G from the NYC is gonna try and walk from 7pm - 7am. This will be a hard feat in itself, but add the fact that Frank will be dressed like a woman and it has to add to the degree of difficulty a little bit. (Not a dig on the ladies at all I promise, but maybe y'all can give Frank some pointers on keeping up his hose and when to switch from heels to sneakers.) From what I'm told they have a beauty contest for the men who dress it up a bit to help raise even more money. Good luck Frank.

Wouldn't it be great if we had a Relay for Jesus that was a Nationwide event to help get the Word out. We could take the money and give to Missionaries, Gideons, and to church planters in inner cities, or you name it. We are commanded by Jesus himself to go out and make disciples of every person in every nation and we need to understand that there are people everywhere who don't know Him. It is a very simple truth that we hold onto, and I like the way the Message translation breaks it down. Look at these verses from Romans:

6 Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin's every beck and call! 7What we believe is this: 8 If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. 9 We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. 10 When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. 11 From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did. 12 That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day. 13 Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you've been raised from the dead!—into God's way of doing things. 14 Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.
Romans 6:5-14 (MSG)

We were all dead men and women walking around with no purpose until we became submissive to call of Jesus. Are you celebrating this morning on the truth that we will never die? Eternity started for us when we accepted the salvation that Jesus offers and in the spiritual realm we will only pass through the valley of the shadow of death.

This is the day that Lord has made and in doing so He has made us new and with the sole purpose to bring glory to Him. So get out there and make a difference and share with others your joy. Not just today, but everyday.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

National Day Of Prayer

What a blessed people we are to live in a country where we can have a National Day Of Prayer. I am going this morning to a prayer breakfast at our church and I am really looking forward to it. Today all around our country we as a people will be united in prayer to the most high God.

I visited the National Day Of Prayer website today and I encourage you to do the same. I found the prayer for today written by Dr. Charles Swindoll and I am going to include it here in a minute.

Prayer is the most precious part of our relationship with Jesus. It is the way in which we can come into his presence and just talk with Him. He is never too busy to hear us and although we may not receive the answer we want......He does here and answer our prayers. But there is a catch, you have to pray it like you mean it, just ask Matt Lusk. Matt if you are reading today please share your prayer story in regards to Upward.

2007 Prayer for Our Nation
Written by Dr. Charles R. Swindoll
Almighty God, we pause to reflect on Your character as we seek wisdom for such a time as this. In these unsafe days, You remain all-powerful and able to protect; In these uncertain times, You remain all-knowing, leading us aright; In the unprecedented events we're facing, You remain absolutely sovereign. Our times are in Your hands. Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial . . . our need for Your forgiveness is constant. . . our gratitude for Your grace is profound. . . our love for You is deep. We ask that You guard and guide our President and all who serve the people of these United States. May uncompromising integrity mark their lives. We also ask that You unite us as truly "one nation, under God." May genuine humility return to our ranks. And may that blend of integrity and humility heal our land. In our Lord's name we pray, Amen.

I pray that we would treat everyday as a National Day Of Prayer. God wants us to communicate with Him and prayer is the tool we use to do that very thing.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Start This Month Off Right

Good morning. I don't have any time to spare this morning, but I didn't want to leave you hanging. It is my prayer today that God will bless you, direct your paths, answer your prayers and that you will in turn make a difference in the people you come in contact with. Let's turn those obstacles into opportunities! This is a new day in a new month.............. what a great time to start.

Have a Blessed Day!!!