Fireworks

This will be the first July 4th in 6 years that we will be home. Normally we are at the beach with the in-laws, but since we did Disney already we will be at home. I don't know if any of you have ever been to the beach during this week, but I highly recommend it. Sure it is crowded, but you have never seen so many fireworks. I think everybody down there spends at least $300.00 on fireworks and they all go the beach to shoot 'em. It's just crazy. And it doesn't matter if your in Surfside, Myrtle, or North Myrtle........its all the same. As far as you can see up and down the beach.............fireworks, and I mean the big ones. It truly is amazing to see.

But this year we will be here and I just made plans yesterday to attend the Beech Springs Tabernacle event this Sunday night. It starts at 7:30pm and they will have stuff for the kids, skydivers, singing, food vendors, puppet shows, and a fireworks show synchronized to music. I talked with Brandon Whitworth yesterday and he said they average around 2500 people. You can check it out here, and if you don't have plans come check it out. Hopefully me and the family will be there. Did I mention its free admission.

So back to the beach right quick. The first year we observed this mass fireworks display all I could think about was the beach the next day and what it would look like. Littered up with paper and sticks from the fireworks. Well, being a early riser, I got out to the beach the very next morning to enjoy the sunrise and was surprised to see men with tractors and trash bags cleaning the beach for as far as the eye could see. It was amazing how clean the beach was and how they could clean it so well and so quick. Reminds me of what happens when we get serious with Christ. In an instant we are changed, what once was dirty and not complete is suddenly a new creature. We are changed and have indwelling within us the most powerful thing we can wrap our minds around...........Jesus Christ. What a glorious day when this revelation occurs and we make the commitment to start this life changing journey that has eternal value. It is truly amazing. Have you experienced this or are you still on the fence. I believe you are either walking or running through life....walking with Him or running from Him. Where are you this morning?

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Operation Cleveland Hope

This morning I would like to commend the group from our church who went on a mission trip to Cleveland, Ohio last week. On Sunday night we met to hear about their trip and to watch a video highlighting everything produced by our very own Bart Boatwright. Let me just say that it was awesome. Both the hearing of the testimonies and the video. I wish that I had made the sacrifice and went on this trip. We have some people who are willing to go. It is very exciting to see God using the young and old at our church to do His work.

Thanks to all who went and to those who prayed for them, gave money to them, and maybe got inspired to go on the next trip.

Be in prayer this week for the workers and the 95 kids who showed up yesterday for Vacation Bible School. I know my kids were pumped and can't wait to go back today. Lori is this years VBS director so definitely keep her in your prayers.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

What Are Your Priorities?

Good Morning everyone! I apologize for the sporadic post this week, but I have been going to work early and coming in late and just have not had the time to sit down and type it out. If I had a blog secretary I would be on top of things, but then it wouldn't really be me. Anyway it is good to see Frankie-G-from the NYC back on the blog radar. He has had some good post this week so y'all check it out.

Yesterday I heard a message based on how we prioritize our days and our lives and it came from the book of Haggai. I have never read the book of Haggai, so last night I read the 2 chapter book, and I was challenged. I read the Life Application Study Bible (NLT translation) and I want to share the description they give at the beginning of this book.

Pressures, demands, expectations, and tasks push in from all sides and assault our schedules. Do this! Be there! Finish that! Call them! Everyone seems to want something from us - family, friends,employer, school,church, clubs. Soon we have little time left to give as we run out of energy and time. We find ourselves running through life, attending the necessary, the immediate, and the urgent. The important is all too often left in the dust. Our problem is not in the volume of demands or lack of scheduling skills, but values - what is truly important to us.

Our values and priorities are reflected in how we use our resources - time, money, strength, and talent. Often our actions belie our words. We say God is number one, but then we relegate Him to a lesser number on our "to do" list.

Although Haggai is a small book, it is filled with challenge and promise, reminding us of God's claim on our lives and priorities. As you read Haggai, imagine him walking the streets and alleys of Jerusalem, urging people to get to doing God's work. And listen to to Haggai speaking to you, urging you to reorder your priorities in accordance with God's will. What has God told you to do? Put all else aside and obey Him.

Take time this weekend to read this book and listen to what God is telling you from His word. I hope this will help you to remember what is important and what can be put on the back burner. We have all become jugglers, but do we really have to? What is really number "One" in your life?

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Letting Go

Last night Sid and I were in the back yard when I heard a loud crash. We went investigating and found a large limb (about 60 inches in diameter) had fallen up at the church. It barely nicked the bell tower and did minimal damage. I called Michael Gilreath and he came up with a piece of machinery and we got it out of the road.

The funny thing is that there was no wind, no rain, and no crack of lightning........it just let go. I have no idea how old the big oak is, but it has been there a while. The limb turned out to have a hole in it and it was just tired of hanging on.

The relationship between the limb and the tree is a vital one, and we, just like the tree have to sometimes cut dead weight to keep going. In our situations it is never easy to cull friends, habits, or anything that maybe weighing us down, but from time to time it is a necessity. When we really decide to get serious with Jesus we see this need more evident than ever. Do you see the need this morning to "let go" of anything that maybe holding you back.........go ahead, let it go, and place it at the feet of the only sure thing in our lives..........God!

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Good Morning

Hope all the Dad's had a great Fathers Day. Cherish your kids and allow the Lord to help you raise them. Without His help......we just can't do it.

Pray for the 22 people this week that left yesterday for Cleveland, OH. They will be conducting backyard bible schools, an Upward camp, and some will be doing handyman work. Pray that each one will at least touch one and that God will receive all the praise, honor, and glory.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

When God Talks to Us

Do you ever wish you had things? Do you dream about hitting the lottery and marvel at what you could do with all that money? No more stress, financial security forever, and helping others out when they get in a jam! Well I just painted you a pretty good picture of myself. I don't buy lottery tickets, and I'm almost certain that is a prerequisite for winning it. But I do think about it a lot. Well, yesterday I was driving down the road and this brand new F350 Super Duty truck passed me pulling a new Malibu boat and I started day-dreaming again.......my bald head in the breeze and entertaining all my new friends (you know they say when you get a boat you gain at least 20 best friends who you barely knew before) and then I turned on the radio. At that exact moment was a lady talking about greed. I was quickly ashamed of what I has just been thinking and then she shared this verse:

15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."
Luke 12:15 (NASB)

Now some of you may think this just a coincidence, but not me. I don't believe in coincidences and I truly believe that was intended solely for me right then, because God knew I needed a reality check. It is just amazing sometimes how we let ourselves get tricked into thinking that if we just has this or that everything will be OK. The reality is that as long as know Jesus it is better than just OK. Satan plays tricks on us and tries to make us belief our worth in this world is based on materialism, but you and I both know it is not. Y'all pray for me and each other that we will be on guard against all forms of greed!!

I want to pass on a link to a video celebrating the life of Billy Grahams wife Ruth Bell Graham who stepped into eternity yesterday. Click here and then watch the video Celebrating Her Life and be prepared to receive a blessing. She was truly a great woman and right now is receiving her reward. Praise God for His promises.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Golf at the Vineyards

Very rarely do I find it a good use of time to spend 5 hours on a golf course with a customer. It is very difficult to talk shop and focus on the game. Well I will have to say that yesterday was an exception to that rule. I got a call yesterday morning to play the Keowee Vineyards which is part of the Cliffs communities. It was my first Cliffs experience and let me just tell you that I was blown away. The views on this course were picture perfect and it really was a great day enjoying God's creation. The 17th hole is their signature hole and let me just say that I put 2 in the lake and felt good about it. Check out this hole:

How can someone look at this setting and still believe in evolution. Just in case your wondering it is a par 3 and 250 yards from the back tees which is where we played it from.. And yes I wrote down a 7 on this hole and loved every minute of it. Hope you enjoy the picture.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Are Your Toes Dug In?

Good Morning! The other day I was riding around listening to the radio and I heard this guy talking about where God had brought him from and it was a very good testimony. He got to talking about the Footprints in the Sand poem and he brought to light a view that I thought was interesting. He said as he looked back he could definitely see God's tracks, but that his looked more like train tracks. He said his toes were dug in and God was dragging him. I liked his view on this and I can see where God has probably dragged me through the course of my walk with Him. I think it comes from being afraid of the unknown, or just not trusting in God. He does direct our paths, He leads us in the path of righteousness, and He is our refuge. Are you allowing Him to be all of these and more in your life or are your toes dug in?

Have a Blessed Day!!!

8 Good Lessons

Last night we concluded our study on the Facing the Giants movie. It was an 8 week study based on 8 short clips from the movie and it was neat to take an in depth look at it. Thanks to Matt Wurst for all his hard work on leading this study for us.

In this months Homelife magazine (click here to see) they have a story from the two brothers who wrote Facing the Giants; Stephen and Alex Kendrick, and how their dad played a big part in the movies main theme.....Never Give Up. I love this movie and I am so thankful for it and how it has not only impacted my life, but our church as well. For those who have yet to see it, call me and you can borrow my copy. It really is a great movie.

In the article they shared 8 lessons that their dad taught them and I want to share them with you.

1. Love God Passionately
2. Walk in Integrity
3. Love Faithfully
4. Be a Mentor
5. Discipline Your Children
6. Bless Your Children
7. Cultivate Their Design
8. Pray With Your Kids

Along with each lesson is a description on just how their dad taught it. These are some good life lessons that each of us should be practicing and demonstrating to our kids. They learn a lot more by what they see rather than what they here, so we have a huge responsibility. What are you teaching your kids and more importantly, what are they learning when you think they aren't looking?

If your church doesn't provide the Homelife magazine, go by Lifeway and pick one up....it really is a great mag.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Shorty

I hope everyone has a great weekend. That's about all I got this morning.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Jesus In The Small Stuff

My most favorite and only sister.......Amy Locke, forwarded an email to me the other day and I want to share it with you this morning. It is something I have never really thought about, but it makes perfect sense. Here you go.

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

The Gospel of John (20: 7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Is that important? You'd better believe it! Is that significant? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done". But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet." The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!" He is Coming Back!

This is a just another example of how Jesus was in the little things, and the reminder that He did everything with a purpose. I had just never thought of this. Thanks to Amy for sharing.

Are you ready for His return this morning? If He were to split the sky open today and call us home would you be gone or left behind. Be ready! Live every moment on purpose and with a purpose.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

The Lord's Supper

This past Sunday we observed the Lord's Supper during the morning worship hour. I don't know if it was the fact that we had been in Disney all week taking part in 3-D rides and some virtual rides, but I actually tried to visualize that Jesus was serving me. I was imagining myself sitting around the table at that last supper with Peter and John and being served by Jesus. The calmness that must have been on the face of Jesus in a room filled with confusion from the disciples. It was a very moving experience for me. I believe that Jesus still serves us today, just as He did so long ago.

Funny story right quick. We were talking Sunday night at a small group discussion about the perception of Belton 1st in our community and how it was changing. I think for the longest time we have been thought of as the church where the rich people go. That's real funny to me, because I go there and I ain't rich; monetarily speaking. Anyway, I was at the Hickory Point yesterday morning getting my normal coffee and big gulp of water, when one of the usual's walked up to me and said "you go to Belton 1st right", to which I answered yes. I thought she was going to ask something serious and she floored with her next statement. She said a friend told her that you had to pay $500.00 a week to attend our church. I quickly pointed out that her friend was using '05 numbers and that it was now $750.00 a week. We had a big laugh over that one and I assured her that was not true and we accept anyone. We still have a ways to go on changing the way people view us at Belton 1st, but I think we are moving in the right direction and the more we get out there the more we will change that perception.

Have a Blessed Day!!!

What I Learned on Vacation

Hello everyone and just let me start by saying that I appreciate your prayers over the last week. We had a great time and we saw very few of the people we wanted to avoid. You would have never known it was Gay Days at Disney.

I learned this past week that when you get 11 people (big and small) together in one group you will have 11 different opinions on what to do.

Patience really is a virtue that very few have. We saw airline security rage, road rage, Disney line rage, where to eat rage, and my personal favorite.....what do we do next rage. It was really amusing.

Disney is one of the cleanest places on the planet. To have so many people in the park, day in and day out the place is really clean.

People still lose their children. This is a mystery to me, but it does happen. We were standing in line for the Dumbo ride and this guy picks up a kid and says "We got a lost kid here.........he ain't mine" and the mother came from the front of the line to get him.

This vacation slap wore me out. We walked all over the parks and now I almost need another week just to rest. Sid and Lillie had a great time and it was a trip they will not soon forget. Lori did an awesome job planning out the days schedule.

I hope all y'all had a good week and a great Memorial Day. See you here tomorrow.

Have a Blessed Day!!!