Acts 1:8... Challenge?

Didi you know that Acts 1: 8 was a challenge? Here I thought it was a command but according to the GBC (Georgia Baptist Convention) it's a new program we're going to guilt people into telling others about Christ.We're supposed to sign up and go to a conference and learn How we can carry out Acts 1:8, not only that but they want us to pay for it as well. Why do we need a flippin challenge? Why can't we see the greatness of what God has done in our lives and be so excited and relieved that we can't wait to tell others what He has done in our lives? Accepting Christ is a life changing event. Are we that paranoid and lazy or is apathy taking the place of excitement. Let's get off our bollocks and give people the good news; You don't need to feel guilt in order to take action like Nike says " Just Do It"!!!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

It always amazes me that no matter how much of a bonehead I can be people still forgive me!
Especially the One who loves me in spite of what He knows!

Merry Christmas

Well I'm thirty years old this year and nothing much has changed in the past 28 years. It's 5 am and I can't sleep on Christmas morning. The excitement in the air is too much to take and for once the excitement is not for me but for my son. He's nestled in the bed cradled next to his mother unaware that in a couple of hours he'll be so excited that " Santa " left him some toys but forgot to eat the Cookies.
My favorite Christmas memory is of the year that my sister and I got up at 12:30 am and began playing with all the toys Santa left and our mom getting up @ 2 am to get on to us and make us go back to bed. But we got up an hour later and played until dawn anyway. What a great memory! The next year though Santa left all our presents in our Mom's room and locked her door until 6 am.
Wherever you are this Christmas day, I hope it is most enjoyable and memorable. I look forward to experiencing all the Christmas memories with my family and I hope you do with yours as well.

Merry Christmas

HUBBA HUBBA!!!

DIE HERETIC SCUM!

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said:

"Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

"Well, there's so much to live for!"

"Like what?"

"Well... are you religious?"

He said yes.

I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"

"Christian."

"Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant ?

"Protestant."

"Me too!

Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

"Baptist"

"Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

"Baptist Church of God!"

"Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you reformed Baptist Church of God?"

"Reformed Baptist Church of God!"

"Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?"

He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!"

So I said, "Die, heretic scum", and pushed him off.

(Emo Philips)

Opportunity?!

Several months ago I began praying for an opportunity to do more in the ministry. Maybe something full time or part time, but some kind of working, life changing ministry where I could be used to minister and change lives. I considered starting men's organizations or a outreach to young married couples, anything that would give me an opportunity to preach, teach, and give me some exposure( I say ever so humbly). I have been frustrated with my responsibilities @ church because I feel that just about anyone could do what I have been doing and I can do much better than that. Put me out front, let others see what I can do (I can't believe how arrogant and egotistical I have become in my own mind).
So last weekend in my praying and wallowing in self-pity I decided(yeah, like it was me) that I needed to focus and pray more fervently about what direction the Lord was going to lead me in. I concluded that I needed to give up some things this week and focus on my prayer needs/wants.(I always tell the youth that God is not our cosmic Santa Claus ) This week I have not listened to the Radio @ work or while I have been driving (a major accomplishment) neither have I watched television. My time has been spent praying, reading and thinking about what direction I need to go in. (I'm never happy , always looking for direction)
Miraculously( not really, it was just God being God)I was given an answer!!! I know which way I'm headed. I have been given the ministry that I have been praying for. One that will allow me to minister to others, one that will give me an opportunity to teach/preach and change lives. I am so excited that I can hardly stand it!
In my time of fasting this week it has come to me. The opportunity that I have been praying for, has been sitting in my lap for the past 2 years. What!?! Yes, I have been blessed with an opportunity to change lives and minister. I am not bound by anything and can take this ministry as far as the Lord wants me to take it. I can not believe how darkened my eyes have been to the opportunity, waiting for me to grab hold of it and let the Lord use me to grow both the ministry as well as myself.
Sometimes I can't believe how ignorant I can be. I haven't just been teaching Sunday School and Wednesday nights for the past two years. I have been laying foundations for a ministry that was waiting for it's Earthly leader to wake up and smell the coffee(Preferably a dark roast breakfast blend).

Rock On. God is Good. Start a Revolution <><

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is not my favorite time of year however there is something to be said for nostalgia. I remember going to my grandmother’s house in Georgia and the times that were spent there. My grandfather was alive then, so were both of my uncles. My cousins would be there and it was a time that I couldn’t wait for, neither could I wait for Christmas time there either.

After our Thanksgiving meal everyone would usually lay around and nap, at least all of the grown-ups would anyway. I was usually off in my grandmother’s woods exploring or hunting with at least one of my cousins.

The morning after Thanksgiving, My dad, his brothers, my cousins, and I would all get up early and go hunting. After the hunt we would gather around my grandmother’s table and eat breakfast and tell deer stories/lies (whichever you prefer) and I remember looking at the men seated around that table and wanting to be just like them. Burly, strong, hunters, and well maybe not overweight, but definitely like them in most attributes. That’s how I remember Thanksgiving. It was only like that for one year that I can remember but I wish that’s how it always could be.

I hope your Thanksgiving has been one of memory and thankfulness. Ours was this year, and as long as I have my wife and son with me it will always be a fond memory.

Discipling

Who's your man and Who's man are you? Discipling is not something that you wait to go to church to do. We call it discipleship training and all we do is show up for another bible lesson, listen to it, go home and forget about it. Where's the application? What are we doing in our daily walk that is equipping other people to become better disciples of Christ. We need to get off our lethargic, apathetic bums and start evangelizing and discipling like we've been commanded to do.
Why does discipleship have to be a program? Maybe Discipleship is just living your life like God wants you to and helping others along the way. Bro. Robby said it well last night. Witness is not a verb, its you. Discipling needs to be done with God's people( even the ones who don't know they are yet) and it starts with me.

Sometimes, Everybody Needs a Pep Talk!

"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." - message remix

Justice!?

And it's 1,2,3 strikes your out at the OOOOLLLD BBAALLLLL GAMEEE! Well I can't say that I'm sorry to hear that old Bonds is gonna need a bond to get his butt outta jail. I am not the biggest baseball fan but I do believe if you cheat, that should be grounds for removal from the record books. with everything being said about this situation I went back and pulled his rookie card. Don't tell me by looking @ this photo that he hasn't juiced up. You decide. Nuff said.

Children's Church

Back in June the responsibility of children's church was shifted and given to me to organize. Which was fine with me. instead of teaching every Sunday I had a list of volunteers(God bless em) that rotated out every week and taught them. Yesterday was my turn on the list and I forget how enjoyable it is to teach the young ones. Their faces are vivid in my memory as I recall the facial expressions they give when they don't comprehend or when they do. Children are brutally honest as well. I believe anyone desiring to teach should start out with children, because of these reasons. It will require you to explain your teaching in a relative manner while capturing their interest. They'll also let you know when you're boorrinnggg.
Jesus said to enter the kingdom we must be like the little children. This thought comes to mind as I recall back to what it was like when I was in children's church and my mental state back then. It wasn't clouded with all the junk and preoccupations that are in my mind now. How good it is to know that we can focus on Him, forget about everything else, stop worrying, and just be like a little child towards Him.

Lord's Day Morning

Today is the Day of the Lord and Everything we do is Coram Deo(Before the face of God)and that is truly a sobering thought. To know that there is a Heavenly Father that loves and accepts me, warts and all and smiles at me and has blessed me before I even knew Him. Praise be to God on this Lord's Day morning. I hope that you enjoy your day reflecting on all that He has done for you.