Planning Head

You can never plan the future by the past. Edmund Burke

Christianity

Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. CS Lewis

Change - It Can Happen

I heard this message on Sunday, 10-18-09, with my family as we worshipped at and with Fairfax Community Church
in Fairfax, VA.
Great Message: Watch And Listen Here

Come To Me

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

One Another

The Gospels

1. “…Be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50)

2. “…Wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14)

3. “…Love one another…” (John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17)

Paul’s Letters

Romans, I Corinthians, II Corinthians

4. “Love one another”(Romans 13:8)

5. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love…” (Romans 12:10)

6. “Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10)

7. “Live in harmony with one another…” (Romans 12:16)

8. “…Stop passing judgment on one another” (Romans 14:13)

9. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you…” (Romans 15:7)

10. “…instruct one another” (Romans 15:4)

11. “Greet one another with a holy kiss…” (Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 16:20, II Corinthians13:12; I Thessalonians 5:26)

12. “…When you come together to eat, wait for each other” (I Corinthians 11:33)

13. “…Have equal concern for each other” (I Corinthians 12:25)

14. “…Serve one another in love” (II Corinthians 13:12)

Galatians, Ephesians

15. “Carry each other’s burdens…” (Galatians 6:2)

16. “If you keep on biting and devouring each other…you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:15)

17. “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other” (Galatians 5:26)

18. “…Be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2)

19. “Be kind and compassionate to one another…” (Ephesians 4:32)

20. “…forgiving each other…” (Ephesians 4:32)

21. “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19)

22. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21)Philippians, Colossians

23. “…in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3)

24. “Do not lie to each other…” (Colossians 3:9)

25. “Bear with each other…” (Colossians 3:13)

26. “…Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another” (Colossians 3:13)

27. “Teach…[one another]” (Colossians 3:16)

28. “…admonish one another” (Colossians 3:16)

I Thessalonians, Hebrews

29. “…make your love increase and overflow for each other” (I Thessalonians 3:12)

30. “Encourage one another” (I Thessalonians 4:18, 5:11; Hebrews 10:25)

31. “…Build each other up…” (I Thessalonians 5:11)

32. “Encourage one another daily…” (Hebrews 3:13)

33. “Spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24)

Other Letters: James, I Peter, I John, II John

34. “…Do not slander one another” (James 4:11)

35. “Don’t grumble against each other” (James 5:9)

36. “Confess your sins to each other…” (James 5:16)

37. “…Pray for each other” (James 5:16)

38. “…Love one another deeply, from the heart” (I Peter 1:22, 4:8)

39. “…Live in harmony with one another…” (I Peter 3:8)

40. “Greet one another with a kiss of love” (I Peter 5:14)
41. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (I Peter 4:9)

42. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others…” (I Peter 4:10)

43. “…Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…” (I Peter 5:15)

44. “Love one another” (I John 3:11, 23, 4:7,11,12; II John 5)

Questions

1. If you weren't on staff at your church, would you worship there? I think we've all served at churches that we wouldn't worship at. (I know I have). And many times we are in the process of transitioning them into a church that we'd love to attend. If you're in that position right now, this is still a great question to ask. Why wouldn't you want to worship there? And what is keeping other people away from the church that you serve? 2. If you didn't know ANYTHING about Jesus, what would you know about him after a normal weekend at your church? Think about your service yesterday. If you didn't know squat about Jesus yesterday morning; what would you know about Him or think about Him today? This is a question that we need to ask each and every week. How does your church communicate Jesus? 3. If you had a loved one who didn't know Christ, and they had one week left to live, would you take them to your church or another? In this last question, it goes one level deeper. How's your church doing at communicating the main message? Truthfully; would you take your dying unsaved mother to a service at your church or another church across town? How clear is the gospel presented in your church?

From lifechurch.tv

Hope

Three

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8 NLT

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 NLT

Matthew 5:1-11

1SEEING THE crowds, He went up on the mountain; and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him.
2Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
4Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!
5Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!
6Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!
7Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
8Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous--possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!
9Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!
10Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
11Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.

New Series Begins This Weekend

Life's Healing Choices:
Freedom From Your Hurts, Hang-Ups, and Habits
10-4 Admitting Need - The Reality Choice
10-18 Getting Help - The Hope Choice
10-25 Letting Go - The Commitment Choice
11-1 Coming Clean - The House Cleaning Choice
11-8 Making Changes - The Transformation Choice
11-15 Repairing Relationships - The Relationship Choice
11-22 Maintaining Momentum - The Growth Choice
11-29 Recycling Pain - The Sharing Choice

Living a happy and healthy life is a choice. A choice that you can make. Regardless of what you are struggling with - whether it's emotional, financial, relational, spiritual, or some addiction that hurts you and others - the principles that lead to a happy and healthy life are the same, and the choices are yours to make. During this series we will discover Biblical truths that lead to healing, health and happiness.

A Day Of Revival - Courtland Baptist Church

I had a great time Sunday, 10-4-09, with a fun and joyful church. Courtland Baptist Church in Courtland, VA allowed me the opportunity to worship and learn about leadership with them on a beautiful fall day. We had a God time.

The morning worship services were well done and the Spirit of God was evident in the 8:30 AM Contemporary Style and the 11:00 Traditional Style worship services. Much prayer, preparation and people entering worship with positive attitudes helped all in attendance experience God's love and power in a very real manner. May you and I move beyond just praying and seek to encounter God and live out that encounter in our daily actions. May we lean into God and verify our prayers as we live in expectation. Thanks to the Praise Team and the Choir for leading in worship via music. Thanks to the pianist for leading in worship through piano solos. Kudos to the children for leading in worship at the 11:00 service. Lord I lift your name on high. Sweeeeet stuff.

Lunch at Whitley's Barbecue - For you country Courtland folk, enough said. That cabbage was yummy. Thanks Darren for the lunch and encouraging conversation.

A "Shout Out" to all who attended the 5:00 PM leadership gathering. Lead with diligence. Ask yourself this question on a regular basis: What am I doing to help business? You and I will be better leaders if we ask this questions regularly and seek to answer it in simple ways that make a huge difference in the local church and in the Kingdom of God.

Fellowship Dinner - Baptist know how to cook and eat. :)

The evening service was smokin', pun intended. Tommy is one crazy old man. I liked the idea and will offer my prayers and life to God as a fragrant incense. All the music was rockin', please do not tell anyone. We do not want word to get out that God is moving in Courtland Baptist Church and lives are being changed as the people in Courtland Baptist magnify the Lord and exalt His name together. Just Kidding. For God's sake and the sake of people who need Jesus Christ tell everyone you come across this week and if you do not come across anyone this week tell the tree in your yard. O magnify the Lord with me, and Let us exalt His name together. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Psalm 34:3 (NAS). Remember, we are in this together.

By the way Courtland peeps. If you're ever in the Chesapeake area please give me a call and buy me some lunch. Look forward to it. Be cool.

Criticism

Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember- the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.

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