86,400

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" - William A. Ward

Psalm 136:1-9

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
4 To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
5 To Him who made the heavens with skill,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
6 To Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
7 To Him who made the great lights,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
8 The sun to rule by day,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
9 The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Funny!!

The Resurrection Of Jesus Is Historically Accurate, As Real As "Real" Can Get And Life Altering

The evidence for our Lord's life and death and resur­rection may be, and often has been, shown to be satis­factory; it is good according to the common rules for distinguishing good evidence from bad. Thousands and tens of thousands of persons have gone through it piece by piece, as carefully as every judge summing up on a most important cause. I have myself done it many times over, not to persuade others but to satisfy myself. I have been used for many years to study the histories of other ti mes, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign which God hath given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead.

Taken From Did The Resurrection Really Happen, Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett, Page 50. This is  quote from Thomas Arnold who was the famous headmaster of Rugby and author of the three volume History Of Rome.

The REAL Symbol For Christiainity

Share Your Faith - INVITE

Ways To Keep People In A Church Family

Good Article From Pastors.com

Pray then like this—‘Our Heavenly Father, may your name be honoured; May your kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day the bread we need, Forgive us what we owe to you, as we have also forgiven those who owe anything to us. Keep us clear of temptation, and save us from evil’.”   Matthew 6:9-13 J.B. Phillips Translation

Thy Will Be Done

“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done." All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened. ”  C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce   

Psalm 33:6-9

⁶ By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
he puts the deep into storehouses.
⁸ Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the people of the world revere him.
⁹ For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

The Central Message Of The Church

The Central Message of the church is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  "I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said." I Corinthians 15:3-4.  The Gospel is the Good News Of Jesus Christ.  The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the life changing and central message of Jesus Christ.
The Gospel is transformational. Change is a word that many churches have disregarded for years, but is the central message of the church.  The Gospel, accepted, or rejected will transform your life. Accepting the Gospel will change the way you think about life, death, the future, your past, the church, your vocation, others and rejecting the Gospel will do the same. Change is not optional for those following Jesus Christ, it is the norm, it is the message of the Gospel and the central message of the church.

The Gospel is relational. Christianity is all about relationships.  A relationship with God which will impact your relationships with others.  God loves you and desires to be a part of your life.  He desire to have a real, meaningful and life-changing relationship with you and others.  Christianity is about loving God and loving others as you love yourself. The primary message of the local church is the life changing message of the Good News of Jesus Christ. God provides for us hope in a relationship with and hope in our relationship with others. Most, if not all, of the world religions focus on being good, doing good, living in such a way that will get you a good reward at the end of your life, and focus on the self. Christianity centers on God and His desire relate to the human race.

The Gospel is intentional. God is purposeful. Life is meaningful and more purpose can be experienced in life when the life changing message of the Gospel is experienced. Entering into a relationship with God will place within you a new purpose and new meaning. You will become much more intentional in your personal life, vocational life, family life and church life.  For many years it seems that the local church has "been doing what we have always done." This must change because the Gospel is so intentional and purposeful. The central message of the church will remain "The Gospel", and yet the methods and ethos of the church must evolve so that others can hear and experience the central message of the church.

The Good News of Jesus Christ is the central message of the church. As we share this message we glorify God and hep others experience the hope we live in because of the Gospel.

Labor Day

In all labor there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.  Proverbs 14:23

I'm So Busy

I'm so busy..
..I must pray
..I must listen
..I must be in a small group
..I must help
..I must have fun
..I must offer an encouraging word
..I must learn
..I must spend time with God
..I must spend time with my family
..I must develop friendships
..I must share my faith
..I must stop being so busy to make more time for the above.

Time In The Morning

And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He (Jesus) rose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there.  Mark 1:35  NASB

The Symbol For Christianity

The Last Word

A really, really good way to get the last word in - an apology.

Great Prayer

O Lord, where did I see you yesterday ... and didn't recognize you? Where will I encounter you today ... and fail to identify you? 0 my Father, give me eyes to see, a heart to respond, and hands and feet to serve you wherever you encounter me!   Max Lucado, Live To Make A Difference

No Excuses

Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran from God, Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was a gossip, Martha was a worrier, Thomas was a doubter, Elijah was moody, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old, and Lazarus was dead. No excuses.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  Ephesians 2:10

The Smoke Signal

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him,and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store hisfew possessions. However one day, after scavenging for food,he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smokerolling up to the sky. The worst had happened - everything waslost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could youdo this to me?" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

Gentleness And Self Control

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  Proverbs 15:1
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. 
Proverbs 25:15

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:29

By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you...  II Corinthians 10:1a

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Colossians 3:12

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect...  I Peter 3:15
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.  Proverbs 25:28

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-control

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  I Peter 1:13

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  I Peter 5:8