The Good Samaritan In Lego

The Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"
27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'[c]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' " 28 "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' 36 "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." Luke 10:25-37

Christmas Chalk

Matthew 2:1-12

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.' "
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Merry Christmas - This is a cool card

A Christmas Duo

This little nativity scene sets atop the CPU unit in the office I use at the church building. It was purchased at a Dollar Tree Store in 1996. I keep it out throughout the year to remind me that Christmas is all the time. Enjoy the Christmas Season and remember Christmas is all the time. Christ Mass or Christ Worship is what Christmas is about.

Matthew 1:18-25 From The Message

18-19The birth of Jesus took place like this. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. Before they came to the marriage bed, Joseph discovered she was pregnant. (It was by the Holy Spirit, but he didn't know that.) Joseph, chagrined but noble, determined to take care of things quietly so Mary would not be disgraced.
20-23While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God's angel spoke in the dream: "Joseph, son of David, don't hesitate to get married. Mary's pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God's Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—'God saves'—because he will save his people from their sins." This would bring the prophet's embryonic sermon to full term:

Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son;
They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for "God is with us").

24-25Then Joseph woke up. He did exactly what God's angel commanded in the dream: He married Mary. But he did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.

Nativity Story

Stress Free Christmas

10 Tips for a Stress-Free Christmas
Written by Dwayne Hastings

Most of us have problems with stress sometime during the year, but the Christmas season seems to bring out the worst in all of us.

One-third of Americans live with extreme stress year-round and nearly half of Americans (48 percent) believe that their stress has increased over the past five years, according to a survey released by the American Psychological Association in October. Most of those surveyed (75 percent) tagged money and work as the contributing factors to the tension in their lives.

Richard Swenson, a physician and author of several books on stress, including "Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives," says, "Stress is such a common term that we might tend to trivialize it, assuming it's a convenient fiction for the weak who do not wish to do their best. Such an attitude would be a mistake. Stress is real, it is increasing and it can be highly pathogenic." Swenson is a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations.

With the Christmas shopping season nearly upon us, it is wise to plan ahead to minimize the anxiety and maximize the joy that often comes with the season. Experts might call this managing stress.

To avoid the build-up of stress knocking you down during the Christmas holiday, consider these tips:

1. Be reasonable in your expectations of the holidays.
2. Focus on the first Christmas. Involve your family in a ministry to the less fortunate in your community.
3. Be realistic in your spending plans. Set a realistic budget and don't budge from it.
4. Avoid impulse shopping. Make sure you save your receipts in order to return merchandise once you've gone home and surveyed all your purchases.
5. Take advantage of special sales, but refuse to consider bargains once you've finished your shopping list.
6. Plan ahead and take advantage of sales to buy gifts year around, but make sure you keep good track of your "good deals." A toy you bought on clearance for your preschool son doesn't have quite the same value it originally did when you discover it in the attic, still in the bag, when he is in 6th grade.
7. Make it a family-centered Christmas. Recall the favorite Christmas memories of your youth and seek to recreate them, e.g., make sugar cookies and snicker doodles from scratch as a family. Craft garlands of construction paper loops to decorate your tree. Set aside time to drive through town to see the Christmas lights. Visit a live nativity if one is held in your community.
8. A big buildup to Christmas day leads to a big letdown the day after Christmas. Keep the Christmas spirit alive by planning family events during the week after Christmas and throughout January.
9. Listen to Christmas carols!
10. Make Jesus the focus. Celebrate the Christ -- His birth, His life, His death and resurrection -- this season. Rejoice in the new, victorious life you have in Him.

Give a gift of good health to your family this Christmas -- don't let the stress of the season sour your spirit and muddle your family's merriment.

This article was written by Dwayne Hastings who is a writer for the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. I found it at http://www.lifeway.com/

This Is Christmas

Intention And Action

Despite popular belief, there is absolutely no power in intention. There's no difference in the person who intends to do things differently and the one who never thinks about it in the first place. Have you ever considered how often we judge ourselves by our intentions while we judge others by their actions? Yet intention without action is an insult to those who expect the best from you. ~Andy Andrews

Thanks to my friend Jay Hathaway for htis one. He posted on FB.

Christmas - God Sent Us A Savior

"If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior." - Author Unknown

Christmas In A Nutshell

Joy To The World - Remember This As You Shop

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Luke 2:11 - Hope

I Am Thankful For...

God's Word.

My fantastic husband and father to our daughter.

Being able to stay home with my daughter.

I am thankful for my best friend/husband.

My children.

Knowing that my Daddy is in heaven.

That my parents taught me about God at a young age and that I have always had God in my life.

Concrete, TV, music, fun, swimming pools, friends, forgiveness, love, smiles, kisses, hugs and my church.

GLARE.

People who helped lead me to Jesus Christ.

My awesome family and friends. My health, my children, my job, my husband, and most of all the gift of salvation.

My amazing children.

My Sunrise family.

Those who continue to love me even when I cannot love myself.

The unconditional love of Jesus Christ and the opportunity in him to live a new life.

For 2nd, 3rd, 4th ... chances.

Grace, mercy, forgiveness.

For God keeping His promises.

I am thankful for my family and getting connected to Sunrise.

My health, family and friends.

For the power of prayer and people who pray for us.

For God bringing us close to home in Hampton Roads so our children and me and my wife could benefit being close to family.

For every single member of my family.

For my mother's husband who helps her accomplish and do things she has always wanted to do and really loves her.

A Brief History

History Of Thanksgiving

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Thanks

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Thankful - Quotes

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. H.U. Westermayer
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. Johannes A. Gaertner

If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get. Frank A. Clark

Who does not thank for little will not thank for much. Estonian Poverb

We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning. Albert Barnes

A Good Word

Be very careful never to forget what you have seen God doing for you. May his miracles have a deep and permanent effect on your lives! Tell your children and your grandchildren about the glorious miracles he did. Deuteronomy 4:9 TLB

Psalm 150

1 Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
2 Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!

Look Around

Things To Stop Doing

The following is taken from "3 Minutes" sent from the The Spence Network

The "Things to Stop Doing" List

Addictions: These are hard to give up as they are deeply ingrained in our thoughts, emotions and behaviours. For whatever reason, they have become a very big part of our lives and we feel stuck in their grip. Some examples are smoking, drinking to excess, drugs, prescribed medications, pornography,food and even sex can become an addiction.

Bad Personal Habits: These are little habits that we have which, in themselves, are not serious, but do annoy others or make them feel uncomfortable. What are yours?

Distracting mannerisms: These are our verbal and non verbal mannerisms that can distract, annoy or make us the brunt of others' jokes. I once heard a guy speak who had a little laugh after nearly all of the statements that he made. It seemed odd when he was talking about poverty in Africa. It made it hard to focus on the content.

Unhelpful interpersonal behaviors: I have to watch that I don't cut people off when they are speaking. I have a lot to say and my mind is often already onto the next thing. This is not helpful when it comes to building stronger relationships. Some people are always complaining or being negative, while others just don't want to talk about anything that involves feelings (often men).

Unhealthy leadership styles: Just because it says leader on your name tag doesn't mean that you are actually leading well. Some leaders are dictatorial while others are so relaxed and disorganized that nothing gets done. Some leaders are harsh while others are too nice and do not make difficult decisions.

Tips on how to stop and change

1. Acknowledge and accept responsibility for your behavior (don't blame your parents for everything).
2. Don't be too hard on yourself (we are only human).
3. Think about how this behavior started and what things are keeping it going, eg. started drinking because of stress at work and continued to drink heavily whenever stressed as it gave some temporary relief.

4. Understand the negative consequences and costs of the behavior.

5. Develop a desire for change.

6. Ask others for help. People who have had training and experience in the area that you are struggling with can help you to change.

7. Create a strategy for change.

8. If you fall back into it try again and again .....
9.Celebrate breaking the cycle and watch out that the behavior doesn't sneak in a later stage.

Give Thanks - Funny

From A Calendar - Thankfulness

Thankfulness is the soil in which joy thrives.

...let us be thankful and so worship God... with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

Focus

11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. I Timothy 6:11-16

Three

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

FAITH - Forsaking All I Trust Him Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him

Three

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them,
is the true measure of our thanksgiving. W.T. Purkiser

Thanksgiving
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Relief

I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

Jeremiah 32:27 NIV

Life Change

Look To This Passaage All Month

1 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
3 Know that the LORD Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100:1-5 NAS

Choose

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.

Good Article - Make the Most...

Make The Most Of Your Time At Work

Obey And Act

And to expose our hearts to truth and consistently refuse to obey the impulses it arouses is to stymie the motions of life within us and, if persisted in, to grieve the Holy Spirit into silence.

A.W. Tozer

Three

42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

"I spent years asking God to be a part of whatever I was doing. When I read the book of Acts, I see people privileged to be a part of what God was doing." Francis Chan, Forgotten God

God is moving and working. May you and I join Him.

Sucess - Very Good Thoughts

Definition of Success

Worth Doing Right

Great Brief Blog.

The Final 10% AKA going the extra mile.

A Good Way To View The Bible

Thinkin' About Ministry - 7

Seven Practices Of Effective Ministries

1. Clarify the Win. Define what is important. What is the organization’s purpose. Leaders and people working/serving in the organization need to know what a “win” is.
2.Think Steps, Not Programs. Before you start anything, make sure it takes you where you want and need to go in order to “win”. Think process. Processes within programs.
3. Narrow the Focus. Do fewer things in order to make a greater impact. Less is more. Focus, focus, focus.
4. Teach Less for More. Say only what you need to say to the people who need to hear it. Not everyone has to be in the know. Not everyone has to give permission.
5. Listen to Outsiders. Focus on who you are trying to reach, not who you’re trying to keep. Information from those not yet in organization is needed and can be used to help make improvements.
6. Replace Yourself. Learn to hand of what you do. Develop people. Develop leaders. Train others. Give permission within perimeters of “win”.
7. Work On It. Take time to evaluate your work, and to celebrate your wins. Analyze and improve. Personal improvement and organizational improvement is a must. Allow Teams to evaluate and improve.

The above are taken from 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Reggie Joiner, and Lane Jones.

Three

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

It is better to have one person working with you, than three working for you.

"We should not only use all the brains we have - but all that we can borrow." Woodrow Wilson

Crowd Or Cross

Solid Foundation

24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:24-29

Change - Well Written

Great post at Serious Times

Three - In Honor Of Labor Day

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

Work is not a four letter word.

Work hard, play hard, rest hard.

How To Handle Anger - Good Article

How To Handle Anger

The Morning

He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day. - Bunyan

In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will offer my prayer to You and watch for the answer throughout the day. Psalm 5:3

Philippians 2:1-11

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Focus

God has a natural law in force to the effect that we are conformed to that which we center our interest and love.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

Three

Help others up when they are down and out.

Make me a blessing;

Out of my life may Jesus shine.

Make me a blessing,

O Saviour I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Matthew 9:35-38

Invite

Supreme Blessing

The supreme blessing that God desires to give us is Himself. Larry Crabb

This was posted by a long time frined on Facebook.

The Christian Life

The word "Christian" means different things to different people. To one person it means a stiff, upright, inflexible way of life, colorless and unbending. To another, it means a risky, surprised-filled venture, lived tiptoe at the edge of expectation.... If we get our information from the biblical material, there is no doubt that the Christian life is a dancing, leaping, daring life.

Eugene Peterson, Traveling Light - Taken from The Unexpected Adventure

Jonah - Interesting

The Book Of Jonah

The Book of Jonah at Bible Gateway

FUNNY

Frienship

Came across this recently in an office somewhere.

"Do not save your loving speeches for your friends till they are dead; do not write them on their tombstones, speak them rather now instead." Anna Cummins

This is a good word. Think of a friend in your life and call them right now with a word of encouragement to them that is about them. Take time to give your parents, your children and others an uplifting word to them that is about them.

Great Article - Forgiveness

How To Forgive Somenone Who Has Hurt You

Pretty Good

Jonah 3 - The God Of Second Chances

1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

A Good Word - Very Real To Me

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. II Timothy 1:15-17

Three

In taking revenge a man is equal to his enemy; In passing it over he is superior.

To quarrel with a neighbor is foolish; a man with good sense holds his tongue.
Proverbs 11:12 TLB

Learn, grow, mature, and move forward.

A Prayer In The Right Direction - Accepting Jesus Christ

Dear Jesus, I admit that I have sinned. I have done harmful and hurtful things to others and to You. Please forgive me. I believe that You are the Son of God and that You became a human to be a bridge from God the Father to us. Because of You, my sins can be forgiven and I can be adopted by God. Jesus, that is my desire. Please forgive my sins and become the leader of my life. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for forgiving me. And thank You for what you have in store for my life. Amen.

A Prayer In The Right Direction - Courage

Dear God, give me courage, for perhaps I lack it more than anything else. I need courage before men against their threats and against their seductions. I need courage to bear unkindness, mockery, and contradiction. I need courage to fight against the devil, against terrors and troubles, temptations, attractions, darkness and false lights, against tears, depression, and above all fear. I need Your help, dear God. Strengthen me with Your love and Your grace. Console me with Your blessed Presence and grant me the courage to persevere until I am with You forever in heaven.

A Prayer In The Right Direction - Pretty Encouraging Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day, I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me, and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You. Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things. Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over, and give me the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those that are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those that don't believe, and I thank You that I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes; that they will be out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees it in Jesus' name. Amen!

Go Young

Serious Times Interesting thoughts about the church growing old.

For SCC - New Series Song - Good Stuff

Oh Yeah!

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Third Day

Lost Hope

When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. My earnest prayer went to you in your Holy Temple. Joshua 2:7 TLB

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?There’s a light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free! Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting He passed, and we follow Him there; Over us sin no more hath dominion—For more than conquerors we are!
Refrain
His Word shall not fail you—He promised; Believe Him, and all will be well; Then go to a world that is dying, His perfect salvation to tell!
Refrain

Transformer

And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy - the kind He can accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this to much to ask. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how His ways will really satisfy you. Romans 12:1-2 TLB

Ouch, But True

When the story of your life isn't going your way, ask "What's God doing here?" -Paul Miller, A Praying Life

This was taken from a friend at FB.

Friends

True friends are those who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't think you've done a permanent job.

Never criticize or condemn - or it will come back on you. Go easy on others; then they will do the same for you. Luke 6:37 TLB

The Picture Says It All

Local Call

A man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and worked east from there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued by a sign which read: "$10,000 a minute." Seeking out the Pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The Pastor explained that the golden phone was, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he paid the price he could talk directly to God. The man thanked the Pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, San Diego, Chicago, Greensboro, Tampa and all around the United States, he found more phones with the same sign and got the same answer from each Pastor.Finally, he arrived in Texas. Upon entering a church in Dallas, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. But this time, the sign read: "Calls: 35 cents." Fascinated, he asked to talk to the Pastor."Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone. I have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but, in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 35 cents. Why?" The Pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son, you're in Texas now... It's a local call."

Three

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry, be happy.

If we fill our hours with regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow, we have no today in which to be thankful.

Healer

Check this out. Powerful Story and Song

Freedom - Luke 4:14-19

14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to release the oppressed,

19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Luke 4:14-19

Freedom - Galatians 5:13-15

13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:13-15

C-KID & M-FUGE SCHEDULE 2009

C-KID SCHEDULE
OpeningDay
Registration 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Dinner 5:30
Opening Activities 6:30
In Room 10:15
Lights Out 10:30
Day 1- Day 3
Breakfast 7:30 am
Quiet Time w/Church Group 8:30
I Can’t Wait . . . 9:00
Bible Study/Recreation 9:30
Recreation/Bible Study 10:50
Lunch 12:00 pm
Track A 1:15
Track B 2:45
Hang Time 4pm
Dinner 5:30
Worship 6:30
Church Group Time 7:30
Party 8:30
In Room 10:15
Lights Out 10:30
ClosingDay
Breakfast/Quiet Time 7:30 am
Load Buses 8:30
Bible Study 8:45
Closing Celebration 9:15 am
Churches Depart 10:15

M-FUGE SCHEDULE
Opening Day
1:00 - 4:00pm Registration
5:00pm Dinner
6:30pm Opening Night Activities
11:00pm In Rooms
11:30pm Lights Out
Full Days of Camp 1, 2, and 4
7:00am Breakfast
8:00am
Quiet Time / Bible Study
9:15am The AM Show
10:00am Ministry Sites
3:00pm Hang Time
5:00pm Dinner
6:30pm Worship
8:00pm Church Group Devotion
10:00pm Night Life
10:30pm Hang Time
11:00pm In Rooms
11:30pm Lights Out
Full Day of Camp 3(for a typical Monday – Saturday camp this would be Thursday)*Morning Schedule is the same as Full Day Schedule
3:00pm Extended Free Time in the City
9:00pm Worship
10:15pm Church Group Devotion
11:00pm In Rooms
11:30pm Lights Out
Closing Day
7:00am Breakfast
8:00am Quiet Time / Bible Study
9:15am Closing Celebration
10:30am Leave for Home

5:45 and 8:45 AM

This morning students and adults left at 5:45 AM for Mission Fuge (M-Fuge) in Philadelphia, PA. They were excited and ready to get to Philly. Please be in prayer for the group this week. Visit M-Fuge for the schedule and what ministry will be taking place during the week.

Children and adults left at 8:45 AM for Centri-Kid (C-Kid) in Lynchburg, VA. They were excited and ready to begin a fun and Christ filled week at C-Kid. Visit C-Kid for more info.

Please pray for both of these groups. Pray that they all will be drawn closer to God. Pray that they will grow in their relationship with God and that they will better understand God's love for them and how important they are to God and others.

Freedom - Word Of God

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. Luke 4:18-19 (Jesus)

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:16-22

Happy 4th - Freedom

Def. of Freedom

Synonyms of Freedom

Three

Gentle words bring life and health; griping brings discouragement. Proverbs 15:4

Learn to say kind things - nobody ever resents them.

Smile at someone today and say, "hello."

24/7

The true calling of a Christian is not to do the extraordinary things but to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Dean Stanley

Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Colossians 3:17

A Thoughtful Laugh

A Long Life

The truest lengthening of life is to live while we live, wasting no time but using every hour for the highest ends. So be it this day. - Charles Spurgeon

God's Workmanship

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, 'things will go well for you, and you will have long life on the earth.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord." – Ephesians 6:1-4(NLT)

Graduation - Milestones

My daughter graduated from High School on 6-12-09. Very exciting day. I asked her how it felt to walk into the large convention center with everyone cheering and standing in honor of the grads and her answer was, "Like a star." She had a good day. So did her parents, brother, Aunt, and friends. I remember her Pre-school grad. We have a pic of her in her cap and gown. Cute as can be. Her pic on this post is beautiful as can be. I remember Ruth, my wife and her mom, helping her accept Jesus Christ. The baptism, the summer camps, the spiritual growth times. I remember her friendships formed. New friends, summer hang time, summer trips to the lake and beach with friends. I remember her 5th grade ceremony. To Middle School, High School, dating privilege's, driving privilege's, staying out late privilege's. I remember her studying hard and late into the night. I remember her soccer days. She was good. Her band days. She was good. Chorus, Dance Team, SCA, Honor society, Homecoming Court, One grade to another and then walking the stage. One guy who walked the stage with he class had been in High School for 7 years. Known as a friendly have fun kind of guys he finally graduated and when his name was called the whole class of over 450 students erupted into huge applause and loud cheering. It was sweet.

Milestones - 1. a stone functioning as a milepost. 2. a significant event or stage in the life, progress, development, or the like of a person, nation, etc.: Her getting the job of supervisor was a milestone in her career. Above are some milestones in my daughters life. They are important to her, her parents, her brother, her relatives, and her friends. Milestones help us remember, rejoice, mourn, and look ahead. They are markers of life. They do not necessarily guide us but they do remind us of where we have been and in what direction we are going. A friend recently said, "Today's decisions become tomorrow's reality." On a boat one time with a friend doing some offshore fishing the Captain showed me some pre-GPS ways of navigating. One of the ways was to look back at the wake of the boat occasionally to be certain the boat was keeping a straight line. It was pretty cool how far we could see back and that the line told us we were on course. Milestones are not where we are going, but they are an indicator of decisions that become reality and where we are headed. In life we all have some milestones whether we note them or not. We are currently living milestones whether we realize it or not.

As a pastor or church leader I like to see people accept Christ, follow through with baptism, begin to worship with others regularly, begin forming new and helpful relationships in small groups, begin Scripture reading, prayer time, note taking, forming new life patterns, helping others accept Christ and walk with God and then one day being able to look back and see the milestones of God's work in their lives. Beautiful Milestones of redemption, grace, righteousness, miracles, friendships, and on and on.

Milestones - 1. Today's decisions become tomorrow's reality.

There he built an altar, and he called the place El Bethel, because it was there that God revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. Genesis 35:7

Computer Prayer

Dear Lord,
Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed,
This tiny little prayer
Keeps running through my head:
God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm
And safe from harm
For they're so close to me.
And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do;
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Please bless my computer too..
Now I know that it's unusual
To Bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second
While I explain it to you,
Lord.You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends;
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my friends.
I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give,
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.
By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you.
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.
Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love.
Amen

Graduation - Keep Learning

Always Be A Student

Keep on learning, (graduate's name),
Though your graduation's done;
Your whole life's an education
That has only just begun.

Your diploma is the first big step,
For knowledge is the special key
To winning what you want in life
And being who you want to be.

If you'll always be a student,
You'll find the secrets to success
And travel on the golden road
To peace and happiness.

By Joanna Fuchs

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Provers 19:10

Randy Forbes - USA Judeo-Christian Heritage

The Beach

I went to the beach yesterday afternoon for my first time in '09. My son and a friend of his and mine went with me and we had a good time with other friends in the sand and surf. As I came off of the parking lot and over the dune to see the beautiful blugreenish ocean with nice little swells I felt relief come over my shoulders, mind, and even my soul. It was good to enjoy the sand, surf and sun. It was relaxing and challenging to walk into the water paddle out and start trying to catch the first wave of '09. For a lurfer (a person learning to surf) the water and waves were nice. Good sets, not to mushy and just the right size for an inside lurfer. As I sat in my chair looking over the vast water and as I floated on my board in the water looking to the horizon while watching for swell to form I could not help but think how big God is and how small I am, yet the big God I worship know my name, my weaknesses, my strengths, my concerns, my joys and my hopes. He knows me. That is good news. He is real, personal, and involved. That brings relief. It also makes me desire to invite others to Him just as I often invite others to the beach.

P.S.

At the end of the day my son and I took a few minutes and shared God's message of hope with our new friend. In doing so we found out that he had accepted Christ a few years ago by some others friends sharing with Him the message of Good News, the Gospel. CooliO.