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

I Want To Be An Optimist

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."   Winston Churchhill

Spur One Another On

So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.   Hebrew 10:22-25 The Message

Friends And Your Health

Friends make the ordinary-running errands or eating lunch, for example-extraordinarily fun. And good friends ease our pain and lighten our heavy load….Not only are friends good for the soul but for the body as well. Friends help us ward off depression, boost our immune system, lower our cholesterol, increase the odds of surviving with coronary disease, and keep stress hormones in check. A half dozen top medical studies now bear this out. Their findings didn’t seem to be influenced by other conditions or habits such as obesity, smoking, drinking, or exercise. The thing that mattered most was friends. What’s more, research is showing that you can extend your life expectancy by having the right kind of friends.  From Les and Leslie Parrott 

Church Is Not The End

Church is not the end.  It is the means to an end.  When thinking about church people often think as church as the end.  Church attendance. Serving in the church.  Worship attendance.  Church membership. "I am a part of ______________ Church." Even leaders in the church can be prone to thinking that church is the end. But it is not. Our time together in worship, small groups, book studies, and ministry opportunities is important and needed, but it is not the end. The end is making disciples.  The end is helping people walk with God in such a way that they become Kingdom Oriented, God Kingdom Oriented followers of Jesus Christ.  The end is leading people to follow Jesus Christ and live in Christ.  The end is to keep in mind, "the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Making Disciples is the main thing. Following Jesus Christ is the main thing. Developing a person and people of God is what church is about. Church, the body of Christ, the people of God, the called out ones is not the end.  Our worship services, Bible studies, fellowships, mission trips and other activities are not the end.  They are a means to an end. They are ways in which we as the church help people to live in Christ and for Christ so that they are in the world (missional is the current Christian buzz word for this) but not of the world. The end is about God and His kingdom and people following Jesus Christ. The end is making disciples, who can make disciples, who can make disciples and so on.

As a church leader who works with other church leaders it is important, no, it is imperative that we understand that our "church activities" are not the end. They are important and need to be done well, but they are not the end. I speak with many church leaders who seem to think the means is the end.  We talk about worship, Bible study, fellowship, mission endeavors, and many other facets of church as if they are they are the end. We will visit about and even evaluate the means as if it is the end. I understand how we can think this way because we invest valuable time and resources on these "means" to accomplish and end, making disciples.  But may we stop, assess, and remember church is not the end.  Making disciples, who can make disciples, who can make disciples to the glory of God and His Kingdom is the end. May we evaluate the means, learn more about the means, make necessary changes to the means so that in the end we have accomplished the end, making disciples, developing people who love God, love others and who are seeking to make a difference in God's Kingdom.

Note To Self: I thank God that He brought people into my life that have helped me understand this as a follower of the Way and as a leader in the church.

Since Football Season Is Coming John 3:16

The Message Of Christianity

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all—life healed and whole.               I Peter 1:3-5

Breakfast

I had a late breakfast with a friend this morning and the food was really good , but the visit was really really good. A brief prayer started our conversation. Not prayer over the food, but just praying as a part of our lives and a start to our visit. How refreshing. We talked about the creation story in Genesis, work, personal growth, the activity of God in our lives that sometimes can't be described and other various topics. It was good to sit down, and just visit with one another. This friend is growing in Christ, loves his family, is thoughtful about life, has a servants heart, likes to solve problems and has a passion for his life to make a difference in the Kingdom of God. What a privilege to enjoy a good breakfast with a fellow follower of the Way and what a blessing to listen and share in really really good fellowship. For me, the time was encouraging and uplifting and my hope quota was boosted. Thanks.

A Great Prayer

"Lord, do anything in me you want to do so you can do anything through me you want to do."

Heard this from Al Peverall

This Is What I Pray for Horizon Leaders

3-6Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
Philippians 1:3-6 The Message

Beyond Mud Pies

“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desire not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, we are like ignorant children who want to continue making mud pies in a slum because we cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a vacation at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” C.S. Lewis

This Is The Symbol For Christianity

Eternity

" People today take time far more seriously than eternity" Thomas Kelly

Now That Is Good

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8

God Can

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Ephesians 3:20-21a

A Little Humor

Just Say Yes

Say yes to the things of God. Say yes to God as He calls you out to touch the lives of others. Say yes to worshiping regularly with a local church. Say yes to praying more often. Say yes to trusting God more and worrying less. Say yes to joy. Say yes to sharing your faith story with others. Say yes to inviting your neighbor to a worship service or special event hosted by the church in which you serve. Say yes to spending time with God in Scripture. Say yes to ...

The Main Thing Is Jesus Christ

Git Ur Dun

"The person who says it can't be done needs to get out of the way of the person doing it." Saw this statement on FB.