Prayer - Listening

Hearing God's Voice is a good link to visit and peruse for your personal growth.

How To Listen To God is a good book on listening to and obeying God.

Quote For Thought

"It's amazing how many people who are standing alone wish they weren't." Eric Bryant

I have stood alone and did not like it. I have gone into rooms alone and did not like it. I have walked into a gatherings alone and did not like it. It is no fun. I can tell you that when I was standing alone and a person came over and introduced themselves to me and began a light conversation it felt good. It was comforting. I can tell you that had people not walked up to me years ago I may not be serving Christ or following Christ. Thanks to Terry Hitt, Mr. and Mrs. Burks, Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway, Kyle Klemcke, Bill Pursely, Debbie Morgan, David Levell, Bill Lovelace, and many others who introduced themselves to me when I was standing alone or maybe I just felt I was standing alone. "Hi, my name is ..."

Letter From God

Lamentations 3:21-26

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

To Ponder

God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. - Leighton Ford

Cardboard Stories By Richland Hills

The link below will take you to the video clip Sunrise showed in the weekend worship experience on 2-1-09.

http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies/

Economy Encouragement - The Bailout Bull

Dave Ramsey on the Financial Situation in America

Randy Forbes on the Bailout

A Model Prayer From Jesus

Some thoughts about the Lord's Prayer. This is a decent link to gain some insight into the Lord's Prayer.

1st Grade Teacher - Thank God

I have had recent correspondence with my brother, sister, mom and my first grade Teacher. Miss Schaffner was a Nethery family favorite at City View School in Wichita Falls, TX. I remember her being strict yet very nice. First grade was the best three years of my life (JK). I visited with my mom about her today. We both had very positive comments and memories. My brother and I do not remember many of our elementary teachers, but we remember Miss Schaffner. She came into contact with our family recently through my brothers website. Cool stuff. My sister and I corresponded with her just this week via email. She was kind, gracious and still a teacher. What a lady. While I was serving at First Baptist Church in Henrietta, TX Miss Schaffner had moved back into Henrietta and became a member of FBC. That was cool. I got to see her almost every weekend. Kept me on my toes because I did not want Miss Schaffner's paddle coming out for business. What fun. So cheers to Miss Schaffner-Teauge. Miss Schaffner, I apologize for not holding my pencil and pen properly while writing. You taught me the proper method, I just can't remember, but I can spell NETHERY.

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

Say Hello To Your Neighbor

Older Man Dies In Cold Weather

This article is heart breaking. It is sad that the man died. But what is really sad is the reaction of family members, neighbors and people who should take responsibility, yet are blaming others. God help us. God help us. By the way, say, "hello", to your neighbor.

Helping The Homeless, Part 3

Leadership Thought - Vision

Vision is at the very core of leadership. Take vision away from a leader and you cut out his or her heart. Vision is the fuel that leaders run on. It's the fire that ignites the passion of followers. - Bill Hybels, Courageous Leadership (Zondervan, 2002)

Guest Blog, Pam Doane: Blessing - Helping - Serving - Making A Difference

Our church is hosting a place for the homeless to sleep this week. It started out as usual with many helping and then as the week goes on it tapers off. We have been averaging around 115 homeless people looking for a warm place to sleep and a hot meal (last night we had 111). They come with only the clothes on their back. We have had the people in our church provide coats, toiletry items, etc. (Back in November our church started a coat drive and it ended in December. They had to be clean coats if they were not new.) We were able to provide a warm coat for most who needed one. We also had clothing for those who needed warm clothing.

We even had a group of young boys from a boys home come and help serve. Their leader stated that it would be good for them to give back to their community. They were all eager to help and I pray they came away as I did with a full heart of joy knowing we did something good for someone who needed it.

If you have not had an opportunity to help in a soup kitchen or something similar to what our church is doing I highly recommend it. You will come away so appreciative of what God has blessed you with (a warm bed, a hot shower, a soft chair to sit in, etc.) all the little things we take for granted on a daily basis.

With Love and Many Blessings,
Pam

Helping The Homeless, Part 2

Read And Practice

Reimagining Evangelism at CBD

This is good stuff for those of us who want to help others experience God's love as we have and are experiencing it in our lives. I hope and pray every believer will want to share God's love in a very real way with others.

Leadership Thought - This Is Right On

What Is Your PDP?

allaboutprayer.org

The Prayer of Jabez

Books Mentioned On 1-18-09

Bruce Wilkinson

Dare You To Move

This song is a little old, but still right on. I heard it twice this week. Make a move.

Chasing Daylight - A Guest Blog - Jon Trude

Jon Trude posted the below on SCC's website. Good stuff.

Hi everyone! I just wanted to drop you all a line and let you know that things are going great out here in OKC! It have been wicked cold and windy but past that everything is great! I had something that I wanted to share with all of you reading this.

During my flight to Houston I had one of those WOW moments that God puts in your life. We took off from Norfolk around 4:30ish and started heading west. Being winter, I thought to myself that the sun would be setting soon and we would be able to see the lights of the cities below. After they allowed the electronic devices, I pulled out my ipod and spaced out for about an hour. As soon snapped out of my trance, I looked out my window to see if I could tell which city we were over. Than it hit me... there was still light outside. It was the craziest thing. I looked back and I could see the darkness of night and the rising moon chasing us. In front of me was the setting sun that was fading over the horizon. It was like we were chasing daylight. Of course the way my mind works, that experience made me think of a passage from the book "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin McManus.

"We all have dreams, hopes and aspirations. Why, then, so some of us realize our dreams and move forward while some others from a distance and hope for a break? The question is how do we know that the dream that we are working towards are God's will for our lives? How can we live with a clarity that frees us from apprehension and hesitation and catapults us forward with confidence and courage?

When we are passionate about God, we can trust our passions.

We have but one life. We are given the opportunity to pursue our dreams and fulfill our divine purpose. Every moment counts, and we must engage them with fierceness and zeal. Put an end to passive observation, paralyzed by the need for perfect opportunity, and start seizing the raw, untapped potential of your life with God."

Are you willing to risk failure? Are you ready to get in the game? Everyone stumbles, but you will find yourself falling forward, propelled toward the God-inspired adventure He indents you to live.

Ephesians 3:14-21

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21

Give - Live

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill

First Book Down

Leadership From The Inside Out was and will be a good read for the year. David Donahue recommended the book in Nov.'08. Well wrtitten. Interesting style.

Helping The Homeless

"Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have
entertained angels without realizing it!" - Hebrews 13:2

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my
Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For
I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a
stranger, and you invited me into your home.'" - Matthew 25:34-35

"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?" So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. - James 2:14-17

"We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." -
I John 3:16-18

Sunrise and Lee are cooperating with the Portsmouth Volunteers For The Homeless and other local churches to provide a warm meal, nice atmosphere and warm place to sleep for some homeless people during the week of January 18-24, 2009. Thanks to the many who have signed up to serve and minister. Thanks to Mike Bailey for taking the lead in this venture. Please be praying. Thank God for a warm place to sleep and warm meals to eat.

I'm Sorry, Prayer

Here you will find some help for Prayer that Says "I'm Sorry"

Prayer

Drop The Worry Habit

Drop the Worry Habit : Creative Anxiety
To worry about things we can’t change is a terrible waste of emotional energy. Rather than worry, people who go the distance have learned the art of “creative anxiety.” While worry is destructive, creative anxiety is constructive. Worry focuses on the problem; creative anxiety focuses on the solution. Worry controls us; creative anxiety puts us in control of our emotions.
Here are some ways to drop the worry habit and learn new patterns of thinking:
1. Schedule creative anxiety. Worry creates a false sense of urgency. We find freedom from worry, then, by identifying that false urgency and making plans to consider options and solutions. It’s helpful to set personal parameters, such as: “I won’t worry about work on personal time.” “I won’t worry about family when I’m working.” “I won’t worry about unlikely possibilities until they become probable.” Follow those parameters and keep worry in its proper place – and its proper perspective.
2. Think the concern through, then set it aside. Regardless of your profession, you have parts of your work that can’t be completed in one block of time. For instance, a business proposal is the result of research, many meetings, consultations, and revisions. In the same way, acknowledging that you may not solve life’s great problems in one sitting can be a liberating thought. Work it through. Keep track of notes and doodles and possible solutions. Then, you can park your anxiety with those notes until you come back.
3. Imagine positive possibilities. Creative thinking means postponing judgment on an idea for another day. Instead of saying it won’t work, consider all solutions as possibilities, regardless of how far-fetched they may seem. Part of what makes creative anxiety work is the willingness to look for less-than-obvious solutions.
4. Give yourself permission to be less than perfect. All of our worries are rooted in fear of loss. What many of us fear is losing our inaccurate self-portrait of having it all together. Perfectionists would rather postpone something than see it done less than perfectly. This habitual postponement causes great anxiety and leads to worrisome habits.
5. Practice the discipline of submission. Part of our old nature is our desire to control. We want to control our circumstances, our relationships, and our future. People with a high need to control are often labeled “control freaks” by those around them. These people are prime candidates for worry-rooted disorders because so much of life is beyond control. When something like cancer, downsizing, or a lawsuit occurs, those who need to control go into a tailspin.
Control is at the heart of one of the most significant passages in all the New Testament. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:5-7).
Servants are never in control. They are by nature submitted to their master. Jesus gave up control – of the entire universe – so He might please His Father and redeem humankind. He never once doubted God’s provision. It’s our doubt that God will provide that keeps us from releasing control. When we fully understand our relationship to God and assume the role of servant, we leave behind the need to control and the worry that tags along with that need.

This is some of an article I read at www.lifeway.com

Thank God - Post It

Find that Post It and place "Thank God" on it an place it in your fav spot in the house. for some that will be the fridge, or the Lazy Boy, the comp, your Bible, the Big Screen, the Wii, and the list cont.... find the spot and offer up a prayer that sings and dances. For more visit Prayer That Sings and Dances via viddler.com.

Count Your Blessings - An Oldie But A Goodie

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your blessings

See what God has done

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your many blessings

See what God has done

When upon life's billows

You are tempest tossed

When you are discouraged

Thinking all is lost

Count your many blessings

Name them one by one

And it will surprise you

What the Lord has done

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your blessings

See what God has done

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your many blessings

See what God has done

Are you ever burdened

With a load of care

Does the cross seem heavy

You are called to bear

Count your many blessings

Every doubt will fly

And you will be singing

As the days go by

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your blessings

See what God has done

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your many blessings

See what God has done

When you look at others

With their lands and gold

Think that Christ has promised

You His wealth untold

Count your many blessings

Money cannot buyYour reward in heaven

Nor your home on high

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your blessings

See what God has done

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your many blessings

See what God has done

So, amid the conflict

Whether great or small

Do not be discouraged

God is over all

Count your many blessings

Angels will attend

Help and comfort give you

To your journey's end

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your blessings

See what God has done

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your many blessings

See what God has done

Praying Thanks

Prayers of Thanks found at All About Prayer will help you enter into prayer that sings and dances.

Go Horns

For SCC - Prayer Thanks Sings And Dances 1-4-09

Prayer that Sings and Dances

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 19:11-19

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

Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people. Psalm 35:18

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15-16

Developing A Prayer Life That Sings And Dances
Give thanks every morning.
Give thanks before your meals.
Start the week with a prayer time of thanks.
Give thanks for life's pleasures.
Start conversations with thanks.

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

I Resolve

Happy New Year - 2009

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. -Reinhold Niebuhr

Hope - This Is "Good News"

Helping Others Accept Jesus Christ

Evangelism Must Go Way Beyond The Church Walls

Give It Ear

A Six Word Life

The following is from Serious Times.

Vol. 4, No. 23

A Six Word Life

Could you sum up your life in six words?
After this year, some of you might say, “Sure. ‘It has been a living hell.’”
Actually, hundreds attempted the summation in the surprise best seller Not Quite What I Was Planning.
Get it? (the title is itself a six word example)
Some example of how the contributors – some famous, some not – attempt to succinctly sum up their lives:

“Liars, hysterectomy didn’t improve sex life!” (Joan Rivers)
“Well, I thought it was funny.” (Stephen Colbert)
“Maybe you had to be there.” (Roy Blount, Jr.)
“Revenge is living well, without you.” (Joyce Carol Oates)

Many of the submissions are poignant, such as “Followed yellow brick road. Disappointment ensued.” Or “Should have risked asking, he sighed.” Then there was the USA Today reporter who offered his own while reviewing the book: “Dad was Santa. Downhill from there.”
Fun game at a dinner party. Maybe even cheap therapy.
But how should a life be summarized?It’s the end of one year and the start of another. We naturally reflect and reposition; regret and re-commit; remember and then renew.
Perhaps it’s a good time to try and strap on a six-word goal.
I even have one we might all consider. It was the six-word summation of the life of David.

“…did God’s will during his lifetime” (Acts 13:36, NCV).

At least it beats “Never really finished anything, except cake.”

James Emery White

Leave Jesus Out For The Year

This year do not put Baby in the attic or in storage. find a little nativity scene and place it somewhere you will see it on a regular basis. May it remind you that Christmas is much more than a season. Christmas is all year long.

Merry "Post" Christmas and Happy "Soon To Be" New Year

This is what I have been saying to people since the day after Christmas. It's been fun. The responses vary. One lady said something like, "someones already been drinking." Funny. I do not "drink". She said it in jest, somewhat. I know it's little over the top and goofy, but so are the movies we like and stories we tell that make us laugh. So, "Merry 'Post' Christmas and Happy 'Soon To Be' New Year.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Rejoicing

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived. 22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons." 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel." 33 The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Luke 2:21-38

Merry Christmas From Space

Luke 2:1-7

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:1-7

A Brief History Of Christmas

Good Stuff

This morning was good. Great to see men stepping up and helping people by taking umbrellas to them as they parked to enter the building. That's making a difference and spreading Christmas Cheer.

People enjoyed the food and visiting that the Hospitality Team provided for all to enjoy. That's spreading Christmas Cheer.

Children sang at the 11:15 AM service and Christmas Cheer was experienced.

GOOD STUFF!!!

This Christmas

serioustimes.com

Vol. 4, No. 22
The Narcissistic Church

The names say it all.

YouTube. MySpace. And, of course, ipod, itunes, imac, and iPhone.

If there is a theme to our day, it’s that “it’s all about me.” The technical term is narcissism. In Greek mythology, Narcissus is the character who, upon passing his reflection in the water, becomes so enamored with himself that he devotes the rest of his life to his own reflection. From this we get our term “narcissism,” the preoccupation with self.

The value of "narcissism" is the classic "I, me, mine" mentality that places personal pleasure and fulfillment at the forefront of concerns. Historian Christopher Lasch went so far as to christen ours “the culture of narcissism,” calling it our new religion.

Now as Christians, this should be antithetical. We follow a savior who said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many;” “Whoever wants to be first must become last;” “Whoever wants to be great among must become the slave of all;” and then bowed in submission to the Father Himself and said, “Not my will, but yours.”

Yet a spiritual narcissism has invaded our thinking where the individual needs and desires of the Believer become the center of attention.

Have you ever heard the way we talk?

“I want to go where I'm fed" or "I need to be ministered to” rolls off our tongues without even blushing. We walk out of a worship service and say, "I didn't get anything out of it" as if worship was about what we received rather than what we gave to God.

And it’s killing the church, blinding our vision, paralyzing our mission, and muting our voice.

But is it simply a reflection of a narcissistic culture? Or could it be something we secretly feed ourselves?

Consider the first two questions any organization must ask itself (courtesy of Peter Drucker): What is our mission? and Who is our customer? The second of these involves crass language, I know, for any church. But let’s consider them a moment. First, what is our mission? I would argue that it is to seek and to save the lost (how could we have a mission other than the one Christ had and then entrusted to us as the church?). Yes, the Great Commission involves discipleship, but I tire of those who pit evangelism against discipleship, as if doing one prevents concentrating on the other. It’s a both/and, not an either/or. But more to the point of the mission, if you never reach anyone for Christ, who, exactly, will you be discipling? Evangelism must be in the vanguard.

From this comes the second question: Who, then, is our primary customer? It is inescapable: if our mission is to seek and to save and then disciple the lost, then our “customer” is the one who is lost. Here is the breakdown: most churches have, as their primary focus, reaching and then serving the already convinced. From this, services rendered to the believer become paramount, and other churches become the “competition.”

Which means that we are not victims of a culture of narcissism; we are purveyors of it.

There are those who would say that the place where spiritual narcissism runs amok is in contemporary approaches to outreach that seek to cater to the unchurched – as if these churches are abandoning orthodoxy in any way possible in order to gain warm bodies. Most, of course, are doing nothing of the sort. In truth, the real narcissism is among the churches catering to the believer, making their needs paramount to such a degree that the lost are, well, staying so. Because nowhere does true spiritual narcissism face more opposition than in a church which is choosing to die to itself in order to reach out and serve those around them.

Then it’s not about whether you are fed, but whether or not you have learned to feed yourself and, best of all, feed others.

Then it’s not about whether you are ministered to, but whether you are, yourself, a minister to others.

Then it’s not about whether you got anything out of the service, but whether you gave God anything of service.

And that is a church that has died to itself enough to….live.

James Emery White


Sources

Christopher Lasch, The Culture of Narcissism.

Good Stuff From Randy Forbes

A few weeks ago, a staff member shared with me a story she had read about a Marine serving our country in the Persian Gulf War years ago. It was the Marine’s first Christmas away from his wife and small daughter, and every day leading up to the holiday grew lonelier and lonelier. The thought of spending Christmas eating turkey in the mess hall of a Navy ship with his buddies just wasn’t the same as being in the comfort of his own home filled with the aroma of his wife’s cooking and being with his family. Just days before Christmas, letters to “Any Solider” were delivered throughout the ship. He usually didn’t take the “Any Soldier” letters, since he was lucky enough to receive regular correspondence from his wife and daughter. However, this time he felt compelled to – in the lonely days before Christmas, it was worth receiving all of the words of encouragement he could get. He opened the letter and began to read the words, obviously scribbled from the hand of a young child. Towards the end of the note he read:
My daddy is a Marine serving over there too. If you see him, tell him hi and that I love him and I miss him. The Marine sat down stunned and quiet as he looked down at the bottom of the note – his own daughter had sent the letter.
For many today, the stress of our current economic situation makes it difficult to think of the Christmas season as joyous. Many individuals are confronting job loss, or facing the realization that their business must downsize because of decreasing revenue. Many individuals and families are being forced to cut back and there are many who are doing much less this year for Christmas. For military families, the sheer difficulty of separation is often felt the hardest during the holidays.
But stories like the Marine receiving an “Any Soldier” note are reminders of the giving and hopeful nature of the season, and that sometimes the smallest acts of encouragement or kindness can provide hope to someone who needs it the most. This Christmas season, I hope you will take time to reflect on the ways you and your family can show gratitude and encouragement to those who are in need – to remember those who are serving our country, to serve those who are sick, and to show gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy as a nation.

Luke 2:8-20 The Message

8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger." 13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. 15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. 19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!

Again

What Child Is This

What Child is this who, laid to rest

On Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Faith Building Links

Just Stop And Think

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Prophecies Jesus Fulfilled

Prophecies Fulfilled In Jesus

Jesus Christ

Christmas Thought and Thanks

As Christmas approaches, I'd like to take a moment to express my gratitude to God for the partnership we have together. I live in a world of the richest relationships imaginable and you are an important part of that - a gift from God to me. Thanks for being fellow explorers! And may 2009 bring exponential impact from both of us through our partnership in the Gospel. Peace be with you and merry Christmas! John C.

John C is the leader of the Spence Network and is very helpful to leaders, pastors, church planters and others including me. Merry Christmas ChanMan.

Christmas Poem

The First Christmas

This is Mary
This is Joseph
This is their donkey gray.
This is the town of Bethlehem
Where they would like to stay.
This is an angel.
This is a shepherd.
This is a brand, new star.
Later came the wisemen
Travelling from afar.
This is a stable.
This is a manger
By a cattle stall.
This is the Baby Jesus
The Savior of us all.
This is the very first Christmas
That anyone did keep—
To honor Baby Jesus—
Shh! He's fallen asleep!
—DaLee C. James

The Moon 12-12-08

Was a news piece and received a phone call about the moon tonight. My son commented on it as we were on the way to his friends. Beautiful.

From a fellow blogger: Here is some treat for the sky watchers, as today, the12th December, the world will witness the brightest full moon ever. The moon to appear today is about 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger than the other full moons seen in the year 2008.This phenomenon is because the moon is much closer to the earth than usual, on its egg-shaped circle around the earth. When it get closer to the earth it is perigee and when farthest from earth it is apogee. The two points occur once every year , but the moon's exact distance varies over the years.

Amen!!! LOL

Few sinners are saved after the first 20 minutes of a sermon. - Mark Twain

Carol of the Bells

Get The Word Out

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed. Luke 2:15-18 The Message

The number one way people come to faith in Jesus Christ is by a family member or friend who knows Jesus Christ sharing their story and inviting the other to become a part of God's wonderful story. This Christmas Season may the "Buzz" be about God because we are telling our story which is really God's story. "Joy to the world, the Lord has come."

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Christmas, The Story

Christmas - 180

Upside Down from Pace Hartfield on Vimeo.

Bethlehem Star

I just finished watching a DVD presentation about the Star of Bethlehem. Interesting. Visit The Star for yourself. I will need to watch it several more times, but I must admit the presentation is compelling.

Leadership Thought

Leading Ideas: Getting Unstuck (part 2) “ID-ing Catalyzing Leaders”
Orginally published on Monday, December 08, 2008 at 9:19 AM by Alan E. Nelson

In the last LeadingIdeas, I pointed out that the primary reason that churches find themselves stuck is because they’ve marginalized or run off their catalyzing leaders. These are the people who have the God-given ability to sense where organizations are stuck and are able to strategize ways to move them forward. The typical scenario is that managers or do-gooders get selected to serve on the church board, people who’ve never really led much in their lives, but find themselves in a situation where they can “be in charge.” If and when a catalyst is nominated to serve on the board or even considers the outside chance of volunteering for the role, he looks at the current board, doesn’t spot any other catalysts, and then graciously excuses himself. Fat chance they want to spend endless hours in board meetings, nit-picking over paint chips or micro-managing ministry budgets. So how do you find these elusive, catalyzing leaders, when you’re surrounded by teaching, relational, and managerial types? The problem is a big one because the old adage is true, “it takes one to know one.” When non-catalyzing leaders try to find catalyzing leaders, they nearly always come up with their own kind. So here’s a cheat sheet of sorts to help you discern who has a catalyzing wiring in your congregation, so that you can seek them out one on one for some loving arm-twisting. Since these people almost never respond to cattle calls from the pulpit or bulletin announcements, and healthy ones rarely volunteer to help (unhealthy controlling types sometimes do), you’ll need to do some personal recruiting. Sounds a lot like Jesus’ approach to disciple-inviting, doesn’t it? Here are 5 traits for identify catalyzing leaders:
1. They currently supervise at least 10 people in their work; 20 or more is even better. Don’t just look for talented individuals, sole business owners who sell insurance or run a ma and pa type store. People who manage more than a handful of others often have the catalyzing gene.
2. Interview the person and listen for past experience in terms of being in charge of clubs or groups. For example, “I was student body president of my high school.” “I was the captain of our debate team.” “I was the youngest to be promoted to district manager in our company.” In our work with young leaders in KidLead, we’ve found that catalyzing leaders tend to emerge early in life, as early as preschool when socializing distinguishes the followers from the followed.
3. They’ve successfully established ministry teams at church. When you give a catalyzing leader a task, he or she will round up a group of people and gidder done. Others will tend to overwork themselves, stress out over limited resources, and fail to attract others to the cause. They’ll say things such as, “Nobody showed up. Everyone was too busy. People just aren’t committed.” Use your local church as a laboratory to test for those able to catalyze others and accomplish things through teams.
4. They’re talked about when absent or are looked to when in a group. This is the EF Hutton symptom, “when they talk, others listen.” This person may not be brash, outgoing, or an extrovert, but they do carry a presence about them that is noticed when they are absent. Listen for names that get mentioned frequently and look for those who are asked about by others.
5. Look at those in your church who get things outside of the church. Catalyzing leaders can’t not lead. Because most churches don’t have enough room for them to spread their wings, they gravitate toward community, parachurch, or business arenas that recognize and reward them with opportunities. Google, read the paper, and interview those in your church who may be sitting in the back or attending sporadically, to see who is making the chips fly on the outside .
You may find one or two of these indicators in people who aren’t catalyzing leaders, but most catalyzing leaders will have at least four of them, if not all five. When you ID them positively, do your best to cast a personal vision. Better yet, find three or four of them and get them all together at one time. They’ll recognize the trait in each other and when they realize they’re not alone in the church, they’re more apt to hope things really can change. Then, let them go. Don’t tie them down with protocol and constraints. Let the horses run.

Alan E. Nelson http://www.alanenelson.com http://www.kidlead.com

I read this at www.mondaymorninginsight.com

Possible Joseph Thoughts

In the first Christmas Story Joseph obeys. He hears God and obeys. May I do the same.

Brain and Life Food

"There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ."

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)

What Gift Are You Giving?

Today's Whistling

Hark the herald angels sing"

Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled"

Joyful, all ye nations rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With the angelic host proclaim:"

Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald angels sing"

Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored

Christ the everlasting Lord!

Late in time behold Him come

Offspring of a Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see

Hail the incarnate Deity

Pleased as man with man to dwell

Jesus, our Emmanuel

Hark! The herald angels sing"

Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings

Ris'n with healing in His wings

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth

Hark! The herald angels sing"

Glory to the newborn King!"

Pray This Prayer - Regularly

The prayer below was offered in a Community Group by a person who is growing in Christ and branching out into new territories of faith in order to touch more lives.

Father,
We thank you for this study tonight and this time to learn about complete forgiveness. Thank you for making us all equal in your eyes. You forgive us no matter how big or small we may have sinned. Thank you for forgiveness even when we cannot forgive ourselves. Thank you for seeing our heart, we are truly grateful. Teach us to be more like you and to forgive others. Help us to remember it is not by our deeds but by our faith in you that we are saved. Thank you for providing this way for us. Let us seek to honor you in everything we say and do. Let us show others love and kindness. Help us and move in our lives to show us what we can accomplish in your name. Help us to put our faith into action. Help us to be more like you in everything we say and do.
In Jesus Name, Amen

The Gifts

Christmas Cheer

For those who are a part of SCC. Keep bringing in nice, clean, gently used coats for adults and children and plan on giving above and beyond your regular offering to help with ministry throughout Virginia. You can also help with Compassion International, Tamani Africa.

See Matthew 1 and 2 and Luke 1 and 2 for the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Worship

1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod's kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."

11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

Worship: Recognise God's greatness. To bow down before God. To offer yourself to God. Recognize God is the King and you are the servant. Acknowledging that God is in control.

Bethlehem in Santa Clara

Take a quick tour of Bethlehem in Santa Clara. This is a pretty cool way to help people understand Christmas. Offer up a brief prayer for this church and Bethlehem Experience. Offer up a prayer for someone you know who has not yet accepted Jesus Christ. Offer up a prayer for the local church in which you serve. Offer up a prayer for yourself and thank God for life.

Just For Laughs

Social Event Questions

7 Easy To Ask Questions For Social Events
How do you like the band/food/play (fill in the blank) so far?
How do you know the hosts? (This tells me about connections and helps me find possible similarities.)
What do you do when you're not at cookouts? (work/family/hobbies)
What do you do for a living? or Do you work outside the home?
What do you do for fun?
How did you end up in ___________ (Name of city)?
How did you two meet (if you're talking to a couple)?

Thanks to John Chandler of The Spence Network for the above.

Happy Thanksgiving - Blog Break

I'm breaking from blogging to spend time thanking.

The Bonfire - SCC

We had a good time at the bonfire. Thank you Kirby and Janet for having us out. Thanks JT and the other Studnet Ministry Leaders for touching the lives of students and leading them to accept Jesus Christ and become totally committed followers of Jesus Christ. Fan the flame. Fan the flame.

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. II Timothy 1:3-7

Thanksgiving - He Rocks!

STEVE,

OKAY I LOVED THIS VIDEO AT CHURCH AND ON YOUR BLOG! (See The Post: Neverending Thanksgiving Prayer) THAT IS HOW I PRAY TOO! OKAY AND I WANTED TO PRAY LIKE THAT WHEN I GOT UP TO THE MICROPHONE. ONE LAST THANKS I WANTED TO SAY AND I DIDN'T WAS TO THANK GOD FOR SKINNIER JEANS! HE HAS BEEN A BIG HELP TO ME! AWESOME SERVICE! I WAS AMAZED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT UP TO SPEAK THIS YEAR! SUNRISE CHURCH ROCKS AND IT TOUCHING SO MANY LIVES! IT IS AMAZING! NOT REALLY! IT IS GOD! HE ROCKS!

KATHY HOLLAND

Some Scripture

16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Colossians 3:16

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1: 3-6

Thanksgiving - Gratitude Busters

Quote For Thought

Most people as are happy as they make up their minds to be.
Abraham Lincoln

Neverending Thanksgivng Prayer

This video can be found at Bluefishtv

Thankful

Thanksgiving - Presidential Thoughts

10

The Ten Cannots posted by a friend. Pretty good food for thought.

Top Ten - Too Much Thanksgiving Dinner

10. Hundreds of volunteers have started to stack sandbags around you.
9. Doctor tells you your weight would be perfect for a man 17 feet tall.

8. You are responsible for a slight but measurable shift in the earth's axis.

7. Right this minute you're laughing up pie on the carpet.

6. You decide to take a little nap and wake up in mid-July.

5. World's fattest man sends you a telegram, warning you to "back off!"

4. CBS tells you to lose weight or else.

3. Getting off your couch requires help from the fire department.

2. Every escalator you step on immediately grinds to a halt.

1. You're sweatin' gravy.

From Letteman.

Leadership Thought

"After fifteen years of diligent digging into the world around me, I have reached several conclusions about the future of the Christian church in America. The central conclusion is that the American church is dying due to lack of strong spiritual leadership. In this time of unprecedented opportunity and plentiful resources, the church is actually losing influence. The primary reason is lack of leadership. Nothing is more important than leadership."
George Barna, Leaders on Leadership

For SCC - 11-16-08 A Formula For Frienships

We finished the Balancing Your Life series this past Sunday by looking at the importance of friendships. GLARE did a great job with the song "You've Got A Friend". I mean, they knocked it out of the park. Below is a brief of what Scott and I shared about friendships.

I. TYPES OF FRIENDSHIPS

Casual Friends

Close Friends

Fact: The closer I am to a person the greater impact they will have on my life.

II. DETERMINING MY CLOSEST FRIENDSHIPS

Avoid people who have chosen to be:

Lazy, Angry, Immoral, Greedy, Unbelieving.

Select close friends who will:

Stimulate me mentally.

Support me emotionally.

Strengthen me spiritually.

III. HOW TO BUILD FRIENDSHIPS

Become interested in other people.

Be a positive and cheerful person.

Learn to be a good listener.

Accept people unconditionally.

Be there for people in good times and tough times.

Be willing to share Jesus Christ with them.

I encouraged everyone in attendance to call a friend this week and leave a voice mail or speak with them personally and shower them with positive and encouraging words about themselves. It would be best to leave a voice mail so they can listen to it numerous times. We like to be encouraged, so give a good word to a friend this week.

For SCC - Giving To Missions And Ministry

Some of the money that is given during the Hearts and Hands emphasis in Nov. and Dec. at Sunrise will go to help people in need after a a natural disaster. I met a man this past week who lives in VA and flew to TX to help with the group you see in the above clip. People were helped, lives were touched and Jesus Christ was shared with thousands of people. Thank God.

Thanksgiving - Grandma's House

At Grandma's House

I like the taste of turkey

Any time throughout the year

But it never

seems to taste as good

As when Thanksgiving's here.

Could be it's all the trimmings

That are cooked with it to eat-

But I think it's

eating at Grandma's house

That makes it such a treat!

~Author Unknown

As a child, preteen and teen our family spent man Thanksgivngs our my grandparents homes with many other relatives. I have great memories of these times and thanks God as I briefly visit the memory banks in times of reflection.

Psalm 95:1-6

1 O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
4 In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
5 The sea is His, for it was He who made it,
And His hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

360 Atop Spy Rock

This video was taken on Monday, 11-10-08 by David Donahue. David is the friend who led the way on the hike to the top. Thanks David.

Spy Rock trail to Appalachian Trail is a 1.3 mile moderately strenuous hike from the Montebello Fish Hatchery up to the Appalachian Trail and to Spy Rock, probably the best viewpoint in the central Blue Ridge. The rock outcrop, at 3,980 feet elevation, provides a 360 degree panoramic view of numerous mountain summits.

Friends - Sunday, 11-16-08 at SCC

Cute - What are you talking to God about?

Change

On my drive to and from the office complex I travel a road that is narrow and lined with trees on both sides. The trees are in full Fall colors and are beautiful. The brief drive is energizing due to the colors. When I arrive and park I look across a large piece of land that is back dropped by beautiful colors due to the Autumn weather. I sometimes sit just a few seconds and gaze out at the colors and breath a, "Wow". In the office I use I see pretty colors of nature outside the office window. I have recently been opening the office window just a bit to experience the north breeze and the smell of Fall. My wife and I just recently visited about the color of the leaves and how pretty it is this year.

Fall is pretty in my zip code. The trees changing colors is beautiful and makes for some good driving conversation. It leads me to think some about changing seasons which in turn leads to pondering about personal change and growth. As I think on this I realize I am all for YOU changing and becoming a better person, a more giving person, a person that I might like, and a person who realizes just how sharp I am. I mean, I am all for YOU changing. But me changing and making personal changes, now that is another story. Really, I do think about personal changes that I need to make want to make and grow towards. Below are some of the changes I think about for Steve Nethery.


I want to become less reactive and more responsive with my words.
I want to be a better listener.
I want to be a better public speaker/communicator.
I want to be more disciplined in my thought pattern and more optimistic in my thoughts.
I want to become more aware of what God is doing internationally.
I want to become more "Eternally Bound."
I want to... the list goes on.

Change. What are you seeking to personally change?

WOW

HARRIMAN, Tenn. – Ken Mink, a 73-year-old full-time student, scored two points Monday night in Roane State Community College's 93-42 victory over King College's junior varsity. Mink entered the game with about 16 minutes left in the second half and attempted one shot in about three minutes. Seven minutes later, he went back in the game, was fouled and made two free throws.
"I found myself on the free-throw line 52 years after my last college game," Mink said. "I said, 'Just relax and shoot it like you know how to all day long.' I just floated the shots in there. I'm in the books now. I can relax a little bit."
Mink, of Knoxville, last played college basketball 52 years ago at Lees College in Jackson, Ky. After someone soaped the basketball coach's office, he lost his spot on the team and was expelled. Mink still says he didn't do it.
Last year, after shooting baskets at a neighbor's house, he wrote to several area colleges, and Roane State coach Randy Nesbit agreed to give him a chance. Mink has practiced regularly with the team since school began in August.

Source: yahoo.com

The Month Of Thanks

During the month of November consider the personal developmment goal of becoming a more thankful and gracious person.

Helpful Hints:

Count your blessings - make a list and start enumerating the blessings in your life.

Consider the debt that has been paid on the cross - nothing is quite as humbling as an honest
evaluation of what Jesus has done in our behalf.
Write a brief “Thank You” note to everyone who gives you a gift this year - buy a package of
“Thank You” notes and a booklet of stamps. Write a cuple of cards each week and send them out.

Give thanks before each meal you eat and even your snack.
Begin teaching your children and/or grandchildren manners, like saying “Please” & “Thank You.”

Include thankfulness in every prayer - don’t allow your prayers to become a gigantic Christmas
list that you present to God…gimmie this, gimmie that… Spend time in thanks!

Nightly thanks - as you go to bed think of three things that happened that day and thank God for them.

The Hymn - Count Your Blessings

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain
Count your blessings, name them one by one,Count your blessings, see what God hath done!Count your blessings, name them one by one,And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buyYour reward in heaven, Nor your home on high.

Refrain
So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be disheartened, God is over all;Count your many blessings, Angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.