Jesus Loves You

My son's friend had this shirt on this morn. Funny.

Homecoming Court

The Nethery's are celebrating Nat's Sr. year in High School. She recently made the Homecoming Court in her High School, Western Branch Bruins that has about 2,500 students, and was in the running for Queen. She had a great week and a really fun Friday at the Homecoming Parade and game. Nat, you are a awesome daughter and a wonderful young lady.

Daily Devotional

The following is a good word about God's Word. You can check this site out yourself daily or you can order hard copies of this Devotional book that will help you as you seek to spend time with God each day.

Our Daily Bread

Some Quotes Sent From A Friend

Better to do something imperfectly than to do NOTHING flawlessly.

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

The only difference between a good day and a bad day is your attitude!

The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.

Winners never quit and quitters never win!

To fail to plan means you plan to fail!

The first step to getting the things you want is to DECIDE what you want!

For SCC - Balancing Life's Demands

Continuing the series Balancing Your Life Sunday's service was an overview of upcoming services with an emphasis on deciding to live with Christ at the center of your life. Below is a brief of the message.

When we live in imbalalnce we experience frustration and fatigue.

The following story told by Jesus and recorded in Luke in Chpt 15:11-21. 11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

This man lived out of balance. His life became chaotic and frustrating because he was seeking to live for himself and away form any foundation. After doing some self evaluation he came to his senses and returned home. Scott encouraged us to do some self evaluation and decide to live with Christ as the center of our lives. We will be looking at the following areas iin the series: Finances, Mental/Thoughts, Physical Health, Spiritual Health and the importance of Friendships.

The message was closed with the following thoughts about taking action:
1.It’s never going to be any easier than it is today to do what God’s putting on your heart to do.
2.The longer the wait, the more damage.
3.Once you decide to do something, it’s amazing how quickly a change of heart can happen in our lives.

It is time to take action:

1.Take inventory
2.Make a plan
3.Establish Christ at the center of your life

201: Membership

Today I had the opportunity to lead SCC's 201 class. It was a good time. Fast and furious, yet a good time. Those in the class had already gone through SCC's 101 course and are very sharp people. I wish we would of had more time for discussion today because the brief discussion we did have was encouraging and beneficial to all in the class. It does my heart good to meet people who want to follow Jesus Christ and and recognize that God is working in their lives. It is encouraging to hear from others a desire to see God work in the lives of others and a desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

Focus

Money - Helpful Forms

Financial Peace University - Helpful Forms

Crown Financial - Helpful Forms

Encouraging Words

Matthew 6:25-34

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Quote - Personal Growth

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." Psychologist Carl G. Jung

Money - Funny, Yet Not

Leadership Thought

When you have a culture of disciplined people, you don't need hierarchy. When you have disciplined thought, you don't need bureaucracy. When you have disciplined action, you don't need excessive controls. When you combine a culture of discipline with a culture of entrepreneurship, you get the magical alchemy of great performance.- Jim Collins, Good to Great

Time

For SCC - Slowing Down 10-5-09

Sunrise began a new series this past Sunday. Below are the cliff notes to the service and message.

GLARE, the Music Team/Band, of Sunrise lead us in music that lead us to think about and encounter God. The DVD clip "Slow Down" was shown and GLARE played a cover song from Third Day that rocks and speaks to the heart and soul about slowing down in life.

Message Highlights:

Effects Of A Hurried Life:

A hurried life can lead you and me to experiencing and feeling more stress.

A hurried life can lead you and me to lose our sense of thanks and joy.

A hurried life can make us less productive.

In a hurried life we are most likely to make bad decisions.

In a hurried life we miss out on opportunities to share God's love with others.

God seems distant in a hurries life.

Slow Down:

S - Start your day with God.

This is about being in tune with God and empowered by God.

L - Learn to say "yes" and "no".

This is about life management and purpose.

O - Obey # 4.

This is about rest,relaxation and recognition of God.

W - Wait on God.

This is about trusting God.

Money - The Video Is Pretty Clear

Money - A Few Thoughts From The Bible

1. Proverbs 13:22 "A good man leaves an inheritance to his childrens' children."
2. Proverbs 21:20 "In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has."
3. Proverbs 22:7 states that "The rich rule over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender."
4. Luke 14:28 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it."
5. Matt. 6:24 "You cannot serve both God and money".

6. Philippians 4:10-13 "I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Money - Helpful Ideas

How To Prosper In A Declining Economy is a sweet little article. Take 5 and give it a read.

My Daughter the Senior

Matthew 7:24-29 The Message

24-25"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26-27"But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."
28-29When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.