I was finally able to view the movie 300 last night. A couple of the guys came over with it and I don't want to know how they got it. But anyway, I enjoyed it. How interesting that a few men are willing to die for their earthly leader, and their earthly leader is willing to die for history. He was doing it just to be remembered for his courage and his valor.
There are 5 major marks of being a disciple. A disciple is far different from just a believer. A believer would be someone who would fight with a huge army or defend his family, a disciple is one of the guys standing in the front line with his shield up ready for battle not caring who or why they are under attack.
The first mark is loving Jesus supremely. We see that we need to love Him above family, friends and all others in order to be a true disciple.
If you truly follow the Lord, you won’t have to look for people to ridicule you and oppose you, they will find you–and they may be your family members. In Matthew 10 Jesus said, “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved…Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:22,37)
The bottom line is that we must live day to day, minute to minute for the times when we are closest to God. Our quiet times, our worship times both private and corporate must be the drive of all the other times.
when God calls you, you have to make some difficult decisions, and sometimes your family will not jump up and down and rejoice over your choices. That’s the first mark of a true disciple.
So ask yourself, how much am I willing to give up for Christ. In light of the movie 300 are we willing to give up everything and everyone in order to know Him and serve Him?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Monday, monday,monday
Hey it's monday morning. How exciting. This week is full of new opportunities and even greater prospects of future. As each day comes, so new opportunities arise. As we face new endeavors it is important that we face them with God's will in mind.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death.
I have found in life and in my studies of God's Word that the easiest route and the most attractive route are usually not the best route.
The most attractive choices almost always lead to the most unattractive results. If we follow the easy path eventually our desires become our master. We must search for God's will and His guidance in all that we do.
The right choices are not always the easy ones. A decision to follow Christ costs something according to Luke 14:27 we must carry our cross and forsake all others. Including family and friends in order to fully give God our all.
Finally most choices have long-term effects. God can and does see the future and all that is out in the future, but we only see the puzzle day by day. Day by day we get a piece, put it in place and try to make sense of it, but God not only gives us the pieces, He in His infinite wisdom has the box. You know, the box cover you look at to know where each piece goes and what the puzzle looks at upon completion.
So as you make decisions in life make sure you seek God's Counsel.
Remember this:
Thoughts create actions
Actions create habits
Habits create character
Character creates destiny.
Until we learn to control our actions through controlling our thoughts we will never reach our true destiny. God knows what is best, and has a plan for each of us. Follow His lead and find your destiny.
Love you all!
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to man, but in the end it leads to death.
I have found in life and in my studies of God's Word that the easiest route and the most attractive route are usually not the best route.
The most attractive choices almost always lead to the most unattractive results. If we follow the easy path eventually our desires become our master. We must search for God's will and His guidance in all that we do.
The right choices are not always the easy ones. A decision to follow Christ costs something according to Luke 14:27 we must carry our cross and forsake all others. Including family and friends in order to fully give God our all.
Finally most choices have long-term effects. God can and does see the future and all that is out in the future, but we only see the puzzle day by day. Day by day we get a piece, put it in place and try to make sense of it, but God not only gives us the pieces, He in His infinite wisdom has the box. You know, the box cover you look at to know where each piece goes and what the puzzle looks at upon completion.
So as you make decisions in life make sure you seek God's Counsel.
Remember this:
Thoughts create actions
Actions create habits
Habits create character
Character creates destiny.
Until we learn to control our actions through controlling our thoughts we will never reach our true destiny. God knows what is best, and has a plan for each of us. Follow His lead and find your destiny.
Love you all!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Friday
It's Friday and that means the weekend is almost here. I am excited about this weekend. Just this morning I was reading over my ceremony for a wedding I will be performing this Saturday in Fernandina Beach. Lindsay Rochell Van Meter is getting hitched. I know you're saying "WHo?!" The person that we affectionately refer to as Linz Van is getting married.(Proof there's a sucker born every day!)"
As I read over the ceremony this morning, I love the verses I will be sharing out of 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy. it does not boast it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
These verses are pivotal to any marriage and I want to go on record as saying without the love of my wife I would not be where I am today. She has supported me through great times, through rough times and even when I hit rock bottom. Every day we wake up in love with a new slate, and excited about a new day together.
There are many others who have loved us through the tough times, they've believed in us and been there for us and to them I am eternally in debted to .
One final note, you see that the word truth shows up in the end of these verses, truth is what we want to stand for in our new endeavor, and Truth is what we will be. Love will pave the way, and prayer will do the work. So have a great day, and even better weekend and we hope to see you real soon!
As I read over the ceremony this morning, I love the verses I will be sharing out of 1 Corinthians 13. Love is patient, love is kind, It does not envy. it does not boast it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
These verses are pivotal to any marriage and I want to go on record as saying without the love of my wife I would not be where I am today. She has supported me through great times, through rough times and even when I hit rock bottom. Every day we wake up in love with a new slate, and excited about a new day together.
There are many others who have loved us through the tough times, they've believed in us and been there for us and to them I am eternally in debted to .
One final note, you see that the word truth shows up in the end of these verses, truth is what we want to stand for in our new endeavor, and Truth is what we will be. Love will pave the way, and prayer will do the work. So have a great day, and even better weekend and we hope to see you real soon!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
First Big steps
Well, Truth Baptist Church has taken its first big steps. We sat down with leaders, sought out cousel and are now well on our way. It is our hope in this time to simply seek out a prayer group. Tara and I will be seeking out people who will agree to simply pray for our ministry each day. Prayer is the greatest resource we have, and the greatest power to help. For the time being that is all we wish for is your prayers. Pray that we follow God's leading, pray that we seek godly counsel, and pray that we serve God's wants and not our own.
We will soon start our Sunday evening Bible studies and move on from there. The constant question people ask me this week is what can we do for you? How can we help you and your family? The answer is simply pray for us. C.H. Spurgeon figured it out a long time ago, this is what I long for in a church family:
C. H. Spurgeon was one of the most popular and successful preachers of Victorian England. His Metropolitan Tabernacle drew thousands each Sunday. Often hundreds would stand outside in the street hoping to catch a bit of the Baptist preacher’s message. One day a group of young seminary students came to visit the church they had heard so much about. When they entered the huge building, they were met by a gray bearded gentleman they took to be the janitor. He offered to lead them on a tour through the facilities and answer any questions they had.They walked through the sanctuary, stood in the pulpit, and looked down from the balcony. When they had seen just about everything and asked every conceivable question they could come up with, the old gentleman asked a strange question, “Would you like to see what heats this church?” They weren’t really that interested in touring the coal cellar and furnace room. But just to humor their host, they followed. They went down a narrow stairway to an area beneath the pulpit. As the gentleman opened the door, he said, “Behind this door is the secret of this great church. Everything that happens upstairs starts down here. This is where the fire in the pulpit begins.”The old man, actually Spurgeon himself, opened the door to reveal several dozen people on their knees in fervent prayer. The great preacher would always insist that the secret of any church, big or small, was the prayers of the people. It was Spurgeon who said, “I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.”
So it is simply our hope that you will pray for us in this time. We love every one of you, and know that we are praying for you as well.
First Timothy 2:1 says1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—
We love you!
We will soon start our Sunday evening Bible studies and move on from there. The constant question people ask me this week is what can we do for you? How can we help you and your family? The answer is simply pray for us. C.H. Spurgeon figured it out a long time ago, this is what I long for in a church family:
C. H. Spurgeon was one of the most popular and successful preachers of Victorian England. His Metropolitan Tabernacle drew thousands each Sunday. Often hundreds would stand outside in the street hoping to catch a bit of the Baptist preacher’s message. One day a group of young seminary students came to visit the church they had heard so much about. When they entered the huge building, they were met by a gray bearded gentleman they took to be the janitor. He offered to lead them on a tour through the facilities and answer any questions they had.They walked through the sanctuary, stood in the pulpit, and looked down from the balcony. When they had seen just about everything and asked every conceivable question they could come up with, the old gentleman asked a strange question, “Would you like to see what heats this church?” They weren’t really that interested in touring the coal cellar and furnace room. But just to humor their host, they followed. They went down a narrow stairway to an area beneath the pulpit. As the gentleman opened the door, he said, “Behind this door is the secret of this great church. Everything that happens upstairs starts down here. This is where the fire in the pulpit begins.”The old man, actually Spurgeon himself, opened the door to reveal several dozen people on their knees in fervent prayer. The great preacher would always insist that the secret of any church, big or small, was the prayers of the people. It was Spurgeon who said, “I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.”
So it is simply our hope that you will pray for us in this time. We love every one of you, and know that we are praying for you as well.
First Timothy 2:1 says1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—
We love you!
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