tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196363422024-03-05T17:08:08.636-06:00The Way I See ThingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.comBlogger561125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-84773711408041288112016-01-28T06:58:00.003-06:002016-01-28T06:58:42.881-06:00New Blog Site<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From now on... at least until further notice... the blog that has been hosted here can now be found at <a href="http://anthony.thefaithpath.com/" target="_blank">anthony.thefaithpath.com</a>. Please make any changes to bookmarks as necessary. <br />
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Thank you and look forward to seeing you on the faith path.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-54991167509095537982016-01-14T10:02:00.001-06:002016-01-14T10:31:58.861-06:00Working Out Our Salvation<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/03/large_8084682666-380x213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn-media-1.lifehack.org/wp-content/files/2014/03/large_8084682666-380x213.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none; display: block; margin-top: auto;" /></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">One of the most common New Year’s resolutions that people make each year is to get in shape or exercise. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">It is important that if we want to live a productive life that we make sure that we are as healthy as we can be. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">Paul told Timothy in <a href="https://www.bible.com/search/bible?q=1%20timothy%204:8&version_id=100" target="_blank">1 Timothy 4:8</a> that physical exercise was good but that spiritual exercise would benefit us for eternity. </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">In <a href="https://www.bible.com/search/bible?q=Philippians%202:12&version_id=100" target="_blank">Philippians 2:12</a>, Paul tells the Philippian believers to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Notice that he does NOT say to work for your salvation. Salvation is a gift of God’s grace to us. We can do nothing to earn it or deserve it. </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">While salvation is a gift of grace, it is a gift that is to be opened and put in to use. There are so many things about this gift of salvation that people who put their faith in Christ receive that we are to experience. </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1) Forgiveness and Freedom from <b>past</b> sins.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2) A <b>future</b> home in heaven with our Lord forever.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">While this gift has these wonderful benefits, it also has something for us today: victory and joy. These things can be missed by those who are not seeking to do what Paul talks about here in working out our salvation. God intends us not to just receive this gift, but He wants us to open it and experience all it has to offer.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b>Fear</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">Paul said first that we should work out our salvation with fear. This is the idea of reverence. We must be sure to remember where this gift came from (God). We should live each day in reverence of who He is. </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">We need to make sure that we have the proper picture of who the giver of this gift is. He is not some drill sergeant waiting to make us drop and give Him 20 when we mess up. He is not some loving grandpa just wanting to give us candy and shrug things off as “no big deal.” He is the living God of the universe… All-powerful… holy… just… </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">When you see God as He truly is, there will be a reverence in your life towards Him.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b>Trembling</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">Paul says second that we should work out our salvation with trembling. This is not saying that we are to be scared and shaking in fear. The meaning of this word is “seriousness.” Too many times people do not take God serious. This is a result again of not understanding who the giver of the gift of salvation is.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b>How Do We Work Out Our Salvation?</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><b><br />
</b> <b>1) Realize that God is the One working in us (v 13)</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">Just as there is nothing that we can do to earn salvation, there is no power within us to fully open up and experience this gift of salvation for today. God gives the gift and begins a work in us that helps us experience the fullness of salvation.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>2) Remove complaining and arguing (v 14)</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">It is interesting that Paul uses the phrases “grumbling” and “disrupting” here. Grumbling has to do with complaining. When grumbling is present, it reveals a selfish nature that is not part of God’s desires for our lives. We grumble and complain when things aren’t going the way that we want them to go. Following the Lord’s lead may take you in a direction that you would not want to go.</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">Disrupting has the thought of arguing about a difference of opinions. We all have opinions on matters. We will stand strong for our opinions. God has given us clearly in His word the line of truth. These are the things that we should stand strong on. We have to remember that while our opinions may mean a lot to us, they are not gospel. </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;"><b>3) Remain in the Word (v 16)</b></div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">A final way that Paul shows us to work out our salvation is by holding fast to the word of life. This means to hold firmly to the Word that God has given us. He has given us both His written word (the Bible) and the living word (Jesus). If we want to experience all that this salvation has for us, we are going to have to cling to the Word of God. </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">There are many things in this world that will fight for our attention and devotion. The Word of God is the single thing in the universe that can lead us and guide us to experiencing the fullness of the salvation that we have received from the Lord. </div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; min-height: 13px;"><br />
</div><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b>Conclusion</b></div><br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">This gift of salvation is one gift that is way more than we could ever imagine. It has components that deal with our past, present, and future. If we are going to fully experience this gift and all that it has to offer, we have to allow it to do its work in our lives today. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-13431626520263425002016-01-08T09:44:00.001-06:002016-01-08T09:44:22.367-06:00Book Review: "The Dude's Guide to Marriage"<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dudes-Guide-Marriage-Husband-Develop/dp/1400205492/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452265159&sr=1-1&keywords=dude%27s+guide+to+marriage" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eX3qvcpWL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" title="The Dude's Guide to Marriage" width="221" /></a>It is no secret that as you look around our society, the marriage relationship is coming under fire from many different directions. This sacred institution is the heart of a society, and it is definitely worth the risk, effort, and whatever else to protect and make as healthy as possible. If this precious relationship is not protected and strengthened, then it will be the Achilles' heel of our society.<br />
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Darrin and Amie Patrick have put together a work that is intended to help the men in these relationships understand a little of what is expected from the other side of the relationship. <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dudes-Guide-Marriage-Husband-Develop/dp/1400205492/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452265159&sr=1-1&keywords=dude%27s+guide+to+marriage" target="_blank">The Dude's Guide to Marriage: Ten Skills Every Husband Must Develop to Love His Wife Well</a></i> is this work. I had the privilege of being asked to write a review about this book, and that is what I intend to do here.<br />
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One of the big things that I really enjoyed about reading this book was the fact that it was not just some guy writing to a bunch of other guys about what we should be doing or like. The Patricks work together to speak to guys to help them see what the other side of the relationship is looking for. This is huge because there are many times where we "don't get it." We need someone to just shoot straight and show us what they are looking for. By this couple teaming up, the reader (intended to be men) gets a wife's perspective on issues that helps clarify some things greatly. It was a great move to allow Amie Patrick completely write the chapter on pursuing your wife. <br />
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I really wondered about how well this would be because to cover ten topics on marriage for men and the book is only about 200 pages, I wondered if it would be like skipping across the top of a lake. I came to find out that it was not that at all. The Patricks carefully take us beneath the surface on these important issues and provide helpful, Bible-driven points to strengthen these areas. <br />
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I will admit that as I began reading this book, I thought that it was intended for those who were preparing for marriage. Some of the chapters were bent this way, but many of them applied to those of us who have been married for some time. At first, I felt that this was a little confusing, but now I see that as a great benefit of this book. It can be used by men no matter what stage of life they are in. <br />
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I would highly recommend this book to any man out there. Darrin and Amie Patrick have done a fantastic job in putting together some timeless wisdom in a way that is easy to work through. It is straight to the point. It will cause you to think and help move you to become the man that will love his wife well. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-21362884159948194252015-12-29T10:16:00.000-06:002015-12-29T10:16:09.487-06:00A Parent's Joy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://img1.etsystatic.com/014/0/7517480/il_fullxfull.421042251_adqn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://img1.etsystatic.com/014/0/7517480/il_fullxfull.421042251_adqn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As I was reading in my Bible recently, I came across a verse that spoke to me in a brand new way. That verse is the one in the image above (<a href="https://www.bible.com/search/bible?q=3%20John%201:4&version_id=100" target="_blank">3 John 1:4</a>). I cannot count the times that I have heard this verse in a Bible study or sermon. I have had it highlighted in many of the Bibles that I have owned. What was so different this time of reading?<br />
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The difference was that I was not thinking of it as a pastor but as a parent. When John first penned these words back in the first century, it seems as though he was writing about those he had seen come to faith in Christ. He viewed his relationship with them as that of a parent. It is good to think about it that way.<br />
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But this verse spoke to me and I thought about the three boys that God has so richly blessed my wife and I with. I was immediately drawn to pray this for my boys. I want them to know the Truth (Jesus Christ) in a powerful way. I truly believe that there would be few things in life that would make me truly happy than to know and to hear from others about how my boys are walking/following Christ. <br />
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If you know someone who has children and they are walking in the truth of Jesus Christ, let their parents know. You will bring them a joy like nothing else can.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-15381703637295266792015-12-25T06:00:00.000-06:002015-12-25T06:00:02.829-06:00Merry Christmas <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQvYL7-5VGSap2qDngUuXXdXIGmZm_johbgPyQRyDrN3WbqKGwv625lsPOPVbdHE5DYHCdWIbp6rMM4veXJFTfrYYRVX2kwVDtG5hTIzkXPgLUUGWQH7SLybnaI9R1V4aYAKIGQ/s1600/a14bf8703bb3e06b947964150659e24a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQvYL7-5VGSap2qDngUuXXdXIGmZm_johbgPyQRyDrN3WbqKGwv625lsPOPVbdHE5DYHCdWIbp6rMM4veXJFTfrYYRVX2kwVDtG5hTIzkXPgLUUGWQH7SLybnaI9R1V4aYAKIGQ/s320/a14bf8703bb3e06b947964150659e24a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Merry Christmas wishes to you and yours. May the Lord bless you richly as you remember the greatest gift that was ever given: Jesus Christ. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-38618951270440952252015-12-08T08:36:00.000-06:002015-12-08T08:54:05.685-06:00Book Review: "We Cannot Be Silent"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_cfaiOPD_OQ9y6sz-oQxmV1fT5KX2WkO_H0vGh4yhVfnS0xaFDuccWEVyacOwEoAlA-8xiObJheXReCuuO3bbXW8dFLwCLZkNZFgdB15jHhchV0QfaJSlZiGuECiwNVx924L0w/s1600/we+cannot+be+silent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_cfaiOPD_OQ9y6sz-oQxmV1fT5KX2WkO_H0vGh4yhVfnS0xaFDuccWEVyacOwEoAlA-8xiObJheXReCuuO3bbXW8dFLwCLZkNZFgdB15jHhchV0QfaJSlZiGuECiwNVx924L0w/s200/we+cannot+be+silent.jpg" width="132" /></a>The world in which we find ourselves living is one that does not resemble what it was just a couple of decades ago at all. Some might be inclined to think that if you were to hold up a picture of our 21st century world to a picture of what it was in the 20th century, one might be inclined to think that these are two different places. While the world and culture is changing quickly around us, some of these changes are not so grand. <br />
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With the passing of legislation that has approved marriage for same-sex individuals in the United States of America recently, it has drawn attention to a culture change that has been moving for some time. In <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Cannot-Be-Silent-Redefining/dp/0718032489/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449584929&sr=8-1&keywords=we+cannot+be+silent+al+mohler" target="_blank">We Cannot Be Silent</a></i>, <a href="http://albertmohler.com/" target="_blank">Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr.</a> puts forth a call to those who say that they are followers of Jesus Christ to not be silent.<br />
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One of the reasons that culture has spun so quickly away from the Judeo-Christian principles that were so prevalent not too long ago is because the Church in certain areas took the approach that "nothing will really come of this." Well, they were wrong. Dr. Mohler issues a challenge to followers of Jesus in this book to not make the same mistake again.<br />
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Dr. Mohler is a respected intellectual and theologian. He serves as the President of the <a href="http://www.sbts.edu/" target="_blank">Southern Baptist Theological Seminary</a> in Louisville, KY. I have respected the work of Dr. Mohler for some time as he has served as an intelligent voice for evangelical Christians around the world. In <i>We Cannot Be Silent</i>, Dr. Mohler does an excellent job of showing how we got to this point in our culture by pointing out some key things that have happened through the years leading to this point. Dr. Mohler does not leave it with just looking at how we got here, but he also shows ways in which we can stand and not remain silent. <br />
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I would highly encourage anyone who is a follower of Jesus and concerned with the state of our culture today to pick up a copy of this book and give it a read. You will be educated, convicted, and (hopefully) inspired to make the stand that we should have been making all along. <br />
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<i>Note: I received a copy of this book as part of the <a href="http://booklookbloggers.com/" target="_blank">Booklook bloggers program</a>. I was given the book in exchange for an honest review.</i><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-62169170945819523762015-11-26T08:52:00.001-06:002015-11-26T08:53:15.187-06:00Happy Thanksgiving 2015<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFtuGhkWb95DV_APccJEp827GnFGTQeCGGKIh_2yk__4OiLhCKZ7Nd3HDUTbvKtrzT5dXCaNfqh_OOX1rBmGLYnbBvZSxlfA0NHUzNBc1JhdyjEEFa2V-Q4dGoLtrwRmdIkWslg/s640/blogger-image--1502963083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFtuGhkWb95DV_APccJEp827GnFGTQeCGGKIh_2yk__4OiLhCKZ7Nd3HDUTbvKtrzT5dXCaNfqh_OOX1rBmGLYnbBvZSxlfA0NHUzNBc1JhdyjEEFa2V-Q4dGoLtrwRmdIkWslg/s640/blogger-image--1502963083.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Let's be sure to be thankful not just on a holiday, but at all times. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-4399661621240155932015-11-19T10:35:00.000-06:002015-11-19T10:35:52.306-06:00Children's Author You Should Check Out<br />
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<img height="254" src="http://www.calhouncountyjournal.com/upgrade4/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Whitney-White-reads.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="320" /></div>
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This past Monday, our family loaded up in our van and took off on another adventure. This was a first for me. We had been invited by a friend in the area to a "book reading" at a local library. We decided that it would be good to get out of the house and to go support our friend as she shares a children's book that she's written. <br />
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I wanted to just get the word out about this author of children's books to those I have contact with. Her name is Whitney White. She lives in Big Creek, MS. Matt, her husband, is a bi-vocational pastor in our area. They have 3 crazy boys (much like us - she had even shared at the book reading about how her boys and ours both like to dress up like superheroes). She got a degree in education from Mississippi State University. In 2011, she received the Teacher of the Year award. Currently, she has one of the best "jobs" in the world - stay-at-home mom. <br />
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Whitney has written three children's books that have a Christmas flare to them. She is a very gifted writer who has put together some great stories that keep the true meaning of Christmas (the birth of Jesus) at the center. She uses her family as the main characters in the stories and shares some of the funny things that this family has gone through around Christmas time. <br />
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If you are looking for a great children's Christmas book, I would encourage you get one (or all three like we did) of her books. You will not be disappointed. You can get a copy of any of her books by sending her a message on Facebook by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whitney.white.501?fref=ts" target="_blank">here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-40581642640719863632015-11-17T15:01:00.000-06:002015-11-17T15:01:05.905-06:00Book Review: Onward<i>The church now has the opportunity to bear witness in a culture that often does not even pretend to share our "values." That is not a tragedy since we were never given a mission to promote "values" in the first place, but to speak instead of sin and of righteousness and judgment, of Christ and his kingdom. </i>(<i>Onward</i>, p. 9)<br />
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<a href="http://www.onward-book.com/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV4rhmbjJPMCBWITTuvFjn8xMsVB3M7L7xW2weNBPAqSkoBS7zVurFHb64rui-p1ce3JgNqsImJHT3qo4LRoi4QBM7BzXz0T_So1RbRs6VqB5VJYxUV-kg4GXWj9tLmi3Xqv7duA/s200/blogger-image--1880127413.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="http://www.russellmoore.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Russell Moore</a> has put together a strong work to help the Christian church (especially in North America) to think about how the gospel of Jesus Christ works in all facets of life. It is apparent that the culture that the Church finds itself in today is one that quickly running in the opposite direction of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The encouragement that Dr. Moore shares in <i>Onward</i> is a breath of fresh air. </div>
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In <i>Onward</i>, Dr. Moore seeks to show how the gospel is needed in various areas of our culture like human dignity, religious liberty, family stability, and more. Dr. Moore uses not only illustrations from everyday life but drives the reader back to the source of truth (the Bible). Dr. Moore shares timeless truths in a fresh way by using references and wording that people of all walks of life can relate to as he points to the necessity of the Church living out the gospel in the sphere they find themselves. </div>
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I am grateful to Dr. Moore for this work. It is a faithful reminder of the call that every Christian has been called to: <i>Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age </i>(Matthew 28:19-20).</div>
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I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in this world. Dr. Moore has provided some great tools to help one stand boldly in a culture that just wants you to sit down and keep it to yourself. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-15185316831885358402015-10-26T10:00:00.000-05:002015-10-26T10:00:05.329-05:00Choosing The Translation For MeThere is one "problem" that the American church has to deal with that not many others have to deal with in our world. The "problem" is what translation of the Bible to use. There are plenty of translations in the English language to choose from. A list of some of these translations can be found <a href="http://tyndalearchive.com/scriptures/index.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Having the Bible in a translation that one can read and understand is very important. At least I think so. Things would be a lot easier if we all could just read Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek - the original languages of the Bible. Not many can do that. English is tough enough. I am grateful to those scholars who have worked so hard through the years to bring us translations in our languages. </div>
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I have used many different translations in reading and studying the Bible. While there are many translations, I have typically stayed with the "popular" ones: New International Version (NIV 1984 edition), New King James Version (NKJV), English Standard Version (ESV), New Living Translation (NLT), and Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB).<br />
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I will say that the majority of my Christian life has been spent reading the NIV (1984). I still believe that the 1984 edition of the NIV is one of the best English translations that has ever been produced. It was a good mix of "word-for-word" and "thought-for-thought," and it had great readability. I was very displeased with the revisions that were made in the latest edition of the NIV. Plus the fact that they jerked all the 1984 editions off the shelves really turned me off.<br />
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For the time that I spent in the world of student ministry, I found the New Living Translation (NLT) to be the best for me. We were seeing many teens from unchurched families. This translation was very easy to read in today's English. It also had a good translation team from a wide variety of denominations. <br />
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In 2011, as I felt the Lord leading me out of student ministry and into the pastorate, I knew that I would probably need to look towards a different translation. There are not many churches that look highly on using the NLT from the pulpit. I am not saying that I agree with that stance. I think that it is a good translation, but I knew it needed to be something else. I began looking at the ESV and the HCSB. <br />
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Being a part of the <a href="http://sbc.net/" target="_blank">Southern Baptist Convention</a>, I was torn between using the ESV and the HCSB. I thought that I would get more use out of the HCSB since a great deal of the literature that we used also used the HCSB primarily. I thought that the HCSB was a good new translation. It did some good stuff in that it was easier to read for people just coming to the Bible in these recent times. There was a question that I just never could get away from... why do we need another English translation?<br />
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Here recently, I have been evaluating certain things in my life. One of those things has been my choice of Bible translations. I have been asking questions such as: "Why do I preach from the translation that I do?" or "Why do I find myself drawn to other translations?" As I asked myself these questions, I examined certain things about myself to answer those questions.<br />
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I have been finding myself going to one particular translation here lately in my devotional time. It is not a translation that I have preached or taught from much. As I examined myself and ways in which God has gifted me (teacher), it makes sense that I would be drawn to the New American Standard Bible translation (NASB). This translation is one of the most literal translations from the original languages. Being a believer that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible word of God... pair that with my spiritual gift of teaching (wanting to make sure I understand it clearly), this makes the most sense. <br />
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I know that people have many different reasons for choosing the translation that they use. Some are looking for easy readability. Some are looking for what their pastor (or denomination, heroes, etc) use. I would just encourage you to not use a particular translation because it is the "cool" or "popular" translation. Find one that best helps you understand what the Holy Spirit inspired the human authors to write because your spiritual welfare could hang in the balance. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-48251820056616137792015-10-25T07:31:00.001-05:002015-10-25T07:31:19.020-05:00Which Will Be You Today?I was reading some in the Bible this morning. I came across a familiar account: Jesus at Mary and Martha's house (Luke 10:38-42). This is an account that many sermons and lessons have come from. In this account, we see two people who go about things very differently. <div><br></div><div>As I get ready to go to the fellowship of believers where we worship this morning, these two ladies are in my mind. This morning, all across the globe, there will be many "Marthas" and "Marys" in attendance at worship services. </div><div><br></div><div>Marthas - these will be those good-hearted souls that will be serving as many people as they can. Most worship times would not happen if it weren't for these precious souls. It will be these folks who are running around making sure that everything is in place and that all is going smoothly. </div><div><br></div><div>Marys - these are those people who will be desperately looking for a word from the Lord. They may have been through the ringer this week. The world may seem to be crashing down on them. They need to hear the words of life from Jesus. </div><div><br></div><div>As we get ready this morning to go to our various fellowships of believers, let us not just serve those around us, but let's make sure that we are hearing what the Lord is saying to us. That is more important than making sure everything looks good. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-57733316614635174382015-10-22T11:17:00.001-05:002015-10-22T11:21:36.285-05:00They Are Listening More Than You May Know<div><br></div>This week has been a pretty good week. It has been a full week but a good one. It was great to see four congregations join together this week for a series of services as we were seeking God's revival in our hearts and community. With all the "competition" that happens between churches, it was refreshing to see some come together as one. <div><br></div><div>I had the privilege of preaching at the Tuesday night service. We were rolling on a theme of the essential elements of the Gospel. I got to preach on the resurrection of Jesus. I was excited about it all. I thought that the night went well. I wouldn't know how much until later...</div><div><br></div><div>We have three boys: 8, 5, & 4 years old. It is always "fun" when you try to take that crowd to any place. Most of the time, when our crew is going to corporate worship, it is my bride who is trying to wrangle these boys together while I stand to preach. Being in a different building, with a different group of people... We didn't know how this would go. </div><div><br></div><div>We went back to an old battle plan. We would take notebooks and colors so that they would be able to draw and hopefully not disturb others around. What would happen during the service Tuesday night, there is no way I could have seen it coming. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuaQdD8ajCh76L7soiEUo76o3YEfsZQxCNorvOq0eU9pCtA_uShMHTgxXqa2UPjOc6OmPMZz2YBXHcDd2n0fj8G21L7hyGWBMLdhNP4QAzNvgVwW1MgbB6MdKDeMcu2oFnVGPoQ/s640/blogger-image-1005554251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuaQdD8ajCh76L7soiEUo76o3YEfsZQxCNorvOq0eU9pCtA_uShMHTgxXqa2UPjOc6OmPMZz2YBXHcDd2n0fj8G21L7hyGWBMLdhNP4QAzNvgVwW1MgbB6MdKDeMcu2oFnVGPoQ/s640/blogger-image-1005554251.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The picture above is from my oldest son's notebook. When I looked at it closely, I immediately recognized the drawings. It was my sermon. My oldest son was illustrating in his mind and on his paper what I was saying from the pulpit. It was truly humbling. The pages above were an illustration of Jesus' encounter with the two travelers heading home to Emmaus. See it?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I was reminded this morning from my devotional reading that God cares greatly for children. Jesus said that if we do not become like little children, we will not enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 18:3). He also said that if anyone causes a little one to stumble, it would not be good (Matthew 18:6). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It may seem like the little ones that are around us are oblivious to what is going on, but God used my oldest son to remind me that they are listening much closer to what we are saying than we may realize. </div><br></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-38892162763930872712015-10-13T09:32:00.000-05:002015-10-13T09:32:55.019-05:00The Thief Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).<div>
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I cannot count the times that I have shared this verse with people. It may have come in a Bible study, sermon, or just casual conversation. I like to focus on the last part of this verse as it shows that Jesus has come so that we may experience life to the full. Sadly, events in our world force us to examine the first part as well.</div>
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Last week, I had the wonderful privilege of joining 3 other pastors from our area to do some pastor training in the Dominican Republic. We teamed up with <a href="http://www.gohmm.org/" target="_blank">Hispaniola Mountain Ministries</a> for this trip, and it was great. We had a great time engaging with pastors and others from the Barahona area. I believe that we (our team) were as encouraged as much as the locals were. </div>
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Any time that you attempt to do the Lord's work though, you can expect to be met with resistance from the enemy (the kingdom of darkness). While we worked through the language and even culture barriers that were present, one moment sought to tear down all that we were doing. </div>
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Wednesday afternoon, I realized that my iPhone was missing. We looked everywhere we could think of for it, but it was nowhere to be found. After going back through everything, we came to the conclusion that someone had walked away with my iPhone. We believe that we know who the culprit was, but could get no answers from them. </div>
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The usual feelings that come with having something stolen from you began to arise within me. I got a little anxious and began wondering what kind of damage could be done from this act. It was at this point that the Holy Spirit began to minister to my heart and fill me with a peace that I could not explain (<a href="https://bible.com/100/php.4.7.nasb" target="_blank">Philippians 4:7</a>). I knew that I had not kept any important information on my iPhone in case something like this happened. I also knew that there were steps that I could take to shut down and wipe the phone clean remotely. Things were going to be okay.</div>
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I began reflecting on all that had happened and was reminded of a couple of important things:</div>
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<li><b>Be alert. </b>It is important that one stays alert in this life. When you let your guard down is when the work of those against you becomes easier. </li>
<li><b>Do not love the things of this world. </b>Anyone who knows me well knows that I love my techie stuff. My iPhone, iPad, and laptop are some of my most prized earthly possessions. This event reminded me that these are just "things." They really hold no weight in the eternal scope of things. If material things have too great a hold on our lives, we will not be effective in the things that matter most (our relationship with God and others). </li>
<li><b>God is truly sovereign. </b>The peace that flooded my mind and heart after realizing that my iPhone was jacked was a reminder that God is in complete control. There was nothing that I could do about what had happened, but He had already take care of it and what was to come.</li>
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Do not allow the thief to come in and steal, kill, and destroy your life. Place your faith in the One that has come to show you how to live abundantly.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-71035829929041937072015-10-07T19:46:00.000-05:002015-10-07T19:46:12.570-05:002015 Dominican Republic Trip Day 3Today was Day 3 on our pastor training trip to the Dominican Republic. It was a very eventful day to say the least. Today was the first day where we had a full schedule. That means that we had four times of teaching (two in the morning and two after lunch in the afternoon). The topics that we covered today were: The Prodigal Son (<a href="https://bible.com/100/luk.15.11-32.nasb" target="_blank">Luke 15:11-32</a>), The Importance of Prayer, Hell, and a Pastors Roundtable discussion.<div>
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I had the privilege of sharing about Hell today. I do not know what it is about my topics, but there have been some "interesting" discussions that have taken place during the question and discussion time at the end of our presentations. Today's discussions (not just mine but all of them) seemed to be on side topics that might have been mentioned slightly in the presentation. In the session that I shared (Hell), I was using the <a href="https://bible.com/100/mat.13.24-30,36-43.nasb" target="_blank">parable of the wheat and tares</a> to show that Hell is a place of conscious torment. The pastors wanted to run with that in the direction dealing with eternal security. I am all for having some good discussions especially over Bible topics. This was being more of a distraction and something that was getting us off track. I am very grateful for the pastor of the church that is hosting this training. He really stepped in and was able to help the pastors understand that issue and get it back on track.</div>
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The pastors roundtable was fun. All of us "Americano" pastors were placed in chairs before everyone. We were served with questions about different issues in the life of a pastor. We had that opportunity to just share our hearts. We had a pastor come up to us afterwards and thank us for being "open and honest" especially about struggles. He said that it was so nice to know that he wasn't the only one who had those feelings and battles. It reminded me of just how important it is to have a group of fellow believers in which you can just be honest with. </div>
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There was another eventful event that took place, but I'm going to wait and hopefully share a happy ending to that story later.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-69028780335394802015-10-06T18:37:00.000-05:002015-10-06T18:37:26.121-05:002015 Dominican Republic Trip Day 2Today was the first real day of work on this trip to the Dominican Republic. We began our teaching and discussion times as we covered a couple of topics. The first pastor introduced the idea of how we are to study the Bible by offering some really good tools for study. The people seemed to get most of it. The second pastor began sharing about the Sermon on the Mount. There is no way that we could cover Matthew 5-7 on this trip, so this pastor is taking a key passage from each chapter and doing a study through it. Both of these men did a fantastic job (as did the translators). <br />
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I had the privilege of teaching on what the Gospel truly is and what role does baptism play. Any time you want to talk about the Gospel, you can just bank on some things coming up. There will be things that try to take the focus off and confusion to set in. I am grateful that the Holy Spirit filtered a lot of the junk out so that we could clearly see what was important: the Gospel. We had a really good discussion about whether baptism was necessary and when it should happen.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbV1H0j5UpwlCVjFKMLIfIPn8EtO892IOry8tgqWGMJhOY9zBLiHqr6gJ0Q-guYOWIfbnI6GryanVIRRXHeLKq9sGFz_eRCTdJ0huMtzrbi7ROFWiYsiSp3TNoYwBPKuN0puje6Q/s1600/IMG_2354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbV1H0j5UpwlCVjFKMLIfIPn8EtO892IOry8tgqWGMJhOY9zBLiHqr6gJ0Q-guYOWIfbnI6GryanVIRRXHeLKq9sGFz_eRCTdJ0huMtzrbi7ROFWiYsiSp3TNoYwBPKuN0puje6Q/s200/IMG_2354.JPG" width="150" /></a>I believe that the highlight of the day (besides being able to FaceTime with my wife and boys) was the worship experience that we had at the beginning of the conference time. Two guys who are helping out with <a href="http://gohmm.org/" target="_blank">HMM</a> led in worship (see picture below). They did a fantastic job. God has given these young men talents beyond measure and a heart for worship. <br />
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One moment felt like the curtain was pulled back and we were actually worshipping at the feet of the King. We were singing the song "I Surrender All". In the room, we had Dominican Republic folks who speak Spanish... we had Haitians who speak a Creole type language... we had 4 Americans who spoke English... For a moment, you had all three groups singing the same song in their native tongue at the same time. On the surface, you would think chaos... what took place was a thing of beauty.<br />
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Oh, what a day that will be when people from every tribe and nation come to the feet of Jesus and sing His praise together...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-78505954922016490072015-10-05T20:50:00.000-05:002015-10-05T20:50:36.278-05:002015 Dominican Republic Trip Day 1Today was the first day of a week that I have been looking forward to for some time. This week I will join a couple other pastors as we team with <a href="http://gohmm.org/" target="_blank">Hispaniola Mountain Ministries</a> to train pastors from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Today was the first day of this great journey. <br />
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The picture to the left here was how the day started out. I had to get up at about 3:15am and head to the airport in Jackson, MS to catch the first flight. Those who know me well know that mornings are not my specialty. Thanks to a loving and supportive wife, I got there and got to experience a beautiful sunrise on the way to Atlanta.<br />
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We arrived in Atlanta for just enough time to grab a quick bite and then go get ready to board for the big flight to Santo Domingo. While I was waiting for this flight, I got the best video from the best boys in the whole wide world. You don't know how much it means to have your boys and wife praying for you while you are away from them. <br />
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We got boarded and made the trip down to the DR. Everything went well. I was ready to make contact with the family but realized that you had to pay an arm and a leg for wifi at the airport so I thought I would wait until we got to the place that we were staying. I knew that wifi would be free there. <br />
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We made the 3.5 hour journey via van to the location where we would be staying and doing the pastor training. It was an interesting ride. I was interesting to see how many different kinds of scenes you can see on this island. There were mountains... and the ocean... and fields of crops... and fields of wilderness...<br />
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With all the different sites on the ride, the view on the right here is the view from where we are doing what the Lord has brought us to do. It is beautiful and sad at the same time. I continue to ask for your prayers. <br />
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<li>Pray for the pastors that will be coming for the training. <br /></li>
<li>Pray for the pastor (Michael) here in this area who is heading this event up.<br /></li>
<li>Pray for myself and the other 3 pastors who will be leading the training.<br /></li>
<li>Pray for God to move in a mighty way here.</li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-3727587924202466252015-10-04T18:24:00.001-05:002015-10-04T18:25:02.999-05:00Heading to the DRI've been looking forward to tomorrow for a while now. I was asked by our associational director of missions some time back if I would pray about a mission trip. I'm all about some mission work. This trip would be very different from any mission trip with that I had been on before. This trip would be one where some select pastors from our area would fly to the Dominican Republic to train local pastors. <div><br></div><div>I admit that I didn't have to pray long. When I asked God and He said, "Go..." I was ready to go. I love to teach. I love those who God has called to serve and lead His people. To be able to take the wonderful gift I was given not long ago (seminary education) and share it with those who are just as called as I am and may not be able to receive it... I'm all in. </div><div><br></div><div>So now tomorrow morning, I will join three other pastors from our area in flying to the DR to share the wonderful gift of training with some Dominican pastors. I ask that you pray for our team and our families back home. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-43206986081939230662015-08-31T15:15:00.000-05:002015-08-31T15:15:42.037-05:00Book Review: "Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_409164422"></span><span id="goog_409164423"></span>Recently, I received a copy of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Asking-Jesus-Into-Heart/dp/1433679213" target="_blank">Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart</a></i> by J.D. Greear. I had heard about this book from different people. I was very anxious to read this book. I will admit that the title of this book had me intrigued.<br />
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In <i>Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart</i>, J.D. Greear puts forth a work that attempts to tackle the issue of assurance of one's salvation. Greear shares from his own journey with Christ and dealing with doubts about his own salvation. <br />
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The biggest strength of this book is Greear's use of the Bible. When it comes to finding out the truth on a matter and giving someone a guarantee of something, there is no better source than the Bible. Greear does an excellent job of showing how the Bible gives a person complete assurance of salvation.<br />
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This is one topic that I believe is troubling many people in the church. There are many people who believe that they are in good standing with God because they said a "prayer." There is also a lot of good Christians who are sitting on the sidelines wrestling with doubts who could be on the front lines helping bring the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Greear helps clear the air in this small book on how a person is "saved" and can know for sure that they are in the family of God. I would suggest that every Christian and even those who are investigating the claims of Jesus Christ read this book. It will give some pointed answers to some very important questions. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-51930961294315194892015-08-26T10:00:00.000-05:002015-08-26T10:00:00.365-05:00Check out the Creation Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; direction: ltr;">
While our family took a much needed vacation, we made plans to check out something that we had heard a lot about: <a href="http://creationmuseum.org/" target="_blank">the Creation Museum</a> outside of Cincinnati, OH. </div>
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I am so glad that we did. This was a great adventure for our family. I really believe that our boys enjoyed all the activities outside. There were plenty to choose from like walks among beautiful gardens, to a petting zoo, to camel rides, to zip line rides. We didn't tackle all of these activities this time because you got to have something to bring back them back for. </div>
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We enjoyed the 4-D type movie (the Men in White") that showed how Christians and others who do not hold to the "theory of evolution" that there was plenty of evidence for a Creator. After getting sprayed in the face by the seat in front of me, my 5 year old grabbed my face and said, "this is the greatest movie EVER!!!!"</div>
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It was really good to see all the work that <a href="http://answersingenesis.org/" target="_blank">Answers in Genesis</a> has put into this museum. It was on par - if not above - many museums that I have seen. It was good hearing people talk about things being "new" or "not here the last time." It shows that they are doing a good work keeping it fresh.</div>
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I would strongly encourage you to make the journey and check out the Creation Museum. It is well worth the money and time. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-53226592520985203642015-08-07T15:05:00.000-05:002015-08-07T15:05:25.239-05:00Book Review: "I Will!" <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><a href="http://thomrainer.com/iwill/" target="_blank">I Will! Nine Traits of the Outwardly Focused Christian</a></i><br />
by <a href="http://twitter.com/ThomRainer" target="_blank">Thom S. Rainer</a><br />
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This book is the follow-up work to <i><a href="http://thomrainer.com/i-am-a-church-member/" target="_blank">I Am a Church Member</a> </i>by the President of <a href="http://lifeway.com/" target="_blank">Lifeway Christian Resources</a>. That book was intended to show what the attitudes of Christian church members should be. The main points from <i>I Am a Church Member</i> are covered briefly in chapter one of <i>I Will!</i><br />
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After the first chapter, <i>I Will!</i> focuses on the actions that a Christian church member should have. They are introduced in eight chapters.<br />
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In this book, Thom Rainer does a good job in making sure that readers understand that it is not just about having the correct attitudes, but that there are some specific actions that need to accompany the correct attitudes. He uses examples from the Bible and everyday life to show how these actions look in life.<br />
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One point that I think was really good in this book is the term that was introduced: "churchianity". This is a term that Rainer defines as "practicing our church and religious beliefs according to human standards rather than biblical guidelines" (93). Sadly, while the term 'churchianity' may not be found in the dictionary, it is found across the land. Many churches are operating not in the power of the Holy Spirit, but in the power and according to the desires of people.<br />
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<b><span style="color: cyan;">Recommendation</span>: </b>I would recommend this book to any person that is wanting to understand a little better what a Christian church member's life is to look like, especially in the context of church life. Thom Rainer does a good job of pointing people to what biblical church membership looks like.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-51410494381625097642015-07-23T11:20:00.000-05:002015-07-23T11:20:19.321-05:00Pray For Our Mission Team<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpcDxG52r44bFct9nYGCpPgSjH_EwtFZnL-W7WEEHs8Q-UHdFsSG9GlqPtqRiPzQ5D0IqaUgDcsQ8JYB6ZaOWLmU8x-Zf2b58TVMlCBtirAjzGTvRRIblJIostONjW8oP1V7Oyw/s1600/FamilyPrayingHands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpcDxG52r44bFct9nYGCpPgSjH_EwtFZnL-W7WEEHs8Q-UHdFsSG9GlqPtqRiPzQ5D0IqaUgDcsQ8JYB6ZaOWLmU8x-Zf2b58TVMlCBtirAjzGTvRRIblJIostONjW8oP1V7Oyw/s200/FamilyPrayingHands.jpg" width="121" /></a>This Saturday, about 20 people will load up from our county and head to the Belle Chasse area of New Orleans. This group will be working with <a href="http://www.impactnola.com/" target="_blank">Impact Church</a> to minister to their community. We will be doing Backyard Bible Clubs in a local apartment complex, a block party, and other things that we can find to share the love of Christ with the people of Belle Chasse. <br />
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I am excited about this trip for many reasons, but one important one is that this is the first time my entire family will be with me on a mission trip. I want my family to see that ministry is not "Dad's job" but the life that God has called us to, and each of us have a part to play.<br />
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I ask that you pray with me for...<br />
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<li>safe travels</li>
<li>good weather</li>
<li>open hearts to the Gospel</li>
<li>team members grow in their faith</li>
<li><a href="http://www.impactnola.com/" target="_blank">Impact Church</a></li>
<li>the churches that are sending members on this trip will be blessed</li>
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Thank you in advance for your prayers. I look forward to sharing with you all about the amazing work that God does on this trip.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-24743516843531065282015-06-30T11:21:00.002-05:002015-06-30T11:21:35.889-05:00Book Review: Forward by Ronnie Floyd<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw64usjccYiE9VXM5KneIKtrkwHWqbaTyhgW454397w87gKYzuyQoFRh6Xtq-dHDFiqBQGoYVZ_wfyw3HNph1sk60PR21BP3JpigcP6_faLdXn81NUG_-3KX7Fn_RFLzraRuGIRw/s1600/forward-book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw64usjccYiE9VXM5KneIKtrkwHWqbaTyhgW454397w87gKYzuyQoFRh6Xtq-dHDFiqBQGoYVZ_wfyw3HNph1sk60PR21BP3JpigcP6_faLdXn81NUG_-3KX7Fn_RFLzraRuGIRw/s200/forward-book.jpg" title="Forward by Dr. Ronnie Floyd" width="143" /></a>I am one that likes to read. I also like to share what I read with others. When I was asked by B&H Publishing Group if I would like to read one of their latest books and give a review, I gladly accepted. I had the privilege of reading <i>Forward </i>by <a href="http://ronniefloyd.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Ronnie Floyd</a>.<br />
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor at <a href="http://www.crosschurch.com/" target="_blank">Cross Church</a>, which has multiple campuses across Arkansas. He is the current President of the <a href="http://www.sbc.net/" target="_blank">Southern Baptist Convention</a>. I have had a deep respect for Dr. Floyd for some time now. It was exciting to have the opportunity to read Dr. Floyd's latest work, and the following is my take on it.<br />
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<b><u>Overview</u></b><br />
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Ronnie Floyd is a man who wears many hats. Along with being a family man and pastor, Floyd has a deep heart for those who are called to be leaders in any arena. This book that he has written is one that examines "seven distinguishing marks for future leaders." These seven marks are: forward truth, cross-generational, futuristic thinker, culturally sensitive, growing teachability, compelled by compassion, and driven by something more. Floyd seeks to use these seven distinguishing marks to show upcoming leaders how they can lead forward.<br />
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<b><u>Things I Liked</u></b><br />
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<li><b><span style="color: cyan;">The focus on Christ</span>. </b>If you know Ronnie Floyd, you know that he has a love for Jesus that matched by few. In this book, Floyd really tries to take every opportunity he can and point people to Jesus.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: cyan;">Transparency</span>. </b>As Floyd goes through chapter after chapter, you can see that he is quick to be transparent about issues he even has.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: cyan;">Quick, easy read</span>.</b> I finished this book in just a couple of days. We are all busy - especially leaders. This is a good, quick read that will encourage and help you on your leadership journey.</li>
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<b><u>Things I Did Not Like</u></b></div>
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<li><span style="color: cyan;"><b>The repetition</b></span>. I know that repetition is a great teaching and learning tool, but for me, there was way to much in this book. There would be times where the author would repeat themselves every other sentence. I know that might be picky on my part, but it was a little of a distraction for me.</li>
<li><b><span style="color: cyan;">The wording</span>.</b> When I read this book, there were times where it seemed that certain phrases or words were used just to push a point or stay in line with a point. It sometimes would come across like the wording that was chosen was done so that readers could easily use this in sermon form. I really liked the book and the material it presented, but I do believe that some of the wording might have been better if the author would have just stated what they were thinking and not trying to fit it into a certain word bank. </li>
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<b><u>The Final Grade</u></b><br />
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When it comes to <i>Forward</i> by Ronnie Floyd, I believe that this work would be a good benefit for leaders especially in the church to read and have on their bookshelves. Though there were some things that I would have done differently, this book really encouraged me and showed me some things to be looking for as a leader. <br />
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I would give this book a <b><span style="color: cyan;">B</span>.</b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-19828685643268280542015-06-27T09:21:00.000-05:002015-06-27T09:25:13.225-05:00After SCOTUS decision, not what?Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States of America made it legal in our country - any state - for same-sex marriage to take place. This has been a heated battle over the past couple of years. With this ruling yesterday, what is the church in the United States to do? <br />
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I believe that <a href="http://www.russellmoore.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Russell Moore</a> of the SBC <a href="http://erlc.com/" target="_blank">ERLC</a> gives some wise advice for the church (of any denomination) in the coming days. Check it out.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/131882609" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/131882609">Reaction To The Supreme Court Decision on Same-Sex Marriage</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/erlc">ERLC</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/131915672?byline=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/131915672">A Note to Pastors on Preaching in Light of the SCOTUS decision on Same-Sex Marriage</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/erlc">ERLC</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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It is important that the Church remember that we have a risen Savior and a powerful Gospel. Let us go forward in sharing that with a world who desperately needs it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-51364224013110340532015-06-21T12:00:00.000-05:002015-06-21T12:00:00.366-05:00Father's Day Music VideoI thought that I would share with the world my favorite Father's Day music video... just some good stuff to remind us fathers about our most faithful audience.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19636342.post-9342607839617622232015-06-11T11:27:00.001-05:002015-06-11T11:27:30.545-05:00Building the Intercultural ChurchThis topic has been on my mind for some time now. As I follow Christ and the calling that He has placed on my life to lead a group of people to fulfill the Great Commission, I am seeing more and more that 'churches' in our world are supposed to look more and more like the Church that we see in heaven... one that is made up of "every tribe and language and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9).<br />
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In this video, a couple of pastors from Canada share about what God is doing in their midst. I was so encouraged by it that I thought I would share it with you. I would love to hear your comments on this subject.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08702060085558656047noreply@blogger.com0