Last Sunday my pastor spoke about the vision of our church. This is a topic he holds dear to his heart and speaks on it frequently. I agree with the idea he has of keeping that topic at the forefront of our time together. He always has a different twist to this topic. Today he stated that our church’s vision is to get out side the walls and go on a man hunt for people we know do not have a personal relationship with God. The mission for that manhunt is to do what we can to help them develop that relationship. The best way to do that is to develop a relationship with them. It is much easier to lead someone that trusts you than a stranger. As you can see that is a goal we all should share. Since I have heard several messages on the vision of our church I want to bring several thoughts I have been carrying around together at this time. As I stated before we will have a better chance of helping someone we have a stronger relationship with than someone we just happened to spot through the plate glass window of a restaurant. But if it is someone that does not have a relationship with God then it is going to take some work. You know that to help someone that doesn’t have that special relationship you may have to get into it up to your elbows. A roll up your sleeves and get to work kind of attitude. When you roll up your sleeves and get into something up to your elbows you are going to get dirty. Why are you going to get dirty? Because people, all people, live lives that are dirty. All the problems and bad decisions and just plain stupid stuff they do us dirty. There has only been one man to walk the earth and live a clean life. Jesus! Now keep this in mind, when you are helping someone deal with life’s issues it is going to get dirty. You must be willing to stay with them through thick and thin. Most times things will get worse before they get better. Why? Everyone will go through that stage when they want to straddle the fence. They will choose to follow God and do the things they know aren’t right. It is so hard to give up good friends or things you like or like to do. What ever the issue this stage will raise its ugly head. There may be less of an addictive behavior in this stage but more times than not this stage will be repeated so many times you may want to walk away. What would have happened if Jesus had walked away. Nothing! These things don’t happen over night. Another thing, you must be willing to accept is to be there after everything in the plan has fallen into place. Suppose you are successful in building a relationship with someone, they put that trust in you and you get them to church. Wow, you are doing great, but you aren’t done yet. Remember, you are in for the duration. God has a plan for you and you must follow it through. It isn’t over just because God has entered their life or they have started following the path God has placed before them. You are a leader. You may have to hold their hand like a young child learning to walk. It starts with assisted baby steps and over time they begin to balance themselves better. It may take a long period of time before they are running and you can’t keep up with them. The dirt does not go away. Over time they will not be as dirty and you will not get as dirty and you will learn you have developed a relationship that is longer than life. I will probably expand more since I only dealt with one topic.
Just a side note, Relay For Life is nest week. Be there or be square. Our band will be on stage sometime between 11:30 pm 5/16 and 1:00 am 5/17. If you happen to get your nap in and can drag yourself out that late at night I’d love to see you there. We plan to rock the house.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
What a Week!
Hey Guys! I have actually been working on the blog, I just haven’t posted anything I have written. The time will be right soon and I will put it out here for you to read. Anyway, the message this past Sunday was about the vision of the church. It was presented as the vision of our church but also so that everyone there would know it is not only the vision for our church but all churches. Today Cliff’s post Vision has it's side effects was so good I wanted you to have a chance to read it. Just so you know I am suffering from a lot of side effects of the church’s vision this week. It has been a very frustrating week. I am about a day behind on sleep and of course I am posting this well after midnight. But you are worth it since you are here reading it. Well, I guess I will post at least one of the entries I was working on reciently tomorrow. It should be a prelude to this post but I can mix it up if I choose to.
Hey, I have a birthday this week. Do you remember when it is? I’ll be a few years older than 12 this year but not too many.
My routine is being mixed up a little this week. It is getting close to Relay for Life and the band is practicing more than we have in the past month. We are doubling our schedule this week and next. Of course Relay is next Friday night and Saturday morning. If you want to hear the band have a little fun come to Dooley Field in Greer about the time you would be going to bed and hang out a couple of hours and you may catch us. We are supposed to take the stage some time between Friday night and Saturday morning. But if that is too late for you check back soon. I will be letting you know about something coming soon at Furman if we get the details all worked out. Thanks for reading but I’m going to bed now. See you soon.
Hey, I have a birthday this week. Do you remember when it is? I’ll be a few years older than 12 this year but not too many.
My routine is being mixed up a little this week. It is getting close to Relay for Life and the band is practicing more than we have in the past month. We are doubling our schedule this week and next. Of course Relay is next Friday night and Saturday morning. If you want to hear the band have a little fun come to Dooley Field in Greer about the time you would be going to bed and hang out a couple of hours and you may catch us. We are supposed to take the stage some time between Friday night and Saturday morning. But if that is too late for you check back soon. I will be letting you know about something coming soon at Furman if we get the details all worked out. Thanks for reading but I’m going to bed now. See you soon.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
How Crazy Life Can Get
I keep telling myself I’m not going to do this or that and yet, when someone asks I get so hyped and before you know it I’ve agreed to something that takes a deep commitment of time. Before you know it I feel like I don’t see my family for days as a time (that never happens it just seems that way). From time to time I have to step back and look at what I am involved in and decide what will have to go in order to make sure I have time for my wife and kids. We should all take the time to evaluate our activities and decide what is really most important.
The band is getting geared up for Relay for Life. Have I mentioned that Relay for Life in Greer is May 16th & 17th? Ok, that was a cheap plug. What I was saying is the band is putting the finishing touches on our set list. We found out our time slot. We are taking the stage between midnight and 1:00 am. It really depends on when the dance competition ends. The good news was we are not limited to 30 minutes like we were originally told. It has really made things hard in preparing. So if you don’t have anything to do on May 17th come see us and enjoy the atmosphere of Relay for Life, Greer style.
Can’t wait to see you there!
The band is getting geared up for Relay for Life. Have I mentioned that Relay for Life in Greer is May 16th & 17th? Ok, that was a cheap plug. What I was saying is the band is putting the finishing touches on our set list. We found out our time slot. We are taking the stage between midnight and 1:00 am. It really depends on when the dance competition ends. The good news was we are not limited to 30 minutes like we were originally told. It has really made things hard in preparing. So if you don’t have anything to do on May 17th come see us and enjoy the atmosphere of Relay for Life, Greer style.
Can’t wait to see you there!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Thoughts for the day
Wow, time just seems to fly by. It doesn’t seem like it has almost been a week since I posted the link to Cliff’s story of “stuff”. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you need to look at the previous post. I’m trying to do better. I think I may need to play a specific time to work on the blog on a regular basis.
I have had a really long week and stressful week at work. There have been times that stress has found it’s way home with me. I publically apologize to my family for letting that happen. But the point I am leading up to is this, no matter how life treats us we MUST always live out lives in a manner that lifts God up. If we lift God up we please Him and that is what we are here for. Though things may not always feel or go the way we want or expected to and there may still be times we feel like giving up or giving in. That is the time to step back and consider what God really wants because you are doing something right. When we are doing what God wants, that makes satin mad. He will throw what ever he can at us to try to break the momentum and try his best to make us stop what we are doing. So count it a blessing when things aren’t necessarily going right.
Three weeks to Relay!!!
Wow, time just seems to fly by. It doesn’t seem like it has almost been a week since I posted the link to Cliff’s story of “stuff”. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you need to look at the previous post. I’m trying to do better. I think I may need to play a specific time to work on the blog on a regular basis.
I have had a really long week and stressful week at work. There have been times that stress has found its way home with me. I publicly apologize to my family for letting that happen. But the point I am leading up to is this, no matter how life treats us we MUST always live out lives in a manner that lifts God up. If we lift God up we please Him and that is what we are here for. Though things may not always feel or go the way we want or expected to and there may still be times we feel like giving up or giving in. That is the time to step back and consider what God really wants because you are doing something right. When we are doing what God wants, that makes satin mad. He will throw what ever he can at us to try to break the momentum and try his best to make us stop what we are doing. So count it a blessing when things aren’t necessarily going right.
Three weeks to Relay!!!
I have had a really long week and stressful week at work. There have been times that stress has found it’s way home with me. I publically apologize to my family for letting that happen. But the point I am leading up to is this, no matter how life treats us we MUST always live out lives in a manner that lifts God up. If we lift God up we please Him and that is what we are here for. Though things may not always feel or go the way we want or expected to and there may still be times we feel like giving up or giving in. That is the time to step back and consider what God really wants because you are doing something right. When we are doing what God wants, that makes satin mad. He will throw what ever he can at us to try to break the momentum and try his best to make us stop what we are doing. So count it a blessing when things aren’t necessarily going right.
Three weeks to Relay!!!
Wow, time just seems to fly by. It doesn’t seem like it has almost been a week since I posted the link to Cliff’s story of “stuff”. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you need to look at the previous post. I’m trying to do better. I think I may need to play a specific time to work on the blog on a regular basis.
I have had a really long week and stressful week at work. There have been times that stress has found its way home with me. I publicly apologize to my family for letting that happen. But the point I am leading up to is this, no matter how life treats us we MUST always live out lives in a manner that lifts God up. If we lift God up we please Him and that is what we are here for. Though things may not always feel or go the way we want or expected to and there may still be times we feel like giving up or giving in. That is the time to step back and consider what God really wants because you are doing something right. When we are doing what God wants, that makes satin mad. He will throw what ever he can at us to try to break the momentum and try his best to make us stop what we are doing. So count it a blessing when things aren’t necessarily going right.
Three weeks to Relay!!!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Just a Quick Note
Ok, it has again been a while since I posted anything new. I will tell you I started a post a couple of times and got interrupted and just scrapped it. Sorry to leave you hanging.
While I am short on time at the moment I want to offer something meaningful to the two regular readers of this bog. This is one of the best life lessons I have heard in quite some time. It should speak to everyone that reads it, both young and old. Take the time to read this lesson posted by my friend and pastor Cliff Marshall. The topic is Pumping out the tank.
I'll post very soon. Check back soon.
While I am short on time at the moment I want to offer something meaningful to the two regular readers of this bog. This is one of the best life lessons I have heard in quite some time. It should speak to everyone that reads it, both young and old. Take the time to read this lesson posted by my friend and pastor Cliff Marshall. The topic is Pumping out the tank.
I'll post very soon. Check back soon.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Twice in one day!?!?
This will be a hard post to make any sense out of. I am watching Memphis and Kansas in OT. The winner doesn’t really matter to me. I don’t have any bragging rights on the line with this one. Anyway, I have been slack with my posts lately. Partly due to my wife’s surgery, and part due to just not staying on top of it.
I noticed that from the time I posted last night some time around 1:00 am to now some 23 hours later there have been five people look at the blog. Now I know I haven’t had anything posted for discussion but it would be nice to have a comment from you five. The point is this blog is about four months old and there has been one comment. I know there is a tremendous amount of wisdom spewing from here! :) But let me know if you think I need to read more or just stick to the facts.
It’s over! Congratulations Kansas on the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship! The game was one of the best championship games I have seen in a long time. It is always great to get to see a game go into OT. It would have been better had it gone into triple OT and been won by one point with a buzzer beater shot. But you can’t have everything.
One last thing May 16th Greer Area Relay for Life will be at Dooley Field in Greer. Be there or be left out. Among all the hype and the fun the important thing to remember is it is a great cause. I’m sure cancer has affected at ;east one person you know and with the money that Relay for Life raises nationwide strides are being made and one day cancer will only be in the history books as a condition that once was a leading killer in this country.
I noticed that from the time I posted last night some time around 1:00 am to now some 23 hours later there have been five people look at the blog. Now I know I haven’t had anything posted for discussion but it would be nice to have a comment from you five. The point is this blog is about four months old and there has been one comment. I know there is a tremendous amount of wisdom spewing from here! :) But let me know if you think I need to read more or just stick to the facts.
It’s over! Congratulations Kansas on the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship! The game was one of the best championship games I have seen in a long time. It is always great to get to see a game go into OT. It would have been better had it gone into triple OT and been won by one point with a buzzer beater shot. But you can’t have everything.
One last thing May 16th Greer Area Relay for Life will be at Dooley Field in Greer. Be there or be left out. Among all the hype and the fun the important thing to remember is it is a great cause. I’m sure cancer has affected at ;east one person you know and with the money that Relay for Life raises nationwide strides are being made and one day cancer will only be in the history books as a condition that once was a leading killer in this country.
Still wokring on it.
OK, I still have work to do. It seems that my previous post wasn't much more than an early April Fool's Joke.
Here’s the update: my wife is doing much better. no cast but still dealing with the healing process. She is a bit impatient much of the time. She wants to act like it is back to 100% and then has to deal with the reality all night.
Relay is getting closer. Out team at church did a wonderful job with raising money yesterday. They put on an awesome auction. The turnout wasn't as big as we wanted but the event still managed to bring in more than half the goal.
The band is starting to gel. We have been working hard and can see the fruits of our labor. We have five weeks left and I am excited to sat I think we will be worth staying up half the night to hear.
Need to get a little sleep before starting another work week. have a great day (which ever one you read this post).
Here’s the update: my wife is doing much better. no cast but still dealing with the healing process. She is a bit impatient much of the time. She wants to act like it is back to 100% and then has to deal with the reality all night.
Relay is getting closer. Out team at church did a wonderful job with raising money yesterday. They put on an awesome auction. The turnout wasn't as big as we wanted but the event still managed to bring in more than half the goal.
The band is starting to gel. We have been working hard and can see the fruits of our labor. We have five weeks left and I am excited to sat I think we will be worth staying up half the night to hear.
Need to get a little sleep before starting another work week. have a great day (which ever one you read this post).
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