Posts
Up until this point, my blog has been used for primarily the spread of religious articles and to try to build others in their faith. As of today, I am going to be shifting that focus to journal my weight loss journey. I am currently using the weightwatchers.com system to help me in this endeavor. I started officially today. I am 5'10" and weigh about 338 pounds (if you believe our scales).
I am allowed 44 points per day. Today I started the day with rice chex cereal and toast. I had skim milk and a no calorie butter spread. I had a bacon sandwich, cheese puffs and a sugar free pudding for lunch. Pretzels and mustard for a snack. I ate a totinos three meat pizza for dinner and had another pudding for lunch. I still have 3 points left and I need to eat some fruit.
Overall, I accomplished no carbonated beverages today...I am happy about that. I instead have been drinking bottled water. I have drank about 60 ounces.
I am remembering that Paul said to the Philippians, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13). Please pray for me as I start this endeavor today. This is one of the most difficult things I struggle with in my life.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Mourning Booth
This was passed along to me by the Franklin Church of Christ preacher in Franklin, TN. As a counseling major, I know my first instinct is to offer those who are in mourning and pain some special insight on life. However, this video shares another perspective. This perspective I believe is Biblical and is what each of us need when we are in that dark place that only Jesus can help us out of in life.
Check it out here!
Check it out here!
Friday, October 23, 2009
When texting goes bad
This is one of those activities that most people enjoy on their cell phone devices in the 21st Century. It is the age of texting for sure. I know while I travel I enjoy texting my friends and family to let them know my “status”. Others I am sure enjoy the same features and more. However, what happens when texting goes bad? Recently, I was watching a news program that featured a 15 year old boy and his texting problem. I am sure you have heard of it before. Some kids just don’t know when to stop texting. Some teens will text thousands of times every month not knowing they are running their parent’s cell phone bills through the roof. But this is not the case with this young man. He came on the Fox News Network to tell his story. How one text message has ruined his young life. He said it only took 2 minutes to text and for the other person to receive it. He stated he wished he had never sent that message. Many parents are unaware that their children are involved in this type of texting. It is called “sexting” by many. Unfortunately for this young man, he will have to face possible jail time and the label of “sex offender” until his 18th birthday that is unless he is tried as an adult.
The offense this young man and many other young people are involved in seems innocent to many. However, to the FCC and parents it is horrifying. They send graphic sex messages to friends and even strangers. Stalkers who are several years older are portraying themselves as young teenage boys only to attempt to harm our young people in many different ways. So what can we do as parents to keep our teens or youth safe from these types of situations? John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted” suggests creating an open dialog between you and your child. He says most parents don’t have a clue about their children’s texting habits. Many parents don’t want to violate their children’s personal space or privacy. I pose the question; since when do children have privacy rights? Would not the Columbine Massacre been prevented had the parents been aware of what was in their children’s room? Therefore, we as parents must sometimes be the bad guys while they are young. Remember when they were 2 or 3 and you would get on to them only to have them throw out that pouty lip? Well, when they are almost grown that pouty lip turns into an emotional roller coaster of crazy tirade. You didn’t give in when they were 2 or 3; you shouldn’t cave when they are 15 either. Remember raising children is your God given responsibility. You have to ensure that they are safe and that they will have the best opportunity for eternal life.
Parents if you don’t ask questions and you don’t dialog with your children then you might end up regretting your parenting some day. Perhaps your son looks at you and says, “I wish I had never sent that text…it only took 2 minutes and now I am a sex offender.” Do you want to deal with that extreme? Do you want to deal with those emotions and hurt? If not, start with your children today. Insist that you trust them, but that trust is earned. Look at those cell phone records. Look at who is calling them. You can find more tips on this subject by going to http://www.cox.com/takecharge.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22:6
The offense this young man and many other young people are involved in seems innocent to many. However, to the FCC and parents it is horrifying. They send graphic sex messages to friends and even strangers. Stalkers who are several years older are portraying themselves as young teenage boys only to attempt to harm our young people in many different ways. So what can we do as parents to keep our teens or youth safe from these types of situations? John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted” suggests creating an open dialog between you and your child. He says most parents don’t have a clue about their children’s texting habits. Many parents don’t want to violate their children’s personal space or privacy. I pose the question; since when do children have privacy rights? Would not the Columbine Massacre been prevented had the parents been aware of what was in their children’s room? Therefore, we as parents must sometimes be the bad guys while they are young. Remember when they were 2 or 3 and you would get on to them only to have them throw out that pouty lip? Well, when they are almost grown that pouty lip turns into an emotional roller coaster of crazy tirade. You didn’t give in when they were 2 or 3; you shouldn’t cave when they are 15 either. Remember raising children is your God given responsibility. You have to ensure that they are safe and that they will have the best opportunity for eternal life.
Parents if you don’t ask questions and you don’t dialog with your children then you might end up regretting your parenting some day. Perhaps your son looks at you and says, “I wish I had never sent that text…it only took 2 minutes and now I am a sex offender.” Do you want to deal with that extreme? Do you want to deal with those emotions and hurt? If not, start with your children today. Insist that you trust them, but that trust is earned. Look at those cell phone records. Look at who is calling them. You can find more tips on this subject by going to http://www.cox.com/takecharge.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22:6
Thank you Jesus!
Let us thank Jesus for His glorious creative power (Colossians 1:16). Let us thank Jesus for His mystery concealed during the ages (Ephesians 3:3-4). Let us thank Jesus for revealing this mystery to the Holy Apostles (Ephesians 3:3). Let us thank Jesus for His saving grace (Ephesians 2:8). Let us thank Jesus for His work on the cross (Hebrews 2:12). Let us thank Jesus for His resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:10). Let us thank Jesus for purchasing His church (Acts 20:28). Let us thank Jesus for His plan for mankind’s salvation laid out so perfectly and simply (Mark 16:16). Let us thank Jesus for allowing us entrance into the church (Acts 2:47). Let us thank Jesus for protecting us from the sneaky devil (Ephesians 6:11). Let us thank Jesus for His mediation between us and God (Hebrews 12:24). Let us thank Jesus for His peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). Let us thank Jesus for the promised crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Let us thank Jesus for an eternal home with Him (Revelation 21:1-3). Let us thank Jesus for His Word which gives us these hopes (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Saturday, August 22, 2009
To Protect and Serve
It used to be when you saw a police car driving around most likely it would have the saying, "to protect and serve" written on the side of it. It wasn't until late last year that someone brought to my attention a local police department took this saying off their cars. I am not for sure if they no longer believe their job is to protect and serve or if they just feel it is an obvious statement which doesn't need redundancy, either way it is a little disturbing. I remember growing up when you seen a police officer you were in awe. You knew they were there to help you if you were in need. You knew also if you did something to break the law they were there to enforce the law. Today, I wonder what kids think about when they see police officers.
Many folks in the Lord's Church feel preachers are like police officers. They hire a preacher to the local work and then expect them to clean up all their messes or enforce laws they do not want to deal with. I worked with an eldership a few years ago that expected just this. If they wanted to admonish the congregation for not giving they would ask me to preach a lesson on giving. If they wanted the congregation to know about a particular sin they would ask me to address this sin from the pulpit. I was young and fell into this trap because I thought it was my job to do what the elders asked me to do.
However, the preacher's job is really to protect and serve. We are not to be sheriffs or police officers inspecting people's lives to find any sin which needs rebuke. You notice the charge to Timothy by Paul is to preach the word in season and out of season in 1 Timothy chapter 4. He doesn't say, inspect the brethren's lives to find out where they are messing up and rebuke them harshly from the pulpit. You also notice Paul instructs Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. If you preach then your service is to evangelize the community where you preach. You are to do this work. Preach the truth in love and preach the whole counsel of God not leaving out one little bit.
I also think of our job as protecting. We are to protect God's people from the devil. We are to help them abstain from sin by preaching sermons which edify and teach. What do fluffy sermons really do for anyone? They may put smiles on people's faces, but what does that do for people when they are in harms way? Think about the police officer. If he never warned young children about the dangers of drugs, alcohol or gangs then what good is he (or she) really doing for the people?
These are just some generic thoughts, but really a preacher should protect brethren from the wiles of the devil and serve anyone we possibly can through the gospel. I find when I focus on these two items in my work that my service as a preacher generally is more rewarding for me and for my brethren.
Many folks in the Lord's Church feel preachers are like police officers. They hire a preacher to the local work and then expect them to clean up all their messes or enforce laws they do not want to deal with. I worked with an eldership a few years ago that expected just this. If they wanted to admonish the congregation for not giving they would ask me to preach a lesson on giving. If they wanted the congregation to know about a particular sin they would ask me to address this sin from the pulpit. I was young and fell into this trap because I thought it was my job to do what the elders asked me to do.
However, the preacher's job is really to protect and serve. We are not to be sheriffs or police officers inspecting people's lives to find any sin which needs rebuke. You notice the charge to Timothy by Paul is to preach the word in season and out of season in 1 Timothy chapter 4. He doesn't say, inspect the brethren's lives to find out where they are messing up and rebuke them harshly from the pulpit. You also notice Paul instructs Timothy to do the work of an evangelist. If you preach then your service is to evangelize the community where you preach. You are to do this work. Preach the truth in love and preach the whole counsel of God not leaving out one little bit.
I also think of our job as protecting. We are to protect God's people from the devil. We are to help them abstain from sin by preaching sermons which edify and teach. What do fluffy sermons really do for anyone? They may put smiles on people's faces, but what does that do for people when they are in harms way? Think about the police officer. If he never warned young children about the dangers of drugs, alcohol or gangs then what good is he (or she) really doing for the people?
These are just some generic thoughts, but really a preacher should protect brethren from the wiles of the devil and serve anyone we possibly can through the gospel. I find when I focus on these two items in my work that my service as a preacher generally is more rewarding for me and for my brethren.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Comfort we need
Warning against false teachers, sin and falling to the wayside (evil side) is something many of us need to hear in this day and age. However, when your read the New Testament, especially Paul's letters, he encouraged them to comfort one another. One such example is found in 2 Corinthians 13:11 where Paul says, "Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." At the end of Paul's second letter he instructs the brethren in farewell. He asks them to be complete. He tells them to be of good comfort, one mind and to live in peace. He says if they do these three things then the God of love and peace will be with them. Such instructions should be edification for God's people today.
Consider those three things Paul instructs. It is really the comfort we need to continue on day to day in a world of evil. If you look at the root word for comfort you find the basic meaning of encouragement or edification or building up. Also, looking at Thayer's you find the meaning to call to one's side. Literally, if we are comforting someone we should be bringing them to our side and showing them our love for them. Comforting each other is thinking as a unit instead of individually. In any relationship if we understand God's relationship with the church then we can succeed. Think about Ephesians 5 where Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to respect and love their wives as even Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. If you are going to build a solid relationship on Christ then you need to learn what sacrifice is all about. Sacrifice will teach you to put your needs behind those you love. Sacrifice will teach one to put your wants behind those you love. Above all, sacrifice means you love someone even when they may not love you back (think of Jesus' forgiveness on the cross to those who had just tormented and nailed Him to the cross).
If we are going to succeed in the Lord's church we need to learn true comforting. Paul says if we comfort one another, have the same mind and live in peace with each other then we will have the God of love and peace bless us.
Let me ask you something. Do you assemble with the local church:
1. to find someone who is in need to comfort (spiritually and physically)?
2. to find a brother or sister who can use a hug or an encouraging word?
3. to find a brother or sister who doesn't need to be judged anymore but needs encouragement?
Or do you assemble:
1. for your wants and needs to be met by other Christians?
2. so you can push your thoughts on others?
It is time for us to stop being selfish and start embracing each other and show the true love of Christ through sacrificing. When is the last time you gave up something you loved dearly for your brother or sister in Christ? When is the last time you went up to that teenager at services and just said, "hey how you doing?" and listened without judgement?
If we do these things and seek to comfort others the God of peace and love will bless us!
Consider those three things Paul instructs. It is really the comfort we need to continue on day to day in a world of evil. If you look at the root word for comfort you find the basic meaning of encouragement or edification or building up. Also, looking at Thayer's you find the meaning to call to one's side. Literally, if we are comforting someone we should be bringing them to our side and showing them our love for them. Comforting each other is thinking as a unit instead of individually. In any relationship if we understand God's relationship with the church then we can succeed. Think about Ephesians 5 where Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to respect and love their wives as even Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. If you are going to build a solid relationship on Christ then you need to learn what sacrifice is all about. Sacrifice will teach you to put your needs behind those you love. Sacrifice will teach one to put your wants behind those you love. Above all, sacrifice means you love someone even when they may not love you back (think of Jesus' forgiveness on the cross to those who had just tormented and nailed Him to the cross).
If we are going to succeed in the Lord's church we need to learn true comforting. Paul says if we comfort one another, have the same mind and live in peace with each other then we will have the God of love and peace bless us.
Let me ask you something. Do you assemble with the local church:
1. to find someone who is in need to comfort (spiritually and physically)?
2. to find a brother or sister who can use a hug or an encouraging word?
3. to find a brother or sister who doesn't need to be judged anymore but needs encouragement?
Or do you assemble:
1. for your wants and needs to be met by other Christians?
2. so you can push your thoughts on others?
It is time for us to stop being selfish and start embracing each other and show the true love of Christ through sacrificing. When is the last time you gave up something you loved dearly for your brother or sister in Christ? When is the last time you went up to that teenager at services and just said, "hey how you doing?" and listened without judgement?
If we do these things and seek to comfort others the God of peace and love will bless us!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Encouraging Preachers
Thomas H. Holland has an excellent book called, "Encouraging Preachers". In chapter 10 of this book he talks about where preachers should go to get their strength to continue on in their work. He uses Paul as an illustration, specifically 2 Corinthians as a base text. One of his quotations, found on page 194, states, "Paul knew that the service he rendered in God's church was service he gave to the glory of God. Think of the strength that comes from the realization that one is serving the eternal God of heaven and earth!"
What I took from this chapter (and especially this quotation) was as preachers we should not think of our labor locally, but universally. We are not merely to serve a local body of people, but we are God's ministers and especially His evangelists. Our first labor is to be a labor of love to God and His church, the church Jesus died on the cross for and bought with His blood (Acts 20:28). Looking around our brotherhood I see too many preachers who feel this is just a job. Of course, the preacher needs support and of course his family has needs like any other family, however, our first priority is preaching the word (2 Timothy 4:1-4). This preaching is to be the whole counsel of God, not bits and pieces that will please the ears of our supporters. We are supported by the local body of people whom we labor with, but they are not dictators of truth and what is to be preached.
Ultimately, preaching is not just another job. It is not something we do to make money. It is our life and our passion. If we don't think of it as service to Christ our King and God our Father then we have failed from the beginning and will be mere whipping boys for local congregations. On the day of judgement when many are cast into hell they will be screaming at you wondering why you didn't warn them in your preaching! We are to preach the truth in love, but our love is for God first and for the church He sent His Son to die for and purchase with His blood. Our mission is for the universal church, not for any one congregation.
Our strength comes from God the Father and Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit which delivered the Word to be our comfort and guide. If we lose sight of these goals then we have failed before beginning. I have learned in the local work there may be some or many who are your critics. However, if you desire to preach for God our Father and Christ our Lord then you must learn to endure the criticism and ward off evil spirits. It is imperative that you find encouragement in those who surround you with love. This support may not be found locally, but many times is found universally in many different works while you preach.
Be sure your vision is broad and you don't segregate yourself from your brothers and sisters in Christ who will help you in your time of need.
What I took from this chapter (and especially this quotation) was as preachers we should not think of our labor locally, but universally. We are not merely to serve a local body of people, but we are God's ministers and especially His evangelists. Our first labor is to be a labor of love to God and His church, the church Jesus died on the cross for and bought with His blood (Acts 20:28). Looking around our brotherhood I see too many preachers who feel this is just a job. Of course, the preacher needs support and of course his family has needs like any other family, however, our first priority is preaching the word (2 Timothy 4:1-4). This preaching is to be the whole counsel of God, not bits and pieces that will please the ears of our supporters. We are supported by the local body of people whom we labor with, but they are not dictators of truth and what is to be preached.
Ultimately, preaching is not just another job. It is not something we do to make money. It is our life and our passion. If we don't think of it as service to Christ our King and God our Father then we have failed from the beginning and will be mere whipping boys for local congregations. On the day of judgement when many are cast into hell they will be screaming at you wondering why you didn't warn them in your preaching! We are to preach the truth in love, but our love is for God first and for the church He sent His Son to die for and purchase with His blood. Our mission is for the universal church, not for any one congregation.
Our strength comes from God the Father and Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit which delivered the Word to be our comfort and guide. If we lose sight of these goals then we have failed before beginning. I have learned in the local work there may be some or many who are your critics. However, if you desire to preach for God our Father and Christ our Lord then you must learn to endure the criticism and ward off evil spirits. It is imperative that you find encouragement in those who surround you with love. This support may not be found locally, but many times is found universally in many different works while you preach.
Be sure your vision is broad and you don't segregate yourself from your brothers and sisters in Christ who will help you in your time of need.
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