Ice Cream Anyone??

So we decided to go eat some ice cream this afternoon for a family outing. After it taking the kids, what seemed like the same amount of time it takes waiting in the Wal-Mart shopping checkout lane; to decide on what they finally wanted we decided to sit under a tree and eat our ice cream. After I finished eating my ice cream I noticed for some reason my middle son Solomon decided to a bite out of the bottom of the cone before finishing. Of course on a Hotlanta day the ice cream naturally melts. It starts to drip onto his clothes and he quickly realizes he made a mistake.
Ever bite something off by the wrong end? There has been several times in my life I can think of, where I bit something off from the wrong end.
Let me explain. Stacey and I made several financial mistakes in our early years that put us into some major debt. Over a period of six years my income literally doubled every two years and we were still living paycheck to paycheck. We spent many years accumulating the debt and in return it took us many years to pay it off. Well we have learned our lesson and have vowed not to use credit cards or even credit except for our house and car right now. It will be paid off soon…I am declaring.
The point here is before making any type of a decision that might affect you in the long run; make sure you are in prayer about it and really seeking God’s advice before you bite the ice cream off at the wrong end.

Check out pictures at http://www.bradpostonline.com

The "Wocked" Door

No I did not spell that wrong.

We get back from our "pleasant" trip to Wal-Mart with the entire Post team; we pull into the garage like normal and start unloading. I pull Isaiah out of the car seat and ask him to go to the door to let our ferocious Chihuahua Cocoa out to greet the entire family. He walks up to the door as I am getting the grocery bags out and tries to open the door. But he gets to the door and can't push it open and he says my name about 20+ times because he is at the age that he says my name until I respond and with a "calm and patient," yes Isaiah he says "its wocked." I said it’s what? And he repeats it as clear as the first time he said it. So I gently push the door open to let Cocoa out and said "you just didn't push hard enough."

Has there ever been a time when you feel like you said something and it came out wrong? There are many times I know I have, I mean come on I have 3 children and I have to be a little transparent here and let you know that I am not always calm and patient with my precious children. I have raised my voice at them out of anger, even said some mean things to them in frustration. But, God usually quickly reminds me once I calm down that they are only children and even though they do need direction and discipline; they still need their fathers love. The same kind of love our Heavenly Father shows us. So I usually do my best to quickly ask for forgiveness and start loving on them until they forgive me.

We just need to make sure that if we do speak something that comes out wrong that we go back to that person and ask for forgiveness. So right now anyone I have every spoke something wrong about I ask for your forgiveness. All three of you....just kidding.

Today I want to challenge you to think back and if you have spoken anything wrong over someone to ask them for forgiveness.
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Take The High Road

The Bible outlines the pathway to success: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." (Joshua 1:8) Successful living is a life-style is based solidly upon the Word of God. It involves getting up every time we have been knocked down. The tools of success are faith and hard work.

As someone once said, "The high road to success begins at your feet."

God is our heavenly Father, wants His children to be successful in every aspect. That’s why He's given us the promises of His Word. If we believe them and claim them and pray them we will be very successful indeed.

The Road Less Traveled

Several years ago, Stacey and I made a choice to leave where we were born and raised and move half way across the United States. When I look back on it, it was a hard choice to leave our comforts, our friends, our family and our lives to move into a totally new area we were not familiar with. We moved due to the fact that I got a promotion and wanted to move up with the company I was working for and in order to do that I had to move. So I took the leap.

Stacey and I went through some pretty tough times financially and emotionally when we moved. I did not understand what was going on and why we had to go through all those problems.

I came across this quote while reading the book The Shack that describes what I was going through,

"You have to take time to prepare the soil if you want to embrace the seed." WM. Paul Young

That is when I realized that it was God who was doing all the work in me; God had to prepare my soil for Him to be able to embrace my seed. Well needless to say, God got a hold of me and embraced that seed and then watered it.

I really like to look back upon this and realize that God had to do His work on me before He could do his work through me.

It says in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it."

I am excited that I took the narrow road. Please don't get me wrong because I still miss my friends and family. But I am glad that I took the step to travel that road so God could prepare my soil and only God knows what our future holds.

Have you ever decided to take that step and travel that road?

Pedicure...Risk?

OK so I will admit, I got my first pedicure with my wife on our date night. I was a little hesitant at first but after eyeing the chair for a few minutes I decided to sit down and take my shoes off. This was my first pedicure and my feet are not the best looking part of me. So it was a bit awkward at first not to mention the women were also speaking in another language to each other….probably about my gross feet.
So I decide to relax---mainly because the chair I was sitting in was somehow massaging my back…WOW.

So I put my feet in the water and the nice woman comes to start on me first. She was very talkative and really nice. Stacey and I both got the pedicures together and after the first bit of awkwardness I really enjoyed it. I know some of you might challenge my “man card” on this one but I wanted to make sure I was being real.
I took the risk and actually went through with the pedicure. There has been many times in my life where I took a risk and was glad I did.

This reminds me of the risk Joshua took as I was reminded in staff meeting today. Joshua was to take them into the land and conquer it and God told him to be strong and courageous, but he had to overtake 37 kings to take the land. He had many battles and God reminded him in Joshua 1:8, “Do not let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” He had to obey God in order to take the land and he definitely took the risk.
I took a risk today and got that pedicure.

Is there anything in your life that you are not risking? Are there risks God is asking you to take for Him?

Sunday Morning VIP

Scuba Steve Story



On vacation recently Stacey, the kids and I were hanging out at the pool. The hotel we stayed in had 2 areas and they were both indoor/outdoor water parks within the hotel. We were all swimming when we noticed something kind of strange. A young man walked by in a full blown scuba suit. He had the snorkel, goggles, suit and flippers. Now the kids who were of course curious and did not want to let that rest asked, "Dad why does that guy have on a scuba suit?" My first reaction was, "Oh kids he is just trying to get attention." While he walked you could even see parents walk by him while at the same time gathering their kids close and trying to not make eye contact with him.



So we forgot about it and ended up going to the other water park in the other area of the hotel. There he was again, walking around with his flippers, goggles pulled down and still breathing through his snorkel. He even walked up the steps backwards to get to ride the waterside in the indoor water park. Well some time goes by and Stacey and I are hanging out with Isaiah (our youngest) in the little kid pool area. We could not find the 2 other bigger kids, so Stacey went to look for them and came back and said, "You won't believe where they are?" I asked, "Where?" She went on to tell me they are over there talking with Scuba Steve (the nickname we gave him) and he somehow knows a lot about fish eggs and are telling the kids about them.



So I suggest we get a picture with him, you know for a memento. I go up and ask him, "hey our kids want to get a picture with you." He agrees and lets me know what his real name is. We take the picture and then he asks us, "Are you having a good time?" I go on to tell him, "we sure are, and how about you?" Kind of sarcastically but seriously wondering at the same time. He says to me, "I am doing great; this is actually my first day working here at the hotel. I think some parents just think I am some weird guy walking around in a scuba suit." I say, "what are you kidding, why would they think that, of course you are just working." (Side note please pray for my sarcasm). Stacey and I just crack up the entire way back to our room.



Bottom line is, you never want to prejudge someone or something without all the facts. We can’t prejudge people if they don't look like us, smell like us, or even dress like us. We need to love people where they are at and be more than willing to welcome them in a loving way.

Awaken Part 3

Peace in the midst of your storm

You can have peace in the midst of your storm. Great miracle was when Jesus calmed the storm. Greater miracle was Jesus slept in the midst of it. When you realize He is in your boat with you, you will have a supernatural peace. Calming the storm is great; but peace in the midst of the storm, is greater!

You also do not need to mistake fire in your life for God's absence. In Daniel 3:22-25, Jesus was the fourth man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. His presence was felt in the middle of the fire. Just because you don't feel His presence, doesn't mean He isn't there with you. Believe He is with you, and eventually your situation will fell and respond to His presence!

Awaken Part 2

Wake Up

Wake up to the fact that God is with you. The disciples didn't need Jesus to awake. The needed to awaken to the fact God was with them; therefore, there is nothing to fear. God did not give us the spirit of fear but the spirit of power and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). When you know He is with you, there is nothing to fear. Psalm 23:4 says, "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me."

There are things that will limit your success, your victory and your joy...and I want to tell you how to lay them aside and leave them behind so that you can run the race God has planned for you. Before you can leave those things behind, you need to stop and meditate on this truth--God has plans for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 says "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future." He wants you to know joy. He wants you to experience victory. He wants you to live in peace. He wants to fill your cup with blessings that overflow. That is what God has for you!

Awaken Part 1

Rest in Him

When the disciples tried to cross over to the other side of the see in a boat (see Mark 4:36-40), they were overwhelmed by the storm which struck their ship. How many times have we been overwhelmed by a storm when it strikes us? The disciples actually feared for their lives and, bailing out water furiously, surely thought they would die. The waters crashing against you and you don't know what to do. You might feel helpless and cry out, "Lord where are you? Do you care?"

The disciples forgot one small detail in the midst of their storm--Jesus was in the boat with them! There is nothing greater than His presences. We need to recognize that He is also in the boat with us. Jesus was asleep in the boat and you might ask, "How do we wake Jesus up when He is asleep in our boat in the middle of a storm?" ......... The answer is, "We don't wake Him up we rest in Him!

Sunday the 14th VIP

Each Sunday Morning I work to inspire an amazing team of volunteers at the church and I wanted to start sharing them . The name of our meeting is the VIP (Vision Information and Prayer).

Today I want to share with you something important

God is more than enough, He is going to supply your every need He is going to satisfy you with His Love. He is your Jehovah-Jirah or your provider he is your El Shaddai or your all sufficient one and you can lean on him with everything.

I really feel that there are some reading this who has been discouraged this past week, someone or something has let you down and I want you to know today that Our God is our breath of life, our sacrifice of greatest price

He is your coming King and your everything and even still more awesome than we could know

This was inspired from Chris Tomlins song called Enough. See Below:

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
And still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
worth living for
And still more awesome than I know

All of You is more than enough for all of me
For every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You is more than enough

Youre my sacrifice
Of greatest price
And still more awesome than I know
Youre the coming King
You are everything
And still more awesome than I know

More than all I want
More than all I need
You are more than enough for me
More than all I know
More than all I can say
You are more than enough for me
-Chris Tomlin

Overcome Limited Thinking

After the death of Moses, Joshua was to go in and take the Promised Land. God told to be strong and courageous. I think about this in my life when the enemy is working on me overtime to discourage me and limit my thinking. That is where the enemy attacks me is by discouragement and limited thinking. Limited thinking can keep you from your full potential and purpose and we need to remove this thought. A few things you can do are:

• Be happy now. Happy is the man who fears the Lord (Psalm 112:1). When you think you need more to be happy, program yourself to stay happy.

• Recognize God is not limited. Since this is true, neither do you need this restriction. You are made in God's image.

• Believe in the God of ideas. Proverbs 8 says God will give us witty inventions. These are creative ideas. When God opens up the windows of heave, He is raining ideas.

• Get wisdom. James 1:5 says if any man lacks wisdom; let him ask of God who gives to all men generously.

Today I want you to meditate on these thoughts and know that by changing your limited thinking you are becoming like a magnet, which attracts God's provision for your life.

Five Temptations Of A CEO

I have to admit that this is the first Patrick Lencioni book I have read and WOW was it powerful. I only wish I would have read these years ago while working in the corporate world. The first few chapters are broken down into a fable and the last few chapters go into more detail of the five temptations of a CEO. This book is a very useful tool in any type of a leadership role and can be used across many areas of the work force.

There are many useful points that are made that can easily be transferred into ministry also. Let me break down the Five temptations the CEO will go through according to Lencioni:

Temptation #1
Unsuccessful CEO's focus on preserving their status within the organization, instead of on delivering performance and results. Watching a leader protect his turf at the expense of company performance is not uncommon, and is often evident following a promotion.

Temptation #2
Unsuccessful CEO's do not hold "direct reports" accountable for delivering on commitments that drive results. This is often the result of the CEO's desire to be popular. In this case, however, nice guys finish last. Direct reports are not the CEOs support group. They are key employees or managers who must deliver results instead of excuses.

Temptation #3
Unsuccessful CEO's make accuracy more important than clarity. "Analysis paralysis" is a great excuse for uncertainty and imperfection. Instead, strive for 80% accuracy in a reasonable amount of time. Just do it now, and don't worry about perfection. In our office we like to say that if you throw enough shit at the wall, some of it is bound to stick.

Temptation #4
Unsuccessful CEO's believe that maintaining an atmosphere of harmony in which everybody agrees on everything is in an organization's best interest. It rarely is. Harmony restricts constructive conflict and the passionate interchange of ideas and opinions.

Temptation #5
Unsuccessful CEO's strive to be invaluable in order to protect their credibility. In other words, they fail to trust key people with their reputation and their ego. Instead, opening up to employees and showing vulnerability will result in a return of trust, respect and honesty.
CEOs who focus on results over status, accountability over popularity, clarity over certainty, productive conflict over harmony, and trust over invulnerability can still fail. But the failure is usually the result of factors, influences and events outside of their control. Harold Geneen said it best in his management classic Managing. "The greatest disease among leaders is not alcoholism, it is egoism."

Don't let it happen to you.

Great Book!!

Henry County Hero

My prayers go out to this family. Lets show them some support. Please read below:

As many of you are already aware from news accounts, Sgt. John Beale was killed last week in Afghanistan. Sgt Beale and his family are residents of Henry County, live in McDonough, and are members of Eagles Landing First Baptist Church. Sgt Beale is the first soldier from Henry County to be killed in action during this conflict.

Sgt Beale's body will be flown to Tara Field in Hampton this week (the day has not been confirmed) and will be escorted by Henry County PD, Henry County Sheriffs Department, Hampton PD and McDonough PD to Cannon and Cleveland Funeral Home on Hwy 42 in Stockbridge. The funeral will be held at Eagles Landing First Baptist Church on Hwy 42 at 1:00PM Saturday, following the service he will be laid to rest in Fayetteville.

As soon as I know the time of arrival I will send you a follow up email. It will also include the route the escort will take.

THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP! I am asking you to please forward the information to as many people as possible and ask them to pass it on. We need to line the roadways of the route from the airport to the funeral home to show the utmost respect to one of Henry County's Heroes, a Hero who gave it ALL for this Country and our freedom.

Please lift this family up in prayer!!! The Lord can and will give them the strength they need for the difficult days ahead.

Henry Countians have always been there for one another, I know this time won't be any different.

Here is the schedule:
The body of Sergeant First Class John C. Beale will arrive at Falcon Field in Fayette County tomorrow, June 11, 2009, at 6 p.m. to be escorted to Cannon-Cleveland Funeral Home by the Henry County Police Department. As the family would like some time to themselves at the airport, Police do not expect to begin the procession until 6:15 at the earliest.

We are asking all those who are able to line the streets along the route to help honor this fallen hero and give him the welcome he deserves. Please share this information with your friends and family.

The following is the route (note minor change to beginning of route):

From Falcon Field in Fayette County:
Dividend Drive to 74
HWY 74 to HWY 85
Hwy 85 to Hwy 54
Hwy 54 to McDonough Rd.
McDonough Rd. to Jonesboro Rd.
Jonesboro Rd to McDonough Square
McDonough Square to Hwy 42
Hwy 42 to Brannon Rd. to Cannon Cleveland

Proverbs ROCKS!!

Proverbs 1:2-5, 7

"For attaining wisdom and discipline for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life; doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."



One of my goals this year is to read the entire Bible again. I come to the book of Proverbs and don't want to leave it, it is such a powerful book filled with all kinds of wisdom and knowledge.



It takes discipline to acquire wisdom and knowledge. To some it comes easier than others. I have always in my past struggled with retaining what I have read and sometimes often dreaded reading especially reading out loud. When I was young I did not see the importance of learning how to read and was more focused on what was going on around me and what I was missing out on rather than learning how to read. In the past ten years or so I started to understand the importance of reading and started to pray to God that I would retain what I read.



I am so glad that God has given me the desire not only to read, because I am hungry now for more, but also to retain the knowledge I am reading. I have a goal this year of reading 20+ books and I am on track. Now, I would never have had this hunger if God had not given it to me. God gives you the desires of your heart. Also while teaching a class this weekend; I usually share my lack of desire to read out loud...however God has given me the desire and skill to do it.



Today I challenge you to set a goal for yourself of reading. Maybe to some it is reading one chapter of the Bible a day, maybe to others it is reading a book a week. Whatever it is start today.

Prayers of Paul

Ephesians 1:16-20

"Do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places."

Ephesians 3:14-19

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

These prayers apply to us today just as much as they did to the believers at Ephesus, because they were given by the Holy Spirit. You can and should apply these prayers in your daily lives. You can read them and personalize them by saying "me" wherever Paul said "you." We must have the spirit of wisdom and revelation of Christ and His Word if we are to grow. It is not going to be imparted to us through our intellect, either. The Holy Spirit must unveil it to us.

These prayers are also good to be praying for others as well. I want to challenge you to read these prayers to yourself over and over again.

Ergon....Works

I am going to piggy back of my last post on Thursday. We talked about John 14:12 where it says; "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works that these he will do, because I got to My Father."

This translation for works in Greek text is Ergon and is referenced three times in the New Testament. Let's find them today, Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We find it also in James 2:14, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?"

I want to convince you of a few things today. You need to know that you have a purpose in your life. You have been shaped for something and Jesus said you would do greater works that he did. You are going to do greater things that Jesus did if you can only believe and get into His will.

WOW!!!

Come on people that should excite you and motivate you to start using your gifts and get into the fullness that God has for you.

I want to challenge you today to step and do something you would not normally do, reach out to someone you have not in the past, purchase the persons lunch behind you in the drive through lane, but do something different.

You Have Authority Part 4

You Have Authority Part 4

Jesus said in John 14:12
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works that these he will do, because I got to My Father."

Someone will ask what the "greater works" are. Well, let’s just do the works Jesus did first and then think about the "greater works!"
Jesus didn't say that only a select few would do these works; He said those who believe on Him would. As we study what the Word of God teaches and educate our spirits about authority of the believer, I believe we'll be able to walk in this great truth more and more.

You Have Authority. Part 3

Put on the full Armor of God today! It says in Ephesians 6:12, "that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil." However later on in the verse Paul tells us what to do, and that is to put on the Full Armor of GOD!!

Ephesians 6:13-17
"Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with your belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this take up your shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God."

You see we have instructions as to how to overcome those powers of the dark world. We might not be able to see them with our physical eyes but when we are being attacked we sure can feel them in our physical body. We must stand firm and be ready for his attacks and make sure we are prepared for what he has.

Today Stand FIRM and make sure to put on your full armor of God.

You Have Authority Part 2

2 Corinthians 10:4,5
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine powers to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Our enemy is limited to this world and we are not. We have to take authority over our strongholds and demolish them. We have to be ready for the devils attacks and know that we cannot give him an inch because he will take a mile. We can't allow thoughts of any type of insecurity, depression or fear to enter into our minds because once they do they can grow. What I have been doing lately in order to control these thoughts; is when some type of thought enters into my mind, that I know does not come from God, I start quoting scripture to it.
“Resist the devil and he will flee from you, the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came so we could have life and have it more abundantly, I have the full armor of God and God is for me and not against me.”

Get into the word and start memorizing scripture and then start using it against the devil.

What did Jesus do when he was tempted by the devil after his fast; he quoted scripture back to him. He did not allow the enemy any room. Also notice that sometimes the devil comes in during our weakest times and sometimes he can hit us head on, but stay in the word, don't allow the devil any room and he has to flee from you.

You Have Authority. Part 1

Ephesians 6:10
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power."

This week we will be discussing the authority you have over the enemy. In this verse we are reminded to be strong in the Lord, not in ourselves. I have heard, "I am not sure if I can make it." To encourage you today, you can make it; don't even think for a second that you can’t. Remember to be strong in His might and not your power or might! You alone don't have the power to overcome the enemy and the temptations that the devil will send your way. In God you have the power and you have the authority to stand firm in Him!

You ask what is authority? Authority is delegated power. This means you can step out in front of the devil, hold up your hand and tell him not to come any close. Today use your authority!