I wanted to ask the question today "Are you making excuses?" As I was reading I was reminded of Paul and what excuses he could have made. In 2 Corinthians 11: he was not moved by beatings, stoning, or any kind of hardship and angers. Paul was not deterred by the fact that he was not tall and handsome, like me…just kidding, or that he had a great personality. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:10 that they said his letters were weighty and forceful, but in person he was un impressive and his speaking amounts to nothing. He pressed on past all these things and continued to write 2/3’s of the New Testament. He did not make excuses.
For a long time I always told myself based on some experiences I had in school that I was not good at reading, comprehending, writing or spelling. I did not really excel in any class. I was not athletic like my awesome older brother Brian—Love You man!! I was just Brad. I did not have a ton of friends, but I did have a few close ones. I was not outgoing and for years I was afraid to even wear shorts because my legs were too skinny. The enemy was at work until I finally left those excuses behind and did what Paul did and pressed forward.
Now I am not where I want to be but I am sure not where I was. I have made many excuses in my life that have held be back from the plan God has for me. And I will admit I might make more excuses however I wanted to remind myself and you today that even though we might make excuses we must press forward!!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Be Men of Courage
The reason most messages for men ultimately fail is simply that they ignore what is most deep and true to a man’s heart, and simply try to produce external changes through various forms of pressure. “This is the man you ought to be. This is what a good husband, father, Christian, churchgoer ought to do.” Think about your life, your world. What is being asked of you? What do you feel the pressure to be...?
God made us in His image, as men. He set within every one of us a masculine heart. If we are ever going to find the life we were meant to live, we’ve got to get that heart back.
“Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of courage, be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
God made us in His image, as men. He set within every one of us a masculine heart. If we are ever going to find the life we were meant to live, we’ve got to get that heart back.
“Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of courage, be strong. Do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Have Passion To Make A Difference
I have been reading in Jentzen Franklin’s book “Believe That You Can” which is a great book. But I wanted to share a quote from the book about some of the disciples who were passionate to make a difference---even unto death.
Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia. He was slain with an axe. Philip was scourged, imprisoned, and crucified. Thaddaeus died on a cross at Odessa. James the Lesser was stoned and beaten to death with a fuller’s club. Thomas was speared because he enraged a pagan priest. John the Beloved was forced into a pot of boiling oil. He miraculously escaped and was exiled to Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Peter was slain by Nero upside down on a cross, and his wife was crucified with him. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross. Nathanael was tortured and crucified with his head facing downward.
These men made a huge difference but ended up paying the ultimate cost which was death. We need to live everyday with the same passion to be so sold out to make a difference that we are willing to die for it.
In prayer recently God and I had a conversation and I was sharing with him that I am only one man, how big of a difference can I make. He said to me, “Yes, you are one man and any type of a difference starts in the hearts of one person. So stay the course and don’t look back.” I am committed to making a difference in my children, in my wife and in my life.
How committed to making a difference are you? Let's join together to make a difference.
Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia. He was slain with an axe. Philip was scourged, imprisoned, and crucified. Thaddaeus died on a cross at Odessa. James the Lesser was stoned and beaten to death with a fuller’s club. Thomas was speared because he enraged a pagan priest. John the Beloved was forced into a pot of boiling oil. He miraculously escaped and was exiled to Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Peter was slain by Nero upside down on a cross, and his wife was crucified with him. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross. Nathanael was tortured and crucified with his head facing downward.
These men made a huge difference but ended up paying the ultimate cost which was death. We need to live everyday with the same passion to be so sold out to make a difference that we are willing to die for it.
In prayer recently God and I had a conversation and I was sharing with him that I am only one man, how big of a difference can I make. He said to me, “Yes, you are one man and any type of a difference starts in the hearts of one person. So stay the course and don’t look back.” I am committed to making a difference in my children, in my wife and in my life.
How committed to making a difference are you? Let's join together to make a difference.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Project McDonough
This past Saturday we had an awesome opportunity to help serve in our community with a group called The Fuller Center on Project McDonough. We had a team from Turning Point and other teams out at Mrs. Miller’s house on 185 Old Griffin Rd in McDonough where we were helping fix up a house. I consider The Fuller Center kind of a Habitat For Humanity meets Extreme Makeover. They are such an amazing group of people to work with. We worked closely with Mark Galey and Shane Persaud the two men who have been heading up this project. They are completely remodeling this house and by only volunteer work and work highly off donations to fund this entire project.
The entire experience itself was very well organized, with specific instructions coming from Mark and Shane so everyone knew exactly what needed to be done. And again the awesome thing is it was all volunteers doing the work. What is so amazing is that when someone gets a vision in their mind to help someone they have to cast that vision to others and get their buy in to participate. That is exactly what Mark and Shane have done in this project. They have been in the local news, the local newspapers and local magazines here in Henry County.
Upcoming for Project McDonough:
September 5th is the big day when they are dedicating the house back to Mrs. Miller and we only have one more Saturday to get this done. So I want to ask all folks in the Henry County area if you want to make a difference and participate in something completely awesome. Come out this Saturday at 8am or when you can make it and do what you can. I know I will be there again and will have another group from Turning Point participating in this event.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Soil
My prayer today is for Turning Point Church to continue to be the “good soil.” We have seen some awesome things happening here and we are heading into an amazing season in our church.
Psalm 1:3 says,
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf do not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 says,
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.”
Matthew 13:3-8 says,
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
I pray this today that we will all be the good soil and we will be like the tree planted by the streams of water.
Psalm 1:3 says,
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf do not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”
Jeremiah 17:7-8 says,
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.”
Matthew 13:3-8 says,
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
I pray this today that we will all be the good soil and we will be like the tree planted by the streams of water.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Three Words (I AM HE) Part 2
This is continued from “I AM HE” post from yesterday. It talks about after Jesus said this in John 18:7 He asks again;
“Who is it you want?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
You see they came to take Him and arrest Him but He had some of His disciples with Him and I believe that in verse 4, 6 and verse 8 , He was emphasizing that Jesus cared for the disciples even as He was going to His death. Twice he made them say plainly that He was the one they wanted.
And then to continue in Verse 8:
“I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words He had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
“Who is it you want?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
You see they came to take Him and arrest Him but He had some of His disciples with Him and I believe that in verse 4, 6 and verse 8 , He was emphasizing that Jesus cared for the disciples even as He was going to His death. Twice he made them say plainly that He was the one they wanted.
And then to continue in Verse 8:
“I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words He had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
I AM HE
I wanted to share a few verses that really stood out to me and we discussed them in our small group tonight. The night that Jesus was getting arrested in John Chapter 18 it says that Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place that Jesus had often met with his disciples. So Judas came in the grove, guiding a DETACHMENT OF SOLDIERS and SOME OFFICIALS from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were all carrying TORCHES and WEAPONS.
And of course Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen, went out and asked, “Who is it you want?”
"Jesus of Nazareth", they replied.
“I AM HE” Jesus said. And it says in verse 6, that when He said that THEY DREW BACK AND FELL TO THE GROUND!!!
Seriously how powerful is that. They literally drew back and fell to the ground from the three words Jesus spoke. They came to arrest a meek peasant and instead were met in a dim light by a majestic and powerful person.
And of course Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen, went out and asked, “Who is it you want?”
"Jesus of Nazareth", they replied.
“I AM HE” Jesus said. And it says in verse 6, that when He said that THEY DREW BACK AND FELL TO THE GROUND!!!
Seriously how powerful is that. They literally drew back and fell to the ground from the three words Jesus spoke. They came to arrest a meek peasant and instead were met in a dim light by a majestic and powerful person.
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