Faith for the Journey with Chris Vaught

Shaped to Serve

2010-07-01T11:29:00.001-05:00

A few years ago, we as a Church went on a spiritual journey together entitled, 40 Days of Purpose. It was a discipleship program designed by Rick Warren and Saddleback Church.

One of the key elements in the program was an acrostic of the word SHAPE. We learned together that God has uniquely shaped each one of us to serve Him. There is not a human on this planet that God doesn’t love, doesn’t have a plan for, and who isn’t gifted to serve Him in ministry.

Rick Warren defined SHAPE as:

S- Spiritual Gifts
When we come to faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12 gives us a detailed list of many of the gifts of the Spirit. It is our responsibility to seek God and unwrap our gifts.

H- Heart of Passion
Everyone is passionate about certain things. God made us that way. As Christians, God wants to use us in the areas that we are passionate about that are pleasing to Him. It was He who put those desires in our heart.

A – Abilities
Here is a great truth, not only do we receive spiritual gifts when we are saved, but God has given us natural abilities. Some people are naturally artistic, some are craftsmen, able to do great things with the work of their hands. Some people are gifted in leadership or administration. What are your natural abilities?

P- Personality
Everyone has their own personality. God will use us in areas that best fit our personality.

E- Experiences
God never waste an experience. Often our experiences are training blocks for what God is wanting us to do in service for Him.

Our God-given SHAPE is nothing new. The Apostle Paul taught this wonderful truth nearly 2000 years ago when writing his letters to the churches in Corinth and Rome.

Romans 12:4-8, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. “ (NIV)

1 Corinthians 12:14-20, 27, “ Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
27) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (NIV)

Dear one, God has uniquely shaped you to serve Him, together, we make-up Christ’ body on the earth. When any of us are not serving Him in the areas that He has gifted us, we are handicapping His body. Let me ask you, how has God shaped you to serve? Has He gifted you to teach?, to sing? to work with children? to work in landscaping? to do administration or work in the sound booth? to share the Gospel with those far from God? ‘There is so much to do for Him.

May I challenge you to take a few minutes to pray, read the Word of God and let God reveal to you the areas He wants you to serve Him. Then, Get Involved!

2010-06-26T09:19:00.001-05:00

The day has finally arrived, in 4 hrs I walk my precious daughter down the aisle.

Staying Strong

2010-06-10T15:51:00.002-05:00

At the height of His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus was in great demand. When reading the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, you read over and over again how the multitudes would come bringing the sick, disabled and tormented to Jesus. He would have compassion on the multitudes for they were “like sheep having no shepherd.” (Matthew 9: 36).

In Mark 1: 32-37, we read how Jesus spent an entire day healing the sick and delivering the demon-possessed. Verse 33 says, “And the whole city was gathered…” How did the Lord Jesus keep from “burning out?” How did the Lord Jesus keep from becoming fatigued and frustrated? The answer is in verse 35, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”

If the Son of God needed alone time with the Father to keep Himself refreshed and His spirit energized, how much more do you and I need to spend a daily quiet time alone with God? Think about it!

How do you have a daily time alone with God?
1. Set an Appointment with God Every Day!
Follow the example of Jesus. Get away with God and let nothing distract you. This is a special time to feed your spirit. Remember, God walked with Adam in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden and God wants to do the same with you. (Gen. 3)

2. Pray and Ask God to Speak to You Through His Word.
James 1:5, “ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” NIV

3. Read a Passage of Scripture and Meditate on it.
Get on a daily Bible reading plan or take a book of the Bible and systematically read through it. Be careful not to read to large of a portion of Scripture or you might miss some wonderful truths. Instead, read a paragraph (8 to 10 verses) or one chapter at a time and then meditate on the passage and listen for God to speak to you. Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God…” (NIV).

4. Ask these Questions

A – What can I learn about God through this passage?
S – Is there a Sin to avoid?
P – Is there a Promise to claim?
E – Is there an Example to follow?
C – Is there a command to obey?
T – Is there a Lesson to learn?

5. Praise the Lord for the Opportunity to Commune with Him.
Psalm 119:97-99, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.” (NIV)

6. Write in a Journal what God has said to you during your Quiet Time.

Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say, “The weakest ink is better than the best memory. Study with pen in hand.” As you write in your daily journal, you will be amazed at how quickly you develop a wonderful Bible study journal that you can go back too and refresh your spirit over and over again.

Celebrating Marriage!

2010-05-06T11:40:00.006-05:00

Matthew 19:4-6

And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?" So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. NKJV

This week, Lisa and I celebrated 20 years of marriage. I truly feel blessed to spend my life with a wonderful Christian woman. She is my helper, my lover and my dearest friend. Like any relationship, there are ups and downs, blessings and trials, but I have learned that God has placed her in my life to make me a better me! As Proverbs 27:17 says, "...iron sharpens iron."

Marriage is one of God's great gifts to us. Just take a close look at the verses above.

1. We see the Priority of Marriage. "...a man shall leave his father and mother..." (vs. 5).
For most children, God's plan is for them to eventually leave the home, to leave the "family nest" to make a home for themselves. This places great responsibility on us as parents. We are given these precious children to raise them in the love and fear of the Lord, to equip them to be strong, stable and caring members of society. We are to instill in them the values of a good work ethic, responsibility and find a Christian spouse and begin a family of their own. I must admit, the temptation as a parent is to keep them in "my nest." But that is not God's will. Just think about it. I would not have my own children if I had never left the nest myself.

This truth is especially "real" to me at this stage in my life since I will be walking my first-born down the aisle and placing her hand in the hand of another man in just a matter of weeks. As a dad I have mixed emotions. Sad that my "little" girl is leaving "my" nest, but happy that she is starting her own and that God has given to her a wonderful Christian young man.

2. We See the Permanence of Marriage. "...and be joined together..." (vs. 5)
To be joined is to be "welded, glued" together for life! As I meet with couples before their wedding day, I tell them to be successful, they must remove the word "divorce" from their vocabulary. Yes, the Bible gives some allowances for it, but our society has made divorce way to easy. The results are devastating. Today, nearly 40% of marriages in the church end in divorce. This was never God's intention! Marriage is one man and one woman, committing themselves to God and to each other for LIFE! The vows we exchange must hold value.

3. We See the Purpose of Marriage. "...and the two shall become one flesh." (vs. 5).
What does it mean to become one flesh? Jesus is referring to more than just the sexual union of the new husband and wife. He is referring to a welding together of the whole person - body, soul and spirit. In God's eyes, you are no longer two people, but ONE!

Why is marriage so important to God? From His perspective, marriage is symbolic of a greater union, the union of a Christian and the Lord Jesus Christ. One day, all believers will be invited to what the Bible calls, "The Marriage Supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9). Then, for all eternity, Christ-followers will enjoy the presence of our Lord in His Glory!

Over 20 years ago, Lisa and I agreed to never let the word "divorce" be a part of our vocabulary. We also agreed that Jesus would be FIRST. He would be our BEST FRIEND and that one another would our NEXT Best Friend. After 20 years, I can say that I believe God's outline for marriage works pretty good!

2010-04-13T10:35:00.003-05:00

1 Peter 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, (NIV)

Recently I visited with a dear friend. He is a member of a former church I pastored. He and I used to spend hours driving around and visiting, sharing the Good news of Salvation and praying with members of the community. He would get so excited as we traveled together and talked about Jesus. He would often burst out in song, slap his knee and let out a "Whoo-hoo!" as the joy of his salvation would roll over him like warm summer breeze. O' how I loved those moments with my friend.

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from this dear friend. His voice was weak and crackled. Sickness has been a constant companion to my friend the past few years, along with grief at the passing of his dear wife. His phone call was not what one looks forward to receiving. He was calling to talk about his funeral arrangements. As we talked, I fought to keep my voice from breaking. I didn't want him to know that tears were filling my eyes as we discussed this future event.

A couple of days after the phone call I took an afternoon and traveled to visit with my friend. He no longer can stay by himself and now lives with one of his children. That afternoon was one of the most precious experiences I have had in a great while. I sat next to my friend and listened as he shared his love for me, his family, his friends, and most of all, his love for Jesus and longing to see Heaven!

I've thought much about that evening since then. Here was a man who has always been active, independent, ministering to others. Now, he is sickly, living with his children and missing the bride of his youth. And yet, there is not one ounce of anger, frustration or regret in him. He still smiles, he still laughs and he looks up in great anticipation of the day that his faith will become his sight!

I believe my friend has the "Living Hope" that the Apostle Peter said we as believers could have. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for His Living Hope!

Our Response to the Bible

2010-03-26T17:06:00.002-05:00

OK, if you were in our services last Sunday, I know this outline is a few days later than I said it would be. But here we go. Below is the outline with Scriptures from last Sunday’s sermon on the Christian’s Response to the Bible.
God Bless!

• The Bible is a Timeless Book.
Ps 119:89, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.” NKJV

It has been said, the Bible is not the book of the week, the book of the month, or even the book of the year. The Bible is the book of the ages. It is an amazing, unchanging, accurate, timeless book.

Ps 119:160, “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” NKJV

The Word of God is a timeless book. These Scriptures are as relevant for our generation, as it was hundreds of years before us, and if Jesus tarries, these Words will be relevant for every generation that will come after us.
Civilizations have changed, Empires have risen and fallen, Science and technology have increased, and yet the Bible stands as true today as it did to those who first read these precious words.

1 Peter 1: 25 says, “But the Word of the Lord endureth forever.”

Emperors have decreed the end of the Bible, atheists have railed against it, Agnostics have mocked it, liberals have tried to change it, but the Bible stands true. It is forever settled in Heaven!

Voltaire said, “Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth!”-
Voltaire expected that within fifty years of his lifetime there would not be one Bible in the world. His house is now a distribution center for Bibles in many languages. --Corrie Ten Boom

The famous Baptist preacher, Dr. R.G. Lee said,
“All of its enemies have not torn one hole in its holy vesture, nor stolen one flower from its wonderful garden, nor diluted one drop of honey from its abundant hive, nor broken one string on its thousand stringed harp, nor drowned one sweet word in infidel ink.”

• The Bible is a Truthful Book.

Ps 119:142, “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth.” NKJV

Ps 119:151, “You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.” NKJV

In John 18: 38, Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” Jesus had already answered that question in chapter 17:17 when He prayed to the Father and said, “Thy word is truth.”
• The Bible is a Treasured Book.

Ps 119:72, “ The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver.” NKJV

My friend, can you say that? Can you say that your love is for the Word of God?
Illustration: A pile of gold on one side of the platform and a Bible on the other. You are given a choice of one or the other, which one would you choose?

Look with me at Ps 119:103, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” NKJV

Ps 119:127, “Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold!” NKJV

The Saints of old loved the Word of God. They loved it, lived it, practiced it, trusted it and obeyed it. There are stories of how great Saints have held to the Word of God as they faced the chilly waters of death. Martyrs who died for the witness of the Lord Jesus Christ would hold the Bible close to their chest as the flames would creep around their feet.

What should be our response to the Word of God?
1. We are to BELIEVE IT!

A) The Bible has Divine Authorship
2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”

That word inspiration is used only once in the Bible, but what a magnificent word it is. In the Greek, the word is theopneustis. It means, “God breathed.” Theo means, “God.” Pneustis means, “ the breath of God.”

In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

B) The Bible has Amazing Accuracy
Yes, God used man to pen the words, but it was God breathing the words to the hands of the men.

2 Peter 1:20-21, “ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” NKJV

The Bible is a collection of 66 books, written by as many as 40 authors over a 1500 year period. The Bible has one theme, the Love of God, one problem – sin, one villain – the devil, one hero – Jesus, one solution – Salvation through faith in Christ alone!

There are over 24,000 hand written ancient manuscripts of the Bible. That’s more than Homer’s Illiad, 40 to 1. There is more historical proof of the Bible than there is to say Julius Ceasar ever lived!

We are to Believe it!

2. We are to READ/STUDY IT!

Do you ever read a Newspaper? Do you believe every word of the newspaper is true? No one believes that if they have any sense about them. Now, do you believe the Bible to be true? Every word of it? YES! Yet, do you spend more time reading the newspaper than you do the Word of God?!

A wise man once said, “These hath God married, dust on the Bible and no man shall part, dust on the Bible and drought in the heart!”

Psalm 119: 81-82, “My soul faints for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word. My eyes fail from searching your word.”

3. We are to PROCLAIM IT!
a. People are Encouraged by it.
b. People are instructed by it.
c. People are convicted by it.
d. People are saved by it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” NKJV

Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?”
Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” NKJV

4. We are to APPLY IT!
Ps 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
NKJV

Jesus said, John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." NKJV

Why is it imperative that you Apply the Word of God to your life?
a. Your salvation depends upon it.
1 Peter 1:23-24, “ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,” NKJV

b. Your sanctification depends upon it.
John 17:17, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” NKJV

Ps 119:11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” NKJV

c. Your usefulness for God depends on it.
2 Tim 2:15-16, “ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” NKJV

d. Your assurance depends on it.
1 John 5:13,
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” NKJV

Never Give Up!

2010-03-15T14:14:00.002-05:00

OK friends, whether you are a Kentucky Wildcats fan or not, you have to admire their overtime win against Mississippi State for their 26th SEC tournament championship. The Bulldogs of Mississippi State gave the wildcats every thing they had. They hit big shots, they rebounded, they played tenacious defense, they blocked shots, they did everything possible to win the ball game. As the seconds clicked off the clock, I’m sure most fans in blue thought the game was over. Then it happened, with 0.1 seconds to go, DeMarcus Cousins scored on a missed shot to send the game to overtime. When the buzzer sounded, it was Kentucky holding up the SEC trophy. Why? Coach John Calipari said it well when he said, “They have a will to win.”
The Apostle Paul had a “will” to win too.

In 1 and 2 Timothy, the man of God continually encourages believers to remain faithful to Christ till the end. Historically, many in the early church renounced their faith in Christ due to religious persecution from the Romans. Prophetically, according to Scripture, many in the last days will also turn from their faith in Christ. Paul says in 1 Timothy 4, “…in the latter times some will depart from the faith…” (vs.1). In 2 Timothy 4, Paul writes, “…and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.” (vs. 4). In 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul states that the Lord Jesus will not return until there is first a “great falling away.”

A minister friend recently wrote a note that said, “I know that the apostasy is coming, Lord, don’t let me be a part of it.” My prayer for me, for you, and all believers, is that like the Apostle Paul, we have the “will” to hold to our faith until the final buzzer sounds and Jesus takes us home. Remember, it was from a Roman prison cell, awaiting his own execution for his faith, that Paul wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Until All Have Heard

2010-03-03T10:20:00.003-06:00

Matthew 24:14
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." NIV

We know that Jesus is coming again, but when? With all the pain and suffering in our world, not to mention the rise of immorality, the question looms in our mind, "when Lord"?

The Saints in the day of the Apostle Peter also wondered. They were under great persecution for their faith and they looked up daily, hoping, longing for the Lord's return. "When Lord?" was their question too.

In 2 Peter chapter 3, we find the Apostle writing words of encouragement to the burdened church. Scoffers had risen and they were making a mockery out of the church's preaching of Christ return. "Where is the promise of His coming?" they would ask. The church became disheartened. Then Peter gave them a precious Word. He reminded them of the heart of God and of His integrity, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3: 9 NKJV)

There it was! Words of comfort to the discouraged church. In essence he said, "God is suffering long with you in the midst of all the wickedness of this world because He wants men, women, boys and girls to be saved!" Surely Peter remembered the words of our Lord in Matthew 24:14. Jesus said that He would not come again until His Gospel (Good News of Salvation) was preached among all nations.

Several weeks ago I learned of an amazing research project called "The Joshua Project." The goal was to identify the people groups of the world who have yet to hear the Name of Jesus. They published that there are still 6642 people groups who have not heard the Gospel.

Now here is where this gets exciting. There seems to be a moving of the Holy Spirit among believers everywhere to get serious about spreading the message of Jesus. In fact, mission groups are now targeting these "unreached" people groups to give them the hope of eternal life. My friends, when all nations have a witness of the Gospel, there will be nothing left holding our Lord back from coming for His Church!

Join me in prayer that the Holy Spirit will move upon me, you and every Christ-follower on this planet. Let's pray together that God will give us a burden to share Jesus with every soul possible. May we spread the message of Salvation in Christ alone to every ear who will listen. Until all have heard, may Jesus find us busy, working in His fields!

You can learn more about the Joshua Project at www.joshuaproject.net

Pray the Word of God over your children

2010-02-10T11:18:00.006-06:00

I recently had the opportunity to be in a service with Henry Blackaby, the author of Experiencing God. His insights on prayer and personal revival are amazing. During the service, he made a comment concerning his children and grandchildren. He said there is a passage of Scripture that he reguarlly prays over them. This intrigued me. He went on to testify that each of his 5 children are now serving in ministry for Christ in some fashion and that his two oldest grandchildren are now in Seminary.

The first time I ever heard someone praying Scripture was about ten years ago when a man challenged me to pray a passage from Ephesians over a non-Christian who I was praying to receive Christ. It was such a simple concept, I wondered why I hadn't thought of it before.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (NKJV)

Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword..." (NKJV).

Think about it. When you and I pray the Word of God over our Children, we are praying the most powerful words ever penned on paper. We are praying God's Words!

So, what is the verse that Henry Blackaby prays over his children and grandchildren? It was Isaiah 59:21:

Isaiah 59:21
"As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore."
NKJV

Take a moment right now and pray this verse over your children and grandchildren. Pray that the Spirit of God and the Word of God will not depart from their heart!

Christians Living out their Faith!

2010-02-04T12:14:00.004-06:00

There are times in your life when God places you in the midst of people who exemplify what it means to be a Christ-follower!

Each year I travel south to get refocused on my calling from God. For 5 days I worship the Lord and learn from His Word at the Pastor’s Conference at First Baptist, Jacksonville, FL. A wonderful church led by Dr. Mac Brunson.

At this conference the preaching is powerful, the music is inspiring and Jesus is lifted up and glorified! Yet, it is the precious members of the Church that volunteer up to 12 hours a day serving the visiting pastors and hosting them in their homes that makes this one week a year, a week to encounter God without any distractions!

Let me share two examples with you. Their names are Richard and Elaine Gills and Kenneth and Ina Dobbs.

For the past 5 years, Richard and Elaine Gills have opened up their home to me and my staff. They are our “host family.” And family is the key word. After just a few minutes with this sweet, godly couple, you feel like you are part of their family. They have prayed for us, taken us to Elaine's favorite Chinese restaurant, introduced us to their friends and simply loved us with the precious love of Jesus! O’ how Richard and Elaine have showed us the heart of Jesus! Praise God for this couple. Richard and Elaine own and operate a container company and they send packages to missions around the world! What a precious couple!

Then there is Kenneth and Ina Dobbs. (pictured, sorry Richard and Elaine, I didn’t get a chance to take your picture!)

Kenneth is a retired US Postal service worker. He serves First Baptist Jacksonville as an Usher. The story of how our lives crossed is amazing and nothing short of the Sovereignty of God. For clarity, First Baptist Jacksonville has over 27,000 members and the Sanctuary seats over 9000. A couple of years ago, my Executive Pastor, Harold and me were finding a seat on the right side of the Sanctuary before the evening service. The usher working that section that night was Kenneth. A conversation started between us as we waited for the service to begin. Then, Kenneth went on to do his duties. Harold and I knew that Kenneth would greet hundreds of pastors that night and therefore, we put no thought to the idea that Kenneth would remember a couple of preachers from Kentucky.

Several months later, I was dealing with a difficult situation in the ministry. Normally, if I am having a difficult day my secretary will protect my time so I can pray and read the Word of God. However, on that day, she came into my office and said that there was a man from Florida on the phone and that he was insistent to talk to me. You may have guessed it, it was Kenneth Dobbs! When I answered the phone he said, “You may not remember me and you may think I am crazy, but I have been praying for you for the past few days and God told me to call you today and tell you that.” Needless to say, I was humbled and exhilarated in the Holy Spirit all at the same time. God knew the struggle that I was going through and had a man 1000 miles away to pray for me and call me. What an awesome God we serve!

Since that day, Harold and I have become very close to this godly couple, as we have with Richard and Elaine. The Dobbs look for us at the conference each year; take us out to breakfast or dinner or both! We have been in their home, they have prayed over us and this year we were blessed to meet their daughter Lisa and her husband Bob.

Friends, let me encourage you to love the way Jesus loves and to share that love with those you come into contact with. Each one of us can be a Richard and Elaine or a Kenneth and Ina to others if we will love people with the love of Jesus!

When I think of these two couples, I remember the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Church in Philippi,

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from this first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in your will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…”
Philippians 1: 3-6 NKJV

The Value of Your Testimony

2010-01-18T11:51:00.006-06:00

Have you purchased any cologne or perfume lately? If you haven’t, you better prepare yourself before you go on your next shopping spree for your favorite body fragrance. Depending on your choice, you could spend around $60.00 for just a few ounces. Though it may be expensive, most of us would agree that spending a little extra for the “good stuff” is better than the alternative. There’s not much more appalling then no cologne, except maybe some cheap cologne that comes from a convenience store bathroom. When it comes to body fragrance, you either attract or appall others by your choice and the amount you use.

Did you know that your Christian witness is like a cologne or perfume to God? It really is. Notice this verse, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2: 15 NKJV).

When studying the books of First and Second Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writing to a young church who loves the Lord Jesus, but in many ways, their lifestyle is not measuring up. Paul is encouraging them to take an honest examination of their life and not allow anything to hinder their testimony of God’s Saving Grace.

A Christian’s testimony becomes evident in two ways.

First, there is the public profession of faith and baptism. What a beautiful picture is painted in the hearts of men and women in the Church when they watch a person who has confessed faith in Christ be immersed in baptismal waters. To everyone watching, that person is proclaiming that their “old” self has been crucified with Christ and now they have been made “new” by the grace of Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).

Second, there is the daily walk of the believer. As a child growing up in church I remember the frequent testimony of Ms. Mossie Long in our small church. With her walking cane waving in the air she would announce to all listening, “you may be the only Bible some people ever read!” How true her words are. James, the half-brother of our Lord, never denied that we were saved by grace through faith, but he did admonish Christians to remember that it is through our “works,” our lifestyle, that the world will believe our confession of faith. “I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18)

So, how valuable is your Christian testimony? It will either be like an expensive cologne purchased at a fine department store, or it will be like cheap bathroom cologne out of a quarters only machine. The decision is up to you.

In his letters to the Corinthians Paul said,
1. Remember who you are!

You are “called to be saints”:
1 Corinthians 1:2

You are His “Temple”:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17

2. Don’t let your lifestyle hinder your testimony.

“Be Holy”:
2 Corinthians 6:16-18,
2 Corinthians 5:9-10,

“Be sensitive to the conscience of others:”
1 Corinthians 8: 1-13

"Let Christian love be your guide."
1 Corinthians 13: 1-13

Keep watch on your faith.style="font-weight:bold;">span>
2 Corinthians 13: 5-6

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. “

Keys to a Churches Success!

2010-01-15T15:29:00.003-06:00

Here is an amazing fact. A team can have the most generous owner, the most intelligent coach, the most trusted assistants and still lose the majority of their games! A team can have a less than desirable owner, a less than competent coach and immature assistants and still be productive in a game situation.

Why is that? It is because the overall success of the team depends in large part, not on the owner, or even the staff, but on the players themselves! The key to a team’s success is the players on the field!

Let me give you a recent example. Just south of where I live and pastor is the city of Nashville, Tn. There is a professional football team there, the Tennessee Titans. Last year they won an astounding 13 games in a row. There was great expectation coming into this season. Yet, they started the season with a 6 game losing streak! They had the same owner, they had the same head coach and they had many of the same players. Surprisingly, midway through the season, they changed quarterbacks and all of a sudden they went on to win 8 of their last 10 games! The players began to play with an expectation to win!

The local church is very similar, we have the greatest Head, the Lord Jesus. We have a clear mission, to go into all the world and make disciples for the Lord Jesus. Churches can have wonderful pastors and ministry leaders, but for the Church to be successful, each player, each member of that local Church must get involved in the game. Each believer in a local fellowship must work through their Church in building the Kingdom of God!

An outstanding pastor and leader whom I have been blessed to become friends with is Dr. John Ed Mathisson. John Ed is the retired minister of Frazer United Methodist Church.
He said; “The most effective churches will be those who use the gifts and talents of the lay people.”

Here are some truths we need to remember.
1. Every Member is a Minister.

1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” NKJV
Eph 2:10, “ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” NKJV
Why is this important? One of the keys to the protestant reformation was the belief in the “Priesthood of the Believer.” Priest = “servant” we are called to serve.

2. It is Biblical for Members to serve.
1 Corinthians 12:

a) Each member is Gifted by God (vs. 4-11)
b) Each member is vital to the Church’s success (vs. 15-24)

3. Members serving in Ministry is the Cure for Burnout among pastors and ministry leaders.
According to some statistics, as many as 1500 pastors leave the ministry every month due to sin or burnout.

4. Members serving in the Ministry is the antidote to the financial burden of the Church.
A church can never hire enough staff to do all the ministry that the Church is called to do! When all the members serve, the church can operate with a smaller paid staff and no one gets burdened down with too many responsibilities!

5. There is a Great Paycheck for those who Serve!

First of all, there are the Temporal rewards. Few things will ever bless a Christian more than hearing someone say, “You have made an impact on my life, thanks!” You can’t put a dollar value on that. It’s like the MasterCard commercials; “It’s priceless.”

Then, there are the Eternal rewards. The Lord Jesus said in Matt 10:42, “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward." NKJV

Dear friends, get involved in the work of the Kingdom. Let’s strive together to reach people with the wonderful love and message of Jesus Christ. And as you serve, serve willingly, serve joyfully, serve with expectation that God will bless, serve with excellence to bring glory to God.

Share the Joy of Christmas!

2009-12-23T12:40:00.005-06:00

I love Christmas! I love the lights, the songs, the smell of fresh cookies and candies in the cool air. I especially love the glow in a child’s eyes as you begin to talk about opening gifts on Christmas morn. But greater than all these, I love the message of Christmas and I want to share that message with all who will listen!

When you read about the first Christmas in Luke chapter 2, have you ever thought about the joy in which the Angels proclaimed to those unsuspecting shepherds? The Scriptures say that with great joy they proclaimed, “Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth, Peace, Goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14)

This is a most interesting passage, for you see, angels are not sinful creatures who need redemption. They were created holy and in the presence of God. Friend, why then were they so excited? Oh, how wonderful, they were not excited for themselves, they were excited for us! Our sins have separated us from God. It is humans who need redemption, for we are sinful creatures. And the angels proclaimed with great joy that the Savior had been born to save sinners from their sins! Now, if the angels could get that excited the night our Lord came to this earth, then my friend, you and I ought to be ecstatic with excitement to go share our Faith this Christmas!

How can we share the Joy of Christmas?
Psalm 105: 1-5 tells us how to share the joy this Christmas!
1. Be Joyful at Christmas! Vs. 1, 3
“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name!...Glory in His Holy Name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!”

To share the joy, we must be joyful. The old Christmas Carol, Joy to the World, should be our theme song.
Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Why should we be joyful? The Psalmist says we should be joyful because of what God has done!

2. Tell People what God has done! Vs. 1,2, 5
“make known His deeds…Talk of all His wondrous works…Remember His marvelous works which He has done…”

Everyone loves to be bragged on. Enter a room where a mother is telling her friends about some funny or cute thing their child said or did and just watch the faces of those listening. Something amazing happens.

Friends faces light up as they hear the stories, they start imagining how the events unrolled. Watch the reaction of men when a father is telling them about their child’s accomplishments. The joy becomes contagious!

The same is true when the followers of Jesus start bragging on Him. The joy becomes contagious. And believe me, Jesus has earned some bragging rights.
The Apostle Paul summed it up well when writing to young Timothy.
“God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16 NKJV)

C.S Lewis said; “If Jesus had never been born, then it would always be winter and never Christmas.”

Larry King has made his living by interviewing famous people. He was asked once, “If you could interview any person throughout history, who would it be?” Larry King said; “Jesus Christ.” “I would ask Him is he indeed really was virgin born. Because the answer to that question would define history for me.”

Jesus was born, lived, died on the cross for our sins, buried and arose from the grave with this promise, that someday He is coming again to receive all those who trust in Him.
Jesus has bragging rights!!!
Bragging on Jesus creates excitement and then we can Sing praises to Him!

3. Sing Praises to God! Vs. 2
“Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him…”

During this season, we can sing Carols of our faith.
For example, the carol, Silent Night

Silent Night was written by a young Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr, in 1818. Listen to the message in the lyrics.
"Silent Night, Holy Night, All is calm, all is bright; Round yon virgin, mother and child; Holy infant so tender and mild; Sleep in heavenly peace; Sleep in heavenly peace."

This carol holds such an amazing anointing of God’s blessing that it has literally stopped fighting in two world wars. In World War I, British and German soldiers temporarily stopped fighting on Christmas Eve and together sang this carol. In War World II, fighting was suspended while people around the world watched Opera singer, Ernestine Schumann-Heink sing Silent Night.

The Temptation is to sing Christmas Carols out of habit, and not pay attention the message. Carols such as; Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and O’ Holy Night, tell the Good News of Jesus.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for us to Share our Joy and Faith!

All around the world, groups are trying to take away the true meaning of Christmas. They don’t want people to know that Christmas is about God sending His Son to take away our sin, for to acknowledge that, one would have to acknowledge that they have sinned. It's important for you and I to unashamedly proclaim the message of Christmas and to do so with great joy!

Share the message, share your faith, share it with Joy this Christmas!

Worshipping our Creator

2009-12-14T11:05:00.005-06:00

Psalm 104: 31
"May the glory of the LORD endure forever; May the LORD rejoice in His works."

As an undergraduate in college, I was majoring in Biology. My childhood goal was to become a Cardiologist. Little did I understand back then that God had called me to spend my life trying to heal the "spiritual" heart, not the physical. On one particular night in one of my classes, the professor leaned over his podium and made this amazing statement. He said; "More Scientist have converted to Christianity over the study of the human heart than for any other reason that I know of." He went on to explain how the human heart was simply a muscle with four chambers in it. And yet, the function is so complex. The heart beats 72 times a minute, 60 minutes an hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, for the average of 70 to 75 years. All while beating in the same rhythm and without getting fatigued.

This past weekend I preached on how Christmas is a wonderful time to remember God our Creator. As I was preparing for the message I came across a fascinating article in my most recent edition of Acts & Facts magazine. The article identified the amazing miracle of the human heart in the unborn child and the how it goes through a transformation at birth.

Let me give you the highlights. In adults, the Right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs with low pressure. The Left side pumps blood to the body under High pressure. However, in an unborn child, the opposite is true. The baby is living in a sack of water and fluid. The baby's heart pumps with High pressure out of the right side and with Low pressure out of the Left side. The reason is that the Mother sends Oxygen-rich blood to the baby through the Umbilical cord. Another amazing fact is that the Umbilical cord attaches to a vein near the baby's liver to send blood to the heart.

AT BIRTH, the Umbilical cord restricts blood flow to the baby from the Mother. Then sensors in the blood vessels pick-up that there is increased Carbon Dioxide in the blood. Next, sensors in the skin detect temperature change as the baby is being born. All of this stimulates the Nervous System to cause the baby to take it's First Deep Breath! As the baby begins to take it's own breaths,the heart reverses it's process. Now, the Rights side switches from High pressure to Low pressure and the Left side switches from Low pressure to High pressure. How amazing! Only God could have created us in such a wonderful and complex manner!

Romans 1: 20,
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." NIV

Serving in the name of Jesus

2009-12-10T21:27:00.003-06:00

Matthew 10:42
And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."
NKJV

You should have seen them. They were beautiful. Volunteers like this sweet girl walking through the crowd at the Morgantown City Christmas Parade. They braved the cool air and spent their Saturday handing out FREE cups of hot chocolate in the name of Jesus!

I am especially proud of these giving, serving Christians because they are members of Cool Springs Church where I serve as Sr. Pastor. In about 45 minutes, these servants gave 600 cups of warm sweetness to the parade watchers.

Why did they do this? Simple, Christmas is when we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, the gift God gave the world when He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus to take away our sin. If God could give to us His own Son, the lest we can do as His followers during the Christmas season, is to serve others!

I hope you will open your eyes and your heart during this Holiday season and find ways to share the love of God in the name of Jesus. Even if no one is around and watching, you will know in your heart that God is watching and He will be smiling!

Share the Gift of God's Love this Christmas Season!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T15:28:00.002-06:00

I can't say it any better than the Psalmist did! Happy Thanksgiving!

Psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
NKJV

The Christian's Glory

2009-11-18T11:11:00.003-06:00

On Wednesday evening, November 11, 2009, Taylor Swift made Country Music history as she became the youngest singer to ever win the Entertainer of the Year award.
By night’s end she had won all four categories in which she was nominated. She won, “Album of the Year,” “Music Video of the Year,” “Female Vocalist of the Year” and “Entertainer of the Year.”

When she was awarded the Entertainer of the Year award, she called to stage her band, gave them a big hug and said; “I’ll never forget this moment because in this moment everything that I have ever wanted has just happened to me.”

On Wednesday evening, Taylor Swift experienced the highest glory a Country artist can experience.

But for Christians, our glory is not an award or the recognition of an accomplishment. Our glory is far more precious. Our glory is so special that it is literally supernatural. Let me explain.

In Acts 16: 16-34, you find the Apostle’s Paul and Silas. They had been traveling from city to city preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and now find themselves in a Philippian Jail. What was their crime? Preaching the Gospel and casting a demon out of a young slave girl. It’s important to note that not everyone in this world gets excited when you and I share Jesus with them. The slave girl’s owners had Paul and Silas thrown into prison.

There they were, two great men of God, cold, beaten and bloodied, chained like common criminals. But God was with them. At midnight, Paul and Silas began to pray and sing hymns to God. They encouraged themselves in the Lord and God moved mightily upon their stand of faith. The foundations of the prison were shaken and the chains fell off their feet. God had delivered them.

If we were there we probably would have shouted; “Let’s go!” “Let’s get out of here!” But Paul and Silas did not leave. They had a bigger picture in their mind then simply running from the prison. The guard came in and would have killed himself because he thought he prisoners had all escaped. Yet, Paul yelled to the man and told him they were still there. The man trembling, fell to his knees, convicted of his sin, believing that the God Paul and Silas preached about was strong and mighty. The man cried out; “What must I do to be saved?”

That is what Paul and Silas were waiting for. The Christian’s glory is not an award or the recognition of some feat. The Christian’s glory is when God uses the experiences and testimonies of our lives to bring another person to the knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Savior. On that day for Paul and Silas, the jailer and his family were their glory.

Someone once said that we cannot take anything to Heaven with us except the souls we led to Jesus while here on earth.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20:
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. NKJV

Because He Lives!

2009-11-11T15:07:00.008-06:00

There are few songs that seem to stir the hearts of a congregation like Gospel songwriter, William Gather’s, Because He Lives. Read the beautiful words of the first verse and chorus:

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

My friends, the great hope in this song is the truth that Jesus is Alive! For Christians, we are not serving a dead deity! We serve the Living Lord Jesus Christ! All our hope and faith is in the resurrection of Christ.

I. Because He Lives You Can Have HOPE!

a. You don’t have to live a life dominated by worry

Matthew 6: 25-31
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? (31) "Therefore do not worry, NKJV

b. You can be forgiven of your sins!
1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." NKJV

1 John 2:1-2:
"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." NKJV

II. Because He Lives You Can Face LIFE!

Hebrews 4: 15-16: "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
NKJV

We are victorious in life because He was victorious in life. When we come to Jesus, He understands. What a great truth!

III. Because He Lives You Are NEVER ALONE!

Matthew 28:20: Jesus said; “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. NKJV

IV. Because He Lives You Can FACE DEATH!

1 Corinthians 15: 55; 57
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

James S. Hewett once said: “What death did to Jesus is nothing compared to what Jesus did to death.”

V. Because He Lives You Can Go To HEAVEN!

John 14: 1-3:
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." NKJV

What about you? Can you face your concerns? Your fears? Can you face Life? Death? Are You Prepared for Heaven? If not, you can be. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and forgive your sins by faith. He is alive and you can face life, death and eternity when you follow Him!

Who do you say Jesus is?

2009-11-06T10:20:00.005-06:00

In the Old Testament, the Israelites had at least 12 different Hebrew and Aramaic names for God. Each of the names had a specific meaning.

I. The most Holy name for God in the Bible is Jehovah
• Jehovah = “Self-existent, eternal God”

In the New Testament, the angel told Mary that she was to name her baby…JESUS! Matthew 1:21
• Jesus = “Jehovah Saves” – God had come down to man!

II. The Jesus in the New Testament is the Jehovah in the Old.
When the Lord Jesus asked the disciples whom men said He was, various answers came back. Just think if these people were asked…
1. Blind Bartimaeus: He would have said that Jesus was…
i. Jehovah – Rophe – “The God that heals me.”

2. The boy with the sack lunch: He would have said Jesus was…
1. Jehovah-Jireh: “God my Provider.”

3. The Woman caught in Adultery would have said that Jesus was…
1. Jehovah-Tsidkenu: “God is my Righteousness” “Forgiver”

4. The Apostle Paul would say that Jesus was his…
1. Jehovah-M’Kiddish: “The God who Sanctifies me, makes me Holy”

5. The man called Legion would say that Jesus was his…
1. Jehovah-Shalom: “The God who gives me Peace.”

6. Lazarus would say that Jesus was his…
1. Jehovah-Shammah: “The God who is Always with Me.”
Even in death, Lazarus was not alone!

7. Andrew and Peter could have said that Jesus was…
1. Jehovah-Rohi: “God is my Shepherd” He leads me and guides me.

8. John the Baptist could have said that Jesus was…
1. Jehovah-Nissi: “God is my Banner” He is my Victory!

Oh! But there’s more….If you were to ask…
9. The disciples on the boat during the great storm they would have said that Jesus was…
1. Adonai: “Master of All”

10. Paul and Silas in the Philippians’ jail would say Jesus was their…
1. EL: ‘Strong One”

11. The birds of the air, the animals of the land and the fish of the Sea, they would say He is…
1. Elohim: “The All powerful Creator”

Let me give you just ONE MORE!!
If you were to ask Barabbas, he would say… HE IS MY SUBSTITUTE!
He is Heaven’s Sacrificial Lamb!!!

III. Jesus is All These Wrapped into One!
Jesus said unto them, “But whom do you say that I am?” And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Matthew 16:15-16

He is the Christ! The Messiah! He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings! He is all the Old Testament Names wrapped into One!

Revelation 22:13: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." NKJV

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Giant Slaying

2009-11-04T10:33:00.004-06:00

This week I am preaching a Revival at Antioch General Baptist Church just outside of Leitchfield, KY. As I was praying, studying and pondering as to what the Holy Spirit wanted me to begin this series of meetings with, the Lord led me to 1 Samuel chapter 17. Here is a short summary of the message I preached on Monday night. God wants you to slay the Giants in your life!

1 Samuel 17: 20-24:
David had no clue as to what awaited him on this fateful day as he crawled out of bed. The day began like any other ordinary day. Yet, shortly after getting up, his father, Jesse, told David to take some bread and cheese down to his brothers who were fighting with King Saul against the Philistines. Shortly after arriving at camp, David heard the voice of Goliath the giant as he stood in defiance of the army of Israel and against God Himself.

A day that seemed to be an ordinary day, turned into a day that David would have to face a Giant. How about you? Have you ever experienced a day when you thought everything was normal, everything was o.k. only to find yourself face to face with a giant? Giants come when you lest expect them. Friend, what is your Giant?

1 Samuel 17: 25-29:
As David heard the giant defy God and the Israelites, David noticed a troubling condition in the hearts of the soldiers..."FEAR!" The armies were at a standstill, they were in array. No one was fighting and when the giant spoke, the men trembled.

Friends, that happens to us too! The Bible teaches us that we are in Spiritual Warfare. Ephesians chapter 6 tells us to put on the whole armor of God. Yet, many of us are no longer fighting, we are standing around, abiding our time and allowing the giants in our lives put fear in our hearts!

And until we get mad at the devil, Nothing Will Change!!!

1 Samuel 17: 25:
David learns a valuable lesson. David learns that whoever kills the giant gets riches, gets to marry the King's daughter and that his family will be free from taxes. David says; "Man! There are some things worth fighting for!!!" (paraphrase mine).

Friends, do you know that there are some things worth fighting for?!! Let me give you a few examples. When you know the freedom Christ gives from your sin, you will never again be satisfied with unconfessed sin in your heart! When you know the joy of a happy relationship, you will never be happy with trouble in the home. When you know the peace of God, you will never be satisfied living a life of worry! Friends, whatever your giants are, freedom from your giants is worth the fight!!! Jesus came that we may be free from the giants of the enemy.

You can't run from your Giants, You Must Face Them!

1 Samuel 17: 34-37:
I am sure David was nervous about facing Goliath. However, he found the courage to fight his giant. Where did he find strength and courage? He found it in reminding himself of the past victories that God had given him. He remembered how God delivered the lion and the bear into his hands and he said; "...He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

Where do you find courage to fight your giants? You find courage in the past victories God has given you!

Spiritual Trees

2009-10-27T10:38:00.006-05:00

Let me ask you a very important question, “How did you come to faith in Jesus Christ?” Each of us have a “Spiritual Tree,” a heritage we can trace back and see how God used various people and events to get us to Christ.

As believers, the Apostle Paul taught that God wants to use each of us in building the spiritual trees of others. Paul said that some of us “plant the seeds” and some of us “water the seeds” but it is God using us to grow new Christians (1 Cor. 3:6).

I found this account of a spiritual tree very interesting and wanted to share it with you…
“It was July 1, 1885 when Edward Kimball felt the tugging of the Spirit to share his faith with a young shoe salesman. Kimball was nervous, but he finally mustered his courage and went into the shoe store. There Kimball found the salesman in the back room stocking shoes, and he began to share his faith with him. As a result, the young shoe salesman prayed and received Jesus Christ. That shoe salesman's name was Dwight L. Moody, and he became the greatest evangelist of his generation.

The story doesn't end there. Several years later a pastor and well-known author by the name of Frederick B. Meyer heard Moody preach. Meyer was so deeply stirred by Moody's preaching that he himself embarked on a far-reaching evangelistic ministry. Once when Meyer was preaching, a college student named Wilbur Chapman accepted Christ as a result of his presentation of the gospel. Chapman later employed a baseball player to help him prepare to conduct an evangelistic crusade. That ballplayer, who later became a powerful evangelist himself, was Billy Sunday.

In 1924 a group of businessmen invited Billy Sunday to hold an evangelistic campaign in Charlotte, North Carolina, which resulted in many people coming to Christ. Out of that revival meeting a group of men formed a men's prayer group to pray for the world. They prayed for Charlotte to have another great revival. God sent another evangelist named Mordecai Hamm. Hamm went to Charlotte in 1934 to hold a crusade. Ham's crusade went well, even though it did not have many converts. On one of the last nights under the big tent one tall, lanky young man walked up the aisle to receive Christ. That man's name was Billy Graham.

Talk about a chain of events! And it all started with an ordinary Christian named Edward Kimball, who reached D.L. Moody, who reached Wilbur Chapman, who reached Billy Sunday, who reached Mordecai Ham, who reached Billy Graham.

Billy Graham’s spiritual tree goes back to one man sharing Christ with a shoe salesman. My friend, you have no idea what God can do with your witness. When you are faithful to share Christ with your family, friends, co-workers, classmates, or even a stranger on the street, you may just be sharing Christ with the next Billy Graham.

As we come to the final months of 2009, I want to encourage you to finish the year strong for Christ. Keep your focus on Him and share your love for Him with others.

Prettiest girls in the Pumpkin patch

2009-10-26T11:08:00.001-05:00

New Sermon Series starts this Sunday!

2009-10-23T09:22:00.002-05:00

Jesus came to break the yokes of bondage in our lives. Get ready for God to give you a breakthrough. Invite your family and friends and join us at Cool Springs Church starting this Sunday for the new series of messages entitled: Prison Break!

If you can't be with us, you can listen to us online at www.coolspringschurch.net

Luke 4: 18-19
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

The cherry on top!

2009-10-20T13:08:00.003-05:00

Recently, I was invited to Michigan to preach and teach at a Church Growth conference along side one of the great Christian leaders of our day, John Ed Mathison. This kind, southern gentleman has been used by God to encourage and equip thousands of believers and Church leaders of all denominations. I was truly humbled and honored to share the Word of God with him to our fellow laborers in the North. Leading and equipping church leaders is a passion of mine. One I hope to be able to do more of in the future.

For two days we shared with gracious church leaders, toured their facilities and listened to their visions, dreams and desires. These were exciting, fulfilling moments. However, they could not be compared to what I experienced at the end of the trip.

After an eventful trip back to Kentucky, I pulled into my driveway. Before I could get out of the car, my oldest daughter ran out the door, "Hi Dad!" When I came in to the house, my youngest daughter ran in and jumped on my lap. After a few hugs and a big smile, my four year old says, "Dance with me daddy!" You should have seen us. Gliding across the Family room floor, me and my blue eyed four year old. Then it hit me. I love preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love being a Pastor to His people. I was honored and thrilled to work alongside a great Christian leader at a Growth Conference, but the cherry on top of my weekend, was dancing with my children at home.

Friends, enjoy all that life brings your way. Serve God and strive to achieve all you can. But in all you do, don't forget to enjoy the ride and don't take for granted the blessings you already have.

The Witness of a Transformed Life

2009-09-16T15:41:00.002-05:00

Acts 4:13,
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. NKJV

Let me tell you about a recent encounter that touched my heart and challenged my spirit. I believe it will yours’ too.

For protection I will call her Ossel. This past week I was walking out of a department store when I saw a woman who has attended here at various times. We stopped and was making small talk when Ossel, a South Korean lady came up and began talking to the woman I was speaking with. It was then that I was introduced to Ossel.

She was bubbling over about Jesus. I was in awe as I listened to her tell me her story. Born and raised in South Korea as a Buddhist. She was a young lady when the Korean War began and most of her family was killed in the war. She met a man, married him and moved to the United States. She had a son. And when the boy was just a toddler, he was killed in a house fire at the babysitters. She told me that her life was in total darkness. That many times she wanted to commit suicide and just end it all. Buddhism offered her no hope, no peace, no answers.

Then, in her middle thirties, someone told her about Jesus and she was gloriously saved. She said for years she had lived in her soul. Her life revolved around her mind and emotions. Living in the “soul” left her filled with sorrow, grief and pain. But when Jesus came in, she began to live in the Spirit and joy, peace and contentment filled her life. Light rolled back the darkness.

1 Peter 2:9-10 says,
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. NKJV

Ossel said that when she gave her life to Christ, she did a 360 degree turn-around. Now, she shares Jesus every day, with every customer and co-worker she comes into contact with.

Ossel is a Life that has been transformed.

If you and I are going to be effective in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing the lives of men, women, boys and girls transformed by His Grace and Love, we too must be lives that have been transformed!