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Apostles

I'm preaching through a series on spiritual gifts in Sunday morning services. I discovered that many Christians are not aware of what their gift or gifts are or if they even have one. That troubled me greatly. I'm going to hit the highlights here for folks that might have questions about gifts. It would be helpful if you took the time to listen to the foundational messages and you can do so here. You may not agree with what you read, but we need to personally examine the Scriptures to see what God says. We have to lay aside what we've always been taught, what we think the Bibles says, and what we've heard to understand what the Scriptures really say.

It took me six messages to establish the foundation for biblical teaching on spiritual gifts. I'll do it here in a few sentences. The process of our spiritual growth leads to maturity in Christ. This is true for the individual and the church. When individuals grow in Christ, the church follows behind because the church is made of of individuals. When we exercise our spiritual gifts in the manner that Christ designed for us, the body of Christ grows and doesn’t get tossed around by bad doctrine, isn’t led astray by religious fads, and will not remain spiritual children.

The first verse we looked at in this series was found in 1 Corinthians 12:1: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.” All Christians have at least one spiritual gift that was given at the moment of salvation. The gift or gifts were given by God as a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good of the church. Paul provided a list of 19 spiritual gifts that Peter has divided into two groups.

We’re going to look at each of the gifts in detail. We’ll see what the Bible says about each spiritual gift and determine if the gift is still active in the church today.You can evaluate your spiritual walk and see if you have a particular gift.

The first gift I'd like to discuss is the gift of apostleship. Someone with this gift is called an apostle. So far so good. In the passages that mention apostles, it is always a reference to a person that has the spiritual gift. Apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos. It is formed by two Greek words:apo meaning from and stello meaning to send. Apostolos can mean one sent on a mission or can mean a messenger or an ambassador. An apostle is someone sent with a message and the one that sends is the one with the authority. So when we speak biblically of apostles, it is one sent by God with the Gospel message.

Let's look at some Bible facts regarding apostles. Jesus is called the, “Apostle and High Priest of our confession” in Hebrews 3:1. In Ephesians 2:19-22, the apostles were a special group of people sent out by Jesus Himself from whom came the foundation of the church. In Matthew 10, Judas Iscariot is included in the apostles. In Acts 1, Jesus had chosen the 11 to be His apostles and given them orders through the Holy Spirit. These men were baptized with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost beginning the permanent indwelling of the Spirit. Matthias was later added to the group after the 11 prayed. This drew criticism, but that's another story. The apostles performed many signs and wonders in order to testify that it was God that sent them. According to Acts 1:22, one requirement for this group was that they had seen the resurrected Christ. So we have to ask ourselves, “Is this gift still in use today.” Or are the “12” the only ones? Who else is called an apostle? Let’s look to the Bible to answer that.

Paul is called and calls himself an apostle in many New Testament passages. James, the brother of Christ was called an apostle in Galatians 1:19. Barnabas is called an apostle in Acts 14. Silvanus and Timothy are spoken of as messengers in 1 Thessalonians, literally “apostles.” Speaking of Titus, Paul said, “He is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. (2 Corinthians 8:23)

Does the definition of apostle fit with anyone in the church today? 1 Corinthians 12:28 says that, “God has appointed in the church, first apostles.” Ephesians 4:11-13 says that apostles are to equip the saints until there is maturity or completion in the body. Has the church reached maturity or completion? Not hardly – so there must be people in the body of Christ with the gift of apostleship.

So what is a modern day apostle? If we remember that the word apostle means one who is sent with a message, it’s a little easier to figure this gift out. Remember that the Apostle Paul traveled from place to place with the Gospel message. In his travels, his intention was to work himself out of a job. His goal was to establish an effective ministry for the Lord, appoint leaders in that place and move on. He was really a church planter. This goal is always at the forefront of a missionary’s mind – establishing a church in an area that does not know who Christ is. Paul brings all of this together in Romans 15:20 when he says, “And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation.”

An apostle is one whom is sent with the message of Christ to establish a body of believers that would continue the work of ministry in that area. I believe the apostolic gift is still in use today. All the world does not know who Christ is and what he has done.

We need apostles of Christ to go and deliver the Gospel message. Do you have the gift? Full blown evangelism includes conversion, baptism, growth, and organized fellowship – its called church planting.

In Case You Didn't See It (or refused to watch)

Yesterday, Barack Obama took the oath of office and became our 44th President. Many people watched this ceremony, many did not. Much criticism was thrown at Obama for selecting Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural prayer. Criticism came from the left becasue Warren is opposed to gay marriage. Criticism came from the right because some say he isn't conservative enough. There's just no pleasing . . .anybody!

If you didn't watch Warren's prayer yesterday, click here. Did Warren honor God and Jesus Christ? You be the judge.

Roe vs. Wade

January 22, 1973, in a 7-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that abortion on demand is a fundamental right under the Constitution. How far from God we were then and have continued to be.

It began in the Garden of Eden. Our first rebellion. Our first instance of where mankind determined that it was the definer of what is right and what is true and what is pure. It was in the garden that man decided he would act on God's behalf. Forget what the command was. Eve decided she would believe what the serpent told her. They sinned. They found out they were naked. In Genesis 3:11 God asks them, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" Now here is an opportunity to fess up to what they had done, but what do they do? Blame shift. Adam says it's God's fault, Eve says it's the serpent's fault. Sure the serpent was crafty, but so what? Adam and Eve has the clear command of God: "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17)

They had the pick of any tree in the Garden, but this particular tree gave one the ability to know good and evil. They could be like God. At least that's what the serpent told them. Eve twisted the command of God didn't she? She told the serpent that they couldn't even touch it, but here comes Satan with the lie. "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die!'" (Genesis 3:4)

Satan lied then and he continues to lie now. Adam and Eve did die, and we died with them. Spiritual death is far worse then physical death.

As we come up on the 36th anniversary of one of the worst decisions in American legal history, we need to recognize that as soon as man fell, God provided a means of salvation. Instead of pronouncing judgment on Adam and Eve, God let Satan know that Jesus Christ would crush his head. Yes, there were consequences to their sin, but first there was an avenue of forgiveness. That's the way God is.

If you have had an abortion, it cannot be undone, but it can be forgiven. God does not want you to live with the weight of that sin on your shoulders. He wants you to place it on the shoulders of the only One that can bare your sin. He freely offers forgiveness through the work that His Son Jesus Christ completed on Calvary's cross. I encourage you to seek comfort from the Comforter, from the God who was in the Garden on that rebellious day.

The New Year

Well the new year is upon us. As I look at the expansion of my mid-section, I think about the expansion of our ministry in Camden County. We have expanded our campus with new classrooms, meeting rooms, a kitchen, and lots of storage. I have an office! I'm very excited to be able to work outside of my home. I need the privacy and so do Kari and Amelia.

2009 promises to be a great year. It will have its ups and downs, but one thing is for sure. Jesus is still on the throne and has great plans for us. In Jeremiah 29:11, the prophet says, "‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." As Christians, we need to keep this verse at the forefront of our minds. As we face the trials and struggles of life, God is there with us, walking with us, guiding us to strengthen our faith, to persevere even in difficult circumstances, to remain steadfast, pure, and holy. He is worthy of our devotion, of our praise, and our adoration. How will you serve Him in 2009?

As for me, I will continue to serve Him in every way I can . . . and I will do it in a slimmer, trimmer profile. Getting rid of all the sweet stuff in my house is the first step. Two more cupcakes, and it's all gone.

It's what I've been doing

This has been a busy month for me. I have been busy with the normal things that Christmas brings, decorations, parties, meetings, and so on.

One thing that has really kept me busy is my son Seth. Today marks a milestone in his life and in the world of kayaking. Seth and his friend Keith completed a historic 11 day, 300 mile journey up the St. Johns River in Florida. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of this accomplishment. It is the first time this has been done, so far as anyone can tell, on the St. Johns River. I had the privilege of updating Seth's blog each day.

The first 5 days, they counted 620 alligators. What an adventure. I encourage you to check out all the details at sethdent.com. Click here to watch a video of the story.

This is a very proud Dad.

Thankfulness

Its the day after Thanksgiving. The leftover turkey and dressing are at my sister Clare's. That's one of the down sides of going to someone's house for Thanksgiving. No leftovers. I love Thanksgiving leftovers.

I was thinking about all the blessings God has showered down on us. It got me to thinking about God's grace. We have so much to be thankful for. Don't get me wrong, the past year has had its ups and downs. There have been some significant valleys and some tragedies. One thing was constant. God's grace, God's mercy, God's strength, and God's comfort. He has been and will continue to be the firm foundation upon which we stand.

We need to be thankful year round. I encourage you to remember just how involved God is in your life; how much He loves and cares for you. I cannot imagine life without Him.

A Great Reminder

John MacArthur said, "Preaching, not lobbying, is how we are supposed to make the truth known. Gospel, not law, is what changes sinful hearts. Service, not dominion, is the most effective way to win people in any culture. And Christ, not moralism, should be the primary substance of our message."

How true those words are. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter who is in the White House. Laws cannot change the human heart, they may be able to control human behavior, but not what guides a person's behavior. Only the Holy Spirit can change the heart through the blood of Jesus Christ. That's the transforming power of Christ.

Especially in this time, our message must remain the same with the same power as when Paul preached it. It is time for Christians to stand once again, on the firm foundation of God's Word.

Following God's Word is the change we all need.

Chuck Colson

I received this and thought I'd share it with you. These are the words of Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries.

Pray for Our President and Our Nation

Whether you voted for Barack Obama or John McCain, whether you're recovering from your all-night celebration or drying the tears from your pillow, today's a good day to remember the words of the apostle Paul: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1-3). And the new President will surely need our prayers because he and his administration face huge, serious challenges to the health of our nation and to peace in the world—challenges that, in my opinion, neither he nor any government on earth will have the power to overcome without divine aid.
How has America come to this point? Why is our economy on the brink of disaster? Why is our culture so utterly depraved?

I can only think of what Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said about the catastrophic consequences of the Russian revolution. "I recall," he said, "hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened."

Solzhenitsyn was right. Indeed, I can't find any better explanation for why we Americans find ourselves in the state we are in. We have forgotten God. We have also forgotten that American democracy—indeed Western Civilization itself—is the product of the Judeo-Christian understanding of God and humanity. Without that revelation that man is created in the image of God, our founders never would have recognized the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Indeed, as I and others like Rodney Stark have argued, modern science and education, liberal democracy, capitalism flourished in Western civilization precisely because of the Judeo-Christian worldview.

The attacks on Christianity these days are only going to intensify in the months ahead. But we must press on all the more to make a winsome witness. Those who would banish Christianity from American life are risking the very survival of American society.

Friends have asked me whether this economic crisis is God's judgment upon us. I don't know. As I've re-read the Old Testament prophets recently, I couldn't help but notice the recurring theme: The people of God turned away from Him and worshiped false idols. The result was always disaster.

Is God responsible for credit markets collapsing around the world? No. We're responsible. Because instead of worshiping God, we've worshiped false idols of the marketplace, credit card companies and cheap mortgages. We've put our own appetites over our duties to God and neighbor.

So this is no time for Christians to go into the bunkers. No time to wail or moan over our retirement plans. This is a time to repent, to pray more, to give more. It's a time for Christians to lead, encourage, and minister to a faltering country in a faltering economy.

This is a time for the Church to get serious about Christian discipleship. Enough cheap grace.

So pray for the new President and his administration. But most of all, my brothers and sisters, this is a time to love our neighbors and to hunger for God and His righteousness.

It Does Matter.

The time is quickly approaching for you to exercise your input into the state and national leadership profiles.

Some of you took advantage of early and advanced voting. I cast my vote yesterday opting for character. As I said in my last entry, character does matter. It is unfortunate that many people are believing what the main stream media is saying. They say the election is over. They have chosen the next president. Don't believe them. They want you to give up, they want you to be depressed, they want you to be hopeless. I've got great news for you. It's not over until the last vote is counted.

Get out to the polls and cast your vote. Be a part of the process. Your vote does matter. I cast my vote for smaller government, real tax cuts, and victory in Iraq. I hope you do the same.

Politics

I really want to rant, but I won't.

Don't be fooled. Both parties desperately want your vote and will do most anything to get it.

The smear tactics are out in full force. There are a dizzying array of facts flying around. They might be facts, but they might be lies. It is incredibly difficult for the average American citizen to sort all of this out.

So what's a guy to do? Can Joe or Jill American know the ins and outs of Wall Street? How about foreign affairs? Would you be willing to sit across the table from a man like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and talk about the future? If that name is not familiar to you, he is the president of Iran. He believes that Israel should be, "wiped off the map." He also believes that the Holocaust never happened. What should be done with Social Security? What about Medicare? What about all these people who are in danger of losing their homes? Should the government help them? Is the answer more money for the people of America? After all, the government recently approved a $750 billion bail out plan for struggling financial markets.

These are difficult questions to answer. Call me crazy, but I must admit that I have educated opinions on many of these issues, because this stuff is exciting to me. My wife is not at all excited about it, and I think many people share her sentiments. Let the leaders handle this, right? After all, they get paid the big bucks.

So if we are to let the leaders take care of these things, who should we choose to represent our best interests? What should we base our vote on? It really comes down to a single principle: character. As Christians, we are involved in progressive sanctification . . . we're growing more and more like Christ each day. We should be known for our character, our integrity, our honesty. You may not know where I stand on a certain issue, but if you know my character, you can probably determine my position.

We need to look at the candidate that most closely aligns with the character of God. No, I'm serious, keep reading. Evaluate the issues and the candidate's positions on those issues and line all of it up with Scripture. It is not a choice between good and evil (although some may think it is). That decision would be easy. Its a choice between bad and worse. Both candidates have some left field ideas. Go with the candidate that most closely aligns himself with biblical principles. There are some great websites out there that can help you sift through the rhetoric and get to the issues. Here are some links to help you out:

• Factcheck.org
• ProCon.org
• Votesmart.org

In my opinion, the choice is clear, but it doesn't mean happy days are here again. I encourage each of you to educate yourself on the facts and vote on November 4th. For Christians, in the long run, it really doesn't matter who the president will be because we know who the King is.

Black Friday?

No it isn't.

I'm sure many of you have been following the plummeting stock market. Our retirement accounts, our investments, and our children's college funds are declining markedly. What in the world is going on? What are we going to do?

While I'm not a financial adviser, I am familiar with biblical principles of finances. Many Christians are wringing their hands watching the market as it rises and falls with each day closing at 8451.19 points today. What does all that mean? For most of us, it doesn't mean anything . . . . today. All the worrying in the world isn't going to drive the market up. Here's the biblical advice: don't trust in your finances. Jesus told us, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal." (Matthew 6:19-20)

Here's the bottom line: our treasure is not here, our eternity is not here. As the roller coaster market continues, and it will for a while, take this time to thank the Lord for being the guardian of all the treasures you've layed up in heaven. They'll be there when you get there.

The ultimate bail-out plan was carried out when Jesus willingly gave His life for each of us when He died on the cross. Unlike the government's bailout plan, this one didn't cost us a penny, but it cost Jesus everything.

It's Time to Stand Up.

On Sunday nights we are looking at a video series entitled "Speechless - Silencing the Christians." I am amazed at the stories contained in the series so far. Christians being told what they can or cannot say in school, in public, and at the workplace.

You need to know what you can say. We say things like. "We live in the Bible belt, we'll never be silenced." We can be so naive. Something recently happened in Clay County, FL not far from here. As we approach the elections, the speech police are watching and listening. Don't think an elementary school is immune to the tactics of those who seek to silence the Truth of the Bible. I'm pleased to say school officials did the right thing in this case, but don't think that's always the case. In fact, in our church, one mother said her daughter was told she couldn't mention Jesus in the classroom. That is simply not true.

It's time to stand up for what is right. We've been silenced too long. It's time to speak out and it may be more important now than it ever has been.

Be prepared.

Tropical Storm Fay has reminded us that living in the Southeast may be paradise, but sometimes paradise can be interrupted by annoying occurrences such as tropical storms and hurricanes.

Just as weather storms are sure to come, storms of life are sure to come. This is nothing new. Our enemy continues to roam the earth seeking someone to devour. Satan has devious plans to destroy Christians who are most threatening to his work. Not every Christian suffers at the hand of Satan or his demons. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." As a Christ follower, if you want to live in the world and be part of the world (sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?), then chances are, nobody's going to bother you . . . unless you count out the Holy Spirit.

Just like an approaching hurricane, you have time to get prepared. The time to ready for the storm is not when the wind starts blowing, and the time to get ready for the storms of life are not when they arrive. We need to prepare for the storms of life now. We need to stand firm against the attacks of the enemy. We need to get into the Word of God, learn and its powerful truths. We need to put on the full armor of God and stand prepared for battle. Our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan defending freedom would never think of going into battle without their battle gear and we should be no different.

I believe the problem stems from who we think Satan is. A 2007 Barna poll found that 46% of born-again Christians deny the existence of Satan; he is only a symbol of evil. Did I miss something? Are they reading from the same book I am? No wonder we're in such a sorry state in the church. We're wrestling against our brothers and sisters in Christ and ignoring our arch enemy and the arch enemy of God. It's time to rethink our spiritual battle plan. Satan is real and he wants to destroy us. Be ready, dust off the armor that God has issued to you, and stand firm. It's what is needful and it's what God expects of us.

Are you ready?

Did I hear this right?

Perhaps some of you have heard of the story of the Florida man that won the lottery. It seems that Robert Powell won 6 million in the Florida lottery and wanted to contribute some cash to his church. I'm not sure how the church found out about Mr. Powell's intentions, but when the pastor did, the church refused to accept the $600,000 donation. The pastor offered no explanation as to why the church would not receive Mr. Powell's donation citing the confidentiality of member giving. Wow.

I want to be very clear on this. I am against playing the lottery. Although you won't find any verses in the Bible that say, "Don't play the lottery," the Bible teaches that Christians are to have a strong work ethic and should avoid get rich quick type schemes. We know the verses and even like to quote them using our spiritual voices; Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." And of course the ever popular 1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil." There are many others, but the kicker is found in the second part of 1 Timothy 6:10: "and some by longing for it [money] have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Paul provides biblical guidance why we shouldn't long for money. He knows the dangers. That's the fallacy of the lottery that lottery officials don't want you to know. When you yearn or long for riches, you'll end of finding yourself with grief instead. The answer is not more money.

You don't have to believe me, you can do your own research. Many lottery winners are worse off than they were before they won the lottery. How can that be you might ask? Why do poor people stay poor while the rich keep getting richer? The following statement may sound harsh, but it is true. Poor people continue to do what they did to get poor and rich people continue to do what made them rich. You don't see many rich people playing the lottery. There's a reason for that.

All that being said, what would I do if someone came and wanted to offer a donation that resulted from something questionable? First, I don't interview people and ask them how they made their money. Second, you have to realize that money is amoral. It is not good or evil. Are we supposed to evaluate how every dollar that is given to the church was earned? Are we supposed to refuse the dollars that are earned if the giver works at a brewery? Or a distillery? Or a tobacco farm? Or what about the Christian that works as a server in a restaurant and is required to serve alcohol? It's an awful slippery slope to climb when you look at it like that. Of course there are professions I'm sure the Lord would just as soon see eliminated from the world, but let's face it, we still live in a world where sin reigns and as long as we're here, we're at war with an enemy that does not rest.

Would I, as a pastor, accept a donation from someone who won the lottery? Well yes I would. I heard someone once say something like, "The devil's used that money long enough, it's time for the Lord to use it."

You want our address?

Just Look Around You

Last week I had an opportunity to spend some time at my in-law's house in Maggie Valley, NC. I really needed to get away . . . a change of scenery.

Seth and I loaded our motorcycles on Monday morning and headed out. Kari and Amelia came the following day. The weather was absolutely perfect. Warm days and cool nights. Seth and I rode the Blue Ridge Parkway, from the Smokey Mountain National Park to Asheville, NC. This is some of the most glorious riding there is. Sweeping turns, magnificent views, wonderful mountain air, and a mix of the aromas of mountain flowers and freshly cut grass. I rode over to Deal's Gap on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee to ride on U.S. 129 known as the "Tail of the Dragon." It is a motorcycle rider's dream. It is an 11 mile stretch of road that has 318 turns.

Some of my best prayer time has been on my motorcycle, especially on the Parkway. The beautiful scenery certainly declares the handiwork of God's hand. I often wonder how anyone can look at the beauty of nature and not know that there is a Creator that carefully handcrafted every mountain, every rock formation, every tree, every flower, and every blade of grass. The physical beauty of the world as we see it could not have happened by chance. In Paul's fantastic treatise of our faith, he says that God wrote the truth on each of our hearts so that we'll know there is a Creator. (Romans 1:19-21) As authentic Christians, we need to stand against the deception of Satan. There is a God and we must acknowledge His greatness.

I agree with David, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." (Psalm 19:1)

Do we really care?

As a church we have been given one really important job. We are to reach the world with the life changing gospel of Christ. The real question we must ask ourselves is, "Do we really care about those around us?"

This is more than a yes or no answer. If you say you care and do nothing to share the life changing message of Jesus Christ, then the real answer is you don't care. I think the church has forgotten the God given mandate to make a difference in the world. Oh, we do things for ourselves and we generally take care for ourselves, but that's not the mission. When are we going to wake up and realize that our love for Christ should manifest itself in action? Talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words. A community that doesn't see the church involved in their lives is a church that has lost its effectiveness.

You may be asking, "How can I make a difference?" Here's the thing; you can't change the world unless you allow the Holy Spirit to change your life. Pray for a desire to reach out to people. There are many ways you can reach out. You don't have to have a "ministry" or be "in ministry" to reach out. Take a pie to a neighbor, do some yard work for an elderly person or a single mom. Help that person change a flat tire. Volunteer somewhere.

Every Christian is a minister and we are all called to make a difference. After all, we know the Way the Truth, and the Life.

Are you a hearer of the Word or a doer?

Think about it.

Last week our great nation celebrated it's 232nd birthday. As I thought about the years, I fondly remember the bicentennial. The U. S. Mint celebrated 200 years of independence by minting the bicentennial quarter. When visiting Philadelphia on Navy business in 2000, I had an opportunity to stand where our founding fathers of the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence. Thomas Jefferson penned the now infamous words in the preamble to our Constitution: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." Patrick Henry said, ""It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We shall not fight alone. God presides over the destinies of nations. The battle is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, ALMIGHTY GOD! Give me liberty or give me death!"

I find it ironic that we live in a nation that so desperately wants to be independent, yet our early leaders were so dependent upon God. As we celebrate this great nation's independence, I encourage you to be completely dependent upon the God who loves you with an everlasting love.

What day is it?

My plan for the week was to provide a nice, new covering for a house in St. Marys. Brand new vinyl siding. The house is going to look great. About 1:00, that's 1300 for you military folks, the clouds rolled in, not the puffy white clouds that cause you to think of your third grade science class. These were angry black clouds that carry the promise of rain. They were red according to my radar picture. We have been in a drought for as long as I can remember, including the year we had several hurricanes. The skies opened up and the much needed rain came.

As I sat at my desk worked on Sunday's sermon (my new plan), a thought occurred to me: it's the last day of June. What happened to the first 29 days? I have been deficient in providing the inspiring words that are often, well sometimes, okay, occasionally found in my blog. Life happens even when we want to push the pause button, or even send life right to voice mail. Sometimes in our busyness, we lose sight of what's important. Family, friends, laundry, and most importantly, spending time with the Lord. If you want to be an authentic Christian, set aside a block of quality time to spend in fellowship with Christ. He is worth your time and you will be enriched just by being in His presence.