What are Your Answers?

I love God because . . .

Universal Care

Universal Health Care, Insurance requirements, penalties, etc:  I am not sure what to say or think about this new policy in the United States.  Like Majority Leader Pelosi suggested, I guess we will find out what is in this bill now that it is passed into law.  However, I am concerned about forcing folks to purchase insurance and the ultimate cost to our nation and to individual consumers.  One friend was correct when he suggested that we simply trust God no matter what.

I want to tell you about a greater care package available to you.  It is the Universal Spiritual Health Care Package.  Jesus offers this USHC system though His agency, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except by Me," (Jn 14:6).

The Spiritual recommendations of this policy promote spiritual growth in the following way: "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Pet 1:5-8).

Following this Spiritual Health Regimen produces great Spiritual benefits, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. . . . But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Gal 5:16, 22-23).

One feature of this USHC policy that lifts it high above any other plan is that the premium is paid in full by the policy writer (Acts 20:28; Phil 2:5ff; Rom 5:7-8).

Consider this policy for your Spiritual Health.

God on the Mountain

Last night, my family and I attended Curry Church of Christ to fellowship with our brethren there and to hear a message from a dear friend and fellow Faulkner Alumni - Neal Pollard.  The theme of Curry's meeting is Mountain Top Experiences and last night, Neal took us to Mt Carmel.  He drew a great mental picture of the setting of Carmel and what the mountain may have represented in physical, social, and religious settings.   Then he pointed out four things about God's power demonstrated around the events of Elijah's confrontation with the 450 prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel.  

On the Mountain We see God's Power . . .
1. Over Nature.  God had stopped the rain for 3 1/2 years. Something the Baals could not do.
2. In His Word.  The drought came about because Ahab led the people away from God's command.
3. Over the Competition.  Baal is simply an idol and had no power.  God clearly demonstrates this when He is able to rain down fire (which Baal could not do) and not only consume the sacrifice, but the alter, the wood, and a trench full of water.
4. In His Name.  Elijah acted in the Name of the Lord.  It is by the authority of the Lord we have access to God.  God's name is great and is always to be honored above all names.  Everything we do is "in the name of the Lord." Col 3:17.

Where do you see God's power demonstrated?

Have a great day!
Scott

Mission Effort

Last night our elders met with a young Couple -- Richard and Mary Harp.  The Harps are dedicating the next 5 years of their young life and young marriage to work with a mission effort in Scotland.  Scotland recently declared itself by an act of Parliament as a Pagan Nation. This declaration only confirms by decree a truth about this country.  The Scottish people are kind but post-Christian as far as religious culture.  The Harps will be working with the East Kilbride congregation.  Follow this link to their mission plan: HarpsinScotland

Please pray for this young couple and their desire to work in the Kingdom.

Scott

Spring Break

Taking a break from blogging this week while the family is on Spring Break -- see y'all later . . .

Discoveries of Aging

Last month I celebrated my 43rd birthday.  Although I am still younger than some I am older than many, and now have some bits of wisdom I would like to pass along to those behind me chronologically.

1. I started out with nothing and still have most of it.
2. I am finally getting my head together; now my body is falling apart.
3. Funny, I don'e remember being absent-minded.
4. Fact - Life is unfair!
5. It is easier to get older than to get wiser.
6. You can't make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
7. If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would have put them on my knees.
8. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the length and depth.
9. I spend a lot more time thinking about the hereafter:  I walk in a room and wonder what I am here after.
10. Funny, I don't remember being . . . absent-minded.

What words of wisdom do you have to pass along? 

Scott

What Do You Expect?

What follows is a list of common expectations that describe "The Perfect Preacher." Lists like this one circulate around and are funny only because they touch a nerve.  

1. The perfect preacher preaches exactly 10 minutes. 
2. He condemns sin roundly but never hurts anyone's feelings. 
3. He works from 8 AM until midnight and is also the church janitor. 
4. He makes $400 a week, wears good clothes, drives a good car, buys good books, and donates $300 a week to the church.
5. He is 32 years old and has 40 years experience. 
6. He never forgets a name and spends most of his time praying to God. He remembers everyone's birthdate and of course, their anniversary dates as well.
7. He also knows when somebody is sick and needs visitation even without anyone telling him about it. 
8. He loves to spend time with his family and the has no problem with you dropping in unexpectedly. 
9. He also spends most of his time in preparation to speak God's Word. 
10. Before and after services, he never fails to speak to each person present and will also take the time to listen to you for 15 minutes and pray for each person no less than 10 minutes after listening to them. 
11. The perfect preacher eats nutritiously, gets his rest, exercises daily, and is always there to listen to you night or day. 
12. He has a burning desire to work with teenagers, and he spends most of his time with the senior citizens. 
13. He smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his church. 
14. He makes 15 home visits a day, is always in his office to be handy when needed and is always busy evangelizing the unchurched. 
15. He spends all day each Saturday preparing the Sunday sermon, and he focuses on his family too. 

Now for a serious question: What do you expect from the preacher where you worship?  Preachers, how well are you doing as a servant of God and His people?


Leave your comments!


Scott