Inviting Hitler To Dinner

I cannot imagine any sane person inviting Adolph Hitler over to meet the Missis and the children. It would be dangerous for everyone involved because we know of his past evil atrocities. This is a fairly simple understanding of life that all of us can grasp.

The president of Iran was in New York City on Monday. How does this happen? How can he be allowed to walk on our free soil while denying freedom to millions. How can he be allowed to speak at the United Nations? How does this happen? This is an insult to all Americans, most especially all who have ever served in our military!

There is a similar story in God's inspired Word. In 2 Kings 20:13, King Hezekiah invited his enemies in to see the treasures of Israel. The results were disastrous.

Now we get to the crux of the matter. How often do we invite the "devil" himself into our homes for dinner? Jesus tells us in John 8:44 that he is a liar and a murderer. And still we invite him into our homes. How, you ask?

Through movies, television shows, or web sites that depicts adultery, sex outside of marriage, pornography, and homosexuality as normal or ever desirous. Bringing in alcohol or other drugs that are destroying our culture. Language being used that would make a sailor blush. Greed, jealousy, bitterness, and unforgiveness being lived out as normal daily behavior.

Who are you having to dinner?

Superficial Sunday In The South!!!

Here is an excerpt from the blog of Perry Noble, Senior Pastor of New Spring Church in Anderson, SC. To read the full blog click "Read More" at the bottom.

OK…so I am on a rant today…it’s been a while and I am fired up…this one will be fun!

I recently heard of a church in the area taking a stab at NewSpring DURING a worship service, saying that we allow people to dress any way they wish and that suits and dresses are not required, even frowned upon in our church. This comment was made to criticize us…but lets unpack it for a second. :-)

First of all–we do not look down on those who choose to wear a suit or a dress…unless it is a man in a dress, then we will say something! We simply ask people to wear what is comfortable and modest.

What I am wondering is where in the world did the modern day church ever get the idea that somehow dressing up in a suit OR wearing a dress equals godliness…and those who would wear jeans and a T-shirt, or even (GASP) flip flops just are not as godly. Read More.

St. Louis

Luanne and I spent three days in St. Louis last week to visit her brother, who is fighting throat cancer. We had little to offer except our time and encouraging words of faith. It makes me wonder how many people we interact with every day that could simply use an encouraging word.

Who needs encouragement?

• Single parent
• Widow/widower
• Parent who has lost a child
• Family struggling with a disease
• Senior citizen who is alone
• Divorced person
• Family struggling finacially
• Person out of work as a result of the economy
• Family in turmoil because of addiction

One writer has said that without encouragement we all die a slow, agonizing death. Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 5 :11 that we are to encourage one another and build each other up. Who can you encourage today?

Hungry Yet?

A few verses worth pondering:

Esther 9:22
Psalm 23:1
Psalm 24:1
Psalm 27:1
Nehemiah 4:14
John 6:53-58
Hebrews 12:27
Isaiah 17:1
Isaiah 19:25
Isaiah 26:3
Isaiah 47:8
Psalm 19:1
Proverbs 4:23
Lamentations 3:22-23
Judges 21:25
Deuteronomy 27:26
Leviticus 16:20-22
Romans 15:13

Be hungry for God's Word.

What If?

What if in eternity...

...we get to see all the great civilizations of history?
...we get to explore billions of stars in billions upon billions of galaxies?
...we find out that there are trillions of colors that we could not see in the natural and each has a sound?
...we experience the greatest angelic choir in the universe?
...we see our lives again with the insight of God's plan and we are stunned?
...we meet with all of our relatives back to Adam and swap stories over coffee? I'm assuming coffee will be in Heaven.
...we travel instantaneously through the universe?
...we have joy exploding out of us continually?
...we meet every tribe of man and get to eat the greatest potluck ever and forever?

"No eye has seen,no ear has heard,no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." -1 Corinthians 2:9

What if?

Favorite Web Sites & Resources

I do most of my research online. Some of my favorite sites that may help you are:

e-sword.org
ccel.org
worldprayerteam.org
christianstandard.com
raptureready.com
gutenberg.org

All of these sites can be of great help in your walk with the Lord.

Being a Missionary

It really is all I have ever wanted to be since I sold out to Jesus. I've finally figured out that our call is to be missionaries where ever we are on the planet. People need Jesus everywhere and in every language. Through our short-term trips, prayer, and giving we literally are serving Jesus all over the world. Right now we are planting churches in Russia, Ethiopia, Brazil, Egypt, United States, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Sudan, Syria, Mexico, and Kenya to name a few. I cannot imagine anything more exciting.

Decades ago Ruth and Bill Graham were standing atop a skyscraper in New York City. As they looked over the city Ruth surely was reflecting on having grown up as a missionary child in China when she said, "Billy this is our jungle." What does your mission field look like?

Matthew 9:35-37

Loose Thoughts In My Mind

Jesus said make disciples. Who will make disciples? We should invest in soul winning and disciple making. The word "church" means called out ones. People set apart for God and for God's work (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The local church is the hope of the world. Soul winning; disciple making; feeding the hungry; sending missionaries; being missionaries.

Highlights from "church" this week:

Tuesday Church: 72
Saturday 5 p.m.: 256
Saturday 6:30 p.m.: 269
Sunday 8 a.m.: 165
Sunday 9:30 a.m.: 524
Sunday 11 a.m.: 494
Palm Coast: 110
Retro: 58
Outposts: 123
TOTAL IN WORSHIP: 2,071

Church Plants:
The Beachside Church added a 3rd service and had 511 in worship.
Ocala Christian Church had their official launch and doubled in size to 165.
Common Group in Tampa had a total of 255.

Open Doors & Unwise Statements by Perry Noble

Check out this blog from Perry Noble.

Blown Away By The Book

While reading for an upcoming message, I stumbled over a passage I have read countless times. Every time you read James he just ticks you off because he is so practical and in your face. This one hit me like a ton of bricks.

James 2:5: Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

It is a question, yet God expects that His listeners know the answer. Jesus did say, "When you've done something for the least of them, you've done it for me." (Matthew 25)

Perhaps this explains why our most effective church planting is taking place amongst the poorest of the poor. They are not in Paris, London, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), or Tokyo. Instead they are in India, the Middle East, Ethiopia, Mexico, Guatemala, Kenya, and Indonesia.

I wonder if we've been glamorizing a lot of people that will spend an eternity in hell, while ignoring the saints of the High King of kings because the did not look or smell like King's kids.

See ya on the mission field.

Sometimes I'm Just Hungry

When I get hungry I start thinking about my favorite restaurants and my favorite meals at each of these fine establishments:

1. Wok and Roll (Orange Chicken)
2. Harry's in St. Augustine (Shrimp)
3. Royal Dynasty (Lemon Chicken)
4. Boondocks in Wilbur-by-the-Sea (Shrimp)
5. Cedar River in Deland (Oysters & Shrimp)
6. Barnacle Bills in St. Augustine (Shrimp)
7. Sapparo's (Shrimp)
8. Snack Jacks at Hightides in Flagler (Oyster Sandwich)
9. DB Pickles (Flounder Sandwich)
10. Red Lobster (Shrimp)

In fact, I stay hungry a lot for things I love. Jesus taught us that man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Oh that we would all get hungry and stay hungry for the Word of God.

Eat well today; physically and spiritually.

Psalm 121:1

Thinking Through the Tar

The La Brea Tar Pits are a fascinating paleological site located right in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. One might wonder why all those wild animals would be in a place like that, but we'll save that thought for future ramblings.

As they continue to uncover skeletons of some of God's often forgotten master strokes of creation, like the mammoth or the saber-toothed tiger, I have to stop and wonder what they will be digging up thousands of years from now from our generation. What will we be leaving behind? Just thinking through the tar.

An Afterthought About Heaven

In Heaven we will all get our minds back. Just a thought from frustrated parents. Don't give up.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Hurricane Felix

Hurricane Felix is destroying Central America as I write this. Many thoughts are going through my mind:

1. Millions of my brothers and sisters in Christ are in Mexico, Nicaragua, Belize, Honduras, Jamaica, Haiti, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama.
2. Urgent prayer is needed.
3. Response from God's people must be quick and we must meet real needs.
4. Many of those who did not get out were the poorest of the poor before Felix hit.
5. We've lived through hurricanes and know how hard it was with all of our resources and being a part of America.

Be blessed but ready to help.