With the business of life, I have shirked my duties of trying to reach the world with my little blog. I didn't do good for very long and got busy with work, church and family. After giving constantly of my self for the last several months, this weekend I got to refresh myself and my spirit. I have realized that even though I never took my eyes off Christ, I let the business wear me down. So now its time to return to... my little blog, the excitement of my relationship with Christ, the freedom and reality of letting Christ be Lord of my life.
This is short and I have no reference, but I had to do something to jump back into this. I have been studying my bible more than ever before, so hopefully I will be able to reference what is happening in my life through scriptures. My prayer life is better than it has been in a long time, and I feel like I have completely sold out as a Christian. I am willing to to whatever God want me to do, whenever it may be. I feel confident that I will be able to easily stand when I am made fun of or jeered for my beliefs (and I know that time will come). This weekend, the youth and the worship team have grown closer together and toward God as a group, as a family. We are all looking forward, and we are excited for the season God is bringing us into. DWO is going to change Southwest Missouri, and I am glad God has chosen me to be a part of it.
Now, back to the thoughts that God puts in my head... Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!!!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Go Big or Stay Home...
Let me start out by saying that the last couple of weeks have been very hectic. All four members of the family have been sick in one way or another. I came down with strep and was sick for almost two weeks, but we made it through and have had a great week getting better.
Last Sunday was my day to run sound at church, I just absolutely love it. About two hours before service, the band, leadership and sound get together for their own time of prayer and worship. This is a very awesome time where God is invited into the service, and I really enjoy this time. Back to this last Sunday, after the worship time, we all came together for prayer. Chad said that he felt that something was happening in the leadership of the church and that it is headed in the right direction. He asked us if we felt God was leading us in any certain direction. All I could say was that I was hungry and excited, more than ever before, and that a weight that I normally felt going to church was gone. This was awesome to me, but it wasn't the best for the morning. Jamie said something that has kinda become the new motto for the leadership (at least I feel that way). She said that God was telling her that it was time for us to go big or go home. It is no longer time to just sit in our seats and play church. It is time for God's People, that's the church if you don't know, to quit sitting there and asking to hear the feel good message and get the warm fuzzies. It is time for us to stand up, fill in the gap, get down into the nitty gritty of Christianity. I don't say religion here because I hate religion. I have a relationship with Christ, not a preacher that tells me what to do or feel.
It is time for us, THE CHURCH, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD to do what Christ charged us to do. It's time for us to get out there and do some work, or we might as well just stay home and not go to church because we would get just as much done. We need to go out and see souls saved, spread the Gospel to the world, and (this will be the unpopular part) be persecuted and looked down on for our faith. We live in the world, but we are not of the world. If you truly love Christ and aren't just looking for a ticket to Heaven, you will not want to participate in the world. Too many Christians want all the good of the Gospel and none of the hard stuff that comes with it. We are supposed to be separate from them (the world). We are supposed to look and act different from them. Think about it this way: If the world can't tell we are different, how will Christ tell?
So, I just have to say, there is something big on the horizon. A great move of God is coming. Do you want to have just a few years of pleasure and a few dollars in the bank here on earth, or do you want an eternal celebration with Christ. If you want the latter you have to separate yourself from the world and seek God with all of your being, not just your heart. That to me, ladies and gentleman, is the meaning of GO BIG OR GO HOME.
On a quick side note, my wife and I have been asked to join the leadership at our church. This is a great honor that even a year ago I would have never imagined. We felt this is where God was leading us, and after much prayer and conversation we accepted. God has brought our family a long way spiritually in the last year and put a vision in our hearts. Pray for us that we continue to seek him and follow his lead.
Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...
Last Sunday was my day to run sound at church, I just absolutely love it. About two hours before service, the band, leadership and sound get together for their own time of prayer and worship. This is a very awesome time where God is invited into the service, and I really enjoy this time. Back to this last Sunday, after the worship time, we all came together for prayer. Chad said that he felt that something was happening in the leadership of the church and that it is headed in the right direction. He asked us if we felt God was leading us in any certain direction. All I could say was that I was hungry and excited, more than ever before, and that a weight that I normally felt going to church was gone. This was awesome to me, but it wasn't the best for the morning. Jamie said something that has kinda become the new motto for the leadership (at least I feel that way). She said that God was telling her that it was time for us to go big or go home. It is no longer time to just sit in our seats and play church. It is time for God's People, that's the church if you don't know, to quit sitting there and asking to hear the feel good message and get the warm fuzzies. It is time for us to stand up, fill in the gap, get down into the nitty gritty of Christianity. I don't say religion here because I hate religion. I have a relationship with Christ, not a preacher that tells me what to do or feel.
It is time for us, THE CHURCH, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD to do what Christ charged us to do. It's time for us to get out there and do some work, or we might as well just stay home and not go to church because we would get just as much done. We need to go out and see souls saved, spread the Gospel to the world, and (this will be the unpopular part) be persecuted and looked down on for our faith. We live in the world, but we are not of the world. If you truly love Christ and aren't just looking for a ticket to Heaven, you will not want to participate in the world. Too many Christians want all the good of the Gospel and none of the hard stuff that comes with it. We are supposed to be separate from them (the world). We are supposed to look and act different from them. Think about it this way: If the world can't tell we are different, how will Christ tell?
So, I just have to say, there is something big on the horizon. A great move of God is coming. Do you want to have just a few years of pleasure and a few dollars in the bank here on earth, or do you want an eternal celebration with Christ. If you want the latter you have to separate yourself from the world and seek God with all of your being, not just your heart. That to me, ladies and gentleman, is the meaning of GO BIG OR GO HOME.
On a quick side note, my wife and I have been asked to join the leadership at our church. This is a great honor that even a year ago I would have never imagined. We felt this is where God was leading us, and after much prayer and conversation we accepted. God has brought our family a long way spiritually in the last year and put a vision in our hearts. Pray for us that we continue to seek him and follow his lead.
Thanks for stopping by and God Bless...
Monday, February 16, 2009
Busy weekend and catching fire, whew...
Wow, what a busy weekend we had. My wife's brother was in to visit for the weekend. He is in the Navy and stationed in Hawaii, so we haven't seen him for about 4 years. Since he came in, her other two brothers came in as well, one from Kansas and the other that is in the Army from Fort Leonard Wood. It was the first time in about 7 years that her entire family was together. It was great to see everyone together. I was feeling a little tired due to lack of sleep with the kids being sick and all that comes with that.
So, Saturday we spent the entire day out at her grandparents house with the family. Then, we went back out on Sunday after church to spend the rest of the time we could with him. He was flying to Connecticut for a class this morning before going back to Hawaii next week. I hope we see him again before another 3 years pass by.
Well, now for the part I really want to talk about, church yesterday morning. My calling in the church has always been music. I started out playing the acoustic guitar but quickly fell in love with playing the bass. I have been doing that for about 15 years now. I'm by no means a professional, but I'm ok and I can play praise and worship with soul. Well, I play one Sunday a month at church and yesterday was my day. Before service we pray and practice and yesterday Pastor Chad asked that we pray for changed lives, and fire in peoples spirit.
When the service started, you could feel God's presence and the peoples hunger for him in the air. The praise and worship part of the service was just absolutely amazing. People wanted to be in God's presence and draw closer to him. Normally after such a powerful worship time in service, you would expect a energized, inspiring message, but this service would be a little different.
Pastor Chad is doing a sermon series called The Practical Atheist. This series has been a little more somber than what he usually preaches. Basically, most people believe in God or a god, but don't actively participate in worshiping or following God. That is what this series is about. This weeks message hit home with a lot of people in our church. I won't go into the full message, so I will sum it up as easily and short as I can. We as CHRISTIANS have stopped being Christ-like. We only want the good of the Bible. We want the blessings and the warm-fuzzies if you will. We don't want the trials, the tribulations, the rejection that comes with wholly selling out and being on fire for God. He showed 10 points that affect the church today that makes us more of the world than of Christ. I must say there were a couple staring me in the face. We may be in the world, but we should not be of the world. If that isn't so in our lives how can people tell the Christians from everyone else in the world. We are supposed to be the light of Christ while we are on this earth. Pastor Chad was transparent with us and said there was a few he struggled with. Because of things like this, I respect him more and more as I build a stronger friendship with him. The altar call that followed was amazing. Basically, Chad asked us all to face our shortcomings and turn them over to God. To begin the journey to be totally on fire for Christ. Almost the entire church stood and as one came to the front to pray. There was an awesome move of the spirit in the service and I feel that lives (including mine) have been and are being changed.
Well, this has been kinda long but yesterday's service has stirred something in me. Where will it lead me and my family? I don't know for sure, but if I let Christ be our guide it can only lead to wonderful things. Catcha fire (as TobyMac would say) and truly seek God in your life and watch him change you for the better.
Thanks for stopping by, and God Bless!
So, Saturday we spent the entire day out at her grandparents house with the family. Then, we went back out on Sunday after church to spend the rest of the time we could with him. He was flying to Connecticut for a class this morning before going back to Hawaii next week. I hope we see him again before another 3 years pass by.
Well, now for the part I really want to talk about, church yesterday morning. My calling in the church has always been music. I started out playing the acoustic guitar but quickly fell in love with playing the bass. I have been doing that for about 15 years now. I'm by no means a professional, but I'm ok and I can play praise and worship with soul. Well, I play one Sunday a month at church and yesterday was my day. Before service we pray and practice and yesterday Pastor Chad asked that we pray for changed lives, and fire in peoples spirit.
When the service started, you could feel God's presence and the peoples hunger for him in the air. The praise and worship part of the service was just absolutely amazing. People wanted to be in God's presence and draw closer to him. Normally after such a powerful worship time in service, you would expect a energized, inspiring message, but this service would be a little different.
Pastor Chad is doing a sermon series called The Practical Atheist. This series has been a little more somber than what he usually preaches. Basically, most people believe in God or a god, but don't actively participate in worshiping or following God. That is what this series is about. This weeks message hit home with a lot of people in our church. I won't go into the full message, so I will sum it up as easily and short as I can. We as CHRISTIANS have stopped being Christ-like. We only want the good of the Bible. We want the blessings and the warm-fuzzies if you will. We don't want the trials, the tribulations, the rejection that comes with wholly selling out and being on fire for God. He showed 10 points that affect the church today that makes us more of the world than of Christ. I must say there were a couple staring me in the face. We may be in the world, but we should not be of the world. If that isn't so in our lives how can people tell the Christians from everyone else in the world. We are supposed to be the light of Christ while we are on this earth. Pastor Chad was transparent with us and said there was a few he struggled with. Because of things like this, I respect him more and more as I build a stronger friendship with him. The altar call that followed was amazing. Basically, Chad asked us all to face our shortcomings and turn them over to God. To begin the journey to be totally on fire for Christ. Almost the entire church stood and as one came to the front to pray. There was an awesome move of the spirit in the service and I feel that lives (including mine) have been and are being changed.
Well, this has been kinda long but yesterday's service has stirred something in me. Where will it lead me and my family? I don't know for sure, but if I let Christ be our guide it can only lead to wonderful things. Catcha fire (as TobyMac would say) and truly seek God in your life and watch him change you for the better.
Thanks for stopping by, and God Bless!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
And so it starts...
Well, here we go. I am needing an outlet to express myself and just get stuff off my chest and out of my mind. My wife blogs on here, so I guess you could say that I followed her. I will probably end up saying some unpopular stuff on here, but I will never apologize for my beliefs. I will probably end up rambling about nothing from time to time as well.
So, a little about myself before I begin. I am the husband of a very beautiful and talented stay-at-home mom. I swear she can turn yarn and fabric into anything, and she can cook anything from down home food to fancy dinners. I have two great kiddos, a girl and a boy about a year and a half apart. I am a full time firefighter, a part time ambulance dispatcher, and I play bass and run sound for my church. I have a busy, tiresome, wonderful life. I work hard and love my family deeply, but I am lighthearted and silly with family and friends.
I was raised out in the country and went to a little country church. After high school and many twists and turns of life later, I ended up living just outside Springfield, MO. This area is perfect for me. I am no longer a country boy, but I will never be big city. I have every store and need within a 15 minute drive, but know lots of people in my town. Of course working for the city fire department people see me out more than most.
Well, this is how it starts. I will probably blog on anything from: religion, politics, racing, video games, family, friends, work, music and nothing at all. I hope I can make statements that will inform, encourage and uplift people.
And I promise to end every blog the same way. Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!
So, a little about myself before I begin. I am the husband of a very beautiful and talented stay-at-home mom. I swear she can turn yarn and fabric into anything, and she can cook anything from down home food to fancy dinners. I have two great kiddos, a girl and a boy about a year and a half apart. I am a full time firefighter, a part time ambulance dispatcher, and I play bass and run sound for my church. I have a busy, tiresome, wonderful life. I work hard and love my family deeply, but I am lighthearted and silly with family and friends.
I was raised out in the country and went to a little country church. After high school and many twists and turns of life later, I ended up living just outside Springfield, MO. This area is perfect for me. I am no longer a country boy, but I will never be big city. I have every store and need within a 15 minute drive, but know lots of people in my town. Of course working for the city fire department people see me out more than most.
Well, this is how it starts. I will probably blog on anything from: religion, politics, racing, video games, family, friends, work, music and nothing at all. I hope I can make statements that will inform, encourage and uplift people.
And I promise to end every blog the same way. Thanks for stopping by and God Bless!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)