Pastor Buddy Gray of Hunter Street Baptist Church in Hoover, Alabama had two children who lost practically everything in the tornado at Union College in Tennessee. They were in a safe place and survived.
When asked about the situation he pointed to Job 1:21 which says, "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
He said that is not being fatalistic it is based on trust and assurance of knowing that God is in control. That really is so true and it really carried a lot of meaning for me personally.
February 11, 2008
January 23, 2008
January 22, 2008
A thought.....
....from How to be a Man of character in a World of Compromise; Insights from the Book of Proverbs by Richard Exley
"Adversity tests a man's character, his ability to hang in there when times get tough. Success, on the other hand, tests a man's integrity, his ability to remain true to himself, morally and ethically pure." (p.167)
"Adversity tests a man's character, his ability to hang in there when times get tough. Success, on the other hand, tests a man's integrity, his ability to remain true to himself, morally and ethically pure." (p.167)
A Godly response to tragedy
Quotes from Rick Burgess regarding the death of his precious two year old son, Bronner.
Satan made a huge mistake attacking my family. He miscalculated greatly.
So many lives have already been changed because of the appointment God had with him.
The biggest injustice you can do to my son, to my family, to God, is to leave here unchanged.
Bronner is in the care of the only Father who loves him more than me, the Father who he really belongs to.
Satan you have kicked up a can of worms
The fight is on.
Satan made a huge mistake attacking my family. He miscalculated greatly.
So many lives have already been changed because of the appointment God had with him.
The biggest injustice you can do to my son, to my family, to God, is to leave here unchanged.
Bronner is in the care of the only Father who loves him more than me, the Father who he really belongs to.
Satan you have kicked up a can of worms
The fight is on.
January 10, 2008
Bigger than Before
The above is the title of a sermon preached by our Associate Pastor Shayl0n Sharp. Below are some notes from that sermon.
Some of the church staff went to a seminar on the universe. After they walked out they realized God was bigger than before. It hit them anew that God was the creator of it all.
Psalm 19 -"Unspoken truth is spoken everywhere."-(Shaylon read this particular quote from The Message.)
So often we make Him to0 small. We are like Him but He is not like us.
If we are the center of the Universe it is too big but we're not.
All of Creation is about God.
The Milky Way is so big if we counted 1 star per second it would take 2500 years to finish counting them. Yet Isaiah says God calls each by name.
Again, we tend to undersize God.
In comparison to the Milky Way, the solar system is like quarter laying on the North American Continent.
Sometimes we think too much of ourselves and not enough of God.
Who are we to tell God what we will believe and how we will live?
One irony: The creator of the world chose to hang from a cross made from trees HE made.
Shaylon said all this to say this. He is bigger than your sins or problems. Remember how great God is.
Some of the church staff went to a seminar on the universe. After they walked out they realized God was bigger than before. It hit them anew that God was the creator of it all.
Psalm 19 -"Unspoken truth is spoken everywhere."-(Shaylon read this particular quote from The Message.)
So often we make Him to0 small. We are like Him but He is not like us.
If we are the center of the Universe it is too big but we're not.
All of Creation is about God.
The Milky Way is so big if we counted 1 star per second it would take 2500 years to finish counting them. Yet Isaiah says God calls each by name.
Again, we tend to undersize God.
In comparison to the Milky Way, the solar system is like quarter laying on the North American Continent.
Sometimes we think too much of ourselves and not enough of God.
Who are we to tell God what we will believe and how we will live?
One irony: The creator of the world chose to hang from a cross made from trees HE made.
Shaylon said all this to say this. He is bigger than your sins or problems. Remember how great God is.
January 03, 2008
"Things Left Unsaid" - Disciple
Powerful song...maybe I can post a YouTube video soon..
Just a matter of time a few days ago,
I saw you you were fine
Remembering what you said
About the book you read
The one I got you the begining of the end
Oh how we talked, for hours upon end
What I would give just to do it again
Your lying there in this hospital bed
Wont you open your eyes
And lets talk once again.
If you fly away tonight, I wanna tell you that I love.
I hope that you can hear me, I hope that you can feel me.
If you fly away tonight,
I wanna tell you that Im sorry,
That I never told you
When we were face to face.
Well Ive been here all night
And Im watching you
Breathe in and Breathe out
Is it really you or just a machine
Thats giving you life and
Making it seem that there could be hope
I could say it to your face?
If it werent for you then
There would be no grace
Thats covered my life.
You took the time to speak into my mind
And my harsh words were lies
If you fly away tonight
I wanna tell you that I love you
I hope that you can hear me
I hope that you can feel me
If you fly away tonight
I wanna tell you that
Im sorry
That I never told you
When we were face to face
Just a matter of time a few days ago,
I saw you you were fine
Remembering what you said
About the book you read
The one I got you the begining of the end
Oh how we talked, for hours upon end
What I would give just to do it again
Your lying there in this hospital bed
Wont you open your eyes
And lets talk once again.
If you fly away tonight, I wanna tell you that I love.
I hope that you can hear me, I hope that you can feel me.
If you fly away tonight,
I wanna tell you that Im sorry,
That I never told you
When we were face to face.
Well Ive been here all night
And Im watching you
Breathe in and Breathe out
Is it really you or just a machine
Thats giving you life and
Making it seem that there could be hope
I could say it to your face?
If it werent for you then
There would be no grace
Thats covered my life.
You took the time to speak into my mind
And my harsh words were lies
If you fly away tonight
I wanna tell you that I love you
I hope that you can hear me
I hope that you can feel me
If you fly away tonight
I wanna tell you that
Im sorry
That I never told you
When we were face to face
December 15, 2007
Even before He was born
Luke 2:8-20.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus was always going to places no one else would go and calling people to Himself that no one else wanted. In the above passage the angels anounce Jesus' birth to shepherds abiding in a field. Scripture tells us God is not a respecter of persons. This is a great example. Shepherds were basically the dregs of the earth in that culture. I've known many years that Jesus called these type people to Himself throughout his earthly ministry. tb wasnt until my Pastor pointed it out that I realized Jesus was doing this even before he was born.
Thank God that no matter what we've done or how bad we think we are, He still wants us.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus was always going to places no one else would go and calling people to Himself that no one else wanted. In the above passage the angels anounce Jesus' birth to shepherds abiding in a field. Scripture tells us God is not a respecter of persons. This is a great example. Shepherds were basically the dregs of the earth in that culture. I've known many years that Jesus called these type people to Himself throughout his earthly ministry. tb wasnt until my Pastor pointed it out that I realized Jesus was doing this even before he was born.
Thank God that no matter what we've done or how bad we think we are, He still wants us.
December 14, 2007
Mission: Possible....
Jeremiah 32:17 "Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee..."
Mark 10:27 "Looking at them, Jesus said, 'With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'"
December 06, 2007
Our God is an awesome God
Deuteronomy 7:21 "Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God."
Deuteronomy 10:17 "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome..."
Exodus 15:11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"
Nehemiah 1:5 "Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands..."
Daniel 9:4 "I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands..."
Deuteronomy 10:17 "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome..."
Exodus 15:11 "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"
Nehemiah 1:5 "Then I said: "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands..."
Daniel 9:4 "I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands..."
December 04, 2007
Matthew 1:23
23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us."
November 06, 2007
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.
October 24, 2007
October 04, 2007
Good Article
This article showed up in my inbox Tuesday. Thought I would share
thelife.com/explore/goodpeople.html
thelife.com/explore/goodpeople.html
September 30, 2007
Isaiah 43:1-3
Isaiah 43:1-3 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you I have summoned you by name; you are min. When yo pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God.”
This verse was posted by a very courageous lady, Brenda Ladun, who is undergoing her second major battle against cancer.
This verse was posted by a very courageous lady, Brenda Ladun, who is undergoing her second major battle against cancer.
September 18, 2007
Great blog posts...
I read a couple of very well done blog posts by my pastor from my college days. Check out his excellent website, Early Church History - CH 101 and his posts about "Water Baptism in the Primitive Church" and "Wine in the Ancient World - Part 1". Really good stuff!
September 17, 2007
The Word of God found while tailgating!
Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)
10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
September 11, 2007
I Love You, Lord!
Do you have any worship songs that you always come back to on a regular basis? I do. There are songs that just rise up in my heart sometimes. One of those is this song:
Here is the story behind this precious worship song. Read this short story!
Here is the story behind this precious worship song. Read this short story!
I love you Lord and I lift my voice
To worship You O my soul rejoice
Take joy my King in what you hear
Let me be a sweet, sweet sound In your ear
I love you Lord and I give my life
To worship You under pain and strife
Take joy my King in what you see
September 08, 2007
An eternal perspective...
WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO DO.
WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO DO.
September 03, 2007
God's call
Last week marked the anniversaries of the deaths of Princess Di and Mother Teresa. One was celebrated due to her status as a potential Queen of England. The other labored in relative obscurity.
So many people measure their lives by the success and position they hold. Mother Teresa labored form many years seeing very little results from her work. One time she was asked how she could go on seeing so little results. Below is the reply that was attributed to her:
"God has called me to obedience not success."
We would all do well to remember this.
So many people measure their lives by the success and position they hold. Mother Teresa labored form many years seeing very little results from her work. One time she was asked how she could go on seeing so little results. Below is the reply that was attributed to her:
"God has called me to obedience not success."
We would all do well to remember this.
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