Conditions for Service?

Smack the Penguin

It's been a while since I've posted one of these, but here's another one of those addictive games. It's called "Smack the Penguin". You can play it at the link below.

To play, click to make the penguin jump and then click again to make the polar bear swing the bat to hit the penguin across the ice.

Click here to play.

Four Candles

This is a neat little presentation, just click here.

FBC Lake Butler Tonight

I will be preaching at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler tonight at 6:30pm. The church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida. The services are now being held in the fellowship hall due to renovation of the sanctuary. Please be in prayer for this service.

The Next Rest Area is How Far?

Interesting Thoughts, Volume 7

• Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?
• Why are they called "stands" when they are made for sitting?
• Why is it called "after dark" when it really is "after light"?
  
• Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?
• Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?
• Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?
• Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds?

Name That Cloud

Mountain Moving Faith

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on land willed to them by a church member.

Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard. Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week.

At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen". "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too."

The next morning as he was working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called "come in", a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered. "Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge shopping mall. We need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can' t do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly."

The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!

Would you have shown up for that prayer meeting?
Some people say faith comes from miracles.
But others know: MIRACLES COME FROM FAITH!

Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Christian Thoughts, Volume 2

I don't know why some people
change Churches; what difference does
it make which one you stay home from!

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Be ye fishers of men. You catch them ~ He'll clean them.

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Coincidence is when GOD chooses to remain anonymous.

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Don't put a question mark where GOD put a period.

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Forbidden fruits create many jams.

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GOD doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Interesting Thoughts, Volume 6

• Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?
• Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?
• If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?
• If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?
• Why do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack?
• Why do "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?
• Why do "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?

Good Hair Day...for Somebody?

Winds of Love

April 20, 2006 Winds Of Love Read: 1 John 4:1-8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. —1 John 4:8 Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 9-11; Luke 15:11-32

A farmer had a weather vane on his barn, on which was written "God is love." When friends asked why, the farmer said, "This is to remind me that no matter which way the wind blows, God is love."

When the warm "south wind" with its soothing and balmy breezes brings showers of blessing, God is love. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17).

When the cold "north wind" of trial and testing sweeps down upon you, God is love. "All things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28).

When the "west wind" blows hard upon you with its punishing intent, God is love. "Whom the Lord loves He chastens" (Hebrews 12:6).

When the "east wind" threatens to sweep away all that you have, God is love. "God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19).

Perhaps you are discouraged and downhearted. If so, remember, God still cares for you. What you are experiencing has either been sent or it has been allowed by Him for your good.

Yes, no matter which way the wind is blowing, God is love. —Richard De Haan

God is love: His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes and woe He lightens—
God is wisdom, God is love. —Bowring

No affliction would trouble us if we knew God's reason for permitting it.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
The Lord Is My Shepherd

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Next Day | Previous Day | This Month | Archive | Topical Index

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Support for RBC Ministries comes from the gifts of our members and friends.

RBC Ministries is a member of theGospel Communications Network (GCN).

rbc@gospelcom.net
©2006 RBC Ministries--Grand Rapids, MI 49555
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Our Daily Bread is a daily devotional provided by RBC Ministries
for spiritual growth and Bible study

Do I Look Good?

FBC Lake Butler Tonight

I will be preaching at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler tonight at 6:30pm. The church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.

Christian Thoughts

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited
until you try to sit in their pews.

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Many folks want to serve GOD, but only as advisors.

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People are funny; they want the
front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the Church.

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Opportunity may knock once, but temptation
bangs on your front door forever.

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Some minds are like concrete
thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

Nobody Believes Old People

Everyone thinks they are senile.

An Elderly couple were celebrating their sixtieth anniversary. The couple had married as childhood sweethearts and had moved back to their old neighborhood after they retired.

Holding hands they walked back to their old school. It was not locked, so they entered, and found the old desk they'd shared, where Andy had carved, "I love you, Sally."

On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armored car, practically landing at their feet. Sally quickly picked it up, but not sure what to do with it, they took it home..

There, she counted the money... fifty-thousand dollars.

Andy said, "We've got to give it back."

Sally said, "Finders keepers." She put the money back in the bag and hid it in their attic.

The next day, two FBI men were canvassing the neighborhood looking for the money, and knocked on the door. "Pardon me, but did either of you find a bag that fell out of an armored car yesterday?"

Sally said, "No."

Andy said, "She's lying. She hid it up in the attic."

Sally said, "Don't believe him, he's getting senile."

The agents turn to Andy and began to question him. One says: "Tell us the story from the beginning."

Andy said, "Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday..."

The first FBI guy turns to his partner and says, "We're outta here."

Two Gardens

April 17, 2006 Two Gardens Read: John 18:1-11 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. —Genesis 2:8 Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 1-2; Luke 14:1-24

Two gardens are mentioned prominently in the Bible: the garden of Eden and the garden of Gethsemane. God placed the first man, Adam, in the garden of Eden; Jesus went into Gethsemane to restore what the first man had lost.

The first Adam sinned in the garden; the last Adam took this sin upon Himself. The garden of Eden had the tree of life, which man could have enjoyed forever had he not broken fellowship with God. The garden of Gethsemane was a step toward the tree of death (Acts 5:30; 1 Peter 2:24). By Adam's transgression, he forfeited his right to the tree of life and brought death to all mankind. He who hung on the tree of Calvary conquered death and by His glorious resurrection restored the tree of life to all who believe.

The garden where Adam fell is gone from the earth, but there is a glad day coming when He who suffered alone in Gethsemane will restore all things. The curse will be lifted from the earth, the animals will again be docile (Isaiah 11:6-8), the deserts will disappear (Isaiah 35:6), the earth will yield her increase abundantly (Amos 9:13), and Jesus will be here personally to bless His people (Revelation 21:3).

What Adam lost, Jesus will restore. —M. R. De Haan, M.D.

Adam was God's first man in creation—
He through sin brought death to all mankind;
Jesus came to earth to bring salvation:
Trusting Him, eternal life we'll find. —Hess

God formed us; sin deformed us; Christ transforms us.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Is There Life After Death?

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Next Day | Previous Day | This Month | Archive | Topical Index

---

Support for RBC Ministries comes from the gifts of our members and friends.

RBC Ministries is a member of theGospel Communications Network (GCN).

rbc@gospelcom.net
©2006 RBC Ministries--Grand Rapids, MI 49555
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Our Daily Bread is a daily devotional provided by RBC Ministries
for spiritual growth and Bible study

Happy Anniversary Ralph & Mavis

My dear friends, Evangelist Ralphael Adjei Kingbi and his wife Mavis are celebrating their second wedding anniversary today (Monday, April 17th). Evangelist Ralph was our host in Ghana during our mission trips in 2002, 2003 & 2004. Ralph now serves as Ghana Ministry Coordinator for the James Croft Evangelistic Association.

Ralph & Mavis live in Teshie-Accra, Ghana, West Africa and are expecting their first child in July.

If you would like to send Ralph & Mavis a note of congratulations or a note of encouragement for their work for the Lord you may e-mail him at evangralph@yahoo.co.uk. You can also write them at:

P.O. Box 193
Teshie, Accra
Ghana-West Africa

He Is Risen!

The Holy Bible, Matthew 28 (NKJV)

1Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
8So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
9And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Bunny in the Bible?

As Christians it is our responsibility to make sure EVERYONE knows what Easter is all about.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NKJV)
1Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Got Excitement?

Click image to enlarge.

Still He Walked

He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify" "crucify"...

He could hear the hatred in their voices,

These were his chosen people.

He loved them,

And they were going to crucify him.

He was beaten, bleeding and weakened...

His heart was broken,

But still He walked.

He could see the crowd as he came from the palace.

He knew each of the faces so well.

He had created them.

He knew every smile, every laugh, and every shed tear,

But now they were contorted with rage and anger

His heart broke,

But still He walked.

Was he scared? You and I would have been

So his humanness would have mandated that he was.

He felt alone.

His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed him.

He searched the crowd for a loving face and he saw very few.

Then he turned his eyes to the only one that mattered

And he knew that he would never be alone.

He looked back at the crowd...

At the people who were spitting at him

Throwing rocks at him and mocking him

And he knew that because of him,

They would never be alone.

So for them, He walked.

The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd.

The sounds of his cries echoed even louder,

The cheers of the crowd, as his hands and feet were nailed to the cross,

Intensified with each blow.

Loudest of all was the still small voice

Inside his Heart that whispered "I am with you, my son",

And God's heart broke.

He had let His son walk.

Jesus could have asked God to end his suffering,

But instead he asked God to forgive.

Not to forgive him, but to forgive the ones who were persecuting him.

As he hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death,

He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd,

But also, the face of every person yet to be,

And his heart filled with love.

As his body was dying, his heart was alive.

Alive with the limitless, unconditional love he feels for each of us.

That is why He walked.

When I forget how much My God loves me,

...I remember his walk.

When I wonder if I can be forgiven,

...I remember his walk.

When I need to be reminded of how to live like Christ,

...I think of his walk.

And to show him how much I love him,

...I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to him,

......And I walk.

Author Unknown

Easter Services at Huntsville

I will be preaching Easter services at Huntsville Baptist Church on Sunday. The morning worship service will begin at 10:45am and the evening service will begin at 6pm. Huntsville Baptist Church is located at 5720 NW Lake Jeffery in Lake City, Florida.

Easter Card

Here's an animated Easter (egg) card for you: http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=QZ40293483.

It's not the "true" meaning of Easter, but it's cute.

Practice Doesn't Make Perfect

You can call it whatever you want, but if it's not focused on Jesus Christ then it's idolatry.

Exodus 20:3-4 (NKJV)
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

John 14:6 (NKJV)
6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Interesting Thoughts, Volume 5

• When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

• Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

• Every one has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.

• How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

• What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

FBC Lake Butler Tonight

I will be leading the Bible study tonight at First Baptist Church of Lake Butler. The church is located at 195 East Main St. in Lake Butler, Florida. The service will begin at 6:30pm. Please be in prayer for this service.

Pine Tree Crosses

This is an interesting site, check out Pine Tree Crosses.

Itching Ears?

God said it would be like this... 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

Easter Calculator

Do you have a tough time trying to figure out when Easter Sunday falls each year? Check out the "Easter Calculator", it is cool!

FBC Lake Butler on Wednesdays

I will be preaching each Wednesday for the next several weeks at my home church, First Baptist Church of Lake Butler. The services will begin at 6:30pm.

These dates are subject to change if I'm called for revivals, etc. I will post updates on this site if changes are made or you may call the church office at (386) 496-3704 for more information.

First Baptist Church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida. Please be in prayer for this church as they seek a pastor.

Forest Grove Added to Schedule

I will be preaching in supply for Pastor Warren Chesser at Forest Grove Baptist Church on Sunday, June 11, 2006. The service will begin at 6pm.

Forest Grove Baptist Church is located at 22575 NW 94th Avenue in Alachua, Florida.

"They Wouldn't Let Me!"

My devotion in "Our Daily Bread" gives a wonderful illustration that I wanted to share with you.








April 7, 2006

"They Wouldn't Let Me!"

Read:
Matthew 11:20-30

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. —Matthew 11:28

Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 7-9; Luke 9:18-36

A woman was trapped on the top floor of a burning building. Flames and smoke blocked every way of escape. When firefighters arrived, one of the men scrambled up a ladder to the window where the woman was screaming for help, and with outstretched arms he offered to save her. But when she looked down and saw the great distance to the ground below, she panicked and drew back into the room.

The man attempting the rescue begged her to trust him for her safety, but his pleas were not heeded. In senseless fear she retreated beyond the fireman's reach. Finally, being forced to return to the ground, he said with tears in his eyes, "I did everything I could to save her, but she wouldn't let me!"

Those words made me think of the spiritual peril facing so many people. Jesus longs to forgive their sins, but they stubbornly resist His offer of salvation. By refusing to trust Him, they are like the woman who perished in the flames even though she could have escaped.

Dear friend, right now believe on the Lord Jesus! He invites you to come to Him (Matthew 11:28). Don't be among those of whom the Lord must say, "I did everything I could to save them, but they wouldn't let Me!" —Richard De Haan

Why do you wait, dear brother?
The harvest is passing away;
Your Savior is longing to bless you,
There's danger and death in delay. —Root

Faith is the hand that receives God's gift.

Support for RBC Ministries comes from the gifts of our members and friends.

RBC Ministries is a member of theGospel Communications Network (GCN).

rbc@gospelcom.net
©2006 RBC Ministries--Grand Rapids, MI 49555
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Our Daily Bread is a daily devotional provided by RBC Ministries
for spiritual growth and Bible study

New Edition of Podcast Now Online

"Walking with the Giant" for April 2006 is now online and ready for download. The links for the Podcast are as follows:

RSS Feed

Website

Download Page

Let me know what you think about this edition.

Interesting Thoughts, Volume 4

• A day without sunshine is like . . . night.
• On the other hand, you have different fingers.
• He who laughs last thinks slowest.
• The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.
• Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.
• If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
• O.K., so what's the speed of dark?
  

Easter Service

I will be preaching at Huntsville Baptist Church on Easter Sunday, April 16th. The morning worship service will begin at 10:45am and the evening service at 6:30pm.

For more information call Pastor Jim Steele at (386) 752-2089. Huntsville Baptist Church is located at 5720 NW Lake Jeffery in Lake City, Florida.

Cool Info

On Wednesday (tomorrow) at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06. I think it's safe to say, that will never happen again.

You see what you can learn by reading this blog?

Basket Case?

Check out the "basket case" at Exodus 2:1-9.

Scripture Tree

Check out this Scripture Tree.

Shiloh Baptist Today

I will be preaching at Shiloh Baptist Church today at 11am & 7pm. The church is located at 173 SW Shiloh Way between Ft. White & High Springs, Florida.

Who Knows When It Will End?

God knows... Matthew 24:36!