Fireworks Display
Here's one more fireworks display for you to watch.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
God and Freedom
LISTEN TO ODB RADIO: Real | MP3 | WMA
READ: Psalm 100
Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people. —Psalm 100:3
When members of the US Second Continental Congress approved the remarkable document known as the Declaration of Independence, they plainly declared their belief in God. The drafters of this noble proclamation knew that the sweeping freedoms they were proposing could work well only in a society where the Creator is acknowledged. They affirmed that God has “endowed” all people with the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” because He values each of us.
Thomas Jefferson, who would become the third president of the new nation, was distressed by the sin he saw. He wrote, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” If he trembled then, he would have a violent seizure now!
The founding fathers of the US loved the concept of individual freedom, but they did not have in mind a permissive lifestyle that allows us to do anything we please. True freedom can never be enjoyed by people who refuse to fear God.
The psalmist said, “Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves” (Psalm 100:3). We are responsible to God, because He has created us in love.
Today, recommit yourself to living as one of God’s people. That’s the way to enjoy true freedom.
Every blessing in our nation
Is a gift from God above,
But we cannot know true freedom
Till we trust His grace and love. —Hess
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. —Psalm 33:12
Monday, July 03, 2006
Another E-card
Here is an animated e-card that encourages us to remember the soldiers that allow us to have freedom.
Patriotic Organist
The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances."
During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected, and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up." At that moment, the substitute organist played "The Star Spangled Banner."
And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Saturday, July 01, 2006
4th of July Cards
Over the next few days I'll be posting links to some animated 4th of July cards that you might find interesting or would like to share with others. Here is the first one.
4th of July Celebrations Database
The 4th of July Celebrations Database contains a lot interesting information.
Friday, June 30, 2006
4th of July Celebrations
Are you planning a celebration for the 4th of July or would you like more information about existing celebrations? If so, visit the July 4th Celebrations website. You'll find information about food, history, fireworks, safety and celebrations on this site. There is even a list of fireworks displays & shows by state. The site is operated by morefocus.com.
I'll be adding more info about the 4th of July & related information to this site over the next few days.
Have a happy & safe Independence Day!
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Subscription E-mail Service Available
This site is updated on a daily basis, but you may not always think of checking the site daily unless you subscribe to the RSS feed with a newsreader. Well, now you can be notified by e-mail each day that a new item is posted. To be placed on this list powered by FeedBurner use the form in the left column of this page.
The same service is also available for my ministry Podcast, "Walking with the Giant". You can find the e-mail notification form for the Podcast by clicking here.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Electronic Commandments
FBC Lake Butler Tonight
I will be preaching at my home church, First Baptist Church of Lake Butler, tonight at 6:30pm. The service will be held in the fellowship hall due to remodeling of our sanctuary. Please be in prayer for our church as we search for a pastor. First Baptist Church is located at 195 East Main Street in Lake Butler, Florida.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Alligator Takes Deer To Lunch?
I received an e-mail about this photo today, but as are so many of these types of e-mails, the details are incorrect. It said the photo was taken at Lake George in Florida. Other versions have it taking place in other areas. The link above has the real answer.
There are a few good sources on the web to confirm or disprove some of these types of e-mails. You can find them at www.snopes.com and www.truthorfiction.com.
The moral of this post: check everything out and don't take it as truth because it comes in an e-mail
Acts 17:11 (NKJV)
11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Yard Work
YARD WORK - AS VIEWED FROM HEAVEN
(an untrue, but funny story with some interesting thoughts too)
(an untrue, but funny story with some interesting thoughts too)
(overheard in a conversation between God and St. Francis)
God: Francis, you know all about gardens and nature; what in the world is going on down there in the U.S.? What happened to the dandelions, violets, thistles and the stuff I started eons ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan. Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand drought, and multiply with abandon. The nectar from the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honeybees, and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast garden of color by now. All I see are patches of green.
St. Francis: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord. They are called the Suburbanites. They started calling your flowers "weeds" and went to great lengths to kill them and replace them with grass.
God: Grass? But it is so boring, it's not colorful. It doesn't attract butterflies, bees or birds, only grubs and sod worms. It's temperamental with temperatures. Do these Suburbanites really want grass growing there?
St. Francis: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it has grown a little, they cut it....sometimes two times a week.
God: They cut it? Do they bale it like hay?
St. Francis: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it up and put it in bags.
God: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they sell it?
St. Francis: No sir, just the opposite. They pay to throw it away.
God: Now let me get this straight...they fertilize it to make it grow and when it does grow, they cut it off and pay to throw it away?
St. Francis: Yes, sir.
God: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a lot of work.
St. Francis: You aren't going to believe this Lord, but when the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out hoses and pay more money to water it so they can continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
God: What nonsense! At least they kept some of the trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn they fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep the moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes. Plus, as they rot, the leaves become compost to enhance the soil. It's a natural circle of life.
St. Francis: You'd better sit down, Lord. As soon as the leaves fall, the Suburbanites rake them into great piles and pay to have them hauled away.
God: No way! What do they do to protect the shrubs and tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and loose?
St Francis: After throwing the leaves away, they go out and buy something called mulch. They haul it home and spread it around in place of the leaves.
God: And where do they get this mulch?
St. Francis: They cut down the trees and grind them up to make mulch.
God: Enough! I don't want to think about this anymore.
Saint Catherine, you're in charge of the arts. What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
St. Catherine: "Dumb and Dumber," Lord. It's a really stupid movie about....
God: Never mind--I think I just heard the whole story from Saint Francis!
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Virus
LISTEN TO ODB RADIO: Real | MP3 | WMA
READ: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
[Bring] every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. —2 Corinthians 10:5
Some days my computer helps me fly like an eagle. Other times, it bogs me down like a hippopotamus. On “eagle days” I’m grateful for my computer. But there are those “hippo days” when I rue the day I bought one.
Recently I’ve had to contend with a virus that invaded my computer. What bothers me most is that viruses are created maliciously. Bright people who live with a darkness in their lives want to make other people miserable. What’s worse, I permitted the virus to enter my machine by opening what I thought was an innocent e-mail.
Sin resembles a computer virus. Satan wants to destroy Christians by infecting their minds. But the apostle Paul urged the believers at Corinth to bring “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Just as we let a virus into our computers, we also let darkness into our lives when we open ourselves unthinkingly to the godless messages that permeate our culture. We let down our guard and hardly notice the sin that infects our minds.
But by confessing our sin, reading God’s Word, and praying, we build a firewall, or barrier, to safeguard our minds. With the help of the Spirit, we’ll keep our minds from becoming unwitting hosts for unwanted guests.
Heavenly Father, I’m often careless with what I allow to enter my mind. By Your Spirit, please help me to guard my mind today. By Your grace, keep me from situations that wage war on my thought life. Amen.
Guard your thoughts as you would your wallet.
Monday, June 26, 2006
June Podcast
"Walking with the Giant"
for June 2006 is now online and ready for download.
The links for the Podcast are as follows:
for June 2006 is now online and ready for download.
The links for the Podcast are as follows:
RSS Feed
iTunes Link
Website
This edition features an interview with Evangelist Bobby Brindle, known as the "World's Smallest Evangelist". I met Brother Brindle (pictured on the right in the photo at left) at the 2005 Little People of America (LPA) annual conference.
iTunes Link
Website
This edition features an interview with Evangelist Bobby Brindle, known as the "World's Smallest Evangelist". I met Brother Brindle (pictured on the right in the photo at left) at the 2005 Little People of America (LPA) annual conference.The program also has our monthly update from Evangelist Raphael Adjei Kingbi, JCEA Ghana Ministries Coordinator. His wife Mavis gave birth to their first child June 2nd while hospitalized with Malaria. We have a very interesting discussion about some healthcare issues in Ghana, West Africa.
During the "Into The Word" section of the program I begin a new message titled "Little People Can Do Big Things For God". This focuses on little people (in this case a child, Samuel) being used by God. Perhaps "Samuel Listened, Do You?" should be the subtitle.
You may have noticed a "small" theme for this edition of the program. This is due to the LPA annual convention being held later this month. I am a member of LPA, as is Brother Brindle. The voice that opens and closes the program each month and introduces each segment is Matt Ray (pictured with his family). Matt has a 3 year old son, Morgan Elijah, that is a "little person". We also met at last year's convention and Matt graciously offered to lend his voice to the program. He is the Director of Creative Services for Cox Radio in Jacksonville, Florida. His voice is also heard on radio & television stations across the United States.
Let me know what you think about this edition and share the information with your friends.
Additional info about the program:
“Walking with the Giant” is available as a free monthly web download or it can be delivered to your home, church or office on an audio CD that will allow you to listen at your convenience. To receive each issue of the program on CD simply send a $10 donation to the James Croft Evangelistic Association each month by mail or using your credit card. This donation will help cover the expenses of producing and mailing the monthly program.
Most importantly, we need you to support us with your PRAYERS and by sharing this information with others!
Baptism Story
After a heavy West Virginia rainstorm filled all the potholes in the streets and alleys, a young mother watched her two little boys playing in the puddle through her kitchen window.
The older of the two, a five year old lad, grabbed his sibling by the back of his head and shoved his face into the water hole. As the boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother runs to the yard in a panic.
"Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?!" she says as she shook the older boy in anger.
"We're just playing 'church' mommy", he said. "I was baptizing him in the name of the Father, the Son and in the hole-he-goes."
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