Monday, January 15, 2007
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Evening Service at Athens Baptist
I will be preaching the evening worship service tonight at Athens Baptist Church beginning at 6pm. The church is located at 9090 SW CR240 in Columbia City, Florida. Columbia City is south of Lake City. Please be in prayer for this service.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Fish Dodge
The object is to get to the town square without getting smacked. Good luck!
Echoes of Paradise
READ: Revelation 21:1-7
Behold, I make all things new. —Revelation 21:5
“Come to paradise,” says an ad featuring white sands, turquoise water, and waving palm trees. It’s as if we are being given a glimpse of Eden rediscovered.
Not long ago, my wife and I took a trip to the Bahamas. Those marvelous coral-reef islands have a unique beauty. Yet, for us the environment alone did not seem like paradise. Something was missing.
Then on Sunday we found what we had been looking for. We attended a church off the beaten path. The service was 3 hours long, but it was filled with vibrant worship. With beautiful Bahamian accents the pastor and his congregation took turns quoting Scripture throughout the sermon. My wife and I left the service energized in our faith.
I was reminded of Revelation’s witness to the future chorus: “They sang as it were a new song before the throne” (Rev. 14:3). One day “God will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying” (21:4). What a day of rejoicing that will be!
Our worship here is a mere prelude to the great praise service in the future when we stand in God’s presence. But sometimes when we join with others in vibrant worship, we experience an echo of paradise on this earth.
If God has made this world so fair,
Where sin and death abound,
How beautiful beyond compare
Will paradise be found! —Montgomery
When God wipes our tears, sorrow gives way to eternal song.
For similar resources, search these topics:
Basics Of Faith > Future/Prophecy > Eternity
Friday, January 12, 2007
Off The Clock
This story had me laughing out loud! I researched it a little and it appears not to be true, but it is still hilarious to me!
Click on the story to make it larger.
Scholars To Debate If Jesus Existed
Internationally recognized biblical scholars are set to launch The Jesus Project, a new endeavour to examine the historical existence of Christ.
The project is intended to pick up where the controversial Jesus Seminar left off in its research into the veracity of Jesus's words and deeds in the Bible.
The seminar has lost momentum in recent years, but in its heyday, about 200 scholars met regularly to discuss whether Jesus really behaved as the Bible says he did.
The scholars voted using a system of beads -- red for accurate, pink for probable, grey for possible but unreliable, and black for improbable -- and found 82 per cent of Jesus's sayings, and 84 per cent of his deeds were unreliable to improbable.
Read more on the Ottawa Citizen.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Report Says 'Ford Possessed Private Faith'
Read more on Baptist Press.
VA's Use of Religion Upheld
AgapePress--A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Veterans Affairs' use of religion in treating ailing veterans does not violate separation of church and state. Judge John Shabaz dismissed a lawsuit by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and defended the agency's practices, saying religion can help patients heal and is legal as long as it's voluntary. The lawsuit challenged the V-A's practice of asking patients questions about faith, such as how often they attend church and how important religion is in their lives. The suit also targeted V-A substance abuse programs that include religion and the integration of chaplains into patient care. The Freedom From Religion Foundation says it will appeal the judge's ruling. [AP]
Former Presidents Carter & Clinton Call For A "New Baptist Covenant"
ATLANTA (BP)--Former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton have proposed the establishment of a broadly inclusive alternative Baptist movement to counter what they called a negative image of Baptists and to address poverty, the environment and global conflicts.
Read more on Baptist Press.
Faith-Based Films Coming Out on DVD
(AgapePress) - Three faith-based films, released in theaters nationwide this past fall, are coming to DVD this month: Love's Abiding Joy, One Night With The King, and Facing The Giants.
Read more on AgapePress.
How To Be Happy
READ: Psalm 146
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help. —Psalm 146:5
Everyone wants to be happy. But many fail in their quest to find that elusive prize because they are looking in the wrong places.
Proverbs 16:20 tells us, “Whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.” And Psalm 146:5 indicates that happiness comes to those who find their help and hope in God.
The foundation for happiness is a proper relationship with the Lord. But to fully experience that happiness, we must build on that foundation in practical ways. I found this list of Ten Rules for Happier Living:
- Give something away.
- Do a kindness.
- Give thanks always.
- Work with vim and vigor.
- Visit the elderly and learn from their experience.
- Look intently into the face of a baby and marvel.
- Laugh often—it’s life’s lubricant.
- Pray to know God’s way.
- Plan as though you will live forever—you will.
- Live as though today is your last day on earth.
These are excellent ideas for living a happy life. Undergird each of these rules with praise, and your happiness will be complete. “Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord” (Ps. 146:1-2).
Happiness is to know the Savior,
Living a life within His favor,
Having a change in my behavior,
Happiness is the Lord. —Stanphill
© 1968 Singspiration, Inc.
Trusting and obeying the Lord brings true happiness.
For similar resources, search these topics:
Relationships > Relating to God > Obedience
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Athens Baptist on Sunday Night
I will be preaching in supply for Interim Pastor Tommy Bankston at Athens Baptist Church this Sunday night, January 14th. The service will begin at 6pm. Athens Baptist Church is located at 9090 SW CR240 in Columbia City, Florida. Columbia City is south of Lake City. Please be in prayer for this service and for Bro. & Sis. Bankston as they will be traveling.
"I'm With Him"
READ: Luke 23:32-43
Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise. —Luke 23:43
On my husband’s T-shirt is a cartoon of a sheep walking on two legs and addressing a wolf who is barring the sheep’s passage through a gate.
Standing by the sheep is a familiar-looking man. He has a beard, compassionate eyes, and a look of authority. The sheep speaks to the wolf as he gestures toward the man and says, “I’m with Him.” The sheep’s trust in his Shepherd gives him great confidence.
On the day Jesus died, three crosses were raised. Jesus hung on the center one between two criminals. One of the men mocked Jesus, but the other said to Him, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus answered, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).
Imagine the man’s thoughts as he took his last breath. He had paid a horrible penalty for his crimes. But now, because he put his faith in Jesus, he was welcomed into heaven as a child of God. Perhaps he said with confidence, “I know I don’t deserve to be here, but I’m with Him!” gesturing toward Jesus. And Jesus would have confirmed it: “He’s with Me.”
Like the thief on the cross, we all face a choice. Have you made the decision to trust Jesus? Can you say with confidence, “I’m with Him”?
We are with Him and He with us;
Great confidence this gives
To face life’s trials and even death
Because our Savior lives. —D. De Haan
Facing death with confidence comes from trusting Christ.
For similar resources, search these topics:
Basics Of Faith > Jesus Christ > Death/CrossYouth Service Tonight in Lake Butler
I will be speaking during the youth service of First Baptist Church of Lake Butler tonight at 6:30pm. The service is held at the Fire Escape located at 102 SW 11th Street in Lake Butler, Florida. For more info call the church office at (386) 496-3704.
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