Friday, January 11, 2008
All You Can Eat Buffet? Oh Really.....
I post this for 2 reasons. 1.) It is stinkin' hilarious. 2.) Having family currently in Houma, LA, and having lived there myself at one time, I feel I can joke about my heritage. It is a little long, but worth it.
Warning: This video does absolutely nothing to help minimize any negative stereotype you have ever heard about Cajuns.
Warning: This video does absolutely nothing to help minimize any negative stereotype you have ever heard about Cajuns.
Labels: just something fun
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Things Have Been a Little Noisy, Time to Get Some Ear Plugs
This week (January 6, 2008) began our sermon series entitled 
. This series is designed to look at the various distractions in our lives that are , the subtle, and sometimes, not so subtle noise, keeping us, first and foremost from experiencing God as He wants to be experienced. Static also keeps us from really hearing our family and our friends as well as the needs of the world. These simple themes to be explored over the next few Sundays, also happen to be the core values of 
, my home church.Andy, and the media staff, did an outstanding job laying the groundwork Sunday for the next few weeks in a series. The presentations and sermon challenged our hearts, minds, and senses (except smell, I was a little disappointed that they left that one out).
Throughout scripture, we are called to be SILENT and seek the Lord. Elijah did not find God in the howling wind, earthquake, or fire. No, he found God in the quiet whisper that spoke louder than anything Elijah had ever heard. (1 Kings 19:11-18) Jesus, himself, understood the importance of silence and reflective time alone with His Father and practiced it regularly. (Luke 5:15-16)
Below are a few passages used in the sermon on Sunday to illustrate God's call to silence.
"But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." Habakkuk 2:20 (NKJV)
"But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD." Psalm 4:2-5 (NKJV)
"At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.'" Matthew 11:25-30 (NKJV)
"Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:16b-17 (NKJV)
"Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. Better a handful with quietness than both hands full, together with toil and grasping for the wind." Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 (NKJV)
As you go forward this year, take a close look at your life and see what sort of things, what sort of 
is keeping you from fully experiencing God, your family and friends, and the world around you. What is it in your life that is keeping you from doing God's work? Pray, in silence. Talk to God and ask Him to help minimize the in your life, to a point, where you begin to make the differences for others in a way God has called you to.
is keeping you from fully experiencing God, your family and friends, and the world around you. What is it in your life that is keeping you from doing God's work? Pray, in silence. Talk to God and ask Him to help minimize the in your life, to a point, where you begin to make the differences for others in a way God has called you to. Labels: faith journey
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Difficult Decisions in a Small Congregation
A friend of my wife is a pastor at a local church here in Houston. She is just getting started, and with that, her membership is that of a newly planted church. She is the pastor, and everything else, while working a second job. She has had some recent issues with theft from someone in her congregation. They have taken things from her home. They have stolen from the collection plate. They have even forged her signature at the local pharmacy and picked up medication intended for her. This is an individual that she invites into her home every week. Someone she is close to. Someone that she has known for a while. She is very confident that she knows who the individual responsible for these things is, but is unsure how to approach the situation. As she struggles to live out the calling God has for her in her life, she is attacked at every angle from satan.
Question: Has anyone had had an experience with this before? If so, how did you deal with it? This is a very difficult time for her right now.
Question: Has anyone had had an experience with this before? If so, how did you deal with it? This is a very difficult time for her right now.
Labels: instructions
