Month: May 2005

  • The sand was like walking on fire.  Every breath was labored with dryness.  His back hunched, his legs went limb.  Falling he crawled, only to rise again in search of water.  His mind started to see water then see it fade away.  Was it this way or  that way?  As he approached the lake he began to drink in large quantities of water only to be unquenched of his thirst.  As he looked up he saw another lake just to his left.  Spitting out the sand he rose to fall in front of another body of water only to spit out the gritty taste.  He woke from his dream grateful to be in the land of the living.  Eze 16:25-29 says these people were not satistifed.  God called these men and women whores.  Strong words.  (Whoredom is not always sexual.)  Going after sin will leave us thirsty for darkness and unsatisfied.  There are many gates in this world: billingsgate or Veracity Gate.  Which are you going to choose?   Filthness or Truth

  • “The lights are going out in Europe and I don’t think it’ll turn back on in our life time.”
    Sir Edward Gray said that in the spring of 1914 prior to WW1.  I can’t help but think of those words as I read Ezekiel 16:20-25. Why?  Israel did not remember the days of their youth.  If we do not remember history we are destined to repeat it.  I’m not speaking on a national level;  I’m speaking on an individual level.  I like Paul I say these words: “That which I don’t want to do I do; That which I want to do I don’t.  Who will deliver me?”  -Jesus.  I appreciated all the honest responses to the question:  What is most important to you?  As a Christian I know the correct answer – God.  But upon carefully inventory I find other things on higher shelves in my life that needs to be lowered.  I’ll do it because I choose to remember where I’ve come from and I won’t worship myself in the process.    

  • Here’s a scenario: You give your friend a present for her birthday. She opens it and is so over taken by the present she completely ignores you.  Day after day she spends time with your gift and not you.  Your feelings? You hate the present because it took away your friend. That’s how God feels. He gives his creation gifts and they place it above him. Last night in service I was impressed with this thought. In the dismissing prayer I lead the church to put down everything and put Jesus as number one. I have to do that constantly in my own life because things creep in. In these verses God is telling them that they have taken the things he has given them and has made idols out of them. God is in pain.  Eze 16:16-19

  • We had fun in Heir Force last night (5th & 6th graders).  We’re gearing up for the Kid’s Krusade.  Pastor Jeff is going to take at least 40 water balloons because the kids filled 40 small barrells w/money for BGMC.  Steve is going to be taking a pie in the face because the teens won over the kids in a giving contest.  The next contest is between the girls and boys.  If the girls win I, Meryle and Everette will get a make over by the girls.  If the boys win , Alicia, Tess and Alison will get a mud makeover by the boys.  The kids are very excited. 

  • We will feel bad. What we do with those feelings is what will determine our destiny. In these verses God is telling them all the things he has done for them. He brought them out of a bloody situation. He watched them grow and gave them precious things. He carefully nurtured and took care of them as they grew. They gave all that up for sin. God wanted them to feel bad. Let’s look at some of the responses people make when they feel bad because of sin. A young person may try to cover sexual sin with drugs; Another may try to cover neglect with alcohol; A rich person may try to cover his sin with more stuff; A homosexual may cover his with a movement; A child molester may kill his victim to cover his sin. All these remedies are covering sin. Christians are also good at covering sin. A person may gossip in order to get the attention off themselves; A person may preach to others the conviction of their own heart. What it all comes down to is this: We must feel horrible about sin and then confess that sin to God and be forgiven because of the cross. Eze 16:6-14

  • I’m still affected by what happened on Sunday.  I’m enraptured by thoughts of heaven.  I’m hoping I can get a lot of feed back on what you think it’ll will be like.  Here’s a little more of what the kids said.  For several minutes we dreamed, envisioned and had enjoyed celestial thoughts.  They gave descriptions of what they thought heaven was going to be like.  They said things like:  a huge slide; swimming pools; candy off trees; Kool-Aid from streams;  A lion or T-Rex as a pet.  The most precious moment was Emily’s radiant face as she envisioned seeing her Dad again.  That opened the conversation to all those that have gone on before us.   

  • We had a great Kid’s Church today.  The subject was heaven.  The children’s imaginations were turned on full blast.  We dreamed out loud about the celestial place.  It’s being prepared for us.  It’s real and it’s going to be the largest reunion ever.  I’m so excited about getting there.  We definitely had fun at church today.


    Randy

  • People make judgements on what they see.  When I see someone dressed up punk, goth, pierced etc. I see a pioneer.  I see someone that isn’t afraid to be an individual.   I see creativity. I appreciate the individual who blazes their own path.  I personnally want to go below their surface and find the real person.  I’ve enjoyed sitting down with such individuals at parks or malls and listening to what they have to say.  I’m interested in who they are. 

  • Flying Snakes  I was reading an article about Flying Snakes. Flying snakes are a small group of species of tree snakes that live in South and Southeast Asia. At rest they appear like a normal snake, but on the move they’re able to take to the air by jumping from a tree, flattening their entire body, and gliding or parachuting to the ground or another tree.  I couldn’t help but think of the verse that says. “As Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness so will the Son of Man be lifted up.  People either love the cross or hate it.  They either respect the cross or disrespect it.  Christianity is a bloody story.  It’s the only religion in the world that claims God came to earth, was born, lived, and died upon a cross.  Why?  To destroy sin within human beings.  Anyone that refuses that gift will keep their sin – forever.  Sin may be enjoyable for a moment but it creates so much pain.  I remind myself of the cross daily – you should also.

  • Friday the 13th   When the enemy tries to define something, I refuse to accept it.  In essence I become a rebel against his labels.  Today I will be a strong rebel against the lies he has put on Friday the 13th.  Lets rise up and allow the Heavenly Father to make this the greatest day of our lives.  After all it’s the beginning of the rest of our lives.    Jesus created this day and I will rejoice in it.  Jesus has good things planned for this day; Satan has evil things planned – not a hard decision on whose side to believe.