I was listening to a song from Third day called “New Creation” and it talks about when you first become a Christian and knew the joy of Jesus.  It made me think about the excitement of knowing that there is a relationship that Jesus is longing to have with us. It took me a while to understand what that meant but when I finally understood about having a Relationship with Him – it was exciting and New. We need to have that daily…..   enjoy the song.

I have to tell you that when I was listening to this I was brushing my teeth and I could not help but sing along and dance (please do not try to visualize me doing this).   But it was a great song to sing along with….
 
Pastor Tom Powers is doing a series on Gifts and today’s was on the Gift of Service.   Pastor Tom was talking about the people of the church who have this gift and how they utilize it to lift up our Church. He made a list of Characteristics that someone with this gift would possess and he explained some examples of what he had seen at Calvary.   This made me think about “Jesus People” and if we utilized the excitement we had when we became a New Creation with the characteristics of the “Gift of Service” in our daily lives: How Awesome the world would be..
Here is the list Pastor Tom gave – please visualize you using them wherever God has placed you:

1. 1. Love to get their hands dirty/fix things/build things.
   2. Practical hands on things/knitting sewing/manual labor.
   3. Behind the scene things….Missions/disaster relief.
   4. Thrill to take care of things/don’t like credit or spot light.
   5. Often care more about serving others than yourself.
   6. Joy in watching ministry grow, things run smother.
   7. Eyes in tune to get things done/don’t wait to be told.
   8. Good planner (but it’s often all in your head, not paper)
   9. Encouraged knowing that God is using you in this way…

 
The challenge will be to look at each of these Characteristics and see how you can use them when you are at home/the store/exercising/with family/a restaurant/vacation etc…

Let’s become the Jesus people!

Let’s utilize the Excitement and Gifts Jesus has given us and share them with the people around us.

Bobbyg

Diane and I were able to enjoy the last Concert that Third Day put on at Red Rocks last week.   It was a great ending of their career before starting their new Season of Life. Mark Lee one of the founders of the Group was asked: “What are you going to do now that you are retired”?   This question stunned him just a little bit and his response was: “I will never retire in my Christian walk – just taking a different way in my journey” (paraphrased by me).   I really enjoyed his response.
About 12 years ago I tried to become one of those retired Christians – I had done my service and now it was time for the younger generation to take over…..   I have to tell you it does not work that way.   God started working on me on what I thought I was doing and now He is working through me in my new ministry.   You can never retire but sometimes you need to take that break to see what He has in store for you.
Diane and I have started our new Season of Life in being retired and are looking to see how God is going to use us in our new journey.   We know that God has a plan for us and we are excited to see what that will look like as we get started in this new Season.   We understand that there is no such thing as retiring from our Christian walk….

So what Season of Life are you in at the present time and is God working through you as you journey forward?

Are changes coming or are you where God is doing some great work through you?

Bobbyg
**I want to add a little extra:   A letter in the Newspaper last week from Becky Conroy had a great point I would like to share.   The Title was “Giants of drugs and alcohol can be overcome with God” but I am only going to share the first portion.

David stood in front of Goliath with faith and a slingshot. He was not afraid because he knew that God was the power behind him. He did not see a giant that was too big, he saw a giant too big to miss!

When we come in front of our giants, we can stand firm with faith to overcome and have victory. This is the power that is already within us through Jesus, but if we run away and try to escape from our giants, then eventually our escape methods become another giant.

God wants a relationship with us because we are his children – not to judge us, but to love us through our trials and to help us knock our giants down.

This had a powerful message on overcoming what your Giant may be today keeping you from going forward in your journey….

Pastor Shaun finally finished the book of ACTs this last Sunday and he finished it with the question “Where is your Mission?” (I may have paraphrased a little).   That is a great question and it has been one of my New Year’s resolution on “How can I impact those who are in front of me.”
In the book of Acts Luke talks allot about the Journeys of Paul’s life and how he impacted the world around him. As Pastor Shaun noted Paul is unique and we cannot all be like him in traveling around the world to evangelize. There are a few that are called to do this type of ministry but most of us are not.   Shaun then stated that we should first start with those closest to us (our family and neighbors).   There is a Big Mission field right in front of us……
One of the passages that Shaun used was for Paul can be something that we can utilize also in our own lives.   Paul told the people who were in front of him about Jesus.

Philippians 1: 12 > 14: “Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel” *Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

As you can see that even when Paul was in prison he was talking to the people who were right in front of him.
We can do the same as Paul has done.   Here is a list of some of the challenges that I have tried to overcome to let Jesus shine through me.

1. The first thing I did when I moved to my current address was to make sure and get to know my neighbors. The last place I had lived I did not know but one family. Now my neighbors know me.
2. When I am at a store or restaurant I try to notice the name of the person who is serving me.   Then I make an effort to have a small conversation with me.   I have to tell you most of the people at my pharmacy know about my life and it is great when I get back from vacation they ask me how it was.
3. How about the person you pass by.   I remember a letter in the newspaper a while back when a lady stated that someone had made her day by saying “Hi” to her at the Library.   We can to the same…… “Smile and say Hi to those you pass”. They will know that there is something special about you.
4. Those in need.   How do you approach them and help.   It could be someone on the Highway – or a need the church has passed on – or it could be family member that needs your time.   I have to say time is precious and is one of the biggest gifts you can give.
5. My special one is my Grandkids – I want them to see Jesus in me….

So in my Final Thoughts the question comes back:

Where is your Mission?

Bobbyg

**A special Song hit about ministering to those around us: It is “Just give me Jesus!” It is by Unspoken… Enjoy it is a powerful song……

Today is Memorial Day and I would like to share a video Diane and I really enjoyed this morning.   It was Hallelujah Veterans Version from Sailor Jerri.   When we listen to this it really reminded us of the Service Men that paid the ultimate price for our Freedom (we were in tears).   Enjoy:
[button link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msYPbjFC50w” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] Memorial Day Hallelujah[/button]
Bobbyg

I will be gone for 3 weeks on vacation = so no more blogs until then….    Thank You.

I went to a Men’s Retreat (Advance) on Friday night and Pastor Shaun was the main Speaker.   He was using the Love Chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 to describe how we are to Love and he came up with 4 categories – two of them are below.   His talk about how we are to Love God is what got my attention and challenged me.
Most of the time when we read this passage of scripture we look at how we are to Love each other and not on how we are to Love God.
So I took each of these attributes of Love and looked at how I can Love God in each of them:
Love is:

1. Patient >  I need to be patient in what God is doing in my life – His timing is different than mine and the outcome is much better then when I try to do in my timing.
2. Kind >   When I do not like the results of what is happening in my life. I am not to respond in anger and think that God has done something bad – but I am to respond with Kindness and thank God for the Trials I am going through.

Love Does:

1. Rejoices with the Truth > This one can be hard for me – When God is speaking to me and it is not what I want to hear – I need to rejoice in the Truth that is being presented.
2. Bears all Things > I know God has a plan for me and in obedience I must bear all the trials that I am going through and those around me knowing He is there to help me.
3. Believes all Things > I need to have a positive attitude in all that I do and Believe that God has set the path for me.   Sometimes I get discouraged about the unknown on where my journey is going and it is believing that God will use me where ever I am is extremely helpful.
4. Hopes all Things > Hope is that major part of my existence on knowing that God has a final resting place for me in the end and I will be there someday with HimJ.
5. Endures all Things > When I look at the World around me I have to remember that God is in control.   So knowing this I can endure Life.

Well this was my response on how I can Love God and enjoy what he is doing in my life.   When you look at my response they are about how I encounter what is happening around me.   It is now so much an Action but a Relationship that I have with God and out of that how I am to respond.
So Please take these 7 items and make them personal to how you can Love God in your life.
Bobbyg

I am finishing the book “The Last Arrow” (Saving nothing for the next life) by Erwin McManus and the last chapter is called “Battle Ready”. It is a great way to finish the book and makes you think about if you are called on by Jesus to do something extraordinary today: are you ready?
I would like to share some parts from the book.

1. When I take on the hard work of being faithful in the small things, I am preparing myself for something greater than I ever could have imagined.
2. When we finally get there, we need to be ready. We need to be ready for those unexpected moments when we’re called to elevate, those moments so much bigger than we can hardly breathe. We must be battle ready.
3. Failure is rarely about the challenge we face: rather, it is about our lack of preparation. You cannot know every challenge you will face, but you can know who you are when you face the challenge!

As I look back at my life I can see the molding that it took to get me ready for Battle – it was through all the small tasks – the hardships – the relationships past and present that have molded me into what I am today.    There is much more that Christ has done in my life that impacts on who I am today, but it was His process in making me ready for what is to come.
 
In the back of the book Erwin shared a few scripture verses….

• Luke 16:10 > “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
• 2 Kings 13:18 > Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped.
• 2 Kings 13:21 > Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.
• John 19:30 > When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
• Matthew 25:21 > “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

 

So the question today is:           Are You Battle Ready?

Bobbyg

A friend of mine (Steve CZ) suggested a book that I might enjoy reading “The Way Back: How Christians Blew our Credibility and how we get it back”. He was right I really enjoyed it and it challenged me in several areas.
The first part of the book went back to the beginning of how we became Christians and what they did to have an impact on the World.   Basically they did not try to impose their beliefs on others but were an example of what Life should be like.   They met the needs of all of those around them so that people looked and knew there was something different about them that they wanted.   They also suffered for their beliefs.

They were examples of Christians who loved and served.

     The book gives seven examples of what we as Christians can do to get back our credibility and live the example of what a Christian life should look like. We need to just not talk the talk but actually live the talk.
The Seven S’s

1.  Surrender:

·       Is Jesus really the number one Priority in my Life?

·       What are examples?

·       How often this week have I allowed outside distractions to become my first priority?

2.  Scripture:

·       How many times this week have I spent significant time in the Word of God? Is that amount of time growing as time goes by?

·       How often do I explore Scripture for answers before I consult other sources?

·       Am I reading randomly, or do I have a structured guide to help me study?

3.  Submission:

·       Am I honestly submitted to the authority of Scripture?

·       Do I respect and submit to my Pastor’s authority?

·       Am I submitted to my spouse and family?

4.  Service:

·       How do my actions reflect my faith?

·       What have I done this week for someone who could never pay me back?

·       Do I have any friends who can do absolutely nothing for me?

·       Do my nonbelieving friends notice that there is something different about my life?

5.  Sacrifice:

·       Is there anything in my life that has a stronger hold on me than Jesus?

·       Would I be willing to answer God’s call even if I knew it meant losing everything?

·       When was the last time I fasted or gave up something important in exchange for finding a deeper relationship with God?

6.  Simplicity:

·       Do material things have the right priority in my life?

·       Does work, food, alcohol, hobbies, possessions, or anything else stand between me and God?

·       What can I give up that might be a distraction from loving others?

·       What does my bank account say about my Christian life?

7.  Suffering:

·       How often am I sharing my faith with others?

·       Have I done anything this week to help those being persecute in other places?

As you can see that I bolded one item out of each of the Seven S’s that I would like to work on.   I would ask that you to do the same…. and maybe buy the book and read it.
Bobbyg

Our Tuesday night Men’s study we have been going over the book “The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus” and we covered Chapter 7 this week (Stand Your Ground).   I have to tell you this was a convicting chapter for me and I questioned myself if I was in a tough situation would I Make a Stand.
In this chapter he talks about one of David’s most trusted men – Shammah.   Here is the verse.

2^nd Samuel 23: 11 & 12 > Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.

As you can see when Israel’s troops were fleeing Shammah  made a stand and defeated the Philistines.   This must have been really hard to watch all the warriors you are fighting next to flee and leave you by yourself.
So this has challenged me to look at what is really important to me that I need to make a Stand on even if it means that I will be in Danger.   Shammah took his stand knowing that there was a good possibility that he would die.   I also have to be willing to make that stand on my own even if the warriors fighting the battle with me refuse to stand beside me.
Making a stand for me could be:

1. Telling my sons about the need for Jesus in their lives.
2. In today’s world we are encouraged to be Politically Correct – I need to make a stand against this when it contradicts what the teachings of the Bible.
3. When I need to be bold and just share my faith.

This is just a small list for me and it and not too dangerous – my list is longer by the way.   I do not have to be as courageous as Shammah but it is a list that I need to stand for.   I just need to start working on my fears and start making a STAND to overcome those fears.

So where do you need to make a Stand?

Have you got a list you can work on?

Bobbyg

I went to Spearfish SD this weekend to visit with my youngest son and we attended his church.   Pastor Steve preached on ‘Suffering for God” and utilized the passage that we all enjoy.   You know the one about being glad in your suffering – It is one of those hard passages that is difficult to live up to.   I do know that when you are going through those hard times it helps to be positive through the experience and it helps those who surround us.
Here are the verses: 1 Peter 4:12-19 >

Suffering for Being a Christian

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Pastor Steve shared a couple of other verses that helped..

• Acts 14:22 > strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
• Philippians 1:29 > If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

Pastor Steve did finish with an uplifting line:   “Through are suffering this will put us exactly where I am supposed to be. God I working through me…..”
 
I do not know what you are going through at this time – it may be:

1. A death in the family.
2. A family member or friend who is really sick.
3. Someone who has betrayed you.
4. Financial difficulty.
5. Someone close who is having problems with drug, alcohol or some other type of addiction.

**The list goes on.   **Some of these are current to me.
I would tell you to listen to the words from Peter above and remember God has a purpose and will get you through it. Peter is speaking from experience…  I do have to remember to be Positive when I am going through the molding process and know that when it is accomplished I will be much stronger.
Bobbyg

I was reading an article in this morning’s paper titled “Can your family handle a day without complaints?” by Danny Tyree.     I really had to think about that – Could my family handle a day of just being positive or can I handle a day of just being positive.     The article was a fun read (you can read it at the bottom).
I do have to confess that the reason this article got my attention is that I have noticed in the last couple of months that I have been more negative than positive.   I have been complaining about:

1. The Wind is blowing too much and I want to walk more outside.
2. My boys play to many video games.
3. My brother is recovering from a Knee replacement and he is not doing his rehab correctly.
4. The team is not doing what I want them to do.

***My list can go on for a very long time….
 
So when I read this it convicted me into start having more days of being positive and stop complaining………..
I looked up some scripture to help me correct my behavior – here the are:

• Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
• Romans 12:2  do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect
• Philippians 4:8  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things
• Ephesians 4:31-32  let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
• Matthew 15:11  It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
• Proverbs 15:1  a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger
•                            ****There were several more verses but you are getting the point…. It is extremely helpful to look up scripture when I want to have a day of being Positive and eliminate all my complaints….   We will see how it works tomorrow, I have already blown it today and this week.

 

So I encourage you to take the challenge of no complaints and being positive for a whole day…   Then a week – then a month – all the time…

Bobbyg

“Can your family handle a day without complaints?”

Did you notice that Thomas Lickona recently adapted a portion of his book “How to Raise Kind Kids” into the online Time magazine article “How to Raise Grateful Kids in An Era of Thankless People”?
My own son Gideon is a gentle, cheerful, kindhearted lad; but I set aside the time to read the essay because I realize he is still a work in progress.
Even though Gideon has mostly outgrown the “This is the worst day of my life” tantrums, he is still prone to swiping my French fries, neglecting “thank you” notes, delivering perfunctory prayers (“Thank you for our food and our beds. Amen”), procrastinating about his burdensome chores (which require half a hand of fingers to count) and whining about clothes shopping trips that last longer than unlacing the left shoe.
Among the suggestions in Lickona’s essay was to take “the no-complaints challenge.” In this exercise, everyone in the family must agree to go 24 hours without complaining about anything.
Raising the issue of going cold turkey on negative vibes can stir up a storm of discord all by itself. (“Did someone say something about ‘cold turkey?’ Is the microwave busted again? Didn’t that thing come from the Pilrgrims’ yard sale? The neighbors have a new kitchen and a new car, and probably Paula Deen and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to manage those necessities for them …”)
Yes, if you’re going to plunge into smiley faces and fortitude instead of slowly weaning your family from self-centered habits, you need to find ways to lessen the shock. You might want to set the mood by streaming something like “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” or “Man, they said we better accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch onto the affirmative and don’t mess with Mr. In-Between.”
Your little cherubs will probably gush an enthusiastic pronouncement such as, “I’m so glad that Bobby McFerrin and Johnny Mercer aren’t here to get their feelings hurt when I crank up Black Sabbath to drown out their music!”
Break out all those uplifting posters, such as “If you can’t say something nice about suppertime telemarketing calls, the Washington, D.C., swamp, Fluffy’s hairballs and the creepy neighbor boy with the binoculars, don’t say anything at all.”
Of course, a little common sense is required if a family is to go all-positive. Or when the kids laugh about the 24-hour “ordeal” afterward, they’ll say something like, “Ha! Ha! I wanted to complain about that suspicious-looking mosquito crawling up your arm, but I just zipped my lip and went to my happy place.”
Classmates and teachers will notice a changed attitude in youngsters who have learned to eliminate their egocentric bellyaching. (“What do you want to be, Johnny — the class president or the captain of the football team?” “Nah, I wanna be a Stepford Wife.”)
I just hope that complaint-free days can be the beginning of a lifetime of putting things into perspective. If, instead, they become like Lent, followed by an outpouring of pent-up desire, things could get nasty.
“Why does the sun have to come up so early? Why does it have to be 93 million miles away? Why does it have to possess a mass 330,000 times that of Earth? Why does it have be a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma, with internal convective motion that generates a magnetic field via a dynamo process???”
Danny welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol.com and visits to his Facebook fan page “Tyree’s Tyrades.” Danny’s weekly column distributed exclusively by Cagle Cartoons Inc. newspaper syndicate.