My first question:   did it offend you to see Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas?   I have to tell you that in the past it really offended me when I would see an attempt to take Christ out of Christmas.   I would have been one of those Christians that would be leading the assault on the business to Boycott them because of Happy Holidays.
     I am so glad that I am not that person anymore…. my response to Happy Holidays is a joyous one now.   When someone tells me Happy Holidays I get this really big smile and respond with a very pleasant Merry Christmas.   This is one of the best ways to let people know that I am not taking Christ out of Christmas. 
      People are looking at how we respond:   they look at our response and it will make all the difference to how they receive the message of Jesus.   When we want to boycott Starbucks because they have a Red Cup and it does not say Merry Christmas…. what do you think they see?    Do they see Jesus in us?   This is the best time of the year to spread the good news of Jesus in a very positive way.
 

One of my favorite songs about this subject is from the Group “Go Fish” and it is called “Christmas with a Capital “C””.   Now the song can be offensive in some ways – but it is a fun one that I enjoy listening to.  

ENJOY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkIj94yepfU

     I would encourage everyone to remember to pass on the Love of Jesus this Christmas and do not get so offended when you hear a greeting that you do not Like.  In a very pleasant way just respond with a Merry Christmas.  

What will be your response when you hear “Happy Holidays?

Will the people you encounter and respond to see Jesus in You?

Enjoy Christmas and spread the Good News of Jesus:

“Merry Christmas”

  Bobbyg

      My grandkids were here over the weekend for Thanksgiving and we started talking about Christmas.   I asked them what they needed for Christmas and my Grandson (Jonah) paused for a second because he knew it was a loaded question.   He has a list of what he wants, but the question was what you need for Christmas.   So it came out what I was after…………    My Grandkids have been raised in a Great Home – so they knew the answer I was after.   What is Christmas all about?

 “Jesus”

           I like to write about Christmas this time of year to make sure I do not lose the Reason for the Season.  It is so easy to get caught up in all the stuff that Surrounds Christmas and it is easy to leave Jesus out of the equation.   Since I have Grand Kids I am getting better about enjoying some of the pleasures of giving Gifts.   For a period of time – I excluded gift giving during Christmas because of the distraction of trying to buy everyone Gifts.   My Grandkids are my Joy so I have come to a good Balance of giving gifts during this season (only the Grand kids get gifts).
           One of my favorite songs at the present time is “Mary Did you Know?” by Pentatonix.    This is a powerful message about not knowing what Jesus was going to bring – but he came into this world in a unique way.  Enjoy listening to the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

      This is the perfect time to share Jesus with our Children – Grand Children – our Friends in a special way.    Take them to where Mary was and the Child that she raised to be our Savior.   What might have that looked like raising Jesus all the way to the end…..?

 This is the time of year to share special stories about Jesus.

What are you sharing with those who are surround your life?

When people see your home/work – do they see Jesus during this Christmas season?

Bobbyg        
**I have made it a goal to keep the Spirit of Jesus flowing within me during this season – even at work when it can be extremely difficult.  I do put up a manger on my window (it may get me in trouble someday – but this is my last Christmas at the USPS).   I also try to bring a little joy in a tough season at the Post Office and keep a bowl of treats available up to Jesus’s Birthday – some joy can do wonders.

I really like the song “They will know we are Christians by our Love” and at Sunday’s church service it was one of the worship songs…  
          Please listen to it:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CobNWUXb1M
           The sermon was about Refugees but some of the Scripture that Shaun shared really fit this topic.    I have been writing allot lately about ministering to the one that is in front of you – it is the only way we are to make an impact in this world.
          The verses from Matthew 25: 35 & 36 are a key to how we show this:

 For I was hungry and you gave Me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave Me water to drink. I was a stranger and you gave Me a room.   I had no clothes and you gave Me clothes to wear. I was sick and you cared for Me. I was in prison and you came to see Me.’

         Followed by this Verse: Hebrews 13: 2

Do not forget to be kind to strangers and let them stay in your home. Some people have had angels in their homes without knowing it.

           How many times have we passed up the opportunity to Bless someone and came up with a really good reason why we did not do it.   I have been in that spot and reasoned it with:

1.  I do not have time.
2. Someone else will help them.
3. I am not qualified.
4. They really do not look like they need help.

As the scripture above stated – we may have just failed to bless an Angel.  Our response should be in Obedience when we come across an opportunity to Bless someone and not to question as to “Why Not”.    I have been getting better at looking for those opportunities to Bless someone…   and if it is an Angel – it would be one of those WOW moments.  It is something that does not come easy for me, but I make an effort and practice being the Christian they will know by my Love.            **The Second most important commandment is:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
 So this week – look for those opportunities to Bless the person in front of you…  Practice and be obedient – it just might be an Angel.

“They will know we are Christians by our Love!”

 Bobbyg

Here is a note from Mike Z on the impact of the GMM Conference “True Identity”   —   Thank You Mike.

       I went to church with my Dad this last weekend and part of the Pastors sermon was about people getting involved.   But just not getting involved in anything – but where their gifts are…. and he added a couple of warnings about when you do this.  (It was great to see Pastor Roger speaking).
      Well I have these thoughts bouncing around in my head at the present time about “Engage”…   At work we have this program of Engaged – Non Engaged – & Dis Engaged and I was thinking about:  How does that look like in our Christian community? 
           Here are the thoughts that are bouncing around inside my Head… (It does happen at times).  But I like using *Engage – *Non – Engage and *Dis Engage.

• Engage:   These are the active Christians – it can look different in everyone, but they have that Joy that is just contagious.
• Non – Engage:  These are the Christians that go to Church every Sunday but do not get involved in anything.  This group sometimes seems to be the largest.
• Dis – Engage:  These are the negative Christians – the ones who are extremely harmful to the people who do “Engage”.   Have you ever been to one of those Congregational meetings and there are a couple of people who just disagree with everything.   These are the ones that when they stand up, you know the meeting is going to last for Hours.

       So that brings me back to what does “Engage” look like:   So I as I stated above it look’s different in everyone.

1. It can be that person at church who is there every Sunday making Coffee.
2. Teaching a Sunday school class.
3. How about the person who is sharing Jesus with anyone who is in front of them.
4. The one who is blessing people – buying Dinner anonymously for someone – a Gift – a Word of encouragement.
5. Doing Ministry work inside the Church or outside the Church.

****The list can go on….. –  so please keep it going.
 So my question to you is:

Which of the 3 are you from the list above – I would hope “Engage”?

Do you know your gifts and are you plugging them into a Work for Jesus?

Engage Today!

 Bobbyg

      I had a good weekend and slept a little late on Sunday – but what is really great is that my Church does it live on TV (well when I hook my computer to the TV – then it is live on TV).   So my wife and I were able to enjoy the church service from home (Thank You Calvary).  
     This week several Church’s showed the Film from “My Hope” with Billy Graham and his son Franklin put it together.   It was a powerful message on 3 lives that were caught up with Life and needed to be directed towards Jesus to Live Life to its fullest. 
          It is a must watch:   https://myhopewithbillygraham.org/program/value-of-a-soul
 
      Then yesterday I watched a Sermon from John Bevere (another powerful speaker) on Good or God.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7Qxj46K8HA         It made me put both messages together on the topic of what is the “Value of a Soul”.
John’s Scripture came from:

2 Timothy 3: 16. All the Holy Writings are God-given and are made alive by Him. Man is helped when he is taught God’s Word. It shows what is wrong. It changes the way of a man’s life. It shows him how to be right with God.  17. It gives the man who belongs to God everything he needs to work well for Him.

    The part of the message that I had to really think about was when we encounter the people around us:  are we always encouraging them or are we sharing with them the way of God’s Word.   So many times we have become politically correct when we encounter those around us that we may actually be doing them harm.   John shared the story of Adam and Eve – He explained that Eve did not look at the evil side of the Tree, but the Good side of the Tree.   As you know the rest of the story – the Good side of tree did the most harm to us – we need truth, but obedience is a must if we are going to have Value. 
       So as I pondered this:   I must say that I really need to rethink how I encourage the people around me.   Am I doing it in a way that will give them Value, because their souls are important and they need Jesus?  Sometimes my Good can harm those around me if it is not accompanied with the Truth about the teachings of Jesus.  We must Love those around us in such a way that we “Value their Soul” and are willing to help them see how important they are to Jesus.   Sometimes this means that we will have to share with them some hard changes that are required to be obedient to Jesus.  (Am I willing to do this and do it in such a way that they see Value and Love – not criticism?) This can be really hard to do.
      You will have to listen to the message from John to get the whole impact of his message on “Good or God” – but it will make you think about what is happening in our Church’s today.
 

 So what is the message that you share with those who surround you?

Is it a message of Good along with a message of Love and Truth?

What is the “Value of a Soul” of those you encounter?

Bobbyg
 

     That is a great question:   What am I going to do next?   It has been a week since the GMM Conference on “True Identity” and the Main Speaker did a great job along with all the Pastor Blast’s.   But as Pastor Velcro stated at the end – I would challenge you to take this into the world and make a difference.   So now what do I do?   

          I called one of Erwin’s assistants to thank him for changing lives with his message about how we are created for greatness and she told me he was on his way to New Zealand.   Erwin has a Greatness that he is taking to all areas of the World – but What Can I do?   I know that my gift is not speaking – so forget that part of traveling all over the World to share the Good News – but I know there is something for me.
           Pastor Aaron spoke at church this last Sunday and gave us an update on what he is doing with the Youth.  They are going into their last week of the challenge that has been given to them and the scripture Aaron shared was the Great Commission:  He told them that they are to go into the world…….
          Matthew 28:  16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
 
           This is what I am supposed to do…..  I am to share Jesus with anyone who is in front of me.   This can be done in many different ways.

• It can be the waitress who is serving me – Pastor Bob is always asking his waitress what their Prayer needs are.
• It can be a simple gesture of paying for someone’s items at the Loaf and Jug – I did that the other day.  WOW
• It can be helping a couple of seasoned ladies with paying for parking on an automated system that will not take their 2 dollars and leaving them with their 2 dollars.   That was fun.
• It can be sharing Jesus with your Son’s and Daughter’s  – even when you get old.  AMEN.

 As you can see the list does not have to be hard and we all have our uniqueness in how we are to go forward.   Just look at who is in front of you at the present time and it does not have to be in New Zealand.    But I bet it would be exciting to share the Good News of Jesus there also.   But come up with your list of items – the ones you are doing and the ones you can do.
 

So how do you answer the question “What is next?”

Do you believe that you were are created to do Greatness?

Do you see the person in you that God Created to do Great Things?

Are you looking at the people right in front of you?

“YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE”

Bobbyg

Note from one of the GMM Team Members (Brandon) about the GMM Conference:

Brothers,

I have walked away from the previous conferences I’ve attended with excitement, encouragement and motivation for what God is doing and wants to do in my heart, and in the hearts of the men in His city of Cheyenne. And I’m definitely not selling them all short either! But this year’s conference impacted me and hit a nerve in my heart that rocked me to my core! Like Erwin, I have always lived with low self worth and confidence. I doubted the gifts God Himself said He wanted to use for His kingdom and never fully invested in His purpose for my life because of fear. Yet since I was a kid my dreams and creative mind have always given me a desire to live amazing dreams: God-sized dreams that only God could bring to fruition.

It’s so refreshing to encounter the experience and desire and excitement of another man who has been given, not only the creative ideas and dreams that he so wants to live out, but an inspiration and power to live them out, all through the hand of God and His wanting to meet us in that creative realm of our imagination.

I’ve heard encouraging words and sermons on believing and receiving who God says I am and what He is calling me to. But Erwin brought it in a way that has empowered me and excited me to truly be the man of God He is turning me into and being fully alive, as that is the glory and desire of our God, as He dreams for me to be. I want to be the greatest husband, father and worshipper of God that I can be and touch the hearts of people all over the globe with the story God has written for my life through music, leadership and simply the way I live.

I am so thankful for the hard work, dedication and perseverance that every team member and every group has so faithfully and enthusiastically put into making this year’s conference happen. More and more my True Identity is being discovered as I seek Jesus and His will for my life. I choose to believe what He says and live out my imagination and dreams as if they were real, because eventually, one day they will be! I am so excited to be a part of something so big and, though it may seem impossible, I can’t wait to see how much more amazing it will be next year. But I’m filled with the love and grace of God and ask for your prayers, not only for me, but for every man who struggles with the fear of truly living out their dreams and goals, no matter how big they are. God bless you guys, and I can’t wait to catch up with you again at the retreat and see how God moved in your hearts!

Your brother in Christ,

Brandon Rodriguez

        Pastor Shaun is preaching on Titus this month and the first Chapter has the qualifications of an Elder.   But the most important part of Pastor Shaun’s message is that most of these qualifications – we as Christians should strive to have the same attributes. 
          Here is a list of them:  Titus 1:  6 > 9 – an elder must be:

1. Blameless,
2. Faithful to his wife,
3. A man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
4. An overseer manages God’s household
5. He must be blameless—not overbearing
6. Not quick-tempered
7. Not given to drunkenness
8. Not violent
9. Not pursuing dishonest gain
10. He must be hospitable
11. One who loves what is good
12. Who is self-controlled,
13. Upright
14. Holy
15. Disciplined
16. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

     As you read this list – you can see that most of these can pertain to all of us…   During Pastor Shaun’s message he talked about the Movie “Do You Believe” and it has a section where someone is going on trial for sharing his faith.    Then the question comes up “If you were ever convicted of being a Christian – Would there be enough evidence to convict you?”     WOW – what a powerful question!!!!!!!!!!!!   You need to watch this movie..
      When you look at the Attributes above from the Book of Titus – this would be a great area to start to determine if you would be convicted of being a Christian.     I have to tell you that I personally will have to be praying for a few of these items that Christ can work through me to accomplish them.   My hope is that if I am on Trial — I will be found Guilty…

 So where do you stand on these qualifications?

Do you need to work on a few of them?

But the Biggest Question is – will you be found Guilty of being a Christian?

Bobbyg

 The Song “We Believe” from the News Boys is played during this Movie trailer and it has a powerful message…   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjZ01FcK0yk