Rock Freak

Here's a pic of me with my two of the three girls, Amanda and Angela, yesterday on Memorial Day. Michelle is behind the cam taking a nice shot of us down along the Potomac River @ Great Falls, Virginia. We were watching kayakers kayaking the Potomac rapids! It was a gorgeous day and our girls are rock freaks (they loved to climb)! Alyson was with her friend at the beach in New Jersey over the weekend.

Speaking of "ROCK FREAK", you may have never climbed a rugged area (mountains, cliff, or Great Falls, Virginia). Rock climbing is a strenuous activity. Lots of footwork, concentration, balancing, thrusting, strategies, dead-ends, aches, periods of breathlessness and wisdom. These are the things you will experience when you climb rocks. It's an adventure that makes us "ROCK FREAKS"!

Jesus is our ROCK on which we stand. All other ground is a sinking sand, sinking sand, sinking sand. In spiritual sense, we're "ROCK FREAKS" or in other words, "JESUS FREAKS". We're not ashamed to be called a child of God. We're not ashamed of the gospel (Ro. 1:16-17). We love Jesus and all He has done for us. He saved us. He loves us. He protects us.

"He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.." 2 Samuel 22:2 (niv)

So where do you stand today? Do you stand on a sand of materialism, selfishness, or dependance on the worldly ways and wisdom? You are standing on a weaker foundation (sand) because you have not listened to Jesus and obey:

"But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:26-27 (niv)

It is really simple that we open our hearts and allow Jesus and His Word to come into our lives. Once we hear His words and put them into practice (actually do as He says - obedience), then we're standing on the rock, that is Christ!

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:25 (niv)

Of course, we will always have trouble in this world! Problems after problems, it comes like a crashing rapids hitting the rocks along the Potomac river. Did the rocks move? No. It remains as it is, UNMOVED! Therefore, the sand along the banks of the Potomac swirls around moving objects that sits on it, including us! We must rest our soul on the Rock, namely Jesus Christ.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (niv)

So, as Rock Freaks, lets cling our soul to Jesus by listening to Him, walking, aching, struggling, relying on His Word (wisdom), strategies (beware of Satan's plans, dead-ends and traps), defeat (but not the final defeat because you're holding on to the Rock) and victories (of course, in Christ, we're victorious!)! Regardless of how hard the "rapids of the world" crashes around you, Christ in you will not be moved because of your reverent and undying faith in HIM! Amen!

Are you a "ROCK FREAK"? Or sinking in the sand of worries, faithlessness and self...

Memorial Day BBQ and Funfest

Yesterday was a fabulous day! The Lord's house was almost full with people coming to worship Him! It's a day of rejoicing and praising!

Here are a couple of pictures for your enjoyment. Everyone really had a great time under a beautiful sunny and cool weather. Over 50 hamburgers and 20 chicken breast were BBQed and lots of great food and a lovely conversation among His children and our visitors!

Visit us at: www.fxcc.org/deaf and don't miss our next fellowship event!

What A Joyful Relief!

Angela Lowenstein pops a water balloon helping Neil Ferris remove the whip cream "shades" during the Memorial Sunday BBQ and Funfest.

Run To Jesus, the Living Water

Eric Tomas guides his wife, Sara, toward the water balloon pit.

Shade Me Blind

Peter Schmidt provides the whip cream "shades" on Dennis Cesone during the Memorial Sunday BBQ and Funfest!

A Soaker!

Ricky Newman pops a water balloon on Michelle Lowenstein removing whip cream "glasses" from her eyes. This is a game "re-enacting" the conversion of Saul of Tarsus in the book of Acts 9 and 22 after seeing Jesus, became blind, three days later, he received his sight.

Everyone enjoyed this game!

Why Do You Go To Church?

Thanks to brother, Gary Viall, for forwarding this email. This is a good one everyone need to think about!

Why do you go to Church?

I thought this one was worth forwarding.

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote. "

And in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons.

But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the ministers are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.

But I do know this... They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.

Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!

Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

All right ... now that you're done reading ...... let everyone know about this BLOG!!! I think everyone should read this!!

When Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could you get that for me?

A Simple Phone (Prayer) Call

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

God's #: 555.JER.33:3

I No Longer Live

Last night, we had another great bible study session focusing on the fruit of the Spirit. I am calling this class, "Juicy Fruit" because it's a gum we need to chew on and swallow everyday. Yes, it's not a typical American habit to chew on a gum then swallow it. But this is God's gum, a different kind of gum that requires "swallowing". Sadly, many Christians chew on God's fruit of the Spirit and spit it out thinking it doesn't apply to them. You may say, "Well, I have love, of course! But I am often a person with no control (lack of self-control). I may be a bit gentle (gentleness) but I am not always kind (kindness)." Can we say that? Or perhaps, they are thinking of God's 9 fruit of the Spirit in a worldly view: we try and be a good person (self-effort).

During class, last night, we talked about how deaf Christians behave toward one another. They behave just like what the "deaf world" behaves: blunt, arrogant, self-centered, rash, rude, prideful, gossip, backstabbing, and favoritism.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world.." Romans 12:2

Christians are to be the "opposite" of the world (both deaf and hearing). God desires those in the "world" to see His children by their fruit. "By their fruit you will recognize them." Matthew 7:16

We are to be "SALTY PEOPLE". "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." Matthew 5:13 (niv)

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Mark 9:50 (niv)

For thousands of years, prophets, Jesus, Peter, Paul, James, John, preachers, teachers have taught countless lessons on fruitfulness to those who "believe" in Jesus. And since then, many people have spit out the "Juicy Fruit" gum from their lives which eventually loses the strength of saltiness. And the world doesn't recognize Jesus in them.

Many of us have "used" to live the world's ways, "..in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world.." Ephesians 2:2 (niv) but now no longer live yourselves but Jesus in you. Remember, the world is watching you. They will know you by your fruit, "By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" Matthew 7:16 (niv) I remember a time when I played kickball with a group of friends. Many times, a ball would be kicked into thornbushes near my home. I ran to the bushes and noticed long, sharp thorns primed and ready for a poking. My eyes are on the kickball. I would have to, carefully, weave my way into the thornbushes in order to retrieve the ball. Did the thorns poke me? Sure! It did and I hated it. Ouch here. Ouch there. If the ball goes into the thornbushes again, I would use a stick to get the ball. And other times, I couldn't find any object to use to retrieve the ball so we simply gave up and found other things to play with.

This is the same when it comes to a relationship with others. Thornbushes gets along with other thornbushes. But there should be no "thorns coming out of a Christian". We're the opposite from them. We try to weave our way into their lives and help them see God and change. Often times, they go poking around hurting us with their unfruitfulness. Then we keep ourselves in a distance hoping and praying through our Christ-like example, we'll change them because we love them. But they look extremely sharp (difficult, arrogant, bitter) from a distance that we begin to move on and find other people who desires to allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow in them.

In order for a person to grow with the fruit of the Spirit, the person need to die themselves:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (niv)

You're not part of the "deaf world", your life is God's! So stop being like those in the world: their ways, their attitudes, their talk, and their walk! Do the God way: walk like Jesus, love like Jesus, talk like Jesus, listen like Jesus, be compassionate, be a person of prayer, a heart like Jesus, and attitude like Jesus. When you do the God way, you're proclaiming to the world that, "I No Longer Live... (but Christ lives in me!)!

Praying Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength

A brother in Christ of mine sent this to me, this morning, which I believe is a very good reminder for all the churches of Christ in the world! In Jim Cymbala's book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, prayer in the church is like an engine in the car. Without an engine, the car (body) will NOT run; powerless. Without prayer (engine) in the church (body), the church is POWERLESS! So thanks to this brother for sharing this message with us. Let's pray before we proceed:

Father, You are our true and loving God! Despite of all the incidences, problems, successes and failures, these are necessary to show that we're merely less-than-perfect human beings in need of Your help! In prayer and in trust, we depend on You for Your strength to endure our struggles in this life. We want to praise You for them. It is my prayer that each and every Christian develop a spirit of humility and respect. Pray for our leaders (in the spiritual world). Pray for Your servants and they may serve You with an undying devotion. And we thank You for your patience with us as we continue to take one step at a time growing toward spiritual maturity. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Thank you for serving God's church through prayer. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ called to serve the body in unity. God has given us His Holy Spirit and has placed within us one of the highest calling of the Christian faith praying for the needs of the body and others. Prayer team members are to encourage and left up the church.

Pray at home first. Make sure you are spending quality time alone with God daily in your own personal time of worship, prayer and fasting.. Do not allow the Church Prayer Meeting times to be your only time of prayer. Jesus warned us many times about those who love to stand before men and let their prayers be heard. Jesus called them hypocrites.

Enter the prayer room with good thoughts. Words of encouragements. Hope. Faith. Build up each other. Grumbling and complaining can set a bad tone for the entire evening.

Less Talking, More Praying. A prayer gathering is just a time to join together and pray. We have come together in a group to pray. Shared a few God stories filled with thanksgiving and praises. We enter the prayer's room with worship. Thanksgiving and praises. We cannot rush into the room waving our list of requests.

Make the Prayer Meeting a safe place. Do not make anyone others feel compelled to pray. The prayer meeting needs to be a safe place for beginners. Let beginners learn by listening to others. Listening and being still is ok. Never feel anxious about prayer or compeled to pray.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead. Learn to listen. Learn to ask God to show you what to pray for.

Pray short and sweet. Most recorded prayers of Jesus were very short. If you pray many topics at once, it makes it difficult for others to focus your prayers. That way everyone has a chance to pray along with you.

Simple prayers are fine. Jesus taught us to come to God as little children. God knows our hearts. He wants us to talk to Him as a child would speak to his father.

Pray from your heart. With reverance.

Keep Prayers in confidence. Personal prayers are shared in prayer room. They trust the prayer team members will not share with others. We are free to share with others only if those we have prayed for give us permission to share.

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religious is worthless." James 1:26

Pray with Love. Make sure your heart motivation is pure as you pray.

Pray without judgment. Do not judge others. Jesus is the judge.

Pray in faith. Faith is believing God for things we have not seen. We must pray with faith.

Pray for God's will to be done. Not your will. Stay in His word.

Ask God to grow a strong Prayer Ministry in the Lord's church. Ask God to teach you how to pray. Ask God to show you His glory. Ask God to make Fairfax a House of Prayer.

Dear Lord,
I praise you that You are the God who hears and answer our prayers.Thank you that You long to be with us. Thank you for allowing us to come to You in prayer.

In Jesus name we pray,
Amen

Joy of Worship

Here's a long, but a worthy BlOg for you!

I woke up at 5:20 this morning to let the girl of a single mom in. I felt a bit exhausted and decided to go back to sleep. But something else happened. I didn't go back into the deep state of sleep. I just simply closed my eyes and rested my body after a 4 wonderful days of worship to our God! The Spirit in me was singing the songs sung last night and the night before, especially hearing the ooooh's and ahhh's of Joyful Noise praise team and pondered the life of Jennie Jackson, her frustrating struggles with marriage, her husbands' molestation on their children, crack with another man who she thought was a "Christian", and finally the grandest victory in Jesus when she fully gave her life to the Lord and was baptized in 1996 then hearing her southern Christian gospel song, "You Are The Potter and I Am The Clay"! It moved me even more last night! I was sitting with a good friend, Art Roehring, a deaf blind man who was brought by one of our regulars, Karen Schettle and along with our sis in Christ, Monica Shimmin and Karen, helped with the interpreting for Art. I cannot go on and explain everything that the Lord had provided us last weekend: Rev5, Children's Ensemble, Movement Ministry, EverPraise, Singing Holy Hands and those who shared their testimonies of how our wonderful and loving God had shown His power and providence leading these people to a never-forgetting "Defining Moments" (life changing experience)!

I believe this is one of the "JOY's OF WORSHIP"! It's not about entertainment. It's hearing/seeing God's story in various forms, whether by preaching, bible teaching, testimonials or even singing! Looking back into the Old Testament when Israel walked with God for 40 years, there's always a time to worship God. We worship God everyday: in our homes, in our business place, on the road, with the congregation and everywhere! God calls people to come and worship Him. 2 million plus Israelites (men, women and children) come and surround the tabernacle of God to worship Him. He fills them with all kinds of blessings. I am sure there will be those in these millions who do not fully understand the true meaning of worship. They continue to grumble. They complain to Moses that it is too hard! The desert experience led most of the Israelites to a state of disorient, bewilderment. They become too attached to negatives of their surrounding and not holding and trusting on the joy of worshipping their true God. They're nearsighted about the great possibilities God can do.

A few hundreds of years later, David came to life. In many places and many times during His life, he longed to worship God. I mean that he was, literally, consumed with longing! Man! Isn't that what we're supposed to have in our hearts today, "literally CONSUMED WITH LONGING TO WORSHIP OUR GOD!" It is my prayer that we're not like those Israelites with what I am going to call, "D.E.S." (Desert Experience Syndrome). We stay home or we have a long "to do" lists that needs to be done. We allow the "D.E.S" of the world to overcome us. It's a syndrome that has given us a terrible delusion. We are unable to grasp the awesome power of God and all of His possibilities! We focus on the well-being of ourselves rather than allowing God to drench us with His blessings when we worship Him. If we're diagnosed with the "D.E.S", we don't understand the joy of worshipping God, regardless of all circumstances. If you're telling me that I don't understand your problems and that you have given not only me but God an excuse, didn't the Israelites say and do the very same thing to Moses. So what do we do? What should we do?

I WANT TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD, REGARDLESS!

Psalms 122:1- "I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD.""

Those around David desires to come together with David to worship God! They were glad (joyful) to do it!

THE THIRST FOR WORSHIP SHOULD BE OUR ATTITUDE - it's not about time, it's not about what you need to do after Sunday's gathering, it's all about God. Your time is God's time. He desires Your attention.

Psalms 42:1-2- "As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. {2} My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"

Go to the STREAMS OF LIVING WATER where all the abundance of God's blessings overflow!

Matthew 5:6- "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled."

John 6:33- "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."

Amen? Well, I can't hear you! Amen! And amen!!

It's a thirst to come together. We ought to be excited about coming together! If you're not coming together faithfully, you're missing the grandest opportunity!

Hebrews 10:25- "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

Haven't you read about David? He wishes he was like the birds that "dwelt in the tabernacle" because the birds were there all the time to be with God! What a testimony! That's the attitude we all need to have. I rather spend the whole Sunday with Christians than sitting at home doing nothing!

SO GOD IDENTIFIES THOSE WHO ARE TRUE WORSHIPPERS!
(This is a part where you need to examine your own heart. Are you the person God wants to see? Who are you before the Living God!?)

1 Peter 2:5- "you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Romans 12:12- "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Paul wrote to the church in Rome to rejoice in the hope they have, to be patient during the tribulations of individuals and c-o-n-t-i-n-u-e steadfastly in prayer!

Philippians 4:4- "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"

Hebrews 11:6- "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Did you see this? "..without faith it is impossible.." Let me help Paul say it again, "..impossible.." "..to please Him." You gotta have faith, people!

1 John 5:4- "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith."

When we reverse this verse, "If the world overcomes you, you're not born of God.." "If the world has overcome you stripping the victory from you, you're a person without faith!." Trust in God and that His Word will lead you to living a faithful life.

When we trust in God, worship is more MEANINGFUL! That's the JOY OF WORSHIP! Brother Tim Stewart emailed me, this morning, telling me how God has really lifted him up with His stories and songs! He is on cloud 9 with God! I pray this is the same for those who came, not only yesterday, but also last night! Worship is a great joy for the true child of God. It is an opportunity to come before God, hear His story and express our gratitude for the greatness of God and the salvation that He has given as a gift to us.

Thank You, God! We love You!

Other LINKS:

Pictures: http://www.fxcc.org/events/definingmoments/2005-01.asp

Bruce Black's comments: "Defining Moments" http://bruce-black.blogspot.com/

Countdown to the 40 Days (campaign and conference)

What a weekend we had! With rehearsal for the "Defining Moments 2" production, wedding rehearsal, the DM2 production last night, today's worship focusing on "You Are Here" and studying Galatians 1 and our final DM2 production tonight, I am exhausted!! But this is for God's glory and I am extremely glad I am doing this for HIM! :)

I just couldn't stop thinking about the upcoming 40 Days of Purpose this Fall. Along with other events planned: Ladies' Retreat, Zoe conference, 40 Days conference, I sense that God will be outpouring His great love on us!! I just thought I'd share with you, if you have never experienced the 40 Days of Purpose campaign, take time in reviewing this:

During 40 days, your church members will rediscover God's five eternal purposes for their lives:
WORSHIP: We were planned for God's pleasure!
FELLOWSHIP: We were formed for God's family!
DISCIPLESHIP: We were created to become like Christ!
MINISTRY: We were shaped for serving God!
EVANGELISM: We were made for a mission!

And what will be the end result?

1. Your members will learn to CENTER their lives on God, not themselves, and live a lifestyle of worship for the glory of God because we were planned for God's pleasure. This begins with complete surrender of our lives to Christ.

2. Your members will CONNECT with other believers who experience real fellowship because we were formed for God's family. This includes identifying with other believers through baptism, joining a local church family and participating in some kind of small group fellowship.

3. Your members will CULTIVATE spiritual maturity and godly character because we were created to become like Christ. This includes developing the habits necessary for spiritual growth.

4. Your members will CONTRIBUTE something back by using their talents in ministry because we were shaped for serving God. This includes discovering your SHAPE for ministry and finding a place of service in your church.

5. Your members will COMMUNICATE God's love to others and develop a heart for the world because we were made for a mission. This includes learning to share your faith and participating in some kind of mission activity.

I must admit that it is easy to forget these important aspect of our Christian service. Sometimes, we forget that God is at the CENTER of our lives!! We may simply go about "our" own ways. The Lord's congregation ought to be CONNECTED to each other in fellowship. When we do not spend time with God in daily bible readings, prayer and bible studies, we lack the opportunity to CULTIVATE ourselves and one another toward spiritual maturity. We give back to God by CONTRIBUTING our time and energy for others. And lastly, COMMUNICATION is the key to a successful mission for God.

This fall will be a great "reminder" for those who have taken it over a year ago and an exciting adventure for those new with the campaign.

I have been praying for you. I believe God is preparing us all for a mighty movement of his hand in our generation, and I have often prayed that you and your congregation would experience the incredible sense of hope, energy and joy that comes from discovering what God put you on this planet to do.

Putting Power In His Ministries

If you do not put your foot on the accelerator, the car will not go. If the pilot do not push the lever up, the plane will not take-off. If you do not push a button, nothing will be powered on. Thousands of things in life requires action.

Today, churches in America are "sleeping". There's no exertion of power from their everyday lives. Each Sunday, church pews are filled with members who are doing nothing with their faith except for just "keeping" it. Oftentimes, members of the church run into a snare, no matter how big or small, whether another member offended them, or they found something that wasn't pleasing to them, or a very small matter got them driven up the wall, then quit serving God. "I am going to find another church," they may say. They simply held back their foot from the pedal of faith. God cannot do anymore for them when they call it quits.

The designation active member in most churches simply means those who attend regularly and financially support the church. They want to see their "close friends" and that's all. Not much more is expected.

But God has far greater expectations for every Christian. He expects every Christian to use their gifts and talents in ministry.

If we can ever awaken and unleash the massive talent, resources, creativity, and energy found in the typical local church, Christianity will explode with growth at an enormous rate. I believe that the greatest need in churches is the release of members for ministry.

But there's a problem that may prevent God from growing a "healthy church". An unhealthy minister. Satan does his own job to persuade the Lord's church to heavily depend on His servant (minister) in hope that the minister will be distracted from his service he should do for the Lord and lead him to severe burn-out. It is happening in most of the churches in America.

I think a healthy minister nurtures a healthy church by creating an intentional, well planned system for uncovering, mobilizing, and supporting the giftedness of its members. But that's only if the members are "Spirit-driven" to serve the gift God gave them. Members must be given a simple process that they can follow which will lead them to deeper commitment and greater service for Christ. They need a track on which they can move forward. Get them into the ballgame! It is not a one man team against many. The whole family of God ought to power up their "gifts" to service and glorify God.

Remember that skill, not dedication, is the key to effectiveness at anything. "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." (Eccl. 10:10)

Here are five questions you need to ask about your Christian education program:
1. Are people learning the content and meaning of the Bible?
2. Are people seeing themselves, life, and other people more clearly from God's perspective?
3. Are people's values becoming more aligned with God's values?
4. Are people becoming more skilled in serving God?
5. Are people becoming more like Christ?

If you want to put "POWER" in the gift God has given you but don't know how, communicate this with your minister. Servants shouldn't wait for the minister to call you into His service. Be praying to God, asking Him what He wants you to do, and discuss your vision plan with the church as well as the minister of your congregation. Ask for more training sessions: it may mean you'll have to give up your Saturdays.

The church ought to daily motivate one another toward serving God. When people give their lives to the Lord in baptism, the first thing they need to do is to "get involved in a ministry and serve Christ by serving others. Christians need to be dying and hungry to serve God and to make a contribution with their lives. Just as Rick Warren quoted in the Purpose Driven Life book, "We Are Made For Ministry!" Then ask God to put the power in the gift He gave you and drive His ministry among others in the world!

Would You Run?

Imagine this happening to you...

One Sunday morning during service, a 2,000 member congregation was surprised to see two men enter, both covered from head to toe in black and carrying submachine guns. One of the men proclaimed, "Anyone willing to take a bullet for Christ remain where you are."

Immediately, the choir fled...

The deacons fled...

And most of the congregation fled....

Out of the 2,000 there only remained around 20. The man who had spoken took off his hood... He then looked at the preacher and said "Okay Preacher, I got rid of all the hypocrites.. Now you may begin your service. Have a nice day!"

And the two men turned and walked out.

TOO DEEP TO NOT PASS ON...

*Funny how simple it is for people to trash God ....and then wonder why the world is in the condition it is today....

*Funny how we believe what the newspapers say...but question what the Bible says...

*Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven... Provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says. or is it scary?

*Funny how someone can say "I believe in God"...but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also "believes"in God).

*Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire...but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, you think twice about sharing.

*Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace.. but the public discussion of Jesus is suppressed in the school and work place.

*Funny, isn't it? Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday...but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week.

Are you laughing?

*Funny how when you go to forward this message... You will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe... Or what they will think of you for sending it to them.

*Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me...... than what God thinks of me.

Are you thinking?

Will you share this with people you care about? Or not?

I picked you~

May the Lord bless you and keep you, May the Lord make His face to shine upon you, And be gracious to you; May the Lord lift up His favour upon you; And give you His peace.

Do I hear an, "Amen?"

Thanks to our sister in Christ, Nancy Rarus for passing this on to me. I pray that you will do the same. : )

Reviewing Your NIKE Status

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash." (NLT)

While Nike® may have the trademark on the phrase "Just Do It!"

Jesus certainly said it enough to claim original authorship of this thought. He is serious: his teaching is not for philosophical inspiration, nor for intellectual conversations, nor just for Bible class discussions. The goal of his teaching is to help people understand just one important thing:

What the will of God is and then "Just Do It."

Right now, I am picturing a couple of brave soldiers who fought in Iwo Jima. Do you recall the picture of a couple of men on a hilltop working together to plant an American flag which tells the world that they have "overcome" their enemies. This picture is priceless! I must say that you ought to picture yourselves raising a banner of God like what the men at Iwo Jima did. When you have conquered your enemies of daily incidences, God will do a freeze-frame of your victory over them. It will be a Kodak moment for God. He will always be moved when you have overcome your struggles and weaknesses. You have done the "Just Do It" trademark of Jesus! You have done it because you trusted in Him. You have done it because you listened to Him through the Holy Spirit that lives in you.

While God is for us, and we keep in his love, we may with a holy boldness boast against all the powers of darkness.

Let Satan do his worst, he is chained;
Let the world do its worst, it is conquered: principalities and powers are spoiled and disarmed, and triumphed over, in the cross of Christ.

Who then dares fight against us, while God himself is fighting for us? And this we say to these things, we're more than conquerors through him who loved us! So my question is, "How much of a conqueror are you through God who loves us?" Then review your NIKE (conqueror) status everyday!

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." Ro. 8:37 (NIV)

Unwinded

We're back, bloggers!!

Man! Our trip to Aruba was fantastic!! After days of sunbathing; snorkeling at the Antilla reef, above the 400' sunken Nazi ship, at the Baracuda reef (including driving a Rhino Rider which is a jet-ski-like-boat); a safari trek sightseeing a lighthouse, indian church, gold mine ruins, natural bridge and relaxing on De Palm island; shopping in downtown Oranjestad; visiting Baby beach and the church of Christ in San Nicolas; and cruising along the Caribbean sea for an amazing sunset sail, we're finally getting ourselves back on track with a fresh mind! There's so much to see and a two week vacation would be an ideal time! However, we're so thankful to the Lord for this wonderful opportunity to escape and unwind.

Speaking of the word, "unwind", I was looking this word up in the dictionary. Here is what the dictionary defined it:

To reverse the winding or twisting of: unwind a ball of yarn.
To separate the tangled parts of; disentangle.
To free (someone) of nervous tension or pent-up energy.

Our enemy makes every undying effort to entangle us with the world. We, often, fall prey to whatever the trap the enemy has set before us. Sometimes, it comes to us as a surprise. Oftentimes, we knew it was coming. When a person is aware of the trap that is set before us, we're given a choice to whether to entangle ourselves with it or to flee from it. 2 Peter 2:20-21 quotes,

"If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have know it and they turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them."

God passed this message through Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian and have buried your life in the Lord in baptism, you have "..escaped the corruption of the world.."! You were crushed in heart knowing you have sinned against God, though we're still sinners, Christ died for us! There will be a time when you have simply lost your faith in God, have wallowed yourselves among the world and its ways and have disconnected your relationship with God. Some of you may be in this state of divorce from God or are in the process of "divorcing" yourselves from God. After days, months and even years of faithful service to the Lord, the weariness sets inside the core of your heart which will eventually lead to a burn-out, or even worse, a divorce from God, turning your back on Him.

How do we avoid these serious consequences that may destroy the faith and relationship we have with God?

1. Daily bible reading and prayer with God.
2. One-on-one chat with a fellow Christian at Starbucks (or any convenient place).
3. Several vacation plans with family (get out to unwind - leave your computer/pager at home.)
4. Escape to the Shenadoah Mountains (or a countryside drive) and breathe.
5. Bible study - how many time have I told you this? Weekly studies together do a whole world of good! Believe me! If you're not reading and studying, you're depriving your soul of Living Water and Bread of Life. In other words, you're starving and dehydrating your soul.
6. Worship God 24/7, especially every Sunday!
7. Understand God's Divine Power which He has given us the ability to overcome!

Now that Aruba is seen in our rearview mirror, we're looking ahead with a fresh mind and Spirit. We were emotionally and spiritually drained prior to leaving for Aruba. Now, the enemy is returning for another round of beating. We will simply rely on God, His promises, and His divine nature then constantly escape the corruption of the world caused by evil desires. (2 Pe. 1:4)