Pastor Brian's Blog

The Cross & Psalm 23 Part 6 "I Have Extreme Security"

2010-10-06T14:52:00.002-04:00

Psalm 23:6

"Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever"

denotes extreme security; tranquility and confidence

Romans 8:28

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them"

"No matter what happens I can trust the Good Shepherd to work all things for my good"

(Life in the Spirit Study Bible Comm)

goodness: it ranges from the practical, economic, or material good to the abstract good-that which is beautiful, good, excellent, lovely, joyful/happy, pleasant, or fruitful
love: denotes an act of kindness, love or mercy; though man may prove to be unfaithful, God's love is everlasting

Because the "Lord is my Shepherd":

I will lack nothing !
I will end up in a beautiful place !
My life will be restored !
I will spend time in the valley !
My battle is the Lord's !
I have absolute and extreme security !

The Cross & Psalm 23 Part 5 "The Battle is the Lord's"

2010-09-22T18:00:00.002-04:00

Psalm 23:5

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows"

Four absolutes concerning the "valley" and you:

1. God has commanded a blessing for you!

Numbers 23:19, 20

"God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of a man that he should change his mind. Does he speak and not act? ...He has blessed and I cannot change it"

2. The battle is for the shepherd and not the sheep!

2 Chronicles 20:1-30 (paraphrased)

"...we are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help...this is what the Lord says, do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's...you will not even need to fight...they gathered in the valley of blessing which is called the Valley of Blessing today...they returned to Jerusalem full of joy that the Lord had given them victory over their enemies"

3. Satan will have a front row seat at our victory party!

Psalm 23:5

"...you treat me to a feast while my enemies watch"

4. Everyone, even Satan, will bow their knee and confess Jesus is Lord!

Romans 14:11

"As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God"

The Cross & Psalm 23 Part 4 "I Must Walk Through the Valley"

2010-09-11T11:35:00.002-04:00

Psalm 23:4

"Even though I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are close to me. Your rod and staff reassure me"

Seven things the "Valley" represents to every believer:

The valley represents a place we all must experience!
The valley represents a place of inconvenience! (note: our inconveniences are usually our greatest ministry opportunities; i.e. Jesus at the Samaritan well)
The valley represents a place of severe darkness!
The valley represents a place of extreme danger!
The valley represents a place of certain death! (note: death to the flesh )
The valley represents a place of necessary discipline(s)!
The valley represents a place for the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep to be seriously tested!

Note: The destination is never the valley; the valley is merely part of the exciting life journey we all are on; the destination (see part 2) is ALWAYS a beautiful place!

The Cross & Psalm 23 Part 3 "He Restores My Life"

2010-09-01T12:40:00.002-04:00

Psalm 23:3

"He restores my soul..."

Psalm 71:20

"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up"

I Peter 5:10

"And the god of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast"

Quotes:

"when I become discouraged, the Lord who is my Shepherd, revives and re-energizes my soul through His power and grace"

(full life study bible)

"when my soul grows sorrowful, He revives it; when it is sinful He sanctifies it; when it is weak He strengthens it; He does it!"

(Charles Spurgeon)

restores- literally means to turn back; return; movement back to a point of departure
soul- literally means life; breath; to be refreshed; can refer to the entire person

Five ways He restores my life:

He restores my joy !

Psalm 51:12

"Restore to me the joy of my salvation..."

2. He restore my peace !

Psalm 29:11

"...the Lord blesses his people with peace"

Psalm 85:8

"...He promises peace to His people..."

3. He restores my hope !

Zechariah 9:12

"Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you"

4. He restores my health !

Jeremiah 30:17

"But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds declares the Lord"

5. He restores my mind !

Romans 12:2

"...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

The Cross & Psalm 23 Part 2 "He Makes Me Lie Down"

2010-08-27T09:25:00.002-04:00

Psalm 23:2

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters..."

Five Practical helps to "resting":

Know your likes and dislikes
Know your limitations
Know when to say yes
Know when to say no
Know when to say not now

Psalm 46:10

"Be still and know that I am God..."

to "be still" literally means...to be slack; idle; feeble; to sink down; to be despondent; disheartened; to be lazy; abandoned; a loss of courage; to be discouraged"

Five sobering realities in our spiritual journey:

There will be seasons of disappointment
There will be seasons of discouragement
There will be seasons of desertion and abandonment
There will be seasons of being disheartened
There will be seasons of despondency

One amazing revelation:

These will only be seasons along the way; the destination of the journey is ALWAYS a beautiful place; an oasis in the desert place!

The Cross & Psalm 23 Part 1 "I Will Lack Nothing"

2010-08-21T12:22:00.003-04:00

I am going to post the series I am just finishing titled "The Cross & Psalm 23". I have enjoyed preaching this series as much as anything I have ever preached. It has been a great source of blessing to myself and to the Calvary Church congregation. I hope it will be a blessing to you as well. The "one" condensed message containing parts of all six messages will be available online soon so keep checking back!

Psalm 23:1

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want"

Isaiah 61:1

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives; and the opening of the prison to those who are bound"

The ministry of Jesus and His church:

Jesus and His church are anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit!

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me..."

2. Jesus and His church are to preach good news!

"...to preach good news..."

3. Jesus and His church are healing agents!

"...He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted..."

4. Jesus and His church are all about freedom and liberty!

"...to proclaim liberty to the captives..."

5. Jesus and His church are highly favored and blessed!

"...to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor..."

"Pentecost and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit"

2010-05-24T15:40:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, we celebrated Pentecost! Here is my outline from my message!

10 facts concerning the Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
1. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God!

Acts 2:38

"And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit"

2. The baptism in the Holy Spirit has significant symbolism!

Acts 1:5

"For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit"

3. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is promised to every believer!

Acts 2:39

"the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call"

4. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a distinct and separate experience from salvation!

Acts 2:38

"Peter replied, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. AND you will receive the Holy Spirit."

5. The baptism in the Holy Spirit has an initial physical evidence!

Acts 2:4

"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues"

6. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is foremost for personal use and benefit!

Jude 1:20

" But you build up yourselves in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit"

7. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a powerful intercessory prayer weapon!

Romans 8:27

"And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will"

8. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is received by faith!

9. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a unique experience for each and every believer!

10. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God!

The Beatitudes

2010-03-26T13:41:00.002-04:00

We just started a new 13 week Bible Study on Wednesday nights. We are doing a topical study through the "Sermon on the Mount" in Matthew chapters 5-7. This past week our study concentrated on the "Beatitudes". We discovered some great spiritual insights during our study. Our lesson focused on eight key words in Matthew 5:1-9: (Key words are in bold print)

"Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

"Blessed" literally means to be fully satisfied; the joy that comes from salvation; this joy is not the result of favorable circumstances in life but comes from being indwelt by Christ; it denotes far more than happiness
"Poor" literally means to be helpless; to come to the end ourselves and recognize we are spiritually bankrupt without Christ
"Mourn" a sorrow for sins for ourselves and for others
"Meek" a willingness to see ourselves as we really are; an inward honesty evidenced by submission to God and His word
"Hunger" a constant recurrent satisfaction with God's righteousness; the nourishment received from being filled is expended in hungering anew for another filling
"Merciful" a caring attitude toward those in misery; they take the heartaches of others and make them their own
"Pure" is a condition which can only be acquired through the continuous cleansing that believers experience when they have fulfilled the previous conditions of blessedness; the purer a person becomes the more clearly they can see God
"Peacemakers" are not simply those who try to stop the feuding between people; they are believers who have experienced the peace of God and who bring it to their fellow human beings

When we reread Matthew 5:1-9 in light of these definitions it truly opens our eyes to the revelation Jesus was showing His disciples and now to us. May the Lord "bless" you in fresh and exciting ways!

"Dream Big in 2010"

2010-01-30T11:16:00.002-05:00

Outside the window of my office I have a great view of our playground that is used almost daily by dozens of energetic children. I recently observed several of the children playing "army" with some plastic buckets and shovels. I watched for awhile admiring the creativity and energy of these kids. The thought occurred to me how we seem to lose our creativity and ability to dream as we get older. It sparked in part the following message and challenge for 2010!

Jeremiah 32:27

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too difficult for Me?"

Jeremiah 33:3

"Call to Me and I will answer you,and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know"

Ephesians 3:20

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works within us"

the top ten in 2010 Checklist:

1. Create some key top ten lists:

Personal List
Family List
Church List

2. Journal

3. Be intentional

4. Be thankful

5. Expect signs, wonders, and miracles

6. Expect uncommon favor

7. Fast and pray more

8. Laugh more

9. Rest and relax more

10. Dream big dreams

Merry Christmas & Blessed New Year!!!

2009-12-24T13:11:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year!
Jamie and I are enjoying the family coming to Atlanta for Christmas. Its extra special having two grandchildren to celebrate their first Christmas. It should be alot of fun had by all. My Christmas wish, prayer and blessing for you is that Jesus would be at the center of your life and dreams heading into 2010!
One of my new year goals will be to be more active with my blog. Well, we'll see how that goes. Until 2010, choice and spirit filled blessings!!!

G-Daddy 2.0

2009-10-27T14:47:00.004-04:00

At 11:10 am Sunday morning October 25, 2009 Brody Campbell Lutz entered into the world at Northside Hospital in Atlanta. I am now officially, Grandpa, Papa, or my personal favorite, G-Daddy 2.0! Jamie is very happy with being called Nana! The reality is that I will respond to about anything Ella or Brody choose to call me. They now own the lion's share of my heart. It's truly awesome being a "G-Daddy" for the second time.
Almost every Sunday, somewhere between 11:00-11:15 a.m., I begin to deliver whatever message the Lord has laid upon my heart for that week. This past Sunday we had two visiting pastors from Bulgaria. Peicho Muhtarov was scheduled to share his amazing testimony. I had a day off from preaching. Little did I know why all this would work out so well. Kristy sings on the praise team almost every week, and Jamie plays keyboard every other week. So its poetic justice that Brody decided it would be appropriate to come during church time. There is nothing in this world more precious than a "new birth". I was present for the birth of all three of my daughters and now for the birth of my grandaughter, Ella and my grandson, Brody. My prayer for Calvary Church is that there may be some prophetic significance to the timing of this new birth. May we all experience the same joy as the Lord unfolds brand new blessings upon His people. Thank you all for sharing with Jamie and me the joy of our newest edition!

Mending the Nets

2009-09-24T13:58:00.002-04:00

I am presently preaching a sermon series called the "Net Series". I was amazed at the response "Mending the Nets" received. The "nets" are a metaphor of our life. "Mending the Nets" represent the seasons of life that we get broken. It was once again an eye opener to see how many Christians are hurting and displaced. I'm sure the recession we are in accentuates the stress in people's lives. For those of you who read this blog and are presently going through trying times I trust that this message will bring healing and comfort to your mind, body and soul!
This is a simple yet profound outline to remember who Jesus is to the believer.

Matthew 4:21, 22 "...James and John were were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending the nets. And Jesus called to them to come. They immediately followed Him, leaving the boat and their father behind."

Four key areas that our nets/life can break under the stress of everyday life:

1. Our Nets can break under Physical stress!

Remember, Jesus is Jehovah Rophe, "the Lord my healer"

2. Our Nets can break under Emotional stress!

Remember, Jesus is El Shaddai, "my God who is more than enough"

3. Our Nets can break under Financial stress!

Remember, Jesus is Jehovah Jireh, "the Lord my provider"

4. Our Nets can break under Relational stress!

Remember, Jesus is Jehovah Tsidkenu, "the Lord my righteousness"

I pray that the Lord would touch and encourage you right now in Jesus name!

"Walking in Spiritual Liberty"

2009-07-28T11:52:00.002-04:00

First and foremost it was time to show an updated picture of Ella Rae. Jamie and I just enjoyed a few days with our granddaughter and words cannot describe how much we enjoy our time with her. We actual "argued" of who would get to do midnight feeding. In addition, we are going to be proud grandparents again in October as Taylor and Kristy are having a boy! Wow, this is unchartered territory for us. But territory we are looking forward to!

I just concluded a series on "walking in spiritual liberty". Galatians 5:1 states "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." To my dismay it has been astounding to me how many believers do not walk in liberty and freedom in their spiritual lives. So, here are three keys to "walking in spiritual liberty":

1. We must totally embrace the promises of God!

John 8:32

"Then you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free"

John 8:36

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"

2 Cor. 5:17

"therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come"

2. We must understand that Jesus is our healer!

Psalm 103:2-3

"Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-who forgives all our sins and heals all your diseases"

Psalm 147:3

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds"

Exodus 15:26

"...for I am the Lord who heals you"

note: the Lord is our healer in every part of our being; especially in the emotional areas of our life that have been damaged by past relationships and circumstances

3. We must walk in forgiveness!

Luke 6:37

"...forgive and you will be forgiven..."

Matthew 6:14-15

"for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins"

Col. 3:13

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you"

you can't nurse it!
you can't rehearse it!
you must release it!

May the Lord bring a fresh liberty and freedom to your heart and life in Jesus name! If you are not "walking in spiritual liberty" ask Jesus to forgive you and to heal your hurts; He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all sins and mistakes! Remember, to experience the fresh mercy and grace of God and be forgiven you have to extend forgiveness and mercy to anyone who has hurt you!

The Well of Pentecost

2009-06-29T10:50:00.002-04:00

Some basic facts concerning Pentecostal churches:

Almost all the world's largest churches are Pentecostal/Charismatic
There are an estimated 500 million Pentecostal/Charismatic believers worldwide
Almost 100% of revivals outside the US are Pentecostal/Charismatic in origin

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere; in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Our Pentecostal roots are founded in Acts 1:8! This will be a surprise to many P/C (pentecostal/charismatics) as many would say we are based in Acts 2:4. Well, one of my favorite sayings is, "its not either or, its both and". Being P/C means much more than speaking in other tongues and the gifts of the spirit. It definitely includes these P/C distinctives but it also means so much more. I truly believe the "Well of Pentecost" must be re-dug in these modern times for the church to flourish. Maybe your not sure whether P/C is for you. I recently preached the ten sure signs being P/C is for you. Here they are:

1. you want to experience the power and presence of God!

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you..."

2. you want to see many miracles, signs, and wonders!

Acts 2:43 "...there were many wonders and signs taking place..."

3. you want the whole church more devoted to spiritual things!

Acts 2:42 "...they were continually devoted to the Apostles teaching and to fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayer..."

4. you want to see unprecedented unity in the church!

Acts 2:44 "...all the believers were together and had everything in common..."

Acts 4:32 "...all the believers were in one heart and mind..."

5. you want to be a person of great generosity!

Acts 2:45 "selling their possessions and goods they gave to everyone as he had needed..."

Acts 4:32 "...all believers...shared everything they had..."

6. you want to see people saved everyday!

Acts 2:47 "...and each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved"

7. you want to be part of some powerful prayer meetings!

Acts 4:31 "...after this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness"

8. you want a greater boldness to witness!

Acts 4:33 "...and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of god boldly..."

9. you want everyone to have their needs met!

Acts 4:34 "...there were no needy persons among them..."

10. you are open to everything God has for you, including fresh gifts and talents from the Holy Spirit!

May the Lord bless you and keep you and pour out His precious Holy Spirit upon you without measure!

The Well of Prayer

2009-06-08T14:50:00.002-04:00

The series "Whats the Name of Your Well?" has been one my all time favorites! I love when a preaching series takes on a prophetic tone. God is opening and re-opening some fresh "wells" at Calvary. I introduced yesterday my prayer focus for Calvary Church. Please join me as we believe God for His very best for "the best is here now"!
I kings 8:27-31
"Can it be that god will actually move into our neighborhood? Why, the cosmos itself is not big enough to give you breathing room, let alone this Temple I've built. Even so, I'm bold to ask: Pay attention to these prayers, both intercessory and personal, O God, my God. Listen to my prayers, energetic and devout, that I'm setting before you right now. Keep your eyes open to this Temple night and day, this place of which you said, "my name will be honored there, and listen to the prayers that I (we) pray at this place." (the Message)
Eight times in Solomon's prayer of the dedication of the Temple he appeals to God to "listen to the prayers" offered from this place! In the same spirit, there are eight things that we are believing God for at Calvary Church:
1. For Calvary Church to be a place of Humility and Repentance!
(II Chron 7:14)
2. For Calvary Church to be a place of Healing and Repentance!
(Joel 2:25)
3. For Calvary Church to be a place for the Power and Presence of God!
(Acts 1:8)
4. For Calvary Church to be a place for the Ministry of Reconciliation!
(2 Cor 5:17, 18)
5. For Calvary Church to be a place of Multi-Generational Praise and Worship!
6. For Calvary Church to be a place to Reclaim the Prodigals!
7. For Calvary Church to be a place of unprecedented Wealth for Ministry & Missions!
8. For Calvary Church to be a Safe Place for Lost and Hurting People!
Amen!!!!!!!!!

I Still Believe in Miracles

2009-06-01T11:14:00.004-04:00

Last night we had a guest speaker, Pastor Rick Shockley, whose testimony of healing from Leukemia was amazing. It reminded me of a message I preached a few months ago, "I Still Believe in Miracles". Admittedly, miracles seem to be few and far between at times. But we are not responsible for the when, we are only responsible to believe in the one who does all things well, Jesus! The following is the basic outline and abbreviated text from that message, "I Still Believe in Miracles":

2 Kings 3:9, 16-18

"So the King of Israel set out with the King of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or the animals with them...This is what the Lord says: make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the Lord says: you will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and other animals will drink. This is an easy thing for the Lord; He will also hand Moab over to you."

Five things we need to consider concerning Miracles:

1. Miracles are birthed out of need!

"...the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them..."

2. Miracles may require a specific act of obedience!

"...this is what the Lord says: make this valley full of ditches..."

3. Miracles are an easy thing for God!

"...this is an easy thing for the Lord..."

4. Miracles are based upon expectation and preparation!

"...the next morning...there it was-water flowing from every direction...and the land was filled with water..."

note: "your expectation will determine the level of your preparation"

5. Miracles are a testimony to God's love, power, grace, mercy and kindness to His people, as well as a sign to unbelievers!

The Best is Here!

2009-05-22T14:27:00.002-04:00

For many years I have quoted a dear man of God who had a tremendous impact on my life as a young minister, Dr. Charles Cookman. Brother Cookman would always say, "the best is yet to come". I found myself quoting that statement hundreds of times over the years. Recently, I have come to believe and begun saying, "the best is here now"! So much of the time we are "waiting on God". Well, maybe He is waiting on us; waiting for us to take Him at His word; waiting for us to discern His present will and desire for our present circumstances; waiting on us to "step out of the boat"; waiting on us to walk by faith and not by sight; waiting on us to share the hope that is within us with others; waiting on us to "do" the previous things He put in our heart; waiting on us to "be" the expression of Christ to a lost and dying world; simply stated, He is waiting on us!!!!!

If we are always looking for the best to come tomorrow or the next day we may very well miss the great thing the Lord wants to do today. He is a now and on time God. Your time is now; your season is now; your destiny is now; His grace is sufficient for what He has called you to. Rise up and see what the Lord may do!

The Best is Here Now!!!!!

"A New Birth"

2009-05-08T09:48:00.003-04:00

For everyone expecting a blog dedicated to our first grandchild, Ella Rae, here ya go! C'mon! The very cool thing about the timing of the birth of "the princess", is that something new has been birthed at Calvary Church as well. In the same week we dedicated our newly renovated "theanctuary" our granddaughter was born. During my six hour trek, one way, to Raleigh, NC, I had some time to meditate on the idea of, "a new birth". A scripture came to mind, John 3:6, "humans can produce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life." As I contemplated this I realized anew that every single natural and spiritual birth is brand new. There are no exact duplicates! Many new births may look alike but none have the same DNA match! Just as there will only be one Ella Rae, the new thing God is doing at Calvary Church is "like" many other things He has done, but it is actually brand new! I got very excited when I thought this through. What God is doing in these moments has never been done before! It may look the same and seem the same, but our Heavenly Father duplicates nothing. My question to you is; "what new thing is God doing in you?" He desires to give you new dreams and visions, He wants to "birth" a brand new thing in your heart and life! God never, ever duplicates or replicates! He makes all things brand new! Oh by the way, Ella is absolutely gorgeous!

2009-04-27T11:24:00.000-04:00

“10 Recession Proof Promises”

It is well documented that our world is in the midst of a global recession. It thrills me to remind believers that we are “not of this world”. So I came up with what I believe to be my top “10 Recession Proof Promises”.

Here they are:

1. God owns everything!

Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it…”

2. God promises to meet all my needs!

Phil 4:19 “and God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus”

3. God promises to bless his people even during famine!

Psalm 37:18, 19 “The days of the blameless are known to the Lord, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty”

4. Godly wisdom may produce great wealth!

Proverbs 8:12, 18, 21 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion…with me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity…bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full”

5. The world’s wealth is stored up for God’s people!

Proverbs 13:22 “a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous”

6. Humility may produce wealth and health!

Proverbs 22:4 “Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life”

7. Seek the Lord; stuff will follow!

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”

8. Wealth comes directly from the Lord!

Proverbs 10:12 “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth and He adds no trouble to it”

I Chronicles 29:12 “Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all”

9. God promises no lack to His people!

Psalm 34:9, 10 “Fear the Lord you his godly people, for those who fear Him will have all they need. Even the strong lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing”

10. The tithe and offerings bring the blessing!

Malachi 3:10 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my temple. If you do, says the Lord,. I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in. Try it! Put it to the test!”

I believe passionately in God’s word to His people. These precious promises work in any and every season of life. Global recession does not and cannot invalidate the word of God! The snapshot of your present situation is temporary. Trust the Lord with your whole heart! May the windows of heaven open for you in the midst of recession in Jesus name!

Awakening The Sleeping Giant

2009-04-22T11:07:00.003-04:00

In June 1962 the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional to have prayer and bible reading in public schools. In that historic court battle the Pennsylvania Superintendent of Schools said, "...the excercise of bible reading and prayer places upon children one of the last vestiges of moral value that we have left in our school system." This is the prayer that was commonly used, "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependency upon thee and beg thy blessing upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country". It was a simple yet profound prayer that by all standards was honored by God. In 1963 there was a national survey in public schools to determine the top problems in schools. Here is the list:

1. Talking
2. Chewing gum
3. Making noise
4. Running in the halls
5. Getting out of line
6. Improper attire
7. Not putting paper in the waste basket

A similar study was conducted a few years ago:

1. Rape
2. Robbery
3. Assault
4. Arson
5. Murder/Suicide
6. Vandalism
7. Drug/Alcohol Abuse
8. Teen Pregnancy
9. Abortion
10. Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The same trends of spiritual and moral decay can be seen in every aspect of society. America is the leading nation of the world in violent crime, abortion, divorce, teen pregnancy, illegal drug use and illiteracy. In 1962 America had a balanced budget! In 1963 our president was assassinated. Our divorce rates escalate almost every year as well as domestic violence. These are merely indicators of a deeper spiritual and moral dilemma that faces our country. The sad reality is that in 1962 only 4% of Americans agreed with the Supreme Court decision. It's time for the sleeping giant of the church to awaken, mobilize and strategize for such a time as this. Our religious liberties continue to be stripped while the church lies dormant. Let's begin by reclaiming some lost territory: "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependency upon thee and BEG thy blessing upon us, our parents, our teachers and upon our country"

God Bless America and awaken the sleeping giant of the church!

Here We Go!

2009-04-14T12:13:00.002-04:00

After much prompting and exhorting from my leadership team I am now venturing into a whole new arena, blogging. Jamie edits anything and everything I ever write, except my sermons. I know, it shows! So, for those of you who insist on proper grammar, sentence structure, etc. I apologize now for the multiplicity of mistakes you will find. I decided that my blog will be 100% pure me with all the warts. In fact, I just shared with Jamie my intent and her response was, “at least use spell check”! Having just turned fifty, my thought is to post my fifty favorite scriptures and or my fifty favorite messages I have preached over the past 28 years. This will be a weekly post. I will share the scripture text used and the main points to the message with a brief commentary. In addition, I will post random messages as time and inspiration allow. I hope to bring some small value to whoever might read these ramblings from a pastor’s heart. Thanks for stopping by! Again, sorry for the grammatical crucifixion!

Lets begin with my “50” message preached on March 29, 2009: the Year of Liberty “50”

Text: Lev 25:10-13 “Consecrate the 50^th year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan. The 50^th year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the intended vines. For it is a jubilee and is holy for you; eat only what is directly from the fields. In this year of Jubilee everyone is to return his own property.”

From Nelson’s Bible Dictionary: “The Jubilee year signified a call to joy, liberation, and the beginning of a year for doing justice and loving mercy. It is a reminder of God’s interest in liberty; God wants His people to be free. In this way the people learned that God’s demand to love and obey Him was directly related to his concern for the welfare of all people.”

Top Ten perks of being 50:

1. You can eat dinner at 4:00 pm

2. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks in the room

3. People call at 9:00 pm and ask, “did I wake you?”

4. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge

5. You get into heated arguments about pension plans

6. Things you buy now won’t wear out

7. There’s nothing left to learn the hard way

8. No one expects you to run-----anywhere

9. Kidnappers are not very interested in you

10. In a hostage situation, you are likely to be released first

Over the Hill quotes:

· My mind not only wanders; it sometimes leaves completely

· I’m over the hill but the climb was terrific

· We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing

· I’m so old I can laugh, cough, sneeze, and pee all at the same time (Jamie would have edited this out)

Main Points:

1. 50 is a time for Celebration!

2. 50 is a time to proclaim liberty!

3. 50 is a time for a fresh start!

4. 50 is a time to forgive and be forgiven of any outstanding debt! ( I am sending my mortgage company a copy of this message)

5. 50 is a time to be reminded of God’s love and redemptive purposes!

Celebrate Turning 50 by Gina Mahony “You are at your peak. It is your time. It is time to celebrate who you are, what you have accomplished and it is a time to enjoy! Turning 50 is now a rite of passage into a whole new life. Turning 50 means freedom, freedom to enjoy yourself and not worry about having fun. It is a time of freedom knowing you are all grown up. It is freedom of been there, done that. Freedom to laugh out loud, freedom to be outspoken and freedom to enjoy yourself without worrying about what people think or what people say. Fifty is a pretty impressive number”

So, I decided to play more in my year of jubilee! For the first time in many, many years, I am going to use all of my vacation time and simply play more and have more fun! Jamie went all out for my 50^th birthday bash and got me a couple of very nice gifts; one was tickets to the Reds opening day in Cincinnati; I braved 39 degree temps with rain and sleet; the Reds lost but I had a blast; the next day Taylor and I took in the Masters; what a treat that was; and to finish off the week we went to the braves opening game; the monsoons came; but again had a great time with family and friends; I am off to a good start; Since I love church; Sundays and Wednesdays are “fun” for me; I love what I do! Easter Sunday we had a record crowd so 50 has been very, very good to mu thus far! Stay tuned!