Vacation

In less than 1 week I will be on the beach!!!!
I have obtained my reading list for the week and it as follows:
1. Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell
2. Sex God by Rob Bell
3. Edge of Eternity by Randy Alcorn
4. Heaven by Randy Alcorn

It is my goal to complete the 1st 3 and really begin the 4th, I am very excited about that book.

Christmas

It is the holiday season and I would like to share my thoughts on Christmas. I am not really a big fan of Christmas. Well, the way it is celebrated in America. This is the celebration of the most important day in history, and that is often overlooked because we are busy asking Kids what they want from Santa Claus. Please read to the end of this entry and you will find what I believe is the most appropriate question on December 25th, and possibly any day of any year.
I do want to share the following,

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."

The above is what Christmas is all about. It is about God becoming a man. God became a man, lived a sinless life, yet died a sinners death. In fact, the penalty for all sin for all time was poured out on him on a cross. This fact has never escaped me, or made sense to me. He who did no wrong, paid the penalty for all wrong ever done!!!!!!

So, instead of thinking of the gifts you are giving and receiving, be reminded of the greatest gift ever given. It was a baby in a manger, a creator among the created, a savior among the sinners.
There has never been one like him, nor will there ever be. If you think no one cares about you, there is one who cares so much, that he came to earth and died on a cross, just for you. He would have done that just for you or just for me. For me, I say so long Santa Claus, you are over rated, and hello Immanuel or God with us, the one who will bring peace on earth and to all men!!!!!!

This Christmas, I would encourage you to thoughtfully consider the following. It is the season of gift giving, ask yourself the following: What will you bring as a gift to the Lord Jesus? He wants your life. Will you give it to Him? All of it, it is really and truly the only thing on earth that is worth living for.....One of my favorite people to read about said something along these lines......"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"

Merry CHRISTmas

This is a test

of the emergency blogging system......

November 25th

Was a great day because my favorite artist released a new CD.
That would be Jeremy Camp in case you are wondering.
If you don't know who he is, check him and his story out.
I have to give this CD props because normally I don't like anything at first but the song "Surrender" is one of my favorite songs of all time already.

My Ode to the Chocolate Chip Cookie

You are so sweet
You are my favorite treat.
You are delicious right out of the oven
With milk that is so very cold
You are a pleasure divine
Everyday I could eat 29

Give Thanks

It is November, so Thanksgiving is on my mind. With that in mind, I present the following:

Psalm 118:1

118:1
O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: because his mercy [endureth] for ever.

Although I often do not enjoy my job, Thank you that I have a job.
Thank you for wonderful days that have perfect weather, and places to sit outside and eat and enjoy the weather.
Thank you for my church, and a pastor that preaches the Word.
Thank you for my friends who mean a lot to me, even if i do not let them know near enough.
Thank you for never giving up on me, even if I give up on you.
Thank you for baseball.
Thank you for books.
Thank you for chocolate chip cookies.
Thank you for music.
Thank you for letting me learn that there is nothing more important in life than learning you will never leave me or forsake me.
Thank you for summer.
Thank you for winter, it makes me appreciate the summer even more.
Thank you for sports and people to play them with.
Thank you for answering prayers, and thank you for the prayers I am still waiting to be answered.
Thank you for online sermons and the access to hear the word at any time.
Thank you for rainy days.
Thank you for giving me the desire in my heart to be a godly man and one day lead a godly family in spite of the example that was set. Thank you for letting me know that is possible, because anything is possible through Christ.
Thank you for my nieces and nephews.
Thank you for a peace that passes understanding and can only come from knowing you.
Thank you that when I was ready to give up on my faith, the right people came along.
Thank you for Nehemiah 9, that is a great reminder of the faithful God, even if I am not faithful.
Thank you for humorous TV shows that make us laugh.
Thank you that Philipians reminds me that since you have started a good work in me, and since you started that work, you will not stop until it is complete.
Thank you for vacations.
Thank you for leaving the 99 and searching for the 1, for we are all the 1 at sometimes.

Who will save us?

Monday, November 10th

The election is finally over!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Regardless of what side you are for, you have to be relieved that this election season has finally ended. There are some people who say that our country is in a lot of trouble. The same people are counting on president elect Barack Obama to save us. There are others who hoped that John McCain would save us. I think we all need to take a moment and realize neither man can save the country. Will President Obama solve all of our problems? Assuredly, he will not. Would John Mccain solve all of our problems? Assuredly, he would not. The problem is not presidential. The problem is spiritual. Some suggest that one or the other would do a better job leading America according to Biblical principles. I do not see a lot from either that would give me great comfort that either man is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. One claims to be a Christian, the other a Christian, but not the born again type (that is the only type of Christian).

All of this reminds me of the following:

speaking of Jesus in Acts 4

v 12: "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

I know that in context this is speaking of our eternal salvation, but lets apply it to our lives in the here and now.

No politician can save us, only the name of the Living God, whose name is Jesus, can save us.
Christians, lets all work to be concerned with the proclamation about Jesus and who he is, than with pointing out all that is wrong with the current leaders.