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Showing posts from November, 2012

He Is...We Are To Be: The Way, The Truth, and The Life - John 14:1-14

He said, I AM… I am the Bread of Life…you can only find truly satisfying nourishment that will quench all thirst and satisfy all hunger in me… I am the Light of the World…I bring order to the chaos of your life…I shine light into the darkness of your sin and reveal your true intentions…not to condemn you, but in order that you might be saved…I give you life…I gather you with others around Me. I am the Gate…It is only through Me that you will find truly abundant and eternal life. I am the Good Shepherd…Hear My call…know My voice…Respond, and I will lead you through myself into the pastures that will allow you rest. I am the Resurrection and the Life…I am the source of life…don’t look to places of death for living, but look to Me, come to Me, take your eyes off the things of this world and let Me give you new life. My friends, I am so directionally challenged, as I’ve told you before, and as many of you know, that often times a GPS doesn’t work.  Sometimes it is because,

He is...We Are To Be: The Resurrection and the Life - John 11:17-27

Have you ever had one of those moments where your spirit is just so deeply disturbed because of a person’s words or actions, that you want to scream, or weep?  Maybe it is with a child, trying to get them ready to go out of the house on a cold morning?  Maybe the conversation goes a little something like this: “Put on your coat, It’s time to go.” “I don’t like my coat, I want to wear my grey jacket.” “It’s too cold for your jacket, put on your coat.” “I don’t want to wear my coat, I want to wear my jacket.” “Look, it is really cold outside, it is cold enough to snow.” “Snow?  It’s snowing outside.  I want to see the snow.” “No, It’s not snowing, it is just that cold.  It is too cold to wear your jacket, you need to put on your coat.  Understand?” “Yes sir.  Can I go see the snow now?” “There’s no snow, we need to go now, let’s get your coat on.” “Okay.” And he picks up his jacket to put it on. “Not your jacket, your coat.” “But I don’t want to wear my coat.”

Rejoice Always? Give Thanks in All Circumstances? - 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18

A little boy was asked to return thanks before a holiday dinner.  The family members bowed their heads in expectation.  He began his prayer, thanking God for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles.  Then he began thanking God for the food.  He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, and even the Cool Whip. Suddenly he paused, and everyone waited—and waited.  After a long silence, the young child looked up at his mother and asked, “If I thank God for the broccoli, won’t he know that I’m lying?” My brothers and sisters, we have gathered tonight for our Thanksgiving Service.  WE are entering what many consider to be the most festive time of the year.  We gather to give thanks for the many blessings that God has poured into our lives.  We rejoice, or at least anticipate rejoicing a month from now, remembering the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is a celebratory season. The iro

He is...We Are To Be: The Good Shepherd - John 10:11-18

A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of the dust cloud toward him.  The driver, a young man in a Broni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses, and YSL tie leaned out the window and asked the shepherd, “If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?” The shepherd looks at the man, then looks at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, “Sure.” The young man parks his car, whips out his notebook and connects it to  a cellphone, then he surfs to a NASA page on the Internet where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system, scans the ara, and opens up a database and Excel spreadsheets with complex formulas.  He sends and email on this Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.  Finally, he prints out a 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized printer, then turns to the shepherd and says, “You have exactly 1,586 sheep.” “That is correct, take one of the sheep,” s