Remembering...

Memorial Day is upon us and many of us will spend time with family and friends over a hot grill next to a swimming pool. Whatever your plans, I hope you will take the time to pause and remember the lives given to make your party possible. Have you ever thought about what the world would be like had Hitler or Japan won WW II? Have you considered how different life might be had communism not been fought in far off places like Korea and Vietnam? We owe much to those who defended liberty by the giving of their lives on far away battlefields.

Our life has been forever changed by the sacrifice of those who laid down their lives for our freedom. One such person who willingly laid down His life for us was Jesus Christ. While the American soldier died to provide us certain rights and political freedoms Jesus died to free us from sin and offer us the opportunity to receive eternal life. Today is a day of remembrance as we consider the sacrifice of those who have made our lives better. I hope you will take a moment to give thanks for the soldiers and the SON who died to make your life blessed!

James

A Little Humor on Your Saturday

New Shoes...

Perhaps you would expect an article on new shoes to come from Kim but sometimes God uses strange things to get our attention and this is one of those times for me. Yesterday, I went to be fitted for a new suit (thanks to my parent's generosity on my birthday) and while in the store saw a pair of shoes exactly like the ones I was wearing on my feet. Unfortunately, you would have never known the two pairs were the same type of shoe! I had been wearing the ones on my feet for a couple of years and had not realized how completely worn out they were until I saw again what they looked like new! The contrast between the shoes reminded me of something God has been recently teaching me through my study of the Book of Haggai.

Several times in the book of Haggai God tells the people of Israel to "consider their ways." We need to be reminded, especially in moments of disobedience, to consider our life for the worn out and broken spots. If we fail to "consider" we can easily live a broken and worn out life without realizing it! The people of Haggai's day had made some terrible choices regarding their priorities and their lives were headed away from God and His blessing. God wants so much better for His people! So God told the people to take inventory of their life and consider where there was need of repentance and a new way of living.

Have you taken the time to consider your life lately? Have you considered what you are doing with the time God gives you? Have you thought about the things which motivate you? Are you living a life pleasing to God? Are there people, things or habits that have become so routine in your life that they have escaped scrutiny? Sometimes it is even the "good" things in our life that need to change so we can have something better from God and give Him greater glory with our life.

We NEED to regularly consider our ways and allow the Holy Spirit to convict us of anything we need to change about the way we live. The result of such consideration and change in Haggai's day was great blessing and great opportunity to give glory to God. Because of their obedience, the people in Haggai's day were allowed to build the Temple in which Jesus would someday walk! God will bless and provide you opportunity to give Him glory if you will CONSIDER and CHANGE any unhealthy, worn out or sinful things about your life!

James

Why Share Your Faith?

Why do we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ? What is our motivation? Have you ever considered, beyond simple obedience to the "Great Commission" Jesus gave us in Matthew 28, why we should be motivated to share our faith? Some would answer that we should be motivated because those who have not received Christ by faith will go to hell if they do not accept Him before they die. Without question this is great motivation for sharing our faith! But there is an even higher motivation for our obedience to God in this matter...

We share our faith with those who are separated from God because God deserves praise, worship, honor, love and devotion from their lips! God created their mouth, gave them life, preserves their life and died on the Cross to offer them salvation from sin; God deserves their life, love and praise! Love of God motivates us to see others love Him too! There can be no greater motivation to share our faith than our love for Almighty God!

James

Monday...One-Seventh of YOUR Life!

Lots of folks dread Mondays and many tend to waste the day away wishing it was Friday! But Monday is fully one-seventh of your life here on the earth! Can you afford to waste one-seventh of your life?

Life is a very precious gift and every moment of it is an opportunity. What you decide to do with this opportunity today will be written in the "Book of the Annals of the Life of YOU!" By the way the word "annals" means a "record of events, especially a yearly record, usually in chronological order." God is keeping a record of your life (Revelation 20:12) and what you do really DOES matter! Don't waste one-seventh of it for anything! Give God glory (be a demonstration of His love, power and character) in your life today! Decide you will be strong in the Lord, have faith in Jesus, work hard and show others what it means to be a follower of Christ...even on Monday!

James

Lord, Lunatic or Liar?

Continuing Education...

Many people reading this blog probably do not know that I once taught school. In fact, for 9 years, my life consisted of writing lesson plans, teaching students, attending in-service meetings and grading papers! I was a teacher 24/7 and I loved my job! It was extremely hard work but it was also full of blessings. I was very blessed to work with some wonderful colleagues, meet some great parents and teach some incredible students! Over the years I gave assignments, projects and tests to hundreds of students. No matter what age I taught, there were always a few students who thought they already knew all the material I was trying to teach them; they believed they knew as much or more than me, the teacher! I tried to keep a sense of humor at those times, because of course, being the teacher, I knew they did not know as much as I did and they had many things to learn.

I wonder how many times our life requires God to have a sense of humor with us? How many times do our actions and attitudes seem to tell God we don't need His help or we don't have anything else to learn from Him? How many times do we try to tell the Great Teacher we know more than He does? The absolute reality is that God is omniscient and knows more than we could ever imagine! I need to remind myself of this fact often and ask God to "Show me your ways, oh Lord teach me your paths" -- Psalm 25:4.

Kim

Do You Have The Real Thing?

Repentance...

I am reading through Henry Blackaby's book "Experiencing The Cross" right now and was inspired to write in reference to something I read yesterday. Blackaby expresses concern for folks who say they have faith in Jesus for salvation yet never mention repentance from sin and their way of living before accepting Christ. I join Blackaby in his concern!

Have you repented from your sin or are you simply holding to the idea that Jesus forgives and removes the eternal consequences of your sin if you believe in Him? Forgiveness and salvation from sin only come to those who repent. To repent means to turn from your current way of living to a new and different way of living. Have you turned from sin and turned to Jesus? Is holiness a priority in your life today? Do you desire (with the Holy Spirit's help) to be obedient to Jesus? Only those who have turned from sin can truly accept Jesus. Only those who truly accept Jesus can live free of sin's controlling power in their life.

Jesus didn't come to give us a "get out of jail free card." Jesus came to give us forgiveness, salvation and a NEW LIFE when we repent from our old way of living! Make certain you have received "real salvation" and not an imitation created by some who would have forgiveness without holiness and a changed life in Christ.

James

The Review Is In...

Yesterday, I finished up Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" and thought I would take a moment to give my reflections. First, let me recommend the book to you! It is a challenging look at the Christian faith and its expression in the American church. I believe it will challenge anyone to a deeper, more committed walk with Jesus.

Chan challenges believers to:

1. Consider God's grandeur and power

2. Consider how small we are and how great God is

3. To live life by faith and stop living "safe"

4. Stop living with a back-up plan in case God doesn't "come through"

5. Consider God may want radical change from us so we can be more obedient to the Gospel

6. Believe Jesus wasn't kidding...He meant what He said in the Gospels and we are to obey Him

7. Eliminate compromise in their life

8. Stop making excuses for disobedience and start looking to God for ability to obey

9. Stop underestimating the power of the Holy Spirit

These are just nine of the things I took from the book. Of course this is just a summary of some of the concepts Chan covers so go get the book and read it for yourself! If you are not regularly reading the Scriptures and a good book or two you are wasting good gray matter in that skull of yours! And if you don't like to read get some books on CD!

Praying for you today,

James

A Big God Can Handle Your Life Just Fine...Give it To him Today!

We missed posting yesterday because of another little skin procedure I had done. Throws everything off to be away from the computer in the morning!

Have you considered God's greatness today? Have you taken a moment to think about how big He is in relation to the challenges of your life? The farthest stars we can see with present technology are 84,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles away! Fourteen billion light years from us! Paul tells us in Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." God intends for us to know of His existence, power and divine nature through the creation He has put all around us. Consider what God is telling you about Himself and His ability to handle the problems, obstacles and challenges of your life today!

James

Check Out Dr Adrian Rogers

This is a video about one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century. If you haven't heard of him you should check his stuff out at lwf.org. He had a great influence on my life!

James

Grandma's Game Plan...A Life in Right Focus

Growing up I did not have the opportunity to know my maternal grandmother; she died before I was born, when my mom was only 17. However, many times my mom would tell me something her mom said to her when she was growing up. So, in many ways, I feel I can picture the woman my grandmother was - especially when looking at the woman my mom is today! One of those "words of wisdom" I regularly remember is to focus on others instead of myself whenever I am depressed or down. It is amazing how easily we become consumed with ourselves - our struggles, our problems, our worries, our fears! I have taken this advice to heart on many different occasions and it has made a big difference in my life. When we focus on others, our problems seem to fade. In reality, we know nothing really changes our situation but our focus shifts from "all about me" to "all about others!" Isn't that the way it should be? God has put us on earth to share Jesus with others; there are many ways we can do this and service is a big one.

God reminds us in Matthew 25:34-40, "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed with your situation in life, I encourage you to take the advice of my grandma and experience the blessing of serving to others!

Kim

THE Priority

Priorities. Do you have your priorities right? The dictionary defines the word "priority" as "highest or higher in importance, rank or privilege." What is taking the place of highest priority in your life? Perhaps the greatest indicator of what is given priority in our life is the amount of time we spend thinking about something. How much time in a normal day do you spend thinking about Christ? Certainly God should be at the top of our list of priorities! Is He really at the top or has He been relegated to a lower rung on the ladder?

Jesus said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." The "things" in this scripture are all those items which typically usurp God's place of priority in our life; the pursuit of money, necessities and contentment. We can trust God enough to put Him first and He will take care of the rest!

James

The IPhone Worship Team

This video is absolutely incredible and reminds me of the great creativity in the church. Tradition is great but it should never squelch the creative juices of artists like these guys! I hope you all have a wonderful day and let's pray God makes much of Himself in each one of us!

James

What are You Having Faith in God for Today?

What are you having faith in God for today? Do you have a hard time answering this question? Scripture teaches the just (Christians...those found to be in right standing with God) live their life by faith in God (Romans 1:17). Christians are supposed to live beyond what they can see, know or do for themselves. We are called to live our life believing and trusting God for what He can see and do for us. So, what are you having faith in God for today? And before you say it...I am talking the day to day earthly stuff! We all (as believers) trust God for forgiveness and eternal life or we wouldn't be Christians in the first place!

If you want to do a better job of living your life by faith then begin the change by actually confessing faith in Christ. Simply pray and tell God you believe and trust Him. Confess to God your fears, doubts, struggles and needs; let Him know you are having faith in Him for these cares and challenges. Tell God you believe in Him and trust He will work things out in such a way that brings glory to Him. Tell God you have faith in Him for the abundant life He said He wants each of His children to have. After you have prayed and confessed faith ask God to make your faith real and tenacious! Ask God to help you believe and trust Him even when the going gets tough! Remember Peter! He had faith enough to walk on water but when the wind and waves distracted him he took his eyes off Christ and began to sink! Pray God will help you keep your eyes on Him no matter the cares of life!

We must remember "lip service" will never do in matters of faith. Confession is wonderful but confession must be accompanied by actual belief for faith to happen (Romans 10:9). So believe in your heart God will work all things out for your good. Believe God will work everything out in your life so you will become more like Christ and bring great glory to Him!

Faith is a conscious choice we make moment by moment. We really do have this wonderful choice to make! So consider your life and choose to live by faith today! Believe God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do! He will be faithful!

James

No Denying What Really Matters!

As you have noticed by now we missed a blog entry for Monday. We did have a good reason for our absence; I had surgery to remove a basal skin cancer from my neck! Let me begin today with a strong message of warning to those who refuse to use sunscreen or choose to frequent tanning beds...stop the madness! And please put sunscreen on your little kids! Most folks think skin cancer will never happen to them but I am here to tell you it can! The good news is my scar will be healed and almost undetectable due to the great work of my doctors. The bad news is it really hurts when a doctor cuts a patch of skin out of you the size of a silver dollar!

I was thinking this morning about how my experience with skin cancer relates to our walk with Christ; a pastor is ALWAYS looking for good illustrations! I really do believe the biggest lesson to be learned here is the futility of living in denial. For years I went into the sun without sunscreen and allowed my skin to be burned without ever giving a thought to the cost of my foolish behavior. I think a lot of us are prone to the same kind of thinking with regard to our walk with Christ. We allow foolish behavior to become commonplace in our life without considering what such a lifestyle really costs us. Are there blessings and opportunities to bring God glory you are missing out on because of foolish behavior and silly habits which keep you from God's best for your life? Be careful to consider how you spend your life today! Make your life count for Christ! Don't live in denial for someday we will all give an account for how we choose to spend every second of our existence here on earth! I am praying today that we will carefully consider our ways and bring God glory in all we do!

James

He Truly IS Amazing!

What an Awesome God!

Trusting God's Path For Me!

How many of us can say far life has turned out just like we expected it would? Probably not very many of us. However, many of us can say life has turned out better than we expected! Early in our lives we develop dreams and expectations for the future. Some of those dreams will come true but some will change along the way. No matter what happens with regard to our dreams and expectations we must always remember WHO is in control...God! Looking back at the Old Testament, I think it's pretty safe to assume Joseph didn't expect to be: sold into slavery (by his very own brothers), taken from a jail cell to the throne room in order to interpret Pharaoh's dreams or become a very powerful man at the right hand of Pharaoh himself! No, this was not what he expected to happen! We can all learn a very important lesson from Joseph! Joseph didn't let the fact that his life took a different than expected course throw him off track. He made the most of those disappointments and learned from them - and look where God took him!

One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 16:9 "In His heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." This is such a good reminder to all of us! God knows that we have dreams and plans for our life and he allows us to keep those in our heart. However, since we are dependent on Him, He is the one who will direct our steps. The best example I have of this in my life is my long journey through singlehood. I had dreams of being married at the age of 25 or at least 27. But God had other plans for me, and I'm so thankful I allowed him to determine my steps or I would have missed out on the man I married 6 months ago! During this time, I didn't always understand the direction my life was going and often times I did become discouraged. But through prayer and patience God taught me many valuable lessons on that path. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6. God is God and we are not, He is the one making our paths just what they should be!

Kim

Self Effort or Christ?

I am reading a book right now called "Covenants and Blessings" by Andrew Murray and it has deeply convicted me. If you are looking for a good read that will challenge your faith and make you much more dependent upon Christ go to amazon.com and buy it!

Have you read Galatians 2:20 lately? Paul writes, "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." We usually recognize our dependence upon Christ for our justification (to be declared in right standing before God through faith alone) but we often fail to see that our sanctification (the process by which we become more like Jesus...more and more perfect) is also dependent upon Christ and our faith in Him alone! The life we now live as believers is to be lived by faith (belief and trust) in Christ alone! If you are frustrated by your failures and lack of growth in your walk with God perhaps it is because you are trusting your willpower and sheer determination (self-effort) to make you more like Christ. Try letting go of control and place your faith in Christ for the work He has promised to do for you. Jesus promised to finish what He started on the day He saved you and made you His child (Phil 1:6). Jesus is making us more like Him so we don't have to take responsibility for making ourselves more Christlike! Our part is simple...we love Him, have faith in Him and cooperate with what He is doing in our heart.

Enjoy your relationship with Christ and have faith in the work He is absolutely doing in your life today!

James

Today...I Turn 40

When I was 7 years old I remember Elvis Presley dying of a heart attack at the ripe old age of 42. I thought at the time he had lived a long time! I think most of us who have achieved 40 would say 42 is quite young. Yet, so much life truly has already been lived; at times it is easy to think about the inevitable end which relentlessly approaches for us all. Many people have a mid-life crisis when they consider their life at the midway point because of their panic at that approaching end and their lack of accomplishment on their journey thus far.

I look at my life right now and realize more than ever the great blessings God has given me. I did nothing to deserve salvation in Christ but at the age of 9 Jesus saved me from sin and hell. At 9 I placed faith in Jesus and He came to live in my heart. Jesus gave me a brand new life! Everyday since that moment in 1979 I have been involved in a process of learning what that decision means for my life now and in the life to come.

I have had a great family and many wonderful friends; all of whom are an incredible blessing from God. My wife is a blessing for which I am more thankful everyday. My parents and siblings have been the best family any man could ever have. I could not have asked for better opportunities than those of attending Baylor and Southwestern Seminary for my education. I could not have asked for a better mentor than I had in Jimmy Nettles.

I have had great church families along the way too! I am very thankful for all of those at Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie who nurtured my young faith and help me discover so many wonderful truths about Jesus. Third Street Baptist Church in Waco was my first pastorate and those sweet people were very patient and loving to me. West Oaks Baptist overlooked my many mistakes and loved me deeply as I served as their pastor (my first full-time pastorate) for 8 years in Bryan, Texas. And now forest Avenue Baptist Church has blessed and loved me as I have taken the next step in life by marrying Kim Schupbach.

While there have been many blessings in the past there are (I hope) many more yet to come! I look forward to the next steps life takes and the places and people God allows me the opportunity to love and know. Turning 40 causes you to look back but for me it is more than ever a moment to look forward. Philippians 1:6 says, "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." I look forward to every day and the many lessons God has in store for me as He completes the work of making me like Jesus.

James

Bored???

Are you living a radical lifestyle or a ho-hum existence? Is your life exciting or boring you to death? Which of these adjectives do you believe God intends to be descriptive your life? If you are bored or living in the doldrums why do you think these words describe your life? Does God have more for you?

Exciting and radical living comes to those who are willing to give up their paltry possessions for the riches of God's Kingdom. What are you holding onto that prevents you from receiving the better things God wants for you? Are you holding onto a job far beneath your abilities and the dreams God gave you when you started your career? Are you in a dating relationship with an unbeliever or someone uncommitted in their walk with Christ? Are you watching hours of television and spending little time with your spouse, children or God?

Jesus came to give us an abundant kind of life! That doesn't mean we will have a bed of roses but it does mean we will have the opportunity for a radical lifestyle of dependence upon Jesus and adventure with Him! Don't settle for anything less than HIS very best! Ask God to help you see what is holding you back from God's very best intentions for your life! If you are depressed or bored there is a better life if you are willing to be radically obedient to God!

Pastor James

In God We Trust?

Do you trust God? Do you trust Him with your WHOLE heart? Do you trust Him so much that you have stopped leaning on your own understanding? Proverbs 3:5-6 reads, "Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths." Many of us know this verse, have memorized it and can easily quote it when appropriate but how many of us actually apply it? How many of us actually trust God with our whole heart and refuse to take the easy way out by leaning on what we can know and do for ourselves? The key to the application of this verse is in "acknowledgment." We MUST acknowledge God is God and we are not. Once we recognize who God is (and who we are not) we can lean on what He knows and on what He can do rather than our own limited strength and knowledge. Who is your God and in whom are you placing your trust today?

Pastor James

Are You Running From God or To God?

Do You Know Your Value?