News Worth Hearing

“So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!” Psalm 31:24

I don’t know about you but I enjoy watching and reading the news. Especially when news stories are news-worthy, accurate, and without an agenda. Every day this seems like a lost art. Now, it seems, news is written with an agenda. An agenda to cause fear, to cause doubt, and to dishearten us all. We are told to worry about this or to be concerned about that but little is actually really reported. This is the day that we live in. Days of uncertainty, despair, and often fear. Fear that is generated and created to move our hearts away from hope, away from faith. Yet, in times of such bad news don’t we need hope and faith even more?In times such as these my heart moves towards and longs for the hope found in Christ. My heart longs for the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ. In the pages of the Bible I read the news reports of the Gospels, the accounts of Paul, and the sweet writings of John. I’m encouraged through the Prophets and the psalmist who pen stories of hope and encouragement. I learn through them both sides of the story. The mistakes of mankind and the restoration love of Christ who came to save us, restore us, and daily walk with us. As I turn the pages I’m reminded that I’m never really alone, that Christ is only a prayer away, a thought away, a continual wellspring of hope that rises in my heart and displays the silver lining found in every day life.In this I’m encouraged, in this my hope is strengthened and restored. I read or listen to the Bible now more than ever because in its very pages I find more truth than any news program that’s on display or agenda that’s spouted forth.True, I miss out on everything that is happening in the world. I miss out on all the sadness, all the crime, and all the misery but sometimes I just need a break. There’s only so much that any of us can take and I would much rather take shelter in the Rock of my Salvation, and find there words of encouragement and hope and peace in days needing peace and hope and love.

God's Word for Today

Being a dog lover I thought this was a great verse. May we all be thirsting for the living water of God's holy spirit.

Something Funny

Something I am trying to teach my own children.....God bless everyone. Have a great day.

Perfect Peace

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. " Isaiah 26:3

Have you ever looked for peace? Peace to calm your troubled heart. A perfect peace that goes beyond understanding.You will never find peace in this world or the things of this world. That is why many are consumed with entertainment. That’s why drugs and alcohol are so important to them. For many, drugs and alcohol provides a momentary relief, a temporary escape from their mistakes and failures… from all that is troubling in their lives. They take substances, they self-medicate all to find the perfect peace that continues to escape them. They are like you and I in many aspects.We may not carry a bottle or smoke a substance but don’t we turn to something else instead of faith and trust in God? Maybe it is our position that we rely on, that we trust in. Maybe it’s our friends and family who only say good things to us and who give us comfort. Maybe it’s our money that we consider ‘ours’ and that we spend on substances that fill our homes to over-flowing. Maybe in these we comfort ourselves and that gives us a twinge of peace.Yet, there is a peace in God that goes beyond the substances of this world. A peace that brings comfort, clarity, and calmness. A peace that is available even when mistakes occur or failures or tragedy or heart break. A peace not of this world, that never fades, that conquers fear and hate. Peace that looks to give, to help, to heal, and to comfort others.People of this world need the peace of God in their lives. We need to share and give testimony of what God is doing in our lives. To spread the word of the great peace and comfort that comes from knowing, loving, and trusting in the giver of peace; the Prince of Peace.

Monday Morning Cup of Joe

Happy Memorial Day to everyone. I hope you are enjoying the holiday weekend and getting the week off to a good start. It was a wonderful day of worship yesterday at The Rock Church and the Holy Spirit was present and we were indeed blessed by the Lord. The day ended on a rather sad note, as I learned that my friend and fellow laborer in ministry, David Disbro, went home to heaven to be with the Lord on Sunday evening. He was a friend, brother in Christ, and faithful servant of the Lord and the Kingdom of Heaven. I will miss him very much, as will the church family of The Rock Church. However, I know that he is with the Lord and has received his eternal reward in glory. I am reminded of the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:8 when he wrote, "for I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kep the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord Jesus, the righteous judge, shall give to me, and not to me only, but unto all those who love His appearing." My friend, David Disbro has kep the faith, run the race and fought the good fight of faith and is now home with Jesus in heaven. We'll miss you David.

Truth or Deception?

Therefore the Lord said: “ Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”
(Isaiah 49:11-12). I wonder, sometimes, as I try to catch a glimpse of newsworthy-news of all the deception. With each click of the remote I turn from one lie, to one corruption, to one cover-up, and to so much insanity. It disheartens my heart on one hand to see integrity clouded, honor dismissed, and deceit praised. On the other hand, I’m righteously angered at the lives and hearts that are deceived and slowly destroyed by the corruption, by lies and deceit. Today, the name of Jesus Christ cannot or should not be spoken in our classrooms, our speeches, or our media. Our airways have been usurped by an unbelieving and dishonest societal class who espouse a realm of lunacy. We are told that ‘terrorists are only people, they are not that bad,’ or beware ‘our world will be destroyed by global warming’ or ‘we need to save mother-earth’. The Truth is that terrorists are killers. Global warming is a myth. And our hearts and minds need salvation, our world needs conservation, a big, big difference. So many lies are told and so often that many believe them because they do not love the truth, they become out-of-touch with reality. Does it not seem that wisdom is perishing? In this world right and wrong are so muddied that many are in wonder as to what is right and what is wrong. The consciousness of mankind is every so slowly being seared and that which is reprobate is called good, proclaimed as an example. Yet, in the midst of such an environment, God has called us to righteousness. Not our own, not a religious righteousness, but his righteousness. We are called to discernfrom wrong, to question truth from deceit, and to encourage and admonish one another as we see with each passing days, evil abounding. May the love of God abound in our hearts. May His word become our greatest treasure and may we shine as lights in a darkened world, for the glory of God!

Steven Curtis Chapman In My Prayers

With laughter and tears, Grammy-winning Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman and his family said goodbye Saturday to their 'cuddle bug,' daughter Maria Sue. The 5-year-old died three days earlier after being accidentally struck at their Franklin, Tenn., home by a reversing SUV driven by her brother. In a two-hour memorial service at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville that drew more than 700 mourners, the family remembered their little five year old daughter. The couple, along with their three older biological children and their two other adopted daughters, Shaohannah, 8, and Stevey Joy, 5, were all barefoot during the service as a mark of reverence to ground made holy, they said, by the loss of Maria. Standing in front of the tiny white coffin covered with pink flowers, they took turns holding the young girls in their arms and embracing the son whose car hit Maria. Tears streamed down the 17-year-old's face and he wore Maria's pink security blanket around his neck throughout the service. In a letter Shaohannah had written to God and her lost sister that her father read aloud, she asked for prayers for her brother. "He has been sobbing," she wrote. The family raised their arms as they sang songs of worship and sought comfort in their faith. "We had talked [with Maria] about what it meant to be with Jesus," Chapman said. "I had no idea how soon it was going to be, but we know she is in His amazing house, playing in the water." The Chapmans are in my prayers. God be with them.

God's Word for Today

God's Word for Today

"Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord, Praise Ye the Lord."

Psalm 150:6

God Is With You

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2

As you walk this life’s journey God is with you. As you exodus the world’s view and enter the joy of God’s view you may encounter a wind storm or a season of drought. Even then, God is with you.

You come to the red sea of doubt and fear and you decide to take a chance and trust in God. The moment before hope is shattered, the unexpected occurs, a miracle occurs, a way appears that was never there before. A door of opportunity opens that was closed. A gift is given you from a complete stranger. God is for you.

Time goes by and then trials and tests that you could never imagine take hold of your life. You feel as if you are bound up and thrown into the hottest furnace of the day. You are meet with disaster, with failure, with depression, with misunderstanding, and with distrust. The fire continues and after a while it does not burn as hot. You’ve learned that the opinions of others is really not all that important. You learn to stand alone, on principle, on integrity, for God is with you.

God is with you today and everyday. You may experience the greatest joy or the deepest sorrow and yet He is with you. Your feelings tell you otherwise, but feelings lie. Feelings are like a milkshake, it comes to you quickly and is gone just as quickly. Yet faith and hope will endure and see you through the journey’s of this life.

The Joy of the Lord

John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
Christianity is a joyful life when one is continuously being filled with the Holy Spirit. The days on earth are full with all their pleasant breezes. The sunshine seems to warm your heart more than ever before. The love you have for your spouse has grown deeper, and the moments you have together are sweeter than the day before. All of your friends become more important than the details of life. You are happy and content in the middle of all the seemly uproars in the world. You think on whatsoever is lovely, and you speak about the joy of the Lord. Heaven is a place of great joy, as you think of the streets of gold and the Son Light that always fills your soul and spirit. The spirit of joy multiplies time and again within your being. You are looking unto Jesus Christ as you live in the Finished Work. You praise him again and again as joy overflows your heart. You see through the eyes of our Saviour the beauty of the setting sun. You are so overwhelmed within His presence and how He has taken care of you that you burst out with joy; thanking Him for removing the dirty spirit of negativity and replacing it with the joy of the Lord.
The spirit of joy is wonderful. It relaxes your whole being, so at night you can sleep in the everlasting arms of Jesus and awake the next morning in his joy.

Monday Morning Cup of Joe

It was another busy week and weekend for me and my family. My wife and I celebrated 10 years of marriage this past weekend and I am so thankful for my loving wife Stephanie. I also had the chance to visit with my father-in-law over the weekend as he was in town for a visit and also ministered in the pulpit for us on Sunday. It was wonderful message and the service went well. It's sunny and cool outside today, but I couldn't ask for a more beautiful morning and God has truly created a great day. God bless and hope you have a good start to your week.

A Tired Pastor's Prayer

After the week I had last week, this is how I felt Sunday morning...I am glad I had my Assistant Pastor pray over the offering. God bless.

God's Word for Today

"In everthing give thanks, for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you."

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

A Great Gospel Voice Gone

This past Sunday, the church world and gospel music lost one of the greatest singers and songwriters that ever lived when Dottie Rambo died from injuries sustained in a tour bus accident. She was 74 years old and had a long career in gospel music. As a third generation preacher, I and my family loved Dottie Rambo and her music. Some of her more well known songs were "I Go to the Rock", "He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Need", "I've Never Been this Homesick Before" and many others. Dottie Rambo wrote more than 2,500 songs and they have been recorded by Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, Vince Gill and many more gospel recording artists. She may have left this world and made heaven her home, but her legacy and music will live on as we continue to sing her songs. We'll miss you Dottie.

The Almighty God

"I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Isaiah 6:1-5 God is wonderfully complex and can never be fully defined by any single thought or idea. He has many natures and many sides which are all very different and all equally valid. For example, one of the most cherished images we have of Jesus is that of an accessible and compassionate friend and companion. Without a doubt, Jesus fulfills that role for his faithful. Yet at the same time, consider the image of Christ we get from the Book of Revelation.
"His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were bright like flames of fire. His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance." Revelation 1:14-16. The contrast is startling. Jesus is kind and loving, but He is also a fierce warrior. The Father is likewise loving and merciful, yet this very same God declares, "I will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me." Micah 5:15. We can be certain that any descriptive term we use for God will fall way short of describing how great that He is. The best we can do is to continually appreciate and accept all his many qualities, without neglecting those we may not understand. There is absolutely nothing wrong with our cherished image of the peaceful and kind Jesus who calls children to Him and always turns the other cheek. It's a completely accurate, however, incomplete description of our Lord. As an extension of that image, we may have the idea that if we were to meet Jesus face to face, we would shake His hand, perhaps give Him a hug and then go grab a coffee. This passage from Isaiah is a startling reminder of what would happen if we were to actually meet our God face to face, revealed to us in all His true glory. Like Isaiah, in the presence of the almighty God, seated on His throne, we would fall on our knees and proclaim "Woe is me - my eyes have seen the King!" Let us never forget that God is to be feared. God is to be respected. He is the creator of everything seen and unseen, and deserves our worship and adoration. His power is limitless and without equal. His glory and holiness are beyond our measure. Our purpose in this devotional is not to in any way diminish his human qualities or his love, mercy or compassion. Without those qualities, we would all be lost! Rather, our hope is that when you ponder Jesus Christ and all that He is, you might never forget His power and glory which completely fill the heavens and the earth. As you love and surrender to Christ, may you not forget to fear Him as well.

Update to the Blog....

It has been a while since my last entry on the blog. I had a busy week last week and also was out of town for a few days visiting family in Michigan. But I am back home and back on schedule. Hope everyone has a blessed day and is having a good week.

For All You Dog Lovers

This cartoon perfectly describes my dog Sparky. When I am at home studying or working in my den he is right there sitting beside me and keeping me company. He is a blessing to me and he's quite spoiled to say the least. God bless everyone...

God's Word for Today

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

Former President Visits Lebanon

Former President Bill Clinton made a campaign stop in Lebanon last night, visiting the Lebanon Middle School on a campaign visit for his wife Hillary Clinton. The former president spoke for about 45 minutes and addressed several hundred visitors in attendance. Our Indiana primary is this coming Tuesday, and while I didn't vote for President Clinton, I appreciate his willingness to come and visit with the citizens of the great city of Lebanon and make an appearance. As a conservative (note I didn't say Republican or Democrat) and concerned citizen I always vote my conscience and chose the person I agree with the most. I am praying for this year's upcoming election and I encourage you to vote, it's your right. Have a great weekend. God bless and God bless America.

Rivalry Renewed

Well it's that time of the baseball season again, when the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals renew their rivalry as the two teams square off this weekend for a three game series in St. Louis. My Cardinals are off to a great start and currently stand in first place in the NL Central Division. The Cubs are in second place only 1/2 game behind. For many members of Cardinal Nation, I being one of them, there is nothing about the Chicago Cubs that we like. The Cubs are our rival and hated enemy and I know they will be tough to beat for the division this year, but the way the Cardinals are playing gives me hope for this year. We will see how it goes this weekend. GO REDBIRDS!

National Day of Prayer

Today, May 1st is the National Day of Prayer which is set aside as a time for our country to come together and thank God for His grace and mercy on our country and to ask God's blessing and protection to our nation. I will be joining our city mayor and many other ministers and fellow dignitaries of the community in prayer this morning. In this year of 2008 we desperately need to seek God's face, not just today but everyday of the year. God bless you and take time today to seek the Lord in prayer. Remember, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)

God's Word for Today

"I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."

(Psalm 7:17)