Here is a really good quote from the book I am reading. it was found in a chapter about being a "pace-setter". The chapter talks at great length about Nehamiah, and others from the Bible who acted based on what God said, regardless of the unpopularity it garnered them. The statement quoted was originally made by one Thomas J. Watson, Jr. at one time the chairman of the board for IBM.
"Strangely, the expounders of many of the ideas of history were frequently considered on the lunatic fringe for some or all of their lives. If one stands up and is counted, from time to time one may get knocked down. but remember this: A man flattened by an opponent can get up again. A man flattened by conformity stays down for good."
Think on that.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Finally, KY Gets Some Rain!!
Okay, we arer finally getting some rain around here!! It has been such a dry year, but finally some meaningful rainfall. Around 5 or 6 inches had fallen the last couple of days last time I heard. That is awesome. Not necessarily a drought buster, but it is a big help. The temeratures are still moderate enough that we could still get a littl;e grass growth out of it. It will help the vegetation, and livestock. Carpet cleaners, on the other hand, are starving. We don't get much regular work on rainy days, and if you string a few of them together like this, it can get pretty rough on the paycheck. But that is ok. God knows our every need. He will take care of us.
I've got the whole afternoon to prepare for church tonight. To anticipate what God will do for us! He is so good. He has been really working with/on me lately, showing me some things in the scriptures and seemingly really awakening a spiritual hunger within me. It's a good feeling. I feel He is preparing my family and I for something. He knows, and we are trusting Him.
Brother Jernigan is coming to service tinoght for a visit. I love to spend time with the Jernigan's. They are a great fit for our region. Plus, I really love to hear him preach. I know the service tonight will be a blessing!
Gotta run for now...
God bless!
I've got the whole afternoon to prepare for church tonight. To anticipate what God will do for us! He is so good. He has been really working with/on me lately, showing me some things in the scriptures and seemingly really awakening a spiritual hunger within me. It's a good feeling. I feel He is preparing my family and I for something. He knows, and we are trusting Him.
Brother Jernigan is coming to service tinoght for a visit. I love to spend time with the Jernigan's. They are a great fit for our region. Plus, I really love to hear him preach. I know the service tonight will be a blessing!
Gotta run for now...
God bless!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Consequences of Sin
I've been reading through an old book of Bible lessons and ran across some interesting thoughts about sin, and it's consequences. By no means are these all the consequences, but here are a few sin results which may affect local churches which are in sore need of Revival, as many are.
I It Seperates from God
As shown in the book of Joshua, the Israelites had enjoyed a great walk with God for some time before they came to AI. In chapter 3, God had brought them across Jordan miraculously. In Chapter 6 He gave them the city of Jericho. He was with them. They were walking in a way that was pleasing before the Lord. But then sin was found in the camp. Immediately they lost the favor of God. They went up and lost the battle. It was not that God could not give them the city. He was as capable as ever, but the good fellowship was hurt by the unfaithfulness found in the camp. Listen to Isaiah 59:1, 2 " Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
II. It Weakens God's People
One man, Achan, was the transgressor. Yet the sin weakened the whole people. The whole body was held responsible, and Gos had them all lined up so that the sin could be revealed. The people had to stand against sin, not merely weep and moan over it. "...the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies..." until they stood against sin and destroyed the accursed thing. When we are soft and indifferent towards sin, we become weak.
III. It Hurts Others
Not only did Achan hurt himself, but his family was destroyed with him. Often when people fall into sin, the consequences affect not only them, but also their families. Don't believe it? Ask the children of the alcoholic, or the wife beater. Ask the family of the unfaithful husband or wife.
IV. It Leads to Eternal Damnation
"The wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23
Think about this...
"Revival tarries in many churches because there is unconfessed and unforsaken sin among its membership." Raymond Pruitt, in Disciplined Disciples.
I It Seperates from God
As shown in the book of Joshua, the Israelites had enjoyed a great walk with God for some time before they came to AI. In chapter 3, God had brought them across Jordan miraculously. In Chapter 6 He gave them the city of Jericho. He was with them. They were walking in a way that was pleasing before the Lord. But then sin was found in the camp. Immediately they lost the favor of God. They went up and lost the battle. It was not that God could not give them the city. He was as capable as ever, but the good fellowship was hurt by the unfaithfulness found in the camp. Listen to Isaiah 59:1, 2 " Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
II. It Weakens God's People
One man, Achan, was the transgressor. Yet the sin weakened the whole people. The whole body was held responsible, and Gos had them all lined up so that the sin could be revealed. The people had to stand against sin, not merely weep and moan over it. "...the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies..." until they stood against sin and destroyed the accursed thing. When we are soft and indifferent towards sin, we become weak.
III. It Hurts Others
Not only did Achan hurt himself, but his family was destroyed with him. Often when people fall into sin, the consequences affect not only them, but also their families. Don't believe it? Ask the children of the alcoholic, or the wife beater. Ask the family of the unfaithful husband or wife.
IV. It Leads to Eternal Damnation
"The wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23
Think about this...
"Revival tarries in many churches because there is unconfessed and unforsaken sin among its membership." Raymond Pruitt, in Disciplined Disciples.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Eventful week, busy weekend, what's next?
Wow has it ever been a busy few days! It seems like we just get busier all the time, but that's ok. At least we are not bored. Between PTO meetings at my daughter's school, and all the madness at my wife's work, plus a lot of late evenings at my job, we are just beat. Plus, I had a cousin to die last week. His name was Roy Glenn Overbay, he was 51. He died from an apparent busted aneurism(sp?). I was asked by my aunt to preach the funersl. It was on Thursday in Irvine, KY where my mom's family is from. I love it up there. It is a small country town nestled back in the KY hills. Just an awesome place to me. My wife hates it, of course. lol. but things went well, I guess, as funerals go. I never feel I've done enough in those settings, and with family it is double hard, it seems.
This Saturday was our regional Minister's Conventiuon, held at the church in Elizabethtown, KY. It was a good convention, actually, I think it was great. I will be writing a full report for our Regional papaer, and website, and will also post it here. That's one new thing that happened there. I was appointed Regional Reporter. It was unexpected, but I'm pretty excited about it. I enjoy writing, when I have time, so it is cool.
By the way, our new regional website is up and running, and almost complete. It is named after our new regional paper, Visions of Hope. The web address is visionsofhopetcog.com
Brother Shane Wilcox, our pastor in Sturgis, KY is in charge. He has done a really good job putting it together. It will be a useful, regularly updated site that will have plenty of useful, up to date info for anyone interested in our region. There is a page on there for the youth camp proigram, as well. Our report for the camp, plus over 100 pictures are on there. Brother Shane is also working on getting some video on there from camp. Pretty awesome, really.
Well, I gotta run. Lots to do.
God bless you...
Brother Donnie
This Saturday was our regional Minister's Conventiuon, held at the church in Elizabethtown, KY. It was a good convention, actually, I think it was great. I will be writing a full report for our Regional papaer, and website, and will also post it here. That's one new thing that happened there. I was appointed Regional Reporter. It was unexpected, but I'm pretty excited about it. I enjoy writing, when I have time, so it is cool.
By the way, our new regional website is up and running, and almost complete. It is named after our new regional paper, Visions of Hope. The web address is visionsofhopetcog.com
Brother Shane Wilcox, our pastor in Sturgis, KY is in charge. He has done a really good job putting it together. It will be a useful, regularly updated site that will have plenty of useful, up to date info for anyone interested in our region. There is a page on there for the youth camp proigram, as well. Our report for the camp, plus over 100 pictures are on there. Brother Shane is also working on getting some video on there from camp. Pretty awesome, really.
Well, I gotta run. Lots to do.
God bless you...
Brother Donnie
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