"We want to be seen with the eyes of mercy, but we want to see with the eyes of justice."  - Landon

Recently seen on church sign: 

Humility Mends Relationships

Consider some time of regular fasting and prayer for the upcoming election (Pray About It)  http://www.wallbuilders.com/

Assignment for 10.07.2012:    Read Chapter 10

Be sure to check in and read Pastor David’s blog: http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

Notes and Quotes for 9.30.2012:

Your “Testimony” is when people see the work Christ has done in your life up to the present and how they view you now, not a vivid re-hash of your pre-Christ lifestyle

Colossians 3:12-15

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. ¹⁴ Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Assignment for Sunday 9/16/12:   Re-Read Chapter 8 in the book

Be sure to check in and read Pastor David’s blog:   http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

I read Romans 6 and 7 this morning, and I could not stop until I read 8.

This translation is very good:

Romans 8

New Living Translation (NLT)

Life in the Spirit

8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ² And because you belong to him, the power^[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed you^[b] from the power of sin that leads to death. ³ The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.^[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. ⁴ He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

⁵ Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ⁶ So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ⁷ For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. ⁸ That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
⁹ But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) ¹⁰ And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life^[d] because you have been made right with God. ¹¹ The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
¹² Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,^[e] you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. ¹³ For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,^[f] you will live. ¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children^[g] of God.
¹⁵ So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.^[h] Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”^{[i] 16} For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

The Future Glory

¹⁸ Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. ¹⁹ For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. ²⁰ Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, ²¹ the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. ²² For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,^[j] including the new bodies he has promised us. ²⁴ We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope^[k] for it. ²⁵ But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

²⁶ And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. ²⁷ And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers^[l] in harmony with God’s own will. ²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together^[m] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn^[n] among many brothers and sisters. ³⁰ And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

³¹ What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ³² Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? ³³ Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. ³⁴ Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”^[o]) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[p] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Seen recently on a church sign: 
Doubt your doubts and Believe your Beliefs

Sorry, I have been a slacker in my postings.
We have been having some good meetings, and I l have been relying on postings by Pastor Dave at:  http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/.

Also, I have been taking flax for my music choices.  I will try to do better, but some of these, especially Keith Green's "Oh Lord, You're Beautiful" really minister to me.

I will endeavor to get back on the ball next week.

Recently seen on church sign:  It is better to have God’s peace than our way

Try this book:  The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

Assignment for 8.05.2012:    Complete Reading Chapter 6

And think about one absolutely funny thing that has happened to you in your marriage and one tragedy

Be sure to check in and read Pastor David’s blog:   http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

Notes and Quotes for 7.29.2012:

The stories of our lives let us know the path of our faith is true

Recently seen church sign: 

"Marriage takes a lot of heart work."

Assignment for 7.29.2012:    Read Chapter 6
Be sure to check in and read Pastor David’s blog:

http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

Notes and Quotes for 7.22.2012:
We are ambassadors for Jesus
A good ambassador for Christ:
- Is under authority in the church, their family, their job, and to the governments
-Daily seeks the righteousness, wisdom, and love that God wants us to walk in
- Has the big view and is balanced:  knows the Word of God from Genesis to
  Revelation
-Has good tools:  knows certain scriptures by heart and has a heart for the scriptures
-Uses Holy Spirit inspired strategies to share the “Good News”
-Has a personal vision and a plan for evangelism                                                           

Finish Reading Chapter 5

Good Site:  One Place Christian Radio and Internet Ministry Directory (Click)

You have been chosen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_REg8kKEgbo&feature=related
Lips do not match words at times

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbXeP4nlbGI&feature=related
Quite a testimony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxNmpaV_Fr0&feature=related
Good song - Keith Green

Read Chapter 5 for next week:  7/8/2012

First, be sure to check in at 180 Blog by Brother David: http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

Mens notes and quotes for 07.01.2012:

We in the church are bundled up together, and the enemy cannot break us when we are in unity, See: Aesop's Bundle of Sticks

Eternal life is knowing the Lord

The only one who can use our past against us ourselves is us

We cannot change the past

The closer you get to the Lord, the more sensitive you will be to your sin

Lord, you brought this to my attention, now give me the grace to get the victory

First, be sure to check in at 180 Blog by Brother David: http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

Assignments for next week (6.30.2012):

Read Chapter 4

Answer this question:

What One Thing do you wish that your father would have told you?

Notes and quotes for  6.24.2012:

-How you and your son work together is important to our culture

-There is nothing to be ashamed of in you weekness; God will be strong our weeknesses

First, be sure to check in at 180 Blog by Brother David:          http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

Notes and Quotes for 6.17.2012:

-When we think we have arrived spiritually, the Lord shows us ways to higher heights of Spiritual growth, and deeper depths of commitment to Him.  This will be an ongoing and continual process for all of us until we make it to Heaven, but we have to really want that change in our lives.

-God's goal is for us is to grow up in Him to be a total, whole, complete, and mature individual (person) and to become more like Jesus in body, soul (mind, will, and emotions) and  Spirit (Our positive and loving attitude is a function of our growth in the Spiritual part of our person.).

-You cannot be a watcher and fulfill your destiny in the Kingdom

-The Kingdom cannot grow unless you are a participant in the Kingdom process

not a spectator

-You are a steward of God’s goodness and a dispenser of God’s love in this world

-If we are waiting for tomorrow, we miss what God has for us today

-We cannot be a watcher but a participant

-The way you think about your health is the way your body (With each heartbeat) will take it

First, be sure to check in at 180 Blog by Brother David:          http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/


Read whole Chapter 3 for next Sunday, 6/3/2012

First, be sure to check in at 180 Blog by Brother David:
http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

Notes and Quotes for 05/20/2012

Mens:

What we live in front of our sons is passed on to them

It becomes tacit approval

Evaluate your life (Examine yourself); is anything that I am doing in my life and my children are seeing hurting them

Example:  Do I cheat on my taxes

When we react to harms done to us in fear, it will turn in to hate

Fear is death; in every way possible fear is at the base of everything evil in our lives

We cannot live in the fullness of the Spirit if we cling to fear

If I hear a “What if?” in my spirit, it is usually the devil

Forgiveness is the only way we are going to move forward as a body of believers

How to forgive yourself; believe that God can make you something beautiful

When you forgive yourself, you will be free

If God forgives you and you do not forgive yourself, you are saying you are better and know better than God and you make yourself a god

Sermon:

In the kingdom if you give your life away, you will receive more than you gave

If I choose to give something to you, then I receive fulfillment

If I can learn to live in complete self-abandonment, I will be more fulfilled

If I do not consider my feelings, but put your feelings first, I put myself in a place of peace and rest

I need to be a blessing regardless of if there is a return to me or not; that will free me up

We cannot give away our lives without God giving them back to us

You cannot buy peace and fulfillment at a store

Do you want a pat on the back, or do you want peace in your heart

If you do not give, you do not receive

My life is to be spent for you and others

We all have something to give:  smile, a good word, kind greeting, scripture verse…..

This is not just for pastors, but for everyone in the Kingdom

I you are not giving your life away, you are loosing it

Every thing you hear from the Lord will line-up with the Word

John 4: 34-38 NLT, MSG The Kingdom is harvest time

I Peter 2: 1=12 NLT Living Stones and Ambassadors for Christ

Luke 4: 18-19 NLT MSG

From Wednesday:

God hides things for us, not from us

The normal Christian life:  When the supernatural becomes logical; when the impossible will look logical

First, be sure to check in at 180 Blog by Brother David:
http://turnonehundredeighty.blogspot.com/

Quotes and Notes:
-We auction off or dreams to slimy bitterness
-Most of our mistakes in relationships are due to fear
Assignment or next week:
Finish reading through Chapter 2
Look at and research the lives of Abraham, Eli, and David, then answer these questions:
-What brought them to greatness in the Lord?
-What was their greatest strength they did not pass on to their sons?

Notes and Quotes for 5/6/12:

Please go to Pastor's Dave 180 blog for the lesson(A must read for anyone who missed it):
click 180 Blog

Men's:
If you are using your Christianity to gain something, you have  a religion not a relationship.

We are born again for the Lord's enjoyment.

His presence always returns to those who seek him.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12-14 

God does does not tell you that you are not enough.

Sermon:
I cannot bless anyone if I am not walking in victory.

It is not wise to crucify the resurrected man.

We are born again so we can have contact and fellowship with the Lord.

Joy = Jesus then Others then Self

4/29/2012 Notes and Quotes

Sermon:  Desire:  De = of,  sire = father

Psalm 37:4  King James Version (KJV)

Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.                                                   http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+37:4&version=KJV

"It can be done."
http://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-the-man.aspx

Mens:  Assignment:  Read pages 31-40;  Do not go past "Something is wrong in Paradice"
Mens notes:

Joel 2:25:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=joel%202:25&version=NKJV

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁵ “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,^[a]
My great army which I sent among you."

Our fathers cut and define (weightlifting terms) who we are
Our men's group job is:  To keep a continuing spiritual legacy going
We all want to move to the next level
But to go to the next level, we need to learn from our mistakes
The Lord began and is developing a relationship at our level and on our terms
We need to strenghten relationships in our lives at the other person's level and on their terms

2 Mintue View:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2olRR3zu4TY&feature=related

Step Parenting

I listened to these programs this week about step parenting with Ron Deal on Family Life Today on KCMH (91.5) at 6:30pm.  I thought they were really beneficial:

http://www.familylife.com/audio/topics/parenting/challenges/stepparents/your-stepfamily--standing-strong/20120425-the-step-parents-role

Colby lead today. Very good job Colby!

Watch this to change your life: 
                A Man Called Norman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij-Tet62wdM

Adoration by Mike Adkins:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7ujXSpvafI


Manhood:  Being everything God wants you to be.

These are prayers that I pray regularly:

Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me.

Lord, make me the man you want me to be.
...the husband you want me to be,
...the father you want me to be,
...the son you want me to be.

Listen to this!!!!!!!!

http://www.drjamesdobson.org/Broadcasts/Broadcast?i=cf6568fa-278b-46b8-a9d9-b8dceba42871

Next week (3/25/12) is a transional day to Bond of Brothers; Late notes for past weeks to follow soon

Read Chapters 17 & 18

Read Chapter 15 for Next Week- 1/22/2012

1/15/2012:
Notes and information:
-Knowing your wife is everything
-In studying your wife, you are going to have to lay yourself aside

Notes to young men who are not married yet:

-Marriage is a ministry decision

-When you first meet a girl, you need to find out what she wants first

-When you are interested in a potential young lady, these items need to be found out:
  --Do you both share the have/share the same? ---
     ---Same/like spirits – “be equally yoked” – 2 Corinthians 6:14
     ---Spiritual goals
     ---Same hearts for ministry
     ---Same spiritual vision and peace about what the Lord has for your future
     ---Same spiritual commitment to the Lord
  --She (and you) has to be willing to do whatever the Lord wants you to do

-Before you every get emotionally involved, you need to interview her to find out the answers to the above questions (Interviewing takes the passion out of the equation)

-Also, you need to pray and ask the Lord to give you a list of all the things you want in a wife

-Then ask the Lord to help you develop a list of questions to ask her to see what her vision in the Lord is (Sample Question:  What is your vision as to how the Holy Spirit is guiding you in His plan for your life?)
  --When asking the questions be sure not to say what you feel, want, or expect;  just ask her for her vision, feelings, and thoughts on the questions             
 (--If she is interested in you, she would probably say what you wanted to hear just to keep your interest just as you would probably say what you wanted her to hear just to keep her interest in you)

-If she does not answer the questions correctly as compared to your answers and goals, then you need to move on for both your sakes before you become emotionally involved

-If things seem to be positive after the question interview, be sure soon that she comes to church with you several times so she can really see your spiritual background and heritage                              
(--If she is not comfortable with your church, that might be another sign to back off the relationship)