Are We Reaching Them???

Okay, It has been a couple weeks since I have posted. It has been quite a time! Finished up my first 8-week online semester with results above what I expected. Then, we had our Spring Revival this week with Rev. Sam Dyer speaking and Paul and Christy Newberry leading our worship. What an exciting time in the life of our church!!!

This has also been a great time of re-focusing my eyes and heart on the work God has for me. Why is it that it is so easy to be sidetracked? It's so easy to get caught up in the job aspect rather than the ministry side of our calling. I have found that I need to focus more on the people we are trying to reach than the songs, instruments, lighting, sound equipment and other usual concerns.

But the focus of everything I do must be to show the love of Christ to others, right? One of the key points I got out of the revival was this...God doesn't tell us to only take the sinners who are "A-listers" or will be beneficial to us either. He tells us to reach out to sinners, point blank!

The verse that comes to mind is Romans 5:8..."But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." That means every sinner, regardless of their personal sin nature, status, or upbringing.

This is a battle we all face...reaching out to ALL!!! I have heard from so many people that visitation just doesn't work anymore. I don't believe that completely, but rather than the methods used for visitation need to adapt. We need more of a personal evangelism. Get to know them and let them get to know us. When they see a difference in us, that could allow us a chance to share with them more openly. Here is a neat little video from BluefishTV that runs quickly through the Roman road (road map to salvation) that we can share with others...



How are you doing at reaching to those who are hurting around you? Do you only focus on the "good" sinners, as if there really is such a thing. Or, are you willing to reach the drug addict, the prostitute, the homeless, and the ones with a rap sheet a mile long? This is a challenge I am taking personally. Will you join me?

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

Be Thou My Vision!!!

The past few weeks, I have been rather lax in my postings, I realize. Our church has been challenged to seek the "vision" that God would have for the coming ten years...

What a challenge! I have spent countless hours praying not only for the "vision", but also a true unity in that vision corporately. The verse found in Proverbs 29:18 that I alluded to a couple of posts back keeps reverberating in my mind..."Where there is no vision, the people perish..."

I have often kind of meandered through life, as if no care for the future, because I know who holds tomorrow, but if I am not seeking what He has for me am I just wandering aimlessly?

Our meeting with the whole congregation was smooth and unified...praise be to God! Now, we must put those ideas and plans in to action. Pray that we will continue seeking His will for His church! And, I also challenge you to seek what God's vision is for you in the coming days, months and years. Take the challenge and you will be blessed!

Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!

What is your vision???

Yesterday, our services were focused on "The Blessings of Faithfulness". With all the economic upheaval going on, folks seem to be focusing more on what they see as "mine" rather than focusing on what is "God's". Why is it that when we are in dire circumstances that we tend to focus inward? This is a human trait that I know men battle with constantly. We are "fixers" and have a hard time sitting back and waiting for answers, we must "fix it now!"

The problem starts because we see "our" monies not going as far, and think we can make better us of "what we make" than our Lord can. We don't say that, but our actions do! We tend to forget that "what we make" is actually "what He has given"!

Now, the challenge that has been put forth is finding a vision of what God would have us do here at Emmanuel in the coming years. We are praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for what is to come. What programs we need to focus our energies on, what areas need special attention. The world around us is changing and we want God's leadership as we reach out!

A key verse in Proverbs 29:18 states "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."

I believe we are at a huge place in the history of the world. If we are to walk the right roads, we must have the "right" goals to be aiming for. Be in prayer with me as we seek God's will for the coming days, weeks, months and years.

I would like to leave you with one of my favorite songs from Casting Crowns "If We Are the Body". Listen to the words and ask if we truly are acting like we should be.



Please let me know if you have a special prayer request I can word on your behalf today!!!