Obedience

“There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the Lord, who had set them apart to be holy. But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my decrees there in the wilderness. They wouldn’t obey my regulations even though obedience would have given them life.” (Ezekiel 20:11-13)
“But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my decrees and follow my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life.” (Ezekiel 20:21)

Each of us are faced each day with doing life our own way, the world's way, or God's way. So many insist on doing life thier own way believing that they will find life by following thier own desires. Little do they know by following thier selfish desires they are actually being robbed of life. The only way we will find true life is by doing life God's way. We know what "God's way" is because God has given us His word.

God had given Israel decrees, regulations, and Sabbath days he expected them to follow. But instead, stubborn Israel wanted to "be like the nations around them."

How about you and I? Do we want to fit in to this world and this culture so much that we would forsake God's word in order to do so? This world promises "life" but it is as empty. Only the life God promises and gives can be recieved by faith and in obedience to His word.

Doing the "little things" right

"Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom."

(Song of Solomon 2:15)

I come from a long family line of athletics and coaching. As far back as you can find, my family has been involved in athletics and coaching athletics. Before my father became a successful insurance agent, he was a successful football coach. From Farmerville, to Winnfield, to West Monroe High School; wherever he went, he won. He never had an interview—always offers of hiring him on the spot. His focus wasn’t just having a winning record, but winning with his players. What I believe was a part of his success wasn’t just that he cared so deeply about his players, but that he believed so strongly in doing “the little things right.” Even after entering the insurance industry he continued to get calls and offers from programs from within our state and abroad. When a principal would call to ask my father to come look at their school he would always detour to the bathrooms. Why would he do that you might ask? Simple, he would go see how the bathrooms were kept up. If they didn’t have enough pride to take care of their bathrooms then they didn’t have enough pride in their school—they didn’t know how to win. He would call the principal and decline their meeting. I’ve also been coached by some other legendary coaches. One in particular was big on “doing the little things right”. When we would conclude with football practice, we were expected to have everything picked up from our equipment, to showers turned off, to stools put up, and so on. One day I remember coming in from practice and somebody had left out one stool from the previous day. Guess what? The whole team ran until we couldn’t run anymore! Guess what else? Nobody ever left there stool out again.

The point in all of this? My dad and these other coaches were trying to teach discipline, winning, and thinking “team” concepts. If you couldn’t learn to pick up your stuff after practice, then what if you missed that “key block” in a tight game? What if you “slacked up” the last few minutes of the fourth quarter? We were being taught that there was no “I” in team. We were being taught that for every little thing we missed, forgot, or wanted to do our “own way” would affect the team as a whole. Think this is ridiculous? Go look at their records and also the people they coached. They weren’t only teaching athletic concepts but “life concepts”.
This parallels so much in the Kingdom of God. There are certainly small things we shouldn’t sweat, but far too many times we as Christians miss the “small things”. We need to realize that we are responsible not only for our lives, but for others as well. We make up a “body”. Our choices and decisions affect the body as a whole. Every decision we make affects our spouses and our children. It’s the “small things” that go so far.

One of the reasons Chic Fil A is "set apart" from other fast food restaurants is they excel in doing "the small things" not just right, but GREAT!

When I was in the insurance business, I set several appointments everyday for sometime in the future. Obviously, a huge part of my market were churches and believers. I remember not being able to get returned phone calls from some of the smallest churches. Yet, there was one mega church in particular that every single staff member I called on, not only returned my call, but did so within 24 hours. When I had the opportunity to "brag on" this church and staff, they told me they are all given 24 hours to return calls. They obviously were big on "doing the little things right".

Doing the "little things right" goes so far! It’s picking up the small piece of litter in the parking lot that others have walked past. It’s picking up the ticket at lunch instead of “splitting it”. It's that sweet note you leave for your wife before you head off to work. It's returning phone calls promptly, returning emails, and being thorough. Not doing the "small things" can work in the reverse affect as well. It’s leaving the T.V. show on “a bit longer” when we know we should have cut it off. It’s allowing that “small piece of anger” in our hearts that turns into forgiveness over time. It’s the “small things” that aren’t dealt with in our marriage that turn into “large” things over time. It's allowing the "small attitude" squeeze by in our children instead of discipling them. Over time the "small attitude" turns into a "big problem".

You see, the small things really can matter in our lives. What are some of the "little things" you could do today that would make a "big difference"?

Hope for the discouraged

“Dear brothers and sisters, when trouble comes your way…” (James 1:2)

James states it clearly that in life, trouble WILL come our way. (James 1:2) As believers we will be opposed by the enemy, by the world, and just “life” itself can be very, very difficult. It is easy to fall prey to doubt, fear, and unbelief. If not careful, we can begin to complain, whine, and blame others for our troubles. If we look at our “troubles” through the proper lens they can become an “opportunity” not just a “trouble with no end”.

James goes on to say, “Consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:2) Joy is something that comes from the inside out, not from our outer circumstances. Our circumstances will change constantly but joy can remain whether life is good or difficult. The enemy is after your joy. If he can snatch your joy he can zap your strength.

We all can become discouraged in life.

Look at several examples taken from the word of God where people of God became discouraged.

Rachel was discouraged because she could have no children. “Give me children, or else I die!” she said.

Elijah came to a point in his life where he wanted to die.

Job said, “My soul is weary of my life.” (Job 10:1, 3)

The last example I will give is maybe my favorite. David was about to be stoned by his own people and he was also constantly chased by his enemies. David was at a very low point. I’m so glad when you are surrounded by church friends, family, and others God sends your way to encourage you. But there are times when nothing anyone can say can help. There are times when encouragement doesn’t come from the mouth of others. There are times when no one will come close to understanding all that you are going through. The Bible said that “David encouraged himself in the Lord.” (I. Samuel 30:6) There must be that absolute point of desperation that comes over you where you run to your prayer closet, fall on your face before God, and cry out to him for help! You must pray, you must fast, you must completely give yourself to His word. You must trust. You must believe. You must be at a place where you know that God sees all, knows all, and is sovereign. You must know that he loves you, cares for you, and will provide for you.

Have you been at a place of discouragement? Take heart, others in God’s word have been where you are. Today, “encourage yourself in the Lord.” He is God Almighty and He loves you.

The Way of the Cross

The Way of the Cross—Part I

“There is a way that seems right to a person but in the end leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12

“You can enter God’s kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)
“For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.” (I. Cor. 1:17)

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But to we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” (I. Cor. 1:18)

I am the father of three children. From the earliest days of infancy of each of those children, it didn’t take long to recognize something. Yes, they were cute and cuddly (except in the wee hours of the morning) but they also possess something that each and every man must conquer—a sin nature. That sin nature becomes evident in every little baby and child as they fight with everything within them, their self-will, to carry out that will. If this sin nature is never dealt with, never crucified, never “died too”, then my young children will never be able to serve the living God. For one to serve God, that self-will, that sin nature must be crucified to the cross of Christ and must be submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ each and every day of their lives. This can only be accomplished by them coming to and through the cross. They then must take up their cross and follow Jesus Christ daily.

There is something in each and every one of us that wants to do our own thing. There is something in each and every one of us that does not want to go the way of the cross—why? The cross is painful, grueling, hard, and is in complete opposition to our own self wills. When we come to the cross we must humble ourselves in obedience to God. Even Jesus before he went to the cross, knowing he must go to the cross, cried out, “Lord, if it is possible take this cup from me, nevertheless, not I will but your will!” He then speaks up and states that if anyone wants to be his followers, they must turn from thier selfish ways, take up thier cross, and follow me! If you try to hang on to your life you will lose it!

We live in a world that tells us, “If it feels good, just do it”. We live in a world that tells us to do whatever it takes to be “great” and “successful”. Don’t give things away but “he who has the most toys when he dies, wins.” It teaches nothing of humility, servant hood, or giving. The way of the cross isn’t easy—it’s hard. That’s why Paul said, “I must die daily.” This flesh will rise up each and everyday of your life so it must be put to death “daily.”

So many times we have indirectly told people to “come to Jesus and your life will be great!” You will be successful, happy, and “prosperous”. When the first wave of “hard times” or “trials” come they think, “What is this???”
Jesus says some rather straight forward things in John 15:18 when he said, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” Wow! Those are some pretty strong words! “The world will hate you!” You see the reason the world will hate you because when you go the way of the cross there is nothing in this world that appeals to you and nothing in you that appeals to this world!

Galatians 6:14 says, “Because of that cross, my interest in the world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.”

I recently had a young teenage girl along with her mother who had given her life to Christ come into my office for counseling. She said since she had given her life to Christ the things she was once interested in was now fading away. More than that, those she use to be “friends” with were losing their interest in her and she in them. I told her, “That’s the way of the cross!”

Jesus goes on to say in John 16:1, “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God…Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. J

esus gives us a “heads up” when he says, “don’t be surprised when the world hates you. You will face rejection, persecution, etc. but I have warned you ahead of time “Don’t be surprised”. You won’t abandon your faith when you realize the way of the cross is one that isn’t accepted by the world. When these things come you have been expecting them, not surprised by them.

If we want to truly understand and embrace the way of the cross, then we must renew our minds to understand the attitude and values of the kingdom and renounce the attitudes and values of our worldly, fleshly, carnal system.
In Mark 8, Jesus began to explain to his disciples that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and he would be killed. Peter then took him aside to reprimand Jesus for saying such things.

Jesus then addressed the root of Peter’s messed up values as well as the root of our messed up values—Satan. “Get away from me Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from Gods!”
For us to understand the cross, we must embrace God’s view and not that of human, carnal nature.

The sinful nature says to “be angry and sin.” The cross says, “Be angry and sin not.” The sinful nature says, “don’t forgive”. The cross says, “You must forgive”. The sinful nature says, “I want to be served”. The cross says, “Give up your rights and serve others.” The sinful nature says, “I want to be popular and accepted by the world.” The cross says, “If you follow after Christ, you will be hated by the world.”

Philippians 3:10-11 says, “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”

Most of us have no problem stating that we want to “know Christ”. Most of us have no problem stating that we want to “experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.” Where we all struggle is when Paul says, “I want to suffer with him…”
In order for us to truly be Disciples of Christ, we must be willing to carry our cross and endure whatever may come.

Family Vision

As I sit at my desk this morning I’m really doing a lot of meditating on vision. You hear a lot of talk about vision these days. Organizations and business’ have visions. Private and Public schools have visions. Churches and ministries have visions. But this morning, I wasn’t thinking about the vision of a successful business, organization, or even church vision—I was thinking about the vision of my own family. As a young man I certainly don't come close to "having all the answers"(nor will I ever), but I am giving my life to seeing God's realities come to pass in my family. I have searched the scriptues about family, seen some of the best examples in the world lived out in front of me, and convinced God has given me the same opportunity as any other believer to see family lived out biblically. I actually have spent some of the morning writing out a "vision" for my nuclear family unit.

When you talk about vision, you are talking about an unfolding future possibility. Have you ever thought about the future possibilities or realities for your own family? What it could become? What your marriage could be like? What your children could become? What your home could be to the community it was placed in?
We have strategies and plans to meet our monthly quotas in business. We have our strategies and plans to give young people the best education possible. We have strategies and plans to give excellent service and quality food at restaurants but have you ever considered what your strategy and plan is for your own family becoming a biblically functioning family? A family that is striving to be the family the word of God says it can be? The type of family that dares to carry out the God given, God ordained, and God mandated roles and responsibilities the Bible gives it? The family that looks so absolutely different then the families that make up “the world” and our culture around us? This doesn’t just “happen” anymore than a business man with no business plan thinking he can just “wing it” and believe he can reach his personal or companies goals. It must be purposeful, intentional, and focused.
We live in a world, even in the church world, where marriages are crumbling by the minute. Marriages that don’t necessarily even end up in divorce but marriages that are a far cry from the type of marriage the Bible says believers are to have. Many of “Christian” marriages still look so much like the world. Passive husbands/fathers not taking the spiritual role of leadership that God Almighty commands and demands of them. Wives/Mothers who are fighting to “prove themselves” that they are just as capable as “making it in the world” as their spouse. Spouses who nag, fight, and belittle one another. Children/Teenagers who “run the house” and show more respect and honor to a stranger than to their own parents. Young adults who are leaving the faith by the droves after high school. Is this what Christ died for? Is this the life Christ died to give us? Is this the reality of a biblically functioning home?
An athletic team would never go on the playing field without a game plan. An army would never go to battle without a battle plan. This is much more important than a football game. We are talking about a game plan that would combat the devices of the enemy of the family of God and an offense to see God’s possibilities for our lives and families become a reality for our lives and families.

The bible is our “road map”. The Bible is our “instruction manual”. The Bible is God’s way for God’s family to live the life of God in our homes. It shows us who we are, who we can become. It shows us how our families are to live and what our families can become.

Is there such a thing as perfect unity in a marriage? Is there such a thing as a husband that loves, leads, and models a godly example to his wife and kids? Is there such a thing as a wife that helps her husband fulfill the work and destiny of her husband? Is there such a thing as a wife that respects and submits to her husband? Is there such a thing as children who actually obey and honor their parents? Is there such a thing of multi-generational faithfulness? Can these things become a reality or is it just wishful thinking? Not only can these things become a reality they must become a reality. Not only can they happen, they must happen!

Family is the heartbeat of God. It is the basic unit of relationships. It is the foundation on which churches and communities thrive. And it is the very thing that the enemy has targeted and attempted to destroy in order to hinder the church, discipleship, evangelism, and multi-generational faithfulness. It is the very thing we must “get back” in order to save our dying world.
I encourage you to sit down, search the scriptures, and write out what God says about a true biblical family. You will find it weaved throughout the entire word of God.

“Without vision the people perish”. (Proverbs 29:18)

Without true biblical vision our families will perish.

Billy Hornsby 1949-2011

Billy’s Greatest Ministry

I first met Billy Hornsby (then known by me as “Uncle Billy) over 27 years ago when I was only 5 years old. He had planted and pastored a small church here in West Monroe, Louisiana know as “Victory Fellowship” (the same place that I would eventually be ordained and serve in known as “Life Church”). I can remember, even as a little boy, being so saddened when I heard he and his family were moving to West Germany to become missionaries. How could a man have such an impact even on a little boy of 5 years of age?

Through the years my dad supported him and kept some sort of contact with him. I can remember when I was “reaquainted” with “Uncle Billy” in the year 2000. I had began preaching then and felt that call of God on my life to be in the ministry “full-time”. This made my dad very nervous so he called Billy, who was now living in Baker, Louisiana and on staff at Bethany World Prayer Center, to give me some direction. “Bro. Billy” invited me to come and stay with he and Charlene for 4-5 days. He “tested my character” by making me dig a drainage ditch near his house (which I didn’t like-hence the undeveloped character). A few days into my trip he invited me on what would be one of the greatest transformational trips of my life-my first foreign mission trip to Brazil. On this trip Billy spoke before hundreds or maybe even thousands of people. He allowed me to get up before he spoke each service to share. Why would someone so well known spend time with me, invest in me, and believe in me when he could have invited anyone else?

I sent Bro. Billy the following email just last year. It reads:

Bro. Billy,

I just wanted to take a second to thank you for what you have mean to me all of these years. I will never forget the time you have invested in me and everything else you mean to me. I cherish the times I was able to stay with you in your home(s) and the times I was able to go with you on trips. I miss being able to be around you like I use to very, very much. Thank you for loving me in spite of my shortcomings and many failures. Here are a few things I am thankful for “Bro. or Uncle Billy” for:

1. For founding the church that I would eventually first serve at.
2. For taking me on my first mission trips. (I know you could have taken anybody)
3. For allowing me the opportunities to speak or share in front of the people when I was with you on these trips.
4. For giving me “an offering” in the airport on our way back from Venezuela. (You may not remember that but I never will). You asked, “Did they give you an offering?” and I said, “No sir.” You then gave me a wad of cash!
5. For surprising me on my wedding day by flying in. I will never forget walking out of the side of the church to get ready to walk down the isle and seeing you walk up. It meant the world to me.
6. Thank you for allowing me to come in your home in Baker and in South Carolina.
7. Thank you for you and Mrs. Charlene being a WONDERFUL example of what family is. I wish Jodi could have been with me on several of my stays in your home.
8. Thank you for allowing me to come hunting in South Carolina.
9. I cherish our hunting memories at our hunting club!
10. Thank you for you and Pastor Joel ordaining me.
11. Thank you for being patient with me during my “cage stage” years.
12. Thank you for taking the time to take my calls or answer my emails.
13. Thank you for always being so “positive” in your outlook in life.

These are just several of the MANY things I am thankful for concerning you.

Love you Brother Billy!Although

Bro. Billy left a huge personal impact on my life and family I know his impact has spread to literally thousands of people, families, pastors, and churches. He was the forerunner in the Association of Related Churches (ARC) that some of the fasting growing churches in America are associated with. Here is a full-press release that was posted on Church of the Highlands website by Pastor Chris Hodges:

Billy Hornsby, founder and President of the Association of Related Churches (ARC) and teaching pastor at Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama, went to be with the Lord on March 23, 2011, surrounded by family and friends. Billy, 61, had been battling cancer for over two years. He was known for his contagious love and passion for God, family, life, and leaders around the world.
Church of the Highlands will host a memorial service celebrating Pastor Billy’s life at the Grants Mill Campus on Monday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m. CDT. The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Association of Related Churches (ARC), a non-profit ministry which trains, resources and supports church planters.
Billy was born on April 18, 1949 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He married his childhood sweetheart Charlene in 1967. Their ministry together began in 1975 in West Monroe, Louisiana where they started their first church, Victory Fellowship. In 1984 they moved to Germany to serve as missionaries where they planted and supported churches all across Europe. Billy and Charlene moved back to the USA in 1989 and started two new churches in Kentucky. In 1991 they moved back to their hometown in Louisiana to serve as Associate Pastor at Bethany World Prayer Center. Under Pastor Larry Stockstill’s leadership, Billy launched hundreds of small groups at Bethany and trained thousands of other churches in cell church ministry.
In 2001 Billy and Charlene moved to Charleston, South Carolina to serve at Seacoast Church with Pastor Greg Surratt. During his time there, Billy and Greg began to dream about planting life-giving churches all across the country. In 2001, Billy and Greg, along with Dino Rizzo, Rick Bezet, Scott Hornsby, and Chris Hodges, founded the Association of Related Churches. ARC is now one of the largest church planting organizations in the country and trains thousands of church planters every year and gives millions of dollars annually to church planters. In 2008, Billy and Charlene moved to Birmingham, Alabama where the ARC is currently headquartered.
Billy also served as European Coordinator for EQUIP, a non-profit organization founded by John C. Maxwell which specializes in the development of international Christian leaders. Under Billy’s leadership, hundreds of thousands of new leaders have been trained in Europe over the past ten years.
Pastor Billy was also an author and well-known speaker. His books include “The Cell-Driven Church,” “Success for the Second in Command,” “101 Rules for Relationships,” and “The Attractional Church.”
Billy is survived by his wife of 43 years, Charlene; daughter Tammy Hodges and son-in-law Chris; daughter Trudy Bezet and son-in-law David; daughter Shary Long and son-in-law Phil; eight grandchildren: Natalie Gravois, Sarah, Michael, David, Jonathan, and Joseph Hodges, Wesley and Abby Long; brothers Frank Hornsby, Leon Hornsby, Scott Hornsby, and sister Suzanne Hobgood. Billy is preceded in death by two grandchildren, Will Long and Joy Long.

You read all of the above and you wonder, “What more could a man “be” and “do”? Although Billy was apart of wonderful churches, was a wonderful mentor to so many pastors and men, and touched the lives of literally thousands of people, these were not Billy’s “greatest ministries”. Does this shock and surprise you?
I’ve been in the ministry long enough to see that so many mininsters try to “win the world” at the expense of their own families. Our greatest ministry as ministers or pastors will always be “the ministry to our families” first—the Word of God clearly explains that.

Billy’s greatest ministry-his family. First to his marriage to Charlene.

Marriage was first created and instituted by God—even before his mention of the church in scripture. Our marriages are to be a Godly view and example of Christ’s wonderful love and example of his relationship to the church. This greatest example I’ve ever witnessed of a Godly marriage was Billy and Charlene Hornsby. Having the opportunity to be in almost every home they’ve lived in I watched—and I watched closely. I watched how Billy was kind, loving, gentle, and caring to Ms. Charlene. I watched how Charlene loved, served, submitted to,and cared for Billy. THIS was what I envyed and longed for in my own marriage one day! I looked at their marriage and I see what the Holy Spirit was illustrating in Ephesians 5:22-33, 21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.[a] 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. 30 And we are members of his body.
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”[b] 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Qualifications on eldership in the church even speaks of the necessity of a leaders family being managed well.

“He must be faithful to his wife…He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot mangage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church.” (I. Timothy 3:4-5)

Billy’s greatest ministry-secondly, his children.

“Didn’t I make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. For I hate divorce says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” ” (Malachi 2:15-16)The Lord tells us what he wants from our marriages—Godly offspring! Godly Children!

Billy and Charlene have three wonderful and Godly daughters! They all serve the Lord! They all have honored and respected him! They loveed being around him!

Billy’s greatest ministry-Godly generations to come.
“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.” (Pslam 145:4a)

From Billy and Charlene’s union of come three Godly daughters! But it hasn’t stopped there…the generations of Godliest is continuing. The passing of their faith is continuing. Our of Billy and Charlene’s union have come three Godly daughters, who married three Godly men (all of who are in the ministry), and now they have produced Godly offspring from THEIR UNION! Start doing the math! Can you see 3, 4, 5, and 6 generations of Godliness beginning with Billy and Charlene’s union? The generational faithfulness? The amount of finances given to missions? The servants of God that will rise up JUST from this family?
Now, what is incredible is that Billy did both—had a Godly family AND impacted thousands of people. This day in age, that is AMAZING!

Thank you for your incredible example Bro. Billy and thank you for the incredible example your family continues to be and live!

I love you!

Beck

Holy Ghost Boldness!

Jesus said that he is "the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6) The Bible also tells us in John 18:37 that, Pilate said, "So you are a king?" Jesus responded, "You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true." Jesus IS TRUTH!

Jesus also tells us in John 8:44c that, "He (the devil) has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." Even in the beginning we see the Devil trying to decieve Eve by planting seeds of doubt in her mind, "Did

We learn very quickly that there is a battle between truth and lies! The devil always has and always will hate the truth! Therefore, when truth is presented he will do whatever he can to oppose it, stop it, and use counterfeit tactis to decieve people to lead them away from the truth.

In Acts 3, God uses Peter to pray for a man that had been crippled from birth. The power of God touched the man who had been crippled for more than 40 years and the man who once was crippled could walk! This presented an opportunity for Peter to preach the no nonsense truth of the gospel to the people. As a result many believed and were saved! But there was another power at work...Peter and John were confronted by the priests and some of the other religious leaders. Peter, who was filled with the Holy Ghost, didn't back down from the confrontation but continued to put the truth out there! In Acts 4: 13 it goes on to say, "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognzied them as men who had been with Jesus." So why is it these men were so bold? What was their confindence being placed in? Thier own wisdom? Thier own education? No, because they had none! Their boldness was a result of being filled with the Holy Ghost of God and they had spent time with Jesus the Christ! When the council couldn't decided what to do with Peter and John or deny the fact that they had seen a miracle, they ordered the apostles never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. Didn't Peter and John back down? Did they compromise the truth of the gospel? No, they responded with, "Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19) The council continued to threaten them and finally let them go because they couldn't deny the fact that they had witnessed a mighty miracle of a man who had never walked!

When Peter and John went back to the other believers they had explained to them everything that they had experienced--the miracle and the threats. In verse 29 it goes on to say, "O Lord hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word...After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness."

We live in a time where preaching the truth with boldness is becoming less and less popular. The enemy of all that is true wants nothing more than to shut down men and women of God from spreading the truth of God's Word. But it is the truth of God's Word that does and will set people free and we can never back away from that!

May I encourage you no matter what kind of threats come your way. No matter who the threats are coming from, be filled with the Holy Spirit and spread God's Word with great boldness! We will need that now more than ever!

Desperate Deliberate Faith

“A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8: 43-48)

Here was a woman that had suffered for twelve long years with an “issue of blood.” In another accout from the Gospel of Matthew we learn that she actually had gone to many different sources for her healing but instead of getting better, she got worse. She was tired of looking for her miracle in all the wrong places. Here is a woman that was desperate for a touch from God! She finally came to a point in her life where she was desperate enough to do anything. Fighting through the crowd she came up behind Jesus with a “desperate deliberate faith” and touched the fringe of his robe! Her touch was desperate and deliberate. Desperate because she had suffered for so long and run out of options. Delieberate, because she knew exactly what she needed from God-healing! In her "desperate and deliberate" step in faith, she immediately was healed! Jesus knew that someone had “deliberately touched him” and that healing power had left his body! The disciples tried to tell him that many people had “touched” him but Jesus knew that there was one in the crowd that had really “touched him”! It wasn’t just a brush on the robe, or an accidental encouter. No, this woman deliberately touched Jesus Christ! Her faith touched him!

Maybe you are dealing not with an “issue of blood” but an “issue of life”. Maybe it is a physical issue, but maybe it’s more than that. Maybe it is a spiritual issue. Maybe it is a financial issue or a difficult situation you find your family in. Desperate times call for desperate measures! At what point will you allow yourself to come to before you say, “I don’t care what I have to do, I’m going to touch Jesus Christ! I don't care how much I have to pray and fast--I'm going to touch Jesus! I don’t care what kind of crowd I have to push through! I don’t care what kind of sacrifices I have to make! I don't care how radical my obedience may appear! I don’t care how stupied or foolish I may look to the world or even other Christians-I am desperate! I am desperate to touch Jesus with my faith and in turn have him touch me like only He can!

Desperate people can do all kinds of things so therefore we must be deliberate about approaching the throne of God. It is my prayer that you reach out in faith—desperate faith, and touch not only the robe of Jesus Christ, but the heart of God!

My Confession

My Confession…

May today’s confession be a daily confession unto you God.

You are God…and I am not.
You are Soveriegn…and I am not.
You have always been…and I have not.
You hold the world in your hands…and I do not.
You see my total future…although I cannot.
I can completely trust in you…and I will!

Just me or did you feel perfect peace come over your soul?

Finding Strength in Trust

"Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)

As human beings, we all are prone to becoming tired, weak, and weary. I'm so glad that the God that we serve never experiences any of these things! He fully understands the things in life that we will never understand and because of his depth of understanding we can rest assured by trusting in Him.

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength."

It is when we begin trusting in ourselves, in our flesh, and in our own understanding that we will find ourselves tired, frustrated, and worn out! We are prone to find strength in trusting in ourselves, our education, our emotions, etc. But when we come to the place where we fully put our hope and trust in God, it is there where we will find new strength! It is when we are fully trusting God we will be able to soar high like eagles!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Because of our experiences in life, we as human beings find it hard to trust. Humans can lie, humans can let us down, but God is the one we can fully trust with all of our heart! We are to walk through life FULLY trusting God in every circumstance, what seems to be good and bad. There are certainly times in life that we do not, in our finite mind, understand everything. We are commanded to not depend on our understanding, which is so shallow at times, but to fully trust in the one who understands all things! So when we find ourselves in situations in life that we don't quite understand, we are to continue to seek HIS will in everything we do and trust in the Sovereignty of God to direct us!

Trust God today and experience new strength and peace like no other!

Children's Home Outreach

Jodi and I took the 9th Grade Boys and the 8th Grade Girls small groups to the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home yesterday. "Joy Cottage" is made up of three girls and two boys and "The Pierce's" are the cottage parents. We all got them gifts and had the priviledge of watching them open them up yesterday! We all hung out, played some XBox, football, archery, and loved on them! I was so pround of how our teens engaged with each of them!

The Gospel According to Scrooge!!!

For over ten years Family Church has blessed the community with the "Gospel According to Scrooge". This is a powerful "broadway like" presentation when Ebenezer Scrooge comes face to face with "another chance" with life concerning Jesus Christ. You DONT want to miss!

Performances start tonight at 7 P.M.!

The dates are Dec. 2-4 & 9-11, 7 P.M. December 12 @ 3 P.M. is the Matinee!

Tickets are available online at www.familychurch.org and General Admission is FREE!
Reserved seating is only $10 and can be purchased online!

There will be opportunities to "meet the cast" after each night's performance as well as hot chocolate, coffe, and spice cider!

Hope to see you there!

Thankful!!!

Here are some things I am thankful for...

1) God's amazing love that he continues to show me daily through Jesus Christ my Lord.

2) An amazing wife he gave me to do life with! God certainly handpicked her for me!

3) Two wonderful daughters! "Children are a gift from the Lord..." I love being a dad!

4) Being able to be apart of the staff team at Family Church!

5) Being able to be apart of the Body of Christ here at Family Church! What a great place to grow your faith and family!

6) The wonderful teens, youth workers, and families that are apart of E3 Student Ministry!

7) Wonderful friends that are apart of my life! I am so thankful for people that pray, encourage, sharpen, and believe in you!

8) Being able to have the resources to help and bless people!

9) Being able to spend a little bit of time in the woods with a hobby that refreshes my soul!

10) Being able to spend time with extended family and friends during this season of the year!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Finally joined the "Twitter" world!

Most teenagers are so engaged in the world of technology that we live in. Me? I'm usually several years behind!

Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that allows you answer the question, "What are you doing?" by sending short text messages 140 characters in length, called "tweets", to your friends, or "followers."

I'd like to use this resource to stay engaged with friends, students, and parents about life and other things. I may send out random things that are going on personally or send out encouraging messages, challenges, etc.

If you don't "twitter" you can go to www.twitter.com and sign up free today so you can start recieving messages!

Beck

As for Me and My Family

I had the honor of speaking during this past Sunday morning's service at Family Church. I spoke a message entitled, "As for Me and My Family" that was directed towards the men of our congregation.

You can view it via the internet at www.familychurch.org

It should be up this Wednesday afternoon.

What's been going on in my world...

So I've been asked to update my blog so I thought I would do so by updating you all on my life.

First, my wife and I just recently celebrated our "8 Year" anniversary in Natchitoches, LA at the Judge Porter House Bed and Breakfast. When I read Proverbs 31 and Titus 2, I think of my wife Jodi. I couldn't have asked for a better "help mate" to partner with me in our family mission and ministry to the Kingdom of God. I love you Jodi!

Secondly, I've been spending allot of time studying two things in God's word.
1. The family and roles-Although so much of our culture has influenced and blended in to what we as Christians believe and practice the Bible is crystal clear on what the role of a man, woman, husband, wife, and children are to play out. As counter culture (even in the church world) as it is, I am more determined than ever to go by God's game plan. My family's spiritual heritage depends on it!

2. This "love thing". Pastor's messages have been hitting me square in the mouth. This is something God had dealt with me about in my early 20's and now has gone "full circle" to "see if I'm up to par". I realize how immature my love (the way God defines it is) still is and how much growth I have to see happen! I'm not interested in seeing where I am when I compare myself to others. In doing that, I may become proud thinking I am "so far ahead of some" and may also think "I'm so far behind others" so I don't do that. What I do compare myself to is God's word and in doing that, I know I have much more to go.

Thirdly, A lot of what Jodi and I do (especially Jodi) ministry wise, is done at our home. I mentor a couple of young men each hunting season. Jodi does SOOOO many things behind the scenes that will never get praise from men but will one day get praise from God. She is storing up "so many treasures in heaven" by her self-less serving of others and pouring into the lives of our daughters and other young ladies/women. I honestly believe these boys rather come to my house for Jodi's service and home cooking rather than to hear me teach God's word and take them deer hunting! But, we are a team and we work together although we play separate roles. We had Danny and Kyle Phillips out this Saturday evening. We watched some LSU Football, ate some summer, gathered the boys and my girls up for a time of Bible reading and prayer, then off to the woods we went with our bows!

Tonight, I get to spend time with my girls while Jodi gets a much deserved "mom's night out" with some of her sisters in the Lord! I love spending time with the two most precious souls God has entrusted to me-my daughters.

I love what God has called me and my family to do. It is such a privilege to work in the Kingdom of God. Thank you Jesus for calling me to be a slave to such a wonderful master as yourself. I love you.

Beck

Getting close...Grand Re-Opening!

When Pastor and Vicki O'Neal came to what was then, "Claiborne Church of God", in August of 1977, attendance at Sunday services were 50 people. Now, the situation has changed drastically! "Pastor O" has consistently and faithfully preached the Kingdom of God and the vision of "biblically functioning families" for over 32 years! God has truly placed his hand on this place! I think the best opportunity I have in passing the faith to my children and grandchildren are right here at 320 Laird Street!

This Sunday, we are entering into a new chapter of Family Church with our newly renovated worship center. The building campaign has been titled, "Generations" because we want parents and grandparents to pass the faith to the next generation!

What an exciting time this is! We will have the ribbon cutting at 9:15 and worship will begin at 10 A.M.!

Enjoy some pics of the outside! Inside pics are a surprise!

Weekend at a glance...

We had our 3rd Annual "Moving on Up" Family Orientation this Saturday at the R.D.F.C. This is where we host the families of upcoming 6th graders into our student ministry, feed them, and spend the evening casting vision! We have some GREAT families moving up! Our first service for the new semester will be this Wednesday at 7 P.M. We just installed all new sound in the youth room and we are pumped about Wednesday's worship service!

Yesterday after church, the girls and I had lunch with Danny and Kyle Phillips. These two young men have a special place in our hearts ever since we started having them in our home a year ago for our youth hunting mentoring program. We worked over 4 hours in the 100 degree heat putting up bow stands, chasing wasps out of box stands, and putting out deer corn! A little (or a lot) of work will pay off come fall when these boys are watching deer!

One of Jodi's "heros of the faith" is Ruth Bell Graham. Let me just say she is much more closer to being a "Ruth" than I am a "Billy". Anyways, Billy Graham said he and Ruth were a "team" and her way of contributing was to spend her time pouring into raising their kids so that it would allow Billy to travel and preach the gospel.If she wouldn't have done that then he wouldn't have been able to "go". And if he wouldn't have "gone" then people wouldn't have been "reached." She played as much apart of his ministry than he did. She never spoke, never was much on being "out front", just did her God called duties faithfully. She had a heart "for the lost" and although she never preached a message to the lost in front of thousands of people she was "reaching the lost" by freeing Billy to do what God had called him to do. Although I am able to stay near my family I still feel I am able to "go" because of the freedom Jodi gives me. Although a very outgoing woman she never wants to be in front of the crowds and her ministry so, so very often is done "behind the scenes". It is her contributing to the ministry God has called us to both in the home and in the church. So many times we think "ministry" is done AT the church but it is not limited to that one place. Ministry is done with the people who make up the church.

After the boys and I came in she spent the next few hours cooking supper and serving those boys as if they were her own. While she was busy doing that, my daughter Gracen was right along side of her serving as well. Two lessons here: Ministering to the boys while teaching OUR girls about ministry. We as a family where all ministering together as a "team" although we all played different roles and parts in that effort.

I love you Jodi and I thank God for you! I see you working so hard to pour into the lives of our girls and staying busy brining the presence of God into our home. Thank you for all the time you have spent over lunches, etc. pouring into the hearts of young teens and moms. Thank you for never complaining and working alongside me in ministry. As a team we can build our family while striving to head down the journey towards full-devotion with other families.

I am blessed...

Family, Friends, and Foreigners!

This week my family and I are housesitting at the home of Michael and LaTonya Lewis. We are also housing my brother-in-law and also Juan Karlos from Guatemala. I met Juan a few years ago while on a mission trip to Guate. This time around, we get to take care of him! He will be attending Christ for the Nations this fall!

The last few days as well as the remainder of this week will not be a slow one.Saturday evening we had several families over to eat and play some volleyball! Sunday the pretty wife took her little group of small group girls to the movies while I took the bro-in-law to the family clinic! (chrone disease).

Last night we had a wonderful time fellowshiping with some wonderful friends-Fritz and Sarah Niswanger. Today Jodi went on a movie date with the girls and another family while this afternoon she had some women folk over from our small group! Tonight, we ate wonderful home cooked meal. I will spend time with my girls while Jodi heads to her ladies night bible study with our small group.

Tomorrow Jodi will spend her day pouring into the lives of the two most important girls she will ever pour into-her daughters. Pouring into the offspring God has given us and making heart connections with them us a must! We are excited about our last youth summer gathering that will take place tomorrow night at the West home. Josh Taylor and our youth workers have done a GREAT job this summer putting these together! I can't wait for our first service back in a few weeks! I feel like a bull that has been locked in his cage! I'm ready to get my preach on!

Thursday night we will be having supper at the home of another special family-Richared and Angie Richardson. Lee Taylor and his wife Rachel will be there as well so this ought to be a great time of fellowship!

Okay, wheew!!!

Friday is my Sabbath so I will be resting in the Lord all day!

I am so thankful that God has filled our lives with family, friends, and a foreigner!

I'm in a hurry

Let me ask you a question. When was the last time you sat down as a family and ate a meal around your kitchen table? Let me ask you another question. How often do you or do you not do that as a family?

I can remember as a kid waking up almost EVERY single morning to a sit down meal together as a family and then doing the same when dinner rolled around. Sadly, that doesn't happen too often these days. Why? Because our society is one of fast pace and it is a train "blowing and going." Families are usually swinging by McDonalds or Sonic "fastfoods" because that caters to our lifestyle-fast. Now, we stay as busy as the next person and ministry never stops so I'm not condemning families that swing through the fast food line every here and now-we do that. What I am saying is that it takes a family being intentional enough to stop the madness, slow down, and enjoy each other. What's wrong with swinging by and grabbing a burger every night? Well, there is something very spiritual about sitting down and eating a meal together. The Bible is FULL of that. So much conversation can go on around the dinner table at HOME. Also, it is great for a mother/daughter or family to cook the meal themselves. I love coming home and seeing Jodi and Gracen in the kitchen together. Why? Again, so much conversation and relationships can happen when families do just that. To see them building a mother/daughter relationship and Jodi teaching her things she will need to know to take care of her family the rest of her life makes my heart glad!

The country group, "Alabama", sang a song years ago entitled, "I'm in A Hurry". Some of the lyrics go:

"I'm in a hurry to get things done
(oh,) I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But, I'm in a hurry and don't know why

I hear a voice
It says I'm running behind
I better pick up the pace
It's a race and there ain't no room for someone in 2nd place

Throughout the rest of the summer, slow down and enjoy each other!

Beck