Question of the day ??

What are your thoughts on Halloween?

Thought of the Day !!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Not in some things...not in most things...not in the good things that happen in our lives...but in "ALL" things God works for the good of those who love him.

In the midst of our personal trials, we may not think anything good can happen. But if we will look close enough, we will see that God even uses these times. It may be to build our character or strength. I remember one of the Star Trek movies where someone "playing" God told Captain Kirk, the captain of the starship Enterprise, that he could take away the things from his past that caused him pain. Kirk replied that he didn't want his past pains taken away. These were the things that brought him character and made him who he was.

We would not be who we are today if it were not for the good and bad things that happened in our lives. We are strengthened by trials and tribulations that we've overcome. And this is just a sample of how God "can" work for good in all things.

Other times that seemingly have no upside to them are times of disaster. We all remember 9/11. This was a terrible event in the history of our nation. But afterwards our nation banded together and you didn't hear about political parties and other kinds of disputes. We were all on the same team, even if only for a short while. How did God work good in this? Church attendance rose in the weeks following this event. I know that many of those who started coming after 9/11 have long since quit coming again, but you and I will never know how many came back and stayed and how many found a deeper relationship with God because of it. And God works for good.

Lets not forget the tragic hurricanes of the past year. Where has God been through it all? He's been in the aftermath where people learned that they could make a difference. He was there when neighbor helped neighbor (even if that neighbor was someone they'd never met). People have learned how to care for others and feed others and pray with others. Many learned how to be a Christian, maybe for the first time. And so the love of Christ has been shared throughout our lands. And God works for good.

So we can see God working good in ALL things if we will only look close enough. He didn't make 9/11 or Hurricane Katrina or Rita or Wilma happen. He wasn't trying to test us, punish us, or see how we would react. But in these events He does see us through and works good for all of us who love Him and are called to live according to His purpose.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Is it sinful to drink alcohol? Or is the sin getting drunk? And should we differentiate here?

Thought of the Day !!

You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT)

What does it mean to grow into the fullness of our salvation? I see this as maturing as Christians. When we are born again, we are changed in a miraculous way. But at the same time, our behavior and thinking may not be totally changed.

The new birth is just the beginning, not the end of our salvation story. It is then that God justifies us...that He forgives us and makes us worthy of His redemption. Then we are to begin a new life where we look at things differently. We'll continue to have pitfalls, failures and successes. We can learn from each one and grow in our relationship with God from each one. These are the things that will build us. And we should be able to look back daily and say to ourselves, "I'm not where I should be yet, but I'm much better off than I was."

After we're born again, the goal is for us to continue to mature, or as Wesley put it, to go on towards perfection. So what we must realize is that the new birth and/or baptism is not the end of our salvation story. These are just the beginning. Let us all crave the pure spiritual milk that God has to offer us and grow into the fullness of our salvation.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

What's the best (or your favorite) Bible translation? And why?

Thought of the Day !!

So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing.
1 Peter 2:1 (NLT)

There are many more things that we could add to Peter's list of stuff to rid ourselves of. The point is that after we're born again through the Holy Spirit we are to put a stop to the kinds of behavior that used to rule us. This may not happen over night, so don't fool yourself into believing that people who are Christians are automatically going to become saints. But at the same time, we don't just "pretend to be good", as Peter puts it, while all along living another way. This is hypocrisy. And Jesus don't want nothing to do with no hypocrites. He showed that while he was here on earth in human form.

The Christian contemporary group D.C. Talk has a song that begins with these lyrics.

"What an unbelieving world finds unbelievable
is Christians that acknowledge Jesus with their lips
and deny him with their lifestyles.
That's what an unbelieving world finds so unbelievable."
(quoted by memory - please forgive me if not exact wording)

The key is to realize that we're not perfect, but that we're trying to be. At the same time we must realize that the people around us are in the same boat. Some have matured in their Christian faith more than others, while some are still in the infant stages. Just be true to Christ in whatever stage of maturity you are in, and don't try to pretend you're something your not. But also never settle for where you are in your relationship with Christ and with one another. Always be striving for perfection in Christlike love, therefore growing in Christian maturity.

If we would all do this, an unbelieving world would see no hypocrisy in those who call themselves believers.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Who's your favorite Old Testament hero and why?

Thought of the Day !!

Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.
Ephesians 4:2 (NLT)

Lets face it. It is much easier to find fault in others than in our own selves. But in reality nobody's perfect. So if people have to put up with my faults, should I not also try to put up with theirs? The next time you are about to get upset at someone else because of some fault of theirs think about an imperfection of your own. Maybe that will help you to be humble and gentle as Paul teaches us all to be.

In the love of Christ,
greg

"WILMA"

Well, Wilma hit as a category 3. Don't know the extent of the damage to Florida yet, but I read where there were 17 deaths out in the Caribean. Pray that there have been even fewer in FL. Pray that there will be none. Just pray.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Why is change so difficult?

Thought of the Day !!

Today's "Thought" comes from a dear friend of mine pastoring down at West Laurel UMC. When I read Roy's devotional, I felt led to share it with others. May you be enriched by God's message this day.


Grace and peace,

Matthew 9:27-38 in The Message is entitled "Become What you believe". The title caught my attention.

We all know the story. Two blind men are crying out for Jesus to heal them. Jesus asks them, "Do you really believe I can do this?" They reply, "Why, yes, Master." Jesus healed them. Become what you believe is an appropriate title because they were blind, but Jesus gave them sight. We are blind until we meet Jesus. When God's light opens our eyes, we see things differently. My daughter had cataracts from birth. Around six, she had surgery to correct her eyes. I will never forget the way she walked around the house feeling the wall paper and commenting, "I didn't know it was this color." She saw for the first time. God wants to open our eyes also.

God wants us to see others as God sees them. We allow culture to influence the way we think. We judge others because of their color, their nationality, their sex, their mental capacity. We all do. We all make judgments about others. We all want mercy for ourselves and law for others. We are quick to condemn others for their weakness, their past, their failings, their mistakes. We forget that God is loving and forgiving. Yes, I know you can quote chapter and verse about how God is going to judge us. Yet, I ask you this: If God can forgive you, will God not also forgive others? If God loves you and accepts you as you are, does God not accept others too?

Sin is destructive. Sin separates us from God. What is the greater sin though? Jesus told us the only unpardonable sin is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What does that say to us? Divorce is not the unpardonable, but some believe it is. Having tattoos is not the unpardonable sin, but some want to exclude those from God's kingdom that have tattoos. The point is we want to exclude all those who are different from us, that do not meet what we think is necessary to get into God's kingdom. May God open our eyes to see as God sees.

May God open our eyes today. The needs are immense. We need more helpers!

Roy Pearson

Question of the day ??

What is your passion?

Thought of the Day !!

Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:12

Each of us can build up the Church and serve our God in unique ways. What gift has God given you that will allow you be a part of ministry? Seek out your gifts and your passions, and then figure out how to use them to build up God's kingdom here on earth.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

How important should going to church be for Christians today?

Thought of the Day !!

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Romans 8:11

If we claim the name Christian and have asked Jesus to come into our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit, let us let the same Holy Spirit drive and motivate us. Let the Spirit fill you and send you where God wants you to go. Let your lives be spent for Him until such time which He chooses for us to see Him face to face and eat at his table with Him.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

I believe that we all have two types of callings. The first is what we call prevenient grace, where God calls us to come into a relationship with Him through Christ Jesus. Then we have a secondary calling for ministry (seeing as how all Christians are ministers). Do you agree? And if so, what would you say your secondary calling is?

Thought of the Day !!

The Pharisees were indignant. "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?" they asked his disciples. When he heard this, Jesus replied, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do." Then he added, "Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: `I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices.' For I have come to call sinners, not those who think they are already good enough."
Matthew 9:11-13 (NLT)

John Wesley took scriptures like this to heart as he said that our mission was to seek out the least, the last and the lost. For is that not exactly what Jesus did? Is that not exactly what the Church is called to do in Jesus' absence?

But could it be that we sometimes forget the call to make disciples...the command to love one another...the biblical mandate to be merciful in light of everything else that fills up our week and even our worship service? How many of us have invited someone to church lately? And for those of us who have, how many of those were people who were different than ourselves? And finally, if we did invite someone of a different color or background or lifestyle, would our church be Pharisaical in its response to them by wondering why "those" kind of people were there?

I've come to realize that there is really no in between here. We either want to seek out the least, the last and the lost, or we don't want to get dirty. Yes, I said dirty. And the dirtiest man that ever lived was Jesus. Yes, I did say Jesus. We think more about how Jesus was perfectly sinless and how he makes us clean. But to make us clean he had to first get his hands dirty and come to us where we were. And after he does this, he asks that we be willing to do the same.

I think we can all get caught up in our comfort zones where life is safe and we know how to handle everything that's going on around us. But the truth is that when we do this, we become like the Pharisees in many ways. It's time to come out of our comfort zones and do ministry...real ministry. And believe it or not, that may mean going to the places where there are people who are sick in sin. It may mean inviting people who are different to our churches. It may mean welcoming people who are different. It may actually mean that we become a different kind of people ourselves. The kind of people who are more open and welcoming to all God's children. Oh what a difference that would make in God's kingdom.

Are you ready to make a difference for Christ? If so, allow him to use you somewhere or somehow today that you might not normally want to be used. And if you don't feel that calling today, wait patiently and pray about it. God will find a place to use you. I suspect He already has it picked out. He's just waiting for your willingness to allow Him to work through you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

"WILMA"

Stan caused landslides to kill over a thousand in Guatemala. Rita brought the rains to flood TX and LA and push over crops in AR and MS. Katrina almost took New Orleans off the map, and it devastated the Gulf Coast.

Now here comes Wilma. What will she do? Will the Texans have to flee Houston again? Will New Orleans become another gigantic bacterial infested swimming pool again? Will even more of the coast of MS and AL be moved northward?

Or will Wilma find cooler waters that will allow her to dissipate and bring nothing but showers and a cool breeze over those who are working hard to rebuild lives that have been altered by her dysfunctional family.

I read earlier that as of Oct 6 there were still over 1,000 people missing from one of the counties in southern Mississippi. I've heard that FEMA is slowly getting mobile homes to people who need a place to live temporally. I hang on every word of people's stories of how churches are banding together to start up schools on the coast and how others are still trying to gut their houses and how many are still helping.

I've often said that once Katrina got out of the news, that we better be careful not to forget the people who are affected. From some reports that I've heard, there are agencies, church and other, that have picked up and left now that the emergency stage is over. This is why I am proud of UMCOR. We have committed to standing beside those who need our help for the long-haul. Our plans are for a four year period of reconstruction of property and lives. We will not leave hurting people just because the waters have subsided.

But alas, here comes Wilma. Will she bring back those who've left because they thought their job was over? Will she affect the coast and LA at all? Will she turn and add another area (FL) to this year's devastation? Or will she leave them alone, seeing as how her brothers, Charlie and Ivan, took their toll on them last year?

So many questions. Maybe the number of questions should be outweighed only by the number of prayers. So today I ask you to pray. Pray for those in the Caribbean who are in the midst of Wilma today. Pray for those who are trying to rebuild homes, careers, LIVES today. Pray for families who are worried about loved ones living in a tent on the coast in what used to be their nicely kept front yard. Pray for those who've lost loved ones. Pray for those who are down south in any of the affected regions trying to help bring normalcy back to others' lives. Pray for ALL who have been and may be affected by the mighty winds and rain of hurricanes this year.

And finally, pray that Wilma is put to death out in the water.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

John Wesley, Martin Luther, John Calvin and Benny Hinn are debating. Who would win?

Thought of the Day !!

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
1 John 4:20

This is a strong statement about love. Love is something that is hard to define, but much easier to show. So when we hate a brother or sister, we show the lack of it. And the ultimate love that God expects from us has no hate in it. This is proven by Jesus when he teaches us to love even our enemies. So love all, and hate none.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought/Question of the day !!

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:44-48

Who are your enemies? How many of us can honestly say that we love our enemies?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Would you rather travel with Paul or be crucified with Christ?

Thought of the Day !!

For we speak as messengers who have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines the motives of our hearts.
1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT)

As Paul writes to the people of Thessalonica here, he is in the process of remembering his prior visit with them. He reminds them that he and his companions had nothing to hide and that their message was authentic. In doing so, he claims that their "purpose is to please God, not people." Now this is something that can easily be said. But it often times simply is not true. Oh I don't mean that we are lying when we say that our purpose is to please our God. I mean that we want it to be, but in reality we may be trying to please others or ourselves. And maybe we don't even realize it. Of course this may not be the case with you. But we should all be willing to test ourselves daily to see just what our motives really are. God bless. Know that Jesus loves you...and so do I.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

The Lord's Supper:
Wafers or Bread? Intinction, shot glasses or sharing the same cup? Wine or Welchs? What's your preference and why?

Thought of the Day !!

Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer to everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NLT)

These two verses have come to me the last couple days. On the surface I see Paul trying to teach us to be different from non-Christians. We must use our time with them as opportunities to minister and evangelize. This doesn't necessarily mean asking them if they're saved, though it could at times. But what he really wants us to receive here (I believe) is that we are to live and act like Christ would around them. We are to care for them and teach them about Christ whenever possible. We are to show love to them by what we do and what we say and how we say it. We are to lift them up, being gracious to them.

This is my understanding of this passage. But as I've thought about it lately, I believe God is sharing with me that this is just as important in our daily walk with other Christians as with non-Christians. In today's world there is so much falling out in our churches and denominations. One person believes this and another believes that. One person does this and another doesn't like it. And when this happens, I wonder just how much of the conversation is "gracious and effective"?

Maybe it's not fighting over beliefs or actions. A lot of us may just be critical or rude or negative. Maybe this is you or me and we don't even realize it. Do you know how many times that you make someone think to themselves "I wonder what side of the bed he/she woke up on this morning?" Do you realize that you may be turning some people off by what you say to them? I've been wondering that about myself these last couple days, and thought it might be a good idea if we all did.

And then let's never forget that the original purpose of this passage was for our conversation to "be gracious and effective so that (we) will have the right answer for everyone." We want our answers to those who are non-Christian to be positive instead of negative. And our answers may not come after we've been asked questions. Many times we may answer their questions by how we speak to and show respect for each other as Christian brothers and sisters.

So today let's focus on how our conversations with each other (Christian and non-Christian alike) can be more gracious and effective.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

If you could have one wish granted to you this very moment, what would it be?

Thought of the Day !!

Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king.
1 Peter 2:17 (NLT)

It's often said that people have to earn other people's respect. But why is this? Does this go along with the Golden Rule to do unto others as you would have them do unto you? I mean don't we want others to respect us. I know I want people to respect me enough to let me know when they'll be late or won't show for an appointment. This is respect of my time. And I believe I owe it to others. None of us should have to earn that.

There's also respect in regards to others' feelings. Should we not all have a certain respect for others by not saying things that might hurt their feelings? What about respect for their property...their beliefs...their possessions...and so on.

Respect is not something people should necessarily have to earn. It's a gift. And it's one you can give everyone you meet. Who is someone you've not shown proper respect to? How can you change that today?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Yesterday after church I had someone come up to me and ask me when I was going to start telling "these people" how God was bringing all these disasters on us for a reason. I told him I wasn't because I didn't believe that to be true. He didn't like my answer. What would you have said?

Thought of the Day !!

Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:2-3

Wow. Let heaven fill our thoughts. What does that mean?

I think it means that instead of focusing on what we can accomplish here on earth, we should focus on what we can accomplish in heaven. Or as Jesus put it, the treasures we can store up in heaven instead of here in this world. I'm also led to think about the Lord's Prayer where we pray "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. When we focus on God's will for His kingdom and how we may be of help to Him in bringing it about, our thoughts are filled with heaven.

Of course letting heaven fill our thoughts is not only about thinking how we can do the work of Christ in God's kingdom. It's also asking for and allowing God to fill them with things such as goodness and peace and assurance. I think that when we let heaven fill our thoughts, we think more about the good things that are happening and that can happen in God's name. We think about how blessed we are instead of how much we've had to struggle. We think about how happy we can be even when we don't have all the worldly possessions we desire.

So let heaven fill your thoughts this day...this week...this lifetime. And allow Jesus to fill your soul.

In the love of Christ,
greg

I wonder if I blew it

What do you do when you see someone you don't know drinking and about to drive?

I was at the local quick-stop earlier today buying some snacks for the baseball game tonight when I saw her. She was not an elderly lady. But she wasn't what I'd call young either. She was at the counter and taking a rather long time. I stood patiently waiting while she slowly rambled through her money. My thoughts were that she was just slow (either slow physically or mentally) because she didn't seem to stagger around or spurt out a bunch of gibberish talk like someone who was drunk may do.

Well, the lady finally left, and I put my Pepsi and chips on the counter. This is when the clerk stated that she hoped that lady wasn't driving. Evidently, to her the lady wreaked of alcohol (of course that didn't stop her from selling her two big bottles of beer). The lady was already out the door at this time.

As I came out, I saw her in her car. And the only possible proof of her being drunk was that of the clerk's assumption. As I opened my car door, I saw her turning one the bottles up. But I got in my car and just prayed for her and anyone else on the road she may meet as I headed back home. And since then I've wondered...did I blow it as a minister and as a Christian...or am I just being too hard on myself? I wonder if there was something I should have done, or even could have done. And I'll never know.

But this got me to thinking about the opportunities that come our way to be Christ for those who need it most. Do we really take the time to do something that might even be embarrassing like go up to people we don't know and share the love of Christ in one way or another? Do we notice the opportunities that God places before us? Or do we pass them by?

I don't know if I should have done anything or not at the store earlier today. But I do know that I need to pay more attention to the little things that may come my way so that I won't totally fail at being what Christ is trying to lead me to be.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

What is the most important crisis facing Christianity today?

Thought of the Day !!

Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him.
Colossians 2:6 (NLT)

Yesterday I talked about what it meant to believe in Jesus. Today I want to look at what it means to say that He is our Lord and Savior. Lets look at Jesus as Lord first. Paul wrote that as we have accepted Christ Jesus as our Lord that we must continue to live in obedience to him. The key here is the word obedience.

The word lord is not used like it once was. Once upon a time you might hear about the lord of the manor or the lord of this or that piece of land. And the lord was the one who was in charge. He was the one whom you had to obey. So when we speak of Jesus as our Lord, we are saying that Jesus is the one who is in charge of our lives. His teachings are the ones that we are willing to obey. If you claim that Jesus is your Lord, but you are not living by his teachings, then you are lying to yourself and to others.

Then there is the word Savior. This is pretty simple. Jesus died on a cross. And when he did, we were given a way to be saved from our sins. I like to say that he did it so that we would know there was a way out.

So when we believe in Him by putting our trust in Him, we are saved from our old sinful ways. Because He saves us from ourselves, He is our Savior.

So believe in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior and you shall be saved from the penalty of your sin, which is death.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Blogger Profile on Locusts and Honey

Check out the Locusts and Honey blog. John's been gracious enough to interview little old me.

Question of the day ??

Mega-church or small church? And why?

Thought of the Day !!

Just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him.
Colossians 2:6 (NLT)

When we believe in Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Savior we are saved, born again, created anew or however else you want to say it. We begin a new life with Christ. So what does it mean to believe in Christ? Does it mean that we believe in an intellectual way with our minds, deducing that there must be a God and therefore must be a Christ? Or does it mean more? What does it mean to say we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior? Today I want to talk about what it means to believe in Jesus. Tomorrow we will look at the terms Lord and Savior.

John 3:16 is possibly the most well-known verse in the bible. And people throughout the ages have taken this verse to be the means of their salvation. God gave His Son so that if we would believe in him we would not perish but have everlasting life. So if we believe in Jesus we will be saved. A truer statement will never be made. But what does it mean exactly to believe? Well, throughout the Gospel of John when the word believe is used, it is used to mean more than an intellectual belief. It's more of an action verb. And the action is to place our lives, our fates if you will, into Jesus' hands, trusting in Him for their outcome.

I've always believed, and taught, that to believe is more than believing with our heads. It's also believing with our hearts, which will lead to believing through our actions. In other words, when we believe with our heads, we acknowledge the Truth. When we believe with our hearts, we place our love in the Truth. And when we do these two, our actions will follow suit. And the Truth that we believe in is Christ Jesus.

All this means is that if you say that you believe in Christ and are saved because of it, make sure you aren't just talking about agreeing with the fact that Jesus lived or even the things he taught. Come to know Christ in an intimate way, trusting in Him and placing your whole life in His hands.

Tomorrow we will talk about what it means to say that "Jesus is my Lord and Savior."

In the love of Christ,
greg

Question of the day ??

Hello there fellow bloggers. I've decided to try something new on my blog. It's called the "Question of the day ??". These questions will range from the insignificant (so that we can have a little fun) to the theological or practical issues of our church and society (so that we can learn from each other). All I ask is that we keep it clean, honest and non-judgmental. And, of course, that you respond.


What book or books have been most influential in creating who you are today?

Thought of the Day !!

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21

I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
Philippians 3:8-9

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14

Something that I've been thinking about for the last couple months and preaching on the last couple weeks is finding our passion for ministry. What do these three passages from the letter to Philippi have in common? Well, they may have a lot, but what I see is not found in the wording, but instead in the attitude of the writer.

Listen to yourself as you read these verses, and you just might hear the passion of a man who desires nothing but to know, love and share Jesus with others. Most anybody will get passionate about something. Many get passionate about sporting events. Start up a conversation about the Atlanta Braves and you'll see excitement come over my face. Many are passionate about politics or books or their favorite television program. And while none of these are bad things, how many of us are as passionate about serving Christ as we are the football games on Friday or Saturday nights or the next election or upcoming "season premiere of the hottest new drama on TV"? How many of us have the attitude that Paul displays when he makes the claim "to live is Christ and to die is gain"?

As individuals, we are all given a passion when we turn our lives over to Christ. That's why many new Christians seem on fire and want to join everything in the church. I believe that our passion is a gift just like our faith or ability to love. And I believe that God instills in us a passion for ministry as well. It's a fire within us to do something. But if this passion is not fueled and used, it will burn out and we will become comfortable doing nothing.

I've heard that a church's vision can be viewed as the pastor's passion plus the congregation's passion plus the needs of the surrounding community. The pastor cannot do it on her/his on. And then there are of course those pastors with burned out passions as well. So the pastor and the people must both seek out their passions and together do something with them. Otherwise, the church will die.

So what is your passion for ministry? What desire has burned in you before or is burning in you today? Do you need God to place a passion for Christ and doing ministry with Him in your heart? Think about it. Pray about it. And ask God to fire you up. This is not for you to take a side of an issue or to have an agenda. Instead, it's to find the love of Christ burning in you and leading you to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called (you) heavenward in Christ Jesus".

In the love of Christ,
greg

Word from South Mississippi

I received an email from a friend of mine about his trip from Laurel, MS to the coast. He wrote:

Hi there you lovely people!!! All is well here. Randy and I just got back
from Bay St. Louis and Waveland. We took a trailor load of supplies down to
some people. Boy, it is a mess. A month and a half after the hurricane,
and things there still look like an atomic bomb had hit there. We had to go
about 40 miles out of the way to get there because the main bridge isn't
there any more. The hospital in Waveland is operating out of tents because
of the main building having been under water. There is also a pharmacy
there operating in a small utility building. Cars are still lined up on the
road where the wave left them when the storm hit. The entire place smells
of soured mud. Schools are gone. There are no grocery stores in operation
at this time. The people said that there are only 2 gas stations that are
open. These are trying to serve both towns. This is only a few of the high
points. Things are BAD there.

I was speaking to a person the other day from Gulfport. She said that there is razor wire up and that nobody is allowed past it. These are probably the places that are most contaminated. Her husband told me that a container of chicken had been pushed into their yard. These containers and tractor trailers were placed as a barrier and pushed as far as a mile or mile and a half by the waves. After the storm, bags of chicken could be seen hanging from trees. I can only imagine what that smelled like after being out in the sun for a while.

There is still a great need for flood buckets and teams to work down south. So please don't forget the need.

Let us imagine for just a moment that it were us. We're living in a small camper because we were lucky enough to have a relative who brought it to us. Every day we are awakened to the stench in the air. We worry about whether or not we will be getting sick. We don't know how long it will be before the inspector comes to declare our home condemned. And after that, we wonder how long it will be before we can get to work on replacing it. Will we receive enough money from our insurance? Did we have flood insurance? If not, will they pay? There seems to be nothing but questions as we wait. What do we do? We walk around and try to clean up as best we can.

This is a fictional account compiled of stories I've heard. All I can say is that my heart goes out to those who are living in campers and even tents. Another person spoke to me about a relative that was feeling guilty because her house was the only one in the neighborhood that wasn't destroyed. How would you like to feel guilty just because you had a roof over your head that didn't leak?

So where does that leave us? Maybe our homes are still standing and we're still going to work and we're breathing clean fresh air. As Christians who love our neighbors, shouldn't we be doing all we can to help our brothers and sisters have the same? Pray about it. And see if God has a plan of action for you.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Real stories from real people trying to rebuild down on the coast

Check out this Mississippi Response to Hurricane Katrina blog. It was started by a UM pastor and a lawyer. They have been working on the Gulf Coast to get the real stories of average ordinary people out. These are the thoughts and words of actual people whose lives have been altered drastically by Katrina. Please be in prayer for them. And please remember that after the news coverage has completely forgotten about this devastating storm, these folks (and others just like them) will still be hurting and in need. The predictions are that it will be four years before life is back to normal. And that's only IF there's not another storm within that time frame.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives. Anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human rules but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (NLT)

Maybe we ought to ask ourselves from time to time which way we're leaning. Are we leaning towards a holy life or an impure one? None of us are perfect. But all of us can strive for perfection (or holiness). This is what God desires.

In the love of Christ,
greg