Press on

I think often about the hardships of this life, the woes of this body, and worries of finance. I think I feel better now, without a "job" then I did when I was striving to get ahead, whatever that means. I mean, I worry about what we will eat, and how we are going to pay rent, but I am working toward the goal now, that I should have always been working toward, and that is, a home not made with hands, and a life that reflects my Lord while I am here. I still see areas where we could streamline somethings in our life, and get by on less, but more than that, what I really see is how sinful I am, and my need for repentance, in my life. I am not saying we should all quit our jobs, but in this season I have greater time reflect on my wickedness. It is hard to go from Lost, to saved, to comfortable, to convicted, to repentant, to striving for a holier life, I must say I have seen guys try it, and they looked like they were being legalistic, and I do not want that, and I know we must fellowship. I would love to live in a cave, but that is not what we are told to do. We are to be a light, and to be salt. I must pray that, by the Holy Spirit, I may walk in a way worthy of our King, and battle against the sin that rages within, and urging those that we fellowship with to do the same. No time for rest on this front, no time at all. Sin is ever present in this weak vessel of flesh.

Head First

I wonder when they threw the disciples out of a city if it was head first?

We had a meeting with the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Plant City, and one of the deacons, which owns a building downtown that is up for rent. It was to be a formality on the way to finalizing the rental agreement, but once we got into the meeting we soon realized that they were going to deny our request to rent this building. The reason was they wanted us to succeed, and they didn't think that was possible for us to do if we were so close to the "Biggest Church in town" why we would just be "in their shadow", and they wouldn't want that to "damage our chance of being successful".

The Problem is this, they measure success the same way the world does, and we measure it, not by numbers, but by growth in the lives of those in which the Lord brings us to teach, and Shepard.

Kingdom on earth building is a cancer that has swept our "Churches", and I pray that we will repent from such nonsense, and realize that it is the Lord that builds His Church, and If we are five blocks away, or ten miles away, there are many , many Lost, and many Christians that will not go to a Church like that. The fact is I know many people that will not go into one of these mega complex Churches, for the simple fact that they are not willing to deal with the plastic smiles (to their face), and dirty looks (behind their backs).

It was my turn to preach Sunday, I feel that the Lord was very merciful. We had about twenty five there, and I had Acts 1:12-26 for my text to teach on. I felt the Lord was leading me to bring out the fact that Judas was an unconverted man, and that was why he was able to betray Christ, also the prophecies about him had to be fulfilled. It is a huge honor to be called to preach, I am still amazed that God would even save, let alone call me to preach this glorious gospel.