Partners in preaching

When I logged on to sermoncentral.com this morning to post yesterday's sermon, I noticed that I had reached a milestone of sorts. Since I first started posting the text of my messages to that site in late 2005, I have posted a total of 178 sermons and this week the number of times that those sermons have been viewed by visitors to the website passed 10,000. That's really hard for me to believe, but it just goes to illustrate how, with today's technology, the ministry of our church reaches all over the world.

I'm grateful to a church that allows me to do something that I love to do so much - teach the Word of God. All of you are partners in that process. At a minimum, you give to our church so that I can actually get paid to do something that I enjoy so much. But many of you play a much greater role in my preaching and teaching. The men who come at 6:30 a.m. each Tuesday morning help provide insight into the Scripture passage each week and help me to focus my teaching in those areas where people might have questions. Our "Connections" Bible study teachers often interact with me and share thoughts and ask questions. And then you take the passage and help our people to apply it in their lives each week. And most of all I'm indebted to Pastor Dana and the chance I have to bounce my ideas off of him and discuss the Bible each week and work together as a team to make sure that our teaching is accurate and relevant. Although he is often not as visible as I am, his input is invaluable to me each week.

So thanks to all of you who share in the impact of having 10,000 views of those messages!

Read More

God at work in our midst!

If you were at our Night of Worship last night, you had a great chance to see how God is at work right in the midst of our body. Each person who shared a testimony allowed us to get a glimpse of the many different ways that God is at work in our midst. For some, it is the way God is revealing Himself through His Word. For others, it is God being right there with them as they deal with the day-to-day struggles of life. And for others, it is God bringing them success as they serve as missionaries wherever God has place them.

What an awesome God we serve!

Read More

The Bible and Our Mobile Phones

Normally, I'm not real apt to pass on emails that people send to me. In fact, I'll let you in on a secret - I don't even read most of the emails that people forward on to me. But one that I received today really caused me to stop and think for a moment. so I thought I'd pass it on to you.

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our mobile phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several time a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we travelled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?Oh, and one more thing.Unlike our mobile phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected, because Jesus already paid the bill. Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

Just some food for thought!

Read More