Moore Thoughts

Leviticus!

2012-02-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and realized it was time for me to start reading the Book of Leviticus - the dreaded book in a Bible reading plan. This is the Mt. Everest of reading the Bible through in a year, because you know, that if you can complete that book you can overcome any of the others. I also realize it is February and the time many begin to drift from their reading plans. So I wanted to encourage you to keep moving forward. If you have slacked off, pick it back up and keep reading. This could be your pivital moment. So far I have really enjoyed the Bible reading plan I chose for this year, which is varying books at a time. I've gone through Genesis, Mark, Exodus, and Acts, but now I see Leviticus is the next one. Let me teach you some ways to help you through Leviticus:

Find a translation you enjoy reading, or one that you can read chronologically. My chronological Bible has all the laws and instructions set up according to category. For example, sacrifices and offerings, festivals, Sabbath, tithing, dedications, etc. Sometimes the book can jump from one chapter to the next dealing with the same thing, so this way you get it all at once.
Realize Leviticus is much more than outdated laws. For example, the story of Nadab and Abihu, the Sabbath year and the year of Jubilee, as well as some Old Law elements that have strong ties or types to the New Testament church (unleavened bread, Atonement, etc.). Look for these along the way.
Look for the humor. Yes, there is humor in the Book of Leviticus. Some of these laws are so amazing it will make you wonder what those people were really doing. If you don't have a sense of humor you might be grossed out on some things. It will definitely make you appreciate the New Law we have in Christ.
Look to the future. For me, I have already looked ahead in my Bible reading plan and know that the Book of Hebrews is coming next. I can't wait!
Push through the book. I have 8 days of reading so I will try to get it done in 4. That just sounds better.

The main thing is to keep reading your Bibles. If you just cannot make it through Leviticus without becoming a statistic, then go to your next readings. Get these stories of Scriptures, pray about them, and live them out in your life.

I hope this helps.

I Want To Be A Lazy Christian

2012-01-16T05:53:00.000-08:00

This morning I was reading my daily Scriptures and came across a passage that would have gone well with the sermon yesterday on scheduling margin. If you missed it, we talked about saying "no" to good things at times so you can say "yes" to the best things - Time with God, time with family, time to rest, time developing true relationships, etc. Margin is the extra time we have beyond our needs. Evidently we need to work and provide for our families (II Thess. 3:10). Margin is not overworking, working 60, 70, 80 hours a week. This way we have more time for margin to do the most important things. Time with God should be our top priority, although our culture doesn't recognize it as a real use of our time.

In Exodus 5, Moses and Aaron come to Pharaoh about allowing the Israelites to take a three day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices and worshiping Jehovah. Listen to Pharaoh's response, verses 4 and 5, "Who do you think you are," Pharaoh shouted, "distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! Look, there are many people here in Egypt, and you are stopping them from doing their work." (NLT) He then added to the difficultly of their work. And then says, verse 17, "You're just lazy! You obviously don't have enough to do. If you did, you wouldn't be saying, 'Let us go, so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord.'" (NLT)

Our world tells us that the time we spend with God is a waste of time. They believe the truly successful are those who are gods unto themselves. We see the results of those who try to be their own gods, while they may be successful, they miss out on the true blessings of God - comfort in knowing our self-worth isn't based on what others think, a peace within our souls, salvation from our sinfulness, rest from the pressures of this world, and true relationships opposed to just business associates.

Don't listen to the world - spend time with God.

Read the Bible in a Year

2012-01-02T08:53:00.000-08:00

I love the fact our elders see the importance of everyone reading their Bible throughout 2012. We have found some great reading plans that everyone can choose from and get excited about. Before I give some links let me give a few tips.

If you are a new Christian or someone who has never gone through the Bible before I suggest an easier reading plan. The goal is to keep you motivated and to stay in God's Word. Someone who has never tried this before and starts reading from Genesis to Revelation will find struggles. Genesis usually goes well, then Exodus and Numbers go okay, but then you hit Leviticus and many people will drop off immediately. Also, if you decide to read through the New Testament you make your way through Matthew and come to Mark and feel like you are reading the same thing. By the time you get to Luke it can be frustrating to some readers and they tempted to just stop. There are some plans to help you.
Find a translation you enjoy reading. Many new Christians may need a easier to read version (older Christians as well). It doesn't matter if you read the whole Bible in a year if you don't understand what you are reading. I would discourage getting a paraphrase Bible (i.e. Living Bible, The Message) and get one that stays with the language. I used to read from a different translation every year, but my favorite is the New Living Translation, which reads more like a novel. Many love the English Standard Version, which is growing in popularity. I also enjoy the Holman Christian Standard Bible because it is between a easier to read and literal translation and has some great bullet notes of words. You can usually look on line for various translations and read through them find the one you want to go with. The King James Version is still one of the most beautiful to read from, although you need to be on a higher reading level than with the others.
If you choose a plan that only takes you through the New Testament and would like to hit some of the Old Testament books on your own, I would suggest Genesis, Judges, Ruth, Esther, I and II Samuel, Jonah, PSALMS (my favorite), Proverbs, etc. If you want some more ideas I will be glad to give them to you, but these are some great books, especially for a newer Christian.

We will continue to lay out the Bible reading plans in the foyer, but here are links to all of them in case you want to print them out yourself. I have also found a couple you can put on your smart phones.

SHIRKERS AND SLACKERS Bible plan. Each day of the week will be a different book to read from. It also allows days off in case you are prone to slack off at times. You can go to http://www.ransomfellowship.org/publications/notes_biblereadingprogram.pdf
5 x 5 x 5 Reading plan. It focuses on 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week, and gives 5 ways to dig deeper. Go to www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/5x5x5_BRP.pdf
BOOK-AT-A-TIME Bible reading plan. It alternates Old and New Testament books, giving three or four chapters a day. You will read through Genesis and then go through the Book of Mark and next the Book of Exodus and then the Book of Acts (you get the idea). This is the one I am going through this year. You can find it at www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/BRP2.pdf
DISCIPLESHIP JOURNAL Bible reading plan which gives you smaller readings each day of two New Testament books and two Old Testament books. I did this one a couple of years ago and enjoyed it. Go to www.navpress.com/uploadedFiles/15074%20BRP.dj.pdf
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION MOBILE reading plan. You can also print these off. If you load them to your mobile each day it will pull up your reading for the day and you can go backwards and frontwards if needed. They have one that is Chronological (I used F. Lagard's Smiths one year and LOVED it), they also have many other reading plans and things you can use for your mobile. This can be found at www.esv.org/resources/reading-plans-devotions/ . I also have a Bible program on my phone called YouVersion that has a Bible with different translations you can use as well as a Bible reading plan that will keep you up to date. It also has some other helps that I would recommend. On your mobile apps look up YouVersion and download. There are other ones out there that are good, but these are the ones I wanted to tell you about.

Now get out there and get start reading. Find a time and do this daily. Take time to pray about the things you read and reflect on what God may be saying to you.

Do the Right Thing

2011-11-10T05:46:00.000-08:00

Doing the right thing is much easier said than done at times. Sometimes we are faced with situations we never imagined we would have to deal with. Sometimes there are people involved that we love or admire.

If you have turned on the news at all you have probably heard about the sex scandal at Penn State University. Based on the reports, a former coach was caught sodomizing a 10-year-old boy in a shower. A 28-year-old graduate assistant witnessed this and walked away. He did report it to his dad that night and to the head coach the next morning. Coach Paterno tells the Athletic Director and then told other Penn State officials. They tried to deal with this in house and make the whole thing go away. Later we find out that there are many reports of this coach doing this with other children. There are things that were done but nothing to the degree of what should have been done.

We are talking about innocent boys from 10 to 13 years old. Many people did something but none of them did the right thing. The 28 year old should have stopped the sodomizing immediately. Yet, that wouldn't have been needed if Coach Paterno would have fired Sandusky the first time it had happened several years back. The administration should have never allowed this man back on campus again, since this is where these violations were taking place. He should have been arrested. On and on we could go looking at many different individuals who didn't do the right thing in making sure this never happens again.

The media makes it sound easy, but there were many things preventing the right thing from being done. Sandusky was the superior of the graduate assistant and friend of his father. No doubt this had been a close friend and great coach with Joe Paterno. The Athletic Director, President, and other Penn State officials didn't want to see the school be torn apart by a scandal. I'm sure there were others who could have stated why it was difficult for them.

It seems everyone forgot about something when it came to doing the right thing - the children. The very ones who had no physical or political power to fight back. I guarantee they wanted the whole thing to go away so they would never have to talk about it again. They were/are the victims. They needed someone to be a voice for them. They needed someone to stand up and do the right thing so this kind of thing would never happen again. It didn't happen.

The point is: do what you know is right even if it may hurt the people you love and respect. Stand up for the innocent. It doesn't mean you can't try and help them get through this terrible time in their life, but you did the right thing. It will take prayer, looking for help through the Scriptures, heeding the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and being able to lean on God's people. It's the right thing to do.

Game of the Century

2011-11-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Hype. Hype is word that means "extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion." The media loves to hype things up they want to sell to the public. Businesses love to do this with a big event that might bring in prospective customers. We parents use it to get our kids excited about something worthwhile. Even churches (myself included) hype up events they believe is important.

There is a game being played Saturday night that has a lot of hype. If you haven't turned on your television or radio or live in a hole in the ground you may not have heard about it yet. Alabama vs. LSU. #1 vs. #2. It is a game I have some personal interests in as well as your former preacher Clay Humphries. While Clay and I stand on the same sidelines of the spiritual game of life, we will be on opposite sidelines for this football game. The fact is both of these teams are having unbelievable seasons. Future NFL stars will line up on both sides of the ball. Both have great traditions, coaches and fans. They are calling this "the game of the century."

Overhype. Overhype is a word that means "exaggerated claims about an event; publicize or promote excessively." I cannot speak for Clay, but I believe this is the game of the season - so far. Yet, it hasn't even been played. What if one team gets blown out? (Hopefully the team in the purple and yellow - wishful thinking). What has to happen for it to be the game of the century? Do players have to leave on stretchers? Does it have to end in triple overtime? Should I be able to hear the hits from Florida? I do believe it will be one of the hardest hitting games. I do believe there will be some great chess play from the coaches. I do believe the score will be close. But to call this "the game of the century" before it is even played is what I call "overhype." Tickets on the 50 yard line are going for $10,000 and in the end zone for $5,000 (one of the many reasons I will be watching this on TV). Overhype.

2012 is what I am referring to as "overhyped." For the last couple of years I have heard more and more about this upcoming twelve month time period. Most people know nothing about the Mayans except the fact they have a calendar that is running out. Then there was the movie 2012 that came out a couple of years ago that meshed all types of end of the world theories into one event. There are some things that we should be concerned about but much of what we hear has been overhyped.

My point: Don't let the world create fear in your life. Real comfort and courage is found within the pages of the Bible. Yet, even if all the hype of 2012 is true, is this reason to be fearful? Gloom and doom is the message we hear from our world. The Christian receives a different message - hope, joy, and eternal bliss.

When?

2011-10-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

I want to share with you a blog post by Dale Jenkins. Dale was with us in January and does a great job with his writings.

When?

When I get big

When I grow up

When I get baptized

When I turn ten

When I’m a teenager

When I can drive

When I get a car

When I get a better car

When I graduate

When I get married

When I get a job

When I have kids

When I get a raiseWhen I get a house

When I get a promotion

When I get it figured out

When they are gone

When they get here

When this problem is solved

When I have more money

When I get it paid off

When I get a better boss

When we get new elders

When we get a new preacher

When my kids get bigger

When I get well

When my kids are gone

When I have more time

When I have less stress

When I retire

When are you going to do what you know you need to do

If not now – When?

“So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NASV).

When? Really?

If you are interested in subscribing to Dale's blog you can go to thejenkinsinstitute.com

Excited about the Future

2011-10-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

I had a great trip to the lectureship, "Quest", at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, Oklahoma. This is the second time I have attended this event in the last five years and I am even more impressed with the school than I was the last time I was on campus. The Churches of Christ are very fortunate to have some great Christian colleges for our young people. We have several in this church who have attended or attending Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. I studied and met my lifelong mate at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. These are just a few of the wonderful choices out there.

This trip to OCU was even more important this week as my oldest, Lex, went with me to check out the school. He was able to visit with some students, professors and school administrators.

Lex and I knew no one when we landed in Oklahoma, but they really impressed us. I want to give you some of those top 10 things that impressed me about this school that this church should be mindful of each week:

Red Carpet Treatment. They really put their best foot forward. They had a parking place with Lex's name on it. They had some great parting gifts. They had their best students showing Lex around on different tours of the school, yet everyone we ran into was super nice and helpful, and no, not every Christian college comes across this way. They understood the importance of a first impressions. When people come to this church they are making up their minds if they want the rest of the "tour" within the first five minutes of stepping on our campus. With OCU the parking lot was the first opportunity they used to make us feel welcome. This is why greeters are important. A friendly face. Someone with an umbrella on rainy days to help them indoors. The person who will show them around.
Genuine People. It's one thing for the paid people to be nice, but what about the rest? Everyone we met seemed genuinely kind. I'm not talking about that fake front we can put on (that no one thinks we can see through), but kind and helpful in every way. We were able to meet some students and even parents of those who attend that were not on the designated tour. As the preacher people expect me to be nice and tell them how great this church is, but what about the person they sit by in the pew or while they are walking through the lobby? This is where they make real impressions of this congregation.
Latest Technology. Everyone is issued a MAC computer when enrolling and it is amazing how they use them. Even the washer and dryers in the dorms have numbers on them so you can go online to see when your laundry is done! Our younger generation lives in the technological age and when you use it for things other than email, it is impressive. The church needs to stay up with technology. That doesn't mean everyone needs a MAC to attend, but to realize this is where a younger generation lives. The church has made advances in this area over the years - PowerPoint, blogging, Facebook, etc., but we should continue to find ways to help us stay relevant so they are willing to hear what we have to say about the timeless message from God's Word.
Student Life. One of the questions I asked another student was how many people stay on campus during the weekend. Some colleges are "suitcase campus'" which means most of the people go home on weekends. If Lex were to attend OCU he wouldn't have the luxury of coming home very often. I was happy to hear that most of the students stay and that the school spends a lot of money for weekend activities for the them. They encourage fellowship and give opportunity for everyone to be involved. The church was designed to fellowship. People need to be connect to their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and we need to find ways of making this happen. We do not want to be a "suitcase church" that only gets together on Sunday mornings and only sees each other in a classroom setting. We need to take time to be together. If people do not connect to five people in the first weeks after their conversion they will be out the back door.
Unity. One of the things that has impressed me the most about OCU and the surrounding churches is the importance of not making opinionated issues a barrier. I have lived in three different states now, and I have never seen this exemplified as much as the churches in Oklahoma. It is a beautiful thing. On doctrinal issues they stand strong and lovingly open the Scriptures as they discuss those things. The same must be for this church. As we say, "In doctrine - unity; in opinion - liberty; but in all things love."
Sense of Humor. One thing I noted with the people we met, especially those in higher positions with the school, was their great sense of humor. They loved to laugh. They didn't take everything so seriously. This doesn't mean they were flippant about real matters, only that they knew how to laugh with each other and with themselves. This type of attitude is contagious. Maybe that's not something you really care about, but for me it relieves a lot of tension in what is already a stressful situations. There is a time to cry, but Solomon said there is also a time to laugh.
Mission Minded. One topic continually came up during our visit - evangelism. They truly focus on teaching people about Jesus. It seemed like everyone we talked with made mention of the overseas missions the school is involved in each year. It didn't matter if they were majoring in Bible or business, the emphasis is going out of that place better equipped to do a job and to take the message of God's grace to the world. Even we in the church have to be reminded of this at times. Our mission isn't to fill a pew and cram ourselves with the Bread of Life. We must also bring others to the table.
Expectations. OCU is a great school, but if you attend there you are to live by certain expectations. For example, there is behavior that is expected. There is a curfew for freshmen. There is a certain grade point average that has to be maintained by scholarship students. I believe church leaders should have expectations of this congregations. We are not talking about being perfect, but as children of God shouldn't we be the best Christian we can be at work, at home, or during various activities? Is it an unfair expectation for leaders to say they want everyone to attend worship, classes, and 2:42 Groups each week, barring a serious conflict? Expecting people to read their Bibles, to give back to God, or just being kind and humble shouldn't offend us. Sometimes I wonder if we have high enough expectations.
Listening to the Students. One thing that impressed Lex, as it did myself, is how much the school listens to the students. They can't do everything they suggest, but they do have a student union that helps to implement ideas and concerns. Leaders must lead, but they also need to understand those they are leading. The church is a place that must find ways to improve. They can't do everything, but sometimes there are ideas that help meet needs. Things are different when I was in college and they shouldn't do everything we did. We must listen to them.
Encourage Multiple Cultures. Oklahoma Christian, as I know of many of our Christian colleges, loves students from all over the country and even the world. One of the students giving us a tour was from California and another student we met was from Alabama (polar opposites). The fact is, there were many different people represented from various states, ethnic backgrounds, and even religious upbringing. No one is turned away and everyone is encouraged to come and experience the OCU life. Everyone seemed to get along extremely well. The church is a place that should encourage everyone to come. Whether they are Jews or Gentiles; Pharisees or Sadducees; young and old. We love others because Christ loved us. If my Lord can forgive and embrace me, there is no reason I cannot do the same with others.

I don't know where Lex, or any of my children will end up for college, but I hope it is a place like Oklahoma Christian. It will be a greater financial cost, but for Missy and I it is worth the sacrifice. You see, when you find a good thing its worth the sacrifices we make for them to happen. Missy and I also believe the church has been worth the sacrifices we have made over the years in ministry, yet nothing we do is worth the sacrifice Jesus made. I am excited about the future!

A Senior in College

2011-09-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

In 2009 Alan Moore (no relation) was watching a football game that inspired him to buys some footballs, put up a goal post in his daughters yard and started kicking. To make a long story short he tried out for my alma mater, Faulkner University, and made the team. What sets him apart from any of the other players is the fact that Alan has five grandchildren and is 61 years old. That wasn't a typo. He had played some college ball as a freshman in 1968 before going to Vietnam for 11 months. Now he is reliving a dream.

A couple of weeks ago Alan became the oldest football player ever to get into a game. Not only did he get in but he is productive. He's old school, which I love, as he uses the old square-toed shoe and kicks straight on, not soccer style. He has written the word "believe" on that shoe and has made believers out of many. This has given the school national attention with ESPN, USA Today, and others who have caught on to the story. The College Football Hall of Fame have already asked Alan for a signed football.

I guess you could say he adds true meaning to being a senior in college. But most importantly, he is an inspiration on many levels. For one, don't let anyone tell you that getting old means you can't accomplish much in life. That you can't inspire people. That you need to sit back in a rocker and watch life pass you by. Moses did his best work at the age of 80 and beyond. I can give you many accounts of senior Christians who have done great things for the Kingdom of God. The question is, what are you doing to inspire a younger generation? What are some of the ways you are stretching yourself for the Kingdom of Christ?

Also, we should learn that dreams can be accomplished years after we first thought about them. What is it that you always wanted to do but never got around to? Going on a mission trip (or be a missionary)? See the Holy Lands? Volunteer your time to serve others in the community?

Finally, I learn that doing things "old school" is still effective in a modern society. Alan Moore was himself. He didn't try to be something that he wasn't. The uniforms are new. The helmets have definitely advanced from the 60's. The plays are much more complicated. But there are some things that hasn't changed - the length of the field, the size of the goal posts, and the love of the game. We live in a modern world that has changed dramatically. The church has to progress or they will die, but there are some things that never change - God's Word is still the standard, people still need Christ, and the love of God is still the most important thing in the world. You don't have to have the most advanced computers, or wear the latest styles to tell people about Christ. Old school still works: use your Bible to teach and your life in Christ to inspire. You don't have to have "a past" to testify, only a future.

Whether you are young or old let Christ live in you and let your faith reach out in areas others would never dream of trying.

Tim Tebow and the Michigan Wolverines

2011-09-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

When you pick up a newspaper you don't have to read long before you realize we are not always very good at loving our enemies. There are two stories that caught me eye recently.

One has to do with what is happening in Denver, Colorado. This should be of some interests to many of our Florida Gator fans out there. The NFL Denver Broncos is having quarterback problems. I realize it is only one game into the season, but the fans seem to be tired of Kyle Orton. Sunday he only completed 24 of his 46 passes, unless you count the interception. He also fumbled the ball in the fourth quarter. What made it worse was that no one touched him and there was a receiver open in the end zone for the go-ahead score. Fans began to chant, "We want Tebow." Today I read that some Bronco fans are planning to purchase two billboards ($10,000) to acknowledge their support to play Tebow over Orton. This has drawn support from other fans and some have even made contributions.

I actually like Tim Tebow and hope that he does well (now that Alabama doesn't play him anymore). To say he is the answer to the problem remains to be seen. Yet, I really feel bad for Kyle Orton. You know he isn't playing bad on purpose and the head hunters stalking his every move doesn't help. Every time he meets reporters they want his comments on the recent hate mail in Bronco world. Whether the guy should or shouldn't be starting isn't the issue to me, it's how his own fans are treating him - as an enemy.

Surely we don't act like this in the church? We would never think of downplaying one individual for another. Rest assured, we will throw interceptions and fumble a few times, but people need more encouragement in those times rather than every eye on their every move. Don't get me wrong, sometimes you have to switch quarterbacks, but it doesn't have to be nasty. Don't turn your own teammates into enemies.

The second story I read was much more encouraging. Notre Dame vs. Michigan is a great rivalry. Every year each team, along with their fans, wants to beat the other. Last Saturday night this game was a classic as the Wolverines came back to beat the Fighting Irish 35-31. Three touchdowns scored in the last minute or so. But it was something that happened during the game that was the most fascinating. A 69 year old Notre Dame fan had a heart attack during the second quarter. Being in Michigan's stadium he was surrounded by Wolverine fans. One of those fans performed CPR on him until a medical team could take over with an automatic electric defibrillator. While that machine helped him back to life, it was the CPR administered by the Michigan fan that kept him alive long enough to be be revived. These two teams are supposed to be rivals. They are supposed to hate each other, at least that is what we are made to think.

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies... For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you only greet your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentile do the same?" (Matt. 5:43-44, 46-47)

This Notre Dame fan will always see his once viewed enemy in a new light. Imagine how we could change the world by serving those who are different than us - even those who may be our enemies. When people hurt they don't care what team your own, only that they are helped. But first we must learn to love each other. It isn't always easy, but it is worth the effort.

Breathe

2011-08-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a short break from classes to blog. I've been wanting to do this for some time but the work has grown in such a way that I haven't had the time to do so. Add to that, the study of Revelation. Wow! I could easily spend 40 hours a week preparing for this class. So being here has allowed me to catch my breath.

This morning I taught my first 45 minute session, which normally takes four weeks to complete. I stayed after for about 30 minutes to help answer questions. A few went to lunch with me so they could learn more about it and how it could be used where they preach. It is really encouraging to hear these 20 and 30 somethings wanting to know more (I'm the old guy now). I also realized there is so much more that needs to be done with this subject and more we need to be using at Vero. I've had time to breathe and really meditate on things. It has been such a rush lately (a good thing) that I have felt as if I am on this never ending roller coaster. Without David Paladin working as an intern this Summer I would not have been able to get through a lot of this and certainly we wouldn't be where we are currently. God has really used him in this work.

We have a lot of great things that are just beginning to get off the ground. There is a fantastic group of people who have been helping with reaching out to those who visit each week. Studies have been taking place and the new Christian classes are going strong. We will be starting back orientation classes again in September for visitors and new Christians that will be conducted by myself and the elders. This is a quick overview of who we are and what we are about. Its a great starter class. None of these things are perfected, but God is using them in wonderful ways. The biggest thing we need is more help.

On September 18th we will be having a "Ministry Fair" for the church. This will be a look at all of our works and give everyone an opportunity to see them, ask questions about them, and volunteer. We are not needing everyone to sign up for everything, but to find something. I will make myself available that day, and even before, to answer questions of what works I would recommend for their personality type. You don't even have to take a personality test for me to help you. And don't worry, if you need training in a certain area we can provide this as well. Work shouldn't be a task but a love. Like our theme: Love God, Love God's Family, Love to SERVE. If this church responds, like I know they will, I will be able to breathe a little better. I need to breathe more, or should I say, I need more of God' breath in me. The greatest thing is knowing the talents that sit in our pews every week. This excites me.

Let me break it down for you. We are on the edge of something great. Sometimes it's hard to see until you come to a conference with a bunch of preachers, elders, and active church members, all talking about their congregations. There are over 2,300 people here and I haven't heard anything better than what is happening at Vero! No doubt I haven't spoken with all 2,300 people, but you get a sense of things after a couple of days. The point is, we must not allow Satan to get us so busy that we don't have time to breathe and meditate on what God is doing here and how He can use us. Don't allow Satan to ruin your testimony for Christ and His church by making poor decisions. Don't allow Satan to divide us. Don't allow Satan to make us feel content with the baptisms we have had or just doing the status quo. We are coming into the Promised Land of church work - don't turn around now. Breathe in the Spirit of God! Pray that Jesus can use us to build up His church. Pray that you can see the vision He has set before us. Help the spiritual leaders of this church know of things you are interested in that could build up the Kingdom of Christ. Continue to study your Bibles, pray, live like Jesus, and find ways to serve Him.

Breathe.

Strife Spreaders

2011-08-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while since I blogged. Things are overly busy these days, but in a good way, so blogging is not at the top of my priorities list for the week. However, I received a blog from a preacher friend of mine that went to college with Missy and I. He is also the minister for Mike and Diane Bennett, who attend here from Colorado in the winter. This is also the preacher for the grandparents of Jerry Cutshall. It's a small world!

Anyway, it goes well with last nights Mayberry episode. So here it is.

STRIFE SPREADERS

Neal Pollard

"Strife spreaders" are those who spread strife. They may do so openly or clandestinely. They may do so directly or even through innuendo and insinuation. They may do so by peddling their side of a two-sided story. They may do so by stirring up the discontent or dissatisfaction of other members. They may do so through gossip or lying. They may do so through assassinating the character of others, whether elders, deacons, preachers, teachers, or other members.

But, they that do so, do so at a tremendous price! Solomon describes a worthless person as one who spreads strife (Prov. 6:14). Then, he follows that up by speaking of "the seven deadly sins," things done by man that are hated by God. Last in the list is "one who spreads strife among brothers" (Prov. 6:19). Solomon strikes hard at "strife spreaders." It is fueled by hatred (Prov. 10:12). It is fed by pride and arrogance (Prov. 13:10; 28:25). It is fired by a hot-temper (Prov. 15:18). It is a feature of perversity (Prov. 16:28). It flies from a fool's lips (Prov. 18:6; 20:3 says, "Any fool will quarrel"). It is a feature of sinful anger (Prov. 29:22; 30:33). None of those verses mentions adultery, fornication, murder, theft, or false teaching, but strife will have done much harm to the souls of men when all is said and done. It is easy enough to spread strife, but it is exceedingly and eternally unwise. Paul warns that those who practice the spreading of strife will not inherit the kingdom of heaven (Gal. 5:20-21). That should be enough warning for all of us to continually be on guard against spreading strife, instead choosing to be those who sow the seed of peace and produce the fruit of righteousness (Jas. 3:18).

Tracy's thoughts: Things have been going so well over the last few months. As I have stated several times, we must be cautious of Satan trying to come in and destroy God's work. This is one of the areas the Devil tries to tear us apart. Let us continue to dwell in the blessings that Christ has sent our way.

Don't Forget!

2011-06-30T11:44:00.000-07:00

It is Thursday afternoon and I am awaiting the last of our Tornado Disaster Relief team to arrive at the building. There were 20 of us in all. None of us were professionals in the realm we were working but it didn't matter because we were working for a higher calling and that motivated us and we believe the Spirit of God strengthened us to accomplish the task. This was one of the things David Paladin dealt with in our first devotional together in Tuscaloosa.

The first team, of four adults, arrived a day early. As we came upon the destruction we gasped, were silent and then vocalized some of our thoughts. One of the men said over and over, "God have mercy!" You never really got used to the devastation. It was humbling, to say the least. Each day we met at the Central Church of Christ to get our work orders, tools and equipment, what has become known as "The Slab." It is called such because it is all that is left. The tornado made a direct hit on its building and left only one room remaining - the one three college students ducked into right before it hit. It has now been bulldozed and the slab is the only thing remaining. (Pictures of these will been seen in the presentation) Although that is all that is left it has become a beacon for the surrounding community. Thanks to the churches of Christ Disaster Assistance, as well as donations from others, they have served over 40,000 meals from that spot. They are providing clothing, needed supplies, and comfort to those affected by the tornado.

God blessed us with being able to meet some of the homeowners we were helping out. We heard their stories and some of the people they personally lost. We prayed with them and tried to find other ways we could serve. You just wanted to work hard and give them a little bit of God's light in a dark situation. It made it all worth the 100 degree temperatures, blisters, cuts, and aches.

My only concern is that I will lose this feeling in a couple of weeks or months. I mean, I know many of those reading this have gone through hurricanes and know what this is like. I've worked a tornado disaster before and been in a couple of hurricanes myself. But with time we tend to forget. I do not want to loose this feeling. My prayer is that God will allow me to never forget how blessed I am feeling right now and how most of my complaints are petty. I pray that God will not allow me to forget about the love I felt for people I had never met or the greater love I experienced with the other 19 who worked beside me. I don't ever want to forget how great my God has been in using His church to touch the lives of others. There are so many other things I could add, but I think you get the idea.

As a husband, it was great to see my wife out in the community talking with people, trying to find more work to help others, and being touched by the things she experienced. As a father, it was wonderful to see my three boys working hard without complaining and growing in so many ways. As an Alabamian, I am impacted by the strength of the people of my state and the volunteers I met to help (Texas, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, etc.). As a preacher I couldn't be any more proud of the ones who went on this mission, those who gave donations, and to those who have prayed fervently. As a Christian, I am impressed by the love of fellow Christians for one another, their neighbor, and the ability to show the love of Christ to all.

I just don't want to forget.

Great Sayings

2011-06-20T12:04:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a crazy week, but I wanted to leave you with a few good thoughts. These are sayings I have heard over the years so this should be better than my normal blogs. Either way think about these things throughout the week.

"The church is not a showcase in which to display perfect people; it is more like a hospital in which spiritually sick people are becoming well." -Batsell Barrett Baxter

"If you believe what you like in the Gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." -St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.)

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble." -Helen Keller

"Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited - until you try to sit in their pews." -Bernie Koerselman

"Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong." -Bernie Koerselman

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." -16th Century Poet

"A lie goes half-way around the world before the truth can get it's pants on." -Winston Churchill

"The reason lightening doesn't strike twice in the same place is that the same place isn't there the second time." -Willie Tyler

"Those who make religion their god will not have God for their religion." -Thomas Erskine of Linathen

"None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm." -Henry Thoreau, 1817-1862

"The enemies of truth are always awfully nice." -Christopher Morley, 1890-1957

"To have what we want is riches, but to be able to do without is power." -George MacDonald

"I would rather be ruined by praise than to be saved by criticism." -Paul Rogers

"You can always move to a larger church or you can help build a larger church." -W.B. West

"The most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." -Helen Keller

You may have a few favorites you would like to add. Have a great week!

Alabama and Providence

2011-06-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

Jeff Neech called me the other day about a couple he had met while doing some work at an RV Park. They moved here from Alabama after the tornadoes. The wife, Jodie, had lived in Vero several years ago and they decided to come here to look for work. It sounds like a tornado lifted up their house and set it back down on the foundation. It needed a lot of work. They didn't have any home insurance but one insurance man told them it wouldn't have mattered since the damage was caused by "an act of God." The day before the tornado the house was worth around $85,000, when they left they sold it off for $2,000. They bought a camper from the side of the road with part of the money and came here to try to start over. The $30 check from FEMA didn't go very far.

William "Bubba" and Jodie are now living in a one bedroom camper that doesn't have a bathroom. They walk to a store when "nature calls" and wash off in the camper sink. They are thankful for the air conditioning and stove to cook since many are still living in tents back home. They are simple people (not simpletons) thankful for their daily bread. They are hoping to get to a point they can bring their 14-year-old son to live with them again. Their son, Brandon (a.k.a. "Bubba") is staying with a friend in Alabama until that can happen. Until then this former maintenance man and truck driver is looking for anything, as well as his wife.

After I talked with Jodie on the phone I had to meet them and in 10 minutes we were standing face to face. It was so good hearing that southern accent. I listened to some of the things they had been through. My impressions of them were humble, kind, and very depressed. They came from Russelville, Alabama, about 40 minutes from my home town of Hamilton, and he had lived in Detroit (by Hamilton), which is like Gifford to Vero Beach. There was a heavy load that I felt being lifted from my soul. You all know how depressed I have felt and this longing to help the people of my home state. Bubba and Jodie are the first opportunity I have been given to do this. I wasn't expecting the feelings I had/am experiencing.

I asked them them their 5 greatest needs. The response? A job and better housing so they can bring their son down. I told them they had 3 more things. They responded, "That's all we need." Granted, that is a big order, but many would have asked to be put up in a hotel for a couple of nights, money to do laundry, food, or a number of things that would be helpful. They were embarrassed to ask for food or most things they desperately needed.

In our talks I also learned they had attended the Isbell Church of Christ in Russelville for a time. It is a congregation of about 15 people. Bubba obeyed the gospel there. The process of them getting here has been difficult. Not many people have seemed to care in places that were set up to help people, but they came to this office and were overwhelmed with people who reached out. David and A'lana were great as they welcomed this couple (today was Louise and Jay's day off). I can't wait until they meet the rest of this congregation.

Yet the name of this blog is "Alabama and Providence". I believe in the providence of God, which is the protective care of our Creator. We don't always know how it works or when it works, but there are times you would be hard pressed to convince me otherwise. This is one of those times. I don't believe it is coincidence this couple came to Vero Beach. I don't believe it was an accident Jeff Neech stumbled upon Bubba and Jodie. I doubt it was a fluke they lived near my hometown, hundreds of miles away, and we met in south/central Florida. You can't convince me the last church they attended was a church of Christ and get a call from a church of Christ preacher, neither one knowing that fact. It doesn't seem possible this can be passed off as, "well it's a small world." God is doing something. If you think He is only helping Bubba and Jodie you don't realize what He has done for me in this process. I feel refreshed and very close to God.

When Bubba told me about the insurance man referring to the tornado as "an act of God" my automatic response was, "it is God who is going to help you." Why does the world always blame our Creator as the one who causes natural disasters rather than the One who is there to help people after the storm? The only "act of God" in this story is what is happening with this couple and myself.

Help Me!

2011-05-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

My family had a great Memorial Day at the Sabastian Inlet with our friends from Nashville (Randy, Melanie, Tanner, and Kayla Bailey). We found a secluded place at the point and settled in. The fishing wasn't great, but we enjoyed being together watching the dolphins, finding hermit crabs, and eating. Later on this group, made up mostly of 18-25 year olds moved in on our spot and began to take over. We were wading in the water trying to fish as they began to splash all around us. Suddenly a 7 or 8 years old boy, with the group, got on a float and began to drift. The current was very strong that morning and before you knew it he was floating away. The others began to yell to him to come back but he couldn't. They were all laughing about it on shore and one of the young men dove into the water to fetch him. He seemed overconfident and looked very cool in his approach into the water. He got to the boy and close enough to one of the others to get him to safety. However he and the float headed back out. The float took off and it is somewhere near Cuba this afternoon. But the young adult tried to swim back. At first it was that "I got this" kind of stroke and it soon turned into more of a "please help me" type paddle. One of the other young guys jumped in to save the day. He gets out there and begins to try and help him back, but within a minute they were both swimming for their lives. At this point all of his friends were hysterical. I had kept watching and had looked for a boat to flag down to help. None of the others were going out to help and the second guy looks at me and says "help me"! Diving in wasn't going to help the situation because I know that I'm not as strong as those guys. The rope I had tied around my waist with the bait bucket attached, wasn't long enough. Suddenly I remembered reading a sign years ago, I yelled out, "Swim sideways with the shore." At first they wouldn't do it, so I told them again, and this time the others told him to listen to what I was saying. The first guy did and was able to get out of the strong current and get to a point he could stand up. The second, while hesitant, did as well. I am happy to report they survived. It was almost a Memorial Day they would never forget.

Looking back on the situation I got to thinking. Isn't this a parable of our lives? We all get caught up in the current of sin. We dive right in for a day of fun. Before we know it sin pulls us farther and farther away. But we think we can handle it - "I got this" sort of attitude. Then comes the panic paddle - the day you realize you can't save yourself. No matter how hard you try you can never overcome this current of sin by yourself.

Some of us can relate to the second guy who dove into the water. You see someone who needs help with their sins and you dive in to "save" them. You are very confident you have enough strength to help them overcome. You're a great swimmer - you can give advice, you can sit and talk for hours at a time, and besides, people tell you what a great listener you are. We can feel as if the power is within ourselves. Then we get caught up in the current. Maybe the problem is bigger than we think, or things are not going as you planned. Whatever the case you are drowning. You need help.

None of us can save ourselves from sin and we sure can't save others. We can do some good things and even help people make good decisions, but we cannot save them. Despite it all we are swimming in place. Eventually we get tired of paddling and go to the only one who can save us - Jesus Christ. One thing is for certain, you can't deal with your sins in an arrogant way. There is no style points. We must be humble and ready to listen. Sometimes we are like these guys who have asked for help but not listening to the instruction. When we come to Christ for help we must submit to His Word. Only Jesus can save. (Acts 4:12)

Are you drowning? Do you know someone who is? Jesus is the answer!

Encouraging Stories from Alabama (Part III)

2011-05-11T09:44:00.002-07:00

The little town of Hackleburg, Alabama was crushed. The April 27th tornado destroyed the only grocery store, schools, police station, fire department, Levi distribution center and almost every other thing in that place. I could be wrong but I heard the local pharmacy was the only building that wasn't completely destroyed or condemned.

The Hackleburg Church of Christ was severely damaged as well (first picture is what is left of the building). They are only one of many church buildings that were rolled over by the tornados throughout the state. Not only that, but the preachers house was completely destroyed (first picture is what is left of the house). The minister, Mike Lane, and his wife, Betty, were hiding inside the closet of their home, about three blocks from the church. They survived but not without some cuts and bruises. Betty ended up in the hospital with a broken clavicle.

Growing up I passed by this little building several times on my way to "the big city" of Florence, Alabama. The church is on the main road running through the heart of the town. I didn't hear a lot about them growing up, but that could be due to the fact they were in another town and I had other interests. Either way, this F5 tornado, as awful as it was, has brought new life to that little church. The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief brought in supplies to their parking lot so they could be distributed to the victims in their community. They have been hurting with the people all around them. They see a different side to these folks. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the church was ever unwilling to serve the people in the surrounding area, but you know how it is? I do. You can get caught up in doing so many "church things" that you forget about how Jesus went out and served people. We can get so caught up in our programs, variety of classes, and writing blogs (ouch) and forget about the people around us. I'm talking about letting people know we are in the community and that we care.

On that first Sunday, after the storms, many people in the community came to worship with the church outside of what was left of their building. They told them not to leave and wanted them to rebuild. Others let them know they wanted to start attending there and thanked them for all they had done.

Isn't it amazing how a tornado can destroy so much but at the same time rebuild and reconnect the lives of a church and their neighbors?

Encouraging Stories from Alabama (Part II)

2011-05-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

Growing up in the great state of Alabama you know one thing - you better pick your team. It was another way of saying, "which side are you on?", because it can be an all out war between Alabama and Auburn fans. To be honest it gets out of hand and people can take it too seriously. Over the last couple of years it seems the rivalry has reached a whole new level of .... well ... hate! We won't go into the ugliness of this rivalry only to say that it has literally lead to blood shed on more than one occasion.

Then came the tornados that rocked the state last week. One of those places hit the hardest was Tuscaloosa, home of the Crimson Tide. Many stories have been released of people from all over coming to help. One sports writer and radio personality went to T-town to look over the situation and was deeply moved by what he saw. There were college groups from LSU, Arkansas, Tennessee, and even Penn State working along side Alabama fans in these areas. But there was another group that came and has been the most supportive - Auburn students and fans. They are raising money to help clean up and rebuild Tuscaloosa (the capital city of the enemy). "Toomers for Tuscaloosa" is what I believe it is called (Toomers refers to Toomers Corner in Auburn and is well known for celebrating after games). Auburn athletes and coaches have come over to help. The love and unity that is being felt between the two schools, and their fans, is amazing and coming at a good time for the rivalry.

A few months ago I talked about this unstable Alabama fan who poisoned the trees at Toomers Corner. I don't know if I have found an Alabama fan that wasn't upset or embarrassed by this man's actions (although you know there are some out there). In response many Bama fans gave money to replace the trees and raised $50,000. When I heard that I was encouraged.

No one denies that the state takes their football seriously and many fans would admit they can take it too seriously, but when push comes to shove we are Alabamians first and foremost. We care for our fellow man and we love the people in our state. When they hurt we hurt no matter what color jersey they wear on Saturdays. There was a time this year I wasn't sure that was true anymore, but this tornado revealed what runs deeper in our hearts. The people in the state are a family, like siblings, who pick on each other but wouldn't let anyone outside the family pick on the other. You know how brothers can fight, and even though they don't always like to admit it, they love each other. Sometimes they refuse to show it until they really need help.

It reminds me of Jesus' famous statement, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Lk. 6:27, 35)

When the final regular season football game come this Fall, in what is known as "The Iron Bowl", the helmets will be strapped and the fans will fiercely cheer for their team. Whoever comes out the winner will be given 365 days of torturing the losers, but this year it might be a little easier on the team defeated knowing that deep down they really love each other. Isn't it something how great things can rise out of tragedies?

Encouraging Stories from Alabama

2011-05-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

I talked with one of the ministers, Ryan Gallager, from my hometown of Hamilton, Alabama. They have been running relief efforts to Hackleburg and working with the preacher and members of the church of Christ in that town. What is left of their building will be bulldozed. The preachers house is demolished as are many other Christians. The Hamilton church of Christ has already collected so much supplies they are asking people to stop giving! This is really encouraging since little will be known about some of these smaller areas. The members in Hamilton had a short service Sunday and tried to find out what needs the congregation had after the storms. Many went to Hackleburg to hand out supplies, help clean up, and care for the people and workers who were present. They have continued to do this daily since the roads cleared. They also have supplied the only shower trailer for the National Guard who are there working. This is major since there is no electricity or water.

Ryan told me an interesting story that I wanted to share. There was a woman who came to get supplies. She had basically lost everything and the clothes on her back were the ones she had on during the storm two days before. She had not had a bath and was just trying to survive. They loaded up the car she drove up in and then started to back out. She backed into a brand new pickup truck while the driver was still in it. Ryan watched as the lady in the new truck got out. He said he could tell she was furious and started to walk around the other side to confront the person who hit her beautiful vehicle. As soon as she saw this woman, she immediately realized she was one of the victims. He said her face went from all out anger to sobbing. She grabbed the woman and hugged her for a long time as they both wept. The lady told her not to worry about that truck and that everything was going to be okay.

I don't know, I just thought that was really neat. It spoke to me about what is really important - compassion and love. We (I) can put so much stock into material things it's difficult to see the people who are hurting all around us. Not everyone has two day old cloths on, but more people hurt than we think and you don't have to go all the way to Hackleburg, Alabama to find them.

So many great lessons to learn from this tragedy. If you hear of any encouraging stories that come out about these storms, please email me and I will share them. By the way, they don't have to be from Alabama, any area that has been hit by these tornadoes.

The Old Storm Shelter

2011-04-28T05:25:00.000-07:00

The home I grew up in had a storm shelter in my backyard. It had ivy that had grown all around it and you wouldn't even know it was there unless you came down the backside. Most of the time it was used to play on top of with my friends. Every so often I would go inside and mess around, or use during "hide-and-seek." The old storm shelter was basic - concrete all around with a couple of concrete beds that had a thick mat on them. There were things like flashlights, candles, and a lantern the stayed in there. Every so often my parents would come in and sweep it out but mostly it just sat there. You might even wonder why someone would have something like this if it is hardly used? The storms.

I can remember being awakened as a child to go out to the storm shelter. Tornados were always a threat during this time of year and my county (Marion County) had more than any other in the state - at least at one time. I remember being in there as a tornado passed over our house. I remember driving back with another family from Guin and one of these massive funnels approaching. We practiced tornado drills in school every year. I'll never forget, "Everyone out in the hall, sit down and put your head between your legs!" All of this happening as a bell continuously rang. Pretty scary stuff to a kid. But there was something comforting about a storm shelter. I don't know if it was the fact my parents were present or the way they assured us that a tornado couldn't get us in there, but I felt safe.

Last night tornados ripped through my state of Alabama. I'm on the phone talking to family to see if everyone was safe. My hometown was hit and a neighboring town (Hackleburg) was wiped off the map. There were 58 pronounced dead in that small area last night without getting a complete count. Portions of Tuscaloosa, where my grandmother and aunt and uncle live are gone. Places that I have frequented many times over the years. As of last night the death toll was 32. They had been hit early that morning and then the one that stretched a mile wide that evening. This is the 4th time Tuscaloosa has been hit in the last couple of weeks. Then you have the area where Melissa's family lives and the tornados that rolled through there. I spent a while on Facebook trying to hear from my friends and family of those areas even as they are trying to hide from the storms.

It's interesting that I kept thinking about my old storm shelter. If I could have gotten the whole State of Alabama in there I would have, because it was a safe place during the storms. I kept thinking about the fear I read from friends as they were in the middle of or waiting for the tornados to arrive. They needed my old storm shelter - its safe! But I was pretty helpless. I love the people of Alabama. This is really having an effect on me this morning as I think about the devastation. If I could have known they were in my old storm shelter it would have been easier on me last night.

One of my favorite sayings of Jesus is when He talked about wanting to gather up his children like a hen protects her chicks under her wings. (Matt. 23:37) There is a lot going on in this text but it shows His feelings for lost people and for his beloved city of Jerusalem that would soon be destroyed. What this tells me is Christ longs to be that storm shelter in our lives. Not just tornados but every storm we face in life. Unlike my old storm shelter His arms can occupy everyone in the world, but not everyone takes refuge. I know His concern for us is even greater than how I was feeling last night listening to reports. Jesus loves us deeply. He wants to save us - to put us under His wings. The storms are around us all the time and Christ opens his arms to the everlasting shelter.

The old storm shelter didn't chase tornados away or keep them away but it did provide a safe place when the storms came. The same with our Messiah. Having Him in your life is not going to keep troubles away but to be that safe place when they come. Even though one of them may come and take away your physical existence, in Christ you find an eternal home where there are no sirens, no destruction, no pain, no sorrows, no worries, no death, and no more storms. But let's not make the mistake of running to Him only when troubles come. Anyone who can love us enough to take on death so that we could live deserves so much more. If you haven't in a while, clean out your shelter of its cobwebs and dirt and live in the arms of Jesus. If you don't know what Christ is all about but want to know more please call or email me and let me tell you about the safest place in the universe.

Glo Bible

2011-04-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

Last year I attended an outreach convention that had some great booths. One that really caught my eye was this new Bible computer program called "Glo Bible." I thought it was pretty sick (teen lingo for awesome). Also it was very easy to use. Normally something like this comes with a big price tag, but it was like $80. That may seem like a lot to some but I have known some Bible programs to exceed $1,000. I was ready to buy and then got the bad news - it didn't come for MAC. They assured me that they were working on it. Well, they sent me an email a couple of weeks ago. The best part is it comes with a FREE download called "Glo Lite" for MAC, PC, and iPad. The free version has the NIV & KJV, along with photo samples of the Holylands, virtual tours, artwork, web videos, and articles. When reading a chapter you can highlight a verse and add notes at the bottom of the page. It's really cool.

My suggestion is for you to try out the free version and see if it is something you could use. Most wouldn't need anything else but there may be others who want to upgrade to the "Glo Premium." It costs $89 unless you get it before the end of the month and it will be $49. Of course there are many extras, but again it may be more than you want to spend or need.

The "Glo Premium" has 5 versions, much more media and articles, a really neat atlas and timeline. It also has a neat topical section on many subjects. You will get "MyGlo" which kind of helps you keep your personal studies together. With the versions you also get study notes at the bottom of the page as you highlight verses as well as being able to add your own notes. This can be very helpful for Bible class teachers.

As usual I caution any notes or articles you read. Most of them will be great, as I have discovered, but there are always some that can lead you in a wrong direction, as any study Bible. When in doubt look up the text and word usage of a passage (or call the preacher to help you). Seriously I would be glad to help you with anything you question. To me the greatest asset is having the Bibles and adding notes to your studies, even if it is more a journal. By the way, the "Glo Premium" has a journal you can use.

Just go to www.globible.com and look for the "Glo Lite" and the computer you want to use to download. They are working on an iPhone version that will be available in the near future.

P.S. If you decide to upgrade to the Glo Premium let me know and I will help you get the $49 deal. I found it was difficult figuring out how to do this and if you do it wrong you will pay $89. Good luck and let me know if this is something you could use.

Bank Robber vs. Cancer Patient

2011-04-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I sat down with a cup of coffee to read the latest edition of the Hometown News. Eventually I got to my favorite column, "How Weird is That?", which tells true, but bizarre stories. The writer, Sean McCarthy, told of a 66 year old woman who is a stage 4 cancer patient that tackled a bank robber. You heard me right. Helen Dunsford was a customer at a Bank of America in Oakland Park, Florida, when a woman reached into her purse and said she had a gun. When she told everyone to get on the floor Helen tackled the robber and held her down until the police arrived. When interviewed she said, "I have cancer stage 4, and I figured if I'm gonna die it's God's will when I die." Very cool!

I'm not recommending that we go out and tackle bank robbers, at least not until you can leap tall buildings in a single bound. But what a great attitude. For one, Helen realized she was going to die and made the most of what was left. Secondly, she understood God was in control.

There are a lot of things in our world that that creates fear. After 9-11 not many people wanted to go to the top floor of a government building. The list of people who suffer from aerophobia (fear of flying) rose dramatically. But this is just the beginning of things that create worry. We can live in such fear that we can become paralyzed.

Here's the facts: we all have our appointment with death (Heb. 9:27), and we are all in the hands of God (Heb. 1:3). We may not be in the final stages of cancer, but the fact is we might be gone before the one who does suffer. We just don't know (Jms. 4:13-14). I don't say this to create more dread in your life, in fact, for those in Christ dying is a positive (Phil. 1:21). This doesn't mean we hate our lives or that we would want to leave the relationships we treasure behind us (or leave them to pick up the pieces).

The point is this: what if we lived everyday as if God is in control? What if we lived in such a way that demonstrated our complete trust in Him? What if we lived a life without fear?

Message in a Bottle

2011-04-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

There was an interesting story that I saw on one of the early morning news shows the other day. Apparently a 13-year-old Russian teenager was walking along the beach when he saw something in the sand. It was a bottle that had a ceramic plug in it. But more than that, it had a message inside. We have always heard about these types of things and maybe you threw one of those in the ocean when you were a kid (not that I recommend polluting our oceans).

Back to the story. The letter was wrapped in cellophane and sealed with a medical bandage. The note said, "My name is Frank, and I'm five years old. My dad and I are traveling on a ship to Denmark. If you find this letter, please write back to me, and I will write back to you." Pretty cool. But then you learn the letter was dated in 1987. The boy in the letter, Frank Uesbeck from Germany, is 24 years older (29-years-old for those of you who struggle with math).

Well, this 13-year-old Russian boy, Daniil Korotkikh, wrote him back with the address that was on the letter. After all these years Frank got his new pen pal. To say he was surprised is an understatement, in fact, he barely remembered the trip and it was his father who wrote the letter for him. For those who like a happy ending, the Russian boy and the German man met each other earlier this month via an Internet video link. Frank gave the young man his new address to write to and promised to write back.

God dropped a letter on earth long ago for anyone to discover. It has been preserved and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Even so it has been discovered by millions over the centuries. People from Russia, Germany, and all over the world. The message is the Almighty God wants to hear from us. He wants to be our spiritual pen pal, if you will, to draw as close to us as possible. What a great treasure we find buried in the sand of our humble lives.

The question is what we will do with it once we find it. Some will leave it buried. Others might put it on display in their home but never take the cork out. But others will open it up and begin a whole new relationship with the God of grace and hope. It is inside that "bottle" we learn of our existence, our need for a Savior, and eventually the Messiah who lived, died, rose again, and is coming back! Take out your Bibles today and read the greatest letter ever written to mankind. Talk with God and long to be in His presence.

A Positive Pirate

2011-03-28T18:46:00.000-07:00

One of the main goals of this blog is to talk about the good stuff - the things that help us get through the day. An article I read about the new Pittsburgh Pirates manager fits that bill. A brief history: this is a team that hasn't been relevant in a while. In fact, they have gotten worse the last four years. Last season they lost 105 games (the worst in all of baseball) and were 35.5 games out of first place in their division. They haven't been above .500 since 1992. To put this in perspective, a sports writer, Jason Stark, said, "...since the last time the Pirates had a winning season: 27 of the other 29 teams have played a postseason series... The Yankees have played 152 postseason games (that one's for you Adam and Sam)... Ninety space shuttle missions have circled the planet... The Steelers and Penguines have gone to the finals of their sport a half-dozen times..." The days of Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell are long gone. Famous Pirate Honus Wagner may be the most valuable baseball card on the market but I doubt you could even make a down payment if you were to sale all of the current players cards. Here in south Florida the Pirates are not the most wanted ticket during Spring Training. If you are a Pittsburgh fan I apologize for calling out your team - there really is a great story behind all of this. By the way, I am a Cubs fan so I understand disappointment.

Back to the new coach. His name is Clint Hurdle and he is doing more than just teaching baseball this Spring. Nearly every night he sends emails to his players, bosses, and employees to inspire them. They are positive messages that are not only read but heard everyday. Things like, "You have to eat the elephant one bite at a time", or "To win a ball game, you only have to be better than the team you play that night." You get the idea. I don't know if he will ever lead them to a world series or even get them off the bottom of the division, but Coach Clint is giving them something they need even more - positive inspiration.

Everyone needs words of encourage - people who believe in them. This is especially important when someone hits the bottom. You know the type, they have been on a losing streak for years. More and more people are finding themselves in the losing seasons of life - loss of job, health issues, deaths, depression, addictions, etc. Some are desperate for words of kindness and encouragement. The best thing about positive words is it doesn't cost you a dime (rare in our society). In fact, for some it will be more valuable than all the money in the world. It doesn't take long to tell someone you believe in them or realize how hard they are trying as pass by someone at work or see them in the church foyer. Emails are simple. Texts are convenient. And an hour at your favorite coffee house with someone who is down on their luck is priceless.

I Corinthians 16:18, "They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you." (NLT)
Hebrews 10:24, "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works." (NLT)

March Madness

2011-03-10T19:11:00.000-08:00

I came in Wednesday evening and caught the last two minutes of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. St. John's Red Storm basketball game. It was the Big East tournament - arguably the best basketball conference in the nation. St. John's will go to the "Big Dance" (NCAA tournament) regardless of the outcome. Rutgers had to win, not only this game, but the Big East tournament as well in order to keep playing. It was an exciting game, to say the least, but a lot of controversy in the end. St. Johns was up by 2 with about 10 seconds remaining and Rutgers has the ball with 10 seconds on the clock. One of the players takes a shot and was clearly fouled on the play, but there was no call. One of the Red Storm players grabs the ball and starts heading in the opposite direction. Thinking the clock had run out he steps out of bounds with 1.7 seconds on the clock as he throws the ball into the stands. The three referees on the court missed it and never called the out of bounds. Twice, within a 10 second span, the refs should have stopped the clock and given the ball back to the Scarlet Knights. The Big East Conference came out with a statement that they missed those two calls. Sports talk shows blasted those officials over the airwaves and eventually they pulled themselves out of the rest of the tournament.

What if you were the coach for this team? How irate would you have been? There was a lot more on the line for him than the other coach, because they were already going to the NCAA tourney. Here is what the Rutgers coach, Mike Rice, said in his press conference. Besides saying "Big East officials are the best in the world, he then took it to a whole new level. Coach Rice said, "Was there a mistake? I saw it on YouTube. There was a mistake made, I'm sure they'll say it. But that's just the way it is. It's not what happens, it's how you respond to it." Then he had the audacity to say they are "great officials." But here was my favorite quote from this coach, "It was a mistake and that's what happens in basketball. I made a ton of mistakes in the last 48 hours in my life." He referred to himself, his coaching staff, and players had all made mistakes in that game.

Why is it so hard to realize the mistakes we have made when people have wronged us? Someone who said or did something that wasn't appropriate. That friend who didn't call or stay in touch like you felt they should have during a difficult time. The church member who didn't handle a situation "the way a Christian should." They were wrong - no doubt about it. It hurt. It had some bad consequences. It made things difficult in your life. Now what? Can you forgive them or do you hold a grudge? Are you having trouble moving on? Will it affect your relationship? More importantly, can you see that you also make mistakes? Ouch! If we have given our lives to Christ we know we came to Him because we are sinners. We needed a Savior. We needed someone to take away all our mistakes so that we could be reconnected with a Holy God.

In Matthew 18 we learn of a man who owed a great amount of money to a king but couldn't pay it off. Instead of being thrown into prison (as was the practice in the day) the king forgave him of his debts. Yet, that same man went out and found someone who owed him a small amount of money and demanded payment. Just as he had done, this man begged him to have mercy on him, yet was thrown into prison. When the king learned of this he took the man who had owed him money and threw him in prison because he couldn't forgive others.

It is much easier to forget about our own mistakes while we focus in on someone else's. This coach taught us to seek out the good in others even when you have been wronged. We all make mistakes and when we compare this to the sins we have committed against a sinless God we must realize the importance of second chances and third, fourth, etc.).

Home Library

2011-03-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

Knowing what I have learned in my studies over the years I wanted to give you my top 5 starter books for a home library.

First of all, I recommend a couple of different translations. You definitely want one that is literal, like the English Standard, New American Standard, King James, etc.. But I also like to have one that is a thought for thought like the New Living Translation. I refer you back to my blog on "What Kind of Bible Should I Buy." Study Bibles I will put into this category as well.

Secondly, I would have a concordance. It has all the words in the Bible and where they are found. So when you can't remember a passage but remember a couple of key words you will be able to find it. I recommend you get one that is based on the translation you use if you can find one.

Another book I recommend is a Bible dictionary. Everyone comes across people, places, and things that you need to know more about. This type of a reference book will help you learn more and even give some background to the words that you might not have had otherwise.

Fourthly, I would get a "Where To Find It" book. These focus on topics and how they are used throughout the Bible. One of the books I have is called "Where to Find It In The Bible." It's great because you are not limited to just words found in ancient script but also words that deal with more contemporary topics. Subjects like "abortion", "blackmail", "homeless", "imagination", "panic", even "whiskers", as well as a host of other words that you might be surprised to find.

Lastly, I would recommend "Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words." These are all the words used in the New Testament and what they mean. You will find every other place the word you are studying is used. I also like the "Hebrew/Greek Key Bible Study" which has several words in a verse underlined with a corresponding number linked to Strong's Dictionary. You go to the back and look up the Hebrew/Greek number and it gives you the meaning of the word. Plus it has a decent concordance in the Back. They come in two translations (KJV and NASB).

To go out and buy them all at the same time is expensive so I would recommend getting them a little at a time and can be great gift ideas. To find the best deals I recommend going to christianbook.com or amazon.com. Some of you may know of the best places to buy so you can leave a comment on that or even books you would recommend to build a home library.

If I Didn't Preach

2011-03-03T05:40:00.000-08:00

Every so often I'm asked what I would have done had I not preached. For a while I would have gone to work in the family business. My grandfather started a garment company that was an important part of the economy in the small town of Hamilton, Alabama. My dad and uncle eventually took over and then the foreign markets eventually took over from there. It would have been the thing to do until the garment industry turned upside down in the 90's. But I always wanted to be a weatherman. Anything to do with the clouds, storms, fronts, etc. interest me. Unfortunately I didn't have the face for television (or the hair).

For some reason, every time I hear of a fellow preacher leaving the ministry it seems he is going into the insurance business. I guess it is still in the same type of business as before only it's policies actually run out and the Christian insurance has already been paid up by Christ.

There have been times I have thought about this questions, especially on those days when things get difficult in ministry (if you know what I mean). Yet, as difficult as it gets I still have a passion for preaching. I don't always like the traditions that can become doctrinal issues in this work, but I have learned patience and teaching help to move the church in the right direction. It's tough work at times, but it is worth it in the end. It's like going fishing for a couple of hours and catching hardly anything, but it is that one big fish you catch that makes you want to go back out the next day. It's that hardened critic that becomes your greatest asset in the church, that rough looking individual who melts upon hearing of Christ, or that skeptic who becomes a believer that makes you want to come back for more. Sometimes churches go through dry spells, no matter what they try, but it is those times God really begins to bless things that you long for more.

We don't hear much about encouraging our boys to grow up to become preachers anymore. Among some of the reasons I have heard is "I don't won't people treating them the way I treat the preacher." Wow! It least they're honest. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a blog to get people to treat me better, because this church here is very good to me and my family. Yet, why don't we encourage others to get into ministry? Not everyone needs to, and if I were honest I would have to add that some need to get out. Yet we look at this line of work differently as it once was. The popularizing of televangelist hasn't helped, at least the bad ones. If the truth be known, no one really thinks about a shortage of good ministers until they start looking for one. There are more preachers getting out of ministry than there are those coming out of our Christian universities to preach.

If I didn't preach what would I do? There are many things I could have done, but none as important as what I am doing now telling people about God, His message of Christ, and the Holy Spirit who wants to dwell in us.

I'm Gonna Stop Cheering For Alabama!

2011-02-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

Some of you have probably heard about Auburn's famous oak trees being poisoned. The trees are famous because Auburn fans like to throw toilet paper into the trees after a victory (pause to interject your own joke). When I was reading about this poisoning of the trees, it was stated that the perpetrator called into a sports talk show and proudly proclaimed his involvement. As I continued reading I was thinking to myself, "Please don't say you are an Alabama fan!" Next thing, the guy throws in a "Roll...Tide". That's just great! This insane redneck was upset after we lost to Auburn and decided to take it out on some 130 year old trees. To date, I haven't found one Bama fan who is pleased that this happened. The fans I know are ashamed of this type of behavior. Don't get me wrong- there are very strong feelings about this rivalry. When you look on various blog spots discussing this issue, you read many Auburn fans who believe all Alabama fans are like this. There are some Alabama fans who actually think the whole "prank" was funny. Some comments were funny and some were mean. But, it was what one woman said that caught my attention. She said, "I'm gonna stop cheering for Alabama" because of what this man did. Seriously? You are going to let some crazy person dictate who you cheer for? He determines what team you root for? Then what team? It was an insane Auburn fan that tossed blue and orange paint on Coach Saban's house (no comments from my Dolphins fans), and burned the score on the stadium lawn after Auburn beat Alabama. But we could choose any team in the country and find a fan who performed a stupid act in the name of their team.

Are churches much different? You have a bad experience at a childhood congregation and make the conclusion that all "organized religion is bad." There are people in our world who say they would never become a part of a church because of some crazy religious person who bombed an abortion clinic or held up "die fag" signs at a homosexual rally. It's not that Christians shouldn't stand up for right and wrong. But, some people cross the lines and poison the cause of Christ.

Let's take it up a notch. Someone in the church does something that you can't believe a true believer would do. Maybe they cheated you in a business deal or didn't pay back money you were owed. Maybe you didn't receive the attention you thought you deserved when you were sick or while you were going through a difficult time. Maybe someone said ugly things to you or was living a hypocritical life. "I'm gonna stop going to church" or to "that church" might be your response.

I am embarrassed to say that I did stop cheering for Alabama while in middle school and I became an Auburn fan. The secret is out. In explanation, it wasn't long after Coach Bear Bryant died and the "new guy" wasn't winning every game. I determined that if they lost one more game that season, I would stop going for the team I had cheered for since my birth (yes I waved crimson pom-poms in the delivery room). They did lose. I started wearing orange and blue and did so for a few a couple of years. All I can say is, "Remember not the sins of my youth." Isn't that ridiculous? But have you ever heard of people leaving a church because the preacher left and/or the "new guy" wasn't like the "old guy"?

Here's the point: Don't base Christianity on the crazy people who give religion a bad name. Don't switch churches because some bone head acts more like a follower of Satan than a follower of Christ. For me, I'm an Alabama fan because they are my team- not because all their fans are perfect. I'm an Alabama fan because of what it represents to me and not what it represents to some insane guy out there. I'm an Alabama fan because of what I know - not who I know. I'm a Christian because of my relationship to Jesus Christ and not to others. I am a part of the church because of what it represents and not those who say they represent it. I'm in love with the church because it is the greatest institution in the world and not because of the imperfect people who make it up.

I'm still an Alabama fan, despite the goof ball that poisoned those beautiful trees. I'm a Christian despite the hypocrites and religious lunatics. What about you?

Salt Life

2011-02-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

You don't have to drive very long in Vero Beach without seeing "Salt Life" on the back window of a truck. It is a term used for those who love salt water life, from fishing to surfing, to diving, to "everyone who loves the sound of surf, sand in their shoes and beautiful seas." I'm not much for the sandy stuff, but I love fishing in it and witnessing its breathtaking sunrises.

But it was Jesus who first talked about salty living. In Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." (ESV) It's all about how God's people influences our culture around us. Yet its more than that. Jesus said that if we are not affecting the world around us we are useless to God!

So how are we doing? A recent poll (Pew Research Center) said 67% of Americans believe religion is losing its influence on American life. What was really telling is that 53% of those believe the decline in influence is a bad thing. In other words, half of the people who believe it has declined is not against Christianity.

Are we no longer living the "salt life" or are we just getting a bad rap? Let's face it, the world doesn't like the church or the standards we believe in. But we still have to ask, "Are we losing our influence in our communities?

Personally I believe we have. This doesn't mean there are not godly people out there making a difference, but how are we doing overall? Do you have a bad temper? Are you the one people think of as the "flirt" around the office? What kind of spouse are you to your husband or wife? When you tell people you are going to do something, do you follow through? Are you the crusader at your work, making sure anyone who messes with you will pay? What about your giving to those in need? Do people know you have a prayer life and that they can come to you when they need help? Are you the one who is always talking about money or possessions as if they are the love of your life? Do people see you as the one who panics anytime there are talks of layoffs, cut backs, or bad news? Or maybe you live a good moral life but you also have become the judge of every little thing in peoples lives. Do you treat people the way you want to be treated? What kind of foundation would others say you exhibit? I think you get the picture. Actually I just described the Sermon on the Mount in more modern terms (Matthew 5:17-7:29) right after Jesus says to live the "Salt Life."

No one said it would be easy, but it certainly is the best.

What Kind of Bible Should I Buy?

2011-02-10T06:44:00.000-08:00

One of the questions I am asked most often is "what kind of Bible should I buy?" The question is generated for a couple of reasons, 1) there are dozens of translations out there to choose from, 2) people want something they can trust, and 3) they want something they enjoy reading. I never get tired of this question because I am sort of a collector of Bibles. I love them. From the original 1611 King James Version to the latest one that hits the market. I love study Bibles, the kind you can write in the margin, one with several helps in the back, and of course the occasional Minister Bibles that are put out. They don't all become my favorite, nor would I recommend everyone I have purchased, but I do have some that I consider "keepers" in my library.

Personally, I think everyone should own a copy of the King James Version. While this is not the translation I use frequently, it is one with a powerful history. It is the one that taught me and millions of others the life saving message of Jesus Christ. For over 300 years it was the only version used in most Protestant churches. This year celebrates its 400th anniversary. It is still loved by many. Yet, a lot changes have taken place in 400 years, and I don't mean doctrinally or morally, but word usage and language. As generations go by so does the understanding of Old English vernacular. When it was written it could be understood by children, now it is considered a 12th grade reading level. I love the old King James but there are other translations that are very accurate and use more updated language.

Another Bible I love is the English Standard Version. It seems to be the one that has "brought balance to the force." What I mean is it seems to be accepted by all. Since newer translations have been published there has been a war over which one should or should not be used. One side says KJV and not (for example) the NIV because it isn't accurate enough. The other side would say use the NIV and not the KJV because it is hard to understand and updated language speaks to me. Generally there are lines that are drawn on this issue, even to the point of fellowship for some. Then came the ESV. This is the main reason I use it when preaching.

The other translation I cannot live without is my New Living Translation. This is not the Living Bible, which is a paraphrase, of which I discourage. However, the NLT is an easier to read version of the Bible. It is what is known as a thought-for-thought translation, which means it takes a text and translates it based on the thought the writer is trying to get across in the language. Therefore it reads more like a novel. I literally get excited when I think about sitting down and curling up with my NLT. It is really helpful in some of those "weird" passages. For example, recently our men's class was going through the Song of Solomon. Beautiful poetic language of the day but none of us men would dare tell our wives, "thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead." (S. of S. 4:1 KJV) The NLT reads, "Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats frisking down the slopes of Gilead." You get the picture. My only suggestion is not to get the 2nd Edition of this translation. There were some things they changed in this one that was inaccurate but changed them back in the next printing. It should be pretty easy to find one that isn't 2nd Edition.

Then there are study Bibles and I have many favorites for different purposes. The Archaeological Study Bible is great as it adds past and current findings that help understand a text. The Macarthur Study Bible gives great insight to a text. The Application Study Bible is all about applying passages to your everyday lives. There are others but these are some of my favorites. The biggest caution I use is when you get into the Book of Revelation. I disagree with almost all study Bibles when they get to this book. This is Tracy Moore talking (it is my blog). :)

I realize this only touches the surface. And I realize it can be a heated topic. But I want you to resist the temptation of downing other translations and tell us the ones you really love and why. Find one that is dedicated to its accuracy and one that you enjoy reading.

It Begins

2011-02-07T16:24:00.000-08:00

The day has finally come to enter the blogging world. This is all new to me so please be gentle. To say I am nervous is an understatement. The nervousness comes from trying to figure out this new tech world as well as pushing the wrong buttons. I'm nervous about trying to fit this into my already busy schedule. I'm nervous about writing something and being misunderstood. I may be most concerned about someone who has an agenda to use this site as a forum.

On the other hand it is exciting trying something new. I get excited about trying to use this to encourage others and possibly help people to think. It is exciting thinking this could be a great communication tool for the church and people I love. But I may be most excited about using this as a means to connect with people who are looking for God.

That being said, I hope that everyone will help this blog be all that it can be. I don't ask anyone to agree with everything written, but to exemplify a Christian attitude. Encourage others along the way and help others see what God's children are all about.

So it begins.