My favorite Christmas movie

O.K. go to Nicole Blount’s blog for some great scenes from Elf, my favorite Christmas movie! Click here.  And here’s one of my favorite scenes:

2 minute sermon

Logan is a 13 year-old boy who lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. Logan listens to Christian Radio station 89.3FM KSBJ which broadcasts from Houston, TX. Logan called the radio station distraught because he had to take down a calf . His words have wisdom beyond his years.

Keep sharing the Good News

2 Timothy 4

 1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

There is so much in this set of verses from 2 Timothy 4.  Wow, makes me think-Have I been doing any of these things taught here.  Read through it slowly, thinking through each verse and take a self exam like I did.

Keepin it real

We will always remember Tim and Ethan

Here’s one to put in your favorites and bring it up every once in a while to celebrate Ethan and Tim’s lives. Great guys, great friends, and tons of memories. We miss you guys.

****CLICK  HERE TO SEE VIDEO TRIBUTE FOR TIM MADEIROS****

Are You Ready?

Take a faith risk

I just got done reading a good book by Craig Groeschel, Confessions of a Pastor Adventures in Dropping the Pose and Getting real with God.  There’s a lot of great advice for living a genuine, real life by dropping all fake stuff.  The one thing that really stuck with me was at the end of the book he gives several points about the fear of failure.   He writes, “You can’t please God by giving in to complacency (contentment, self-satisfaction),  and comfort…Here’s what God says: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).  In other words, you cannot play it safe and please God.  It’s impossible.”  See Matthew 25:14-28  Wow.  What have I done this week to stretch my faith.  What have I done this week that made me lean on God a little more.  What decisions or action did I take this week that said “God I believe that you can do this-I’m going to run and jump into Your arms and I know that You will be there to catch me so that You will get all the glory!”

When I heard the story about one of the teens from our youth ministry that gave a speech in speech class on “How to get to Heaven” at his public high school, I was just floored.  The gospel shared in the public school.  Wow, God just busted right through the front doors, huh.  What courage and bravery it must have took to do that. That’s faith in action, plain and simple. And it pleased God. Way to go, Roberto.  

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I was just thinking of all the many blessings God continues to pour down on me and my family.  In America we all have so much to be thankful for.  Sometimes I think maybe we care more about the “stuff” we aquire in life and look at those material things as the blessings.  But just to sit and thank God for a beautiful warm November day like today shouldn’t be overlooked. Or just the fact that you had a warm dinner this evening or a nice comfortable bed to sleep in tonight -these things should be on our mind everyday as a praise to Him that provides them.  Check out this video and see if there’s anything that might speak to you-it did to me.

Back to Basics

Lately I have been reading so much about different Christian views, different doctrinal views and interpretations and beliefs that I just get sick of the arguing and bickering. I felt like I just needed to hear it straight from Jesus on how I should live my life.  So for some reason I just started in Luke and just writing down the simple to understand commands of Jesus.  Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?”

• do good to those who hate you
• bless those who curse you
• pray for those who mistreat you
• give to everyone who asks of you, do not demand back
• treat others the same way you want them to treat you
• be merciful
• love your enemies
• do good
• lend expecting nothing in return
• do not judge
• pardon
• do not condemn
• give
• hear My words and act on them
• tell others what great things God has done for you
• deny yourself, pick up your cross daily and follow Me
• lose your life for My sake
• be least among everyone
• go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God

I’ll just get started on this short list for now.

Here is a review for Shawn Mcdonalds’s Simply Nothing cd.  2 words-Incredible worship .  I have worn this cd out. I listen to it a lot before spending time reading and praying.   Here’s 3 songs from it.

Lyrics here-http://lyrics.christiansunite.com/album_2135.shtml

What is “worship” to you?

What does it mean to worship God? What is the right way to worship God? The wrong way? How do we continue to worship God after church is over? Can I worship God at work and school? How do I do that? Is worship for your benefit or for God?

Here’s a funny look at worship.

I think this cute little girl is worshiping God.

Halloween Fun at The Open Door Church

O.K. here are some fun (and disturbing) pics of the Open Door Church Harvest party Wednesday night. Lots of fun! Who was your favorite???