Tender-hearted

In a world of pride and know-it-alls it is refreshing to cross paths with those who have a tender heart. A tender heart is always concerned with others and not self. A person who displays compassion that is unconditional and not self-centeredness is a help to any soul. I must admit it is a great challenge today to keep a tender heart, in a world that seeks to hurt, bruise, and steal,...leaving the average heart to harden a bit. It is not easy when most everyone around you criticizes, gossips, and runs people into the dirt to keep a heart that cares, and bleeds with and for others.

A perfect example of how to do it right is of course...the Lord. He was mocked...spit on...lied to...beaten....scourged.....cut....crowned with thorns....nailed to wooden beams...stripped naked....embarassed....and his heart remained tender....His first words....Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Could you friend have done that? I honestly don't know if i could or not. A tender heart gets hurt, cut, broken....But to remain tender...it cannot harden. How is it possible you might say....the lesson is the same = keep your eyes on Calvary. Jesus kept his focus on what mattered....souls....salvation...eternity. "We have all eternity to brag about the victories won, and only a few short days to win them" - Amy Carmichael (Missionary to China). The hardened heart cannot worship, testify, pray, or be a blessing to someone else. Are you a tenderhearted soul? Arrogance, the"well-to-do", and the fool educated beyond his intelligence all sport a useless heart. Humble yourself brethren....keep a tender heart....yes you will be hurt, stepped on, and cut...but keep your eyes on Calvary were God first spoke to us a tender word.

Remember in the physical sense as well as the spiritual a hardened heart will cause trauma to your body and death.

The Entitled Generation

Have you noticed how a generation of young people and some older ones to, feel they are entitled to special treatment? They expect to be waited on hand and foot, even though they are capable of doing things for themselves. But why not? We have taught them at home and in school that they are “special”, they deserve to be “first” and as every adult knows, we have to supply them with every whim of their heart…. Cell phones, iPods, (PSP) personal play stations, Gameboys, Wii, computers, notebooks, calculators, name brands shoes and clothing, etc… at least that is what the media tells us, and we believe it as do they.
The problem is, today’s youth takes no responsibility. We work and provide while they sit and play with their “toys”. Ask them to wash dishes or carry out the garbage and they will look at you as if you have slapped them in the face…its an insult to them. Honestly adults are just as bad, we think the Credit card company should give us free airfare for pumping gas and using their card, what a joke.

Moms used to bake cakes (from scratch of course), cookies, bread, casseroles, fry chicken, peel potatoes, clean veggies, can fruits and vegetables, mend cloths, yarn socks, make clothing of all sorts, knit scarves, crochet afghans, make quilts, read to little ones, and all the while, rock babies, play with the tiny ones, help with homework and teach the rest of the family to do likewise. Everyone contributed to the care of the family.
Dads washed the car, changed the oil, fixed the motor, mowed the grass, repair the lawnmower, raked leaves, shoveled snow, did household repairs (plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc.) trimmed trees, tended the garden, and taught his sons the same skills as well as working a full time job. Everyone contributed to the care of the family.
Today life is made “easy” for everyone. We have less at home to do. Mom is gone to work along side dad. Babysitters take care of the young so they can play all day and/or watch TV. Decorated cakes, packaged cookies, ready sliced bread, instant fried chicken, instant potatoes, and even cleaned veggies at the local supermarket are readily available with canned fruits and vegetables. And if you don’t feel like eating at home, go out to one of the many fast food chains. Clothing and socks are thrown away if they need mended. Electronic games and TV with 24/7 cartoons are available to keep kids out of mom and dads hair while they do things that have to be done. Car washes, ready lubes, mechanic, riding mowers with baggers for leaves, snow blowers, or better yet a yard maintenance crew will do it all. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters all do the repairs now. Tree trimmers tend to that small oak in the front yard and no one knows how to plant a garden anymore.
The results….life is easier, yes…or is it? More divorces, hyper kids (who are drugged on Ritalin) emotionally distraught people, angry parents, and more drugged out children that ever before. Everyone is entitled to live in their own little world without having to deal with any on else, after all “I” should have it “MY” way, shouldn’t I? Then we better take out the book of James out of the Bible that states how poor we are, unworthy, evil, and degenerate....hadn't we.

Church Nativity 2010

We were blessed to have the Lord lead us at St. Jo to have a live drive-through Nativity in 2010. It was tremendous....so many gated driveways, no trespassing signs, and closed doors we just cannot get to and God made a way for us to reach many them. We had people from 2 states..and at least 6 different counties come by and see us on those 2 nights. We had a head count of nearly 2000 people. Some drove by and saw Barney...the camel...and went home to get their whole family and bring them through. What a blessing!

To see unwed mothers who attend church nowhere come by and roll the window down to read the scripture we posted at each scene to their children was enough to make one shout. Children who would have otherwise never heard the age old story of a Savior come from Glory heard it. To see other churches come by was a blessing to ....Oxford Memorials youth...and other church vans never ceased to end. Lord willing we will do it again December 9-10, 2011...6:30- 9:30 each night.

Just so you know...it took over 68 people to get all this done and not one job was left unmanned or anyone left standing...I pastor a great flock. We are greatful for each one who helped and those who were unable that prayed. All the work was worth it, and the fellowship was above measure. The ladies made and passed out hot chocolate and cookies and Church invitations with Salvation tracks. It was a blessing to see so many Baptist working together to accomplish a goal unreachable in some divided assemblies. If you didn't make it out come by this year and Celebrate the Saviour coming to this world to make a way for Man to be in fellowship with God again.....His blood washes away all sin....bless His name

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I road a camel once...and if that is the ship of the desert i was on the titanic...it was a rough ride....and i spent alot of time wrestling sheep that were akin to the mules...it was great..lol

New post

A new post to tell you i will soon be posting........no time now....busy busy busy...stay tuned to this same bat channel and at a later time...thanks

How did Wise men know with out a Bible?

Wise men came from the East....probably Babylon and from the school of Daniel who taught their and was considered one of their wise men or magi. The Magi were astrologers or star studiers. I'm interested in a verse from Matthew 2:2 which says the Magi astrologers knew 3 truths without ever reading a OT Bible of there day...1) Someone was born....2) He was of Royal lineage...and 3) He was a Jew....." Where is he that is born King of the Jews?, for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him." WOW ... he had a star that told all that...How?

I'm glad you asked. Daniel told them that a Messiah was coming to Rule the world as did most all OT prophets. They obviously studied the Hebrew nations constellation or group of stars...It was Leo meaning Lion. The Jewish Hebrew people were called the Lion in Gen 48. Something was happening in the Leo constellation that revealed one born to the Jewish peoples. Look at sky charts and you can trace back a orbit or clock like rotation of two planets that would have caused an astrologer to be amazed...they were Jupiter and Venus...Venus or Virgin..or Virgo was a planet that rotated around the Sun and eclipsed with Jupiter -"the King planet" to created what seemed to be a new glow in the sky that would have lasted for almost two years....WOW The KING planet and the VIRGIN planet crossed paths in the constellation LEO....can you see how they knew one was born a King of the Jews?

Gen 1 :14-15 show God created them (stars) for a specific reason...1 for light...and 2 for a SIGN...Lost man here is your sign.....sinner look up and see the sign. Stars are Majestic, glorious, but never to be worshiped Deut 12. To God and Jews it is punishable by death if you do. Worship the creator and not the creation. So read your Bible and not your Horoscope.

Wait look at this....i personally don't believe that the star was created at his birth, God is bigger than that. He some 4000 years earlier spoke all the stars into existence and set them in motion or orbit rotating around the Sun in a clock like manner.....He knew the exact time His Son would be born and put Jupiter and Venus on a collision path (from our view anyway) some 4000 years before it ever took place...THAT A BIG GOD !!!!! Ow year Jesus was crucified before the foundations of the Earth were ever spoken into existence to. Hope this was a holiday blessing to you...Merry Christmas

We come bearing gifts

What are we coming to church for? To many I fear are coming to receive and to take home, to few come to give. I certainly don't mean a tithe or offering, but worship. I would rather be a lowly shepherd coming to worship with my small flock of sheep any day than to be a wise man knowing how the markets operate, or knowing when to buy/ sell/ trade on Wall street. Remember those that come to worship always get their first. Wise men came to see the young child (Matthew 2:9 "When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was." ), that was in a house not in a manger as verse 11 of the same text says ("And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh" ). It was around one to two years later, after the birth. Shepherds came to see the Jesus the same day he was born (Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord") and they went and got there to see him on the same day, "And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger"Luke 2:16. I hate to be the one to bust your bubble but the shepherds and wise men were not there on the same day or at the same time.

Shepherds are lowly, no one in the eyes of society, the poorest of the poor....disrespected, unappreciated, yet that is exactly who God chose to come see and worship the Savior first. Wise men brought gifts, shepherds shouts and praise, which will you bring?

Hair Day

Comb it, braid it, weave it, curl it, straighten it, dye it, perm it, crimp it, wash it, shampoo it, condition it, dry it, highlight it, moose it, wet it, scrub it, spray it, flat iron it, steam it, slick it, style it, net it, wear a hat on it, brush it, grow it, Afro it, beehive it, swirl it, bun it, french twist it, stick gum in it, spend big money to replace it, cut it, trim it, ponytail it, put bows in it, shave it, donate it, fake it (wig), or just simply get up and go with it. Anyway you do your hair remember God has them all counted and numbered! If you lose a hair the count doesn't go from 2,345 to 2,344 no God says hair 278 just let go. He knows more about you than anyone else. He made you wonderfully and fearfully. Trust in the creator to help you with all you do today, for He careth for you! Will their be bald heads in Heaven? Full heads of hair? If nothing ever dies there will we all have long hair like cousin "IT" since cutting it would produce dead hair - what about toe nails? My mind is a dangerous thing, who can know it. One thing is for sure if nothing dies their no one will have dead skin cells falling off their pretty little heads = no dandruff. Blessed day.