Today ? samshawonline

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Read this today on my google reader from Sam Shaw’s blog…a great word for all of us!

The late Ray Stedman once said that every morning when he awakened, he reminded himself of this thought:

I am part of the plan of God. God is working all things to a great and final purpose on earth, and I am part of it. What I do today has purpose and significance and meaning This is not a meaningless day I am going through. Even the smallest incident, the most apparently insignificant word or relationship, is involved in His great plan. Therefore, all of his has meaning and purpose. (source lost)

Today ? samshawonline.

Fearlessness>Evotional.com

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We are studying The DNA of Relationships by Smalley in our LifeGroup on Sunday nights.? It has been a whole lot of fun learning that we are driven by our fears.? It is totally freeing to understand that the fight is often not about the thing we are fighting about. It is actually about a “fear button” that was pushed by the other person and we reacted to that button being pushed (Smalley’s concepts).? I am really excited about the positive things that we all are learning from this study in our group.

I ran across this post from Mark Batterson about fearlessness.? He says that there are only two fears we are born with as a baby…the rest are “learned.”? Man there is some freedom to know that we can learn, through Christ, how to be free from those fears!

I know for a fact that this nugget of truth and promise from God’s word can save us from a whole lot of heartache and pain when we allow the enemy to continue to scare us to death with our fears. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15 ESV)

According to psychologists we’re only born with two fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. That means that every other fear is learned. Which means that every other fear can be unlearned. Here’s a definition of faith: the process of unlearning ungodly fears.

The enemy is a fear monger. He wants to scare the heaven out of you. But I John 4:18 says: “Perfect love casts out all fear.” In other words, as we grow in a love relationship with God we unlearn our fears until the only fear we have is the only healthy and holy fear: the fear of God. And when you fear God you don’t have to fear anything else! Perfect love results in fearlessness.

Evotional.com.

Would you like to change the world?

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Ran across this post of a pastor in Springfield.? They are starting a new series called “ImpACT.”? They are going to be talking about fighting four global giants: Disease, Poverty, Illiteracy, and Spiritual Emptiness. I absolutely love this idea that we CAN make a difference here and around the globe!

I have been a fan of Rick Warren as well since I was in seminary and he has a similar project that he and his wife Kaye have been working on to eliminate these Global Giants. They call it the P.E.A.C.E. Plan.

So what is the P.E.A.C.E. plan? (From their website thepeaceplan.com)

There are five giant problems that affect billions of people on our planet? We call them Global Giants.

Spiritual Emptiness Billions live without hope, and in conflict.? They don’t know that they’re not an accident, and that Jesus Christ died for them so that their past can be forgiven, they can have a purpose for living, and they can have a home in heaven.

Self-serving Leadership Jesus said leadership is about serving, and if you want to be great, learn to be the servant of all.? The goal of leadership is not to see how many people help you, but how many people you help.

Extreme Poverty Half the world lives on less than two dollars a day–three billion people are in extreme poverty.

Pandemic Diseases Billions of people are still suffering from diseases that we know the cure for, and that’s unconscionable.

Rampant Illiteracy Half the population of the world–three billion people–is functionally illiterate.? How can anybody make it in the twenty-first century if they can’t read or write?

These giants loom so large that no one person or organization can provide significant relief.? The United Nations hasn’t been the solution.? Governments haven’t.? Businesses haven’t.? None of these have the advantages the church has.? The church has the biggest distribution, the most people, and the greatest motivation–love.

So we have developed The P.E.A.C.E. Plan to attack the world’s five Global Giants:

P – Promote reconciliation (by planting churches)

E – Equip leaders

A – Assist the poor

C – Care for the sick

E – Educate the next generation

If you do a simple Google search on “The P.E.A.C.E. Plan,” you will get a lot of negative things that come up as well.? Mainly legalistic, fundamentalist, Americans who don’t like Purpose Driven or Rick Warren or megachurches who have a website and rant about the dangers of such a thing.? Yeah, dangers like billions of people having the possibility of their life being changed by the Gospel.? Billions of people who might be helped to get out of extreme poverty. Billions of people who are educated so they can become successful in helping others.? Billions of people being saved from diseases that we as Americans are not effected because of modern medicine.

Bottom line.? How can it be a bad thing that the Church of Jesus Christ become mobilized to do what God intended it to do in the first place?? For these folks who are ranting against this idea of the P.E.A.C.E plan, I would like to know what their plan is for fighting these giants!

I hope that we can all begin to think globally and think with the Gospel in mind in everything that we do.? Hats off to Pastor Tommy as you endeavor to make your people aware of these global giants and vow to do something about it!

What are some practical things we can do to help attack these global giants?

Tommy Sparger Would you like to change the world?.

I am second: Red River Rivalry

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I honestly don’t know who won this year’s Red River Rivalry. I had to got to a flag football game before the game was over and didn’t have opportunity to watch SportsCenter to check the score this weekend.

However, I saw these videos and it began my mind racing about a friend of mine that went to be with Jesus on the way back home from the OU v. Texas game. ?He was in junior high and flying back from the game with his dad in a small plane. ?The plane crashed and both he and his father were killed. ?One of the great things that happened was another friend of mine came to know Christ at his funeral. ?Thank you Jesus! ?I know it is kind of wierd, but every time I see anything about this huge rivalry game, I remember both of my friends. ?I remember my friend that lost his life at such a young age. ?He was a soul winner in every sense of the word! I remember being with him on a mission trip when we were younger…his passion for people was amazing…his passion for sharing about Jesus was amazing! ?I also remember my friend that received Christ at the funeral. ?I remember his ministry that he continues to this day. ?I remember their passion for college football, the Red River Shootout…but most importantly his/their passion for Jesus Christ.

So, it really doesn’t matter who won this past Saturday in the Cotton Bowl. ?What matters more is that Jesus’ name would be made more and more famous around the world! ?Here are some video clips from iamsecond.com that speak of the importance of faith for quarterbacks Colt McCoy (Texas) and Sam Bradford (Oklahoma). ?Winning isn’t everything…Jesus is everything. ?I am second.

I guess I will go look up who won the Red River Rivalry now, even though it really doesn’t matter that much in the grand scheme of things…

Why? The Problem of Evil and Suffering

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banner_why--the-gospel-and-suffering

I can remember in my Philosophy of Religion class in seminary spent a very long time discussing this issue.? I believe that Dr. Keith Putt knew that we would be facing this issue over and over in our daily lives and ministry.? It seems for a twenty something guy with “the world by the tail” something that might not be applicable at all.? However, it seems that my seminary education got personal very quickly.

One of my great friends is Jenny Crowder Long.? She was Jenny Crowder when I met her as a little 7th grade girl in my youth group.? She was also the youngest daughter of an amazing lady–Martha Crowder.? Martha was my secretary at First Baptist Battlefield, my first ministry position.? Basically, Martha kept me straightened out for the year and a half while I was a youth pastor there in Battlefield.

Right after I took this Philosophy of Religion class, I got a phone call from Jenny saying that her mom had a very aggressive cancer and only had a short time to live.? Why? What do you say? Why would God do this? Eventually, Jesus took Martha home to heaven to be with Him.? That left a huge hole in the lives of those around Martha. The amazing part of this story is what God continues to do to help Jenny use this pain and suffering for His glory.? She is a psychologist and helps people every day to deal with the problems and issues in their lives.

One case in particular where I saw God use Jenny’s pain for His glory was the summer she was my intern in Burleson, TX.? One of my student’s mother was dying of, you guessed it, a very aggressive cancer.? This woman had gone through a battery of therapy to kill the cancer and she had “beat cancer.”? She beat cancer for less than a year.? She eventually was taken home to heaven the spring before Jenny came to be my intern.? God used Martha’s death to help Jenny minister to this young lady in her pain. Does it make the pain of either lady’s death less difficult? Absolutely not! However, God is sovereign over both blessings and suffering (see Job–“he gives and takes away…blessed be the name of the Lord.”)

If you have been living and breathing for very long, you will have to deal with this issue of suffering.? The problem is, especially with guys, we don’t deal with it very well, do we?? We tend to “clam up” and not want to discuss the issues.? We tend to push everything down deep into our hearts.? We often get mad at God and other people who are His representatives.

Our LifeGroup has been wrestling with this issue lately and I have been researching a bit on the topic.? Here is a great series from David Platt on this issue.? Check it out.? Has some great resources as well such as a Small Group curriculum.

Remembering Columbine

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A friend of mine, John Hill, posted about being close to Columbine on a business trip the day the massacre happened ten years ago.? It brings back to my mind the next year when I had the opportunity to bring in Darrell and Craig Scott to speak at several rallies at our church.? Darrell is Rachel Scott’s father and Craig is her brother.? Craig and Rachel were both in the library when the two gunmen came in and began their shooting spree.? Craig survived the shootings, but sadly, Rachel did not.

However, it seems that a whole lot of good has happened from this trajedy.? Darrell started a crusade across America to prevent what happened at Columbine for ever happening again.? You can check out their organization here.? Her brother is an amazing young man that is the video director for the organization.

I remember that week of “Columbine Redemption” rallies like it was yesterday.? It is hard to believe that it was almost a decade ago.? The beautiful thing about the Lord is that He always seems to help bring beauty out of trajedy.? That is the gospel–namely that God took me and my mess and is making “all things new.” What was cool was that God used Rachel’s testimony to help many students find Christ in the Springfield area. We hate for tragedy to happen, but we know that a soveriegn God who “holds all things in his hands” will bring glory to his name.? Much like the statement in John 11, the tragedy of Lazarus’ death was to “bring Glory to God.”? As we see photos and video of the Columbine tragedy, let us remember to thank God for his soveriegnty and his redemptive purpose in all of our lives.

Awesome Life Group Testimony

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Found this life story on the Buckhead Church blog.

Enjoy Eric’s story…

One year ago today, February 6th 2008, put changes in motion which would affect my entire life. This day was my first Oasis Divorce Recovery Class, my first experience with a church in over two years, and my first real attempt to talk about my divorce.

I walked into a room full of 13 total strangers and was asked to talk about something I didn?t even want to talk to my family about. I looked around the room and saw all these people, some looked like their world had been ripped from them, others like it was just another day. I wondered if i had anything in common with these people.

I wondered if I was normal.

The first question of the night ?Who here attends one of our church campuses, or attends a church in the area?. I was the only person in the entire group who didn?t raise their hand. I was scared to death of what would come next but nothing happened. They didn?t chastise me, try to convert me, or even give me the ?you poor soul? look, I?ve come to expect from most Christians.

The rest is another story.

Those 13 people quickly became the most important part of my week. I would look forward to my Wednesday night meetings, the sharing, the community and the family feel of the whole process. I made great friends from this little group. I found a ministry in which I?m so passionate about that I think some people think I?m obsessed.

They challenged me, convicted me, showed me how to heal, how to love, and most of all that I wasn?t alone.

We all have hard times in life. Times when we think we are the only ones who can deal with what is going on. We feel no one can really cope with us, understand us, or be able to offer us any counsel.

You are wrong.

We are surrounded by people who are willing to listen, to talk, to share, and to understand us. Do not go through the problems or hardships of life alone. We all need support and if you believe nothing else written in the posts on this blog, know that God doesn?t want us to go it alone.

So reach out, talk to one another, encourage each other. Look what 13 strangers did for me, imagine what you can do with someone you know.

To those 13 amazing and strong people I say ?Thank You?. Every day is a blessing and a testimonial to the love, kindness, and compassion you showed on Wednesday nights.

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

1 Corinthians 12:20-21 But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ?I have no need of you?; or again the head to the feet, ?I have no need of you.?


There really is HOPE for YOU if you are hurting! God wants to do an amazing work in your life…He wants to give you peace! I love to read and hear about stories like this one, whether it is from our church or another! The bottom line…there is hope for you no matter what is going on in your life…and there is a group of people that God made especially for you to “do life” alongside!

Do you have a story about God using a small group of people who have helped you in your journey? Jump on and tell your story!

Importance of Sharing

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I am really not good about sharing the love of God as much as I should.? I always seem to make excuses for why I don’t share more of “the hope that is within me.”? How about you?? Do you “always make the most of every opportunity?”? I have seen this clip several places on the blogs I read, but was reminded again of it tonight as I was thinking about some future sermon series.

Penn, from Penn and Teller, has a video blog that he talks about a myriad of subjects.? One of the entries he talks about a businessman that came back to his show the next night to give him a Gideons New Testament.? It really made an impact on this athiest that this man would share with him.? It would be really cool to see each of us to share Christ in this same respectful and effective way, wouldn’t it?? Notice that Penn didn’t change his views, but I pray that God will continue to work on him and change his heart.

Here is the video testimony of this man’s gift:

I AM SECOND

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I should have gone to bed a long time ago, but I can’t seem to go to sleep after finding this website.? Click on iamsecond.com and see what it is like to know that Christ is first in your life and you are second.? I am blown away by the amazing stories on there . . . not so much the celebrities, but the everyday people as well who are dealing with addiction, hurt, pain as well as success, fame, and “the good life.”

When it all gets stripped away, at the end of this life, you really have to examine why you are on this Earth and what is your purpose.? This site is the Gospel in a nutshell and there are tons of resources to find Christ, ask the hard questions, or even call or chat with someone who has gone through some of the same struggles you might be going through.

Sit down and take some time to read and listen to the stories and see what Christ continues to do all around the world.

Thanks Mike Zumwalt for showing me this site!? You da man!

Never Give Up in Doing Good . . .

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I have really had several encouraging moments over the last week or so that have really made me rethink Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

First off, I went to my new dentist here in Carthage and one of the dental hygentists is a daughter of a fellow pastor way back when (’95) , when Jenny and I were in Pryor, OK.? Her father is a great man and served in the Methodist Church in both Pryor and Locust Grove (where I was serving).? The work in Locust Grove was especially challenging, but he was always faithful to the call of God on his life.? I learned a lot from him in a very short time.

Then, later on that evening, I got a Facebook message from a former student in my youth group.? He was recalling a particular message I preached on a Wednesday night a LONG time ago that was still impacting his life!? What??? He talked about a simple phrase has stuck with him all these years and has helped him finally deal with some “junk” in his life and actually let some other people in the body of Christ to help him along in the journey!? At this point, I’m feeling really pumped about what God has done through me.? It gets better. . .

This Saturday night, I was studying for the next morning . . . looking over service, message, etc.? I had my email inbox open and got a latenight message from another “blast from the past.”? It was from a young lady that was in my youth ministry in Burleson, TX while I was in seminary.? She had been thinking about me and looked me up on the internet and found the Finley Crossings website and eventually this blog.? While she was looking at the CFC website, she downloaded a podcast–happened to be my last message at Finley before moving to Forest Park Carthage.? As she and her husband were sitting in their kitchen listening to the podcast, they made a decision to find a church in their city and really follow the call of God on their life–AWESOME STUFF!? So now I am really thinking that God is amazing and what am I mopeing around about, right??? It gets even better–last night . . .

I took Dinwiddie with me to Hopedale Baptist Church in Ozark, where I was a student pastor starting in ’99 after seminary.? We went to hear Aaron Hill give his first sermon ever.? Pretty stinking cool!? Aaron? was a 7th-8th grader when I left to plant Finley Crossings.? He was always one of “those kids” that you know God was going to do an amazing work through–you know the kid.? I am really good friends with his dad, John, who’s blog is linked over in the right margin.? Jenny and I have been worship pastors at their (HBC) children’s camps for about 5 or 6 years now and have gotten the opportunity to spend some quality time with Aaron in a cabin with a bunch of crazy elementary kids!!? I have always thought God was going to “do something” with Aaron. . . and I think he deep down thought the same thing.? It was really great!? He did an awesome job!? Brought back a ton of memories of student ministry at Hopedale as well as my “first sermon.”

I remember my first sermon in January of 1994 at FBC-Springfield at “College Night at Christmas.”? I gave the message and several of my other buddies did the other parts of the service.? It was a real nerve-wracking experience to say the least!? I was really nervous . . . in a suit and tie . . . had microphone feedback issues . . . and forgot (are you ready for this)–John 3:16.? I think they probably should have pulled my license at that point for sure!!

Again, I am reminded of Paul’s words of “never give up in doing good.”? Even thought things don’t always “go your way” or turn out the way you might want them to turn out . . . never give up.? Life and ministry are difficult and Paul was encouraging the early church to keep pressing on and hope for the harvest.? I am so thankful that the Lord has called me to do what I do and really thankful for His encouragement this week!? Thank you God!