chaoticSoul

This past Sunday we had an emphasis on missions in India. It went quite well amidst all of our activities that day. I have done some missions work in different areas of the world nothing too extensive regrettably. I've done some work with the homeless, some with habitat for humanity, I took a quick trip to Romania's Transylvania, and I have also done some heartbreaking work with individuals who were facing impossible situations without the Father. One thing I am constantly reminded of though is the places that we don't go or possibly can't go. How many tears of our brothers and sisters worldwide go unnoticed? Just because we believe them to already be "Christians" we have the unfortunate habit of passing them by and reaching out to the lost. A lot of times we just focus on being like Jesus which is exactly what we need to be doing but we have this idea that Jesus only saved the lost while He was on earth but that is just half of what He did and taught. " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matt. 22:37-40
Even John 15:3 speaks about love, "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
There are brother and sisters whose tears are shed daily because they just need someone to help lift them up when they are beaten down. Let us not forget them this Christmas and New Years or may I submit to you that we not forget them ever... We all have points in our life where we are beaten down and sometimes dragged through our sorrow and pain. Let's not be naive and think that we are the only ones...
The tears of the saints are falling down... All you have to do is look beyond the ordinary and into the obvious.

Please pray for my attitude and charisma as I see God planning big things for us and our church but I can feel Lucifer trying to pull us down. We will prevail as long as we keep our sights on what God has in store.

WOW.... in case you missed it... Richard Land with the Southern Baptist Convention was on Good Morning America on ABC with radio host and Mormon, Glenn Beck. In response to presidential candidate Mitt Romney's speech where he claimed to be not campaign as a religious figure and states that no candidate should. Problem is, he is a devout Mormon. What was important about this conversation was Diane Sawyer in her own way was trying to stir up some controversy and she asked Richard Land he he believed Mormons to be Christians. Without hesitation he said, "No I do not." In the media in the past we have had leaders who have said they were Christians receive the same type of questions and answer in a less than desirable way. Take a note of this because because it should help as an example to us. The Bible says that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Be careful with other religions outside of Christianity because the Jesus they talk about is probably not the same Jesus of the Bible. Our Jesus died and rose again. Our Jesus walked on water. Our Jesus was sinless. Our Jesus is God.

Good morning all you fellow web surfers!
I wasn't going to post anything about his because I know that everyone has an opinion on the subject. However, I just can't stand this anymore.
Coming up on 8 years ago we as a nation elected a man to the highest position that can be elected to in the free world. He has served our country with integrity and morality which is more than I can say for some of our past presidents. But for some reason they (critics) place our most immoral presidents on a higher pedestal than our current president. Yes the economy is in bad shape, that's a no brainer but what people refuse to see is that George Bush has kept America safe since 2001 and without almost no choice has entered us into an impossible war where no one will win. You have seen pictures from that war for the past several years but the ones you've seen are the ones the media presents and I hate to be the one to tell you, the media doesn't always show the entire picture. I know...shocking. That office that he sits in almost every day holds the power to wage war, destroy nations, protect the innocent, provide aid to the helpless and that office leads the largest world power since Rome. I could not begin to imagine the stress and the toll that job takes on any man (or woman...) That fact of the matter is folks, he is our President. The Bible speaks of respecting and honoring our leaders. I believe that God has placed him in that office for the time he has been there on purpose and who am I to question God. Yes, George's health is declining and he ages more each day but WHO WOULDN"T? I am saying this because I know that I would not want that job, I can barely handle the job God has put me in but He sustains me and helps me to persevere. Next time you think about this I want you to imagine yourself in that position and try... really try to imagine the power and stress that comes with it. Honor our leaders because they are there for a reason. What astounds me is that George Bush has all of these things to do... you know... running the country... and yet he always makes the time to worship the same God that you and I do. Don't criticize him... pray for him.

For centuries Christian brothers and sisters have been divided on the issue of baptism. Does baptism result in salvation? Is baptism for believers or children? We may never join together in agreement on this subject but one thing is for certain.. there are many people who are in our churches who are still confused about the nature of baptism. So I will outline what I have come to believe about baptism. The Bible says that whomever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21). Notice that it doesn't say whomever is baptized will be saved. I believe that baptism is a visible sign of a sacred thing. It is an outward proclamation of what has happened on the inward.
The World Council of Churches says that Baptism is the sign of new life through Jesus Christ. It unites the one baptized with Christ and with his people. Baptism is participation in Christ’s death and resurrection; a washing away of sin; a new birth; an enlightenment by Christ; a reclothing in Christ; a renewal by the Spirit; the experience of salvation from the flood; an exodus from bondage and a liberation into a new humanity in which barriers of division whether of sex or race or social status are transcended. The images are many but the reality is one. Baptism is the outward sign of what happened inside.

So for the past several years my best friend Eric and I would sit down whenever we could and watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Year after year, episode after life-changing episode I am still deeply moved to the core of my being by this show. Tonight they aired their newest episode which was a two parter in where they helped their 100th family.
Each episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is self-contained and features a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take at least four months to achieve, involving a team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers who have just seven days to totally rebuild an entire house -- every single room, plus the exterior and landscaping. Each episode begins with team leader Ty Pennington's now-famous "Good morning!" wake-up call, when he, along with the other designers, surprises the unsuspecting family with news that their home has been chosen to receive a makeover. Then viewers witness not only the unbelievable transformation of the house, but during the final and emotional reveal, they see how the home makeover has impacted the lives of the deserving families.
The 100th family is a family of 9 with one on the way. Now you may say "Wow how about a little self control and responsibility" but I will be quick to tell you to hold your tongue and keep it to yourself. The original family was a family of 6 including mom and dad. Tragically the family lost their dad in a horrific car accident leaving them alone. When mom decided to start dating again she began a relationship with a man which turned out to be an abuser and he abused the kids mom. She had the courage to stop that relationship but things escalated and the ex boyfriend shot and killed both the mom and her boyfriend at the time who was staying at their house to try and keep them all safe. The four kids now alone were taken and adopted by their aunt who was very close to their mom and now live with her and her husband and family. This event was only 4 months ago and they feel the effects every day. They live in a crowded 3 bedroom home with 7 growing kids. Needless to say they are running out of room.
This show choose to help this family and I will be the first to admit that I tear up when I witness the life-change that happens on this show. Hearing their stories and seeing their eyes light up with hope stirs my inner-most being. That is God-love. Giving selflessly to others in need is something that is not seen very often anymore in our world.
If you haven't seen this show I would greatly urge you to watch it or tiVo it or DVR it or just plain record it because in the short hour that they give you you will see true God-love from these wonderful people.
"We can't cure cancer, we can't bring the dead back, but we can put 2 X 4s together and shingle the roof and give somebody a warm place to sleep at night and that's what we know how to do and that's what we do." Paul

As I was driving back up to Dallas yesterday I had some time to think and reflect on my past few years. They say that the college years are the best of your life and I surely hope not. I can honestly look anyone in the eyes and tell them that my life for the past four years have been rampaged with pain, anger, sorrow, betrayal, loss, and death. I honestly do not understand why my time in college was so difficult but I can say without missing a beat that I am truly grateful for the lessons and experience gained from those lessons. As I have now left the DFW area to live down at the coast I recognize that I have just had the best year of my life so far. I am so blessed. My best friends are moving on with life and one of them actually has a little girl who is daddy's little girl. I have a great family and my job situation could not have turned out better. Yes there will be trials and tribulations to come but that is to be expected as a Christian Believer. It is Jesus who says "In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world." Of the things that I am thankful for I am most definitely most thankful for the cross. Knowing that Christ Jesus willingly chose to sacrifice Himself on the cross so that I may live in eternal fellowship with Him gives me strength beyond understanding and courage to match. I am thankful for You Jesus my Savior!

Let me preface my post by saying that I will not officially endorse any candidate in his or her race for the white house office. I believe like many Christians do and/or should that we should vote for the issues and not the candidate. Now on to the beefy part of this post. Many of you know that in the past couple weeks Pat Robertson has come out and officially endorsed former mayor Rudy Guiliani for President. Now every man and woman has their God given right to vote for whomever they so choose but this presidential election coming up in now less than a year will probably one of the most important elections in the past century. My former mentor has posted on his site and you can go there by clicking on "Keith's Corner" to the right or you can go straight to what we read by clicking randyalcorn.blogspot.com. I want to encourage you who may read my blog to fully be aware of what you are voting on because for example if you intend on voting for Rudy Guiliani be aware that he has publicly said that he is in favor of legalized abortion. WHAT? Sorry I think that just passed over most Christian republicans... in FAVOR of legalized abortions. Meaning that he would like to see a nationwide law proclaiming abortion as legal and an "ok" thing to do. This, as you may have your own personal opinions on it, is not ok and is Biblically wrong. yeah, I said it, BIBLICALLY WRONG. If we are to proclaim that we are christians then we must accept the fact that that term, Christian, means that we are Christ-followers. If you say that then stand up for what the Bible says. God's Word is a double-edged sword and we have to start using it. Rudy Guiliani is not the only candidate in the presidential race who is pro-choice so this post isn't just about him but this recent event might have just served as the catalyst of Christian reactions to the upcoming election. So this is a call for those of you who read my blog to stand up and be counted because the time is drawing near when the line between political parties and (let's just say it) EVIL will become blurred. Vote for the issues not the person.

Well starting a new blog is never easy unless you have something very pressing to shout out. I don't. I wanted to create a place where I can write out my thoughts and learnings from the past week of studying through different books and diving into the Word. I think this would be the most excellent way to do that.
Notice the italicized words there... the most excellent way... the only time I have ever seen those words put in that order has been by the Apostle Paul.
In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth and explaining the gifts of God that we call today spiritual gifts. He is telling them (and us) that there are many gifts inside the church just as there are many parts of a body. Not all of us can be apostles, teachers, healers, prophets or the gift of speaking in unknown languages so we should then desire to have the most helpful gifts. Paul then goes on in chapter 13 to explain what the greatest thing that we should strive to have and set before ourselves as the ultimate goal. Love. Such a strange little word with enough power behind it that it causes men to wage war or turn the most revered man into a crazed dog with his tail waging earger for more attention. Love is the greatest of the series Paul puts forth, "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." Love is the most excellent way. It's origin comes straight from the Almighty God and was shown completely on the cross by His Son Christ our Lord.
"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:13