Saints!!!!!!

Yea Baby! the Saints are in the Superbowl and it is unbelievable! In all my years (definitely not as long as most)I never thought I would see this happen. In fact I can remember my dad always telling me that my grandfather said they would never go to the Superbowl unless they got saved when the franchise first started. Hence the name "Saints." Now I don't know the condition of anyone's salvation, but to the degree that some figures on that team have impacted a city and a region, I have to tell you that it sure looks like some of these guys are on the right side of salvation. They are not just football players who blab off at the mouth and who show boat, they are a class act. Playing through some of the worst adversity that any team could have experienced and coming back to get to the Superbowl is stellar and speaks in itself.

Does God truly care about football? In and of itself, no I don't believe He does. However, does he care about those who do play being successful at what they do and shining a light of hope to the rest of the world in their success? Yes He does. In fact I read an editorial some time ago about religion in pro sports and I have to tell you it was a horrible read. It spoke of Tim Tebow and his faith and how it shouldn't be displayed on the field simply because religion doesn't belong in sports. How ludicrous. Why? Because you can't separate the individual from his faith and if you can't do that, then you can't separate religion from what that individual is a part of. In fact to do so would mean that the government then stipulates what you can and cannot believe because Christianity is about people bringing their faith to the public square and influencing others to live a life of Godliness and love and in that giving people hope. To separate the two would invariably nullify the core of our religious belief. You can't do it and neither can you do it in sports. God belongs on the field, in the locker room and in the hearts of minds of those who serve Him in whatever capacity they find themselves.
GO Saints (of all kinds!)

21 days!

The 21st day and people all over this nation have been fasting and praying. We are about to see what happens when the people of God are bound by the Spirit of God toward a common purpose and goal. I believe that we have already seen God's sovereign hand at work during these last 21 days throughout not only our nation, but our world. Excitement has permeated the atmosphere of our lives and an expectation of the power of God more than ever before and He will show up in miraculous ways here in this nation because of a people that refuse to allow our nation to go the route of nations before us. Founded on the principle of worshipping the creator of Heaven and earth existing in the person of Jesus Christ, we will continue to be the blessed nation that He has called and the blessing that we have been and will be to the nations of the world. The Church will rise up in these days and will be the Church that Jesus has called us to be.
So Let's Celebrate!

One year old bday parties, wow it has been awhile! I can remember when these bday parties were like almost every weekend. Parents hangin out and the kids runnin Around and screaming their lungs out. Of course you always had the helicopter parents and then the disengaged that let every one else watch their kids. If you are one of those parents still having those bday parties enjoy them. Your kids grow up so fast that it's hard to imagine that it passes so quickly. Kids are the lifeblood of our society and they need to be enjoyed and nurtured. Now back tothe party, FYI it's hilarious to see my 9 year old boy carrying around a pink and green gift box......

Slavery Dead? No

That age old institution probably older than prostitution is still alive and thriving.  In an article posted by ABC news traffickers, not uncommon to Haiti, are now aggressively moving into action to kidnap children following that countries devastating earthquake.   It has been heart warming to watch the outpouring of support from all over the world that has occurred during this time for this tiny island nation, but how sad it is that those who would take advantage of fellow human beings would spend just as much energy and resources springing into action to enslave a child.  According to human trafficking statistics over 1 million children per year are enslaved in the commercial sex trade and this doesn't include the numbers of women that are enslaved in this trade as well.  Church we have a job to do and we need to get involved in stopping this modern day tragedy.
Too read up and find out more about this blight on our society ck out this blog and some of these organizations and the video below.
John

Safe Horizon
World Hope
Barnaba Institute
Children of the Night

In psalms 38 king David was lamenting over people who had it out for him. Thing is he knew there was trouble in his palace but failed to confront it. Division left by itself only creates chasms of differences but contending for unity and constantly mending division will create lifelong strength.

I am excited about Sundays message on "Contend for Covenant" it's gonna be awesome!

As The Tide Turns

Reading the story of Jacob’s life is one of fascinating intrigue filled with twists and turns that often leaves someone scratching their head trying to figure out who this guy is. I mean for all of his issues, God still chose him. A liar, a cheat, a coward and just an all around loser, by religious standards. But a few key events took place that changed his destiny.
An encounter with God when he ran from his brother Esau. An encounter with God when he was on his way back to his brother Esau. Anyone else notice a pattern here? The biggest obstacle in our lives that can deter us from our destiny is often the thing that we are running from and then what we have to run back to face that will change us. God blessed him when he was at his father in law, Laban’s, house. Of course there was a little mischief on his part, but some would call it good business sense….I like the latter….and he became prosperous and gave all the glory to God. Then he feels it is time to leave because God is leading him home, back to where Esau was. He had to face his failures, his lies and his problems he left behind. The reality was though that God had already paved the way for him. So on the way he meets God face to face and he is so sick of who he is that he demands a blessing. He was already rich so I would entertain that he wasn’t asking for material blessing. I believe he was asking for a blessing of renewal in his relationships. They were all so messed up. Can you imagine marrying sisters and having the infighting he did???? And then he ducked out on his father in law and didn’t even tell him he was moving. Ran from his mother and father’s house, man sounds like a soap opera! But God changes his nature as he wrestled with him and it is recognized by the name change from Jacob to Israel and the rest….Esau loves him and welcomes him and then several years later or Genesis 36, Esau moves out of the land of promise and it is Israel’s to have. God always makes a way, but are you running away from your promise right now or back to your promise regardless of the issues you know you have to face?

Our Biggest Battle

The biggest Battle in your life is not when external circumstances confront you, but when you confront internal desires and try to overcome them. In short Our biggest enemy is ourself. That’s why I believe fasting and prayer is a common component of any mature Christians faith. Why choose “mature Christian” and not just “Christian?” Because there are tons of folks who claim christianity as their religion, but have never adopted a lifestlye of fasting and prayer. I have such high regard and esteem for those who can often go on 40 day fasts and I’m not talking about just fasting meat or maybe media, but all solid food.
We often want the spiritual authority and wisdom of some of these faithful leaders in our lives, but we often fail to see the price they pay for that authority and wisdom. The sacrifices might not seem big on the outside, they might be financially stable and in the upper middle class and not seem to struggle for physical lack, but if you get behind the scenes, you see struggles of self discipline and rigorous spiritual disciplines that are intense. One of my leaders that I admire responded once to a question; “breakfast, I can’t eat breakfast until I’ve spent time with Father.” He doesn’t eat at all until he has spent time with Jesus in prayer that day. What he has done is placed such a priority on Jesus that all else pales in comparison. He denies himself personal satisfaction until he has met with Jesus. There might be an emergency or last minute plans that get interrupted etc, but that rumbling in his gut reminds him that he missed his prayer.
How much more could we be to the world if we would get this type of tenacity in prayer and time with Father? Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him. That’s what fasting and prayer is all about and that’s what every Christian is called to do.
Keep it up….Keep the faith