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!