New Series...

We are starting a new series at Seacoast James Island Student Ministries. It is called "What Goes Around". It's all about Karma vs. Grace.

Do you find yourself viewing God as a God who works in the business of karma? Do you think, "God, if you will give me _____, then I'll do _____ better." or "God, you will never let me ______, because I have ________ in my past!"

Sometimes as Christians we think God rewards only those who are worthy of the reward, and punishes only those who are deserving of punishment. But we forget about GRACE!

"From the fullness of his grace, we have all recieved one blessing after another, for the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:16-17 NIV)

Come learn with us. See how God is a god of grace and mercy, and is always in the business of grace over karma.

Seacoast James Island (Check it out)

Humility

Did you know that the disciple John (who wrote the book of John) never mentioned himself directly in his book. The name "John" does appear 20 times in the book, but is never used to mention the author. It is also believed that the disciple John was very close to Jesus. This meaning even closer than other disciples. He was probably only 17 -19 years old when he started following Jesus. Maybe Jesus clung to him because of his youth. Maybe because he knew that John would be able to care for his mother after his death and ascension. Maybe he was close to John because he just clicked with him. Regardless of why they were so close, the question remains, why did John never mention himself in his Gospel writing?

Many Christians find that they go through certain stages in there lives with Jesus. One stage I know I went through and sometimes still flirt with, is forgetting why I do and love ministry. You see, John saw the bigger picture. His gospel wouldn't be remembered for who he (John) was. It would be the starting point for many Christians biblical reading because of who Jesus was and is.

As people living in and of this world we live with tremendous pride. But one stage of regeneration through Christ MUST BE HUMILITY! We will not be remembered for who we are as people, but who we influence for eternity through JESUS!

We as Christians MUST remind ourselves to be disciples of John's awesome humility. One thing I pray often before I go into a ministry situation is that it wouldn't bring me glory, but would bring Him glory.

"He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30

Pride to Humility.

AG

My Pending Promotion

A few weeks ago we saw a video at Seacoast Church called "Cardboard Testimonies". The idea is not new. You basically get people from your church to hold up cardboard boxes with writing on them. One side says what they came from, and the other says what God has transformed them into. We had things in our video like "drug addicted gang banger"/"Spirit filled small group leader", or "Raped, ashamed, depressed"/"Loved, Adored, Happy". The video really caught me off guard. I have a burden on my heart to see dramatic life change like this, and to be used by God to help these transformations occur, but sometimes when I see things like it, it simply breaks me. To have a calling into ministry is not simply something that would be "cool", or a "fun job". It seriously is a burden!

When I was called into ministry in 2005, I didn't really tell many people my plans... mainly due to the fact that I didn't know how God was going to do it. I have a family of four and a youth pastors salary to say the least is... nothing to brag about. But I reserved in my heart that he would provide when the time is right. I am in the military and will not get out until July 2011 so I knew I had a little while for God to work out the details. When I did tell people what I was doing I got responses like "how are you going to survive financially?" or "Are you sure that is what God wants you to do? You won't make any money". And those responses were from CHRISTIANS, so you can imagine what I got from non-Christians.

What I am getting at is the fact that I get very frustrated and I actually doubt myself because of these reactions I get from people. I know in my heart that God will provide, and I don't really care about wealth as long as my family is taken care of.

One of the cardboard testimonies in this video was one that said "Wealthy CEO" on the front and "Promoted to Youth Pastor" on the back. When I saw that I lost it. Right in the middle of service I began to cry like a little baby. To see that attitude in another person is really reassuring. You see, I don't see leaving the military as a demotion in pay or benefits, I see it as a promotion to what God intended me to do.

In three years I get my promotion, from working on multi million dollar defensive avionics systems on the C-17 aircraft, to a Youth Pastor. I can't wait!

AG

The Blood

Have you ever felt like you have been climbing a hill for a long time and can finally see the peak right in front of you? The past six months have been so refreshing for my family. We have gone through a lot, but most has been so good! God has blessed me with so much (My newborn daughter, and buying the new house is probably the coolest). I still feel like I am climbing, but seeing God bless your life right in front of your face is so amazing! Most of the time it is easy to see God looking back at your life past, and hard to see him in the present and future. Not now... this season in my life I can actually say I can clearly see His hand at work in my past, present, and future!



With that said, yesterday I saw how quickly that could be altered. Miranda and I were on our way down to James Island to give blood at our church. We did not have the kids with us. We were at the intersection of I-526 and Highway 17. Turning left onto 17 we had a red light. It turned green and I hit the gas. The car next to us honked his horn (I assume to get my attention) and as I looked to my left, a car barrelled through the red light from my left running the red light at about 50 MPH. I hit my brake just in time to have him zoom right past the front of my car. If it weren't for that guy to my left honking, I would have been T-Boned... and I don't think it would have felt to good. Kind of ironic that I was going to give blood, and had a near death (or at least a near "bad accident") experience.



The bible teaches that it is the blood of Christ that gives us life and redeems us:

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18, 19)



"How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" (Heb 9:14)



Pastor Joey made the announcement on Sunday asking us to give blood this week. He said something that made me look up and pay attention (that is big for a guy with A.D.D.). He said something like this... 'If we call ourselves Christians, then giving blood is one of the most practical way to show the love of Christ since it was the giving of His blood that saved us!' Me giving blood yesterday may not have led someone directly to Christ, but just maybe it saved someones life and gave them more time on this earth to hear and experience Jesus... and maybe that person will later give their life to Jesus.



Two things I want you to get out of this post: First, it is because of the shedding of Jesus' blood that we can call ourselves Christians. Second, if you are a Christian... I think you should feel obligated to give blood, since it was His blood that saved you.



If you would like to give blood, South Carolina is in great need right now. Please visit the American Red Cross website and sign up today at a local blood drive. Just as Pastor Joey said on Sunday... Most of you will simply say "Yeah, I am going to do that!" and then never do it. If you said while reading this that you are going to do that. Do me and the person your blood might save a favor, STOP what your doing right now and go to the website and find out how to give blood right now. Do not wait. They need your blood. Thanks!



In His Blood,

AG

I Am Prejudice!

Got your attention yet?

OK... it's 10:00 a.m. Sunday June 8th 2008. I have just arrived at Seacoast James Island, SC (My Church). We are starting the ONE Prayer series. Jesus says in John 17:20-24, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world."" Wow! I know a lot of Christians that need to hear this message. You know the ones that criticize other churches for being to edgy with worship. Or the ones that if you wear flip-flops to church your going to hell. The ones that say if you speak to a member of the opposite sex, your sinning! We all have meet the overbearing, self-righteous Christians that think they are the only "true" Christians in the world. How dare they! We all need to be one... they should accept the fact that not all that don't see everything the way they see it are going to hell.

Ok, you might be asking yourself how the title of this message fits the words of this message. Hold on, here it comes. It is 11:45 p.m. Sunday June 8th 2008 and I am leaving the service feeling good. Feeling that the pastor let those holier than though Christians a spiritual beating! That message was for them, not me! Right?

Fast forward to yesterday. We were enrolling our 3 yr old on K-3 Kindergarten at an unnamed Baptist church. In walks what looks like the Pastor and his wife. The man in his late 60's has a neat but obvious comb-over and a suit (it's 100 degrees outside). His wife is wearing a pee green shoulder puffed ankle dress (again, IT'S 100 DEGREES!!!!) I think to myself, "pshhhh.... these people probably think me with my flip flops and torn jeans is a sinner bound for hell. They probably look at my wife's shorts and deem them to short for a Christian. They probably think we are bad parents to our two children."

IN FLIES THE BRICK WALL... **SLAM** God slaps me over the face and says "shoulda had a V8!" I was thinking and acting like those that I was pointing fingers at on Sunday. I was thinking down on them with no evidence just because of the way they dressed! God taught me this week that it isn't just the puffy shouldered ankle dress ladies, and old comb over men that are looking down on other Christians... I do it to! Hey if really weird dresses and comb-overs work for you... see you in heaven!

Next time you leave a church service pointing your hearts finger at someone else... stop and analyze your own life.... maybe you should be pointing your finger at yourself... I know I should have!

AG

Spiritually Desensitized

Yesterday at church we had a baptism during the time of decision (that's the time after the message, before you leave). What was cool was a ton of people decided to get baptised during the service and just went out and did it. The message was all about decisions. How we as Christians have to make decisions all the time. Some need earnest prayer, others you simply need to know your bible to know what God's decision is, some decisions aren't the ones that make since, others are not the popular decision. but they all are God's will. He gave everyone the opportunity to respond in their own way, and some chose to get baptised. So, at first I was like "Cool, people gettin' dunk for Jesus... I've seen this a thousand times... no biggie!". So when they started worship, they began to feed the video from the baptism (which was outside) to the big screen that had the words to the worship songs on it. You could see live what was happening outside the building as the people in the building worshiped and prayed to God. That is when the power of what was happening really hit me. I almost felt guilty because I think that I sometimes become numb to the idea of other people making decisions for Christ. I get excited about sports, and vacation, and video games, and even work/school, but when was the last time I actually got jacked up emotionally for someone giving their life to Jesus, or being baptised to show the world your faith is in Christ. I watched as those people got dunked and almost began to weep. I asked God to never let me get to the point where this doesn't affect me emotionally. I asked God to never let me get desensitized to what He (God, Jesus) is doing in the world around me. That is a scary place, when the distractions of this world out way your excitement for what God is doing right in front of your freakin' face!

"God, never let me get to that point again. Forgive me for letting myself ever get there in the first place. Let every decision for Christ, baptism, testimony, life change, spiritual decision, always bring overwhelming joy to my heart. If there is celebration in heaven when one person decides to follow Jesus, then there should be celebration in my heart. I ask you again to forgive me for ever getting there, and never let me be desensitized to your hand at work in my world ever again! I love you Jesus. Amen"

AG

Vandalism For Chirst!

Today we went to a rockin' church service that reminded me of how badly I want find and grow people into the body of Christ. The Pastor spoke about Luke chapter 5. The story of the men who lowered the paralyzed man down through the roof where Jesus was speaking. He taught that the men could have easily said that the house was to crowded and that Jesus was inaccessible for them and their paralyzed friend. But, they climbed to the roof and ripped the flippin' tiles off the roof to get him into Jesus' presence! Gotta love vandalism for Christ! So, next time you are in a situation and the door is shut in your face, don't think "Well, God has shut the door... it must not be his will." Rather, climb to the roof and rip a whole in the ceiling before you say it isn't God's will!

AG

A Heart Melting, Jaw Dropping, Wrapped Around My Pinkie Moment!

OK, so first of many, but last night I had my first "you could get anything you want in the world right now" moments with my daughter, Ainsley. I was holding her in the kitchen on my shoulder. She is very fragile and weak since she was born so small. So, she hasn't really done much of picking her head up and looking around yet. But something caught her eye this time. It was my eyes. She just started to stare in my eyes. She was looking so deeply and attentively into my eyes that I just freakin' melted right there. I swear, anything, if she could have talked, she would have had it right then and there. I would have bought her the world. Seriously, I love my son, but this is going to be bad, people. I am a sucker for a good puppy dog face, and when it comes to my daughter it is going to be even worse! She literally stared into my eyes for an entire minute, only to stop because her neck muscles needed a rest on my shoulder.

OK, there is the set-up

Here is the application

Isn't that how God feels about us? When we actually get up enough spiritual muscle to lift our heads and actually stare into the face of God for a while. He probably is there waiting anxiously for us to be strong enough to forget everyone and everything around us for just a minute and PAY ATTENTION TO HIM! I bet he just melts! Most of us don't get that spiritual neck muscle too often, do we. We are so distracted by things around us, even ministry and church, that we rarely pause enough to look up and make it about HIM and not about US! We are often spiritual newborns walking in a spiritual adult world. So, try this day to pause and get enough strength to look into your Daddy's eyes for a few moments. He may just give you the world. At the least you WILL make His heart melt.

AG

Everyday Life

When your walking through life, you never know what or who God will lead you to. Be cautious and aware of your surroundings or you will never know what God could have done through your everyday happenings.

AG

Complacency and Boredom

How many times have I seen a less than one year old baby christian slowly fall/crawl/run back to his/her old lifestyle? Too many times. I feel like beating my head in when they do this... it seems like such a waste of time and commitment by them. What is it that makes it so hard for new Christians to stay with thier commitment and grow past that infantile stage?

I say it is avoiding, no, fighting the urge to give in to spiritual complacency and boredom. My son is 2 and LOVES "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse", but in a few months Mickey will be a thing of the past. Now he can't wait to wake up and watch it. Even though the episodes are all the same and he has seen every one, he still wakes up with that overwelming desire to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. This will end soon. We have all seen it as Christians too... a new Christian is so excited and desires God's presence in their life so much that they can't help but reflect Christ in their lives! Then the "spiritual high" (not to coin an overused phrase) dissipates, and their christian life becomes something of the past. I wish they could all avoid this spiritual hump and hang on to what God has for them, but they don't. I naturally want to blame myself for this occurance. Maybe if I was just a little more involved in their life, or maybe if I pushed a little more when I saw it beginning to happen. Then God reminds me that it is always their choice. We can influence other Christians all we want, but ultimately every person has to make their own decision and no one can be blamed or credited for that choice but the person who made it.

Keep that commitment as important today as it was the first day we made it. After all, God hasn't changed since that day....WE have. I want to be as furvently in love with Christ everyday as I was when I first commited my life to him.

AG

Connect - Ski Retreat 2008

So, tomorrow I leave with WAVES student ministry to go to Tennessee for our annual ski retreat. Hear are a few thoughts before I leave:

1. This is my first ski retreat with WAVES, and I am hoping that there isn't any initiation... trust me I have served at many youth ministry's and they do this sort of thing to newbies.

2. I am really jacked about one of the games we are playing. We will get it on camera and Ill post it on here.

3. I am leading the middle school cabin... please pray for me... really!

4. Along the same subject... Sunday night at youth group I reminded all middle schoolers to bring deodorant, and also reminded them they actually have to wear it.

5. I have only been skiing once in my life about 11 years ago, and snowboarded once about 4 years ago. Also pray I come back with no broken limbs.

6. While we are talking about praying... please pray that our encounter time (Thursday and Friday night services) goes well, and God challenges the kids.

7. We are calling it Connect with an iPod theme. And yes, the rumors are true... we will be giving away a few iPod Shuffles.

8. Jeremiah doesn't often get mentioned enough... He really has worked hard on this retreat and I know God is going to use him mightily on this trip. He truly has a heart for God and these kids.

9. In my cabin I also have Matt and Kathy Beam, and Donna (I don't know her last name) as cabin staff. They are really awesome people to take time out of their schedules to help out with this trip. Donna is our medically trained person... hopefully we won't need to use those skills of hers. Kathy is cooking... for everyone! GOD BLESS HER!!!

10. I really am looking forward to this trip and what God is going to do. But, I really will miss my wife Miranda, Little Andy, and baby Ainsley. I was on the road last week for business, this week for the trip, and next week I'll be on the road for business again. My wife really does an awesome job with the house and kids and I don't nearly thank her enough. You are awesome babe, and I thank God for putting you in my path of life.

Well, that's it for now! I'll post when I get back!

AG

The Candidate of Your Heart

The race for the white house is on. No, this is not going to be a politically spun blog entry. Sorry to disappoint! I did happen to watch a little of both debates last night, and on both sides of the table, Republican and Democrat, it struck me that they all seemed to want to help and fight for our nation’s freedom and prosperity. Seriously, no matter how Democrat or how Republican, how left or how right a candidate is, I think everyone can say that they are trying to stand up for what they believe to be the best direction for our country. They go out and spend millions and millions of dollars of campaign money for commercials, public speeches, research on the other candidates, poster, billboards, radio spots, and anything that gets their name out in the public’s eye. They basically sacrifice an entire year of their lives to try and make it on the ballot in November. Most of them if asked would say they would do anything for the American people. Above all of their sacrifices and dedication, there has been only one man to campaign for an entire world. Jesus spent a good thirty some years on earth. He spent about three of those years campaigning, if you would, for the hearts of every man, woman, political leader, high priest, lowly servant, the rich, the poor, the healthy, the diseases, the churched, and the un-churched. Despite all the hype of what each candidate could do for you and this country. Jesus laid down his life, not for your vote, but for your heart.

He already won the election. Will you accept his nomination in your heart?

AG

Anticipation

Christmas is a season of anticipation. We anticipate food, family, cheerful times, lights, decorations, and MOST importantly… presents! As a child I can remember having my stomach in knots for weeks anticipating the big day. Actually that "kid" anticipation never left. I think everyone remembers in elementary school making the Christmas countdown paper chains. Every day for a month before Christmas you'd rip off one paper chain link until you ran out and then the anticipation was over, and it was Christmas! Those were the days... when we had time to make a stupid paper Christmas chain. Now a days, I anticipate the look on my son's and wife's face when they open their gifts.

I am sure there was a ton of anticipation the night of Jesus’ birth as well. I’d imagine Joseph was afraid of being the earthly father of the Son of God. Imagine that! "Hey, your fiance is pregnant... and by the way... He is the living Son of God... No pressure Joe!" I am sure that Mary was anticipating, well, labor! I can only imagine the anticipation in heaven at the idea of the Savior of the world being born. But, I bet not many were anticipating what that sweet infant child was truly put on earth to do, to die for our sins on the cross. The night before Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus wept and was in so much anguish over the anticipation of what he was about to go through that scholars say He sweat blood. He was the perfect God-Man, but He still anticipated the pain that He was sent to bare for our sins.

In this season of anticipation, let’s pause and remember what Christ ultimately was born to do, to die and rise to life for our sins. Without that sacrifice, we would have nothing to anticipate.

AG

Signature Riffs

Every now and then I like to re-post a blog that I read that really spoke to me. Pastor Furtick hit the nail on the head when he blogged this: Click here

Every Christian should have his or her own Riff. What truth about God/Jesus inspires you to be a Christian. What one life lesson do you want to empress on other Christians.

My Christian Riff: Mine would have to be that as Christians, our lives should reflect our decision to follow Christ. Others should be able to see who Jesus is by how we live, not just by what we say. If I ever looked at my own life, and could not see Christ... I'd reevaluate my priorities.

1-1-1 Challenge

Two weeks ago, Pastor Chris challenged the church to pray for one person for one minute at one o'clock every day for the month of December. Now, I have ADD so this seemed to be a daunting task. I set my cell phone alarm to ring every day at 1:00 p.m. and that way I wouldn't forget. I started praying for my co-worker Joe and his family of 6. They are not saved at all. Joe's wife was raised Catholic and he was raised half of his childhood in a catholic church and half of his childhood on an Indian reservation. I have witnessed to him before but was at the point in our working relationship that if I pushed the issue, it would drive him away. He has come to me in the past asking for advise about his son who is searching for what to believe (he is only 16). I decided to do the 1-1-1 challenge with him and his family since I can see them searching. I have been doing it daily for two weeks now.

The other day during a conversation at work about how I was going to pay him back for a lunch he bought me, he simply said... Just pray for me, that can be your pay back. Think about it. The person I have been praying for for two weeks in this challenge actually came to me and asked me to pray for him. He didn't want me to pray for him right then and there, he meant it like just pray for him in general. I simply responded by saying... "I can do that, actually I already do that." I do not know where this is going, but I am going to ask him to come to the Christmas Eve service. Who knows what God has in store for them.

It is times like this, that make me realize the importance of what we learn and do through Coastal Community Church. the Holy Spirit is truly guiding our congregation, and I can not wait to hear all of the things God is doing through this 1-1-1 challenge. If you have a report about your 1-1-1 challenge, please post a comment below about what God is doing!

AG

Life Update

So, here is what is up with me lately

- Chris (little Chris) told me that I never blog anymore... atleast I know someone reads this.
- Coastal life is awesome! We go to two services on January 6th.
- God is guiding Miranda and I through a time of trusting in his guidance. Sometimes that is REALLY scary!
- We are at Pastor Jeremiah and Cyndi's apartment.
- I am speaking tomorrow night at youth group. Very excited! It has been since May that I spoke to them.
- I am reading through the prophet books of the old testament. Right now Joel.
- I really want to be in full time ministry. God will provide.
- Halo 3 is awsome!
- I am getting fat... gotta lose weight.
- We ate tostados at Jeremiah's. MMMmmm...
- OH YEAH!!! WE ARE HAVING A GIRL!!! WAHOO!!!
- Her name is going to be Ainsley Marie Eden Gill (probably).
- She is going to be soooo spoiled.
- I love my church
- I love God
- I'm tired. Good night.

AG

Worldy Sorry vs. Godly Sorry

Why is it that our culture has retarded the word repentance. We have all been guilty of it. "Jesus, I REPENT of my sins, I'm sorry I (fill in the blank). Please forgive me." WHY ARE YOU BEGGING GOD TO FORGIVE YOU!?!?!?! He already has! Now, before you get all upset, I am not saying we don't need to ask for repentance of our sins, but what exactly is repentance? What does God's Word tell us about the word repentance? What does the language of Jesus say about the word repentance.

The Hebrew word for repent ( התחרט ) is to be sorry, regretful for one's actions, but also to return, turn back, or restore oneself to a place of holiness. It is a verb; an action requiring you to actually change something. The Hebrew for repentance ( חרטה ) is an actual returning, or retirement, or withdrawal from something. The Greek word for repentance (μετανιώνω or metaniono) means changing one's mind of something already done. A change is involved in all of these definitions. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,..." (Acts 3:19) Did you catch the "and turn to God" part? Hey, I didn't say it... the Holy Spirit said it.

Have you ever known those people that say "I know (blank) is a sin, but God forgives sin, so it is OK to do it.". I want to smack that person in the forehead. The Bible says in 1 John 2: 3 - 6, "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." Maybe they should actually live by his commands. That is true repentance. God is not an enabler of wicked ways, he is a transformer. He doesn't allow us to live the way we want to freely, He convicts us to live the way Jesus did.

Jeremiah 5:3, "O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent." Some of us get hit over the head by God and still refuse to repent (change). Ever had to hit rock bottom before you changed your ways? Are you on your way to rock bottom now?

"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10) This is Miranda's new favorite verse. God says that there is such a thing as a worldly "sorry". It is the one that keeps leading to death. Instead, the sorrow that is according to the will of God is a sorrow that leads to repentance (which we know means "a change").

So, for the Christian that is stuck in their ways of saying sorry to God, maybe try asking Him for strength to actually CHANGE instead of saying sorry. For the Christian that says on Friday morning ' God will forgive me for what I will do tonight' THINK AGAIN! For the Christian that feels like they are heading for rock bottom, maybe try truly repenting before you feel the full wrath of God. And for the Christian that says sorry but has no passion behind the idea of changing... are they really sorry? Maybe not. Remember that God judges the heart and not the mouth. Listen to this,"If you love me you will keep My commandments." (John 14:15).

AG

The Spirit of Joy!

Wow, I just wanted to say that I am having more and more fun at Coastal Community Church every Sunday. This morning I woke up ubber excited! Yes, I just said "ubber". I was jacked for service today. I don't know what it is, I just was excited. I think it might have to do with the new SiMPLE CHURCH series that we are doing, but whatever it is, it seems to be not just me that is pumped. I just sense a spirit of joy in the church lately. That we are coming to realize the true implications of what we do and why we do it.

And man! What a week of visitors and return visitors. We had a ton of new people and a ton of people come back for a second time! I couldn't keep up with all the new people I saw this morning. January 6th could not come soon enough. Going to two services is exciting but let's not forget why we are doing it. It isn't so we can come at 11:15 and get a few more minutes of sleep. It is to promote growth! Like Pastor Chris is always saying... "Who are you praying for? Who are you inviting? Who are you bringing?" I always am asking myself that question. I can't wait until right after we go to two services and we quickly realize that that is not enough. I can't wait until our biggest problem is fitting all the people into the building that we are inviting... and then seeing their lives dramatically change because of Christ! That is what it is all about... LIFE! and experiencing LIFE together!

Well, I have to calm myself down and go study. Man it is good to be in Christ!

AG

Becoming a Man

As my son Andy gets older (he is now almost 2 and a half) I see him becoming a man. I know what your thinking... How can he already be learning the concepts of manhood? Well, the answer is... It is in our Godly nature. Most of the time, I have to give him direction, give him guidance, or simply order him to do something. But, every once in a while he will surprise me. I walked into the living room the other day and saw that he had attempted to clean the room. He lined all of his toys up against the wall in an unorthodox, unorganized manner that would make only his father proud. It was his decision to get up and do something on his own accord that pleased me, not the overall success of his actions.

This reminds me of the second missionary journey of Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Paul decided on his own that he would go from Antioch to the previous cities evangelized by his previous mission. After he visited those cities, he longed to go to Asia and eventually Ephesus. The Holy Spirit directed him NOT to go into Asia but gave him no more direction. He chose to go north on his own judgment, and eventually was lead by the spirit to Troas and evangelized modern day Greece. He eventually (years later) made his way to Ephesus and stayed there in ministry for some thirteen years.

You may ask, what do these two subjects have in common. Well, sometimes as Christians we have our own spiritual, and personal goals. God also has a plan and sometimes seems to disrupt our goals. On the other hand, we as Christians need to grow in faith and make decisions on our future spiritual and personal goals on our own sometimes. God wants us to use our surroundings (That he determines most of the time) to make an informed decision on movement. Like my son, we must at some point start stepping out in spiritual knowledge and moving toward our and God's goals for our life without the constant demand for prophetic guidance. Sometime people say... we are waiting on God to tell us what to do, when all they really are doing is delaying the action due to lack of faith in their own decision making.

It is time that Christians stop acting like babies and make some decisions. I am not saying rush the Lord, but i am saying do not doubt yourself in stepping out in faith toward your ultimate goal of furthering the kingdom. Whether that means going into ministry, or simply talking to your co-worker about Jesus. It is your turn... stand up and do something.

AG

He doesn't need your thanks, He deserves it.

A good friend of mine was telling me yesterday that he finds it unbelievable that he can go to Iraq, carry a gun, see unspeakable things, do unspeakable things, and all for the freedom of so many people back home. He told me how he went over and slept in makeshift bunks, which were constantly being shelled with mortar rounds. He said he had to fight an enemy so evil that it was their goal to kill him and eventually kill his family back home. The enemy wanted nothing more than to destroy everything that was good in his life.

After he came home to the U.S. he had no patience for bill collectors yelling at him about a water bill that was a little late. He didn't have patients for people getting upset at him or not respecting him. Not that he wanted the affirmation, but that he at least wanted some sort of respect for who he was and what he did for them. He didn't go to the other side of the planet, sleep in ditches, get beaten up by the harsh conditions, endure sleepless nights, and suffer for people who can't even acknowledge what he did for their freedom.

Remind you of another story? You know, it floors me how people don't realize who and what Jesus did for them. he went through His own war with his own enemy to fight for our freedom. He was beaten, stabbed, whipped, and mocked by his enemy. He felt pain, rejection, sin, abandonment, and even tasted death before he rose again. And all for the gift of freedom. But still people purposefully reject him, and even unwittingly slap Him in His face by not acknowledging what He did for them. It is a free gift for us, just need to accept it.

Have you truly thanked him lately? He doesn't need your thanks... He deserves and desires it.

AG