Disturbing...

From Bill O'Reilly

"Right now, President Obama should be war-gaming with the U.S. Navy, contemplating a blockade of Iran. That, of course, would provoke hostilities but it would also send the Mullahs a message they could not ignore.That is the only way Iran is going to stop its nuclear program and if President Obama doesn't take that action, Israel will bomb the Iranians and that will lead to worldwide chaos.Stock markets will drop. Oil will go through the roof. Terrorist recruitment will also skyrocket. Attacks on American interests will increase. Iraq will blow up. The unintended consequences of an Israeli attack on Iran are staggering."
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Fw: The Blood {Jan Bagwell Ministries}

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

---

From: "Jan Bagwell"
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:05:44 -0400
To: David Bagwell<Davesworld@aol.com>; Easlic Linda B<lbeaslic@aol.com>; Bill Armstrong<armstrong_1952@yahoo.com>; bonnie alverson<bonnie_alverson@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Blood {Jan Bagwell Ministries}

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart.

She responded to God's call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution.

But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church.

She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children.

It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor's son.

The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans.

This is when the problems began.

You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor's son.

The church began to argue and fight about the matter.

So they decided to have a meeting.

As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand.

The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past.

As she began to cry the pastor's son stood to speak.

He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this:


"My to be wife  past is not what is on trial here.

What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin.

Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?"

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely.

If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus! End of case!!!!

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Psalm 55:23

 This prayer is powerful and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.

There is no cost but a lot of rewards, let's continue to pray for one another.

Here is the prayer:

"Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now.

Show them a new revelation of your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit at this very moment.

Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy. Where there is self doubt, release a renewed confidence through your grace.

In Jesus' precious name.

Amen

--
Posted By Jan Bagwell to Jan Bagwell Ministries at 8/29/2009 03:55:00 AM

---

 

Florida School Officials Face Jail for Mealtime Prayer

Florida School Officials Face Jail for Mealtime Prayer

Aug 15, 2009 11:03 AM EDT

A principal and an athletic director in Florida could be charged with crimes and spend six months in jail after they prayed before a meal at a school event, the Washington Times reported.

Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and athletic director Robert Freeman will go on trial in federal district court Sept. 17. They're accused of violating the conditions of a lawsuit settlement reached last year with the American Civil Liberties Union, according to the Times.

Local pastors and some students and teachers are outraged that Lay and Freeman face criminal charges, and they have protested during graduation ceremonies, the newspaper said. "I have been defending religious freedom issues for 22 years, and I've never had to defend somebody who has been charged criminally for praying," said Mathew Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, the Christian-based legal group that is defending the two school officials. But an ACLU official said the Santa Rosa County School District has been guilty of "flagrant" First Amendment violations for years, the Times reported.

"The defendants all admitted wrongdoing," said Daniel Mach, ACLU's director of litigation for its freedom of religion program. "For example, the Pace High School teachers handbook asks teachers to 'embrace every opportunity to inculcate, by precept and example, the practice of every Christian virtue.'"

The case stems from a Jan. 28 incident in which Lay, a local Baptist church deacon, asked Freeman to offer mealtime prayers at a lunch for school employees. Staver said no students were there and the event took place on school property after hours. Mach countered that the event was held during the school day and Lay has admitted in writing that there were students present, according to the newspaper.

The ACLU contends that the allowance of the lunchtime prayer was a breach of last year's settlement, in which the district promised, among other things, to prohibit all school employees from promoting prayers during school-sponsored events, espousing their religious beliefs and trying to convert students.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Two Little Boys

Two Little Boys     

There were two little boys Walking down a dusty lane...

They came upon this old white house With broken window panes. The paint was faded, the shine was gone... The grass had grown so high. Still they made their little feet go To see what was inside. They opened up the squeaky door And then it came to light. This must have been an old church house...Once upon a time. Dirty, dusty wooden pews...

A pulpit that still stood A Bible laid upon it Though the pages weren't too good. An offering plate and song books too Were lying on the floor. They must have left this old church fast The day they closed these doors. And over in the corner. A piano was still there... It must have played a pretty tune...

But I guess nobody cared. So little Bill looked up at Tommy And Tommy looked at Bill. 'Why don't we clean this old church up, And get these old pews filled? 'They took a rag and wiped the dust, To try, and make things shine.... And then they took the offering plate... And put in it their last dime.

They took a broom and swept the floor And picked up broken glass They got it all so nice and neat And then they mowed the grass. They lifted up the old church sign And stood it by a tree. Right down by that old dirt road Where everyone could see.

They ran back home, to find Daddy gone But their Momma was inside.. Just to find her hurt again When Daddy had made her cry. Don't cry Momma, wipe those tears, 'Little Bill and Tommy smiled. 'Cause we have a big surprise for you... Just down the road a mile. 'Hand in hand they tugged at her ..Until they made her run...

'What Is it Bill, Oh Tommy, Just what have you two kids done? 'And then they came upon the house. Once hidden by the weeds. And there it stood, a country church. Just like it used to be.

But what is it, Mother? What's with your tears? We thought this would bring you joy. ''Yes, but hush kids now and listen close. My two sweet precious boys. 'They both got quiet and stood real still... For the words they heard so true... Was Daddy praying in the church With his head bowed on the pew.

'Forgive me Lord! Forgive me Lord! Though I'm not worthy of Your love Shine down on this sinner man. Sweet Salvation from above. 'For I've been out in the world, You know Living my life all wrong...

Until I came upon this church; The place where I belong. ''I never noticed it before. All those times I passed it up I guess I wasn't looking, Lord Or maybe I was drunk. ''Bless oh Lord, yes, bless oh Lord, The one who made me see... This little church that used to hide... Behind all those tall weeds.

'And then he raised his head and stood With his hands high in the air. To find two, dirty, tear-faced boys. With Momma standing there .They ran up to him, hugged him tight.

As their tears fell on the floor... 'Don't worry kids, I'm not the Dad, The one you've known before. 'Things are different for us now. So keep on those pretty smiles... And let's go gather people in. To walk down these church aisles.

'Then Bill looked up at Tommy And Tommy looked at Bill' Come on brother, let's get to work. To get these old pews filled.'

'For we need no special blessing for cleaning up this church...'Cause God gave us back our Daddy...And that's more than gold is Worth. 'Sunday morning, pews all filled. And smiles on every face Especially two little country boys The ones who found this place.

Though it was hid back in the weeds. And so far out of sight Nothing's ever hard to find...If you're walking toward God's light.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Muslim Teen Who Became Christian Fears for Her Life

Muslim Teen Who Became Christian Fears for Her Life

Aug 11, 2009 5:59 PM EDT

An Ohio teenager says she ran away from home to Florida because her family threatened to kill her for converting from Islam to Christianity, local media reported.

Rifqa Bary, 17, testified Monday at a custody hearing in Orlando that she'd recently changed religions and is worried her relatives will do something drastic, according to WFTV in Orlando and Central Florida News 13. "They have to kill me because I'm a Christian. It's an honor (issue)," the girl told WFTV.

Such threats are common, even in the United States, her attorney, Rosa Gonzalez, told News 13. "She says her life is in danger and she could be killed in an honor killing," Gonzalez said after the hearing - which was held because the teenager's parents are trying to regain custody of her.

Rifqa, a non-citizen whose parents are from Sri Lanka, has for several weeks been staying with an Orlando couple who are pastors of a new Christian church there. She met them on a Facebook prayer group.

The Florida Department of Children and Families currently has custody of her, but ultimately, Ohio authorities will decide where the teen should live.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Asking for Mountains

I wanted to share my devotional that I had this morning.

Asking for Mountains

8/3/2009

"Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.

"JOSHUA 14:12"

Caleb's faith in God never wavered though everyone around him doubted. God convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the Promised Land, but the people were intimidated by giants and fortified cities (Num. 13:28-33).

Their disbelief forced Caleb to wait forty years in the wilderness before he finally entered the Promised Land. Even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in God's power. When God was dividing the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains. Caleb asked for a mountain. The Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains, where they had built fortresses. This did not intimidate Caleb -- he asked for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God's presence.

Caleb longed to see God work in power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he dwelt in the easy places. He chose a situation in which he would have to trust in God. Caleb knew his inheritance from God was on the mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him. If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God's power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can only be explained by His mighty presence."    

You can learn more about Dr. Blackaby, his writings, and his ministry at

www.blackaby.org,

or write:

Blackaby Ministries InternationalP.O. Box 16338Atlanta, GA 30321
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Celebration

To my loving Church Family, 

On this date July 23, 2009 I celebrate 3 years as pastor of Bethel.  Thank you for a wonderful 3 years! I am honored and humbled to be your pastor and I can not thank you enough for showing such love and compassion to my family.  I look forward to serving as your pastor for many more years to come.  As you know this Saturday I will lead our youth to be on mission for Christ in Jacksonville, Florida and there is no better way to celebrate my 3 years than to be on mission for Jesus!  

With love from your pastor, 

Pastor David 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Church being a CHURCH!

Martha Stroud Vaughan experience tonight at her church! A MUST READ!

Worship rehearsal was truly rehearsal for eternity. 125+ choir members went to sing in the yard of a precious member for whom hospice has been called in. She was able to be out on the porch where we sang some worship songs and prayed with her. It was a sweet and awesome time. All accapella and the harmonies were lifting to the heavens under the canopy of wet glistening trees. What a wonderful blessing.

Wow, that wz an incredible God story! A Church truly being a CHURCH! Thank you for sharing Aunt Martha!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

SUNDAY SCHOOL VS. SMALL GROUPS

http://www.lifeway.com/sundayschoolvssmallgroups/index.html

Check out this link!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

SUNDAY SCHOOL VS. SMALL GROUPS

SUNDAY SCHOOL VS. SMALL GROUPS
http://www.lifeway.com/sundayschoolvssmallgroups/index.html

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Happy 4th of July!

Bethel's 4th of July Celebration is @ 630 pm! Inflatables, Games, & Fireworks!!!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The Bell

I really hope you take the time to read it all. I don't know who the author is, it is worth the read.


I've held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I've placed in God's hands that I still possess.
Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing. If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell.

Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her. As you stand and watch these two friends, you'll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray.

When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. God watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see. Good friends are like this. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

IMG00003.jpg

Oops! Someone forgot to spell check!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

The Prophetic Precision of Palm Sunday Matthew 21:1-11

For the last few weeks in our Prophetic Series What’s Next 2005 we have been in Matthew 24. Have you ever wondered what the context of that passage is? When in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ did that incredible sermon about the future fit?
Please open with me to this day in Christ's life in Matthew 21. We find Palm Sunday in all four Gospels (Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19; John 12). But our reading this morning will be Matthew 21:1-11.
Palm Sunday was followed by Doomsday Tuesday. Yes, just two days after this Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Jesus saw and described the destruction coming in the near and far future. The context of Matthew 24 and the end of the world is Matthew 21 and the Palm Sunday entry of Jesus.
This morning we have remembered one of the greatest days of history, the day Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem as the Passover Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.
This coming Thursday we as a church are celebrating the Last Supper Seder remember what Jesus did. But this morning, may I impress upon your hearts the wonder of this day in God's Word?
Palm Sunday is a day of Prophetic Precision! Palm Sunday is a day in the life of Christ that mirrors literally scores of prophecies God made in the Bible that are fulfilled with pin point accuracy!
We should remind ourselves of just how unique, and how powerful is our God. Why? For just one reason this morning – the prophetic precision that God demonstrates though dozens of pinpoint accurate promises He sent in His Word centuries before the events occurred! And as we see all this, our hearts should be strengthened to trust even more our great God who wants to direct our paths, wants us to trust and obey Him, and wants us to do His will, not our own!
This morning we are looking at the Prophetic Precision of Christ's Death. In fact there were thirty-three prophecies fulfilled on the single day when the Lord Jesus died.
Always remember that one of the strong evidences of divine inspiration of the Bible (not found in other religious books of either past or present) consists of its hundreds of fulfilled prophecies. These are not vague or ambiguous (as in various occult writings) but are specific and detailed, often made hundreds or thousands of years in advance of the event. Many are being fulfilled today, thereby indicating the probable soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, the most powerful evidence that God wrote the Bible is the phenomenon of fulfilled prophecy. The Bible is unique among all the religious books of mankind in this respect. Some of them contain a few vague forecasts, but nothing comparable to the vast number of specific prophecies found in the Bible.
It is easy, of course, to prophesy that someone will die. Everyone must die sooner or later, and it surely takes no gift of prophetic insight to predict death. For that matter, many men and women, especially those who have a morbid interest in the occult, make death a very frequent subject of prophecy. Some of these (e.g., Jeanne Dixon’s famous prophecy of John Kennedy’s assassination) seem to come true, perhaps suggesting that demonic forces do have some limited knowledge of human plans and can occasionally forecast the events which they bring about, though of course most such soothsaying predictions are never fulfilled at all.
There is nothing in all human history, however, comparable to the prophecies associated with the death of Christ. These were not vague and hidden, like those of fortune-tellers, nor were they given only a short time before they were fulfilled, as are those of modern occultists. There are scores, perhaps hundreds, of such prophecies in the Old Testament that focus on the death of the coming Messiah, and many of them are very detailed and specific. All were recorded hundreds of years, some over a thousand years, before they were fulfilled. There are over 90 such Old Testament prophecies which are specifically quoted by New Testament writers in a Messianic sense.

Christian Life - Discipleship

Ruth Bell Graham writes of an encounter she had with a young Indian student named Pashi. She spoke with Pashi about Christ, to which he replied, "I would like to believe in Christ, and many in India would like to believe, but we have never seen a Christian who was like Christ."
A friend of Mrs. Graham told her to tell Pashi, "I'm not offering you Christians. I am offering you Christ." Good point. No one will ever be excused for not believing in Christ on the basis of Christians' lack of faithfulness. On the other hand, we should ask ourselves the question, "What does a person look like who says he's a follower of Christ? Should Christians be like Jesus Christ?" Perhaps the most well-known answer to that question is the description given of David: a man after God's own heart, committed to doing all of God's will. Perhaps, then, that's what a Christian should be - a person committed to doing all of God's will. If a government order were issued to arrest everyone who "appears" to be a Christian, would you be incarcerated?
The person after God's heart is the person whose own heart seeks first the kingdom of God.

snow 008.jpg

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Children Rights

*Read this article on Foxnews...Does it concern you?

Boxer Seeks to Ratify U.N. Treaty That May Erode U.S. Rights
Sen. Barbara Boxer is pushing the Obama administration to move forward with ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, a controversial treaty that has never gained much support in the U.S.
By Joseph Abrams
FOXNews.com
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., is advocating the ratification of a U.N. treaty that some legal experts worry may erode U.S. sovereignty (AP photo).

Sen. Barbara Boxer is urging the U.S. to ratify a United Nations measure meant to expand the rights of children, a move critics are calling a gross assault on parental rights that could rob the U.S. of sovereignty.

The California Democrat is pushing the Obama administration to review the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, a nearly 20-year-old international agreement that has been foundering on American shores since it was signed by the Clinton administration in 1995 but never ratified.
Critics say the treaty, which creates "the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion" and outlaws the "arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy," intrudes on the family and strips parents of the power to raise their children without government interference.

Nearly every country in the world is party to it -- only the U.S. and Somalia are not -- but the convention has gained little support in the U.S. and never been sent to the Senate for ratification.
That could change soon.

Boxer has made clear her intent to revive the ratification process under the Obama administration, which may be amenable to the move. During a Senate confirmation hearing last month, Boxer said she considers it "a humiliation" that the U.S. is "standing with Somalia" in refusing to become party to the agreement, while 193 other nations have led the way.
The U.S. is already party to two optional pieces of the treaty regarding child soldiers and child prostitution and pornography, but has refused to sign on to the full agreement, something which has rankled members of Congress, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"Children deserve basic human rights ... and the convention protects children's rights by setting some standards here so that the most vulnerable people of society will be protected," Boxer said.
The convention has established a Committee on the Rights of the Child, an 18-member panel in Geneva composed of "persons of high moral character" who review the rights of children in nations that are party to the convention.

But legal experts say the convention does nothing to protect human rights abroad -- and that acceding to the convention would erode U.S. sovereignty.

Because of the Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the Constitution, all treaties are rendered "the supreme law of the land," superseding preexisting state and federal statutes. Any rights or laws established by the U.N. convention could then be argued to hold sway in the United States.
"To the extent that an outside body, a group of unaccountable so-called experts in Switzerland have a say over how children in America should be raised, educated and disciplined -- that is an erosion of American sovereignty," said Steven Groves, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

Parental rights groups are similarly stirred; they see in the U.N. convention a threat that the government will meddle with even the simplest freedoms to raise their children as they see fit.
"Whether you ground your kids for smoking marijuana, whether you take them to church, whether you let them go to junior prom, all of those things . . . will be the government's decision," said Michael Farris, president of ParentalRights.org. "It will affect every parent who's told their children to do the dishes."

Groves said that erosion has already begun, as the Supreme Court has referred to the wide acceptance of the child-rights law in conferring legal protections on minors in the U.S.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing the majority opinion in the 2005 decision banning the death penalty for minors, noted that "every country in the world has ratified [the convention] save for the United States and Somalia."

Proponents of the convention in the U.S. stress that it will help secure human rights abroad.
"Now, all you have to do is look around the world and see these girls that are having acid thrown in their face," Boxer said in January, implying that the U.S. refusal to come aboard has led to abuses elsewhere.

But when acceding to the convention, countries are able to sign so-called RUDs -- reservations, understandings and declarations -- that can hinder or negate responsibilities they would otherwise be bound to follow.

Most majority Muslim nations express reservations on all provisions of the convention that are incompatible with Islamic Sharia law, which takes much of the teeth out of the treaty. Acid attacks on girls continue in Afghanistan, which is already party to the convention.
The U.N. itself admits that there is no way for it to enforce its own laws and protect children.
"When it comes to signatories who violate the convention and/or its optional protocols -- there is no means to oblige states to fulfill their legal obligations," said Giorgia Passarelli, a spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commission on Human Rights, which oversees the child-rights body.
Passarelli said that the committee has kept a constant spotlight on rights violators and fed into decisions made by the Security Council, especially involving child soldiers. But even then, she added, such pressure does not always prevail.

Despite these obstacles, Boxer has made clear that she intends to ramp up pressure to get the treaty ratified, a passion that may be shared by the Obama administration.
During the Oct. 22, 2008, presidential youth debate, Obama promised to "review this and other treaties to ensure the United States resumes its global leadership in human rights."
During U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice's January confirmation hearing, Rice called the convention "a very important treaty and a noble cause," and said it was "a shame" for the U.S. to be in company with Somalia, which has no real government.

Rice told Boxer that "there can be no doubt that [President Obama] and Secretary Clinton and I share a commitment to the objectives of this treaty and will take it up as an early question," promising to review the treaty "to ensure that the United States is playing and resumes its global leadership role in human rights."

Boxer, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, pushed for a 60-day timetable to review the convention and report back to the Senate -- which would have left the Obama administration a March 23 deadline to move toward ratification.
Rice politely sidestepped and refused to agree to the timeline.

"This is a complicated treaty, in many respects more than some others, given our system of federalism, and so we need to take a close look at how we manage the challenges of domestic implementation and what reservations and understandings might be appropriate in the context of ratification," she said.

Boxer's office, which ignored repeated calls and e-mails seeking comment, has not spelled out what if any reservations the senator would like to assert in ratifying the treaty. The State Department also refused to comment on timetables.

Happy Valentines!

Happy Valentines and here are some poems that I have wrote for this special day.

Roses are red
Economy is blue
Let's come together
& give the government
all our money too.

Or

Roses are red
I am so blue
Obama's got my money
And now so do u

David Bagwell
Oakway SC
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Perry Noble

Dear friends, please read this and let me know your thoughts. I would like to know. I will let you know what I think soon.

Perry Noble dot com

Seven Things We Allow To Guide Us At NewSpring–Part Four Posted: 09 Feb 2009 05:08 AM CST Continuing the series from last week… #4 - We Don’t Have A Lot Of Religious Professionals On Staff. As I read about Jesus in the Gospels I keep seeing that when He was assembling His team that was going to change the world…He didn’t call religious professionals but rather men who were willing to simply walk with Him one day at a time. The team that I serve with…really…we’re just a bunch of ordinary men and women who are desperately trying to walk with Jesus. We don’t have all the answers…we are not perfect…and we aren’t ashamed to admit it. I remember reading and add for a staff position at a church once that read something like this… Senior Pastor Wanted…qualifications… Must be a seminary graduate Must be married Must have at least 10 years experience in the ministry STOP!!! Based on those three qualifications–JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF would not be qualified to serve as the pastor of that church. DANG…when your qualifications disqualify Jesus to lead I would say you may have some serious problems! Acts 4:13 says the Apostles were unschooled, ordinary men who had been with Jesus…and THOSE are the guys He used to change the world. The question we should ask when hiring someone isn’t, “Do they match all of our qualifications,” but rather, “is this who Jesus wants to have this position in our church?” I’ve seen churches MISS incredible opportunities to hire someone simply because of man made rules…sad!

Poverty and Riches

There a story in history about the king of England who was out hunting with friends when he disappeared. They looked for him four days without success. Then, shopping in the marketplace, one of them spotted the king - working as a mere servant, a porter in the market.
They reprimanded him for serving in such a demeaning way, but the king responded: "Gentlemen, the load I have quitted is far heavier than the one you see me now carry. I have slept more in the last four nights than I have in all my reign. Elect whom you choose; for me it would be madness to return to court."
Remenber that , Jesus can be your best friend .

We are Happy to Serve You

Who do we serve? If we work, we serve our boss. If we are married or have a family, many times we serve them. Who do you serve?

We have a serving problem. Only about 20% of the people who attend serve in some fashion in our church. The rest of you just fill a pew.

If you are serving the church out of necessity, out of motivation to please others, or because you know that supposedly you need to be serving people. Eventually you will quit serving because some day somebody is going make you mad or upset you, or you don’t feel like you are appreciated or needed so you’ll quit and just fill a pew.

Many of you are here today and you use to serve. Maybe you were a deacon or a Sunday School teacher, sung in the choir, or you served somewhere in the church and now you just fill the pew. Some of you may think well I’ve done my part, it is time for the younger ones to step up and fill that role.

If that describes you, than I want you to hear a word from God. Thank you. Thank you for quitting. Pastor, that’s harsh.

If you only served the church out of necessity, out of motivation to please others, or because you know that supposedly you need to be serving people and you have quit thank you. If you are serving at Bethel today but you have that attitude, please quit or repent and change your ways.

Today in God’s Word you will learn who you are to serve, you will gain motivation to serve, and some of you who have been filling a pew will be touched by the power of God and will be rejuvenated and renewed with a heartbeat to serve.

We need to change whom we are serving!

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 (NASB) 9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

Serve Jesus Christ, not People!

Colossians 3:23-24 (NASB) 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Serve Jesus Christ, not Yourself!

Luke 16:13 (NASB) 13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

The affects of Serving Christ results in Love and Service to others!

Galatians 5:13 (NASB) 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another

In Closing

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ results in a changed life. A life where you see people through the eyes of God, a renewed sense of love for people, and passion to serve others.

Obama to End Military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy

This article is from January 15, 2009 just a few days before his inaguragtion. As Christians, we should be very concerned about this decision. How should we respond?

WASHINGTON. President-elect Barack Obama will allow gays to serve openly in the military by overturning the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" policy that marred President Clinton's first days in office, according to incoming White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

The startling pronouncement, which could re-open a dormant battle in the culture wars and distract from other elements of Obama's agenda, came during a Gibbs exchange with members of the public who sent in questions that were answered on YouTube.

"Thadeus of Lansing, Mich., asks, 'Is the new administration going to get rid of the "don't ask, don't tell policy?'" said Gibbs, looking into the camera. "Thadeus, you don't hear a politician give a one-word answer much. But it's, 'Yes.'"

The Obama transition team declined to elaborate on that one-word answer when asked by FOX News on Wednesday about a timetable for repealing the policy, which was enacted by Clinton after a protracted public debate. Obama officials also would not explain which lawmakers or Pentagon officials would attempt to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

Clinton, who initially sought to overturn the longstanding ban on gays in the military, ended up enacting the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as a compromise that made it illegal for commanders to ask about the sexual orientation of service members, who were also barred from announcing they were homosexual. If a service member's homosexuality becomes known anyway, he or she is expelled.

Clinton is widely viewed as having stumbled during his first days in office by getting caught up in the raging controversy, which detracted from the rest of his agenda. It is not yet clear whether Obama would face a similar debacle.

For years, Obama has said he generally opposes the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Last summer, he told a gay magazine he can "reasonably" see it being repealed. But that was a far cry from Gibbs' unequivocal promise that the policy will indeed be ended.

The gay community is eager for a quick repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," but fears it could be months before the new administration reaches a consensus with lawmakers and the military. Others think Obama could do it quickly, but is leery of the kind of fallout Bill Clinton faced when he tackled the divisive issue.

FOX News' Carl Cameron contributed to this report.

Barbara Arthur: LifeChange Event

Barbara Arthur’s Bio

“God, You show me the truth.” This was Barbara’s prayer after she read the Scripture, Deuteronomy 18: 9 -14 “… There shall not be found among you anyone …, who practices witchcraft, …, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead…”

While still in the womb, Barbara was dedicated to the occult by her mother who was a practicing medium. Barbara lived under a dark cloud of spiritual struggle and turmoil. Born in communist Cuba, she came to the United States with her father and two siblings at the age of four. They left her mother and three other siblings behind. It would be 23 very long years before they would see one another again.

Barbara’s life was difficult. She did not know that her medium/divination involvement only opened the door to the deep things of the occult. Pursued by a woman involved in witchcraft who was seeking to kill her, she desperately sought God’s help.

While sitting alone on the last pew of a church, Barbara cried out to the Lord – and He heard her prayer. Through the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, she was led in the sinner’s prayer. At that moment, the Lord delivered her from the kingdom of darkness and transferred her into the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ. Today, the one cry of Barbara’s heart is: “I want to know you Lord.”

Barbara is married to Warren Arthur. They reside in Hartsville, South Carolina with their two children, Chloe and Benjamin. She also has a daughter from a previous marriage, Isabel, who is a graduate of Winthrop University.

Serving

Part One:

Do you have a SERVANT’S HEART? Where are you SERVING? I would love to hear where you are serving in your community? Is it at church or something non-religious? What is your motivation to serve?

I want you to think about what you can do to be a better servant.