From our relaxation department

I've had a lot going this past week. From emergency room visits, doctor's offices and filling in for pastor, I'm exhausted.
But I've found that sometimes when I'm trying to relax I'm doing the exact opposite.
Notice how in this picture no one is making a facial expression they will thank me for.



But I've found that those best moments are found when it's just me, some soft music, a good book or more preferably the Bible, and the Lord. Dr. Matt highly recomends some time of rest for everyone! GO!

1-23-08

Nehemiah prospers in the work
“A great many people have got a false idea about the church. They’ve got an idea that the church is a place to rest in…to get into a nicely cushioned pew, and contrivute to the charities, listen to the minister, and do their share to keep the church out of bankruptcy, is all they want. The idea of work for them-actual work in the church- never enters their minds.” In 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 Paul compares church members to parts of the body. We all have a job and a part in God’s plan for this church. But we must make sure that that work is done properly. We see that typified here in the third chapter of our study.
The pattern
A. Leaders
1. most of them Priests
2. More of them of the tribe of Levi
B. Specific Jobs
1. Not formulated for who can do what
No amount of training will make you a teacher if there are no pupils.
2. But what needs to be done
a. rocks and mud, its not the spot light
- it’s the way of it, sometimes you are up to your knees in dirt, other times you’re pulling rubber chickens out of frog covered sacks
b. Evangelism in your home, family and work
c. changing those lights
d. praying for those who are weak
We do the work that needs doing, this isn’t our 15 minutes of fame.
C. The materials
Some of the materials needed were right there on scene. To build this church we have all the materials we need. The Bible, soul winners, teachers and a God led pastor. Are we willing to do it the way God planned?
The people
A. Commitment
1. What’s worth venturing out on that limb?
2. Saying no to the devil’s IRS agent. Internal Restriction Service
3. Only being satisfied when the job is done.
B. Devotion
1. What rolls you out of bed in the morning?
2. What pulls on your heart strings enough to make you act.
3. Some wanted to do extra work

C. Some Refused to do any work at all vs5

The places
1. Sheep Gate-Without sacrifice there is no salvation, without the basics, no building
2. Fish Gate- Fishers of men, people are the building blocks
3. Old Gate- Old paths and old truths of God’s word, not searching for the new
4. Valley Gate- Humility
5. Dung Gate- Cleansing
6. Gate of the fountain- filling of the Holy Spirit
7. Water Gate- Word of God that cleanses
8. Horse Gate- denotes war, spiritual in our case.
9. East Gate- Speaks of the Lord’s Second coming
10. Miphkad Gate – Assembly, for them the place of the soldiers, for us up in Heaven.

1-16-08 Enjoy!

Nehemiah’s Preparation
It’s been a week since we last met for our study on Nehemiah. But in the context we’ve been gone for four months. For four months Nehemiah has been fasting, praying and mourning over his people and homeland.
I. Nehemiah and the wait
For four months he pleaded his case before the lord. No doubt something that would have taken a whole lot less time if they had a Home Depot card. But since it was God’s plan Hank in the renovation department just wouldn’t do it.
A. Waiting on God’s plan
1. Exodus 14:13
2. “When you wait on God you aren’t wasting your time you are investing it”
B. God will put the pieces together.
1. Timing
a. Nissan was the month of Abib in Hebrew it was switched over after the captivity. Our March and April.
b. The same month the Hebrews left Egypt. Nifty Huh?
c. And it was on this day that the opportunity sprung up from the ground.
II. Nehemiah and the king 1-8
A. Risk
1. Being sad in the kings presence is a big no no, especially if your job was to keep him safe. Any sign of discomfort, or agitation in the cupbearer could signal a death threat to the king. Nehemiah could have been jailed, tortured and then killed for his bad day.
Talk about taking your personal life to work with you.
2. But this monarch suddenly cared
3. This monarch offered.
B. Request
1. Carpe “Whatever the Latin word for chance is”
2. A quick prayer to God.
3. A request made so clearly
III. Nehemiah and the ruins 9-16
A. Heading towards the battle
1. A trick many Christians should learn
B. God gave above and beyond vs. 9
C. Opposition
1. The world around us will hate the idea of God’s work prospering. It annoys them.
D. Nehemiah, God and the walls
1. He told no one what he was there for. When planning to do something for the Lord it’s best to keep it between the two of you.
2. Walls broken, Gates burning.
3. Some places so bad he couldn’t get his animal through it. Do not be afraid to look at the damage. Its no fun to look at your bills, but you’d fall behind if you couldn’t see the damage.
IV. Nehemiah and the Jews 17-20
A. “You see the distress”
1. The two problems with groups like that
a. “We tried that before, it didn’t work, why try again?
b. “Done rock the boat, we don’t need change.”
More then likely this is why God had to bring someone from the outside in.
B. Lets build
1. God backs us
2. The Kings backs us
C. Tobiah and Sanballet
1. Standing in the way
2. Shoved out of the way.

Its better to have a lion in charge of 50 deer then it is to have a deer in charge of 50 lions.

Things that make me crazy.

1.Shows that make debauchery look like social norm
2. The Miss America Pageant, or any pageant for that matter.
3. Shows about pageants
4. Makeover shows
5. Any remodeling show that isnt Monster House, honestly that Dinosaur House looked awesome. Why'd they cancel it anyway.
6. Any show where a homosexual tells me how to live.
7. The Oprah
8. Pretty much anything on TLC, if we could cancel the station, and put the whole lot of them in counseling, the world would be a better place.
9. American Idol, period
10. Men who wear makeup
11. Running out of Coke Zero
12. Going to work
13. Boys who look like girls.
14. Lists about what makes people crazy, What makes the writers think people care?
15. Being late, for anything except heavy lifting.

Just had to let that out.



Larry the Lamb Says:
If he struck a nerve, Whats the matter with you?

"It's impossible to take notes off of your preaching"

Here are the notes from my Wednesday night "Series on Nehemiah". They should be here for you every week. ENJOY!


Nehemiah’s prayer

Nehemiah 1:1
Somewhere mid November to mid December 444 b.c., Nehemiah was sitting successful in a job that many would give their right eyes for. As cup bearer he was given certain duties that seemed more like privileges then the former. When his brother shows up. And amidst the small talk the subject of home gets brought up.

I. The report
A. The people in reproach
1. Predators both animal and man
2. The joke of being open and bare
3. No protection from attackers.
B. The walls in ruin
1. As they had been for over a decade
2. The returning remnant still had not repaired them after 50 years.
God’s land, and His people were hurting.
II. The response
A. Selflessness
This was none of Nehemiah’s concern. He had a job, a position in the kings court, A prominent one. What was it of his business? Jerusalem was hundreds of miles away, and after all it wasn’t his fault that his ancestors had sinned. Why should he care, why should he be bothered by such news. But…
B. He Wept
1. A lot can be said about what makes someone laugh or weep. It tells of their character, if they easily laugh at the pain of others, or if they weep or whine in the face of minor discomforts. But Nehemiah had something to be sad about. God’s people were in danger, His work was as of yet undone.
2. When was the last time you wept at a mission report?
3. Rolled up your sleeves in the face of soul winning?
4. When was the last time you fell to your knees over a lost sinner?
C. He mourned
1. The Glory of Jerusalem
Could you imagine if this building were to be shattered torn apart, and the congregation scrambled. Picking up the pieces would be difficult. The memories would be overbearing. My pew, this is where the pastor would stand. This is the tub I was baptized in. I never knew Mr. Simonton, but I heard he made this, fixed this. The years of history that were lost in that defeat is terrifying. The streets David had walked, the buildings, the houses, all of them rich with the heritage God had sprung from Ole’ Abraham.
2. The relationship with God
They had both His love and His security. It all seemed to be lost as punishment for Israel’s wrong doing.
D. He fasted
E. He Cared.
Too often today the phrase “I don’t care” is equated with something that makes us sound cooler then what we are. In effect all we are doing is announcing to the world that we are closer to it then to God.
1. Have a dislocated heart.
2. Apathy is not a fashion statement
It was once said that the worst thing one human can have for another isn’t hatred its indifference.
3. Wax horse
III. The request
A. Honor Given
B. Business first
1.Humility
2. Repentance
a. Forgive us
b. May we never do it again.
C. Remember your promise !\
1. He was familiar with God’s word
2. It meant enough for him to rely on it.
3. He didn’t say fix it, he planned to do it himself.

“For I was the kings cup bearer” I always read that as though it was dawning on Nehemiah as something that could be brought to his advantage. He never mentioned sending someone else. He didn’t send money with a messenger, he had already made up his mind to step in and do the work. The church needs building my friends, souls are reaching the destination by the truck loads, how many of them did you do right by? How many of them had the gospel to reject I wonder? Our pastor shared a dream of owning that land back there. Our you behind him? Don’t say you agree, show me your knees, where they are marked from kneeling, show me your calloused knuckles, or your stained Bible that you’ve held in front of so many of your acquaintances. The Lord has given us much, lets not disappoint Him by letting His work fall to the wayside.

Happy New Year From Our Corner To Yours

The Question isnt where the bone came from, I'm wondering where she put the rest of the reindeer!