November 2007
35 posts
Bah-hum-bug review
Ok after several comments about things that bug me in yesterday’s blog, I am finding that many people totally agree with me about the whole happy holiday thing. Then the lovely Donna told me about this web-link and cool little song that says it all…check it out below…and by the way, in case I forget, let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas.
Christmas with a capital "C" →
The Golden Compass exposed →
Bah-hum-bug
Ok I want to rant and rave a little bit about the stuff that is really “bugging” me so far this Christmas season…
First of all can we please get back to “Merry Christmas” and stop this happy holidays non-sense. Listen there is a time to draw the line on political correctness…and when the reason for the season - Jesus birth is pushed into the...
Survival
This is a report on the latest episode of Survival…Oh yeah not the reality show - but follow up on mall madness. I am pleased to report I have survived! Outside of my knee being swollen from all the walking….the small hole burned in my back pocket from taking my wallet in and out and having writer’s cramp from signing credit card receipts…. Praise God I made it. With any...
Mall Madness
Today it begins for Donna and me - Mall-madness…because we are only half-crazy. I mean crazy would have been trying to go on Friday after Thanksgiving. But yes today we will venture to the mall with gift lists in hand. Perhaps that’s why the Lord pre-arranged that my devotion this morning would be from Isaiah 55:1-3…Why do you spend money for what is not bread? And your wages...
Black Friday?
The day after Thanksgiving is now winding down and all the local news is ablaze with the report on Black Friday. By the way sorry for being naive but I have no clue why it’s black? I mean I could understand “red” Friday because people are going nuts shopping and running up credit card debt - and for many it simply means going in the red. The other thing it could be called is...
Give "Thanks"
Tomorrow being Thanksgiving and tonight being our service, I thought it was high time I started thinking about things I am thankful for. Of course it goes without saying, I am thankful for my family, for our new grandbabies Sophia and Brayden that came since last year and then there’s our church and ministry and on and on. Oh, yeah, I am grateful that the Broncos won on Monday night and...
Success
Wyckoff boys going big time.
I thought it amazing to hear that Desperation Band’s new CD is the number one download of all music from I-Tunes among inspirational music. Jon and Dan Egan from our church (Bethany) and now a part of New Life Church, Colorado Springs have done awesome. Jon is my favorite song writer. (my I wonder if I am a bit bias)
And then, while watching the football game...
“That was the first time ever I felt something like that!”
– Bethany parishioner after being filled with Spirit Sunday night
Afterglow...
Last night I slept like a baby and I think I know why…The Holy Spirit. My mind goes back to those nights a few years ago when Holy Spirit encounters were regular affairs and it would have a direct effect on my (and many others) physical being. Usually it was a kind of warm tingling that just lingered. We last night after an amazing church service I felt it (Him) again and it makes for a...
Super High-Tech Prayer Closet
Over the years God has given me some wonderful places to pray. First and foremost is my favorite chair at home for my daily prayer time. But I’ve also had the opportunity to pray everywhere from the tops of Buddhist Shrines, to the Waling Wall in Jerusalem. From ther Great Wall of China, to Red Square in Moscow.
But last night I had the opportunity to pray in the most high-tech of all...
“Runners left on base don’t count!”
– John Bueno
Director of Assemblies of God World Missions
Another Big Hit!
This morning as I was reading Andy Stanley’s Book on effective ministry I was once again reminded of a point he makes that every organization must “clarify the win”. Well, now two full weeks after our missions convention and our effort to do everything we can as a church and individuals to see the Great Commission fulfilled I think we may be on the way to another win.
...
Brayden goes to Church
Yesterday (Sunday) was a great day. I love being with all the people and connecting personally with God. When we sang…”my Savior, my Healer, Creator….”; I thought I would explode with praise. And I was grateful the Lord used me to deliver His Word from Psalm 77 (if you missed it you can catch it on the Bethany Church web-site.)
But I do need to say - my highlight was...
Saturday Night Fever
Ok so everyone wonders what someone who has been in minstry for over 30 years feels like on Saturday night before a Sunday service and message. Well, it started about an hour ago…the fever…or the nerves. Yes even after all these years when I think about getting up there tomorrow in front of hundreds of people….uggggh.
It is an awesome assignment (and honor) to bring what you...
Five Kinds of Christians -article →
God, culture and you
I received an email from a good friend asking me to check out an artilce in a magazine that interestingly enough I had just received a frree copy of in the mail the same day. When these things happen - I get thinking God wants me to check it out too. It had to do with spiritual trends in America and five kinds of Christians. Of course I immediatley wanted to see where I fit in.
[click on Five...
Baptized all over again...
After last week’s meetings with leaders from across the nation and then going right to minister’s school I found it uncanny that the meetings ended up with the same theme…don’t lose the power of the Holy Spirit.
So my time to personally wrestle with this is at hand. It’s easy to be filled (baptized) with the Holy Spirit in the Acts 1-2 perspective and before long it...
“Many churches preach a “Savior Jesus” but not a “Supernatural...”
– Charles Crabtree
"Continued Steadfastly"
Minister’s School began last night in Lancaster PA - (land of confusing roads) for several hundred NJ - AG ministers and our guest speaker was the newly retired Assistant General Superintendent - and he blew us away.
Brother Charles Crabtrees presentation on the comparisions between the first century believers and the Pentecostal believers of the early 20th century was uncanny. Both groups...
Perspective
Actually I feel too tired to do this - but since they announced my blog in church today - I guess I should get something up today. After all even the Patriots - Colts game is not getting me all that jazzed - so I guess I have time. But then again since the Yankees are done (for real), the Broncos stink, the Jets stink, Colorado is up and down like an airplane and they too stunk it up this...
Barry McGuire →
Living Illustration 2 - me
OK we are still in Puerto Rico and trying to encourage Paul Grabel - maybe now it’s relax time. No God says…you are still going to learn to practice what you preach. So we meet Gary and Laurie Hoyt. Pastors and Assistant Supt’s in Nebraska. Cool people…also brilliant.
Here’s the catch…Gary is a quadraplegic! Can you imagine. This handsome, sharp young...
Living Sermon Illustration - me!
I finished my sermon for this Sunday just prior to the trip to Puerto Rico. I am talking about being encouragers - seeing things from a higher level. It’s the first message in new series on Life-lifters.
Little did I know God was going to test me to see if I practiced what I preached. We had no longer arrived and I was in a frame of mind to relax (after a busy missions convention) and...
Puerto Rico thoughts
The lovely Donna and I just got back from the Assistant Superintendent Conference in San Juan. The setting was great weather good, but I can’t believe we never even set foot on the beach - all of 20 steps from our room. The fellowship was really rich and I love that there are no speakers and it is based around everyone is on level ground because we all serve in the same position. Much of...