Gospel Music Roudnup: All Day Bluegrass Gospel Sing & Dinner on the Grounds!

Ξ September 21st, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Uncategorized, comments |

 

 All Day Bluegrass Sing! [60:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (860)

It’s the Gospel Music Roundup Sunday Service All Day Bluegrass Sing and Dinner on the ground!

Bring your covered dish and don’t forget the Cobbler! You can smell the barbecue and Fried Chicken in the air, the laughter of children playing and the spirit of God in the hearts of all.

There’s quite a lineup today of folks waiting to sing for you, but they all are united in the purpose of Praising our God, and Jesus Christ who died for our sins on the cross!

Also, if you are interested in BLUEGRASS GOSPEL, check out these events!

Lottie Collier

Still Waters

Dale McKay

Old School Bluegrass Band

Bill Monroe

Gospel Grass

Mark High

John “Legs” Lawrenzi

Marvin Whiteman

Goin’ Home Gospel Bluegrass

Dave Berland

Lori Bianco

Finley Duke

The Missourians

John Eric Anderson

And as always, soooooo much more!

Take the name of Jesus WITH you!

The Sunday Service: What’s on Top?

Ξ September 14th, 2008 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Uncategorized, comments |

 

 What's On Top? [58:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (513)

Hurricane Ike, or the remnants thereof, just passed over last night.  We’ve had a few roofing problems (Leaks) so my son, my wife and myself got out on the roof to try to cover the bad areas in preparation.  About the time the rain hit, we had gotten a decidedly hurried job done.  I had to have help down the ladder, since my knee isnt so good, but praise God, we all got down safely!

It rained hard and it rained long…  but I gotta say, I know what hit us was nowhere near what got Texas and Arkansas on the way here.  we still had leaks, and even a couple new ones, but in spite of it all, only one leak seemed a bother, overall, because it was one of the new ones, and we really hadn’t expected it.

This morning I rose to check out the damage, and there really wasn’t any.  Instead, this is what I saw:

Can anyone paint a better or more beautiful picture than God?  The awesomeness of his work overwhelmed me.

Have you ever heard the story of the new preacher, who delivered his first sermon to his congregation with a fire and a passion that made people raise their hands and applaude?  People shook his hand on the way out, and gave lavish compliments about the sermon.

The next sunday, the preacher stood this time and delivered that exact same sermon, all over again.  This time, those who had missed the week before were pretty excited, but the ones who’d heard it before were left wondering and discussing it among themselves  afterward, musing,”maybe it’s just the jitters, a new church and all…”

On the third Sunday, He began to deliver that exact same sermon, all over again!  A couple of the elders glanced at each other, and knew right away this needed to be addressed.  One of them stood up, right there in the middle of his sermon.

“Pardon me, preacher?” he asked, “But isn’t this the same sermon you preached to us before, both on your first sunday, and this last one?”

The preacher smiled a big smile and said, “Why, YES!  Of COURSE it is!”

The Elder scratched his head for a moment and then eyed the preacher carefully, as he posed his next question: “Well, what gives?  Don’t you KNOW any other sermons?”

The preacher stepped away from the podium and got down on the level of the congregation. “You brought me here to teach you.  As soon as the Lord tells me you have learned the FIRST lesson, we will move on!”

23 people were saved that day.

God sometimes allows repeat difficulties or problems to come our way in order that we might fully learn the lesson that has been placed before us.  The first time, we may cry out, and our prayers are answered, so we rejoice and move on.  Then the same thing happens again, and not only do we cry out, but now we are a little confused because we thought we had overcome the situation.  God will then use his word or another believer to bring you through.   But the truth may be that you haven’t quite GOT it yet, and you again become complacent.  AGAIN the storms come, and you find yourself at odds with GOD!  You get upset, depressed, angry, and overly sensitive, feeling like you are being singled out or picked on.  But God is faithful, and patiently waits for you to sort out the pieces of the puzzle.  If you believe him and love Him, you know the answer lies somewhere, so you start looking.  Opening His word, the answer comes.  This was an extreme faith building exercise.

Recently in my own troubles I got so absorbed in them that I failed to look outside myself at the bigger problems going on around me.  People needed hope, prayer and healing.  Major catastrophes were occurring all around, and my eyes were only on myself.  I was a self absorbed brat, where my Father was concerned.

I sat during this time and looked at my desk.  The bills were piled up.  There were no Job offers coming in, and I had been scammed, mistreated and injured.  All the evidence of my foolish selfish efforts lie before me;  The bills, the documentation from Unemployment denied and appeals, the medical records, medicines I’d been taking and various resumes intermingled with cover letters and such…

Underneath it all was the Bible.  I reached over, pushed the offal aside and picked it up.  Not headed to any book intentionally, it opened to here:

Philippians 2

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Once again, my own pitiful puny pity party had been exposed.  the words hit me, one of the leaders of the Faith, pouring himself our as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of our faith.

No matter what comes, my eyes are to be fixed on ministering to others, not playing catch-up in the arena of the world.  Satan will continue to try to busy me, but I must leave the temporal behind, and press on. God WILL take care of these things, so long as I persevere in what he would have me to do.

Our Praise Team today’

WIGTUNES

Dave Raymer

Dave Berland

The Missourians

Pure Heart

The Burneys

Jeff T

and so much more!

Gospel Music Roundup: Christ breaks through the storms

Ξ September 9th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Artist Spotlight, Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Uncategorized |

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (610)

Due to circumstances beyond our control, the special

that was scheduled for this time can not be aired.

check back tomorrow and say a prayer for the heroes!!!!!

V1
(I heard )many a tale
and a story or two
about a vessel that was bigger than life
with Sails of spun gold
And a Wake white as snow
Cutting thru the sea like a knife
Her captain, He was
A strong and passionate man
Holding her steady and true
With an eye thru the night
Like a bright guiding light
This voyage was his mission to do

V2
There was a serpent ahead
Who left a trail of the dead
pirating the souls of mankind
The seas had turned red
From the blood that it shed
And the wreckage it had left behind
From the depths he arose
Bringing darkness to those
Whose vessels had strayed from their course
Man alone could not fight
Ol’ Leviathan’s might,
Feeding on the sin and remorse

V3
Oh, Our captain he knew
That his time was now due
To redeem what the serpent had done
There were souls to be saved,
And sin’s debt to be paid
The battle was his to be won
The redemption of man
Was placed in his hands
It required a blood sacrifice
With purpose and prayer,
He found satan’s lair
And gave up his life as the price

V4
The serpent grabbed hold
Of our captain so bold
And nailed him to the ship’s mast
As He sank that ship down
He watched our captain drown
He was certain that he’d breathed his last
For three days he stayed
at that watery grave
To be certain that the deed was done
But on that third day
Our Captain did raise
With the power of “The Path Of The Son!”

Dave and I worked together on this song….  but it could not have happened without the force of the spirit being there banding us together in Him!

As time has passed, I began to see the deeper meanings behind this song and behind this ministry.  I see the wonders of Friends joining across the lands…  and the waters,   In this episode, Lottie Collier sings her song, I Know The Water Walker…  a great testimony about the relationship with our savior;  a man who could not only calm the sea with a wave of his hand or a soft rebuke, but could walk upon it at the same moment.

I thank those of you who took upon themselves the ministry of Christ, and reach out to those in need, lifting them up in prayer and support as they attempt to walk upon the water as well.

Pray for me as well…  I started a new Job this week, and am having to load up my old brain with a ton of new facts I am having to memorize!

Love and blessings

Tom

The Burneys

Lottie Collier

Thomas James

DAVE BERLAND

Pure Heart

Dan Adkins

Mark High

The Missourians

The Burneys

Canaan’s Road

Rekindled

And so much more!

Sunday Service: A Prayer for Larissa

Ξ August 31st, 2008 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, comments |

 

 Sunday Service For Larissa [38:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (510)

Larissa Cantrell is 17 years of age.  She has always been a good kid, and she is the granddaughter of proud grandparents that are neighbors of my parents in Red Bluff CA.
Larissa goes to High School there in Red Bluff. Her family thought her symptoms were just “teenage stuff:, you know?    …The lethargy, aches and pains, weight loss (they thought it could be anorexia, although unlikely), that sort of thing.  When she could no longer get up on her own and go to school, Her family wound up taking her to tthe emergency room.   She was immediately airlifted down to  UC Davis, a teaching hospital with great facilities. At last word, She is there now. She and the family earnestly desire your prayers, so let’s lift them up!
Larissa has been diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. She is currently going into surgery, for a spinal tap and they plan some bone marrow (work) too. Her lymph nodes have swollen so big that her kidneys are no longer functioning.
Thre is no known cure for this, exceot for our God who can do anything! We just gotta keep asking!

The praise team:  Chosen Few, Anne Erhardt & Dave Raymer, The Missourians, Still Waters, WigTunes, The Burneys, Lottie collier and Mark Cable!

A bit of a struggle.

Ξ August 28th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Uncategorized |

Hi all!

This is just a post to let you all know I am still alive and kicking!

Once again we have some technical difficulties, here. I would appreciate the prayers of everyone.

I do have several Podcasts that are ready to be cut, but I made a promise to the mrs. that my focus for this week would be on fixing our situation here at the house.his music.   I pray that I can settle things quickly so I can again devote my attention to His PRAISE, and you can be assured that the podcast will go on!

In the meantime, be sure to look over the other podcasts, plus the archives, and as always, take some time and visit the artists listed in the column to the left. See what they are up to and tell em I sent you there, OK?

Much Love

Tom

Gospel Music Roundup: Strong words for a strong battle.

Ξ August 13th, 2008 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Uncategorized, comments |

 

 Let's Fight this Fight!: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (355)

Gospel Music Roundup:  Strong words for a strong battle.

This is to be a slightly yet remarkably different edition of Gospel Music Roundup.

There are battles being fought all over the world, but these are not battles of guns, knives, swords, or weapons of mass destruction;  These are battles for the lives of the defenseless.  And, yes, YOU are being called.

Matthew 19:13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

In Sunday School, we were taught the ten commandments as children.  NOT the ten suggestions, or the ten moral guidelines,  These were the ten COMMANDMENTS from the author of life and the creator of the universe, the omniscient omnipotent omnipresent GOD.

We were taught even further, the teaching of Paul in the book of Ephesians, Chapter 6, verse three, a further enlightenment on the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother”- which is the first commandment with a promise – “That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

But, often the curriculum neglected to take it one step further to what the Bible says in Ephesians 6:4.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

As well, most Children  were not taught Colossians 3:21

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

And to add some much-needed emphasis to guarding the hearts of these children, JESUS  says in

Matt. 18: 6

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea!

Of course, to children these may seem irrelevant or even drastic. But as we grow and learn, for Parents, and others who work with Children, the teaching is CLEAR.  We are to be their encouragers, their teachers, their providers and their Guardians. Most of all, though, we are to LOVE them.

Yet in this so-called “Age of enlightenment”, child abuse is more rampant than ever.  Even in this sleepy little area where I live, where 15 years ago such cases were mere whispers and gossip, they have now become nightly fare on the evening news.

To further the tragedy, this trend is followed closely by the hideous practice of killing the unborn out of convenience, and it has reached epidemic proportions.  A precious gift of God has become a matter where mere humans are trying to legislate around the horror of it, calling it CHOICE.

Yes, this is stronger language than I normally approach these pod casts with, but there is a fight going on that we must choose sides with, and just like in the old testament where God called His people to do battle against His enemies, He is calling us to battle, and the Battle is the Lord’s!

I have talked often of the great friendship I have with composer, singer and producer Dave Berland.

Dave has written a song about our need to stand firm against this onslaught that flies in the face of all that is good and right and commanded of God, and I want to lead off with that song tonight, a song that should become the national anthem of  the fight for the unborn, and it is aptly called, FIGHT THIS FIGHT.

It’s time for a re-training.  Not only in America, but across this land.  Neglect and abuse and dehumanizing behaviors are going on in backyards around the globe.  It’s time to look back on what Christ says about Loving each other:

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19 We love, because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

Again, in (Psalm 82:3-4).

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked

In Proverbs 24:11-12, it says to:

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

As you can see, this is no NAMBY-PAMBY feel-good course of action:  This is a proactive, urgent call to action on the part of believers all throughout the world and throughout TIME.

Let God speak to your heart about what you need to do next.  I could sit here and try to give you step-by-step instructions, but I believe the answers already lie in your heart by the conviction of the Holy Spirit!

You are his chosen people, the Called ones who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and who are ready to cry out, Here am I, Lord, Send ME!

Thank you for your time, for allowing me this brief moment to pour out my passion to you, and most of all for your yielding to what the SPIRIT is telling you to do!

In this episode:

Gospel Music Roundup Sunday Service: Holy is the Lord

Ξ July 28th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Uncategorized, Writings |

 

 Holy Is The Lord: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (311)

Isaiah 6

1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.

5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the L ord of hosts.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

Join us for this Sunday Service episode, Worship His Holiness! It’s an easy place to get to, no parking worries, no plate passed around. Just a great time of praise and worship! Bear in mind, things get a little excited when the spirit of God comes down, so ya might want to strap yourself in for this one, because the music is HOT!

A special word of thanks to our PRAISE TEAM:

Blessed Assurance Ministries

Brad Reynolds

Art N Von

Dave Berland

Pure Heart

Brian Mace

Dale Harper

Rick Brady

Sandy Stiles

And that something special: So much more!

Gospel Music Roundup: Father To Father

Ξ June 15th, 2008 | → 9 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Uncategorized, Writings, comments |

 

 Father To Father: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (327)

A WONDERFUL FATHERS DAY to all of you!

What can make one’s life growing up more wonderful than a Father who follows the Father?

JOIN ME in this special FATHERS DAY salute to those fathers who not only sacrifice of themselves for their families, but who follow the one who laid down his life in the ultimate sacrifice, that being Christ, humbly submitting and yielding himself to HIS Father, God.

What a blessing my father was to me. Dad was a GM assembly worker for 30 years, and early in my childhood, to me, he RAN the place! Not really, but Dad was the all-around “Fix it guy”, and there seemed to be nothing he didn’t know or couldn’t fix. In a lot of ways I think I got to be what I am by my admiration of this part of him. My pride in him made me want to BE like him. There were many times I would be nearby when he was working in the yard, in the garage, or on the house, and he would explain what he was doing and why. Granted, I was so young during most of this that I didn’t even realize that he was training and teaching me, but he was. And for the longest time- even now- I can hear his voice telling me how certain jobs get done.

When we were disobedient, or rebellious, our correction usually came quickly, but we didn’t live in FEAR., because we knew above all else that he was CONSISTENT. If WE did wrong, our punishment had already been foretold in our teaching and as such was not just anticipated, but expected. This is a concept unfamiliar to many of kids I have seen these days, but for us, we knew if you break it, you bought it.

As a child, I was very fond of cookies and other sweets. My parents had to set up solid boundaries to keep me from overdoing it. I knew full well that taking cookies without asking was wrong, but I kept trying to do it anyway! I distinctly remember one Sunday morning I woke up before most every one else in the house, and LORDY, did a cookie sound soooooooo good. I knew mom had a batch in the kitchen she’d cooked up the night before. I tiptoed down the hall and through the living room, the dining room and finally into the kitchen like I was one of the spies in canaan, trying to make my way to the cookie jar undetected. I gathered a good-sized handful and started back. Through the dining room, through the living room- I was rounding the sofa and bound for the hallway when all of a sudden there stood in front of me the very man who had warned me that doing such a forbidden thing would only cause me pain! I don’t remember how old I was, but I was only waist-high, that much I DO recall. Slowly I raised my head to see an expression on his face that was both stern and disappointed all at once. I KNEW I was in for a punishment, but the punishment is not what stuck in my memory. In fact the punishment is long forgotten, as I seriously do NOT recall what punishment I received. What stuck in my memory was that look- that DISAPPOINTMENT, in my fathers eyes.

Even though we had a firm hand in our father, we also knew that he loved us and has never stopped loving us. When we need help, he does what he can when asked. That doesn’t mean he bails us out of our trouble, but rather helps to point us in the way of repair or redemption, showing the way out of whatever we have done wrong. As my Grandmother Elrod once told me, “I really like Marvin; he can be quiet, but when he speaks, you’d better listen, because still waters run deep. He’s a real thinker, and whatever he says has been really thought out”

I see so much of those very qualities possessed by my father as a mirror image of those belonging to our heavenly father- always there for us, teaching, leading and guiding us, in so far as we are willing to listen and obey; when we wander off, we fall subject to the consequences of our wanderings, but when we are willing to repent and return, He is right there for us. If we fall on our face in the midst of trying to do everything on our own, not listening to his gentle voice to guide us, he doesn’t automatically reach in and pull us out, but is there in a split second when we reach out to him, and are willing to listen to his gentle instructions. When we get hit , in life, with the unexpected injury or loss that we do not understand, we have only to turn to our Father for guidance and the reassurance of faith in Him that brings us to know that HE knows what we do not, and He will do all he can to bring us through it.

I realize, that in this day and age, not all people have been blessed by a relationship with their earthly fathers like what we had, and that human frailty causes many fathers to make mistakes. But no matter where we come from or what we have been through, each of us can look to our heavenly Father to pull us out of the mire and destruction IF we seek him. I for one and all the others who have shared with you in this pod cast KNOW he is there for you and will always be. Get to know HIM, and you will be amazed at all you have been missing.

A special thanks to DAVE BERLAND and Jason Elkins for their amazing assistance and contribution to this podcast!

The Sunday Service: End of the Line!

Ξ June 6th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service |

 

 End Of The Line: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4719)

Welcome to this week’s sunday service!

Yes, I know, it may not be sunday wherever you may be,

but it will be soon enough!

This service is open and available 24/7,

except during the occasional Tornado warning or Ice Storm!

God has truly blessed us with an awesome sanctuary that’s as big as all of outdoors!

No limits here, you can even bring your pets or enjoy a meal in the process!

Our praise team is assembled from some of the most talented and missions-minded artists you’ve ever had the good fortune to hear, and they are here to lift up the name of

Jesus Christ, son of God, and to let His praise ring out to the world!

My name is Tom Whiteman, the Deacon, here.

Our Praise team today:

Pure Heart: Blessed Assurance

Chosen Few: Come Sit At His Feet Again

Dave Berland: At The Cross

Canaan’s Road: Make Me Your Servant

Rich Pirone: Carry Your Love

Next week there’ll be different ones, so be sure to pay attention and thank em for being here! I mean, Ya GOTTA LOVE IT!

Thank you for joining us on this SUNDAY SERVICE. I pray the Lord has blessed you with it to the point of always worshipping him and His Holiness,

And remember: Take the Name of Jesus With you!

Sunday Service: Ya Gotta LOVE it!

Ξ April 11th, 2008 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Uncategorized, Writings |

 

 Sunday Service:Ya gotta love it!: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (257)

You know, often there are times when things go wrong. And I imagine, I probably get as many of those “times” as the average Joe. No… The average TOM. I get just as many as most folks. Some more, some less, but bad things do happen. And most of the time, the response that rolls off my lips when in the midst of one of those times where you just don’t understand it, there’s really no one to blame, and it’s not going to fix itself, is “Ya gotta love it!” Sometimes, when I am especially disgruntled or in a sarcastic mood, I even add, “Ya don’t know what ELSE to do with it”.

Now, a good many people either laugh at this or they look at me like I’ve popped a cork, but most generally, just saying those words helps me to assimilate, or “absorb” the situation at hand, and move on.

This evening, at work, we had someone who did a “No call, no show” on us. Meaning, of course, they didn’t come to work as expected and did not call to let anyone know about it. Most of my coworkers grumbled and complained, as many would. This usually means a lot of extra work for however many hands are left. Me, I rattled off, “Ya gotta love it”.

Again, the strange looks. I can imagine how they must have felt. For that matter, in the occasional time that I have been asked what I meant by those words, I never really clearly described it, nor had I taken the time to think a lot about it myself. You see, it goes back many years for me, when a good friend of mine had about the same habit of saying it that I have now. I just kind of picked it up and plopped it right into my vocabulary.

But tonight someone did ask. In fact I think they almost thought I was making light of the situation. Unfortunately, I was ill-prepared to answer at the moment. This experience, though, got my mental wheels turning, and the answer had already been right in front of me, earlier this week during my personal devotions:

In Ephesians 4, verses 1 through 5, it states:
Ephesians 4
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism
(NASV)

Did you catch the answer, there? Let me repeat it for you: walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love.

I had been studying Ephesians all of this past week, and yet the answer did not come quickly to mind at the moment. But later, after I got home and reviewed my reading, there it was as plain as day.

What Paul is saying in that passage is, “In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And take note that you do this with humility and discipline—not in short bursts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly.”
The road we are given is the road we travel. And we are told here, that even when the road turns rocky, to pour ourselves out for each other in acts of love.
When the kids (or the parents) are disobedient and cranky? “Ya gotta love it”.
When the cable guy doesn’t show up between 1 and 4 as promised? “Ya gotta love it!”
When your spouse forgets an important appointment? “Ya gotta love it!”
When someone, somewhere, messes up and creates more work for you and everyone around you? Ya GOTTA love it!
Romans 5:8
God demonstrates His own love for us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for US
(NASB)
This is the collective us. The disobedient, wandering, failing and falling US. And He did so unconditionally, only asking that we love each other- not just Christians or church members or family, but each other- in all humility and discipline, pouring ourselves out to and for each other!
This was a missed ministry opportunity for me. I should have been fully ready with an answer for those words I have used, literally for decades, so flippantly.

1 Peter 3
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
(NASB)

You might not see it as so serious a situation. Yet tonight I felt convicted over the matter. Maybe I couldn’t have opened up into a full-blown discussion at the moment, but I could have taken the opening as an opportunity to prepare to share; He wanted to know why I said, “Ya gotta love it.” My response could have been something so simple as to have said, “When you have a some free time, there’s a friend I would like you to meet.” and followed up as time allowed.

Our reactions in times of stress or disappointment speak volumes for the hope that is in us. The more we learn of the love of God through Christ, the more we realize how important it is for others to know that peace that passes all understanding and to “speak up“ in His name. It’s not quite as hard as it seems either; I myself, for years, used to freeze up at crucial ministry opportunities out of a fear of “getting it wrong”. But in the word of God, there is no wrong, just as in Christ, there is nothing fickle or false (James 1:17). My fear of getting it wrong was purely and simply a lack of fully preparing myself in the word.

For all of us, our point of contact for the cause of Christ is wherever our feet happen to be planted. To repeat myself, Our response at critical moments speaks volumes for the hope that is in us. Take that time, starting now, to get to know Him better, deeper, and more intimately so that others can hear from you just why you have that HOPE when things go wrong.

When we take the time, regularly and diligently, to dig into the word and prepare our hearts through the word, the Holy Spirit will use that word to change us in accord with God’s will in our lives, and help us to know the importance of a relationship with him and overcome those moments of fear and hesitance. Then we can begin to clearly see just why “Ya gotta love it!”

Our praise team today:

WhigTunes

Dave Berland

Chris Bradley

Jason T of Calvary Chapel

Dan Adkins

Please visit the artist links to the left and let them know how much you appreciate their music and worship offering!

Sunday Service in the BlueGrass!

Ξ March 1st, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service |

 

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In Ephesians 1:18 – 23, the word says,
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
A powerful verse for a powerful life in christ! Let’s sing about that wonderful POWER in the Blood right here TODAY on the SUNDAY SERVICE!

How’s your power supply today? Are you tapped into the one true power source that can get you going at a moment’s notice? There’s only one true way to feel the power of Christ in your life; To INVITE him there!
You might be saying, “Tom, it’s just not that simple.” But I’m here to tell ya, my friend, it IS. ONLY after I learned I had to completely Yield my life and need for “POWER” to HIM did I realize, THAT is what he has always been waiting for!
God doesn’t NEED to be in control; It’s not that he is intentionally holding back your power because of something you have or haven’t done; Rather, it’s because he wants you to TRUST him and ONLY HIM!
Do you feel out of control?
FANTASTIC! That’s just the critical moment you need, where you need it so you can learn to trust in only him; A breaking of that rebellious self-sufficient spirit that stands fast when God says “GO!”
As you head out today, Know that your Joy can only be made full by fully trusting Him when that guy cuts you off at the crossing or someone plays their music too loud. Our power is not of ourselves, but of Christ, and there is TRULY
POWER in the BLOOD~!

HOPE SPRINGS! a Sunday Service for 2-24-2008: A new feature

Ξ February 22nd, 2008 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Music, Podcast, Sunday Service, Writings |

 

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Here, in the Midwest, I am making this pod cast in the middle of February. It has been cold and icy all week, and when you work out-of-doors as I do, it gets old quickly; Especially as I get older.
But in my quiet times, my mind looks forward to the spring, and with spring come thoughts of our Easter Celebration. The songs of praise and worship and southern gospel Music stir my mind to those thoughts, and what a difference salvation has caused in MY life. Even now, as cold and dark as the days are, I know I can look forward to warmth and sunshine not too far off in the future.
What a WONDERFUL correlation: His love- on the cross and in my soul, has stripped away the darkness and cold and replaced it with warmth and sunshine. Yes, I am human, and all too often I might allow that old cold feeling to return, but the Christ who saved ME is always right there when I am once again defeated from trying to fight my own battles. I look up from whatever pit I am in, and he’s right there, so close that it all the more emphasizes the futility of trying to win my own wars. If I trust in Him, he is faithful to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness, and once again, a sweet and beautiful relationship is restored.
Did you catch that? A common misconception is to think that God somehow cannot accept us because we may have stumbled or fallen. Yet that is EXACTLY WHY we need him. Were we able to save ourselves, or to somehow be on a par with God, we would have no NEED for salvation, and certainly no idea of what sovereignty, or LORDSHIP, really means.
That would lead to utter chaos, each man trying to be lord of his own world, wouldn’t it? No one respecting another, every man out for himself? Wait… Isn’t that what the world looks like more and more every day? Who could be behind such a plan, so as to create this mindset, but the very one the bible points to; the one cast from glory due to his OWN attempt at equality with God to the point of waging war in heaven… Satan thought he could WIN in heaven, and now he tries to win here on earth.
We need to hold fast to the one who made us; who has laid down his only son, that being the Christ, as a pathway to bring our wayward souls back to him.
Jesus said, “come to me, all who are weary laden. And I will give you rest.” Let me tell you, those are mighty comforting words after a long, hard, cold day.

At least, to ME, they are…