My Dad

I love my dad and I know that he loves me, but it makes me wonder at times what made my dad be the man that he is. And it is unfortunate that we cant change them. That old saying 'you cant teach an old dog a new trick' is almost true. I say almost because he has learned some of the newer things like playing DVD's. j.k. As I was growing up I wanted a closer relationship with him but couldn't get close. When I was young maybe between 6&12 he used to drink and smoke alot and was very aggressive. Before I go on I want to say I don't blame my dad or wish he was different, he is my dad and all that made him the man he is today. My dad has a history and it is his no man can change it. There are times I wish the relationship he had with Jay was mine but I knew it couldn't. I believe having Jay made him more sensitive, I don't remember when he quit smoking or drinking but I do remember it was alot better. Jay doesn't remember this but I remember him telling dad to quit drinking. I don't remember how long it took but he did. Each one of our dads is different and no one person can help you figure them out but I can say this they are your dads, not mine. and you can't live with the old saying "I wish my dad was like his" You see though they may be hard to figure out his ways are not your ways, just like your ways are not his. You will save alot more tears getting this one point. Just like me one day you will be a dad and guess what they will not quite understand you either but let them know that you love them. I was 21 years old when my dad first told me that he loved me. it is not that he didn't love me, it was just the first time I heard him tell me. My mom always told me but to hear him say it was all I needed. Oh by the way He still tells me today and it always brings me back to that day. As a pastor I can go on with scripture how children and fathers ought to be towards each other but I believe you get the idea. On my next post I will put some scripture up.

All is well

All is well here in Abbeville,La. It has been raining all week and we are drenched. Grass is groing much and hard to cut grass with all this moister on the ground. I thank the Lord for my wife though she does the majority of the cutting to help me out. She is so good to me, she makes sure I dont hurt my ankles more than they do I even have a bone spur growing out on the side of my foot.

THE JACKET!!!

This is a picture of the jacket I won selling the xentex products!!! As soon as I get it, I will post a pic of myself modeling it.

What A Win

For a little over 3months now I have been working for Oreilly Auto Parts http://www.oreillyauto.com/EW3/HomePage.do When I started I found out that Xentx, an oil treatment product we sell, started a Promo for all 22,000 employees. The top 50 employees who sell the most Xentx will win a commemorative leather jacket celebrating Oreillys 50th aniversary and the Xentx logo. Soon I will post a picture because I won one. Of all 22,000 enployees I was one of the top sellers. I sold 29 Xentx products.http://www.emtacorp.com/ It is a great accomplishment and my boss is very proud. Allen, a man that works with me, also won. I challenged him the last 3 weeks of the competion and he sold 11. So our store is the only one with 2 winners. Allen was excited too about winning and told my boss if I had not pushed him he would've not sold any. I am especially excited because I never won a competion before and at that to be one of 50 of all 20,000 employees to win is awsome. I am not sure when we will get the jacket because they are custom making it for each winner, I already sent my size so when I get the jacket I will put the pictures on this Blog.

The day the theif got in.

A REMORSFUL THEIF SAVED
LUKE 23:39-43

Todays message deals with the penitent thief who asked Jesus to have mercy on him and got saved.

1.Noticed first that he knew why he was to die that day. The punishment in his eyes was sure due to the crime.
Most times we will cry out not guilty when in fact are guilty.
The thief said “justly;for we receive the due reward.

Luke 16:19 we see the true story of the rich man in hell, and the one thing we never read is that he did not deserve to be their.

Sir, Ma’am if you die knowing you needed Jesus to save you. Justly your due reward will be. IN HELL

You will never cry out I never knew……the rich man in his torments was in need of water. Knowing that is all he could ask for….. Knowing that asking for forgiveness was not an option…it was to late….

When we think of a thief we automatically think well did he die because he was a robber.
Jesus said in John 10:10 “the thief cometh not,but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy”

These men were fairly tried and convicted to die. Unlike Jesus.

One thief comes out with the satanic “If” many times these if’s come out.

This “If” challenges Christ divinity. In Matthew 4:6 we find the devil tempting Jesus “If thou be the Son of God turn stones into bread” Matthew 4:6 “If thou be the Son of God leap from the top of the temple”.

Those around the cross also questioned Matthew 27:39-40 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
And the soldiers mocked with their un belief Luke 23:36-37 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

This one thief in selfishness cries out “If thou be the Christ save thyself and us”

He was not looking for forgivnes he was looking for a way out. A pity was his desire. In prison you see real repentance and real oh I got caught so I need to do right or look like I feel remorseful for the sake of pity.

All but one while Jesus hanging on the cross got was …..If you and If you are. Questing His Authority.

John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

All the religious crowd questioned
Luke 23:35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

If you look at it they got what they wanted Christ crucified. They cried out crucify, crucify. Why couldn’t they just leave Him alone.

They wanted him dead now in their own minds they think they won why not leave Him alone.
But through all of this that second thief noticed. Says one very important thing “dost not thou fear God”

Even through all the long hours of suffering and shame the spirit of God was working in this thief’s heart.

2 things this thief knew. Jesus was innocent and that Jesus is the way to end all suffering. Not in this present world but in the here after.

That thief knew he was going to die and not one good thing he could do get him to heaven.

I want you to notice some things about the seen that day during those agonizing minutes on the cross there were several things present.
1. There was the executioner , but the thief did not tell him have mercy on me.
2. There was in the crowd, maybe a loved one or a friend. He did not cry out to them. He did not count on their influence. Or their connection to the church.
3. Their that day in the crowd where the religious leaders, the priests and scribes. Annanias the high priest was there. And not one time did this thief cry out unto them.
4. Their in the crowd we see also Mary lamenting over the dieing of Jesus. And not no mention of the thief to Mary to pray for him or to make intercession.
5. No but their on the cross before him was the one who said “Him that cometh to me I will no wise cast out, Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you”

He had faith in the one who made the blind to see.

He had faith in the one who raised up Lazarus from the dead.

That thief probably did not have the whole grasp of salvation, but he knew it was Jesus that could forgive sins.

Skeptics of the cross might say here yes Jesus could have said Yes I will remember you when I come back to set up my kingdom here on earth 2000yrs or 3000yrs from now. So you go on to hell and I will remember you.

No what happened here was that, that thief knew that “whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”

1. He confessed his sinfulness and condemnation “We indeed justly; for we receive the due rewards of our deeds. He knew it was his sin that was bringing an end to him.
Friend if you die today in your sinful condition never asking Jesus to save you then when you die you will be deserving HELL. A due reward
Jesus made a way to escape
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

2. The thief acknowledges the sinless deity of Christ “this man hath done nothing amiss”.
When the crowd mocked that Jesus said he was the SON OF GOD the thief knew in his heart it was true.

3. This thief surrendered to Jesus and called Him Lord.

4. And lastly he called on the Lord.
That thief lived out Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast
When you call on to Jesus and ask him for forgiveness confessing your sinfulness ask Jesus for mercy, you get it.

Today was a good day for The Preacher, I prayed that God would give liberty, and that He did We had a great service today both in Sunday school and the second hour. I taught Sunday school on Psalm 23 and man the Glory of God filled the room and it was awesome. I preached on Mark 10:17 about the rich young ruler and God just kept blessing during the message it was great. I purposed though there be just us or just 2 family's I am just going to preach. It shouldn't matter how much you have but who you have. I have always preached that since I have been here and it shouldn't change just because we are few. The Message I preached was one God just gave me this morning during my daily reading and it blessed, so I give God all the glory. Praise his Holy Name!

"PREPARING TO MEET GOD" JOEL 2:1-17; AMOS 4:12
Introduction: This is a prophecy of the great and terrible day of the Lord, the judgment. A subject most do not think about neither do they want to think about it or hear it. There are many scriptures in the Word of God concerning preparedness and the need and urgency to being prepared to meet the Lord.
Preparing-To make ready beforehand for a specific purpose, as for an event or occasion. To make things or oneself ready, make arrangements, make preparations.
Isaiah 38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.
There are so many people unprepared to meet God, many are unsaved and many of the saved are not serving the Lord according to His will.
(I) A CALL FOR ATTENTION:{vs 1 Blow ye the trumpet} A call to get the attention of the people.
· Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Many people have their attention on unimportant ungodly earthly things.
Attention: To focus on a particular subject; concentration, give heed, notice.
· We are living in a day that HELL is not often spoken of and the judgment of God has been downplayed, whether you are saved, born again or lost unsaved all will stand before the judgment of the Lord one day!
We all should be called to give our attention to:
1. THE SHORTNESS OF LIFE...... James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

2. THE SURENESS OF DEATH... Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, ... 2 Samuel 14:14 For we must needs die, and [are] as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect [any] person:

3. THE SEVERITY OF THE JUDGMENT… Romans 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body,
according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.
The Lord our God has given us each a life to live and opportunities to
use, how prepared are you to stand before Him with your life and the
opportunities He has given you? Are you saved, are you washed in
the Blood of the Lamb, are prepared for heaven? Are you serving God
with your life, living for Him, witnessing for Him, are you prepared
to stand before the Lord with your life?
(II) A CAUSE FOR ALARM: {Let all the inhabitants tremble}
Alarm = 1. A sudden fear caused by the realization of danger. 2. A warning of existing or approaching danger.
Every household, every family, every parent, every man woman boy and girl should be alarmed, tremble because of:
1. THE CONDITIONS OF THE PRESENT AGE:
· 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous
times shall come. Perilous = Full of or involving peril; dangerous
· We live in a day of permissiveness, a day when right is called wrong and wrong is called right.
· Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
2. THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF HELL
· Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments,
We should be alarmed by our awareness of hell to think
that one member of our family could die lost without God
and go there Parents are your children saved, children
are your parents saved, husbands are your wives saved,
wives are your husbands saved?
· There is too much emphasis placed on unimportant things with families these days. (Brand of clothes, Bank accts, Money making, Material possessions etc.)
· Hell is real, the pain is real, the screams are real, the desires are real and if we could talk to any one in hell right now, they would tell us that it is very important to be alarmed.
3. THE COMING OF JESUS: Hebrews 10:37 For yet a little
while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
How will the Lord find you when He comes?
Will He find you saved? Will He find you serving Him?
Will He find you careless and unconcerned?
1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Are you ready? Do you need to get some things in order?
Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
(III) A CALL TO AWAKE: {Awaken -To rouse from sleep; waken, To stir the interest of; excite, To stir up, To revive.}
· Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.
· 1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame.
1. Awakened to our condition before God: How do you stand before God?
2. Awakened to our calling from God: Are you being true to your calling?
3. Awakened to the commands and charge of our Lord: