The Rock of Ages Confrence

http://www.roapm.com/ This Link leads to the Rock of Ages website

Monday night went down to Baton Rouge La. and attend Central Baptist Church For the 30th Anniversary of the Rock of Ages. Drove down with Bro Howard, Bro. Winston, Bro. Bob, and Brother Eric. Brother Eric just surrendered to preach and was he blessed at the meeting. Bro. Joe Arthur preached and boy was he up to par.

Since Brother Gearis has gone to be with the Lord Brother Terry Ellis has done an awesome job. I got to see old Friends we I have made in Georgia. Brother Tim Martin is a missionary with the Rock of Ages and it was good to see them.

For those that know Brother John Yaws he is doing alot better now, he is healing well from foot surgery to repair some torn muscles. He has been out of commission for 6 months but is now getting alone in crutches. He is excited to get back to the prisons. So far he got word that over 100 inmates has joined his classes. Just pray for him. I have had great opportunity's to preach with him in prison revivals and have seen the love he has for these men. Here is a pic of him.

And Moses Prayed

Deuteronomy 3:23-27 And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.

Moses lost the blessing of leading the children of Israel into the promised land due to disobedience and compromise. But who else can it be said of God holding a personal funeral and burial.

Broken

A couple days ago I was on Gtalk with my Brother Jay looking for this song I had forgotten about. I first heard the song in the church I got saved in and later because I too was an Elvis fan heard him sing the song in his gospel CD I used to own and later thru away. Well I came across this pic and it reminded me of when Jesus spoke about the pharisee and the publican..Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

The reason I remembered that song was because during the song service in church The Trio was singing this song and it reminded me of the song I heard years ago. Our pianist had the song in her song book but I couldn't remember how it went. Well to make a long story short we found the song. Elvis sang a short version of it but, I found a singer other than Elvis to hear it which is a Gospel singer not a country, rock, rap, pop, I'll make a gospel to ease my conscious but yet make there money on that worldly garbage. Brother Bob one of our deacons at the church got up and sang it Sunday night during our Revival. This song is awesome one day I told Brother Steve if we could sing it together. Brother Steve is a blessing he plays Piano by ear but I am telling you he is good, God has blessed him with a gift. One Sunday before choir practice Brother Steve was playing what I thought was Amazing Grace in a lower key and I jumped in and started singing and man I cant sing. (just a joyful noise), Anyways as I was ranting the song is Where No One Stands Alone, And this pic reminds me of the song and the sight I found it on has the words and this pic to it. It is Elvis singing though and I don't recommend you hear it. The Best place I heard it was at church and the first place I ever heard it was back in 98 in church. I still remember that night. I remember everything.......any ways the song is great. If you can play piano find the words and the music and learn it and play it all the time. I can only hum it. My dad and Jay I could always count on to find something or remember a certain song or name. I remember At work years ago I couldn't remember Rosco's dog name in the Dukes of hazard, we at work were going crazy. I called Jay but he couldn't remember and then I called my dad he said it with out hesitation. I am blessed to have a great brother and a one of kind dad. (I love you dad, I know you don't read this dad but I do love you) I remember when I Got saved I told my family and was ridiculed and told not to talk to them about God, it hurt so much, But I prayed. I prayed that they would get saved and I still pray that today. I would prayed that My brother Jay would get saved because I knew that maybe he could get to dad, Well Jay is saved now and I leave this matter up to God. When I lead you to the Lord and directed you to a church, I prayed that you would learn of God, I did what was done to me, I left you to that Under shepherd to train you.

Texas: Some call it Gods Country, I call it TEXAS

We went back to Texas last week and had a good time with family and freinds. This first pic I took was what my wife calls a Buck, but I dont know. I am not conveinced, it is to small and albino, but what do I know.
Now this I know is a Doe, and a nice pic too.
These are pics of Horseshoe Lake, it is the place I spent most of my youth fishing. I also got on my first boat in this lake also.

It was a good day, Pastor was up to Par..

Sunday School for this morning, got to the end of this post this morning.

Psalm 5

Verse 1
Crying unto God
a. Have you ever cried unto God?
Many times now this week I have cried in prayer to God, concerning my dad. But I thank God we can cry unto God.

Just as David hear is asking God to give heed to his prayers or to mark well.
In this prayer it is as David is calling unto God as if he is lost.

What I mean is do you know what one does immediately when found to be lost? We start yelling aloud.
Or when a child gets lost they start yelling in agony. But the thing is this the lost child directs his call to one person and that is mommy.
Well this is the point David is making in 2. His focus is on God.

2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

I wonder where your direction is, or what is the direction of your life?

David’s direction was heavenward.
Let me ask you another Question. Where was Stephens’s direction when he was in distress? Now remember he was beening beaten and stoned. He was Looking unto heaven.
Not first heaven nor the 2nd, but he pierced through to the 3rd heaven. Now he being full of the Holly Ghost saw Jesus.

Acts 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Oh Stephen said,” Behold” In other words he is saying,” Do you see what I see, I see the Heavens Opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.
In distress he was looking unto Jesus.

David said I will look up.

Verses 4 – 6
We see that sin is hated and hateful.
Deuteronomy 25:16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Do you know what an abomination or the definition of the word is? Now Biblical, the word and it new dictionaries have down played many words today.
It is something that is disgusting in the sight of God. In the sight of God.
David displeased the Lord once.
2 Samuel 11:27 And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.

In our daily Christian walk how many times have we really displeased God.
Some have a hard time with sin because they don’t want to give it up.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Scripture is very clear what to do concerning living a separated life.
And it is very unfortunate that to some or most it isn’t popular amongst Baptist churches or people.
How do we live a life most pleasing to God, well #1 is?
1. Lay aside:
let us lay aside every weight; or burden; every sin, which is a weight and burden to a sensible sinner, and is an hinderance in running the Christian race; not only indwelling sin, but every actual transgression, and therefore to be laid aside; as a burden, it should be laid on Christ; as a sin, it should be abstained from, and put off, with respect to the former conversation: also worldly cares, riches, and honours, when immoderately pursued, are a weight depressing the mind to the earth, and a great hinderance in the work and service of God, and therefore to be laid aside; not that they are to be entirely rejected, and not cared for and used, but the heart should not be set upon them, or be over anxious about them: likewise the rites and ceremonies of Moses's law were a weight and burden, a yoke of bondage, and an intolerable one, and with which many believing Jews were entangled and pressed, and which were a great hinderance in the performance of evangelical worship; wherefore the exhortation to these Hebrews, to lay them aside, was very proper and pertinent, since they were useless and incommodious, and there had been a disannulling of them by Christ, because of their weakness and unprofitableness. Some observe, that the word here used signifies a tumour or swelling; and so may design the tumour of pride and vain glory, in outward privileges, and in a man's own righteousness, to which the Hebrews were much inclined; and which appears in an unwillingness to stoop to the cross, and bear afflictions for the sake of the Gospel; all which is a great enemy to powerful godliness, and therefore should be brought down, and laid aside.

In the book of Hebrews Paul delt heavily with the Jews because they at times took old worship and tried to blend it with Christianity. This is the weight that hindered true worship.

To lay aside is the action needed for the putting away of the weight. We may know the way but don’t take the forward step towards the goal.
The convictions I have today are not the ones I got when I first got saved. It took some laying aside.
My willingness to serve God as pleasing to Him took my actions.

2. The weight: The weight is what is the load we carry.
On a side note there is something you need to leave to God. You are carrying a load you can’t handle.

That weight is a hindrance to your race.
What God wants us to see is this?
a. There is a hinderance
b. That is what causes the beseting.
Now read the scripture again;
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

c. Now to explain what easily besets us.
(Illustrate about how a racer can get distracted and be caught standing around)
d. A racer who is focused has only one thing in mind, the prize.
e. To beset is to be left behind standing.
f. When we as Christians refuse to lay aside that sin will be left behind standing.
g. What ever the weight lay it aside.
h. We have a due reward, how do you want to be left standing before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Not over it yet

I have been saved 8 years and it is still as sweet as it was then. I have grown in the Lord since then. I sometimes look back and wonder at how God aways provided,protected,and delivered through some trails. Been hurt many times but God has always comforted. lately I have been thinking of my father alot. I think often what he is doing even right now as I write these few words. I love my dad, I might not have always understood him but one thing I knew he loved his kids and we loved him. I often wonder what kind of Christian he would be. Last night I even thought what kind of preacher he would be. He would probably be like me because I would been like him. I see alot of my dad in me, he is a nut. I am a nut in the shell though. It hurt me to see him so weak last week. I always knew him to be the strongest, stronger than all dads. As I think on him I feel like a kid bragging about daddy. I am so jealous of my son. He got what I always wanted, a Pair of my dads boots. My 11 year old son has the same size foot as my dad and I have a size 91/2. My dad once gave me his cowboy hat once but lets be real my head was to big.

With a Heavy Hart

I taught this Lesson the Lord gave me last night after we got home fromTexas for Sunday School. My heart is heavy concerning my dad but I realize this one thing, that there are other Christians out there with lost family's, possibly dads,moms, and even grandparents. The burden is heavy so Please pray for my dad as I will pray for those you mention.

I’ll Do it My Way

Hardest thing my dad ever told me was; I will do it my way.

1. The first thing I want to mention is found in Isaiah
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

When my father told me what he did this verse came to mind.
Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord; the ways which God prescribes and directs men to walk in are different from theirs; his are holy, theirs unholy; his are plain, theirs crooked; his are ways of light, theirs ways of darkness; his are pleasant, theirs not so, at least in the issue; his lead to life, theirs to death; and therefore there is good reason why they should leave their evil ways, and walk in his. Moreover, the ways which he takes in the salvation of men are different from those which they, naturally pursue, and especially in the pardon of sin; he pardons freely, fully, without any reserve, or private grudge, forgetting as well as forgiving.

2. You know there are many ways. But there is but one way.
There is the divine way.
Psalms 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
Psalms 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
Hosea 14:9 Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Several things I know and that is this; no matter what God is just and true.
When those 2 things come into play this verse comes alive to me.
Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

3. There have been some in the bible that have tried there way and it fails.
a. The prodigal son, Luke 15:11
b. Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:1
c. King Agrippa
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Acts 26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Paul here had a desire for this man to be saved.
1. It is amazing that many would be like Agrippa
2. Many will hear but not all will hearken to the call to repentance.
Paul said I would to God, he here is saying; if only ever time I gave the gospel all would be converted.

The bible is very clear it is whosoever will, that means my dad has the choice.
Agrippa paid for it with his due reward, Hell. He is still there today.

d. Felix was given the opportunity and said this:
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

1. Our way is to wait but God said today is the time;
Luke 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house,…..

e. Jonas thought that his way would be right but God had plans for Nineveh
f. David thought of ways to deceive and conceal his sin with Bathsheba
My dad scared me yesterday, when he said he would do it his way.
Something as a child of God I don’t want to see is loved ones seek another way.

Jesus said in Matthew that strait is the gate

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

I believe many men are striving for the goals in life, so go about never reaching the mark.
And I am afraid some die never knowing how close to the way they were.
Aug. 12, 1998 is when I was spiritually striving.
And I found it though Jesus Christ and Him alone, it was then He became Lord of my life.
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
It was on this date that I got saved and found the way.
Jesus said it Him self;
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I am the Way - That leads so the Father: - the Truth that teaches the knowledge of God, and directs in the way: - the Life that animates all those who seek and serve him, and which is to be enjoyed eternally at the end of the way.
Christ is the Way:
1. By his doctrine, Joh 6:68.
2. By his example, 1Pe 2:21.
3. By his sacrifice, Heb 9:8, Heb 9:9.
4. By his Spirit, Joh 16:13.
He is the Truth:
1. In opposition to all false religions.
2. To the Mosaic law, which was only the shadow, not the truth or substance, of the good things which were to come. And
3. In respect to all the promises of God, 2Co 1:20.
He is the Life, both in grace and glory; the life that not only saves from death, but destroys it.
No man cometh unto the Father - By any other doctrine, by any other merit, or by any other intercession than mine.

My Heart is heavy today. And the prayers can’t stop till dad gets saved.
Do I believe he will get saved, do you?
Paul said it, I would to God that all that hear.

To Some The Last Stop

I have been given the opportunity to preach in different places before but none has made me more nervous than preaching at a nursing home. God has been good to me to give me liberty to preach at prisons,camp meetings,streets,various churches including my own. I still remember preaching for the first time back in 1999. I hadn't surrendered then but my pastor then was going out of town and asked me to fill in. But this Sunday between services was the most gut wrenching. Some might say whats the deal; well I will tell you. Most people in these homes it is there last stop. Now we all aren't promised tomorrow and I know that. But you see I can go here and there and some of them cant. Some are soon forgotten, left there because of the inconvenience they bring. Now I have visited many nursing homes since moving here to Louisiana but never preached before and in my visiting I have met many who families they have not come back to visit, so you see all this hit me hard. It is awful what they go through. God did give me liberty to preach on Heaven and just tried to be an encouragement. I thank God for Brother Dickie he is our nursing home preacher and God is Blessing him. He had to go on a trip so I filled in for him. And for all you nursing home preacher keep it up. And we also have a great bunch of others that help and that is awesome because of the singing. On average our church sends out about 10 people to nursing homes on Sundays. And that is great, the burden they have is real and I appreciate them so much but more then that I know those people in the homes love to see them come back every time.

17 Years and still growing

Man I was looking at these 2 pics and I really dont see much of a change. Still a hunka hunka

baby. Man I need to wake up. about 130 pounds separate me and that figure today, what a change.

Hell Is Hotter!

I took this picture of trash we were burning and after I developed the pictures I noticed something in this Pic. In the center it looks like a person burning and in agony in this fire.

The Yanez Family

This was us 2 years ago when we first moved to Louisiana. Notice John how he is almost at Melinda's Height. Oh and there is Diana she got a little jealous because I didn't include her in my blog about John and Melinda. So Diana if you are seeing this get over it. Next thing she will say is, "Why not a current pic?".

THE OTHER GIANT

Here is a picture of Diana Nicole and Little John---ok he's not so little anymore!!! it makes me think back when the kids were born Diana was early by about 6 weeks and weighed 6 pounds!!! she was so tiny and we had a hard time finding clothes for her to wear---John John on the other hand was early about 4 weeks and weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and ended up in the ICU for a week but thank God they are healthy now! I LOVE THEM!!! they have officially left Melinda behind but like i posted earlier she can still take them down--BOTH OF THEM!!!they love Melinda and do alot for her!!! God has blessed us with these two great kids and we pray that He will use them in a mighty way.

My Son the Gaint

My son has grown so much these past 2 years and what is amazing even more is that he is still shy of passing me, but yet he wears bigger shoes than me. My wife still tells him"Just because you are bigger dont think I cant throw you down". And beleive you me she can.

The Frost, Sometimes it makes the blade stick.

It is amazing how one line can make you think as this one did. Some might remember this line but as I was wathching one of my favorite movies this one stuck out because in the heat of the action there is failure. You dont expect failure but it happens. In this one instance it caused one to die but in the real life failure were not expected causes one to fear or worry. I sometimes ask"Am I doing right?".
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