Proud to be an American

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday!

Well today I am 36 years old. That's all I have to say about that. My beautiful wife got me the tools I wanted and a set of Pelican flashlights, Thank you Jesus.
I love getting gifts but I hate getting older.
I think we should just get presents just because, not just on birthdays. It would make me feel better.

Testimony, part 2

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
These men after hearing the gospel and sensitive to the Holy Ghost were convicted in their hearts and wanted a remedy. And that was that remedy? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved! These men wanted to repent. Oh and by the way what is repentance? (A complete reversal of one's attitude and values, i. e. a turning toward God) Attributed to God, Turning toward God that is the remedy.
Having been convinced of their error they got saved.
Part 3 will lead to no remedy, pray for me, God is dealing with me concerning the Convincing of Christians,

Testimony, part 1

I had thought of some things awhile back concerning convictions. Number 1 I want to say is if you have convictions in your life it is because you have been convinced of some erros in your life and you sought to fix them, through what ever area you saw needed. In the bible you find the word convicted in John 8:9, concerning the woman caught in adultery, from the oldest to the youngest they fled because of their own admittnence to their individual sin. They saw the wrong in their life and left. the probablem is that did they due something about it, well the answer is no because had they did they would have asked Jesus for forgivness, but fled instead. Now the woman stayed because she was caught and ready to be judged, but you see her seeing her self in error or being convicted also, stayed and asked the Master for forgivness. You can be convicted or convinced of some errors in your life also but did you do something about it. Have you come to Jesus for forgivness and repent of that what you have been convicted of. Or have you been doing what those accusers did, left without getting it right. Jesus could have forgiven all those men in John 8:9, Somtimes in church you hear what you are doing is wrong, know in your heart you need to change, Holy Spirit convicting you, but you leave not turning from your errors. Some beleive that once you have been convicted you got it settleled, no you just realized what God has been winking at and you cant play ignorant anymore.

It's Been Sometime Now,

Well alot has happened since my last blog, Valentines, trip to Texas (the promise land), Christian wedding, and a new job. God has been so good to us this past couple of weeks. I can say,"man we had a time",and we sure did. Spent some time with good freinds, The Davila family and The Deleon family and The Yanez Family in one house is guaranteed to be full of laughs. We had such a good time. I feel like saying so much but right now I am drawing a blank. One thing for sure is that I enjoyed having lunch with my dad, mom, and Jay. We ate at Los Asados. It was so good the food there. There is one thing I need, and that is for my dad to know that Jesus is the only way, I need someone to tell him of salvation, I need someone to be led to him by the spirit of God, I need someone to tell him, I need to know that Daddy will be there when I get there.

There is devils.

There is one lucifer, but there are devils in the midst,
Yesterday me and the preacher (Buddy Howard)went on visitation. Before we went visisting we stoped at our wives work to leave some water, While inside he asked a man that they call crazy Dave if he is saved, He aint crazy he just needs Jesus. Went I came outside Bro.Buddy told me he is not sure if he is saved, so I gave him the gospel, started preaching right there in the sidewalk, You see I know Dave and he is a freind, he even knows me by name. I once gave him some home made cookies but hadnt had the liberty to tell him the Gospel, well I did then and it was on, he told me," John I will wait till I am dead,". I told him by then it will be to late for he will be in hell. He listened to me as I shared with him my testimony and how Jesus could save him. Right then I spotted a Sodomite coming towards us, and the Spirit told me he had devils, he came right close to us, I told Dave,"Am I your freind," he said yes, I then asked him if he thought I would lie to him. He said I know you wouldnt lie to me, I went on to tell him that there are devils amongst us, I didnt in noway turn and point this Sodomite out, I kept my eyes on Dave, I told him there are devils that will try to tell him that I am lieing to him. I went on drawning nigh to God, submiting to Him and guess what that devil possed man fled.I went on praising God, I wish I could tell you that Dave got saved but he told me later, I told him it could be to late. Now I could have led him in a pollycracker prayer and claimed another, But I rather let Jesus claim him. I told him before we left that I loved him and that he can call on Jesus right there were he was eating is tuna, and he said he would. I dont know if that was the last invitation for Dave but I prayed for him this morning, I prayed that the next time I see him he would be rejoicing in Jesus name. No telling how many he could win to Christ.

Wed.6, 2008

Wed night we had great signing service, The Cooper family was with us and not only are they old fashioned in there dress but they can sing. We also celebrated our Pastors 61st Birthday. Last week he asked me if I could preach that night and I of course was excited for an opportunity to preach especially on his birthday. Well Wed morning came and I knew I did not have the message for that night. I felt God say You are not preaching, so I did not put up a fight, at work Bro. Howard came and visited me and asked me if I was ready to preach and I looked at him and told him I wish I could but I dont have the message. Its not that I didnt have a message to preach because as a preacher you have to be ready instant in season and out. Sevaral weeks ago Bro. Howard had to go to hospital and I had to fill in and God gave liberty, But you see I was not soppose to preach Wed. Bro. Howard knew I was right and left, I thank God I have a Pastor who wont try to force the issue and is sensitve to the Holy Ghost. Later that day I found out he called Bro. Dickie and he had the message. That day he was so burdened and he delivered the best message I have ever heard him preach. You see less then 1/2 a mile from were he lives a young man was killed on the road drunk. Bro. Dickie could see the ambulance but nothing he could really see. later that night we all found out through phone calls, One of our deacons wifes sisters son was killed, I believe he was 21. They went out to celebrate Madri Gras, "a heathen worship", They all got drunk and were fighting and the son asked to be let out so they did and when after a few short miles turned back to see that there son was struck and killed by a another vehicle, Brother Dickie was so burdened because he knew that kid an did not tell him about Jesus, He knew it was'nt his only responsibility but he knew that he never gave him the Gospel. He preached on their is a devil, their is a hell, and their is a heaven, and what will it take for us to go and tell, what we are doing sitting on our buffs aint working, He was tore up. but you see he had the message. I think we recorded that night and it is worth hearing again. He had some illustrations that was captivating to the mind as he preached.
You see Madri Gras claimed another, I dont understand how stupid people can be, a so called religist occasion can be so far away from God and claim to be a christian thing. It is just another day to miss work and school to get drunk.
I could go on and on but I won't, I will stop here.

This Ought to make you be a witness

AFTER A FEW OF THE USUAL
SUNDAY EVENING HYMNS, THE CHURCH'S PASTOR SLO WLY STOOD UP, WALKED OVER TO THE
PULPIT AND, BEFORE HE GAVE HIS SERMON FOR THE EVENING,HE BRIEFLY INTRODUCED A GUEST MINISTER
WHO WAS IN THE SERVICE THATEVENING.
IN THE INTRODUCTION, THE PASTOR TOLD THE
CONGREGATION THAT THE GUESTMINISTER WAS
ONE OF HIS DEAREST CHILDHOOD FRIENDS AND
THAT HE WANTED HIM TO HAVE A FEW MOMENTS
TO GREET THE CHURCH AND SHARE WHATEVER HE FELT WOULD BEAPPROPRIATE FOR THE SERVICE. WITH THAT, AN ELDERLY MAN STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK.
'A FATHER,HIS SON, AND A FRIEND OF HIS SON WERE SAILING OFF THE PACIFIC COAST ,' HE BEGAN.
'WHEN A FAST APPROACHING STORMBLOCKED ANY ATTEMPT TO GET BACK TO THE SHORE.
'THE WAVES WERE SO HIGH, THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FATHER WAS AN EXPERIENCED SAILOR, HE COULD NOT KEEP THEBOAT UPRIGHT AND THE THREE WERE SWEPT INTO THE OCEAN AS THE BOATCAPSIZED.'

THE OLD MAN HESITATED FOR A MOMENT, MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH TWO TEENAGERS WHO WERE, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE SERVICE BEGAN,LOOKING SOMEWHAT INTERESTED IN HIS STORY.
THE AGED MINISTER CONTINUED WITH HIS STORY, 'GRABBING A RESCUE LINE, THE FATHER HAD TO MAKE THE MOST EXCRUCIATING DECISION OF HISLIFE: TO WHICH BOY WOULD HE THROW THE OTHER END OF THE LIFE LINE.
'HE ONLY HAD SECONDS TO MAKE THE DECISION.
'THE FATHER KNEW THAT HIS SON WAS A CHRISTIAN AND HE, ALSO, KNEW THAT HIS SON'S FRIEND WAS NOT.
'THE AGONY OF HIS DECISION COULD NOT BE MATCHED BY THE TORRENT OF WAVES.
'AS THE FATHER YELLED OUT, "I LOVE YOU, SON!" HE THREW OUT THE LIFE LINE TO HIS SON'S FRIEND.

'BY THE TIME THE FATHER HAD PULLED THE FRIEND BACK TOTHE CAPSIZED BOAT, HIS SON HAD DISAPPEARED BENEATH THE RAGING SWELLS INTO THE BLACK OF NIGHT. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED.'
BY THIS TIME, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE SITTING UP STRAIGHT IN THE PEW, ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR THE NEXT WORDS TO COME OUT OF THE OLD MINISTER'S MOUTH.
'THE FATHER,' HE CONTINUED, 'KNEW HIS SON WOULD STEP INTO ETERNITY WITH JESUS AND HE COULD NOT BEAR THE THOUGHT OF HIS SON'S FRIEND STEPPING INTO AN ETERNITY WITHOUT JESUS... THEREFORE, HE SACRIFICED HIS SON TO SAVE THE SON'S FRIEND.
'HOW GREAT IS THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR US. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER SACRIFICED HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WE COULD BE SAVED. I URGE YOU TO ACCEPT HIS OFFER TO RESCUE YOU AND TAKE A HOLD OF THE LIFE LINE HE IS THROWING OUT TO YOU IN THIS SERVICE.'
WITH THAT, THE OLD MAN TURNED AND SAT BACK DOWN IN HIS CHAIR AS SILENCE FILLED THE ROOM.
THE PASTOR AGAIN WALKED SLOWLY TOTHE PULPIT AND DELIVERED A BRIEF SERMON WITH AN INVITATION AT THE END.HOWEVER, NO ONE RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL.
WITHIN MINUTES AFTER THE SERVICE ENDED, THE TWO TEENAGERS WERE AT THE OLD MAN'S SIDE.
'THAT WAS A NICE STORY,' POLITELY STATED ONE OF THEM,'BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS VERY REALISTIC FOR A FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS ONLY SON'S LIFE IN HOPES THAT THE OTHER BOY WOULD BECOME ACHRISTIAN.'
'WELL, YOU'VE GOT A POINT THERE,'THE OLD MAN REPLIED, GLANCING DOWN AT HIS WORN BIBLE. A BIG SMILE BROADENED HIS NARROW FACE. HE ONCE AGAIN LOOKED UP AT THE BOYS AND SAID, 'IT SURE ISN'T VERY REALISTIC, IS IT? BUT, I'M STANDING HERE TODAY TO TELL YOU THAT STORY GIVES ME A GLIMPSE OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEENLIKE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP HIS SON FOR ME. YOU SEE...
'I WAS THAT FATHER AND YOUR PASTOR IS MY SON'S FRIEND.'

A short outline, but a message The Lord gave me sometime ago

A Mountain of Obstacles
John 11:41

Intro: There must be some obstacles removed, or some stumbling blocks removed before God can Bless you.

Jesus could have removed that stone with one word or a look, whatever means that He could do it He would have done it Himself.
But you see there are some stones we must remove our self.

Lazarus was not raised until the stone was removed.

There is always something in Gods way in our life that prevents Gods blessing.

I know you want God to Bless you. And I know we want God to bless us in our lives.

And I know you want to do something for the Lord.

But until you remove them obstacles God will not bless you.

Isaiah 57:14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

You can’t make it on a curve. Your path needs to be straight.

Isaiah 40:4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

You see in our text that stone was a stumbling stone. An offence needed to be removed.

They took away the stone, and this was all they could do; Christ only could give life. What man can do is but to prepare the way of the Lord, to fill the valleys, and level the hills, and, as here, to take away the stone.

It is better for us not to know what is ahead but know this, God has pondered the path, and we can go through triumphantly with God.
God wants us to be ready.

Isaiah 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

You here today I can imagine you want to do something for the Lord, but you can’t do it with that mountain of sin before you.
And God knows you can’t be perfect, no man can but we do have a pattern or way to which to live.

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

You want to be used by God effectively this is the remedy

. 2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Something’s lacking in our lives today, and it is drawing to God or going forth to Him.

Draw nigh to God. The heart that has rebelled must be brought to the foot of God; the spirit that was distant and estranged from a life of communion and converse with God must become acquainted with him: “Draw nigh to God, in his worship and institutions, and in every duty he requires of you.” 2. Cleanse your hands. He who comes unto God must have clean hands. Paul therefore directs to lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting (1Ti_2:8), hands free from blood, and bribes, and every thing that is unjust or cruel, and free from every defilement of sin: he is not subject to God who is a servant of sin. The hands must be cleansed by faith, repentance, and reformation, or it will be in vain for us to draw nigh to God in prayer, or in any of the exercises of devotion.
We have great encouragement to act thus towards God: He will draw nigh to those that draw nigh to him (Jam_4:8), and he will lift up those who humble themselves in his sight, Jam_4:10. Those that draw nigh to God in a way of duty shall find God drawing nigh to them in a way of mercy. Draw nigh to him in faith, and trust, and obedience, and he will draw nigh to you for your deliverance.

If you are hear today and are lost you have a mountain of debt to pay without Jesus.

Jesus made the way. He died so that all men that come unto Him are made free.

Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

When Jesus died He did so I can be free what about you today.

What about you with that mountain of stone, why don’t you come this morning and cast your stone.
Isaiah 57:14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

Us 2 And No More

I thought I would put a pic of my wife. She makes me look good. I have to admit that is not a good pic of me. But Melinda looks nice in this pic. I thank God for my wife.
Dont forget to pray for my family.

Prayer

What is prayer?
Prayer is the Yearning of the soul towards God.

Lord I need your help. Is my prayer, pray for me tonight please.

I cant do it by my self,

I want you to read this part of the scripture and show you what the Lord taught me,
1 Chronicles 19:12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.

I want you to focus on this one thought, If it be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: But if it be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.
1. I want to say that Joab was a great General, but he knew he had his limitations.
We sometimes have this attitude that we can do it our selves, but we cant. Joab in all his training, in all his accomploshment knew that he alone can't win the battle himself. What did God say in the New Testemant; Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Joab knew that the enemy was before him and behind him, but yet set those mighty men in position not to bestroyed but set them to do the battle together.
He instructed them to be of good courage, that is litrally to be:
1. conquer: to over come, 2. seize: To fall or rush upon suddenly and lay hold on, 3. To bind: To restrain in any manner. 4. to play the man and become mighty and withstand.
He reminds them of their testimony and who they represent in verse 13 of I Chronicles 19:,
but reminds them that the most important is that it is God whom will do right. He fights the battles for us,
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
You are not alone in the battle. You cant do it by your self because when you become weary who will take the baton, who will fill the gap,
you and I need each other. The enemy is set before and behind, lost souls are before and behind us, we all need to go together. Its not what I can do, but what we can do to bring honour and glory to God
This was just a thought the lord gave me in my daily reading.

That old path

I have been walking down this old path now for 10 years now and I have to say it has been filled with joy.
after talking to my brother just for a breif moment makes me happy that it has been worth every step.
After speaking to an old freind down in the valley yesterday made me rejoice that I did not resists pleadings to get out of the church I got saved at, I should have listened the first 2 times but I am glad that God never gave up on me. This old freind told me of the things ungodly he is doing and I wondered," what will it take." I thought of the people still envolved there and the signs of unfriutfulness, I remember the man I looked to inspire me but not even serving the Lord anymore. I often wonder what is happening down their, will God send forth revival, will God find a man, a man to fill in the gap.

Ecclesiastes 10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
To many an hedge has been broken, to many the serpent has been bitting, to many pits, Will God not send forth revival,
We can have meetings after meetings but will there not be a burden, a burden for lost sinners a burden for lost daddys and mommys, were are the bus kids, were are the little boogers at,
will God not reveive us again.
I believe God wants to send down the fire of revival, If I didnt beleive that, then I would stop preaching.
Jennings needs to see real Christians, A people for God, Help me God I need you!!!!

My favorite

I have to say that Febuary is my favorite month. Why you say, well because my birthday is on the 26th, I will be 36 this year but it is ok. So far it has been good, this year in Sept. I will have been in Louisiana 3 years. You know I often wonder who else was born on this day, not celeberties but people that have made a differance in life, scholars, sceintist, engineers, but more than that Soulwinners, preachers, evangalist and other great Christians.
So dont forget, if you feel like you forgot something this month, It's my Birthday, so don't forget.
Funny how I once forgot to tell my wife happy birthday one year and man was I feeling bad. I got to my job there in Texas an my dad asks me how old is Melinda, and it clicked. Well I never forgot it since and hope not to again.


“Men don't care what's on TV. They only care what else is on TV.”
Jerry Seinfeld