Quote Of The Day

                                                                                                                           Story of the day:  Is the church dying?

   Is the church dying?  I don’t believe so, but let me ask that of you once you have finished reading this amazing story that illustrates the question.  The story was written by Lloyd Cory and he says this:  ”The ministry of church is a ministry of people.  When a church lives, it lives because the people within are vital and active.  When a church dies, it withers and dies not because the brick and mortar and carpet and pews get old and begin to crack and rip and crumble.  A church withers and dies because the people wither and die.

   I think a vivid illustration of this comes from a true story of a young minister in Oklahoma who went to this little, tough long-standing, church in hopes of really reviving the ministry of it.  He had stars in his eyes and great hopes for the future.  He thought he could turn it around.  And he gave it his best effort and his best shot week after week, to no avail.

   Finally, he had one last idea, and it seemed to work.  He announced in the local newspaper on Saturday that the church had died, and on Sunday afternoon there would be a funeral service at the church itself, and all who wished could attend.  For the first time in his years there, the place was packed.  In fact, people were standing outside on tiptoes looking through the window to see this most unusual funeral service for a church.

   To their shock, because most of them got there twenty or thirty minutes early to get a seat, there was a casket down front.  And it was smothered with flowers.  He told the people as soon as the eulogy was finished they could pass by and view the remains of the dearly beloved that they were putting to rest that day.  They could hardly wait until he finished the eulogy.  He slowly opened the casket, pushed the flowers aside, and people walked by, filed by, one by one, to look in and leave sheepishly, feeling guilty as they walked out the door, because inside the casket he had placed a large mirror.  As they walked by, they saw the church that had died.”

Quote of the day:  Mary Nelson

“The church is the glue that keeps us together when we disagree.  It is the gasoline that keeps us going during the tough times.  It is the guts that enables us to take risks when we need to.”

Bible verse of the day:  Ephesians 3:21

“to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to You right now and I continue to pray for the church as a whole.  Father, I pray that You would raise up some mighty men and women that will lead our nation into revival and that together we can bring unity amongst each other striving for the same purpose in this life and that is to bring lost souls to the knowledge of Your Saving Grace.  Father, there is an outpouring of lives that need to be touched.  I pray that they hear that still small voice that only one can hear when You are speaking to them.  Father, I get excited to know that You are moving across this nation and doing so in a way that is changing lives.  I thank You for all that You do and I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

                                                                                                                                                                                             Story of the day:  A Slam Dunk

    We love basketball.  We love to see our oldest play the game.  He truly is a natural.  And yes, I know he is my son and all parent’s probably think this of their child, but he truly is gifted with this sport.  It comes naturally to him and with more practice, his natural abilities, and some great coaching, he will be well underway.  As I thought about basketball and how we can all probably pick up a book and learn the fundamentals about the game, which is important, sometimes just letting it flow naturally will get more natural results.  I remembered a story that came out of Fresh Power a wonderful book written by Jim Cymbala.

    He writes, “When I was only ten years old, my brother, Bob, gave me a paperback book on how to play basketball.  Written by Red Auerbach, the legendary coach, general manager, and owner of the Boston Celtics, it was an excellent treatment of the fundamentals:  footwork, defense, shooting, how to dribble the ball, how to pass, how to box out, how to fake.  Soon I was trying out what I had learned in a little church gymnasium.  Every Saturday morning Bob and I would get on the city bus, change to a second bus, and finally arrive at Quincy Street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, where for up to three hours we would shoot baskets until my little arms were drooping.

    Then it was back home to the bedroom we shared, where I would pull out the book once again to study the instructions, imagine the moves, and linger over the pictures of great Celtic players such as Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn.  In my boyhood eagerness I would practice in front of a mirror:  Fake left, go right, just as Red Auerbach said.

    The book was good….but as I grew older and started playing on my high school team, I found out what every athlete knows:  Although it’s important to learn the fundamentals, they will never by themselves make you a champion.  When you get into a game, you have to go with an inner sense of what will work instant by instant.  I have seen players who have all the basics down packed but are still stiff and mechanical.  They don’t seem to have that special sense that expresses itself in a smooth flow.  That is why they will never get near the rhythm of Magic Johnson, a Larry Bird, or a Michael Jordon.

     God intended His work–everything from teaching a Sunday School class to pioneering a brand-new missionary effort–to be marked by a similar flow of a spiritual kind.  The Bible calls it being “led by the Spirit” (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18).  Yes, there are important doctrinal principles to learn and Biblical facts to nail down, but at the same time, only God the Holy Spirit can weave them all together in a seamless, almost unconscious way so we can touch people with God’s message of love.  What we need is that unique merger of divine truth, human personality, and Holy Spirit gifting that produces effective ministry for Christ.”

 Quote of the day:  Corrie ten Bloom

“I have a glove here in my hand.  The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, it can do many things.  True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts.  We are gloves.  It is the Holy Spirit in us who is the hand, who does the job.  We have to make room for the hand so that every finger is filled.”

Bible verse of the day:  Ephesians 5:25

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You lead us by the Spirit.  God, I pray for that “unique merger of divine truth, human personality, and the Holy Spirit gifting” so that in me You will produce a ministry that is effective for You.  We all have special giftings and when used with the Holy Spirit leading the way, we will be able to express love to others in a smoother flow.  Thank You for Your Son and for the countless times that You continue to forgive me, love me, and are there for me even when others aren’t.  Thank You for just wanting to be my friend.  I am so very humbled by Your Mercy, Grace, and Love that makes up probably just a smidge of all that You are.  There are not enough words to describe You, and sometimes I just stand in Awe of all that You are.  I thank You for my family, my friends, and people I have yet to meet.  I pray a hedge of protection around them.  I pray a special prayer of thankfulness for each of them and ask that You bless them in this day and continue to watch over them.  I pray that they are given courage to speak Your name to others and that deep within them is planted a longing to know You even better than they already do.  I Thank You for this day.

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Good Afternoon all, sorry this is coming to everyone late, but I have been with a friend at the hospital who has been in labor since Monday.  She finally delivered and has a beautiful baby girl.  Thanks to those that have been praying for her

Christy

Story of the day: Marbles or Grapes

    I love to fellowship with other Christians.  I love to spend time with people and get to know them.  I think each to his own has a unique story and I am always intrigued by them.  So many times, we wander around running into each other and not actually taking the time to blend with one another. I was reading an interesting piece today and I loved how this author grouped people into two sets of categories.

    Anne Orlund says this:  “that Christians can be grouped into two categories-marbles and grapes.  Marbles are single units that don’t affect each other except in collision.  Grapes, on the otherhand, mingle juices: each one is a part of fragrance of the church body.

    The early Christians didn’t bounce around like loose marbles, ricocheting in all directions.  Picture them as a cluster of grapes, squeezed together by persecution, bleeding and mingling into one another.

    Fellowship and worship, then, is genuine Christianity freely shared among God’s family members.  It’s sad to think of how many Christians today are missing that kind of closeness.  Sermons and songs, while uplifting and necessary, provide only part of a vital church encounter.  We need involvement with others too.  If we roll in and out of church each week without acquiring a few grape juice stains, we really haven’t tasted the sweet wine of fellowship.”

Quote of the day:  Jack R. Van Ens

“People join churches more because they want warmth than light…Sermons may get them into church the first time, but what keeps them coming are the friendships that foster inward awareness and support.”

Bible verse of the day:  Matthew 18:20

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank You for my friend and the baby that she has just had.  Lord it has been a long delivery, scary at times, but You have seen her through it and a miracle has now been brought into this world.  God, I get so excited to see the birth of a new baby and the joy that radiates from the parents.  I pray now for rest for her and her husband, and that together as a family of God are able to raise their child in Your likeness.  I am so grateful for fellowship.  I love spending time with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  We always seem to have a great time and the talks that we have about You are so amazing.  I pray that our fellowship continues on even as we move to another place.  I thank You for this day.

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen