reViVe Services are a Blast!

Who Wants to be a Bible Superstar?

Well, reViVe service began a mere three weeks ago now after tonight and God is continually building our church's interest. The first two weeks there were 32 each night...tonight there were 38!! Tonight we played Bible Trivia and had lots of fun...you see your host below...."Pastor Chazzle" :)

God will continue to move and bless the excitement His followers show Him in fellowship and discipleship....won't you come join the fun?? :)

What are others painting about you?

Ever felt as if your life is already pre-destined? That somewhere in the clouds there is someone painting your life's picture? Well, if you are a Christian you already know the answer to that, but if you are not....you might be pondering more as you read this. Depending on your family upbringing, your life's "picture" can come out looking beautiful, bright, and full of life within its borders. Others, hold a shade of more darker, gloomier and lifeless colors; reflecting the foundation of sin played out by those you love.

Family is tough. The slighest "malfunction in the junction" can cause relational streaks in your portrait. Streaks that even the best painters cannot fix back to its original purpose. I experience that same style of streaks even today as a pastor for my family holds a section of my portrait with darker colors. Most believers in Christ have a desire to be loved and accepted, thus a reasoning for their conversion and life changing moments.

"But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life."

Ephesians 4:20-27 (The Message)

If you allow someone else, other than your Heavenly Father influence or control your life your painting of life will not look like the masterpiece that was intended for you. Take the brush, submit it to the Lord and let Him paint your way to Heaven's glorious gallery where all your previous streaks are covered by the Master's seal.

An Act of Servanthood....

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet (John 13:1-17 NIV)

1 It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

8 "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13 "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Thoughts: Many churches today seem to have lost their way. Going to church has become more of a task than an honor. More of an assignment to check the "good deed" off your list for the week than to be a guest in the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings house to spend time with Him.

Jesus made it plain and simple for many of us what it took to reach the world and nothing was more of a "smack in the face" than when He humbled himself to wash the feet of his disciples. No one saw it coming and no one would have desired to see someone of the stature of Jesus wash the most disgusting part of their body.

Peter represents many churches today when he told the Lord to not wash his feet or in more understandable terms; "Lord, we don't want you to do it all....we can handle this"; or "The Lord is too big and important of a Savior to be apart of this mediocre group of people....we are more comfortable without His influence here."

But Jesus boldly told Peter that unless He wash his feet, HE HAVE NO PART OF Him. We are not called to strip off all the shoes and sandals of the people we come in contact with everyday and "invade their personal spaces" to make a point made abundantly over 2000 years ago. We are just called to take that act of servant hood and apply it to the church today.

Over 80% of people coming to church today come to church just to sit in the pew, either because they do not have the time to be further involved, or they do not want to be CONVICTED or bothered. There is no shame in servant hood. There is no political correctness blue-printing an act of love.

There is ONLY Jesus. There is only us Christians who can make that point known to the dying world today. We have only one chance to make an impression....to save a life.

What will you choose? Act upon faith and a knowing belief or sit in fear of the change that might occur within your soul when you follow through with your calling instead of warming the benches!

Happy 5 Years! :)

5 years....and you can already see the affects! :D This picture is a signature of our relationship....we knew we'd grow old together...so we took the beginning venture photo....now, the here and now. Still growing old together and alittle more "comfortable" LOL

God has been good....blessing us with a beautiful daughter and a wonderful calling here at WCC. As we look forward to the next 5 and beyond, I am reminded of how I remember God described marriage: "“Have you not read athat He who created them from the beginning made them male and female,
5 and said, ‘aFor this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and bthe two shall become one flesh’?
6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

May we all continue to keep the covenant of marriage in its place.....Thank you Lord for my soul-mate.... :)

*New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 19:4-6.

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS....and again I say REJOICE!

You wake up in the morning....eyes fluttering to try and focus and then your feet hit the floor. Do you thank the Lord for allowing that moment, or do you dwell upon the day ahead? Many people mourned the deaths of celebrities in the past month, but none more than Michael Jackson. Selling over 750 million albums and winning 13 grammys, Jackson seemed to have it all. Unfortunately his life ended with a dead end; the Neverland Ranch bankrupt and Michael living in a rental.

Worldly joy is seen as things within this world that people take joy in that doesn't last. Taking joy in a human being like Michael, idolized and near worshipped by millions, ended in a dead end just like Michael's life. Now millions are searching for that new "joy" to put their hearts into. I say this because too many people fight hard to obtain joy that never lasts but a short time, where Heavenly joy lasts forever.

Paul stated to Timothy in Philippians chapter 4 to continue encouraging others to retain their joy in the Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!" He continues to tell him to not be anxious over anything, but in EVERYTHING, with prayer and supplication, give your needs to the Lord, who surpasses all comprehension, will bring the peace of God to you.

Focus on the positives no matter how big or small and dwell of them (verses 8-10)!

I challenge all who read this, to find the Heavenly joy in your everyday moments and dwell on them; leaving your worries to God for that will show a faithful heart.

God Bless.....and REJOICE! :)

Hoosier Rooted AGAIN! :)

Hello everyone! It has been a long time and much has changed since my last posting! Many of you will be surprised to hear from me again on this blog, and others will be my wonderful new parishoners checking me out! :)

Since I lasted blogged, I have graduated with a Masters of Arts in Ministry degree FINALLY from Lincoln Christian Seminary. Shortly after achieving that goal, Amber and I placed over 24 resumes out over Illinois and Indiana in search of the Lord's guidance for where we were to serve. As luck would have it, the Lord undoubtbly called us back near my hometown in Indiana to serve Worthington Christian Church.

We have been serving there since Father's Day weekend and have enjoyed meeting all of God's servants to the Worthington Community. This blog will now provide updates and insights and even devotionals for parishoners and friends alike to read up on.

I pray you are blessed by reading this blog and will plan on making a visit sometime to our church located at: 105 E. Main St. Worthington, IN. 47471 The phone number is: 812-875-3125

God Bless and we'll chat at you another time!!