Friday Funnies - Mark Lowery

Get ready for some laughter from Mark Lowery:

Throwback Thursday - Petra This means war!

A favorite throwback Thursday is featuring my favorite Christian singing groups from the 1980's:  Here is a simple classic - and has a good message for today:  The Coloring Song  - Enjoy!






What a little more Petra?  One of my favorites:

This is my prayer... lifted to You

As we prepare for prayer this evening at NRN I thought I would share a clip from one of my favorite Christian groups of all time - PETRA.  A video from the Album "Beyond Belief," 1990. Video produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1994.

WHOSE HANDS?

   A basketball in my hands is worth about $19. 

A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million. 

It depends whose hands it's in. 

   A baseball in my hands is worth about $6. 

A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million. 

It depends whose hands it's in. 

   A tennis racket is useless in my hands. 

A tennis racket in Pete Sampras' hands is a Wimbledon Championship. 
It depends whose hands it's in. 

   Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches. 

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands. 
It depends whose hands it's in. 

   Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse. 

Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world. 
It depends whose hands it's in. 

As you see now it depends whose hands it's in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families, and your relationships in God's hands because -- 

It depends whose hands it's in.

3 things that stand in the way of us loving like God loves

Does being a Christian feel complicated to you sometimes? Do you ever feel like there is a list of rules, of things you should be doing, and somehow you can never do all of them at once? Rules, and the law, and trying to earn our way into heaven is something Christians have struggled with since long before Jesus came to earth. In fact, Jesus came to earth to abolish the law—making faith, not perfection, the key to heaven.

John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.”

That’s it. It’s not a place reserved for rule followers. It’s not something that can be earned. But sometimes we still find ourselves trying.

The Pharisees, avid rule followers that they were, also found this concept hard to grasp. They wanted to know which combination of laws would earn them God’s approval.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22: 36 – 40

Instead of giving them a long list, Jesus made it simple. Love God, and love each other. Love is the greatest commandment.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:35

It’s as simple as love. But just because it’s simple doesn't mean it’s easy.

Here are three things that stand in the way of us loving like God loves:

1. Our pace of life

We are all about efficiency in our world today. We judge our days based on how many things we were able to cram into the smallest amount of time. We’re maximizers, and       multi-taskers. We zip from one thing to the next, all while emailing, checking the weather, and sending out a tweet.

But while this approach may feel effective when it comes to whittling down our to-do list, it’s not a great strategy for loving like God loves.

We try to fit in a phone call on the way to work and a one-on-one during our lunch break. We want to pour as much love into as many people as possible. But that leads us to a place where we’re trying to be speedy and efficient with our love, but this is not how God loves.

Love and depth and connection take time — and trying to be speedy or efficient with our love and connection is one of the main things that prevents us from loving like God loves.

2. Exhaustion

Another thing that zaps our ability to love each other well is exhaustion. We wear ourselves so thin and push ourselves so hard that at the end of the day we have nothing else to give.

Have you ever found yourself on a Saturday with two options? Either you can work during the day and try to get ahead for the week — a viable option—or you can take the day to relax and rejuvenate, an option that seems less productive and vaguely selfish.

Although it seems to be smarter to work through the weekend or to push harder to get things done, it leaves us exhausted and at the point of burnout. We’re pouring out without ever filling back up.

In order to be in a place where we can love like God loves, we have to take care of ourselves, and give ourselves time to rest, relax, and fill up on God’s love.

3. Trying to love in your own strength

The last mistake we make when trying to love like God loves is this: We try to love in our own strength. If you are married, or are a daughter or a son, or a brother or a sister, or a friend or a mom or a dad, you know how hard it can be to love sometimes.

No matter how kind we try to be, we fall pathetically short of God’s ability to love.

We can’t even compare.

But we don’t need to feel discouraged, because our ability to love like God loves comes directly from Him. We can’t, and aren’t expected to, do it on our own.

Scott Wilson is the Senior Pastor of The Oaks Fellowship, ministering to about 3,000 people every week in Dallas, TX. He is a frequent conference speaker, and provides mentorship for dozens of pastors and church leaders through Scott Wilson Consulting. Scott is a loving husband and proud father. Scott and his wife, Jenni, have three boys: Dillon, Hunter, and Dakota.

Reflection from my message today at NRN - Breaking the rules Pt 2 - Breaking the Spirit of Baal

Today was an awesome day at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene.  As I stood to preach I was still encouraged in my soul by the prayer encounter last Wednesday. As I have stated before, I truly believe this is one of the most important teaching series I have ever preached. As our world and culture is changing - it is so vital for Christians that we set ourselves apart from the world in many areas.  Today's message encourages us to be aware of the subtle messages of our culture. 

We are learning that there are spiritual forces driving the “New Norm” that is permeating our society. The spirit of Baal, the pagan god of power worshipped in biblical days, is still influencing our culture today. The drive for power, wealth, and control has produced a burned-out people filled with pride, and sacrificing the best in their lives on the altar of busyness and unending desire to attain. 

 Series: BREAKING THE RULES

Part 2: Breaking the Spirit of Baal

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”  Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?                                                        1 Corinthians 1:18-20

 

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.1 Corinthians 1:25 

The Big Three

Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.                                                                                                               Deuteronomy 6:14-15

Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.                                                     Deuteronomy 11:16

 MAMMON – god of POSSESSIONS.

 BAAL – god of POWER .

  ASHERAH  – god of  PLEASURE .

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.                                                  Genesis 3:6

Good for food                                    - Asherah

Pleasing to the eye                           - Mammon

Desirable for gaining wisdom            - Baal

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”… Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down.”… Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”                                                        Matthew 4:3, 5-6, 8-9

Turn stones into bread                               - Asherah

Throw yourself down                                  - Baal

All this I will give you                                   - Mammon

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.                                                                      1 John 2:15-17

Cravings of sinful man                                - Asherah

Lust of his eyes                                          - Mammon

Boasting of what he has and does             - Baal

 Breaking the Spirit of Baal

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”                                                 Jeremiah 6:16 

Keep THE SABBATH DAY HOLY

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens  and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.             Exodus 20:8-11

1. By  CEASING .

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.            Hebrews 4:9-11

2. By WORSHIPING .

A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.               They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.                                                                                        Psalm 92:1–2, 10, 12, 14

3. By REPLENISHING .

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie 

down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.                                                                               Psalm 23:1-3

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”                                                                            Matthew 11:28

Preparing for Worship On October 19 2014

As we prepare for church tomorrow at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene, I am praying for many people to join us for this teaching series. Last week was awesome as we welcomed many first time guest to our church. I was amazed how many regular attenders missed the service.  I am praying God will speak to the hearts of many of our people to be with us. 

 I feel like this is one of the most important sermon series I have ever preached. 

Here is a preview of our worship and the message tomorrow:

We begin with a welcome and and invocation.  We stand and sing our praise to God!






Now we greet one another int he Name of the Lord. We take the time to hear about the opportunities to gather for fellowship and service the Lord
 in ministry into our community.   

Then we continue in our singing in worship to God.  

Consider the words of the next song we present to God:








Let us quiet our spirit before the Lord as we go to Him in prayer...

It is now time to worship the Lord by bringing our tithes and offerings to show that God has first place in our life. 

 All good things come from God.  We may strive to be good stewards of the environment and of our world - but few truly grasp the importance of being found faithful  by God as a good steward of our material wealth.  The church is the hope of the world - the plan by which God called on mission to reach the world with the message of forgiveness and salvation. Without the faithful and generous giving of God's people the church is reduced to simply trying to exist by paying it's operating expense - not investing in ministry to change lives.  Let us be found faithful in our giving!  Worship the Lord with the financial gift you have prepared and join the worship team in singing this song of adoration to our Great God! 

We are learning that there are spiritual forces driving the “New Norm” that is permeating our society. The spirit of Baal, the pagan god of power worshipped in biblical days, is still influencing our culture today. The drive for power, wealth, and control has produced a burned-out people filled with pride, and sacrificing the best in their lives on the altar of busyness and unending desire to attain.

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.”                                                                Hebrews 4:9-11