Change Worth Keeping!

Tribute to America's Veterans

Just because the battle is afar,

Just because another rank you are...
regardless if you're active or reserve,
our respect and honor you deserve!

You've done what many of us could not do.
One day, alone, is not enough for you!
You have done what most of us would not--
thus, our admiration you have got!

Every branch of service...
every class or rank...
God Most High protecting,
God Most High we thank!
Your bravery outshining
emotions that are real;
our desire be that our
most heartfelt thanks you feel!
And that you be rewarded on
this day and every day
with words and deeds that,
deep appreciation, would convey!
Great is your reward, beyond
each worldly accolade
for your part assuring that
our liberty is made!

Tribute by Jim Busby

Surfer Rides 41ft. Wave

A daredevil surfer (Kerby Brown) is pictured tackling a giant 41 foot wave in a bid to win himself a prestigious award.

Moments after these pictures were taken, he suffered a devastating wipeout which nearly killed him. He said: 'Usually the wave never steps out or goes evil like that one, but it just went dry - the hardest wave I've ever had to surf.

'I went straight over the lip and did about 10 backflips and then pulled a muscle in my shoulder. It felt like I ripped my arm out of its socket, my leggie snapped and then I felt like I was the deepest I'd ever been.'

He's alive with torn shoulder muscles. Go figure!!!!

Great Fall Festival!

A lot has been going on at the church! On October 31st we had our annual Fall Festival. It was called Under the Big Top. A great circus theme. Here are 2 pics:

Sanctuary-

Bad lion needed a lion tamer with whip and gun! (Know who these are?)

Thank you Brooke for a great job!

For more pics go here.

Congratulations and an Apology!

Romans 13:1-2 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. NIV

Titus 3:1-2 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. NIV

This great nation overwhelmingly elected Barak Hussein Obama as our 44th President last night. My congratulations to him. I humble myself before God to pray for Obama accordingly as God instructs and requires of each of us as Christians. He is our President and even though I have expressed my concerns and alarm through this campaign season, it is now my responsibility to be a good citizen in the USA and in the Kingdom of God.

My apology to President George W. Bush. I feel I didn't pray for you enough. You have taken the brunt of my criticism and that of a nation. I know you had great intentions and aspirations. Your steady hand guided us us through one of the most tragic and difficult times in our nation's history- an attack on our great nation on our great shores!

Jeffery Scott Shapiro (an investigative reporter and lawyer who previously interned with John F. Kerry's legal team during the presidential election in 2004) wrote an article titled 'The Treatment of Bush Has Been a Disgrace.' He said:

The treatment President Bush has received from this country is nothing less than a disgrace. The attacks launched against him have been cruel and slanderous, proving to the world what little character and resolve we have. The president is not to blame for all these problems. He never lost faith in America or her people, and has tried his hardest to continue leading our nation during a very difficult time.

Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when our president needed loyalty -- a shameful display of arrogance and weakness that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House.

Please forgive me (and us as a nation) President Bush, I (we) let you down.

I know your approval ratings are down but in my heart, President Bush, I have great admiration and respect for you Sir! May God bless you richly.

It will not happen again from me regardless of who is President or what party has the power!

A 2008 Election Sermon-

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

Historically- pastors in this great country were involved in politics. They would give 'election sermons.' So in keeping that spirit and tradition alive, I did mine this past Sunday. This was a most critical sermon at this point in time! It was titled 'Somebody Do Something.' Those were the words of Mike Huckabees then 12 year old daughter after viewing the Holocaust museum in Israel. She wrote her name in the guest book and wrote, 'why didn't somebody do something?'

There are 60 million evangelicals in the U.S. Less than half- 29%- are registered to vote. What happened to the Moral Majority? Now, about half of that number (15%) actually voted in the last 2 elections. Think about it. 60 million votes can change an entire election! Hillary was proud of the 18 million she had....60 million! Christians should have no problems in this country...if we would just vote! How did our country get so far left? Why didn’t somebody do something? What's wrong with Christians that they are so detached from the most important civic responsibility?

Could it be that pastors feel intimidated or it is not their place to do so? We have a right and freedom to address our congregations on issues at hand. I taught on the importance of Christian values and voting according to that.

Christian values are important because they are:
1. Your anchor.
2. Your faithful friend.
3. Your compass.
4. Your basis for living righteously.

A very dramatic illustration is when I had all those born since 1972 stand. I asked all to look around. I said these standing survived the abortion holocaust since the passage of Roe vs Wade.. They are alive and with us now! 50 million plus are not!

An election is always about values! Until you know, and can clearly state the core values of your life, your decisions will be based on what's convenient, what's cheap and what's self-serving. We as Christians must refuse to live that way! Our values are clearly defined for us by the Word of God, not by some candidate, political party, or world system!

We then spent more than 30 minutes in the 'Harp & Bowl' style intercession session. Which is Music & Prayer intertwined. We had 10 people designated to pray for either our country, the elections, or our church. It was a dynamic and Spirit led prayer time!

I trust that you pastor friend encouraged your people to vote their values! Pastor, why didn't you do something? We get what we did or didn't vote for!

Facing Reality!?!

thanks to Rebecca--

Time to Buy a Bike!

Enough Already!

Okay, enough with my election rants and commentaries! It is time to get back to the most important things- Jesus, His kingdom, and the church.

I need to lighten up a little (you think?). Maybe this will help. Some church bloopers, for real:

Two of our male pastoral staff members were out calling on people who had visited our church the previous week. When the people answered the door, the first pastor, being a little nervous and accustomed to introducing his wife, said, "Hi, I'm Mike and this is my wife, Steve." The couple they were visiting DID come back to church. (submitted by Jeff)

My Granddad once shared some information about missions during a Sunday morning service. He had arranged that a short film be shown at the end of his talk. When he was ready, he announced, "And now we are going to show the strip-film." (Meaning "film-strip" of course). There were sounds of choking laughter throughout all the congregation. (submitted by Christy)

My own blooper- it was Missions conference at the Vine a number of years ago- it was back in the days when we were still using transparency projectors. I was going to put a list of the missionaries and their support needs on the overhead. I said, "I am going to throw up on the projector a list of the missionaries." It was not until I heard someone say 'I hope not' that I realized what I said. Imagine how that 'throw up' would have looked on the big screen!

Be cool and laugh at yourself- it will keep you humble and away from pride!

Here sucker, sucker......

Man, I just realized how miserably I have failed to communicate on this election... this guy knows how to put it all in perspective!



Happy voting!!!!!

I AM FED UP!!!!

I just got back from standing in line for one hour to vote for the upcoming Presidential election.

I am fed up with Pastors who as the ‘blind leading the blind’ are voting race rather than morality and Christian ethics! I am fed up with church people who blindly are following these so called ‘Men of God.’ I am fed up with people who call themselves Christians blindly voting color rather than righteousness!

Now I am not a ‘racist’ as my above statements will be labeled and misunderstood. Check my congregation on any given Sunday morning and those Afro-Americans that are members of the Vine and they can vouch that I am not! It shouldn't be about race but one's morality and ethics or the lack thereof. But yet from what I hear it is not! It is about history making and race!

How can ‘Christians’ follow and vote a platform of child killing! Please spare me the argument of fetus versus child - that child is obviously created, fashioned, and purposed by God.

Ps 139:13-16 …Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them." (KJV)

How can ‘Christians’ follow and vote a platform that attacks the sanctity of marriage! Jesus said about marriage that the basis of it was to God’s original design!

Mk 10:5-9 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." NIV

How can “Christians’ vote for a man they know nothing about and that keeps his past hidden. Aren’t you the least bit suspicious?

The church is divided over man’s kingdom. We have forgotten God’s Kingdom and His rule. He said He would write His principles on our hearts. Obviously some are discounting their Kingdom hearts and voting with their earthly ungodly bias!

Dr. Tony Evans, pastor at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas TX., said ‘white evangelicals tended to learn toward morality issues, while black evangelicals were often swayed by social justice issues. If we limit ourselves to that, we not only divide the church, but the nation. We need to rise above partisan politics. God doesn't ride elephants or donkeys.’

He’s right and so many are wrong! I am glad this is about over - and we can get our focus back on Jesus Christ - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

I believe that God’s judgment is about to fall on a church or nation that rejects His Kingdom rule. This election may be the cataylst that will separate the wheat from the chaff! Lk 3:16.

I cry out, “God have mercy on us!”

Unrepentant? Nope!

I did some things back in the 60's and 70's that I am truly repentant over - did I mention one big piece of stupid - like taking over a classroom bldg on campus?

But this guy - bombings??? He's not sorry!

Presidential??

Political Axioms Pt 2

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free!- P.J. O'Rourke

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.-Voltaire (1764)

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!-Pericles (430 B.C.)

No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.-Mark Twain (1866)

Talk is cheap...except when Congress does it.-Unknown

The government is like a baby's alimentary canal: a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.-Ronald Reagan

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.-Winston Churchill

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.-Mark Twain

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.-Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

There is no distinctly Native American criminal class...save Congress.-Mark Twain

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.-Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)

AND THE BEST ONE...

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.-Thomas Jefferson

Political Axioms Pt 1

'If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed; If you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.'-Mark Twain

Suppose you were an idiot.And suppose you were a member of Congress....But then I repeat myself.-Mark Twain

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.-Winston Churchill

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.- George Bernard Shaw

A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.-G. Gordon Liddy

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.-James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.-Douglas Casey

Giving money and power to the government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.-P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.-Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.-Ronald Reagan (1986)

I don't make jokes...I just watch the government and report the facts.-Will Rogers

Pt 2 to follow tomorrow...

Hiddin' Marijuana-

'Hello, is this the Sheriff's Office?'

'Yes. What can I do for you?'

'I'm calling to report 'bout my neighbor Virgil Smith....He's hidin' marijuana inside his firewood! Don't quite know how he gets it inside them logs, but he's hidin' it there.'

'Thank you very much for the call, sir.'

The next day, the Sheriff's Deputies descend on Virgil's house.They search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust openevery piece of wood, but find no marijuana. They sneer at Virgil and leave.

Shortly, the phone rings at Virgil's house.

'Hey, Virgil! This here's Floyd... .Did the Sheriff come?'

'Yeah!'

'Did they chop your firewood?'

'Yep!'

'Happy Birthday, buddy!'

SICK OF PREACHING?

"I had a pastor friend who went into the pulpit one Sunday morning wearing a pair of new bifocals.

The reading portion of the glasses improved his vision considerably, but the top portion of the glasses didn't work so well. In fact he was experiencing dizziness every time he looked through them.

He explained to the congregation that the new glasses were causing problems, then said, " I hope you will excuse my continually removing my glasses. You see when I look down I can see fine, but when I look at you, it makes me sick." ---George McCracken

Heading off to annual Men's Retreat today and tomorrow. Will post update of it when I return. Great group of men going. And, God will be there!

Barack Hussein Obama's Wrong Values

Let's see if this gets taken down---

A Word in Season-

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in network of silver. Pro. 25:11

"For I have put both of you in this place indeed, and it has not been easy. Many don't see failures and disappointments ... and voices who said, "I am with you indeed," only to turn their backs and walk away, you see.

I have hidden you in the depths of this place, indeed, that you would not get in the polluted stream, you see.

I have saved you for My glory and My honor indeed. So be encouraged this day and know and see that I will raise you up in this hour indeed and I will raise up a people who will come with thee.

For there are those who only wanted the ticking of their ears indeed-- and only wanted great projects for their family, you see. "What is your outreach that we may want to stay?" ... indeed, but you did not forfeit worship, or the presence of God, you see, and because of your faithfulness, I am faithful to thee.

For I tell thee that there is a lever that my hand is already on indeed, and I am about to pull the lever and release a river from my throne indeed, that is pure, and holy, and awesome full of power indeed.

You shall go back to the vision I have you indeed! You will lay hands on the sick and they will be healed indeed. You will break the stronghold of the enemy, you will open blind eyes, and declare who I am indeed.

For I tell you-- you would not settle for the GIFTS, indeed, but my PRESENCE became your priority...and because of it, I have anointed lives indeed.

Now, watch my gifts flow through thee: words of knowledge, and words that will set people free.

You will declare to the captives "come and let me touch you" indeed and I tell you REVIVAL will come to this place indeed.

For I have measured out a territory that belongs to thee. You will take a city and SET THEM FREE! Hallelujah! Glory to God! Glory!"

Word to David and Debi Kerr
delivered by Mary Ann Brown
September 21, 2008
at The Vine Fellowship
Arlington, Texas

From Shepherd to CEO? - Pt. 2

What does a shepherd do? I've heard of people asking how hard can pastoring be? All you have to do is preach once or twice a week. What do you do with the rest of your time? Golf? Tennis?

Here is a schedule of my week 10/5-10/12:

10/5
-Preached 1 year anniversary service for Impact Cowboy Church in Nacogdoches Tx.
-Drove home to Arlington.
-Stopped at hospital to visit man (Sam) in our church who had a heart attack while I was gone.

10/6
-Awakened with calls that friends of ours son and wife lost their 2 week old baby, Savannah.
-Drove to Dallas to comfort them at medical City hospital.
-Drove back to Arligton and visited Sam back by the hospital.
-Woman from church fell and broke her arm, in emergency room.

10/7
-In office doing administrative and financial work.
-Counseled a troubled marriage.
-Had staff meeting.
-Asked to do funeral of Savannah.
-Mike and Jane Bailey arrived for the week with us. He is Liberty Fellowship Church Plant director.
-Prepared for funeral.

10/8
-Drove an hour away to Frisco to do Savannah’s funeral.
-This was all day away.

10/9
-Met with Mike and Liberty Fellowship Pastor.
-Made LF calls and answered email.
-Drove to Glen Rose with the Baileys and attended Creation Science Museum.

10/10
-At hospital at 6:30am to pray with Sam and wife before his open heart surgery. They were spending the day at home- scheduled to be 5 hour surgery.
-Picked up Dr. Fred from airport, a counselor that was spending the weekend with a couple with marriage problems. To breakfast with him, checked him into hotel, then got him settled in my office for counsel
-To hospital to visit with Sam’s family and check on his progress. What was to be triple bypass for Sam ended up five.
-Out to dinner with Baileys and Dr. Fred.

10/11
-Tennis at 7am
-Went to Dallas Arboretum with Baileys.
-Home, nap, to hospital to see Sam. Talked with family.
-Out to dinner with Baileys and Dr. Fred.
-Prepared for Sunday’s message. To bed at 1am.

10/12
-Up at 5am to prepare for Sunday.
-Preached and attended church picnic.
-Home and CRASHED!

As you can see, not much going on that week. :>)