Memorial Day- A Time to Remember!

This Memorial Day please remember those that gave of themselves so that you could have a day off and party with friends.

After all, that is what this day is all about - remember!

Best Friends Forever

One hears a lot these days about ‘Best Friends Forever’ or BFF. It is an endearing term and speaks of one’s relationship with someone else. That is great!

However, it is usually used by women expressing themselves and their special relationships. (I can’t imagine a man using this phrase towards another man. Ouch!) And what I have noticed is that it is generally never applied to their husbands!

Friends are great to have and build good wholesome relationships with, but the problem with friends of this order is that it is at best temporary. What I mean is that conflict can arise, a move occur, another replaces that friend, etc. and that BFF is no longer.

But, with one’s spouse your relationship is forever. Regardless of conflict, stress and other issues, they remain the one true friend that you have. I am a firm believer that the one BFF relationship you should work on and count dearest is the one with your spouse.

Your spouse should be your best BFF; your constant and preferred companion!

Mine is! Debi, you are my Best Friend Forever!

My Birthday Today- Thoughts on Growing Older!

Any hope for mind over body?

Remember Your First MP3 Player?

Churches Going Under!

With the statistic of 7 churches closing daily in the US, I made the comment to the congregation this past Sunday, "Debi and I have spent the past 20 years here at the Vine trying to keep the doors open!" lol, of course I was kidding.

What can close the doors of churches?

1. No new converts! Most of the church growth in America is transfer growth! We Pastors pat ourselves on the back and shout church growth forgetting that our church grew at the expense of another church losing members. We need to get back to the basics and win souls!

2. Bad financial decisions. Debt! Our desire to build bigger and better is killing us. Read below:

‘It's happening to virtually every church,’ says Rev. Grainger Browning, senior pastor at Ebenezer AME Church. He is not talking about conversions to Christ or acts of kindness. He is talking about church foreclosures. A growing number of churches in the US are facing foreclosure, particularly as the economic depression continues and donations have decreased. Many churches, like individuals and families, took advantage of cheap loans, gambling on a good real estate market. Statistics indicate that the number of churches facing foreclosure has tripled since December 2007 and more than 100 churches have declared bankruptcy in the last twelve months.

3. Immorality of the Pastor! Need I say more?

Don't become a casualty and statistic!

What’s Happened to the Great Commission?

Mt 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Ac 1:6-8
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

These are the wonderful and matchless words of Jesus. Here in these words are the strategy and call of His church until He returns. These are His methods and desire for His church. Many have preached on them but too few have actually put them in to practice! Some are hold up in their 'Jerusalem' and just concentrating on building there to the exclusion of the 'Judea, Samaria, and ends of the earth.' We stress bigger, better, and larger at home and have a minimal effort globally, if at all.

Less than 15% of evangelical churches have some viable form of a global missions program. And yet with just that 15% we are making some Kingdom advancements! Just think how this could all be ended and Jesus returns if we were all on board.

We have it all backward:
1. Looking to build at home instead of putting money and personnel into the Global cause.

2. We respond to a Global disaster with money thinking that qualifies as a missions outreach. It placates our consciences that tell us we are not doing the right things.

3. We build bigger and better buildings that get foreclosed on in down economic times.

4. We are suspicious towards the appeals to help starving children thinking it’s a sham and only stuffing someone else’s pocket.

5. We may have great leaders and communicators in the church today but they have no vision for Global outreach and are content to let the 15% struggle along to accomplish the task.

6. Leaders investing in their own personal lives and locality rather than investing in the Kingdom advancement.

Herein is the problem. I always taught in Bible College that the key to a successful Missions program in the local church is the Pastor. If he wasn't on board fully, the efforts of the church would be minimal. Here is the formula- pastor + no Global vision = no missions!

Mt 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Forgive us Lord Jesus for not doing what you commissioned us to stay here and do. Honest, we really do want you to return for your Bride even though we tarry and are busy just adorning ourselves.

My Most Extraordinary Wife!

I have been reflecting on the most extraordinary wife of all time! My wife Debi!

Proverbs has something to say about an amazing wife and mother, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” " Prov 31.28-29; (read 10-31).

With this in mind I decided to tell the world what I think about Debi and what I have discovered over these 39 years of marriage:

Her demeanor- she remains constant in her outlook on life. She is not a fair weather type of person that fluctuates often and you never know what you are going to get from one day to the next or, one minute to next for that matter. Her disposition is rosy all the time! Her outlook on life is bright.

Her friendship- She is not a fair weather friend either; when she is being dissed, criticized, rebuked, ignored, others preferred over her, she remains friendly no matter how she is being treated.

Her faithfulness- She honors her word, she honors the Lord, she honors me, and she honors her friends. There is no disloyalty to any and she doesn’t treat others how they deserve to be treated even when they have hurt her and been disloyal. She remains true to her beliefs and doesn’t change just to be part of an ‘in crowd!’ She has not broken her ‘vows’ before God, me and others.

Her character- she doesn’t smoke, drink alcohol, take drugs, chew, curse or run in a pack of girls that do. She doesn’t use coarse language, jesting or crude joke telling. She is never rude, condescending, belittling, or makes jokes about other people. She’s not promiscuous and doesn’t chase after other men’s buns or even talk about them! She is Godly, pure, wholesome, and is the happiest person I know in this life without all the above.

Debi is truly a woman to be admired and followed as an example. She is a great life coach for our daughters (by marriage). Others who are truly wise and teachable will follow her example while only fools will use as an excuse “Well, I am not a Debi Kerr,” to continue their ruinous lifestyles and attitudes.

Debi, I admire you and I am so thankful that best of all, you have stayed with me all these years! You are simply an amazingly awesome woman! You really do surpass them all!

I love you, David

Perspective on Life and Death

If you don't see video go here to view it. The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Production on Vimeo.

I have friends that have been healed of cancer, please join with me in praying that Zac Smith will be added to that list of cancer survivors!

THE KNOTS PRAYER

Dear God,

Please untie the knots
that are in my mind,
my heart and my life.
Remove the have nots,
the can nots and the do nots
that I have in my mind.

Erase the will nots,
may nots, and
might nots that find
a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots,
would nots and should nots
that obstruct my life.

And most of all, dear God,
I ask that you remove from my mind
my heart and my life all of the am nots
that I have allowed to hold me back,
especially the thought
that I am not good enough.

Amen.

History Made! at the Vine Fellowship

Well, it is official! We had 18 people baptized this past Sunday (2/14/10)(we had planed for 21 but a few didn’t show up). Nevertheless, history was made with the baptisms here at the Vine. It was a great time in the baptismal. It was great to see all the children and youth plus some adults following the Lord in water baptism.

Thank you for the encouraging words concerning the sermon on the Philippian jailer. He had others locked up but he himself was a prisoner to the illusion of reality. His world came shaking down with the earthquake that brought the prison walls down. That day he and his family came to know the Lord and were baptized. This sermon was a great lead in to the baptisms we were doing. Plus, we had someone come to the Lord that day! God is good!

Nascar driver Jeff Gordon was baptized in October 1994. He had won his 1st two Winston Cup races, which were great thrills; but following his baptism, he said “This is the happiest day of my life.”

Why is baptism so significant for the Christian? Baptism is a lot like a wedding ring. Baptism is symbolic of the washing away of our sins. It is also symbolic of a new way of life. It has been said that Baptism is to the Christian faith what the wedding ring is to a marriage. It is a symbol. "Like the wedding ring, baptism draws a mark on the ground between the past and the future. Like the wedding ring, it says, "From this day forward, I stand with God."

What Men Mean...A Translation Guide

Men don’t always say what they mean or even know what they mean – below is a translation for wives and women in general:

When a man says “IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN”
He means: "I have no idea how it works"

When a man says "TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU ARE WORKING TOO HARD’’
He means: "I can’t hear the game over the vacuum cleaner"

When a man says ’THAT’S INTERESTING DEAR.’
He means: "Are you still talking?"

When a man says: "IT’S A GUY THING"
He means: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with this, and you have no chance at all of making it logical"

When a man says "CAN I HELP WITH DINNER"
He means: "Why isn’t it ready yet?"

When a man says "UH HUH, SURE HONEY,” or “YES, DEAR"
He means: Absolutely nothing – It’s a conditioned response.

When a man says "YOU KNOW HOW BAD MY MEMORY IS."
He means: " I can remember the theme song to ‘Hogan’s Heroes’, the phone # of the first girl I ever kissed & the vehicle identification numbers of every car I ever owned – but yes, I forgot your birthday"

When a man says ’OH, DON’T FUSS, I JUST CUT MYSELF. IT’S NO BIG DEAL"
He means: "I have probably severed a limb, but I will bleed to death before I admit I’m hurt, so get over here and help me!"

When a man says ’I CAN’T FIND IT.’’
He means: "It didn’t fall into my outstretched hand, so I’m completely clueless"

When a man says “I HEARD YOU.”
He means: "I haven’t the foggiest clue what you just said and I am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you’ll not spend the next 3 days yelling at me."

When a man says "YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE"
He means: "I am used to the way you yell at me and realize it could be worse."

When a man says "YOU LOOK TERRIFIC!"
He means: "Oh please don’t try on one more outfit, we’re late and I’m starving."

When a man says "I’M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.’’
He means: "No one will ever see us alive again."

When a man says “I don’t think I can go today.”
He means: Shopping is NOT a sport, and no, I am never going to think of it that way.

When a man says, “I don’t remember saying that.”
It’s because he means: “Anything I may have said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all past comments become null and void after 7 days.”

When a man says, “that’s not what I meant.”
He means: “If something I said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, I meant the other one.

If your husband says, “honey, what color is this?”
He means: ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. I have no idea what “taupe” is.

Hope this helps!

Six Months Later!

We've all seen the JK Wedding Entrance Dance. Now let's see what happens 6 months later!

Can't see video, click here.
Awesome!!!!

Beware of Terrorist Groups in Church

Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches. They have been identified as: Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin.

Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy.

However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whomever and whatever comes along.

Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return.
NO CHURCH IS EXEMPT!

Inarticulate Generation!

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Thanks Brad- if you can't see video click here.Thanks to brad!

Drew Brees Faith

On to the Super Bowl 2010! Go Saints!

Signs of the Times!

Add this to earthquakes, wars... come quickly Lord Jesus!

Do You Enjoy Counselling?

One of the joys of pastoring is counselling. I could relate to this 'Closer To Home' cartoon below.

As a pastor, do you enjoy counselling?

Music of Possibilities

Patrick Henry Hughes and his dad- American heros!
If you can't see this video, click here.

Please Lord, help me not to complain about life!

Brit Hume's Advice to Tiger Woods- amazing!

I did not jump on the bandwagon of using this blog to excoriate Tiger Woods. I preferred to pray for him, his wife Elin, and family. My prayers for him can be summed up by what Brit Hume said last week on Fox.

If you can't see the video click here.

Brit Hume, amazing man, amazing boldness! Thank you Brit!

God's Wife?

New York City: It's a cold day in December. A little boy about 10-year-old was standing before a shoe store on Broadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"

"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the clerk to get a half dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.

By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes, and tying up the remaining pairs of socks, gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"

As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's wife?"