Have you ever heard of religion being "Parents' Religion?"
I hear many young persons say this in a negative way. They'll say, "I don't want my parents' religion." But I have news for you. It is your parents' religion. It is my parents' religion. It is my parents' parents' religion. Guess what? It is the religion and the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. I thank God that my parents brought my butt to church time after time, if they had not done that, it would not be my religion and my faith.
I have faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, my mom, and my dad.
We in this generation are part of the faith family of that generation, and I will carry this faith on to my sons and daughters. I will carry this faith onto the next generation.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Somehow Autumn
I'm doing something big with the next few months.
I was recently at Life Changing Ministries, which is a church located in Sugar Land Texas. It is a great church with great people and a great pastor. Crystal and I were visiting friends in the area, and that is where they go to church. That is how we got hooked up.
The Pastor at this church knows the Bible. His message was rich in scripture, and he truly made the word come alive. It was seeing this, and being guided by the Holy Spirit, I decided to read/hear the first 5 books of the Bible over and over and over. I am going to be cycling through the first 5 books of the Bible everyday for 3 months. I'm excited about what God is going to show me.
I was in a band when I was young called Somehow Autumn- you can still find the music online. We were young.
I was recently at Life Changing Ministries, which is a church located in Sugar Land Texas. It is a great church with great people and a great pastor. Crystal and I were visiting friends in the area, and that is where they go to church. That is how we got hooked up.
The Pastor at this church knows the Bible. His message was rich in scripture, and he truly made the word come alive. It was seeing this, and being guided by the Holy Spirit, I decided to read/hear the first 5 books of the Bible over and over and over. I am going to be cycling through the first 5 books of the Bible everyday for 3 months. I'm excited about what God is going to show me.
I was in a band when I was young called Somehow Autumn- you can still find the music online. We were young.
Monday, September 12, 2011
...when I grow up.
When I was young, I wanted to be the President of the United States. Later in life, I wanted to be a meteorologist, so I could be on TV. Later I wanted to be a youth pastor. Most recently, I have a dream to start a church that will reach the world.
Right now...
I work at an apartment complex.
I'm not saying that I am ungrateful. Just recently, my wife told me that my paycheck showed over 120 hrs of work for two weeks. I have learned alot about myself through this job, but this is not what I want to do.
When we were young, we dreamed of the best for ourselves, and as we grew older that changed. Maybe that's why God wants us to have "childlike faith." It is at that point that we are aware of our potential through Christ, and we press towards it, regardless of what our situation is.
We dream because when we dream like a child, it's not a question of maybe, it's a question of when.
"For I know the plans (dreams) that I have for you Declares the Lord..."
Take a step back and realize that all things, plans, dreams, are possible through Christ!!!
Right now...
I work at an apartment complex.
I'm not saying that I am ungrateful. Just recently, my wife told me that my paycheck showed over 120 hrs of work for two weeks. I have learned alot about myself through this job, but this is not what I want to do.
When we were young, we dreamed of the best for ourselves, and as we grew older that changed. Maybe that's why God wants us to have "childlike faith." It is at that point that we are aware of our potential through Christ, and we press towards it, regardless of what our situation is.
We dream because when we dream like a child, it's not a question of maybe, it's a question of when.
"For I know the plans (dreams) that I have for you Declares the Lord..."
Take a step back and realize that all things, plans, dreams, are possible through Christ!!!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Dead Church???
This is not a response to what anyone has said to me. So, I don's want you to be offended if you think I am talking about you.
I am not talking about you.
Recently, God told me something that I would like to share. "There is no such thing as a dead church. There are comatose churches, there are sleeping giants, there are stagnant churches, but there are no dead churches."
I believe that the church is a giant. God created a giant. You and me, we are giants. There may be sleeping giants, and there may be active giants, but just because you are asleep doesn't mean you are dead. How would you feel if you were sleeping in your bed and someone declared you dead?
Maybe we need to be the catalyst to propel are church to great things. Maybe we need to raise up sleeping giants. You may not be dead... You may just be sleeping.
I am not talking about you.
Recently, God told me something that I would like to share. "There is no such thing as a dead church. There are comatose churches, there are sleeping giants, there are stagnant churches, but there are no dead churches."
I believe that the church is a giant. God created a giant. You and me, we are giants. There may be sleeping giants, and there may be active giants, but just because you are asleep doesn't mean you are dead. How would you feel if you were sleeping in your bed and someone declared you dead?
Maybe we need to be the catalyst to propel are church to great things. Maybe we need to raise up sleeping giants. You may not be dead... You may just be sleeping.
Friday, June 17, 2011
diamond in the rough
I have a quote on my desktop background that says, "Learn to believe in people before they succeed." ~Joel Osteen.
It's easy to give someone a chance when they have proven themselves in the position in another location. For example, it's easy to hire a manager for a McDonalds when they have already been a manger at Burger King. The top tier of leader will learn to find the diamond in the rough. More than that, they will find the person that needs to be developed.
I think (this is the just my opinion) the best leaders will make the best leaders, and they will find the best leaders.
It's easy to give someone a chance when they have proven themselves in the position in another location. For example, it's easy to hire a manager for a McDonalds when they have already been a manger at Burger King. The top tier of leader will learn to find the diamond in the rough. More than that, they will find the person that needs to be developed.
I think (this is the just my opinion) the best leaders will make the best leaders, and they will find the best leaders.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
how to be a friend of Christ
John 15:9-17
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command.
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command.
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
This "no" hurt
I have been applying for youth/ associate pastor positions for a while. I have this burning passion in my hear to eventually start a church, but I know that will only come with preparation. I don't want to do this to a church, but I had been looking for positions in youth ministry or college ministry and being honest about my intentions, that I would eventually use momentum and an obvious calling to start this church.
After looking for quite some time, and the result of recent developments, I think I have come to the realization that I need to force a passion on myself. I pray all of the time that God would take this passion away from me, but it hasn't happened. So, I think I will have to force it upon myself. This has been one of the most difficult things that I have gone through. I have played music, and I was able to get into most music venues that I chose. I have played sports and was part of great teams. I went to college, and I had my chance at a great education.
Ministry has been the one thing that has shown the most road blocks. I don't know why God would put something in my heart that no one else wants me to do.
It's been hard.
~Nigel
After looking for quite some time, and the result of recent developments, I think I have come to the realization that I need to force a passion on myself. I pray all of the time that God would take this passion away from me, but it hasn't happened. So, I think I will have to force it upon myself. This has been one of the most difficult things that I have gone through. I have played music, and I was able to get into most music venues that I chose. I have played sports and was part of great teams. I went to college, and I had my chance at a great education.
Ministry has been the one thing that has shown the most road blocks. I don't know why God would put something in my heart that no one else wants me to do.
It's been hard.
~Nigel
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