Simultanaity

Remove

My crazy dog scamper was jumping around and running stupid a couple weeks ago. We discovered he hat a Tick on his head.  It was driving him crazy.  Tick attach themselves on us, burrow their heads into our flesh to suck our blood.  They also can carry disease, cause infection, and other health risks.  They do not belong attached to us.  They must be removed from our body or they could affect our life.

In February I signed us up for that Buckeye bundle.  We had cable for the first time in our lives.  I could watch FOX, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, BBC, and all the C's you can think of.  There is 24 hour cartoons, and even church channels (Most of them make me sick though).  We decided this was not good for us or our family. It was a distraction and a disturbance in our home.  It robbed us of reading, music, talking, and other things.  Wendy and I decided to have it "removed".

Sometimes the removal of things can be painful, but necessary for for health and well-being.  Think of all the things we get "removed."  I can think of a few, slivers, cancers, cysts, infection, bacteria, and other things too graphic to list. These things are from our physical body, but are there things in our lives that affect our spirit, character, integrity, and witness that are a lethal as ticks and cancers that need to be removed from our lives.  Job 22:23 says this, “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tent"   I believe God wants us all restored.  We need to get rid of things that are not "right" or in line with God.  Our tent, can be understood as our home, our lives, our hearts.  For our tent is our dwelling. I am contemplating this morning what other things I may need to "remove".

Happy Mother's Day! (Happy Girly Day)

We honor our ladies today on this traditional mother's day.  Wendy is speaking this morning at BCC and she has a really moving message.  I am so proud of her.  It is outside her comfort zone big time, but she has put her whole heart into this message.  Wendy is not only a great speaker and teacher of the Word of God. She is a great mom to our three kids.  I am thankful for the way she mothers our kids.

After service we will go see our moms.  We will head to Morenci, then to Hudson.   I was thinking last night of my mom and the struggles she has faced in life and now physically and how spiritually she gets stronger. I praise the Lord for that.  She is a strong lady.  I appreciate her unconditional love for me, her encouragement through my life to do whatever God has for me.  I also am blessed to to how proud she is of me.  That is a blessing.  I know when I surrendered my life to ministry to God I promised Him I would go wherever He would want me.  I never thought he would send me on assignment within an hour from my home town.  But it is a blessing to be closer to our parents and family.  Wendy's mom has also been a blessing to my life. Carol has filled us with encouragement, love, and prayers for us continually. 

I taught at Michigan School of Ministry this week.  The class was "Intro to Pentecostal Theology".  It was fun to see my brother Steve, Darlene, and Ethan there.  I enjoyed teaching there, as it was my first.  There were about 75 students.  I will teach on Evangelism next month.  I am playing the bass this morning, feels weird not to do my normal "morning" that I do when I am speaking.

What's your passion? Let the readers hear from you

I love this definition of passion, "intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction " What's your passion.  What things do you care deeply about.  What raises your interests and concerns?  I am passionate about keeping my family balanced and healthy.  I am learning to do better at this, as I over extend myself many times.  I am passionate about Wendy, my amazing wife of 21 years. I am passionate about being a great dad, passionate about the Kingdom of God, the health of BCC, the strengthening of the fellowship of which I am a part, the Assemblies of God, Michigan District.  I am passionate about friends, and loyalty, integrity, and holiness.  I am passionate about seeing God use people, seeing young people enter in full-time ministry, seeing Jesus in our BCC body.  I am passionate about worship.  I also have hobbies.  I have a passion for racquetball, staying in shape and wood carving (a new hobby/passion).  God has given us passion and convictions for His Kingdom.  What is one of your passions?  Chime in on the comments.

Things people have Communicated to me are in the gift of prophecy

AS I taught this morning on Romans 12, God wants us to use the gift of prophecy, but not in a weird kookey way, or just in a corporate gathering, but with each other in relationship.  Here are some things that have been expressed to me I feel are just what I was talking about.  I know they will encourage you.

"God wants discouragement to leave your heart so there is more room for Him."

"This Sunday after Wendy spoke the Holy Spirit said to me.  We, as Christians must also stand shoulder to shoulder with Jesus.  Not letting anything come between us and our LORD.  No discouragement, no hurt, no illness, nothing.  I hope this helps someone else!"

"God is shaking BCC and calling us to pray, to usher in the Harvest."

"It is easy to love those we pity, God wants us to love those above us, not just those who we seem to think is below oursevles."

Jason Upton, "When You Were a Child"

I really like Jason Upton's heart and attitude toward worship.  This is a great song. Check it out and be blessed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dux__qR63FQ