Thought of the Week for April 27th thru May 3rd...

What would you trade for your soul? This simple question has amazing implications on your life, so, I really want you to contemplate what you are trading for your soul each and every day. What is your greatest desire? Is it money, fame, fortune, respect, power, influence, possessions, etc.? Would getting any of those things be worth your soul?
The devil is cunning and he will place things in your path that look good to you at the time. There doesn't seem to be any negative consequences to your actions and so you do it or take it, never thinking of any wrong doing on your part. In many ways, our willingness to dabble in the things that the devil places before us, is like the way the Native Americans openly traded and accepted the things of the "White Man". The Native Americans accepted blankets containing small pox, alcohol, guns, and many other things, never thinking that these things would lead to times of trouble for their people. They thought they were doing what was best for everyone, but ended up causing more pain that pleasure, more crying than comfort, and more disappointment than deliverance.
Now I'll ask you again, what would you trade for your soul? Many of you are quick to say nothing is worth my soul, but your lives would say otherwise. When you choose to stay home and relax rather than go to church, you trade relaxation for your soul. When you use foul language to fit in a conversation rather than sharing the gospel, you trade foul language and acceptance for your soul. When you frequent certain establishments or watch certain programs or movies, you trade those moments and those surroundings for your soul. You see, whatever you put before God in your life is what you are trading for your soul, and for each person it is different.
So the better question might be, is it worth it? Do you feel like you're getting a "good deal"? Is an eternity of damnation worth a few minutes of "guilty pleasure"? If not, then make some changes today! Many people say that they love God. Many people claim to be a Christian. Unfortunately, many of those same people believe that you can love God and do whatever you want! Is that you? If so, you don't have to stay that way. Will you make the choice to change today?...

Yfactor Breakout...

This Thursday at 7:00 pm we will be having our Yfactor Breakout session so make sure that you are there so that you don't miss out on all that will be taking place. We will be assigning roles for our upcoming production called "Masks", we will talk a little about prayer, we will have another contest in our Soul Survivor contest, and much more, so don't miss it...see ya there.

Sorry...

I want to apologize for not having a thought of the week available for you last week. I will do my best to not let that happen again. Thank you...

Yfactor Night...

Just wanted to remind everyone that Thursday night is our Yfactor Breakout Night! There will be tons of stuff to do and so I would encourage anyone and everyone to be there, and remember to bring your friends...There will be youthful music, a short video and message, games, contests, a coffee and cold drink bar, and a lot more so don't miss out! The fun starts at approximately 7:00 pm so I'll see ya there...

Quicksand...

There was once a religious man, who was walking down a road that he traveled regularly. As he was making his way down the road a bag lady came to him and warned him not go any further because, about a mile down the road, there was quicksand. The man dismissed the woman's concern and continued on, where he came upon a homeless man who told him to stop due to the quicksand that was approximately a half mile ahead. The man dismissed his concerns, and continued on his way. Approximately a quarter mile down the road, the man met a friend from his past who expressed the same concern and instructed him not to continue for fear that he would fall victim to the quicksand ahead. The man paused, considered his friends shady past, and then continued down the road. Finally, the man had come to within 1000 feet of the quicksand and he was again stopped, but this time there was no visable figure to be seen, only a voice in the man's head, telling him to stop and to go no further. The man attributed this to the fact that he had been told the same thing by so many people that he was imagining hearing their voices still and continued until he slowly started to sink into a large pit of quicksand. Now as the man was sinking he cried out, "Why God? Why didn't you warn me of this danger?" As he began to go under he heard the same low, still, small voice that he had heard only moments before his fall. This is what the voice said to him..."You failed to listen to me because you thought you knew better! I placed a woman on your path and you dismissed her due to her appearance. I placed a man along the way and you did not heed his warnings due to your pride and arrogance. I put a past acquaintance in your life, but you remembered his past and could not see your future. Finally, I personally spoke to you, and you didn't even recognize my voice, since you spend so little time with me. I do not wish you to go through this, you choose this for yourself. I'm simply giving you what you wanted..."

How many of us talk to God when things are good as often as we talk to Him in times of trouble. When things go wrong He is the first to know about it, but when life is great then we are the one's who made it all happen. We often give Him the blame but not to praise, the complaints but not the accolades, the worry but not the worship. Today, stop to give Him the glory and honor He is due for all He does for you...

Thought of the week April 6th thru 12th...

With all of the March Madness now taking place across the country, I think it would only be fitting to reflect on what it really means to be a fan and how our Christian walk should be littered with evidence to the fact that we are a fan of Jesus Christ, our personal Lord and Savior...Many people throughout the country fill out brackets, watch games, and cheer on their team through their NCAA tournament run. People allow the outcomes of these contest to effect their mood, change or alter their sleep or eating, or even plan their life around the broadcast of the games. Now that's crazy, or should I say fanatical!
Now think about this...how amazing and powerful would our church services become if people started letting church and being in the presence of almighty God effect their mood. Wouldn't it be great to see people's attitudes change the second that they walked into the house of God? Think of the tidal wave of joy and peace that would sweep through the congregation if everyone would allow themselves to be overwhelmed with the happiness that should fill their hearts with a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus. Phenomenal!
Think of the power and the demonstrations that we would begin to see in our services if we allowed our relationship with God to alter our eating arrangements in such a way that people began to fast and pray daily because of their love for God. Wouldn't it be something to see God work in people's lives and change their hearts and minds every time the doors of the church were opened? To see the power of God fall during our prayer meetings or during a midweek bible study in response to the dedication and earnest seeking of God's will. Fantastic!
Finally, what if people started to plan their lives around the activities and the ministries of the church and not around the things outside of the church. What if, instead of missing church due to a football or baseball game, we missed the football or baseball game due to church? What if instead of staying home to watch American Idol on Tuesday night we missed it to go to Prayer Meeting? What if we went to bed early on Saturday night rather than going out and partying so that we could get up early and go to church the next morning? Fanatical!
So the question is this...Are you a fan of God or a fan of something else? Do things come up that keep you out of church, or do the things of the church and the desire to do God's will keep you out of the things of the world? Who or what are you a fan of?!?