Men’s Prayer Breakfast
July 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Men, mark your calendars. The next prayer breakfast is Saturday, Aug. 16th at 9 a.m. As always, please bring a breakfast dish to share. For more information, see Tim Zane.
Men’s Game Night
July 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The next Men’s game night is happening on Saturday, Aug. 9th at 7 p.m. Enjoy a night of fellowship. Bring your favorite game and a snack and drink to share. For more information, see Tim Zane.
Blood Drive
July 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Come give the gift of life. Join us August 6th from 3-8 p.m. to give blood.
Good Advice
July 20, 2008 | 1 Comment
Back in 1991, author H. Jackson Brown published a book entitled Life’s Little Instruction Book: 511 Suggestions, Observations, and Reminders on How to Live a Happy and Rewarding Life. It was a small book, each page containing a single nugget of wisdom. They were written by Brown to his son upon graduating from school. So you can imagine that, when I graduated high school in 1992, Life’s Little Instruction Book was a hot little graduation gift. I received multiple copies.
Interestingly, the other day I looked everywhere and couldn’t find a single copy in my house. Fortunately I was able to find quite a few samples on the internet. Here are some of my favorites, taken from the website http://www.flatrock.org.nz.
- Accept a breath mint if someone offers you one.
- In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
- Accept the fact that regardless of how many times you’re right, you will sometimes be wrong.
- Don’t confuse comfort with happiness.
- Check for toilet paper before sitting down.
- Marry a woman you love to talk to. As you get older, her conversational skills will be as important as any other.
- Never say anything uncomplimentary about your wife or children in the presence of others.
- Every once in a while ask yourself the question, If money weren’t a consideration, what would I like to be doing?
- Never eat a sugared doughnut when wearing a dark suit.
- Love someone who doesn’t deserve it.
Today we’re beginning a new series of messages from Paul’s letter to the church in Colosse (In your bible it’s just called Colossians). And there’s a lot of great advice to be found in there on how to live out our Christian faith. I’m going to be sharing some of it with you.
But this morning we’re going to get an introduction. Paul’s advice doesn’t just materialize out of thin air. It grows out of a certain type of soil-the grace of God through Jesus Christ. It’s because of what God has done for us that Paul can turn around and dispense advice. I’ll explain more later.
In the meantime, let me encourage you to be reading Colossians on your own. It’s a short book, only four chapters. And it’s a good one for personal devotional time. And then send me an email with your thoughts and questions. I want to hear what stands out for you.
Testify
July 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Perhaps you’ve been following the story of the two former Navy SEAL’s who are currently serving a life sentence for committing murder back in 1995. Billy Joe Brown and Dustin Turner were both convicted of the murder of Jennifer Evans outside of a bar in Virginia Beach.
At the time of their arrest, the two defendants accused each other while proclaiming their own innocence. Turner did, however, admit to helping his former SEAL “swim buddy” dispose of Evans’ body and cover up the crime.
The story has been in the news again recently because Brown is now testifying that Turner is telling the truth. Back in may, Brown appeared in court and gave testimony saying that he alone was responsible for the murder and that Turner was only responsible for helping him cover up the crime after the fact.
The hearing was convened to determine Brown’s credibility. Of course the big question that everyone wanted to ask was, “Why change your story now?” Brown testified that it was because he had become a Christian. He told the court room that he was “here to glorify Jesus Christ by telling the truth.” Later he said that he “knew immediately in (his) heart (he) had to tell…”[*]
Just recently, the circuit court judge found Brown’s testimony to be credible. Turner is petitioning for release from jail based on the time he’s already served for his part in covering up the crime.
This is still a tragic story. Brown and Turner both committed a terrible crime. The Virginian-Pilot article included a picture of Janet Evans’ mother wiping away a tear at the hearing. Brown’s confession can only do so much good.
But it’s compelling to hear Brown talk about how his relationship with Christ has changed him. Part of me is cynical about this sudden conversion. But it’s hard to tell how Brown has anything to gain. At the end of the day he went back to the jail where he’ll spend the rest of his life.
In court, Brown was asked what he expects to happen next. Brown replied: “Whatever the good Lord wills. I’m not worried…because I have a clean heart before God.”
God’s grace can bring people to offer up pretty powerful testimonies. When God changes a life, it’s hard for that person not to talk about it. The question for us this morning is: “What would our testimony be? What do you have to say about how God has changed your life?” I hope you’ll think about it this morning.
[*] All of the quotes from this story come from Bill Sizemore’s article in the 5/29/08 issue of The Virginian Pilot.
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