Wednesday, July 29, 2009

My Shower head theology (a must read)


I have always, always been a fan of a good shower head. (great opener huh)

I have traveled many miles and after a long day or a series of meetings, a good place to be refreshed is under a well proportioned shower that relaxes. Nothing says relax like a good, warm shower. I have been to many places and have had to opportunity to stand under some not so relaxing showers on the road. Some that hurt, some that misted and barely wet me, some that felt like a waterfall, some that just plain shot UP and around me more than on me. Some at host homes some but most at hotels.

I thought about this the other day in regards to ministry delivery and the power of the Holy Spirit in our ministry. The more creative your message, the better. The more thought out your theme is, the more it excites people. I have always believed that and still do. I think that just about anyone would agree with that. Boring preaching is just. . . .boring. But, at the end of the day my goal should be to be clean. The shower head doesn't clean, it's a channel to which the water runs. Don't consider the preaching or preacher to be the water. We cant meet that expectation - nor want to. The Word has been and always will be what changes lives. Never lose sight of that that. Let the word of God dwell in you "richly" and remember the amount of the word of God you put in your heart, will be the amount that defends it.

Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

Friday, July 24, 2009

Would-Be Bank Robber


He felt like a failure! Everything he attempted seemed to turn out wrong. He began to fantasize about being rich. He would do the one thing he could do to make the most money in the briefest period of time. He would take up the occupation of bank robbing.

The would-be bank robber began to plan his strategy. He sat up late at night working on detailed plans, drawing sketches and going over steps he would take in robbing the bank. But he could never seem to get around to robbing the bank. He would plan each night, but when morning came, his anxiety paralyzed him, again.
One night he determined that his mind was made up. Regardless of his feelings he would force himself to rob the bank the next morning. The next morning an anxiety attack paralyzed him again. Finally he came through it and forced himself to get into his car and go to the bank.

The reluctant bank robber sat in the car in the parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. trying to force himself out of the car. Finally, he got out of the car and went into the bank. At the teller’s window he handed the teller his pistol. He stuck his brown paper bag in her face and said, “Don’t stick with me. This is a mess-up.”
Application:
Sometimes the truth comes out. Let's get our life and story straight church!

Tony

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Redeemed?

“Christians have to look more redeemed, if the world is to believe in our Redeemer.”

— Gary French

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Theory worth following

“I have this theory that if one person shows compassion to another then that person will start a chain reaction of the same.”

— Rachel Joy Scott

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Been Busy

What can I say, it's been awhile since I have blogged but for good reason. I want to more than I do. Intent is a funny thing. I have been busy in Alabama followed by another camp in my resident state of PA and then a week with the family in which I was tied up with some really great family time. I am presently prepping to speak at a church in Altoona tomorrow AM and then followed by another camp/summer retreat this week. Theme: "FOCUS"

I am a blessed man who has a gorgeous wife and two beautiful sons. It was truly a blessing to be with them this week. Here is my nugget for you since it has been a while.

Christian faith is a grand cathedral, with divinely pictured windows. Standing without, you can see no glory, nor can imagine any, but standing within, every ray of light reveals a harmony of unspeakable splendors.
- Nathaniel Hawthorne