Tag Archives: life

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Tempted!

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Are you ever tempted?  That is really a crazy question, because the answer is obvious!  We are all tempted in many ways, on just about everyday of our lives!  

It starts in the morning when you need to get up and get going – you are tempted to just stay in the warm and cozy bed.  You get up and you are tempted to take shortcuts in getting ready, but your looks and smells are to important to mess that one up.  You are tempted to skip breakfast or to just grab a Snickers, instead of taking the time to eat something that is good for you.  When you get in your car, you are tempted to not wear you seat belt and you are tempted to speed to work, because you are running late!  (In fact – some of us have already given into a few at this point!)

When you get to work you are tempted to clean some body’s clock, because they looked at you funny or said the wrong thing!  You are tempted to get on Facebook and day dream a little, but there is just way to much to do.  You are tempted to really blow it at lunch, but you know – you won’t be fit for the afternoon if you really eat all of that food at the Chinese Buffet!  You are tempted to leave early – who would know and would that really be stealing?

When you get home you are tempted to crash on the couch with a glass of milk and eat all of the Oreo cookies!  You are tempted to watch a lot of different shows, but instead you give into the temptation to just flip from channel to channel to channel for over an hour.  You think:  Why did I just waste so much time watching a bunch of nothing?

Finally, tired of it all – you fall into bed and remember that you forgot to brush your teeth – you are tempted to say skip it, until you lean over to kiss your spouse and they say:  “No way Oreo breath!”  You fall a sleep and dream about temptation and actually wake up feeling guilty because you gave into the temptation in your dreams!

I hope you will join me this coming Sunday morning at Northwood as we learn from Jesus about how to face and overcome some of the more serious and threatening  temptations of life!  Hope to see ya Sunday at one of our two campuses!

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Shine Bright!

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There is a lot of talk about churches becoming relevant to our culture!  I am all for our doing whatever it takes to reach people for Jesus, but we need to make sure that we are reaching people for Jesus and not just attracting a crowd.  Jesus said in John 8:12  “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  Light is not a tool that we earn, it is a gift that we posses!  Jesus is the light and when we accept Him, we become the light.

In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus put it this way:  “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”  As we share Jesus by shining our light in the midst of the darkness, people will be attracted to God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness!

We do not have to dumb down holiness to make it attractive to a lost and dying world.  In fact, when we dumb it down, it ceases to be real holiness.  We need to raise up the bar of discipleship and let the world know that if you are going to be a Christian, it means more than attending church and going through the motions.  To be a Christian means denying self, taking up our cross and following Him.  And this is the best and brightest way to shine our lights into this dark world – by denying self, taking up our cross and following Him!  (Matthew 16:24)  I’ve got some work to do!  SHINE BRIGHT!

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Life!

Have you been outside this morning?  It is an absolutely amazing and beautiful day here in the upstate!  The sun is shining an comforting warmness!  The breeze is blowing a gentle coolness!  The birds are singing and if you open you eyes and look around, you will notice that everything is beginning to come back to life!  I love this time of year, because you see Resurrection all around you!

Go outside today and enjoy some of the Resurrection reminders that God has placed all around you!  And don’t forget to set you clock forward tonight.  We are going to have a great day at church tomorrow and I can almost guarantee that there will be no snow this Sunday!  So the only thing to keep you from being here is the devil and I know that you want let Him win!