Daily Caffeination 9/30/06

Uniquely Created

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.—Genesis 1:27

When we see the word “soul” in the Bible, what does it mean? It’s an interesting word that is used throughout Scripture. In fact, the words “spirit” and “soul” are often used interchangeably. They basically speak of the inner person, the real you. Your soul is what gives you your uniqueness.

This becomes especially evident when someone dies. I have performed a lot of funeral services, and it is rather eerie to see the deceased. But when we look at that person, that individual we have loved and known, we realize the real person isn’t there. His or her soul has gone on into eternity.

God has placed a human soul inside every person. As Genesis 2:7 tells us, “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and he became a living soul.”

We humans stand apart from all of God’s creation. We are not just higher up on the evolutionary scale as some would suggest. We are not all part of the animal kingdom. There is the animal kingdom. There is the plant kingdom. And then there is humanity. Humans are special. Humans are different. And dare I say it . . . we are better. Why? Because we have been made in the image of God himself. That is not true of anything else.

That is not to criticize Bambi or Flipper or Shamu or the flowers in your garden. They are all wonderful. I appreciate God’s creation as much as anyone. But they weren’t made in God’s image. As the highest of all created beings, we have been uniquely created in the image of God.

Daily Caffeination 9/29/06

(Personal note: Never give up on the dreams & visions God has given you. Keep pursuing them passionately. Other people may stand in your way, but it is God who has given you the dreams and visions for you to fulfill His purpose for yor life.)

Visions and Dreams

In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions; your old men will dream dreams. - Acts 2:17

"I need to meet with you," said the man from England during a break at a conference overseas. We walked outside to have a coffee break and sat down. "God wants you to know that He removed your finances in order to reserve His reward for you in Heaven. He has done you a great service."

I was shocked. I'd never met this gentleman before. How would he have known I had lost a half million dollars in the previous few years, virtually all of my financial net worth, to some unusual calamities? We shared for the next several minutes.

That week, during our lunch and dinner times, I had been enjoying wonderful, juicy oranges from this island in the Mediterranean Sea. It came time for the gentleman and I to conclude our coffee break. We bowed in prayer. As we prayed, the man began to describe a picture he was seeing in his mind.

"I see a picture of a large orange tree. The tree is full of large, ripened oranges. They are beginning to fall to the ground. You are the tree!"

Again, I looked at the man with shock and amazement, and now tears in my eyes.

"You are the third person in three years that has had a similar vision during a prayer time like this. The first two people were also strangers to me."

I went back into the meeting rejoicing that God could be so personal in my life. He used a servant who had gone through similar trials to supernaturally speak a word of encouragement in a way that I would know it was God who was speaking.

There are times when God supernaturally speaks into our lives. He does this to demonstrate His power, His love, and His intimacy with us. Do not be surprised if God sends one of His messengers to speak into your life when you need it most. Be open to how God might want to speak into your life today.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:3).

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Daily Caffeination 9/28/06

Be as Little Children

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! - 1 John 3:1a

"I have an important business meeting in the morning. Would you please set the alarm for 5:30 a.m.?" I said to my wife.

"Oh, that won't be necessary. Just tell the Lord what time you want to wake up. He does it for me all the time," my wife said.

I rolled my eyes in disbelief. "Well, I'd feel more comfortable if we set the alarm."

"Okay, ye of little faith. But just to prove my point I am going to ask the Lord to wake us up just before 5:30."

The next morning I awoke before the alarm went off. I looked at the clock. It read 5:15. I looked at my wife, who had just awakened at the same time with an I-told-you-so smile.

Sometimes we wrongfully view God as someone we go to for only the "big things." The idea of "bothering God" for such a trivial matter seems foolish and presumptuous. However, when you were a child and had to get up in the morning for school, didn't your mom or dad come wake you up? They were your parents, and you could come to them with the most trivial concerns or requests. Why would our heavenly Father be any less approachable? Perhaps our problem is that we simply have not developed a level of intimacy with God so that we feel the freedom to approach Him at these daily, routine levels. We often operate with an unwritten code that says our needs must have a certain degree of importance or crisis before we come to God with them. This is not God's character towards us.

Does the Lord desire this level of intimacy with you and me? The apostle Paul exhorted us to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17 KJV). There is never a caution to pray only about matters of greater importance.

Today, go to God with matters that you might view as trivial and would normally avoid bringing to God. Ask God to increase your level of intimacy with Him. You may even be able to get rid of your alarm clock.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Please Buy This Book

I am personally looking forward to reading this book myself.

Just wanted to let you know that my first published book, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, comes off the press on Monday, October 2.

Would you consider buying a copy for yourself and a friend? You can pre-order a copy on Amazon.com.

Thanks,

Mark Batterson

In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture.

Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it. II Samuel 23:20-21

Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn't chase. You will regret the risks not taken, the opportunities not seized, and the dreams not pursued. Stop running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path.

Unleash the lion chaser within!

You can also buy the book through Family Christian Stores.

Daily Caffeination 9/27/06

Blinded

Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them.—2 Corinthians 4:4

Sometimes when we see the way certain people live, we are tempted to say, “How can they live that way? How dare they choose that lifestyle! How dare they say that about God!” But that is when we need to throw on the brakes and remember that it wasn’t so long ago that we used to be those people, doing the same foolish things, saying the same wrong things, and thinking the same immoral thoughts.

Here’s what the Bible says about lost people: “Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them . . . ” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

They are blind. They don’t know any better, just like there was a time in our lives when we didn’t know any better. So recognizing this, we must seek to reach the lost with the gospel, because God can open their eyes through the proclamation of His Word. God can reach them.

The Bible tells us, “The Lord’s servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. They should gently teach those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will believe the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24).

The Bible also says, “You can be sure that the one who brings that person back will save that sinner from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins” (James 5:20).

God wants to use you to save souls from death. God wants to use you to win souls.

Two final questions for thought:
What if through a relationship with someone you know that they know the Truth and rejects it and does things contrary to living for God, and just all out sins in front of you? How do handle that?
To follow that up. What if that person just cuts you off from any communication for no reason whatsoever and continues to ignore the Truth, what do you do then?

Just a few questions...

Daily Caffeination 9/26/06 - Special Edition from Relevant Magazine's Website

From RELEVANT MAGAZINE's website...I want to share this with you as the Daily Caffeination for today.

Spreading the Good News
by Joseph Hurtgen

One of the main elements that go along with following Jesus and going to church is telling other people about, well, following Jesus and going to church. One might think this process is easy and self-explanatory, and for your Billy Grahams and Mike Bickles, perhaps it is, but for all the rest of us, here's a little guide to make spreading the good news a little less daunting.

A good first step is to get to know Jesus—seriously.

When I was a little kid in Sunday-school, my church took a very aggressive stance towards getting the good news out and came up with some interesting strategies. First of all, everyone was given a great deal of tracts, printed up with good news rhetoric, and we were instructed on how to utilize the material. We set goals for spreading the good news. We thought about how if we could get two other people spreading good news each week—and they could get two a week—the conversion rates would be exponential. We talked about how you could walk up to someone on the street or at school and make a comment about how their shoes looked nice and how great the weather was and then launch right into the good news. We practiced our spiel on one another, and then we were sent out alone, armed with handfuls of tracts. Fortunately we hadn't yet been instructed on shaking the dust from our feet in the event of un-acceptance.

Now, tracts are perhaps not the worst idea ever, but the problem I had with them was that I really didn't have a particularly sound understanding of why anyone would be interested in listening to me explain the information held within them. (Although I remember having an overly healthy interest in the tract that warned against joining the Freemasons organization, which was therein exposed as a hotbed for occult activity.) Either way, I don't think I ever used one tract to spread the good news or unmask the Freemasons. Without knowing Jesus, It just seemed like too much work.

A positive second step is to, as much as possible, avoid coming off as a wacko. I'm still working on this one myself, but I don't think you'll look like too much of a wacko if you really love Jesus, and if you really love the people you talk to.

Years after the tract experience, after I had met Jesus, I took it on myself to evangelize my city. I went to a grocery store and bought loaves and loaves of bread and went door to door, holding out "the bread of life." People asked me if I had done anything to the bread and most refused to accept it. One woman told me to leave the bread on the doorstep, because she didn't want to unlock her door with me standing around. But maybe not everybody thought I was totally crazy. The best thing that came out of handing out bread was that I spent time with a lady whose grandson had died only a few weeks before. She said he used to walk over to her house everyday and hang out after school, and now that he was gone she was very lonely.

Some days I printed up pieces of paper that said "Jesus Loves You" and left them under people's windshields after washing them. Every time I saw someone getting in or out of their car I’d ask them if I could wash their windshield and pray for them. I guess if I met someone doing that as I went to get groceries I'd be a little wary, but one woman said she really needed prayer and wept as I asked Jesus to meet her there.

A third event I organized involved me driving around the poor parts of the city giving people clothes out of the back of my car for Jesus. People actually didn't ask many questions about this one. But by this time I had gained some practical wisdom on not looking like a wacko, and I told the people this was a clothes-drive my church was doing—never mind it was just me and that my church had no clue what I was doing.

Now, I really do think there's a need for feeding and clothing the poor and going out to wash the dirtiest windshields out there, but I have to admit that I was never really faithful in doing those projects. I think that maybe if I had held out "the bread of life" week in and week out, eventually people would have received the honest to goodness good news, but I didn't. I only did the clothes thing and the bread thing once each, and it was basically to feel good about myself.

A third step involves commitment to people and really loving them. Taking the famous "WWJD" approach to the Christian life—it's pouring one's self into the people closest to you, like Jesus to His disciples. Love and commitment will require more than showing up at a parking lot with a squeegee for an hour on Saturday afternoon (although at times that may be exactly how it is expressed).

This summer, three of my good friends have all started to show up at the church I go to with some regularity. I never consciously made a list and thought, okay, I’m going to tell these guys the good news, give them a jacket, a loaf of bread and then clean their shoes. I just loved them and by remaining faithful to Jesus, I’ve watched them develop a longing for God's kingdom to come more fully into their lives. There really isn't a substitute for love. And, largely, that is the good news, that God loves us, is committed to us and wants to be involved in our lives.

A Great Day

Yesterday, was so amazing. It was awesome to have so many people that I care about deeply to celebrate this milestone with me. My parents came in from Tennessee, that was huge suprise. Our best friends and former youth pastor Mike and Sonja Colon came down from Northern Virginia. Three of our "kids" from Harvest Church in Northern Virginia came down as well. Of course my awesome church family was there to celebrate as well.

The service was great, Pastor Ken Burtram, our district secretary/treasurer came and preached and did the commissioning and the charge. He presented me my certificate for License to prach for the Assemblies of God. Afterwards, we had cake and punch.

Here are some pictures from yesterday...

Somethings get passed on from the youth pastor to the the "kids".
My youth pastor did this and I do this and now Nassika :-) Chocolate blacking out the teeth.
Nassika and Danny
Brett, Danny, Nassika and Me
Me and Mike Colon being silly
Mike, Sonja, Lora and me
The Burtrams with Lora and Me
Pastor Mike and Donna with us
My Parents

Yesterday was a very special...Thanks so much to all that were there and thanks to all for your generousity and well wishes.

Daily Caffeination 9/25/06

A Shoe Salesman

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26

Dwight L. Moody was a poorly educated, unordained, shoe salesman who felt God's call to preach the gospel. Early one morning he and some friends gathered in a hay field for a season of prayer, confession, and consecration. His friend Henry Varley said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him." Moody was deeply moved by these words. He later went to a meeting where Charles Spurgeon was speaking. In that meeting Moody recalled the words spoken by his friend, "The world had yet to see!...with and for and through and in!...A man!" Varley meant any man! Varley didn't say he had to be educated, or brilliant, or anything else. Just a man! Well, by the Holy Spirit in him, he'd be one of those men. Then suddenly, in that high gallery, he saw something he'd never realized before. It was not Mr. Spurgeon, after all, who was doing that work; it was God. And if God could use Mr. Spurgeon, why should He not use the rest of us, and why should we not all just lay ourselves at the Master's feet and say to Him, "Send me! Use me!"

D.L. Moody was an ordinary man who sought to be fully and wholly committed to Christ. God did extraordinary things through this ordinary man. Moody became one of the great evangelists of modern times. He founded a Bible college, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, which sends out men and women trained in service for God.

Are you an ordinary man or woman in whom God wants to do extraordinary things? God desires that for every child of His. Ask God to do extraordinary things in your life. Begin today to trust Him to accomplish great things for His Kingdom through you.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Daily Caffeination 9/24/06

God's Messengers

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. - Amos 3:7

"You are called to free workplace believers from the Esau life." Those were the words spoken to me years ago by someone God sent into my life. I had been in the midst of trying to understand some catastrophic events that shook my world. Years later, I was able to see that God gave this person supernatural insight that revealed God's calling on my life.

God still uses His prophets today to reveal His plans in the lives of His people. I have seen this Scripture proved over and over in the lives of people. It is as though God sends out His "scouts" to inform His servants what is ahead for them. Sometimes He does this because He knows the event will require such changes in that person's life and so He wants to assure them of His love. I have experienced the Lord using me in this way in the life of other individuals. God did this in the life of Moses. He came to Moses at the burning bush to reveal His purposes for the people of Israel and His call on Moses to free them.

Has God placed individuals in your life to speak His plans for you? Are your eyes and ears spiritually sensitive so that you will know who are messengers of God? Elisha had a servant who could not see or hear with spiritual eyes and ears until Elisha prayed they would be opened. Then the servant could see the great army of God protecting them (see 2 Kings 6:17). Pray that you might see and hear with the Spirit. He may desire to reveal His purposes and plans through another individual.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Daily Caffeination 9/23/06

Your Irrevocable Calling

For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. - Romans 11:29

It is dangerous to align your calling and your vocation as dependent on each other. God calls us into relationship with Him. That is our foremost calling. It is from this relationship that our "physical" calling results. Whether that is to be a teacher, a stockbroker, a nurse, a pastor, or any number of vocations, we must realize that when He calls us, the change in vocation never changes His call on our lives. It is a mere change in the landscape of our calling. This is why it is dangerous to associate our purpose and calling too closely with our work. When we define our work life exclusively as our calling, we fall into the trap of locking up our identity into our vocation. This promotes aspiration because of a need to gain greater self-worth through what we do.

Os Guinness, author of The Call, describes the great artist Picasso, who fell into this trap.

"When a man knows how to do something," Pablo Picasso told a friend, "he ceases being a man when he stops doing it." The result was a driven man. Picasso's gift, once idolized, held him in thrall. Every empty canvass was an affront to his creativity. Like an addict, he made work his source of satisfaction only to find himself dissatisfied. "I have only one thought: work," Picasso said toward the end of his life, when neither his family nor his friends could help him relax. [Os Guiness, The Call (Nashville, Tennessee: Word Publishing, 1998), 242.]

What happens when you lose your job? Do you lose your calling? Do you lose your identity? Do you lose your sense of well-being? No. Calling involves different stages and experiences in life. Disruptions in your work are an important training ground for God to fulfill all aspects of His calling on your life. Trust in your God who says your calling is irrevocable and that all things come from Him.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

This Sunday...

This Sunday, I will be honored for receiving the second level of my credentials in the Assemblies of God. I will be presented with my License of Ministry in a special service where our district Secretary/Treasurer, Ken Burtram will be speaking and presenting to me my License of Ministry certificate.

I just want to thank a few people for their investment into my life and ministry and their encouragement and support. First and foremost, my wife Lora for her love and support and serving with me in ministry. I have been blessed with a godly wife...thank you honey for all of your love and support.

I also want to thank Mike and Sonja Colon, for all that you have done over the years, especially when I was a knuckleheaded teenager. Thanks for showing me an unconditional godly love and thank you for being the great friends that you are. Mike and Sonja are our closest friends and accountability partners. Love you two!

I want to thank my parents, Max and Roni Jarrell for their love and support. Thanks for encouraging to pursue my dreams and passion. I am blessed to have wonderful parents like you.

I want to show much appreciation and thanks to the pastors who have poured into my life, they have invested so much time and energy in my ministry development. I owe so much to them for where I am today in ministry. Thank you so much for your mentoring and discipleship over the years. These godly men have pushed me, inspired me, challenged me and influenced my ministry and life. These men are Tom Gulbronson, my first senior pastor at First Assembly in Alexandria, VA I was saved under his ministry and called to ministry at First Assembly. Tim Cerce, wow he has poured so much into as a young minister he has taught me so much in ministry, he inspired me to be a reader and to continue to grow myself as a learner. Tim gave me my first real ministry opportunity at Harvest Church serving under his leadership and mentorship serving at an amazing church. And last but definitely not least, Mike Buckley. Mike is my current pastor and he has given me so many opportunities to develop in ministry and he has pushed me hard in my studies and to continue to move further in ministry. The last five years serving at Crosslight Assembly have been awesome. Pastor Mike has taught me so much about relationships in ministry and ministering to the needs of people. Thank you so much for every opportunity.

Finally, I want to thank all those people I have the opportunity to minister to over the last 12 years. Thank you for your love and support, kind and encouraging words, for allowing me to influence and inspire you, thanks for being patient with me when I blow it sometimes and thanks allowing me to lead you. I hope I have served you with passion and diligence. I love each of you.

I want to close with 10 things that I have learned over the last 12 years in ministry...
1. Stay passionate for God
2. Be yourself
3. Don't allow insecurities to enter your ministry and life
4. Love people
5. Don't take yourself too seriously
6. Never stop growing and learning
7. Stay relevant with those who you minister to
8. It is all about God
9. Keep to the foundation - Prayer, The Word and Worship
10. Don't be afraid to admit when you are wrong.

Thank you Lord for allowing me serve you and to serve and minister to those you have entrusted to me. It is such a honor to serve.

Daily Caffeination 9/22/06

Gently Leading

So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir. - Genesis 33:14

Work often determines that we move at a pace that can put incredible stresses upon people and relationships. Jacob was a man who learned to manipulate and control outcomes. He even stole the birthright of his brother, Esau, through trickery. The Bible speaks of Jacob as a man who strived with God. He knew how to force situations to his advantage. It took years for God to break down all the rough edges of Jacob so that he could be worthy of becoming the patriarch of the 12 tribes of Israel. God saw something in Jacob that He could use.

Robert Hicks, in his book Masculine Journey, describes five biblical stages of manhood that must be passed through before a man becomes a mature man of God. One of those early stages is known as the "warrior stage." In this stage of manhood, the man is known by what he does, what he accomplishes, and he is totally defined by his performance. It can be a tumultuous time for the man and those close to him. It is often signified by broken relationships because the goal is often more important than the way the goal is accomplished. When I meet with a man, I can easily determine what stage of life he is in by hearing him talk.

Jacob had successfully passed through these five stages based on the verse above. It takes someone mature to be able to "move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children." Leaders who never come to understand this may be successful materially but fail at the most important aspect of leadership-leading at a pace that his followers can maintain. The roads are full of wives, children, and workers who cannot keep up with the pace of leaders and are left behind with broken dreams, broken hearts, and unfulfilled promises.

Are you a person who is more concerned with outcome than how you achieve the outcome? Can the people around you describe you as someone who leads at a pace that ensures respect and admiration? Ask the Lord for the ability to be a godly leader who understands the condition of his flock and the pace in which you can lead without alienating.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

A Picture of My "Kids"

This a picture of few of my "kids" from Fuse Student Ministry. I love them so much. A bunch of them weren't there last night, so I will update with another picture at a later time.

Daily Caffeination 9/21/06

Living Water

The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?”—John 4:11

When the Samaritan woman went to the well, she was surprised to see someone there in the heat of the day. Why would a Jewish man be there in Samaria? She probably expected Him to see her and then walk away, to turn His face away from her. But He was waiting for her. Who was this person? What was He doing there? It was highly unusual.

He asked her for a drink. She didn’t understand. “Why do You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” Jesus was really appealing to her curiosity by now. The Bible tells us,

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13–14)

Of course, we live in a time in which everyone drinks water. There many kinds of waters we can choose from: sparkling, imported, and flavored. People walk around with their water bottles in special little holders. We can look very cool as we drink our water. It might have come from a tap somewhere, but we would never know the difference. We are willing to pay for it.

But what did Jesus mean by living water? This would simply mean water that was flowing, like water in a stream or a river, as opposed to water that was stagnant. Jesus was essentially saying, “I will give you pure water. I will give you fresh water. I will give you everlasting life.” And that is what He promises to us as well.

Daily Caffeination 9/20/06

Everyone Needs Jesus

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.—Romans 3:23

There are a few things we can know about every person walking this earth today. It doesn’t matter whether they are rich or poor, famous or unknown, young or old. Every person who is not yet a believer is basically empty, lonely, and guilty. And everyone is afraid to die.

Sometimes we think Christianity is for a certain type of a person. Before I was a Christian, I would watch people go to church, and I would think, I could never do that. I am not the churchy type. I just could not envision myself in that kind of a lifestyle, carrying around a Bible, praying, and living by what the Bible teaches. I thought, What a dull life.

But in time, I realized that I was the one missing out. I began to realize that the gospel is not for churchy people or for good people alone; it’s for all people. It’s for people on the top of the ladder and at the bottom as well.

In the Bible we see how two people from different backgrounds came to the same conclusion. You could not find two people who were more different. Nicodemus was known for his morality and his great accomplishments. He was respected and wealthy (see John 3). The woman at the well was known for her immorality. She was not famous, not respected at all, and she was poor (see John 4). But they both had something in common. Both were empty, and both needed Jesus.

Nicodemus shows us that no one can rise so high as to be above salvation, and the Samaritan woman shows us that no one can sink so low as to be beneath it. They are placed side by side in the Bible to show us that everyone needs Jesus.

Daily Caffeination 9/19/06

Discovering the Source of Problems

After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land. - 2 Samuel 21:14b

During the reign of David, there was a famine in the land for three successive years. So David sought the Lord regarding this famine, "Why is there famine on this land?" The Lord answered David, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death" (2 Sam. 21:1b).

Years earlier, Joshua made a peace treaty with the Gibeonites. This, too, was an act of disobedience. When God called Israel to come into the Promised Land, they were to destroy all the enemies of God. Joshua failed to see through the ruse of deception when the Gibeonites portrayed themselves as travelers. The Israelites signed a peace treaty only to discover who the Gibeonites were after the fact. Now, they had to honor the treaty. However, this led to intermarriages and much sorrow for Israel. Years later, Saul made a decision to kill the Gibeonites.

The nation was now receiving the punishment for their sin of disobedience through a famine. David knew that famines could have a spiritual source, so he inquired of God and God answered. The source was Saul's murder of the Gibeonites. Once David knew the source of the problem, he took action. He repented on behalf of the nation and made restitution. The famine was then lifted.

Do you have a problem that seems to be a continually unresolved issue? Have you asked God to tell you the reason for the problem? It may have a spiritual root that is still unresolved with God. He may be allowing this pressure to bring attention to an issue He wants you to take care of. Ask the Lord today to give you revelation on your problem. As a loving Father, He desires to make known anything that stands in the way of fellowship between you and Him. However, His righteousness must always be upheld.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Back to Life, Back to Reality...'80's Music Fans That Is For You

Well back to the real world. After a great week of relaxing and spending time at the beach, it is back to life.

Yesterday, we had a great service, John May our District Youth Director ministered. He shared about keeping your dreams alive. This was a timely message for me and a great reminder of the dreams that God has given me. There are many who try to take away and spoil our dreams but we must persevere. John share out Genesis, the story of Joseph. He shared how those who were closest to him pretty much dismissed and laughed at his dreams and sold him into slavery. However, it was God who gave him these dreams and while it was a long journey for his dreams to become reality, Joseph persevered and his dreams were so much more than even he thought.

A gentleman in the church gave me this great quote afterwards and it was a great reminder, "small dreams but big reality." Joshua Haitel

Yesterday, I had my first games for our fall softball season. It is good to be back out on the field playing ball. Last week was actually our first games, they won both games last week. Last night we split. So far our record so far is 3-1, a nice start for us.

This morning we got back to the gym after being off for a week, I actually feel good. My workout partner, Paul, and I worked our shoulders and arms today. Shoulders are the hardest for me. I may feel the pain later but so far I feel good.

In just a few minutes I am headed to the church to start my week back at work.

Oh how I would love to go and lay out on beach right now...oh well...back to reality.

Later,
Chris

Daily Caffeination 9/18/06

Called to Craftsmanship

Then the Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. - Exodus 31:1-5

Bezalel was called by God to perform a most important work for Him. I am sure that Bezalel believed that he was naturally gifted with his hands to make fine crafts with gold, silver, and bronze. He probably did not associate it with God's work. But the Scripture tells us that God chose him and filled him with God's Spirit to enable him.

Does God call men and women into their vocations to fulfill His purposes - to fulfill that which needs to be accomplished throughout the world? Have you ever thought about how many occupations there are in the world? How did that balance of interest among each human throughout the world happen? Did it just happen? Was it by chance that we have only so many doctors, only so many accountants, only so many geologists?

Your interest in your vocation is not born of your own making. So many workplace believers and even pastors have made the mistake of encouraging us who have a deep desire to walk with Christ in the workplace to pursue vocational ministry. To remove us from the workplace where the greatest harvest is yet to occur would be to remove us from where God called us. Do not take this bait. Serve the Lord in the workplace where He has gifted you and called you.

I almost made this same mistake when God drew me to Himself when I was 28 years old. I concluded that I must be called to be a pastor. I took steps to fulfill this by leaving my job and entering a Bible school for training. Upon completion, I took a job as an assistant pastor in a church. But God's mercy allowed me to be removed from that position only three months into it. I was "forced back into business," where God wanted me in the first place. It was a great lesson. I was never cut out to be a pastor in a church, but a "pastor" in the workplace.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Daily Caffeination 9/17/06

Locked from the Inside

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9

The Bible teaches that hell was not made for people. It’s a place that God prepared for Satan and the demon powers that follow him. God doesn’t want people to go there. In fact, God says, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!” (Ezekiel 33:11).

It breaks the heart of God to see a person made in His image make the deliberate choice to sin. That is why God sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

No other prophet, guru, or teacher ever died on a cross for you. Only Jesus was uniquely qualified to bridge that great chasm that separates the Creator from humankind. Only Jesus was qualified to connect sinful humanity with a holy God and take the sin of the world upon himself. And more than that, He rose again from the dead. No other religious leader, teacher, or guru has done that. Jesus is the only way.

It has been said that the gates of hell are locked from the inside. Believers know from experience that before their conversion, God’s Spirit was tugging on the heart strings of their lives. They know that He reminded them of their need for Christ again and again.

To reject Christ is not a single choice; it’s a series of deliberate choices that one makes throughout his or her life. God doesn’t send people to hell; they send themselves. They practically have to climb over Jesus and resist Him again and again to get there.

Last Two Days at Myrtle Beach with More Pictures

Here is a summary of our last day and a half at Myrtle Beach. It is great being back at home with the dogs, but vacation sure was amazing.

A beautiful day at the beach yesterday
Dinner at Dick's Last Resort
Good food, but rude service...
...they even put funny hats on your head with rude and sometimes vulgur messages
my hat is turned around for the sake of the children out there. :-)

We also went to Barefoot Landing, a shopping area at Myrtle Beach.
There were these really cute and adorable tigers there. Look at them...I want one.

For a late dessert last night we had Krispy Kreme again, twice in one week

This is what we woke up to at 7:00am this morning...ahhh the life.

Well I will end on this note. We had a great time and now we are home rejuvenated.
Check out Lora's blog for a more in depth summary of the last day and a half.
I am going go chill on the couch with the doggies.

Later,
Chris

Daily Caffeination 9/16/06

Why God Blesses

And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel. - 1 Chronicles 14:2

King David learned an important lesson every leader must learn if he is to ensure God's continual blessing. He knew why God blessed him. It wasn't because he deserved it, though he was a man who sought God with his whole heart. It wasn't because of his great skill, though he was a great military strategist. It wasn't because he was perfect, for he committed some horrible sins during his reign as king. No, it was for none of these reasons. God blessed David for the "sake of His people Israel."

God never blesses an individual just for that person's exclusive benefit. God calls each of us to be a blessing to others. So often we forget this last part. R.G. LeTourneau, a businessman who built heavy construction equipment, came to realize this only after God took him through many trials. Once the Lord had all of LeTourneau, he came to realize that the question wasn't whether he gave 10 percent of what the Lord gave him. Rather, the question was, "What amount does He want me to keep?" LeTourneau was known for giving 90 percent of his income toward the end of his career and was a great supporter of world missions. But the Lord doesn't bless workplace believers just for the ability to give financially. God has given workplace believers many more gifts beyond the financial.

What is happening with the spiritual fruit of God's blessing on your life? Is it clogged, or is it freely flowing to others? Ask the Lord to free you to be a blessing to those in your circle of influence.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Still No Conection and Back At the ABC...

We are back at the Atlanta Bread Company so Lora and I can post our blogs, by the way she is addicted now to blogging and it is my fault.

Here is an update of our day yesterday. We got a lot of beach time in, it actually turned out to be a beautiful day.

Beautiful Day by U2

The heart is a bloom
Shoots up through the stony ground
There's no room
No space to rent in this town

You're out of luck
And the reason that you had to care
The traffic is stuck
And you're not moving anywhere

You thought you'd found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace

It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away

You're on the road
But you've got no destination
You're in the mud
In the maze of her imagination

You love this town
Even if that doesn't ring true
You've been all over
And it's been all over you

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
Was a beautiful day

After being on the beach until 2:30 we went inside to get ready and chill. Last night we went to the Melting Pot, which was simply amazing. The food was spectacular...it was fondue, cheese fondue, meat fondue and the simply amazing chocolate fondue.

Lora fondueing in the cheese

Chocolate Fondue, it was the S'mores Fondue. WOW!!!

After the Melting Pot experience, we went back to Broadway at the Beach to do the iMax experience and it was awesome. Can you imagine doing church in an iMax theater and taking full advantage of the whole iMax movie experience. For example can you imagine the Passion Of The Christ in iMax. Our experience was watching Deep Sea, it was really cool, it felt like you were in the water with the fishes and the sea animals. This is a great technology that I wish the church could take advantage of.
After the iMax experience we walked around Broadway at the Beach and went into really cool store/coffeehouse that is owned by a Christian young lady and her mom called Random. Really cool upscale vintage clothes that has coffeehouse in it. Lora bought a shirt there that sums up the coolness of my amazing wife (picture of shirt below). I really loved this store/coffeehouse and I think it is a really great idea that just totally rocks.

After walking around Broadway at the Beach, we headed back to the condo and went back to bed for the night.

Today is our last full day here at Myrtle Beach, so we are about head back to the condo to get more time on the beach and enjoy final day here.

Tomorrow is back to the real world. Here one more picture for you to brighten up your day.

Daily Caffeination 9/15/06

A Son Issue

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.—Isaiah 9:2

What is the real reason people don’t come to Christ? The reason people do not come to the light is that they do not want their darkness, their sin, to be exposed. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20).

What is the worst sin you can commit? Murder? Adultery? Stealing? Lying? No. The worst sin you can commit is to say no to God’s offer of forgiveness. Because when you stand before God Almighty on that final day, it is not going to be the sin question, it will be the Son question. By that I mean, God is not going to say, “You did a really great job. I am going to let you in to heaven.” God is not going to say, “You went over your sin quota, and because of that, I’m not going to let you in.” That’s not it at all. It is not a sin issue; it’s a Son issue.

You may have committed sins your entire life and have been a wicked person, but if in the end you were to come to your senses and say, “Jesus Christ, come into my heart and forgive me,” then God would let you into heaven. Because the big issue will be what you did with Jesus Christ.

The only way that we will get into heaven is because of what Jesus Christ did for us. Think of the greatest men and women of God that you know. They are not going to go to heaven because of their accomplishments or because of their gifts. They are going to get there because they accepted what God did for them when His blood was shed at the cross.

We all go to heaven in the same way. And it will be the Son issue in that final day.

Extremely Cloudy This Morning and No Internet :-(

This morning we woke up to rain and this...
This was at 8:30 this morning. However, the good news is that it is supposed to be sunny the rest of the day and tomorrow & Saturday are suppose to be really nice. Lord, please let it be.

When we got back to the condo we lost our internet connection. :-( We felt so lost, neither Lora or myself could blog. I am sure you all probably are wondering what has happened to these cats. Well right now we are sitting in the Atlanta Bread Company posting. Lora is on her Acer and me on my MacBook Pro (which is awesome.) Thank you Atlanta Bread Company for being close and having WiFi. Barring a miracle from God (we get a connection again at the condo), our posts will be limited for the next few days.

Yesterday, it rained for most the afternoon, day and evening. We did get some beach time in before 12:30. We also went to Barnes and Noble (yes one of the great stores on Earth) and we also went to the movies, we saw Pirates of the Carribean 2 (just 30 minutes too long and not as good as the first one) I had to go to the bathroom so bad that I got up about 5 minutes before the movie was over to go. Then we hung out at the condo last night ate dinner and watched the finale of one of my favorite shows Rockstar: Supernova. Lukas won, I thought that Dilana should have won, I thought she was the best pure rocker in the finals.

Anyways, today we are looking forward to getting back out to the beach and this evening we are going to the Melting Pot and are going to see an iMax movie at the Broadway at the Beach.

We hope you all have a great day. Oh by the way, I miss hanging out with my "kids" at Fuse Student Ministry last night, I love those "kids".

Later,
Chris

Daily Caffeination 9/14/06

Calling by Name

These were the chiefs among Esau's descendants: The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz. - Genesis 36:15

God is big on giving meaning to names. Names often are specific indicators of God's plans and purposes for that individual. A young boy grew up as Moses' servant. His Hebrew name, Hoshea, means "salvation." As the lad grew, Moses could see that he had a "different spirit" from the rest of the Hebrew men. He was selected to be one of the 12 men whom Moses chose to spy out the land of Canaan. Before the expedition, Hoshea was given a new name by Moses-Joshua, which means "the Lord saves." Joshua became the new leader of Israel who would lead them into the Promised Land. He would, in fact, save an entire nation.

In my own journey I had learned that God gave me a name that had something to do with my future call from Him. I was 44 years old and had just gone through two of the most difficult years of my life. During that time, God brought a man into my life who discipled me in areas where I had never been trained. I was discovering many new spiritual truths about myself and Christians in the workplace. I came to identify with the struggles of Esau and Joseph in their desire to understand their own birthrights. I began to write about these discoveries to help other workplace believers understand their own callings through business. One morning on a weekend getaway in the mountains, my friend looked at me and said, "Do you know the meaning of 'Omar'?"

Omar is my first name. My real name is Omar Smallwood Hillman III. Dr. Smallwood had delivered my grandfather. No one, not even my mother, knew the origin of "Omar." They put the "O" and the "S" together to call me "Os."

"You need to know the meaning of 'Omar.' It has something to do with your future," said my friend.

Startled by his assertion, that night I looked up the name of "Omar" on a computer program. Here is what I found:

Arabic for "first son" and "disciple," Hebrew for "gifted speaker," and German for "famous." Rooted in the Middle East, this name is rarely used in the West. Omar was the grandson of Esau. [http://www2.parentsoup.com/babynames/baby/o.html]

I was shocked. I had just completed 300 pages of material on the relationship of Christian businessmen to the life of Esau. My friend quickly concluded that God had called me to free Christian businessmen and women from the "Esau life." And He had allowed me to receive a name that related to the person of Esau. It was the closest thing to a burning bush experience I'd ever had. Could the Lord be this personal with us? Yes, Matthew 10:30 tells us He knows the very hairs of our head.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Walk On...along the beach before the rain comes :-)

Walk On
by U2

And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage that you can bring
Love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind...

And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong

Oh, oh
Walk on, walk on
What you got, they can't steal it
No, they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight

You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed, to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly, for freedom

Oh, oh
Walk on, walk on
What you got, they can't deny it
Can't sell it, or buy it
Walk on, walk on
You stay safe tonight

And I know it aches
And your heart, it breaks
You can only take so much

Walk on...
Walk on...

Home...
Hard to know what it is, if you never had one
Home...
I can't say where it is, but I know I'm going
Home...
That's where the hurt is...

And I know it aches
And your heart, it breaks
And you can only take so much

Walk on...
(Hooo)

Leave it behind
You got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you feel

All this you can leave behind

All that you reason, (it's only time)
(Love is a feeling on my mind)
All that you sense
All that you scheme
All you dress-up
All that you've seen
All you create
All that you wreck
All that you hate

Hey atleast I got some of my cardio in, by the way it is well needed. It is suppose to rain today 85% chance, so we decided to take a long morning walk down the beach, approx. 2 miles. Here are a few more pictures...

Spotlight Of God Coming Down From Heaven

Evolution of the Sunrise On An Overcast Morning

I can see where many artists get their creativity and inspiration. I do know one thing our Indescribable God is so amazingly creative. Take a look at His work of art.

I praise the Lord for the work of His mighty hands and for the beauty of what He has created. This one of the many reasons why I am a facedownworshipper...

INDESCRIBABLE

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation's revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You Know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You Know them by name
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

Incomparable, Unchangeable,
You see the depths of my heart and you love me the same.
You are amazing God

Daily Caffeination 9/13/06

The Butterfly Principle

The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly. - Exodus 14:8

Overprotective parents do their children a great injustice. The caterpillar that lies inside the cocoon will never become the beautiful butterfly if someone cuts open the cocoon prematurely. It is the struggle itself that allows the butterfly to emerge as a strong, new creature of nature.

God understands how necessary this process is. That is why we are allowed to experience difficult, often life-changing events. He even orchestrates them-all for our benefit. What the Israelites thought was a cruel joke when Pharaoh sent troops to pursue them after they had been freed and penned against the shore of the Red Sea became the stage for the most publicized miracle of all time-the parting of the Red Sea. Generation after generation has heard this incredible story of deliverance. God puts us against the "Red Seas" in order to show His power in and through us. If we do not know God can deliver, then we can never learn to trust Him. Circumstances that go beyond our capabilities of solving them place us at God's complete mercy. This is how He likes it.

Do not fear the calamity that comes your way. If you are faithful to Him in the test, you will see God's power manifested like never before. Just as the Israelites were able to sing a song of deliverance, you too will have your own testimony of the Lord's faithfulness; and you will be able to recall it for others to build your faith and theirs.

(by Os Hillman, from Today God Is First, Destiny Image Publishers, Inc. Copyright 2000)

Pictures from Broadway at the Beach

Tonight, we found our way to Broadway at the Beach. We had a great afternoon/evening hanging out there. We even ate @ Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville.

Here are some pictures from our afternoon/evening, please enjoy.

That is right the Supergroup -KISS has a coffeehouse...Rock-N-Roll All Night and Party Everyday. I am sure this place is no Ebenezers Coffeehouse.

Some really ugly & big fish...I mean thse bad boys were nasty looking.

This dude is so stinkin' ugly.

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville - Great food