Cason Pictures

Mom has been wanting some pictures of Cason so she gets whats she wants. Is is just so hard with the dial-up internet. Enjoy, Pastor Phillip

Random Quote

“The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they’re okay, then it’s you.”

Funeral Devotion.

I saw a punk kid wearing a shirt one time that said "Put the fun back in funeral." I guess it was a subtle way of mocking death and extolling the greatness of youth. I found it offensive back then. I was working on a funeral sermon, this morning for Lettie Cherry. She turned 93 back on July 8th. She had broken her foot and was in a nursing home. She then had a massive stroke and went to be with the Lord on Wednesday this week. She was full of life even through mostly confined to a chair. As I checked my email I got this devotion from Max Lucado. It speaks of the beauty and the joy of death. It blessed me and hopefully will bless and comfort the family of Lettie Cherry today.

When Death Becomes Birth
by Max Lucado

You live one final breath from your own funeral.

Which, from God's perspective, is nothing to grieve. He responds to these grave facts with this great news: "The day you die is better than the day you are born" (Eccles. 7:1). Now there is a twist. Heaven enjoys a maternity-ward reaction to funerals. Angels watch body burials the same way grandparents monitor delivery-room doors. "He'll be coming through any minute!" They can't wait to see the new arrival. While we're driving hearses and wearing black, they're hanging pink and blue streamers and passing out cigars. We don't grieve when babies enter the world. The hosts of heaven don't weep when we leave it.

Oh, but many of us weep at the thought of death. Do you? Do you dread your death? And is your dread of death robbing your joy of life?

Jesus came to "deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying" (Heb. 2:15).

Your death may surprise you and sadden others, but heaven knows no untimely death: "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed" (Ps. 139:16).

Dread of death ends when you know heaven is your true home. In all my air travels I've never seen one passenger weep when the plane landed. Never. No one clings to the armrests and begs, "Don't make me leave. Don't make me leave. Let me stay and eat more peanuts." We're willing to exit because the plane has no permanent mailing address. Nor does this world. "But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior" (Phil. 3:20).

Why don't you do this: give God your death. Imagine your last breath, envision your final minutes, and offer them to him. Deliberately. Regularly. "Lord, I receive your work on the cross and in your resurrection. I entrust you with my departure from earth." With Christ as your friend and heaven as your home, the day of death becomes sweeter than the day of birth.

From
Come Thirsty © (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2004) Max Lucado

Pray for Lettie's Family, Pastor Phillip

Art Monk?

I am not the biggest pro football in the world. So who goes in the hall of fame is of little importance to me actually. But men of God do impress me. Art Monk, who was a wide receiver and whose name I heard before was inducted recently. I was amazed by his sons introduction.

“As his son, there’s always been this question I could never escape, that I could never avoid, that I could never get away from and that was: Do you want to be like Art when you grow up? … My answer is I’d rather be like Dad. Dad, thank you for being the man of God that God has called you to be, and for raising me in the same way. As your best friend, as your admirer, as your biggest fan and as your son, I want to tell the whole world that I love you and I’m truly honored and blessed to induct you into the 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

I sure pray that one day Cason can say these same words about me (minus the Hall of Fame stuff). His Father Art then added these words as his speech.

“Even now as a Hall of Famer, the one thing I want to make very clear is that my identity and my security is found in the Lord. And what defines me and my validation comes in having accepted his son Jesus Christ as my personal savior. And what defines me is the Word of God, and it’s the Word of God that will continue to shape and mold me into the person that I know he’s called me to be.

“So I’ve learned a long time ago never to put my faith or trust in man, for man will always fail you. Man will always disappoint you. But the Word of God says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. And He will never fail you.

“And that is what I live by and what I stand on. …

“There’s a scripture that I think about almost every day and I’ve come to personalize it to my life. It says: ‘Lord, who am I that you are mindful of me?’ [Psalm 8:4]. And the Apostle Paul says, ‘Think of what you were when you were called. Not many were wise by human standards. Not many were influential. Not many were born of noble birth’ [1 Corinthians 1:26]. And when I look at my life and how I grew up, I certainly had none of those qualities or benefits.

“But I understand and I know that I’m here not by, in, and of my own strength—but it’s by the grace and the power of God upon my life, who I know gave me favor along the way, and who provided opportunity and room for me to use my gifts.

“So I am very grateful to receive this honor, and I can stand here before you and say, ‘Hey, look at me, look at what I did.’ But if I’m going to boast, I’m going to boast today in the Lord, for it’s because of him that I’m here and I give him thanks and glory and honor for all that he has done for me.”

Great Words, Pastor Phillip

Is Any Body Out There?

Hey, if you are checking out this blog leave me a comment and let me know. I am enjoying the writing and thinking, but I am just curious if anybody else is.

Pastor Phillip

Couple's Fight Rules

My college roommate and good friend Travis Agnew is posting a awesome series on his blog about how to fight in a relationship. It is very worthwhile and deserves to be checked out. I will probably rip him and use these ideas in some sermons of my own. Just remember what Solomon said in Ecc 1:9-10 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun. (10) Can one say about anything, "Look, this is new"? It has already existed in the ages before us.

Have a great day. Pastor Phillip

Attention Builders

Charles Spurgeon is considered the greatest Baptist preacher of all time. His nickname was the "Prince of Preachers." I found out this about Charles Spurgeon.

Spurgeon was a committed lifelong student. He had a large, round desk with a hinge that permitted him to sit in the middle of it with his beloved books surrounding him.

A round desk I could sit inside of. That is awesome, a swivel chair, and books all around. Somebody make this happen! Please! Pastor Phillip

Bible Reading Plan

I was checking out the Gideon's website and came across this Bible reading plan. It takes you through the whole Bible in one year. If you have never read the Bible the whole way through start today. I also recommend a good study bible. Such as the NIV Study Bible or the Life Application Study Bible. I have both and have read through each of them. I also recommend The Message. It is a very modern translation, not for everyone. But, for reading and understanding it is great. You can get a parallel version, with the NIV and the Message translation side by side. (BTW I don't have one of these and they look nice, please don't tell Rebecca.) But, the main thing is to be reading. You should enjoy it,it should not be a burden or a chore. Just take that little time morning and evening. Rebecca and I both use the same plan (The OT once and the NT and Psalms twice in a year) and we discuss what we have read throughout the day. Kind of fun. There are also tons of different reading plans, just do a google search and you will find plenty.

Pastor Phillip