Strong Coffee

Leviticus 17:11 For the life...is in the blood, it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. Listening to doctors and physicians talk all day about hemanalysis  reminds me that indeed the power is in the blood. A single drop of blood can provide enough medical information to diagnosis practically every condition. We all know that its impossible to sustain physical life without blood. It brings life giving oxygen and protein and antibiotics (etc.) to the entire body.  What about Spiritual life?  Our scripture says that... Life,  is in the blood. Spiritual life, everlasting life, is in the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace The verse in Leviticus is referring to the animal sacrifice that was required from worshipers. Atonement for sin called for a costly and living sacrifice. During the days of atonement, the chil...

The only authority Satan has over us is that which we surrender to him. Subtleties of his rule over us and threats of his command are only a rouse. All authority has been granted to our Lord Jesus Christ and and given to us. Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Actually, regarding authority, its quite the opposite. Satan flees at our command!   James 4:7 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. (MSG) Fear is the dark room where Satan develops his negatives. His accusing tone and threats have no dominion over the children of God. To succumb to his schemes would be like an all star athlete being enslaved by a heckler from the cheap seats. King David said it best. ... The Lord prepares a table for us in the presence of the enemy (Ps.23). God would never give Satan the keys to the kingdom, and neither should you surrender your keys to ...

  Check out this video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=youtube_gdata_player Matthew 9:36 (NIV)     When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.    There's no fitting modern version of the Judean country side in which Jesus met the crowd of seekers than Macy's department store during the holiday shopping season.   The rapturous and thunderous applause at the conclusion of the chorus reveals to me a divine need that had been met by this random act of kindness. In a world of chaos and confusion, people have a swelling intrinsic need to connect with a God of wonder, amazement, and majesty; something bigger than themselves; a celestial vision that sets chaos in order!   By nature of life, work, pressure, and toil we all can easily lower our heads and drudge through life with short goals of just finishing the day or making it to th...

Dr. Richardson asked me if I could visit the patient in 439. I believe he could use your help was the phase he used. Of course I agreed. Mr. J was a homeless young man that presented himself with a variety of health problems that are associated with an indigent life. We had a warm conversation and I found him to be an intelligent person that seemed to choose homelessness as an easier way to feed addiction. After I grasped an understanding of his life picture I began to ask him some pointed questions regarding faith in Christ. Mr. J had made a public profession of Christ just a few months back. He confessed that after receiving the Lord he slipped back into his homeless routine and landed once again, flat of his back. I asked if he had ever been baptized. He answered no. I explained about hospital baptism and that I would be willing to perform if he would like. He quickly agreed. We spoke for several minutes more on a variety of things, mostly regarding addictions, vi...

I was able to do something today that is every "papa's" dream, I took Allison to the VA today and she shadowed a couple of physician's. It took several weeks to set it up. She shadowed our mental health doctors and their medical teams. She sat in on the teams as they discussed treatment plans and then went with them as the made rounds visiting with patients. I was extremely proud of her and her professionalism. The doctors and med. students she met seemed to be equally impressed. I asked her to describe in one sentence her experience. She thought for a minute and said, "... A four word sentence pop... phe · no · me · nal." Well, besides all the hot doctors she's now in love with, I think she might have found a career path. I'm glad she loves Jesus. :) iPhone

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room ... ...and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?" The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...I know my Master is there and that is enough."                               ...

I n the early days of Angie's ministry, she began to feel the weight of continuous church gossip and strife. It seemed to be an initiation for every new children s minister. Her anxiety began to take a toll. She would have resolve by day and resignation by night. S he felt that her every move was scrutinized and undermined. One evening, her stress came to a head. My heart was breaking for her. A s a pastor for 25 years I knew the experience she was having all to well. I knew that I could neither remove her obstacles or relieve them. It seemed that God was using these experiences for a purpose we couldn't define. That particular evening, I asked for her to lay down and listen to this song that I've qued up for all our "Strong Coffee" friends. I wanted this song to serve as a reminder to her that no matter what she went through, God and those that loved her dearly were there with her. A s she listened to the song she wept. God revea...

History of revivals all reveal a common thread. When Gods people pray, God opens the windows of heaven. In most of these occasions the prayer for revival went on for months and years without fruit. Before the great awakening of the late 17th century, John Wesley, Charles Finney, George Whitfield and others, prayed earnestly for decades that revival would fall. For decades a small prayer group has prayed that revival would come to the VA hospital in Nashville. Steadily through the years the praying continued. In our prayer group today we had doctors, nurses, housekeeping, pharmacist, chaplains, a full representation. Several were there for the first time. Employees that heard from others about the prayer time were there. Most importantly, God was there, and His Holy Spirit descended upon us all! The prayer time had a sense of urgency and anticipation like none I've ever witnessed. I can only believe that God is preparing a ground swell of revival to occur in our ve...

Lord, Thou Great Physician,  I kneel before Thee.  Since every good and perfect  gift must come from Thee: I Pray Give skill to my hand,  clear vision to my mind,  kindness and sympathy to my heart.  Give me singleness of purpose,  strength to lift at least a part  of the burden of those under my care,  and a true realization of the rare privilege  that is mine. Take from my heart  all guile and worldliness,  that with the simple faith of a child  I may rely on Thee. Amen Author Unknown

Matthew 25:35-40 "I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit,                          I was in prison and you came to me.' "…Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me."  (Message) Never before have I seen this verse in action as much as it is at Operation Stand Down Nashville. This seems to be the driving force behind this remarkable agency. Operation Stand Down Nashville (OSDN) is a veteran non-profit agency that reaches out to our nation's veterans and assists them with employment, transitional housing, legal services, referrals, and more. "Stand Down" is a military term which describes the movement of soldiers in combat to a safe place. OSDN serves as a po...

2 Timothy 2 Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. 3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. Affairs of this life can lure us away from what is good, noble, and trustworthy. While pastoring, I witnessed this happen time and again. A teacher decides to make a case over something unrelated to teaching and next thing you hear is she/he has given up the class. A musician decides to create gossip over another musician and the next thing you here is everyone in the group is mired in controversy. A pastor decides to get involved in a local issue or club and the next thing you hear is the congregation i...