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John 12:1-2 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. He would not have missed it for the world !! It was more than important for Lazarus to be there. What if...he was absent from the table of gratitude? Maybe another appointment...or some urgent meeting across town. What if...a night with his friends seemed more important than a night with the resurrection and the life? The appropriateness of his presence was fitting to the writer, John the beloved. He saw great significance in Lazarus seated by his redeemer and Lord. No issue, appointment, engagement, or emergency could hinder him from an hour to sup with the one who transformed him from death to life. Nothing in heaven or on earth could have been more preeminent than to dine with his beloved savior. What keeps u...

I heard this statement while watching a Texas sized pastor with a Texas sized congregation. I thought I miss-heard the comment then he repeated it again citing an O.T. text (BTW-ANYTHING can be proven with an O.T. text). He then followed up with our lives missing the blessing and prosperity of God. "Praise can change God's mind, it gets His attention. When we start praising God...He starts blessing." Now...as a minister, I can honestly say that God has blessed many of my messages and sermons even when my theology was weak and out of context. I appreciate the ministry of Lakewood and know they love Jesus so why did this statement bother me so much? All night I began to search out the etiology of why this statement is so disturbing. After all, what ever gets people into the position of praise and worship of our heavenly father is a good thing... Right?  Well...not entirely. That's true about salvation. God may use a variety of strange things to bring the unsaved...

Psalm 46:4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. Rivers are a constant force; unceasing, ever flowing. Landscape, buildings, and urban sprawl, evolve and change with the era and times but the river remains steadfast. Old photographs of the Cumberland exist all around Clarksville and Civil War images of iron clads churning up the mighty Mississippi hang in museums. Everything is different today but the river remains unchanged, following the same route. Throughout the generation's the mighty rivers are still flowing just as they were in days of old and will continue to the end of time. The river of God is a constant...unchanging...power and presence. There is great comfort in knowing that Yahweh God, who lives in us, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 6:17-18 MSG   When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word...

James 2:2-3 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance "God don't waste no pain." A complete stranger spoke these words to me while I waited for a fast food order late at night. It was one of those  encounters that had an angelic feel about it. Think on the statement. God takes the pain in our lives and He refines and renders it until it becomes a strength in our faith and spiritual walk. I was told once that the wind which whips and sways the branch's of an oak tree actually cause it's roots to deepen, making it even stronger. Such is the character of the beloved. Pain, sorrow, and struggle cannot defeat a child of God. As we persevere, it is refashioned to create pillars of faith within the body of Christ. Paul wrote, "...be patient in affliction" (Rom 12:12). The message from the apostle is to keep your eyes on Jesus. He is even now in ...