Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at Okeechobee Christian Church today, This mornings topic; What is the condition of your heart?
• Your heart can be unresponsive, impulsive, destructive or productive. The woman at the well in John 4 is a great example of a person whose heart can change the more they spend time with Jesus.
• Listened to the choral society tonight at FCC Kissimmee, we have a talented group of musicians and vocalist at Florida Christian College. 
• Spent Saturday evening with some really good friends last night it has been TOO long since we were together. 
• Wrapping up the school year this week, where did the time go?
• FCC says good bye to Bill and Cheryl Behrman this week, I will miss his positive attitude and spirit at FCC. 
• As I blog tonight my future daughter in law and wife Kathy are discussing wedding plans. DON'T Blink!
• Just sayin' Happy, Happy, Happy - some of you understand!
• CBS Sports gave the Miami Dolphins a "B" for this year's draft let's hope that spells a better season than the ones we have experienced lately. 
• Something to Chew on; God's power within you is only potential until you convert it into strength - by faith and action. ~ Steven Furtick 

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Worshiped with the church family at First Christian Church of Frostproof this morning.
• Some of the most gracious people I have met in the last few years of visiting churches.
• Today's topic; Sowing Seeds in Unexpected Places.
• We never know where the seed may land so we must sow seed Plentifully,  Patiently and Passionately, trusting God for the increase. 
• Favorite illustration this morning was about the seeds found in King Tut's tomb, they were planted and produced fruit. Here were seeds surrounded by death and decay for over 3,000 years, yet when planted they brought forth life!
• Imagine Banquet was a huge success. Arron Chambers shared a powerful message about FCC's rich heritage. He reminded everyone why we love FCC.
• Thank you Arron for reminding us the Zeal of FCC, may it never cease.
• FCC's commencement is in 2 weeks - we are ready to unleash a committed group of men and women into the world!
• Watching "Pride of the Yankees" tonight - They simply do no make movies like that today. The movies does have some corny moments, but the hero (Lou Gehrig) is not flawed or compromised and I always get a lump in my throat when Lou Gehrig played by Gary Cooper announces; "Today I am the luckiest man alive."
• Something to Chew on; The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it is indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it is indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it is indifference. ~ Elie Wiesel    

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Tonight is my 150th Sunday Night Reflection. Including my Facebook Wall (where it all started) I have been "reflecting" for over three years! To all my faithful readers thank you for joining me each Sunday evening. Looking forward to another 150+

• Worshiped at Sebring Christian Church this morning, good mix of worship and fellowship.
• Today's Topic, "Sowing Seeds in People's Lives."
• The Message answered the question why people do not respond to the gospel message.
• The answer; it is a matter of the heart.
• BTW if your heart is not right, it is impossible for you to sow seeds into the lives of others.
• I had lunch with Sebring's new youth minister, Josh and his wife, they asked me for youth ministry advice, I have never felt so old or so encouraged! I think he is going to do a great job at the church! 
• Spent a week in Charleston SC learning new software - looking at a computer screen for 7 1/2 hours each day is tough.
• However, I did visit some FINE restaurants each evening. Good Times!
• There are only 3  weeks of school left. How can a year go by so fast?
• Signed up for minute with John Maxwell a few weeks back, I get a minute of training sent to my inbox every day - good stuff, I highly recommend it!
• Maxwell is right; It is not only important what you learn, but who learn it from.
• Saturday, I spent the day at my family reunion, wow I have a great heritage, thanks to my family.
• I have preaching the 12 out of the past 15 Sundays this year, I really miss my home church.
• There are a lot of changes on the horizon, really excited!
• I have never looked forward to a Monday, like I am looking forward to tomorrow. 
• OK, now that March Madness is over let's get through the lull of Spring; College football will be here soon.
• Something to Chew On... The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege. ~ Charles Kuralt
  

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...
- Worshiped with the MI Church in Merritt Island this morning, Mark and the team are very serious about discipleship.
- Great to see how this church incorporates their youth ministry in worship.
- You could really sense the excitement in the church.
- But I have to admit it was kind of nerve racking to look out and see my former preaching professor in the audience, he was very gracious and kind, even though I probably violated most of the rules regarding sermon structure.
- Arrived in South Carolina tonight for 5 days of software training. This should be interesting!
- Trying out a wireless keyboard tonight, please excuse any abnormalities to the blog.
- Road Trips with adults are much like road trips with teens, the only difference, adults stop at better restaurants.
- Something to Chew on; Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart, wisdom is not found among fools. Proverbs 14:33

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached twice this morning, Sunrise and Morning Worship, I was pumped!
• Sunrise Topic - Mary, Last at the cross on Friday, first at the tomb on Sunday. 
• Mary's determination to find Jesus is one we can all emulate!
• Do you realize how alone Mary was as she sought out Jesus? She went to the tomb alone, she was willing to face the guards alone, and she wept alone and yet she was rewarded for her determination as she was the first to see the resurrected Lord. 
• Morning Worship Topic - The disciples on the way to Emmaus; dejected, despondent and downcast they found Jesus and their life was never the same.
• FCC Kissimmee's Good Friday service was very inspirational - Thank  you Tony for leading us through the last hours of Jesus' life on the cross.
• Kathy played her flute to kick off worship this morning, good stuff!
• Finished off a series on the Power of the Cross at Okeechobee, next week I am speaking  at Merritt Island at the MI Church, looking forward to being with a former classmate. 
• So good to see all the posts regarding worship today, Sounds like a good day for the people of faith.
• OK, I admit it the gators did not show up today; actually they were showed up by Michigan. 
• You gotta be ready every time you get on the court.
• Oh well, mark your calendar's, Gator football is coming in September.
• They are only 5 weeks of school left! 
•  BTW if you are ever preaching at an outdoor sunrise service in Florida, make sure you have a "Sand Crane Spotter" and make sure he is packin'
• Something to Chew On; Vision works like a rudder on a ship. Without it, the ship may travel a distance, but not necessarily in the right direction. With it, the ship reaches the destination by the shortest route possible. ~ From John Maxwell's Blog

Darkness Reigns... Briefly

On the night he was arrested, Jesus told his accusers, Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns. Luke 22:53

• When Darkness Reigned... Judas was betraying our Lord.
• When Darkness Reigned... Peter was denying he the Savior
• When Darkness Reigned... The Disciples fled
• When Darkness Reigned... The crowd asked for Barabbas
• When Darkness Reigned... Pilate washed his hands of the matter

Yes, when Darkness Reigned it looked very bleak - it seemed as if the entire world was turned upside down. Yet Jesus had the proper perspective. Did you catch the last part of the verse, this is your HOUR. Darkness was limited! In the grand scheme of things Darkness only had a momentary glimpse of victory. 

However scripture makes it clear Jesus reigns for all of eternity... 

God exalted him (Jesus) to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

This Easter, as you read the headlines of our day and listen to the talking heads spout all kinds of course and vile speech and see evil applauded, would you remember we have a savior who reigns forever and Darkness will only reign... BRIEFLY!

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Week...

• Preached on the transforming power of the cross this morning. 
• The power of the cross is seen in how it changed Simon of Cyrene, the Centurion and Joseph of Arimathea. 
• Today's preaching point; the closer you are to Jesus, the more likely you will be transformed by Him.
• Transformation is seen in how we react to Christ, We can come to him just as we are, but we can never leave Just as we were!
• This verse keeps running through my mind today, Mark 15:39, when the centurion,who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died,he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” Think about it the centurion probably never saw Jesus perform a miracle  never heard a him teach, however he was transformed by the way Jesus died - Wow!
• Easters Coming!
• Can there be any greater day to preach than next Sunday? I am pumped!
• Sunday's messages are titled; Sunrise Service, When God Calls your Name. Morning Worship, Inspired!
• Gators move to the Sweet 16!
• In 1977, I saw the original Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, this past weekend my daughter saw the new Lynyrd Skynyrd band - Good music has staying power - in the words of Ronnie Van Zant - "Turn it up!" 
• Began a mentoring program this week, looking forward to seeing what happens next.
• Big changes happening at FCC, it is exciting to be on the "ground floor" of this new venture. 
• I am surrounded by an amazing group of people in my department at FCC. 
• Can you believe 1/4 of 2013 is almost over. Better start checking out my naughty and nice list soon!
• To my friends up north, believe me Spring will come one day!
• Something to Chew on, “The place God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” ~ Frederick Buechner