Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at Fort Caroline Christian Church again today. 
• Focus of the message - "Profiting from Problems"
• Quote #1 from today's message; You will only be remembered for two things; the problems you create and the problems you solve. 
• Quote #2, Problems are like washing machines, they twist us, spin us, and knock us around... But in the end we come out cleaner, brighter, and better than before.
• Wonderful mix of worship hymns and praise music. When music is done right, it has a powerful impact in the worship service.
• To my preacher friends if you are interested in talking to me about Fort Caroline feel free to drop me a line, I think it is a good opportunity.
• I have my first grief counseling session tomorrow, I really do not know what to expect. All I know is the longer time passes, the more I miss her.
• I have purchased my wings and nachos for Saturday; Yep, college football is back. I will not be available Saturday. 
• What do you mean we still have 2 more months of the political circus? 
• I recently completed reading the book of Ezra in my daily Bible reading. It is amazing how God used pagan kings to bring blessings to his people. This may be a comforting thought for us as well, in light of the upcoming election - God is still in control.
• As much as I enjoy preaching, I really miss worshiping at Kissimmee Christian Church.
• Something to Chew On; Once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survived. You won't even be sure the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked into the storm. ~ Haruki Murakami 

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at First Christian Church of Orlando this morning. So good to be back "home" with so many good friends.
• Today's message came from Galatians 5 and the Fruits of the Spirit. Today's fruit; Patience.  
• Patience is defined as a calm endurance based on a certain knowledge God is in control.
• A Mature Christian is a patient Christian, the less patient you are the less mature in Christ you are!
• The moment you look out in the audience and see you former Old Testament professor AKA Doc Smith, in the audience can be a little intimidating, so glad I was not preaching from the OT today.
• Quick trip to Tallahassee this past week as well, Sometimes I really feel like a road warrior!
• Preaching at First Christian Church this week marks the 157th church I have either preached in or presented the work of JUFL since Feb. 2011.
• I learned a new term this week; Grief Burst! Sometimes it happens when I least expect it! Will it ever get better?
• Whenever I hear that someone has cancer, I am compelled to pray for their journey!
• My niece is heading off to her first year of college this week, I am praying for you Allie! You will do fine! BTW Patti, she will be OK!
• 13 days and counting college football is almost here! 
• This week marks the 40th year anniversary of the first class of CFBC, how can it be 40 years?
• Our students are back - so much for a peaceful campus.
• Something to Chew on; Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him ~ Psalm 37:7

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at Fort Caroline Christian Church again this morning. The message was from Luke 15, taking a look at the forgiving father.
• I really did not understand forgiveness until I studied this passage a few year ago.
• It is comforting to know God is always waiting for sinners to come home.
• Like the father in the parable in Luke 15 God is always ready to forgive.
• I realized how much I miss Kathy as I concluded the message with an illustration about heaven, needless to say it was difficult. Lots of misty eyes in the audience and in the pulpit as well!
• I want my "old normal" back, the new normal is not working!
• In some ways it seems like it has been forever, and other days it seems like yesterday.
• Hey the dolphins are 1-0 I know it is preseason, but reserve your super bowl tickets now!
• New students arrive Friday. Let the adventure begin!
• Returning students arrive Thursday, it will be great seeing them return and hear stories about internships and their summer experiences.
• 4 Rivers in Kissimmee is open! 
• I think we should make Fridays; 4 Rivers Fridays at JUFL.
• In 1998 I resigned as youth minister at FCC Orlando, next Sunday I return to preach for the first time since I left in 1998, kind of excited to be going back to preach!
• Why is there not a Red Robin in Kissimmee?
• Something to Chew on; My home is in Heaven, I am just traveling through this world. ~ Billy Graham 

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Returned to Fort Caroline Christian Church today.
• Preached on the Authority of God's Word.
• Living in a world where it is common to question all authority, it is comforting to know we have the living Word of God as our guide and companion. 
• When one rejects the authority of God's word one finds only  heartache, division, confusion and frustration. Does this not sound like our culture today? 
• For such a small worship team this church has a incredible sound.
• Lunch at a local restaurant, Beach Road Chicken, food so bad for you but it taste so good! 
• I really should not take a cholesterol test for a few days! 
• Political ads scare me.
• When I was a child we would talk about a pleasurable Sunday drive, Sunday driving now is anything but pleasurable! 
• After 5 1/2 years of driving around the state of Florida I can say the worse traffic is found in Orlando and the worse drivers are in Jacksonville. But that is just my opinion.
• First preseason football game is on tonight. It is getting close!
• Question, do I really need to go by the expiration dates on foods? 
• Death has a way of causing us to face our absolute powerlessness.
• More and more I am finding music really helps me through the grieving process. 
• Something to Chew on; No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his/her death. Ecclesiastes 8:8