Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day

• After preaching for 8 straight weeks, I returned to First Christian Church Kissimmee today. 
• Wonderful message on the life of Joseph from Genesis 39. 
• A very familiar story, but once again Jim brought out some new insights.
• So good to worship at a church that serves "fresh bread" from God's word each week!
• Watched the baptismal waters stir once again today - believe me this never gets old! 
• Reflecting on the last 8 weeks of preaching across the state, 8 Messages, traveled 1,840 miles, met many new friends!
• Really was nice to travel only 4.8 miles to church today! 
• It was even nicer to leave the house at 9:10 this morning!
• If it is this hot now, what will August bring?
• I sure wished I would have invested in comic books a few years back!
• Attended a lovely wedding over the weekend - congrats to Alex and Ellie!
• Received an email today with the selections of music for the university's night of Noel Christmas event. It will be here before you know it!
• Kathy has 16 more weeks until this round of cancer treatments are over - Cancer stinks!
• Checked the stats for alantisononline today, in the last 4 years over 25,000 people have visited my blog, those are not great numbers in the "blog world" but I found it interesting. 
• Something to Chew on: My soul yearns for you (God) in the morning my spirit longs for you. Isaiah 26:9

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at South Daytona Christian Church today.
• The church has a great focus on prayer.
• There are churches that pray and then there are praying churches - SDCC is a praying church!
• Preached on Luke 15 today, the parable of the prodigal son, but I think we have it wrong, it really should be called the Parable of the Loving Father.
• Heard a rousing version of the Star Spangled Banner this morning - I know it is a difficult song to sing but when it is done right - Wow - BTW it was done right today!
• This is the last month without football - yes it is getting close to the most wonderful time of the year!
• Midway through the summer, it will not be long before the students return to JUFL.
• Watching the construction on I-4, it is going to be a long time until it is finished. 
• Did I tell you how much I hate cancer?
• Savannah Grace always makes me smile!
• Why can't other fast-food joints hire people like Chick-Fil-A? This has always been a mystery to me.
• Watched a couple of episodes to the Twilight Zone marathon this past weekend, Rod Sterling was ahead of his time. 
• Next time you are feeling overwhelmed by the events of the day, would your read Revelation 19-22, it is all going to workout for us!
• Something to Chew On; We wait in hope for the Lord, he is our help and our shield. ~ Psalm 33:20

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at Salt Springs Christian Church this morning. Great group of people.
• Today's message focused on the Father Heart of God.
• We can take a great deal of comfort in realizing we have a God who waits for sinners to repent!
• Here is another comforting thought from the message, to have a Father Heart like God, one needs know special talent, abundance resources or talent, just a willingness to love as God loved.
• The Salt Springs church has a real live choir - yes a choir!
• As of Tuesday, half of the year is over - wow, soon it will be Christmas!
• Great week at the NACC in Cincinnati, If you attend the convention you know many people leave early Friday morning and miss the final session, I am glad I was there to hear two challenging messages.
• The final message was spot on considering the events in Washington Friday.
• #1 lesson I learned from the NACC this past week was not found in a sermon nor a workshop, but in the variety of ministries represented; the Kingdom of God is ever expanding.
• Here is a great message from one of the most respected leaders in our brotherhood - Don't Lose Heart!
• Some airlines think they are in the "Flight" business, when actually they are in the people business. Remember, no people no flights; it is not that difficult to understand.
• Tomorrow the ordeal begins once again, please pray for my wife ~ Cancer stinks!
• I think I am ready for a FACEBOOK fast!
• I wonder what it would be like to live in Montana? I am not moving there, I am just curious what it would be like to live in Montana.
• Had a great visit with a good friend in ministry this past week, our annual visit is a great time to catch up. It truly is amazing we have stayed close for a number of years, with so little personal contact.
• Finished another novel this week, my reading habits are really changing. Thanks Dave and Linda.
• Something to Chew on; Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at FCC Bartow again this morning, what a great group pf people, very complimentary, it was almost embarrassing. 
• Today's message focused on the active roles a father must take to build relationships with their children.
• Good parenting does not just happen it takes W-O-R-K!
• There is something about old hymns that I find comforting on Father's Day.
• Catching up with old friends this week, can't wait.
• Amazed that the latest national tragedy has all the pendents asking why, when the answer if found in Genesis! 
• So good to spend the afternoon with family, what a great father's day.
• Seeing all the posts on FB today really makes one appreciate all a father does to guide a family.
• My best father's day present is this  
• Something to Chew on; 5 things every father owes his children; To love them unconditionally, to discipline wisely, to spend time with them, to model a godly lifestyle & give them a foundation to succeed. ~ from a message I preached 8 years ago entitled "What Parents Owe their Children"

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at First Christian Church of Bartow this morning.
• Used a hymnal this morning - really!
• Great group of believers living out their faith on a daily basis.
• Their minister was away on vacation, but by their conversations you could tell they really love their minister and his wife.
• Arrived early so I was able to sit in on a Bible school class - their teacher was very knowledgeable of the book of Hebrews. 
• I am on a preaching spree this is my fifth sermon in 5 weeks. Three more weeks to go before I am back in my home church. 
• I am really putting the miles on the school car. 
• U.S. 17 must be the Road Kill capitol of the world!
• Parts of the A.D. minis-series are intriguing, other parts simply frustrate me! The Book of Acts is full of good stuff, it does not need "artistic interpretation"
• Heard at a funeral yesterday, During WWII men saw the worst this world had to offer, but men who died in the Lord now see the best God has to offer!
• Seen on Facebook tonight; Research reveals that on average the majority of Christians spend more money at the movies than they give back to God each week.‪#‎JurrassicMistake‬ ‪#‎WorshipTheWronggod‬ Ouch!
• Seeing adults who were once kids in my youth ministries makes me feel nostalgic - hope I made a difference in their lives!
• In case you forget, I hate cancer!
• The more I watch the news the more I see the world needs Jesus.
• Something to Chew on; But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. ~ Philippians 3:20 NLT

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• Preached at Salt Springs Christian Church today, what a trip, left for the church at 6:15 this morning.
• Good people living out their faith in Ocala National Forest.
• Today's message - "Why Strong in the Scriptures is important for us today!"
• Worshiped today all a Capella, so good to hear the old hymns done right! 
• Saw the baptismal waters stir as a man accepted Christ and two others joined the church this morning - I am honest this never gets old!
• Ran into a member of the church who knew me when I was a kid at Englewood Christian Church - I never know who I am going to meet when I am on the road!
• Not saying the church is out of the way, but the restaurant where I had lunch was called Bubba's Barbecue and I think I met Bubba!
• For the last 30 minutes of my trip I did not have any cell service. So no, you could not hear me now!
• Dinner with good friends yesterday, I am always refreshed when I visit them!
• I think our culture is confused when it comes to what constitutes a hero!
• Watched a show on the History channel this week called World War II in HD - it is amazing what the greatest generation did to rid the world of tyranny. 
• I really enjoy reading Gresham novels.
• I do not know if this means I am getting old, but I am checking the TV listings for Turner Classic Movies more often!
• AMC Theaters at Downtown Disney is a very nice theater - This will be the my theater of choice when the next episode of Star Wars is released later this year.
• First NFL Preseason Game is only 62 days away - HIKE!
• Something to Chew on; Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face ~ Ronald Reagan

Sunday Night Reflections

A Few Thoughts from an Amazing Day...

• What a great privilege as I was invited to speak at Englewood Christian Church this morning in Jacksonville. 
• As I looked over the audience I saw so many people who had an influence in my life. So thankful for a church who invests in people. 
• Today's message focused on the importance of the trustworthiness of the word of God. 
• Thank you Michael C. for singing "Ancient Words" prior to the message.
• In a world filled with so much uncertainty it is comforting to know we have a firm foundation in the word of God.
• Key point from this morning's message; we are not saved because we read the Bible, we are saved by believing in the One revealed in the Bible.
• Today's comments on FB regarding this morning have been such an encouragement. 
• 5 months down 7 to go! This year is flying by fast. It seems like yesterday we were worried about Y2K.
• Received a preliminary good report on Kathy's test Wednesday - hopefully the good news will be confirmed this week.
• In four years of working at JUFL I have visited 150 different churches throughout the state of Florida. 
• I did some research this week and discovered this is my 252nd Sunday Night Reflection. That is a lot of Reflecting!
• Generosity always inspires me!
• Are the NBA playoffs still going on? 
• Something to Chew on; Everyone has the potential to be an encourager. You don't have to be rich. You don't have to be a genius. You don't have to have it all together. All you have to do is care about people and initiate. ~ John Maxwell