I get an online newsletter once a month that includes what they call “Potent Quotables.” I thought I’d pass these two along:
“Of two evils choose neither.”
– Charles Spurgeon
“To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.”
– G.K. Chesterton
Recently I was reminded of an author that I had read several years ago – Madam Jeanne Guyon. She was an 18th century (I believe) French nun who apparently had a remarkable walk with God. I picked up her book again this week, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ. It’s an amazingly practical book on prayer. It is very different from most books you will read on prayer. And I’m not sure what the theology of Madam Guyon truly is, but I recommend this book as a practical tool for pursuing greater depth of relationship with God through prayer. Some of my more theologically astute readers can let me know if I am recommending a heretic. A quick quote from Madam Guyon:
“By waiting on the Lord in this way, you will demonstarte to Him that it is He alone whom you are seeking. You see, you will be demonstrating that it is not the selfish enjoyment which you receive from being in His presence that causes you to love Him. You will be showing that it is not the pleasure which you experience, but your love that motivates you.”
I got exposed to a new Christian artist by the name of Steve Fee at the Catalyst Conference earlier this month. You need to check this guy out. Go to http://www.myspace.com/stevefee to hear free samples of of his music.
Praise God it has and is raining. We are in such a drought and I’m so grateful for the rain. I use to complain about rain when it inconvenienced me. But, several years ago, we had a drought similar to this one and I promised God to NEVER complain about rain again. We need water to live! Let it rain! Let it ruin my plans!
Also, the rain gives me a chance to use an expression that I don’t often get to use and simply think is funny – “Man, it’s a frog strangler out there.” I think the saying comes from a movie – maybe from “Outlaw Josie Wales” or something like that. Simply means that it’s raining really hard. And, indeed…it’s a frog strangler out there today.
Greetings to you who do check out my blog and wonder where I’ve been for about a month. I’ve moments of inspiration about writing blog entries, but never make it to the computer with the idea intacted in my mind.
Anyway…I’m still living.
This month has been a month of anniversaries for me. Well, not for me, but for churches I’m connected to. My home church, Creedmoor Road Baptist Church, celebrated its 200th anniversary on October 6th. It was great to celebrate with them and to see a lot of people who pray for me regularly but whom I don’t see very often.
This coming weekend, Ephesus Baptist Church, celebrates its 150th anniversary! I was previously the Minister of Youth and Discipleship at EBC prior to starting The Bridge. EBC is sponsor church of The Bridge and has faithfully supported and prayed for us. I dearly love the staff there and all the people of Ephesus. They are like family to me.
Anyway…I’m back. Only time will tell how faithful I’ll be!
I just wanted to take a second to way “Wow” and “thanks” to everyone who made our Bridge Family Fun Day such a great day this past Saturday. Inevitably, as I make the list below, I will forget someone, so please forgive me! You are loved and God sees your service and sacrifice! God bless all the amazing people at our church with amazing servant hearts!
Tim – Thanks for “maning” the grill. The food was great!
Joe – Thanks for helping me retrieve and return the grill. I love hanging out with you!
Courtney – Thank you for organizing the food. You did a fantastic job!
Dana and Russ and Carter – thanks for running to the store and getting the trash bags we needed! We would have been up to our ears in trash without those bags!
Brooks and Brad – thanks for being the first to “man” (or “woman”) the inflatable games!
Jason – thanks for seeing a need and filling it by jumping in with the kids and helping the little ones climb the wall inside the inflatable
Joe, Joe, Stephen and Matt – thanks for relieving Jason and helping the kids
Dee – thanks for buying all the paper products!
Matt, Cheri, Cary, and Amanda – thanks for coming early and helping us get set-up and staying late to help clean up!
Everyone – thanks for helping clean up! Clean up can often be the worst part on an event and I was amazed at how quickly and well clean up went!
Anna – thanks for organizing the desserts and for everyone else who donated the desserts
Everyone who “manned” the inflatables – thanks for being available to help direct the kids and keep them safe! Can you believe how much fun they had???
William and Sarah – thanks for going out of your way to meet up with me and get me the check to pay for the inflatables!
Again – so many people were serving in so many ways on Saturday! Thank you all so much! Praise God for all the wonderful people we were able to serve and connect with! Pray for our community as God longs to bring hope and healing into lives!
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be a part of one of the “Connection Groups” our church offers. Being a part of a Connection Group simply means that we are a small group of people that get to know each other, care for each other, and walk together on our spiritual journey. The benefits of these “connections” for me is immeasurable.
My group has just jumped in to a course of study called Experiencing God (EG). This will be at least the third time of have gone through this course. EG is absolutely amazing to me. It happens to require 5 days of homework each week which takes a considerable amount of time – but wow – is it ever worth the time investment. EG is about learning how to connect with God and to discover His will. I’m only into Day 1 of the study and am already so encouraged by God about learning how to trust Him one day at a time.
I read in EG this morning from Matthew 6:33-34. It says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
As Pastor of The Bridge, I’ve learn to worry more than ever in my life. And I know I am not suppose to worry. In fact, I will never forget the time in my life in high school when I read a verse from the Bible that said, “Which of you by worrying can add one hour to your life?” I read that verse and thought to myself, “How true. Worry does nothing for me.” So, I quit worrying. Until about nine months ago. It is so strange – worry has just not been a part of my life. I worry because I care about people. I care about our community – Morrisville and West Cary and East Durham. I care about the people there who are apart from God and are hurting. I want to see healing and hope brought to their lives. But I’m not suppose to worry. Somehow though, I’ve crossed the line from burden to worry.
I’m really grateful for that verse above – Seek God’s kingdom, his righteousness – and all these things will be given to you. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Just focus on today.
It’s going to be hard for me not to worry about tomorrow as I continue to pray about God’s vision for our church. What is the next step for us? Where is God leading us? I know He wants us to have vision – to look ahead. But at the same time He wants me/us to walk with Him daily, trusting in His ability and willingness to provide for TODAY and that the same will be true TOMORROW.
Anyway…pray for me. Pray that I will overcome my worries and trust God. He loves Morrisville, West Cary, East Durham more than I do.
Yes, it’s been awhile. Blogging has taken a back seat to who knows what.
Anyway…my wife is an App. State grad. And as you may know, the App State football team pulled off the biggest upset in college football histroy 3 Saturday’s ago. They, a division I-aa school, beat Michigan, a Div I-a school, who was ranked #5 in the country! I know, some of you don’t care at all about sports. And this isn’t about sports. Just to poke some fun at my wife (and Tim, Cheri, Carl, Cindi, etc. who all are App grads), I wanted to post the following promotional video for Appalachian State!
FYI, I’m told that enrollement for App is going through the roof now!
Our new church is supported prayerfully and financially by several other churches. The Village Church of Holly Springs is one of those churches. Their Pastor, Don, is a friend of mine. Check out his blog here.
Please take a second to read the following verses from chapter one of the book of Job and what happened to he and his family when Satan asked for God to test him:
“One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
So I’m just casually reading the above Scripture and begin to try to imagine what it would be like to have been Job. What would I do? How would I respond? The next verse began to tell me how Job responded:
“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in…”
Now I can relate to that – getting up, tearing clothing, shaving my head (well, maybe not that), but generally grieving for my losses. That makes sense. But what follows the dot dot dot? Job fell to the ground in grief? Despair? Anguish? Anger? Complete misery? What did Job do?
“Then he fell to the ground in…worship.”
Wow. Not what I was expecting. That’s amazing to me. In all that was happening to him and his family, he fell to the ground and worshipped. Wow. Job really did love God. And he knew all things came from Him. And he trusted God. He knew that God was good, righteous, holy, just, loving, etc. He knew that God was worthy of worship – no matter what. It is so easy to “praise” God when things are going well. But do we really love and worship God, or do we love and worship blessing?
God – you’re worthy of my worship. Thanks for the example of Job. I hope to worship you in all things. And as Job said, “Blessed be you name.”
MikeWindley.com 