Are you rich? by Pastor Andy

Posted on February 26, 2016 by admin

Rags to Riches to Rags

Really, it’s a cliche story.

A man starts at the bottom, works his way up, and strikes it rich. Maybe it’s oil or the lottery or a business that takes off. No matter the detail, money pours in…and so do the friends.

The party begins! Money flows and everything is great. People love this guy…he is so much fun! Until the money stops, and the fun is over. With the money, so go the people.

The man is on his own, by himself, at the bottom. Even his dog leaves him. No one likes a poor, loser!

The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends. -Proverbs 14:20

We all want friends. No one wants to be the poor, loser, who doesn’t even have a dog. So the question we should ask is, what does it take to be rich?

Are you rich?

I’m not talking about monetary wealth. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I mean are you rich in personality, depth of soul, and connection with God. This is true wealth. When we have this, we’ll have many friends, and they can’t be easily taken away!

Here’s a quick list of 10 things you can do to be rich in personality, depth and connection with God.

Read the Bible daily.
Pray Scripture.
Read 1 book a month (non-fiction).
Read 1 book a month (fiction).
Try a new meal or drink.
Attend a GROW group.
Learn a new hobby.
Eat lunch with a co-worker you don’t normally talk with.
Watch an art film.
Attend a spiritual conference, seminar or retreat this year.
BONUS – Attend a live sporting event.
BONUS – Visit a local civic counsel meeting.

Do something different! Grow in your walk with God and in yourself. You’ll become rich, and you won’t lack for friends (who can never be taken away).

What one thing can you begin today to be rich in personality, depth or connection with God?

I’m kind of a big deal. – Pastor Andy Bondurant

Posted on February 24, 2016 by admin

I’m very important

In the movie Anchorman, Will Ferrell’s character Ron Burgundy humbly says,

I don’t know how to put this, but I’m kind of a big deal.

Later he proclaims,

I’m very important. I have many leather bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.

Why are you reading Anchorman quotes this morning? It’s not because of Will Ferrell or Ron Burgandy, but Jesus really was a big deal. He was very important. Not just Jesus, but his friends, the disciples too.

In Mark 6, Jesus sent the disciples out to minister. He gives very specific instructions (go in pairs, take no money or provision, stay anywhere people accept the truth – verses 7-11). The disciples are obedient, and they have incredible success – demons are cast out and people are healed (verses 12-13).

This makes Jesus and his friends very important, and the result is a crush of people.

Mark 6:30-33:

30 The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

As I read this passage the other day, I saw it in a new light. If you read on, you’ll find this is when Jesus feeds the 5,000 followed up by walking on water. Those acts overshadow what Jesus does to be a friend in verses 30-31. Read them again.

Friendship Do’s

Monday, Pastor David shared 2 friendship don’ts –

Don’t eat alone.
Don’t run alone.

Today, let me share with you 2 friendship do’s.

1. Be available.

I can imagine the scene when as the disciples returned to Jesus. There were of course some highs (casting out demons and healing the sick), but I’m guessing there were some lows – kicked out of communities, cursed, etc. I also imagine there were some funny moments.

Jesus wanted to hear their stories. He wasn’t above it. He was available, and He cared.

Are you available for your friends? Available to share their ups, downs and funny moments?

2. Be honest.

Through the disciples sharing, Jesus saw something. He saw they were tired. He realized they needed a break.

So, Jesus is honest with them. He tells them to get in a boat, push away, and go somewhere no one else is.

It didn’t work. The people followed them, and they ministered anyway, but Jesus tried. He tried to give them a break, even when it was probably to his disadvantage – spreading His good news.

Are you honest with you friends, even when it may be to your own disadvantage?

This past week, I spent some time with friends old and new in the photography industry. In both group and personal settings, I had an opportunity to practice these both. I was available and honest, and it opened doors. People are hungry for someone to be available and honest with them. What better place to start than with our friends?

As you evaluate your friendships this week, ask yourself how you can be available and honest with these people.

Amazing Love by Pastor David Jones

Posted on February 15, 2016 by admin

Sing: Seek First by Jason Upton

³⁴So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.³⁵Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT

Jesus gives a new command. Love each other. It’s an interesting command as it’s not really a new command. In Leviticus we are reminded:

¹⁸“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18 NLT

Jesus was surely aware of this direct command from the Pentateuch. The idea of loving your neighbor was radical in the time of Moses. It was something the religious leaders of the day had a hard time following. In fact it was hard for anyone to follow. But Jesus does not point us to the Old Covenant, he points us to an even more radical command.

Love each other, just as I have loved you.

Herein lies the radical command. It’s one thing to love your neighbor as yourself. It’s quite another to love like Jesus loved. If we uncover this truth we’ll be amazed at the kind of love Jesus demonstrated on Earth. Jesus touched the lepers, played with children, hung out with sinners, associated with the rich, poor and despised, he lived His life on earth as an offering. He poured out His life for those he came to save.

Jesus shocked his followers with love. Jesus wrapped himself in a towel, got on his knees and began to scrape the mud off the feet of his disciples. Then he washed their feet. It was a moment of amazing love. After finishing with this powerful demonstration of humble love Jesus looks as his friends and says, “Love each other, just as I have loved you.” Surely, His radical command to love blew their minds!

Yet, this is the kind of love Jesus calls us to embrace. We are not called to simply receive love we are called to dispense love. It’s a love that is hard to give and live. The new command of Jesus isn’t just how we would want to be treated. Most of us would not expect someone to go out of their way and extravagantly dispense love toward us. But Jesus says go beyond your pre-defined expectations and do the unthinkable–love willingly, love radically, love unexpectedly.

Let’s follow Jesus! I challenge you. Find someone today and do the unexpected. Pour out extravagant love in a unexpected moment. You’ll prove to the world that you are a disciple of Jesus.

Secrets to Lasting Love by Pastor David

Posted on February 15, 2016 by admin

The official world record for the longest marriage for a living couple belongs to Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher, who were married for a total of 86 years and 290 days. In 2011, Herbert passed away at 105, and a few years later in 2013, Zelmyra followed at 105 years old as well.

herbert-and-zelmyra

I Corinthians 13:4-8 MSG

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

8-10 Love never dies.

Before their death, the Fishers were interviewed about their secrets to long lasting love…and their answers were astoundingly simple. Marry your best friend, be committed, work hard and remember marriage is not a contest, never keep score, God put you on the same team to win! Pretty good advice from a couple that remained happily married for over 86 years!

Here are three secrets to a lasting marriage:

#1 Love is not a fickle feeling

Once you’ve decided to go all in. Once you’ve said, “I DO” you move from feelings to commitment. The feelings may or may not remain but your decision to stick with your spouse is not based on emotion, it’s based on a commitment you made to your spouse and the Lord.

One pastor put it this way, “Love, by its very nature, isn’t a fairy tale feeling, but a commitment. Love isn’t a story with a happy ending; love is a story with no ending.”

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT

#2 Never bring up mistakes of the past.

If they’re breathing, your mate will eventually offend you. Learn to forgive.
Stop criticizing others or it will come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven.

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. – (Luke 6:37 NLT).

#3 Sex should be a Priority:

Every Time we engage in sex we are renewing our covenant to each other.

Don’t allow your busy schedule, your kids, or your age keep you from the marriage bed! It is important to come together and express your love in a physical way to your spouse. Every time you engage in sex you communicate once more to your spouse that you are committed. Each time you come together you physically demonstrate that you are choosing them.

“The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs. The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 NLT

Daily Devotions

Posted on February 13, 2016 by admin

Enhance your day with verses from the Bible, along with reflections from Pastor David Jones, Pastor Andy Bondurant, Pastor Matt Shirley, and Pastor Chris Horsley. We pray that you will find the strength, peace, and comfort you need to strengthen your walk with Christ.

DEVOTIONAL ARCHIVES

July 29, 2016 – Christ-Centered Time Management

July 28, 2016 – God’s Purpose or Mine?

July 27, 2016 – Use your time wisely

July 26, 2016 – Time Management God’s Way: What’s on Your To-Don’t List?

July 25, 2016 – A daily time with the Lord

July 22, 2016 – Exceedingly Abundantly

July 21, 2016 – Impossibilities

July 20, 2016 – The Discipline of Difficulty

July 19, 2016 – Be Aware of the Least Likely Temptation

July 18, 2016 -Temptation

July 15, 2016 – Spiritual Honor and Duty