People Matter To God

I have chosen a new look and name for my blog. I trust you will enjoy the new feel and theme.

I had been discontent with my old site for a while, because the blog had taken a shape that was outside of the original intent. That happens as things grow and mature.

With this change, my focus is going to primarily sharing my thoughts on the things God is doing, the ways he is working, and my thoughts on Christianity. I may delve into other areas from time to time, but telling you that people matter to God is the main priority.

Why this title? It's rather simple. I see a lot of churches and Christians that don't really live like people matter to God. We have a tendency to say all the right things, but our actions sometimes betray our words. We talk about the fact that people need Jesus, but then we do nothing to lead them to Him.

People matter to God. That's a phrase I've heard pastor Herbert Cooper use in some of his messages as Peoples Church in Oklahoma City, and I'm going to borrow it for this site.

Let me know what you think of the changes.

Monday Ten

1. I know I haven't posted much lately, but that is because I have been busy with real life. It has been a very busy week.

2. Most of the work this past week has been prep work a big re-wiring project at KWFC this past weekend.

3. We got the majority of the re-wiring finished, but there are a handful of things left to do.

4. Our church debuted the renovation of the worship center. New lights, a big screen re-alignment, and better cameras. It's all in preparation for a future video campus.

5. This is going to be an exciting week for us.

6. Our two oldest kids are getting baptised this weekend at our church's Freedom Splash event.

7. My middle son turns seven this week. He's super-excited.

8. Independence Day is Sunday. I love my country. Thank you to all who have served in our military to protect and defend out country.

9. We will be celebrating July 4th at the I Love America event.

10. I hope to do a better job of posting thoughts this week. Stay tuned.

Monday Ten

1. Father's Day is always great around our house...mainly because I get treated.

2. Breakfast was at Golden Corral.

3. Having church services on Saturday night makes it possible to do the breakfast buffet in a timely fashion.

4. After breakfast, my wife and boys bought me a new baseball glove. I can't continue to play catch barehanded with my boys.

5. After that, we spent most of the day watching NASCAR and the U.S. Open. It was too hot to do anything else.

6. Notice that I didn't say anything about the World Cup. Soccer is a terrible sport. IMHO!

7. The message that I preached last Sunday aired on the radio in the Mountain Grove area yesterday. I'm praying that someone's life was changed by it.

8. I'm also trusting God to open ministry doors for my family and I. I have no plans...only God.

9. A friend at another radio station gave me a pre-release copy of Hillsong's upcoming concert album. I've been taking it in over the past week. It is good, but sadly there are not many differences between this album and the previous four or five. "Mighty To Save" was the last really good Hillsong album. Again, IMHO!

10. I have golf fever!

Tony Dungy: I Am Second

Guest Post: Handing Over the Keys

This is a re-post of my wife's blog from today. Enjoy!

How many of you like control over your life? Most of us, right? You may like your life just the way it is, and think "Why should I hand over the keys to God?" Christians hesitate to just give God their all. We make excuses as to why we can't do that. God asks us to live by faith. It is a hard thing to do for most Christians. It's hard to say, "Here God, I totally turn my life over to you and will live by faith." But, when we do, we reap huge benefits. I have not always been faithful at letting God totally have the keys, but when I do he always takes good care of me, and I am blessed.

To convey how important it is to hand over the keys to God I will tell you what happened to me. Two-years-ago I was was in a violent roll-over crash. It was the most terrifying night of my life. I can still hear the boys screaming, "Mommy, help me!" Just heart breaking for a mother to know her babies are that scared and in danger.

A young girl had hit a guardrail and slammed into the side of my van, sending me up under a bridge and hitting the top of the bridge support. I went airborne for 50-feet and then rolled end-over-end for three or four times before stopping. I had my two youngest sons with me that night. They were 2 & 4 years old. They were fine other than a few little bumps & bruises. I took the brunt of it with a concussion, bruised lungs, head & neck soft tissue damage and my right hand was sliced open by the shattered windshield. My right hand had three finger tendons shredded, nerves damaged and bone exposed. It was not a pretty sight.

I tell you all this to tell you this. That night I thought I was almost home with my babies. I had just looked in the mirror a few minutes before, and they were sleeping peacefully in their car seats. Next thing I know, I am being pushed up the bridge. At that moment I handed over the keys to God. The one I trusted could help us! You say, "But Rebekah, you were still hurt." Yes, I was, but my babies were fine, and we all survived. It's a miracle! So see when we truly let God take control, He takes good care of us. Who better than to trust your life with. So, I challenge you today to give it all to God. The one that made you. The one that loves you more than anyone. And if you're not a Christian turn over your life to God today! You will never regret turning it all over to God, but you may regret it if you don't.

To show you what a miracle our accident was, I'm going to share some pictures of my wrecked van! I'm so glad that I let "JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL."For I know the plan I have for you," Declares the LORD, " Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you Hope and a Future. Jeremiah 29:11

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If you're in leadership, no matter how high or low on the totum poll, you'll get hit with criticism. John Maxwell writes "When You Get Kicked in the Rear, You Know You're Out in Front."