The Plumb LIne--Accountability

Scripture: Amos 7: 8 And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied.

Observation: The plumb line reminds me of tolerance, which for me is as close to perfection as I can get without being there.

Application: One of the first jobs I landed as a young man was in a tire plant. The plant manufactured tires that were placed on new cars. I worked in many areas of that plant looking for a place where I could stay till retirement--it didn't happen-that's another story. A tire, when it is being manufactured, does not resemble the finished product on your car at all. There are many components that go into the composition of a tire. At one time, those components were put together on a machine by one person. Everything had to line up and be placed in the proper place and in the proper order other wise the tire would not finish the process much less last once on a car. Through every stage, someone checks the components as they were manufactured, they were checked after they were put together, the machines were checked to make sure they were in specs. A very delicate process before the "green tire" went to the curing press where the finished product took shape. None of the components could be altered or changed once cured. A lot of accountability was in place when that tire was cured and went to final finish to be looked at one more time before shipping. Everyone in the process had a plumb line to guide them in the process of manufacturing tires that were safe for public use. Some still blew out, and failed in other ways--but for the most part they were as close to the plumb line as possible. It is important for me to be accountable and stand as close to the plumb line as possible in the roles I play in this life. There are many eyes (young and old) upon me and it is an awesome responsibility.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I am within tolerance each and everyday and if I am not I will depend on you to preform the quality control needed to bring me up to specs. Help me stand near the plumb line Love Stephen

Yieldedness: Lord, I depend on you to bring me to perfection.

Why I do This Every Day

Scripture: Psalm 86 11 Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness;give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Observation: Reading Scripture is my way of hearing God's voice for my everyday living.
Application: I was looking at some resources the other day to strengthen my library--can't have enough resources. I ran across something that reminded me why I strive to do this everyday--The Life Journal, that is. The resource reminded me that I need to develop my relationship with God on a daily basis and when I read scripture for my wake up process then I need to read it with a listen heart, with my mind open to knew insight, and something that will cause me to be more like the image of God. My teaching and sermon writing does not need to interfer with this time. This time is me and God and all the the others waking up to the same Word every day. It is a wonder to think about all the folk in the world who have read just what I read this morning and how God is able to speak to them also.

Prayer: My prayer today Lord, is that you will teach me your ways and you will teach your ways to all who come to you so that we may become the people, the leaders, the followers you want us to be, Love Stephen

Yieldedness: I will strive to still be a good student.

not always spiritual?

I not always spiritual. I have a list serve where I send stuff I write out to some hopefully interested folks. Well, one of the folks I used to send it too said, "I hardly ever read it." When i asked why he replied, "somtimes I just don't want to be Spiritual."

I guess that is alright but I have say that do want to be. I actually want to think and act with God on my mind in a way that a follower of Jesus ought to think and act, in my humble opinion. I do my level best to keep God's Word close to me everyday. I do journaling which I enjoy and I post some of it on this blog. Hope you will read and enjoy and most of all I pray that God will speak to you through it.

Blessings to you from me.

Ever Been Left Sitting On the Hillside Wondering Where the Shade Went?

Scripture: Jonah 4:10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this gourd, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.

Observation: I am not sure whether Jonah ever got over his anger or not or that he was ever sure why God had sent him to a place that made him angry. Poor Jonah--I do like to think that he did realize that God's plan didn't necessarily have to do with his comfort.

Application: I can picture Jonah now after being in the belly of the huge fish three days and nights; the digestive juices working on him and whatever else that was stuck to him as he was upchucked onto the shore. His one sentence sermon: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown." He must have been a sight to the people of Nineveh for they did heed God's warning that he delivered.
God's wonderful grace comes to us in mighty strange ways sometimes and there is always that opportunity to come back into the fold because God loves us so much. Sometimes I am like Jonah--I pass judgment to soon and without thought to the future or the past--sorta knee jerky I guess. But in the end, I want to have the grace of God in my thoughts and actions so that I won't be left sitting on the side of hill wondering why the shade is gone.

Prayer: Lord today is a new day in more ways than one, but it is a day that you have made and I am blest to be in it. Help me to have your grace and apply it where I am able and help me not to be so quick to judge. Let me always be in your shade. Thanks for loving me, Stephen

Yieldedness: I will strive not to be small minded and angry about things that don't suite me.

Let us not be ashamed of our witness, but suffer together for the Gospel

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1: 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time

Observation: When I go into a new place to serve this passage, I think right now, should be my theme.

Application: I apply this to myself today as go into another year where I am serving. Hopefully this coming Sunday they will not see the same old same old from the same old same old. I hope and pray that my parishioners will not be ashamed my testimony or me and will join me in suffering for the gospel. There are things that need to be rearranged in my opioion to make the church more effective in ministry in the local community and in the world. There are some good tools out there that are available at little or no cost that can be utilized and adjusted to fit any community of faith, which will help them transform into what God has called us to be--saving stations--in my opinion. Places where souls gather to witness the power of God and the presences of God so they may give worship to the Almighty. It is a new day and it is a day that the Lord has made so let us be glad in it. Let us not be just for ourselves but for God and God's will.

Prayer: Lord help me be about you. Use me as a leader into the new day you have brought about and let every thing I do and say be for your glory and for the building of the kingdom. Love Stephen

Yieldedness: I will not be ashamed of my master as I am a slave to the grace of God.

God loves you right where you are

We make a mistake in the presence of God when we put all kinds of qualifications on how God finds us. There are so many folk who think you have to be certain age, have to baptized in a certain manner, know a certain thing and a bunch more stuff that does not have anything to do with how God transforms a person.

Remember that song "Just As I Am, without one plea..." That my friend is how God finds us--just as we are. There is the beginning of salvation.

Have a good day and remember--God loves you right where you are.

God will rock you world

Preaching on Acts 10 today. God rocks Peter's world through a vision that came while he was in a trance. Our upbringing has a lot to do with our beliefs. I grew up in a church that picks and chooses verses and bits and pieces from the Bible to develope their theology. Peter had the same problem in a way. He grew up a Jew and when Jesus came along it was all about people who were Jews becoming followers of Jesus who also was a Jew. Peter's main goal was to bringing other Jews into the fold of followers of Jesus. God changes all that. God makes it ok for Peter to invite Gentiles to become followers of Jesus too. God does through a dream. God rocks Peter's world--changes his world view forever.

When was the last time God rocked your world?

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Scripture: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Observation: What a benediction to read the morning after Annual Conference. The Annual Conference was truly a time of discernment and progress this year.
Application: Reality set in at the Conference this year. Delegates were able to hear the truth about where we stand as The Church and what it will take to be The Church in the future. I am sure I saw a vision of the future of The Church from where I sat this year. I saw Bishop Wills give The State of The Church address in different light as he interviewed two people who are part of The Church reaching out beyond its walls to bring Christ to the community around it. That was exciting! I also saw justice come through as folks voted to give Associate Members and Local Pastors a greater voice in the General Conference. I understand that this vote was only a link in the chain that it will take to "make is so", but I was very encouraged by clergy and laity alike for those who worked hard to bring this ammendment to a vote. I am filled with hope today and I am filled with God's Holy Spirit as I sit and watch the Humming Bird at the feeder today. I saw The Church realize that places like Lakeshore Assembly are very important to the future of The Church and our children even more important because they are The Church of today and The Church in the future. It is important to do whatever it takes to see that ministries like Lakeshore United Methodist Assembly flurish for the glory of God in bringing young folks to know the Christ. Brett Blair said, "I want to be part of a church that is all about bringing people to Jesus" (talking in an article about waking up the United Methodis Church), well so do I. I saw hope this year and I saw a positive attitude also this year. God is Good All the Time!

Prayer: Lord, I pray for The Church, this annual conference, the Bishop and all the folks headed in a direction that will bring us closer to you, so that the world might be transformed. Love Stephen

Yieldedness: I will do my best not to under estimate the power of the Holy Spirit.