Where the Ministry Happens

Luke 23:34

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Last week’s sermon had a profound line in it. It was something that we all know but he gave voice to the fact that many times the greatest ministry comes from the cross.

If you think about your own life, the best opportunities for you to show grace or show love hasn’t come from a position of power. Instead, it is most likely came from a position of hurt. What decision have we made? Did we choose forgiveness and grace or did we choose revenge?

I know that I have not necessarily always chosen the correct path, But Jesus did.

Yet again we have our perfect example of what to do. Make it a great day in the trenches. Be exceptional it being you.

Love,

Yancey

Family Friday 2/28: Faithful Stewards

Locker 10:34 Kids Camp

Good morning, men!

Tomorrow marks one of my favorite days of the year. Our church outreach group, Locker 10:34, will host our 5th Annual Kids Baseball Camp. This is a clinic we host at our local high school to kick off the season and get the boys some instruction before ball starts back up. It’s also an opportunity for us to talk with the boys about Christ and using sports to serve others.

1Peter 4:10 says:

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

Pray for us as we interact with these boys and families tomorrow. It is a big day for my family and our church community. I’m asking that God use this event to spread his love and our message through the fields and stands this year. There are so many good things about youth sports, but it can be a very dark world at the same time, as many of you know.

If anyone out there has a player in youth baseball this spring/ summer and is interested in learning about our scripture ball giveaway program, please call me at (870)219-1339 and I will be glad to tell you more. We will even ship your team a dozen balls to give away with “1 Peter 4:10” written on the sweet spot.

Have a blessed day, men!

M.I.T.T. ~ Runyan

Neither Hot nor Cold

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:15‭-‬16 NIV

This verse and its origin were explained in a whole new light by our Interim Pastor over the weekend. Jesus, is speaking to the church of Laodicea.  In this country there are multiple springs of hot water and multiple springs of cold water. People would travel to these springs in order to get healing for their bodies. We all know that hot water and cold water have healing benefits, but lukewarm water is really good for nothing.  In this city, they also piped their drinking water from quite a distance. Often times, by the time it would arrive it would be lukewarm, not hot or cold. Jesus says, because you are lukewarm and nobody likes lukewarm water, I am going to spit you out!

Jesus, is using something they are familiar with to paint a picture of what they look like in his eyes. A church that is good with their riches, and thinks they do not need God. Also, a church that is no longer on mission to spread the good news of the gospel, and in turn no longer bringing the healing power of Jesus into others lives.

We all go through seasons, but we need to continue to pray that we stay on mission, worship God, and share His message! Our churches are created and ran by God. He is standing at the door knocking, asking to be let back into the very thing He created! Let him in!

With love, dlp

M.I.T.T.

 

Mysterious Ways

We often here the saying “The Lord works in mysterious ways” we had an example of this over the last few months that I would like to share.

We’re doing a fairly large home remodel right now and were having trouble getting someone to design a kitchen for us. After waiting on 3 local companies to get back to us, we reached out to someone in a different town about a 100 miles away. She did the design, everything went great, when we meet with her to initialize everything, she recommended using the counter-top guy she always uses. We thought that would be fine, he met us at his shop that same day (Saturday) even though he wasn’t working.

Fast forward a few months, I have installed the cabinets and am ready for counter-tops to be measured. We were trying to work out a time for him to come template them. During the week didn’t work as he had a full schedule. We settled on Saturday afternoon, that wasn’t the best for us as my wife wanted to be there to make sure I didn’t make any decision she didn’t agree with since she would be at work! Luckily, he called and asked if we could move it to Sunday afternoon, which worked much better for us.

He comes out Sunday with his wife, she was just going to sit in the car and read. However she ended up coming in to help him measure. After talking with her a bit we made a connection, she went to high school in the same town as my wife and was a few years ahead of her older sister.

She asked how my wife’s sisters family was doing, my wife said her original thought was just to say they are good, busy chasing kids, but something in her gut said to be honest. She told her that her sisters husband had been diagnosed with huntington’s disease, which as diseases go is about as bad as you can get, and that they had really be struggling with it.

She let us know that huntington’s disease runs in her family and she was very familiar with it. She also offered to put my wife’s sister in contact with one of her family members that helps take care of someone that has it.

This was an answer to prayers, deep desperate prayers, to be able to talk with someone who is going through what they are about to go through that they have some sort of connection with.

As we got frustrated with no one wanting to help us with our kitchen design, we had no idea God was working behind the scenes and had a bigger plan.

Men, as you go through trials, and think things aren’t going the ways you think they should be going, have faith, the Lord works in mysterious ways!

Zach

Comfortable?

Good morning men. I want take a moment and wish my baby girl that made me a dad a happy 7th birthday. I’m trying to figure out where the last seven years went! This last Sunday at church in our announcement sheet, this verse was on the cover and I thought it couldn’t have been more fitting.

Isiah 4:13 “I am the Lord your God, holds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’”

With our children for those of us who are parents, how often do we get frustrated trying to get our kids to do something outside of their comfort zone. We tel them to trust us and not to worry. We are right here for you. They resist and resist until they finally do trust us or they shut down and try another day. How often is this US with God. He is getting us outside our comfort zone and we resist. He’s right here waiting with his hands out to help us. THE BIBLE SAYS SO!!! Why do we hesitate to listen and obey him. Be prayerful that when he calls you to try something or to some change that you trust him enough to step out of the boat. Have a great day in the trenches men.

How to suffer well

I felt led in light of the past few messages with those suffering from loss, that this message would be fitting. I don’t share this as one who has figured this out. This is one I am constantly having to learn from. May the message bless you and where the Lord is leading you this week!

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-suffer-well

Also I would encourage you all to pray and consider what is coming up this week: Ash Wednesday. It is a good time to focus, meditate, pray, confess, repent, fast, reflect & worship what Christ did in the 40+ days all the way up to his death & resurrection.

https://www.christianity.com/church/church-life/what-is-ash-wednesday-why-do-christians-celebrate-it.html

In Christ,

Michael P. Miller

Enduring Loss

Revelation 21:4

4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Pastors, today is an opportunity to grab with all of your mite.

Men, today’s message is about loss. We will all experience it if we haven’t already. I was at a gym Saturday and one of the teams that played after us had a guy pass out in the stands and eventually pass away later in the day. If you remember, I have referenced one of my dad’s former players who had a daughter fighting cancer. She lost her battle Friday night.

I admire her mother and only wish I had half of her faith and strength. She described her daughter’s passing by telling us she is home, that she is pain free, that she is whole and that she was dancing with Jesus. She obviously knows today’s passage.

I only hope that others see my faith the way I see hers. I ask that you pray for those families that are experiencing loss. I pray that you never take life for granted.

Make it a great week in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Treat Others With Respect

Psalm 1:1-2
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.

The biggest word in that passage to me is mockers. If you think about it, when is mocking ever done in the spirit of kindness? I can’t think of one, but you may be able to.

Let’s concentrate on treating others with love and respect even if no one else does. It takes courage to stand alone, if necessary. Be courageous.

Make it a great day in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey

Treat Others With Respect

Psalm 1:1-2
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.

The biggest word in that passage to me is mockers. If you think about it, when is mocking ever done in the spirit of kindness? I can’t think of one, but you may be able to.

Let’s concentrate on treating others with love and respect even if no one else does. It takes courage to stand alone, if necessary. Be courageous.

Make it a great day in the trenches. Be exceptional at being you.

Love,

Yancey