I am a Texas Rangers fan.  I love baseball and I love the Rangers.  I love going to the games.  I love watching them on television.  I have a Rangers cap and a shirt.  I can name their starting lineup and even a lot of the bench players.  I LOVE the Rangers and devote a lot of my time to keeping up with them and catching as many games as possible.  I am a Rangers fan.

   But let's say I just went to a game or two a year, never watched them on television, and didn't know all the players.  What if I could name a couple of the superstars on the team, but didn't know the whole lineup?  What if I barely devoted any of my time to keeping up with the Rangers?  Would you still say I was a fan?

   So, what kind of "Jesus fan" are you?  Do you show up on Easter, Christmas and to some of the "big events" in the church, but skip out whenever you can?  Do you know some of the Bible stories and have the ability to quote a few famous scriptures, but never really spend any time reading the Bible?  Do you ever listen to praise and worship songs or pray to God outside of Sunday mornings or Wednesday night youth meetings?

   How big of a "Jesus fan" are you?  When we say we are Christians, we might as well be saying we are fans of Jesus.  Do our actions live up to our claims?  Are you a "Jesus fan," or are you just pretending to be one?

There are so many idols in our lives.  Every day, we have opportunities to stand up for what we believe.  Sometimes those choices seem small and insignificant, but every small chance that we take to make a stand, it builds us up and makes us stronger, so when the tough temptations come, we are steeled and ready for it.

Next time your friends are talking bad about someone else, will you make a stand?  Next time you are at a party and someone brings out the alcohol, will you do something about it?  Next time you are watching a television show or movie and it offends you, will you keep watching?

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 

We all face temptations, but so does everyone else.  We have to learn to trust God to lift us up.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a furnace for their beliefs, and God saved them from death.  You have a chance to stand up for God at home, school, when you're hanging out with your friends... don't miss those opportunities.  You will be greatly blessed when you choose to honor God instead of kneeling down to the "idols."

I have heard many names for God throughout the Bible, but this one particularly caught my attention.  Sometimes we think that we are too small for God to care about.  We can't figure out how someone so large and amazing could possibly see us down here in our tiny lives.  But this scripture passage shows us that God even heard the cries of this servant girl, who was forced to have a child with her master's husband.  He cared about this woman who was mistreated and worthless, whose child seemed to be destined to fail.  But God saw her and He cared about her.  He even made her a promise much like the one He promised Abraham.

No matter what circumstances have affected your life, just remember that He is the "God who sees" you.  He knows what you're going through and He is looking for you.  Call out to Him and find out what promises He has in store for you!

Here are some more words of wisdom from "Elf" and some other Christmas movies:

"Elf":   I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite

"Elf":    First off, you see gum on the street, leave it there. It isn't free candy.

"Elf":    By the way don't eat the yellow snow.

"Charlie Brown Christmas":    Try to catch snowflakes on your tongue. It's fun.

"How the Grench Stole Christmas":    You can't hurt Christmas, Mr. Mayor, beacuse it isn't about the... the gifts or the contest or the fancy lights. That's what Cindy's been trying to tell everyone... and me. I don't need anything more for Christmas than this right here: my family.

"It's A Wonderful Life":    Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?

"It's A Wonderful Life":    You call this a happy family? Why do we have to have all these kids?

"The Santa Clause":    These are... A gift. Probably from the cable company. We're getting the Disney Channel now. Merry Christmas.

"Miracle on 34th Street":    Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to.

"Miracle on 34th Street":    But... but maybe he's only a little crazy like painters or composers or... or some of those men in Washington.

I wonder how often we go about our mundane existence and miss the blessings God has for us because we're too busy to see them.  Throughout the month of December, I urge you to look for God's blessings.  During the holidays, it should be even easier to see where God is blessing you.  Just open your eyes and allow him to do so, even in the little things... like snow.

In Exodus 12, God tells the Israelites how they are to observe Passover every year.  They are to celebrate the time that God spared their firstborn sons and freed them from Egypt and over 400 years of slavery.  I am sure the first few celebrations were amazing, as their freedom was so fresh on their memories.  But over the years, as time passed and the miracle God worked in their lives faded into the past, I wonder if the celebration became just another party... just another time for them to eat together.

This Thanksgiving, take time to celebrate all the miracles God has done in your life.  Turkey, football and pumpkin pie is great, but make sure you talk to God and thank Him.  God wants to bless you this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I can't help but wonder if we live our lives without 3D glasses.  What are we missing?  Is our experience with God fuzzy?  Is it flat?  How many of God's amazing blessings do we miss every day because we don't take the time or effort to see God the way He wants us to, the way He created us to experience him?

The quizzers have been studying 1 Corinthians, and there are some verses in that book that address the issue:  "No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.  None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for thsoe who love him'-- but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.  The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2:7-10.  He then goes on to say, in verse 14: "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Maybe the Holy Spirit is a little like 3D glasses.  Without Him, we have a vague understanding of God.  But when we wrap ourselves in the Spirit, God is revealed more clearly to us, in a way we could never imagine possible.

So, go put on your 3D glasses and enjoy the show.  You won't be disappointed.

Our church made a tough decision to sell our building, leaping out in faith into a scary situation, not knowing what God had in store for us.  Much like Moses, we have been searching for God's will for our church, for his guidance.  He has helped us purchase land, and is guiding us toward our future.  But I believe he is trying to get our attention right now.  We had a powerful meeting last night with the church board and vision team, which ended in a corporate prayer.  I'm not sure what our "burning bush" is, but I believe God is trying to get our attention, and we have to listen to him and say "Here I am!"

I hope everyone will search after God.  Pray.  Read your Bible.  Pray some more.  Become desperate for him and God is going to do something miraculous.  After God gets Moses' attention, he reveals his plan to free his people from Egypt.  But if Moses hadn't approached the burning bush, if he hadn't been seeking God, he would have missed God's miraculous plan for his life.

Don't miss out on what God has in store for you.

First, I think we need to realize that God wants us to call out to him.  We like to take care of our own problems and only turn to God as a last resort, but this verse has a cause and effect relationship.  The people had to do something before God saved them.  They had to cry out to God.

The second thing I notice is that God saves them from their distress when they cry out to Him.  When we cry out to God, He acts.  He doesn't sweep us under the rug.  He is the Almighty God, yet He listens when we call on Him.

Growing up, I always knew that if something bad happened to me, I could run into the house and find my mom or dad, and they would help me.  I remember one time when I was a kid, I got stung by a bee.  My mom dropped what she was doing to fix me, to take away the pain.  My well-being was all that mattered to her at that moment.  God is the same way.  When you are hurt, beaten down, depressed... run to God and He will drop what he's doing and shower His love on you.

    Some of you were raised in the church and have been fortunate to receive Godly teaching that has influenced your lives.  Some of you just recently joined the youth group and are only now seeing how God can change your life and your future.  But no matter where you've been, we can all look back and think of people who have made an impact on our lives.  Take some time this week and contact that person.  Thank them for making a positive difference in your life.  Call them, email them, text them... let them know that you are thankful for their willingness to touch your life.

    I also challenge you to strive to be a difference maker in the lives of others.  Be a shoulder to lean on in tough times.  Listen to your friends when they are struggling and need to share what's on their minds.  Be a Godly example to children in KidPoint.  Be nice to the kid at school that no one else talks to.

    God has great things planned for each of you.  Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  You have a bright future ahead of you, planned by a perfect God, and a loving church behind you to support you and help you.  Trust in the guidance provided to you by God and the difference makers I talked about earlier and you will find purpose in your life.

Welcome to the new website!  I will write blogs as often as I get the urge, so check back to see if I have anything interesting to say.  You can find photo galleries, videos, calendars and other cool stuff.