Thursday, August 7, 2008
Warning – These are random thoughts prone to improper grammar, spelling, etc., but they are straight from the heart……..Praise God the Spirit of God was just thick in this place on Sunday. I pray we never forget the difference it makes when He shows up. God had burned last Sunday’s message in my heart and although there were no public decisions made, I believe plenty of decisions were made in the hearts of people. The question is, what will we do with the decision? Will we act on that decision or simply sit on it? Just wondering?Man was that some good food Sunday night or what? I want to thank everyone who brought food, bought food or caught food. What a great time of fellowship and prayer as we prayed over the students beginning school on Monday. Believe it or not, we no longer live in a “Leave it to Beaver” society and the things these kids face today are much worse than we ever faced. OK, maybe they don’t walk to school in the snow both ways or up hill both ways. But, they face things we cannot fathom. We need to pray for these kids daily. It sort of hit me on Sunday night that Michelle and I now have two kids in Middle school. The thing is, I am not old enough to have two kids in middle school. After all, I am just 24 years old (wait a minute, that was yesterday, Michelle reminded me that I am thirty-eight now). Man time fly’s. Speaking of time flying, are you really attempting great things for God in this short lived life? Man, make a decision to make a difference. Attack your world for Jesus…Some people might ask, “why is it so important to take the time on a Sunday evening to host Financial Peace University?” According to MSNBC, Financially stressed Americans are turning to credit cards in greater numbers, according to the most recent economic data. Data released last week by the Federal Reserve shows that Americans’ total credit card debt has reached $951.7 billion—up 8.2 percent from a year ago and the highest amount ever recorded. The average cardholder has 2.7 bank credit cards, 3.8 retail credit cards, and 1.1 debit cards. That’s 7.6 cards per cardholder. I truly believe people (not just them [those outside the church] but us, us meaning FBCHS) are so bogged down in debt, whether it be credit cards or car loans or boat payments, etc, etc, that we have to rob God to pay for our stuff. So many of us are failing in one of the most basic principles of Christianity, obeying the Lord in our Tithes and offerings and therefore missing out on His incredible and abundant blessings. I feel so much better since I said that…Beginning Sunday, we will be taking a three-week journey on the biblical basis of stewardship. I have adapted this message series from a series Ed Young from Fellowship Church shared some time ago (no relation to Phil Young). I hope this creative approach will help us to understand the way God looks at money and how we should handle that which the Lord has blessed us with in our lives. Hey, don’t check out over the next three weeks because we will find you…I promise you will not leave here thinking give is a four letter word.Steve Perry, we praise God for you man. I am so grateful that the Lord always provides for His church..I know this was a little heavy but I hope you love me anyway, and know that I love you and desire nothing less than God’s best for each of your lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!Pastor Phil
