ABOUT US Blogs
BIG Picture Idea Central
[Big Picture Blog]
09/01/2010
By Lynn, Aaron
What ideas, challenges, solutions are you encountering with The Big Picture Study?
Genesis 12-50 'Patriarchs'- Lesson Ideas
[Big Picture Blog]
09/01/2010
By Lynn, Aaron
Leaders- share your ideas on how you're preparing the lesson for this coming Sunday!
Father of Lies
[Brother Al's Blogs]
09/25/2009
By Meredith, Al
Satan is known as the "Father of Lies." I am convinced he does not traffic so much in bold-faced fabrications, but in subtle miscommunication that leads to complete misunderstanding.
We live in an age where the primary form of communication is e-mail or text messaging. But imagine the chances for miscommunication when psychologists insist the 55% of communication is body language and 38% is due to tone of voice. That blocks 93% of the message! Yet we think we are expressing ourselves clearly.
It is bad enough when we have the facts. How much worse is it when we blithely accept rumors? Think of poor Lady Godiva who never did actually ride naked through town. Or even old Nero, who couldn't have fiddled while Rome burned because the "fiddle" hadn't been invented yet.
And what about the problems that arise when we didn't quite hear things right? Children have been known to sing "He's got the whole world in His pants!" Or "Sweet land of liberty, off key I sing." One four year old told his parents they sang about a bear with eye trouble ("Gladly, the Cross I'd Bear"). Another informed her parents there was dirt in Heaven ("Join in a song with sweet accord and Dust around the phone").
Finally, there's the curse of church bulletin boo-boo's:
- "For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs."
- "This being Easter Sunday, Mrs. Lewis will come forward and lay an egg on the altar."
"Wednesday night Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow." - "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands."
Let's communicate folks.
In His love,
Bro. Al
God’s Sufficient Grace
[Dixie's Blogs]
03/02/2009
By Walker, Dixie
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Many times our own strength is actually the deterrent to trusting in God. We think we can handle it all on our own. How many times have you thought that?
My first church staff experience out of seminary was, in a word – horrifying. There were all kinds of blocks against what I was trying to do. And with any first job, I was trying my best – but only to meet resistance the entire way. After a full year of complete frustration, that experience finally broke me – emotionally and physically to the point of needing to step away from that job. I was so destroyed that I felt I would never again go back to a church staff setting for work. Many questions came during those months following --- Had I misinterpreted God’s call on my life? Had I not learned anything in school or training to prepare me for that job? Was I lacking other skills that would have helped things go better?
I decided to wait it out for at least a few months in that same city, so I started attending a different church. To my surprise, that church was in the midst of revival – but the kind of revival that I had never experienced before! It’s hard to put into words what I saw, heard, felt during my few months at the new church. The worship service would begin, but it would change course at any moment into a prayer service or spontaneous congregational singing. People were crossing the aisles and pews – seeking to make wrongs right again with other people. They were going to the front steps for personal prayer and renewal. The pastor’s sermons were filled with God’s Word. And this happened not only on Sunday mornings, but Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. I had to park my car several blocks away each time due to the numbers attending each and every service. That was definitely a turning point in my healing from the bad experience I’d had at my first church “job” to a church that was open to God leading them completely.
Today at Wedgwood, there are many things going on in the lives of our church family – divorce, abuse, financial stress just to name a few. And that puts all of us in the perfect spot to either try doing it our way, or allowing God to lift us up out of our weakness. We must rely on God’s direction, strength, and wisdom to see us through our difficulties. Henry Blackaby writes in Experiencing God Day-By-Day, “If you feel strong in an area of your life, beware! Often your strength, rather than your weakness, hinders you from trusting God. God will bring you to a point of weakness if that is what it takes to bring you to trust in Him.”
Profiting from Trials
[Mike's Blogs]
02/10/2009
By Holton, Mike
James 1:2- 8 (New King James Version)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The oldest (acknowledged) living organism known is a bristlecone pine tree nicknamed “Methuselah” (after Methusaleh, the longest-lived person in the Bible). Methuselah is located in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of eastern California, however its precise location is undisclosed by the U.S Forest Service to protect the tree from vandalism. The age of Methuselah was measured by core samples in 1957 to be 4,789 years old.
Bristlecone pines grow in isolated groves at and just below the tree line. Their growth is often very stunted, with the last trees forming low, densely matted bushes. However, in a climate too harsh for other trees to grow, they stand as a testament to the ability of a species to live and prosper under extreme and stressful conditions. Because of cold temperatures, dry soils, high winds, and short growing seasons, the trees grow very slowly. The wood is very dense and resinous, and thus resistant to invasion by insects, fungi, and other potential pests.
Sometimes we find ourselves in less-than-ideal growing environments. Our natural inclination is to think about changing the environment. We think that if we could only move to a climate that’s warm, heavy, and moist our problems would be solved. In actuality we simply inherit a different set of problems and stresses. Our spiritual lives grow cold and arid, and family relationships become harsh and stressful. Often we feel like shriveling up, packing up, and giving up.
In the James passage, the author writes, “…when you fall into various trials…”. He accepts the fact that we are going to face trials in our lives – but his focus is not on the trials, but on the results of the trials. Because of the trials we develop patience – and as we become more patient, our sensitivity to and understanding of others increases.
Our character is molded to become “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” And that, in James’ thinking is reason to
“Count it all Joy!”
The Enemies of Revival
[Kevin's Blogs]
02/04/2009
By Galey, Kevin
Nehemiah 4-5
What do you think of when you hear the term Revival? For some, just the mention of the word conjures up images of long drawn out church services lasting for days with each night having it’s on special emphasis like “pack a pew” night or “pizza blowout” night or even invite a “sinner to dinner” night where you would bring your lost friends or family member to a church wide potluck dinner with the visiting evangelist. There would be great worship followed by “enthusiastic” preaching all for the sake of compelling the lost or the wayward believer back into fellowship with God. When the “event” was over, the church armed with a renewed sense of direction and calling would recommit themselves to the ministry of seeking and saving that which is lost only to return to business as usual at the first signs resistance or persecution more discouraged and defeated than before. Sound familiar?
In the book of Nehemiah, we are reminded that the road to revival and renewal is lined with opposition at every turn. In v. 4:1-3 we know that anytime God’s people attempted to honor Him with their obedience, there was opposition from outside the camp ready at any given moment to provide a steady supply of mocking and persecution meant to distract and discourage God’s people from completing His work.
The enemies of God feel threatened by the growth of His kingdom, so they will move quickly and rigorously to try and stop it. Those who seek to obey God should expect ridicule and injustice.
Question 1: During the time of Revival emphasis here at Wedgwood, how has the mocking and the ridicule of the evil one distracted you from pursuing God’s best for your life? Quite often we as believers will listen to the lies of the enemy when they say, “Whatever they build, even if a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall”. v. 3 Translated, whatever recommitment you make to God during a time of revival won’t last very long, so better not to make one. For the weary Israelites, rather than get discouraged, they turned to prayer and became even more determined to accomplish the work of God. V.4-6
If the enemies of God can’t discourage the church from following Him obediently, they will attempt to create confusion within the camp so that the enemy can divide and conquer. In v. 7-23, we discover that the renewed commitment of God’s people to complete the work of God enraged the enemies of the Israelites. In their anger, they conspired to attack the Israelites where they were most vulnerable in the hope of creating confusion and stopping the work on the walls of Jerusalem.
Question 2:During the time of Revival emphasis here at Wedgwood, how has the enemy been able to create confusion within the church and turn brother against brother, sister against sister with this group feeling unfairly treated and that group feeling left out of whatever we feel we have a right to?
Again the children of Israel turned to God in prayer who revealed to Nehemiah the schemes of their enemies along with a plan to both protect the people while completing the building of the walls. V. 9 Nehemiah reminds them of the awesome power of their God as well as the common enemy outside the walls that needed to be their joint focus.
As a church, we are reminded both individually and corporately of the awesome power of God in protecting us from our enemies as well as providing for our every need. We must then stand confidently in Jesus Christ who is our armor and rally together knowing that “Our God will fight for us” v. 19 and give us the victory over our enemies again.
If the enemies of God can’t divide the church with confusion, they will attempt to introduce compromise with sin so that the body slowly decays from the inside.
In Nehemiah 5: 1ff, we have the complaining of the women against their own wealthy Jewish brethren who had taken advantage of their poverty conditions by loaning out money for food and taxes using family property as collateral. While Jewish tradition allowed for the Israelites to loan money to each other, it was to be without interest and you could not take another brothers land. Seizing the opportunity, Jewish nobles were taking advantage of the needy and undermining the Lord’s work while enslaving many young Jewish boys and girls needed for completing the wall.
Question 3: During the time of Revival emphasis at Wedgwood, how has the enemy introduced seeds of compromise into your personal life as well as your family causing you to mortgage your inheritance from God, enslaving your children to the world and stopping the work of God in your life as well as that of your family?
The Bible tells us that Nehemiah became very angry when he heard their cry and took very swift steps to deal with the nobles and rulers. He called them to account for their actions and commanded that they repay and restore what they had taken unlawfully.
In a similar fashion, God wants us to hold each other accountable so that we don’t get discouraged and loose sight of the goal that is before us. He wants us to know that the work is not hard; it is impossible without God making the way and defeating our enemies before us.
The scriptures remind us that we are all part of one body, united in Jesus Christ for the purpose of glorifying God and lifting up the name of Jesus as lights in the darkness. But we must also be aware that as the people of God we have a very real enemy who is hoping through the conspiracy of contempt, confusion and compromise he might discourage and distract God’s people from pursuing the Kingdom of God. May we not retreat in the face of our enemy, but stand as more than conquerors in Jesus Christ who has given us the victory.
What Happens When Leaders Lead?
[Phil's Blogs]
01/13/2009
By Beck, Phil
Leaders operate in their God-given gifting.
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What the Lord taught us in 2008!
[Staff Blog]
01/06/2009
By Admin, Admin
The question was asked, "What scripture verse best describes what the Lord has taught you in 2008?"
Phil Beck - 1st Corinthians 10:31
Nancy Zirbas - Proverbs 14:1
Jeremy Hudson - James 1:2
Tricia Jernigen - Romans 8:28 & Philipians 4:19
James Booth - Proverbs 3:5-6 & Joshua 9:1-15
Chris Shirley - John 15:5
Ryan Redwine - Psalm 3:3
Eben Gourley - Ephesians 5:1
Clint May - Colossians 4 & Ephesians 5
Dixie Walker - Psalms 55:22
Jay Fannin - Ephesians 3:20
Kevin Gayley - Romans 7 & 8
What did the Lord teach you in 2008?
R U Ready for Revival?
[Phil's Blogs]
01/05/2009
By Beck, Phil
Are You Ready for Revival?
[Phil's Blogs]
12/09/2008
By Beck, Phil
This is one of four blogs concerning revival. Beginning January 4th, Pastor will be preaching on "What Revival Looks Like" in his morning messages. We as a worship team and as a church body can get to the end of this series and have more knowledge about revival or we can act upon the principals Pastor teaches us. BUT, before we get to the messages themselves, we have some things I believe the Lord is telling me to share with you as a worship team.
1. The first principal is denial. This life is NOT about us, what we want, the way we want it, or anything to do with us. We hear constantly about how we are supposed to take care of us. "If we don't no one will" is the phrase we hear. It is about us getting ahead in life, having things our way. This thinking is an absolute slap in the face of Scripture. Now I am NOT saying we don't do things we enjoy. What I am saying is that we are to think of what others need before us. No matter what subject you want to talk about, we are to ALWAYS put others first. WOW! That is so hard to do, especially when it comes down to preferences.
The buzz phrase that has been around for sevearl years now in Christianity is "it's not about me." It has become like many other words and phrases in our Christian vocabulary...just a phrase. But I truly believe it is the starting point for true revival. Letting go of our desires and putting others first. We have heard this until we are sick of hearing it, but it truly is the starting point. Romans 12:10 says we are to honor one another in brotherly love.
I don't claim to even come close to having this down. That doesn't change the fact that the principal is clear in Scripture. Life is not about me.
Our complaining words give our hearts away. Is God asking you and me to change "our" plans for Him to be glorified and lifted up or to put other's needs before ours?
Just think about it!
Your Word
[Phil's Blogs]
12/02/2008
By Beck, Phil
One of the things that I love about the Lord Jesus is His commitment to His word. What He says He will do, He does, and what He says He will not do, He doesn't do. Matthew 5:37 says, "let your yes be yes, and no be no; anything beyond this is of evil."
Who We Are
[Phil's Blogs]
11/18/2008
By Beck, Phil
We as Baptists will be the first to rip into a TV preacher or one of those other denominations that hint at what we term "name it and claim it" doctrine. We seem to be quick to dismiss and almost get pridefully defensive that they are wrong and we are right. But I submit to you that maybe we need to slow down for a minute and check out to see if there might be some valitdity in some of the things they are saying.
Now before you get defensive on me, let me explain! (splain LUCY!) I am not saying that we tell God what to do and suddenly we are going to be rich and all our bills are paid and we have a Rolls Royce sitting in our garage. What I AM saying though is claiming the truth of Scripture. Sometimes we find ourselves living substandard lives simply because we don't live the truth of who Scripture says we are.
Isaiah 43:4 says we are precious in His sight. In Galatians 4:7 we are no longer slaves, but heirs. I think what Scripture says about us in 1 Peter 9-10 is my favorite..."But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." WOW!
Let me encourage you to "name it and claim it" today. Here is the cool part...whether we feel it or not, truth is still truth. What He says we are, we are! How cool is that?
Excellence
[Phil's Blogs]
11/11/2008
By Beck, Phil
This is a word we hear quite often in ministry. But what does it take to truly have excellence? Galatians 6:9 gives us an insight to that. Paul told us to not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap a harvest. I believe the biggest hindrance to excellence is basically growing tired and giving up just short of the goal.
I taught and led worship at a conference this past week in Chattanooga. Most know that Chattanooga is famous for trains...so of course the theme of the conference had to do with going full steam ahead. I find it interesting that water boils at 212 degrees. 211 degrees just makes it really hot. How many times do we get to 211 and don't ever quite make it to 212 simply because of weariness?
So why do we get weary? There are host of reasons, but let me just touch on one. WE DO TOO MANY THINGS! Things...what a word! The duties Martha had to do were important, but Mary chose the best!
I challenge you to look at your schedule...see what "things" can be minimized or maybe even totally eliminated so the best rises to the top and you can push to 212.
Over the next several months you will be hearing me talk about 212 worship. I believe that we can push "full steam ahead."
Revival
[Phil's Blogs]
11/05/2008
By Beck, Phil
What does the word revival mean to you? Some think of the evangelist coming in that kicks his leg up in the air, tells his tremendous testimony, pack the pew night, and pizza for the students. We take a few days and have a series of "revival meetings" and walk away and say we have had a revival.
But is that revival? Most know that all of that has nothing to do with revival. Revival happens when God's Spirit takes a "vived" person, and "re" vives him or her.
So what does it take to have true revival? Is it connecting, uniting and committing? Is it having a series of sermons on revival? What does it take?
A verse that most of us can quote is II Cronicles 7:14. "If My people who are called by My name will humbled themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land." Several quick things I want to emphasize in this verse...humble themselves, pray, seek His face, turn from wicked ways. THAT is revival.
So I go back to the question...what will it take? What will it take to bring us us to a place of humbleness, take us to a place of fervent prayer, take us to a place of seeking His face, and take us to a place of turning from our wicked ways? Revival!
Pray for hearts of revival.
What's Wrong with the Cowboys?
[Brother Al's Blogs]
11/05/2008
By Meredith, Al
What in the world is wrong with our Dallas Cowboys??
If you listen to the Media, the coach should be fired along with the General Manager, who just happens to be the owner! The quarterback is worthless; the wide receivers just whine and complain; The Offensive line is porous; the defense is unmotivated and the Sprcialty teams are disastrous. One thing they all have in common: it is always somebody’s fault. Everyone is pointing fingers, blaming others. No one is taking responsibility.
In the same vein, the Church in America is struggling. 85% of our churches are plateaued or in decline. What is the matter? Well, some would have us believe this generation is plagued with a lack of commitment, but is that the cause or the result of the problem? Conservatives claim we have forsaken our Biblical roots. Moderates insist we have no compassion for the needy. Emergents tell us we are too into propositional truth and doctrinal orthodoxy and too self-confident with the Mysteries of the Faith. Traditionalists decry the new styles of music. The young tll us we are too stodgy and old-fashioned.
Every one is pointing their fingers and no one is taking responsibility.
I believe the most basic problem is a spirit of apathy that has settled in to the hearts of God’s people. Here at Wedgwood , our membership is up, but our numbers are flagging. Many of us have taken for granted the presence of God in our midst. Our hearts have grown cold and apathetic. The fire has gone out. And when the Spirit tries to convict us, we stand defiantly in denial.
I John 1: 6-10 tells us of a deadly progression of those who resist the Spirit’s conviction. First, when we say we have fellowship with God but walk in darkness, Wwe lie and to not practice the truth.” Stark warning considering what God thinks of Liars.
Then, if we continue to say we have no sin, eventually “we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
Finally, if we still continue to deny our sinful hearts, ultimately “we make God a liar! Unthinkable! But true.
In Romania, Believers are known as “The Repenters.” They realize that repentance is not only necessary for conversion, but for a continued grace-walk with God. They are continually in an attitude and practice of repentance.
In Michael Hart’s The 100—A ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, Louis Pasteur is ranked #12, ahead of Aristotle, Lenin Freud and Napoleon. Why? Pasteur was the one who postulated that disease is due to germs, sub-microscopic organisms that live off filth. If we would just wash regularly we would live longer. Because of this discovery, life expectancy doubled within a few generations just by washing regularly.
So too with the spirit. Don’t ever stop washing, repenting, keeping short accounts of our sins.
