Gratitude

And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!  1 Thess 5:12-13 (Message)

This past Sunday my church surprised me!  It was the third anniversary of my coming as pastor here at Happy Hill and they planned a surprise party like no other.  It was truly great.  They took up donations and went together to buy me a Weber Gold 26.75 Charcoal Grill.  This is the Cadillac, no Roles Royce, of charcoal grills.  It has been all I have talked about to my wife for several months, since my previous grill became to rusty to enjoy using. 

I am overwhelmed with Love and appreciation.  Thank You church, you mean the world to me.  Your appreciation fuels my fire as I labor along side of you for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Yes it is a lot for a charcoal grill, and some of you might not understand it, but I am just trying to be like Jesus, after all he was a charcoal man.  When he appeared to the disciples at the lake after his resurrection, and he told them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat so they caught a lot of fish, this is what the scripture says about what Jesus did next.  "But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread." John 21:9

Once again, THANK YOU church you overwhelm me. 

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Time w/ Jesus

There is no Better way to start the day than spending a little time with Jesus. Especially if that time is accompanied by good coffee.

Christianity isn't about living a perfect life, it isn't about trying to do good, it isn't just about going to church. Christianity is about having a relationship with Jesus Christ. God doesn't say to us "be spiritual," but "walk with me."

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

The most important thing you can do to build any relationship is spend time together. For the Christian this means spending time reading scripture and praying daily. There is nothing in your day more important than that. If your spending time with Jesus he will move you to make the changes you need to make in your life.

Are you just trying to get by, to be good, or are you living in relationship?

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VBS 2009 Monday night

Monday night was a hit at HHBC VBS 2010. Last night the effort and cooperation with our decorations really paid off. We had the most kids we have ever had on a Monday night and still things seemed to run smoother than ever.

I have huge expectations for tonight. If you weren't here last night you missed out. Please stop by and see what's going on at the best VBS in TX.


















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Something to read.

So yesterday I let my habits get the best if me. I way over ate. Really I guess it's ok because I at broccoli. But come on really five stalks of broccoli in one sitting that is rediculous. It was nit hunger but something else.

Then this morning I got this article. "Check Your Fuel Gauge Before You Fill Up"

It worth a read if you struggle with eating the way I do.


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Courage to make it to the top.

This past weekend the HHBC youth group went "rock" climbing. What I mean by that is that we went to a climbing club in town and climbed artificial rock walls.

So, I am a little afraid of hights, when I first tried out the climbing wall, my wife Layney was on belay. Now I trust my wife. I would never say otherwise. However she is very tinny and I…well I am not. So when I got halfway up the wall I began to fear. All the scenarios I could come up with that ended in death played through my head. I convinced myself that it was too hard I was too tired, Layney didn't want to belay, I would have another chance, anything else that would work and I stoped climbing half way up the wall. I gave up. Despite all the safety gear despite the trust I have in my wife I gave up.

We too often in life allow our reason and fear mix and talk ouselves out of taking risks. We let our fear stop us from going where God wants us to go. We give up when the blessings God has for us is right around the next corner.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The awesome truth is that we are more than conquerors because of Jesus. We have the ultimate safty harness, weapon, friend, guide, master, Lord, protector, provider, the ultimate God. There is nothing we should ever fear when it is directed by God. In fact our only fear should be getting out of His will.

I did get back on the wall and I fell. And then I got back on the wall and I climbed all the way to the top. (pictured below) I didn't have to fear I had safety. And it took a couple of tries but reaching the top was awesome.

In your life there are things that you have wanted to do things that you have dreamt of. Maybe it invovles your job, asking for a raise or trying a new project. Maybey you have wanted to chang something about yourself your weight or the number of books you read. Maybe you know there are risks that you need to take. Don't fear. If you are following God you can not fail. You may fall but he will always catch you.

Step out. Be bold. Climb to the top.

God is working at Happy Hill

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us... Ephesians 3:20

I never cease to be truely excited and amazed when God works. It's not that I don't expect it or know that God is going to work according to his will, but it always instills a sence of awe in me. It is impossible to become bored with what God can do because he "is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine."

God is working at Happy Hill. This past weekend we got an extention on our parking lot. For free! Not because of anything we did but because God is powerful and is preparing this church for growth.

Check out these pictures and as you do think about the things that God is doing in your life that instill awe in you. Thank him today for how he is working in your life.











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Who do you influence.

John Sawyer, one of our youth, and I have spent several hours together today while I have been teaching him the art of sermon writing. John is doing a great job and I am looking forward to the day he preaches at HHBC.



As he works I am reminded of the importance of leading by example. In first Corinthians 11:1 Paul tells the Corinthians to follow him as he follows Christ.

It is a monumental responsibility to say follow me, but the truth is that all of us are leading someone whether we know it or not.

There is always someone watching how you live and looking to you as an example. If you have kids they are watching, the people that you work with they are watching, who ever you are there is someone watching.

Pay attention to how you live because you never know when you are being watched and what you might be teaching those who are watching.

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