This Is Why I Love This Guy!

No one can ever accuse me of being a Florida Gator fan but they can ALWAYS accuse me of being a Tim Tebow fan!

John 3:16

This is our 4 year old reciting his latest memory verse.

How many?

So today I have been thinking about a subject that makes me feel repentent...  and I'm not trying to put myself on a pedestal either.  I TRULY feel led to share this with you.  First, a few scriptures:


1 John 2:6....Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.


Romans 8:29....For those whom he forknew he also predestined to be comformed to the image of his Son, in order tha the might be the firstborn among many brothers.

John 13:13-17...You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you and example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

So here's what I've been dealing with....

We all agree that there are sometimes we come into contact with someone who may be having a very bad day or may be searching for some sense of hope...a sense of hope that can only come from Jesus.  If that person knew you were a Christian, how did you represent Christ to them?  What if you were the "only" glimpse of Christ they have ever seen?

What if that glimpse was enough to make them decide that "If that's how a Christian acts, I want no part of it!" ?  

As Christians, we are to bridge the gap for a lost person to make it to a saving relationship with Christ...let's pray that we are always a "bridge" and not a "roadblock."

Sometimes I'm called "harsh" because of how I put things but honestly, THIS is what has been running through my mind and heart today....Let's pray that our actions didn't send anyone to hell today.

What's It Gonna Take?

What's it gonna take for this kind of thing to stop?  JESUS!

GREATEST RESUME EVER!

Address: Ephesians 1:20

Phone: Romans 10:13

Website: The Bible

Keywords: Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus

OBJECTIVE

My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume.

QUALIFICATIONS

I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)

I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)

I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)

I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)

The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

OCCUPATIONAL BACKGROUND

I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49 ).

I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.

My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17)

SKILLS & WORK EXPERIENCE

Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).

I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33 ).

Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).

In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).

My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).

I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26 ).

I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15 ).

I defeated the arch enemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15 ).

I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!

There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

REFERENCES

Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance.

IN SUMMATION

Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47 ). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15 ).

Send this resume to everyone you know, you never know who may have an opening! 

NUFF SAID!!!!!!!!

Not Where I Belong

Well, those of you who know me know that I don't sugar-coat...I suppose sometimes I'm too blunt...perhaps I'm not blunt enough sometimes?

Lately, people have been asking me "Adam, how are you doing? How are things going with you?"

I dunno...

Truly, I dunno...

I just know that this song is RIGHT WHERE I AM....


RIGHT NOW.

You can follow the lyrics below the song player. Thank you all for your prayers.






Where I Belong


Verse 1
Sometimes it feels like I'm watching From the outside...
Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing But am I alive?
I won't keep searching for answers That aren't here to find.

Chorus
All I know is I'm not home yet...This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus...This is not where I belong

Verse 2
So when the walls come falling Down on me
And when I'm lost in the current Of a raging sea
I have this blessed assurance Holding me

Bridge
When the earth shakes I want to be found in You
When the lights fade I want to be found in You


CCLI Song No. 5996063
© 2010 Sony/ATV Timber Publishing | West Main Music | Windsor Hill Music | Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) | (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) | (Admin. by Sony/ATV Sounds LLC) | (Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC)
Jason Ingram | Jason Roy
For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use.  All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License No. 1998658

VERY INTERESTING

Prayer

I'm needing some prayer today!  ~Adam

T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER FOR YOUTH

FPC Palatka T-Shirts are available in a variety of sizes for anyone!  Black shirt, Lime Green design printed on front (see below).   The FPC Palatka design features our mission statement:

Reach, Grow, Send, as well as a cross.

From a distance folks will read “FPC Palatka” but a closer look reveals the words reach, grow and send actually form the letters f, p and c.  They’ll be great to wear for church-wide and community functions to show that we are one group.

Shirts are in the church office.
Please see Adam George or Amy Poupore

to pick one up.

Cost is $12 (sm – xl)  or $14 (2X and up)

Not tomorrow....TODAY!

From James, chapter 4:

⁴ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? ⁶ But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:  “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Okay, so here I've been wondering "God, how are you wanting me to serve you with my future?"  Then I come across this morning's passage and I hear Him say loud and clear "No...I want you to serve me TODAY!  The mission field is right outside the door...sometimes, it's even inside this building!  Serve today...If I give you tomorrow, then serve me then as well BUT SERVE TODAY!"

Creating a Three-Word Testimony

I did not come up with this on my own.  This is from an article found on churchleaders.com and authored by A.J. Rinaldi.

********************

What makes your testimony an effective way to share the gospel?

It’s YOUR story.

•    edited by you,
•    filtered by you,
•    qualified by you,
•    told by you.

YOU CAN TELL IT ANYWHERE!

It includes how YOU came to Christ, and how THEY can come to Christ also.

How can you craft your personal testimony beginning with only three words?! 

It’s easy.

Choose your first word to describe your life, feelings, situation, thoughts, etc. before you placed your faith in Christ.

Consider one of these:

Angry, Independent, Manipulative, Miserable, Hopeless, Empty, Addicted, Aimless, Restless, Striving, Confused, Insecure

The word I chose for myself here is ambiguous.

Choose your second word to describe how you came to place your faith in Christ. When you get to this point, it’s important to include a clear presentation of the gospel, which I have done in my story below.

Consider one of these:

Creation, Studied, Concert, Grew, Bible, Friend, Trouble, Observation, Evangelist, Spouse, Loved

The word I chose for myself here is awakened.

Finally, choose your third word to describe your life, feelings, situation, thoughts, etc. now that you have placed your faith in Christ.

Consider one of these:

Approachable, Peaceful, Generous, Loving, Brave, Caring, Teacher Mentor, Servant, Elder, Hopeful, Compassionate, Confident

The word I chose for myself here is assured.

Once you have your three words, you’re ready to come up with one to two sentences for each word. Just provide a brief explanation of how each word relates to your story.

Here are the sentences I came up with for my 3-word testimony:

Although I believed in the existence of a God and even knew the story of Jesus, I didn’t fully understand how it all fit together. I was ambiguous about the nature and character of Jesus as God and how He had provided a way for me to be reconciled to the very Creator of the universe!

Through a series of conversations with new Christian friends in college, as well as exposure to some Christian music with meaningful lyrics, I came to understand Jesus as savior. I was awakened to the reality that Christ died for my sins and rose from the dead.

Now I am assured that through my trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, I have an unbroken relationship with the very God who created the universe and everything in it. This relationship is for eternity, and my life with Him will not end when my time on earth does.

3 words…

1-2 sentences per word…

3-6 sentences to tell your story.   

The Luke-Warm Church

REALLY interesting clip on the "Luke-Warm Church" passage (Revelation Chapter 3) by Francis Chan.

Still Complaining?

Please meet Landon.  His father, Marine LCPL Carpenter, made the ultimate sacrifice while serving with the 3/8 in Afghanistan earlier this year...a month before Landon was born.

NEVER FORGET THE PRICE OF FREEDOM!!!

(photo credit: Inara Studios)

Just For Fun!

Something Just For Fun Today!!!

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit  is...

...a person, living in us, our personal counselor, advocate and guide......Jesus living inside of us, our comforter, relieves our mental stress......God in us......the Spirit of Truth - read the word!...

...pure - Holy Spirit......prayer - prays for us - the Holy Spirit loves us......priority - The Holy Spirit's priority is Jesus , to make Him known.

There is so much incredible healing in this.....

There's so much healing in this testimony....and not just about weight....about the soul....

Walking Through The Desert / Living in the "In Between"

     This week, HOPE fm is at a conference in Orlando.  It is a GREAT time of fellowship and worship with quite of a few of the artists you hear on our station performing LIVE for us.  However, today during one of the press conference, the lead singer from Big Daddy Weave made a statement about God and how He continually meets us where we are and as we are.  Nothing else is needed for us to be with Him other than to accept His invitation.  So why, then, is it so hard to do something that should be so easy?


     It seems, "For some reason", that as a Pastor, I can tell this message to people but over time, my ears have become deaf to it.  My stresses and struggles have overtaken me recently.  I've used the excuse that "there's no one to minister to the ministers."  I've hidden behind that excuse for too long because "Pastors are supposed to have it 'all together.'"


     These stresses and struggles have been nothing more than a disguise for which the evil one has used to hide in.  Hebrews 6:12 says For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age...against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.


     This summer has been the "driest" spiritual seasons of my life....  Dear Lord, thank You that while I have been wandering in the desert, You have been preparing for me an oasis.  Thank You that it didn't take me 40 years to find it...and that You prepared it for me in spite of myself.  Yes, You really do love me...anyways.

Signed,

The Prodigal Side of me...

the side that is desperate to make it home

*********************************

The following text is from the notes I took during an "educational session" by Pastor Jeff Marion...

20 minutes AFTER I wrote what you just read.

Check out his book "The Land Between"

*********************************

     Perhaps today you find yourself no longer where you were and not yet where you will be.  Today, you're finding yourself in the "in between."  The Israelites were no longer in Egypt but not yet in Canaan- they were in the desert and they were sick of it (Numbers 11:4-6).  You know, something grows AMAZINGLY well in the desert- complaint.  The Israelites needed patient endurance.  In Numbers 11:11-15, Moses speaks one of the most honest prayers in the entire Bible:

He asked the LORD, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’  I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.  If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.”

     The in-between is also fertile ground for emotional meltdown.  What if Moses' prayer isn't a sign of spiritual weakness but rather spiritual strength???  When we are at our breaking point, it is "legal" to come to God and "release!"  That's why the prayers of Moses, Elijah and others are even in the Bible!

     The in-between is also fertile ground for provision!  Numbers 11:16 - 17 says The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.  I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

     Provision doesn't always take the pain and confusion away...but HE still provides and says "I AM HERE."  The in-between is fertile ground for trans-formational growth.  The desert for the Israelites was "trust school."  They had to trust for everything!  When you're "in between", you want out!  BUT, what does God want to do while you're there???  Tell God "I don't like it here....but I trust you here....and I trust you NOW!"

     Trust and complaint are incompatible.  One invariably pushes the other out...  WHICH ARE YOU GOING TO PUSH OUT???

Why I Do What I Do....

Some people wonder why I refuse to throw in the towel concerning my work with the church.  Why do I keep reaching out...why am I so passionate about evangelism and outreach...

There are two links below that I'd like you to take a look at for some more "detail" after reading this post.  The church (not just us but THEE church overall) is only one generation away from dying out.  Today I would like to talk about "City Methodist Church" in Gary, Indiana.  The first link at the bottom of the post has some pictures and information from it's 1967 directory.  

These first two pictures are from historical postcards.

The next three are from the '67 directory. 

In its heyday, CMC boasted a membership of 3,000 and the church was home to one of the largest Skinner organs in the state of Indiana.  It was started in the 1920s and the sanctuary / education buildings that were erected cost $1 Million...IN 1925!!!   By 1970 (remember, the first link is its 1967 directory), Sunday attendance had dwindled down to about 100.  In 1975, the church closed its doors for good.  

The second is a link to what City Methodist Church looks like today (a few pictures are below).

Bamboo and other hardwoods...growing in the narthex.

This Tears At My Soul...the crest is surrounded by the phrase

"To Serve The Present Age."

One of several of their "fellowship halls."

Try to imagine for a minute...how many times did a nervous groom smile at his bride as she walked down this aisle...  how many fathers held their daughters and how many mothers hugged their sons during baptisms and confirmations?  What did their Christmas Eve services feel like?

This story, and so many others like it, truly hurts my heart.  This isn't from some ancient cathedral in Europe somewhere...it's from a church that closed it's doors after only 55 years.

HERE ARE THE LINKS:

http://www.faithfabric.com/tbh/gary/67directory.htm

http://chicagoist.com/2009/09/02/in_the_shadow_of_chicago_city_metho.php#photo-1

This is specifically for a few friends of mine who are going through "tough times" mixed in with some "pain",  "hurt" and "quite frankly don't know how I'm gonna do this."

Chin up....I'm praying for you.  Below is the ending of one of my favorite pieces of literary work, "Footprints."

"You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always.  But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.  Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?"  The Lord replied, "see...the times when you have seen only one set of footprints?  Those were the times that I have carried you."

Great Post By New Spring Church

Just throw yourself away?

A few years ago, an angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam until he reached Rembrandt's famous painting "Nightwatch." Then he took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped. A short time later, a distraught, hostile man slipped into St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome with a hammer and began to smash Michelangelo's beautiful sculpture The Pieta. Two cherished works of art were severely damaged. Did they put a "bandaid" on the works of art?  Did the officials throw them out and forget about them?

No! Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision, they made every effort to restore the treasures to a perfect original condition.

You are God's most precious masterpiece...an original, one-of-a-kind paid for with the price of His Son's life.  So what do you do when "life" comes at you with a knife or hammer?  Do you throw in the towel and give up or do you go for a little restoration....a revival, of sorts?


The Master-Creator is waiting to "fix" you up with His healing hands.  All you have to do is ask.....

A Look Back....

Today Is Our Fifth Anniversary!  Here's A Look Back At That Very Special Day!

Isn't She Gorgeous?!

She had created this bouquet in silk flowers...

I surprised her with this real one!

This rose was placed in memory of my best friend,

Johnny Bedenbaugh,

who would have been my best man.

His brother, Jeff, stood in his place.

Waiting....

Kelly's mother, Alice

My mother, Viola.

Kelly & her father, William

Watching our video....

Nerds pretending to lose the ring.

Pastor Amos!

At last!

Let's go!

Just not sure....

Rockin the reception!  300 chairs...standing room only!

Instructions on how to not trash the get-a-way car!

CAKE!

My family used to be caterers....

good thing they kept their equipment!

Mmmmm...........

More Mmmm.....

Bride's Cake Table

Groom's Cake Table

Just a few seats....

And here we are....5 years later!