One... [post 19]

The number '1'....That's how (I think) God views His church. Yeah, I know it's made up of many parts but the sum is greater than the parts.


He is very gracious to allow us to have our little flags that give us a name and is a reflection of who we really are as a community of followers, but we are still one.


Imagine.....if you will....(using your best Rod Serling Voice) that when God looks down or around on Gadsden He simply sees the Church of Gadsden. He doesn't differentiate between Baptist/Episcopal/Methodist/Catholic/etc. He just sees His body in Gadsden. It is in this swirling mass of Church-dom that we find the heart of God for His body. That in the dynamic known as community we are to "Attain the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man (and woman) to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ."


What this really means is that we do our best "growing" in God when we are in community.


Are you a part? Think on it.


mbb

-Michael Bynum

D'ya ever see something for the first time... again? [post 18]

I know that sounds a little funny but hang in there with me. You've had those moments too. I had one yesterday that really kinda took me back. I was reading November 21 in "My Utmost for His Highest" for like the 15th year in a row. So that means I've seen that devotional thought at least 14 times, right? You'd think I would have read it by now. But as I was reading yesterday, the word 'martyr' caught my eye. I don't know if it's all the talk about 'martyr' versus 'suicide bomber' I heard on one of the late night news shows the other day or what. But for whatever reason, it caught my eye. So I re-read the page. 


An Oswald's thought was that Jesus was not a martyr. So I thought about it and decided to agree. He didn't die an unplanned death. That's why He was born. So I was OK for a sentence or two. Then I read this: 

"Never build your preaching on the fact that God is our Father and He will forgive us because He loves us." 

At first I thought, "Man, that doesn't sound just right, does it?" Then, the truth of what Oswald Chambers had written hit me. God doesn't forgive us because He loves us. He sent Jesus because He loves us.
He forgives because Jesus died. 
Everything He does for me He does because Jesus died. 
I know He loves me... Jesus died. 
I know He's made a place for me... Jesus died. 
He didn't take pity on me and give me a 'get out of jail free' card because He loves me. He required blood for my sin and mine wasn't the right type so Jesus took my place. God is Holy. I gotta be Holy to visit with Him. I can't be holy. Jesus is.


Now I know I knew that. It's just that I hadn't thought of it in a while. I get kinda focused on the fact that the Father wants a relationship with me and I forget somehow that it's only possible because Jesus died. I get tuned in to the fact that I'm created to worship and man, am I glad about that. I'm fairly sure my life would be worth squat without the chance to worship. 


But I can only approach the throne in worship because Jesus died. 


I know that sometimes death and blood are not pleasant topics in our world. We see so much senselessness -- so much wrong. But the death of Jesus is precious to me. His blood is incredibly valuable to me. He bought me with it. And I'm so very thankful to have the chance to be His. I belong to Him. Man, what a concept!

- Bruce C.

THE BLINKING CHURCH SIGN [post 17]

The best way to defuse the principalities and powers of postmodern culture is not to escape from it, but to learn its language, master its media, and engage it on a higher level.

-Leonard Sweet, soulTsunami, 1999, p 21

Revival is when God gets tired of being misrepresented and shows up to represent Himself.

- Karen Bacon's comment to Len Sweet

Man They Grow Up Fast [post 16]

   In the blink of an eye it comes and goes. Just like a baby is born and then it seems like the next day you are watching her get married or sending him off to college. As is everything in life. Somehow it seems the good times go faster than the hard times do. Go figure. What's that you ask? Oh, yeah, I do have a point. Some of you know, but for those of you who don't, I'll start at the beginning. 


   In October of 2004, I felt that God had given me an idea. I had the notion to start a Saturday night fellowship/coffee & dessert/worship/non-religious kick back and relax and unwind with God and friends casual kind of meeting thingamajigger. Anyway, we started the first Saturday in November of '04. I must say that for me, these were some of the most incredible times I have ever experienced. We saw healing, deliverance, outpouring of the spirit, and kinship building. I could give you stories, but that's another blog for another day. We would meet every week at the church at seven o'clock. Normally we would spend at least half an hour in fellowship time and then worship collectively. Sometimes we would fellowship more or less, sometimes not even have music. There were nights when there were three of us, and nights when there were twenty. Almost every week there was a different group of people. And no matter what we did or who was there, it seemed that every week God would come and do something incredible for someone. 


   Well, this went on for over a year. It seems as though it were only a few weeks. However, about three or four weeks ago, I started to feel uncomfortable. I could tell something was happening. Something was changing. I'm about as sharp as a bowling ball, so you can imagine how I wrestled with my mind trying to figure it out. Then, this past Saturday, I was at the church with my guitar. I was playing a little and then I realized it was 7:00 and no one was there. Then, at 7:30 and again at 8:00, I found myself still alone. So I kept playing and praying. Then finally, I felt the Lord with me. 


   I asked Him to let me in on what was going on with Saturday night. Where was it headed and what was His plan? 


   I even went so far as to ask that He give me a word or sign that I could understand and that it be clear and simple so I could get it. After a little while of praying and talking with God, I had an overwhelming peace about me. Well, I figured He would fill me in later. So I grabbed my gear and locked the doors. Then as I turned to get in my truck, the largest bus I have ever seen turned onto Broad Street and rolled right in front of me. It was a big grey bus and on it were the words: 

NEW DIRECTION CHARTER.

   Now in the natural, we all know what that means. However, I really felt that was God's response to my request. An answer to my prayer. So I immediately thanked Him for His faithfulness and then went back inside to collect myself. I then realized what was happening and began to panic. I didn't want to see this end. It seemed as though it had become part of me. I knew in my heart that God was moving on, though. I could tell that the grace was no longer there. So I talked to my wife and to my pastors, and then laid it to rest. 


   So I say goodbye now to another season of my life. I will take the experiences and build on them, and hold fast to the memories and stories that have evolved. I will embrace the next thing that God set before me with hope and faith, knowing that He is God.

- Todd Bagley

Beauty Tips from Audrey Hepburn [post 15]

Someone shared this with me, and so I share it with you.

November Is Beautiful Woman Month

One of the world's most beautiful women was Audrey Hepburn. Years ago, someone wrote to her and asked for her beauty tips. Her reply was read at her funeral years later.

• For attractive lips, seek out the good in people.
• For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
• For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it twice a day.
• For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
• People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.
• Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
• As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

- Debbie Handy

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow [post 14]

Did you know that successful people never dwell on the past. Somehow, they are able to let it go and are free to be.

We've all done things in the past that we shouldn't have. I know that I have. Sometimes, we look back with shame and guilt, but that's not what God intends for us to do. When we ask for forgiveness, those things are GONE. If we receive His forgiveness, they are GONE. Period! Throw away your shovels, folks!

God is one thing. Humans are something else. Unless God has gotten hold of them, humans tend to never forget. "I'll forgive, but I won't forget." Families are sometimes the worst culprits. They'll dig it up and throw it in your face and enjoy doing so.

Living in the past blinds us to what's going on right now, causing us to miss today's opportunities and hindering our moving forward into tomorrow, into our future.

You know, it's not just the "bad" from the past. Some people get stuck reliving their successes, their glory days. Well, if what was is as good as it's going to get, then we're all in big trouble.

Our future is unwritten. What we do and how we live today determines our tomorrow.

• May we live in the present moment.
• May we forgive and forget. Throw away those shovels.
• May we not be afraid of change and of new things and ideas and people.
• May we be generous with stuff and with our lives.
• May we live expectantly and go farther than we ever dreamed possible.

- Michael Bynum

Thank You John Wimber [post 13]

are


Thank you John Wimber for:


1.)not knowing what you were doing and instead listened to God.
2.) For thinking that we are all called to "do the stuff".
3.) For pulling worship into our generation and beyond. 
4.) For making me believe that THE BOOK is a practical guide for my life.
5.) For walking your life in humility before us all and for leaving a legacy that has affected me.
6.) For being comfortable in your own skin.
7.) For simply loving the body of Christ.

- Michael Bynum

Ed:

John Richard Wimber was born on February 25, 1934 in Peoria, Illinois and was raised in a non-Christian home. He became "an equipper of men". He died on November 17, 1997.