By Fred Smith
7. Enjoy the challenge of change – Every situation is either a challenge or a threat. To the confident it is a challenge; to the fearful it is a threat. The situation is the same, but the reaction is different. Would you like to change from threat to challenge? View every new potentially threatening experience as an experiment. Be objective like a reporter and become interested in watching yourself go through the experience. Gain understanding as you step outside yourself.
8. New Age is old stuff – It is like the late night advertisement for wallets made out of “genuine synthetic leather.” Its promises have no guarantor. The Bible promises are the promissory notes given and guaranteed by God. New Age gives claims to a promised land they do not own…they are spiritual squatters.
9. The beauty of balance – All things in moderation – fanatical about nothing – everything getting its due – and everything in its season. A time for everything, even winning and losing.
10. We are promised ultimate victory – There is no sudden success. Ours is ultimate joy even while going through hardship and struggle. We look forward in hope , but we do not hope in hope. Our hope is in the promises of God and in the life of Christ.
Things to consider this week: 1) Which of the ten stretched me most? 2) How can I apply one of them this week to help others? 3) When do I do my best thinking?
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Saturday, July 5, 2008
10 Things to Think About...Part 2
By Fred Smith
5. The power of bonding – Experts tell us the greatest benefit of gang membership for kids is bonding – the sense of family and someone to stand with them in trouble. The church should be our bonding fellowship. We should share sufferings and provide acceptance for good. We should all be bonded as fellow members of the body of Christ --- that is the true bond.
6. The power of light – We dread the dark, but it has no power. It can’t put out the smallest candle, or even a flicker of light. There is no darkness so deep that a tiny light cannot penetrate it. Christ is the eternal lamplighter and He will re-light your lamp, no matter how small or how unused it has become. Darkness never owns the light; light always overcomes the dark.
To read more writings of Fred Smith go to Breakfast With Fred
5. The power of bonding – Experts tell us the greatest benefit of gang membership for kids is bonding – the sense of family and someone to stand with them in trouble. The church should be our bonding fellowship. We should share sufferings and provide acceptance for good. We should all be bonded as fellow members of the body of Christ --- that is the true bond.
6. The power of light – We dread the dark, but it has no power. It can’t put out the smallest candle, or even a flicker of light. There is no darkness so deep that a tiny light cannot penetrate it. Christ is the eternal lamplighter and He will re-light your lamp, no matter how small or how unused it has become. Darkness never owns the light; light always overcomes the dark.
To read more writings of Fred Smith go to Breakfast With Fred
Friday, July 4, 2008
10 Things to Think About...Part 1
by Fred Smith
1. Hurt opens the heart – Often the best and maybe the only time a person will open up to help is when the hurt is too great to bear alone.
2. Gratitude cures depression – There is no stronger medicine for depression than genuine gratitude. If we find ourselves saying, “Yes, but,” we are not fully grateful. The truly grateful say, “Yes! Yes!” The Bible says, “In all things be grateful.” When it says, all – it means all.
3. Sit loose to things – Oswald Chambers is not against having things, nor enjoying them. But he is against getting so stuck to them that if they go, they take you with them. So long as you own them and not vice versa, everything is in right perspective. Develop the “sit loose to things” reflex.
4. Beware the spirit of fear – There is a great difference in being perpetually afraid, and having specific fears. It is alright to have particular fears, but not the spirit of fear. Our general disposition is not to be one of constant fear. “I have not given you the spirit of fear, but of love and of a sound mind.” Is your first reaction to every situation fear? It doesn’t have to be. You have a Promise to shield you.
To read more writings of Fred Smith go to Breakfast With Fred
1. Hurt opens the heart – Often the best and maybe the only time a person will open up to help is when the hurt is too great to bear alone.
2. Gratitude cures depression – There is no stronger medicine for depression than genuine gratitude. If we find ourselves saying, “Yes, but,” we are not fully grateful. The truly grateful say, “Yes! Yes!” The Bible says, “In all things be grateful.” When it says, all – it means all.
3. Sit loose to things – Oswald Chambers is not against having things, nor enjoying them. But he is against getting so stuck to them that if they go, they take you with them. So long as you own them and not vice versa, everything is in right perspective. Develop the “sit loose to things” reflex.
4. Beware the spirit of fear – There is a great difference in being perpetually afraid, and having specific fears. It is alright to have particular fears, but not the spirit of fear. Our general disposition is not to be one of constant fear. “I have not given you the spirit of fear, but of love and of a sound mind.” Is your first reaction to every situation fear? It doesn’t have to be. You have a Promise to shield you.
To read more writings of Fred Smith go to Breakfast With Fred
Monday, June 30, 2008
Why it's Important to Keep Tithing in Tough Economic Times
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9)
Read the full article here
Read the full article here
Monday, June 23, 2008
Beer and Baptism
When we baptize new believers we have taken Neil Cole’s advice which is, “baptize people as soon as possible and as publicly as possible.” In short, we throw a party. Not for the already-churched, but for the families and friends of the person being baptized.
Read the rest HERE
Read the rest HERE
Monday, June 16, 2008
10 Ways to Save on Fuel
To save a gallon of gas, you need to cut about 22 miles of driving from your week. Here are 10 easy ways to do that.
Read the full article here
Read the full article here
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Starting the Book of Acts
On June 7th I started reading the book of Acts. Here are some thoughts:
Acts 1 - The foundation of our faith is a risen Jesus Christ. The foundation of our witness is the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2 outlines the picture of conversion and growth; accepting the message, repenting, being baptized, be under teaching, be in fellowship, communion, and prayer
Acts 3 - God is glorified through the Apostles healing a lame man
Acts 4:13 is especially encouraging to me as the disciples were identified as having courage, unschooled, ordinary, and having been with Jesus
Acts 4:34 states that there were no needy among them
Acts 5:38 contain the words of Gamaliel “if purpose or activity is of human origin it will fail but if it is from God you will not be able to stop it"
Acts 6 - The disciples gave their attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word
Acts 1 - The foundation of our faith is a risen Jesus Christ. The foundation of our witness is the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2 outlines the picture of conversion and growth; accepting the message, repenting, being baptized, be under teaching, be in fellowship, communion, and prayer
Acts 3 - God is glorified through the Apostles healing a lame man
Acts 4:13 is especially encouraging to me as the disciples were identified as having courage, unschooled, ordinary, and having been with Jesus
Acts 4:34 states that there were no needy among them
Acts 5:38 contain the words of Gamaliel “if purpose or activity is of human origin it will fail but if it is from God you will not be able to stop it"
Acts 6 - The disciples gave their attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word
Monday, June 9, 2008
Allowing Kids the Benefit of the Struggle
This article seemed appropriate today since Darren was involved in his first auto accident on Sunday. It wasn't his fault and he wasn't hurt. Mom wanted to rush over to Centerville where it happened. I said, no, this is a good chance for him to grow. Turns out that he handled it well all on his own.
If we can quell the storm within us as parents and allow our kids to experience the learning process, the payoff is precious indeed!
Read the full article here
If we can quell the storm within us as parents and allow our kids to experience the learning process, the payoff is precious indeed!
Read the full article here
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Psalm 119:33-48
33 Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.
41 May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
42 then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
43 Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
44 I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
47 for I delight in your commands because I love them.
48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
39 Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.
40 How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.
41 May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
42 then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust in your word.
43 Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
44 I will always obey your law, for ever and ever.
45 I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.
46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
47 for I delight in your commands because I love them.
48 I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Kids Say The ____est Things!
James, age 4, was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." Concerned, James asked: "What happened to the flea?"
"Dear Lord," the minister began with arms extended toward heaven. "Without you, we are but dust." He would have continued but at that moment a young girl leaned over to her Mom and asked quite audibly, "Mom, what is butt dust?"
"Dear Lord," the minister began with arms extended toward heaven. "Without you, we are but dust." He would have continued but at that moment a young girl leaned over to her Mom and asked quite audibly, "Mom, what is butt dust?"
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