"One Thing" Songs

I preached on Sunday from Psalm 27:4, encouraging all of us to think about "one thing." If you use iTunes, I have made an iMix with some songs that help me to keep my mind on "one thing." You can access it here.

If you don't use iTunes, clicking the link will probably not be beneficial!

Camp and other important student ministry information

We are less than one month away from camp. Why is that important to you? Well if you are of age and have not signed up, your time is running out. If your son or daughter has not signed up, their time is running out. We will be making a t-shirt order 2 weeks out and to make sure that you get one and the size you want, you must be signed up. You do not want to miss out on this great week. With all the lake activities, the music and just being away from all the day-to-day hastles, who can beat it? It is a great time to draw closer to God and build fellowship within our student ministry. If you need more information just give Christie or me a call at the church and we will help you all we can. We also have scholarships for those who need help.

We are starting a Student Ministry parent newsletter. You can sign up for this newsletter by sending us your email address. Keep up with what is going on in the student world with this newsletter.

We have a few spots for the Student Mission Trip in July. Give us a call if you are interested.

--Lee

Skydiving without a parachute

I read this quote today in preparation for a passage I am teaching on tonight. It is almost startling to grasp. It is from this sermon manuscript by John Piper.

"Entertainment-saturated people who do not treasure Christ above all are like skydivers who think that the wind passing through their fingers at 120 miles an hour is the ultimate thrill of being alive when in fact they have no parachutes and the gravity that pulls them inexorably to the ground is the wrath of God."

I think I don't grasp the seriousness of people's condition apart from Christ. God help me to do so more and more.

Curtis

Two great verses I read this morning...

Actually, I read a lot more than two great verses, I think I must have read 200 great verses this morning. But, these were some of the ones that really spoke to me.

Concerning Prayer - "But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness." (Psalm 69:13) What an awesome way to pray!

Concerning our thoughts of God - "May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" (Psalm 70:4) I love the exclamation points!!!

God's Word is like a garden that produces fruit you can pick EVERY time you go to it. God has blessed us by giving it to us.

Curtis

80 years

Today, I will have the privilege of preaching at one of our members' funeral. He was 82 years old. Last night, I was reminded of how many of our members (and my friends) are 80+. Eighty years is a lot of years on this planet. As I thought about that a little bit, I thanked God for the increase in life expectancy that we are blessed with today. It was not the case in the past, and is not the case in many developing countries.

I guess my thanksgiving was somewhat selfish in a way. I know that these people await a glorious future in the presence of Jesus, and often struggle with their health here. However, I am privileged to learn from them and be blessed by them being here. So, although we are not promised another breath, I am glad that many members of BBC have been given 80 years worth of breaths to impact multiple generations.

Curtis

Recommendation

Hey, I came across this article, and it got my attention, so I wanted to share it with you. I am not normally an alarmist, but this bothered me.

Curtis

A Great Privilege

Yesterday, I had a great privilege during our staff meeting. Our staff broke up into prayer groups, and my prayer partner for the time was the Pastor of our Hispanic Ministries, Carlos Betancourt. I love Carlos' humility and zeal. He asked me for ways that he could pray for me. I shared them with him. And then he asked if he could pray in Spanish, his native language. Of course, I said "Yes!"

As we prayed together and for each other in English and Spanish, I was reminded that our God is not worshiped by one race and one language alone. He is not an American deity. He is the God of the universe, worshiped and prayed to by Asians, Africans, Australians, and yesterday by someone from the US and someone from Ecuador.

I think that was the highlight of my day!

Curtis

A Great Question

I just read these questions in one of my favorite books:

"Can you name five good things that have happened to you so far today? Were you thankful to God for any of them?"

In light of the conviction I felt after reading those things, here are my five.

1. I woke up - a gift from God of a new day to serve him
2. I talked with my wife and child
   
3. I ate a light breakfast - probably more than many in the world ate this morning
   
4. I came to work - an opportunity to provide for my family and serve him as well
5. I got to read the Bible

All that, and it is still early in the morning! How good is God to us? I would love to read your five! Why don't you post them in the comments?

Now I am working on six through ten,
Curtis

Coffee Anyone????

For several months, we have been working on opening a coffee shop at Brainerd Crossroads. If you have been there recently, the cat is out of the bag. We have a kiosk built, and the equipment is in! We are very close to opening one on the main floor. It will be great.

We will keep you posted as to when it will open!

Spiritual Gifts

Last night, I shared in our Bible Study/Prayer Meeting from Romans 12:3-8 about spiritual gifts. We talked about the source of those gifts (God), the purpose of those gifts (for the unity and building of the body of Christ), and the variety of gifts.

I also had a handout that I wanted to link to here on the blog.

This might assist your spiritual development.

Curtis

Remembering

I am completely speechless when I think about what happened at Virginia Tech. Words fail me! Thank God, he can hear my prayers that are never vocalized.

When I looked at today's date, I remembered another tragedy that occurred 12 years ago in Oklahoma City. It was another stark reminder that human beings are not getting better, contrary to what we might like to believe. Sin in its worst form still makes our jaws drop. However, ultimate hope in this world will not be found in gun control, security devices, or anything else. Ultimate deliverance and hope in this world is found only in Jesus Christ.

May God encourage the families of the victims of tragedies like Virginia Tech and OKC.

Curtis

Walking through the hospital

I am reminded almost every time I go to the hospital to visit people that the hospital is a great equalizer. What do I mean? Well, there are things in our culture that everybody, rich or poor, strong or weak, young or old, take part in. When I walk by an ICU waiting room, I am reminded once again that we are ALL human, in desperate need of God to work in our lives. You see the tears and you hurt for the people shedding them, regardless of their status or position in life. No amount of status or money can keep you out of ICU, or cardiac surgery, or visits with an oncologist.

I thought about something else today while I was at Erlanger and Memorial. Just as sickness can affect all classes, all races, and both genders, sin also affects us all. It knows no difference. There are no good people or bad people, when it comes to sin. In fact, we are all sinners.

And yet, despite the sadness that I felt as I saw a family walk out of an ICU with tears, I am reminded that there once was a Man of Sorrows, who according to Hebrews 2 and 4 totally identifies with where we are. So, that is my prayer as I walk through the hospital:

"God meets these people with comfort of the Holy Spirit brought to us through Jesus Christ!"

Thankful our God is alive and comforting,
Curtis