Welcome to REAL Men RoCK

This blog is about the issues men face and things I have experienced.

I hope you will be encouraged, challenged, and stirred to take action.

Proverbs 27:17 (The Message)

17 You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another

REAL Men RoCK

R
ighteous   E ncouraging   A ccountable   L oving 

Men 

R
ely on    C hrist's   K indness

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Revival



How many of you would agree that there is a need for revival in America? How about the state of Missouri? How about the Lake of the Ozarks area? How about in your own personal life?

Let's look at three questions about Revival.
1.    What it is and what it is not?
2.    How does it come about?
3.    What are the results?

We need to first look at the definition of Revive and Rivival.

revive

verb re·vive \ri-ˈvīv\
: to make (someone or something) strong, healthy, or active again
: to become strong, healthy, or active again
:  to bring (something) back into use or popularity
:  to return to consciousness or life :  become active or flourishing again
:  to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state :  bring back
:  to renew in the mind or memory

Now let’s look at Revival
noun re·viv·al \ri-ˈvī-vəl\
: a period in which something becomes popular again after a long period of time
: the growth of something or an increase in the activity of something after a long period of no growth or activity
: the showing of a play, a movie, etc., to the public usually many years after it was last shown : a new production of an old show
:  an act or instance of reviving :  the state of being revived: as
:  renewed attention to or interest in something
:  a new presentation or publication of something old
:  a period of renewed religious interest (2) :  an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings
:  restoration of force, validity, or effect
Revival then is an event where something or someone is being renewed, restored and made stronger. It can happen in a church meeting but most often it does not.

Let’s keep in mind these two definitions as we answer the questions:
1.   
           How does Revival come about?
2.    What are the results of true Revival?

So how does Revival come about? We have all seen the signs or heard radio ads about a Revival meeting being held at such and such church or location. Some of us may have attended one of these meetings and heard a sermon of Fire and Brimstone.

That reminds me of a story about a couple of guys who were contracted to paint an old country church. They under estimated the amount of paint they needed so they decided to paint the front and the side facing the parking lot with a good coat of paint but they would thin down the paint as they painted the other two sides.

As they painted they laughed between themselves about how no one would know they had thinned the paint because both the back and side were shaded by large trees.

They were nearing the end of the job and day and with the last stroke they stepped back to admire what they had accomplished.

What they did not know was the pastor had been in the bell tower the whole time listening and watching their work. With a booming voice he yelled, “Repaint you thinners and thin no more!”

Often at the Revival meetings the pastor yells, “Repent you sinners and sin no more.” Then goes into a message of how sinners are going to hell and you had better repent because tonight could be your last night. Of course there is a bit of truth in that but I think if we look at how Jesus approached sin we just might see a different method.

Sin cuts us off from God, not because he turns from us but because we have turned from him and to things that are not life giving but are life suckers. 

On our farm we snip the little runners that come up at the base of our plants. They are called suckers because they suck nutrition from the main plant keeping it from producing a better fruit. Sin is anything that falls outside of God’s will for us and it sucks the strength out of our relationship with him.
Sin can be something as big as adultery or as small as calling the driver who cut you off an idiot. 

Turn with me to Matthew 9: 12-13  But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In Luke 13: 4-5 Jesus did say: Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?  No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Each and every one of us at some point in our Christian walk and probably more often than we care to admit are in need of repentance. Our sins have turned us from God and we miss out on the blessings he has for us.  Revival then is the event  where someone is being renewed, restored and made stronger. It begins not with some preacher shaming you into repentance but it begins when the sinner expresses a heart felt repentance.

Jesus came to call sinners to repentance and the key for us is to know how He did that. Let’s look at one example.

Early one morning Jesus went to the temple and as people gathered around him he began to teach them. The commotion could be heard throughout the temple as a group of men, belonging to the scribes and Pharisees, came pushing a woman into the courtyard. She was shoved down at her knees in front of Jesus and they shouted how she was caught in adultery. Her face turned toward the ground in shame as they quoted from the Law of Moses how she should be stoned. Some stood there with stones in their hands. Jesus bent down as he quietly listened to them and began to write in the dust with his finger. When they were done he wrote some more then stood and looked at the leaders of the group and then around at all of the men. The men continued to press him to answer about what he had to say about what the Law of Moses said about stoning those caught in adultery he looked at them and said, “let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” He then bent down and wrote some more words in the dirt. As his words and the words he had written in the dirt sunk in the rocks began to fall from men’s hands and they turned and left. After they had all left Jesus stood, looked down at the woman and asked “woman where are your accusers? Is there no one here to condemn you?” “No one, Lord.” She answered. This is not in scripture but I imagine he reached his hand out to help her up and as she stood he says, “neither do I condemn you” and with kindness in his eyes says “now go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

Too often the church, that is the body of Christ, heaps shame instead of mercy on those caught in sin. In my mind it would seem important for us to follow Jesus example in dealing with the sin of others. Jesus was more focused on leading one to repentance than condemning them.

Yelling at people and telling them that they are going to hell scares people into a  fake, short-term repentance not a lasting one. What really leads us to a long-term repentance is found in Romans 2: 1-4 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.  We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.  Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

In 2 Peter 3: 9 we are told: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

It looks as though God is more interested in restoring, reviving and strengthening his relationship with us than he is in punishing and condemning us for our sins. Make no mistake about it God hates sin but He hates it not because we do it but because it breaks the relationship we have with Him.

In John 16: 8 we are told that the Holy Spirit is the one who will convict he world concerning sin. Although we are called out of this world we are still here and so that verse is for us as well. Notice the Holy Spirit convicts not condemns us. It is through the kindness of the Lord that we are lead to repentance. Let’s be clear God might use a man to stir us but we are lead to repentance not by that man but by the Holy Spirit.

Now let’s answer the third question: What are the results of a repentance that leads to revival?

When the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin we are moved by his kindness to repent from our heart. We respond as we would when any close relationship is broken and then renewed. We are broken, we might be moved emotionally and as we repent our brokenness is replaced with joy by the restoration of our relationship with God. Our life is revived. Our faith strengthened. Our effectiveness in sharing the gospel is restored.

Revival then is the restoration of something lost because of our sin, it comes about by the kindness of our Lord which leads us to repent and it results in us turning around and moving towards God. We then become instruments of God’s peace and love in the world.

How do we apply what we just heard?

Temple – Holy of Holies:

Every year at the Day of Atonement one of the priests of Israel would enter the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood from the sacrifices on the Mercy Seat.
In 1 Corinthians 3: 16   we are told we are the Temple of God and that the Holy Spirit is in our midst. The heart of the temple was the Holy of Holies so our hearts could represent the Holy of Holies with the Mercy Seat there in. So repentance is done in the Temple and Holy of Holies.

Often at the tent revivals people are told to come to alter and repent.
In James 5: 16 we are told to confess one to another so that is also valid and it helps to have an accountability partner who you can do that with.

Did this speak to anyone today?

Friday, February 20, 2015

Why a Weekend on Repentance? part 2

 I am setting the men's retreat weekend for Saturday, June 13th at Restoration Farm. This is a part 2 to the Why a Weekend on Repentance? I hope to answer what repentance is and why we need to focus on it.


To understand why we need repentance I believe we need to have a proper definition of Repentance to begin with.

2 Corinthians 7: 9-11 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry (filled with sorrow), but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly godly has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourself, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

W.E. Vine defines it as:
a. change of mind
b. involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God

Let's think of repentance as simply a change of mind which causes us to "turn from sin and turn to God." Which is preceded by sorrow and followed by a changed life.

Two types of  sorrow:
Worldly and godly

Worldly sorrow produces a selfish sorrow. It is one that is generated by "getting caught" or having been "made to look bad." In worldly sorrow one is more concerned about self.

Godly sorrow produces a sorrow directed at God. It is generated by conviction by the Holy Spirit. One is sorry because their actions are sins against a Holy God.

One is sorry because of the price God had to pay to have one's sin covered.

How many of us can actually say we have had a sorrowful repentance? I can honestly say I have but I am getting hints from the Holy Spirit that this weekend us just as much for me as any man that shows up.

Let me ask a few questions:
Can you look at your life and see signs that you have really had a "change of heart and mind?"
Can you honestly say you have made a decision to turn from sin and turn to God?

If you have not yet obeyed the gospel...you have not repented.
If ou have become slack in your service...you are in need of repentance.

During this weekend we will review the above and then seek the Holy Spirit to convict us of the sin we have to repent of. We will be moved by the kindness and love of God to repent. We will then leave refreshed, reconciled and restored ready to guide men back home to realizing real repentance.

Note: W.E. Vine, was an English Biblical scholar, theologian, and writer, most famous for Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Why a Weekend on Repentance?

I am planning a men's retreat in June to be held at Restoration Farm.


So why focus on repentance?


Most of us when thinking of repenting have images of standing before a pastor who is larger than us or sitting in a booth with a priest sitting on the other side of the curtain. Either or both glaring at us with disapproval. But what I want to do is for us to look at it from God's perspective.

Let's answer these questions:

When one repents how is God viewing that person?

What is real repentance?

What does repenting look like?

Where do we have to repent?

What do we need to repent of?

I will try to keep each answer as brief as possible.

When one repents how is God viewing the person repenting?
Maybe what we should do is first answer the question of What Real Repentance is?
      
Acts 26:20New International Version (NIV)
20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
So repentance is an act of turning back to God.

What is that we should turn from? We can answer that in just one little word, SIN. Sin is anything that turns us from God. It can be different for each person. During the weekend we will discuss some of the sins we could have in our lives.

So now we know that we are to repent from sin let's answer how God views us as we do this act.

I believe most people have this image of God.
But what does the Bible say about what is going on when we repent?
Luke 15:7New International Version (NIV)
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

That makes me think that when we repent and turn back to God there is a party taking place with God hosting it. 


What does repenting look like?
People fall on their face before the Lord, they might cry or they might just sit n awe that our God wants to restore relationship with us. Repentance can take many forms but almost every time it involves a person having a broken heart from the way they have been living.

Where do we have to repent?
In simple terms "Before the Lord". There is no certain place that we have to confess our sins. There is no certain person or group of people we need to confess in front of. What we need to do is confess to our Father that we have strayed from Him.

What do we need to repent of?
We have already determined we need to repent of sin. What sin? Well it is different for each of us. Some of our sins are hidden and we do not even recognize them as sin. This is why I want to hold a weekend of Repentance. For some of us we need to have the Holy Spirit convict us of what we need to repent of.

During this weekend we will invite the Holy Spirit to come and convict us of our sins.
John 16:8The Message (MSG)

8-11 “When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment: He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin; that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control; that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.

I believe the men who attend this weekend event will go home changed men. They will be changed because they were willing to go before God and ask to be shown their sin and having been shown they knell before him asking for his forgiveness and blessing of strength to overcome.

Here is my vision for this weekend:

1. Arrive at the farm Saturday morning.
2. At 11am have a short meeting about the farm.
3. At noon have a meal.
4. After lunch begin the event with worship (15-20 minutes).
5. After worship have a short message. (15-20 minutes).
6. After the message men can partner up or go by themselves to various locations on the farm to sit and seek an encounter with the Holy Spirit and be convicted of their sin(s).
7. Come back together and discuss (those that are open to talking) our experiences.
8. Worship and ending message for the day. (30-40 minutes).
9. Free time
10. Evening meal and camp fire.

Sunday
8am Breakfast
9am Worship and short message
10am Another trip to the woods or other areas to encounter the Holy Spirit
11am End with a Blessing

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Come

I believe that God's main focus is restoring this world Himself. If you look through the pages of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation you find a creator God who has a desire of relationship with His creation called humans. Do you realize that mankind is the highest form of creation, even higher than the angels?

Hebrews 2: 5-9 God didn’t put angels in charge of this business of salvation that we’re dealing with here. It says in Scripture,What is man and woman that you bother with them; why take a second look their way? You made them not quite as high as angels, bright with Eden’s dawn light; Then you put them in charge of your entire handcrafted world. When God put them in charge of everything, nothing was excluded. But we don’t see it yet, don’t see everything under human jurisdiction. What we do see is Jesus, made “not quite as high as angels,” and then, through the experience of death, crowned so much higher than any angel, with a glory “bright with Eden’s dawn light.” In that death, by God’s grace, he fully experienced death in every person’s place.

When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden and were cast out of it God had a plan in place to restore them to Himself. The whole Old Testament is pointing us to Jesus. When God gave Israel the Law and the Holy Days it was given to point them to His son. 

God knew that as hard as man tried he could not keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. Each year the Holy Days were a reminder that was the fact. 

When Jesus walked the earth He even made these stronger in that He said if you even looked at a woman with lust you had committed adultery or if you called someone a fool you had murdered him. Be honest how many of these can you keep day in and day perfectly?

When God gave the Holy Days they were given to point us to His plan to bring lasting forgiveness to mankind through His son.

Let's look at the Holy Days and how they point us to Christ.

Passover (not a Holy Day but opens the door to the Holy Days)
The passover pictures Jesus becoming our sacrifice for our sins. He was sinless (unblemished) so was the perfect sacrifice.

Unleavened - Pictures the removal of our sins.
Pentecost - Pictures God sending His Holy Spirit to live in us.
Trumpets - Pictures Jesus return as the King of kings and Lord of lords to rule here on earth.
Atonement - At One Ment pictures the removal of Satan and the opening of the door for God to be at one with us.
Tabernacles - Pictures mankind giving up his temporary housing (our physical bodies) and living with Jesus forever.
Last Great Day - Pictures the God coming to live here on earth with mankind. It also pictures the White Throne Judgement and Jesus tearing the pages of our sins from our book and presenting a clean slate to God. 

Some of you who are reading this are fearful that you have not been good enough to meet God's standards. Some of you know you have not lived a life of what Christians are expected to live. Some of you, like me, grew up damaged by life's battles and you think it is hopeless. Some of you can't even hope that God can love you because you think your sins are so bad. 

If that is you then here is what I have to say in closing God's forgiveness is so much larger than anything you have done. All He wants is for you to come.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Wild at Heart Weekdend at Restoration Farm

I am making plans to host a men's event here at Restoration Farm and want to invite you to attend. I have a need to have at least 2 men help me organize and plan the event.

My idea would involve a Wild at Heart type of weekend with worship and sharing. It would be an intense weekend but I hope we can have s e fun too.

One idea I have is for at le10 least 10 men come and bring their pastor, of course their pastor would have to be a guy too. Please share your thoughts and ideas.

If you would like to help or if you have any ideas or suggestions please get back with me.

Best regards

Larry Clark
Restoration Farm
http://therestorationfarm.blogspot.com
www.the-restoration-farm.com

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Make 2015 A Year with Purpose



The following is a sermon I will be giving at Lake Hills Community Church on January 4, 2015 and that I feel is important to hear at this time. It is based on a sermon I heard by Mark Warner the Lead Pastor of Vineyard Church in Overland Park, KS. I have tried to change it enough to make it reflect me.

Wow, here we are beginning 2015 and if you are like many people you may have set a resolution or two. But if you are like me you find come Feb. 1st I have already broken every one. What I want to do today is encourage you to set some goals instead.
I want to share 6 things with you about goals that will help.

   1.  Goal-setting is a Spiritual responsibility.
Jesus and Paul did it. They both knew exactly what they were being called to do and did not let anything stand in their way.
Let’s look at Luke 4: 16-21 He came to Nazareth where he had been reared. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written, God’s Spirit is on me; he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”
Mark 1:38  Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I’ve come.” He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.
Philippians 3: 12-16  I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.

You are either going to go through life with purpose or by design or by default. You are going to decide what is important by your goals or you will allow someone else to make that decision for you.

Goal setting is an incredibly important discipline to develop. If goals were important to Jesus and we are supposed to imitate Him shouldn’t we set a few goals in our lives?

   2. Goals are Statements of Faith.
You might be thinking “isn’t setting goals what businesses do? What athletes do? Isn’t that a secular thing to do? Well yes that is true but NO! Setting goals is a spiritual habit we need to develop. Goals reflect our faith. If you are a believer, a follow Jesus Christ and you set a goal, what you are saying is, “I believe (that’s faith) that God wants me to accomplish such and such by such and such a time.” This is what I believe God is going to do in my life. That is a statement of faith.

Hebrews 11: 6 It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.

Romans 14: 23 If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.

Ephesians 3: 20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

I have to admit sometimes I do not dream BIG enough. Sometimes what I do is dream just big enough that I can accomplish it by myself. I want to encourage all of us to dream outside of the box we or others place us in. You know the, “I am not smart enough, not talented enough, not gifted enough, I am not old enough or I am too old, or what comes to your mind.

In 2015 Let’s let the size of our God determine the size of our dreams.

A cool thing is Dreams cost you nothing. Press into God about your dreams. Ask Him to help you set goals around the dream, put a date on it, make it measurable and do not expect instant success.

Begin today to live a WHATEVER Life, whatever you have for me God. I am signing up for whatever you have.

Goals are a statement of faith that God has something for you.

Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb with your goals. All fruit is found on the branches and not at the trunk. You will not produce fruit playing it safe. Goals that take you out on a limb and out of your comfort zone are statements of faith. Another way to spell FAITH is RISK.

   3.   Goals focus our energy.
I want to encourage you to set goals in four areas of your life:
Spiritual
Relationships
Financial
Health

Goals in these areas will help you to focus your energy. Goals will keep you from wasting time, money, resources and energy. Goals will help you keep your eye on the ball. They will help you live a more effective life. Without goals you will live a life of little impact. But by living a purposeful life you will have more power, be stronger and you just might change the world.

The greatest use of life is to invest it in what is going to outlast it. God does not expect you to do everything but He does expect you to do something. The main thing he wants you to be is the man or woman he knows you can be.

1 Corinthians 9: 26-27 I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Goals are your Statement of Faith and they will focus your energy.
 
   4.   Goals keep us going.
Goals will give you hope to keep moving. They will give you strength to endure. A country song captures this perfectly.

If you’re going through hell keep on going, don’t slow down. If you’re scared, don’t show it. You might get out before he knows you’re there.

Jesus endured all that led up to the cross because he looked beyond the cross to the goal. He looked beyond the pain to the prize. You need to do this, too!

Holocaust survivors.

Goals will give you hope to move past your mistakes, your fallings, your setbacks. Every one of us will blow it sometime this year. Always remember that none of those are failures unless you choose not to get up again and try again. Each of those things are actually helpful in you achieving your goals well that is if you learn from them.

Goal setting is a Spiritual responsibility, it is a Statement of Faith, it helps us to Focus, it gives us Hope and 5. Goals help to build our character.

Drifting through life does nothing to build our character. If you set goals that are God given He will begin a work in you that builds character. The greatest benefit to you when you set goals is not what you accomplish but what happens inside you as you move on them.

God is more concerned about your character than your accomplishments.  Here is the idea: “While we are working on the goals God gives us He is working on us.”

You will never become the man or woman God knows you can be unless you make it a goal to be that man or woman.

Goals build character and 6. Goals that are based on God’s word will be rewarded.

Proverbs 11: 27 The one who seeks good finds delight;  the student of evil becomes evil.

1 Corinthians 9: 25  You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.

Goals are a Spiritual Responsibility, goals are Statement of Faith, goals focus our energy, goals Give us Hope, goals build Character, and Goals based on God’s word will be rewarded.

I want to encourage you to make goals in these areas of your life:
Spiritual
Relational
Financial
Health

As you set your goals ask yourself these 3 questions:
1    Will it honor God?
2    Is it motivated by love?
3    Will it require me to depend upon God?

If you set a goal  that will not bring honor to God He will not help you achieve it. If the goal is not motivated by love He will not support it. If it does not require you to depend upon God then it is self-based and it might be achieved but not have His help or support.

Finally you need the following 3 things to help you achieve your goals:
    1. The Holy Spirit to empower you.
    2. The Word of God to guide you.
Joshua 1: 8 And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”
    3. The Body of Christ to encourage and support  you.
Matthew 18: 18-20  “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”

Let’s make 2015 a year built around having a purpose in life and set goals based on that purpose. Setting goals can change your life even transform it.

Hey guys, if all we do is come to church each week and listen to Pastor Mike’s sermons and never apply them we might as well be out fishing or golfing. But if we hear, discuss and apply what he shares weekly we will not be the same person at the end of the year as we are at the beginning.

We are going to do something different today. We will take up the offering and have announcements and then have discussion.

Questions:
Did this speak to anyone?
Would you like to set some goals?

If you are moved to set some goals please contact me and share them. I will pray with you about them.

Father we thank you for caring enough to want us to grow through having goals. May 2015 be a year that we bring you honor and glory. In Jesus name amen