THANKS ANDY STANLEY

On Twitter this morning Andy Stanley (@AndyStanley) tweeted, "When I look at my children, I never think about their past. Only their potential." That is one great word or as Perry Noble (@perrynoble) put it, "THAT's AWESOME!!!". Johnny Hunt (@johnnymhunt) tweeted, "Thanks for a great reminder!" I'm not sure if Andy was speaking of just parenting or parenting love or God's love or ever how we can use it for good. I'm going to say their is one interpretation (What he wrote) and many applications (how it applies in other areas). I want to write concerning two applications.

1. Parental love - our children have made mistakes and even did exactly what they were not told to do. I watched a 2 year old stare down her dad when she was doing exactly what she was told not to do. She is a good child but we all want to find the line of authority. We are all going to blow it, BUT our parents continually see our potential. Thank God for love, grace and mercy.
2. Godly love - as children of God he sees our potential. Because of the gifts of repentance, mercy and grace God looks to our present. He see what we can be today. He see our potential as an obedient child. Peter was able to walk on water because he began to believe what Jesus believed about Him. God believes in your potential. He sees you as you can be. 

Today, live in your potential. Do not settle for mediocrity or complacency. 

Health Care and other Crap

Health care, bingo, gambling, Sunday alcohol sales, blah, blah, blah. I have heard so much hate over the past several months. It seems people cannot disagree about issues without being mean spirited toward other people and I find myself doing the same thing. It makes me sick. Do we not realize that we are spewing venom (to use my son’s word) about somebody’s mom or dad, daughter or son, sister or brother. Regardless of what someone may think they may even have a friend or two. Behind every issue are people – real people. People that God saw fit to create. People that Christ died for. They are people that do care and need to be cared for. They are people that do love and need to be loved. Right now I don’t care what you think about health care, Obama care, bingo, slots, alcohol, Foxnews, msnbc, CNN, etc. Make my day and let’s show a little kindness, love, forgiveness, and as much as depends on you live at peace with others. Can we disagree and still treat each other like people?

My Take On Yesterday

It is always a great opportunity to see someone come to Christ through salvation. So, to be able to see Jonathon saved just 10 minutes before our worship time was a special blessing.

It was great to then be able to baptize three more as the service started. This year has been a great blessing seeing so many come to Christ and make it public through baptism.

I pray the message was challenging and moves us to realize and live out the live of liners. We are to move the gospel, love, resources and truth. This week let's make sure we do not just go in circles. Fight the tendency of a cruise ship mentality. It is not about what the church can provide for us as much as what we can provide as a church.

Last night was a powerful time of praise. It was so easy to preach after being able to freely go into the presence of God through praise and worship. It was a time that God was really moving in some lives. Oh to have a love so strong for our faith family that it causes us to long for each other.

This week just obey Him. In one of my devotions today it said:

If the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many of your decisions as possible irrevocable, and let the consequences be what they will.

That is good!!!

How About a Gift Card to Cracker Barrel?

Friday I posted the following statement on Twitter and thus Facebook. “Agape is something we know how it is defined, but do we know how to express it?” Agape defined simply: “a willful others centered love”. Yes we could give a definition that is more comprehensive but that is it. “A willful others centered love.” Matthew 22:37-40 says we should love God and others with agape. I believe most of us have the definition in our memory, but do we have the lifestyle? How far will you go for someone else? I do not mean this in any disrespect but we will send $10 to Haiti but will we give the homeless that same amount of money? Will we buy a case of water to give to the thirst in the hot summer? Will we give a gift card to a transient to Cracker Barrel (they can find them beside the interstate all over the south)? Will we forgive someone who hurts us? Will we go the extra mile? If we are not doing these things what is the problem? I submit the problem is that we have not given ourselves to God first. God is jealous and wants to be first in your life. God does not want anything before Him. The commandments whether Old or New Testament say give yourself to God first. So, today give yourself away to God. Release it.

It's My Birthday

Well, today is my birthday. I have had many people wish me a happy birthday today and I plan to make this day happy. I have been asked do I feel older – NO. How old are you – 47. One responded to that number with – WOW! I do not feel 47, ever how that is supposed to feel. I see people my age and I think they look old. My 47 years has been an adventure. I grew up in a family that had then had not. A family that was happy then divorced. A church centered family to a country club centered. A home with no alcohol to one that had a cabinet full. Drank my first beer at home and saw my first girly magazine at home. Was a bad teenager. Always seeking to fit in. Met my wife, had three wonderful children, built a home, youth ministered, pastored, started a church, went to college, seminary, seminary again, spent money, saved little. Been to South America, Central America, Mexico, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Houston, somewhere in Mississippi, New Orleans, Disney, the beach, Washington D.C., and many more places. My favorite is NYC. Would love to go to Hawaii with my wife (if someone wants to give that as a 47^th b’day present it would be nice). I have enjoyed this 47 years. I feel young. My mind still dreams. I look forward to more great adventures. There are times when life seemed hard but it really was not. There have been times when it seemed easy but it really was not. Many of the things I thought I hated I really liked. But sometime today 47 years will have been spent by Daniel Ferrell Williams. Where has it gone? More places than I ever thought it would. It has been spent with great returns. I have the greatest family, friends and memories. If you have been part of it, thanks. If not, maybe we can make that happen in the next 47. That would be 94. That has a good ring to it. How old are you? 94? No, but I am halfway there. Enjoying the ride. Working on the dash (1963 – ). Age is nothing but a number. I will LOVE and LAUGH and LIVE.