The Valley of the Shadow

Kneel at the Cross

2009-12-08T09:14:00.002-06:00

I've moved to kneelatthecross.com. I hope everyone that came here to read will follow me to my new location. Why did I decide to move? Well I work on a few other websites and the all use a self-hosted word press blog. Since I'm very familiar with how it works it makes it easier to operate my own blog if it works in the same way. Plus I can add some features by self hosting I couldn't here. And

The Presence of God

2009-11-17T17:54:00.000-06:00

As I was praying this morning, I got that feeling I sometimes get when I’m really into a prayer. The feeling of Jesus wrapping His arms around me, comforting me and letting me know that He hears me. As I was reflecting on that feeling throughout the day, I remembered something I said a couple of weeks ago. I was teaching on grace in discipleship training and made the comment about how when we are

Providing From Nothing

2009-11-08T17:05:00.002-06:00

As I was reading through 1 Kings 17 I noticed something interesting. Elijah prophecies a drought and God tells him to go to the brook of Cherith. There God feeds Elijah by ravens that bring him food and he drinks from the brook. Well eventually the brook dried up and God commands Elijah to go to Zarephath where a widow will take care of him.Elijah arrives and finds the widow gathering wood for a

Wiser than Solomon

2009-10-29T16:39:00.002-05:00

As I was reading the bible this morning I came across 2 Chronicles 8:11 Solomon moved Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, “my wife must not live in the palace of King David of Israel, for the places where the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.” This caught my attention because this immediately follows a heartfelt prayer where Solomon

Sunday's Sermons

2009-09-07T08:54:00.002-05:00

Here is the link for the morning service I did over the weekend. I also did an evening service on Hebrews 11:35-40 it was a lot different from what I had previously done and some people felt I was a little to graphic.

Who Do You Say I Am?

2009-09-05T20:53:00.002-05:00

This is the sermon I will be preaching in the morning.Update: here is the link for the audioMat 16:13-20 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"16Simon

Life Of Paul: The Jerusalem Council

2009-08-27T09:18:00.004-05:00

This is actually the lesson from last Wednesday, I've been busy and haven't had time to post the it. There wasn't a lesson last night because I was hosting a community youth revival and the youth were there . You can check out it's website at unifiedyouth.org.The Jerusalem Council(50 A.D.)During Paul’s first missionary journey, He saw that God “opened a door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27)

When God Moves Faster Than We Do

2009-08-12T12:23:00.000-05:00

This will be an unpopular post and probably make some people angry, but the bible is full of people that offended in an effort to speak of Jesus and what God wants. I do ask either read this post all the way through or don't read it at all. I'm going to start by saying I have never been in a church when it split. I've been in a church where there was tension over a decision and some people left

Life Of Paul: First Missionary Journey

2009-08-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is tonight's lesson on Paul. It covers his first missionary Journey.Again this lesson is based on an outline by Mark Copeland at executableoutlines.comFirst Missionary Journey, And Residence In Antioch(45-49 A.D.)So far we have looked at Paul's life up until he starts his missonary JourneysPaul has spent his life preparing for his calling by God His education, heritage, his

As Jesus Sees

2009-08-04T12:38:00.001-05:00

August is here! Time for children to head off to school and time for our revival, plus this year there will be a revival for the youth. Another busy month where it’s easy to get caught up in all we have going on and forget about others. So what can we do to prepare ourselves for this busy month? First the most important thing we can do is pray. Before we can pray we need to prepare ourselves for

Life Of Paul;The Early Years

2009-08-03T09:16:00.004-05:00

Since most of my time lately has been devoted to studying and preparing lessons for my youth classes, I have decided to start posting the lessons here. Right now we are studying the life of Paul. I've already done two lessons that had such a basic outline when I taught that they wouldn't be very helpful to anyone. Last Wednesday's I detailed pretty good and next Wednesdays the same way. I often

A Father In His Image

2009-06-20T09:18:00.000-05:00

June is here and with it comes warm summer days and children exploring their freedom from school. With June also comes the day we sit aside to remember fathers. This is an opportunity for us all to think of the men who have shaped our lives and led us to be the adults that we are now. As I think back over childhood some of my fondest memories involve my dad teaching me and instructing me on how

By Any Other Name

2009-06-14T20:59:00.004-05:00

I preached my second sermon this morning. I included the manuscript I wrote out to practice it with but it isn't exactly word for word. Here is the link.Good morning! I’m going to start this morning in Hebrews chapter 3 then we will visit Numbers 20, Genesis 3 and stop in Romans 7.So if everyone is in Hebrews 3 we will start at verse 7 and go to 19Hebrews 3:7-19 (New International Version)Warning

Psalm 3: My Prayer for Today

2009-06-04T11:14:00.005-05:00

As I prayed this morning for God to give me strength and to silence my enemies Psalm 3 came to my mind. As I read it I prayed it as a prayer. I remembered an essay I wrote for class and thought I would post it here. I ask for anyone reading this to say a prayer for my family and me.A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!2

The Genealogy of Matthew

2009-05-26T14:13:00.003-05:00

I had written a post to put in my church newsletter, I always post them here also, but I Lost the USB drive I had it saved on. Well I finally found it. So here is the post that was supposed to appear on Mother's Day.The Genealogy of JesusMatthew 1:1-16The Bible is full of Genealogies, Those lists of names that seem to go on forever and appear to serve no purpose but to lull us to sleep. It is

My First Sermon

2009-05-18T21:27:00.003-05:00

I preached my first sermon on Sunday morning. It was unexpected since I received a call at about 8:45 that morning to see if I could do it. It's from John 14:1-7 with the Scripture reading pertaining to the first part of the sermon . The scripture reading was from Matthew 7:13-23Click here to hear it. I would love to hear some opinions on it.

Staying Near Sin

2009-04-29T16:03:00.000-05:00

What an interesting story we have in Genesis 19. Two angels show up to warn Lot to flee. Lot offers them a place to sleep and they turn him down saying, "We will just sleep here in the square." I can imagine the panic on Lot's face. He knows that he is in a sinful place, and he must protect these two angels, but imagine the embarrassment of having to tell God, “Yes I love you and follow you, but

To Know Him

2009-04-27T15:59:00.001-05:00

I was reading through Genesis today in the NKJV and I came to 18:19. The verse just seemed to jump out at me and speak. It says, “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and household in the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and Justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." God knew Abraham so that he could spread the word. God expected

The Great Escape

2009-04-20T11:51:00.001-05:00

As you sit in your prison cell awaiting your execution. You look at your two accomplices and know that all three of you are about to die for your crimes. Robbery, murder, inciting others to violence, the list goes on and on. You were tried and convicted and you know you deserve to die for what you did.Suddenly outside you hear loud angry voices, are they here to take you? The voices keep getting

Let No Man Separate

2009-04-17T13:26:00.002-05:00

The other day I was drug into a conversation about divorce. A friend was trying to convince another friend to divorce his wife after discovering an affair. He told the other friend that the bible said a man could divorce a woman if she had an affair. He looked at me expecting me to confirm what he said. I told him it actually said that if a man divorced his wife and married another woman he would

Accepting the Blame For Our Sin, Part 2

2009-04-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

This is part two in a two part postIn 2 Samuel 11 we learn of David’s adultery. As David strolls about the top of his palace he sees Bathsheba bathing on her roof. He stares lustfully at her and asks one of his servants to find out who she is. Upon finding out that her husband is gone David gives in to his desires and sends for her. The sleep together and she becomes pregnant.David trying to

Accepting the Blame For Our Sin, Part 1

2009-04-13T12:34:00.005-05:00

I did this as a lesson on accepting the responsibility for our sins. I’m posting it in two parts here. The second part will be posted tomorrow. The Bible starts off jumping right into man and sin. The third chapter of Genesis tells us of the Fall. God placed Adam and Eve in His garden. He told them that everything there was for them except for one tree (Genesis 2:16-17), placed in the

YEC 2009

2009-03-10T16:50:00.004-05:00

I and 5 other adult leaders carried 18 youth to YEC in Nashville TN last weekend. It truly was an amazing weekend. We had a young lady that was invited by one of our youth get saved. I had another young lady tell me Sunday night that she went home read her bible and prayed which she told us she doesn't do very often. I just got done reading a post by Clayton King saying that 2000 got saved that

The Way, The Truth, The Life: Part 3

2009-03-09T05:44:00.001-05:00

This is the third of three post. Part 3I am the way and the truth and the lifeThe lifeIn the beginning God created the heavens and earth and on the sixth day God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, in our likeness, (Genesis 1:26)(Genesis 1:27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Since we have been discussing

The Way, The Truth, The Life: Part Two

2009-03-07T05:40:00.000-06:00

This is the second post of three. The first is here if you haven’t read it yet.Part twoI am the way and the truthThe truthDuring the trial of Jesus, Pilate asks Jesus “What is truth”John uses the word truth 26 times in his Gospel compared toMatthew who uses it onceLuke who uses it once andMark who uses it twiceJohn then uses the word truth 20 more times in his Epistles. Obviously John wanted us

The Way,The Truth,The Life

2009-03-05T17:36:00.003-06:00

I was preparing a lesson the other day from John 14:6 and it went in a direction I wasn’t expecting so I thought I’d share it. It seems I have seen the Trinity represented in several things I have studied lately and it also appeared to me that it was represented in John 14:6It was suggested that instead of this being one edited for length post I post it in a series.I want to start out by looking

The Least of These

2009-02-28T11:39:00.002-06:00

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Matthew 25:44-45 I wanted to share an experience I had right before Christmas. I say this not shame or criticize, but as a

Light in the Darkness

2009-01-26T17:42:00.001-06:00

A friend came up this morning and told me I need to post something. Apparently I have been quiet for too long. I told him I’ve been too stressed to write lately. Let me just say I hope January is not what the rest of the year is going to be like for me. Twenty six days into the year and it seems like everything is crashing down. The last week of December my car broke down and it would be cheaper

Everything

2009-01-16T04:38:00.000-06:00

I love this video. I cry every time I watch it. I have found hundreds of skit versions and three video versions of this skit. It starts with our walk with Jesus then it shows how we let relationships come between us and Christ. Then it moves on to money, status, alcohol, depression and finally we run back to Jesus who will help us fight off the evils that tempt us. I Hope you enjoy this

The Punishment Due Us

2009-01-13T11:49:00.000-06:00

What is the worst punishment a man can have for doing wrong? Our criminal Justice system has many punishments in it. They range from community service, fines, jail time all the way up to even capital punishment. Let’s think about the jail time for a minute. You have done wrong and now you must be punished. You are locked up and separated from your friends and family. You can no longer see the

The Rooster

2009-01-08T15:16:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I was lying in bed thinking about a discussion on freewill that had been going on. That got me thinking about my grandmother. I know my mind works weird. Anyways, my grandma Cill used to have a pet rooster. It would ride on her shoulder as she worked in the yard. This rooster trusted and loved her. Most roosters are mean and see humans as trying to control THEIR barnyard. It is their

Lord Prop Us Up

2009-01-05T10:42:00.000-06:00

I received this in an email yesterday and thought I would share it here Every time I am asked to pray, I think of the old deacon who always prayed, 'Lord, prop us up on our leanin' side.' After hearing him pray that prayer many times, someone asked him why he prayed that prayer so fervently. He answered, 'Well sir, you see, it's like this... I got an old barn out back. It's been there a long time

Hamas

2009-01-02T17:33:00.001-06:00

While Israel is fighting Hamas, it is nice to know God is still at work converting people to Christianity. Voice of the Martyrs' Persecution Blog pointed me to a Fox News story about Mosab Hassan Yousef, The son of one of Hamas Founding members. It tells a little about his conversion to christianity. Praise God on how he is working on some in the Middle East. In David Jeremiahs' Book What in

New Year Prayer

2009-01-01T09:47:00.000-06:00

It's 2009, Happy New Year! For the second year in a row I brought in the year with the youth of my church. A minute before midnight we knelt before the altar and prayed in the new year. This is such a powerful way to bring in the year. Talking with God about the last year and the upcoming year. It was extra special for me this year as I have two of my own girls in the yourh and my wife came to

A New Year

2008-12-31T14:00:00.000-06:00

2008 is behind us and we have begun 2009. As we start this year out it is a great time to reflect on last year and ask ourselves some questions.• How have I served God in the last year?• Have I reflected my Lord and savior Jesus Christ in my life?• What failings and mistakes have I made and have I confessed them to God?Ask yourself “How have I served God?” “What have I given back to the Lord?”

Free Kutless MP3

2008-12-31T10:41:00.000-06:00

A free Kutless MP3 is being given away at Bible Study Magazine. They are also having a contest to win cool Kutless gear and Logos Bible Software. Go check it out! They have some sample articles in PDF

My Anniversary Prayer

2008-12-30T05:42:00.000-06:00

Today is my fourteenth wedding anniversary. As I look back over the last fourteen years I can truly say God has blessed my fountain. I have had the pleasure of a loving doe, whom's love I will be lost in forever. (Proverbs 5:18-19) I look at what Paul says in Ephesians 5:25 and believe that this is the perfect example of what true marriage should be. Just as Christ loved the church and would die

One In A Sea Of Faces

2008-12-29T21:38:00.000-06:00

To see the analogies I am talking about, you need to read Tim’s Post that I have linked to below.Back on December 15, Tim Challies posted a beautiful piece entitled One in a Sea of Faces. It is about the healing of the invalid from the book of John 5:1-15. The end of the post relates this to Calvinism. I realize in the blogosphere Calvinism reigns, and I read many Calvinistic bloggers but I

Clean Garments for the High Priest

2008-12-18T12:02:00.000-06:00

Zechariah 3:1-10 HCSB Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?" Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said

Are You Real

2008-12-04T13:20:00.000-06:00

On my way to work earlier this week Kj52 Are You Real played. As I was listening to the lyrics, it got me thinking. When we first start out as a Christian we are always looking for God. Our old sin nature tries to make us doubt. As we mature we start seeing God working everywhere. I imagine we have all heard someone say if God was real, why doesn't He show Himself to us. Once we believe through

Christmas

2008-12-04T13:18:00.001-06:00

How can we praise God during this year’s holiday season? What can we do during the rush of the season to remember that praising Jesus is the most important thing in our lives? What should be a joyous time for all is sometimes the hardest time of the year for many.As our economy has taken a down turn, many have found themselves unemployed. High fuel prices all summer and still high gas prices for

Thanksgiving Prayer

2008-11-27T08:41:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! What a great time to take a few minutes and thank the lord for all the blessings He has given us.Heavenly father I thank you for this day.Lord I praise You for all the blessings You have given me.Lord I want to thank You for the family You have given me.Lord thank You for the three wonderful kids You have placed in my care.Father I pray I may raise them in a way that brings

View From Above

2008-11-25T09:15:00.001-06:00

I love this time of the year. This is a time I truly get to enjoy God' s creation. As I sit in the dark in my deer stand and wait for God's creation to wake up I feel so alive in Christ. Before dawn I get to watch the creatures of the night interact with each other. I can see how God provides for even the smallest of his creatures (). As God starts the day with his sunrise, I can enjoy the

Walking Together With Christ

2008-11-21T20:26:00.000-06:00

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3:3 KJVAmos said this while prophesying against Israel. What a verse for us to think about today! As I was studying this verse I read a commentary by Vernon McGee. He said he was watching a young couple walk together, when suddenly the girl turned and went the other way. They were walking together until they were no longer in agreement then they

Light for my path

2008-11-18T18:41:00.001-06:00

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. (Psalm 119:05)The Bible is such a joy to me. It is a way to listen to what God says to me. Often I will pray and then open up my bible saying LORD talk to me. It never ceases to amaze me, no matter how many times I may read the same thing over. God will have something new to show me each time. A lamp to my feet. During power outages I often

The Bronze Snake

2008-11-17T17:45:00.001-06:00

In John 3:1-21 Jesus is talking to Nicodemus. In John 3:14-15 Jesus says “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”This had to be confusing to an already confused Nicodemus. First he is saying I have to be born again, now He is talking about Moses and snakes. Just

True Understanding

2008-11-13T08:48:00.001-06:00

LXII. I did not learn my divinity at once, but was constrained by my temptations to search deeper and deeper; for no man, without trials and temptations, can attain a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures. St Paul had a devil that beat him with fists, and with temptations drove him diligently to study the Holy Scripture. I had hanging on my neck the pope, the universities, all

Abraham Believed God

2008-11-08T09:15:00.000-06:00

Romans 4:1-5Paul said “If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.” (Romans 4:2) Abraham lived a Godly life. If God spoke it, Abraham did it without question! God told him to pack up and move and off he went. (Genesis 12:1-4) God told him to sacrifice his son and off he went. (Genesis 22:2-3) When Kedorlaomer and

Repent

2008-11-01T02:01:00.000-05:00

Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.Matthew 3:2 NIVThe word repent is found throughout the old and new testaments. When Jonah prophesied in Nineveh, they repented. (Matthew 12:41) God says in Ezekiel 18:30 KJV “…Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.” On and on the Word of God tells us to repent, but what exactly does repent mean? I

One Vote

2008-10-28T09:05:00.000-05:00

When I started this blog I told myself I was not going to do anything Political on it. In 7 days America will be making a choice in one of the most important presidential elections of my lifetime. Not because of either candidate, but because of who they may appoint to the Supreme Court. I am not going to endorse either candidate because everyone needs to pray about it and make that decision on

The Fall & Sacrifice

2008-10-26T18:13:00.000-05:00

The FallAdam and Eve were in paradise. They had everything they could want. God provided for their every need. The only thing he asked for in return was obedience. All they had to do was to avoid one tree. (Genesis 3:3) The bible mentions two specific trees in the middle of Eden. (Genesis 2:9) The tree of life led to salvation. The tree of knowledge of good and evil led to damnation. We have this

Thank You

2008-10-14T10:34:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone who comes to this blog regularly. I pray that something I write may be a blessing to you. This blog has been a blessing for me and knowing that there are several people who read it regular gives me encouragement to keep on. Posting this month will probably be slim as work has picked up and I'm looking in to some side projects. I have

Fireproof

2008-10-06T05:32:00.000-05:00

I finally got to take my wife to see fireproof. If you haven't seen it I recommend it. It is an awesome movie with Christian values and many ideas that can help even a strong marriage. In this day when Hollywood rarely has a movie that strengthens Christian viewpoints instead of tearing them down we should throw all our support behind this companyGo to Sherwood Pictures for more information about

Britney by Bebo Norman

2008-10-05T02:00:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I started to write about how it annoyed me some of the stupid stuff celbrities do. Children look up to them and want to be like them and they lead them down a hard road. I didn't feel like God wanted me to write it so I didn't. I heard this song a few weeks later and realized why. Many of our young celebrities do not know Jesus and they have no one who will show them Jesus. Many

Noah's Ark

2008-10-04T07:57:00.000-05:00

I received an email the other day with pictures of a biblical sized replica of Noah's Ark. Its located in Schagen Netherlands and was built by a dutch contractor. I thought I'd put a few pictures up. I'm going to include the text from the Email since it appears to be accurate.