James

Ok, I am sitting at my computer writing this blog but also working on a message for Sunday. First, please pray that I allow God to speak to me and not set an agenda that has NOTHING to do with Him. There has been a great deal that has gone on in my life this past month, but especially this past week. I know God has a plan, BUT I have to ALLOW Him to move and show me where HE wants me to go. Please pray!

One of my favorite books in the Bible is the Book of James. It is a book on conduct. It is clear in how we should live that Christ-like life. I believe that God had it placed (though there are some who don't) in the canonized Bible because he knew that we needed a plain and simple "how to" manual. He knew that we would screw up at times and needed to be reminded often just what it means to be a Christ follower. This is the book in which I will be speaking from Sunday. I am excited about this opportunity, BUT I want to speak in a fresh and new way. I'm not saying that the messages that I (and others) have spoken were not God inspired and truth....they are, but I want to speak a message that looks at this text a little different. In the end, we will get to the same conclusion...we just may take a different road to get there.

Again, please pray for me. Pray for The Church, your local church(es), our families, church services (whenever you have them) and most importantly....God and growing His heavenly kingdom.

Take care and God bless,
Aaron

Last Day

As I sit in my office on the last day as Minister to Youth, Children and Families I keep coming back to a song that was playing in my car on the way in this morning. It touched me more than it has any other time and I am guessing because it was heard through a new lens, that of not being a part of the staff any longer. I listened a little more intent than ever before. The song is entitled "Way Beyond Myself" by Newsboys:

I've been thinking it's about time
To win the war that fights against all the lies invading my mind
You have brought me to my senses
Even though You built this world to shake
You still love me in a personal way
So I think it's time to leave my doubt behind

There's so much more than meets the eye
Or what's going on inside
I believe in something way beyond myself
Like the wind that moves the leaves
Lord, You move me to my knees
Giving into something way beyond myself
I'm giving into something way beyond myself

Oh the way we build our empires hoping to impress our friends
We've forgotten how to inspire those who fall to rise again
Oh my God, You've built this world to shake
You still love me in a personal way
So I think it's time to leave my doubt behind

There's so much more than meets the eye
Or what's going on inside
I believe in something way beyond myself
Like the wind that moves the leaves
Lord, You move me to my knees
Giving into something way beyond myself
I'm giving into something way beyond myself

Storms are gonna come my way, I know

Some things are out of our control but there's a hope beyond myself
It's You and You will never let me go
Now I want my life to show
You got me thinking beyond myself
Way beyond myself
Yeah!

There's so much more than meets the eye
Or what's going on inside
I believe in something way beyond myself
Like the wind that moves the leaves
Lord, You move me to my knees
Giving into something way beyond myself

There's so much more than meets the eye
Or what's going on inside
I'm giving into something way beyond myself
Like the wind that moves the leaves
Lord, You move me to my knees
Giving into something way beyond myself

There's so much more than meets the eye
Or what's going on inside
I'm giving into something way beyond myself
Like the wind that moves the leaves
Lord, You move me to my knees

Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us talented people who write songs and produce music. Because of these people I have been given a moment to hear and reflect; to describe in a way that I otherwise could not, the way I am thinking and feeling. Bless those at the church, bless me and my family as we all move towards your plan you have laid out for us. I love you! Amen.

Peace and Love Be With You,

Aaron

Facebook

I had the opportunity this past week to participate in a one day seminar that talked about all the social media outlets that are around and the ties they have to churches. It was an interesting time of looking in on these new ways of community, which by the way, they are communities. In sitting among ministers who wanted to get a better hold of this new happening I realized that we have a long way to go to provide this outlet to the local churches. Long gone are the days where just snail mail, the pulpit on Sunday mornings, and phone calls are used to promote and inform. See, those things work BUT we have to also realize that we are EXCLUDING a GREAT NUMBER of people if we think that is the only way to communicate with people. And if I'm not mistaking, didn't Jesus make sure that he did not exclude anyone?!? My point is, that as the printing press came along.....things needed to change. Now, as the internet becomes so much more involved in each of our lives.....we need to change!

It has been said so many times before, BUT.........

The message is the same, the packaging HAS to be different! I pray that those who are fitting this "new" technology sit down and work on taking part, it will change your life but that is okay.

I was never good at writing (or that's my thought) but I decided to try this blogging "thing" and I have to say that I enjoy it. I still am no good at it, but look forward to what comes to my mind and fingertips. I have only written twelve posts before this but I get to look back and read these posts and they remind me of times in my life that were blessings that I wanted to share with others. Good and bad, I wanted to share things because I felt that God could work on someone through these times.

Take time today and thank God for the gift of life that He has GIVEN you and ask, "what can I do today that will honor you, Lord, bless others and in turn be a blessing to me?"

Take care and God bless.
Aaron