RSS
 

Give me a break…

14 Jul

Ephesians 5:15-17
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (NLT)

@Twitter
I seriously have over 11,000 tweets. My goodness. What could I have possible said for 11,000 tweets. I will admit I am hooked. I love to tweet. Twitter is usually the first app I open on my phone every single day. I have caught myself refreshing my twitter app multiple times in the same minute just to see if anyone has posted something new.

Facebook
I love to interact with people half way around the country, the world, or the living room. I love to post pictures on my Facebook, change my status, comment on other people’s stuff, and just waste time on Facebook. I love that I can check in with my family and they can see what is happening with mine.

Bleeding Over
For the most part I only indulged in social media when I had down time but here lately it has gotten worse. Social media has started to bleed over into all parts of my life. I check it when I wake up and while I work, before I eat, after I eat, while I watch TV, while I mow the lawn, while I brush my teeth, before I go to bed, while I am in bed, when I wake up in the middle of the night and then… repeat it all once I wake up.

Joel Isaac
I have a 6 month old son who has just started sitting up. It won’t be long and he will be crawling, then walking, then running. I don’t want to miss out on that with my nose stuck in my phone. I refuse to be “that dad.”

Too busy to tweet
It is so strange to me that when I am super busy doing really important things I don’t have time for social media. The times I actually have something really important to share with the world I am too busy. Twitter and Facebook don’t fit into my schedule when I am doing something that is actually twitter-worthy. So what does that tell me?

I need to stop and reevaluate where I am spending my time. How can I best evaluate? How much time I spend on twitter and Facebook might just be the perfect reflection of how important my life is at the moment. Of course that won’t always work and of course there is a place for social media. I’m just sayin’

Ephesians 5:15-17
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (NLT)

-Pastor Jimmy

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Adoption

18 May

“…having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.”  (Eph. 1:5)

During my studies today I found some very interesting things about adoption, especially adoption in Jesus time and I felt like it would be good to share it.  Since we are adopted as His children we need to know what our rights are that are connected to this wonderful thing called adoption.

In Roman Law, when the adoption was complete it was complete indeed.  The person who had been adopted had all the rights of a legitimate son in his new family and completely lost all rights in his old family.  I find this highly significant because the adopted child has lost all rights in his old family.  Think about that!  I have no rights to my old life.  According to the Roman law the adopted are considered a new person.  So new was he that even all debts and obligations connected with his previous family were abolished as if they had never existed.

As you view this adoption the thought comes to mind that this adoption sounds more like something else than that of one being adopted.  It sounds more like a birth.  Though adopted I have all rights like a legitimate son.  The rendering of this wonderful word adoption should be understood in spiritual terms as “I have been placed into the position of a son.”  That is amazing!  I have been placed into the position of being a son to the Most High God.  How wonderful is that?

I am glad to be a part of His family!  He is my Lord and I am His child!

Enjoy your Father!  There’s absolutely no one like Him!  It’s awesome to be placed into position!  I love it!

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Devotionals

 

Drugs, Alcohol and Jail Time

24 Mar

Recently I have been bluntly reminded about the real issues people are facing.
Drugs, alcohol, jail time, arguments, divorce, cutting, abuse and neglect are just some of the issues I have been confronted with lately. I have found myself calling people for advice, searching the scripture for answers and spending lots of time in prayer. I think when you hit hard times, really hard times, you find yourself praying harder than before.

In those hard times we forget all the formalities and the proper etiquette for praying. We just get down on our knees and lay it all out there. We aren’t worried about the way it sounds or if we are using the right words. We just lay it out there for God to hear.

Shouldn’t it be that way all the time.
Don’t get me wrong. We serve an awesome God who deserves the utmost respect. But which is the greater disrespect to honor God with “correctly spoken” but meaningless prayer or to honor God with honest heartfelt prayer that doesn’t sound perfect.

Jesus said it best in Matthew 6

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

Did you catch anything there? The one thing I get out of that passage is that I have to remember why I pray in the first place. I am not praying for your enjoyment. I am not praying so you can hear. I am praying because God hears. Jesus lays out a prayer for us to follow in Matthew 6 in the Lord’s prayer. I encourage you to take time to investigate what He prays for and why. But today I just want to get down to the heart of why we pray. Forget the fluff and pray because God hears.

Drugs, alcohol, and jail time
When I am confronted with major issues that people are dealing with it makes me want to get serious about my prayers. When I hear watch the videos of the devastating events in Japan I take off the formality and just start praying. I have somehow categorized some things as needing true prayer and some things do not. This should not be. God help me to get to the point and start praying for real.

-Pastor Jimmy

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Devotionals

 

The Battle for the Mind

15 Mar

The Apostle Paul stated in his writing to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1, “The Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”  Though I know Paul was actually talking about later times in his day and hour I believe this scripture still holds true for us.  We are living in a day and hour when the children of God are under a vicious attack against what we believe.

Our minds are constantly bombarded with teachings that on the outside seem so close to the truth but yet they are not truth at all.  They are packaged in ways that look good and somehow we feel, that must be truth.  The basis of truth must always come from the Word of God and not the word of man.  When our minds are attacked with these teachings we should first of all (1) Consider the source.  What is the track record for the one providing the teaching.  I am amazed at how some so called preachers can give false information one day and everyone know it and yet people will still trust that same individual knowing his track record the next time he says something.  (Unbelievable)!  (2)  You should know the word enough yourself to know the truth.  Don’t let some slick talking preacher or teacher pull the wool over your eyes.  (3)  We are to be Spirit led.  Listen to the Holy Spirit when He is pricking your heart that somethings wrong.

We are too easily duped in today’s church.  I am determined that the Rock of NEA is going to be a Bible believing, Spirit led church that is longing, even thirsting after the truth of God’s Word.  That is what will stand in the last days.

God Bless!

Pastor Terry

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Devotionals

 

Follow Me to the Fowler Center

10 Mar

Special Easter Service
On April 24th at 10AM The Rock will be having a special Easter service at the ASU Fowler Center. We are so excited to celebrate the resurrection of our savior, all together, in one location. The energy in that combined service will be incredible as we gather together to celebrate.

With seating for 1000 in the main auditorium and additional rooms for nursery and children this beautiful facility will accommodate our needs. We are pushing to pack the place out and we need your help to do it. We have invite cards at the connection center in the front foyer. Use these cards to break the ice and invite a loved one, neighbor, or coworker to the service.

Nursery and children services will be provided. Casual Dress. Come early for a good seat.

RSVP on our Facebook page and invite your Facebook friends to come. Click Here

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in news

 

Freely He Gave

15 Feb

John 10:17-18

“…I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

Isn’t it comforting to know that Christ chose to die for us? He wasn’t forced. No one twisted his arm and made him submit to the cross. He says in John 10:17 “I lay my life down. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down myself.”

This was not like taking out the trash or doing the dishes. It wasn’t a chore he was forced to complete for his father. This was his own choice. He had you and me on his mind. We were his motivation. We were the driving force behind his sacrifice. Isn’t it comforting to think that Christ chose to die for us?

Having to do a job is totally different than wanting to do a job. Having to love someone is totally different than wanting to love someone. Having to die is totally different than choosing to die.

-Pastor Jimmy

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Devotionals

 

Never Alone

09 Feb

I have recently been reading a book about a Navy Seal who was stationed in Afghanistan.  Very interesting read as he found himself in one of the most difficult battles a man could ever imagine.  The enemy had already struck down three of his companions and he was the only one left alive.  He went through so much, you wonder how can a body take this much pain and suffering, let alone the mental torture of knowing those you fought with are all dead.  One of the things he kept relating to in the book is he always knew God was with him.

The wonderful thing about being a child of God, is knowing no matter what, you are never alone.  God has promised in His Word, He will never leave us or forsake us.  He will go with us to the ends of the world.  I am so thankful to be a child of God and have the knowledge that I am never alone.  Even in the darkest of hours, my God is with me; in the lowest valleys God is there, He never sleeps and never slumbers.

Thank you Father for walking with me day in and day out.  Great is the Father’s love toward us!

-Pastor Terry

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Devotionals

 

Just another giant…

08 Feb

In the Bible there is a story of a giant slain by a young shepherd boy named David. The story of Goliath is quite famous and most who grew up in Sunday School would know of it. But there are other giants in the Bible as well. One such giant had the name of Saph. Most wouldn’t know him by name, but it is his name that is important.

The name Saph means tall. Other definitions give the idea of a door way. He was tall like a door or a threshold.

At first this may not seem that important. He was a giant. The name is fitting. But I can’t seem to get passed that concept of a threshold or doorway. Think about it.

I wonder what giant stands in your doorway? What thing is in front of your threshold? The future can be intimidating. The unknown can be clouded in shadows of uncertainty. In front of you stands a giant and his name is Saph.

Most might see this giant as a road block. They see their future and they see the doorway but standing in the way is Saph. For most this is the end of the doorway. They see the giant and turn away. They look for a door without a giant.

I refuse to look away any more. I refuse to look for another door. This giant is my door. This threshold is for me. I am tired of looking at giants as problems and I am ready to look at them as opportunities. This Giant Saph is nothing more than the confirmation that something good is on the other side. If I only walk through doors without giants I can expect to find things not worth a fight. A guarded door is the threshold to something great.

So let me unsheathe my sword. Let me ready myself for battle. It’s time for Saph to die. It’s time to lay claim to my threshold.

-Pastor Jimmy

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Devotionals

 

I Choose Happy

07 Feb

We assume that happy and unhappy people are born that way. But both kinds of people do things that create their moods. Happy people let themselves be happy. Unhappy people keep doing  things that upset them. Living a happy life as an adult is like a kid trying to get an ice cream cone. They know that ice cream cone will make them happy and they figure out how to get it. To be a happy adult we need to know what we want and devise a strategy to get it. Did you know that one of the only differences in happy and unhappy people is the average unhappy person spends twice as much time thinking about the unpleasant events in life, while happy people tend to rely on things that brightens their mood and outlook.

-Pastor Jeff

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Devotionals

 

Our lives have purpose and meaning

03 Feb

Folks we are not just here to fill space. You know that if you did not exist, nothing would be the same. Every place you have ever been and everyone you have ever spoken to would be different without you. We all have a role to play in this world. I believe we are all connected, and we are all affected by the decisions and the lives of those around us. I read of a study the other day that said when  older Americans are  the happiest is when they consider their life to have meaning. Well everyone’s  life has meanig and purpose. If not why would God send His precious Son to die for you?

-Pastor Jeff

Share|
 
No Comments

Posted in Devotionals

 
« Older Entries