13 May

Posted at 19:21h in Uncategorized

From the beginning of time, it’s always been an identity issue!  Travel all the way back to the Garden of Eden and you’ll find Satan tempting Adam and Eve with this very issue.  “For God doth know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing both good and evil” (Gen. 3:5).  The problem was…they already were!  The Bible tells us that God created man in His image and likeness (see Gen. 1:26).  That is the typical tactic of our enemy…he tries to get you to become something you...

06 May

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Let me quickly remind you over the last number of weeks we have asked you to consider three things from Hebrews 12:1-3: Consider them (the Hebrews 11 heroes of the Old Testament)! Consider Him (our Ultimate Hero…Jesus Christ)! Consider yourself (incorporate heroic qualities from their lives into ours)! We have also discussed the vivid difference between celebrities and heroes: Celebrities are visible.  Heroes are useable. Celebrities are characters.  Heroes have character. Celebrities are popular.  Heroes are powerful. Celebrities speak of change.  Heroes usher in change. We have also taken a look at another true Bible hero…Joseph.  We then began to “mine” some “Jewels from Joseph”: Jewel #1:  The greater the...

29 Apr

Posted at 09:17h in Uncategorized

When we think of heroes, our western mindset immediately goes to Chuck Norris rescuing soldiers missing in action, pictures of Rocky overcoming his Russian nemesis or (if you’re old enough) even John Wayne rounding up the bad guys in a western!   When we think of heroes, we may think of someone rescuing a child from a burning building.  My great grandfather was a preacher and actually ran into a burning building to rescue a family…he gave his life to successfully rescue them! There really is no greater hero than our Lord Jesus Christ.  He successfully rescued us from so much!  The...

22 Apr

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Over the last several weeks we have also discussed the vivid difference between celebrities and heroes: Celebrities are visible. Heroes are useable. Celebrities are characters. Heroes have character. Celebrities are popular. Heroes are powerful. Celebrities speak of change. Heroes usher in change. We also took a look at a true Bible hero…Joseph. We then began to “mine” some “Jewels from Joseph”: Jewel #1: The greater the dream, the greater the opposition (Gen. 37:5). Jewel #2: Those who don’t have your dream won’t have your reaction! (Gen. 37:5) Jewel #3: Learn to recognize the hand of God on people (Gen. 39:3-4). Jewel #4: Fight to keep yourself morally pure (Gen....

15 Apr

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Several years ago, my wife and I were on vacation and we were walking with my parents.  We were simply minding our own business just walking and talking, and had traversed down the beach farther than we normally do.  Suddenly we heard cries for help off in the distance.  Approximately 75 yards out in the ocean there was what looked to be a young boy who had swam out too far and was drowning.  There were very few people around and certainly no lifeguards, so it was up to me to rescue this person.  Over twenty five years ago I had...

08 Apr

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Over the last number of weeks, we have taken a look at a true Bible hero…Joseph.  We then began to “mine” some “Jewels from Joseph”:   Jewel #1…The greater the dream the greater the opposition (Gen. 37:5). Jewel #2…Those who don’t have your dream won’t have your reaction (Gen. 37:5)! Jewel #3…Learn to recognize the hand of God on people (Gen. 39:3-4). Jewel #4…Fight to keep yourself morally pure (Gen. 39:7-9). This week let’s continue: Jewel #5…Learn to be an observer of men (Gen. 40:6-7).   In the aforementioned verses Joseph, rather than begin absorbed in his own problems, noticed both the butler and baker looked sad.  This of course led...

01 Apr

Posted at 09:29h in Uncategorized

A few weeks ago, we discussed that in everyday language, these verses give us three things to consider: Consider them (the Hebrews 11 heroes of the Old Testament)! Consider Him (our ultimate Hero…Jesus Christ)! Consider yourself (incorporate heroic qualities from their lives into ours)! Over the last couple of weeks, we also looked at the differences between celebrities and heroes: 1.      Celebrities are visible…Heroes are usable. 2.      Celebrities are characters…Heroes have character. 3.      Celebrities are popular…Heroes are powerful. 4.      Celebrities speak of change…Heroes usher in change. We also began to look at a true Bible hero…Joseph.  We then began to “mine” Some “Jewels from Joseph”: Jewel #1…The greater the dream, the greater the opposition...

25 Mar

Posted at 08:00h in Uncategorized

Prior to September 11th, 2001 when our society thought of heroes…celebrities and sports figures came readily to mind.  Immediately after 9-1-1 our priorities began to change and then when we thought of heroes…policeman, fireman and other “first responders” came to mind.  Unfortunately after the wake up call of 9-1-1, our culture has seemed to have rolled back over and gone to sleep!  Once again, celebrities preoccupy our minds and tend to influence our culture. The Bible tells us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin...

18 Mar

Posted at 08:14h in Uncategorized

Over the last couple of weeks we began discussing the difference between a hero and a celebrity: 1.      Celebrities are visible.  Heroes are useable. 2.      Celebrities are characters.  Heroes have character. 3.      Celebrities are popular.  Heroes are powerful. 4.      Celebrities speak of change.  Heroes usher in change. We also began discussing "Jewels from Joseph": Jewel #1: The greater the dream, the greater the opposition (Gen. 37:5). This week, let's continue...