Its always a good day for a pastor when it is Friday and he is completely ready for Sunday. It doesn’t happen often. Sonya has a busy day at Hannah’s school so I decided to spend some time praying and reflecting. 

On days like this, I like to look through my grandfather’s old Bible. He preached for many years before quitting the ministry.  He was a prophet who pastored and that’s not a good mix. His messages were convicting. Sometimes too convicting and it upset many people. Ministry became too painful for him and his family so he walked away. He still served the Lord but not as a pastor.

Though he was a prophet, he was still a shepherd who loved his flock. He would spend nights in the hospitals with members who were sick. He would visit and take care of those in need. He was a good pastor.

For some reason he has been on my mind today.  As I was in prayer this morning, I noticed his old Bible on my shelf.  It was given to me after he passed away along with his other books and Bibles.  As I was flipping through the pages I stumbled upon this short poem in the front.  It gave me inspiration for the day.

If your life is unselfish
And for others you live
Not for what you get
But for what you give

If you live close to God
And His infinite grace
You don’t have to tell it
For it shows in your face

I’m not sure who wrote that but these words hold great truth. As you reflect on your life today, choose to live for others and let His grace show in your face.

Snow and Ice
Ice and Snow
To school the children cannot go.

Parents going crazy
Children getting lazy
When will the warm weather come?

Oh wait!
Is that the sunshine?
It went behind the clouds, nevermind.

Are you kidding me?
Is that snow falling from the sky?
I thought today was supposed to be dry.

It keeps piling up.
Snow on top of ice
Oh boy, it’s going to get to nine degrees tonight.

Can’t get out
cabin fever is epidemic
We’ve watched every episode of Andy Griffith.

It’s white outside
But of the summer I dream
Oh no, what will I do? I’m out of ice cream!!!!

Can’t live without it
Now I will risk life and limb
Just to get to Wal-mart again.

On second thought
It’s only a mile in the snow.
I’ll bundle up the kids and make them go.

It hasn’t been this quiet in four days
I know, When they get back
I’ll send them outside to play.

-Danny Cheney-

I read this today and it gave me an idea for next year’s chili cook-off.  Thought I would share it with you:

“November 1, 2003, the headlines read, “Scandal has rocked the chili cookoff world!” That’s the day when Don Eastep of Illinois entered the 37th annual “Original Terlingua International Frank X. Tolbert-Wick Fowler Memorial Championship Chili Cookoff” under the most spurious of circumstances, and got a whole lotta Texans pretty hot under the collar.

It turns out that it was actually his brother who qualified for the event, but was unable to attend. So Eastep attended in his place. Only he didn’t actually know how to cook chili. No problem, though–he simply went from booth to booth collecting samples from the other cooks, then put them all in his pot and submitted it for the taste test … and won!

It was only a short while before he was found out and stripped of the title.”We caught the scoundrel, the Benedict Arnold that he is,” said Tom Nall, of Wick Fowler’s 2-Alarm Chili, who was one of the judges at the finals table. “We’ve got to set up guards on the border to make sure he never comes back.”

“The whole thing started out as a prank, just as a joke,” a contrite Don Eastep said. “It wasn’t meant to defraud. There’s no way anybody is going to profit from it. The bottom line is I should not have done it. And when they called the winning number, I wish at this instant that I would not have responded.”

“How could you possibly win with a conglomeration of chilis?” he asked. “That was the last thought in my mind that it would win. And when it did, there was nobody who was more shocked. I should have just sat there like a bump on a log.””
Published: Tuesday, November 4, 2003 – Austin Statesman Newspaper

I will win again. Mark my words. I will win again:)

New years is not about parties and all of that stuff. It is about being with your families and most of all it is about Jesus’ love for us.  Happy New Year!

The beauty of the new year is that we get a fresh start. I realize that it is just another day or even another year. But there is something about the turning of the calendar that gives us the feel of a fresh start.  It is like the sunrise after a long night.  When we move to a new year we visualize new things. New possibilities. 

People make resolutions, goals and declarations that the new year will be different from the last.  We sit with a blank page. Waiting to write our story that has yet to unfold.  Though we can’t see the future, we can expect great things to happen in 2014.  We can believe God for greater things.  Our hearts should be full of hope for more. More of God and a fuller richer life.  Spiritually and physically.

2013 was an incredible year at RFA. So many things were accomplished for the glory of God.  I have looked back and have stood in awe of what God did in our church.  He has been good to us. 

Now, we look forward to a new year and a new season.  I can’t remember a time that I have been this excited for the turning of the calendar.  My heart is full of hope and expectancy.  For RFA, 2014 is going to be the beginning of a new chapter of a book that has been written over the last 74 years.  This chapter is not the conclusion but rather the climax.  I believe his year will be a turning point for Rogers First Assembly.  For us as a church as well as individuals.  We are going to experience greater things and we are believing for more.  More of God, more souls for His Kingdom.

Pray with me that our faith will be bold and our expectancy unwavering as we celebrate the New Year.

“Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
¹⁹ Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?…”
(Isaiah 43:18-19)

I read this just a few moments ago and it is a great reminder for the holidays.  Since, we focus a lot on gifts at Christmas, we need to think of what gifts might be most important.  In the following excerpt, we find principles that are not bound to this season but they are something that should be observed and practiced all year long.

Barnet Gushin writes, “I’ve seen a great little Christmas reminder floating around the internet and Facebook this year.

Christmas gift suggestions: The most precious gifts are free … To your enemy, give forgiveness. To an opponent, give tolerance. To a friend, give your heart. To a customer, give service. To all, give charity. To every child, give a good example. To yourself, give respect. 

“Give” of yourself and you’ll never fail to give the best you have to offer! 

Dear Optimist, Pessimist and Realist:

While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of water, I drank it.

Signed,

The Opportunist

(from Mikey’s Funnies)