Thursday, February 15, 2018

Thoughts: Florida School Shooting

For Christians, this shooting is not another time for you to get hyped up on the gun control debate, this is not about politics. Let the politicians do what they do, Christians, this is a TRAGIC and SAD reminder of where we have once again failed. 

In the lives of young people like Nikolas Cruz, described as a weird, creepy, a loner, once again, where was the church, where were we? He was a troubled kid, his adoptive father had died, single adoptive mother left two raise him, expelled from school, on his own, and where is the church, where are those who are showing him and his family Love, Compassion, Service, Forgiveness, Prayer, Gentleness, Commitment, Patience, Guidance, Humility, where has the church been all this time? 

If we want to get hyped up about something as believers, let's get hyped up about answering our calling to go to the outcasts, the samaritans, the loners, the people that NOBODY else is reaching. You want to make a difference? Start in your own community and allow God to utilize you and have an impact on someone in a dark place, someone struggling with great hurt and pain, be a friend to somebody that has nobody and watch what the Lord will do in that person as well as you. 

If you think I sound stupid or passive, look up the name Nicky Cruz (similar, but not the shooter in Florida,) he was the leader of a New York City gang, he slapped David Wilkerson in the face on more than one occasion when he told him about Jesus, ultimately through the dedication and compassion of Wilkerson, Cruz came to know the Lord, attended Bible College, became an evangelist, converted gang members to Christ, served as the Director of Teen Challenge and continues to reach thousands of people for Christ! Do not discount the impact you can have on a life, get hyped about reaching those who others consider unreachable. 

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 
- Matthew 9:37-38

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Blessings After the Struggle

I know each of us go through difficult and trying times, tragedy, frustration, anger, confusion and much more, these circumstances though should not get us down, cling to these verses from Romans 5

“3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
-Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

He's Been God A Long Time

Did you know that God has been God a lot longer than we’ve been “know it alls” - sometimes I forget that He really does know it all, and that there isn’t a place I’m headed that he isn’t already there waiting on me. Trust the Lord with each and every decision in your life and He will take care of it and you. 

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
- Revelation 1:8 (NIV)

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Paranormal Statistics: Did You Know...

Reviewing my notes for week #3 of our study on spiritual warfare on Wednesday nights at Calvary, “The Dark Side.” This week we are diving into the paranormal, Dabbling with evil is destructive, seeking direction from God brings life. 

You probably didn’t know that in America, 71% claim to have had a paranormal experience, 34% believe in ghosts, 56% believe ghosts are spirits of the dead, 37% believe houses can be haunted and 55% believe psychics have real power! Don’t miss out on tonight’s lesson as we dig in to these phenomenons and thought processes. Hope to see you soon, free meal at 6:30, brig the family and enjoy a great night of fellowship and teaching at Calvary Assembly of God.

Monday, January 29, 2018

Evil Exists in Our World Today...

Don’t be ignorant of the things going on in this world, evil is a real thing, and this is just one of many examples in our area alone.
Police: Fayetteville Couple Starved Handcuffed Child As Punishment

The article goes on to say how the boy was forced to sleep on a trash bag while handcuffed to a table, he was skin and bones, only fed 3 nights a week and the mom threatened to cut him and leave him out in the cold. This is a quote from the staff at his school, "They said his eyes and cheeks were sunken and his skin tone changed. Staff also noticed the boy was eating from trashcans and hoarding and stealing food from other students."

Lord raise this child up and restore his health, body and spirit. 
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 
- Ephesians 6:12

Police: Fayetteville Couple Starved, Handcuffed Child As Punishment http://via.kfsm.com/pVmb0

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Enjoying Week #2 of the Dark Side

Enjoyed a great time in our small group study, #TheDarkSide last night at Calvary, this was during our short video segment and then we went right back into our study of Mark Chapter 9 and how Jesus does some pretty incredible stuff! Come join us sometime, Wednesday’s st 7:00 pm, free pre-service meal starts at 6:30 each week, would love to have you!
Learn more about our church at our website www.CalvaryFortSmith.com