A Taste of Grace

I thank the Lord for what he is doing at His church, Grace Fellowship.  These are random pic’s from Feb 12, 2012.  It was a normal Sunday; but is any day ever normal when God is being sought, worshipped, and the Gospel is being preached?  I don’t think it is in God’s eyes.  Enjoy the pics and pray for God’s continued direction for our fellowship. (sorry for low quality on a few!)

“I Trusted Jesus for Everything”

I always love it when I get to hear someone share their story about coming to know Jesus Christ.  Some stories are more dramatic than others.

The most recent conversation was of the dramatic variety.  This woman had sunk to a level of depravity that included drugs and prostitution.  She was in a desperate situation.  One night she got down on her knees and asked God to deliver her from a life of addiction, filth, sexual immorality, and crime. 

The next day she received a call to turn a “trick.”  Still being in her state of addiction and desperation, she went to the meeting.  Upon encountering the caller she found out it was a police officer and in a few hours found herself in a jail cell.  She thought, “Lord, I asked you to deliver me not put me in jail.” 

That week she attended a Bible study where a woman clearly presented the Gospel.  She heard how Jesus had died to deliver her from her sins.  He could cleanse her life and make her new.  By accepting his offer of forgiveness through faith she could have a new life here and a life evermore.  After the meeting she met with the woman leader and accepted Jesus’ offer.  She said she literally felt the filth being cleansed from her soul. 

Usually after hearing such stories I ask a question to help clarify what the person had done.   I asked her, “So at that moment you trusted Jesus for your salvation”?

Her response, “I trusted Jesus for everything“!

 ”The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (Luk 4:18 NKJ)

Congrat’s Tiger (you weasel)

Okay – Tiger’s a weasel.

Now that that is out of the way, I will say I’m glad he won today.  I know a lot of people (friends included) who don’t care one way or another about Tiger’s golf game anymore.  And there is a lot of justification for feeling that way.  But here’s the thing – I, and the world, have watched Tiger for so many years; he’s given us so many thrills, I just can’t help but be happy for him.  I don’t want to feel down on a guy for the rest of his life because he was stupid – beyond stupid.  I have a friend who says, “we’re all just one step away from stupid!”

And here’s the other thing – you may find this strange.  I really care for those athletes I enjoy watching.  This goes for others in the “limelight” of who I enjoy their work:  athlete’s, actors, authors, etc.  As a Christian, I want the best for them and, you may find this stranger, I actually pray for them.  Not every day, or even every month, but I will offer up a prayer when I see them in action or think of them while reading an article or watching an interview.  The prayer is usually about their standing before our God.  Do they know Him?  Have they heard the Gospel?  Do they know what Jesus Christ has done for them?  So I’ll pray that God would send someone to them to share the Gospel message with them.

I know Tiger is intrigued with an eastern religion.  I’ll pray for him tonight that He would come to know the true joy of knowing Christ.  That regardless of the wreck that he has made of his marriage and other relationships, God loves him, redemption is available, and there are people who care for him as a person.

So congratulations to Tiger today for a win to end his drought of 2 years and good luck in 2012!

Oh yeah, and Tiger – if you ever want to talk about that other stuff, shoot me an email.  It will only cost you some putting tips.  (Like that will happen)