Pastor Larry's Desk

Presenting Tomorrow

jspastor — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:25:54 +0000

Tomorrow morning I am giving a presentation on Biblical Archaeology and my digs in Israel and Petra at Hurstbourne Christian Church.

Making List

jspastor — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:41:14 +0000

I was searching through my desk and came across a list that I had started but never finished. It read:

Goals for 2010

1. To finish what I start

Well so much for good intentions I did not even finish my list.

Incentives

jspastor — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:05:16 +0000

My father was a Ford mechanic and body man so I spent my younger years in a garage working on cars. If I did not have a summer job I was automatically working for dad. My brothers all loved it as they were not happy unless they were up to their elbows in grease. I on the other had can not stand to have dirt much less grease on my hands. It drove my dad nuts that I kept washing my hands all day. So I had an incentive to get summer jobs elsewhere in town. Though I did learn how to repair my own car.

That was also an incentive for me to get a collage degree so that I could find work that did not involve dirty hands. Life is full of incentives if we pay attention. Life is also full of alternatives if we will open our eyes and look for them. We are never too old to learn, as long as our minds are active. In fact keeping up our learning keeps our minds active. I am a proponent of the “Life Long Learning” program.

In Shock

jspastor — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:20:11 +0000

I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven’s door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp–
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, ‘What’s the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How’d all these sinners get up here?
God must’ve made a mistake.

‘And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.’
‘Hush, child,’ He said, ‘they’re all in shock.
No one thought they’d be seeing you.’

JUDGE NOT!!

Remember…Just going to church doesn’t make you a
Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Every saint has a PAST…
Every sinner has a FUTURE!

Things We Can Change

jspastor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:59:25 +0000

There are things in life we cannot alter. We can try but it only leads to frustration. Mother Nature brings storms and violent actions that damage our living space and we can not stop that from happening. War happens and people we love die and we can not change that. Other people do things that cause us grief and we must deal with the fall out in our lives.

Things have happened in the past that affect us but they are beyond repair. Until we recognize the past as it was and everyone in it as they were the past will control us. If we let it all stand as history and simply let it be we can find peace with in us. Then we can create a peaceful now and a peaceful future. If we learn from the past we can keep from repeating the mistakes and grow as a person and as a society.

It IS how we live out this day that affects our lives and the lives of those around us. Each choice in the now matters in our future so each point of change is under our control for that moment. So let us live each day to the fullest, loving God and loving others in each action we take.

Happy International Women’s Day

jspastor — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:08:10 +0000

To all the KCL ladies HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!

Sizing Others Up

jspastor — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:30:01 +0000

We do it all the time! Studies show that most people size others up within the first thirty seconds of meeting them. We make judgments based on how they look, dress and the first words out of their mouths. It is often a false impression and can create a problem in our relationship with that person.

Jesus spoke about not judging others and about the importances of looking first at our own shortcomings. When we think about the way others judge us we all want to be given the benefit of the doubt. Are we not all ready to give a multitude of explanations for any negative judgments made about us?

Give others the same benefit of the doubt that we would like to have for ourselves and be open to possible loving relationships and friendships despite that first impression.

Long Day

jspastor — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:25:38 +0000

It has been a long day for me.

I had an all morning Community Chorus practice. It went very well but wore me out.

At 2 PM I taught a Bible study on Genesis and taught it again to another class at 7:30 PM

Now I am tired and ready for bed.

Good Night

Mesquite Trees

jspastor — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:57:03 +0000

I grew up in the panhandle of west Texas where any three trees in sight of each other are considered a national forest. Most trees do not naturally grow there unless planted and watered by people. The exception is the lowly Mesquite tree.

Mesquite trees have a long taproot that they use to locate enough moisture to keep them alive. This feature allows them to survive through droughts. There are recorded instances of taproots of the mesquite tree reaching a depth of almost 200 feet down into the soil. The roots of the mesquite can regenerate if the tree is chopped off above, making the mesquite one tough tree to get rid of. Ranchers feel that the mesquite sucks water from the land that could be used for livestock and farming, making it unpopular with those individuals.

But there is a plus side that that tree

The bible in the book of Isaiah 61 likens God’s people to trees of righteousness. Because we carry the precious seeds of faith, reconciliation and love we can draw others into the kingdom of God. Like the desert Southwest our life can often be like living in a drought when trouble hits, as it will. If we like the mesquite will put down deep spiritual tap roots in the Holy Spirit we can weather the spiritual droughts. Those deep roots will let us have enormous potential to reproduce the gospel in other people.

Winner

jspastor — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:37:26 +0000

Tonight I won my Toastmasters club “International Speech Contest” Now it is on the the Area Level in April.