New Year!

We'll now that we are on the thresholds of a new year, it is time for all the positive new year resolutions to make. I wonder how many of us really make it past the first month with our resolutions? Unless you make the resolution not to make a resolution this year and then you are guaranteed not to fail. I was thinking about making that resolution this year, but then I remembered I made that one last year. But now to be serious, I am not making a resolution this year, but a commitment to our Heavenly Father, to serve Him and make His Son known locally and throughout our world. That will be done through my life and the life of Hope as we set our goals for the year and then we trust His Holy Spirit to live through His church. I have already began writing down a few things I am feeling lead to see accomplished. I will let the church know first as we fast and pray for Gods' direction. And then I will pen them on the blog. I am just so happy to be apart of a group of people that make up Hope that are willing to do what ever for the Kingdom of God. Hope Community Church I Love you Guys!

Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

Peace, byron

Great Sunday!

Sometimes things just seem to fall into place. Like the nascar race where your favorite driver wins the whole thing, or the football game where your team does no wrong; or even the shopping trip where all is required is for you to sit on a bench and wait for everyone else. That is the way this Sunday was. We just started a new series in Timothy and we at Hope are developing the kind of Leadership that God wants us to be. He is appointing the right people for the task, but only through an understanding of His Word and through a time of Prayer and Fasting. But this Sunday was awesome. The music was great and very spiritually moving and the message was challenging even to the preacher. I guess the biggest thing was people was listening and seeking what God would do with there life. If anything I hope it was challenging to all that heard. The primary response of the follower of Jesus Christ is to point their life toward Him. And that is really what this season is all about, it is about a child in a manger that came to this world to save mankind, period. Anything we add to it is just worldly. Remember Jesus never said remember my birth, but He did say remember my death and resurrection. That is what I will focus on this month!

Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

peace byron

You can Smell it in the Air!

There is something different in the air, maybe it is the crowed shopping centers and the constant ringing in my head, or maybe it is the houses are lighting up with the colors of green and red, it could be all the sales papers coming to your house and the sales news papers that comes to you with the same amount of words that are found in the novel “War and Peace”, but it does feel like a holiday is fast approaching. Were now moving to the Christmas season at a break neck speed, so hang on because the ride of your life is about to get faster as if it were not fast enough.

That is the way I feel when it comes to Christmas, that we are living life Fast Forward. The tree has to be up and decorated, the decorations have to be hung; the Christmas cards that have to be sent out. The gifts have to be bought, all the Christmas parties that must be attended, and not to mention all the families that have to be visited or else someone’s feelings can get hurt. I am getting stressed just writing this stuff down. Why? Because I haven’t done the first thing on this list and I only have 36 days left. Here is my advice to all of us, lets just give up. I mean really why do we put so much stress into our life with meaningless stuff. The world will not end if we don’t fulfill something on this list and if the world does end praise God, we’ll have Jesus birthday celebration with Him in person. So here is what you and I should do this Christmas season, do what you want to do and what you enjoy. If you enjoy going shopping, go! If not, don’t go. If you really like to put lights all over your house then go crazy! If you don’t want to visit a certain family member then don’t go, but write or call them later and thank them for the Christmas gift of not getting upset and holding your absents over your head. The bottom line is this, Christmas should not be what we have made it to be. Christmas should be a time of ENJOYMENT and CELEBRATION of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Not the whole commercialized version we live out year after year. So this season when you are feeling the pressures from someone about not celebrating Christmas their way, reminded them what this season is all about, a baby in a manger that came to give His life for you and me.

Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home.

byron

TRUST in God!

Just got a call from a good friend, brother in Christ, and Ugandan Mission worker (A. H.). He is a very modest man, so I am going to keep his name confidential; but you that go to Uganda with us know who I am talking about. He called asking about some info on cost of well digging wells in Africa and then he shared some faith news with me. What is faith news, it is when you trust God for something and truly trust Him, by following Him in faith, which leads to action and some really cool things happen. Here is what happened for him. He just got back from a mission trip in Africa and when he left, he didn't have the money for the trip. He called me one day very concerned about this, I told him if God wanted him to go, God would provide just TRUST God! Sooooooooo as Paul Harvey says, here is the rest of the story: He wrote a check out of his account, (A large amount) for the trip and went trusting God for what He needed. They had a great trip, did some great work for the people there and in served the Great Commission and came home ready to face the reality of life in the states, that would be bills for those not knowing what I mean when I say reality. He told me this morning, he is not sure when it happened, but while on the trip there was a large deposit made in his account for three times what he wrote out of his account. Is that just not like our God? My friend is truly proof of what I have been screaming. God is more concerned with what happens in us, more than what happens outside of us. He is more about a life change in trusting Him for EVERYTHING and LEANING on Him for everything than he is about what we do, or where we go. When we get right internally, (Following Christ with our whole life) then the externally stuff happens, (Going to Africa, visiting people that are hurting, helping those in need, praying with those that are lost and can't find their way) that kind of stuff. So lets keep our hearts open and allow God to work in us internally so that we can attempt the impossible for a possible God!


Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home,
peace, byron

Scared and in the Dark!

Through the last month and a half, it has been a blur. There has been many things happening with Hope Community Church. We have move into our 5th building, we completed a 40 day fast and prayer together, there is much excitement in the air, and part of our mission team is in Africa right now. It always amazes me, but it shouldn't, that when we as God's people get on our face before Him, He will do amazing things; all He ask is that we just trust Him.

It is amazing that God only ask us to trust Him, especially when times seem dark, that should be the times we trust Him even more. If we could just understand He only has our best interest in His heart for us. When I was young I use to walk in my sleep, I would even have conversation with people in the house, freaky isn't it. One night I woke up to find myself in the dark and not knowing where I was. The embarrassing part was I was in my room and I was lost and couldn't find my way out, (Lets not tell anyone about this, OK). I called out in a panic and my mother came in my room and found me on top of the dresser, don't ask, but I was on top of my dresser. She did the amazing thing that I could not do, she found the light and turned it on. Right now some of you feel that you are in complete darkness and you can't find your way out. You feel in darkness and you are not able to turn the light on, now would be a good time to cry out to Dad, and let Him turn the light on in your life. How? Just pray! Ask the Father and then TRUST Him.


Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

peace, byron

An American Hero!

My Brother is headed of to Iraq today or tomorrow. He is a Follower of Jesus Christ, a Husband, a Father, a Youth minister, and a Solider for you and me. He has set his life on hold for the next year to go and serve us in a distant land that cares nothing for him or his faith. I really don't get into the whole argument that seems to have taken the country by storm, of weather we should be there or not, I just know my brother is going there to do his duty, and I will do mine. I will pray for him daily, I will communicate with him as often as possible, and I will help his family that is here while he is gone. I went to see him off Wed. in Camp Shelby in south Mississippi and I told him; he is a follower of Jesus Christ going to do a Mission for God and the Government is paying for the whole thing. While he is there he will be ministering to the young people that are under his command and he will be the Salt and Light that Jesus has called him to be. He will be a Solider for Jesus Christ first serving God then the USA. If you get a chance will you lift up my brother in your prayers and for for his family too. thanks
He also reads this blog, so you can leave him a word in the comments if you want.

"Go Get em big brother"




Thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

peace, byron

Video

watch the whole thing...you will be sooooo glad you did.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5


Thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

peace byron

The Cat.

I am like any other red blooded American I don't like cats. I mean I can tolerate them as long as they are not on my car, which they usually are. Cats are a nuisance., because all they think about is themselves. While I was in Fort Worth Texas finishing my internship and my seminary degree, I heard a man compare cats and dogs to people in the church and he was so right on the money. His name is Bob Sjogren and he talked about how some people that are in the church think only of themselves, they think that the church's only focus should be for them. Like a cat.

I think this is where we get this church shopping mentality. Cats are always looking for churches that will treat them as they are what matters. Cats are looking at how I can get mine, instead of being like the dog and saying how can I serve the master. Cats say to the Master, you love me , you feed me, you pet me, you take care of me, I must be god. But the dog looks at the Master and says, you love me , you feed me, you pet me, you take care of me, You must be God. It all has to do with our loyalty. Is our focus Jesus Christ and looking at Him as the most important part of my life. Trying to live a life that brings a smile to His face. Or, is it about making me happy no matter what, am I the most important and everyone and everything else takes a back sit to me. True to the pic a lot of cats are drinking out of the toilet and only thinking of themselves. So the question to ask yourself today, "Am I a cat, or am I a dog?"

Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

peace, byron

Why do we keep drinking out of the toilet?

I try to live my life by questions, I have found that works very well for me. What I mean, as I go through life I allow questions to shape and direct my character. Questions directed by God through prayer! This is the question that has been coming to my mind this week. Why do we keep drinking from the toilet? This week as I was looking at the words of Jesus and especially the words He spoke to the woman at the well, something struck me.

¹⁰Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. ¹¹"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? ¹²Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?" ¹³Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." ¹⁵The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water." (John 4: 10-15)

Jesus offered to this woman "Living Water" the same living water that is available to you and I. He desires for you and I to have this living water welling up inside of us, quenching a thirst for true life within. Jesus longs for and desires for us to walk in His counsel and not according to this worlds counsel. So, here again is the question; "Why do we keep going back and drinking from the toilet? Think about it every time we allow this world to dictate our actions and our views concerning our happiness we are going back to the toilet to drink. When ever we allow the old life to reappear trying to satisfy the thirst for life within after we have drunk the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ we are in fact going back to the toilet to drink only what He can give. So, here is my suggestion lets stop drinking out of the toilet and lets fill the thirst of life we have with a total focus on Jesus.

Next blog, why the cat in the toilet.

Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

Peace, byron

pic by:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexiperplexy/24584399/

Fasting and Praying.

We are going to begin a 40 days of prayer and fasting for our area and chruch and we asked that all that read this blog would be in prayer for Hope. We are moving into a new phase of what to do with the land we have and in establishing and appointing our leaders (Elders) at Hope. Also, we seek to demolish the strong holds we know the evil one has on brothers and sisters as well as the city we serve. I will try to make time to record on this blog the great victories that I know our Father will break in our area from the evil one. If you feel God is placing on your heart to pray with Hope please join us. More info and dates to come.

Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home.

peace, byron

The Pursuit of Happiness!

The pursuit of happiness can take individuals in many different directions, but the end desire is happiness. Two Sundays ago we had a great service. Why?, because the unexpected happen. The message was on Lordship and at the end of the service, with only a hand full of people there, people began opening up. They began to share how God had delivered them from addictive behavior that they thought was bringing them happiness, but was bringing them enslavement. This week I quoted from Blaise Pascal a fourteenth century French Philosopher:

All men seek happiness. This is without exception.Whatever different means they employ, they all tend to this end. The cause of some going to war, and others avoiding it, is the desire in both, attended with different views. The will never takes the least step but to this object. This is the motive of every action of everyman, even of those who hang themselves.

After reading this questions that I have heard keep ringing in my ear: Why do I find myself enslaved to this addiction. Why is the happiness that I am trying to find only brings to me confusion and despair. Why do some people, especially teenagers take their own life in a quest for release of this life. Some ask why do I do the things I do? The apostle Paul asked the same question, and the answer he received is the same answer we get. Who will save me from this wretched man that I am, Thanks be to Jesus who delivers me. (Romans 7:14-25)

I don't know what you are facing right now, I don't even know if there may be some addictive behavior that you are facing right now, I don't even know if there are people reading this blog, but I do know the one that can give you happiness. It is Heaven, and heaven is not a place, He is a Person and His name is Jesus. Quit trying to find happiness in stuff, or in the things that are really addictions that have enslaved you and trust Jesus for your happiness.


Just thoughts from a sinner on his way home,

peace, byron

Photo by Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/supernaturalwarfare/with/481949902/

The Journey!

Our life is a journey and the only way we can make it on this journey is to have a very close companion. This Sunday I was leading our church through Colossians 1:24-29 and the main focus was "Christ in you- our Hope and Glory."

Stuart Briscoe, author of What Works When Life Doesn't says once he went through four stages in coming to this understanding of the Christian life. When he first became a Christian he said, “Oh, this is easy! All I have to do is to repent and ask Jesus to come into my heart–no problem.” But then, as he began to learn what Jesus expected of him his second stage was, “Wow, this is difficult!” He found it wasn’t as easy as he first thought. Stage three was when he admitted, “This is impossible!” But after that confession, he discovered the secret of Christ in you–the hope of glory and stage four is, “This is exciting!” What stage are you in now?

I don't know what stage you are at right now, but I do know when you come to the point of giving it all to God, and I mean every thing, you experience the freedom of God being in control and not you. The journey of a Christian is never walked alone, but with a close companion. And to me that is the journey that I love to be on. Does that mean that there are no ups and downs, hardly, but when I face those ups and especially the downs, I don't face them alone. I face them with Christ in me, my Hope and Glory.

just thought's of a sinner on his journey,

peace, byron

Can we really be One?

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—
Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
So they might be one heart and mind with us. The same glory you gave me, I gave them,
So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—
I in them and you in me.

Jesus


The word's of Jesus got me thinking, if He and the Father are one, then why is the Body of Christ so separate? Just think about it, there are many buildings (tools), that many like to call church, that are sitting empty 5 days a week. If we are all working for the same goal, which is the advancement of the Kingdom of God, then why so much division? Here is a question I would like some help answering, do you think two or three local congregations could use one building? They don't have to meet at the same time, but they can be working for the same goal. If anyone has feed back on this I would love to hear it, I have found NOTHING on the internet or from any other source about this.

Just some thoughts from a sinner on his journey home.

peace, byron

I want to turn the world upside down!

Wouldn't it be nice if there was an Easy Button for life? I mean wouldn't it be nice if we ask, "Ok God what do you want me to do with my life?" and then we just pushed the Easy Button and poof we have our answer. I have been looking for one of those Easy Buttons for a long time and I have yet to find one. What I have found is that the longer I live , the more questions I have.

I have just finished a short little book titled, "God's Will" by John MacArthur. The book is only 61 pages but has some powerful statements in it. I love how he closes the book out with, to do God's Will just do what ever you want to do, but make sure you have the first 6 principles in order first. You will have to get the book for the first 6 principles, but I bet you can guess what they are. Well I have come to what I really want to do and it is still what I wanted to do when I graduated from seminary. I want to turn the world upside down! But how does that look? How do I keep from burning myself and my family out on this quest? How can I impact the world without the right resources, without the monetary needs that are needed. How can the future of what is needed be met through a small band of people? Where is the easy button when you need it? (I said I had a lot of questions.)

I found and I realize the easy button was within me all along. The power of God is within, not from an outside source. The answers are within me, through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in me. You see our problem is we try to answer problems based on what our human weakness desires, not on what or where the Holy Spirit leads. By the way this is one of the reasons we find ourself addicted to many harmful things. Look at the life of Peter, when was he the strongest? When he was closest to the Master, Jesus. Depending on the strength of God and not on his own strength. And when Jesus ascended to heaven it was the Power of the Holy Spirit that led him to speak boldly about the things of God. (Acts 1:8) It was not the great wisdom of Peter, but the willingness to allow his life to be surrendered to the power from within. So here is the hard question once again, How can the world be turned upside down? By submitting to the power within. I know the rest of the details will come later, but for now all I can do is give Him my life minute by minute, day by day. Thanks for the ear, or eye.

Thoughts from a sinner, on his journey home.

Peace, byron

What to wear, what to wear?

Colossians 3:12-14 (MSG)
¹² So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.
¹³ Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.
¹⁴ And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

My reading this morning was from Colossians. This was my thought from what I read.

Don’t let your life be directed by your desires, but by your passion to seek after God with your whole life.

Last month was my birthday, and yes I do feel older. Along with the cards and the many happy birthdays I received, I also received some new clothes from my wife. I am not a shopper, and don’t ever plan on being a shopper. My wife on the other hand loves to shop. So if I am to get new clothes to wear they will come from her picking them out and I am fine with that. But, one thing I have come to realize is that if I do not choose my clothes, then I should be thankful to what I receive. No matter if the shoes don’t go with my eyes, or if the color makes me look fat, (By the way it is not the color, or the clothes that bring out my fatness, it is the fatness.) which got me to thinking about what I read in Colossians about wearing Christ this morning. Sometimes we don’t like putting on the wardrobe of compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline, but when we do, our life fits together. You see it it’s the desires of the old nature that try’s to be put back on our back and we have to make the decision that we ain’t going to dress like that no more. So as your faced with a situation or a problem this day, go ahead and show off that new wardrobe, put on Christ, LOVE, this day.

Just some thoughts form a sinner, on his journey home.

Peace, byron

Heart Vs. Mind

I will confess I love to watch UFC. Don't ask me why , it must be a man thing. For those that have been in a cave for the last year or two, UFC is the Ultimate Fight Challenge. It is where two guys get in a ring and beat each other to submission. Not a great confession for a pastor, but James says to confess our sins one to another. It may be because my favorite movie of all times is "Gladiator" and these are truly modern day gladiators without the death part. The other day while watching a fight I got to thinking of how the battles we face are so much like the fight I am watching. In one corner there is the heart, the underdog. In the other corner is the mind, which always seems to win. I think it is because the mind gets all the attention, but one thing I do know is that the mind is always stronger. The only way for the heart to win is for the heart to be the stronger opponent in our life, but how does that happen? I truly believe it is by walking by faith, which would be by our heart and not by or mind which would be the logic of this world. It comes by trusting our heart to make the right decision, even when we have to trow logic out the window. God says we are to trust Him about everything, even when it is the hardest thing to do; but when we do things go according to His plan and not ours. And that is when the mind taps out and the victory goes to the heart.

Just some thoughts from a sinner,

peace byron.

Law of Christ

One of the elements of Hope Community church, that I am so encouraged with, is the REALNESS of the people that make up the group. If anything they are real about their faith, real about their struggles, real about what church means to them, and real about their doubts and confusions that plagues all of our lives . Willingness to be real about their burdens, and taking on the burdens of others. You guys teach me a lot about being real in my own walk and with my own faults and struggles. Daily I have to remind myself that I have a King and I am under His leadership to do things His way, not mine. Here is a statement from Jim Palmer that wrote Divine nobodies, it sums up a lot of churches today.

“And so it is with us. The more we have been schooled in religious activity, the more difficult it is to see this kingdom for what it really is. We have millions of people on the planet today claiming to be born again who don’t have the foggiest idea who Jesus is or how to live in his reality. They may subscribe to Christian beliefs, follow Christian ethics and practice Christian rituals, but they do now know how to ride the wind of his Spirit and be transformed by him.”

Jim Palmer “Divine Nobodies”

The transformed life can be seen in the willingness to follow Christ to the other side of the planet to lend a hand, or a shoulder. The transformed life can be seen in the willingness to cross the street to help a neighbor no matter there race, creed, social status, economical status. The transformed life can be seen in a willingness to share with each other our burdens and then allow the Holy Spirit to work and move in our lives to heal and to transform us. The transformed life can be seen in fulfilling the law of Christ.

Gal. 6: ² Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

What is that law: Love God, Love people as you love yourself.

Matthew 22: ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Living the transformed life is not easy, did anyone say that it would be. But, anything that has a cost to it, also has the greater reward. Peace now and eternity with God, that is the transformed life.

Thoughts from a sinner on his journey.

Peace, byron

5 Minutes Christian.

Have you ever noticed how we have no time. I mean I decided to try my hand at blogging and guess what happened? I can't find time. I guess this is God's way of showing me the most precious commodity He has given all of us is time. And it is so sad that the one thing we take for granted is our time. I am reminded of this as I prepare for a dear lady, of fifty seven years, funeral this Saturday. True to the words of James, "What is your life but a vapor" I don't know about you. but I find myself constantly stressed and running. It is amazing that when I read the words of Jesus I see a man that had all the time in the world, but had the most demanding schedule to fulfill in the shortest amount of time. What was that agenda? To save the world and to redeem man back to God in 33 short years. And I thought I was busy. But what was so amazing was he did this while living a life totally dedicated to the Father. We have trouble living a Christian life 5 min. at a time.

During one of our small groups at Hope we had a young lady share what God had done in her life. How he had radically transformed her 2 years ago, but she also found she was struggling with her total dedication to God. She came up with this label and I thought she was right on target. She said she was a 5 min. Christian living for Christ only 5 min. at a time . I can relate to that, for I to am a 5 min. Christian. I guess if I could keep my thought's and time dedicated to the right things, as did Christ, then I could overcome being just a 5 min. Christian and maybe with my fingers crossed become a 10 min. Christian. Just some thoughts from a sinner struggling along on his journey.



peace, byron

Hope for the World!

This will be my first attempt at blogging and I hope not the last. I hope this will be a great place for thoughts and discussion. This morning as I was having my alone time with God, and while reading a new book I have called "Revolution of Character" I read a statement that match what we are doing at our church. Dallas Willard is the author of the book and he says:

"Jesus sent his followers out, not to start governments, or even churches as we know them today. These organizations inevitably convey some elements of a human system. Instead, His disciples were to bring the presence of the kingdom and its King into every corner of human life by fully living in the Kingdom with Him."

I feel we at Hope are on the right track of seeing the lives of people transformed by the power of God. We have the right understanding that it is not about building's or programs, but the transformed lives and we get to be apart of that. I have been reflecting on our sunrise service at Hope and I was blown away that the people of Hope are still thinking out of the box. Although, we do not have a building to call our own, we met on our land and many of the people from Hope said lets start a drive in church. You guys are awesome! The church is about people coming and growing by the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It is about living for the King and being under his sovereignty for everything in our life. The bottom line, it is about letting our king control and we follow.

peace, byron