Believing in Yourself

This video is of Paul Potts, a mobile phone salesman from South Wales, who has always dreamed of singing opera. He got his chance to shine on the show "Britain's Got Talent" (the British equivalent to American Idol). He absolutely amazed the crowd with his ability. For everyone who struggles with having strong self esteem, Paul is an amazing example of believing yourself!

God's Smile

My friend and brother in Christ Webb Williams forwarded me this picture with the attached note "one in a million shot!" Notice that the picture is of three birds in flight. But it almost looks as though God is smiling through his creation! How cool!

New Again

My brother sent me this link to a song by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans. I love country music for the sheer fact that it is the only major music genre that seems to consistently be unafraid to speak to matters of faith and family. Middle Tennessee is a great place to live, a place where people both famous and unknown speak about their belief in Jesus Christ. Amen!

When Things Get Under Your Skin

A poem called "The Oyster" has been floating around the Internet. It challanges us to consider the kind of attitudes we have toward life:

The Oyster

There once was an oyster whose story I tell,
who found that some sand had got into his shell.

It was only a grain, but it gave him great pain,
for oysters have feelings although they're so plain.

Now, did he berate the harsh workings of fate
that brought him to such a deplorable state?

Did he curse at the government, cry for election,
and claim that the sea should have given him protection?

No - he said to himself as he lay on a shell,
since I cannot remove it I shall try to improve it.

Now the years have rolled around, as the years always do,
and he came to his ultimate destiny, a stew.

And the small grain of sand that had bothered him so,
was a beautiful pearl all richly aglow.

Now the tale has a moral, for isn't it grand
what an oyster can do with a morsel of sand?

What couldn't we do if we'd only begin,
with some of the things that get under our skin?

Having the right attitude toward life is shown by the attitude Joseph learned to have in Genesis 39:19-21. Even after being thrown in prison for a false accusation, Joseph did not allow his poor circumstances to destroy his relationship with God. Even in prison the LORD was with Joseph. Might this have something to do with Joseph’s attitude toward life (cf. Gen. 50:20)?
We must learn the art of making lemonade when life hands us lemons.

Real Spirituality is not a Birthright

Lessons from the Creek (Part 1)
This Thanksgiving weekend marks the 20th anniversary of the annual fall youth rally at Cathey’s Creek (the congregation where I grew up). Over the past two decades, I have learned many lessons on the banks of that Creek.

The congregation that I grew up attending was established in 1819. According to Churches of Christ in the United States, the Cathey’s Creek church of Christ is in the top 11 oldest congregations in America (several congregations being established the same year). Renowned preachers such as T.B. Larimore, A.G. Freed, H.A. Dixon, and R.L. Whiteside have preached on occasion at this church. This congregation has a rich history and a lasting heritage. I take pride in coming from this congregation, knowing that I stand on the shoulders of giants of the past.
While it is a blessing to come from such a long-standing congregation, it can also be a curse. The curse of older congregations is the tendency for members to view their faith as a birthright.
The church is extremely strong in Middle Tennessee with many congregations like Cathey’s Creek that have rich histories. There are members of churches who can trace several generations that have all attended the same congregation. Such family loyalty to a church can be a rich blessing. Unfortunately it can also be a curse.
Some people attend a certain congregation out of a sense of family loyalty, cultural expectation, or social contacts. As a result, the church becomes a glorified social club, the site for a weekly family reunion, or a penance paid in order to receive grandma’s free lunch after church.

"The curse of older congregations is the tendency for members to view their faith as a birthright."

There are some individuals who have false assurance of salvation based upon the faith of their forefathers. One man may live an immoral life using profane language, being addicted to tobacco and alcohol, and being involved in sexual immorality. Yet this same man may feel confident in his “religion” because he was born into a strong church where his father and grandfather are leaders.
True spirituality is not a birthright. One is not “born” into a right relationship with God by virtue of his physical parentage. Neither can one feel confident in his “religion” simply because he was born into the “right church.”
This point is made clear in the Bible. In Jesus’ day there were men who were born Israelites. Some of these men took pride in being automatically “born into the saved nation.” They used all the right terminology, knew all the right doctrines, and could quote Scripture. Yet Jesus says to them, “This people honors me with their lips but their hearts are far from me” (Mark 7:6).
Too many people in the church are like the Israelites. You should not think you are right with God just because you attend a church that preaches all the right doctrines, worships just the right way, and follows all the right protocols. It is possible to attend a faithful church but be personally unfaithful. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly…but he is a Jew who is one inwardly” (Rom. 2:28-29). By the same token, a member of the Lord’s church is not a Christian who is one outwardly, but one who is a Christian inwardly.
True spirituality is not obtained by physical birthright. In order to be right with God one must be truly converted and “born again” into God’s family by being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.