Nino's News

Well, I can't believe no one has gotten the Bonus Time...it's still open for any takers.

I took a couple of tests and figured I would share and then get on to other pressing matters.

Off all the people that took this loser test, I'm cooler than over half. But the fact that I'm posting it, does that make me a loser.




And the other nice thing is I'm not going to die until I'm at least:



As I mentioned in my last blog, I went to a conference last week and the main topic was about healing. I don't know if I am just such an infant I don't get it, if my faith is so small that nothing can be done, or if my ubelief is so gargantuan that I wouldn't have a clue anyway. One of the speakers, Thurman Scrivner, basically came at it with the idea that "If God says it, then I'm going to take Him at His Word and act & believe upon those promises." And so he quotes these "Supernatural Promises of God" or "HOLY SPIRIT BLANK CHECKS" then simply believes, and then shares the stories of healings that occur. Here are a few of the scriptures he might use with the Promises in Red:

Matt 8:13
3 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and AS YOU HAVE BELIEVED, SO LET IT BE DONE FOR YOU." And his servant was healed that same hour. NKJV

Matt 18:18-20
18 "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning ANYTHING THAT THEY ASK, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." NKJV

Matt 19:25-26
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God ALL
THINGS ARE POSSIBLE." NKJV

Mark 11:22-24
22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 THEREFORE I SAY TO YOU, WHATEVER THINGS YOU ASK WHEN YOU PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE THEM, AND YOU WILL HAVE THEM." NKJV

John 14:12-14
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and GREATER WORKS than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 IF YOU ASK ANYTHING IN MY NAME, I WILL DO IT. NKJV

John 16:23-24
23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, WHATEVER YOU ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME HE WILL GIVE YOU. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. ASK, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL. NKJV

His thought is if you pray these verses, you will do and receive amazing things. I know this sounds like a "Health & Prosperity Gospel" but what if...(does that sound like a shaky faith). I certainly don't have any answers, but I am searching and that is a good thing. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter?

BONUS TIME

"There are all manner of lesser imps and demons, but the great satan his-self is red and scaly with a bifurcated tail, and he carries a hay fork."

I've been at a conference today that ends tomorrow night. You can read about it at www.amberrosemusic.com. The conference is all about healing.

I'll try to write more later, but sometimes I just really feel like I don't get it. Am I really that ignorant or do I really have so much unbelief?

Bonus Time

We can reach, we can beach on the shores of Tripoli.
we can sail, we can sail
sail away, sail away, sail away

David has been playing Upward basketball (love the program and will try to explain more about it later). His team is undefeated (they don't keep track of the records, everybody does well), and he has come a long way in the 8-10 weeks worth of practices and games. Tonight at his practice I watched him actually scrap for a ball and then turn and score it! (Yea, David!!)

He is still trying to figure out his tall, lanky body. There is some lack of coordination, no doubt like his Daddy, but I've been so proud of him and his "sticktoitiveness." He really is a great kid, especially on those occasions, as rare as they may be, when he plays and cares for his little sister and brother. When he wants to be a helper in the kitchen. When he just wants you to lay down next to him and talk.

Of course then there are the other times when he is amazing mean to his siblings, when he would much rather watch TV or play Gameboy than help anywhere and is totally bugged that you are still hanging out in his room...Ahhhh, I love him!

He's a great kid with a great hug!

A quick note on Upward: I think the neatest thing is the stars they give out...each color has a meaning and you iron them onto the basketball shirt as the year goes on. The green star is for scripture learning and those are given after each practice if the memory verse has been learned. The rest of the stars are distributed following the game: blue is for best effort, gold/best sportsmanship, gray/best offense, red/best defense, and white/Christlikeness.

(from their site) Upward offers an evangelistic sports ministry specifically designed for kindergarten through sixth grade boys and s that promotes salvation, character, and self-esteem in every child. In addition to basketball, Upward offers cheerleading and soccer programs to complete your Upward ministry. Upward provides opportunities for volunteers from all walks of life to become meaningfully involved in the ministries of your church. They will have the opportunity to pray for your program, coach a team, referee a game, share a devotion, and develop relationships in order to open avenues of ministry to the people of your community who will participate in your program.

Still got a Bonus out on the previous post, Everyday.

This well written article pretty much sums up the attraction of blogging on the grand scale that has taken America by storm. Now it's the mainstream media (MSM) trying to catch up with public opinion and the new search for truth. Well, not necessarily Truth all the time, but...

On Thurday I had started a blog entitled An Encouraging Prayer from King David. Well, I'd like to finish that thought today.

This morning at our gathering, it was truly for God, about God and all in tune with God. In Thursday's blog, I refered to I Chronicles 29:10-13. Now I want to share 14-20:

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. O LORD our God, as for all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name, it comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you. I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided.

Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD , the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king.

Keep that scripture in mind. Two weeks ago we shared with our Body several needs and laid out our direction as a body. All this brought about after much prayer. In essence, our building has been in need of repair & upkeep for some time. Our Children's area has needed to be updated and to become more inviting. Several other things were also involved with the total coming to $169,000. The invitation was to "step into the flooded river and and watch God part the water and allow us to move forward on dry ground."

Well, today we shared the amazing joy of giving to the Lord and celebrated who He is by declaring that we reached this goal. IN JUST TWO WEEKS! Praise the Lord, our God! "And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you." It has truly been an awesome day. I'm very excited about the future with God at the controls.

BONUS TIME (I'm going to make a little change...all correct answers from this point forward will be awarded one point instead of two. Val has the commanding lead thus far with 9 while Brian and Jenni are tied at 3 in second place).

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Speaking of Val above...check out his blog for good writing as well as another fun game of thinking of songs with certain words in them. (Link is to the right).

Looking forward to our gathering tomorrow. God WILL be glorified because He is the one who has done great and awesome things. His promises never fail and His mercies are new .

Bonus Time

"It's not that I'm lazy. It's that I just don't care."

Had a great time yesterday singing and playing with Kyle Conway for his daughter's 1st grade class. The cartoon song just knocks them over everytime. The principal showed up and wants to get us in for a chapel sometime. Ahhhh success!

Here is an encouraging prayer from King David (I Chronicles 29:10ff):

"Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O LORD , is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD , is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name."

I'm going to save the rest for another day soon. But I love the humility with which David comes before Mighty God. Acknowledging Him as the greatest, even though in the earthly realm David was pretty great. He says this in front of the whole assembly, reflecting any glory that man was trying to put on to David back on to God. And then He was able to show that all of the wealth he had, wasn't his at all, but God's and it was a pleasure to give it back to Him. Time, Talent and Tithe...continue giving it all back to God."

BONUS TIME

"I'd better not. I have what doctors call a little bit of a weight problem. I used to grab bear claws as a kid, two at a time, and I'd get them lodged right in this region here."

I "preached" this at church this morning.

Renovating Our Character

First, this letter (2 Peter) is special, because Peter writes it in full awareness of his imminent (read 1:14). Keep this in mind as you read on!

2 Peter 1:3-8 NIV
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

I want you to see 2 pictures of Jesus (there are more)

A. He is the Christ of very great and precious promises: In Him, promises come true. In 2 Corinthians 1:20 Paul puts it another way when he says all the promises of God are Yes and Amen in Christ. Christ confirms and guarantees these promises saying “Yes! So let it be.” (From a devo guide on the net) He promises to:
1. …personally motivate and empower this renovation process through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Phil. 2:13).
2. …sovereignly oversee this renovation process, working through everything that happens to us (good and bad) to accomplish it (Rom. 8:28).
3. …never give up on us, but to constantly initiate character renovation until it is completed when Christ returns (Phil. 1:6).

B. He is the Christ who makes us sharers in the divine nature: Our humanness alone cannot make us divine...think about bitterness, hatred, , etc.; moral failure and frustration is rampant. Then here comes Jesus declaring that we humans are capable of becoming sharers in the divine nature. John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” William Barclay says “He became what we are to make us what he is.”

So let’s begin the renovating process. For this very reason, make every effort to add…

"Diligence" (spoude--these words in parenthesis are the greek): used to describe the way that Olympic athletes "give it all they have" as they approach the tape. Paul uses this image in Col. 1:28-29 (read). It is to "put your whole heart into your work."

"Add” or “Supply" (epichorego): means "to equip" a word used to describe how wealthy art patrons tried to outdo each other in providing materials, personnel and equipment for theater productions. It is to "spare no expense."

So a better reading...for this reason, give it all you have to equip yourself sparing no expense on...

First, it all starts with Faith, which is the conviction of what Jesus Christ says is true. It is the unquestioning certainty that the way to happiness and peace and strength on earth and in heaven is to accept Him at His word.

To faith we must stack "Moral excellence" (arete): A rare term in the NT ("virtue") or more like Courage to show who you are and who you serve.

"Knowledge" (gnosis): Not academic or natural knowledge (which is the Greek word sophia and is a good thing), but thinking and discernment…a practical knowledge. Taking sophia and using it in certain situations is gnosis. (I then offered an example between knowing Music theory and being able to play the guitar/piano.) This is what Paul calls "the mind of Christ"—the ability to view every major area of life in light of God's revealed truth.

"Self-control" (egkrateia): Literally, the ability to take a grip of oneself. A will that is trained and strengthened to say "no" to inappropriate and unprofitable desires (Sensual desires; Laziness; materialism; Pride; Vengeance). This is so different from the freedom urged by our culture, which is actually not freedom at all, but enslavement to & passions. Self-control is reason fighting with passion and reason winning. Yea, but passion is what God has given me? Barclay says, “Imagine a situation in which your passions remain but are under perfect control and so become your servants…not your tyrants."

"Patient Endurance" (hupomone): Steadfastness, Perseverance or just patience. The proven ability to pursue God's will in spite of adversity. Instead of being so afraid of pain that we cave in and quit as soon as it gets rough, we "hang in there" by drawing encouragement and strength from God to fulfill his mission. We don’t simply accept and endure; we always have a forward look. Hebrews 12:2. “who for the joy set before him endured the cross.” Jesus hupomone'd!!!

"Godliness" (eusebia): An untranslatable word. Barclay uses Piety but says that’s not adequate due to the fact that it carry’s negative connotations. The great characteristic of Eusebia is that it looks in two directions. One who always worships God and gives him his due; but he always serves his fellow men and gives them their due. Jesus said the greatest command is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And the second is like it…love your neighbor as yourself.

"Brotherly affection" (philadelphia): Christian relationships that are characterized by affection, affirmation and encouragement; rather than uninvolved, uncaring, and negatively critical. What Peter is basically saying is that there is something wrong with the religion that claims relationships to be a nuisance. And even this is not enough, it must all be wrapped up in...

"Love" (agape): This is the way God loves us—not just those who love him, but also those who him. God’s love causes the sun to rise on the just and unjust. He sends his rain on the evil and the good. Not for what he can get back from us, but it’s given freely and without expectation of return. It’s this kind of love that needs to renovate. It shows us to have a lifestyle characterized by sacrificial service to others, and it shows us satisfaction in the act of giving.

So here is the promise: (NLT) 8The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For some of us, we are seeing no progress simply because our attitudes are passive about the whole renovation! We say, "If God wants to change me, I'm sure he'll do it whether I cooperate or not." Instead, we should say to God, "I want you to change me more than anything else, and I am willing to cooperate with you in whatever ways you show me."

A great morning with amazing communion time!

BONUS TIME

You just think about Noah totin' his umbrella when there wasn't a cloud in the sky
All his neighbors would laugh at his pet giraffe and they'd snicker as he passed by
But the Lord said Hey Noah be cool, just keep buildin' that boat
It's just a matter of time and we'll see who's gonna float

Well, this past weekend, Mike Armour who has been our interim preacher since January, had a heart attack followed by quadruple bypass surgery. Pray for him and his family. So the focus for this Sunday will be "coming to the table" with communion on tables throughout the auditorium.

I'm really excited about the future here at SBC. A lot of neat God things are coming into place. I want/need to be more and more in prayer regarding all this. Our search committee meetings (2 thus far) have been very beneficial and productive. The unity among the staff, elders and leaders is tight. It is a good thing...my prayers would not only be for the future of SBC but of thanksgiving to God for allowing me & my family the opportunity to be here right now.

Blessings be on you...if you are not in God's Word, get into it. If you aren't talking to Him on a daily basis, begin now. If you are not laying down the sinful nature on a daily basis, and then picking up the cross, do it...do it...do it!

BONUS TIME

"First time I've ever been early for work! Except for all those 'daylight savings' days... lousy farmers!"

Here you go...2 points for who said it (which, hint, would also denote the name of the show)

Mike Dotson, one of our shepherds, and I went to David Johnson's house to pray for him. David is dying, cancer has a hold of him. It amazed me how different he looked and acted after not seeing him for 3 weeks. So much more frail, his mind more lucid. It was sad! But as Mike prayed, I found myself envying David. Not the pain he is in, not to have cancer, not to be bedridden.But as Mike prayed about David's new healthy body, getting to walk the streets of gold, seeing God face to face...I desired that as well. I'm ready for home...that home. Not that I'm begging to leave my family, but I found myself envying David today.

BONUS TIME

"You are a sad strange little man. You have my pity."

What's going on world? Things in Elliottville are great! I've been in a Wild @ Heart study and i'm getting more confused as we go. I've got to talk with my father!

We had a great time gathered with the body this past Sunday! Amazing worship and finally, a direction!!! Ron H. did a great job laying out who we are as a church and what the needs are on the front end. "It is well with my soul" and "days of elijah" were fabulous. And "Be thou my vision" was very appropriate and very well done (thanks Sharon).

I'm the new IT director at church...very scary! Yet I'm trying. Any help and suggestions would be appreciated. Worship is still the main gig and I'm loving that!!

LIFE is good!

BONUS TIME

"The line it is drawn/ The curse it is cast/ The slow one now/ Will later be fast."

It's extremely early Tuesday morning and I should get to bed and go to sleep, but...

OK, I've sat here for 2 minutes trying to figure out what to write and in the process have yawned quite a bit.

I'm rearranging and painting my office...it's different! I'll try to get some pics and post them!

How many of you discount your abilities and talents? Knowing and believing that God gave them to you, anointed you with them and yet you just don't believe you can "pull it off?" That's my struggle right now. It's like Moses standing before God claiming to not be a good speaker and God (I imagine) fuming, telling Moses that He indeed made his mouth. Even after God urged, encouraged and maybe even got a little forceful with Moses, Moses still discounted his abilities. That's me right now. Why is that? Anyone else ever feel that? The saddest part of this realization is that it occurred to me only after hearing the words come from my 8-year olds mouth that he "can't do it?" And while my words tell him, "Yes you can" my actions say otherwise!

Off to bed...