Why settle for less?

Why Settle for Less?

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Colossians 3:17

John Flanagan, Jr., was flying a routine Air Force mission during the Vietnam War, seeking to confirm a radio report of 300 enemy Vietcong troops spotted in a nearby area. Flying low above the coordinates of the site zone, he could see nothing that aroused his suspicions or indicated the presence of enemy forces.

But just before he pulled up and headed back for base, the memory of his high-school English teacher flashed through his mind. Father John Mulroy was one of those instructors who never allowed halfhearted work to be passed off as acceptable. His students—like John Flanagan—either gave it their very best or got the consequences for just getting by.

So with a new resolve to swing around and look more closely this time, he spotted a gathering of Vietcong. Not only that, he noticed a squad of American gunships zooming into position to blow them away.

But something didn't look right. Sinking lower, skimming just above the treetops, Flanagan buzzed his plane right into harm's way and recognized that the troops on the ground were not Vietcong but South Vietnamese forces—friendlies! By blocking the ensuing battle at the risk of his own life, he stopped a dose of bad reconnaissance from leading to regrettable bloodshed.

The disaster John Flanagan courageously helped avoid by going the extra mile that day earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross and the admiration of his fellow airmen. But many of the accolades could have legitimately gone to a tough-minded teacher who wouldn't let his students settle for second best.

Are you challenging one another and your children to be the very best you can be?

New Testament Churches

Where are the churches of the New Testament? Churches are watered down these days. The man is the spiritual leader of the house. If the man is removed, the family will disappear. It's in commercials, TV shows, songs and the silver screen. They have all removed the husband/father. A church can't get 10 men to join a men's Bible study but when they have a softball call out, 50 men will sign up. We need prayer warriors for the spiritual battle we face.

New Identity

I have a new identity. I have been identified with Christ. I do not identify with the past anymore. I do not identify with the world any more. I identify with Christ. i do not identify with failure anymore. I do not identify with poverty, guilt or shame, for I identify with Christ. I have been made righteous in Him. Christ lives within me by the Word and the Holy Spirit. The life of God is in me. Victory is mine, because Christ is triumphant. I reign with him and I am seated with him. I am blessed and complete in him. Jesus has made an impact on me. Christ died on the cross for me and now I am not my old self. I consider myself as having died. I give thanks to the father who has made me worthy and has qualified me. Victory is mine, I am not trying to get it, I do not hope to get it, I have it now. Satan is trying to kill me, he is trying to make me believe I am no good, i am beyond forgiveness, and no one (especially my 5 kids) loves me. I recognize this and thank the Lord for what he has done for me. anyway, this really helped me today so i thought i would share it.

The Pharisee and the tax collector

In Luke 18:10-14, Jesus talks about how the Pharisee was proud of himself for not being like the tax collector, when he was praying. I struggle with this, more times than none. I'm comparing myself to this person or that and it might not be in prayer, but the thought is there and God knows. I am not any better than the person serving a prison sentence or the person leading a Bible Study. We, as Christians, get arrogant and like to boast to ourselves, or friends. Point is, it's a level playing field. There are only two kinds of people in this world, saved and unsaved. We need to pray for both.

Tags and Labels

I have noticed that people, including Christians, like to put labels, or tags, on people for their actions. I was talking to someone recently that said the mayor of a certain city was "queer". This came from a Christian. I hate that word. First, I have never heard that this is true; second, if it is true, shouldn't we, as Christians, lift him up rather then condemn him? Everyone of us are sinners. I'm just a sinner saved by grace and my label would be; lying, adulterer, thief. I could probably think of a few more.
God loves us and in turn, we should love our brothers and sisters.

Poem

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 alcoholics, the sinners, the sex-offenders aka the "trash."
There stood the kid from the seventh grade, who stole my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor who never seemed to say anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought was probably rotting in hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine, looking incredibly well.
I nudged Jesus, and said "what's the deal? I would love to hear your take.
How did all these sinners get up here? God must've made a mistake.
And why is it so quiet, so somber, please give me a clue?"
"That's easy my child" said Jesus, "they're all in shock, no one thought they would be seeing you."

Today's sermon

From guest writer, Russell Charles.
hello, i hope everyone is having a good sunday! today in church we had a guest speaker that has been here a few times and i really enjoy him. he has 4 earrings, an ex-con, and preaches a lot in the style of Dr. Gene Scott, if you know who that is. today's sermon was outstanding as he laid out--why did David think he could beat Goliath? in a nutshell, david knew he, by representing God, was in the right, so even if he happened to lose to Goliath, God would use david's defeat for his glory. While everyone else was shaking in their boots wondering what to do, scared of a man, David got PISSED-OFF that someone, regardless of their size, was mocking the Lord God!! It really hit me, how many of us are like david and willing to charge into the fight for we are servants of the Lord? Or do most of us (imagine me looking at the floor, diverting my eyes as i type this, over a guilty conscience) act like the other soldiers and say "well, i will sit quietly here, i sure hope someone says something."??? like david did, when is the last time we got pissed off at sin and made a stand?? the Lord has convicted me to stop being such a weak, worthless, defeated-acting sissy, and stand up for our Lord, the true King of Kings!! please join me in no longer being more scared of what men think of us, than we are what God thinks of us. Jesus isn't coming here next time as a cooing baby wrapped in a baby blanket in a stable, he is coming from the sky swinging a sword with a host of angels, ready to roll son!! So, join me today in picking a side, because SOONER OR LATER you will have to pick one and you better make sure you have choose the winning one. have a great day, and i thanks for reading this.