Only one more day.

I sit here as this day comes to a close and realize that we have only one more day to make a difference in 2011. We have only one more day to ponder what changes we'll make for next year in 2012.  We have one more day to hug our kids, and one more day to hug our wife.  One more day to...

So what will you do with your day?  Let's have a good time, and live it for the Lord.

Extra time.

I'm sitting here reading about the tragic car accident on the interstate yesterday.  I recall how inconvenienced I felt because I had to drive ten extra miles and it took nearly thirty minutes more to get to work.  How dare they! 

Today, though, I started to realize that I have been pretty fortunate.  Yesterday two families changed forever from death, and nearly sixty more changed from injury and trauma.  All I have to deal with is a little less gas, and mild inconvenience. 

The lesson I wan to focus on is that you just never know what your day is going to hold.  Those two men certainly didn't know that they were going to wake up and head into work at four o'clock in the morning only to die thirty minutes later.  When they kissed their wife and told her good bye, they didn't know (and neither did she) that that was the last time. 

This morning I kissed my wife and told her that I would see her later.  I had no way of truly knowing if that was true.  I should be thankful that so far it still holds true, and then make sure that I take advantage of that extra time to make a difference. 

Lord, today, help me to take advantage of the extra time you have given to me.  Let me work for you.  Send me some work for your kingdom.  Amen

Just some thoughts...

I'm working out a thesis now on my own and plan to do a little writing to clarify it for myself and I'll maybe share with some others too.  It's about the enemy and how we should view him.  In Revelations 13 where the "first beast" is mentioned, he has many heads and crowns and horns.  I think think the most important truth to gleen from that is not what each head, horn, or crown is, but that they have one body on one beast. 

Our enemy may take many forms, but it is still one enemy.  How does this relate?  Regardless of what "ememy" is attacking us at this moment in time, it is really the same enemy as yesterday. 

Yesterday, my friend was attacked by the HOA.  The other day I was attacked by non-Christians at work.  The national media posted an article about how religious extremists (talking about conservative evangelical Christians) are going to basically disolve and can't go on. 

All of these things aren't physical attacks.  But as Christians we should view them as attacks none-the-less.  Our faith is being attacked at every front by some many different enemies and it can become quite confusing to try and keep track of it all.  What I'm proposing is that we stop trying to keep track of all the enemies of Christianity in the world and realize from the example given in Revelation 13 that although there are many heads, there is still just one enemy. 

This is where Satan is most successful because he comes at us from so many different angles.  And really it is still just one enemy. 

Today we need to start recognizing this.  When we do it will help us get our focus back and even help us in fulfilling our own commission from God.

First Sermon

I completed my first sermon today.  What an amazing experience.  I'll post a link here if you would like to view it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aohm8uIWz7Y&feature=youtu.be

May the Lord bless you as you watch this, like He did me.

This is a start.

I just wanted to start a blog because I am a Seminary student and wanted an easy place to store my writings and eventually any journal entries I will have. I love the Lord and want to share Him in any way I can. This is also a place where people can read wholesome content.

Feel free to comment and ask questions. I'll check and update as time permits.

In Christ,
Jake