Just Get Here

Growing up our family had a car that did the weirdest thing. It would not go forward until it was warmed up. During the winter months we would have to warm up the car for several minutes before putting it in drive. We found a flaw in this stubborn behavior. The car would go in reverse even when running cold. There were quite a few Sunday mornings when the Bennett family was late to church. So instead of waiting until the car was warm on many occasions we threw the gear in reverse and drove down the street backwards. When the car was finally warm (after about a mile or so) we would turn the car around. The problem was solved. There are many blockades that try to keep us from going to church. A flat tire; a blown hair dryer A run in your hose; a runny nose. Coffee on your shirt;...

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Restore Your Rest

He makes me lie down in green pastures,He leads me beside quiet waters, Psalm 23:2Many Americans suffer from lack of rest, or sleep. This lack of sleep results in many other health and life issues. Besides humans there is a creature that usually has trouble sleeping. It’s sheep. Sheep can’t sleep. (Maybe they need to try counting humans.) In order for sheep to sleep everything must be just right, no predators, bugs or hunger pains. They can’t take care of these problems by themselves. They need a shepherd. We, like sheep, in order to rest need a Shepherd. We need a Shepherd to help us “lie down in green pastures”. When we are lead to these green pastures of rest we do not need to worry. Our great Shepherd has everything in control. ...

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The Puzzle

Have you ever put together a puzzle? I don’t mean a 12 piece children’s puzzle. I’m talking about the 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles. I assisted putting together one of these puzzles. It took like three weeks to complete. I lost interest fast. But I remember some steps we took in putting it together. · Take it out of the box to lay out all the pieces. · Find the pieces that make the boundaries of the puzzle. · Look at the picture on the box for an image reference. · Patience. It took patience to complete the picture. In Philippians Paul tells us to work out our salvation. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it...

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"I'll Be Back"

The phrase, “I’ll Be Back” was made popular by the movie, The Terminator, starring Arnold Schwartzenegger. This same phrase was used many years ago through the action of a Jewish custom by the original Terminator….the Terminator of sin. Read the following passage from John 20:3-7 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. ...

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Get Out of the Boat

Before Suzanne and I were married she went with my family on a boating trip. One thing to understand is that my family had never owned a boat up until that time. So it’s not like my dad was the big sailor. He was more like Gilligan, not the Skipper. After our three-hour tour we made our way back to the boat dock. We were traveling faster than we should while coming inland. Upon realizing the speed of our approach my dad suddenly pulled back on the throttle causing the bow (front end) to be submerged under water where most of the passengers were sitting. We were going under and people were screaming. It was like the Titanic. In the end were we alright as the boat and its passengers (along with a few gallons of water) drifted to shore. I’m still amazed Suzanne married me after that...

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Building Community

Not long ago our church witnessed the process of building a worship center and additional classrooms. We saw how the land needed to be prepared with just the right soil. We observed how the concrete walls would be pieced together to form a massive structure. And the transformation from the dirty floors and walls to a beautiful place of worship brought excitement to our church family. It brought us together as a community of believers.The process for building a church facility is similar to building a sense of community in your spiritual walk. The place you and I can do that the best is within a small group. Here are the characteristics of a small group as described by Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose Driven Life. · Authenticity – being able to share your true feelings. ·...

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Seasoned With Salt

Have you ever had popcorn without salt? What about French fries without salt? It tastes very bland doesn’t it? God’s word talks about salt. In Colossians 4:5-6 it says: Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Salt is a compound made up of sodium and chorine. Sodium by itself reacts violently when mixed with common surroundings like water and air. Sometimes we resemble the element of sodium when surrounded by common people. We react in a way that is not Christ-like. Chlorine is a cleaning element. Chlorine helps clean up the violent affects of sodium when combined to make NaCl,...

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You Changed My Name

Most of you heard my testimony of how my name was changed. No, I’m not a CIA agent with a name like Jason Bourne. My biological father left my mother and me when I was almost two. My step father, Rick Bennett who is and will always be in my mind my real father, married my mom when I was still very young. And yes, even after seeing the hyperactive, frail little boy loved me like I was his own. Years later I met Frank Edward Mosley about two weeks before he died of lung cancer caused by years of alcoholism and smoking. I also met my half sister, Samantha. Since the funeral Samantha has told me of a life tormented through all kinds of abuse from Frank Mosley. Even though she has freedom now my heart breaks for her. But most important my heart is very thankful to my Father in heaven...

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Sitcom Theme Songs

Do any of these TV shows ring a bell? The Andy Griffith Show / Gilligan’s Island / The Brady Bunch / The Dukes of Hazzard / The Adam’s Family. As you read through this list you can almost hear yourself sing the theme songs. When I hear these songs my mind recalls certain episodes I’ve grown to love. The songs are associated with the show. When modern sitcoms come to mind I don’t hear a song in my head. Mostly because the modern sitcoms do not have a song associated with it. They may have some type of beat or random pitches on unidentified instruments but it’s nothing that you can walk away singing. They don’t have a clear melody associated with it. Just like theme songs our lives should be associated with the One in which we worship. Ask yourself the following questions: Is...

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The Silver Spoon

As most of you know I used to be a junior high school choral director. I’ve had opportunities to affect the lives of many students. But I had students affect my life as well. During the Christmas season I would receive numerous gifts. I can’t recall all the gifts or even bring up the name of the giver. Sure, some are probably hanging on our Christmas tree or sitting on a shelf somewhere. But there is one gift given by a student who had a lasting affect on me. It’s a gift I will always remember from a quiet 7th grade soprano named Lisa Scott. Lisa was very polite with a smile painted on her face. She was loyal to the choir but did not have the strongest voice. Lisa never had an enemy but did not hang out with the popular crowd. She did not wear the nicest of clothes. One could...

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A Simple Christmas

Here are some specific ways to have a Simple Christmas S – Spotlight the Manger There are many distractions out there competing for attention at Christmas. A Simple Christmas means a focused Christmas. A Christmas focused on the manger. Make every decoration and every conversation spotlight the manger. I – Inspect Your Christmas The word, inspect means “to examine carefully and critically, especially for flaws.” Do we have flaws in the way we do Christmas? Have we taken a close look at our Christmas? My family and I will inspect our Christmas. I encourage you to do the same. M – Manage Your Giving This may sound strange. Isn’t Christmas about giving? Yes, but the giving can consume us. Most gifts are given out of sincere hearts. But how many gifts are given out of guilt?...

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The Swan

I was on a train ride at a zoo with my family. We passed through woods, tunnels and over bridges. One of the bridges passed over a bayou. The bank of that bayou was littered with trash obviously left over concessions purchased in the zoo. But in the middle of that trash sat the most beautiful swan I’d ever seen. There was not a single spot or blemish on her. She seemed to almost glow when surrounded by all the debris. I begin looking around for other swan. There were no other fowls to be seen. It was strange to me to see such a beautiful swan in the middle of trash. The Holy Spirit whispered to me on that train ride. The swan represented God’s Church, the bride of Christ. The trash and debris represented the world and what it produces. It became clear to me that God was reminding...

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Preparing for Worship

One question I get asked is how should one prepare themselves for worship? That’s a great question. A perfect place to look is God’s word. In the book of Isaiah we find a glimpse of what’s it’s like to worship the Almighty. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. ...

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Don't Worry...Be Happy

In 1988 Bobby McFerrin wrote the song, Don’t Worry, Be Happy. It’s a simple message about a simple truth. McFerrin’s message sent his simple song to the top of the charts. You can whistle the melody of the chorus just about anywhere and people will know the song. It will bring a spring to your step and a smile on your face. This simple message was shared earlier in the spoken red letters of Jesus. You can find it in Matthew chapter 6 verses 25-34. I like the translation of verses 30-33 from the Message. It reads: If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so...

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Mr. Potato Head

When I was a kid I used to enjoy playing with Mr. Potato Head. I would create a bizarre-looking figure and then laugh at it. (I guess it was my demented personality coming out at an early age.) Even now I have observed my own kids creating their own version of Potato Head humiliation. There’s just something fun about placing a foot in an eye socket or an ear in an arm socket. Of course the finished product looks nothing like the body of Mr. Potato Head. You and I make up the body of Christ, His church. Just like the parts of the human body we have certain functions in the body of Christ. Each part plays a very important role to how the body operates. No part is more important than the other. You and I work together in specific areas to give movement to the body of Christ. ...

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Your Life Through a Telescope

On our family trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains we stopped by a look-out post to observe the beautiful view. One of our sons, Landon, noticed a telescope mounted on the side rail. He walked to the telescope and saw all the mountains small and distant. I showed him that he had the telescope turned around backwards. He was looking through the bigger end of the telescope. This view of God’s creation was not that impressive. When he looked through the telescope correctly he was amazed at the sites. Sometimes we think God is looking at is through a telescope that is turned around backwards. Sometimes we feel more distant than we really are. Or we may feel too small for God to take notice. Allow me to remind you that God will never leave us or forsake us. He promises to cheer us...

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Sing it Like You Need It

Have you ever needed anything? I mean, really needed something so badly that you would do anything to get it…no matter the cost. There are people in our world, even in our church that need healing, direction, acceptance and calmness in their lives. Our times of worship provide opportunities to acquire these needs. I believe, and have seen, people be healed during worship services. They cry out to God in song for healing. He hears their cry because they sing it like they need it. We can receive direction in our lives during worship services. When we are struggling with a decision He is there to provide us an answer when we sing it like we need it. We certainly feel accepted by our Lord during worship. What Father would not be delighted to hear one of His children sing? There is...

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Going Fishin'

Do you like to fish? I only enjoy it when there’s actually a fish at the end of my line. I get bored fast if there’s no reaction to my bait. If I catch a fish then I have the inconvenience of cleaning it. There’s a story in the book of Luke about fishing. When he (Jesus) had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down[b] the nets for a catch. "Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Luke 5:4-6 These fishermen, who would become some of Jesus’ disciples, were out fishing all night and had just cleaned their nets, a task that probably took a long time. It was...

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Groundhog Day

Did you ever see the movie, Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray? It was funny yet, intriguing. It’s a story about a man who wakes up to find that everyday is the same as the day before. He awakes to the same music on his alarm clock. It’s the same weather, the same hotel room and the same little town. At first he was very confused. Soon depression arose in his life because he could not shake the mundane of his everyday experience. Wow, sometimes I feel like I’m living a Groundhog Day experience. I wake up in the same house; drive the same way to work, in the same vehicle to the same workplace day after day. I’m sure there are days when you feel the same. Sometimes it’s difficult to be a joyful Christian when the mundane settles in. This can easily numb our senses and drive...

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Fruit of the Loom

The last couple of times I tried to purchase my Fruit of the Loom underwear I got the wrong size. (I know this sounds like a personal problem.) After trying them on I realized the Fruit of the Looms did not work for me. It’s like they were not made for me. I can’t help but relate this example with how we as Christians should show the Fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives. Our Fruit should match the Christ who lives in us. In Galatians 5:22-23 we are reminded that The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. How do we grow that fruit? Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, tells us that “God develops the Fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you’re...

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Spoiled Milk

In my early childhood my brother and I would play outside in the long, hot summer days. After several hours of baseball, exploring or setting something on fire we would run into the cool house straight to the fridge and rip off the lid of the milk jug. We would take turns (just enough time to catch our breath) drinking straight out of the milk jug. Nothing tasted better than ice-cold milk on a hot summer day. On one of these summer days I raced to the fridge beating my brother to the refreshing, pure white liquid. Without noticing the white chunks floating and hanging on the inside of the jug I took a huge gulp. That gulp forever changed my life and the way I drink milk. It was so spoiled and caked over with bacteria that it could have been a part of my school science project. To...

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Return to the Lord

As most of you know Suzanne and I have three children (Madison, Landon and Logan). And as most parents do we take many pictures so those images will be with us forever. When Madison and Landon were born we used a 35mm camera with film that needed to be developed. We have numerous pictures of them as babies. However about the time when Logan was born we entered the world of digital cameras. No more developing film. We just stored them right on our computer. It was wonderful…until our computer crashed. A deep, sickening feeling settled in our stomachs as we realized we may have lost every picture we ever had of Logan. The fear was subsided after retrieving the files on the hard drive to find the pictures we thought were lost. Our precious memories were restored. As we bring...

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