On Target

I wanted a good excuse to post this somewhere without a lot of attention. Since no one reads my blog - this seemed like a good place. I have discovered a new hobby; target shooting. DISCLAIMER: There WERE two actual paper silhouettes harmed in the making of this post, and one tree. I know, poor tree; but it was already dying so the owner has designated it the shooting tree, and it has been selected to be a backstop.
What's really neat about the picture is that this was not just wasting time shooting but a church member visit. We talked about children, aging, and life in rural communities while shooting holes in paper targets tacked to a tree.

My thoughts turned to humanity as I was leaving. One of the most basic definitions of sin means to miss the mark. We aim at holiness, and are way off, we take aim at goodness and just cannot hit the bullseye. Without Christ as our guide and gracious sacrifice, this cycle of sin ends in guilt and frustration. But a life surrendered to Christ means grace and freedom from guilt and frustration. I am free to admit that I am not perfect, I don't have to live in the stained glass masquerade any longer. I can live life surrendered to the One who is perfecting me through Himself. He never misses the mark. His calling for me is perfect even if I am not. I lean on His perfect strength each day to accomplish the maturing process in me. This process happens through trust in the Jesus, by faith, In Him - not me. I KNOW I'll miss the mark. But He never does.

Galatians 2:20, says "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives IN me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." 




Bullseye!

Sunday Soliloquy

Sunday was a good day at Clarkson Baptist Church. The Spirit was evident in our church yesterday and there was evidence of the stamp of God all over us.
My preaching was not different, though I went off manuscript - big surprise there, I know. But it is amazing what God will use His Word to say when we are surrendered to Him. He reminds us of the need to be on mission, right where we are.
Our Jerusalem is Clarkson.
Our Samaria is the areas close by - Grayson County and Kentucky.
And of course, we can change the world through our gifts of time and money. God has given us the power and the mission to go.
It should go without saying that all of us are called, not just the professional ministers. The problem in the Western Church is that this mission has been farmed out to those that are paid to do it like so many other jobs. And why not, says the American voice? If we can get someone else to do it better, pay them.
The problem is that God uses the weak to shame the strong, and the foolish to shame the wise. We need to be reminded that God has called us all, is sending us all with His power and refreshing strength.
I'd like to remind you that if you are a Christian, it is your job too. Not just mine or your pastor's. Yours. But remember it is not your job to convince
Matthew 28:18-20 says, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Responding to Life's Biggest Questions...

I stumbled onto a site today that is very informative. It allows for the search and seizure of answers to some of the most often asked questions about faith and God. Thought some of you might like to look.

It is called Belief Map. Among the questions that it answers are the existence of God, the historicity of Jesus, the actuality of Jesus' resurrection. Click on the links and extra content unfolds from the heading.

Four Things You Cannot Recover

This is profound, and i did not want to forget it. So true!

Summer Morning

We found a hot spot Saturday morning! 

All fish caught on artificial lures. 

Dad only caught two or three, haha. M caught 9-10 with the biggest going a little over 2 lbs. These below stayed for dinner, 🎣