Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Anticipated Joy


Isaiah 55:10-13

[10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
[11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

[12] “For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
[13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the LORD,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (ESV)

How often I run to Isaiah the prophet for his historic and ancient words of truth and comfort.

The trending storylines of this crooked and perverse generation are draining. Just about any media source I look at, the narrative is negative. And indeed, there is not as much fake about this news as we would hope.

Death surrounds us in many ways.... and life is cheapened in the process.

Drug overdoses, terrorist attacks, rising suicide rates, abortion on demand, and senseless gun violence is enough to make even the greatest optimists shiver in the dark.

It makes Malcolm Muggeridge look like a prophet of old:

Thus did Western Man decide to abolish himself, creating his own boredom out of his own affluence, his own vulnerability out of his own strength, his own impotence out of his own erotomania, himself blowing the trumpet that brought the walls of his own city tumbling down, and having convinced himself that he was too numerous, labored with pill and scalpel and syringe to make himself fewer. Until at last, having educated himself into imbecility, and polluted and drugged himself into stupefaction, he keeled over--a weary, battered old brontosaurus--and became extinct.” 
― Malcolm MuggeridgeVintage Muggeridge: Religion and Society

So stop and go back up and re-read the promise of God......

He promises that His word will shower the land and bring forth fruit in the same way that rain and snow nourishes the seeds of life.

And we wait on this.... an anticipated joy...

peace- singing- clapping- restoration

Can you cling to this hope in the midst of a world that at time strains in the shadows of sin and suffering?

There seems to be the sense that when all seems lost, God BREAKS out into sudden celebration and victory.

It won't be a gradual win, it will be a sudden eruption.

I don't know how many times in your life you have been looking defeat straight in the jaws of inevitability and found an surprise turn of events that resulted in a crazy victory... but it does happen.

Buzzer beater, miraculous endings, strange change, unexpected

This is my anticipated joy... a guarantee... not based on my futile faith...but on God's Word.




Saturday, May 13, 2017

Big Year for BCS Bass Team


2017 BCS BASS TEAM




This was an amazing year. Our highest finish as a team (7th in the state, all classifications) and we won two tournaments!

Led by 5 great boat captains: Barry Turnbloom, Joe Flemming, Chris Cale, Amory Mays, and Dr. Drayton Smith.
4 super seniors: Jared Turnbloom, William Salchert, Jack Flemming, and Nathan Cale.
And a great underclass foundation: Grayson Morris, Reid Mays, Walter Vetrano, David Scharf, Tucker Smith, and Chandler Holt.


Early June: Our new freshmen guys were already showing they would be a factor in the season











We had a really good fall qualifying season. It is so important for these guys to get out on the water and compete in tournaments.










We also had some Big fish caught all throughout the summer and fall.


Grayson Morris caught this 10.2 monster









Jack Flemming caught an 11.0 personal best

























Senior Jared Turnbloom caught huge fish all year!









PROFESSIONAL INFLUENCE- These guys got to see some pros up close this year





Barry Wilson spent some time giving these guys great tips















These guys also got to see some other elite professionals up close


Kevin Van Dam along with some other great pros were fun to see and meet at an MLF event in Louisville


Aaron Martens













Jack Flemming fished with Brent Chapman









As did Grayson Morris



















This was fun, Grayson and Aaron Martens fishing in Grayson's boat







TOURNAMENT SUCCESS

LAKE MARTIN- 9TH PLACE OVERALL


LOGAN MARTIN- 

Jared Turnbloom/William Salchert WON the tournament- team was 19th


PICKWICK- 6TH PLACE OVERALL




STATE TOURNAMENT - EUFAULA-  2 DAYS



ALSO- JAKE AND WILLIAM WON THE AIRPORT MARINE TOURNAMENT


SOME GREAT MOMENTS and MEMORIES























Wednesday, May 03, 2017

When You Feel Engulfed and Overwhelmed- Psalm 12

Psalm 12

Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.




2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
5 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
will now arise,” says the Lord;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”
6 The words of the Lord are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.
7 You, O Lord, will keep them;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
8 On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.
the tongue that makes great boasts,


We have all been here. I get here more now than I did even a decade ago. 

My youngest daughter is graduating from high school in less than a month and I am swimming in a storm of deadlines, difficulties, and needs.

One of the things I love about the Psalms is the honest recording of heart cries.


When I read this Psalm, I think about feelings of despair. At the core of this cry is the thought of the continual slide into sin and decay. It is a feeling of loneliness. Is there anyone seeking holiness? Is there anyone actually interested in the things of God?

A wide view of society can push us into thoughts of despair like this. Just flipping the channels this weekend brought to my attention how little impact godliness is having on the current culture. Every subject seems to be supported by a secular world view.


There has never been a greater time in human history where such of a wealth of information is attainable. The Bible commentaries, seminary courses, sermons, devotional material, available for FREE is more that one could take in a lifetime.

The fields are STILL white for harvest- but the church seems so lukewarm in a desire to share the truth.

And as we have hidden the light, the mockers are growing bolder and colder.

Look again at verses 2-4. These are ancient words but still applicable today.

Everyone utters lies- (some lies are as bold as I have ever seen- especially in politics)

flattering lips and double hearts-

tongues that challenge God without fear


SO WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE FEEL ENGULFED AND OVERWHELMED LIKE THIS?



God sees the result of such a society. The poor are plundered and the needy groan. He hears the cries of His children. At some point, He decides to act.. "I will now arise", says the LORD.

No one really wants this to happen.


I remember what Christ says in Revelation 2 as a part of His condemnation of the church at Pergamum:

16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

In other words- it is better that you practice discipline in the church and NOT Me. Be warned- one day the Lord will say, "No more delay... the door of mercy WILL be closed.. and He will begin trampling on the winepress of His wrath.

But the main point of this passage is slightly different.

It is not attack the evil doers.. it is rescue of the one who is wounded.

Notice: "I will place him in the safety in which he longs."

And how secure is this promise? How secure are His words?

Purified, 7 times, pure silver. You can take His word to the bank!

Feel the security again:

You, O Lord, will keep them;you will guard us from this generation forever.On every side the wicked prowl,as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

WHEN WE FEEL ENGULFED- SURROUNDED BY EVIL AND MOCKERS


HANG ON... HE IS GOING TO RESCUE YOU!

The only question is if I am willing to believe Him.