Amazement or Faith

There is a big difference between being amazed by Jesus and having faith in Jesus.  However, it's easy for us to confuse the two.  If you click on the following link, you'll see the most recent sermon I preached at Istrouma that deals with this topic.

http://vimeo.com/24728670

Hope 04 - Holding On To Hope

The last message in the Hope series I did at Istrouma in Baton Rouge.  Having firmly grasped the concept of hope, how do we grasp and hold on to hope itself?

Here's the link:
http://vimeo.com/24126588

Hope 03 - Christian Hope and Suffering

Hard times, adversity, trouble, tribulation, pain, suffering...it hits everybody, regardless of whether you have a relationship with Christ or not.  It's difficult to sort out.  Here's my stab at it:

http://vimeo.com/23809196

Hope 02 - The Hope of His Appearing

Jesus will come again.  In His second coming is hope...hope that we can cling to regardless of the circumstances life brings our way.  We all struggle and we all suffer.  I've spent much of this week thinking about suffering we endure in this life, and we'll tackle that subject head on tomorrow in our worship gatherings.  However, before we can adequately and Biblically think through suffering, it is imperative that we consider the hope inherent in His second coming.  If you are catching these messages through this blog, watch and consider the "Hope of His Appearing" before you look at "Christian Hope and Suffering".

That message is here:  http://vimeo.com/23491863.

Hopeful,
Mike

Hope 01 - Hope of the Gospel

Over the past few months, I have had to deal with a handful of discouraging circumstances.  Life happens.  I found that some days, I was able to transcend the adversity, and other days, I fell captive to the things I couldn't control.  So, I started paying attention to what was going on inside me...started digging into Scripture...and started listening to other pastors speak on the topic of hope.  Then, the opportunity to preach a sermon series at Istrouma came up.  So, I figured I'd speak from what God was teaching me.  If "hope" is something you need more of...maybe this sermon will help you.

It's found at:  http://vimeo.com/23165949?ab

Grace and Peace,
Mike

Charlie Sammons

Tomorrow marks the 7 year anniversary that Charlie Sammons, one of my friends and mentors, died.  At least it's kind of the day.  He died on February 29th, which because of the whole leap year thing, that actual date doesn't come around every year.

As I got to know Charlie, and as he found out about my dad dying when I was in my early twenties, Charlie actually said out loud, "I'll stand in for your dad."  And, he did.  He had a great love for Jesus, an immense eternal perspective, a gentle way about him, and a lot of wisdom.  I'm thankful for how he invested in me.

He also loved all sorts of music and live concerts.  As the cancer was beginning to attack his body, he bought tickets to a bunch of concerts, and I got to go to some with him.  We shared good times and great conversation watching Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and Kenny G.  I laugh as I type that, but he had extra tickets to Kenny G!

I'm thankful for Charlie, and I miss him.

Image Management

This week presented me a higher concentration of difficult conversations, mediation and conflict resolution.  As a result, I am more keenly aware that so many issues that take place within the walls of a church are caused by the need to manage our image.  Closely tied to that is pride, lack of humility, insecurity and fear. We care way too much about how others see us.  Therefore, we fight to manage the image we want people to see, oftentimes compensating for the people we really are.  We spend so much time and energy fighting to defend our reputation and image that we are too tired to be about the bigger things in life.  It's a problem, and it's a problem we all identify with to one degree or another.

I wonder how John the Baptist felt when he was being falsely accused of horrible things while serving a prison term for standing up for the right thing?  I bet he wrestled with that.  I hope he knew that Jesus called him "the greatest man ever born of a woman."  If he did, I bet it helped...maybe even helped to the degree that he no longer even heard the voices of others.  Because of what Jesus thought of him, he didn't have to manage his image.  Why do we?