Thar’s a Scorpion in My Bed!

1 CommentPastor's P.O.V., Texas Tales!

I found something in my sheets the other night that was way worse than a horse’s head…yes, my Texas nightmare came to pass!

I was sound asleep for about an hour and a half when I felt something at my toes, so, I pushed it away with my feet. I tried to think of something else, like baseball, or imagined that it was a wrinkle in the sheet. The thought of what it could be was too much for me to handle in my groggy state of mind. Still, I tried to go back to sleep and convince myself it was only a nightmare.

A few seconds later a huge pain shot out from my hamstring right behind my knee. Wide awake now, I quickly turned on my reading lamp to see what got me as I pushed the covers off hurriedly, only to discover a scorpion scurrying away atop the sheet. Then, after a few seconds of light, the lamp bulb broke.

Dark. Still out there. Somewhere. Laughing.

Furiously, I tried to turn on my nightstand lamp, but, panicked, knocked it over into the trash can. I jumped out of bed rubbing the back of my leg and turned on the overhead room light. Frantic now, I yanked off all the covers, sheets and pillows, threw them to the floor and prayed that God would show me the culprit. Frustrated, I let out an anguished, unholy expletive and wondered how Jesus could allow this to happen to me. Worse, why did He ever create such a useless, ugly, sneaky-stingy-thing in the first place?

Read More

A Father’s Chief Responsibility

Pastor's P.O.V., Special Days

HEY, FATHERS! DO YOUR KIDS KNOW THE LORD?

Do you have the assurance that they will stand for Jesus in this crazy world that calls evil good, and good evil; that puts darkness for light, and light for darkness?

More importantly, do you know for sure that they will go to Heaven and not to Hell, should they—God forbid—die prematurely?

Many parents expect their church to do the work of training up their children in the way they should go, and that it’s the pastor’s responsibility to ensure that every kid knows and obeys Christ.

Not true!

Read More

Fasting for God

Steve's Sermons, , , ,

(Originally published on 2/14/16. Revised 6/3/20)

As our church is entering into a new phase  with lots of goals to accomplish for the Kingdom of God, perhaps I can convince you through Scripture that fasting is a worthwhile spiritual discipline to investigate.

Also, I’d like us as a church to engage in this practice on the first Thursday of every month.

What is a fast? It’s abstaining from food for a limited period of time to seek God. It’s a denial of self for the purposes of intense spiritual activity.

In the OT, regular fasters were Moses, David, Elijah, Daniel and Hannah. In the NT, Jesus fasted, and, of course, his Apostles and Anna.

Jesus did not say “If you fast,” but, “When you fast…” (Matthew 16:16), the implication being that this is something we should do.

Fasting is not a hunger strike, nor a manipulative device nor a form of dieting. Fasting should be about God, one that is set apart for him to honor and glorify him, designed to accomplish his will.

But why should we fast today? What spiritual benefits can we get from this ancient discipline? I want to give you 3 reasons why you may want to consider fasting as a regular part of your spiritual life:

Read More

Tutti Frutti No More

3 CommentsFamous and Not-So, Gay community, Heaven/Hell, Pastor's P.O.V., ,

LITTLE RICHARD DIED TODAY. Did he go to Heaven or Hell?

He was one of the fathers of rock ‘n roll and described himself as an “omnisexual” where he gloried in a life of pervert practices that included orgies with men and women. Rolling Stone magazine said that his “fervent shrieks, flamboyant garb, and joyful, gender-bending persona embodied the spirit and sound of that new art form.”

Known for such hits as “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally,” “Lucille,” and “Good Golly Miss Molly,” Elton John was even influenced by him: “I heard Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that was it. I didn’t ever want to be anything else. I’m more of a Little Richard stylist than a Jerry Lee Lewis, I think.”

The Beatles recorded his songs as did such diverse bands as the Everly Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Kinks and Elvis Costello. His style even influenced Prince. As he told Joan Rivers in 1989, “Prince is the Little Richard of his generation. I was wearing purple before you was wearing it,” he said, as he looked straight into the camera.

He gave up rock ‘n roll in 1957 to become an ordained minister after experiencing many signs and a dream about his own damnation and the end of the world.

Read More