Will Langford

New Sermon Series

Will Langford — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:34:00 +0000

Hello! As I told you on Sunday I love to use exclamation points!!!

I wanted to write and let you know that I am feeling some leadership to do three part sermon series in January. The first sermon would be on Heaven. The second sermon would be on Hell. And the last sermon would be on the second coming of Christ.

I don't have a catchy title for the series yet but I wanted to get some feedback from you. I would like to know if you have any questions about any of these topics that you would like to see addressed in the sermon series? Any feedback you can give would be helpful and appreciated.

I hope you will take the time to post a comment so I can get your feedback.

Have an awesome week!

Will

Frustrated by Faith?

Will Langford — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 03:55:00 +0000

Frustrated by Faith??
James 4:1-10

Recently I have had a couple of conversations with people who have told me that they are giving up on Christianity because “it just doesn’t work for them.” These conversations have left me thinking about their plight and I have wondered what advice I could give them.

I have to be honest and tell you that there are times when I feel like it is not working for me either. Times when I feel like my prayers aren’t heard, and even times when I feel like my life is void of God’s power. It certainly can be frustrating and perhaps all of us who are believers can identify with someone who feels like things are not working in their Christian walk.

What I have discovered is that most of the time when I feel this it is not God’s fault. The times when I have felt this way the most have been because of something in me. I have realized that it has not been God’s fault but rather it has been my fault. The main reason for my frustration has been that I have approached Christianity from the wrong direction. Here is what I mean. Too many times I think people are trying to use Christianity. They profess faith because they are looking for something. Perhaps they are looking for a better job, a healthier marriage, perhaps just simple happiness. These are good things and I believe that God does desires that we be happy. But we have to remember that following Christ is not simply about us. So therefore if our motives are wrong then how can we expect to live a fulfilling Christian life? How can we expect to have a vibrant prayer life and feel God’s power in our lives, especially if are professed commitment to God is motivated by self interest?

Here is a checklist that we can use to evaluate our commitment to Christ. And I believe this checklist can be a healthy tool for helping us to keep ourselves in check, so that we can feel the blessings of a close and intimate walk with Christ.

1.Acknowledge God’s proper place. James says, "Humble yourselves before God." This is saying, "I'm not the center of the universe, God. You are. It's not about me, it's about you."

2. Acknowledge Satan’s proper place. James says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." If you resist the devil — the Greek word means literally oppose or stand up to — he will eventually give up and go away. The devil comes at you in the form of temptation, telling you that you deserve better than this, that you deserve to have nice things, that people don't appreciate you, that you should get more recognition, and on and on. When those ideas find their way into your consciousness, make sure you oppose them. Stand against them. Resist them.

3. Take a step toward God.. "Draw close to God and he will draw close to you."

4. Do some house cleaning. "Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites." James is speaking bluntly here, using words like "sinners" and "hypocrites" because he intends to be taken seriously. In drawing close to God, you will have to eliminate some things from your life.

5. Don’t Just Go Through the Motions. "Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy." James isn't saying that this should be our emotional state permanently, but he is saying that we should approach repentance with deep sincerity.
We need to recognize how our sinful, self-serving, self-seeking attitudes have wreaked havoc in our lives and how they have separated us from the presence of God.

I hope this checklist might be a blessing to some. And perhaps if you have been frustrated lately these suggestions might help you to get back on track.

Blessings!

Will

Maintaining a Thankful Heart!

Will Langford — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:33:00 +0000

Sir John Templeton, the billionaire investor, was once asked what is the secret of wealth? He said, "Gratitude. If you're not grateful, you're not rich—no matter how much you have." The flip side of that is, "If you're grateful, you are rich—no matter how little you have."

You see, we have a tendency to rate our lives on a scale of comparison with others—and we compare ourselves with those whose lives appear to be richer, fuller, and more exciting than ours. Many times we feel short changed—we wonder why others have it so much better than we do. Of course, that's distorted thinking. But I want you to realize that having a thankful heart is not about comparing yourself to others, it's about recognizing and acknowledging what God has done in your life.

Today we're going to take a look at a psalm of thanksgiving: Psalm 16. In these few verses David reminds us of some things we can all be thankful for; if we concentrate on them, they'll help us develop and maintain a thankful heart.

1. Acknowledge that God is the source of all the good things in your life

David said...
(v. 2) I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

The book of James says...Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights...(James 1:17)

All of the good things you have in your life, you can thank God for. Not just the "spiritual" blessings, but the material blessings, the sociological blessings, the relational blessings—every good thing in your life is a gift from God.

2. Recognize the "pleasant places" in your life

David said...
(v. 5-6) Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places.

You see, you can look at all the things you don't have, and all the disadvantages that have been thrust upon you, but that kind of thinking leads only to misery. Instead, look at the areas of your life where the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places, and be thankful that God has given them to you. Acknowledge all the good gifts God has given you; recognize the pleasant places in your life; and thirdly, to develop and maintain a thankful heart...

3. Look ahead to better days

David said...
(v. 6) Surely I have a delightful inheritance.

In the Psalms, whenever David speaks of the future, he always speaks of it with optimism.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6)

God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide to the end. (Psalm 48:14)

The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. (Psalm 85:12)

David is saying, "The best is yet to come." When you live with a thankful heart, it's easy to believe this. When your mindset is "I have so little and every one else has so much," it's difficult to be optimistic about the future. But when you recognize that God has already blessed you so much more than you deserve, it is easy to believe that even better days lie ahead.

I've noticed this: People who don't look forward to the future don't enjoy the present either. Neither do they appreciate the past. Having a thankful heart changes that. Having a thankful heart enables you to recognize God's presence in your life—past, present, and future.

Perscription for Gratitude

Will Langford — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 18:44:00 +0000

This has been a wonderful day! I really enjoyed our worship service this morning at Hickory Grove! The music was great and the preaching wasn’t too bad! LOL! However, what stuck out to me the most was the Great Spirit among the people. The people at “The Grove” are among the finest people that I have ever known. What a blessing to walk this journey with them.

This morning we talked about developing and attitude of gratitude. For some people gratitude is not a natural response. Actually, for many people grumpiness seems to be the natural response. I really believe that the Christians really need to work on being thankful. We live in a society that feels like they are entitled to everything that is good. The spirit of entitlement is really permeating our society. I guess the question is “how do we make gratitude a habit? Well here are a couple of thoughts!

First, I think it would be wonderful if we could spend time each day writing down how God has blessed us in the past 24 hours. It seems to me that more we remind ourselves of God’s blessings and provisions the more gratitude will become a natural part of our lives.

Second, it would be good if we could include in our speech words of appreciation for God’s goodness. Way too often when you speak to Christians they spent the majority of the time talking about what is wrong, or what they don’t like. Wouldn’t it be great if our speech was like David’s in Psalm 71? That like David we are so overwhelmed with how God has blessed us that we just have to tell others of how good God is!

I believe when we speak of God’s goodness it reinforces in us a grateful spirit. Also, when others hear of our gratitude it becomes a great testimony about God. Perhaps a good way to start this Thanksgiving week would be to make a list of things we are thankful for, and then spend time expressing our thanks to God!

Have a great week!

Will

Good or Best

Will Langford — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 13:45:00 +0000

Intro: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way .”

These famous lines, which open A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, hint at the novel’s central tension between love and family, on the one hand, and oppression and hatred, on the other.

The book suggests that good and evil, wisdom and folly, and light and darkness stand equally matched in their struggle. The book makes prominent use of “doubles” to get & keep the reader’s interest.

We have a story in the New Testament that also uses “doubles”, as it were to teach us an important lesson. Luke contrasts two sisters, Mary & Martha and their relationship to Jesus on a particular occasion. I don’t want to say that one did bad and one did good. No, I would rather say one did that which was “good”, but the other did “better” or “best”.

The focus of our passage today isn’t that we should not be concerned about household chores. No, it is making a point about discipleship.

Christians need to choose the best over the good, but what can help us in our quest to do the best?

First, we need to focus on being in the right place. Notice verse 39, where Mary sat at the fee to Jesus while Martha was in the kitchen. The Greek word here (parakathizo) doesn’t mean to just sit, but sit near. I think it implies that she got as close to the Lord Jesus as she could possibly get. Sitting at the feet of your master was the proper place for a disciple to be.

Second, choosing the best means that we must listen to the right voice. In the text it is clear that Mary was able to clearly hear God’s voice because of her position. Martha may have been able to catch some of what Jesus was saying but because her focus was elsewhere she most likely couldn’t hear as well as Mary.

Third, choosing the best means that we must set priorities and not falling prey to distractions. Mary’s priority was listening to Christ. Martha’s priority was serving others. Is serving others a bad thing? Of course not! Serving others is a good thing but at that moment it wasn’t the best thing. We are told that Mary “chose good part” which means decided to do the “better” or “best” thing…Mary made a choice, she knew there was other things that needed to be done, but she purposefully didn’t do those things. Instead, she went and sat at the feet of Jesus. I can’t think of anything better than for a disciple to be sitting at the feet of Jesus soaking up every word that He spoke, so I think “best” is the best meaning behind “good part”.

When you stop and think about it…how many of us get so encumbered by activities that are good but they are not the best. Today I want to spend more time at the feet of Jesus, actively listening for His voice. I just can’t imagine that there is anything better for us to do! And after we hear His voice we will then be able to better follow His directions.

Just a thought!

Will

Emerging Church?

Will Langford — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 22:03:00 +0000

Hello....I hope you all have been doing well. I have been on the road the past few days and have not been able to post. I am curious about what any of you may know about the emerging church movement. I am not very familiar with it but have read a few things from different leaders in the movement. One quote I read recently has caused me some concern. Brian McLaren (an emergent church leader) said that "clarity is overrated and that ambiguity is preferable."

In some ways I feel like the church is to ambiguous as it is. It seems to me that clarity is missing today. How can people really know and understand the truth we stand for if we are intentionally ambiguous. It makes me ask "what is our goal?" Is our goal to blend in and hope that people can't see how we are different? Or is our goal to be clear about what we stand for? If we are ambiguous how can we be the light of the world? How can we be a contrast to what the world does and teaches? It seems to me that Ambiguity is overrated!

Just a thought!

Will

Struggling with Temptation?

Will Langford — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 16:03:00 +0000

After Jesus was baptized, Luke 4:1-13 tells us that he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Tonight, we'll look at how Jesus faced this time of temptation, and it will show us how we can face temptation. We'll see how Jesus had power over temptation, and his example will help us find power over temptation in our own lives.

This is an amazing story, offering unique insight into the nature and character of Jesus. For one thing, it's one of the few stories told about an event in the life of Jesus in which there are no eye witnesses. How did Jesus' disciples know about the temptation he faced in the desert?

There's only one way they could have known. He told him them about it. At some point during his time of ministry on earth, he told his disciples about the time he spent in the desert, battling temptation in a showdown with the devil. The temptation story has been called "the most sacred of stories" [by William Barclay] because in it "Jesus is laying bare his inmost heart and soul." He told his followers about the struggles he faced.

Another interesting point is that this story reminds us that Jesus was truly human. Luke says,
(v. 2) He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Luke's words give evidence that this story wasn't just a legend created by the early church, because it emphasizes the humanity of Jesus.

I would like for us to consider a couple of things that we need to do if we are going to be able to overcome temptations.

We need Expect Temptation.

Temptation is inevitable. Even good people are tempted. Even people who walk in the Spirit are tempted. Luke said...
(v. 1-2) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

Did you get that? He was led by the Spirit. He was doing exactly what God wanted him to do, and still he faced temptation. We have a tendency to think, when we face temptation, that God must have abandoned us or there must be something wrong with us, or else we wouldn't be experiencing temptation in our lives. That's not true. Even good people experience temptation. Even people who's lives are led by the Holy Spirit experience temptation.

There's an important distinction I want to make. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted, but it wasn't God who tempted Jesus. God doesn't tempt you to sin; he doesn't try to entice you with evil opportunities.

Some people think that is how God tempts us with sin—that he puts the cookie on the table and says, "Come on, I dare you to eat it." God doesn't do that. Temptation is inevitable, but it doesn't come from God. The Bible says...

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone...(James 1:13) God's purpose is not to tempt us, but to give us power over temptation.

We Need to Understand it Temptation Works

Many times we lose the battle against temptation because we don't understand how temptation works in our lives. Temptation is, by its very nature, deceptive. It often presents itself to us in a type of twisted logic. Luke tells us that the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. Then he said,

(v. 9) "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here."

Then, notice what Satan did next. He quoted scripture at Jesus. He said...
(v. 10) "For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Do you see what Satan was doing? He quoted scripture knowing that Jesus knew it was absolutely true, but he was trying to get him to apply it in a twisted, self-serving way. He was saying, "Come on, Jesus. God will take care of you. Jump." And there was an unspoken implication, "Or do you really believe God will take care of you. Maybe he won't, if you're not really the Messiah."

Satan knows what buttons to push, too. And he'll use whatever twisted logic he can. He'll say things like, "You know that God wants you to be happy, right? And you know that you'll never be happy as long as you're married to this person. So God must want you to get a divorce... Unless, of course, you believe that God just wants you to be miserable for the rest of your life." Or he'll say, "God doesn't want your family to do without the necessities of life, and you need your money much more than the government needs it, so cut some corners on your income taxes. Spend that money on your kids. Unless, of course, you think God doesn't want you to have enough to live on."

Temptation just doesn’t fight fair. We need to better understand how it works so that we are equipped to attack it! I hope these words have been an encouragement to you!

Blessings!

Will

Seize the Day!

Will Langford — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:42:00 +0000

I would like to follow up on two previous articles from Mark 1:16-18. We have already discussed two questions. The first question was, “Are you fulfilled in life?” And the second question was, “Does your life have meaning?”

Today, I would like to finish this text by asking you the question, “Are you ready for a blessed life?” We have already concluded that God does desire that our lives would be fulfilled and full of meaning. We know this…so the question for us now is, “What is missing?”

That is answered for us in verse 18. Our text tells us that, “At once they left their nets and followed him?”

At once.

That's the phrase I want to draw to your attention. They didn't wait.

This is important aspect of following Jesus. You start today. Simon and Andrew didn't put off answering Jesus' call. They didn't wait until they were perfect or until they were worthy — they just dropped their nets and began following him.

I've been meaning to drop a few pounds lately. It's hard to diet during the winter, so I plan on not getting serious about it until spring. But you know, I have a number of speaking engagements lined up, and it's so will be hard to diet on the road. So I will put it off a little longer most likely. And then there was our a family reunion—it's like going to an around the clock buffet. I keep planning to drop a few pounds, but there's always something in my way.

I don't really like this illustration, but I tell it to make a point. This is what we often do in our relationship to God. We keep thinking we'll get serious about discipleship once we round the next corner, once we finish the next project, once we the next obstacle is out of the way. And we keep putting off getting serious about getting close to God.

There's only one way to do it. Start today. At once. Don't wait till you're perfect or your circumstances are perfect — they never will be.

Blessings
Will

Does Your Life Have Meaning?

Will Langford — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 15:46:00 +0000

Yesterday I posted an article called “Are You Fulfilled in Life?” This post came from Mark 1:16-18 as Jesus invited Andrew and Simon to follow Him. It appeared to me that the only way to have true fulfillment in life was to answer the call of Jesus. To be one of Christ’s followers is indeed a satisfying and fulfilling experience. Yesterday, we asked the question “Are you fulfilled in life?” But today, I want to ask you “Does your life have meaning?”

How Your Life Can Have Meaning?

(v. 17) "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

One of my favorite stories from the corporate world is about the time Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computers, offered the job of Apple CEO to John Skully. At the time, Skully was head of the Pepsi company. He was happy in his position there, so he politely declined Jobs' offer, telling him he wasn't at all interested in leaving Pepsi. Jobs looked Skully in the eye and said, "Are you telling me that you would rather sell sugared water for the rest of your life, when you could lead a company that will change the world?" The offer suddenly appealed to Skully. He left PepsiCo and took over Apple Computers.

It makes sense, doesn't it? All things being equal, wouldn't you rather have a job with significance than one without? Of course you would. This is built into us — we want to accomplish something worthwhile with our lives.

That's why Jesus' call to Andrew and Simon is so compelling. He told them instead of fishing for fish, they could be fishing for men. Fishing wasn't a bad profession — in fact, it was a crucial part of the Galilean economy. Providing food so that a community can sustain itself is an important contribution. But Jesus promised them something even more. Follow me, and you'll catch men. Your won't spend your life merely supporting the local economy, you'll invest your life building the world's community. You'll change lives.

This is the heart of the promise that Jesus makes to everyone. Follow me, and your life will go from mediocrity to meaning. He will help you find significance you never knew before.

Just a Thought!

Will

Finding Fulfillment

Will Langford — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 10:57:00 +0000

There are many people today looking for meaning and purpose. They are seeking to find fulfillment in life. I believe the way to find all of the afore mentioned is to answer the call of Christ. In the following text, Jesus clearly invites Simon and Andrew to “follow Him.” In the next couple of posts I would like to examine what it means to follow Jesus and what does it require of us. One thing is for sure…when we answer the call…it will be awesome!
(v. 16-18) As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fisherman. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.

I always thought this story was peculiar, because it sounds like Jesus called out to two complete strangers to follow him, and they dropped everything, and began walking in his direction with their stuck straight out in front of them, like in a science fiction movie. This isn't how it was. Jesus wasn't a stranger in this region, and he probably wasn't a stranger to Simon and Andrew. He had been connected to the ministry of John the Baptist and had been preaching in the area for a while, and there's no reason not to think that Simon and Andrew were already familiar with him. I say this because I want you to realize that their decision to follow Jesus was not that much different than ours. He called to them like he calls to you today. It is in answering that call that we fully discover who Jesus is. We can know him only casually from a distance. We can know him only slightly through books. We really get to know him by following him.

What Does It Means to Follow? (v. 17) "Come, follow me," Jesus said. This is different than what you would expect from a mere prophet. They most often said, "Follow God...Follow the way of righteousness...Follow the Law." Jesus said, "Follow me." It's an important distinction, for a couple of reasons. One, Jesus is establishing himself as a leader, as an authority. Two, Jesus is making it clear that the life of discipleship is not a life of just thinking and knowing and discussing ideological principles, it's a life of living them out. When Jesus said, "Follow me" he was saying, "Go where I go, do what I do, talk like I talk, live like I live." He's inviting us to imitate him. We need to remember that living the Christian life has a lot to do with just trying to be like Christ.

Secrets to Joy!!

Will Langford — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:06:00 +0000

Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”

We tend to equate “happiness” with joy, but they are two totally different ideas because they each spring from a different source. Happiness comes from the world around me. Joy originates directly from the Spirit of the Living God. Happiness is conditioned by and often dependent upon what is “happening” to me. If people treat me good, if things are going well in my life, then I’m happy. If my circumstances aren’t favorable, then I’m unhappy. Joy, on the other hand, throbs throughout Scripture as a profound, compelling quality of life that transcends the events and disasters which may dog God’s people. Joy is a divine dimension of living that is not shackled by circumstances.

It appears to me that there are two things we need to consider when we think about Joy.

First, there are Joy Busters in our lives. Unmet expectations can certainly kill joy for many of us. Many of us have dreams and goals that seem out of reach or unrealized and that tends to rob us of joy. Also, unresolved conflict can rob us of joy. Our joy evaporates when we allow conflict between ourselves and another person to go on. When someone’s offense against us occupies our mental and emotional attention, we have little left over for the Lord. Finally, unconfessed sin can cause our joy to diminish. Guilt can gut your joy faster than anything I know. Sin can send joy far away. David understood this very well when he attempted to ignore the promptings of the Spirit. Take a look at Psalm 32:1-5: “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’ -- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Second, we need to consider that there are joy builders. First, recognize that God is joyful. So many people seem to just miss this point completely. We think of God as being stern and rigid and eager to discipline. But God is joyful and He takes joy in His relationship with us. Second, you can reaffirm your commitment to others. When we live in loving relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we’ll be more joyful and we’ll be helping others to increase their joy. Third, release your problems to the Lord. Verse 25 says that Paul and Silas “were praying and singing hymns to God…” This word for praying is not the word used for making requests but rather the word used for praise, or worship. Instead of asking God to get them out, they turned this tough situation into an opportunity for rejoicing. The only way to have an attitude like this is to release our problems to the Lord. Finally, stay close to Jesus. To discover joy we must abandon the search for it and go looking instead for the one who is Himself joy. Joy is the flag that flies over the castle of our hearts announcing that Jesus is in residence today. If we want the kind of joy that is complete, lacking nothing, then we must remain close to Jesus.

Casting Shadows

Will Langford — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 04:26:00 +0000

I have always found Acts 5:12-16 to be absolutely fascinating. It is the story of when people were bringing there sick friends and laid them on the street in hopes that Peter’s shadow would pass over them and provide healing. It really is a pretty cool story! However, when I was reading it I was asking myself “Will, what kind of shadow are you casting? Is it a shadow that has a positive effect or a negative effect on people? When you take a look at Peter’s life you quickly discover some traits about him that I believe made him a person who cast a positive shadow.

First, Peter lived a distinct life. In other words he lived a life that reflected Christ and not the world. Just prior to this story in Acts is the story of Annanias and Sapphira. If you recall there story they misrepresented a profit they made on the sale of land and Peter confronted them about holding back a portion from their giving. If you remember after Peter confronted them Annanias dropped dead. Pretty amazing! However, I think the principle we learn from this is that God expects His people to live pure and holy lives. The truth is that today we don’t like to talk about purity. But purity is still required. People may think we are peculiar but at least they will respect us. And at least God will be able to use us to cast a shadow that makes a difference.

Second, Peter lived a devoted life. In this chapter Peter is thrown into jail for preaching. While in prison he learned just how faithful God is. An angel had come and set them free and the Angel tells them to go back out and preach again. If that were me…I would be stumbling around for a way to explain that I wanted to enjoy my freedom and not do the very thing that got my freedom taken away. But Peter got right back up on the horse and went out to preach again. Peter did this because of his devotion to God. God was the authority in his life and that was the voice that mattered. The church certainly needs that type of devotion today. To remember that we not only march to the beat of a different drummer but that we also answer to a higher authority. Obedience to God is not an option. And a devoted life enables us to cast shadows that make a difference.

America needs the church to begin casting shadows that will make a positive difference in the lives of people. We need to remember that purity and holiness are not just words to be used flippantly but they are requirements for the believer. And we need to remember that devotion is not only to be practiced when things are going well, but real devotion is demonstrated even during very difficult times. Perhaps then Christians will stop being the fodder for punch lines and perhaps we will begin casting shadows that will make a difference.

Does God Like You?

Will Langford — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:42:00 +0000

This morning I was reading in Zephaniah 3. What an encouraging chapter! As I read this
passage of scripture several thoughts jumped out at me that I would like to share with you.

Over the years I have talked to many people who have asked “how does God feel about me?” That is a good question that many people ask, unfortunately all to often they don’t ever take the time to get the answer. I know life is busy and all of us feel like we are in warp drive. However, in Zephaniah 3:14-20 we learn some specifics truths that help us understand how God feels about us. So I hope you will be encouraged with these truths!

First, please know that God delights in us! Zephaniah 3:17 states “He will take great delight in you...he will rejoice over you with singing.” He rejoices over you. Zephaniah goes so far as to say that he breaks into song. "...with singing." Think of the person whose company you enjoy the most—the person you would most like to spend the day with. That is a fraction of how much God enjoys your company. He wants to be with you. He delights in you. Why? This is the crucial truth about Christianity. God not only loves you, he likes you!

Second, please know that God will take care of us. There are three ways that jumped out at me about God’s care and provision. Notice that God provides forgiveness. Verse 15 “The Lord has taken away your punishment.” God wants to forgive you so much that he sent his Son into the world to die on the cross for your sins. Also note that God provides protection. Verse 15 states “The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.” Drop down to verse 19... “At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered.” And finally note that God provides peace. Verse 17 says that “He will quiet us with His love.”

Finally, please know that God has plans for you. I love verse 29! It says “At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the Lord. In the book of Zephaniah we see that God has given us a future; he has plans for us—plans to restore us and bring us home. And, best of all, we can be sure that our future is not in our own feeble hands, our future is in his hands. He will bring it to pass. Why? Because he not only loves you, he likes you!

Blessings!!

Will

Does God Like You?

Will Langford — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 19:42:00 +0000

God Likes You!

Will Langford — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 16:10:00 +0000

This morning I was reading in Zephaniah 3. What an encouraging chapter! As I read this passage of scripture several thoughts jumped out at me that I would like to share with you.

Over the years I have talked to many people who have asked “how does God feel about me?” That is a good question that many people ask, unfortunately all to often they don’t they never take the time to get the answer. I know life is busy and all of us feel like we are in warp drive. However, in Zephaniah 3:14-20 we learn some specifics truths that help us understand how God feels about us. So I hope you will be encouraged with these truths!

First, please know that God delights in us! Zephaniah 3:17 states “He will take great delight in you...he will rejoice over you with singing.” He rejoices over you. Zephaniah goes so far as to say that he breaks into song. "...with singing." Think of the person whose company you enjoy the most—the person you would most like to spend the day with. That is a fraction of how much God enjoys your company. He wants to be with you. He delights in you. Why? This is the crucial truth about Christianity. God not only loves you, he likes you!

Second, please know that God will take care of us. There are three ways that jumped out at me about God’s care and provision. Notice that God provides forgiveness. Verse 15 “The Lord has taken away your punishment.” God wants to forgive you so much that he sent his Son into the world to die on the cross for your sins. Also note that God provides protection. Verse 15 states “The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm.” Drop down to verse 19... “At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered.” And finally note that God provides peace. Verse 17 says that “He will quiet us with His love.”

Finally, please know that God has plans for you. I love verse 29! It says “At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the Lord. In the book of Zephaniah we see that God has given us a future; he has plans for us—plans to restore us and bring us home. And, best of all, we can be sure that our future is not in our own feeble hands, our future is in his hands. He will bring it to pass. Why? Because he not only loves you, he likes you!

Blessings!!

Will

Transformational Meditation

Will Langford — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 19:47:00 +0000

In 1968 the Beatles decided that material success was not enough to fill the void in their lives, so they traveled to India to meet with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the developer of Transcendental Meditation. He trained hundreds of thousands of people in the ways of TM, and in the process became very rich. They have the ambitious goal of creating heaven-on-earth through Transcendental Meditation, and have made the claim that meditation reverses the aging process, reduces the crime rate and lowers blood pressure. They also lead high-priced corporate seminars with the promised result of improved job performance and increased job satisfaction. To this day, due mainly to the amount of press the Maharishi received in the sixties, many associate the term "meditation" with the Maharishi and Transcendental Meditation.

If you stop the average person on the street and ask them about meditation, more than likely they will talk about sitting cross-legged in a trancelike state, reciting a mantra, and attempting to enter a state of "nothingness." In other words, most people on the street know very little about meditation

Unfortunately, the same thing can be said of many Christians. Many devout followers of Christ are convinced that meditation is bad - they identify meditation with the new age, the occult, or eastern religions. They think meditation equals Transcendental Meditation. Of course, they overlook the fact that meditation is a biblical idea. The word "meditate" or "meditation" appears about 2 dozen times in the Bible. In the Psalms we are encouraged - even commanded - to meditate. Paul exhorts us to meditate. As we look at the spiritual lives of the great saints of the Bible, we see meditation put into practice.

In Psalm 62, David gives us a clear example of what meditation is. We're going to take a closer look at this passage, and learn the biblical technique for meditation. There are three elements to biblical meditation.

First, there is attachment. Others religions teach that meditation means detachment. You want to separate yourself from your surroundings and empty your mind. So you can be completely detached. However, in Christianity our goal is to be attached to God. In Psalm 62:5 David said “For God alone my soul waits in silence.” I realize that in our lives this is tough. But if we could somehow separate ourselves from the business of life and could attach ourselves to God perhaps we could find more joy and meaning.

Second, there is expectation. Many of you have experienced the power of God in your life through answered prayer. My prayer for every one of you is to experience often the blessing of answered prayer. However, meditation moves us beyond simply "asking and receiving" and leads us into a deeper kind of communion with God that simply basks in his presence. David said, "For God alone my soul waits." Waiting on God means that we are yielded to him. It means that we have submitted ourselves to his timetable. It means that we have set aside our desire for worldly pleasure and will continue to seek his face. We haven't come to him for a blessing, we have come to rest in his presence. In fact, the phrase translated my soul waits has also been translated my soul rests. David is saying his place of comfort, his place of relaxation, his place of peace is in the presence of God. When we meditate, we commit ourselves to waiting on God in faith, and resting in his presence.

Finally, there is silence. The discipline of silence must be observed before we can hear the voice of God. It's a simple fact that you can't be talking and listening at the same time. The problem with our prayers is that they are often much too wordy - we spend too much time talking and not enough time listening. If prayer is really "communication with God" there has to come a point in the conversation when we let him speak to us. This can only happen if we allow ourselves to become silent.

I hope these words will encourage you to consider making meditation a part of your daily spiritual disciplines. Perhaps if we would spend more time listening for God we would discover more about Him and His plan for our lives. Who knows are lives could be transformed?

Just a thought!

Will

Turning the Tide

Will Langford — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:37:00 +0000

Over the last thirty years we have seen a very disappointing trend in our country. Right here in America we have seen 70% of our churches go into plateau or even worse decline. To me this is a very scary thought! It reminds me of a book that I am reading by Josh McDowell called “The Last Christian Generation.” Josh’s premise is that if we don’t turn some things around and help young people connect with great Christian truths we could soon be staring extinction in the face!

It appears to me that if we are going to be an influence for Christ then we need to experience a transformation. I believe that believers today need to fervently pray for God to send a revival that will once again breathe life into the church. Let me ask, can a church that has been in decline or is either plateaud experience this kind of turn around? I believe it can….actually I know it can! I have had the privilege of pastoring three churches in my lifetime. The first two were in serious decline and had an attendance of less than twenty. It was really cool to watch those congregations experience a transformation. In reflecting on those congregations several things jump out at me that I believe God used to revive those churches. I would like to spend the next couple of days examining each element that led to transformation.

Today, I would like to comment on the heart of those churches. By the time I arrived each of those churches had gotten to a point of desperation and had discovered what was really important. They had already finished fighting with each other and they were ready for something new and fresh. I am not speaking of worship style or even ministry style. The fresh they were seeking was to no longer live with conflict. They wanted to focus on ministry that would lead to changed lives.

I think churches today get to consumed by Weapons of Mass Distractions “WMD’s.” We get all hung up on things that have no eternal value and we lose focus on what really matters. It is time for us each to stop worrying about getting what we want and start working towards God getting what He desires from our churches. I believe a focus shift will help us to turn the tide and begin to have significance in the lives of people and communities.

As I said, this is just one element. We will discuss prayer, leadership, worship and other issues over the next several days. But I thought perhaps we could begin by reflecting on our own focus. Are we focused on the fulfillment of our desires? Or are we focused more on fulfilling God’s desires? Perhaps the latter will lead to the beginning of a great transformation?

Just a thought

Will

"Crisis Management"

Will Langford — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 21:12:00 +0000

Crisis Management…A lesson from David

I really enjoyed my study of David and Goliath this week. That is a story that I have loved since being a very young man in Sunday school. However, this past week I have read it with some new insight. When you stop and think about it…this is really a great story for us to learn some lessons about how to handle crisis in our lives. Perhaps this story could be a short seminar in “Crisis Management.” In 1 Samuel 17 we see young David having to deal with the 3c’s…crisis, critics, and a contest. Let’s take a few moments and learn from this wise young man.

First, David had to deal with the crisis at hand. David comes on to the scene and hears Goliath taunting the Israelite army and daring them to send even one man to fight him. The stakes were high for this prize fight. If the Israelite won then Goliath and the Philistines would become the slaves to the Israelites, but if Goliath won then the Israelites would lose their freedom. When you stop and think about it Goliath was indeed a huge threat to Israel’s national security. When David arrived he was appalled that no one had taken Goliath up on His offer. You see, David had a different perspective than everyone else in the Kings army. Everyone else thought Goliath was too big to be defeated but David remembered that God was bigger than any problem he would ever encounter. When we remember who God is it should help put our crisis in perspective and give us the motivation to step forward and deal with the crisis at hand. One thing is for sure….if we don’t handle our crisis, our crisis will handle us.

Second, David had to deal with critics. You know anytime you try to do something wonderful for God you will have critics. David’s biggest critic was his brother Eliab. As soon as David began to speak of defeating Goliath, Eliab began to attack David’s motives and integrity. What I love about this chapter is that it shows us how David handled his critic. After Eliab is finished insulting David the Bible say’s in verse 30 that David “then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter.” In other words, David refused to be swayed by the critics. When the critics begin to rear their ugly heads we must learn not to be distracted. Whatever you do please don’t allow a critic to cause you to disregard your dream or your mission. It is better for you to disregard your critic!

Finally, David had to face a contest. When David stepped up to the plate he proved to everyone that he had more character, integrity and faith than anyone else in the Kings army….including the King! Even though Goliath tried to intimidate him, David responded with confidence and passion. He assured Goliath that this battle’s outcome was not in his own hands but rather the outcome of the battle was in God’s hands. I believe that one thing that separated David from the others that day was his belief in God’s goodness and faithfulness. David knew that God was good and faithful and that meant he could trust God completely.
We need not let the giants of life get us down. We can remember this story and trust in the same God that David placed his trust in. The good news is that God is still bigger than any problems we will face. And God is still good and faithful to his followers. So let’s face our giants and let’s give God the glory each time one of them falls!!

Will

Struggling to Keep Up

Will Langford — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:28:00 +0000

October 2006 has been a landmark month so far. My oldest daughter is now driving on her own. I just recently turned forty-two years old. And the United States population has just surpassed the 300 million mark. Only China and India have a larger population. Each of those two countries have a population of 1 billion plus.

It took the United States nearly 150 years (1915) to reach the 100 million mark. And we have rapidly grown more than 200 million residents in the last 91 years. Statistics tell us that we will reach the 400 million mark by the year 2043. No doubt our country has been growing rapidly and there is not sign of this population boom slowing down.

Here is a question that we may want to ask "How has church attendance been affected by our countries population boom?" Listening to the news one would think that American evangelicals are strong and healthy. After all, we are given credit for deciding elections and influencing policy. But if you take a close look at the numbers you will discover that is not the case.

The truth is that church attendance in the United States remains unchanged from 15 years ago despite the population boom. Even in the Bible belt church attendance is not keeping up with the population growth. It certainly appears that the church in America is struggling to keep up!

Many researchers today say that the church is starting to decline. They tell us that we are failing to reach our young people and to add insult to injury we are not effective in reaching beyond our walls to the unchurched in our communities. No doubt there are many people who are skeptical about the future of the church in America.

How should we respond to this news? Do we just join in with the skeptics? I think not. I think we need to hear the concerns, be honest with ourselves, take a deep breath and press on! The truth is the church today needs to fall in love with it's mission. We need to become passionate again about telling others about Jesus. We need to embrace our purpose and stay focused on the only message that can change a persons life.

Are the church's best days behind us? It depends on our response today. Will we become more motivated to stay focused on our message and press on? Or will we become discouraged and loose heart in our mission? I personally think that God is capable of bringing a great revival, even in our day! Let's trust God and represent Him zealously to men and woman who need a life changing experience.

Will

Gay Marriage and New Jersey Supreme Court

Will Langford — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 13:29:00 +0000

As I was reading Baptist Press yesterday www.bpnews.net I discovered the headline "New Jersey Court Refuses to Legalize Gay Marriage Orders Legislature to Give Couples Benefits." It is true that the decision did refuse to legalize gay marriage. However, the the court was very sympathetic to the plight of many same sex couples who were denied the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.

Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for the court's majority."Although we cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage exists in this state, the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state constitution," Albin wrote. "... [W]e now hold that denying rights and benefits to committed same-sex couples that are statutorily given to their heterosexual counterparts violates the equal protection guarantee of Article I, Paragraph 1 [of the New Jersey Constitution]."

As I read through the story on Baptist Press a couple of things jumped out and grabbed my attention. First, the court wasn't condemning same sex marriage. The court was simply recognizing that the New Jersey constitution does not recognize rights for same sex couples. Actually, when reading Justice Albin's remarks it is clear that they feel the legislature needs to correct what they consider to be an inequity in the law. So I think it is important to realize that this isn't a court condemning gay marriage but a court condemning a law that doesn't treat gay marriage the same as heterosexual marriage.

Second, please notice the judicial restraint used by this court. Over the years we have heard a lot of talk about "legistlating from the bench." While I have some disagreement with the courts ruling I certainly respect that they didn't try to write new law themselves. Instead they recognized the process that the legislature writes the laws and the courts uphold the laws.

Finally, notice that there is a move to create a parallel institution to marriage. It is this that probably scares me the most. The legislature, Albin wrote, must "either amend the marriage statutes to include same-sex couples" or "create a parallel statutory structure, which will provide for, on equal terms, the rights and benefits" of marriage.

We must remember that it is God who created the institution of marriage and it is God who defined marriage as being between one man and one woman. And even though there may be a move to redefine or create other options for "gay couples," it doesn't change the fact that these same sex relationships are outside of God's design and God's best for us.

As believers we need to stand for the Biblical definition of marriage. But we must also portray the love of God as we stand. We may disagree with those who stand for gay marriage but we must remember that the God who loved us in our sin, also loves them. Therefore, we while we stand firm for Biblical principles we must do so in a way that represents a loving God. Please pray for these legislator's in New Jersey and please pray that God's love would be magnified and that men and woman would be impacted by a loving God.

Will

Leaving a Legacy

Will Langford — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 01:42:00 +0000

Well this Wednesday the unthinkable is happening. I can't believe it! I am going to turn 42 years old! With each passing year I feel more and more of a responsibility to leave a legacy of faith that others can follow. I have a strong desire to make each passing year productive for the Kingdom of God. But you know sometimes that is pretty difficult to do.

I think it is difficult for several reasons. First, it is difficult because we get distracted by things that take our focus off of what we were meant to do. Second, it is difficult because we become more concerned about pleasing others than we are about pleasing God. Third, I think it is difficult because leaving a legacy requires hard work and sacrifice. It requires exalting the needs of the Kingdom above our own needs. And truthfully, this is very difficult to do.

I have been serving as a Senior Pastor for the past 21 years. Truthfully, I feel like I am much too young to have served this long. But the cold hard truth is......I am old enough. As a minister I really struggle with each of the afore mentioned barriers that keep us from leaving a legacy. I do get distracted often with things that take my focus off of what I was called to do. I believe that I was put on this earth to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ! But unfortunately, the organization called the "church" is full of distractions that can distract. As a pastor I am often tempted to just want to please others even if my pleasing them isn't in their best interest. Truthfully, nothing gets a pastors attention like dissatisfied sheep. Finally, I think the desire to be comfortable and satisfied sometimes keeps us from leaving a legacy.

It seems to me that I would do well to follow the example of Jesus whenever the crowds and even His disciples provided the distractions. Jesus knew that His mission was to go and preach the gospel. However, the crowd and the disciples (Mark 1:35-38) wanted Jesus to stick around. It is almost as if they expected Jesus to drop His mission in order to please people.

It pleases me that Jesus in this text gives us an example of what it takes if we are going to be effective. First, Jesus demonstrates for us that alone time with God is required if we are going live a healthy balanced life and leave a legacy. The crowds obviously knew what was best for Jesus (WRONG!) which in their minds was to stay with them. But Jesus didn't allow their opinion to keep Him from doing what was necessary. Jesus being fully human and fully divine needed that alone time with His Father. And Jesus was not going to be sidetracked.

Second, Jesus demonstrates for the need to stay focused on our mission. In verse 38 He makes it clear that instead of staying and fellowshipping He needed to press on in His mission and "go into the next towns." I am sure that the fellowship and acceptance that he would have felt with these people would have been enjoyable. But Jesus didn't put His own pleasure and needs above the overall mission. The truth is that some people never leave a legacy because they have become to self indulgent. After all, we have developed a "me first" mentality in our country today. We must again embrace the priority of our mission.

Finally, Jesus demonstrates that we need to learn to establish boundaries. One thing that is evident in Jesus' ministry is that people were always willing to express their opinions about how He could do th ministry. In other places in the gospels we see people trying to tell Jesus how to do his job: when Lazarus was sick, when the woman anointed his feet, when Jesus told his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and die -- Jesus never lacked for opinions from others. But Jesus didn't fold. Jesus stayed focused on what He was called to do.

As a pastor I often receive opinions on how I should carry out my calling. And one of my problems is my desire to please others. The desire to please others can end up destroying good hearted, well intentioned men of God. We need to remember that people have a right to their opinions but just because they have their opinion doesn't mean they are right. How we carry out our calling is between us and God. This principle is something that Jesus demonstrates to us and that we need to have the courage to apply.

But ministers are not the only ones who have to learn this lesson. Each of us have to learn to set boundaries so that we can become more efficient in serving our Lord. Each of us if we are not careful can allow our jobs to own us, our hobbies to own us, our possessions to own us. Setting boundaries helps us to live a balanced healthy life.

And a balanced healthy life is a good start to leaving a spiritual legacy that honors God. None of us know how much longer God will leave us on this earth. But hopefully each of us wants to leave a legacy that points others to God. Let me encourage you to follow Jesus' recipe for a healthy balanced life. And who knows....Maybe God will use you to cast a shadow that will impact lives for Him for many years to come.

Will

Fatalistic Faith

Will Langford — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 13:32:00 +0000

This has been a very busy couple of weeks. Each morning for the last two weeks I have been leading a study called "When Worldviews Collide" by Ergun Caner. This study has provided insight into the three of fastest growing world religions (Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam) and compared each of them to Christianity. In some ways this study was a real encouragement but in other ways it was depressing. It was depressing to see how many people in our world live with a sense of desperation and hopelessness.

Each of the world religions mentioned above have no sense of Grace. In each of these religions a person's hope is pinned to their ability to do more good than bad. For the Buddhist and the Hindu (who are basically cousins) if they do well they can be reincarnated to a higher position in life. And if they continue to do well through a series of various life's they can hopefully reach nirvana.

In Islam there is no reincarnation or second chance. A person who is Islamic lives or dies by the scales. If they do more good than bad they make it to paradise. And if they do more bad than good then they are punished. The only way a Muslim can be assured of paradise is if they die as a martyr for the cause of allah. When you understand this it helps you to understand the sheer desperation of terrorists.

When I look at those three religions I get a sense of despair. Each of them depend solely on the goodness, the works or individuals. These systems are so fatalistic. There is no way that any of us can live "good enough" to earn the right to go to heaven. In Hinduism and Buddhism I would be stuck in the cycle of reincarnation and probably never rise above being an ant! And in Islam I would probably become so discouraged that I might find myself flirting with the concept of martrydom just so I could be sure that I make it to paradise.

This morning I have been thinking of the hymn that says "grace, grace, God's grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within." You know it is only in Christianity that we learn of a gracious God who gave of himself so that we could live. Today I want to celebrate that grace and help someone else to learn of that gift!

Blessed to be a Christian!

Will Langford — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 02:59:00 +0000

This week I have been teaching study to our summer missionaries. Each morning we meet at 9:30 am and we compare four of the world's fastest growing religions to Christianity. Those four religions are Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. It is really a blessing to know the differences between these major religions and I think more Christians could be a blessing if they took time to research the differences.

The differences really aren't that subtle when you stop to think about it. First, Christianity is the only group that teaches the concept of God as Father. We teach that a person can have a personal and loving relationship with God. Second, we teach salvation by grace alone. The afore mentioned religions teach salvation by works. Third, we teach that Christ was our Savior who willing laid down his life for man. As Dr. Ergun Caner (a former Muslim) stated "Jesus strapped Himself to a cross so that I wouldn't have to strap myself to a bomb." Finally, Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a relationship. As Christians we are so blessed to have a personal relationship with God. We should do everything we can to enable that relationship to grow and thrive. And when we do....we will indeed feel blessed.

Will

I am so blessed!

Will Langford — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 20:28:00 +0000

This week has been a very lonely week. Melissa and the girls have been attending Youth Camp this week at Ridgecrest, North Carolina. I hate being by myself! However, this week has been a time for me to remember just how blessed I am. I can't imagine my life without Melissa and the girls. They certainly make my my life much more rich and exciting. God has reminded me again this week in my loneliness just how blessed I am!

Also, I have really been blessed with my church family. As you know it was quite an adjustment for our family to move here from Ohio. For a while I wasn't sure I would ever feel at home. However, I can't express my appreciation enough for all of you who have invited out to meals and who have tried to keep me entertained. So far this week I have been to PF Changs, Asian Buffet, Frisches, the Court House, the Powell's home, and Dairy Queen!!! I think I have gained 15 pounds this week alone! Thank you for watching out for me!

We have certainly been blessed. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of being a part of your lives. I think God is really up to a great work at Hickory Grove and I am really looking forward to experiencing God's blessings with you.

Will

Father's Day

Will Langford — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 01:41:00 +0000

Today has been a wonderful Father's Day! We had a great time in worship this morning at "The Grove." Not only did we get to honor our fathers but we also got to welcome two new children into the family of God! I know our Heavenly Father was honored and blessed by these two making the decision to surrender their lives to Him. As a church we should be thankful and honored that God would allow us to be a part of their lives. So let me encourage you to pray for Celia and Bethany as they begin their walks with the Lord and pray that our church would be a blessing and an encouragement to them.

Also let's look forward to next Sunday morning's service. As you know Dr. Terry Fields will be with us sharing a simple evangelistic message. Dr. Fields is a wonderful communicator! I am so excited about each of you getting to hear him. However, I must admit that I am even more excited about our unchurched friends getting to hear the life changing message of the gospel. Let me encourage you to pray hard for the service next Sunday morning. Pray for the speaker and pray that lives would be changed! I am praying fervently that lives would be transformed and that God would be honored!

Have a great night!

Will