It's been a while since I wrote a blog, and it occurred to me that maybe it was time to post.
Often we want to see a change in a person, and as Tozer says, we "convince the mind before God can win the heart," and we become divided. God has a schedule of events in His eye and we can not rush His plan. I see this repeatedly in my life and in the TECS mission. TECS has now been around for almost a year, and I have been seeking what God has been doing with it. I desired to see it succeed, but yet we generated very little activity. I began pushing, and only exhausted myself. Recently, I surrendered this mission to God, and have already begun seeing His sovereign working in it. Not only this, but I am seeing it in my life and the world around me more. I had long ago convinced my mind before God had convinced my heart, and consequently had become divided.
On a side note, wives are a blessing to husbands. My dear wife cornered me and confronted me about every direction I had sent myself in. She steered me back into God and I am excited to see His working in me and in her. Our faith is not something private, but rather like a good sauce in pasta, it penetrates the entirety of our worlds and seeps out of us so that we are light and salt by our very nature. Fruit must be grown, never produced, and to grow it, we can only provide an ideal environment for it. So the question at the end is, how are you preparing yourself and your world to bear fruit? Are there impurities in your mind that should be confessed and surrendered? Perhaps you have a job, or a spouse, or even yourself that you have never given to God. Now is the time.
"You know the saying, 'Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest." John 4:35, NLT
Friday, November 11, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Thoughts for the day
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. (Galations 3:23)
Today I started thinking about this verse. How many off us are still under the custody of the law? When I think of custody, I think of being placed under arrest. The word there means to be under guard, and the tense tells us that it was continual, and progressively stronger. Seems accurate, doesn't it? Paul writes in Romans " because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so," (8:4). The more I think about my self, my desires, my needs, the more I become hostile to God. The more I desire my way, and despise His correction and preparation. We all were prisoners of the Law, hostile to God, and desiring nothing other than our own way, which led to pain and disappointment. We have fallen desperately short of accomplishing what it is we desire. There is something more. Jesus Christ came to earth, God dressed in human clothes. He lead the life you wanted to lead. He lived and never did anything wrong. More than that, He did everything right. He died, bled, suffered, was broken.. He did this in your place. The captivity you are under, you are free by way of death. Because Jesus died in our place, we are free from that penalty. The only thing necessary to receive this freedom is to look up, to see Him, and to trust Him with your life.
Now the incredible part... After He died, He came back! Not only did He die to buy your freedom, He returned from death to free you from that also! He has come back, not to live the same humble and perfect life, but to "Lead captivity captive, " (Ephesians 4:8). He came back as the King of Kings. The Boss! Everyone fears absolute authority. We all have had some nut job who thought they were God, and therefore it was their personal duty to make your life miserable. But not with King Jesus. He who died for your freedom did not return to take it away, but rather to give even greater life to those that would trust Him. Crazy, right? So where do we fall? Have you trusted Him, but never taken Him up on the life more abundant? Maybe you have, but things are hard, and you're not sure it's worth the struggle. Or have you never even accepted His offer of freedom? You can have all of it today, right this second. Pray:
Jesus, I have lived in captivity all my life. Captive to my desires, and to the law which is convicting me now. I accept that You are the Son of God, and came and died for my captivity. I trust in You now, and ask that You would forgive me. Raise me with You, so that I can receive Your victory. Wash me, and make me new. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, PLEASE contact me, or your local church! This is an exciting moment for you, and we all want to share in it, and get to know you as family. If you want to grow, to become more like Jesus, give us a yell. There are resources out there! The Transylvania Baptist Association is here for the purpose of helping people and churches grow. Don't be alone in this race. Find others who are running and join them.
Just some thoughts for the day... which is now tomorrow...
In Christ,
Bryan
Today I started thinking about this verse. How many off us are still under the custody of the law? When I think of custody, I think of being placed under arrest. The word there means to be under guard, and the tense tells us that it was continual, and progressively stronger. Seems accurate, doesn't it? Paul writes in Romans " because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so," (8:4). The more I think about my self, my desires, my needs, the more I become hostile to God. The more I desire my way, and despise His correction and preparation. We all were prisoners of the Law, hostile to God, and desiring nothing other than our own way, which led to pain and disappointment. We have fallen desperately short of accomplishing what it is we desire. There is something more. Jesus Christ came to earth, God dressed in human clothes. He lead the life you wanted to lead. He lived and never did anything wrong. More than that, He did everything right. He died, bled, suffered, was broken.. He did this in your place. The captivity you are under, you are free by way of death. Because Jesus died in our place, we are free from that penalty. The only thing necessary to receive this freedom is to look up, to see Him, and to trust Him with your life.
Now the incredible part... After He died, He came back! Not only did He die to buy your freedom, He returned from death to free you from that also! He has come back, not to live the same humble and perfect life, but to "Lead captivity captive, " (Ephesians 4:8). He came back as the King of Kings. The Boss! Everyone fears absolute authority. We all have had some nut job who thought they were God, and therefore it was their personal duty to make your life miserable. But not with King Jesus. He who died for your freedom did not return to take it away, but rather to give even greater life to those that would trust Him. Crazy, right? So where do we fall? Have you trusted Him, but never taken Him up on the life more abundant? Maybe you have, but things are hard, and you're not sure it's worth the struggle. Or have you never even accepted His offer of freedom? You can have all of it today, right this second. Pray:
Jesus, I have lived in captivity all my life. Captive to my desires, and to the law which is convicting me now. I accept that You are the Son of God, and came and died for my captivity. I trust in You now, and ask that You would forgive me. Raise me with You, so that I can receive Your victory. Wash me, and make me new. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, PLEASE contact me, or your local church! This is an exciting moment for you, and we all want to share in it, and get to know you as family. If you want to grow, to become more like Jesus, give us a yell. There are resources out there! The Transylvania Baptist Association is here for the purpose of helping people and churches grow. Don't be alone in this race. Find others who are running and join them.
Just some thoughts for the day... which is now tomorrow...
In Christ,
Bryan
Sunday, March 6, 2011
End of Week Roundup
After this week, I was thinking about what to write on here. I want to share what God is up to in our ministry, and in my life. Right now, the mission is growing. Aaron is taking over the PR side of what we do, and is doing an awesome job of it. We are getting a ton of work, and have some contracts coming up in the next few weeks. God is blessing and we are delighted. In my personal life, I am learning that God is the all sufficient provider, and that when we seek His face, and not only His hands, we are never disappointed. Jeremiah 29:13 says "'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Do we seek God? Or do we seek His blessing? See, so often we try to say that we want Him, when all we really want is to have peace, happiness, or a little of what ever we keep asking and bugging for. I wanted something, a very good thing in my family. He has told me that I was asking for Him to bless me, but never really wanting to get to know Him. I have since met the true and living God, and He is more than I ever imagined. He has fulfilled me in a way that I did not know was possible, even in the midst of one of the hardest trials I have ever faced. I can say that God is good! Not for His gifts, or His blessings. Because He just is. He is the source of goodness in the universe, and as Christians, it's time we got to know the source, and not just the effect.
Be blessed and a blessing!
-bryan
Be blessed and a blessing!
-bryan
Friday, February 25, 2011
I Phone Review
Okay, today the rage is on for the smallest gadget with the most features. Starting with the communicators in the old Star Trek (cue cheesy music and a red shirt. Beam me up Scotty...) there has been a desire for newer, smaller and more compact systems for general computer work. Recently, I was given an I Phone 3g, and have had the chance to test it. Here are my findings.
Basically the I Phone has some great features. It's responsive, fast, and sleek. I love the touch interface and the number of apps. Just for fun, I sat down to look up hiking apps, and found about 200 (and subsequently spent 2 hours looking through them). A top shelf feature is the genius function in the Ipod app. Although it has to be enabled on the system it's synced to, the function is terrific when working with a group of teens, leading a worship service. Don't you hate it when ACDC comes on and ruins the quite worship mood? If you are looking to go further in your Greek studies, there are a few nifty apps that can help you. I highly recommend the Logos app (When else can you say you got a copy of Logos for free?) and a program called "Greek Grams", which costs 1.99. Greek Grams is great for a mobile review on the go, but Logos is more geared to sit down and enjoy the library.
Now for the down side. While it has a decent library and a few bible apps (Blue Letter Bible, U Version, Logos, Olive Tree, etc.) none of them really have the functionality to search commentaries, or do an in depth word study. I would love to see something like E-Sword come to the Apple platform. Another frustration: the screen. It's a thin plate of glass that breaks way too easily. While a cheap and easy fix, it's still annoying.
Overall: the I Phone is a great tool to have in your pocket when you are on the go, but don't trade in you PC just yet. Great looks and broad reach are wonderful, but depth could be a problem.
Be blessed and a blessing!
-Bryan
Basically the I Phone has some great features. It's responsive, fast, and sleek. I love the touch interface and the number of apps. Just for fun, I sat down to look up hiking apps, and found about 200 (and subsequently spent 2 hours looking through them). A top shelf feature is the genius function in the Ipod app. Although it has to be enabled on the system it's synced to, the function is terrific when working with a group of teens, leading a worship service. Don't you hate it when ACDC comes on and ruins the quite worship mood? If you are looking to go further in your Greek studies, there are a few nifty apps that can help you. I highly recommend the Logos app (When else can you say you got a copy of Logos for free?) and a program called "Greek Grams", which costs 1.99. Greek Grams is great for a mobile review on the go, but Logos is more geared to sit down and enjoy the library.
Now for the down side. While it has a decent library and a few bible apps (Blue Letter Bible, U Version, Logos, Olive Tree, etc.) none of them really have the functionality to search commentaries, or do an in depth word study. I would love to see something like E-Sword come to the Apple platform. Another frustration: the screen. It's a thin plate of glass that breaks way too easily. While a cheap and easy fix, it's still annoying.
Overall: the I Phone is a great tool to have in your pocket when you are on the go, but don't trade in you PC just yet. Great looks and broad reach are wonderful, but depth could be a problem.
Be blessed and a blessing!
-Bryan
T.E.C.S.
Welcome to the official blog of the Transylvania Electronic and Communication Systems Mission. Every week, we will be posting tricks, tips, and reviews of things that make ministry a little bit easier. Our goal is to be here to support churches and ministries in multiple areas. Thanks for joining us! Be blessed and a blessing!
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