What A Great T.I.M.E.!
By Larry d. Wright
There is little doubt that we are currently involved in a world-wide economic crisis that is causing great FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real) to engulf many Americans, including Christians. I am not sure that I understand what caused this crisis other than old fashioned greed and years of bad decisions, nevertheless, we find ourselves at a critical crossroads.
What a great T.I.M.E. for Christians to join hearts and hands to demonstrate their confidence in our great God. Daily we are bombarded with bad news and depressing reports from the secular news media, yet we have good news and the message of true, lasting hope. It is T.I.M.E. for God’s people to respond by sharing the good news of God’s amazing and awesome GRACE (Great Riches At Christ Expense).
What a great T.I.M.E. to walk through open doors. While the door of opportunity is still open in much of the world T.I.M.E. teams are committed to GO! Please consider becoming a ministry partner by PRAYING for those able to go or GIVING so that others can go. It is very expensive (approximately $20,000 per mission endeavor) to win others to Christ but worth every cent! Consider GOING as a team member on a future mission endeavor. Let me know if you are interested and I can make it happen!
What a great T.I.M.E. for Christians to be PRAYING...GIVING...GOING!
Remember, if we have anything to tell the world now is the T.I.M.E.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Transitions
Transition
By Larry d. Wright
“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side’.” Mark 4:35
By definition, transition is the passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another. It is a change involving a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another. The etymology of the word is Latin meaning “to go across.”
To the musician, transition is a modulation of a passage connecting two themes or sections. In genetics transition is a point mutation in which a pyrimidine is replaced by another pyrimidine, or a purine is replaced by another purine. In sports it is the process of changing from defense to offense or vice versa. In the writers world transition is a word, phrase, sentence, or series of sentences connecting one part of a discourse to another contributing to coherence. In medical terms it is a period during childbirth that precedes the final phase of labor, characterized by strong contractions. It is a period of intense pain that results in joyous birth.
In the spiritual realm it is an act of faith and obedience in which a person or people crossover into a realm of promised opportunity. As Joshua and the nation of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land, they waited for the precise moment that would end 40 years of anticipation and longing. That moment came and they waded into the swollen waters of the Jordan River with their eyes fixed on the ark, a beautiful picture of Jesus! Crossover moments in life are exciting but they can also be frightening.
On Sunday, February 1st I announced my intentions to retire from the pastoral ministry after 34 years and make the transition into another exciting mission opportunity. I have accepted a position with T.I.M.E. ministries in Huntsville where I will become actively involved in enlisting, training and deploying Great Commission Christians in an Acts 1:8 strategy around the world. As a result of this decision it is necessary that I resign my position as your pastor.
You may go to www.leadesbuildingleaders.com to read my resignation. This is my personal website and the words I shared on Sunday are posted under the tab Larry’s BLOG.
Debby and I have served as a ministry team for almost 39 years! The Lord has blessed us in many ways, among them is being able to serve two churches for lengthy tenures. As a result, we have only made 3 major decisions concerning God’s direction in our lives. The decision to cross over into a new and challenging mission field is exciting but we are deeply saddened because our love for First Baptist is deep and genuine. We covet your prayers and I can assure you that we are praying for you!
We learn in the Scriptures that following Jesus involves transitions. Crossover moments require faith and obedience. Jesus “said to His disciples, Let us cross over to the other side.” Even in the midst of a storm they hear the Master of the Sea speak: “Quiet! Be still!” The storm became quiet. The sea lay calm. They reached the other side. The disciples looked at one another in wonder, “Who is [this man] that the winds and waves obey Him?”
It is my sincere prayer for Debby and me and for First Baptist that, as we all “crossover” to new dimensions of service, our dependence upon Jesus will deepen and our awe will turn to adoration.
By Larry d. Wright
“On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side’.” Mark 4:35
By definition, transition is the passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another. It is a change involving a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another. The etymology of the word is Latin meaning “to go across.”
To the musician, transition is a modulation of a passage connecting two themes or sections. In genetics transition is a point mutation in which a pyrimidine is replaced by another pyrimidine, or a purine is replaced by another purine. In sports it is the process of changing from defense to offense or vice versa. In the writers world transition is a word, phrase, sentence, or series of sentences connecting one part of a discourse to another contributing to coherence. In medical terms it is a period during childbirth that precedes the final phase of labor, characterized by strong contractions. It is a period of intense pain that results in joyous birth.
In the spiritual realm it is an act of faith and obedience in which a person or people crossover into a realm of promised opportunity. As Joshua and the nation of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land, they waited for the precise moment that would end 40 years of anticipation and longing. That moment came and they waded into the swollen waters of the Jordan River with their eyes fixed on the ark, a beautiful picture of Jesus! Crossover moments in life are exciting but they can also be frightening.
On Sunday, February 1st I announced my intentions to retire from the pastoral ministry after 34 years and make the transition into another exciting mission opportunity. I have accepted a position with T.I.M.E. ministries in Huntsville where I will become actively involved in enlisting, training and deploying Great Commission Christians in an Acts 1:8 strategy around the world. As a result of this decision it is necessary that I resign my position as your pastor.
You may go to www.leadesbuildingleaders.com to read my resignation. This is my personal website and the words I shared on Sunday are posted under the tab Larry’s BLOG.
Debby and I have served as a ministry team for almost 39 years! The Lord has blessed us in many ways, among them is being able to serve two churches for lengthy tenures. As a result, we have only made 3 major decisions concerning God’s direction in our lives. The decision to cross over into a new and challenging mission field is exciting but we are deeply saddened because our love for First Baptist is deep and genuine. We covet your prayers and I can assure you that we are praying for you!
We learn in the Scriptures that following Jesus involves transitions. Crossover moments require faith and obedience. Jesus “said to His disciples, Let us cross over to the other side.” Even in the midst of a storm they hear the Master of the Sea speak: “Quiet! Be still!” The storm became quiet. The sea lay calm. They reached the other side. The disciples looked at one another in wonder, “Who is [this man] that the winds and waves obey Him?”
It is my sincere prayer for Debby and me and for First Baptist that, as we all “crossover” to new dimensions of service, our dependence upon Jesus will deepen and our awe will turn to adoration.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Ride the Tide
By Larry d. Wright
The Bible talks about a number of doors, often with very different meanings. For instance, in Revelation 3:20 Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” This is the door of intimacy with Christ. Don’t miss that door!
The Scripture also mentions the door of opportunity. For instance, Paul said, “…and pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” (Colossians 4:3) The door of opportunity is mentioned a number of times in scripture, and it refers to the way that God gives wonderful openings for the gospel message to be shared. Our awesome God has limitedness ways in which He opens doors of opportunity for His children to walk through so that they fulfill their passion and accomplish His purpose. Don’t miss that door!
In the days before modern harbors, a ship had to wait for the flood tide before it could make it safely into port. The term for this situation in Latin was ob portu, that is, a ship standing off a port, waiting for the moment when it could ride the turn of the tide into the harbor.
The English word opportunity is derived from this original meaning. The captain and the crew were ready and waiting for that one moment for they knew that if they missed it, they would have to wait for another tide to come in. Shakespeare used this background of the exact meaning of opportunity into one of his most famous passages from Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 3:
“There is a tide in the affairs of men,Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their lifeIs bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,Or lose our ventures.”
When a door opens in your life, ride the tide!
By Larry d. Wright
The Bible talks about a number of doors, often with very different meanings. For instance, in Revelation 3:20 Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” This is the door of intimacy with Christ. Don’t miss that door!
The Scripture also mentions the door of opportunity. For instance, Paul said, “…and pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” (Colossians 4:3) The door of opportunity is mentioned a number of times in scripture, and it refers to the way that God gives wonderful openings for the gospel message to be shared. Our awesome God has limitedness ways in which He opens doors of opportunity for His children to walk through so that they fulfill their passion and accomplish His purpose. Don’t miss that door!
In the days before modern harbors, a ship had to wait for the flood tide before it could make it safely into port. The term for this situation in Latin was ob portu, that is, a ship standing off a port, waiting for the moment when it could ride the turn of the tide into the harbor.
The English word opportunity is derived from this original meaning. The captain and the crew were ready and waiting for that one moment for they knew that if they missed it, they would have to wait for another tide to come in. Shakespeare used this background of the exact meaning of opportunity into one of his most famous passages from Julius Caesar, Act 4, Scene 3:
“There is a tide in the affairs of men,Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their lifeIs bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,Or lose our ventures.”
When a door opens in your life, ride the tide!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Concerning New Years Resolutions
Concerning New Year’s Resolutions
Larry d. Wright
Every January people make New Year’s resolutions with the most sincere intentions of keeping them. Statistics indicate that failure happens a lot more often than success. Resolutions generally rally around health issues like diet, exercise, stop smoking, etc. The problem with most New Years resolutions is that they are long on reason and short on resolve.
Allow me to take resolutions to a higher level. COMMIT YOURSELF TO FORGET YOUR FAILURES! Over 2000 years ago one the first Christian leaders, a man named Paul, gave this advice, “Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) That advice from God’s Word has stood the test of time. I don’t know of any more relevant and practical advice than this; do not live your life imprisoned by your past. Commit yourself to forget your past failures. You cannot do this alone. You will need supernatural help so make the commitment, then ask for divine help.
MAKE A COMMITMENT TO GIVE UP YOUR GRUDGES. Again, Paul exhorts us, “Bear with each other and forgive each other whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13) If you think sticking to a diet is hard, try this one! A grudge is a deep ongoing resentment that is cultivated in the heart against someone else. A grudge is an unforgiving spirit that leads to unforgiving attitudes and unforgiving actions. Grudges are dangerous because they are destructive. They destroy marriages, break up families, ruin friendships, split and paralyze churches. One of the scandals of the modern day church is the grudges that Christians hold against one another. Before you tell God you can’t forgive, understand what you really mean when you say that is that you won’t forgive. If Christ can forgive you your sin despite it involving the pain of the cross then surely you can give up your grievance whatever the cost!
COMMIT YOURSELF TO RESTORE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. Every time I turn on my computer a little windows pops up that asks if I want to run a check to see if my programs are all working properly. God’s Word issues a very similar invitation. It is the invitation to check whether our personal relationships are working properly. Here is how the Lord issues that challenge in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” COMMIT YOURSELF TO TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS. The message of the gospel is this, Christ died to set us free, the Holy Spirit has given us the power to be free, but we must choose to be His servant. “Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to its lustful desires … we are no longer slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:2)
Will this New Year be just a calendar changing event for you or are you willing to rise to these challenges from God’s word and make these commitments and so make it a life changing event?
Larry d. Wright
Every January people make New Year’s resolutions with the most sincere intentions of keeping them. Statistics indicate that failure happens a lot more often than success. Resolutions generally rally around health issues like diet, exercise, stop smoking, etc. The problem with most New Years resolutions is that they are long on reason and short on resolve.
Allow me to take resolutions to a higher level. COMMIT YOURSELF TO FORGET YOUR FAILURES! Over 2000 years ago one the first Christian leaders, a man named Paul, gave this advice, “Forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) That advice from God’s Word has stood the test of time. I don’t know of any more relevant and practical advice than this; do not live your life imprisoned by your past. Commit yourself to forget your past failures. You cannot do this alone. You will need supernatural help so make the commitment, then ask for divine help.
MAKE A COMMITMENT TO GIVE UP YOUR GRUDGES. Again, Paul exhorts us, “Bear with each other and forgive each other whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13) If you think sticking to a diet is hard, try this one! A grudge is a deep ongoing resentment that is cultivated in the heart against someone else. A grudge is an unforgiving spirit that leads to unforgiving attitudes and unforgiving actions. Grudges are dangerous because they are destructive. They destroy marriages, break up families, ruin friendships, split and paralyze churches. One of the scandals of the modern day church is the grudges that Christians hold against one another. Before you tell God you can’t forgive, understand what you really mean when you say that is that you won’t forgive. If Christ can forgive you your sin despite it involving the pain of the cross then surely you can give up your grievance whatever the cost!
COMMIT YOURSELF TO RESTORE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS. Every time I turn on my computer a little windows pops up that asks if I want to run a check to see if my programs are all working properly. God’s Word issues a very similar invitation. It is the invitation to check whether our personal relationships are working properly. Here is how the Lord issues that challenge in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” COMMIT YOURSELF TO TURN YOUR BACK ON YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS. The message of the gospel is this, Christ died to set us free, the Holy Spirit has given us the power to be free, but we must choose to be His servant. “Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to its lustful desires … we are no longer slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:2)
Will this New Year be just a calendar changing event for you or are you willing to rise to these challenges from God’s word and make these commitments and so make it a life changing event?
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