Making a Difference in This World

Do you want to make a difference in this world? Then live holy! People are watching the way you and I live and act more than they listen to what we say (which means most of you reading this won't listen, myself included, and we'll just go on living our lives the way we're used to living them). Of course, there comes a time when we need to open our mouths and give a reason for the hope we have, but by and large, actions speek louder than words. Just something to think about.

...we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. - Ephesians 1:4

Learn from Samson

Remember Samson? We read about him in the Book of Judges primarily. He had an affinity for women. Or, to put it in spiritual terms, he lusted after the flesh. Samson was a Nazarine. Nazerites took a vow to 1) never touch a dead thing 2) stay away from foriegn vineyards and 3) don't get a haircut. Samson, by the worlds terms had it all. He was handsome, strong and he was charismatic (at least in the sense that he was a chick magnet). Although Samson had it together outwardly, inwardly there was a cancer growing that held him back from living the life God had for him. Samson's lust of the flesh would get the best of him finally. As you read, note that Samson failed to do all three things he took a vow to do as a Nazarite. Sin has a way of getting you "off track."

The Philistine's wanted Samson gone and Delilah was the tool used to take Samson down. As you read in Judges 16, Samson and Delilah go back and forth, she trying to find his one weakness to take him out and he just teasing her and flirting with her. Well, the more Samson flirts with her and entertains the path of the flesh, he gives in to Delilah (and to the lust of the flesh) and the rest is history.

Notice as he tells her the one thing that could take his strength away, the Spirit of the Lord leaves him and he doesn't even know it. That's how it is with you and me. When we entertain the lusts of the flesh or the pride of life, when we give in to our sinful ways, the Lord lets us go and we reap what we've sown.

Know this about sin, and we see this from Samson's life. Sin will FIND you, sin will BIND you, sin will BLIND you, sin will GRIND you and sin will CRUSH you. Samson loved women, Delilah found him. He lost his strength and was bound and enslaved by the Philistines who also gouged out his eyes. And eventually, after toiling away as a grinder, Samson was crushed when the Lord gave him his strength back one last time and he killed the Philistines in an impressive display of strength.

How can we avoid ending up like Samson? Take out those inroads of sin into your life. Is it the TV? The internet? The bar? The donut shop? Bomb and destroy the roads that sin travels down to reach your soul. Smash the TV, disconnect the internet, find new friends, whatever it may be. Then allow God to construct new roads to your heart. Let the freeway of God's love and grace that travel from His Word, from prayer, from fellowship, from serving Him and glorifying Him encourage and equip you to live a life God intends for you to live.

Nothing better than...

Taking in a Dodger game with your boys (and wife). What do you and your family do for fun?

The Kiss from Hell

But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" Luke 22:48

Ever wonder why Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss? Why didn't he just point him out to the garrison that came to seize Him? Why a kiss? It's because Judas was a hypocrit extraordinaire. He wanted to appear all good, holy, spiritual on the outside but yet on the inside he was rotton to the core. Here he is giving the Lord a kiss as if to say...oh I love you sooooo much Lord! All the while in his conscience he's saying...if you only knew I sold you out for a pile of money! As bad as this seems, Judas is not unusual. He's a man just like I'm a man. He succumbed to the sin of greed. Filthy lucre. We do the same thing. I do the same thing. Heck, sometimes some of the best fights or fits of outrage come during the ride to church! Once there, it's 'hello brothers! Praise the Lord!' The key is, when we recognize this scenario in our own lives, it's time to stop, get on our knees and repent. It's time to get right.

Further, when we volitionally divulge in sin, we are partnering with Satan to accomplish his purposes. What are his purposes? To tear us down and to destroy us. To rip apart our families. Don't partner with Satan. Line yourself up with God and His will for you and life will go much better for you. Godspeed.

Dusty Baker visits the old ballyard

Opening Day 2007 at Patterson Park. The city of Riverside fixed up and remodled Patterson Park where Dusty Baker grew up playing baseball, so it was fitting that Dusty come full circle and "re-dedicate" the old ballpark he grew up playing in. Here's our slugger with Dusty and his son. Please Lord, let some of that "baseball magic" rub off on Zach...afterall, Zach is our best retirement plan option right now!

Pray for Zachary!

Handsome like his dad no? Zach is in the hospital with pneumonia and a mean old nasty respiratory virus that finally took him down after fighting it for two weeks.

While you're at it, pray for Matt too. He's sick too and can't be near his brother till Zach's WBC gets better. That means Mom and Dad will be away from each other too for most of the time till all of thise blows over...so pray for all of us while you're at it!

Thanks, and I'll update later.

Did we find the tomb of Jesus?

Would it really make a difference in your life if we did?

Great article presenting both sides here. Our motto at Peanut Sizzler is: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15).

Prison Ministry Update

Currently there are about 100 regular inmates and about 20+ visitors coming to our weekly Bible study at the Norco mens prison. It's awesome to see what God is doing in the hearts and lives of these inmates and ours as well.

Talk about people who are hungry for the Word of God! If only I were as hungry as they are! If you're a praying person, remember to pray for these guys when you can. A lot of these guys are on fire for the Lord but the enemy is on them and after them like nobody's business. Besides, maybe one of these guys might be a future neighbor of yours someday. Pray for the Two Or More concert coming up on March 24th. Thanks and Godspeed to you!

Special Event inked for March 17th

The CCC Mens Prison Ministry is excited to announce we've put together a special event for March 17, 2007 at CRC Norco for the male inmates. SoCal band 'Two or More' will put on a concert for the guys and share their faith and testimonies. Keep this event in your prayers.

You can check out 'Two or More' here. (Two or More rocks)!!!

Prison Ministry Update

Heres the rundown: Six months ago we started this ministry. We started a Bible study on the first and third Thursday nights for the men at CRC Norco. The first meeting there were 15 inmates. Two months later, we were invited to come every week. A few more weeks went by and there are 75 guys showing up. Now, there are consistently 80-100 inmates coming to our weekly Bible study! Right before Christmas, 30 guys accepted Christ as their Saviour! Every week souls are being won for Christ. And every week we see hearts softening and walls coming down as guys humble themselves before God and their brothers, sharing their deepest needs, sins and issues.

I recently told these guys that just prior to this ministry getting off the ground, I was in a desert, more or less backsliding and rebelling against God. Well, He had other plans. I told these guys that I give them a lot of props for getting me back on track and for re-igniting a passion for Christ that has been missing in my life for some time. Although these guys are "inside", their lives are not in vain. The Lord is using them to fuel my desire to grow closer to the Lord. It's a blessing and a privilege to fellowship with these guys each week. I live for Thursday nights.

If you think of it, keep these guys in your prayers. The enemy is a roaring lion and wants to destroy their lives. All of us are redeemable. Most of these guys are some of the most honest, pure, transparent and on fire believers I've ever known. These guys forget more about the Bible than I'll ever know in my life. I love these guys...if you could meet them, you would to.

"Love the Lord and love your neighbor..." in so doing, you glorify God!

Whoa, where have I been???

Man, where does the time go? Are you kidding me? It's really 2007? Geesh, HAPPY NEW YEAR ALREADY!!!

Hope you have a blessed 2007!