The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters by R. Albert Mohler Jr.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have only a third of the of the book and it is incredible. All leaders in every area of life, not just ministry, will benefit from these principles of leadership. I give it "Two Thumbs Up." More to come...



View all my reviews

Hello...again

Well it has been awhile since my last post. I hope to post on a regular basis later this month. Until then, please Come, Connect and Commit to Christ and His kingdom work at First Baptist church of Savage . A place where all are welcome. We look forward to seeing you!

Info:
First Baptist Savage
fbcsavage.org

8901 Washington Street
Savage, MD 20763
(301) 725-3944

Does the truth matter though it hurts?

When was the last time you heard the truth spoken to you? Was it at work and How your performance was affecting the company's bottom line? Was it at home and your mom told you your room is a mess? Was it At church and the pastor preached about sin in your life and you felt convicted? Sometimes the truth hurts when we are laid bare before a holy God and others when the truth is spoken to us. This doesn't mean we should ignore, despise, rebel against and run from it. We need to embrace the truth even though it hurts. It hurts us for only a moment but it can bring about a godly repentance that will bring about healing and forgiveness. So the next time some one speaks the truth in love to you embrace it and ask God's and others forgiveness and begin the healing process.

I wanna Rock right now...Wake up Evangelicals!

I wanna rock right now
I'm Liberal and I came to get down
I'm internationally known

Cause I'm known to rock the microphone
Because I get stupid, I mean outrageous
Stay away from me cause heresy's contagious
'Cause I'm the liberal , no, I'm not an evangelical...

Cause'

It takes preachin' sound theology to make heart go right
It takes sound preachin' make it outta sin into eternal life
 

The situation that the Liberal is in
I'm kinda left-leaning that's why he wanna lend
A heresy rhyme to a foe or a good friend
But listen up 'cause I want you to comprehend
'Cause I'm the leader, the man superior
I take care of ya and then ya get wearier
So just sit, my theology is so counterfeit

My book sells which makes what I say a hit
 

It won't hurt to listen to the Evangelical Alert
Don't take off your shirt
Make sure your life is ready before you hit the dirt
I "like" the kids--the guys, the girls
I want the bling 'cause its all bout this world
I'm on a mission, ya better just listen
To my rhymes 'cause I'm all about orthodoxy dissin'
'Cause...

It takes sound theology to make a heart go right
It takes sound theology make it outta sin into eternal life

This is just a parody of Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rocks popular 80's song about what is happening in the battle over sound theology. It is a war that has been raging since Christ came to earth. We Evangelicals need to wake and Rock Right Now...If not our voice will continue to shrink in the public forum of ideas on sound theology. Just read the excerpt from the article on Rob Bell in the NY Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/us/05bell.html?_r=2&ref=us).

Others such as Scot McKnight, a professor of theology at North Park University in Chicago, said they welcomed the renewed discussion of one of the hardest issues in Christianity — can a loving God really be so wrathful toward people who faltered, or never were exposed to Jesus? In an interview and on his blog, he said that the thunder emanating from the right this week was not representative of American Christians, even evangelicals. According to surveys and his experience with students, Mr. McKnight said, a large majority of evangelical Christians “more or less believe that people of other faiths will go to heaven,” whatever their churches and theologians may argue.

“Rob Bell is tapping into a younger generation that really wants to open up these questions,” he said. “He is also tapping into the fear of the traditionalists — that these differing views of heaven and hell will compromise the Christian message.”

Mr. Bell, who through his publisher declined to comment on the book or the debate, has resisted labels, but he is often described as part of the so-called emerging church movement, which caters to younger believers and has challenged theological boundaries as well as pastoral involvement in conservative politics.

We as Evangelicals must stand up and present the sound teaching of Orthodox Christianity. Where the bible is inerrant, Christ died in penal substitution for a believers sin past, present and future that there is a heaven (for believers in Christ) and a hell (for those who rebel against the Gospel). Tell the truth about love that love does "Win" because of God's justice and His glory. Can you see the agenda in Erik Eckholm's article? He gives a lot of print to Scott McKnight's blog. In which he states,  

In an interview and on his blog he said that the thunder emanating from the right this week was not representative of American Christians, even evangelicals. According to surveys and his experience with students, Mr. McKnight said, a large majority of evangelical Christians “more or less believe that people of other faiths will go to heaven,” whatever their churches and theologians may argue.  

This speaks of two problems in the church. First, pastors and leaders in the church are not preaching and teaching sound theology and Christian Orthodox views.  The second issue is Our presence and voice is shrinking in the public arena. Do not let the media and society "box" us in and tell us our worldview can only be expressed in private. Wake up Evangelicals! Regardless of what they say I say we continue in the great Christian Orthodox tradition and preach the gospel as it is presented in scripture. Then in the public arena state,

I want to rock right now

I'm The Gospel Cryer and I came to get down

I'm not internationally known

But for Christ I rock the microphone...

The Legacy of Freedom of President George W. Bush

I usually do not write about politics but today I had an interesting thought. History is now being made in the Middle East. The voice of Freedom is being heard across the region, from Tunisia and Egypt to Iran. Why, now, why this time in history. It was the vision of President George W. Bush and his cabinet. During his eight years in office President Bush put forth his Freedom First agenda. He wanted the people of oppressed nations in the Middle East to be free and for them to know, "America stands with you." President Bush will not be labeled as the founder of this movement because it has been hundreds of years in the making but he will be labeled as its champion. He was the standard or the torch bearer who lit the flame of Freedom ten years ago in operation Iraqi Freedom. He did not do it in haste and he weigh the cost. And knew Freedom for anyone has a high cost! Look at what it has cost the USA over the last two hundred plus years. Let be be the first to say thank you President Bush for your resolve in hunting down terrorist enemies and giving the citizens of these Middle East nations a great opportunity for freedom. This proud American says Thanks!!

Wondering when...

Ever wonder when your life would really get going and then you would find yourself in a state of perpetual motion with people and events coming and going in your life. Then to have life slow down  to a crawl or stop all together? Think, "Wow, where did it all go?" It is then when we realize two things. One God is guiding us in the wilderness of His choosing and has nothing to do with our sin. If this is the case, let us renew our focus on the King as He guides us in these dry times. Two, it is a direct result of our sin and our sins rob us of the motion, sap our strength and cause us to doubt Christ our King! David reveals to us personally how sin has a powerful affect upon our lives... Psalm 38:3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. If this is our case lets us confess our sins to the one who will forgive us. The one who took on our sin and shame. 1 John 1:9  9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Lets us confess our sins, repent, ask His forgiveness and allow Him to comfort us while we are in the wilderness as He leads us home

Servant

If you want to be great by the world's standards then by all means, reach for the brass ring. Grab all you can get. Be all "you" can be! Then you will be great by the worlds standard. If we are to be great in Christ's kingdom, we must be a servant of all.
John 13: 12-17  So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. ¹⁴ "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. ¹⁵ "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. ¹⁶ "Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
 Be great today and be a servant! Humble yourself before the Lord and share the Gospel with those who do not smell, look like or even think like you today. Their lives depend on it! Just remember this, Jesus still invites people to come into a relationship with Him. "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest...if you wish to turn from yourself, sin and Satan and turn to Him. You will find rest!

How to become a kingdom member

 Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them  3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

There are many ways a person can become a citizen of a particular country. People are conquered and  taken captive as slaves, others do so voluntary and still others come illegally. It is interesting to note that all three groups have a different attitude when they become members of a different kingdom. The first group is force to become a member in fear of death or severe punishment. Their attitude is a longing to escape and return to the country and the life that they once knew. The second group comes with a admiration, love and expectation and a sense of longing to be a part of that people group. They assimilate and submit to the new country's authority and become citizens. The third group comes to enjoy the benefits of that country, but never settles in and commits to the commands, laws and values of that society. They exploit the country for their own benefit and return back to their country of origin.

The same can be said of the church and the kingdom of God. Some are bound by their own slavery of works hoping to do enough good and then be let in to Heaven. Others have voluntarily given their rights over to Christ the King and have found peace in the new kingdom. Still many, I fear are illegals, exploiting the benefits of God's kingdom but never committing themselves to Christ and thus never settling in to the peace he provides. Jesus said unless we be converted and become like little children we will not enter the kingdom of heaven. There is only one people group will enter Christ's Kingdom, those who voluntarily submit to his authority.

O the Night is coming...

Do not give up on working in the field!! The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few.  Church, we must continue to the end. Although we maybe on holiday (from our jobs), make it our priority this season to continue the work of the one who sent us out into this world. Share the Gospel, share why Jesus came and what faith in Him and His word can do!

 John 9:4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

Thanksgiving

Remember to give thanks to Christ for His mercy on the cross! Though thanksgiving is a once a year holiday, we should give thanks daily for his rich mercies He bestows on us! His word reveals how Christ lavishly pours out His mercy in our time of need. We need them today!

Jude 1:21-25 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. 24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Were are to wait on God's mercy, for his return and his timing for his mercies in daily living. Have mercy on others who doubt. We are to edify, encourage and correct our fellow believers in God's infinite mercies. Also we are to practice and proclaim them to those who doubt there is "The Christ" in fear, in awe and in submission to God.

There is no one we can turn to receive mercy for our sins than Christ!

Latham Men

What are Latham men? I often wonder that myself and I am one of them. But, I know that God has a plan for each of us and have seen Him at work in our lives. This post is to thank and honor my dad and brother for there generosity. They provide the beach house every year so we can vacation together as a family, all eleven of us. All I can say is thanks!

Hello Again?!

Hello I'm Back to blog my little heart out. There will be more to follow when Hebrew is over

What a day of fishing with my bro. Scott and I had a great time on this trip. We caught fish all day long! It is hard to believe this was taken two years ago on Mother's Day weekend. Thanks Dicky for a great time!

The Holidays

The Holidays are a fun time of the year but sometimes it can be hectic. Do not let them become hectic. Slow down and enjoy the gift that GOD has given us...Peace! Peace from being in a right relationship with Him. This will allow us to love and have the right relationships with others. Remember to be a blessing and if you have burdens; share them with others. They can help!
Merry Christmas to All!
-Alan

Well now...

I have been off the reservation for a while but now I'm back. Got a call from my sweet sister down in Hondoland last week and she is doing well. Jen wants me to come and see her at Christmas but i won't be able to do it. I miss all of Our MD Peeps! Hope you'll are doing well!? Need to get into the books, until we meet again...

Sweet 16

What does a day bring? laughter? joy? pain? Well all of those emotions are felt when your baby-girl turns 16. she is daddy's girl although she won't admit it publicly, but she is! Wow my beautiful little girl you have grown! I just marvel at what God has done in you over the last 16 years and I look forward to the next 16 and the next and the next! thanks Lord for letting me be her daddy! I love you baby-girl. -Dad

Hot Summer and School

Well it's hot here and school is about to start. I wonder how, where and what God is going to do this school year? Well are family has a theme verse for the year:

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (ESV)
May it be our life's end each and every day, until he comes...

When you're in love with a beautiful woman...

What a beautiful woman enough said! Thanks for your love and companionship over these last 15 years my love! You are simply the best.

She went as a girl and come home a young woman...

It is very interesting to watch how God unfolds his plans and glory in our children. Alex went to Ecuador as a girl and she came home a young woman. Her attitude was changed, belief in Christ was strengthen, and her overall outlook on people, especially the children of Ecuador , has grown. Now She tries to see people as they are through the eyes of Christ. So much so she said, "I cannot wait to go back!" What a privilege it is to see God at work in your kids.

When we were boys...

The "Boys of Summer" after capturing Bill the sand crab. They were proud of their spoils from the great beach safari. Often in life we forget the fun and the adventure we had as kids. And how God created the simple things in life to be enjoyed and thus find contentment. When we are so stressed and life seems so tough remember to be boys (or girls) again and enjoy the adventure in what God has made .