Still Blogging Away

Today is the eight-year anniversary of writing a blog every day. In fact, today is my 2,948^th published blog. Some of you know the back story of why I started. For years I always talked about writing a book, but never had the time. A friend challenged me one day and asked, “How much did you write today”. Even a little but on a consistent basis would be a good start. So, I started journaling every day. The same friend later asked me if I was ready to be published. I had a journal not a “book”. He asked if I ever thought of blogging. I didn’t even know what a blog was. A week later, August 21, 2011, he set me up on blogspot, and here I am eight years later. A lot has happened.

In this time period I’ve had 8 grandchildren born (and one more on the way), moved back to the Midwest, buried my Father and Mother, left Red Bank, came to Hopewell, walked through cancer with my wife, 3 children were married, went on mission trips to Haiti, Brazil, and Thailand, ministered with BGEA, experienced hurricane Sandy, 4 pneumonias, 7 Summits, preached over 400 times, prayed constantly, laughed and cried, and had lots of God moments!

Through all of these (and many more) life experiences I began to wonder if I had any more to write about or if anyone cared if I wrote or not. Every once in a while, I think about giving it a rest… but God has different plans. I have people tell me they read my blog every day and it helps them deal with life, or that a certain message helped clarify a decision they needed to make. One day last week with the help of you sharing a blog over a thousand people read about what God expects. Hmm…

Ok I get it. It’s not about me – it’s about God. As my life verse says, “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I will be joyful with all He has given me, pray continually for His perfect will, thank and praise Him for the life I have. Thanks for reading (and sharing) and living the Jesus life with me. – Pastor Ty

Stand Out

Today let’s look at what could be Noah’s Closing Words of Encouragement to us.

1. Don’t be afraid to stand out in a crowd. Pleasing God should always be our focus.

2. Don’t be afraid to do something for the first time. It may be our first time but God will not leave us alone.

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” - Genesis 9:12-16

When you look at a rainbow remember, “One person can make a difference”. Amen?

Difference Maker

In Genesis 6:22 we see the difference maker in someone’s life. Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Noah would tell us that when you obey God:

You can make a difference for your family. Noah saved them from destruction.

You can make a difference for God’s creation. Noah was used to give humanity a new start.

You can make a difference for future generations. Noah’s family was the beginning for all people.

You can make a difference for God. Noah saw there was still one righteous man.

You can make a difference at any age. Noah was 500-600 years old!

Be a “difference maker” for God! Amen?

One Person

Another great hero of the Bible is a man named Noah. Most of us when we hear his name we think of the ark, the animals, and the flood. Actually, the God story of Noah is that One Person Can Make a Difference (even in the most difficult times and culture).

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. - Genesis 6:5-8

Finding favor in God’s eyes starts with faith in Christ. Amen?

Good and Bad Guys

Role models are needed today more than ever. We can get our inspiration from the heroes of the Bible. That’s why I am going to blog on them over the next few weeks. When I was younger it was easy to discern who the good and bad guys were. The good guys wore white hats, had great smiles, and clean cut. The bad guys wore black hats, greasy hair, and dirty. If you missed these clues you just had to listen to the background music! You always knew if something good or bad was about to happen.

Today good and bad people wear different colored hats and have different levels of hygiene. Maybe we should take our lead from what Jesus said.

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. - Luke 6:45

Focus on Jesus He’ll help you discern what is good from bad. Amen?

Brand New Song

The next time you worship God in musical form consider what the Bible has to say about it in Psalm 98 (Message).

Sing to God a brand-new song. He’s made a world of wonders!

He rolled up his sleeves, He set things right.

 God made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do.

 He remembered to love us, a bonus To his dear family, Israel—indefatigable love.

The whole earth comes to attention. Look—God’s work of salvation!

 Shout your praises to God, everybody! Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!

 Round up an orchestra to play for God, Add on a hundred-voice choir.

 Feature trumpets and big trombones, Fill the air with praises to King God.

Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, With everything living on earth joining in.

Let ocean breakers call out, “Encore!” And mountains harmonize the finale—

A tribute to God when he comes, When he comes to set the earth right.

He’ll straighten out the whole world, He’ll put the world right, and everyone in it.

Apply God's Word to your praise and worship. Amen? 

Don't Pity the Fool

A famous person used to use a threat of, "I pity the fool!" But we read in the Bible that God uses what seems foolish in man's eyes for His good. I love this part of Paul's letter to the church in Corinth (and also for us). "Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

No matter what the world thinks of us fools or the foolish things they we do - take heart. God is using us! Amen?