How's your familiarity with the Word?

This morning I decided to recite the books of the Bible again, just to insure I still had the order right in my mind. While knowing that it is most important to know the Lord of the Word, learning the books of the Bible early in my Christian experience was a great help. I found myself much better equipped to handle the Word. For me, such exercise, deepened my familiarity and friendship with my Savior. I discovered that I could find passages of Scripture more easily when in discussion about our Lord and His ways, in addition to verifying truth that my pastors preached from week to week. It's the Minor Prophet section of the Old Testament that stumped me the worst! You know: the Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah grouping of the Old Testament list of what we call, Minor Prophets! So, I encourage you to practice reciting all 66 books of the Bible. Try tackling them 5 at a time. Once you've mastered them, you might even find yourself carrying your Bible to church more often.

Are you integrating your faith into the marketplace?

What a weekend! Henry and Richard Blackaby spoke volumes of truth at the "Impacting Your Marketplace" weekend seminar. The event was held at the Trinkle Center on the HCC campus in Plant City. The crowd was much smaller than expected. I assure you, however, everyone who attended is better for it. God showed up. The Holy Spirit clearly spoke.

Henry's address at the Friday morning breakfast set the stage for a fabulous seminar: there is great need for us to discern the times in which we live. Jesus pointed to his world and cautioned, while religious leaders could observe the sky and predict the weather, they had great difficulty discerning the times in which they lived. Their was a 'disconnect' between the way folks were living and the doctrine of a soon expected Messiah. They missed the Messiah. They lost thier opportunity. They failed to 'seize the day.' (Luke 12:54-59) Many were busy with religion.

What about us? According to Blackaby, God is already moving in judgment upon America. Yet, while many are oblivious to this idea, others reject the possibility altogether. Oh, that the church (you and I) might awaken to the truth that everything our Lord has allowed in our lives up until now is for this hour! We have been strategically placed here by God to be instruments of mercy and witnesses of grace. Do you agree that we are already under judgment? Do you know the times in which we live?