Abundant Life Blog

Halloween Safety Tips

2009-10-28T17:25:37+00:00

Halloween is a lot of fun for kids of all ages. Here are some useful hints to help you and your family have a safe Halloween. Halloween Tips for Kids Make sure you are visible in the dark. Use reflector tape on costume if possible. Carry a flashlight. Stay on the sidewalk, if possible. Walk, don’t run! Wear comfortable shoes and costumes that aren’t too long so you don’t trip. Don’t wear your Halloween mask till you’re at the door, avoid them if possible. Paint your face instead. You need to see where you’re going. Stay in your area. If your parents have mapped a route for you stay on it! Don’t go out alone. Carry a cell phone if possible or make sure the adult in the group has one. Knock only on homes that are lit. Stay away from dark unlit homes. Don’t go near any flames. Keep away from any pets/animals you encounter. Eat your treats only when you get home and parents have looked over all the treats. DO NOT EAT ANY OPEN CANDY--anything that is unwrapped. Don’t be out too late. Halloween Tips for Parents: Make sure an adult is accompanying your child. Go with them if possible. Talk to your children about the dangers out there before they leave home. Plan a route and ask them to stay on it. Buy or make only costumes of flame retardant material. Make sure kids costumes aren’t too long and they’re wearing comfortable shoes. Ask your kids to bring candy home and scan for unwrapped treats or any that looks suspicious. Limit the amount of candy your child eats. Keep the driveway well lit. Drive out of your home extra carefully making sure there are no kids on your driveway.

Seriously

2009-10-19T12:45:59+00:00

Let's face it, we all want to be taken seriously at least some/most of the time's in our life. Have you ever thought of someone that no matter what, you could not take that person serious? For me it would be Bobcat Goldthwait, Chris Farley (and a guy that I went to High School with that was a Pathalogical Liar, man did he have some good stories to tell). As Christians arent we to Be like Christ? Even more so the Word of God tells us that we are made in the image and likeness of Christ: Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness... Here's the bottom line, If we want to be taken serious than we need to be as close to Christ-like as we can possibly be in our actions & reactions, thoughts, worship, living out the law (the ten commandments) in our every day life. Yeah! It's not easy, and yes it is a struggle a lot of times! But as we continue to get closer to God these things of the world begin to fall away. When un-believers around you see more Christ in you than the World in you, that's something to be taken seriously. Be Blessed

No More Shame

2009-10-09T16:26:35+00:00

Remember, the serpent’s first deception involved our sexuality. Why? Because our sexuality is one of his easiest doorways to shame us. How does it play out in normal life? Well, let’s just say that your life is clean, and it is clear, and then one day, someone hurts you sexually, or you make a sinful, sexual decision, and all of a sudden, shame drops into your life. What used to be clean and clear now becomes cloudy. You are full of shame. Your life is stained. What do you do? Scripture says in Job 11:13-16, “Yet, if you devote your heart to God and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by …”

SexEd

2009-10-01T13:32:48+00:00

It's time to put the bed back in church and church back in the bed. In this series, John helps us get back to God’s incredible design for sex, beginning with the important realization that He created this life-uniting gift. Focusing on when to, how to, and who to enjoy sex with, this powerful teaching promises to revolutionize your perspective on sex. Whether you are married or single, a parent or not, these talks include insights on what it means to be human, maintaining sexual purity, casting a big vision for big sex, teaching your kids about sex, protecting the marriage bed, and understanding the spiritual and physical dynamics of human sexuality. Join us for the next few weeks!

Look Busy Jesus Is coming!

2009-09-24T14:18:00+00:00

Have you ever seen this bumper sticker or maybe you've heard somone say this cliche as a joke. I was driving down the road a few days ago and I passed by a local church that had a sign out front that read "If you are too busy to pray than you are too busy". I really didn't think much of it until a few days later when I was in a conversation of how much more busy we are than people even 10-15 years ago. It was stated that the greatest con that is taking place in this world is busyness. We are consumed by things to do, places to be, our childrens schedules, our own schedules, practices, appointments, meetings etc... All of which takes our eyes and focus off of what God created us to do. If you look through the Word of God and do a word study you will see that each time in the Bibe that the word busy is used it is in a negative connotaiton. God never called us to be busy, He did call us to serve Him first. Remember the verse Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. It is so true the greatest con the enemy has going against humanity is the business of our own lives. What can you do to simplify your life and your schedule? So that you can give God the time He deserves and more time to the things He has called you to do as a believer. Be Blessed!

The Yellow Submarine

2009-09-16T13:33:56+00:00

As we live a life of ease Every one of us has all we need, Sky of blue, and sea green, In our yellow submarWe all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellowWe We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine, We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine. Many of us know the lyrics to this popular song by the Beatles, but have you ever really thought about submarines? Submarines, believe it or not, can teach us a lot about living the Christian life; a life of holiness. A submarine is made to be in the water, but it is not made of water. it is insulated from the water, but is not isolated from it. When a submarine is not in the water it is not fulfilling its purpose. It is isolated and unable to do what it was designed to do. Submarines affect the water- they move the water, they stir the water, but they do not allow the water to infect them. When water does infect them, warning lights and sirens alert the crew to the impending danger. Without quick action death is inevitable. Just like a submarine we are designed for a purpose- to be in the world, but not of it. We are to affect the world around us, but not allow it to infect us, for when it does, death also comes. We are to live lives of holiness to ensure that we are properly insulated from the infection of the world and able to fulfill our purpose to effectively affect the world.

Tunnel of Chaos

2009-09-02T13:59:45+00:00

We are just ending in many parts of America it's fifth season - road construction! Oh, how we love nice even roads but we don't like the construction that it takes to get it like that. Sometimes the roads of life need fixed, too. Too many of us continue down the same paths we’ve always known, and don’t realize they’re filled with potholes until we lose a hubcap or get a flat tire. Then we’re stuck. Sometimes we can patch up the road, and it’s still workable. Other times, there needs to be a complete overhaul. Constructions sites with their accompanying one-lane traffic, detours, and noise, are quite a nuisance. We question whether changes are really necessary. We wonder how long it’s going to take. We wonder if it’s all worth it. Sometimes our lives have to go through construction or re-construction. It’s never easy. But at some point we have to decide which is worse, the pot-hole filled road which could cause some serous damage, or temporary chaos that will eventually lead to a smoother road. M. Scott Peck talks about something called pseudo-community in his book, “The Different Drum: Community Making and Peace.” The inhabitants don’t quite tell each other the whole truth, and continue to tolerate, accommodate, and overlook unspoken issues, in an attempt maintain the illusion of a community. According to Bill Hybels in his book, "Axiom", real community can’t take place until you face your fear and deal with the unspoken issues. Chances are the other person or people are just as uncomfortable faking it. But until someone has the guts to say that “this isn’t working; what went wrong?” then nothing will change. Hybels calls this entering the tunnel of chaos, because working through issues between two people can be scary, messy, and downright ugly. But when both parties are committed to working it out, the end result is a stronger, truer relationship. We come out on the other end of the tunnel to brand new light. So the next time you have to maneuver around a construction site, think about choosing one relationship in your life that could use a little work. And get ready to get messy!

You Have Been Called

2009-08-27T17:07:57+00:00

Did you know you have been called by God to do certain things in this life? For the next three weeks we are going to be finding out what those things are. Come and join us at Abundant Life and find out what your unique calling really is!

Religion or Relationship?

2009-08-19T12:57:37+00:00

The root definition of the word "religion" is to "bind back" in other words it's saying that religions were made up as people attempted to "bind" themselves back to God. But the Word (the Bible) specifically tells us that there is no good works that will save us. But what we do know is this (Jesus praying to his Heavenly Father) John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. How do you "know" your friends, family, kids etc... You spend time with them, talking, sharing, discussing, shopping, traveling. In the same way we get the privelege to know God, by spending time with Him in prayer, by reading His letters to us (the Bible). We can't bind oursleves to God, but instead He chose to send His only son Jesus to live on earth as a man and He died for each and every one of us. And by doing this God bound Himself to us and gave us a free gift, salvation. Now we have a choice to accept this free gift or reject it. I choose to serve, worship, obey, have a relationship with God because He gave up something so valuable (Jesus) so that I may be free from the bondages of this world. What about you?

Fighting the Battle

2009-08-12T12:59:29+00:00

For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. Deuteronomy 20:4 This world can be a crazy place and sometimes it seems as though we are fighting a losing battle. But there is hope! We can hold tight to the truth found in Deuteronomy. God goes with us and fights for us to give us the victory. We are and will be victorious because we do not fight alone. We have the greatest ally of all time! "If God is for us, who can be against us...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."(Romans 8:31&.37). Do not be afraid. Do not be anxious. Go! Fight the battle; you will be victorious!