Musings of a Wandering Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:47:00 +0000

I am moving this blog over to Wordpress.
The new address is: http://mattwallis.wordpress.com/
I am hoping to be more consistent with the new effort.

The Leadership Trap | TonyMorganLive.com

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:59:00 +0000

The Leadership Trap
Apr52009 Filed under: Leadership Author: tony

I had a great conversation on Friday with a group of 12 guys in ministry throughout the country. Among other things, we talked about the leadership trap. You’ve probably experienced this before. It’s that feeling in your gut that says:

“If I don’t do it, no one will do it.”

You know that feeling don’t you? Every leader experiences it…especially in ministry where we’re dependent on volunteers to carry out the mission. Either we have that sense that if we don’t do it, it won’t get done. Or, we have the sense that if we don’t do it, it won’t be done right. You know what I’m talking about don’t you?

Here’s what’s crazy about that thinking. It’s not really true. Your mind says that’s truth, but it’s really a lie. Here’s the truth:

“If I do it, no one will do it.”

Did you catch that? Whenever you decide to step in an do it, you’re taking away the opportunity for someone else to do it. Whenever you step in to do it right, you’re denying the opportunity for someone else to do it better.

We are the body of Christ. God has gifted each of us uniquely. We were designed to serve Jesus differently. You may think you have all the gifts and all the abilities to do all the ministry, but that’s a lie from Satan. And, if you do it all, no one else will do it.

The workers are few but if you continue doing the work, the workers will be fewer.

Until we embrace that reality, our impact and influence as a church will be limited. When that happens it won’t be because God isn’t answering our prayers, it’ll be because we have decided we’d rather continue to sin.

What type of leader are you going to be? Are you going to deny the power of God working through others or are you going to empower people to live out their God-given purpose?

If you do it, no one will do it.

July 4 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:44:00 +0000

July 4, 2008
Read Exodus 25
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex%2025&version=51

Scripture- Exodus 25:8-9- “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you.

Observations- Having rescued the people from their bondage in Egypt and established a special covenant relationship with them; God now desires to accompany them into the Promised Land. To that end, God instructs Moses to construct a portable dwelling—a tent. Just as the people were living in tents, so God was going to dwell in a tent and “live among them.” This tent, though, was going to be a very special tent that was very different and distinct from theirs. It will use special materials in its construction. From the list of materials given in 25:3-7, this was to be very special tent for royal use. The tent would have three special pieces of furniture: a chest/seat, a table and a lamp stand. These were the main items of furniture in an ancient home. These items would indicate that God lived within the tent. The abundant use of gold signified the importance of the occupant, while the provision of the bread and the light were symbolic reminders that God was there at all times, both day and night.

Application- God’s desire was to lead the people Himself as their divine King and Leader. The earthly leaders they had were abusive and wound up giving in to the corruptive temptations that accompany great power. The visible reminder of God’s desire to lead the people and dwell with them was to be the Tabernacle, or “tent of meeting.” This was to be the place where God met the people and they were reminded of His care, love, guidance and provision for their needs. This was God’s desire from the start. Back in the Garden of Eden, this was the original intent—that God would be present with humanity and personally lead, guide and care for them. God wanted a people that would choose to love in response. This was God’s way of wooing humanity. God could have created us as robots with no choice but to do as He wished. But God did not do that. God created us with the capacity to choose, good or bad, what we desire. Now we have the privilege of God’s constant presence within us through the person of the Holy Spirit. We are the light of the world who have partaken of the Bread of Heaven. God is present in all of God’s fullness within us through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We now have ready access to this wonderful reality by grace through faith in Jesus Christ! The promise of Christ is faithful and true—“I will be with you always, even to the end of the age,” (Matthew 28:20).

Prayer- Lord, help me to remember that you are always there, whether I “feel” Your presence or not. Thank You for the blessing of those times when I DO feel/sense Your presence with and within me. Help me to trust You even when I feel like You are very far away. In those moments, help my faith to inform my emotions of the reality of Your Truth. Amen.

God is With You!

Pastor Matt

Inspirational Story & Song

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:10:00 +0000

The story behind the song, "Healer" is truly amazing. Here is the story behind the song and how it was written.

And here it the song being performed as he references at the end of the above video. If this doesn't light your fire, you got wet wood!

July 3 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:51:00 +0000

July 3, 2008
Read Exodus 24
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex%2024&version=51
Scripture- Exodus 24:11- And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!

Observations- It was common practice during this time to share a covenantal meal as the final act of commemorating the covenant. God had just called Moses and the elders of Israel up to the mountain to confirm their intentions to enter into this covenant. Moses returned to the people and they again said that they would obey God and do everything that was being asked of them. As a symbol of this commitment, they built an altar as a memorial and sacrificed animals—also a common practice when making a covenant during this era. The blood was used here as a symbol of the life of the animal and was used to signify both God’s sovereignty over life as well as the sanctity of that God-given life. Once the elaborate ceremony was over, the elders, Moses and God shared a meal together to commemorate, celebrate and solidify the covenantal commitments that were just made.

Application- We have our own covenantal meal. When Jesus was celebrating the Last Supper with the disciples, he took what was present in their traditional celebration and gave it new meaning—the bread now commemorates the breaking of his body for our sin and the cup represents the pouring out of His, “blood of the new covenant, poured out for you, and for many, for the forgiveness of sins,” (Matt. 26:27-29). When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we are reaffirming our commitment to serve God and let Him lead our lives. The celebration of this meal is not about us, but about God and what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. The invitation is based on grace; our participation is based on grace, as our lives are lived by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. So, we can approach this meal with great joy because we have encountered the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord! This is not to be a funeral procession, but a great celebration of thanksgiving for what God has already done for us. The church in Africa celebrates the Lord’s Supper by dancing and singing their way down to the table and then they take their celebration out in to the world. It is the last thing they do in their worship together. What a wonderful picture of the Good News!

Prayer- Gracious God, thank You so much for inviting me to come to Your table and feast on Your grace! I am so grateful for the Good News of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Thank you for generously offering this wonderful gift to anyone who will come! Amen.

Dancing with Joy!
Pastor Matt

July 2 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:36:00 +0000

July 2, 2008
Read Exodus 23
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ex%2023&version=51#en-NLT-2161

Scripture- Exodus 23:32-33- “Make no treaties with them or their gods. They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry.”

Observations- The Israelites were to observe the festivals and Sabbath as a reminder that they were to serve God and God alone. These festivals were to bring to mind God’s goodness, care and faithfulness to them. The Sabbath held special significance because it was to be a sign of the covenant being established between God and Israel. This covenant relationship was reciprocal in nature. If the Israelites obeyed God, then they would enjoy their own land as well as future comfort and security. Because of this relationship with God, the Israelites were to distance themselves from the worship of any other gods by destroying all pagan images and places of worship. They also were not to enter into any treaties with the inhabitants of the land because this would cause them to compromise their exclusive allegiance to God and make them susceptible to “the trap of idolatry.”

Application- There are plenty of idols out there calling for our allegiance. The problem we face in modern society is that they are not as clearly identified. An idol can be anything that has a higher priority in our lives and allegiances than God. We can make people, possessions, relationships, experiences, teams, events, certain doctrinal positions, ministry positions, jobs, careers, or a whole host of other things, idols. When we do, we get sucked into the “trap of idolatry.” We wind up, mostly unintentionally, placing these other things ahead of our devotion to God. God desires to have our complete allegiance and devotion. We were shown what a life lived in allegiance to God looks like in the life of Jesus. We are called to live into that life as we grow more and more into the identity that God already sees in us. What idols are you tempted to serve? I know what mine are and I know that I must jealously guard my heart and keep it for God first and foremost. Because when I am not careful, they slip back into their comfy chair at the center of my soul.

Prayer- Lord, there are so many things that compete for our attention and allegiance in today’s world. We are so busy that it is sometimes scary to think about. We get so caught up in our own lives and our own agendas that we fail to guard our hearts. As a result, we allow other things to creep in and push You out of Your rightful place on the throne of our hearts. Help us, Lord, to take the time and make the effort to guard our hearts so that we will worship and serve You above all else. Amen.

Guarding My Heart,

Pastor Matt

Rube Goldberg Fire machine!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:15:00 +0000

Rube Goldberg and fire...what more could you want? This is one of the coolest Rube Goldberg machines ever! I only wish I thought of it.

July 1 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:13:00 +0000

July 1, 2008
Read Exodus 22
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=22&version=51

Scripture- Exodus 22:31a- You must be my holy people.

Observations- The end of this chapter sounds more like the Ten Commandments than the first part of the chapter, because the penalties given here don’t seem to be enforceable by a human court. The content of the material starting with verse 21 encourages a concern for the weak and vulnerable members of society (aliens, orphans, widows, the needy, the poor).

Application- The relationship God is establishing with the people is to have a significant impact on their lives. They are called to be God’s “holy people.” What does that mean—a people that follow a bunch of rules and laws to show how much better they are than the sinners in the world around them? The purpose of the rules was not to save them, but to help them realize the difference that their devotion to God was to have in their lives. The word holy means to be set apart or consecrated for a special purpose. Our commitments or obedience do not make us holy. God’s presence in our lives makes us holy. God has declared us holy based on what Jesus has already done for us. We are involved in the process of living into this reality on a daily basis—continually growing and learning more and more about God and reflecting God’s image to the world through the lives that we live. We are holy when we say yes to God and surrender our lives to Him. When we make that kind of commitment, we are setting ourselves apart and consecrating ourselves for service to God and the Kingdom of Heaven. When we give ourselves completely to God in this way, then we become concerned about what concerns God. That concern will guide our lives as we care about God’s people and world. God has a special place in God’s heart for the weak, vulnerable outsiders. This is clearly reflected in Jesus’ life and ministry. The folks Jesus hung out with the most were the “dregs” of society—the social outsiders and outcasts. That was one of the chief charges the Pharisees and religious leaders brought against him—he hung out with sinners!

Prayer- Lord, free me from the tyranny of my pharisaical past where I was more interested in being right than in being Your beloved son. Help me to give all that I know of myself to all that I know of You in a humble act of complete surrender. Make me what You have already declared me to be. Help me to care about what, and WHO, you care about. Help me to see others through Your loving eyes and to have Your loving heart toward them. Amen.

Surrendering All—Again and Again,

Pastor Matt

June 30 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:11:00 +0000

June 30, 2008
Read Exodus 21
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2021&version=51

Scripture- Exodus 21:5- But the slave may declare, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I don’t want to go free.’

Observations- This section of law follows the Ten Commandments that were to govern the covenantal relationship between God and the Israelites. This section further illustrates how this covenantal relationship was to impact how they lived their lives. First, they were given the rules concerning how slaves were to be treated. This is significant, given the mistreatment they experienced at the hand of the Egyptians. Slaves were to be treated equitably and compensated if they were injured. They were to be freed after a given period of time. After that time had elapsed, they were even given the option of staying on if they loved their master. What a contrast to their experience in Egypt! This was intended to highlight certain aspects of Israel’s covenantal relationship with God—the Israelites will serve God because they love Him. And, having chosen Israel, God will remain faithful to them.

Application- Surrendering to God is a hard notion in our independence-minded American lives. Our country was founded by a rebellion that was based on fighting back against unjust treatment. We didn’t need the authority of England, we could do better ourselves, thank you very much! Ever since this time we have developed a very strong sense of independence and self-reliance that encourages us to “depend on no one.” We rightly fought against slavery and bristle at its presence in the Bible. Here, we find God setting out a system where slaves were to be treated equitably. God didn’t invent slavery, but addressed its presence in such a way that it would be much different in Israel than it is in the rest of the world. They were to treat their slaves with such respect, that they would choose to serve out of love. We are to do the same in our relationship with God—choose to serve out of love, not obligation or duty.

Prayer- God, there are times when I am tempted to serve You because I feel that I have to—it is my duty. Help me to remember that my service to You should be done out of love—mine for You and Yours for me. Deliver me from my rebelliousness and independence—the times when I think I can do it on my own. Remind me of my need for You and dependence upon You. Too often I feel like a toddler when it comes to serving you—wanting to “do it myself.” Remind me often of how stupid that notion truly is! Amen.

Depending on Jesus,

Pastor Matt

June 29, 2008 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 19:53:00 +0000

June 29, 2008
Read Exodus 20
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2020&version=51

Scripture- Exodus 20:1- Then God gave the people all these instructions:

Observations- God gives the people the Ten Commandments. These are given by God directly to the people—Moses does not act as an intermediary. This is not a collection of laws, because there are not punishments listed (the 2nd and 5th appear to have penalties, but those are more like “motivational clauses” designed to promote the observance of the divine instructions). Only these are written by the finger of God in the stone tablets. All other regulations and instructions are written down by Moses. These are the conditions of God’s covenant relationship with the Israelites. They are listed in the order of descending priority and focus on the Israelites’ relationship first to the Lord and then to other people. They are to be single minded in their devotion to the One who delivered them out of Egypt. That devotion to God will also be reflected in the way they act/treat others.

Application- Many would like to do away with the Ten Commandments. They seem to some to be harsh and legalistic. These are given by God to the people to help them understand that God desires an exclusive relationship. They, and we, are to worship no other gods and treasure this relationship because God treasures us (Ex. 19:5). We were created for relationship with God and that relationship was broken by sin. From that time to this, God has been pursuing humanity trying to win our allegiance back. This does not come without some responsibility on our part, though. Our surrender to God and obedience to Him should have a profound effect on our behavior. Our lives should show the evidence of God’s transforming love through the way we act toward God and how we treat others. God is not a fire insurance policy, but desires an exclusive relationship.

Prayer- Lord, help me to see how completely You desire to transform my life. Help me to count the cost and not take our relationship for granted. Thank you for offering me Your mercy and grace by being so lovingly patient with my wanderings. You know how prone I am to nibble my way lost. Keep calling me back and setting me on the right path. Amen.
Glad to be on the journey with you!
Pastor Matt

June 28, 2008 SOAP devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 13:32:00 +0000

June 28, 2008
Read Exodus 19
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=19&version=51

Scripture- Exodus 19:4-6- ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

Observations- God’s purpose in bringing them out of Egypt was not only to alleviate their suffering, but to strengthen their connection/relationship with Him. God describes the way He cared for them as carrying them ‘on eagles’ wings.’ Once they are delivered, they are called to a lifestyle of obedience and consecration. If the people will obey God, they will be His ‘own special treasure’—the thing that God cherishes most of all! If we keep our end of the bargain (living in obedience and consecration to God) then God says that we will be His priests—His representatives/agents in the world.

Application- God’s desire from the beginning was to have a special relationship with us. Here in the story of the Exodus, we see that expressed very clearly. God cares for us and wants our obedience in response. When we respond with loving obedience and surrender, dedicating our lives to serving Him in love, then we occupy a special place in God’s heart. Think of it in terms of a parent/child relationship. The parent loves the child because that child is its own offspring. When the child listens to our instructions and heeds our advice, then we find great joy and pleasure in that child. The love is still there, but it is now enhanced by the joy and pleasure we feel due to our child’s response to our instruction. How much more is that true of God! God’s love for us is always there, but joy and pleasure are added to that love when we live lives that are dedicated & surrendered to Him. When we do this, we are his treasured possessions, best able to represent His purposes in this world.

Prayer- Lord, help me to realize how much pleasure it brings to Your heart when I live in obedience and surrender to You. I am too often distracted by my own agenda/task list/to do list, and fail to seek Your will for my life. Thank You for the times when they are in alignment, and for Your mercy and grace when they are not. Help me to live ever more aware of Your presence in my life and of Your desire to have an intimate relationship with me. I give all that I know of myself to all that I know of You. Help them both to increase. Amen.

Geeky Art

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:48:00 +0000

It's good to be back! I didn't post anything last week because I was out working on my paperwork to submit to our Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. I found this video today and it is really cool! Very artistic in a geeky kind of way.

June 12 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:18:00 +0000

June 12, 2009
Read Exodus 3
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%203&version=31

Scripture- Exodus 3:11- But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

Observations- After making the transition to the new life that came following Moses’ killing the Egyptian guard, he encounters God through the burning bush. God uses this encounter to call Moses to serve Him in a great task. Moses first reaction is to question his qualifications for the job. I believe that the memory of his past sin is in full focus here. How can Moses go to the Pharaoh given that everyone knew about the crime he committed? When faced with God’s call, Moses looked immediately to his own limitations as the roadblocks to fulfilling that call.

Application- It has been said that God does not call the qualified, God qualifies the called. The Bible is full of stories of God using flawed, broken people to do great things. God has a habit of calling us to things that seem impossible. The lesson to learn in these moments is that it is not about us, but it is about God. God only needs our willingness to be used in order to use us to do great things. God sees the potential of what lies within us and taps that potential, while empowering us with the Holy Spirit. When this happens, we realize that the words of Paul from Philippians 4:13 are so very true, “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” When we are surrendered to God and fully relying on God, then we can do whatever we are asked to do, no matter how big and intimidating (or small and insignificant) it might seem.

Prayer- Dear God, help me to focus on Your greatness and not my faults. I know that You want to do so much more through me than I often allow You to do because, like Moses, I am arguing with You about all the reasons I think I can’t do what You are asking. Please knock me over the head if You have to, to get my attention and straighten my thinking out. I would rather be hit with Your holy 2x4 than miss out on the blessing of obedience. Thank You for being so lovingly patient with me. Amen

Peace,
Pastor Matt

PS—Thank you for praying for the Harre family. Joyce died and went home to be with Jesus yesterday at around 11:00am. There will be a service for her on Saturday, June 21st, at 3pm in the Sanctuary. There will be a reception following in the Gym.

June 11 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:32:00 +0000

June 11, 2009
Read Exodus 2
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%202&version=51

Scripture- Exodus 2:23-25- Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.

Observations-The saga of Israel’s suffering continues throughout this chapter. It seems at first glance that God was no longer concerned about them.They went to Egypt as guests of honor at the invitation of the Pharaoh and now, several generations later, were slaves subjected to oppressive conditions. The memory of their forefather, Joseph, and his significant contribution to the survival of Egypt was now long gone. Their babies had been murdered, and they were being subjected to the hardship of slavery. I am sure they wondered where God was through all of this. The Hebrew here literally says that the way God heard their suffering through experiencing it with them—the sense of God entering their suffering himself. When the time was right, God acted.

Application- This chapter is not so much about God’s failing memory (as if that were a problem, which it isn’t) as it is about setting the stage for Moses entry into the story. The incredible picture that is presented here reminds us that when we are in our own “valley of the shadow of death” we can know that God is well aware of what is going on and is concerned about the events of our lives. I have a seminary professor and mentor that said to us several years ago, “You are perfectly known by God and perfectly loved by God. These are both necessary realities for us to experience the complete love of God. If we were perfectly known without being perfectly loved, then we would cower in fear. If we were perfectly loved without being perfectly known, then we would play games with God. As it is, both are true and we can know that God loves us and cares about what happens in our lives.”

Prayer- God, thank you for both knowing and loving me perfectly. Thanks for not letting me play games with You and for loving me enough that I don’t have to cower in fear before You. Thank you for being my deliverer and for being present when I walk through my own dark valleys in life. Help us to remember that You are always present with us and You hear our prayers. Amen.

God is with us!
Pastor Matt

PS—Please keep Joyce Harre & her family in your prayers. She suffered a massive stroke yesterday and is not expected to live much longer. She just lost her husband, Bob, a little more than a month ago. She is very close to making the transition from the loving arms of her family into the loving arms of Jesus. She is currently in Tampa General Hospital. Her daughter and son are there with her.

June 10 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:14:00 +0000

June 10, 2009
Read Exodus 1
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=1&version=31

Scripture- Exodus 1:15-17- The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.

Observations- The book of Exodus is written from the perspective that the reader is already familiar with the book of Genesis. An important trend is continued from Genesis to Exodus regarding how God is portrayed. Genesis begins with God as the central participant in the story; a change occurs through out the book as God gradually retreats from the center of the stage and adopts the role of an off-stage director. This is most evident when Joseph takes the stage. He doesn’t have a direct encounter with God, like his ancestors did, but God controls his destiny as well as that of his wider family without revealing Himself directly. This chapter conveys the impression that God no longer reveals Himself in person. God offers His providential care, as shown in the story of the two midwives and the remarkable increase of the Israelites. These two midwives risk their lives by directly disobeying the king’s orders. Their fear of God was greater than their fear of the king and any consequences that might come from disobeying him (the king).

Application- There are times in our lives when we are faced with difficult choices. We know that to do what is before us will compromise our faithfulness to God. These situations are never easy. Like these two midwives, there are often people who have authority over us that do not share our faith commitment. They often don’t think twice before giving us orders to do things that are outside of God’s ethical and/or moral standards. While our lives might not be in danger if we disobey, our livelihood might be. We have to remember that no matter who may or may not see us, God sees everything and is a rewarder of those who choose to do right, even if it comes at great personal cost. This doesn’t mean that we have to be obnoxious about it, but our quiet, faithful obedience to God’s will is a witness to others. Many times there are people watching us just to see if we will live like we say we believe. What will they see in us?

God Is With You!
Pastor Matt

Cletus Take the Reel

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:01:00 +0000

You might have heard by now the song by country music super star Carrie Underwood, "Jesus Take the Wheel." Now we have a new, updated version, straight from the Redneck Underground. Cletus Take the Reel is positioned to be the next country hit. This video premiered at the Country Music Awards and it is absolutely hilarious! Hope this brightens your day.

Inspirational Sportsmanship

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:09:00 +0000

Growing up my main sport was Church league softball. My dad was my coach for most of my life. He was the best teacher when it came to sportsmanship and he was a superb coach! He always emphasized good sportsmanship and fair play. We were never to goad the other team or boast about our successes. If you did anything like this, you were removed from the game. We won three league championships with him at the helm. This video inspirationally illustrates great sportsman ship. We certainly could use more of this in the sports world today!

Leg Dropped for Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:02:00 +0000

This is one of the funniest clips I have seen in a long time! This dude has a totally original approach to healing than I have ever seen before. I don't think I would care to be down at the altar at one of his meetings. I don't want to be leg-dropped for Jesus!

The Grocery Game

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:09:00 +0000

I heard about this on the news last night. This looks like a great service! You can sign up for a 4 week trial for only $1. You enter your zip code and choose the store(s) you shop at and they generate a shopping list for you. It is color coded according to the best deals and even tells you how many to buy. All you have to do is spend about 20-30 minutes clipping coupons from your Sunday paper, pick up the in-store coupons, print the list and go shopping. The story I saw showed two different people with identical lists going shopping. The one who just went shopping without this process paid $177.00. The person using this process bought twice as many items and paid only $43.00! Seems to me to be worth a try! Check it out for yourself by following this link--http://www.thegrocerygame.com/
Let me know what you think. If you try it out, put me down as the one who referred you and let me know what your experience was like. I'm curious to know how it will actually work. We will try it out and keep you updated.

SOAP Devotional for May 17th

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Sun, 18 May 2008 10:34:00 +0000

There was some sort of glitch in sending yesterday’s SOAP and it was marked as spam. So I am resending it from another computer in hopes that it will work correctly this time. I was also remiss in not thanking you all for your prayers, visits, rides, babysitting, calls, cards and so much more, regarding my recent stay at Brandon Regional Hospital. Everything is fine with my heart (PRAISE GOD!). We know it is nothing critical, so we will start looking for the cause of the chest pain that sent me to the hospital to begin with, but we know that it is something far less serious than my heart. The cardiologist said that I have the arteries of a 20 year old and that I have great heart function. Thanks again…you are the best!

Pastor Matt

May 17, 2008

Read Genesis 28—to read this click on the following link or paste the address into your browser http:/www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis 28&version=51

There was some sort of glitch in sending yesterday’s SOAP and it was marked as spam. So I am resending it from another computer in hopes that it will work correctly this time. I was also remiss in not thanking you all for your prayers, visits, rides, babysitting, calls, cards and so much more, regarding my recent stay at Brandon Regional Hospital. Everything is fine with my heart (PRAISE GOD!). We know it is nothing critical, so we will start looking for the cause of the chest pain that sent me to the hospital to begin with, but we know that it is something far less serious than my heart. The cardiologist said that I have the arteries of a 20 year old and that I have great heart function. Thanks again…you are the best!

Pastor Matt

May 17, 2008

Read Genesis 28—to read this click on the following link or paste the address into your browser http:/www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis 28&version=51

Scripture- Genesis 28:20-22—“Then Jacob made this vow: “If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me.”

Observation- This chapter begins with Isaac’s blessing over Jacob. The time had come for Jacob to take a wife in order for God’s blessing over Abraham to continue (that God would bless him and make a mighty nation out of his descendents). Isaac marks the passing of this important occasion by pronouncing a blessing over Jacob. Soon after this, Jacob has his familiar dream of the stairway (older translations used “ladder”), where God blesses him and promises to fulfill the desires indicated in Isaac’s previous blessing over him. Jacob marks the place where this happened with a monument and calls it Bethel, which means “house of God.” Then he makes a vow. He says that if God is faithful to him on his current journey, then he will serve God for the rest of his life. He marks that vow with a sign of his commitment—offering God a tenth (or a “tithe”) of everything God gives to him. This indicates a continuous action on Jacob’s part, not simply a one time event.

Application-There is so much in this chapter that jumps out at me—and it all begins with a father’s blessing, moves to the Heavenly Father’s blessing and is culminated in Jacob’s vow. This shows the importance of marking life events with our children through blessing them with rites of passage. We have a little family tradition. When each of our children turns 13, they get something big to mark the occasion—a trip alone with dad, or a huge new privilege. When they turn 16, we mark that event with another rite of passage that I borrowed from a seminary professor. We go on a trip where we hike for the better part of a day and use walking sticks. That night, we have a fire and the newly 16 year old throws their walking stick into the fire and is presented with a new one that has their name carved into it and certain symbols that characterize their personality and strengths. This represents the passing of their childhood (the old stick that is burned) and the beginning of their lives as adults (the new stick) and we pray a prayer of blessing over them. I hope this is as powerful of a moment as Jacob’s was with Isaac. We need to mark those moments in our children’s lives so that they have the chance to hear us bless them more deeply than each time they sneeze. This blessing resulted eventually in Jacob’s making a vow to serve God for the rest of his life! This wasn’t just lip service, either. Jacob was willing to follow through on his vow in a way that indicated his trust in God—giving a tithe (or a tenth). What a wonderful gift!

Prayer-God, help us to remember how important it is to bless our children in meaningful ways. Help me to follow through on my commitments and responsibilities in ways that will honor You and bless You. Help me to be a good steward of all You have entrusted to me—the most precious being stewardship over our children, not only my biological children, but all of the children of FUMC Brandon. Thank You for Your faithfulness that endures forever!

If God had a refrigerator your picture would be on it!

Pastor Matt

Really cool artist!

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Sun, 18 May 2008 10:30:00 +0000

This is really cool stuff! I think the van is made out of Cypress, but I'm not sure. He said it is from Florida and the grain makes me think it is because Cypress has such a rich grain. If that van is made from Cypress, then it is massively heavy! I made some speaker boxes for my Plymouth Horizon in high school (the ultimate competition for the VW Rabbit) out of Cypress (because it was free) and it was very hard and heavy.

Something Every Parent Should Read

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:02:00 +0000

This is a link to a powerful and personal story told by a reporter who was raped 20 years ago. It is a series of articles about the experience, life after, and the perpetrator's story. It is very graphic, but worth reading if you can bear it.
http://www.cleveland.com/beyondrape/
And here is the rest of it.

Ideas to Save Gas and Improve Mileage-

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:30:00 +0000

Here is a link to a site about Hypermiling. This is an approach that uses altered driving techniques to dramatically improve gas mileage. The first link is to a site on the topic in general. The second link takes you to a description of an experiment that was done that improves, not only mileage, but the actual traffic conditions in traffic jams and slow downs.

http://hypermiling.com/

http://amasci.com/amateur/traffic/trafexp.html

Thurs, May 1 SOAP Devotional

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:12:00 +0000

Read Genesis 11
To read this text go to: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=genesis%2011&version=51

Scripture- Genesis 11:4-7 Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” But the Lord came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. “Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”

Observations- Everyone could speak the same language at this time and they agreed to settle down together in the same area. They made an advance in technology (making bricks instead of using stone) and decided to build a massive project that would make them famous and keep them united together. The problem with this would be that they were united together by pride, rather than their worship and devotion to God. God saw what was happening and knew the creative potential that He created within them. They were told to spread out and populate the earth not congregate in cities, but instead they chose to stay together and settle in this area. They counted the cost of the project by settling on making bricks because of the lack of stone in the area. They worked together to overcome obstacles that stood in their way. All of these are good qualities when turned in the right direction, but here they indicate the intensity of their determination to pursue this rebellious action. They could not conceive that blessing could come from the obedience of splitting up and spreading out, so they were determined to stay together. They believed that their security lay in staying together and building a city—they believed more in bricks and mortar and the works of their hands than they did in God.

Application- The same temptations are all around us today. It is so much easier to rely on what we can see rather than trusting in God and God’s provisions for us. We are always blessed when we act in obedience to God. They thought that they knew better than God and were unwilling to give God even a chance at coming through for them. They were in for a surprise. God came down and scattered them by confusing their languages. They couldn’t understand each other anymore and had no choice but to move along. This just proves that our plans cannot thwart God’s purposes. God, and not the works of our hands, is the only thing worthy of our faith. While unity, having a common purpose and working together to overcome obstacles are certainly great qualities, we must always remember that these are only useful when they are directed toward glorifying God and serving God’s purposes and Kingdom. When we choose to go our own way rather than acting in obedience to what we understand God wants us to do, much of that is a monument to our insecurity. Jesus promised us in Matthew 6 that we are more important to Him than sparrows and flowers and God takes care of them, so we should always keep in mind the reality of His care and provision for our lives.

Prayer- Lord, help me to see the value in trusting you with my whole life. When I think I know better than You, please do whatever is necessary to get my attention and teach me that trusting You is always the right thing to do. It is easier to trust what I can observe with my senses, so help me to develop my spiritual senses in a way that will help me to see that what I can’t see is more real than what I can see. You know how much I love You and want to trust you. Help me to grow ever stronger in trusting You. Amen

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,

Pastor Matt

Cool Ad

noreply@blogger.com (Matt Wallis) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:23:00 +0000

A really cool Rube Goldberg machine!