That's My King by S.M. Lockridge

The Bible says my King is a seven-way king....He's the King of the Jews; that's a racial king....He's the King of Israel; that's a national King....He's the King of Righteousness....He's the King of the Ages.....He's the King of Heaven....He's the King of Glory....He's the King of kings, and He's the Lord of lords. That's my King. Well....I wonder, do you know Him?.... David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings. He's enduringly strong....He's entirely sincere....He's eternally steadfast....He's immortally graceful....He's imperially powerful....He's impartially merciful....... Do you know Him?
He's the greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the horizon of this world. He's God's Son....He's a sinner's Saviour....He's the centerpiece of civilization....He stands in the solitude of Himself....He's august....He's unique....He's unparalleled....He's unprecedented....He's the loftiest idea in literature....He's the highest personality in philosophy....He's the supreme problem in higher criticism....He's the fundamental doctrine of true theology....He's the cardinal necessity for spiritual religion....He's the miracle of the age.... He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him....He's the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour...... I wonder if you know Him today?
He supplies strength for the weak....He's available for the tempted and the tried....He sympathizes and He saves....He strengthens and sustains....He guards and He guides....He heals the sick....He cleanses lepers....He forgives sinners....He discharges debtors....He delivers captives....He defends the feeble....He blesses the young....He serves the unfortunate....He regards the aged....He rewards the diligent....and He beautifies the meek....... I wonder if you know Him?
Well, my King....is the King....He's the key to knowledge....He's the wellspring to wisdom....He's the doorway of deliverance....He's the pathway of peace....He's the roadway of righteousness ....He's the highway of holiness....He's the gateway of glory....... Do you know Him?
Well....His office is manifold....His promise is sure....His light is matchless....His goodness is limitless....His mercy is everlasting....His love never changes....His word is enough....His grace is sufficient....His reign is righteous....and His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable....He's incomprehensible....He's invincible....He's irresistible.
Well, you can't get Him out of your mind....You can't get Him off of your hand....You can't out live Him, and you can't live without Him....The Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him....Pilate couldn't find any fault in Him....The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree....Herod couldn't kill Him....Death couldn't handle Him, and the grave couldn't hold Him. Yea!!!, that's my King, that's my King.
Father..."Thine is the Kingdom....and the Power....and the Glory....Forever"....and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever...and ever...and when you get through with all the forevers, then.... AMEN!....AMEN!

Christmas Wonderland

This is perhaps the busiest week for me as our church gets ready for our Christmas drama. Christmas Wonderland is the largest church event/outreach I have ever been a part of. This year I am honored and humbled because I get to direct the orchestra. We have two more dress rehearsals (Thursday and Friday) then we start the first of seven performances on Saturday. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes. Only God knows how it all gets done. I continue to lean on Him for strength during this time.

Torn

So often we are torn between two loves. Will we submit to the lordship of Christ or the lordship of the world? One thing for consideration is how we use our time. Although we serve a God who is timeless, He cares about how we allocate our time. Americans are prone to fill up our days with meaningless activity. The TV is probably the largest offender in our homes and the internet is a close second in our younger generation. We can enter into the “land of the numb.” This is a realm of pure entertainment and enjoyment that can cloud our thoughts and take up vast amounts of valuable time. I’ll be the first one to say I love a little TV after a long days work. But when is enough, enough? How does it affect our relationship with the most Holy One? How does it affect our relationships with our friends and family? Time is the one of the most precious gifts we have. Will we use or abuse the time that God has given us today?

His Workmanship

This is the season where people like me wait for all year. Late summer and early fall are perhaps the best time for outdoor enthusiasts because the bugs begin to fade away and the colors begin to change from green to deep reds. The changing of seasons suggests a creative God who is interested in nature and all of its inhabitants. God cares about all creatures but He has his eye fixed on one in particular. Humans are God’s prized possession. He cares for you like no other creature that has ever walked on the face of this planet. So, why is it we say God could care less about the details of our lives? The prayers that seem insignificant are often times the prayers that God wants us to pray because He is genuinely concerned about us. One of Satan’s biggest lies to God’s people is the God does not care. I challenge you today not to believe that lie and to walk in the fact that you are God’s workmanship. “We are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works” Eph 2:10 Workmanship means that God created you with skill and crafted your very being. Walk in the light of truth today because He cares deeply for you.

Spelling Bee winner- Evan O’dorney

Congratulations Evan! I was actually interested as I watched the national spelling bee last night. The reason I was interest was because of the pressure on these 7th and 8th graders to spell in front of a national audience. Evan, who is a musician and math wiz, was calm and cool and as a result he walked away with the national championship. It’s not that the others were bad spellers; it’s probably that they cracked under pressure. I’m sure I would do the same! It is emotional to see kid after kid spell incorrectly and go over and sit with their parents; I felt for them at times and I identified with them at times. These kids are giving there all with butterflies in there stomachs and nervous twitches all around. I salute you spelling bee contestants!

Walking blind

This past week I have been reading about a blind man named Erik Weihenmayer. Erik was the first and only blind man to summit Mount Everest. He also completed his 7-year quest to climb the Seven Summits which are the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. At age 33 he was one of the youngest climbers to be added to the other 100 mountaineers who completed this task.

I realized that Erik will do more than most adventurers will do in a lifetime without one of his major senses. There are many lessons to be learned from Erik. For me seeing is very important, without sight I could not read a map and without reading a map I could not often get to where I need to go. Sight enables me to read music and complete my job.

As Christians we are blessed with both physical and spiritual sight. Most, if not all of us, can see and/or have scene the goodness of the Lord in our lives. Yet, how many of us would say there was a time in our lives that we felt spiritually blind and could not see the hand of God. In that time did you make the decision to keep moving in spite of your blindness? Were you like Paul who chose to “press on towards the mark…” Phil. 3:14?

What inspires me about Erik Weihenmayer is that he put one foot in front of the other without seeing where he was going and ended up on top of Mt. Everest. Is that not what faith is about? Putting trust in something we cannot see. “Trust in the Lord with your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5,6) There are times that God asks us to follow blindly so that His will and purpose can be fulfilled in our lives. So walk blindly today and trust Him to lead you down paths of uncertainty. Put one foot in front of the other and see what spiritual Mount Everest you may climb.

MySpace

Hello friends and family,
I've decided to close my page at myspace for one reason and one reason only. I find the ads offensive... Especially the dating ones! I would rather not support myspace at this time. Let me know if you have any questions. I'd rather you ask me directly though instead of going to someone else who may or may not have all the answers.

what a sad day

Yesterday was a sad day for 'cuse fans around the world... as devoted fans watched on selection Sunday there were many good teams that were announced unfortunately Syracuse was not one of them. In a shocking move by the selection committee the 20 game winners will not be joining the 65 teams in the torney this year. The argument was that because Drexel was not in then Syracuse was not in as well. Really Drexel and Syracuse can blame this on a team called Old Dominion. I’ll be cheering passionately against them. How it is that beating G’town doesn’t get you in the Tournament? The problem is… Old Dominion and Syracuse both beat G’town however Old Dominion did it at G’town. Also Old Dominion beat Drexel twice this year to boot. I see the logic but I don’t have to like it. Bloggers feel free to console me.

House!

I am pleased to say that my wife and I have bought a house! We are first time homeowners and we are excited to be moving in. Our closing date is February 27th. It is an amazing thing to actually own a home. I feel blessed that I live in a country were this is possible. We have been renting for about 4 years and we have been looking for a house for close to 4 months. That wait is over and our hearts are content. Please pray for my wife and me as we embark on this journey together. Also I'd be interested in knowing about your thoughts regarding home ownership and the blessing it can be.

…And then what?

A deeper look into faith

Taking a leap of faith for me requires a little information ahead of time. Why is it that I lack the faith to take the leap? Perhaps I am afraid that He will not catch me? Is it so bad that I want to be a well informed Christian? I would like to see the big picture and I want to ask the question “and then what Lord?” What I’m interested in is what happens next, not necessarily what is happening now. So many times in our lives, the “next” precedes the “now”, and in turn we lose out on the blessing God offers us today. Our faith is diminished when we concern ourselves with what happens tomorrow. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34. An increase of worry results in a decrease of faith. It draws the eyes of our soul away from heaven and on our present circumstances.

I have a fear of heights and, believe it or not, I climb to the tops of mountains. It takes a lot of physical and mental strength to climb. At times I feel like giving up on the trail and turning around but, I know the view from the top will be amazing. Therefore, I continue. Once I begin to think about how far the top is away from me I become flooded with worry. Will I make it to the top? Will I fall? What happens if the sun goes down and I’m still hiking? Where is the next water source? Am I going to slow? When I focus on one step at a time I come to the realization that all of these steps will add up to one glorious moment. In essence, each step becomes a blessing in and of itself. Each moment is filled with the sites and sounds of nature and the questions of a worried hiker fade away in high mountains. May you become caught up with your Savior as He leads you on this hike we call life. In the simple yet quite moments of your soul, may you find comfort in the fact that we serve a God who is faithful. Jump faithfully into his arms! And then what…Trust that he will catch you.

Speak

There are times in my life when I wish that God would speak. In His voice I would find comfort. In His voice I would find the strength that I lack. A voice the transcends my so-called good judgment and a voice which puts my very soul at ease. But who is to say I would even listen if I heard such a voice. Chances are I would ignore it and go on with my daily duties and responsibilities. We ask God to speak but how many of us are really listening? How many of us would sit down during the day and stop what work we are doing and listen? How many of us would shut up and shut off our brains from the world for one minute? We are deaf and dumb in this culture, me included. Our culture keeps our thoughts occupied with billboards, TV, the Internet, video games, movies, and fantasies. My brain is overloaded with this junk and in turn it finds its way to my heart. My heart becomes hard to the things of God because there is so much exterior noise I can't focus on that still small voice. No wonder I can't hear it. No wonder Christians in America are deaf to it. We have forgotten what our Father's voice sounds like; we have forgotten our first love.

Cover to Cover

It has been my new year’s resolution for the past several years to read the Bible cover to cover. In years past unfortunately I have failed to do that task. I hope this year will be different... I will attempt to read the bible from Genesis to Revelation in effort to know the one who inspired men to write it. Many Christians see no value in reading the Bible cover to cover... in my honest opinion I think it can only help the Christian grow in their faith and knowledge. You can begin to see the hand of God throughout the generations and you can also begin to know the God of the Old and New Testament. What am amazing journey to embark on. Pray for me.