Hey everyone, it's been a long time since I've posted. Sorry about that. But there hasn't been any time to do so. Everyday for the next week and a half I have rehersal till 8:00 each day. I sure hope everything goes well.
Besides all the rehersals everything has been going allright. But I do have a confession to make, and I ask that you will keep me in your prayers. I was around a group of people who don't have much focus on God, and keeping His Commandments. So instead of sticking up for Him, and confessing my faith and trust in God I sat back and acted like I didn't care whether I went to Heaven or Hell. When in reality that is not the truth. I do honestly care. Father be with me that I might be able to present myself as a living act of worship to You. Without fear of being made fun of. Without fear of being cast aside from many people I think of as friends. Father let me find a group of people who put You first. Who will let Your Will be done in all things. Be with me.

Take care this week,

JPL

What a weekend...

I would like to share with you a few things that happend this weekend that I found worthy of sharing with our blogging family.

1: In the Texas regional choir contest I was ranked 28th. Not as good as I had wanted, but still not bad for a freshman.
2: Today in worship the brother who lead the communion presented the most heart filled prayer that I have ever heard. It truly was moving, and I thank God for those words he spoke.
3: Even if you aren't "sniffing" paint, don't stay around it for more than a few hours at a time. We were working on our homecoming float, and I can say I felt like my head was about to expload.

Well, I have a lot of work to do. I have to write a speech on our veterans. Right now I am favored to win, which will result in a $300.00 check. Take care everyone, and let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Blessings,
JPL

P.S. If you are going to clap in a song, at least know the rythem to the song before you start. It was so funny in the closing song in worship, the youth group started clapping in "Lord Reign In Me" and they were totally off beat. Praise the Lord I was there to get them back on beat, thanks to ZOE's "When the Music Fades" C.D.

Hey everyone, I hope each and everyone of you had a good Sabbath day. I've got an idea, and I would like your input on the subject. What do you think about turning Saturday back into a day that we rest. Not as a requirement by God. Just something that we do to prepare our hearts and minds for the formal worship setting Sunday. Let me know what you think...

Boy, oh boy, oh boy. I can't wait until tomorrow. The new congregation I'm going to is so wonderful. The praise team enhances the worship so much it's overwhelming. I just ask that you will pray that God will lead me in the right direction to find a place of worship where I can become closer to Him. God, allow it to be somewhere where I am in touch with you. Where I can bring others to You, that they may know You.

Have a good week everyone.

A Change In Me

Wow! It is so amazing how our eyes can be opened by the loss of someone you know. Clint Gilliam and I are great friends. For the last year and a half or so we have shared many blessings that can only be sent from the Father. In his most recent Blog he talked about a young man named Brett Spells. I knew Spells. We played football against one another for a couple of years. The two different schools we came from were total rivals, but it was always kept in fun. Both schools always boasted about who was better at there sports, but as I said it was always kept in fun. Brett died this morning after being taken off of life support as a result of a car wreck. So tragic was it when I found out. For many months now I haven't seen or talked to him, but still it cuts me totally down to hear of such a terrible accident.
I have been transformed because of this. My eyes have been opened to notice that Jesus is the only way, and without Him there is nothing else. Whether or not Spells is with the Father or not I do not know. None of us do. All we can do is pray for strength, for understanding, and for power only provided from Him. For if our time on this world ends in such a quick manner as Spells did. We can all have the assurance that we will have an everlasting home in heaven. Let us take a lesson from this tragic event. Let it change us. Let it move us to realize that He is the way, the truth and the life, and that no man comes to the Father except through Him.
Have a great day of worship this Sunday. And allow each act we engage in, each word we speak to be an offering to God.

J.P.

On the brink of distaster.

Hey everyone. I hope your days have been better than mine. No, really I have just been going 100 mph. and not stopping. I said before that I was going to talk a little on unity, so I will cut to the chase.

As I begin to speak on this very divisive subject, let me say that I do not think that we should abandon what many would call "church of Christ" doctrine.
However, as we continue on our spiritual journey's it seems that many of us have become very closed minded. I can personally speak and say that many times I have thought that my way is the only way. But one thing that I had not considered is that my way isn't necessarily God's way. Matthew 6:33 states, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (NIV) What this passage is saying to us is that we are to seek fist God, and everything else will fall into play. In being closed minded we do not realize that there are other people out there who disagree with us in matters of doctrine who hold the exact same thought that many of us do. That they are right.

There is more that I am going to write about the unity in Christ, but I don't want to give you a book to read. Keep an open mind as we approach a new week. God is so good, let us all worship Him, not matter what. Let us give Him the glory, honor, and praise He disserves.

Blessings,

J.P.