Archive for April, 2009

28
Apr

Jesus – the Bread of Life

By awhitlow 0 Comments
Categories: Enouragement

anadamabreadWhat are you trying to fill the hunger in your soul with?  Money can’t do it.  A facelift, tummy tuck, Botox injection, hair weave, and breast implants won’t do it.  An affair won’t do it.  Neither will a new car, nor home.  A night out with the girls or guys at a club won’t do it.  It has to be followed by another night and another night and another.  A great meal on Saturday night has to be followed by a good breakfast in the morning.  A new outfit has to be followed by even newer clothes the next year.  These material things are not enough to fill our souls.

In John 6:35; 47-50 Jesus said to a crowd of people focused on finding soul satisfaction in material, temporal things the following, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst…Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.”

Do you hear what Jesus is saying?  “I’m the bread of life.  You can be filled and satisfied in me.”

In these verses Jesus refers to the manna provided by God in the wilderness for the children of Israel.  In Kent Hughes’ commentary on the Gospel of John he mentions the similarities between the manna, a kind of bread, and Jesus, the “bread of life.” (pg. 206)

Manna was white, like fallen snow.  Jesus was the holy Son of God, without sin.

Manna was on the ground, easily accessible.  All a person had to do was get out of their tent and go get it.  In the same way Jesus the bread of life is here for you.  You can come and receive of him, or you can walk on by.  I’m sure people stepped on the manna in the wilderness.  In the same way you can trod upon Jesus or pick him up and receive him as your Savior.

Manna was a kind of bread that had all the carbs, nutrients, and proteins that a person needed to be filled.  Jesus has everything you need to be truly and completely filled.

It’s interesting that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and Bethlehem means “the house of bread.”  Jesus is the bread of life.  Isaiah 55:1-3 – Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?  Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

21
Apr

A.W. Tozer's Education

By awhitlow 0 Comments
Categories: Church Heroes

I hear people say sometimes, “I wish I was smarter than I am.”  I’ve actually said the same thing. Did you know you can be if you want to be?aw_tozer2

One of the greatest pastors and authors of the 20th century was AW Tozer.  31 years of his ministry was spent pastoring the Southside Alliance Tabernacle in Chicago.  While serving there he wrote 9 books.  The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy were his greatest works, and are growing in popularity still today.  He had a weekly radio program – Talks From a Pastor’s Study.  He was a well-known conference speaker, and he served as the editor for the Alliance Witness – the main publication for the Missionary Alliance denomination.

Amazingly, AW Tozer never graduated from high school.  He tried it for a few weeks, but he figured he could learn more on his own.  And that he did.  He was a voracious reader; gobbling up everything he could get his hands on.

Part of his weekly routine on Monday and Wednesday was to take a trip to the local library.  His arms would be loaded down with books, either returning them or bringing back a new batch to digest.  One church member reflected, “You could tear the house down and Tozer wouldn’t know it.” (The Life of AW Tozer, James Snyder, pg. 68)

His great spiritual strength though lay in his desire for God’s presence.  When he preached those in the congregation could sense the power of God.

So, college or no college, you can be smarter.  Choose today to be a life long learner!  Remember leaders are readers!

14
Apr

KGB Summer Day Camp

By awhitlow 0 Comments
Categories: Summer Ministry

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We’re really pumped about this year’s camp.  Matt Gallant will be returning as our camp director.  This was a wonderful surprise for us.  Matt was recently married and had moved to Savannah, GA.  We thought he would be gone for good.  But he’s back, and he’s coming with his new wife McKenzie, who has also worked at our camp before.  Both are really gifted musicians and know a ton of fun songs for kids.

Along with great music, each day will include swimming at the incredible Bull Run Regional Water Park. Kids will also learn new Bible stories each week and enjoy a bunch of other stuff – horseback riding, crafts, games, Olympic Day, field trips….

Help us spread the word.  Space will fill up fast, so register as quickly as possible. You can do that on our home page.  Click on the summer day camp link.  You’ll also find answers to most of your questions.  

02
Apr

Complaining Will Make Your Life Bitter

By awhitlow 0 Comments
Categories: Enouragement

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Exodus 15:23 -24 –  When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.   And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

You need water.  It’s essential to life.  I don’t like to drink, but I know I have to.  Out in the wilderness the children of Israel were three days without any – about to dehydrate.  Then they came to Marah and saw water.  Imagine what joy!  They made a quick dash to the water, but when they lapped it up they found it bitter, undrinkable.  How disappointing!

At this point they had a choice.  Would they complain or call on God?  They had witnessed the plagues, the parting of the sea, the Egyptian army defeated.  Even more, God had led them to this place with his cloud.  Surely God was up to something.  But, instead of calling on God, they chose to complain. 

Like the Israelites, we often give our mental, emotional, and verbal resources to complaining when life gets tough.  We grumble.  We whine.  You know what complaining will do?  It will make your heart bitter like the waters of Marah. Over time you get stuck in a continued cycle of frustration and complaining, frustration and complaining, until it makes the whole flavor of your life brackish and bitter tasting.

We too are in a sense in the wilderness in this life on the way to the Promised Land, our eternal home.  I don’t want to be like the Israelites.  They complained for most of their 40-year journey.  In the journey of my life I don’t want to waste my mental, emotional, and verbal energy griping and complaining.  I want to use it in a more positive way. 

What’s the alternative?  Philippians 4:4 – Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.  Whatever the circumstance, good or bad, you can always rejoice in the Lord, in who He is, and what He has done.