Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Friday, June 28, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
PHILOSOPHY OF PERSONAL DISCIPLE-MAKING
Christ provides his disciples throughout the ages with the mandate for being disciple makers in some of His final instructions before ascending to the Father. Matthew 28:18-20 records Jesus’ instructions, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (ESV). Within these verses commonly known as the Great Commission is found the mandate of being disciple makers. Within Jesus’ declaration of authority is the revelation of His deity. Only God possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, thus the mandate to make disciples is made by none other than the divine God the Son.
Within the mandate of the Great Commission is also found the model for discipleship. Authentic discipleship, much like accurately throwing a baseball, requires focus and follow-through. The focus comes from Christ’s command in the aforementioned text to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19, ESV). This requires Christ’s disciples to be active. Disciple-making requires effort and action, just like throwing a baseball requires effort and action. Disciples are not passive about serving the Lord. Intentionality is also required. Disciple-making requires action with purpose. Christians can go on mission trips providing goods and services to the world’s population until Christ’s return without ever winning a single soul to Christ or growing one disciple unless the intent to make disciples accompanies their actions. Disciple-makers are focused.
Disciple-makers are also commanded to follow through. In the modern Church, just getting its membership to evangelize the lost around them is considered a victory, but this falls short of the biblical model within the mandate. Christ’s Great Commission to His disciples speaks of baptism, where disciple-makers evangelize the lost producing regeneration as evidenced by baptism, but the model does not conclude with baptism. Christ commands that the regenerant be taught all that He has commanded during His earthly ministry, thus Christ’s disciples follow through until they have nurtured babes in Christ to maturity. Disciples follow through to produce the next generation of disciple-makers. Paul echoes this aspect of Christ’s model in his letter to the church at Ephesus when he states that church leaders must, “equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13, ESV). Paul’s instructions reveal that disciple-makers equip, build up, and strengthen the body of Christ for ministry by bringing them to maturity and unite them with all other believers in the fullness of the faith and knowledge of Christ. This requires Christ’s disciples to display a faithful commitment of patience and endurance, also known as follow through.
The modern culture is one of convenience and instant gratification. If what one desires requires more than pushing a button or taking a pill it is probably too difficult to achieve. This skewed view of reality also affects the Church as well. Is there a mandate for Christ’s disciples to be disciple-makers? Absolutely there is. Jesus Christ, God the Son, demands that His disciples are to be disciple-makers. Is there a model for ministry? Christ’s own words reveal that, as disciple-making disciples, the Church must be focused through intentional action as well as be patient and faithful to follow through in producing the next generation of disciple-making disciples.
DANIEL C. BREITHAUPT, Pastor Beulah Baptist Church
BY
DANIEL
C. BREITHAUPT
More and more literature is being produced concerning the necessity of
discipleship within the Christian church. Much of this literature also
offers potential methodologies and designs for reaching the desired
goal. In preparing a philosophy for personal disciple-making, one must
first come to the understanding that, as a follower or disciple of
Christ, there is a mandate to be a
disciple-maker of others. This mandate is found within the pages of
Holy Scripture, with the very words of Jesus Christ; and, just as there
is the mandate to make disciples of others, there is also the model
which naturally provides the philosophy necessary for becoming a
disciple maker.Christ provides his disciples throughout the ages with the mandate for being disciple makers in some of His final instructions before ascending to the Father. Matthew 28:18-20 records Jesus’ instructions, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’” (ESV). Within these verses commonly known as the Great Commission is found the mandate of being disciple makers. Within Jesus’ declaration of authority is the revelation of His deity. Only God possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, thus the mandate to make disciples is made by none other than the divine God the Son.
Within the mandate of the Great Commission is also found the model for discipleship. Authentic discipleship, much like accurately throwing a baseball, requires focus and follow-through. The focus comes from Christ’s command in the aforementioned text to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19, ESV). This requires Christ’s disciples to be active. Disciple-making requires effort and action, just like throwing a baseball requires effort and action. Disciples are not passive about serving the Lord. Intentionality is also required. Disciple-making requires action with purpose. Christians can go on mission trips providing goods and services to the world’s population until Christ’s return without ever winning a single soul to Christ or growing one disciple unless the intent to make disciples accompanies their actions. Disciple-makers are focused.
Disciple-makers are also commanded to follow through. In the modern Church, just getting its membership to evangelize the lost around them is considered a victory, but this falls short of the biblical model within the mandate. Christ’s Great Commission to His disciples speaks of baptism, where disciple-makers evangelize the lost producing regeneration as evidenced by baptism, but the model does not conclude with baptism. Christ commands that the regenerant be taught all that He has commanded during His earthly ministry, thus Christ’s disciples follow through until they have nurtured babes in Christ to maturity. Disciples follow through to produce the next generation of disciple-makers. Paul echoes this aspect of Christ’s model in his letter to the church at Ephesus when he states that church leaders must, “equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13, ESV). Paul’s instructions reveal that disciple-makers equip, build up, and strengthen the body of Christ for ministry by bringing them to maturity and unite them with all other believers in the fullness of the faith and knowledge of Christ. This requires Christ’s disciples to display a faithful commitment of patience and endurance, also known as follow through.
The modern culture is one of convenience and instant gratification. If what one desires requires more than pushing a button or taking a pill it is probably too difficult to achieve. This skewed view of reality also affects the Church as well. Is there a mandate for Christ’s disciples to be disciple-makers? Absolutely there is. Jesus Christ, God the Son, demands that His disciples are to be disciple-makers. Is there a model for ministry? Christ’s own words reveal that, as disciple-making disciples, the Church must be focused through intentional action as well as be patient and faithful to follow through in producing the next generation of disciple-making disciples.
DANIEL C. BREITHAUPT, Pastor Beulah Baptist Church
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Heaven Should Be More Real To You
The Lord Jesus has gone to prepare a place for those who are His own. Part of this preparation is the taking of your child. Heaven will mean more to you now—your dearest treasure is there. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). He takes the family here to form the family there. Baby hands are beckoning to you, and a baby voice is calling you home.
I did not realize how many parents there were who had lost children until our first baby was taken. One after another in the congregation came with tears in their eyes to tell of their secret sorrow. One dear lady and her husband always sat down in the front pew. They were elderly and they had a son who was a great sorrow. In spite of this, they were always smiling and seemed never to be defeated by life. I shall never forget my surprise when I discovered the reason for this as they told me of the loss of their firstborn and of their happy anticipation of seeing the little one in heaven someday.
J. Vernon McGee
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Monday, April 1, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Friday, March 1, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Pocket Taser For His Wife, Hilarious
Pocket Taser Stun
Gun, a great gift for the wife.. A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket
Taser for their anniversary submitted this:
Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest.. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie.
What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety....??
WAY TOO COOL!
Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in it and pushed the button.
Nothing! I was disappointed.
I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.
AWESOME!!!
Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.
Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest.. The occasion was our 15th anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Julie.
What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were supposed to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety....??
WAY TOO COOL!
Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two AAA batteries in it and pushed the button.
Nothing! I was disappointed.
I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arc of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs.
AWESOME!!!
Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Julie what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave.
Okay, so I was
home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that
bad with only two triple-A batteries, right?
There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.
I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat.
But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised.
Am I wrong?
So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and taser in another.
The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.
All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5' long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and (loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-A batteries) thinking to myself, 'no possible way!'
What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best...?
I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, 'don't do it idiot,' reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.
I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and .
WOW . . . WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION . .. . YIKES!!!
I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again.
I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, my skin on fire, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs?
The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.
Note: If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself!
You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative?
IT HURT LIKE YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE!!!
A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape.
My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was. My triceps, and right thigh were still twitching.
My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I had no control over the drooling.
My sense of smell was gone. I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head which I believe came from my hair.
P. S. My wife loved the gift, and now regularly threatens me with it!
'If you think Education is difficult, try being stupid.'
There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target.
I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat.
But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised.
Am I wrong?
So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, and taser in another.
The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries.
All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5' long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and (loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-A batteries) thinking to myself, 'no possible way!'
What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best...?
I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, 'don't do it idiot,' reasoning that a one second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.
I decided to give myself a one second burst just for heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and .
WOW . . . WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION . .. . YIKES!!!
I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again.
I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, my skin on fire, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs?
The cat was making meowing sounds I had never heard before, clinging to a picture frame hanging above the fireplace, obviously in an attempt to avoid getting slammed by my body flopping all over the living room.
Note: If you ever feel compelled to 'mug' yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one second burst when you zap yourself!
You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative?
IT HURT LIKE YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE!!!
A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), I collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape.
My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. The recliner was upside down and about 8 feet or so from where it originally was. My triceps, and right thigh were still twitching.
My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I had no control over the drooling.
My sense of smell was gone. I saw a faint smoke cloud above my head which I believe came from my hair.
P. S. My wife loved the gift, and now regularly threatens me with it!
'If you think Education is difficult, try being stupid.'
Monday, February 18, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
The Bagpiper and the Funeral
The Bagpiper and the Funeral
As a bagpiper, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a grave-side service for a homeless man with no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery in the Oklahoma back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost; and being a typical man didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew. The funeral guy had evidently gone, as the diggers were eating lunch and the hearse was nowhere in sight. I felt badly about this. I apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down. The vault lid was already in place. I started to play and the workers gathered around. I played out my heart and soul for this homeless man. And as I played Amazing Grace, the workers began to weep. I played like I'd never played before.. Then I finished and started for my car. As I was opened the door, I heard one of the workers say, "Man that was really moving, I ain't never seen nothin' like that before." "And I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
As a bagpiper, I was asked by a funeral director to play at a grave-side service for a homeless man with no family or friends. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery in the Oklahoma back country. As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost; and being a typical man didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew. The funeral guy had evidently gone, as the diggers were eating lunch and the hearse was nowhere in sight. I felt badly about this. I apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down. The vault lid was already in place. I started to play and the workers gathered around. I played out my heart and soul for this homeless man. And as I played Amazing Grace, the workers began to weep. I played like I'd never played before.. Then I finished and started for my car. As I was opened the door, I heard one of the workers say, "Man that was really moving, I ain't never seen nothin' like that before." "And I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Resolution for Men
“A man cannot be passive about what Scripture tells him to do for his family and expect to be found faithful to God in the end. He must see with spiritual eyes and realize that future generations are directly impacted by his daily decisions.”
—The Resolution for Men
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
A Deeper Repentance
Deeper Repentance
from The Valley of Vision:
Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach. Help me chastely to flee it and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Thine alone.
Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in Thee, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being. Give me a deeper knowledge of Thyself as saviour, master, lord, and king. Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in Thy Word, more steadfast grip on its truth. Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from Thee.
Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman, that my being may be a tilled field, the roots of grace spreading far and wide, until Thou alone art seen in me, Thy beauty golden like summer harvest, Thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.
I have no master but Thee, no law but Thy will, no delight but Thyself, no wealth but that Thou givest, no good but that Thou blessest, no peace but that Thou bestowest. I am nothing but that Thou makest me. I have nothing but that I receive from Thee. I can be nothing but that grace adorns me. Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Resisting Temptation
Resisting Temptation
To help keep from falling to temptation we should all memorize Scriptures that address areas of sins which are common temptations in our culture or age group “before” they become a problem for us. For example, certain sins are common in the teen years. Therefore parents and teachers should encourage memorization before young people face these temptations. Lust is an example of a new temptation that will hit young males especially hard in the adolescent years. Scriptures like Mat 5:28; Job 31:1; Psalm 101:3; & Proverbs 6:25; should be memorized by every male by age “12”.
Sexual sin is a new temptation that strikes adolescents. All young people should therefore memorize Scriptures like 1 Cor 6:18-20; Prov 6:32; 1 Thes 4:3-5; and Eph 5:3.
FBI Workbook
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The Catholic Priest and the Baptist Boy
A worldly young Southern Baptist went to the racetrack for the very first time. He saw a priest in the paddock give a horse a blessing. The boy took the horse’s number, placed a small bet and sure enough the horse won. For the next several races, the boy went to the paddock, saw the priest bless a horse, placed a bet and won. On the last race of the day he repeated the routine and bet all his winnings on the anointed horse. Rounding the final turn the horse had a sizable lead, but then he suddenly dropped dead. The young man sought out the priest to complain. "That’s the trouble with you Baptists," said the priest. "You don’t know the difference between a simple blessing and the last rites." Anonymous
The Pastor and the Boy
A pastor was walking down his neighborhood street one day and was feeling down cause he didn't think people were getting his messages to help and visit the elderly. Then he noticed a little boy from his church trying to reach the knocker on an elderly woman's door. Excited that at least he had gotten the message he went to help him. He walked up on the porch and pounded the knocker on the door. Then he looked down at the little boy and asked what do we do now. The little boy looked up with suprise and yelled, "RUN!!!"
Tony Nolan
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About Me
- Darrell
- Born again at 40 in 2001, though I practiced Christianity since I was 13.