Toney Stowers Blog

Trusting God

2007-01-25T08:49:00.000-05:00

Did you ever try to teach a child how to swim? You can do all the talking and all the illustrations on the beach or on the pool side that you want. But no one ever learn how to swim on the beach or beside a pool. Folks, sooner or later you got to get into the water.
I can well remember Debi and I getting into a pool in Charlotte NC with Landon when he was 5 or 6 years old. I went out into the deep end and said "swim to me Landon." I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you, you’re not going to drown. Just swim to me. And because Landon trusted me he ventured out into the deep water with me. I believe we don’t venture out into the deep water with God anymore than we do because we don’t trust God anymore than we do. It’s as simple as that.

Christianity-Lite

2006-12-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

There was a cartoon not long ago that really caught my eye and slapped me in the face all at the same time. There was a church building and the sign out front read. “Welcome To The Lite Church.” And below the name it read…..
We have 50% fewer commitments than the regular Churches.”
We are the home of the 10 minute sermon.
And the 45 minute worship service.
And the 5% tithe.
We have 7 commandments, take your pick.
We have everything you ever wanted in a church and less.

We live in the Lite generation. The alcohol consuming portion of our population loves light beer. We have light salad dressings, lite margarine and even lite ice cream. We have Diet Coke and we drink it in the hope we can eat more lite ice cream. Is it any wonder then that we are sometimes drawn to lite Christianity?

Christianity-Lite, it taste great but doesn’t make demands upon us. Christianity-Lite, it taste great but doesn’t have any consequences.
Christianity-Lite, it taste great and doesn’t require any commitment.

The world is lost and what we many times have to offer them is a decaffeinated Christianity. It tastes like the real thing but it won’t keep you awake at night. A decaffeinated Christianity that ignores the 2000 verses of scripture that talks about the poor and outsiders.
A decaffeinated Christianity that ignores the hundreds of verses that talk about evangelism and reaching the lost.
A decaffeinated Christianity that ignores the over 150 verses of scripture that talk about giving of our means.
And a decaffeinated Christianity that ignores almost 100 verse in the New Testament that talks about service and servant hood.
If Jesus Christ were here today what would he have to say about our brand Christianity.

GO HERD! Beat The Green Wave!

2006-11-03T14:07:00.000-05:00

Mocked God Lately?

2006-11-03T09:40:00.000-05:00

This is from an email I received from one of my wonderful Sister's at Hurricane.
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7): "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Here are some men and women who mocked God:

JOHN LENNON: Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said: "Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that. I am certain Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple. Today we are more famous than Him". (1966) Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than JesusChrist, was shot six times.

TANCREDO NEVES (President of Brazil): During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party,not even God would remove him from Presidency. Sure he got the votes, buthe got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

CAZUZA (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet): During a show in CanecÃ£o Rio de Janeiro , whilst smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: "God, that's for you." He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.

THE MAN WHO BUILT TITANIC: After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said: "Not even God can sink it". The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic.

MARILYN MONROE: She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spiritof God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: "I don't need your Jesus". A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.

BON SCOTT: The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang: "Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, downthe highway to hell". On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was founddead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

CAMPINAS/SP IN 2005In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend. The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter - holding her hand, who was alreadyseated in the car: "MY DAUGHTER, GO WITH GOD AND MAY HE PROTECT YOU." Sheresponded: "ONLY IF HE (GOD) TRAVELS IN THE BOOT, CAUSE INSIDE HERE IT'SALREADY FULL." Hours later, news came back that they had been involved in afatal accident, everyone had died, the car could not be recognized whattype of car it had been, but surprisingly, the boot was intact. The police said there was no way the boot could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the boot was a crate of eggs, none were broken..... Boot means trunk.

Many more important people have forgotten that there is noother name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus. Many have died but only Jesus died and rose again, and HE is still alive. JESUS!!!

Why John Kerry Isn't President

2006-11-02T15:53:00.000-05:00

Two Voices

2006-11-01T07:17:00.000-05:00

Listen!
Two Voices
Which Is Louder? THE CROWD OR THE CROSS

The Crowd says follow us, The Cross says follow Me
The Crowd says rely on yourself, The Cross says rely on Me
The Crowd says earn your worth, The Cross says I Am your worth
The Crowd says bear your burdens,The Cross says nail them to Me
The Crowd says be happy, The Cross says be Holy

The Crowd says honor yourself, The Cross says humble yourself

The Crowd says DO, The Cross says DONE!

WE ARE.....MARSHALL

2006-10-11T13:03:00.000-04:00

Casting Crowns "I Praise You In This Storm"

2006-10-11T12:59:00.000-04:00

David Crowder "O Praise Him!"

2006-10-11T12:54:00.000-04:00

The Gratitude Attitude

2006-10-06T21:11:00.000-04:00

This blog makes me think of my grandmother Stricklin. She never had much earthly wealth. A small house, old cars, living month to month. She spend most of her life in poor health, but was always thankful for everything God have given her. She puts me to shame; I’m sure every one of you has someone in your mind that reminds you of that grateful attitude.
How much do we need to make us grateful? And when I say us I mean me too. It's been going on since the Garden of Eden, even paradise was not enough for Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were a lot like us they wanted just one thing. More!
The story of mankind is a story of God’s grace and man’s ingratitude. That’s what it is, from start to finish, that's what it's about. The story of the fall is not a story of a fall from human perfection to human imperfection. It’s a story of a fall from grace to ingratitude.
And you know what, it sounds simple but the way we get to God is to come back into that state of gratitude.
I think one of the fundamental sin’s of humanity is ingratitude. If we in one moment could see and know everything that God has done for us. Every blessing, every yes miracle, every time he has moved us out of harms way. I don’t think our hearts or our minds could contain it.
It seems like only when we lose something do we realized what we had. Do we have to get sick before we are grateful for our health and for our life? Do we have to go broke before we are grateful for all the material blessings God has given us?

Bad Kids, Bad Parents or BOTH

2006-09-30T16:30:00.000-04:00

Human beings are not always the parents God wants to be when he blesses them children. There are examples on the TV all the time of bad judgment, bad decisions and just plain stupidity when it comes to parenting. Nothing is sadder to me than a child betrayed by a parent that is suppose to take care of them, and mistreats their gift from God.
Every generation complains that the one running after it is running a muck. That every generation is just going to pot. I have always said, if that is true there is only one explanation. Now, I don’t think it's true. I work with young people almost day and I don’t believe it. But if you do.....
The only explanation for it Lousy Parents! Not only was each generation of kids worse that the one before but each generation of parents as well.
Sorry, but sometimes the truth hurts. Do you think this generation is worse than any other?

Ronald Reagan

2006-09-30T16:10:00.000-04:00

One of political heroes is former President Ronald Reagan. Not that I agree with everything he did mind you but he meant what he said and said what he meant. Not to many political animals like that today. Here are some of his best quotes.

"Here's my strategy on the Cold War: We win, they lose." - Ronald Reagan
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help." - Ronald Reagan
"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong." - Ronald Reagan
"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress." - Ronald Reagan
"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination." - Ronald Reagan
"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other." - Ronald Reagan
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program" - Ronald Reagan "
I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting." - Ronald Reagan
"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first." - Ronald Reagan
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." - Ronald Reagan "Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book." - Ronald Reagan
"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. - Ronald Reagan
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
-Ronald Reagan

You Might Think I'm Not Enjoying Football This Season

2006-09-25T10:13:00.000-04:00

You might think I'm not enjoying football this season. With my Steelers 1-2 and the Herd 1-3 things could have gone better in September. But on a personal level I have enjoyed Sunday afternoons a whole lot. Landon my God-son plays for the Little Dragons in the B-Division of the St.Albans youth football league. The Dragons are 2-2 and Landon has got in the endzone twice this season. Yesterday he scored the game winning TD in a hard fought 8-6 victory over the Belle Bulldogs. I love to watch Landon play, he is an animal on defense and I'm very proud of him win or lose.
As for the Steelers, they will be ok. They always start slow and play much better when the world has written them off.
As for the Herd, the jury is still out. If they don't beat UCF next Wednesday night they are looking at a 2nd straight losing season.
Hey, I've still got those 4-0 Hurricane Redskins and the Little Dragons.

Hail To The Redskins

2006-09-20T09:14:00.000-04:00

With a #5 ranking in state AAA ratings this week the game with the Parkersburg Big Reds next Friday could be the biggest regular season game in the history of Hurricane High School Football. The Big Reds current ranking is #3.
Hurricane can run the ball down your throat as they did against Winfield and Riverside or throw for 400 yards as they did against Cabell Midland. Their defense is among the best in the state yielding 6 points per game with 2 shut outs.
After Parkersburg the schedule gets a little easier @#10 Nitro, @ Ripley, vs. #2 St.Albans (I'm not convinced the Dragons are for real) @ Greenbrier East and vs. Poca.
Hurricane could go anywhere from 10-0 to 7-3. The difference between a playoff season and the greatest season in Redskin history is small, but this team has that chance and is that good. They are fun to watch.
LETS GO.... REDSKINS!!!!!

We Have An Expiration Date

2006-09-18T18:49:00.000-04:00

The Dash
By Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning . . . to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears,but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on earth,and now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own; the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love and how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard, are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left. (You could be at "dash mid-range.")
If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and what's real,and always try to understand the way other people feel.
And . . . be less quick to anger, and show appreciation moreand love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile,remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read with your life's actions to rehash . . .

Would you be pleased with the things they have to say about how you spent your dash?
Dear God, may my dash be one that is meaningful in sharing the love and hope you gave in Jesus Christ.

Guess Where This Picture Was Taken

2006-09-18T18:45:00.000-04:00

World Champs Off To A Great Start

2006-09-08T16:31:00.000-04:00

The Steelers looked great Thursday vs. Miami. Many experts who only look at offense were picking the Dolphins to up end the Champs but Defense win Championships. The Steelers defense came up big in 28-17 win.
Charlie Batch played well in Big Ben's absence and threw 3 TD passes. Willie proved he can be an every down back with nearly 30 carries and 130 yards.
Joey & Troy played great and lead the NFL's best defense to a opening day victory.
Next up, those nasty cats from Jacksonville next Monday night.

Life Group Reason #4- Fellowship, Encouragement, Outreach & Evangelism

2006-09-05T17:23:00.000-04:00

All of these in my mind go hand in hand. There is doubt that fellowship was huge part of the early church look at Acts 2:42.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching a fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 20:7 talks about the early Christians eating together. You know nothing puts me at ease like eating with someone. I went out on some first dates in college were the last thing the girl wanted to do on the first date was eat. They wanted us guys to think they didn’t ever eat. But for the very most part sitting down and eating someone realizes you and them. You are sharing a common need, a need for physical nourishment. When people eat together it has a disarming effect. The wall that we put up to everyone. You know the wall, the I’m fine your fine wall. The face we put on for the world to see. Those walls begin to come down and we start to share the things that matter must to us. While no formal decsion has been made about eating in our life groups I think I can safely say that if your groups what to break bread together that’s going to be ok. And I would even encourage it. There is so much more to be gained from it that just filling our bellies.
And after those walls come down Encouragement and accountability start. Remember that car salesman I told you about in an earier post. I still count as one of many spiritual failures. What if I would have been able to tell him. Ya know what, your right. Christians struggle just like anybody else. I meet with a small group of people once a week and we talk about our troubles and are triumphs. With mercy and without judgment. And we talk about what God is doing our lives and we love encourage one another. We meet at a house just up the road here would you like to come and join us. I think about how many people I have invited to church and think how better the invitation a just told you sounds.
We have spent too much time inviting people to church and not near enough inviting to see Jesus in us.
We have spent too much time inviting people to worship and not near enough showing them the worship of our living sacrifice.
We have spent too much time leading people to believe that church is something we do from 10-11:30 Sunday morning and not enough time showing that the church is the body of Christ 24/7 wherever we may be.
If you have a heart for evangelism Life Groups is an answer to prayer for you. And if you don’t have a heart for evangelism now. Find it, pray to God to help you find it. I believe opportunities to tell people and show people the love of Jesus are coming in mass. I think the Life Groups are that important.
Support and pray for our Leadership the Life Groups committee and every person out there that God is tugging at their heart to be a Life Group Leader or Assistant Leader. And when the time comes to get involved, dive in head first.

Happy 50th Birthday "The Hurricane Church"

2006-08-30T09:07:00.000-04:00

What a wonderful weekend! There is no other way to describe last weekend a our church as we celebrated our 50th anniversary as a congregation.
The weekend started with a picnic at Hurricane City Park with over 100 people in attendance. At that picnic our Leadership presented Paul & Kitty Selan with a plaque & tribute as our only original members from 1956. The Selans our a huge part of our church and we love them very much.
On Sunday Jim Gardner and Jeff Garrett, both former ministers at our church, brought us some of the best lessons I've ever heard. If there was better preaching in the country this past Sunday I want to know where it was.
Thanks to all who made our 50th birthday celebration a huge success.

Life Group Reason #3 - Worship

2006-08-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Rob O talked a couple of weeks ago about the early Christians and for more than 300 years after Jesus death they met in the homes. Around 325AD they started too met in buildings. I wonder sometimes if that was the beginning of a mind set that seems to still exist in Christianity today. The mind set that what we do in our church building from 10am to 11:30am on Sunday morning is worship and that rarely think of worship outside outside the building.
I believe God intended for worship to be a 24/7 deal. Romans 12:1-2 connects all of life with worship.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Presenting our bodies to God as a living and holy sacrifice is worship. And not worship that lasts for an hour and half on Sunday morning, but a worship that lasts now to eternity.
I got in a discussion once with a guy trying to sell me a car. He asked what I did for a living and I told him I was a minister. He asked me where and I told him the Hurricane Church. And he said, “The come as you are church”. And I proudly said yes. Evidently he had our ad at the movie theater. He asked me what that meant. And I told him what it meant to me, that people in any situation, even physically or spiritually in rags were welcome. And he told me something I’ll never forget. I don’t believe that exists. I was taken back by that a little but you see no amount of ads and amount of me tell him was going to convince him different of something he had seen his whole life. That Christian’s were Christian for an hour and half and Sunday and seldom anytime else during the week.
I believe with all my heart that that Life Groups will help us to realize and more than realize because I think most of us here realize but live our worship to God as a 24/7 proposition.
This man that I met on a car lot might be someone you know, he might be your friend, but he would never look for you at church. If we are going to serious about being God’s people then we are going to have to get serious about making our lives a worship. Life Groups will help take your Christianity outside the church walls for the world to see.

WE ARE......MARSHALL!

2006-08-25T00:03:00.000-04:00

No one is giving The Herd much of a chance next Saturday but it's not the first time Marshall has been cast in that role. Just look below! Enjoy! GO HERD!

2006-08-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

2006-08-24T23:58:00.000-04:00

Life Groups Reason #2- Bible Study

2006-08-24T14:52:00.000-04:00

H&R Block used to give you 100 reason why you should use them to do taxes. I'm giving my reasons why you should dive into Life Groups.
Most of us can quote 2 Tim. 2: 15. And we all could spend more time in Bible study. Life Groups will allow you to that. You might say I read through my Bible now. Steve sends me the daily Bible reading everyday.
That’s a wonderful thing and it’s a wonderful ministry but one it lacks interaction. My brother and I were riding in car the one day and we were debating one of the hot button issues of the church. After much debate I almost screamed at him. Randy, I believe the Bible is the inspired word of the God but I don’t believe your interpretation of it is. We laugh about that now but at the time there was some tension. Guess what my interpretation of scripture is not the inspired word of God either. I don’t have all the answers, and I’m leery of people who think they do.
There is great benefit in interaction about the Bible. There have been so many times in my studies that I have not got it with a certain passage. And interaction with others, different prospective have helped me in my Bible study. And that will be an important element of Life Groups. How many times have we been in Bible study on one person have this piece of the puzzle and someone else have the other piece. Interactive Bible study with an exchange of ideas will be a huge part of these life groups.

Life Groups Reason #1- Prayer Life

2006-08-22T17:17:00.000-04:00

For the next couple of post I want to share with you my reasons why you should be in one of our Life Groups this Winter.
First prayer. I believe if we could bring an early Christian back through time and he could see 21st century Christianity. One of his first concerns would be our prayer life. Paul writing the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 says to pray continually. How are you doing at that? I’m not afraid to tell you that my prayer life could use some work.
In these Life Groups prayer is going to be encourage. When we ask people to pray for us it forces us to share our needs, our sorrows, and our dreams. It helps with confession and accountability, as we share with each other our weaknesses and needs.
Life Groups will get us in the wonderful habit of praying for others. You will pray for the people in your Life Group daily and they will be praying for you.
I don’t know if you have ever been in a situation where people were praying for you on a grand scale. Something going on in your life where the whole church was praying for you almost at once. It's an amazing experience that give you a feeling and hope that no drug or amount of Red Bull can touch.

Cincinnati Bengals New Logo Contest!

2006-08-11T13:06:00.000-04:00

With all their legal problems.... (WVU's Chris Henry has been arrested 4 times, Thurman failed a drug test, rookie LB Nicholson got caught stealing stereo equipment earlier this summer and rookie DL Frostee Rucker was arrested on battery and vandalism charges. Steinbach just got a DUI on his boat. That’s five players from one team in one offseason) the Bengals are holding a contest to pick their new logo for upcoming 2006 NFL season. Which do you like!

Deep In The Heart Of Texas

2006-08-10T17:17:00.000-04:00

I have been home from Texas about 5 days and I'm just now getting cooled off. My friend Mike Cleveland has often told me about the Texas heat but it's something words can't describe. It's a heat that you wear like a jacket, it's a heat you can put in your suitcase and take home.
Other than the heat I enjoyed my trip to Texas. The Cleveland's and their family were wonderful hosts. I got to go to the Alamo to fulfill a life long dream. To stand in the same place that Crockett, Travis and the rest of those brave men fought for Texas independence was amazing.
The wedding was beautiful! I want to thank Corey and Danielle for asking me do their ceremony. It was the biggest wedding I have had the pleasure to do, but everything is big in Texas.

Tri-State Bible Camp 2006

2006-07-25T19:07:00.000-04:00

First let me say, I had a great week at camp! I want to thank George for letting me be a small part of huge wave for God last week. God moved throughout the camp all week. If your not going to camp as teen or not sending your young person to camp as a parent you are missing out on a huge opportunity for spiritual growth. I want to encourage you to plan your summer around camp in 2007.
Jake Kaufman did a wonderful job. God spoke through him all week and he challenged our young to get exited about serving God.
The campfires were awesome! Something about watching young people pours out their hearts to God ignites my soul. The bible classes were better than they ever have been. Steve, Jeff , J.T and Jay were on fire.
And our young people had a great week. I saw Jesus everywhere just hanging out with them. They adopted a young lady for Ashland who was basically there by herself and made her feel like a real H20 member. I was so proud.
Dusty Sowards and Brandon Simien both won awards for their servant hearts but believe when I tell you our whole group had a huge impact.
My description doesn't do camp justice your just gonna have to go see for yourself.

More Later.... But Camp was AMAZING!

2006-07-24T21:18:00.000-04:00

Stowers Family Southern Tour

2006-07-12T22:13:00.000-04:00

Well, it's about over but we (Deb & I) have really enjoyed this vacation. This is a list of cities that would make NASCAR and The Charlie Daniel's Band proud. Keep in mind as you read this that Landon (our God-son) is with us.

Friday 7th- left for Charlotte to see Kenny, Lauren & Logan and pick up our 5 year old grand daughter Maddie.

Saturday 8th- With 9 year old Landon and 5 year old Maddie in tow we drive to Jacksonville to see Chris, Barbie, Little Toney & Nathan. Chris is stationed at the Mayport Naval Base in Jacksonville. This is by far the nicest place Chris has been stationed. Getting to see the boys was amazing. They have grown so much!

Sunday 9th- Didn't make it church, sorry Mom. Needed sleep this particular Sunday. We got to the beaches of Jacksonville, and Chris, Landon and myself played a round of golf. But the highlight was Chris taking Landon and I aboard the aircraft carrier he is currently assigned to THE JFK. What an experience to stand on the flight deck of a US carrier. I will never forget it.

Monday 10th- Another beach and pool day and getting to hang out with my family. A great day.

Tuesday 11th- With Rick Flair like speed and style we drive from Jacksonville to Atlanta to see Debi's mother Eula, one sister Kay and brother Tim. We went to Stone Mountain, GA Tuesday evening to watch the laser light show. I have been to this show several times in my 16 years of marriage to Deb and these people still don't know the north won the civil war. That aside, Stone Mountain is a place people should see before they die.

Wednesday 12th- We went to Whitewater, the biggest water park in the South. If God ever asks me for suggestions on an 11th commandment. Something about waterparks and fat youth ministers will be a discussion topic.

Thursday 13th- Landon and will be back on the golf course tomorrow morning. I can't wait.

I will see you all soon. One day of rest and it's off to Tri-State Bible Camp. I know what your thinking. He's an idiot. Your right, the timing could be better.
I love you guys!

Jim Gardner

2006-07-06T15:57:00.000-04:00

One of my greatest friends in ministry and former Hurricane youth minister is now going to be the preaching minister at the biggest Church of Christ in California. The Woodward Park Church of Christ http://www.woodwardparkchurchofchrist.net/in Fresno is about to receive a great blessing in the form of Jim and Mandy Gardner.
Congratulations guys!
P.S Not to worry, Jim will still be in West Virginia in August. The following is his schedule.
August 20th Area Wide Youth Night at Hurricane
August 21st-23rd Meeting at Cross Lanes Church of Christ
August 27th preaching at Hurricane for 50th Anniversary Celebration

Life Groups

2006-07-06T15:39:00.000-04:00

One of things that really has me excited about the future of The Hurricane Church is the "Life Groups" that are on the horizon. We were all created for relationships, relationships with others and with God. We all desire friends, people with whom we hang out and have a good time, friends who will be there through thick and thin. Friends who will sharpen our character. Imagine being encouraged through a difficult time or even celebrating moments together.
At Hurricane we want to be more than just a friendly church, we desire to be a church where you will cultivate friends who will care for you, encourage you, love you and pray for you.
In a Life Group you will discover God’s love and truth together not just through Bible study, but through the experience of eating together, serving together, and praying together.
Keep the upcoming Life Groups at the top of your prayer list. They will change the way we look at church!

Happy 4th God Bless America!

2006-07-04T19:29:00.000-04:00

2006-07-04T19:27:00.000-04:00

The Pioneer 10

2006-06-28T10:20:00.000-04:00

In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. The satellite's primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to earth about Jupiter's magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere. Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, for at that time no earth satellite had ever gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy the satellite before it could reach its target. But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much, much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Jupiter's immense gravity hurled Pioneer 10 at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At one billion miles from the sun, Pioneer 10 passed Saturn. At some two billion miles, it hurtled past Uranus; Neptune at nearly three billion miles; Pluto at almost four billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun. And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continued to beam back radio signals to scientists on Earth. Perhaps most remarkable those signals emanate from an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light, and takes more than nine hours to reach Earth.
The Little Satellite That Could was not qualified to do what it did. Engineers designed Pioneer 10 with a useful life of just three years. But it kept going and going. By simple longevity, its tiny 8-watt transmitter radio accomplished more than anyone thought possible.
So it is when we offer ourselves to serve the God. Remember God can work even through someone with 8-watt abilities. It’s all about God, as matter of fact the only person God can’t work through is one that has quit.

I Can't Wait Till Football Season

2006-06-26T14:54:00.000-04:00

GO HERD!

Tri-County Work Camp 2006

2006-06-24T22:23:00.000-04:00

After much blood, sweat and tears the first Tri-County Work Camp is history. What an experience! 51 teens later I'm so we did it! I was told by some it was too big an undertaking and by others that it was silly to have our work camp when there were others nearby. Both theories were wrong.
Despite not having a lot of prep time our congregation along with the Cross Lanes and Kanawha City congregations rallied to make sure our young people got to go free and had everything they needed.
This camp had an impacted in so many ways. First, the people we helped truly saw Christ through our young people. The Faith Mission in Hurricane is now wanting to start a permanent relationship with us. Many who were helped broke down when expressing their gratitude. It was a uplifting experience to see teens have that kind of impacted.
Second, The Hurricane, Cross Lanes and Kanawha City youth groups started the camp as 3 separate youth groups but by the end all of the lines were gone. Where there was 3 youth groups before now there is 1 huge one. That was exciting to all three minister involved.
Last, our congregation got behind this 110% and prove to me we can do anything! From money, to site volunteers to cooks to housing to lending equipment we stepped up in a big way. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I was asked several times during the week if we were going to do this again. The answer is not if, it's when and where. The Tri-County Work Camp is here to stay.
Thanks to Mike Ross and Brad Maki who helped make it possible. Thanks to our own Rob O'Lynn for the excellent lesson Wednesday night and to all the people and places who gave our young people the chance to make a difference. This was a red letter week for youth groups in Kanwaha and Putnam counties and the start of something that's only going to get bigger and better.

27-4

2006-06-17T13:52:00.000-04:00

A brand new "The Hurricane Church" t-shirts goes out to any person who can guess the significance of these numbers! Just reply to this post.
27-4

Tri-County Work Camp Starts Next Wednesday

2006-06-16T07:04:00.000-04:00

Our first shot at work camp starts next Wednesday with the first edition of the Tri-County Work Camp. Our church along with Kanwaha City and Cross Lanes will send 48 young people out to serve their neighbors on a major scale. We will be working at both the Faith Mission in Hurricane and the Twin Cities Mission in St.Albans and along with families in Hurricane area. The 3 congregations have got 100% behind this effort and made it free for any young person that wants to participate. Our congregation has stepped up and is feeding campers 3 meals a day plus providing lodging in their homes.
More than a couple of people have asked me why we are doing this. I guess my answer would be after Savior the most important thing Jesus did was Servant. I believe it is one of the characteristics of Christ than is most missing from our lives. We owe it to our young people to give them opportunitys to serve and experience that wonderful feeling of giving.
There are many New Testament titles for Jesus Christ, but if he preferred one, it may have been Servant of the Lord. Mark 10:45 says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many," and Philippians 2:7-8 says, "He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave. He humbled Himself by being obedient, even to death."
Jesus was the Lamb of God who laid down His life for His sheep (John 1:29, 36). He submitted to the shame and ignominy of a very humiliating death on a rough wooden cross. He died, the just for the unjust. He served God and God's people right to the end. Jesus was the perfect example of what a life should look like and Jesus was a servant.

Self-righteous service comes through human effort. True service comes from a relationship with the divine.
Self-righteous service is impressed with the "big deal." True service finds it almost impossible to distinguish the small from the large service.
Self-righteous service requires external rewards. True service rests contented in hiddenness.
Self-righteous service is highly concerned about results. True service is free of the need to calculate results.
Self-righteous service picks and chooses whom to serve. True service is indiscriminate in its ministry.
Self-righteous service is affected by moods and whims. True service ministers simply and faithfully because there is a need.
Self-righteous service is temporary. True service is a life-style.
Self-righteous service is without sensitivity. It insists on meeting the need even when to do so would be destructive. True service can withhold the service as freely as perform it.
Self-righteous service fractures community. True service, on the other hand, builds community.
Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, "The Discipline of Service."

The Da Vinci Code

2006-06-12T17:22:00.000-04:00

"The best lies have some roots in the truth." That's what I told my young people as we started a 5 week study about the Da Vinci Code this past Sunday.
Unless you have been vacationing on Mars for the past year you know the The Da Vinci Code is Dan Brown's best selling book and now hit movie. "The Code" plays fast and lose with the facts and while the book is in the fiction aisle at Boarders many people are taking it seriously. Here are just a few of the claims made by the book.
The Bible was put together by Constantine a pagan Roman emperor. The Gospels have been edited to support the claims of later Christians.
Jesus was not the Son of God.
Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene.
Mary Magdalene not Peter was directed to establish the church.
Ã“The Priory of SionÃ” has been around 1000 years.
Jesus and Mary Magdalene conceived a daughter named Sarah.
The Catholic Church has assassinated the descendants of Christ to keep the blood line from growing.
Now I love a good story as much as the next guy but when that story distorts the facts about my Lord I have to take a stand. I want my young people to be able to take a stand as well. That's why we are taking the next 5 Sunday nights to watch the movie and learn the facts or the fiction that is The Di Vinci Code. I will let you know if I was able to watch the movie and separate it's entertainment value from it's half truths.

“So error-laden is The Da Vinci Code that the educated reader actually applauds those rare occasions where Brown stumbles into the truth."
Sandra Miesel, Crisis Magazine
“Be it said to Brown’s credit: the literary category for this book is fiction indeed."
Dr. Paul Maier, Western Michigan University

Batman's Top 10 Things NOT To Say While Pulled Over By The Police

2006-06-04T21:31:00.000-04:00

My great friend Brian Yost has had a few minor traffic stops in his life. I mean you gotta earn the name "Batman" right! Here is some sage advice from the Dark Knight himself.

#10 Sorry, Officer, I didn't realize my radar detector wasn't plugged in.

#9 Hey, you must've been doing about 125 mph to keep up with me! Good job!

#8 I thought you had to be in relatively good physical condition to be a police officer.

#7 You're not gonna check the trunk, are you?

#6 Gee, that belly sure does inspire confidence

#5 Didn't I see you get beat up on Cops?

#4 Gee, Officer! That's terrific. The last officer only gave me a warning, too!

#3 Do you know why you pulled me over? Okay, just so one of us does.

#2 . I was trying to keep up with traffic. Yes, I know there is no other car around-that's how far ahead of me they are.

AND THE #1 THING BRIAN YOST SAYS NOT TO SAY WHILE PULLED OVER….
#1 Aren't you the guy from the Village People?

A New Sheriff In Town

2006-05-30T20:31:00.000-04:00

3 months! It seems like a long time especially when your the only minister on staff but we have a new pulpit minister at Hurricane. Rob O'lynn was named our new pulpit minister by the leadership Sunday morning. Actually 3 months is quick to hire a preacher in "church time" so I tip my hat to our leadership for moving quickly.
I want to welcome Rob & Rachel to Hurricane and I look forward working with them side by side.
If you haven't got to hear Rob yet he starts this Sunday morning June 5th. Don't miss it.

2006-05-25T07:16:00.000-04:00

800 Paco's

2006-05-20T21:10:00.000-04:00

There's a Spanish story of a father and son. The son stole from and lied to his father and ran away from home. The father set off to find him. He searched for months but could not find him.
Finally, in a last desperate effort to find him, the father put an ad in a Madrid newspaper.
The ad read:
Dear Paco, meet me in front of this newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your Father.
On Saturday over 800 Pacos showed up, looking for forgiveness and love from their fathers. Amazing! This world needs forgiveness, this world needs love. Are you looking for the forgiveness and love of the Heavenly Father. You don’t have to look through the newspapers you don’t have to wait on a sign. He is only one step, one prayer, one thought away.
He has in fact been looking for you and pursuing you. And what nothing more than for you to come home and be with Him.

Mother's Day Started In West Virginia

2006-05-15T07:16:00.000-04:00

Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mothers Day, was born in Taylor County, West Virginia, on May 1, 1864, the ninth of eleven children born to Ann Marie and Granville Jarvis. From childhood, Anna Jarvis often heard her mother say that she hoped that someone would one day establish a memorial for all mothers, living and dead. After her mother's death on May 9, 1905, Miss Jarvis began an intense campaign of fulfill the wish of her mother.
Miss Jarvis employed every means available to her to achieve her goal of establishing the observance of Mothers Day nationally. She wrote hundreds of letters to legislators, executives, and businessmen on both state and national levels. She was a fluent speaker and passed up no opportunity to promote her project. Most of her appeals fell on deaf ears. Her first real break came from her appeal to the great merchant and philanthropist, John Wanamaker of Philadelphia. With his influence and support, the movement gained momentum.
On May 10, 1908, the third anniversary of Mrs. Jarvis' mother death, fully-prepared programs were held at the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton and in Philadelphia, launching the observance of a general memorial day for all mothers. The first Mothers Day proclamation was issued by Governor William E. Glasscock of West Virginia on April 26, 1910.
In May 1914 Representative Heflin of Alabama and Senator Sheppard of Texas introduced a joint resolution, at the request of Miss Jarvis, naming the second Sunday in May as Mothers Day, and the resolution was passed in both Houses. President Woodrow Wilson approved it, and William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State, proclaimed it. In the President's proclamation which followed, he ordered that the flag be displayed on all government buildings in the U.S. and foreign possessions. Later Mr. Heflin, co-author of the resolution said: "The flag was never used in a more beautiful and sacred cause than when flying above that tender, gentle army, the mothers of America."
Miss Jarvis spent many years and much of her fortune promoting the Mothers Day movement, however in her later years, she was confronted with a problem that required as much or more time and effort as the establishment of Mothers Day. This was her attempt to thwart commercialization of the day, or otherwise exploiting it for extraneous purposes. She did not succeed in preventing such an outcome.
Miss Jarvis spent her later years caring for her sister, Lillie, and attending flowers on her mother's grave. After her sister's death in 1944, Miss Jarvis was very much alone. Anna Jarvis died on November 24, 1948 at the age of 84. She is interred beside her mother in a Cemetery in Philadelphia. On the day of her burial, she was remembered in Grafton when the bell on the Andrews Church was tolled eighty-four times in her honor.

A Zode In The Road

2006-05-11T20:33:00.000-04:00

In Matthew 7: 13-14 Jesus says…
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Jesus says, “here are 2 roads”. Pick one. In the history of mankind the broad road has probably never been more alluring as it is right now. There is advertising industry that is dedicated 24/7 to keeping us on the broad way. Just do it! Are you stressed It’s Miller Time! No one spreads joy quite like the beers commercials. It’s sad to me the average American is bombarded with messages that there is more joy in a 12oz can than in Jesus.
You may think you just need a car but the broad says, “no you need prestige, you need sex appeal. Want people to respect you buy this car. Hit your middle crises and don’t feel appealing to the opposite sex anymore buy this car.

Do you know the problem with broad road. The problem is that you always need more.
On the broad road to much is never enough. One of my biggest struggles and maybe yours too is that I’m attracted to both roads. I love the narrow, I believe in the narrow road but I think maybe I can just have a little bit of the broad road as well.

I love quotes and there is a famous Dr. I want to quote. His name is Seuss. It's an educated crowd that reads this blog I know you've have heard of the famous Dr. Seuss.

A Zoad In The Road, by Dr. Seuss
Did I ever tell you about the young Zoad Who came to two sides in the fork in the road?
He looked one way then the other way, too. So the Zoad had to make up his mind what to do.
Well the Zoad scratched his head, his chin, and his pants, And he said to himself, 'Now, I'll be taking a chance.
If I go to place one, that place may be too hot. So how will I know if I like it or not?
On the other hand though, I'll feel such a fool, If I go to place two and find it's too cool.
In that case I may catch a chill and turn blue. So place one may be best and not place two.
On the other hand though, if place one is too high, I might get a terrible earache and die.
On the other hand though, if place two is too low, I might get some terrible pain in my toe.
So place one may be the best,' and he started to go. And he stopped and he said, 'On the other hand though. . .
On the other hand, other hand, other hand though, and. . . For thirty-six hours and one half that Zoad made starts and made stops
At the fork in the road, saying 'No, don't take a chance, you may not be right.' Then he got an idea that was wonderfully bright.
'Play safe,' cried the Zoad, 'I'm no dunce. I'll simply start off to both places at once.'
And that's how the Zoad who would not take a chance Got no place at all with the split in his pants.

The wisdom of Dr. Seuss, it’s deep, it’s rich and it describes every one of us at one time or another.
God doesn’t want you to stand still at that fork in the road. Pick one!

The Biggest choice

2006-05-08T16:56:00.000-04:00

Joshua calls his people to make the biggest choice of their lives. In Joshua 24 at Shechem 35 miles north of Jerusalem. Joshua gave a speech that in my opinion, is one of the best in Bible. In that speech Joshua said, his was all God from start to finish. It wasn't me, it wasn't us, it was God. Then he throws down the gauntlet and calls his people to a decision. Look at Joshua 24 starting with verse 14.

14 "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

I read that passage of scripture and I think of the movie The Alamo. I love that movie, both the Wayne and Thornton versions. I think of William Barret Travis taking a saber and making a line in the sand. And saying to them are you with us. If not the road out is that way. Decide! That is what Joshua is doing here. Decide! This is so not today. It's not politically correct to call people to make a choice. We are the wishy-washy generation. What Joshua calls the people to do is not easy. But who says it's supposed to be easy to follow God. Who told that lie?
Is it easy to follow God? In just about every instance in the Bible I can think a decision to follow didn't make the persons life easier. It often made it harder. So Joshua calls the people to decide and the people answer. Look at Joshua 24: 16-24

16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! 17 It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God."
19 Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you."
21 But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD."
22 Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.
23 "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
24 And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him."
25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the LORD.
27 "See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."

That's a leader drawing the line in the sand. There are some decisions so big they need to be carved in stone. They are just that important.

Tribute To The Class Of 2006

2006-05-01T20:23:00.000-04:00

As our Senior Banquet approaches this Sunday I want to pay tribute to a great senior class in our H20 youth group.

Beth Kinder- Beth is wonderful young lady who is a deeper thinker than most people give her credit for. She is our lone grad this year from Winfield. Beth is one of those people that when her mind is made up there is no stopping her. She has been a young person we have shared with the Kanawha City Church of Christ but she carved her own niche in our hearts here at Hurricane. I respect you so much Beth!

Tyler Gill- I wasn't sure about Tyler when he started getting involved with our youth group close to 3 years ago but now I can tell you he is a special young man. Tyler is a hard worker and that was never more evident than on our mission trip to McDowell County in 2004. Tyler has a soft heart and an ability to the make people around him feel good. You are amazing Tyler!

Jane Ann Kenney- Jane Ann has been one of the leaders of our youth group for the last couple of years. She is pretty, smart and spiritual. She is truly the total package of what a young Christian lady should be. I'm very proud of Jane Ann and I can't image my first 5 years in youth ministry with her in my youth group. You can't be replaced Janey!

Jesse Sowards- There are no words to tell you how far Jesse Sowards has come in the last 2 years. He has become a butterfly right before our eyes. Jesse is helpful, compassionate and has a strong sense of right and wrong. Jesse has become a leader almost overnight, he does a great job in the technology part of our worship and seeks no credit. I love you so much Jess!

Dusty Sowards- Dusty Sowards is quite simply the funniest young person in our youth group. Dusty has a way of making everyone around him light up. Dusty has so many wonderful character traits but his humbleness is not matched by anyone I have ever met. It has been an honor to have this young in my youth group and I am a better minister for know him. Dusty, you are a gift from God!

2006-04-27T07:29:00.000-04:00

The Axis Of Naughty

2006-04-22T10:10:00.000-04:00

I love political cartoons. A few years ago George W. Bush called a few a countries like Iran and North Korea an "axis of evil." The media went nuts. One political cartoon depicted Bush talking to Cheney and saying "maybe we should have called it an axis of naughty?"
Why can't we say the word evil when it fits a situation like a glove. When it fits what Satan is doing to our world and trying to do our hearts. There is evil all around, you need to look no father than 9/11, or the resent string of abducted little kids, it's heart breaking.
Over the last couple of years my prayers have changed so much. I used to prayer "Lord come back but wait until my granddaughter has grown up." Or "Lord come back but wait until I can bring a friend to you." Not anymore! Now I pray "Lord come back now!"
Folks, this is spiritual war and until Jesus comes back we have to get into the fight. What keeps us from getting into the fight. Romans 6: 1-2 says, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace my increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"
Now there is no one more in need of God grace and love than me. But sometimes I think we turn God's grace and love on it's head. We have took God's grace and used it and an excuse to get content and lazy with His work. God's grace was not intended to make us lazy it was intended to inspire us to do more. God's grace was not intended to inspire us solely to get together and kiss each others boo-boo's and make them better but to inspire us to pick up our sword and get in the fight.
And His church is not here to be a country club for people who think pretty much alike but the church is here to make more disciples. How are you doing at that? I gotta admit I could do better and with your prayers and God's power I will.

Chickeneers?

2006-04-22T09:58:00.000-04:00

You just can't trust those Mountaineers. And they think we take the game to seriously! When I first heard this story on the radio I thought it might be Jeremy Yost or Tom Racer. This story is from a Houston newspaper.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Nothing like a little spy scandal to spice up the football rivalry between West Virginia and Marshall.

Heading into only their second matchup in 83 years _ and it took the governor's involvement to help set this September's game _ school officials on both sides confirm a West Virginia student was caught spying at a Marshall practice this month.

The student was confronted April 11 after he was spotted sitting in the bleachers at Edwards Stadium taking detailed notes in a stenographer's notebook.

Thundering Herd practices have been open to the public this spring, but NCAA rules prohibit opposing coaches or football program representatives from attending another school's practice without permission.

The student works in the building where West Virginia's football offices are located. His name wasn't released because he wasn't criminally charged.

"We're treating it as a student conduct incident," Marshall Public Safety Director Jim Terry told the Charleston Daily Mail.

The teams are set to play Sept. 2 in Morgantown. They last met in football in 1997 _ that was their first game since 1923.

In 2005, Gov. Joe Manchin announced the Mountaineers and Thundering Herd would meet in a seven-game series. The schools play in other sports, but football has long been a sticking point.

Mark Gale, Marshall's director of football operations, said the student never admitted that he was enrolled at West Virginia. But officials found a card in his pocket that listed the names of the Mountaineer football staff and their phone numbers.

Marshall officials said the undergraduate student initially claimed to be a member of the media who was taking notes for a story. When challenged, they added, he said he attended the University of Alabama-Birmingham, one of the Thundering Herd's Conference USA rivals.

Then he allegedly tried to flee.

West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong said the student was acting "without the authority of anyone in the athletic department or anyone on the football staff."

Pastilong said that after the spying incident was brought to light, the student's work-study assignment was moved outside the Puskar Center.

"Following discussions between the schools and the coaches, we're putting the issue behind us," he said.

Pastilong's counterpart at Marshall, Bob Marcum, joked that he's just pleased that someone cares enough to check up on Marshall.

Happy 1st Birthday

2006-04-20T09:12:00.000-04:00

I reluctantly started this blog April 21st, 2005. I didn't figure I'd have much to say and there was a good possibility it would be a failure. Saturday will be the 1st birthday and I have over 160 posts, almost one every 2 days. Thank you for reading my thoughts, it has been like therapy for me.
I know I go over the top about things sometimes and I hope my post have been taken in the fun spirit I had when I wrote them.
So many things have changed in one year. Three of biggest friends in the ministry have moved away. Paul to Florida, Jake to Ohio and Steve to Kentucky. It's been a tough adjustment but I still have George.
God blessed me with a new grandson this year, Nathan Hurricane Brown.
The Steelers won the Super Bowl this year, you may have read something about that here.
And I hit my first hole in one this past year.
All in all a pretty incredible ride. Thank you for reading.

Forgotten Congratulations

2006-04-19T18:20:00.000-04:00

In all the Super Bowl hoopla I forgot to congratulate the 2005 Cincinnati Bengals on their AFC North Division Championship. So congratulations.
Sincerely,
THE 5-TIME CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Blown Away

2006-04-17T12:17:00.000-04:00

Our middle son Chris is in the Navy and we are very proud of him. I'm drawn to newspaper stories about the Navy and came across this one.
This February USA Today newspaper did an interview with a Navy Seal fighting terrorism in Afghanistan. They ask him “why did you become a seal?” He said “I was watching TV when our men got overrun in Mogadishu, and when I saw that happening I knew what a had to do.” If you were to young or don’t remember what in Mogadishu I’ll give you quick history lesson. If you have seen the movie “Blackhawk Down” you already know the most of the story. It was a badly planned mission into Mogadishu and a whole group of special forces were killed and dragged naked through the streets. This seal who was at that time a teenager said “and when I saw this happening I knew what I had to do.” I think of that article and I think about a teenager inspired to that level of sacrifice, and it blows me away. And then I think to myself that how I should be about serving the Lord, I should be inspired to the greatest level of sacrifice because of what he done for me.

Steelers For Life

2006-04-13T14:04:00.000-04:00

A good friend, who is not a Steelers fan sent me this story. Enjoy, and remember WE ARE CHAMPIONS!
A Cleveland family of football supporters head one Saturday to do their Christmas Shopping. While in the sports shop the son picks up a Pittsburgh Steeler jersey and says to his older sister, "I've decided to become a Steeler fan and I would like this for Christmas."His big sister is outraged by this and promptly whacks him round the head and says, "Go talk with mom." Off goes the little lad with the Pittsburgh Steeler jersey in hand and finds his mother. "Mom?""Yes, son?""I've decided I'm going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler fan and I would like this jersey for Christmas."The mother is outraged at this, promptly she whacks him around the head and says, "Go see your father." Off he goes with the Pittsburgh Steeler jersey in hand and finds his father. "Dad?""Yes, son?""I've decided I'm going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler fan and I would like this jersey for Christmas".The father is outraged and promptly whacks his son around the head and says, "No son of mine is ever going to be seen in THAT!" About half hour later they're all back in the car heading towards home.The father turns to the son and says, "Son, I hope you've learned something today?" The son says, "Yes Dad I have." "Good son, what is it?" The son replies, "I've only been a Pittsburgh Steeler fan for an hour and I already hate you Cleveland idiots."

King Chris

2006-04-11T16:49:00.000-04:00

I'm still an American Idol nut and last year I went with an underdog. This year Chris Daughtry is going all the way. Remember you heard it here first. Jim, you want to put a 12-pack on someone else?

It's Not Your Sign, It's Your Heart

2006-04-10T17:11:00.000-04:00

In the Bible, there are no exclusive names for the church. God refers to his church as:
"the church of God" (1 Cor. 1:2)
"church of the firstborn" (Hebrews 12:23)
"churches of Christ" (Romans 16:16)
"Body of Christ" (Colossians 1:24)
"Bride of Christ" (Revelation 21:2)
"House of God" (1 Timothy 3:15)
“The Saints of Jesus Christ” (Phl 1)
And many more.
You can tell a whole lot more by going inside a church building than from the sign on the outside.

1 John 7-16 God Is Love!

2006-04-07T15:56:00.000-04:00

1 John 4:7-16 (New International Version)
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in him and He in us, because He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
Just as John talked about in the verse above God is love. God is the love between parent and son, husband and wife and brother and sister. And those who abide in love abide in God and God abides in them. That’s the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the reason we are here today. It’s because of God’s love that we are created, that we live, that we love while we are here, and that we die. But most important it’s because of God’s love that we are saved. It’s God’s love that leads us to Him.

LETS GO BUCS!

2006-04-03T12:18:00.000-04:00

In celebration of the opening day of Major League Baseball here are my 2006 picks. As for the Pirates, they will improve and get their first winning season since 1992. Here goes...

American League West: Angels, Rangers, A's, Mariners

American League Central: Sox, Twins, Tigers, Tribe, Royals

American League East: Jays, Yankees, Redsox, Rays, Orioles

Wild Card: Rangers AL Champion: White Sox

National League West: Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Dbacks,Rockies

National League Central: Cards, Brewers, Pirates, Astros, Cubs, Reds

National League East: Braves, Mets, Phils, Nationals, Marlins

Wild Card: Mets NL Champion: Cardinals World Champion: White Sox

Psalm 121 Where Does Your Help Come From?

2006-04-01T10:21:00.000-05:00

Psalm 121 (New International Version)
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from?” It's a rhetorical question that the psalmist asks. He knows the answer yet it’s also a genuine question. Where does our help come from? And to whom do we lift up our lives during hard times, times when we need help.
We go through some hard times indeed including finacial worries, sickness and death. So in the shock of it all we cast our eyes up, looking for solace and seeking to ease the pain. And where do we turn for help? How do we see God? The psalmist looks to the mountains, biblically and traditionally the place where God dwells. And even as the psalmist lifts his eyes the answer to the question comes back. “My help comes from the Lord the Maker of Heaven and earth.

WE ARE MARSHALL! THE MOVIE!

2006-03-27T17:14:00.000-05:00

KEEP UP WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT THE MARSHALL MOVIE HERE http://www.marshall.edu/movie/

Quote Of The Day

2006-03-27T09:20:00.000-05:00

John Bacon, once a famous sculptor, left this inscription on his tomb in Westminster Abbey: "What I was as an artist seemed of some importance to me while I lived; but what I was as a believer in Jesus Christ is the only thing of importance to me now."

The Finish Line

2006-03-17T07:35:00.000-05:00

There was once a little girl named Sally who was fascinated with sister Edna older lady at her church. Sally walked up to Edna one Sunday and asked very politely “Edna, how old are you?” Edna replied “I’m 97 dear”. With a look of amazement Sally said, “Wow, did you start counting at one?”
Old age and death are things we don’t always like to talk about. But our focus on the finish line must start long before we get to 97 years old. The focus must start as soon we realize there is choice of who we will serve and where we will spend eternity. Sometimes when you’re young the tendency is to not worry about the finish line. 37, 57, 77, 97 seem like a long way off. But that is not the case. Life is a snap of the finger, it is a vapor. And if you don’t believe that is true than I challenge you to talk to some of our older and wiser members. And see what they tell you.
My next couple of blog entries will deal with the finish line. The end of the race.

My Tribute To Rick Huckabay

2006-03-12T07:54:00.000-05:00

In my humble opinion Rick Huckabay was the greatest Herd coach of my lifetime and will be missed. My personal fondest memory of Coach Huckabay was when we stormed the court after beating Davidson for the Southern Conference tournament Championship. I was one of the first on the court and ran to coach Huckabay. I screamed "I love you coach!" To which he said "I love you to son." That happen just seconds before this picture above was taken. There will never be another Rick Huckabay and Marshall basketball has felt that realization ever since the day he left. The following is from the Huntington Herald Dispatch March 12th 2006.

Game night was show time, but for Rick Huckabay, it was no act.
The engaging basketball coach dedicated his professional career to serving youth through the sport he loved. Diagnosed with cancer, Huckabay continued the path into the final month of his life, leading Simsboro High School into the Louisiana State High School playoffs.
Basketball communities in both the Tri-State and Louisiana mourned Huckabay's passing on Friday, when the former Marshall University men's coach died of cancer in Christus Schumpert Hospital in Shreveport, La.
He was 60.
"Huck was one of those exciting coaches, high energy, who brought Marshall fans some of their greatest moments in basketball," Marshall athletic director Bob Marcum said. "I think fans remember him as a person who won games, created a lot of enthusiasm with fans and had that 'X' amount of showmanship about him."
Marcum quickly added, however, that showmanship didn't equal a lack of substance. Huckabay was a coach first, who cut his teeth as an assistant at Louisiana State under Hall of Fame coach Dale Brown.
"Sometimes when you say 'flamboyant,' it overshadows what he was really hired to do, and that was to coach basketball, win games and graduate your players," Marcum said. "I don't want for one minute to give the impression that he wasn't a really good basketball coach, which he really was.
"His first love was to coach basketball, but he was able to see the big picture which was more than on the floor."
Huckabay, who lived in Ruston, La., amassed a 129-59 record in six seasons at Marshall, from 1983 to 1989, leading the Thundering Herd to three NCAA tournament appearances and a berth in the NIT. Career records and statistics, impressive as they were, hardly captured Huckabay's legacy.

Would Jesus Eat In A Gymnasium? And Other Cosmic Questions

2006-03-03T16:35:00.000-05:00

My buddy Jim Gardner's blog pointed me to the 2006 Spring "Contending for the Faith Lectureship". One of the sessions, and I'm not making this up, is called Is There Biblical Authority to Eat in the Church Building and if there is Such Authority, Does that Same Authority Authorize Gymnasiums and the Like?
I bet there are good seats still available for that one! That sad thing is that the wonderful name of Jesus is not mentioned in the title of any of the 30 sessions that week. Not even "Would Jesus Eat In A Gymnasium? "
If it wasn't so sad it would be hilarious, maybe it's both. You just can't make this stuff up!
Forget taking Christ out of Christmas these legalist take Christ out of Christianity. Thank you Jim for the best laugh and cry I've had in weeks.

Martha & Toney Worried About Everything

2006-03-03T16:27:00.000-05:00

Someone I love sent me this email and I liked it.
The next time you feel like GOD can't use you, just remember...
Noah was a drunk
Abraham was too old
Isaac was a daydreamer
Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Joseph was abused
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Isaiah preached naked
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
John the Baptist ate bugs
Peter denied Christ
The Disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced
Zaccheus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer
AND Lazarus was dead!

Whose Your Brother?

2006-02-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

Every congregation has their share of problems and some do things a little different but when do you stop calling them the true church. Do we even have that right? Some act like God has assigned them to be the theology police. Paul had every reason to disown the church at Corinth, but what did he do?
This a short list of the problems at Corinth....
Division in the Corinthian Church (1Cor. 1:10-17)
Sexually Immorality in Corinthian Church (1Cor. 5: 1-5)
Lawsuits Among the Corinthian Church (1Cor. 6: 1-6)
Eating Food Sacrificed to Idols at the Corinthian Church (1Cor. 8)
Abuse of Lord’s Supper at the Corinthian Church (1Cor. 11: 17-22)

So how does Paul address these BROTHERS. Just look below.
(1Cor 1: 1-9)
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Still think you have the right so say which congregations are the true church and which are not?

My Tribute To Don Knotts

2006-02-25T21:40:00.000-05:00

One way that you can know your getting old is when your hero's start dying off. One of mine passed away on Friday.
Don Knotts was my favorite comedian of all time. He play the lovable Barney Fife in the "Andy Griffith Show" series. I have used the Griffith bible studies with my youth group during 2 summer quarters at Hurricane. The young people loved Barney and the show even though it was over 40 years old.
Laughter is an amazing gift from God. God give us a huge gift in Don Knotts and now he has taken him back to entertain the angels.
God Bless You Barney

From the Washington Post:

Don Knotts, the rail-thin comic actor who was perhaps best known to millions of television viewers as the bungling Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife in "The Andy Griffith Show" and the squirrelly landlord in "Three's Company," died of lung cancer Feb. 24 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 81.
Mr. Knotts, who often played high-strung characters, won five Emmys for Best Supporting Actor in the 1960s as the swaggering but hapless Fife. Mr. Knotts developed the idea of the deputy sheriff when he heard that Andy Griffith, with whom he had worked in the play "No Time for Sergeants," was putting together a TV pilot set in the fictional North Carolina town of Mayberry.
The series was a huge success when it aired, from 1960 to 1968, consistently ranking in the top 10 of the Nielsen ratings.
Fife, who grew into one of the most beloved comic characters in American popular culture, generated sympathy and laughs in scenes in which he fumbled to load his service revolver with the single bullet Griffith allotted him.
"Don meant everything," Griffith said in a telephone interview. "Don made the show. I've lost a lifetime friend."
The two actors remained close friends over the years and reprised their roles in the 1986 television movie "Return to Mayberry."
Mr. Knotts's wife, actress Francey Yarborough, said in a statement that Griffith visited Mr. Knotts at the hospital shortly before his death to say goodbye.
"Don was an actor who played comedy as opposed to a comedian who does stand-up," said Mr. Knotts's longtime manager, Sherwin Bash, in a telephone interview. "He was one of a kind."
Mr. Knotts, who lived in West Los Angeles, left television in 1965 to devote more time to family-oriented film comedies that featured his zany, bugged-eyed expressions, high-pitched voice and perfect slapstick timing.
His movie credits include "The Incredible Mr. Limpet" (1964), "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" (1966), "The Reluctant Astronaut" (1967), "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968) and "The Love God?" (1969).
In the 1970s, Mr. Knotts teamed with fellow comic actor Tim Conway in the Disney movies "The Apple Dumpling Gang" and "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again."
"It's because of Don that I'm in this business," Conway said in an interview last year with the Kansas City Star. "When I used to watch the old 'Steve Allen Show,' with Don Knotts and Louie Nye and Tom Poston -- the 'Man on the Street' stuff -- I just thought Don was the funniest guy I'd ever seen. And I used to wait for that show at night."
Mr. Knotts returned to television in the late 1970s, joining the cast of ABC's popular sitcom "Three's Company" as the cad landlord Ralph Furley, a swinger who usually donned an ascot and bright, colorful leisure suits. He remained with the show until its final season in 1984.
In recent years, he had recurring roles on television, including a part on Griffith's show "Matlock" and the series "Pleasantville." He also performed in dinner theaters and did voice-over for animated films. Most recently, he was the voice of Mayor Turkey Lurkey in last year's "Chicken Little."
He was born Jesse Donald Knotts on July 21, 1924, in Morgantown, W.Va., where he grew up with three brothers. As a young man, he gravitated to the world of entertainment, starting as a ventriloquist. He briefly lived in New York before returning home and enrolling at West Virginia University.
He joined the Army during World War II and served as an entertainer. After the military, he returned to West Virginia University to finish his degree.
He worked in radio before getting his big break in the 1950s, when he won a spot to perform on "The Steve Allen Show." He drew howls from the audience playing a weatherman. The skit featured Mr. Knotts as a television weatherman forced to ad-lib the forecast without any information on the weather. As he wrote on a map about a weather system in California, stumbling over his words, it became clear he was writing "h-e-l-p."
His marriages to Kay Knotts and Loralee Knotts ended in divorce.
Survivors also include a son and a daughter.

Men's Golf Trip & Golf Tips

2006-02-23T08:39:00.000-05:00

With our Men's Golf Trip right around the corner I have to say, "I can't wait." I need the down time badly. Now some of my best golf wisdom. This advice is free but if you feel it's so good you must pay me for it make your donations to The Hurricane Church.

1) Don't buy a putter until you've had a chance to see how far you can throw it.
2) No matter how bad your playing it's always possible to play worse.
3) Never try to keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your mind during your back swing.
4) If it ain't broke, try changing your grip.
5) You can hit a 2 acre fairway 20% of the time and a 2 inch branch 80% of the time.
6) Everytime a golfer makes a birdie he must then make 2 triple bogeys to restore balance to the universe.
7) A golf match is a test of your skill vs. your opponent's luck.
8) Since bad shot come a groups of 3, a 4th bad shot is actually the beginning of a new group.
9) It is surprisingly easy to hole a 50 foot putt for a score of 10.
10) It's not a gimme if you're still away!

The Bitter Sweet

2006-02-19T18:34:00.000-05:00

"The Bitter Sweet" was a good theme for this weekend. It all started Friday when 43 souls from our number went to the best Winterfest celebration I have had the blessing to attend. Jeff Walling was on fire and the spirit moved through out Gatlinburg this weekend. Although I personally miss Jerome Williams the singing was great. Winterfest is the winter time highlight of our youth calendar and it did not disappoint.
Our young people are incredible! I have not had a major problem in 5 trips to Winterfest with The Hurricane Church. They are so spiritual and every year they blow me away.
I say the trip was bitter sweet because of the 6 hour bus ride home. We got a call at about the Virginia state line that Betsy Allen's aunt had passed away. We stopped what we were doing and had prayer with her.
Then about 2 hours from home the we got the news that had not been looking forward to facing. Steve called to let his children know that he accepted a ministry position in Russellville, Kentucky. The whole bus took the news hard especially Kenney kids but as a family we tried to be there for them. We had a prayer, shed some tears and hugged.
All in all a pretty emotional 3 hours that will probably turn into a pretty emotional next 5 or 6 months. It's hard to soak it all in right now, I'm physically and emotionally running on fumes.

What Ever Happened To The Four Stooges?

2006-02-14T06:50:00.000-05:00

On my blog on December 9th I warned you that some big changes could be coming for the youth ministry in the Valley. Just call me Toney the weight challenged prophet. In two mouths the 4 musketeers or stooges depending on your prospective have been cut in half. Jake Kaufman is heading to Belpre Ohio to be their new youth minister next month. This comes about 1 month after Paul left for Florida.

Please don't misunderstand what I'm saying. I love these guys and only wish great things for them. My concern is for those of us still here. Please be in prayer that both Kanawha City and Dunbar can find wonderful men to take on the ministry there. Be in prayer for the youth at those congregations and that it will not be long wait between ministers. And be in prayer for the part of kingdom this valley represents and pray that the youth here continue to get closer.

For one last tribute I'm going for the stooges....
George is Moe! If you don't think George is Moe I must ask this question. "Have you met George?" Moe is the leader, that's George.
Paul is Larry! Larry is the best looking of the stooges (not a great compliment) and is the conduit for all the interaction. He is the glue.
Jake is Curly! If you don't know Jake well you may not understand this but for those of us that do know Jake well Curly fits. Jake is a lovable clown with good intentions.
As for me I am Shep or Curly Joe and every other stooge that wanted to be like the other three. I learned so much from these guys in our time together. Those times will be missed dearly.

The Cross: Where God's Justice & Goodness Meet

2006-02-13T14:58:00.000-05:00

Continued from previous post.

God Himself made a way where His justice and His goodness could meet. We broke the Law, but He became a man to pay the price. Jesus suffered and died on the cross to satisfy the Law. God can forgive us and grant us the gift of everlasting life!
But you may still think that you can be a "good person". But isn’t it true that the best of us have lied, stolen, lusted, hated, failed to love God above all else, and failed to love our neighbor as ourselves?
How can we then, live a “good” life if we have already sinned against God? At best we are reformed liars and thieves, but still lawbreakers.
Think of it this way. Would you sell both of your eyes for 50 million dollars? I’m sure you wouldn’t. Your eyes are priceless, what then must your life soul be worth?
With these thoughts in mind, what would be a fair price to pay for everlasting life? It's priceless! Yet, if we trust in our own goodness to enter Heaven, we are saying to God, “I should enter Heaven because I have done good, "I have earned my way in.”
Imagine if you wanted to give me a brand new car, but I said, “I can’t take it! I feel embarrassed receiving such a gift, here’s 10 cents for it.” I’m sure you would be very insulted by such a small offer of payment. Besides, if I pay for it, it is no longer a gift, it’s a purchase, it’s mine by right.
When we talk of entering Heaven by being good, it's like we are tossing God 10 cents for our salvation which must be a terrible insult to Him, in the light of His sacrifice. The only thing we can do is humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and receive the gift by trusting Jesus Christ alone.

Toney Stowers "A Good Person" Nope!

2006-02-12T16:10:00.000-05:00

Do you consider yourself to be a good person? Most people do. However, most of us differ on the definition of “good.” The Bible says that God is good, and the 10 Commandments are His standard of goodness. So, we will look at God’s Law With a tender conscience; ask yourself if you have obeyed the following:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.(Have you always loved God above all else?)
2. You shall not make yourself an idol.(Have you made a god in your mind that you’re more comfortable with, a god to suit yourself?)
3. You shall not take God’s name in vain.(Have you ever used God’s holy Name as a cuss word?)
4. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.(God considers hatred to be as murder.)
7. You shall not commit adultery.(“Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart” — Matthew 5:27-28; this also includes sex before marriage).
8. You shall not steal.(Have you ever stolen anything? — The value of the item is irrelevant.)
9. You shall not lie.(Have you lied even once? Including answering these questions.)
10. You shall not covet.(Have you ever jealously desired what belongs to others?)

The Bible says that God will punish all murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, adulterers, etc. He will even judge our words and thoughts. On Judgment Day, will you be found to be guilty or innocent of breaking His commandments?

Thank Jesus this is not the end of the story, that comes tommorrow. See you then.

Check Out Jake Kaufman's Blog

2006-02-09T17:50:00.000-05:00

Jake has a great blog article that's a take off on Jeff Foxworthy's "You might a be a redneck if...." Only Jake's is about the church of Christ. Just click on his name to the right.

My Favorite Christian Rocker David Crowder

2006-02-09T15:13:00.000-05:00

We Are The Champions Of The World!

2006-02-07T21:13:00.000-05:00

A Great Game, But Just A Game

2006-02-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

I have took some time to reflect on the Steelers victory Sunday and about life in general. Don't get me wrong, I love football and I dearly love the Pittsburgh Steelers. But when you go right back into ministry on Monday and see a brother you love dearly suffering it puts the game in it's place. And makes you ashamed to put such importance on it.
Please use the same zeal and intensity that you used cheering for or against the Steelers in prayer this week for our brother Steve Upton. He will have brain surgery to remove a tumor the size on an orange on Friday at Charleston General.

Now, about the game. Do you know what they call a team that wins a Super Bowl with "not their best effort" and close calls? World Champions!
The game was huge for the Steelers on many levels. First, it puts Bettis and Cowher in the Hall of Fame and sets up Ward (MVP), Fanica down the road to be Hall of Famers. Who knows with a ring or two Big Ben or Troy P. could end up in Canton someday.
Second, the Modern Day Steelers have finally set themselves apart from the Steelers Dynasty of the 70's and can now start a legacy of their own.
Last, This proves that the Steelers way.... loyality, hard work and no cheerleaders is the way to build the most successful organization in NFL history.
5 TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS! I LIKE THE SOUND OF THAT!

ONE FOR THE THUMB! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD!

2006-02-05T23:05:00.000-05:00

MORE LATER BUT FOR NOW WE ARE THE STEELERS, THE NFL'S BEST TEAM!

THANK YOU BUS, WE LOVE YOU!

Ignaz Phillip Semmelweis

2006-02-03T08:26:00.000-05:00

In 1818, Ignaz Phillip Semmelweis was born into a world of dying women. The finest hospitals lost one out of six young mothers to the scourge of "childbed fever."
In those days a doctor's daily routine began in the dissecting room where he performed autopsies. From there he made his way to the hospital to examine expectant mothers without ever pausing to was his hands.
Dr. Semmelweis was the first man in history to associate such examinations with the resultant infection and death. His own practice was to wash with a chlorine solution, and after eleven years and the delivery of 8,537 babies, he lost only 184 mothers--about one in fifty. He spent the better part of his life lecturing and debating with his colleagues that infection was caused by decomposed material, conveyed to a wound because hands and instruments were not washed.
Dr. Semmelweis said, I have shown how it can be prevented. I have proved all that I have said. But while we talk ,talk, talk, women are dying. I am not asking anything world shaking. I am asking you only to wash your hands and instruments. But virtually no one believed him. Doctors and midwives had been delivering babies for thousands of years without washing, and no outspoken Hungarian was going to change them now!
Semmelweis died insane at the age of 47, his wash basins discarded, his colleagues laughing in his face.
What is infecting your soul? It doesn't have to be something huge. Little bad things grow to be big bad things. Is it guilt or grief, is it not forgiving someone.
We need to let Jesus wash our feet to show us His unconditional love and amazing grace.

Super Bowl Prediction

2006-02-03T08:15:00.000-05:00

After going 8-2 in the playoffs it's time for my Super Bowl prediction. I hope you have made millions in Vegas on my predictions, just remember to give 10% to The Hurricane Church.

I was feeling great about this game before Joey Porter started his rant. I knew if a Steeler broke the code of silence it would Porter. Despite that and to the surprise of no one I'm picking the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-13. Bettis gets Super Bowl TD and a Super Bowl ring. Fitting for this first ballot Hall of Famer. We love 36 and will miss him bunches.

Church Leadership & John 13

2006-02-01T07:55:00.000-05:00

This is a continuation of my thoughts on John 13: 1-17.

You know this must have been an incredible lesson in humility for the disciples. The disciples were just like us they wanted to be successful; they wanted to be #1. And this foot washing lesson must have been very hard for them and for us too. It also strikes me that in our society, as with most societies we seek out powerful leaders. This is the answer to our problems, powerful, dynamic leaders with vision. In church we say we need dynamic leaders and preachers, that’s always the word that goes with church leadership, dynamic. Dynamic is the word, we can’t use the word charismatic in the church of Christ because the roof may fall in on us. But dynamic, we throw that word around like grass seed when we are talking about leadership. But Jesus shows us that true leadership is about servant hood, humbleness and love.

I wonder how many times after Jesus death His disciples remembered this event. I wonder if they ever strove for position again. I wonder if they ever got into being #1 again. I image they probably did, and then each time one of them would remember. “He washed our feet”. Then they probably smiled and took themselves a little less seriously and took Him a little more seriously.

Spend Some Time In The Upper Room

2006-01-27T09:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I started some thoughts on John 13 today I'm going to continue.

John 13: 9-11
"Then, Lord," Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

Jesus knows that he is washing the feet of people who are going to betray Him. Jesus knows that he is washing the feet of people who are going to deny knowing Him later in verse 38. Jesus knows that he is washing the feet of people who are going to fail to follow Him to cross later in chapter 14. That’s the kind of people whose feet Jesus washed, people like you me.

This is very hard for me, the Christianity that I was brought up in was all about doing something. Getting to heaven was like becoming and eagle scout. Doing enough good deeds, getting all the right answers. Rather than allowing God to do something for me. GRACE!
But we need this intimate relationship with our Lord, before can go out and have it or share it with anyone else. We can’t share God’s grace until we know what it is ourselves. You can’t share it until you have known it, you have to know Jesus Christ intimately.

We sing that Jesus Christ is the “Name Above All Names”,but He is more than just a name. Jesus is not just something you plug into a religious formula. Jesus did not come to this earth and die so could plug Him into our plan of salvation formula. Jesus came so He could be grace for us. And in a world that full of seminars of 7 ways to this or 12 steps to that, we need to spend sometime in the upper room with Jesus. We need to let Jesus wash our feet and realize that the Son of God intimately loves us.

2006-01-26T17:44:00.000-05:00

KINGS OF THE MOUNTAIN STATE AGAIN!

2006-01-26T17:29:00.000-05:00

Let Jesus Wash Your Feet

2006-01-26T17:08:00.000-05:00

John 13: 1-8
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

This is a familiar story for most of us. And sometimes familiarity disconnects us from the depth of meaning. We have a habit of glossing over text we are familiar with. Sometimes we are so quick to rush to an application we miss some of the real message of this text. We apply John 13 and immediately start looking for modern 2006 ways to wash people's feet.

That's great but don't lose a huge part of the message, that is Jesus in the servant roll wants to wash our feet and we have to allow Jesus to wash our feet. We have to learn that lesson, just like Peter before we can go out and do it for others.

Look at verse 3 again. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God;

3 things here, God had put all things under Jesus power, Jesus knew that he had come from God and Jesus knew he was returning to God. So what did Jesus do? Did he go out write a book? Did he start a national campaign? I mean Jesus knows He is the Son of God, you would expect something flamboyant, something ostentatious, wouldn't you? How many of us would have picked washing people feet as a servant as the thing to do up realizing you are the Son of God?

You need to let Jesus wash your feet. Jesus isn't just saying I did this to show you how to serve others, that's is part of it. But I believe Jesus does this to let the Apostles and every one of us know the extent of His love for us. We have to stop and accept the grace and love of Jesus Christ ourselves before we can take it to anyone.

Herd Heaven!

2006-01-25T22:10:00.000-05:00

The Real West Virginia University AGAIN!

The Herd 58

The Eers 52

WE ARE!.... MARSHALL!

2006-01-25T10:25:00.000-05:00

COWHER POWER!

2006-01-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

Pittsburgh Great Mario Lemieux Retires

2006-01-25T00:29:00.000-05:00

I'm not a huge hockey but when I did watch hockey, to the surprise of absolutly no one, I was a Penguins fan. If Bettis retires after the Super Bowl Pittsburgh will lose 2 giants in one year.

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Unlike many aging superstars, Mario Lemieux's problem wasn't that his heart was no longer in the game. Rather, his heart no longer allowed him play the game the way he had always played it.
The Lemieux way -- with greatness and grace, with dominating skills but also with a quiet dignity -- may prove very difficult for future generations of hockey players to rival.
Lemieux, his Hall of Fame talent eroded by an ongoing heart problem, retired from the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second time Tuesday in a long, productive yet star-crossed career, but this time was different.
This was the last retirement, and the tears in his eyes and the quiver in his voice said so. So did the proud but sad looks on the faces of wife Nathalie, their four children and the Penguins players who gathered to say goodbye, even though it visibly pained all to do so.
"This is it," Lemieux said, "and it hurts."
The 40-year-old Penguins owner-player learned in early December he has atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat that can cause his pulse to flutter wildly and must be controlled by medication. He returned Dec. 16 against Buffalo, but the problem flared up again in the third period and he has not played since.
Lemieux, the NHL's seventh-leading career scorer with 1,723 points, practiced the last several weeks with the intent of playing again. But after several repeat episodes of an irregular pulse, he decided his health should be his primary consideration, especially with a raft of new stars turning the NHL into a faster, younger man's game.
"If I could play this game at a decent level, I'd come back and play," Lemieux said. "This is really a new NHL and it's built on speed and young guys."
Lemieux is also experiencing side effects with his medication, and he may undergo surgery to correct the problem. He spoke Tuesday to Toronto coach Pat Quinn, who told Lemieux he had the same operation and has felt much better since he did.
"I don't want to take pills the rest of my life," Lemieux said. "It's not something I want to go through."
Lemieux also was the first major pro sports star to buy the team for which he played, assembling a group that bought the team in federal bankruptcy court in 1999. He insisted the stress he is under as an owner -- the franchise is for sale, and may relocate without a new arena -- did not affect the decision to retire as a player.
"I don't feel great when I wake up. Even to this day I am not feeling 100 percent, and it's frustrating to me," he said.
Still, the 13-time All-Star returned so many times from injuries and operations, setbacks and layoffs, personal crises and even cancer, this decision came as a surprise. After all, this was a man who missed a month of the 1992-93 season with Hodgkin's disease, or cancer of the lymph nodes, yet easily won the scoring title.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Lemieux had seven goals and 15 assists in 26 games this season, averaging more than a point a game until the heart problem worsened a few weeks into the season.
AP - Jan 24, 3:14 pm ESTMore PhotosAt least No. 66 has someone to pass the mantle to -- 18-year-old Sidney Crosby, the Penguins' rookie superstar in waiting who was briefly Lemieux's linemate and remains his housemate. The two were on the same line when Lemieux had three assists Nov. 3 against the Islanders, one of Lemieux's six multipoint games this season.
Crosby didn't know until breakfast Tuesday morning that Lemieux was quitting, though he guessed it might happen soon.
"It's just tough to see him leave," Crosby said of the man who turned comebacks into an art form. "He's had such an impact on the game. He's really got a passion for the game. I don't think anyone ever should have to deal with so much."
What's remarkable to Crosby is how much Lemieux accomplished in an oft-interrupted 17-season career that was nearly halved by medical misfortune -- two Stanley Cup championships, six scoring titles, three MVP awards, two playoff MVP awards, an Olympic gold medal, a Canada Cup title against the Soviet Union in 1987.
Lemieux was such a talent, he scored a goal on the first shift of his first game as a rookie in 1984. Then, 16 years later in December 2000, he needed only a half-minute on the ice to set up a goal in his first game following a 44-month retirement. He had two assists and a goal that night, and likely would have won another scoring title had he played the full season.
"It was a great challenge playing against him," New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur said. "I really looked forward to facing him and was fortunate to be able to play with him internationally. He took care of business on and off the ice and certainly will be missed."
Lemieux, a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 1997, also missed considerable time with hip injuries during the 2001-02 and 2003-04 seasons, a rare bone infection that followed a 1991 back operation and countless back problems. Since 1996-97, he played more than 43 games in a season only once.
"How many more points would he have had if he stayed reasonably healthy?" Hall of Fame forward Bryan Trottier said. "Four hundred? Five hundred? Six hundred? We'll never know. No disrespect to Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mark Messier, Bobby Orr, Gilbert Perreault ... but Mario did things nobody else could ever do."
Lemieux had fewer goals than Gretzky (690 to 894) and fewer assists (1,033 to 1,963) but played nearly 600 fewer games than The Great One, many of them surrounded by far less talent than Gretzky played with most of his career in Edmonton. The current Penguins are on a 10-game losing streak after being projected as a playoff contender.
"For him to go through all he's gone through, yet do everything he's done on the ice is unbelievable," Crosby said. "It's all weighed on him. It hasn't been easy -- the team's losing and he's trying to keep the team in Pittsburgh. It's got to wear on you."
Once the Penguins are sold, and there is no timetable for doing so, Lemieux plans to explore his options in hockey. He stepped down last week as the Penguins' chief executive officer but will remain as chairman of the board.
One reason he is selling is because he won't take any role in relocating the team from Pittsburgh should it be forced to move.
"We should all feel fortunate," teammate and friend Mark Recchi said of Lemieux, "that we had the opportunity just to be around him."

Have You Ever Met A Seahawks Fan?

2006-01-24T23:44:00.000-05:00

As our mighty Pittsburgh Steelers ready themselves for battle in Super Bowl 40 one question comes to mind. Have you ever met a Seattle Seahawks fan? I'm not talking about the bandwagon jumpers who will sell out their loyalty to any team that has a good week. No, I'm talking about a life-long, since the 70's, Jim Zorn loving Seahawks fan. I have to say I have never met one, at least no one who would claim to be one.

Which brings us to this, Steelers haters! Their will be many wearing the algae green of the Seahawks on Super Bowl Sunday simply because they hate the Steelers. As it turns out green will be a appropriate color for them to wear because these "fans of lesser teams" are green with envy. They envy the Steelers history, the envy the Steelers fan base and the envy the Steelers success. I have never understood this mindset. I watch the Super Bowl like every other football fan in America but I can only get really excited about the Steelers. I can not go nuts and act like I've lost my mind when the Patriots score on the Eagles, or the Buccaneers score on the Raiders. I'm a Steelers fan, always have been, always will be.

So to all you Colts, Broncos, Bengals fans out there who have to put all your eggs in the Seattle basket now because the Steelers took your team behind the wood shed. Good luck getting into your "green with envy" Seahawks jersey. Hey maybe this Super Bowl you could be a Seacolt, Bronhawks or Seagals fan.

Look At Yourself Through The Eyes Of God

2006-01-24T23:29:00.000-05:00

You know when you think about it they are things that are very hard to accept. 2 things are kind of tied joined together at the hip. Harsh criticism is very hard to deal with, some people deal with it better than others but no one likes it. On the other end of the spectrum, for most people "over the top" praise is very hard to deal with. It’s true, if you don’t believe me give some an over the top compliment. That will usually bring out the person receiving the compliment best Jimmy Stewart impersonation. Ah, Ah, Ah. Or Rob Prichard in the Elder’s meeting on Sunday mornings.

As a minister, especially when I’m speaking I need all the positive reinforcement I can get. But it’s still hard to receive, because you want to humble and realize it’s not about me. It’s about God. You know grace is the same way. My Uncle Charles once said to me, “Things can be simple but not easy”. Grace is one of those things. Not just that it’s difficult to be a gracious person and live out a grace filled life. It is difficult sometimes for me to accept the grace that Jesus gave me freely on the cross. I'm much more inclined and much more comfortable beating up on myself.
Please pray for me as I try to look at myself through the eyes of God more and through the eyes of my #1 critic less.

2006-01-23T07:20:00.000-05:00

SUPER STEELERS! ONE FOR THE THUMB!

Buco's Get Good Hot Stove Grade

2006-01-22T07:15:00.000-05:00

It has not been easy being a Pirates fan over the last 15 years or so but according to ESPN the Bucos may be on their way back to 500.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES Moving in/moving out: GM Dave Littlefield signed a slugger he needed -- Cubs free agent Jeromy Burnitz -- capping a very good run for the Pirates. The Bucs also found a useful hitter and great clubhouse guy in first baseman Sean Casey (who came in a trade with the Reds for lefty starter Dave Williams). Ditto for third baseman Joe Randa (a free agent from San Diego). They also bought reliever Roberto Hernandez (2.58 ERA in 67 appearances for the Mets in '05) and filled out the bullpen. Their closer (Mike Gonzalez) is untested, and their rotation is pretty young. But the Pirates are looking up.
Lowdown: Littlefield would like a little more power from his corner infield spots, but Randa and Casey are respectable at getting on base, at least. The Pirates will rely on the revamped lineup and their young, talented rotation (Oliver Perez, Zach Duke, Kip Wells, Paul Maholm) to get them to .500 or better, somewhere they haven't been since 1992.
GRADE: Safe and steady is starting to pay off -- B.

2006-01-20T09:13:00.000-05:00

Live for Him

Championship Game Picks

2006-01-18T16:02:00.000-05:00

I went 2-2 last week picking the 2 NFC games correctly. I wanted to pick the Steelers so badly but was afraid to dream and jinx them. I'm a very respectable 6-2 so far in the playoffs so here are the fearless picks for this weekend.
Seahawks 27 Panthers 21
I just can't see Nick Going leading the Panthers to the promise land. If they had kept Steven Davis on the active roster I may have picked Carolina. Peppers status worries me as well.
Steelers 20 Broncos 17
"Dream a little dream with me". Nobody does the underdog, us against the world role quite like the Steelers. I think they rattle Jake "the Snake" into 2 interceptions, one goes back for a TD and the Steelers get to the Super Bowl for "The Bus."

2006-01-18T15:54:00.000-05:00

Go Steelers!

Are You Throwing Stones?

2006-01-17T10:58:00.000-05:00

I think all of us spend our lives looking for different things. I once lost my cell phone twice on the same day, the second time for good. I’m here to tell you that the majority of the world is in search for something they need and or not even aware of it. And that something or someone is much more important than a cell phone or anything else for that matter. A successful search would mean that they would never be alone again. That search is for Jesus Christ. That search is for grace.

This is a hard world to find grace. This world is just not a very gracious place but it is a place with a lot of accusation. The world has no shortage of accusers. Some people will to unveil everything that is wrong with you. And sometimes we ourselves are the accusers, I have no problems letting Toney Stowers know where he is lacking. You caught glimpses of what your life should be like. Sometime unrealistic glimpses of what you could perhaps be. Satan makes it very easy to fall into that mode of accusing yourself, especially for young people. What do we do with all those negative feelings, accusers are everywhere.
Lets take a quick look at John 8: 2-11

Then early the next morning he went to the temple. The people came to him, and he sat down and started teaching them. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn't her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. Then they said, "Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn't her husband. The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?"
They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him. But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger. They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, "If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!" Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground. The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone. Jesus stood up and asked her, "Where is everyone? Isn't there anyone left to accuse you?" "No sir," the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, "I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don't sin anymore."

There are several phrases that just leap out at me as Jesus has this conversation this woman. The first phrase that just jumps out at me is “Isn’t their anyone left to accuse you?” You notice that the accusers all drop off one by one. Then the only person left who could have picked up a stone and threw was Jesus. On one hand we have the only sinless man in the history of planet earth, and on the other hand we have someone who truly deserved condemnation. But Jesus doesn’t pick up the stone to throw it. How can that be?

I know what it’s like to be a sinner, most of the time we really don’t need to be told that we are sinners because deep down we know it. This woman knew her life was a mess, she didn’t need a how to book to help her have the perfect marriage. She didn’t need to go on Oprah or Dr. Phil a work out her marital issues. What she needed and every one of us in this room needs is grace.
The beauty of this passage is that the woman has grace. This woman has the answer. We have the answer to, and answer is in the person who could have thrown the stone and didn’t. In a world where people do nothing but throw stones at one another. Jesus defends. Jesus defends her and she is an adulteress. Our God is not a God that wants our destruction. Our God is not a God that is constantly wagging His finger at us or poking our chest. Our God defends us, our God protects us and says I believe in you.

Some of the “preachers” of the day may have thought Jesus was soft on sin. They may have said “we are here to take on sin and you’re defending it.” How can he do that? If Jesus was soft on sin why did die to save us from it? Jesus is not soft on sin...
What Jesus is about is healing and not condemnation...
What Jesus is about is reconciliation and not judgment...
What Jesus is about is love.
And when you come to Jesus don’t except to be condemned.
So my question for you today is are you dropping stones or throwing stones. Are you about love, healing and reconciliation or about condemnation and judgment? We will not show the true character of Jesus to the world until we start showing it to one another.

It's Not Just Football, It's Steelers Football!

2006-01-16T09:50:00.000-05:00

Go ahead and bury the Pittsburgh Steelers, they love it! Like Jason Voorhees from, "Friday The 13th" movie fame, the Steelers simply will not die.

I think something special happens to a player when he puts on the Black and Gold. He becomes more physical, harder to intimidate, and gets an instant chip on his shoulder. Thus, you have the Pittsburgh Steelers over the last 35 years. A lot of it may have to do with the 2 coaches the Steelers have had since 1969. Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher are not exactly warm and fuzzy. Another factor is the city of Pittsburgh, I have never seen any team in any sport that was a better reflection of the city they called home. But the biggest reason I believe the Steelers are the "Dirty Harry's" of the NFL is the tradition of getting tough, hard nosed football players.
From Mean Joe Greene to Jack Lambert, Mel Blount to Dwight White, Keith Willis to Dirt Winston, Greg Lloyd to Kevin Greene, and now Joey Porter to Troy Polamalu.
Even on offense the Steelers get tough football players from Terry Bradshaw, Mike Webster, Rocky Bleier, to Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward.

So we will go to Denver this weekend probably an underdog again but the Broncos will not only be facing the 44 guys in the black helmets but 35 years of pushing teams around, and of course the STEELER NATION. The best fans in the NFL.

Again I would like to thank to Cincinnati Bengals Chad Johnson for making all this possible with his big mouth.

Winterfest Warmup

2006-01-13T06:30:00.000-05:00

This evening we will kick off our first annual Winterfest Warmup Retreat at Howell's Mill in Milton W.V. We will have about young people from our older youth group (H2o) with several adults.
The theme is "Unity In Our Youth" and we have lined up a great list of guest speakers and a couple of familiar faces. Come out to our worship sessions and hear some wonderful singing and lessons if you get the chance.

Speaker Schedule
Friday 7pm Paul Huyghebaert Kanawha City Church of Christ
Friday 8:45pm Jake Kaufman Dunbar Church of Christ
Friday 11pm Flashlight Campfire Toney Stowers The Hurricane Church
Saturday 9:45am Steve Kenney The Hurricane Church
Saturday 11:30am Toney Stowers The Hurricane Church
Saturday 1:45pm Rob Williamson Norway Ave. Church of Christ
Saturday 4:15pm Steve Kenney The Hurricane Church

OVU will also have a representative there on Saturday to mix with our young people.

The Parrot & Spiritual Gifts

2006-01-10T07:56:00.000-05:00

Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back together, they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother.
The first said, "I built a big house for our mother." The second said, "I sent her a Mercedes with a driver." The third smiled and said, "I've got you both beat. You remember how mom enjoyed reading the Bible? And you know she can't see very well. So I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the entire Bible. It took elders in the church 12 years to teach him. He's one of a kind. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot recites it."
Soon thereafter, mom sent out her letters of thanks: "Milton," she wrote one son, "The house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."
"Gerald," she wrote to another, "I am too old to travel. I stay most of the time at home, so I rarely use the Mercedes. And the driver is so rude!"
"Dearest Donald," she wrote to her third son, "You have the good sense to know what your mother likes. The chicken was delicious."
God gave all of us gifts. Are you using yours for His glory? I think it's every Christians responsibility to seek their spiritual gifts. It sounds simple but I believe most Christians have gifts they either haven't found, miss use or don't use at all.
Paul says in 1 Cor. 12: 1-11 1My friends, you asked me about spiritual gifts. 2I want you to remember that before you became followers of the Lord, you were led in all the wrong ways by idols that cannot even talk. 3Now I want you to know that if you are led by God's Spirit, you will say that Jesus is Lord, and you will never curse Jesus.
4There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. 5There are different ways to serve the same Lord, 6and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.
7The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others. 8Some of us can speak with wisdom, while others can speak with knowledge, but these gifts come from the same Spirit. 9To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick 10or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God's Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean. 11But it is the Spirit who does all this and decides which gifts to give to each of us.
Don't cook your parrot.