Verse Of The Week

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,"
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 3:14-14

If anyone had a past that could be dwelt upon, surely it was the apostle Paul. After rehearsing a summary of his past in the opening verses of Philippians chapter 3, Paul encourages the church at Philippi to remember that we need never get bogged down in our past, whether it be what men consider good or bad. Instead it is our duty to forget what is behind and earnestly strive after the prize of every child of God, the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. May we always remember that it's never about us but that it's ALWAYS all about Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. May we also always apply our greatest efforts to pursuing His high calling. It is, by far, most important in our lives.

Friday Five

Five Reasons This List Is Being Posted So Late

- Lack of inspiration

- Wanted time with Addy G when I first got home

- Had to mow the yard

- Had trouble with mower which made mowing take longer

- Wanted more time with Addy G when I got finished mowing

Verse Of The Week

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." -- Psalm 46:10

At times, life can be very chaotic. We live in a rushed society. In our fast paced world it's vitally important that we take time to just simply be still and establish in our hearts that He is God. Our families are important...but they are not God. Our jobs are important...but they are not God. Our church is important...but it is not God. After pausing and remembering the One who is God, it should quickly become our desire to exalt Him, and Him alone, in our lives. He alone is worthy of exaltation. He is God!!

Friday Five

Five Moments / Events I'll Never Forget

- When I got saved by God's amazing grace
Of all the events I've experienced, NOTHING has had a greater impact than Christ saving me from hell. Not only did it change my life forever, but it also changed my eternal destination. Praise God for His salvation!!

- Seeing Addison Grace born
One of the most amazing things I've ever experienced, I learned things I never knew about love when I witnessed the birth of Addy G. In that moment, I learned the amazing love that only a parent can feel for their child. I also realized that even though I loved Teresa with all my heart before Addison; I love her even more after seeing Addison born.

- Marrying my wonderful wife
I had the great privilege to marry my high school sweetheart. She's not only the love of my life but my best friend in this world. I honestly couldn't ask for a better help meet. Her support and love never cease to amaze me. I love you babe!!

- Finding out Teresa was pregnant with Addison
After countless disappointments, which are detailed on Teresa's blog in her first blog entry, I'll never forget the elation I felt at learning that Teresa was pregnant. Only God could have given us such a miracle.

- Finding out Teresa is pregnant with Baby # 2
Not planned and more than a little unexpected, I'll never forget the Wednesday morning we found out we'd have a new addition and Addison would be a big sister. This was yet another blessing that could have only come from our amazing Lord. Yet more proof of just how blessed we really are.

Verse Of The Week

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." -- Proverbs 15:3

Anyone from our church who may read this probably won't be surprised that this is this week's Verse Of The Week. The Lord allowed me to mention it during the message during yesterday morning's service and I've not been able to quit meditating on it since. I find this verse to be both a great challenge and a great encouragement.

It's a challenge because it reminds me that absolutely no sin escapes the notice of our Holy God. So often we fail to consider before yielding to temptation that God is watching us. In other instances we sometime believe that after yielding to temptation we have hidden it from God. What an exhortation this should be to all to remember that our trespasses are witnessed by the Lord!

There is also encouragement to be found in this verse. For as much as it makes us aware that we cannot hide our sins, it should also make us aware that there is no situation that we can face that God is not standing vigil over us. Whether we be on the tops of the mountains of life or if we be in the valleys of dark days, our loving Lord is watching over us. I'm so glad that God is never ignorant about where I am in life and that nothing evades His attention.

May the Lord help us always to live as though He is watching...because it is certain that He is.

Friday Five

Last week's Friday Five was made up of five of my favorite verses. This week's Friday Five is made up of five of my favorite books of the Bible. All of the Word of God is absolutely perfect and absolutely wonderful but these are five of the books that are special to me. Feel free to share your favorite books with me in the comments.

Five Of My Favorite Books Of The Bible...And Why

- Nehemiah: Nehemiah is a great source of encouragement and a charge to persevere in the work of God. It's a great portrait of the determination necessary to do the work of wonderful Lord.

- II Timothy: The apostle Paul's final epistle, written just shortly before his death, is another source of great encouragement. As Paul writes to the young preacher, Timothy, he declares without reservation the troubles of the world and the importance and blessings of faithfulness to the Gospel.

- Psalms: No matter what situation we face in life, the psalmist faced it as well. The psalms range from songs of great joy to songs of deep despair. Yet through it all we see the power and glory of God.

- Ruth: Called by some "the romance of redemption", the account of Ruth is the greatest love story ever told because it shows not just the pure love of a man for a woman but because it demonstrates the purest love and devotion of the Lord Jesus Christ for His beloved bride. If anyone wants a picture of how Christ loves us, then Ruth is a great place to look.

- Hebrews: One of my favorites because it addresses so many vitally important doctrinal issues. From the eternal security of the believer to the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ, Hebrews reminds us that we are truly blessed to live in the grace of God.

Belated Church News

I wanted to take just a moment and thank God for such a blessed day this past Sunday. This past Sunday morning three more individuals joined the church. Two, Caleb Walker and Karl Carpenter, joined as candidates for baptism and one, Joyce Tadlock, joined on the promise of a letter from a sister church. It was a truly wonderful service and I thank God and give ALL honor and glory to Him. This means that we now have five people to baptize in the coming weeks. Thank God!! He has blessed our church so much and continues to amaze us. Please continue to pray that God's will might be done in all we do. Above all else, pray for those who are yet lost. We are looking forward to seeing what else God has in store!

I feel awful that it's taken me almost a week to post this but it's been another VERY busy week.

"But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." -- Acts 5:39

Baby's First Ultrasound

This afternoon Teresa, Addison, and myself loaded up and took a trip to the baby doctor for the new baby's first pictures. Teresa and I were both very happy with the doctor who had a great personality and was very thorough. The best part, of course, was getting to see the new addition. Addison really didn't know what to think at first. She sat on my lap and was a little uneasy as the ultrasound tech started the ultrasound. As soon as the baby showed up on the monitor I pointed he or she out to Addison. At the point, she was fine. She just looked at the monitor with a look that can only be described as a cross between confusion and wonder. We are so blessed that both mommy and baby are doing so well. The doctor also said that Teresa's due date is exactly what we thought it to be, December 12th. Thanks to everyone who has been praying and please continue to do so! Here's a pic of the newbie.

The newest member of the Rogers family

Check at Teresa's blog for a couple of different pics.

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." -- Jeremiah 1:5

Verse Of The Week

"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;"
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." -- Hebrews 9:11-12

Last week at our church's monthly men's meeting we studied about the heart of God. Brother Dustin Copeland, a young preacher from a sister church, commented about the amazing reality that the blood that was shed upon the cross of Calvary as Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, suffered and died was blood that had passed through the very heart of God. How exciting it is to consider that we have not been redeemed with a temporary redemption which needs to be redone annually, as in the days of the law! But rather the blood of the precious Lamb of God without spot or blemish takes away all our sins FOREVER if only we will trust Him as Savior and Lord. If you've never trusted Christ to cleanse and forgive your sins, accept Him before it is eternally too late. His is the only blood acceptable for the permanent forgiveness of sins. If Christ is your Savior, rejoice that His blood always has been and always will be enough. Worthy is the Lamb!!

Friday Five

Five Of My Favorite Verses [In Random Order]

- "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:" -- Romans 5:20

- "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor His seed begging bread." -- Psalm 37:25

- "And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" -- Nehemiah 6:3

- "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." -- Jeremiah 6:16

- "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof." -- Revelation 5:5

I've got so many favorites it was VERY tough to pick five so I'm sure I'll be using this topic again for another Friday Five. Feel free to post you favorite verse(s) in the comments.

Warning: Major Geek Moment Below

Last week's Friday Five centered around the summer movies that I'm most looking forward to seeing. If you saw that list then you know I'm most excited about Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, which releases on June 24th. I discovered this morning that the new trailer has just been released. It looks fantastic. I couldn't resist including it in the blog.





If I only see one movie in theaters this summer, I hope this is it.