REJOICE EVERMORE.......... OR....... WILL THEY BELIEVE THAT WE ARE HAPPY?

Good Evening Everyone,

While looking for a birthday card for a friend tonight, I found this artwork on the front of one card. Just so you know the card was this drawing on the front with this quote "you are the perfect age" and on the inside "NOT DEAD".

I thought the drawing was funny. As a sidebar, sometimes the greeting card section is a good place to find a laugh.

The Bible tells us to "rejoice evermore." I wonder how people will know we are rejoicing?

Obviously, we should not want to come across as the nice old undertaker man in the drawing. Nothing against undertakers but this old guy is NOT rejoicing. Think about some ways we can show people that we are happy.

• Are you going to smile tomorrow? It is possible for you to brighten some one's day by smiling at them.


• Are you willing to tell someone about Christ? You must be happy doing this because you may change some one's eternity.


• Are you willing to laugh at yourself? I know some people who are very good at this, how far are you willing to go to brighten some one's day?


• Will you sing out? Sing out so people around you will sing out?


• Are you willing to shake hands or give a hug? Be a happy friend.


• Are you willing to serve with happiness?


• Call people by name and tell them they are important and why? You cannot do this without being happy.


• Worship God in spirit and truth?


• Be thankful, it will cause you to be happy.

Feel free to comment with any more ideas about happiness.

Be a Happy Example,

Love, Bro. Allen

SOUND THE ALARM...... OR .......... LOOKING OUT FOR YOU

Good Morning,

Sometimes things come into our lives that seem to be a distraction, but they may in fact be a warning for us. Turn up your sound and watch the video above, it was my office today. The repairmen were at the school working on the fire alarm.

A few short thoughts about this alarm.

• God puts alarms in our lives to warn us! Just like the fire alarm we need to recognize why the alarms that are put in our lives. Sometimes we are blind to the reason that the alarm is sounding and we just focus on the noise and confusion.



• God may be warning me to get away or get out of a sin or situation that would cause Him and me grief and humiliation. When you hear the Holy Spirit sounding the alarm make sure and listen and then act. Just like the fire alarm tells you to get out of the situation and get away from danger, so also the warnings from God should cause you to do the same.



• A warning could come in many different types : maybe a fellow Christian, a still small voice, a sermon, a song, God's Word, a memory, or sometimes a very loud open rebuke from God.



• We must be experts at recognizing warning signs and alarms and then willing to act.

Perhaps the most important part about God's alarms in our life is personal responsibility. This is where I seem to consistently fall short. I put myself in situations that I know there will be an alarm that will sound. Clearly my personal responsibility then is failing. If I know that specific situations will cause me to be in "danger" then why would I choose to be there.

God obviously does not want me to be in any position where He has to sound the alarm, but to stay on the straight and narrow way and keeping my eyes upon Him who loves me with an ultimate love.

If God has warned you with any alarm to flee, then do it. Get out of there, run away, turn to God, repent and follow Christ.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I Timothy 6:11-12

Be an Example and listen for the warnings, do the right thing,

Love, Bro. Allen

RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE CURRENCY OF LEADERSHIP ....... OR.. THANK YOU GOD FOR ALL OF MY FRIENDS!

Good Evening to all who may read this,


I just turned forty years old about twenty days ago. Wow! What a blessed life I have had so far. My cup runneth over. I am so blessed! Yet, I know there are many things that I fail to spend time thanking God and others for, that I should.


I read a quote in a book today that said "Relationships are the currency of leadership. Since people are your greatest assets, pour your energies into developing them into their fullest potential."


We live in a world where currency is required for almost everything, except relationships. The opportunity to build relationships rarely costs us anything but time and maybe a little effort. The returns far outweigh the expense.


God has given us ALL a chance to lead someone and to be an example.


The more I think on the blessings that God as given me, I can say that all of the very valuable treasures that He has given me all are relationship based.


God, first, gave His Son. The ultimate in a sacrificial relationship, so that I could have eternal relationships. God sent me a lovely and talented wife, in whom I could find a relationship so strong that it would withstand anything. God gave us four beautiful children, and even though He wanted one in heaven, He gave us three to raise. God gave me wonderful parents and in-laws. God gave me the greatest little brother. God gave me wonderful grandparents. God gave me wonderful uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces. God gave me a wonderful Pastor and his wife. God gave me wonderful friends, co-workers and acquaintances. God gave me so many people that have touched my life in forty years, that I could not count them all. Thank you God for the blessing of relationships. As you see in the picture above, just one of the relationships that I thank God for during my life.


When I think about the quote that "Relationships are currency", it makes me think about recent events in my life. The opportunity that God has given me to work with a wonderful group of teenagers in the youth group at Cornerstone Baptist Church, has been a great experience. The kids are so much fun to work for and with. Their excitement for the things of God is growing weekly and they are a big encouragement to me.


Part of working with the youth is to develop leaders that can take the roles of teaching, leading, mentoring and serving the youth and their families. It seems to me that God is allowing me to grow in this area of leadership. Just over a few months of being able to lead this group I have noticed what a great feeling it is to watch these young workerse develop into leaders of people. I feel like I have invested some in the leadership, but not enough. I want to invest more, and be more thankful and give more of myself and watch them leads these kids for Jesus Christ.


I want to invest more so they can do more. The beautiful example that Christ gave as a servant is the ultimate. I know that I have a very long way to go, but this type of leadership is becoming more and more exciting and fulfilling each day as I watch "my" group go on to lead more and more.


If you are in that group I appreciate you! I hope that I tell you enough and that you are hearing me say I appreciate you!


Thank you God for the opportunity to lead and build relationships so that we can serve others together.

Be an Example, build relationships, invest in people, love God and love others,

Love, Bro. Allen

AM I THE PROBVERBIAL OLD DOG......... OR.......... SING A NEW SONG

Good Afternoon,
I have had turmoil inside my own heart over the last few years regarding my inner old dog.

For me it is very easy to become set in my ways, in many areas of my life. You know the saying and perhaps some of you fall into the category of "old dog" like me.

The saying is this "you can't teach an old dog new tricks!"

If you are an old dog, maybe you need to reflect on your own life and willingness to learn something new. If you are a fairly young dog, then take my advice and refuse to become so set in your ways, as you become an old dog, that you miss out on opportunities that God has for you.

Now you may be asking, where did this come from? I only know that I have to work extra hard everyday because my mind and heart are not open enough to many things. There are many things that God wants me to experience more of, like:

More love, more grace, more mercy, more compassion, more encouragement, more holiness, more joy, more responsibility (especially for and toward others), more sacrifice, more peace, more knowledge, more patience, more giving, more singing, more worship, more trust, more forgiveness, more humility, more awe, more friendship, more family, more fellowship.

Those were what I could think of right off the top of my heart, I am sure there are many more.

One place in particular that I have and continue to struggle with is the area of worship through music. I am trying to expand and make sure that I am learning to worship more and more real through Christian music. We are blessed in D/FW to have some of the best Christian radio stations and of course with my computer, I have access to many different artists and songs.

The other day I was driving home from work and heard a song titled "Let it Fade" by Jeremy Camp. I do not know that I had ever heard it before, but for me it was one of those songs that drew me right in and had me instantly and intently listening to every word. Below are the lyrics:

Have you been walking on a surface that's uncertain?
Have you helped yourself to everything that's empty?

You can't live this way too long.
There's more than this, more than this.

Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?

You can rest, you will find rest.
You can rest, you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be Your saving grace.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Have you been holding on to what this world has offered?
Have you been giving in to all these masquerades?

It will be gone, forever gone.
It will be gone, it will be gone.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be Your saving grace.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.

Let it fade.

Are you carrying the weight too much?,
are you running from the call?

Let it fade, Oh yeah.

You can rest, you will find rest.
You can rest, you will find rest.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade.
Let this new life offered be Your saving grace.

Let this old life crumble, let it fade, let it fade.
Let this old life crumble, let it fade.

Have you been standing on your own feet too long?
Have you been looking for a place where you belong?

Well, maybe the saying is wrong. I learned a new song. Maybe I am not as much of an old dog as I thought.

The song calls for our old life to crumble and fade. The picture at the top of this post is an old barn fading and crumbling and a strong oak next to the barn experiencing the life giving grace of God.

Stop trying to stand on you own two feet, stop walking on those uncertain surfaces, stop hanging on to this world and it's masquerades.

I spoke to a dear friend this week about how we, as children of God, will be treated by this world. The world is frightened by the Light. Do not be surprised when the world mistreats you, just go on and sing a new song, go on and experience life more abundantly.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. I John 4:18

Be an Example, not of some old dog, but of a true believer. Let the light come out not your inner old dog.

Love, Bro. Allen

LEADERSHIP ..... OR...... RESPONSIBILITY ALL THE WAY AROUND

Good Evening,

A chapter in a leadership book that I am reading is titled "He Was Visible". The book is about how Jesus was a leader while he was here on earth. Because Jesus was a visible leader, the book challenges the reader with the thought, "how visible of a leader are you?"

This particular chapter cuts across all lines and once again shows us that you always have a chance to lead someone and you have to be visible to everyone around you to be able to lead like Christ.

Look at the picture above, you may feel somewhat insignificant now. But I want you to find a place in the picture and be able to say "I am here" or "x" marks the spot where I am.

Christ calls us to a be light. If the light is hidden and not visible, it IS NOT light to anyone looking for light.

Sometimes we are content to keep a low profile or try to do everything behind the scenes. While we should all be very conscious that pride does not infect our lives, if you are going to lead like Christ you must be visible. When Christ arrived he used the synagogues, the temple, the side of a mountain, the streets and the places with many people.

Don't be afraid to stand out in the crowd. Use the talents that God gave you to shine among men, so that all people may see your good works and then they will glorify God.

Teens who read this specifically be aware that you should let your light shine everywhere. I want to challenge you to be able to let your light shine at home, school, work and out in public. I want you to also remember that we must be visible at church. When a visitor walks into church I want you to shine so much that they want to be a part. Please go up to visiting teens and invite them to be a part. We may have become so comfortable in church that we forget that the teen visitor that walks through our door is not comfortable. They want a friend at church, just like their parents do.

Youth group, you are the only ones that can build that relationship instantly. Be outgoing and lead by being visible and willing to love.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I a leader to someone?
2. How visible am I as a leader?
3. Do I trust God enough to stand out from the crowd?
4. What are some ways I can increase my visibility?
5. Will I let my light shine?

Be an Example,

Love, Bro. Allen

WHY ME LORD ........ OR.......... DO THE SMALL THINGS SO HE WILL TRUST YOU WITH MORE

Good Evening,

I should write a thank you note to God today.

Time after time God gives me the words to say to others. I mean in opportunities to teach, preach and instruct. Whether it is to my family at home, my church family , the community I work in or just in the school building. I am blessed to have the chance to teach and speak and I love doing it. Thank you God for giving me opportunities.

I do not know if it is true for all teachers, but I really think it should be if it's not, that when they teach or speak the subject is directed just as much at the teacher as the pupil. I can see in an academic sense where this may not be the case, but in all matters spiritual, surely God speaks to the teacher just as much as the hearer. So I stand and teach and preach boldness, about listening for that whisper from the Holy Spirit, about doing the right thing, about stepping through the door when God opens it for you.

I am embarrassed to say that so many times when I should be learning, from what God gives me to share, I do not. Maybe I get to wrapped up in the preparation to listen. Maybe I get to wrapped up in the delivery to listen. Sadly, maybe I think too highly of self to listen. Whatever my feeble excuse, I don't listen. Even so God will take a minute for me, yes and for you too. He will take a minute to bring His plan together so openly that you just can't refuse, ignore, procrastinate or in any other way put Him off.

What follows is just the story of my day, after God put everything right before me and I could not ignore.

On Tuesdays I meet with friends at Central Market and we have some coffee, fellowship time around God's word and prayer. We have been having this meeting for several months. On a few occasions I have met another man that comes in to get coffee for his drive to work. I joke with him about having to drive for about an hour to get to his work when it only takes me five minutes to get back to the office. He and I have exchanged small talk now for one day a week for a few months. Does anyone see an open door here? Well I will admit that there was, but I was the one that failed to go through. This Tuesday morning, this gentleman mentioned that he was going to have a second cup of coffee. God pushed me right on through the door, and I took the chance to invite him to our little prayer group. What a blessing! This gentleman actually only lives a few doors from me, is looking for friends and a church. I was able to provide by the grace of God. God blessed me with a new friend and I hope that I was an equal blessing to him.

As if my day was not rich enough God let another encounter happen in the afternoon. I really enjoy my job as a School Resource Officer. God has allowed me to be a part of so many great things when it comes to influencing the lives of teenagers. Sometimes at our occupation we are thrust into situations. Once we are in those situations we can the decide how we are going to act, react, impose rules or consequences, how we will speak, how we will treat people and what possibly the outcome will be.

I know that each person, no matter what occupation, has the chance to do these things daily. Perhaps no other occupation rivals law enforcement when it comes time to make decisions based on what is known or perceived about other's actions.

This afternoon I got to meet with a student who basically had been pushed to their limit. This student had been teased and picked on and finally decided that the way to react was with their fists. This student did not want to talk to the assistant principal about the incident and was so mad that they just sat still. The assistant principal asked if I would speak to the student. I agreed and the student came to my office. I could see the despair and heartache in the student's eyes when the student walked around the corner to my office. Obviously, because of my job, I had been placed in this situation. But now I had some choices to make. This student had been accused of hitting another student. I had to know how to respond, even though I am a policeman, as a Christian. As I began to peel back the layers I found a student who had been picked on for while in one specific class. I found a student who had problems at home. A student who had taken a lot of responsibility on themself to make sure that everything was going right at school, home, for their siblings and parents. A student who had just reached their breaking point and after hearing the whole story I could understand why.

The picture you see above is a door on an old building in Romania. I was told that the building itself was over one hundred years old. This old door still had the keys hanging in the lock. The reason I used this picture today is because my heart is the door. I have already unlocked it and let Christ in for salvation. But understand this, we still hold the key. We still must open the door and let him work. We still must open our door and become vulnerable sometimes. We still have to choose whether or not we will let anyone else in. We still have to choose to open the door wide and let Christ walk freely back and forth, working on the inside and outside. I was faithful just to say "hi" to a man in the coffee shop and then God used me in the afternoon. See below for the rest of the story about the student.

The student was overwhelmed with the circumstances of life, this was the gasoline being poured over him. Then the match of being picked on caused the explosion. An explosion that the student did not want to happen. The student was very remorseful that it had come to blows, but the student did not know how else to react. I was able to explain to the student my own personal experience of how hurtful words could be, and how those words could cause a person to take wrong action. Instantly I found the door open and Christ walking through. I told the student that I worked with youth at church, to which the student replied "Which church?" Here was the open door that I had unlocked and left open. Christ was faithful to step into our conversation. What a perfect opportunity to talk about forgiveness, disappointment, pressure, stress, sanctification and love. God let me express His love to this student. God let this student unload their burden on me. I was happy to bear the burden if it meant getting this student some relief. I made another friend. I was able to tell the student's mom everything. Before it was all over I was in tears, in awe of what God had entrusted me with. Our God is an awesome God!

I do not know how this student may have reacted without someone showing him the love of Christ. I heard a man say once that the greatest achievement is the crime that did not happen. I was able to let Christ speak through me so this student could avoid any more problems. Now the student can turn to me if they need to and to be real honest, that will help me to.

There are always consequences to our actions and decisions. The simple fact is that as disciples we must unlock that door, no matter how much it exposes us and our hearts and be willing to let Christ come in and out freely. It is the only way that people will see that we are His and we are real.

Be an Example,

Love, Bro. Allen

Happy Valentine's Day........... or.............. See You Tomorrow

Happy Valentine's Day 2011!

GO AHEAD AND READ ON. I included the "love" chapter from the book of 1st Corinthians because it is something that we all need to consider and take to heart.

1 Corinthians - Chapter 13:1-13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The picture you see above is me and my valentine in 1990. We went to a banquet at church and had been dating for going on one year. We were engaged for about two months and enjoying life.

Since then twenty one years have passed and we are still each other's valentines. We have each had to stand by each other (longsuffering). We have each had to be kind. We have each had to not be jealous. We have each had to be humble. We have each had to think of each other. We have each had to be patient. We have each had to think good things. We have each had to be holy. We have each had to be truthful. We have each had to bear, believe, hope and endure all things for each other.

Love will never fail. Love will always abide. Even through the tough times, even during the good times.

Love as Christ loved. Be a giver. Be an Example.

The picture below is Valentine's Day 2011. It gets better with time.

Love, Bro. Allen


ps I Love You Tammy.

ACCOUNTABILITY ........ OR... IT'S NICE TO BE LOVED

Good Evening,

I was greatly encouraged today at church by my brother Jeremy, who reminded me that I had not made a blog entry in a while.

Jeremy explained to me that I was an encouragement to him each time I wrote something down here on An Example of the Believers Blog. Thanks Jeremy.

Remember that even some of the small things you do has an influence on others. That influence can be good or it can be not so good.

Several years ago I made the game board that you see in the picture above. Over the course of the last few weeks, with all of our bad weather, we got the marble board game out of storage and began to use it again. I am not a master wood worker by any stretch, but this game board turned out very nicely and we are able to share this as a family and with our friends.

You may ask, what the game board has to do with accountability?

In the game, your movements are decided by rolling the die and moving the marbles around the board into their home base and making them safe from the other players. You move forward and back trying to get your five marbles to safety and knocking out as many others back to their starting point as you can along the way. You do not have a partner, you probably do not have any friends in the game and if you are like me you will knock people out and back to start just to get a win.

While the marble game is fun and I really like to win, our lives should be totally different when it comes to operating as a loner. We need to have friends and people that we can trust to help us along the way.

Here is where accountability comes into play in life's "game". It was so nice to have someone tell me that I needed to get back on here and write something. I had said, when I took this blog back up, that I would get on and try to write daily. I let it slip. As with most things, the more I neglected it the more easy it became to neglect.

Accountability is that character trait where we are accountable to someone else. I failed in my accountability to Jeremy, because he expected me to keep up with what I had said I would do. Jeremy used accountability to bring that failure to my attention and helped to hold me to my own word. Jeremy approached me in a loving manner and encouraged me to do what I said I would do. That is a true accountability friend.

Readers (teens and parents) and friends let's practice accountability from both sides this week.

If you are going to do something or say you are going to do something then let's do it. You may be an encouragement to someone. If you have a brother or sister who needs to be encouraged by being held accountable, then do it like Jeremy did for me. Have a truly loving spirit of concern that the person you are holding accountable understand that you are helping them to reach their goals or stretch their boundaries or maintain a right relationship with God or man.

Have a great week and
Be an Example,
Love, Bro. Allen

ps. Thanks Jeremy

DENIAL IS THE ENEMY ...... OR ......... THE INNER SHEEPDOG

Been in a training class for the last two days. Initially I was kind of bummed about the topic, Homicide in America - The Teen Killer.

I know that seminar may sound exciting but, after having been in police work for a while I usually don't get very excited about crime scene photos and all of the stuff that I know will continue to poison my mind in these type of conferences. The speaker for day one was good and I enjoyed his presentation. I had the opportunity to learn about the inner working of people that will murder. I won a book in a drawing and got to spend time with friends. After day one I was feeling better about the conference. The day one instructor gave us the name of the second day instructor. I had heard the name Lt. Col. Dave Grossman before, but had not spent any time reading or studying his information.

Day two rolled around today and back to Midlothian, Texas for the conference. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman introduced himself and immediately my spirits were lifted. Col. Grossman is a fine speaker and very inspirational. Col. Grossman made sure and take time to connect with everyone in the room by validating our very existence and linking that validation to our jobs.

What a blessing to hear a service man thanking cops and educators in the class for doing what we do. I found myself drawn in to his speaking and he utilized his knowledge to present to us many important facts. 

What does this have to do with youth? I have explained over the last few blogs that you need to "Do Hard Things." You need to step out and be bold. You need to be prepared to fight an enemy. Col. Grossman prepared us for the same things in relation to being a police officer.

His instruction was sometimes hard and violent. He encouraged boldness in all of us. He told us about the enemy. He prepared us to fight. 

One of his last points, I believe is particularly relevant to all of you teens, and so that is why I show you his photo with me and my friend Venessa today.

My calling is not necessarily to sacrifice my life but it is to live a life of sacrifice. Col. Grossman made it very clear that everything we do in service to others is because of love.

Teens, I pray that you are never called to sacrifice your life. Our perfect sacrifice in Christ has already happened. But I do pray that you determine now to live a life of sacrifice.

Have a great Friday,

Love,

Bro. Allen 

WINGS LIKE AN EAGLE .....OR....... GO AHEAD AND WAIT




Isaiah 40 28-31

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Tammy and I (along with the whole choir)  were blessed tonight to sing a song that is composed straight from the verses above.

Just a short word of encouragement.

Do you feel like you are fainting? Are you lacking in the area of might? Well, we serve an awesome God!

In case you don't know or haven't heard ---

• He IS Everlasting
• He IS Lord
• He IS The Creator of everything
• He IS not tired
• He DOES NOT faint

The word shall appears six times in these four verses. I know it's going to happen.

Please, if you are tired and beaten down by circumstances, take a step back and WAIT on the Lord. Let Him renew you, refresh you, energize you.

I don't know about you but I want to be on wings like eagles. Do you want to soar? Then WAIT!

Thanks to all of the workers in the youth group tonight, over thirty five kids in attendance. Let's keep on soaring. 

Love,

Bro. Allen 

WHO WILL LEAD THEM? ........ OR ... LET'S RISE UP AND BUILD

I was given the opportunity tonight at church during the service to outline goals and a vision for the youth department at Cornerstone Baptist Church.

While I was preparing my short little part of the sermon, I was drawn to Nehemiah. Specifically Chapter 2 verses 11-18 where Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and gets prepared to start building.

I noticed some notes in my Bible from December 2006, when my Pastor preached "Let's Rise up and Build!"

How exciting to watch as God used his word and the message of his man from four years ago to help me with my message tonight.

Let me begin here, like I did in the service, and thank several people that are directly related to the success of the youth department.

Thanks to Pastor and Susan Herrell, Pastor and Ashley Gowens, Rick and Minerva Vogeler, Michael and Jennifer Costigan, Eric and Amanda Ginther, Andy Baker, Percy Comafay, Jack Cleveland, Jeremy McNair and Erica Fairbanks and Tammy Smith.

Nehemiah went to Jerusalem and got ready to work and in verses 11-18 of Chapter 2 did the following things:

• He embraced his purpose
• God has a purpose for each of us
• He explored the conditions
• Out
• On
• Up
• Check out the conditions of your community and your family
• He enlisted help
• Come, let us
• That we be no more a reproach
• He encouraged their faith
• God's hand was "good" upon us
• Let us rise up and build

God saved us so we could serve, the more we are dedicated the work of God, the more doors he will open for us.

We have several goals for the youth at Cornerstone Baptist Church and these goals include:

• Growth
• Spiritual
• Numerical
• Establish and Build Community
• Love
• Harmony
• Humility
• Helpfulness
• Adventure -- (see blog entry about the book "Do Hard Things")
• Spiritual
• Service
• Physical

 The steps to accomplish our goals are easily understood in the following four steps:

1. R - Recruit
1. Recruit teens for the youth group
2. Recruit and involve youth parents
3. Recruit and involve youth volunteers and workers
2. E - Equip
1. Equip all of the aforementioned groups with God's word
2. Equip with relevant teaching
3. Equip with family involvement
4. Equip leaders (youth and youth workers) with camps, seminars, and service projects
3. E - Encourage
1. Build a community of encouragement
1. Teens encouraging each other
2. Teens encouraging the church
2. Offer encouragement to leaders
1. I must offer encouragement 
2. Leaders must recognize each other
3. Leaders must recognize teens
3. Publicly recognize
1. Teens and leaders in the church
2. Individually 
4. L - Lead
1. Lead in all areas of life
1. Home
2. Church
3. School
4. Work
2. Lead in different geographic areas
1. Home
2. City
3. Country
4. Worldwide
3. Lead in the vision of our youth group from the top down

In conclusion, teens you have an abundance of God given talent, strength, and potential. I want to encourage you to use it all now for God. Do not wait to give your all fully to God. Parents, let's set the bar high for the kids and challenge all of the kids to do more than their best. Let's raise them up and hold them to a Christ like standard. Cornerstone, we will resolve to be unified with you as a church and for you as a body of believers.

Please pray for us,

Love Bro. Allen

 

MAN'S BEST FRIENDS ...... OR ...... I JUST LOVE YOU FOR YOUR CAKE NOT YOUR COUNSEL

The Bible has much to say about friends. Here is a picture of two of my "best friends" waiting for a smorsel (I know, made up word) of the new cake we had tonight. The Bible does not name our pets as our best friends but does tell us many things about the friend relationship. Here are a couple of thoughts tonight.

Proverbs 27:9-10

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. 

A charge given to us to be faithful and constant to our friends. And to be willing to do anything within our power to assist them. It is good to have a friend, a best friend, who we can be free with, and with whom we may communicate all deep matters with. The Bible says "counsel".

A good reason why we should value true friendship is simply because of the pleasure of it. The Scripture mentions the sweetness in conversing and consulting with our friends. It is like ointment and perfume, which are very pleasant to the smell and uplifting to the heart. It rejoices the heart; the burden of care is made lighter by being able to unload to our friend, and it is a great comfort to us to have our friends thoughts and advice concerning our affairs. The beauty of friendship lies not in all the fun and games, although that is enjoyable, but in wise and steady counsel, faithful advice, sincerely given and without flattery.

I find it very fulfilling when a friend talks to me as a friend. Not just smooth and flattering words, but honest and open communication. Telling me the truth that I need to hear. Trusting that a friend will be honest with you make the relationship that much stronger. A true friend will reside in your heart and be willing through counsel and advice to say what needs to be heard.

I have friends that have been blessed this week and I rejoice with them. I have friends that have been hurting this week and I hurt with them. I have friends that needed to hear common sense truth this week and I have tried to share that with them, all along the way loving them.

Take your friends before the throne of grace and beg intercession through Jesus Christ our Lord. When you need help from a friend, ask them.

Be Christ to someone this week and continue to build those friendships by leading others to Jesus.

Be an Example,

Love, Bro Allen

I RECKON ....... OR ..... THE REWARD OUTWEIGHS THE SUFFERINGS

Today was a wonderful day.

The work day was light, my employer fed us lunch, church tonight, got to sing, was able to trust some folks to help me take care of the youth service, Whataburger and then home. The Lord blessed with a great day and I thank Him for that.

You will find out though, that others around you always have something going on that might not be as pleasant as your easy day. I can think of about five different people and families that have trusted me to help them with their current tough situation. By help I mean everything from counseling to praying, from just listening to actively going and holding someones hand.

Youth, as you become more mature in Christ and you continue to care about others, He will trust you with more and more things. Youth are experts at caring for their friends. You would do anything for a friend and they would do the same for you. Well as you grow in your faith and realize that a Christian will also do anything for anyone. Because you are like Christ, you will be called on to give and go and pray and work and love on folks.

I was thinking about some of the people that God is letting me minister to right now. They are having huge problems, where people's hearts are hurting. Some are crying out because that's all they can do.

When you have the opportunity to be Christ to someone with a problem, then DO IT. Be real, be open, be loving, be forgiving, be encouraging.

Romans 8:18 says  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Take a look at the picture above, which I had to get from the Internet. The scales are not balanced. Thank God that neither your nor my sufferings are worthy. Listen up I know that your current sufferings are tough. Mine are tough. Sometimes we can be overwhelmed by our current situation but, praise God Romans 8:18.

My present sufferings ARE NOT WORTHY to be compared with Christ and His glory. Do not give your current problems the worth only ascribed to Christ.

If you know Jesus Christ then you already have the "glory" IN you. Look at the verse, the "glory" shall be revealed. It's already in you if you know Him, it's going to be revealed.

Praise the Lord, He is bigger than our present sufferings.

Remember as you face your daily sufferings, that you can turn to His glory and eventually it shall be revealed. Remember that others around you are having and going through daily sufferings. Greet them with Christ, tell them about the Glory, lead them to Christ and then show them Christ through our compassion.

Love, Bro Allen 

HOW DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?



As you have read here in the past few days, I have talked about the book "Do Hard Things". Along the same vein I wanted to mention some of my favorite verses in God's word, that I believe go perfectly with the ideas in the book. 

Colossians 3:23-24  says "  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

I have a friend that I really enjoy being around. He does everything with passion, heartily, with his whole soul and whole being. The meaning of the word heartily encompasses the whole heart, mind, soul and body. You know that it encourages us to be around those people that give all they have to the Lord.

The photo above is a man that I met in an African village called Opi-Uno. We went to a building to help some folks by passing out medicine and conducting an impromptu health clinic.This gentleman was outside of the building making bricks for a new building. I went out and spoke to him and learned that he was working on the bricks for the building all day long. You can see his tools that included; his shovel, the molds, a board, a little cement mix and plenty of this red dirt and no shoes. I saw this man in a couple of places during the week. He was working when I saw him. He was working hard when I saw him.

I spoke to the man about Christ. The man has a personal relationship with Christ. I saw him working and doing whatsoever he did "heartily" and "as to the Lord".

If you have ever mixed cement you know that it is hard work. I can remember as a young teen, mixing cement with my dad. I was not very excited then to do that hard thing. Which for me as a kid meant, not excited about hard work at all.

Take the man in the photo though as an example and consider how we feel about doing "whatsoever" we as unto the Lord.

How excited we should be to be able to do what we do. Whether God has given you the ability to work or not, go or not, sing or not, give or not, play or not, write or not, you get the picture. I may have no special talents in man's eyes. That does not matter, because everything I do, I do as unto the Lord not as unto men. It does not matter because my inheritance lies in Jesus Christ and I must go on and serve him.

You are special to God, even if you do not feel special to man. Do whatever you do with all your soul, mind, body and heart. Do whatever you do for Christ. Do not worry about what man is thinking when you sell out for Christ. Your reward is the inheritance promised to you by Christ because you serve Him.

Even if you only have red dirt, a shovel, a mold and no shoes you could still do what you do heartily as unto the Lord.

Teens, go out and do whatsoever you do heartily. Parents make sure your kids are first acquainted with our Lord and then make sure that they go out and do everything heartily. Christians work hard for the Lord and prepare for the reward.

Serve others by serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love, Bro. Allen

 

FOLLOW UP TO "DO HARD THINGS"......... OR ... RESULTS ALREADY FROM MY OWN SON



From Example of the Believers Blog three posts ago:

I mentioned that I would follow up the results of my sharing the book "Do Hard Things" with my own son Brady. I handed the book off and asked him to take a couple of days to read it. We still have not sat down and talked about the book and the hard things that it suggests, but I wanted to take a minute tonight to blog about what I have already seen in my own son.

Obviously, I know that this book does not take the place of God's word in our lives, but one thing that I like about the book is that, these two young men who authored the book constantly use scripture to affirm their points.

I now watch my own son begin to do hard things. My son went out tonight and got his first job. He will be working in a local restaurant as a pizza cook. That is a hard thing for a sixteen year old young man. He is about to enter a new world of responsibility. Responsible to a boss, to his coworkers, to his own finances and bank account.

He will be learning a lot of new things. My son will be learning how to cook. He will learn how to clean. He will learn what it means to go to school and work, in the same day.

All of this will be new, but what I have noticed immediately is an attitude change. One of the hard things to do was to do small things that may not seem like they get an immediate return. Well, I have noticed that my son has re-adopted his attitude of respect to mom and dad. He has volunteered to do simple things without be reminded or told. He has taken up "yes sir and yes ma'am" again. 

I know now that this type of simple attitude makeover will help my son go even further. My son did not have a "bad" attitude, he had just become complacent. I can see him working on overcoming complacency.

I posted the photo tonight because it is clear in God's word that we will be hated and persecuted, mistreated and scorned. Me, my son, my family and any of you that live for Christ will experience obstacles like speed bumps or maybe mountains.

But, we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.

Teens, go out and do those hard things. Christians, go out and do more than conquer. Brady, I am proud of you.

Love, Bro. Allen  



ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE .............. OR A DAY OF WORSHIP AT CORNERSTONE BAPTIST TODAY

A whole day of worship at church today. Both messages focused on worship.

Pastor Gowens began by describing worship with Revelation Chapter 4: 1-11

 
"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."


Pastor Herrell made sure that we knew that worship must be a priority for our church this year.

Here is the question of the day: " HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU WORSHIP GOD LAST YEAR?"

Answer this question in your own heart. Do you clear you heart and mind? Do you know that it is not about you, but all about God. God seeks your worship. Of course I believe you need to have a place of service, but first you need to be involved in corporate worship time. Worship Him alway and always.

Love, Bro. Allen

CHRISTMAS IN JANUARY...... MEAT AND TATERS

Christmas time always gets so busy around our house. We have family on all sides, church stuff, work and everything else that you experience too. So we usually have to schedule another Christmas in January.

This weekend, my mom, brother, sister-in-law and nephew are coming into town for Christmas in January.

Mom decided that I could grill steaks. Sounds like a great Christmas supper to me.

We will remember again that the real Gift of Christmas came for all people. The Gift of God is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Merry Christmas and Be an Example,

Love Bro. Allen

DO HARD THINGS .... HOW TO GET INSPIRED BY A COUPLE OF TEENAGERS

Good Evening All,

Thanks to Mrs. Herrell for giving me this book last night at our "vision" meeting. The book was obviously intriguing to me for several reasons.

1. I have teenage children home (who I thought would benefit from the book)
2. I have teenage children at church (who I thought would benefit from the book)
3. I have teenage children at my job (who I thought would benefit from the book)

I am not a prolific reader nor a speed reader, but the short two hundred and thirty pages was easy to read, so I read it today. I now know that there are more reasons that this book is intriguing to me.

1. It inspired me to do more
2. It made me realize that asking my own kids (and yours too) to do their "best" may be doing them a disservice
3. Our kids have God given strengths and potential that we should not try to hold back in any way but should encourage them to not only "try" hard things but "do" hard things as the title says

If you have a teenager, read this book and then pass it on to them and have them read it. Please do not let anymore time pass by that your children don't do hard things.

This must begin now with our kids as they:

1. Do Things That Are Outside Their Comfort Zone
2. Do Things That Go Beyond What is Expected or Required
3. Do Things That Are Too Big For Them To Accomplish Alone
4. Do Things That Do Not Earn An Immediate Payoff
5. Do Things That Challenge The Cultural Norm

More to follow about this book as I hand it off to the kids in my house first.

Love, Bro Allen



SUBMISSION THROUGH SERVICE or SERVICE THROUGH SUBMISSION

Good Afternoon,
I am blessed each day to come to a job that I love. As I enter my office this is one of my walls. This cluster of pictures, drawings and a plaque symbolizes service to me.

A long time ago I became a police officer with the simple idea in my mind of serving others. Thank God that police work is about service. I believe in leadership through service.

Youth, you know that we talked about submission and service this week in our D6 lessons. In Matthew 8, Christ meets a centurion. This man told the Lord that he was "under" authority and had those "subject" to his authority. Christ said about this soldier that there was not any greater faith in Israel than his.

I hope that each of you have had the opportunity to exhibit service in your submission to your parents this week.

The picture posted here shows a poster of a police officer holding a small child. The officer is nameless and is surrounded by all of the bad news of the world, but still holds the child and keeps him safe. The wooden plaque reminds me that my peers chose me as an example of a police officer that did the job well. The small picture on the right is my badge. I put the badge on every day and wear it proudly to show people that they can come to me if they need me and that I will serve them even if it means with my life. The small picture on the left is a drawing that was made in 1979, it helped solve the case of a young girl who was abducted and assaulted. The case was solved by my dad. I have a legacy to continue.

You have a legacy too, right now you are forming your legacy. It is not too early. Things you do as a teenager have an impact on your life. Live each day for Christ, submit and serve.

VISION

After seeing some blogs from friends I have decided to try and do better on my own blog.  I am going to try and update my blog daily with stuff that shows my walk, my victories, my defeats, my life, my love, my salvation, my church, my love for youth at our church and anything else that I want to share.

I took this picture in Japan and liked the path that is clearly laid before you. Tammy and I have a meeting tonight about the new opportunity to work with the youth of our church. My Pastor asked me to give him the vision for the youth group. I thought of this picture as an example of Vision.I want to be able, by the grace and with the help of God, to lead these young people and all of the people working with them in a direction that sees more kids coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

God Bless you for taking up my blog again and Happy 2011!

Be an Example,

Love, Allen and Tammy