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