Bro. Kyle's Blog

2009-11-03T11:35:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe that it's November already. The year has flown by! Speaking of flying by, it's hard for me to believe that Tyler (my grandson) will be turning 1 year old on November 16! There is a part of me that thinks that I can't believe that he's only been here a year and then another part of me that seems like he's been with us a lot longer than that. No matter how it feels, however, I am so thankful for the incredible blessing of being a grandpa!
There is little doubt that being a grandfather is one of the most amazing experiences a person can have. I can have a really bad day and if I see Tyler, I immediately feel so much better. I am working on spoiling him in anyway I can. It's so much fun to not have to say "no" to him. After all, that's his mom and dad's job!

2009-10-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

We have been into "Losing to Win," our theme for the fall for over a month now and we are learning so much about how losing can make you a winner. On Sunday mornings, during our morning worship at 10:00 a.m., we have been looking at the Book of Philippians and seeing how our Christian lives are reflected through the victory we have in Christ Jesus. God has spoken to us in some awesome ways through His Word, through videos, and especially through our youth drama on Sunday, September 27. If you haven't seen the drama, be sure to check it out on our web site in the media section. It's tremendous!
Our "Losing to Win" classes on Wednesday evenings have also been incredibly powerful as we look at how we can lose debt, lose weight, and lose some worldly attitudes to become winners in the game of life. Each class has not only been well attended, but have also had an amazing impact on the lives of those who attend.
I'm so thankful and honored to be the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church. This is a place that is filled with a "bunch of losers" who are winners for Jesus Christ! If you haven't been able to be with us over the last several weeks, I hope you will make plans to join us in the near future. It's never too late to learn how to "Lose to Win!"

All for HIS Glory!

Bro. Kyle

2009-09-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

Our "Road Trip" at Emmanuel came to an end on Sunday, August 30th, as we looked at our final destination...heaven. It was a great trip this summer as we traveled through God's Word looking at how He directs us in the paths He wants us to go (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Speaking of road trips, I passed the "50 mile marker" on Sunday, and our church let me know it! Almost everyone was dressed in black! What a crazy bunch of folks I serve with here. I am so grateful for their special observance of my birthday. My wife Angela had several things, and I do mean several things, during the week to remind me what 50 looks like. One day I had 50 starburst candies on my desk, the next day I had 50 golf balls and tees, and then another day I had 50 party horns. She did a amazing job or letting me know that I am now 50 years old. That's ok, though, because she turns 50 on January 7, 2011! Can't wait!
Since our road trip is over, we will begin a new series this coming Sunday, September 6, called, "Losing to Win." It will be based off of Philippians 3:8 which says, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ." I know the Lord will use it tremendously to remind us that we are always winners with Him!

2009-08-03T12:53:00.000-07:00

Last week (July 27-August 2) Angela and I took some time off and headed up to northern Arkansas for vacation. We were in a cabin near Jasper on Tuesday and Wednesday, and then our kids (Thomas, Katie and Tyler, and Corey and Katie) joined us on Thursday - Sunday. It was one of the best week's of my life! It was relaxing and so enjoyable.
One of my top 5 movies of all time is "A Field of Dreams." Towards the end of the movie, Kevin Costner's character (Ray), is given a gift of seeing his dad who had died years ago. They were on a baseball field that Ray had built in his cornfield in Iowa because the voice had said, "If you build it, they will come." Ray's dad asks him, "Is this heaven?" To which he responds, "No, this is Iowa." Then Ray asks his dad, "Is there a heaven?" And Ray's dad says, "Oh yes. It's a place where dreams come true." Ray then looks around, sees the baseball field, looks at his wife and daughter swinging on the front porch swing at their house and says, "Well, maybe this is heaven." Angela and I talked about how that was the way we felt in northern Arkansas last week. Our family was with us. God's creation was amazing. And everything was perfect! We felt like we experienced a little bit of heaven. Was this actually heaven? No, it was Arkansas. But it was definitely a place where dreams came true!

2009-06-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

Our road trip at Emmanuel is going great! We have chosen our route, packed our bags, unloaded some unnecessary items and are now ready to head out on the road. This coming Sunday, June 28th, we will find out what to do when we come to a cross road and have to decide which way to go. We will look at God's "GPS" and see how we can know for certain how to make the right choice every time!
Be sure to pray for our students and sponsors as they head out to Student Life camp in Cleveland, Tennessee. They are scheduled to leave on Friday, June 26, and will return on Wednesday, July 1. I know the Lord has some powerful things in store for each of them. I can't wait to see what He will do!
Have a great week!

2009-06-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

We headed out on our Road Trip at Emmanuel this past Sunday, June 7th, and we got off to a great start! We learned from the Word that Jesus taught there was a map from God that has two roads in which you can travel in this life...The Wide Road and The Narrow Road. One leads to destruction and the other to life (Matthew 7:13-14). I hope you have already made the decision which one you are traveling on.
We also had our first Cross Point worship on Sunday evening and it was amazing to see how the Lord is already using this in our church and in our lives. "South Gate," which is our worship band that will be playing each Sunday evening, did a great job leading us in praise songs and Bro. Zach brought an incredible message from God's Word about the cross of Jesus Christ.
If you weren't able to be with us this past Sunday, I hope you can join us this week. On Sunday morning for our Road Trip, we will be looking at what we need to pack for the journey ahead. Then on Sunday evening, Thomas Smith will be bringing the message during Cross Point.

See you Sunday!
Bro. Kyle

2009-06-01T14:33:00.001-07:00

On Sunday, May 31st, we concluded our study on "Living by Faith." It was an incredible journey over the past nine weeks of seeing how we are people of faith. Beginning next Sunday, June 7, we are going to start a new trip in God's Word. As a matter of fact, we are calling it "The Emmanuel Road Trip 2009." Be sure to check out the video that Bro. Zach put together for us that we showed at church yesterday to get everyone excited about going on the trip with us this summer. You can find it when you click on our Road Trip logo on our front page. It's really cool.
Each week during the summer we will be looking at how to join in on the road trip we are taking and eventually end up in our final destination....heaven! It's going to be a lot of fun!
Another thing I am really looking forward to is our Sunday night worship this summer which also begins on Sunday, June 7. It will be held in our gym area and will begin each night at 6:00 p.m. We will have some incredible worship through music by various groups and then have the Word shared with us by either Zach (our student minister) or Thomas (our children's minister). I know the Lord is going to use this tremendously to bring us closer to Him and reach out to others in our community.
So be sure to join us for a great summer in 2009! It's going to be a great trip!!!!

2009-05-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, May 9-10, was an exciting weekend for me and Angela. We went to Fayetteville, Ark., to see our son-in-law, Corey, graduate with his bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas! We are so proud of him and Katie. Corey plans to continue on in his education, first getting his master's degree in mechanical engineering and eventually even getting his doctorate! Katie will be getting her degree in education next spring from U of A and then follow that up with her master's the following year. Woooooo-Pig-Soooooie!!!!
I hope that all of you moms out there had a wonderful weekend for mother's day. You deserve it. Thanks for all you do!!!!
Summer is quickly approaching. We have a very busy schedule planned and are looking forward to seeing great things from the Lord. In case you haven't heard, we will be starting a new worship service on Sunday evenings in June at 6:00 p.m. Check out our web site from time to time to learn more about this. I know God is going to do some amazing things through this!

2009-04-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a good weekend and that you were blessed by the Lord in some incredible ways. We continued on Sunday to look at our series on "Living by Faith," and God taught us some wonderful things from His Word. He reminded us that we need to take risks from time to time if we are really going to walk with Him. Even as scary as this might be, He wants us to expect great things from Him and attempt great things for Him. We were also reminded that God honors our faith and blesses our obedience. So as you "Live by Faith, " enjoy His presence in your life and expect to have a great week from Him!

2009-04-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

We had a great day on Easter Sunday, April 12th. We praise the Lord for His incredible blessings upon us! I'm so thankful for His presence we we gather to worship His name. I don't know why anyone would want to go to church other than to experience the praise of God among His people!
We are looking forward to the next several weeks of looking at the Word and seeing what it means to "Live by Faith." As we consider the future and what it holds, it's vitally important that God reminds us to trust in Him. No matter what we are facing, it's so good to know that He is in control of everything, even when it seems like everything is out of control!

2009-04-06T08:01:00.001-07:00

Our adult sanctuary choir did an incredible job with the musical, "Eyes of Faith," on Sunday, April 5th. God was glorified as the message of the cross and resurrection were shared in a way that everyone can relate to. Special thanks to Bro. James, the members of our choir, technical crew and Bro. Zach (our narrator), for allowing the Lord to use you in a powerful way. As we look forward to Easter Sunday this week, we are excited about what God has in store for us in the days ahead. I'm so grateful for our Emmanuel Family. It is truly an honor to be the pastor of this wonderful church!

2009-03-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, March 29th, we continued our look at what it means to "Live by Faith." One of the things I have already received some comments on is what we said about doubt. Doubt is one of the main obstacles that grips the life of believers when it comes to our faith. We tend to "doubt our beliefs and believe our doubts." I stated that we should challenge each other to "doubt our doubts and believe our beliefs!" If you watch much tv or get on the Internet very ofter, you will see that your faith is going to be challenged in every area of the media. You have to decide who you are going to listen to. I hope and pray that we stay true to the Word of God when it comes to what we believe. After all, CNN, Oprah, and The View may have their "opinions" about what we believe, but God's Word is absolute truth. Who do you lean on to determine your faith?

2009-03-23T12:59:00.001-07:00

We started a new series on Sunday morning called, "Living by Faith." Yesterday (Sunday) we heard from God in a powerful way as The Word reminded us why we should expect the best in life through our faith in Him. Over the next 8 weeks we will look at how we can grow in our faith, stretch our faith, and even deepen our faith. I hope you can join us each week at 10:00 a.m. for our morning worship as we learn how to Live by Faith!

2009-03-18T14:51:00.001-07:00

It's spring break at the Pittsburg schools, and Angela and I are taking a few days off to relax. Corey and Katie are in from Arkansas, and we are looking forward to spending a few days with them. Katie, Tyler and her mom, Carla, have headed down to the Nixon and Luling area to spend a few days with Carla and Steve's family, so be sure to remember them in your prayers as they travel. This is Tyler's first big road trip and we are hoping he travels well. Thomas will stay in Pittsburg because he has to work, so he and I may try to squeeze in a couple of rounds of golf. God is so wonderful and good to me. He has blessed be with an incredible family, and to shine His goodness on all of us, He has provided us with some amazing weather this week. I hope that if you are a school teacher or work for the school system that you have a great week during spring break. You really deserve it!

2009-03-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a week of rain, Tuesday-Saturday, March 10-14, and I'm so thankful for all the "Showers of Blessing" the Lord has sent us. We should thank Him for not only noursishing our land, but our lives as well. "Thank You, God, for being so great to us all the time!"
This coming week is spring break for our schools in Pittsburg, and I know everyone is needing a break. For those people who want to criticize teachers for having some time off, I am almost sure you have never been in education. I did it for 20 years and believe me, teachers need a break! So all you educators out there....enjoy your week off. You deserve it!

2009-03-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

WOW! I can't believe the POWER TEAM Crusade is over. What an incredible event for our church and community! Thanks so much to everyone that helped with the crusade. We had over 100 people from Emmanuel Baptist Church that helped us with everything from cooking meals, to ushering, greeting, counseling and praying. We couldn't have done this without these folks.
Be sure to keep the POWER TEAM in your prayers as they continue to minister around the country. Pray especially for Mike Collins (Sgt. Rock) as he has surgery on Friday to repair a torn bicep muscle. He also asked us to pray for his mom who has been having some health issues lately.
Thanks again to everyone, but especially thanks to our God! What an awesome thing He has done for us!

2009-02-10T07:58:00.001-08:00

Leviticus 8-10 and Matthew 25:31-46

It's so amazing to me that the Creator of the universe really wants us to know Him in a personal way. He has made this possible so that all we have to do is follow His Word and place our faith in Him. In Leviticus 9 as Moses is telling the priests what God requires, in verse 6 he says, "This is what the Lord has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you." Then as they follow these instructions, verses 23-24 say, "Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown!" Wow! How long has it been since you experienced God's presence that it moved you to shouting and falling down before Him? I hope and pray that all of us would experience Him in that way!

Have a blessed Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-02-09T09:48:00.001-08:00

Leviticus 6-7 and Matthew 25:1-30
The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 can be used in several ways. Most people take the literal rendering of the word and think in monetary terms. In Jesus' day, a talent was a significant sum. However, maybe it could also be seen as skills or abilities. Another view is that they represent opportunities. As the master leaves, he gives a portion of his goods to these servants. They now have the opportunity to increase his holdings. Two of the servants do well with what is entrusted to their care. Their rewards, given for their faithfulness, are the same. One servant does not do well and is not rewarded. Maybe what Jesus really wants us to hear in this parable is the challenge of it which is very plain. Jesus, the master, is gone and will one day return. It is our responsibility to advance the kingdom. The challenge of the parable is also very personal. Remember, the amount given was "according to his ability" (Matthew 25:15). Each servant is judged individually. Whether its money, talents, gifts or opportunities, today is a day to use those things for God's glory. As we do that, He will bless our lives so that we might experience that glory even more!
Have a great Monday!
Bro. Kyle

2009-02-02T13:36:00.001-08:00

Exodus 29-30 and Matthew 21:23-46
Do you ever question authority? Think about it before you answer "no." Are you sure that there are no times when you might say, "Who do you think you are?" Perhaps you do not say those exact words, but do you ever ignore a sign, like a speed limit sign or one that says "No U Turns" right where you want to turn? We may have a habit of questioning authority and not even notice it. When Jesus' authority was questioned in the temple courts, it was obvious. The chief priests and elders asked Him in a straightforward way, "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?" (Matthew 21:23). Do you ever question Jesus' authority? Perhaps you don't in a manner as blatant as these religious leaders did, but in other ways. Like ignoring a traffic sign, a person can ignore the instructions in God's Word. It really is a questioning of Jesus' authority when we know what He says and choose not to obey. It is as if we are saying to Him, "Who do you think you are?" He knows who He is and He has the authority. The real question is, "Do we obey?"
Have a wonderful Monday!
Bro. Kyle

2009-02-02T13:35:00.001-08:00

Sunday, February 1: Exodus 27-28 and Matthew 21:1-22

Today is "Super Bowl Sunday!" I know to a lot of you that's no big deal, but to a lot of people, it's become almost like another national holiday. Thousands of people will gather in Tampa, Florida, having paid hundreds upon thousands of dollars to watch the big game live. Literally millions of others will gather around a TV to watch the big game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. By the end of the day the new World Champions of professional football will be crowned. No big deal, right?! Right. Even though I am a sports fan, it's really no big deal. Want to really have something to cheer about? Go to church today and do what the crowd did in Matthew 21 on Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Verse 9 says, "Then the multitude who went before and those who followed cried out saying, 'Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'" Every Sunday should be "Super" to us! Right now, we don't know who will win the Super Bowl today...it really doesn't matter. What we do know is we serve the King of kings and Lord of lords! And He is something to shout about!

Have a real super Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-02-02T13:34:00.001-08:00

Saturday, January 31: Exodus 26-26 and Matthew 20:17-34

In Matthew 20 there arises some dissension among the disciples. A mom comes and asks Jesus to let her two boys sit next to Him in His kingdom. Verse 24 says, "When the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers." They were all trying to decide who was "the greatest" among the group. In the secular world the great and powerful lord it over everyone else. They exercise authority over them and gather others to serve themselves. Greatness in Christ's kingdom, however, is very different. The great are among the people, not over them. The great give to others rather than take from them. The great have little authority, but by the quality of their lives they gain great influence. The greatest in Jesus' followers are those who serve the most. In verse 26 Jesus said, "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant." No matter what society says, the greatest among us are not politicians or celebrities, but those who, like Jesus, give their lives that others might live. Let's encourage one another in the church to make serving a priority. The world needs to see that kind of "greatness" in action!

Have a great Saturday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-02-02T13:33:00.001-08:00

Friday, January 30: Exodus 23-24 and Matthew 20:1-16

Those of you who know me, know that I have a very weak stomach. I get real queasy at the sight of blood, not just my blood, anyone's blood. I have learned to turn my head if there is any indication of blood from anywhere. I don't know if any of you are like that, but even just thinking about blood makes me a little nauseous...seriously! However, when it comes to the blood that God requires, I know that's the only way I will ever see Him. In Exodus 24 as Moses gets a call from God to approach Him, there are some requirements of blood that need to be met first. As the offerings were presented to God, Moses took the blood from the animals and put some of it in bowls and the rest on the altar. Verse 8 then says, "And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.'" Can you imagine that?! Moses put the blood of the animals on these people! YUCK! But that was what God required. It then says in verse 10, "They saw the God of Israel." Can I tell you this, no matter what you think about blood, God's requirement is still the same. The only way you will ever see Him is if you are covered with the blood of Christ from the cross! In other words, "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!" And if you know Him, there's nothing queasy about His blood!

Have a great Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-02-02T13:32:00.001-08:00

Thursday, January 29: Exodus 21-22 and Matthew 19

Who can go to heaven? Can a rich man? Can a poor man? Can a Baptist? Can a Methodist? Can a white man? Can a black man? Ok, that's enough....do you know the answer to each of these? It's no, no, no, no, no, and...no. As a matter of fact, it's impossible for any of these to get to heaven. In Matthew 19 as a young man approaches Jesus to ask how he can have eternal life (verse 16), Jesus seems to line out some "impossible requirements" to achieve this. Following these requirements the young man "went away sad, because he had great wealth." (verse 22). Jesus then told his disciples in verse 24, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The question is, "Who then can be saved?" (verse 25). The answer for all of these questions is found in verse 26: "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." So again, who can go to heaven? None of us can...it's impossible! But each of us can go when we see that God has made the impossible possible with Christ! And because of Him, none of us have to go away sad!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-28T08:37:00.002-08:00

Exodus 19-20 and Matthew 18:1-20

In Exodus 20 we have the law of God, the Ten Commandments. The most important words of these verses in Exodus 20 is verse 1 which says, "And God spoke all these words." I don't mean to "belittle" the Word of God, but recently someone sent me the "Redneck Ten Commandments." Which are:

1. Just one God.
2. Honor yer Ma & Pa.
3. No tellin' tales or gossipin'.
4. Git yourself to Sunday meetin'.
5. Put nothin' before God.
6. No foolin' 'round with another fellow's gal.
7. No killin'.
8. Watch yer mouth.
9. Don't take what ain't yers, and;
10. Do be hangerin' for yer buddy's stuff.

A lot of controversy has surrounded the Ten Commandments over the years. Some say they shouldn't be placed in public because they might "offend" people. I know that's not the way God spoke these, but maybe the "Redneck Commandments" simplify the Word to where maybe some of those who are "offended" might understand them!

Have a great Wednesday! Or "have yerself a good ole' Wednesday!
Bro. Kyle

2009-01-28T08:37:00.001-08:00

Wednesday, January 28: Exodus 19-20 and Matthew 18:1-20

In Exodus 20 we have the law of God, the Ten Commandments. The most important words of these verses in Exodus 20 is verse 1 which says, "And God spoke all these words." I don't mean to "belittle" the Word of God, but recently someone sent me the "Redneck Ten Commandments." Which are:

1. Just one God.
2. Honor yer Ma & Pa.
3. No tellin' tales or gossipin'.
4. Git yourself to Sunday meetin'.
5. Put nothin' before God.
6. No foolin' 'round with another fellow's gal.
7. No killin'.
8. Watch yer mouth.
9. Don't take what ain't yers, and;
10. Do be hangerin' for yer buddy's stuff.

A lot of controversy has surrounded the Ten Commandments over the years. Some say they shouldn't be placed in public because they might "offend" people. I know that's not the way God spoke these, but maybe the "Redneck Commandments" simplify the Word to where maybe some of those who are "offended" might understand them!

Have a great Wednesday! Or "have yerself a good ole' Wednesday!
Bro. Kyle

2009-01-28T08:36:00.003-08:00

Tuesday, January 27: Exodus 16-18 and Matthew 18:1-20

I'm so thankful that the only thing God requires of us is a "child-like" faith. You don't have to be some Bible scholar or intellect in order to know Him. I think there are times that many of us adults need to remember that. We tend to "complicate" God and His Word by all our adult theology. When the disciples were asking Jesus in Matthew 18 who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, He responded be calling a child over to Him to sit in His lap. Verses 3 and 4 say, "And He (Jesus) said: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Keep your faith like that of a child. If God says it, just believe it. That's all He wants from you today! Aren't you glad?!

Have a great Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-28T08:36:00.001-08:00

2009-01-26T09:03:00.001-08:00

Exodus 14-15 and Matthew 17

One of the great stories of the Bible is the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites. It's not just a story (it actually took place), but also a reminder of how must of us are when we have our "backs up against the wall." When tend to panic and look at how bad things really are. We need to remember though that God allows us to get to these places so He can "show up and show off." As the people of Israel began to shout objectives at Moses because the Egyptian army was approaching, verses 12-14 say, "Moses answered the people 'Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.'" Wow! So no matter how "tight of a fix" you get into, remember this...Do not be afraid; stand firm; the Lord will deliver you; and, He will fight for you! In other words, God WILL show up and show off! What else would you expect as a believer?

Have a great Monday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-25T14:20:00.002-08:00

Sunday, January 25: Exodus 12-13 and Matthew 16

As you go to church today, who will you worship? Despite the casual use of His name, Jesus is respected, though not worshipped, by most people. Contemporary Jewish scholars honor Jesus as rabbi. Muslims honor Him as a prophet. Even the unchurched in our society would say Jesus was a "good man." In other words, the question that Jesus asked His disciples about who people said He was isn't a new thing. The real question is not who others say He is, but, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15). The answer can't be "a rabbi," "a prophet," or "a good man." It must be, like Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (verse 16) So, in going to church today, who will you worship? If you worship Christ, then your life will be "built upon that rock, and the gates of hell will never prevail against you!" (verse 18)

Have a great Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-25T14:20:00.001-08:00

Saturday, January 24: Exodus 9-11 and Matthew 15:21-39

How do you refer to your relationship with Christ? Is it usually in the past tense? In other words, do you talk about your faith as something that happened a long time ago or something that is still taking place on a daily basis? In Matthew 15:32-39, we read of how Jesus had compassion on the multitude that was following Him and wanted to feed them, but the disciples asked, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?" (verse 33) WHAT?! Didn't this same type of thing happen just a few days before this? In Matthew 14:13-21, Jesus fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish. Here there are only four thousand and the disciples say they have seven loaves of bread and a few fish. There were fewer people and had more food than they did in chapter 14, but they are still questioning what they are going to do. If you refer to your relationship with the Lord as to what happened years ago, where is your faith today? It's good to talk about those "big events" in our past walk with Christ, but He wants to remind us that He is willing to do great things today! What does your "multitude" look like and how much food do you have? Let Jesus take your need today and perform a miracle for you! After all, He's the same yesterday, today and forever!

Have a great Saturday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-25T14:20:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 23 Exodus 7-8 and Matthew 15:1-20

How's your heart? Have you had it checked lately? I'm not talking about going to the cardiologist to see if your "ticker" is working properly. I'm talking about what Jesus was referring to in Matthew 15. In verses 8-9 He quotes Isaiah and says, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." In other words, worship is not about what you say, whether you raise your hands or not, the kind of song you sing, or the lesson you teach. Worship comes from the heart. The old saying, "You can't read a book by it's cover," is so true. What might look good on the outside may be completely different on the inside. So, how's your heart today? The only One who really knows what's going on in there is you and "Dr. Jesus!" Some of us may need a check up pretty soon to see how the old "spiritual ticker" is working. I'm so glad the Great Physician that heart healthy 24 hours a day!

Have a fantastic Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-22T02:53:00.000-08:00

Exodus 4-6 and Matthew 14:22-36

Having faith in God doesn't mean that things are always going to go smooth. As a matter of fact, a lot of the time they don't. When Moses finally gave into God and went to Pharaoh, things got worse instead of better for the people of Israel. In Exodus 5:9 Pharaoh commanded, "Make the work harder for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies." The Israelites then rose up against Moses in verse 21 and told him, "May the Lord look upon you and judge you!" Moses then went back to the Lord and said, "Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all." (verse 23) Why would that be? Could it be that if Pharaoh had let the people of Israel go when Moses and Aaron first approached him, that they would have taken the credit for their speaking abilities? I believe that God allows things to happen so we will be reminded of His power over our "abilities." In Exodus 6:1, God responds to Moses' complaint by saying, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country." Faith is not about things going smoothly in our lives. It's about trusting the "mighty hand" of God when things don't turn out the way we thought they would. If we will remember that, He will deliver us!

Have a great Thursday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-20T06:01:00.001-08:00

Genesis 49-50 and Matthew 13:31-58

Today is an historic day in America. Barak Obama will be inaugurated as the first African-American President of the United States. I don't know how you voted in the election in November, but Obama was elected and he is now our President. Each of us, no matter if you are Republican, Democrat or Independent, should be praying daily for him. That is our duty and responsibility as Christians. There is one thing that I believe as we begin this new presidency today, Barak Obama is not in control of America...nor was George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, or any other man before this time. I believe that God is in control. And even though it doesn't have the exact meaning, I think we can put Genesis 50:19 here and say as Joseph said to his brothers, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?" In other words, there is no need to worry about what's going to happen...God is still on the throne! Let's commit ourselves to praying for President Obama from this day forward. He needs us to do that for him. If you will pray then we will know that "God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)

Have a great Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-19T07:02:00.001-08:00

Genesis 46-48 and Matthew 13:1-30

When you read or hear the Word of God, how does it affect you? In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the sower, in which He describes different types of soil for the seed. Some of the seed falls on the path and never took root, some fell on rocky soil but never was able to grow, some fell where there were weeds and was choked out, while some fell on good soil which produced a great harvest. Later in the chapter (verse 18-23) Jesus explains the parable saying the seed is the Word of God and the soil is how we receive it. So again, how does the Word affect you? God wants us to receive His Word so that it will produce a harvest in our lives. Verses 16-17 says, "Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, the prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it." Let your life be that of the good soil. After all, we have the best seed ever given!

Have a great Monday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-18T05:52:00.001-08:00

Genesis 43-45 and Matthew 12:24-50

There are times we go through things that we might not necessarily see or feel the hand of God. We will pass off events as "circumstances" that just happen. Yet, as believers we need to understand that God is watching over us and guiding us as He weaves in and out of our lives to bring about the glory that we need to experience Him. As we read about the life of Joseph in Genesis, we are reminded of how God did just that for him. Looking back, Joseph could see God's hand in his life. As he reveals himself to his brothers in Genesis 45, he let's them know just that. In verse 5 he tells them, "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life." In verse 7 he goes on to say, "And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." He finally tells them in the next verse, "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God." In other words, although none of this made sense to Joseph when it was all happening, his faith had brought him to understand that God had a hand in all of it. No matter what you are going through, just remember, God will eventually bring you to where He wants you to be. And because of that, it makes life have more meaning.

Have a great Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-18T05:49:00.001-08:00

Saturday, January 17: Genesis 41-42 and Matthew 12:1-23

Not to long ago I had the opportunity to discuss the meaning of the "Sabbath" with someone. They believe the Sabbath, which is Saturday in the Old Testament, is the day God's people should worship. This person believed it so strongly that when God said in the Ten Commandments, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" (Exodus 20:8),that if anyone worshipped Him on Sunday, they were wrong. It's interesting that the one thing Jesus was confronted on more than anything else was what He did on the Sabbath. We read some of these confrontations in Matthew 12. Jesus and his disciples have gotten hungry and they picked some grain. Verse 2 says, "When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, 'Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath!'" Jesus later told them in verse 8, "For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath." In other words, worship is not about a day...it's about a Savior! I don't want to argue with anyone about this, but if you want to worship on Saturday, good. If you choose to worship on Sunday, again, good. Just remember to worship the Lord and not the day. After all, He is the Lord of the Sabbath (Saturday) and Sunday!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-16T05:56:00.001-08:00

Genesis 39-40 and Matthew 11

Being a Christian is more than just knowing that you will go to heaven when you die. Sure, that's the end result and that's the hope of all believers, but knowing Christ is also about the things you have in this life. I have often thought of how people make it through life without a faith in the Lord. To me it would be difficult to face the normal things we all face, much less the times when we have things happen that are difficult to understand. Jesus let's us know in Matthew 11 just how much He can mean to us, especially in those rough times. In verses 28-30 He says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." One day when we all get to heaven, there will be no more tears, sorrow or pain. Hallelujah! But until then, enjoy the rest that can only be provided by our God through Jesus Christ!

Have a great Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-15T08:23:00.001-08:00

Genesis 36-38 and Matthew 10:21-42

One of the reasons I love the Word of God is because it doesn't try to hide all the "bad" stuff. If man were to write some things about his life and especially about his family, he would leave out the ugly stuff. Yet as we read Genesis 37 today, we see a big family feud right before our eyes. Jacob has all these boys, and yes, has a favorite...Joseph. He gets a coat of many colors and then tells his brothers of the dreams he is having that shows he will rule over all of them some day. Well, as you know, they plot to kill him and then eventually sell him into slavery and then tell Jacob he was killed. Sounds like a soap opera doesn't it? But, as we will see later, God was with Joseph all the time. No matter what your family is like, all of us have our "ugly" stuff too. Believing in God doesn't make us perfect, we all have flaws. But it does mean that He is watching over us in the most difficult situations. After all, He knows everything about us...and for some of you, he knows a whole lot more about you than me! Why? Read Matthew 10:30 and see if you can figure it out!

Have a great Thursday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-14T02:35:00.000-08:00

Genesis 33-35 and Matthew 10:1-20

In Matthew 10 we are told that Jesus sent out the disciples to "preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'"(verse 7) He let them know, however, that it wouldn't be easy. As a matter of fact He told them in verse 16, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves." Thanks, Jesus, for those wonderful words of encouragement! But the most important thing they needed to hear was they wouldn't be left alone, not knowing what to say. In verse 19 He told them, "Do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." What an incredible message this is. We still have that same promise today. When Satan tries to convince you not to witness or speak up for Jesus when you have a chance because you might not say the right thing, just remember that it's not you doing the speaking, but the Holy Spirit. So as you go out among the wolves today, rest assured that you're not alone!

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-13T03:02:00.001-08:00

Genesis 31-32 and Matthew 9:18-38

"IN THIS CORNER, WE HAVE THE TRICKSTER OF ALL TRICKERY! HE TRICKED HIS FATHER AND HIS BROTHER AND EVEN WAS TRICKED BY HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, LABAN, AND NOW HE COMES HERE TO WRESTLE...WATCH HIS TRICKS! AND IN THE OTHER CORNER, WE HAVE A "MAN" READY TO FIGHT. ALTHOUGH WE AREN'T SURE OF HIS NAME, HE COMES WITH A TITLE OF "ALMIGHTY", "EVERLASTINING", AND ETERNAL BEING! LEEEEETTTT'S GET READY TO RUMMMMBLEEEEEE!!! Ok, enough of that nonsense. As we read the story of Jacob wrestling with God in Genesis 32, it reminds us that sometimes God likes a little entertainment to make point with us and to bless us. When you are with God, it can't help to affect you. Jacob came away with a limp from this "wrestling" match (verse 31). It was such a limp that it affected a whole nation. You may not have a noticeable limp from being with God, but all of us should have a life that demonstrates we have been with Him. So, have you wrestled with God lately? It's tough, but it will result in a blessing that should affect our whole family!

Have a great Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-12T03:04:00.001-08:00

Genesis 29-30 and Matthew 9:1-17

Can God use you? Do you have to be a certain person, go to a certain church, or perform certain acts before God will use someone? Not if you see the one's Jesus called to be His disciples. He didn't go to church to get these guys. As a matter of fact, In Matthew 9:9 it says,"As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, 'Follow Me." So he arose and followed Him. This guy was considered to be a "sinner" and someone nobody wanted anything to do with. Even the "church" of that day had a problem with this. Verse 11 says, "And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, 'Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners.'" Unfortunately, the church of today still wants to decide who can serve the Lord and who can't. If there are certain "sins" you have committed, don't even think about serving in the church. What a shame. We are all sinners saved by grace. None of us deserve the opportunity to serve Christ, but He said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (verse 13) So, can God use you? If you are a sinner and you want to follow Him, He can!

Have a great Monday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-11T03:06:00.001-08:00

Genesis 27-28 and Matthew 8:18-34

As you go to church today, are you expecting God to do anything in your life or in the life of your church? I think real worship expects God to not only show up, but to also show off. On the other hand, there are some in the church who really don't won't God to change anything that's going on in their lives. In Matthew 8 as Jesus and the disciples are crossing the sea, a storm blows up which scares the disciples but brings sleep to Jesus. As they wake Him up they yell to Him, "Lord save us! We're going to drown!" In which He replies, "You of little faith, why were you so afraid?" (verses 25-26) Then, as they get to the shore, Jesus heals a man who was demon possessed. As a result, "The whole town went out to meet Jesus, and when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region." (verse 34) The question is, are you on the boat and are amazed at what Jesus does, or are you in the crowd asking Him to leave things alone. I hope you go to church with the faith you have to expect Him to calm the storms and cast out the demons in your life as well as others. After all, why else would you go to church today?

Have a great Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-10T02:35:00.001-08:00

Genesis 25-26 and Matthew 8:1-17

There is nothing more blessed to us as believers than the Lord's presence. I believe no matter what you face, God has assured us that He will never leave us. In Genesis 26, Isaac has some decisions to make because things haven't gone very well. A famine has hit the land and people are scrambling as to what to do. Verses 2-3, however says, "The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, 'Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and bless you.'" Later on in that chapter in verse 24 it says, "That night the Lord appeared to him and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, "for I am with you.'" The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the same God we serve today. His Word is so important to us. Aren't you glad that you are never alone! People should know us not by our "works" but by our lives. If so, then people will say to us as they did to Isaac in verse 28..."We saw clearly that the Lord was with you!"

Have a sensational Saturday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-09T03:12:00.000-08:00

Genesis 23-24 and Matthew 7

I don't know much about construction, although I do like building things. However, my understanding of how to build something is that the most important part of a structure is the foundation. I haven't actually built a building, but I have done a few patio deck constructions around my house and my mom's house, and even with those projects the foundation is so important. Without a solid foundation it really doesn't matter how good something looks. In Matthew 7:24-25 Jesus said, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had it's foundations on the rock." He goes on further in the next verse talking about the foolish man building his house on sand. As a result, Jesus said that house "fell with a great crash." As you read the Bible this year, build your life on the Rock of Jesus Christ. He never promised us that we wouldn't have rain, wind and storms in our life, but He did say that we would remain strong in Him as we stand on His foundation!

Have a fantastic Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-07T22:38:00.001-08:00

Genesis 20-22 and Matthew 6:19-34

One of the great tests of faith is found in Genesis 22. Isaac had been born to Abraham and Sarah despite their old age, but now God asks Abraham to give back this son and sacrifice him. In his faith, Abraham did exactly as the Lord asked. He prepared everything for the sacrifice including the wood and the fire. Even Isaac questioned this. "The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" (verse 7) As Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, God provides an animal to take Isaac's place. As a result, Abraham declares that God is Jehovah-Jireh, "My provider!" (verse 14) Our faith will be tested on several occasions. It is at those most trying times that the Lord wants us to be obedient to His call and depend on Him. As we do that, He will still provide those things we need to carry out His call. He is "Our Provider!" Do you know Him like that?

Have a tremendous Thursday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-07T02:54:00.000-08:00

Genesis 18-19 and Matthew 6:1-18

Do you have a "prayer closet"? In His teaching about prayer in Matthew 6, Jesus said, "When you pray, go into your room (closet), close the door and pray to the Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who see what is done in secret, will reward you." (verse 6) He was saying this because many people had turned prayer into a "religious act" and were praying these outlandish prayers where they could be heard by others and people would commend them for their "spirituality." Prayer is between you and God. I believe that a prayer closet can be in your home, in your car, while you are exercising, or any other place where it's just you and the Lord. I believe public worship and prayer is necessary to the believer, but private times with God is essential to our walk with Him. When we send out the prayer request through the email, be sure to take time to pray right then. After all, even sitting at a computer can be your prayer closet...God is always listening!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-06T03:06:00.000-08:00

Genesis 16-17 and Matthew 5:27-48

In your faith as a believer, you will find that there will be times that you will be made fun of and ridiculed for what you believe. This will not only happen among "non-believers," but even among others who say they believe in the same God. In Genesis 18, God tells Abraham that his wife Sarah would give birth to a son. When Sarah heard this she laughed (verse 12), which is what a lot of people would do with this news. After all, Sarah is an old woman at this time and even she admits this by saying, "I am worn out and may master is old." Yet faith is believing that God will do what only He can do. In Genesis 18:14 God says, "Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." What's laughable to us becomes believe-able when God does what He says at the exact right time. It might not make sense to the world or even to other believers, but when God shows up and shows off, He reminds us that nothing is impossible with Him. And that's no joke!

Have a terrific Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-05T03:02:00.001-08:00

Genesis 13-15 and Matthew 5:1-26

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands...If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet...If you're happy and you know it say, 'Amen!'...If your happy and you know it then your life will really show it, if you're happy and you know it do all three!" I know most of you know that "happy" little song, but Jesus told us in Matthew 5 with The Beatitudes how to really be happy. The word "Blessed" that He uses here could be supplied with the word "Happy." In other words, Matthew 5:3 could read, "Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." So as you read verses 3-10, the question is, "Are you happy?" So the next time you sing, "If you're happy and you know it.." think about mourning (verse 4), being meek (verse 5), hungering and thirsting for righteousness (verse 6), being merciful (verse 7), being pure in heart (verse 8), being a peacemaker (verse 9), and being persecuted (verse 10). If you do, then "Your life will really show it!"

Have a marvelous Monday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-04T04:33:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 4: Genesis 10-12 and Matthew 4

You should go to church today! Why? So people will see you there? No. So you will make the preacher happy? No. So that you will "score" points with God? No. Then why? Only to worship God. People and churches get confused because they forget what church is about. In Genesis 11, people decided to build a tower, the tower of Babel. Verse 4 says, "And they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.'" And that's when the trouble begins. Making a name for ourselves will only lead to confusion and dissension. As a result of these folks wanting to do something for themselves, God confuses them with many languages and they became scattered. I hope and pray the church you attend is in unison when it comes to worship. It's not about the preacher, the people or the place. Worship is only about God. Go to church today! Why? To praise the Lord for who He is!

Have a super Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-03T03:44:00.001-08:00

Genesis 7-9 and Matthew 3

As we read the Bible and hear of God's judgment, it might not be always easy to understand why God would judge the way He does. Even as we read of the coming judgment upon the earth in future days, some might question why a loving God would do this. No matter what your take might be on all of this, it's very obvious that God has an escape for each time He judges. In Genesis 7 as we read of the flood God sent to destroy the earth, He prepared an escape for Noah and his family. Verse 16 says, "So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in." What is our escape for the coming judgment of the world? Matthew 3 tells of Jesus coming to be baptized by John, and when He comes out of the water God says, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (verse 17) In other words, "Jesus is our escape!" So know that we serve a God of love, mercy, grace, and yes, even judgment. But He always will provide an escape for those who listen to Him!

Have a great Saturday !

Bro. Kyle

2009-01-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

Genesis 4-6 and Matthew 2

An out of control temper can be a scary thing. In our readings for today, we see it come to a terrible end. In Genesis 4, we read of how Cain murdered Abel because of jealousy and envy (Genesis 4:1-15). In Matthew 2, we read of how Herod's anger resulted in him putting to death all the male children born in Bethlehem because he had been deceived by the wise men (Matthew 2:16). This kind of anger makes people think they have a "right" to take someone else's life. Even in our time, road rage has resulted in some revenge that is out of control. We have to ask ourselves, "How do I respond when someone hurts me or deceives me?" Do we strike out angrily, feeling that we have the right to hurt in return? Or do we look to the Lord for the grace to love in return? We will be hurt. We will be deceived. We just need to ask God for His grace in those times so that we might love when it seems impossible. After all, that's what the Lord does for us every day.

Have a great Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-31T22:16:00.000-08:00

Genesis 1-3 and Matthew 1

Welcome to the new year of 2009! I'm so glad that you have joined us in reading through the Bible this year. Some of you have done this with us over the past year, but others of you have joined us for the new year. As we have done in the past, each day you should receive an email from me with the verses we will be reading for the day, which will include verses from the Old and New Testaments, along with a brief thought from me. Let me encourage you to not get discouraged and stop reading. Even if you miss a few days here and there, come back when you can and see what God says to you through His Word. I know you will be blessed tremendously throughout the year...God's Word never returns void and it always fulfills its purpose!

Now for the verses for the first day of 2009. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This is the very beginnings of the basis of all that we believe. If you have a problem with this first verse of the Bible, you will have trouble understanding and accepting other parts of the Bible. Many of you know (you can tell by my writings) that I'm not a very smart fellow, but I believe completely what this first verse says. God is Creator! He made everything just as Genesis records it. So as we begin our readings for this year, be sure to take on that "childlike" faith as you read the Word. After all, that's all God requires of all of us. And aren't you glad you don't have to be a smart fellow either to believe that?!

Have a great Thursday and a great start to 2009!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-31T03:05:00.001-08:00

Malachi and Revelation 22

Well, we begin a new year tomorrow. Can you believe it? The year 2009 is now here and it brings us to a time of the question...."Will this be the year?" "Will this be the year that some of us keep our new year's resolutions?" Hopefully, but probably not. "Will this be the year that the economy gets better?" I sure hope so. "Will this be the year the Texas Rangers make it to the playoffs and win the World Series?" There's a pretty good "no" that goes with that one. But the real question is, "Will this be the year the Lord comes back to take the church home?" As you know, Jesus said that no one knows the day or hour, but with some of the recent events in the Middle East, you know we are getting closer. All we can rely on is what is said as we end up our Bible readings for this year in Revelation 22:20 which says, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." So, maybe you will keep your resolutions, maybe the economy will get better, maybe the Rangers will win the World Series (NOT), and maybe, hopefully, the Lord will come back. Until any of that happens, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (verse 21)

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-30T02:47:00.001-08:00

Zechariah 13-14 and Revelation 21

As I look back over this past year, I recall some really good things that have happened to people, but as many of you know through our prayer chain, there has also been a lot of tragedy and heartache. I have done several funerals this past year, some of which was expected and others that weren't. I have been with families in the hospital with various illnesses and injuries. I have visited with others who have faced various family problems. Life is so good, unfortunately it also has some very difficult and unexpected turns. One day, however, God has promised there will be no more need for hospitals, nursing homes or funeral homes. In Revelation 21:4 it says, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." What a day, glorious day, that will be!!!

Have a great Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-29T03:05:00.000-08:00

Zechariah 9-12 and Revelation 20

According to the Bible, everyone will one day stand before the throne of God to be judged. In Revelation 20, we are told of the "Great White Throne Judgment" which those who are unbelievers will face. Notice as you read these verses that it says there will be books at that judgment (verse 12) that will be opened. In these books will be the works of those there. Some will say, "I was a good parent." And those books will show that. Others will say, "I was a good member of society." And again, those books will show that. In other words, not all the "bad things" people do will be contained in those books, but there will also be some good things. However, you will also notice there is one other Book at this judgment...the Book of Life. That's the most important Book, because even though there will be good and bad in the other books, unless your name is in the Book of Life, those things won't have any significance. People will try to show they deserve to go to heaven, but there is only one way to get there...you have to have your reservations in the Book of Life. How do you do that? Ask Christ into your life. Have you made your reservation?

Have a blessed Monday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-28T04:32:00.001-08:00

Zechariah 5-8 and Revelation 19

As you go to church today, I just wanted to write the description of Christ given in Revelation 19:11-16:

"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven clothed in fine line, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

Nuff' said....Go to church today and worship Him for who He is!!!

Have a great Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-27T03:15:00.001-08:00

Zechariah 1-4 and Revelation 18

In the Old Testament and in Revelation the prophets tell of symbolic visions. Often those symbols are difficult to understand. For instance, in Zechariah 1 we read of visions of horses, and horns, and in Revelation 18 we are told of the vision of Babylon. I could spend some time here trying to interpret what is being said by mentioning what some respectable Biblical scholars have said about these verses, but some may differ in their opinion from others. The most important thing about reading and studying Bible prophecy is not to come to an agreement with others on what you believe, but rather two important facts: 1) The Lord is coming, and 2) He is coming for you. If you know those two things, don't get all caught up in trying to decide what these verses on prophecy mean. Just do what Zechariah 2:10 says: "'Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,' says the Lord."

Have a great Saturday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-26T03:38:00.001-08:00

Haggai and Revelation 17

Christmas is over and now people will hurry out today to exchange the things they got for Christmas they didn't want or that didn't fit. Stores will be also offering special after Christmas bargains to get people to come in and spend more money. I hope you had such a good Christmas that you don't have to take anything back and you're not looking for any more "deals." But if you focused on the material of Christmas instead of the spiritual, you'll never be satisfied. You will be like what Haggai 1:6 says: "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag of holes." I hope your Christmas was so good that you remembered to focus on Christ and His gift to all of us. He's one gift that never has to be exchanged and He always "fits!" There aren't any better "bargains" than Him as well. Aren't you glad you don't have to fight the crowds to get to Him today!

Have a great Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-25T01:47:00.000-08:00

Zephaniah and Revelation 16

I hope you and your family have a very merry Christmas.

All for the Glory of God!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-23T03:08:00.000-08:00

Nahum and Revelation 14

Does your name have significance? In other words, when your parents gave you your name when you were born, was it after someone they knew or someone in the family? Most parents carefully consider several names before they decide on that "perfect name" for their little baby. For example, Tyler Mack Smith, MY GRANDSON, has the same middle name as his dad, Thomas Mack, and me, Kyle Mack! Cool, huh?! Anyway, the name Nahum in our reading for today has a very important name. It means, "comfort, consolation, or relief." Why was that name important? Because as Nahum pronounces the judgment from God on Ninevah, he reminds everyone of the comfort, consolation and relief God's people have. Nahum 1:7 says, "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." That's so good! All of us have trouble from time to time, but God is there to give us a refuge and take care of us! When I think, hear or say the name, "Tyler Mack" it sure makes me feel good. But so much more than that, when I hear how God takes care of me as I trust in Him, I know His name is above all names! Hallelujah!

Have a great Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-22T03:08:00.000-08:00

Micah 6-7 and Revelation 13

In life, there are certain requirements that you have to meet. If you are going to drive a car, you are required to have a driver's license. If you are going to get a college degree, you are required to take certain courses and pass them. So is there anything that God requires of us? Micah 6:8 gives us the answer. It says, "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." That's a pretty simple outline of what God requires. "To act justly," just means we do the right thing. "To love mercy," means we should not only love the mercy God gives us, but also love being merciful to others...after all, Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." (Matthew 5:7) And, "To walk humbly with God," means we remember that the only way we can walk with Him is when we humble ourselves under His mighty hand so that He can exalt us in due time (1 Peter 5:6). His requirements are not that difficult and they are given so we could know and love Him better each day. So think of those three things each day and see how He blesses your life with goodness and grace.

Have a blessed Monday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-21T04:24:00.001-08:00

Micah 4-5 and Revelation 12

A lot of the Old Testament has prophecy concerning the first and second coming of Christ. Every one of the prophecies about His first coming came true...every one of them, including the one found in Micah 5:2 which says, "But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, thought you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old from ancient times." And, of course, we know where Jesus was born! As we are reading through the Book of Revelation, we also see prophecy of His second coming, many which have yet to be fulfilled, but if I were a betting man (which I am not), I think the odds of those taking place are pretty good...actually real good. So as you go to church today to celebrate the fulfilled prophecy of the newborn King, be sure to worship Him also because of His coming again! Maybe it will be today!

Have a great Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-20T03:19:00.000-08:00

Micah 1-3 and Revelation 11

Do you remember the first Indiana Jones Movie? It was called, "The Raider's of the Lost Ark" in which Harrison Ford played Indiana Jones on a crusade to find the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the very presence and glory of God. In the movie, the Germans and Hitler wanted the Ark because it possessed the most powerful weapon known to man...God! With Him on our side, who can be against us? Sound familiar? Anyway, that was just a movie, but as we read Revelation 11, we are introduced to this ark and its power. Verse 19 says, "Then God's temple in heaven was opened and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm." You may recall at the end of "The Raider's of the Lost Ark" the ark is supposedly sealed up in a box and stored in a huge warehouse. I've got some news. God's power is still there in heaven and is delivered in His time and on His authority! It can never be locked away!

Have a great Saturday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-19T03:38:00.000-08:00

Jonah and Revelation 10

Aren't you glad that our God is a God of second chances? How about third, fourth, fifth, etc., chances? The Book of Jonah has been called "the Gospel of second chances." Jonah didn't just ignore god's Word to him, he deliberately set out to disobey. Many of us can understand his actions. God sometimes asks us to do things we just don't want to d. Sometimes we even refuse to do them. Like Jonah, we may set out in another direction entirely. However, in time we discover storms lie in that direction, and we realize how foolish we were to run from God. Jonah's story reminds us that God just doesn't give up on runaways. God will come to us a "second time" (Jonah 3:1), as He did to Jonah. And like Jonah, we'll obey. Wouldn't be better is we would just obey Him the first time and avoid the storms? It certainly would, be it sure is good to know that when we don't, He still gives us a second, third, fourth, fifth, etc., chance.

Have a great Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-18T06:05:00.000-08:00

Obadiah and Revelation 9

For those of you who go to church at Emmanuel, you may recall that I recently preached from the book of Obadiah. I said when I preached from that book that day that I just like saying, "Obadiah" and even said I was going to name my next child, Obadiah. It has a good sound to it doesn't it? Not that I plan to have another child, but the name Obadiah! OOOOObaidah! Ok, enough of that, but as you read this book today you may notice that this is the shortest book in the Old Testamet...only one chapter with 21 verses, but it has volumes to say about who God is. Obadiah pronounces God's sovereignty (verse 1), His, judgment on Edom (verse 4), and the deliverance of His people (verse 17)! That let's us know that even as we read the book of Revelation and hear that God is still in control, of His coming judgement and that He will still deliver His people! Even though President-elect Obama is talking about "change," our God will never change! And to that we can say OOOOOObadiah!

Have a great Thursday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-17T03:06:00.001-08:00

Amos 7-9 and Revelation 8

Have you ever noticed that there are times that God uses silence to get our attention? That may be hard to understand, but if your faith is truly in Him, those moments of silence have a purpose. In Revelation 8:1 it says, "When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour." God uses this dramatic pause to say something really loud. The rapidly moving drama of the seven-seal judgment stops. The breaking of the final seal brings an unexpected result: silence. The captured attention is then drawn to the seven angels who are given seven trumpets--but still no sound. Finally in verse 5 the silence is broken with "peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake." God used silence to show us His judgment. He does not do this for mere dramatic effect but that people might repent. Sadly, the Bible tells us, men will ignore God's acts of judgment and will instead curse Him. When God catches our attention, we better listen! So the next time you feel that God has gone "silent," listen real carefully...that silence may be louder that you think!

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-16T02:55:00.001-08:00

Amos 4-6 and Revelation 7

To me one of the great pictures in heaven is found in Revelation 7. As John sees those who have gathered around the throne of God, he says, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb." This says a couple of things: 1) there is going to be a lot of people in heaven, and 2) they are not all going to look alike. In other words, you can't get to heaven just because you live in America and have a certain type of skin color. There's only one way to get there. John says in verse 10 that those who were gathered around the throne, "Cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb.'" That means we will be praise God not for our nationality, race, creed or even denomination...we will praise Him because of His salvation, which is offered to anyone and everyone! What an amazing sight and sound it will be when we all gather together to praise God in unison! No more barriers! Praise God!!!

Have a great Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-15T03:08:00.001-08:00

Amos 1-3 and Revelation 6

There are so many things that happen in life that are unexplainable. People will ask the question, "If there is a God in heaven, why would He allow so many bad things to happen?" That's a pretty good question. Why is there hunger in the world? Why do hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters happen? Why, why, why? There's a lot of these questions that may not have an answer until we get to heaven. However, I don't know how you can go through life facing these things without believing in a God who is in control when life seems out of control. In the book of Amos, the prophet is telling the people of Israel that disasters will happen, but "Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) In other words, God is in charge of everything and although it may be hard to understand, He has a plan for all of it...even the tough stuff. I can't answer very many questions when it comes to the "whys" of life, but I do know that I serve the Sovereign Lord, and He is in control of everything!

Have a blessed Monday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-14T04:31:00.001-08:00

Joel and Revelation 5

Today at Emmanuel, our church choir will be doing the musical, "Tonight, Heaven Touches Earth." It is a beautiful reminder through song of how God sent His Son to the earth for the purpose of saving us. One of the songs in the musical is simply entitled, "Why?" Why did He come? Why was He born in a manger? Why? It was simply because He knew we couldn't save our selves. Our sanctuary choir at Emmanuel is made up of about thirty people, and although it may sound like I'm bragging, they really sound good. In Revelation 5, John says here hears the voices of "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands!" Wow! Can you imagine a choir like that? I believe this number represents those of us who will be gathered around the throne one day! What will we be singing? Verse 12 says we will be singing, "Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory!" I'm not much of a singer, but when we all sing in the heavenly choir, we will all have perfect harmony! Wow! I can't wait!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-13T02:50:00.001-08:00

Hosea 12-14 and Revelation 4

We make choices every day about a multitude of things, some of which are of little or no consequence. But some of our choices are of great significance. How well we choose can set us apart from the crowd. The person who makes good choices will be known for his wisdom and discernment. Hosea concludes with a statement that describes the wise person. This truth summarizes well the choice every one of us should make. He says that the wise, prudent person should understand that "the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them" (14:9). Choose to accept the truth that the ways of the Lord are right. That is the crucial decision that needs to precede all others. The Bible teaches us the ways of the Lord. We need to read it and learn it with an attitude of acceptance. God's ways are right. Then choose to act on the truth that the ways of the Lord are right. Accepting is one thing, acting is another. Someone may agree but not practice. The wise person does more than just agree with truth-he lives it. That is the crucial next step. Choose wisely and prudently. Choose the ways of the Lord.
Have a great Saturday!
Bro. Kyle

2008-12-12T01:49:00.000-08:00

Hosea 9-11 and Revelation 3

"Knock, Knock!" "Who's there?" "Mary!" "Mary who?" "Mary Christmas!" Ok, that's bad, but do you remember those "knock, knock" jokes? Those are always kind of bad, but I wanted to use this to bring up Revelation 3:20, which says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." In other words, there was a time in your life when Jesus stood at your heart's door and said, "Knock, knock!" When you asked, "Who's there?" He said, "Jesus!" When you then asked, "Jesus, who?" He said, "Jesus as Lord!" It was then you had to decide to either let him in or keep the door locked. The most important thing you can do in your life is to open up and let Jesus come in and give you eternal life, and that's no joke! Ok, one more..."Knock, knock!" "Who's there?" "Missile" "Missile who?" "Missile Toe!" I know, that's worse than the first one, but it's the best I can do!

Have a great Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-11T02:55:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 11: Hosea 5-8 and Revelation 2

The book of Hosea is an incredible story of forgiveness. The prophet Hosea's commitment to his unfaithful wife reflects God's commitment to His unfaithful people. God's love for Israel is so deep that even as His people turn aside to pagan gods, He still provides for them. Sometimes we're really battered by life and may drift away from the Lord. In fact, we can be so bruised that we wonder if it's worthwhile to serve Him. If you are feeling that way right now, it may be helpful to read Hosea 6:1-3. It says, "Come and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day, He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning, he will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former to the earth." What does returning to God offer? Healing. Binding up. Revival. So be determine to return to the Lord. Pursue fellowship with Him once again. When you do, His presence will be like a refreshing rain!

Have a great Thursday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-10T01:43:00.001-08:00

Wednesday, December 10: Hosea 1-4 and Revelation 1

Well, we have made it to the last book of the Bible. The book of Revelation is just what it says it is in verse 1: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." Most of the time when you think of who Jesus is, we think of how we met Him in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School...Gentile Jesus, who loves children, heals the sick, and listens to our prayers. No wonder we often see pictures of Him as the artists do: long hair flowing, sad-eyed, smiling mildly. Maybe that's how even John remembered Him. But when he "turned to see the voice that spoke with him" (verse 12), John saw the true Revelation of Jesus. As a result, he fell at His feet, stunned by the awesome sight (read verses 13-16). One day we will see Jesus that same way and will bring that same sense of awe and adoration. What a day, glorious day, that will be!

Have a blessed Wednesday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-09T06:05:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 9: Daniel 11-12 and Jude

"LET'S GET READY TO RUUUUUUMMMMMMBBBBLLLEEEE!!!!!" You may have heard that phrase from a guy who introduces boxing matches. He gets the crowd worked into a frenzy as he introduces the two opponents who are about to go toe to toe "contending" for the championship. I'm not saying that's what Jude had in mind when he wrote verse 3, but it could be. It says, "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvations. I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to CONTEND earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." The word "contend" does give the thought of giving everything in a battle to out duel your opponent. Jude goes on in this little letter to talk about those who will be teaching false doctrines in the church. Today, the church faces a great opposition from people who are watering down the Word of God. We need to keep contending for the faith and stand for the truth! In other words....LLLLLLEEEEEETTTTTTT'SSS GET READY TO RUUUUUUMMMMMMBBBBLLLLEEE!!!!!!

Have a great Tuesday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-08T03:10:00.001-08:00

Monday, December 8: Daniel 8-10 and 3 John

If you were writing a book about the church you attend, would you include some of the "bad stuff"? There's not a perfect church, so don't tell me there isn't any bad stuff in your church. If you ask a pastor about his church,even he will tell you that everything is going good. After all, no one wants to mention anything negative about their church. But as you read the Bible, you will see that even the rough times are included. In John 3, we read of a man named Diotrephes who was in a church who was refusing God's messengers. Verse 9 says, "I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us." John goes on to say in verse 10 that this mans was, "gossiping maliciously about us." Now, again, I know you don't have anyone like that in your church, but I'm so glad this kind of stuff is included in the Bible. It let's us know that it's been going on for a long time. The key is just to do the right thing. There is another guy in this church by the name of Demetrius, who does the right thing. Verse 11 says, "Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God." So which are you in the church you attend, Diotrephes or Demetrius? Just a thought.

Have a great Monday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-07T04:20:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 7: Daniel 5-7 and 2 John

Going to church is the easy part of Christianity. We live in a country where we can still worship and pray when and where we want to. Living our faith outside the church can be a little tougher. It is there where some people tell us that we can't worship and pray. This is not anything new. Today, in Daniel 6, we read of how that was going on even in the Old Testament. If there ever was a man who stood by his beliefs despite what the government told him, it was Daniel. He continued to pray even though there was a decree that he not. As a result, he ended up in a den full of lions. It was in that most dangerous place that God protected him. If we will trust God like Daniel did, He will protect us in the most difficult situations. Go do the easy thing of Christianity today...worship with other believers. But be ready to face an angry world outside the church when you want to show your faith in a faithless world. If you do, just remember that God still closes the mouths of lions if we will keep our trust in Him!

Have a blessed Sunday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-06T02:31:00.001-08:00

Saturday, December 6: Daniel 3-4 and 1 John 5

One of the most famous stories of faith in the Bible is found in Daniel 3. It is the story of Sadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. The confession of these three Jews to Nebuchadnezzar teaches us about the true nature of faith. They asserted their belief in God's ability to deliver them. But they also affirmed their intention to honor Him, whether God chose to deliver them or not (verse 18). The statements of these three courageous and faithful young men remind us that we have no guarantee on how God will act. he con deliver us from troubles, but will He? He can heal a cancer, but will He? He can get us that job we so desperately want, but will He? We simply do not know. An so in faith we affirm our conviction that God can do anything, and we commit to be faithful to Him, whatever he may choose to do. Faith, however, does have on guarantee. God has promised to do what he knows is ultimately best for Him, for us and for those we love. And that's what faith is all about.

Have a blessed Saturday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-05T03:09:00.000-08:00

Friday, December 5: Daniel 1-2 and 1 John 4

If someone asked you to give a definition of who God is, what would you say? Some people think of Him as a grandfather type figure who sits somewhere watching all His little grandchildren. Others think that He is a mighty force waiting for us to "mess up" so He can squash us with His judgement. Then others would you say that He is a powerful being who has little interest in what's going on in our lives. No matter how you might define Him, one of the most powerful and truthful statements about God is found in 1 John 4:7-8 which says, "Beloved let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." Simply put. if you truly know God, He's not that hard to define...He is love! As a result, we come to know Him more intimately through His love for us and our love for others. After all, "No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us." (verse 12)

Have a fantastic Friday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-12-04T02:33:00.001-08:00

Thursday, December 4: Ezekiel 47-48 an 1 John 3

When someone asks you to identify yourself, what do you say? For me, I could say several things: I am a husband, a father, a brother, a son, a pastor, a jogger, and, as most of you know, a GRANDPA! But when it comes down to it, these are really just the "extras" of our lives. Our real identification is found in 1 John 3:1-2 where it says, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." So how do you identify yourself? Hopefully you are identified as a child of God. And in this time of identity theft, aren't you glad no one can steal that from you?!

Have a terrific Thursday!

Bro. Kyle

2008-11-21T10:42:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

Well, this is all new to me, but I am now an official "blogger." The main reason I will use this is for our daily Bible readings we send out each day. If you check here, you will find the verses we are reading for the day, which will include some verses from the Old and New Testaments, along with a brief thought from me. I hope you will check this out from time to time. Maybe God will use it in an incredible way in your life and give you a word from Him that you needed at just the right time. I hope to hear from you from time to time. Have a great day!

Bro. Kyle

2008-11-21T10:40:00.001-08:00

Friday, November 21: Ezekiel 16-17 and James 3

Aren't you glad that people can't read your mind? Imagine if your boss could hear what you're thinking. Or how about your spouse, your friend, your pastor or a perfect stranger. Maybe sometimes you wished they could. We even say, "I sure would like to give them a piece of my mind." But do we really? Unfortunately we do sometimes and then we regret it. Think of how many times something has slipped out of your mind and off your tongue. Instantly we wish we could take it back. Sadly, we can't erase things once said. We can be sorry, apologize, and agonize, but words once spoken cannot be scooped up and taken away. The truth James shares in chapter 3 is reminder of what we should think and what we should say. After all, verses 9 and 10 say, "With it (the tongue) we bless our God and father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers these things ought not to be so." If people could read your mind, what would they think about you? Maybe instead of wanting to give people a piece of our mind, we should share with them the praise of our lives...Jesus!

Have a wonderful Friday!

Bro. Kyle

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2008-11-21T09:55:00.000-08:00

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