Carroll's Blog

I am starting to wonder, if we are really getting it sometimes.We have been given the manual, the blue print if you will, with all of the instructions.The game plan has been set, and all the key players have been selected and put in place.It’s a rare case where the game plan is so perfect, that if followed properly, failure is not a possibility.The only problem is, we are not fully committed to the game plan and won’t get into the game!We are getting the training but won’t put it to use.We are just content to soak up all that we are taught and hold on to it for ourselves, rather than what it was really intended for.

Week after week, Sunday after Sunday we sit within the confines of our local churches, and receive our instructions and opportunity to make an impact.Only to leave out “fat” on knowledge and information, then go home to get fat on Sunday dinner.Then we spend the entire week until the next Sunday talking about the hell that we are going through banking on the next Sunday message to relieve us from it.All the while missing that if we were doing what we were called to do, we would be aligning ourselves with the “perfect will” of God.Missing that, our true peace and joy in life comes from fulfilling our purpose that God has placed upon us.

We were all called to the “Market Place” to be an impact for the Kingdom of God.Those who’s lives that God truly wants us to impact are not usually sitting next to us on Sundays.They are usually the ones that God puts in our path day after day.That gives us a chance to share with them the Word of God, and to make a difference.But we often pass up this opportunity because it impacts our time and schedule.And every time we do this, we miss out on fulfilling our purpose and receiving more of what God has for our lives.Our lives…….that is what we are so caught up in.We don’t have the time, so we push the responsibility to the next person.They go to church, they know the bible, let them do it today, and I will get the next person tomorrow.Think about the impact or lack thereof if every other person chose that option.Would anyone ever make it into the “Market Place”?Would anyone be fulfilling the purpose on their life?

We often think of how things could be better in our own lives.How we can be sure that we have all the things we need.How we can have the financial security to make us feel comfortable.Building a nest egg to make sure our children are able to go to college, and for our retirement.All these things are important, but are you really okay with having these things and knowing that you are not fulfilling the will of God?What are you planning on tell God when you have to give an account with what you have done with the knowledge that you have received?

We can no longer leave it up to a few “Innovative” churches to go out and do the job that we were all called to do!We have to get out of our four walled churches and get out and impact the lives of others for the Kingdom of God. The church is simply a worship center and training ground.It was not intended as our sole place of ministry. Those inside the church are not the only ones in need of ministry!!

It is a privilege to have the responsibility given to us by God to participate in Outreach.We are not doing anyone a favor by sharing the gospel.If you don’t do it, believe me God will find someone else that will. We are putting ourselves in a position to be blessed by God for doing what we are suppose to because we love Him. The blessing that comes may be in the form of protection and not anything you can physically see.We are impacting the lives of others for the single purpose that God called us to do it!!

So Who’s Job Is It??All those in the Kingdom that believe!!

There are many things that I struggle with in my faith walk every day.  But yet it is because of my Christian walk that I do struggle with these things.  Now I know that just went over the head of a few people, but you will get it later today, I promise.  Maybe later today on your drive home when someone cuts you off in traffic even!

But there are things that are done in the secular world that I have to admit appeal to my desires.  Nothing immoral, but that could be looked upon with a slight slant from the traditional masses.  I have to admit, I still like to listen to certain types of music, for the beats and riffs that I just can’t get from most Christian music. (Nothing with negative or suggestive lyrics, promoting immoral acts)  There are certain Christian artist’s that put out music that are in line with what I believe, and are very appealing.  They represent all types of music for the listener that want to stay in line with their walk with God, and be uplifted as well.  These are all great, but what about when I want to listen to something that makes me think about how much I love my wife??  I have not really found any Christian love songs that remind me of that.  I have no problem being reminded of my love for my Lord and Savior, don’t get me wrong.  But there are times when I want to be reminded of the love and commitment I do and should have for her.  What about my love for Jazz and “Pop” music??  Sometimes I want to just kick back and listen to something that just appeals to my groove side.  Now I am not going to listen to something that’s immoral and challenge’s my walk with God. My desires to please Him far outweigh my desires to please my flesh. (That should be with anything in life) I recently attended a “Smooth Jazz” concert with my wife, featuring artist who may or may not have a walk with God.  It was as romantic a setting as any concert I can remember.  There was nothing in any of the acts that compromised my walk, or would be considered offensive at all.  Was this wrong?  Did I need to repent for my actions the next morning?  I will say I have had no feelings of condemnation from God what so ever.  So I believe because of my relationship with Him, if there was a problem with it, He would let me know!!  I think the world needs to see you don’t have to give up enjoying life to walk with Christ.That is the message that has been missing for ages.You can still enjoy “some” of the secular things of the world, and still be pleasing to God.Your spirit has to guide you as to what would be pleasing to God, and what is not.Traditions have made the Christian walk not appear as a life of enjoyment, because we have restricted ourselves from many enjoyments of the world that were inspired by God in the first place.Does this look like something that someone that has no fellowship with God would want to be a part of??

We add more baggage to life than it ever should be.  I believe that we just make it far harder than it has to be, by how we want to appear before “man”.  We all come with a natural desire to belong, and how others view us.  That actually works two fold.  When we are in our Christian walk with others we want to appear on a level of spirituality that we would never do anything to make us appear that we are not right up there beside Jesus!  Then when we are at work, we don’t want to appear to be the odd one out, so we laugh at the dirty joke that was just told.

Can’t we just focus on pleasing God first and foremost?  When we have that relationship with Him, we will know when we are right or wrong.  Let that be your guide, not the comments, thoughts, or stairs of “man” Let’s only allow God to judge us, and our actions.  When we commit to do that, there is no pressure!

I’m going to write a guide

I think I am going to write a guide for cell use in public!! I know it’s the day before Christmas, and I don’t want to be a “scrooge” but someones gotta say it. When in public and you just can’t wait until you get home to talk on the phone, there are certain do’s and dont’s that should be followed. Now those that know me can truly back me as being an expert on this matter. I use my Cellphone a minimum of 7 hours a day!! Okay that’s a bit of a stretch, but it is a lot! So I am qualified to write a guide on the subject.
First the don’t’s- When making a purchase, don’t talk on the phone and the clerk at the same time. You cannot pay the clerk the attention needed to make the purchase successful. You will end up having them repeat everything delaying the transaction even more. Second- When talking on the phone in public, try not to talk so loud that everyone in a quarter mile radius is involved in the conversation. For some odd reason our voices are elevated to the 15th power when talking on the Cellphone. You can’t see them, but the person on the other end is holding their phone 2 feet from their head listening to you!
Three- Do not talk on your phone while driving, if it causes you to drive 15mph below the posted speed limit. Some of us are a bit challenged when it comes to doing more than one thing at a time. For some reason, driving is always secondary! Third and lastly- Never ever text while driving or walking. You can’t look where you are driving or walking with your head down looking at your phone’s keyboard. This seems pretty much like a given, but you see it at least once a day.

My question is, what in the world did we do before cellphones?? It’s now a life support to many, including myself.

The First Amendment was approved by Congress during its first session in 1789 in response to concerns by anti‐Federalists that the Constitution did not sufficiently protect individual liberties from federal intrusion.It was made a part of the Constitution in 1791, along with 9 other amendments protecting personal liberties.These liberties were derived to protect the people of the United States.The Freedom of Speech was one of these amendments.

This has been one of the most recognized parts of the Constitution, and is used by many.It is also the most misunderstood and misused.Every time someone wants to push their agenda right or wrong, this is their battle cry.Anytime someone wants to publically attack another person or group, this again is their battle cry.The very amendment derived to protect us, is being used to destroy many.Groups and individuals are using media and television to slander those they do not agree with, and hide behind their “Freedom of Speech”. It is being used as a weapon that was created long ago to protect.It is much like a gun.Was a gun created to protect, or to destroy??It all depends on whom it’s in the hands of.Much like a gun, if used for the wrong purpose, “Freedom of Speech” can be dangerous. its also not safe to be defined by anyone and everyone!!

Freedom of Speech does not give you the right to attack any group or person that you do not agree with.Or does it?Is it fair, or unfair?Does it protect, or destroy?

Is there any real answer to those questions?It all depends on who you ask!!

Is appears to me that we are in a day and age where positions of authority in this country are no longer valued and respected the way they were many years ago.When certain positions of authority were created, there was an “understood” measure of respect that went along with them.There were no written guidelines or rules posted in the office or on a nameplate in front of them on their desk.It was just known that you did not speak to them in a disrespecting manner, not only in their presence but in public as well.You did not write or say things that could be interpreted as “unflattering” in a public form, or on television.If you did have something negative to say, you reserved it for barbershop, beauty shops, or home gatherings.But you never said it before a public audience, or in the media,

Well those days are long gone.It is very common to see someone on television attacking someone of authority. Calling them stupid, incompetent, and making any type of mockery of them you feel warranted. Whether it’s the President of the United States, members of the Supreme Court, a Government Official, or even a well known Minister, It doesn’t matter they all appear to be fair game in this country now. Just watch any of the late night television shows, its part of their opening monologue.Jay Leno and David Letterman feast on making fun of the President. Letterman has a nightly skit that mocks our President that is cheered by the audience as if he had just told the greatest knock-knock joke ever!!Now I am not defending George Bush for anything that he has or has not done in his term in office.I am not defending him for just being George Bush!!I am defending the office of The President of the United States.I am not asking for a respect for the person in the position, but honor and respect the Office!!No matter who is in the Office, respect it. We cannot get upset by an Iraqi reporter throwing his shoe at our President when we see it basically done every day in media local to this country!We have given the world the right to disrespect our President by what we do to the person in that office openly.We have taken the most powerful and highly regarded position on this earth outside of God, and relegated it to a target of open attacks of disrespect and lack of honor.

We call the position “Commander in Chief”, let’s start respecting it that way!!

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Hebrews 13:17 KJ

As I sat here tonight thinking of the Christmas shopping I needed to get done, I wondered how it happened. How did the birthday of the Savior of our souls, become all about us?? How did God’s gift to man become the time for us to focus on the “worldly” gifts from family and friends. We have the chance to celebrate the greatest expression of love for us all, that we could ever imagine. Instead we spend hours in crowded mall stores stressingly searching for that special something to bring temporary joy to someone we care about. All the while disregarding the One who loves us the most!! The One that is the true source of all our joy and strength. Isn’t it about Jesus? It’s His birthday!! We take that for granted this time of the year and it’s a shame.
Let’s work on making Jesus the focus of His birthday, and realize we have already received the greatest gift the world could have ever hoped for!
Jesus is the reason for the season.

American Atheists Inc. a national group taking the state of Kentucky for a clause in the state law that says, “safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God.” Their leader Ed Buckner says that the state Is putting the responsibility of protecting its citizens in the hands of a “mythological creature.”
Now I don’t find Buckner’s statement too shocking, seeing that he is operating under the belief that he is in total control of his own being and existence. That all protection for his life, and the life of his family is in the hands of the authorities and the state of Kentucky. Because he has no belief in God, he feels that he should be separated from the state amendment that recognizes the Lord our God as the protector of those who know and love Him. I respect (but do not agree) with his wish to believe that he is not under God’s protection, but do not understand why this amendment is drawing such a fight from a group that does not believe it is valid. If they do not believe in it, then why does it really matter to them anyway? Those such as myself, that don’t believe or agree with the “Theory of Evolution” are not fighting to have it banished , never to be printed again. We simply believe and teach our children the truth about it, and move on.
It often amazes me when the Freedom of Speech amendment comes into play and is the opposite of what the radicals believe. When they have something to say that pushes their agenda, it’s the first thing they mention. But when that amendment backs something in regards to God, and us speaking His word, it suddenly becomes null and void in their eyes. It no longer applies, and should not be mentioned. But when they want to speak out about how God does not exist it is suddenly valid again.
This country was based on the bible and the Word of God, whether they want to accept that or not. The forefathers of this country had the wisdom to recognize God and how we must depend on Him for our life, protection, health, and prosperity. It is because of groups like the American Atheists doing everything they can to move this country away from God, that has opened us up to the very fears we must face every day. The removal of prayer in school has created a haven of violence and immorality that our children must face every day. Children must spend 7 hours a day without that reminder or recognition of God’s protection over them. The image of the 10 Commandments that used to be posted in the classrooms, no longer act as a sin deterrent. So they are open to the threats of a world run by an enemy that wants to kill them and rob them of God’s destiny for their lives! The removing of God from our country has stripped us of the protection from terrorist that want to destroy us and cause this country to no longer exist. God’s hand of protection is the very reason this country has not suffered the calamities that many countries around the world have suffered. Not our military might, nor border security, being the reason. The surge of undocumented people in our country is proof that the border protection is not saving us from the terrorist that wish to enter our country and do harm to us. But as God is pushed away more and more, we have suffered evidence that His hand of protection is being removed. 911, Katrina, the current recession, are all examples. Now can you really imagine our country totally without the hand of God upon us? I pray that we never have to find out what that would be like. But we that believe in God and His protection have to stand up and fight these groups. We can no longer remain silent when they attempt to push our God away. Our very existence depends upon it! We must view them as the same threat that they view God being mentioned in our amendments, our pledges, in our court rooms and government buildings. The Word of God is the rock that this country was built on, and that is the strongest foundation we could have ever had. Just like any house, when you remove the foundation, there is nothing that will keep it standing!!
If those that don’t want to be reminded of God don’t like it, let them move to another country that feels the same way. Then we will see how long they last.
You know it’s kind of funny that they don’t want to be reminded of God, but they work every day trying to obtain money that has God written all over it!! Don’t see them handing it back because they are offended. And all these countries that hate us (really because of our acknowledgement of our Lord Jesus Christ) would rather convert their foreign currency to US dollars because of its higher value! When a certain dictator was on the run from our military, the first thing he did was go to the bank and retrieve as much money as he could get his hands on. In US currency!!

Full Kentucky Amendment in question

2nd in command of the Al Qaeda terrorist organization, Ayman al-Zawahiri left an Internet message for President-Elect Barack Obama yesterday. In his message he threatened the President-elect saying “a heavy legacy of failure and crimes await you”. He also went on to referring somewhat to a statement by the late Malcolm X, calling Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and the President-elect, “House Negroes”. Man, I wonder if he saw the movie that Spike Lee did on Malcolm X with Denzel Washington!! Just wondering.
I just found this report to be very interesting, because of all of the “conspiracy theorist” that believe that our President-elect is secretly connected to, or involved with terrorist organizations because of his name. They tend to look at it and associate him with the Muslim belief because of his father being a Muslim. They totally over look the fact that he was raised by his mother and grandparents who were not. They overlook that his father left his mother at a very early stage in his life., and had nothing to do with raising him. This is something that I have seen constantly overlooked.
I again say that I am not in support of “all” of the President-elect’s views, mainly the ones that do not line up with what the bible teaches us. But I do put my faith in God and what has been given in prophecy about what He will do when Barack Obama takes office, and faces the challenges of hold the most important position on this earth. Barack Obama is our President in waiting and I will pray, and support him just as I have every other that has been in that position of authority.
I do stand against someone being falsely accused and labeled, simply because of their name and what connections they have been accused of having. So again to all of the “conspiracy theorist” out there who connect Obama to Al Qaeda, explain this message to me please!!!