I was informed this evening that someone has been hacking into some of our blog pages. From what I have been told they have been sending messages to some of our members concerning their passwords. I wanted to help Steve by writing a little message to inform everyone that he is not sending these E-mails. Do not respond to them. If you get one of these E-mails call or write Steve or myself so we can handle it.

I want to take a few minutes now to address those individuals who are trying to hack into our site. I know you probably won’t read this, but if you do I hope you will realize you are doing Satan’s work for him. I will be praying for you, whoever you are that you will read some of the blogs on this site and understand a little about the people you are hurting. I also pray you will understand you may slow us down, but God willing you won’t stop us. I pray, even if you don’t read this may your heart be touched by our Lord and Savior. I pray you will realize what you are doing and be turned from this evil.

Tony

I must start this blog by saying this is not my original thought. I heard a new song by Mike Bowling and just had to share it. It says what I have been thinking while going through the latest trial in my life. I am so thankful God uses music as one of his tools to speak to me. I feel it is through music I learn that other people feel or have felt, the way I do/have. Isn’t it amazing that people all over the world can relate to song. I think it shows just how similar we all are as humans. How can we have the same feelings and experiences as someone we have never met or seen? Funny how songs can bring seemingly the whole world together. People from different churches and doctrines gather together at gospel concerts without arguing their beliefs. Wow.

Anyway, the song talks about second chances that we have been given and how we look at circumstances when we have been lost and how we should realize that troubles only last for a season. When we feel like nothing is turning out the way it should we should still love God and all things, they work together for our good. So let the storms of life roll I know who is in control. I know everything happens for a reason. I have hope within my soul.

There have been times when I have doubted. I would get so frustrated and wondered why things were allowed to happen. As I grow spiritually, I learn some of why God allows certain things. Most importantly though I learn to give it to Jesus and he always gives me peace. He always guides me through, in time. I love the Lord. I know he Loves me.

I pray someday, I will be able to put in to words what Jesus has done for me.

God Bless,

Tony

I heard my 6 year old daughter singing this song the other day. Upon hearing it I had to swallow hard to keep from breaking down and ruining her joy. What a wonderful way to hear my precious Lord and Savior singing to me. The song says it all.

He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the Moon and Stars, the Sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, He’s still working on me.

There really ought to be a sign upon my heart, but don’t judge me yet there’s an unfinished part. But I’ll be perfect just according to his plan, fashioned by The Masters Loving Hand.

He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the Moon and Stars, the Sun and the Earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, He’s still working on me.

The education my little girl is getting is wonderful through her home schooling. I am thankful that we live in a country where we are allowed to home school our children if we choose to. The fact that she was singing this song she learned from her school videos makes me so happy I just can’t explain it. I know there are many out there who disagree with home school programs. I appreciate your opinion. Thank God we live where we are allowed to have opinions. I have watched her grow spiritually and academically through this program and I couldn’t be happier with her progress. I pray she will continue to amaze me everyday with her intellect. I anticipate studying with her in thje years to come. God willing.

God bless you all,

Tony

It’s been so hot this summer, I forget we are well into September. Judging by the weather you wouldn’t know it if you hadn’t looked at a calander. At one time in my life I wasn’t a fan of this time of year. As I get older it doesn’t seem to bother me as much. Also I have to praise my Lord and Savior. Without him it is possible I wouldnt be here at all. He has brought me through a great many trials.

     Let me start by saying, I by far have not had it so bad in this life. I’ve had more than some, less than others. I don’t claim to be a victim of any kind. I have learned to take responsibility for my life. I know that I cannot get by without Jesus Christ being first in my life. I tried for a very long time to say I was in charge of my life. In doing so I created many, many, struggles for myself. I tried to make things happen in my life. I tried to  follow my dreams of fame and fortune. After all, my teachers and hero’s said all I needed to do was believe and I could make a dream come true. I could do anything I put my mind to.

    All I can say is what a dangerous message. To tell a teenager that he/she can do whatever they want if they just work hard and believe in themselves. How many times have I heard that statement? Every adult who is rooted in reality knows that it takes more than thinking you can do something to do it. Anyone who has seen the latest reality show has seen these poor souls who have been taught this very thing. These people go before millions and make complete fools of themselves and are completely destroyed to find out they don’t have what it takes.

    Now, having said that I don’t believe that having self esteem is a bad thing. Nor do I believe we shouldn’t set high goals for ourselves. I just believe I was lead astray by listening to people who half of which don’t know what they believe themselves. My parents worked all of the time to try and provide for my brother and me, and I didn’t always have an opportunity to ask them questions. I don’t blame them for my mistakes either. I probably wouldn’t have listened anyway. My head was so full of advice from everyone who knew less than I did, about what I wanted for myself.

   Which brings me back to what this post was supposed to be about anyway. This time of year seemed to be the time when everything seemed to go wrong. I have had many bouts with depression around this time of year. I lost a very good friend  to suicide in Nov., I don’t like cold weather, I lost a few job’s this time of year, I used to hate going back to school, I just couldn’t find any reason to like the Fall and winter.

       All of this was what I dreaded the most. Until I accepted Jesus Christ for real. I still remember what caused me pain and greif. I never lose sight of who I was and what I have come through by God’s grace. I wouldn’t trade those times for anything. They help me to realize just how good I have it now. From the outside looking in I don’t have very much at all. I am looking at possibly losing my job because of a back injury, I have had to move my wife and daughter out of our rental house and in with my parent’s,(which has been a true blessing in itself Thanks Mom and Dad) I don’t know what my future holds but I know who holds the future. When I think of all I have, how can I possibly complain. Things have been , and could be a whole lot worse.

  “I don’t worry about tomorrow, I don’t worry bout yesterday, I don’t worry about this crazy world, cause I’ve found a better way.”

    I pray for anyone out there like me. Who has known the pain this world can bring. I pray you can allow Jesus to make a place in your heart. He will truely give you rest. He is the only one who can.

                                Love in Christ,

                               Tony      

          I sit at my computer desk just now and I am heartbroken. I feel as if a heavy weight has been placed on me right now. I want to let everyone know how I feel about some things. I don’t however want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I just feel I need to take a stand on some issues and for the first time in my life not be afraid of how anyone else might judge me.

          I realize what I am about to say may cause me some trouble but I feel it needs to be said. I know some people who might read this may find it hard to believe it is coming from me. I usually don’t speak out on issues to avoid controversy. Right now I just can’t live with myself because I havn’t taken a stand on some important issues for a while, and I need to make a statement, if for nothing else than to ease my own mind.

          I feel that this country as well as Christianity is being misrepresented by many people today. I remember in the Bible (paraphrazing) Jesus said to render unto Ceazar (Our Government) what is theirs and to God what is Gods. If I am not mistaken that means our job as Christians is not to be integrated with our Govt. We don’t belong in Washington trying to make this countrys laws. Our influence should be directed at it’s people. We should be better examples at work and out in public. After all this world is not our home. Why do we try to make the problems we face in this life seem so important. This world has already been defeated.( Greater is he that is in you than he that is in this world.) If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and believe that he is coming back to take us belivers home then quit complaining about this world and know that it wont last much longer.

     I haven’t been a true Christian that long and I believe Jesus is who he say’s he is and I can’t wait until he comes to take me home. I want to see all my friends and family there in Heaven, and I want to lay these burdens down and kiss his feet and say THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME !!!!! THANK YOU FOR NOT GIVING UP ON ME!!!!! AND THANK YOU FOR NOT LETTING ME QUIT WHEN TIMES GOT TOUGH!!!

   I know I got a little carried away there but I couldn’t help it. I know we all struggle. I struggle with sin everyday. But I know Jesus loves me and I don’t deserve it but he still does. I only hope I can some how spread his word the way he want’s me to. I love to sing in church but I am afraid sometimes people think I sing for recognition. I would much rather sit in my seat and let someone else sing for fear of messing up the Lords work. I know he has called me to sing in the church and I love to but I can’t help but get nervous every time I sing in the church because I know what I am doing for God might reach someone else and bring them to Jesus. I feel so unworthy of such a gift. I can’t explain how bad I feel for having such a gift and knowing I have wasted it at all.

    I have one other thing to say and I will stop fussing. I hope that anyone in our church that may need me for any reason will call me. I feel the Church has been there for me whenever I needed anything. I only need ask and people from the Church show up and support me. I don’t know if anyone knows but when I was in the hospital for back surgery I really wasn’t used to having that many people there. I didn’t know how to thank you for being there then and I still don’t now. I am not alway’s the best at letting others know how I feel. After all I am new at this. I hope that anyone of you feel as if you can come talk to me about anything. I hope you all feel as close to me as I do you. I hope you know you can call on me.

                                                 Love in Christ,

                                          Tony Thompson

          Unfortunately, I have been caught unprepared recently. I am ashamed to admit, that even after I had been asked by my pastor to concentrate on passing out tracts, I failed to be ready when the opportunity arose. My family and I had almost made it to church when a red light at the exit for High Point Road caught us. At this particular light as usual a young man was standing there with a desperate look on his face asking for some loose change. Now, I don’t know about you but this type of confrontation is uncomfortable at best for me. I had told myself the next time it happened I would be ready and take this opportuniy to pass along some life-saving literature with some money folded up in it. This way the individual would have to see the tract and take it first. I failed miserably. The light turned green and I drove off saying I didn’t have any money on me.(which was not a lie, by the way) Times have been tough for us as well lately. This still doesn’t change the fact though, that I feel as if I let God down. This has burdened my soul ever since. The preacher didn’t help much either, when I got to church and heard him preaching on giving yourself to God completely. I have since commited myself to be prepared for the next encounter. Also, I plan to carry more tracts with me everywhere I go. I pray God you will help make me a vessel for your annointing. I pray that I will obey your will for my life. I pray I won’t get lazy. I thank you for making me aware of this missed opportunity. I pray I won’t miss the next one. 

                                               Your Humble Servant,

                                                         Tony                 

Tonight I believe I need to express my deepest thanks to first of all my savior who, I am not worthy. I also want to thank my pastor and all the members of my church. I feel I need to thank each and every one of you for the kindness you have shown me and my family . I feel at home in this church. I feel like I belong. I heard a song the other day (boy, how many times have I said that) that goes a little something like this. (paraphrasing)” I used to believe that the more you had, got you through these days , made your poor heart glad. I’m baring down, I been cutting back, and I don’t even miss, all the things I lack. I’m learning how to seperate the wants from the needs, the good life now consists of just a few simple things. Jesus in my heart, and a place to belong, a few good friends, and one good song. Oh my latest list ,well it aint to long, just a Godly love, and one good song.” Now everyone who has heard that song knows who sings it. If you haven’t check out The Gaither Vocal Band’s album “I Do Believe” track “One Good Song”

       I feel that I have been blessed with all these things since I was saved. Got Jesus in my heart, a place to belong, a few good friends, and well, a bunch of good songs. I have more than that, much more. My point though, is I don’t need, or care for the things of this world. In the words of another good song “I’m not on an ego trip. I’m nothing on my own. I make mistakes, and often slip. I’m just flesh and bone.” I still slip up and make mistakes. I have to say though that I wouldn’t trade one second of what I have now, for what I had before I was saved. I mean it, I wish I could crucify and blot out who I was. I can’t stand to think about the things I did. I think maybe that is why God gave us a memory. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t pretend to know the mind of God, but why else can we remember so well every wrong doing. I do know this though. these things I remember that I don’t like keep me mindful of who I am. They also remind me of who I don’t want to be, and where I have come from. “I am not who I want to be, but thank God I am not who I was.”

   I feel the church I attend is a good church. I believe the people try very hard to stay in Gods Will. We have our hard times sure, but we always seek Gods Will and pull together during hard times. I thank everyone there for helping support my family and myself. I intend on doing more than just thanking you all in words as soon as God sees fit for us to move closer. I pray we will continue to seek Gods will in everything we do. I know there are people in my church that if I called would be here in a flash. I pray they know I would do the same for them. I thank you God for the endless blessings you have bestowed upon my family at home and my church family. Help us to seek you Lord in all we do. Blessings without end. Keep us mindful Lord in our everyday walk to be what you would have us be and act and talk as you would have us do. We are unworthy of your blessings and we thank and praise you. In Jesus Holy Name we pray AMEN.

             I wonder if anyone can relate to this feeling? I just got home from a wonderful Sunday evening service, and I can barely contain myself. My toes hurt, because the preacher kept stepping on them. Now, for those of you who live anywhere other than the South, I will be happy to explain. This is just a way of saying he said some things that spoke directly to me and, if I wasn’t saved would have seemed offensive and hurtful. I realize however that his message only spoke the truth about how we as Christians need to inventory ourselves to see what the world sees. In other words do we act like Christians. When people who are not saved look at us, what do they see. Now, befrore I ruin his message I urge you to listen to “Fishing In The Church Pond.” You will be richly blessed.

    The reason I say my toes were hurting is because when I took an inventory of my Christian life I found myself guilty of not always being a “Goldfish” (you will have to listen to the message to know what a Goldfish is.) I have caught myself not always living by example. “After all we are the only Jesus some people will ever see.” I don’t know who said it first but it is true. Some folks have told me before they don’t associate with Christians because they don’t act any different than anyone else in the world. What a shame. The definition of a Christian is to be Christ like. So I’ll ask you, what do people see when they look at you “Christian?” Ask yourself how do you see you? Do your toes hurt like mine do?

        I pray for anyone who has a hard time humbling themselves before God. I thank you Lord for letting me know you are not finished with me yet.

                                                      Tony