Sex, God’s Way

Is sex something that should be talked about in today’s churches?  Is it a topic that is too controversial for our pastors to preach on?

The answer to the first question is, “YES!”  The answer to the second question is, “NO!”  With how rampant sexual immorality is among people who are attending churches today, it must be addressed.  It must be addressed in a frank, direct and uncensored way. 

This morning, Pastor Danny preached a sermon titled, “Stay Away From Wrong Sex,” that was a strong reminder, encouraging, and convicting all at the same time.  Just like every other man alive, since receiving salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, I have continued to be tempted in every way imaginable.  Through television, people I interact with on a daily basis, the internet, and every other medium out there, I have been tempted to violate God’s commands regarding sex.  As a result of this, there have been successes and failures over the years.  After listening to Danny’s message, I was again reminded in a most appropriate and needed way that I must run away as fast and as far as I can from anything and anyone who causes me to stumble.  I love my God.  I love my wife more than ever before.  I want to be able to look back at my life and say that I lived that love in every way possible, including staying away from wrong sex.

I want to encourage everyone who sees this post to visit the Eastpoint Fellowship web site at www.eastpointfellowship.org to listen to the pastor’s message, “Stay Away From Wrong Sex.”  As Danny said this morning to start off the message, “Believers must be willing to accept the will of God concerning sexual behavior.”

Thankful for Creativity

This week, our kids attended Vacation Bible School at our church, Eastpoint Fellowship, here in Orlando.  As always, I expected them to have a fun time with worship, Bible study, games and food.  What I didn’t expect was to see the level of excitement, creativity, commitment, and devotion to making this year’s VBS a truly unforgettable experience for all the kids and adults invovled.

As the VBS Director said during tonight’s family night celebration, she is “thankful for our pastor allowing her to do something different this year.”  The difference was that the director was allowed to use her creativity and that of some exceptionally gifted people at Eastpoint to give the kids an experience that they will never forget.  Everything from the music to the decorations to the games to the Bible studies to the snacks was out of this world!   Plus, to take an already phenomenal VBS and push it way over the top, 17 children committed their lives to Jesus Christ!

Praise God for giving us a leadership team at Eastpoint who is truly devoted to reaching our community with the love of Jesus Christ with tried and true methods along with new and innovative methods!

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Protect Your Marriage

This morning in our LifeGroup at Eastpoint, we studied the 4th lesson in the “FireProof” study.  In order to provide extra protection for the health of your marriage, let me encourage everyone to secure a copy of this study and use it.  Use it as a couple or in a small group.

God will bless anyone who uses this study and takes seriously what is learned in it.

Spiritual Growth

This morning at Eastpoint, Pastor Danny preached a message titled “Longing for Growth That Will Lead People To God.”  During one of the main points, Danny mentioned 5 things that will be present in the life of someone who is experiencing spiritual growth.   He said we know growth is occurring when:

1. knowledge of God’s Word is increasing.
2. confidence in God is greater than ever before.
3. trust in God’s sovereignty is stronger than ever before.
4. obedience to God is consistent.
5. we find joy in the midst of trials.

This was a much needed reminder of the need to read, study and pray over God’s Word every day.  I, and all believers, must make a commitment to do this.  Make a commitment to be a growing disciple of Jesus Christ.

4 Things

Here’s how it works: copy/paste my note. Then, delete my answers and type in your answers. Tag a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little known facts about those you know, at least how they feel about the questions on this particular day in the great spiral of Time.

Four names I have been called:
1. Steven
2. Steve
3. Stevie
4. Steverino

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Pastor
2. Home Communications Sales
3. Bank/Credit Union Manager
4. Supermarket Cashier

Four movies I’ve watched more than once:
1. National Treasure
2. Star Wars
3. Star Trek (TNG movies)
4. Top Gun

Four places I have lived:
1. Orlando, FL
2. Wilmington, NC
3. Champaign, IL
4. Livingston, TN

Four places I have been:
1. London, England
2. Branson, Missouri
3. Niagara Falls – Canadian Side
4. Washington, D.C.

Four Favorite drinks
1. Sweet Iced Tea
2. Coca Cola
3. Mountain Dew
4. Root Beer

People who email me regularly:
1. Stacy
2. My Dad
3. My Mom
4. Co-Workers

Four of your favorite foods:
1. Anything Italian
2. Steak
3. Anything Chocolate (especially Chocolate Devotion from Cold Stone Creamery)
4. Publix Subs

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. the pool
2. the hot tub
3. Sanibel Island on vacation with the family
4. Amelia Island on vacation with Stacy

Four friends I think will respond:
1. Stacy
2. someone from church
3. someone from work
4. another person on my friends list

Four things I am looking forward to this year:
1. vacation in July
2. getting a better schedule at work
3. getting to be more involved with the ministries at Eastpoint Fellowship
4. time with my family

Four TV shows that I watch:
1. 24
2. American Idol
3. Law & Order (all three of them)
4. CSI (all three of them)

D.A.R.E.

Just about 30 minutes ago, I got home from the D.A.R.E. Graduation for the 5th graders at the kids’ school.  It is exciting to see so many children get excited about Drug Abuse Resistance Education.  I’m thankful for all those who helped to lead this program at the school.  My daughter really learned a lot about drugs and how dangerous they are from this program.

If D.A.R.E. is not offered in your local elementary school, let me encourage you to do all you can to make sure that it is.

What Makes a Good Leader?

Last Sunday, during the worship service at Eastpoint, Pastor Danny shared a message titled, “Five Traits of a Good Leader.”  As someone who has led people in a corporate business setting and as a pastor, I was really looking forward to hearing what these five traits were.  After hearing the message, Pastor Danny gave us five very honest, solid, and right traits that all leaders, and all people need to have in their lives.  Here are those five traits:

1. Good leaders are people of courage.
2. Good leaders are driven by purpose.
3. Good leaders are people of integrity.
4. Good leaders are people who care.
5. Good leaders are right with God.

I want to encourage you to go to www.easpointfellowship.org, and listen to this entire message.  I know that had I always applied all of these traits in every leadership situation that I found myself in, there would have been many more successes.

Eastpoint Fellowship – The Place to Be on Easter Sunday and Every Other Sunday

This morning, it was packed out!  For the 3rd Easter worship service, there was standing room only!  God blessed by bringing lots and lots of people to us to worship Him and hear a message from His Word!

Here are the main points of Pastor Danny’s message, a timely sermon of hope for all.

1. God is on a mission to establish a relationship with you.
2. God knows that you are caught in the crossfire of life.
3. God wants you to experience His total love and acceptance.
4. God has the power to change your life and give you a fresh start.

Then, Danny shared three things that God’s Resurrection Power has.

1. It has the power to cancel the past .
2. It has the power to conquer our problems.
3. It has the power to change your personality.

To hear more about these things, I invite you to visit Eastpoint Fellowship on the web, and listen to Pastor’s entire message.

Be Thankful

This morning at Eastpoint, Pastor David shared a message titled, “Overflowing with Thankfulness.”  I know that over the years many of us have heard many messages about being thankful to God.  This one, however, stood out for me because of what has transpired over the last eight months.

My family and I are living back in Orlando, Florida, which is home for us.  We are now living just 10 minutes from Stacy’s dad and step-mom and one hour from my parents.  We both have good jobs, and are blessed to be a part of one of the most amazing churches on Planet Earth, Eastpoint.  This is certainly not where we expected to be just eight months ago, but God had different plans.  He allowed things to happen that brought us here to a place and a situation that is just awesome.

I am so very thankful for how God has blessed us, for the people he has surrounded us with, and for every new day.  Let me encourage you to visit the Eastpoint website at www.eastpointfellowship.org, and listen to Pastor David’s message from this morning.  You will blessed for having done it, and I’m sure you’ll be thankful for this message that the Lord gave to Pastor David.

Helping People in an Unexpected Place

If you had told me a year ago that God would have my family and I living back in Orlando and that I would be working for a communications company, I’d have told you that you were nuts.  But, that is exactly what I’m up to, and God never ceases to bless and amaze me.

I provide customer service for and sell the home communications products of one of the largest telecomm companies in the country, servicing customers in 18 states.  My favorite part of what I do is to get calls from customers who are having problems with their billing or their services, solve their problems, and have them thanking me at the end of the call.  Also, it is such a joy to have co-workers who know that I am an ordained minister come up to me and ask advice regarding their personal lives.

For years, I always expected that the only way God would use me to positively impact the lives of others was to be working full-time as a pastor in a church.  Instead, God has lead me to work for a phone company and to be a member of one of the greatest churches on the planet, Eastpoint Fellowship.  Only God knows what he has in store for me, but now I’d be perfectly happy making a career with my current company and serving God however I can as a member of Eastpoint.

Let me encourage all of you to remember that no matter what situation you find yourself in, no matter how different it may be from what you believed to be the right way, trust God to care for you and love you and give you the best.  His plan is the right plan.  It is the only plan to follow.