LifeChangers

Livestong!

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." If you might allow me to paraphrase... Paul was simply saying, "LIVESTRONG!" Livestrong against sin! Livestrong against temptation! Livestrong against the Devil! Livestrong against addiction! JUST LIVESTRONG! The only way to do that though is through the omnipotent power of Christ!

Later in this chapter Paul gives us the armor necessary to join the fight against Satan and his demonic forces...

LIVESTRONG and Join the fight.

-R

That Time of Year Again... Joys For Toys!

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:33:00 +0000

MERRY CHRISTMAS, RU FAMILY!

You know, for many of us there is NOTHING more merry than this time of year! We celebrate the birth of our humble servant King, family, friends, lights, trees, and gifts... Smiles abound, laughter and giggles fill the chilled December air. Aromas of pine, and fireplaces, are mingled with Christmas dinner. What a happy, joyous Season!

That is, of course, unless you are the child of a parent whose life is ravaged by some form of crippling, and debilitating addiction. If you were that child your Christmas would be starkly different! Instead of constant loved ones filing into your living room you might witness lust-filled men filing into your mother's bedroom so that she can feed her insatiable addictions. Joy and smiles replaced by longing. You might not see a tree, but rather empty bottles and prescription cases strewn about. No, sweetness of pine, but rather the dank stench of stale cigarettes, and burned up crack, crank, and smack... No Jesus! Only demons in this house! The only thing you would share this time of year with the rest of the world is the chill that's in the air; but for you that chill is a deep freeze...

These scenes are best not thought about by those of us who will enjoy the splendor of the Season... For if we think about them we MUST do something about them! We MUST do what little we can to bring some joy to some suffering child this Christmas! It is not the child's fault for the choices and mistakes of the addicted parents, yet all suffer!!! There truly are some "innocent victims"!

Please consider what YOU might do to bring joy by providing a toy or a monetary gift this Season to Reformers Unanimous Chapter #520. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of proceeds collected will be handed out to needy families during this most joyous of seasons!

Merry Christmas,

-Richard

During This Morning's Work-out...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:34:00 +0000

As I continue meditating upon the fact that everything that we do is "spiritual" and for the glory of God I thought about this.

You know we ALL have these sins, fronts, and junk that make-up our "outer man". However, if you've trusted Christ, as I have, we also have an "inner man" which is the Spirit of God... One-third of the God-head resides inside of me. As I was lifting this morning the Lord laid on my heart that if we could do spiritually the things that we do physically to look better we would be a whole lot more loving, joyous, and peaceable.

Seriously, I know that below my physical body are muscle groups that when exercised, coupled with sacrifices being made in calorie intake, and fatty food consumption begin to gain strength and what was once hidden away begins to gain strength and becomes evidenced on the outside of the physical body.

The same is true spiritually. We have this amazing all-powerful "inner man" that resides just below the surface of the "outer man". When we begin to exercise (as Paul exhorts us to) the "inner man" in prayer, Bible reading, memorization, meditation, self-sacrifice, and God's instruction those things that were once hidden by years of bad habits, addictions, and sins are now becoming more evident and are being seen where once sin was all that could be viewed.

Continue to exercise your entire life in holiness... Remembering that ALL things are "spiritual" and that we are commanded by God to be Holy as He is holy. And my friends... THAT'S HOLY!

From my heart,

-R

Hey, Guys, Tonight Is Our Night...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Fellas, do not forget that tonight at 6:30 we will be meeting at Buffalo Wild Wings (BW3) in Lewisville for a night of wings, fun, and fellowship.

I would love to see a good turn-out tonight! I have been standing idly by as Satan is picking off some of our friends, and church-members. Whether it is through addiction, sexual sin, improper priorities, job loss, or a host of other issues the Body of Christ is hurting. The truth is, as men we often want help, and friendships but find ourselves either to proud or to shamed to asked for it.

Well, I am standing by no more! I am not waiting for men to admit what I already know, and I am certainly not waiting for the Devil to claim one more life, marriage, family, or career!

So, tonight we begin... Meeting. Sharing. Caring. Bearing. Daring to be the men that God has called each of us to be!

Avail Yourself This Week...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:14:00 +0000

The power of the Reformers Unanimous program and the Lifechangers Group is the God of the curriculum of Reformers Unanimous. The only great thing about either one of these great entities is the fact that they both point to the supernatural power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The RU curriculum does such a great job of getting our eyes off of ourselves and our problems and putting them on the Lord Jesus Christ. This week let me encourage you to avail yourself to these great tools!

During this Friday's "Third Talk" we will continue our teaching from chapter number 6 in our text book, "Nevertheless I Live: Living Freely In A Bound World". May I ask and encourage you to read this chapter in its entirety this week so that you will come with a prepared heart to receive what God would have for you to get.

Blessings,

-R

RU Awake...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:27:00 +0000

RU Awake is something that due to my schedule and travel I have gotten away from promoting, pushing, and even attending this great morning Bible study and fellowship opportunity. Well, beginning this Thursday morning at 6 a.m. that will all change! I am re-committing myself to attend these meetings and I would ask that you do the same!

There is nothing better to start your day than fellowship, the Word, and good Starbucks coffee!

We meet every Thursday morning at the Starbucks location on FM3040 at the intersection of Morriss and Gerault.

Mike Z. (the Journeyman) leads this group and he is phenomenal... Let's get out and support him!

Another Lesson From the Gym...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:50:00 +0000

I have been several months in the gym now... I am an observer of people, and I have been noticing something in others that I hate! And the reason that I hate it is because I absolutely see it in myself.

Here it is... People come to the gym (and to God) wanting to better themselves, but being fairly good in some aspects, and completely weak in others... Instead of strenthening our weaknesses we do the less difficult thing which is to accentuate our positives...

Let me illustrate... I am weak in my legs, and don't enjoy cardio, but truly enjoy a good upper bash workout. Always have!

The point here is this... So many of us have gotten "good" in one facet of our "spirituality" and we are anemic in all other areas... Some folk are great "church attenders" but lousy Christians... Others are prayer warriors, but fail to open the Scriptures... Know what I mean?!

I won't tell you where I stand and where I fall, but this much I know... Today I am asking God to reveal to me my weaknesses so that I may exercise them unto godliness.

I'm just sayin',

-R

Lesson From Time Away From The Gym...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:33:00 +0000

In my defense... I have had to spend time away for good reasons... Nonetheless I have been away. While getting back in the groove this morning the Lord gave me this thought..,

It is easier maintain a proper regimen than it is to re-establish one... Sounds a lot like RU principle #3 doesn't it?!

'Nuff said! I'm out!

Heading Out

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:46:00 +0000

I am about to jump a flight out to the Eastern Seaboard, Baltimore to be exact, to preach a couple of times over the week-end.

This is a huge miracle in and of itself! The thought that God would allow me to represent Him still awes me!!! Let alone being allowed by Him to travel outside my "Jerusalem"... Just AWESOME!

My flesh asks... Does God know who He's got here???!!! I mean seriously! I have NO business doing this, but I am so thankful for God's grace that has allowed it!

In all of this the thing that thrills my heart most is that the ministries that God has seen fit to place me in are being handled this week-end by fruit of those very ministries...

See ya' on the flip side,
-R

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Same road, new day

noreply@blogger.com (The Journeyman) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:44:00 +0000

I have just gotten back from attending the annual RUI conference in Rockford, Il. I now have a sense of how the early pioneers felt going across the land in their Conastoga wagons!! Myself and four other Christian brothers and sister bonded as we drove from Flower Mound, Texas out to Rockford. Along the way everywhere we stopped we left RUI brochures and talked to various people at gas stations, restaurants and rest stops. One thing became quite obvious as we clocked up the miles, everyone is in need of a relationship with Jesus! Some people were skeptical, but most were respectful and listening to what we had to say. While I am sure some of the seed fell on rocky ground, I really do believe that some fell into soil where the seed will grow and one day come to full bloom in the person's life.

The conference was fabulous and energizing. There really are no good words to describe what the RUI leadership and the staff did for the 1400 people who showed up to attend sessions and classes. All lives were blessed by God.

While I was at the conference, it became a new month as as is my habit, I started over with Proverbs. For those of you reading this post, if you do not practice reading a Proverb of the day, I would highly recommend that practice as it will be a direct blessing from God. I began reading the 1st Proverb and as I read these familiar words, the Holy Spirit touched my eyes and my heart with a new look at verses 2-4.

"To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgement, and equity: To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion."

I love a progression of verbs any time they crop up in God's word. Here were four; To know, To perceive, To receive, and to give. The progression of these four verbs lept off the page to me that day. What I saw is the progression of everyone's Christian walk. First we Know God, when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior we are given that saving knowledge of who God is. To perceive. As we grow in our faith, we are given a deeper perception of just what it means to know God and why that relationship is so special. To receive. After we have been walking with Christ and we have begun to obey his directions for our path, he then gives us a deeper walk as we get closer and closer to him, so we indeed recieve the instruction of wisdom, justice and judgement and equity. As all of this process goes on, we have the opportunity to give... To share the Gospel, the Good News with the simple with the "young man," with those individuals who have not yet seen the light or been shown the way.

This is why I re-read the Proverbs, because no matter how many times I go through the chapters, each time I read I am blessed. To see how I came to this place, this moment in time with my own personal relationship with Jesus, and how I could give everyone I come into contact with that same opportunity, it totally blew me away and I knew I was now beginning a new chapter in my life.

So now I am back in Shady Shores Texas and Rockford Il is now once again thousands of miles from where I sit. But Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, is still beside me and the Holy Spirit is in me and my heart burns anew for the lost and the disillusioned of this world. The fire that was burning in Rockford as we all attended those blessed sessions, will continue to burn in my daily walk in Texas.

I hope as you read this you are having a Blessed Day!!!

NOW is the time!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (The Journeyman) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:18:00 +0000

I love it when God convicts me enough to get my attention. He also does it at the times when I least expect it. Tonight I was listening to the third talk being brought by Richard Wallace Jr. and he was BRINGING it!!! He was preaching an outline using the Nevertheless I Live Workbook and we were continuing a discussion on the 5 Forms for a Firm Foundation. I had read the chapter earlier today in the textbook, and I knew the material and I was listening as you do when you know the material, listening but letting thoughts drift. So drifting and listening and paying attention but not lasered focused was when Richard told us to turn to John 15 and that is when it happened!!! (This is what I really love about God) He snapped me back to the laser focus level as we read John 15:3 "Now Ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." Jesus was telling his disciples that he was the true vine and his Father was the husbandman (v. 1) and every branch that does not bear fruit gets taken away and every branch that bears fruit it gets purged(pruned) so it can bear more fruit(v.2)

That was then that the Lord thumped me on the back of the head and said "Pay attention!" As Richard was reading the verse, the word "Now" leaped out at me. NOW it screamed, NOW it was showing me that it meant exactly that.....NOW, not five days from today, or even thirty seconds from the present, but NOW as I was reading the words, NOW in the very present time, the Lord was saying, and as I was pondering that the Lord was talking to me about the present moment in my life, the rest of the verse began pouring into my Soul. NOW Ye ARE CLEAN (how am I clean)... THROUGH THE WORD (what word)... that I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU!!!!

I should have lept out of the chair and starting shouting praises, but I did not, so consider this blog my shouting time. Here is what it is saying to me and I hope that in my words I can get this truth across to everyone reading this. Because even though I was soaking the words up as though the Lord was speaking only to me, Brothers and Sisters this is a truth that is for you as well tonight or early morning on Saturday August 29th!!! NOW IS THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE CLEANSED!!!! You do not have to wait for the next drink, the next hit, the next link on the internet, the next bite of whatever your fleshly indulgence is, the time when you can be freed from the darkest sin is...... wait for it..... NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not another milisecond need be given over to Satan, why because God has cleansed us through his word NOW, all we have to do is Abide in him (Remain, Conform) He says that in verse 4 and makes it very plain in verse 5 the relationship that is in play. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me YOU CAN DO NOTHING!!!!

No matter what your addiction is, it is not about you. You no longer have to try to handle the dark secret alone. Your God knows and he is simply waiting for you to Abide!!! NOW!!!!

Satan loves to get our minds wrapped up in the fact that Heaven is a place that some day we will get to and until then all we have to do is wait on the Lord. While Heaven is our eternal reward if we have given our lives to Him, We do not have to wait to conquer, we do not have to wait to be cleansed, As we Abide in Jesus Christ, as we Abide in the Word that he gives to us we can be cleansed from that sin (you know yours and I know mine) that is keeping us separated from the Father!!

So as you read these words I just pray that the next time you get the itch to walk away from the light and towards the darker part of the street, just remember John 15:3 "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." Now really is now and yes you really are clean if you simply will abide in Him!!! When you are abiding in Jesus, there is no way you will fall. The promise is right there. So I am perscribing John 15:3 to you. The next time you are tempted Read John 15:3 and LET THE CLEANSING BEGIN!!!!! Praise God for his Goodness!!!!

Today's Meditation - August 28, 2009

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:31:00 +0000

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." -Proverbs 28:13

Because you and I live in the realm of the human, and finite we believe what our human, finite world has taught us to believe... Sin and wrong-doing brings punishment, justice, condemnation, and harshness. Therefore, our nature is to cover, conceal, and hide all wrong-doing lest we receive these punishments. Conversely this is how we begin to deal in the spiritual realm as well. We see God through humanistic eyes. Many people wrongly see God as an "Old Man Upstairs" with lightning bolts eagerly waiting to catch man sinning so that He can strike them down in anger and vengeance. However, nothing could be farther from the truth! In fact, the Bible says, "God is love." which means that the very nature of God is love. In the verse above the Lord communicates through Solomon to us that the covering and hiding of sin so weighs us down that no facet of our life will prosper with sin in tow. Then God goes a step farther to tell us that our views of God and sin are wrong! He doesn't want to strike us down, and the natural course to hide and cover is wrong! In fact, He then goes a step further to say that instead of revenge we will find mercy and the implication is that with mercy we also can find God's prosperity! POWERFUL STUFF! But it's only is powerful if you and I enact it in our lives! CONFESS!!!

From my heart,

-R

From Last Night's "For Life" Prison Ministry Meeting...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Thank you for the mentor... the youth has not had a VC in over a year and he could not wait to tell me how his visit went.

Above is a "copy and pasted" e-mail from my inbox this morning. One of our mentors, David, was assigned a new youth because his first youth graduated out of the program and was released. David's youth was so excited that someone wanted to visit him he could not control his enthusiasm. As you can see from the e-mail above he had not had a visitor in over a year. This a 16 or 17 year old boy who simply needs someone who will love him. Thank you, David, for being that "someone" in this young man's life.

If you would be interested in being that "someone" in the life of another youth currently incarcerated in the Gainesville State School please e-mail me at ruman.wallace@gmail.com.

New Ministry Coming to TBC

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:21:00 +0000

Check out a short bio at www.tbcrelevant.blogspot.com...

Daily Dose 08-21-09

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Recruitment/Training Meeting For Reformers Unanimous...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:04:00 +0000

The ministry of Reformers Unanimous will be hosting a recruiting/training meeting on Tuesday, August 25 from 6:45 until 8:45 p.m. at the home of Michael and Patty Stovall. We will have food at the meeting, and child care will be provided at the church beginning at 6:30 p.m.

God has done MANY miracles since Reformers Unanimous Chapter 520 opened its doors on May 25, 2007. However, God has called us to so much more! I am excited to see this wonderful faith-based addiction ministry stretch itself beyond what we have ever done, or even think possible.

However, to accomplish something of this nature there must be sacrifice. We would ask that your first sacrifice be two hours on a Tuesday night where you can come, commitment free, and see if this is a ministry that God may be calling you to help with. I would ask that you just inquire if God might be leading you to touch the lives of the addicted in our community. Would you pray what God might have you do?

This Week in Vintage Sunday School...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:25:00 +0000

"Do As I Say Not As I Do..." Ever heard this? Maybe no more frustrating life lesson than to be given this instruction. Face it, everyone wants someone they can look to that is not only instructing rightly, but also living rightly. Instruction is so much more palatable from an individual who lives out that which he teaches.

Allow me to illustrate. When I was in junior high school we had a principal that everyone loved. He was charismatic, involved, preached well, and seemed to love God. He preached wonderful truths that all teenagers needed to hear regarding moral and holy living, but we were all heartbroken to find that he was not living according to the very truths that he taught. Rather, he was living contrary to them in absolute moral failure. I remember my dad coming in (my heart was TORN!) and telling me that, "Truth is truth no matter whose lips it falls from..." Then, with my dad's reassuring chuckle he said, "But it sure does settle a lot better when it rings true in the life of the person." I think we all have been through some instance such as this.

Think with me about the first family. As we have discussed God game them a beautiful, functional world in which to live and worship their God. He also gave them one commandment, and the penalty for breaking that command. When Adam just couldn't say, "No!" to sin the "First Family" became like many of our families and experienced the "Fallout" of dysfunction. They were cast out of God's garden, and cursed. It is no wonder then that Adam and Eve had a hard time convincing Cain that God was one that should be obeyed.

This week will focus on Cain and Abel while realizing that we certainly simplify our positive impact on those who follow us when we "Do As We Say"!

I hope you will be with us as we continue in this great series!

From my heart,

-R

Daily Dose 08-07-09

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:56:00 +0000

More Lessons From the Gym...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:58:00 +0000

I'm not sure if there are really this many ties to spiritual things from the physical, or that my mind just jumps to hyper-speed during the exercise process. Either way, I came up with a couple of more thoughts while at the gym this week.

1. Working out is more easily done by one's self, however, more is accomplished when accompanied by another. This point was driven home to me today... HARD! See Jordan had been busy all week setting up his new office. So, I decided to continue on my own. I did the work. I mean, I didn't miss a day, I stuck to the routine, etc. What I found today was that more benefit can be found when there is an accountability partner, and someone pushing you farther than you want to go... I think this is illustrated in Proverbs 27:17. During the other days this past week I noticed other guys in the gym who weren't lifting quite as much as me, etc. I began to feel pretty good about myself... Isn't that what we, as Believers, do so very often? We come into the church-house on Sunday looking at anything or anyone except our Example, Jesus Christ! We seem to be doing okay, but wait until He steps back into your life and snaps you back to His reality (Holiness)... Just as Jordan stepped back in today and snapped me back to his reality (pain)!

2. A small mistake leaves one feeling very badly. Last night on the way home from "For Life" Ember sweetly asks from the back seat, "Daddy (she had me RIGHT there), can we have some pizza (of course, "pizza" was said with the cutest little lisp)?!" What could I say, "No"? Of course not! I had to get my hungry daughter something to eat, right!? Well, probably so, but I certainly didn't have to order a large pizza for myself! One little mistake... that left me feeling oh so badly! This morning the extra cardio that had to be done because I couldn't tell myself no last night! Isn't that the way our lives are? Something that looks so good on the front end, tastes so good on the tip of the tongue, or seems so harmless ends up costing so much. We know this to be illustrated so well in RU Principle #3 that states, "It is easier to keep the heart and mind clean than it is to clean it after it has been defiled." Lat night and this morning I became living proof of the truth in this principle!!! Wish I hadn't have, but I did!

Just some thoughts,

-R

This Week in Vintage Sunday School...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Have I mentioned yet that I am so excited about this series of lessons? I don't think I have so let me tell you that I have been amped to begin going cover-to-cover in God's Word and pulling out the great stories, and applying them relevantly to our lives in 2009.

We began, of course, with creation in the lesson "And God Said". From that we understand God is still speaking today, but it is up to our submission to allow things in our life to become "And It Was So".

Then we picked-up with "The First Family: Lessons In Dysfunction". It is part of this "sub-series", if you will, that we will be discussing "Fallout". We are still suffering the consequences for the sin of just one man. Before you get to angry with Adam... There are still people suffering consequences for your sin. Of course, there are still those suffering for mine as well.

I hope you will be in your place on Sunday to learn about the "Fallout" that sin brings... The catch phrase in our society is dysfunction. It's more politically correct to say things like, "We have a dysfunctional family" than to say, "Our family has a big sin and consequence problem!"; but really that is what we are saying.

Not only will we learn about the "Fallout" for Adam and Eve that came in Genesis 3, but we will also learn of God's "Fallout Shelter" that protects us from sin. If you know someone who is without Christ... You WILL WANT TO HAVE THEM HERE!

Sincerely,

-R

More Lessons From Week 1 Back to the Gym...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:02:00 +0000

As I have continued at the gym I see more and semblance to every other facet of my life. I thought I would just jot a few down as they have helped me as I ponder them. They help me to not only gauge where I am currently at, but what changes I must make, or things I must maintain to stay on a productive path. Think about these with me.

1. Just because I do not see the immediate results that I am looking for does not mean the exercise isn't benefiting me. In today's society we are "instant people"! Uncle Ben's INSTANT rice, we have stores with INSTANT credit, we all want INSTANT internet access, and the list is infinitely long, isn't it?! So, often times we quit right before we see the benefit that we were looking for, praying for, reading for, etc. Have you ever been there?! I know I have, and if I'm not careful when I don't lose 60 pounds during my second week of eating healthy and working out I may be there again. Growth, in every arena, is a process. Solomon spoke of this, didn't he?When he said everything is beautiful in God's time.

2. The things that at the beginning were "sacrifices" to let go... Such as: fatty foods, greasy foods, Dr. Peppers, etc. have now become to "delights". I mean think about it... We were that way about our Bible reading and prayer time when we first started! The sacrifice of an hour for God seemed a HUGE sacrifice, but the longer you spent with your friend the more your sacrifice became a delight. The first couple of days to the gym were tough. Those first few meals of saying no to self were difficult, but as I see and feel the benefits of a healthy lifestyle those things are now delightful to pass on. At first, God asked for your old friends, addictions, music, etc. and it was a sacrifice, but now after seeing the benefits in obedience it is a delight to give to Him!

3. Pain is not always a bad thing! We had a saying in the Marine Corps., "Pain is weakness leaving the body!" and did those Drill Instructors ever believe that statement to be true! Though I didn't buy into the propaganda at the time they were absolutely right! There is also another old adage that says, "If it doesn't kill ya' it makes ya' stronger." Adversity is where we do the majority of our growing. So many people fall out, in every arena of life, because they are not willing to suffer "momentary" pain to reap the reward of faithfulness. No one wants to be overweight (again, in any area of life), but few are willing to endure the present suffering that IS NOT joyous, but later bears the peacable fruits of righteousness. We have a lot of "overweight" Christians, and employees... Though they may not be physically overweight they suffer from laziness and slothfulness in these arenas of their life... Unwilling to pay any real price, or experience any real discomfort to become all that God has called us to become!

Just some thoughts,

-R

So, I'm sitting there... And, I hear Gunner say to Ember...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:18:00 +0000

So, I'm sitting there... And, I hear Gunner say to Ember, "HEY, I SAID FOLLOW ME!!!" My neck quickly snapped around to see Gunner going back to strongly encourage his lil' sis to follow him in the game in which they were playing. This brief little encounter set my heart to meditating about a little verse found in I Corinthians 11:1 (KJV). That verse says this, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

It is no surprise that Paul used these words! He was one of the greatest Christ-followers to ever live. It is not surprising for another reason, as well. Christ's "calling card" was to call men to follow Him. In today's society following doesn't set well! Economy and industry call for us to lead or get out of the way! I am sure, because of the nature that is in all of us, it wasn't much different for men and women two thousand years ago... There still would have been that demand and desire to lead.

The simple truth is that we are ALL following somebody! Whether it is a trend-setter, an athlete, an entertainer, a pastor or preacher, a car enthusiast, an A-lister, a real estate mogul, etc. We are ALL following somebody! I mean think about it! The social networking site, "Twitter", has us following and begging to be followed! With this truth in mind, who am I following (not on Twitter), and who are you following?! More importantly, where are you following them to?

Jesus said that if we are following Him we will be following Him to two distinct locations... Can you think of them? One we love, and the other is our greatest fear! Have you thought of them yet?

The first is fishing... For men! Jesus said, "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Almost everybody loves to follow a fishin' guide to a great fishin' hole! Let me ask you a question (the same question I had to ask myself), "Who is your guide and where is he leading you?" If Jesus is your guide and you're following you should be being led to great outreach opportunities.

Secondly, if we are following Jesus we will be led to our death. As evidenced by Mark 8:34, I Corinthians 15:31, and Galatians 2:20. In these verses we see that following Christ leads us to a daily dying of self. Our being led by Christ should be evidenced by our death to self and sin!

I think it would be safe to say that if we're not, "Fishin' and dyin' then we certainly ain't followin'!"

From my heart,

-R

Lessons From Week 1 Back to the Gym...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:29:00 +0000

As I have been back to the gym this week I have made several observations. I don't believe any are profound, revolutionary, or earth shattering.

1. We will sacrifice for what is important in our lives at that moment in time. This has been evidenced by me in my own life over the last week. Right now, my health has become VERY important to me, and I seem easily willing to lay aside (or sacrifice) anything that is not healthy. Not only that, but I am also making sacrifices to do those things which are healthy.

2. Time spent in a place does not necessarily mean I will gain the benefit of the place. I used to go to the gym and spend nearly two hours... However, most of that time was spent in idle conversation, or being sidetracked by the sights and sounds of the gym. Now I have been spending one hour of intense exertion and gaining far more benefit! Have you ever fallen into this trap spiritually? I know I have! Hours at church, hours in outreach, hours in prayer and the Word (or seemingly), but really gaining nothing from any of the time spent... Just a thought!

3. Music is a POWERFUL motivator! As I watch the hulking beasts that surround me in the gym I make it a point to watch them before their acts of "super-human" strength. They all seem to direct their minds into the headphones that fill their ears. Hmmmm. I wonder if my music - in and out of the gym - is properly motivating me... Again, just a thought!

4. Conversation comes easy when things are close to our hearts. It seems like everyone in the gym has no problem creating conversation. This is because fitness is what is on their hearts. What would happen if Christ were truly on our hearts? You guessed it... Just a question!

Make Christ the center of your being! I know I am working toward that end! Not there, but working!

This Week in Vintage Sunday School...

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 23:07:00 +0000

This week in "Vintage Sunday School" we continued our look into "The First Family... One of Dysfunction". After last week's lesson on God creating a creation of "Function" this week we looked at, "The Origin of Dysfunction". We looked at ALOT of scripture relating to the "Instigator of Dysfunction". By studying the enemy we now see the weapons that he uses to bring dysfunction and destruction into our lives, families, churches, homes, marriages, and careers. We noticed four very important things Sunday about Lucifer:

1. He is a Created Being

2. He is a Cunning Being

3. He is a Controlled Being

4. He is a Condemned Being

I have really enjoyed studying for this series of lessons, and I am VERY excited about the stories that will make up this series, and more importantly the application that we can take from these stories that are thousands of years old, yet, still relevant today!

If you've been away, for any reason, we've missed you and long to see you back!

Sincerely,

-R

Taking Care of Business

lilrichardw@templebc.org (Richard Wallace, Jr.) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:10:00 +0000

Taking Care of Business is a phrase that has been used as a title for songs and movies. Truly, there is nothing "romantic" or "exciting" about taking care of business! I mean, let's face it, rarely is "business" fun. The word in and of itself conjures up thoughts of work, diligence, and responsibility. Our natural bent is toward anything but all of those things. I would go a step further to say that since we rarely enjoy taking care of business it is even less frequent that we praise God that we get to.

I was cruising around yesterday getting my tags renewed, getting the car washed, picking up lunch, ordering dinner for "For Life", and a host of other chores, errands, and business. For some reason the Spirit prompted me and reminded me that there was a time in my life where I didn't take care of any business. In the midst of the errand running I just had a time of rejoicing in what God has done in my life.

Be sure that we see Him in the small things!

-R