Launch of ECHO

I'm so pumped about what God is going to do through ECHO this semester! ECHO is our new college worship service at FBC Statesboro. I know God has some incredible things in store for us as a ministry this semester and in years to come. Pray for us, Lord knows we need it!

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Because of His Mercy

Titus 3:4-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ⁴ But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, ⁵ he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.^[a] 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. ⁷ Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” ⁸ This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.

Powerful words for us to be reminded of each day! It's not the righteous things (remember those are like filthy rags) that I have done that make God love me. I  once heard a preacher say that he was thankful for God's but because it saved his butt. "But because of his mercy" he loves us, he cleanses us, he makes us new and whole. He wraps us up in his arms of love when we need it most. He carries us on eagles wings when we can't run another step. Indeed Paul is right, the promise of the gospel is a trustworthy saying...it is so trustworthy it makes all other sayings or statements seem false.

Thanks be to God!

Challenging Thoughts About our Worship Songs

Looking for Jesus in All the Wrong Places | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Changing Face of Discipleship

Below are some great thoughts on how the shifts in information accessabilty and education are impacting how the church disciples committed followers of Christ. Although this is true across the board it is increasingly true with those 25 and younger.

Church & Culture Blog | Church and Culture

Valuable Service

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2012/01/who-cares.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2Fsethsmainblog+%28Seth%27s+Blog%29

God's Grace Revealed

Titus 2:11-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹¹ For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. ¹² And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,¹³ while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. ¹⁴ He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

A good reminder that the grace of God is for all of us who recognize our need for a savior. A better reminder that we live in this tension filled world with a pull towards godliness and a perhaps at times stronger pull towards the evil and sinful pleasures of this world...that we would see our need to die to ourselves daily and the soon returning hope of the nations who gave his life to free us from sin and call us to a holy life!

Faith, Music, and Cussing Christians

Interview: Bruce Cockburn | Music | Christianity Today

Quotes on the Church

A church is a group of people collapsing into God and collapsing into one another. Gordon Crosby

A church is a place where you can go when you bottom out! paraphrase of Henri Nouwen

A church is where you go to share your fears.  Walter B. Shurden

Recent Sermon

Eagles Wings from Trip McAlhany on Vimeo.

MLK Inspired Music

Paste Magazine always offers some creative lists on their site. Note: not all of these songs are from a Christian worldview, but they are in keeping with Dr. King's passion.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2012/01/10-songs-inspired-martin-luther-king-jr.html?utm_source=contactology&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Paste_Lifeline%2001-16-12_1_16_112

New Desk

We got the desk that Papa Larry built for the girls mounted. It's already being used!

Thoughts on the VA hospital

I went to the VA hospital with my dad yesterday and realized how sad, even depressing place to be. There were so many people we passed who had been ravaged by life and service to our country. It made me want to make sure that our veterans are served and protected even after they are finished protecting us. I hate that my dad will have to see some of that suffering more often as he begins his treatments soon. At the same time I am hopeful that God will use him to speak truth in word and action to those around him. To other veterans, to the doctors, nurses, and staff may his words be seasoned with grace and peace. May the light of Christ be manifested in him, shine your light in the darkness through him.

Thankful for the Lord's Favor

http://bible.us/Prov18.22.NLT The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
and he receives favor from the Lord.

Quotable Quotes

"Any discussion of how pain and suffering fit into God's scheme ultimately leads back to the cross." Philip Yancey

White As Snow

Due to unexpected circumstances, I made a trip to see my Dad this week. Today we left the house before 6 and it was 50°. We ended the day with a blanket of snow on the ground after temps dropped drastically throughout the day. Freshly fallen snow always reminds me of the Biblical picture of our sins being washed white as snow. Thanks be to God that what we were powerless to do through the law, Christ did for us! We no longer have to live under the dark stain of sin or the fear of God's wrath because of Jesus and the cross.

I Asked the Lord

This song off one of the Indelible Grace cd's has been a blessing to me lately.

Big Fish

Georgia Aquarium

Last morning at Passion 2012

/Eph6.19.NLT And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

The Fabulous Fox

Masterpiece

Eph2.4.NLT For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Passion 2012

Eph 2.4.NLT But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Morning scripture @ Passion 2012

Eph2.16.NLT Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Passion conference 2012

Eating dinner with 20,000 of my closest friends

Tony Pagliarullo
Minister to Students and College
FBC Statesboro