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A GREEN BIBLE WITH A SKULL ON IT
2008-03-18 13:55:00
Cooper has recently learned to say all the books of the Old Testament, which is great for a 6 year old. Yes, there are times when I feel like we're doing a good job teaching our boys about God, and then there was yesterday. I had just told Cooper I liked his new Bible he got for Easter. (It's a little white pocket New Testament with the words of Jesus in red letters.)He said, "I think I'm going to sell my bible in a garage sale." "Why would you want to sell it in a garage sale," I asked him."I don't like white," he said, "I really wanted a green one with a skull on it."Trying to figure out how I can encourage him about his new bible I ask him, "Cooper, do you know why your bible has some of its words in red?" "I think those are the bad words," he said. What?
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TELL SOMEONE
2008-03-17 16:00:00
Two weeks ago at my Uncle Roy's funeral, I visited with my friend Donnie. Just a couple of years earlier Donnie's son had died unexpectedly. Donnie was doing well but told me that after his son passed away he had made it his goal to tell people what he thought about them while they were still alive. Then he looked at me and told me, "I'm thankful that Roy was one that I sent a note to." I stood there wishing I would have sent him a note or told him what he meant to me. At just 59 years old, everyone thought he had many more years. Now I'm stuck with believing that Roy knew that I loved him, but I would have felt better if I could have just told Roy before he was gone. It's been since the funeral that I've committed to myself to tell people more often how I really feel about them. I've done a pretty good job over the past two weeks. Just yesterday I stopped a man at church that I highly respect, but had never told him how I felt. It took about two minutes to tell him just how...

I'M A SUCKER FOR A LOVE STORY
2008-03-15 07:23:00
You got to read this! You'll be glad you did.
More About: Love , Story , Love story , A Love Story

WHEN BLOGGING GOES BAD
2008-03-14 12:43:00
"NOT TONIGHT DEAR, I HAVE TO BLOG"I found this interesting... Did you know that according to Reuters latest surveys, surfing the net has become an obsession for many Americans with the majority of U.S. adults feeling they cannot go for a week without going online? Amazingly one in three are willing to give up friends and sex for the Web.A survey asked 1,011 American adults how long they would feel OK without going on the Web, to which 15 percent said a just a day or less, 21 percent said a couple of days and another 19 percent said a few days. Only a fifth of those who took part in an online survey said they could go for a week.Just for fun, here are "Ten Signs you're Blogging too Much! Number 8 still makes me laugh. Have a great weekend.

FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOWS
2008-03-13 11:19:00
We don't get (or make) a lot of time for television, but thanks to a DVR we can record shows we've missed and watch them at a later time. We often try to use television for some family time. Not all our family time takes place in front of the television, but it is nice to gather the whole family around for a show. Just for fun, here are 5 of our favorite shows we love to watch in the Morgan house. SPORTS - Hands down favorites are an NFL game, MLB game or NASCAR race. Those are the "big 3" sports in the Morgan house, and we just can't seem to get enough. SURVIVOR - Lea and I have watched it since season two, and it has now become a family event. We don't watch Survivor until everyone in the family is there together. Everyone picks their favorite, and the game is on. Phrases like "First things first," "The tribe has spoken," and "We need a strong alliance" never get old to us. AMERICAN IDOL - This is another show for which my family gathers around the television and has a little ...
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AIM 2008 (Adventures In Mission)
2008-03-12 16:45:00
The Adventures In Mission s (AIM) group was with us in Childress again last weekend. AIM is an apprentice missions program for college-age young people and is located in Lubbock, Texas. When a college-age young person goes to AIM they spend the first eight months studying God's Word and training for the field experience. After eight months in Lubbock those students spend a minimum of 14 months on the mission field. Some of the AIM mission fields are Albania, Australia, Brazil, Peru, France, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, South Africa, Ukraine and the United States.There were 64 of these AIM students and sponsors in Childress with us. They stayed with our church families and did community work. They served, and they worked. Once again, I have fallen in love with AIM students. They are my heroes. AIM and mission trips by the Childress congregation have had enough effect on our young people that 5 Childress young people are planning on attending the AIM program in the fa...
More About: 2008

NEVER TO YOUNG TO BE USED BY GOD
2008-03-11 16:51:00
Something about this powerful little video hit me right in the heart this morning. I look around at our church and see children everywhere. I often think, "Someday, when these little ones get older God will use them to do powerful things in His kingdom." I needed to be reminded that He can do powerful things with them now!!
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WHY DO YOU NEED A CHURCH BUILDING?
2008-03-10 15:16:00
Can you believe it? It makes no sense to me, but A CHURCH IN DALLAS WANTS TO BUILD MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR BUILDING IN ORDER TO "KEEP UP" WITH OTHER CHURCHES IN THE AREA (and they still owe 9 million on the one they've got). I just had to share a story with you that makes no sense to me. I'm not anti-church building, but building a church building just to keep up with other churches is stupid! Build it when you out grow the one you've got. Build it when you wear out the one you have.Build it when there is no other church in the area.BUT DON'T build it just because you need to keep up with other churches. That's got to make the Lord so happy.I personally think some church buildings are the most under used buildings in the community when they are only used on Sundays and Wednesdays. What are some ways your church uses it's building to reach out to the community?
More About: Church , Building

THANK YOU
2008-03-08 14:51:00
I just wanted to say a quick "thank you" to everyone for your prayers, comments and emails this week. I've felt uplifted and strengthened by them. Last Thursday was a long, hard, emotional day and I wouldn't have got through it without your prayers.Thank you again. See you Monday,Trey

IN HONOR OF ROY SIMMONS, AMARILLO TEXAS
2008-03-06 14:04:00
My Uncle Roy who was a regular reader and commenter on this blog was actually my first cousin. I don't know why I began calling him "uncle" other than he was much older than me so I always thought he was an uncle instead of cousin. When I was young I wanted to be just like Roy. He was a preacher, and I saw him as a hero who was larger than life. I couldn't wait to grow up and be just like him. I wanted to preach and was encouraged by him to get into ministry. It was Roy who told me when I was young that I ought to be a preacher because preachers only worked one day a week. I liked the idea of a one-day-a-week job and so here I am today, a preacher who now realizes that he was duped into believing the "one day a week" thing. When I started preaching, it was Roy that gave me some of the best advice I ever got: "Studying for your sermon is important, but praying over your sermon is even more important." I can't count the amount of times I called him to ask him advice in my ministry....
More About: Texas , Honor , Amarillo , Simmons

CONNOR'S BLOG
2008-01-30 15:18:00
I can guarantee you at least one smile today if you'll take time to swing a new blog. My 12 year old son Connor has started a blog recently. He has a very unique way of saying things about his family and friends, but I guess all twelve year-olds do. Stop by and say "Hi" to Connor if you get a chance. I think he'd like that. Have a blessed day!
More About: Blog

CHURCH WORDS & RELIGIOUS PHRASES THAT I DON'T LIKE
2008-01-29 14:36:00
Here are a few phrases I hear periodically that just don't make sense to me..."LORD, WE HOPE WE'VE DONE THIS IN A WORTHY AND PLEASING MANNER." I understand what's being prayed when we say this, and I'll be the first to say, "Let's do things respectful and right," but sometimes I think we think that God's going to strike us dead if our minds wonder during worship? Maybe we think God will bar-b-que us for forgetting the words to a song? Is God just looking for a chance to catch us doing something wrong? Have we beat people up with the story of Nadab and Abihu so much that we're living in constant fear of our Father? How sad! Why do we enter His throne room as frightened children with our head down, afraid to make eye contact? Is God not pleased to see & hear His children? Are we not to, "Approach the throne of grace with confidence?" Hebrews 4:16. WAKE UP people. He's your Father, and He loves you. He's not a task master with a whip looking to beat you!"THE LESSON OF THE ...
More About: Church , Words , Religious , Phrases

CATCHING UP ON SOME FAMILY NEWS
2008-01-28 13:16:00
We're talking sports and cars today ... this IS a manly post!!!The past few weeks have been a busy time for the Morgan's. Two of our sons are playing basketball (Parker & Connor). This past weekend we drove about 400 miles round trip to play basketball in two different towns on Friday night and Saturday. (Mom, I've included pictures for you). (Parker scores and is fouled)Taylor had his pickup backed into while parked. The insurance totaled the vehicle. He was a little sad, since it was his first vehicle. We had put a lot of work into that old truck. He cheered up when he realized he could take his insurance money and pick him out something else. I told him he could find want he wanted as long as it was in the price range, wasn't more for insurance and got better gas mileage (the old truck got 10 mpg wherever it went). He found a clean 2000 Firebird that gets 30 MPG. Insurance came out to be $1 less per month. (I have no clue how). (Taylor looking sad in the top picture with...
More About: News , Family

PLEASE GOD FORGIVE ME
2008-01-25 16:58:00
I’ve always believed that confession was not for God's purpose but for our own. God already knows everything I’ve done. I’m not going to surprise Him by confessing something He doesn't know. Confession has to be for the purpose of reminding me just how much I need God. It reminds me that I am a sinner. It reminds me that I’m forgiven. It also reminds me that God is a good God.My friend Billy Wilson turned me on to Micah 7:18 a couple of years ago. It has become a rock in my spiritual foundation. "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight in showing mercy."Did you catch that last part? Here it is again with emphasis, "God delights in showing mercy." To me that's utterly amazing. God not only is willing to forgive me, but delights in doing so!I've often wondered if my confession to God, who delights in showing mercy, goes something like this ... With shame in my tone be...
More About: Forgive

WHO IS THE PERFECT MAN
2008-01-24 15:55:00
Every man would like to be the perfect man. Nothing would please me more than to be Lea's perfect man. For years, women have voted in Redbook magazine on who they think is the perfect man for each decade. Past winners by decades include...John Wayne - 60'sAlan Alda - 70'sSylvester Stallone - 80'sNicholas Cage - 90'sI find it interesting that they've now chosen an "all-time" perfect man. After careful consideration and endless debate, women have decided on an all-time perfect man. Who is he? The winner for the all-time perfect man is...MR.POTATO HEAD - He's tan. He's cute. He knows the importance of accessorizing. And if he looks at another girl, you can rearrange his face. Sheesh ... I just can't compete with that!
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HOW DO I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED?
2008-01-23 15:31:00
I think the story of James Henry Smith is interesting. James died a few months back at age 55 in Pittsburgh, PA. He was a zealous Pittsburgh Steelers fan. After his death his family planned for an unusual viewing of his body. Per the families request, instead of a coffin the funeral home placed James Henry's body on a recliner, his feet crossed and a remote in his hand. A pack of cigarettes and beer were at his side, and a TV played a continuous loop of Pittsburgh Steeler highlights. The family wanted friends to remember James Henry as he was every Sunday for his entire life. Everybody seemed to agree that this was an adequate depiction of him and his life. It was a picture of who he was. While I love the originality of the story, I couldn't help think how sad this was to me. What a poor way to spend every Sunday of your life and what a sad way to be remembered as a person. I'm a huge sports fan and I love Sunday afternoon football, but it's surely not the way I want to be remem...

I HAVE A DREAM ... FOR THE CHURCH
2008-01-22 16:14:00
MY DREAM IS FOR UNITY. It's time that we grow up and stop fighting. If Jesus prayed for unity (John 17) among his followers, and Paul preached it (1 Corinthians 1), I think we should start doing it. We're all in this together and our goal is to take as many people with us to heaven as possible. When we fight, we're simply focused on the wrong thing.MY DREAM IS THAT WE WOULD FOCUS ON PEOPLE. Church is and always has been about people, not about buildings, programs or mission statements. Let's put our focus back where it should be ... meeting people's needs. Stop building multi-million dollar buildings just because you feel the need to keep up with what other churches are doing. This is STUPID and unbiblical. (More on this later this week.)MY DREAM IS FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR MISSIONARIES. It would be SO awesome to use the Lord's money on missions throughout the world. I'd love to see that anyone who wanted to go and do mission work could financially. Instead missionaries want...
More About: Dream , The Church , I have a dream

HOUSE FIRE
2008-01-21 14:31:00
I wanted to blog today about "I have a dream for the church," maybe tomorrow. Right now my heart is sad. Saturday night, my oldest sister's (Melinda) house burned. She pretty much lost everything. I ask that when you say your prayers today that you'll please say a prayer for her too. The following is the email my other sister (Monalea - who you know from the blogging world) wrote about the ordeal. My sister, Melinda Morgan lives down the street from me. She was lying on her couch tonight (Saturday) watching a movie when she looked up and noticed the ceiling on fire. She called 911 and then called us. The family, 12 of us in all gathered across the street in the 30 degree weather and watched as the firemen worked at putting out the fire. 3 times the flames were brought under control; 3 times the fire leaped back into a blaze. It took the firemen over 3 hours to get it out. When they finally began to roll up their hoses, Melinda and several others went into the smoke ruined house to...
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DAILY QUIET TIME WITH GOD
2008-01-19 21:47:00
Unfortunately, I heard it again this week. And if I had a nickel for every time someone has said it I'd be wealthy man. So what's the statement? "I'm finding it hard to squeeze some quiet time with God into my daily schedule." Let me just simply say that if you can't find time for God, then it's time to give your 'to-do' list a major overhaul. You need to place a high priority on spending quiet time with God each day. Each day is a gift from God, and if you are wise you'll spend a few quiet moments each day thanking God for being so good. So, if you've acquired the unfortunate habit of trying to "squeeze" God into the corners of your life, it's time to reshuffle the items on your priority list by placing God first. When's the last time you reshuffled your "to-do" list?
More About: Daily , Time , Quiet

HECKLED FROM THE PULPIT
2008-01-18 14:12:00
I've heard of comedians being heckled, but never a preacher. It was this past Sunday that I knew immediately during the evening sermon I'd said the wrong word. I made the statement, “If you don’t drink enough water you’ll get hypothermia.” As a preacher and a paramedic I immediately knew it was wrong. I meant to use the word “dehydrated,” but for some reason it came out “hypothermia.” Instead of correcting it (which I should have done immediately) I decided to just continue preaching, because I was in the process of making a point, and I knew if I stopped everyone would lose the point I was trying to make. Besides I didn’t think anyone would really catch what I said anyway. To make a long story short, let me just say, I never expected to be heckled from the pulpit after the closing prayer. Following the “amen” the good brother who lead the prayer said, “I didn't mention it in my prayer, but you know something else I’m thankful for? I’m thankful that wh...
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HIDDEN CAMERA REVEALS WHAT PREACHERS REALLY DO ALL DAY
2008-01-16 15:51:00
If you get this via Email you'll have to click "here" to see the video!
More About: Camera , Preachers , Hidden

THE MOST EVIL PERSON IN HISTORY?
2008-01-15 13:21:00
When you think of who might have been the most evil person in history? These names come to mind... Adolph Hitler Ivan the Terrible Mao Tse-tung Genghis Khan Ted Bundy John Wayne GacyJesus ChristJesus? Yes, how could he not be? Think about it for a second. Amazingly it was at the cross that Jesus absorbed upon himself, like a sponge, all the sins that had ever been committed. At the cross Jesus took on himself all the sins of the past, present and even future sins that were to be committed. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that on the cross Jesus actually ..."became sin." He became sin on the cross. He became everything that was dark, everything that was ugly and everything that was evil. When Jesus became sin, he became the very thing he despised, and he became what he hated. It was at that point in history that Jesus became (I don't like to say it, and I don't even like to even type it) but Jesus became all that was evil. Why would Jesus be willing to do this? Why would Jesus be willing t...
More About: History , Evil , Person

VOICES IN MY HEAD
2008-01-14 08:37:00
I knew it was going to be a big funeral. That's why I had planned ahead to be early. Since I was just attending this funeral and not actually doing it, I knew seating in the little country church building was going to be at a minimum. I've had to stand for forty-five minutes for funerals before, and I can guarantee you after about five minutes, it's no fun. Even though I arrived forty-five minutes early, I was amazed how close I'd cut it and barley got one of the last seats available. My seat was perfect. It was towards the back and right on the end. I couldn't help but be proud of my planning. Here I was sitting in a premium seat in a packed building where in a few minutes people would be standing up everywhere. As I sat there watching people file in, it wasn't long until people stood lining the isles all the way to the back. It just so happened that God placed a woman standing just 3 feet from my seat. I tried hard to pretend I didn't notice her there, but I really had. I k...
More About: Head

THE BIBLE ACCORDING TO GOOGLE EARTH
2008-01-11 14:16:00
Here's an interesting art series called "God's Eye View." The art work is scenes from the Bible from how God would see them, or a Google Earth perspective. The Garden of EdenNoah's ArkMoses Parting the Red SeaThe Crucifixion (I found pictures here)
More About: Google Earth , The Bible

SCARY MINISTRY JOBS
2008-01-10 16:08:00
Here is something that is painful, scary and a little funny. But mostly scary.The following are two ACTUAL job postings for ministry positions. The "Preacher Needed" one was found in a brotherhood paper and the other from a website for youth ministers. I’ve only modified a few tiny things to keep it anonymous.FIRST LISTING Title: Youth Minister, Part-Time DESCRIPTION: Responsible for managing three leadership teams for ages 11 years through 22 years old. Will meet with teams on regular basis to pray and plan activities and events.REQUIREMENTS: Must love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind and have a passion for young people coming to Jesus. Also, must be a minimum of 25 years old and married with a degree, from seminary or Bible college in biblical studies or currently in seminary or Bible college to obtain a degree. Must have at least one year proven experience as lay person or staff working with youth or must have served as a youth camp counselor or some equal experi...
More About: Jobs , Scary , Ministry

BAD BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR MEN
2008-01-09 22:57:00
As some may know, I celebrate my 42nd birthday today. Early this morning I received a really cool electronic card from John Dobbs, a Happy 50th wish from Brian (ha), a birthday prayer from Neva, and a funny video called Achmed the Dead Terrorist from my friend Kara. All this got me to thinking (scary huh?). What are the worst birthday gifts you could ever give a man. Here are a few I came up with. I hope you'll help me complete the list.THE MANGROOMER - There is only one way to remove your back hair without enlisting the help of another person. It is called the Mangroomer, a strange invention and horrible gift idea.SCRAPBOOKING STUFF - Puh-leaseA PINK SWEATER - Or anything pink for that matter.A CELINE DION GREATEST HITS CD - WHAT? You may think that Celine Dion was an angel sent by God to the earth to bless us with her voice, but her music is just not the kind you would find in a man’s iPod play list. (If you do find a Celine Dion song in your man's iPod, then you better start ...
More About: Gifts , Birthday

WORDS THAT KILL - WORDS THAT HEAL
2008-01-08 15:46:00
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29Whoever came up with the phrase "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me," was a fool. Believe me, words can hurt people severely. Words that are carelessly spoken can be devastating and destructive. All too often, our conversations with others are filled with complaints, cut-downs and criticisms. We are quick to judge others by our own faulty standards. We are quick to gripe when we do not have our way. In instances like these, we speak negative words that hurt and tear people down. When you choose to tear down instead of build up you do damage to your relationship with your children, with your spouse, with your friends and with your co-workers. Negative words and phrases include...That's stupid.You're an idiot.Don't be dumb.You never understand.You make no sense. Complai...
More About: Kill , Heal

MONDAY MORNING MADNESS
2008-01-07 14:36:00
My kids went back to school this morning after a two week Christmas break. Getting them out of bed at 7 a.m. was not an easy task. I did go get donuts, a favorite of theirs from our local bakery, to help bribe them to get up. Hopefully it won't be long until they are back into a routine. Good thing the bible doesn't say, "Thou shalt not bribe your children."We've been having so many new families come to church with us over the past few months. I'm pumped about our growth and the growth of our "young families" group. One person that has been coming the past few weeks is a fellow blogger. I think she's a reader of this blog, so I just want to tell her, "We've been honored to have your family with us the past two weeks. Sorry one of your kids was sick yesterday and you weren't able to be there. We missed you. Hope you'll come when you can." :)I haven't posted any sermons on my podcast the past couple of weeks because I haven't preached any. Don't say it, I already know what ...
More About: Morning , Monday , Monday Morning , Madness

MY CANDY BAG RUNNETH OVER
2008-01-04 16:18:00
A few years ago while preaching in Tulia, I was also serving as a volunteer paramedic for the Tulia ambulance services. One Saturday, my buddy Scotty and I, volunteered to go to a little town called Kress about 10 miles away, to drive the ambulance through their parade and throw out candy to the kids. Since we actually provided ambulance service to this little community, the hospital thought it'd be a good idea if we showed up for their big annual parade.After picking up our 3 very large bags of candy that the hospital provided us, we were off. Neither of us had ever been to the parade in this little west Texas town, but when we got there neither Scotty or myself were very impressed. When we lined up for the parade we noticed that there were lots of vehicles like fire trucks and police cars, but there was hardly any people there for the parade. Actually, only a handful of people had shown up. I remember thinking, "You've got to be kidding me. I gave up my Saturday for this sorry p...
More About: Candy

CHRISTMAS 2007
2008-01-03 15:56:00
TEN THINGS I ENJOYED DOING THIS CHRISTMAS (just for Brian)Seeing my mom and dad.Playing card games.Relaxing.Turning off my cell phone.NOT eating fruitcake.Watching my boys open their presents.Playing in the snow.Hanging out in the mountains with 3 families from church.Learning to play Wii golf and Wii bowling.Blowing twenty bucks on a plastic sled and then having my friend Tommy pull me behind the car. Thirty minutes later the sled was torn to pieces. Here's a little slide show of our Christmas fun. Ten may be a little much, so what are three things you enjoyed about your Christmas holiday?