2010-07-31T04:48:18Z Randy Harper Copyright 2010, Randy Harper SPHPBLOG
Make sure you send the right card, at the right time, to the right place. If there is such a thing as luck (and I don’t believe in luck) when you die your luck runs out.
When you die, your love has run out.
You will never have a chance to tell someone…you love them.
You’ll never have the chance to…call them.
You’ll never have the chance to … hug them.

The Point is:
Love while you can…before one of you leaves, but more importantly, before you die accept Jesus and know that you know where you will spend eternity.

See You Sunday!

]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100730-105248 2010-07-30T00:00:00Z 2010-07-30T00:00:00Z "I want to read to you the advertisement that I am going to put in the paper." the man said, "alright, I want to hear it.

The salesman said, "beautiful farm for sale - 250 acres of rolling hills, fertile valleys, and quiet streams, the climate is excelled all year round. There is fertile land for any crops, a beautiful two-story house, three barns in excellent condition and wonderful, loving, caring neighbors"

After he finished the farmer said, "read that back to me one more time." when he did the farmer said, "I have been looking for a place like that all of my life. Take it off the market."

It is a wise man who realizes that contentment makes a poor man rich, but discontent will make a rich man poor. Not only should you be satisfied with what you have. You ought to be satisfied with who you have.

Hebrews 13:5 says, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"

]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100729-105322 2010-07-29T00:00:00Z 2010-07-29T00:00:00Z
Life is full of surprises. Things happen that we never expect to have happen. People’s lives are sometimes changed by the events of the day or even a single minute. Are you prepared for life’s surprises?

In 1936 Ralph Neves, a famous jockey, was riding his horse in a race at Bay Meadows. The horse tripped as he entered the stretch and threw Ralph headfirst into the rail. The track doctor rushed to his side, but he was too late. He could find no pulse; Ralph was dead. The ambulance came anyway and rushed Ralph Neves to the hospital. After several attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead and covered with a sheet. The people at the racetrack were in shock. Ralph’s wife had been called to meet with the president of the racetrack. The jockeys were taking a collection for the widow. Then, to everyone’s complete surprise, Ralph Neves came walking into the clubhouse. The jockeys screamed, his wife fainted, and Ralph told his story. He said, “I knew I didn’t feel dead, even if I was sore all over.” He spoke out to the doctor through the draped sheet, so they rushed him on a gurney into a room. Ralph thought that was a waste, so he put on his clothes, rode to the track in a cab, and rode the horse, Instigator, in the seventh race that same day.

Salvation is not a surprise. You can know you are saved.
]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100728-092632 2010-07-28T00:00:00Z 2010-07-28T00:00:00Z
Because you see when you are sold out to Jesus you know all the devil has to offer but because self is dead, you don't want a one of them.

The method of cross bearing is to develop disciple habits. Paul said in Colossians 3:9, "you have put off the old self with its habits and have put on the new self which God is continually renewing in His own image to bring you to a full knowledge of Himself."

It is a continual, daily experience when God is continually renewing your each day. It doesn't happen one time at an altar. It is a continual process. God is renewing you moment by moment, day by day. That is what it means to take up your cross and be a disciple.
]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100727-085533 2010-07-27T00:00:00Z 2010-07-27T00:00:00Z
QUOTES:
George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

Here's an interesting bit of information: In 1836, the State of North Carolina said in their Constitution, "No person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Christian religion, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit."

Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, and it was ratified and signed by representatives of the 13 original colonies at the meeting of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. These patriots and proud Americans, in this document, recognized that God, our Creator, is the One who has given us life, liberty, and the opportunity to pursue happiness. God works in the hearts of men.

Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts"

Our nation and its greatness is because of men and women who had a heart for God.

QUOTE:
John Quincy Adams said, "The highest glory of the American revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”

John Quincy Adams knew what we know, and that is, that God blesses a nation: Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." And, on the other hand, let me add; God curses a nation who turns away form Him: Psalm 9:17, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."

Paul wrote in Titus 3:5, that salvation is "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (KJV)

The reason America is losing her greatness is because the majority of her citizens no longer understand nor practice the Christian faith. Most have forgotten what made this country great. It is a relationship with God through Christ.

QUOTE: President Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The reason that Christianity is the best friend of Government is because Christianity is the only religion that changes the heart."

Rev. Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We confess:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out during the prayer in protest. In six short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer. Rev. Wright had it "right" when he said, "Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free."

That's exactly what people need. That's why David said in Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." If we ever expect to see God, then we must have a clean heart. Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100726-115444 2010-07-26T00:00:00Z 2010-07-26T00:00:00Z
This is a part of the sadness of America. People often huddle together here in America, but it is not for prayer. They are generally huddled together to play something, to attend something, to watch something, but seldom to attend church and pray.

· Failure to pray for our companion; marriage struggles.

· Failure to pray for our children.

· Failure to pray for our churches.

· Failure to pray for our country.

Far too many Christians today are like the teenage driver who was stopped by a police officer. “Miss, your hand signals are very confusing for me and the other drivers. You put your hand out as if you were going to turn left, and then you turn right.” As with Christians, too many say/profess one thing and then practice another. Vance Havner once said, “We have too many noun Christians and not enough adjective Christians.” So what are you, a noun or an adjective?]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100723-080503 2010-07-23T00:00:00Z 2010-07-23T00:00:00Z
Do you remember the person who told you about Jesus? Maybe it was a parent, Sunday school teacher, pastor, or someone who came into your home. The shadow they cast resulted in you being saved. Their work for God has impacted you for all eternity.

Have you cast a shadow that has resulted in someone being saved? I will always love and be grateful for the Evangelist that preached that Friday in 1981 and took the Bible and showed me how to be saved. That pastor cast a shadow over me that has affected me for all of eternity. As you go about your day today and the rest of this week, remember and keep in the forefront of your mind as you cross peoples paths that we work for God and we cast a shadow that impacts people for eternity.
]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100722-092922 2010-07-22T00:00:00Z 2010-07-22T00:00:00Z
At Bellaire, we emphasize put a strong emphasis on evangelism. But have you ever wondered why we do this, why the evangelism value is so important? It is so important because lost people matter to God; and because lost men and women go to hell without Christ; and because we are responsible for sharing Christ with them. And can I tell you, that we are doing a crummy job at sharing Christ with them.

Do you really realize this fact, “You will never meet someone who is not important to God, nor will you ever look into the eyes of someone that Jesus did not die for?” The fact of the matter is it really does not matter how we may feel about a particular individual. That is not what is important. What really matters is how God feels about them.

One Mercedes Benz TV commercial shows their car colliding with a cement wall during a safety test. Someone then asks the company spokesman why they do not enforce their patent on the Mercedes Benz energy-absorbing car body, a design evidently copied by other companies because of its success. He replies matter-of-factly, "Because some things in life are too important no to share." How true that is not only for the auto industry, but more so is it important for someone’s salvation, which saves them from far more than auto collisions.

I have heard it said, "If you want to get somebody religious, bring them to church. If you want to get somebody bored, bring them to the deacon's meeting. If you want to get somebody angry, bring them to the business meeting. But if you want to get somebody saved, bring them to Jesus."

]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100721-101829 2010-07-21T00:00:00Z 2010-07-21T00:00:00Z
Acts 14:22 "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

The Christian life is the abundant life. Can you tell me of anything else that equals salvation in Christ? And, let me add; if salvation were all we had, that would be enough. However, we not only have salvation and forgiveness of sin, we have everything else that goes with it: comfort, peace, hope, security, joy and happiness, and access to God through prayer.

At one time or the other, we've all heard someone say, "I have nothing to live for." If a person does not know Christ, that's pretty much a true statement--he had better live life with all the gusto he can, because when life is over, everything in which he has placed his confidence will be gone--and so will he.

Paul's faith was challenged, and yes, his faith was tested, but we know from the Scriptures, the only thing it did was make him more determined to live for Christ. As Christians, we must be determined to do the job we have been called to do. Our faith must take a stand against the enemy. We must never let anything deter us from serving Christ. We have been called to live for Jesus.
Romans 8:31 reminds us: "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100720-104209 2010-07-20T00:00:00Z 2010-07-20T00:00:00Z 17 world records.

In 1982, she was the fastest woman at every distance between the 800-meters and the 10,000-meters.

In 1982, she won the Sullivan Award as the best amateur athlete of the year.

However, Olympic medals have always eluded her.

During the 1976 Olympics she was sidelined by stress fractures in her legs. In 1980, she was not able to attend the Olympics when President Carter decided to boycott the games.

In 1984, during the 3,000-meter race in Los Angeles, when it appeared she might finally win a medal, as the race neared its end, she was tripped by Zola Budd from South Africa and fell on the track in pain. Her injuries kept her from being a featured performer in the 1988 and 1992 games.
If you can picture in your mind Mary Decker-Slaney being tripped by another runner, you get the idea of what Paul is saying. He says, "You did run well, but you have allowed someone to cut in on you and trip you up."

In the Galatians case, Paul was speaking of how they had allowed the Judiazers to pull them from grace back into the law, but the picture drives home the point.

Have you fallen out of the race? Have you been cut in on by someone or something and been tripped up in the race? Get up and get back in the race! There is still a race to finish!]]> http://www.bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100719-091220 2010-07-19T00:00:00Z 2010-07-19T00:00:00Z