Growin' Up Gregory

PRESS ON Philippians 3:18-19 - For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things. The first thing that jumped out to me in these verses is where Paul, who was a pretty tough guy, says he was telling us this with tears.  Think about the times when we shed tears and cry.  For me, it's been in moments of pure joy, the birth of my son, my wedding, things like that.  Or it has been in times of just extreme pain like the passing of my grandmother.  Men, the stereotypical "real men", don't cry over little things so Paul felt this was of utmost importance to communicate to us. Why do we glorify sin in today's world?  Homosexuality, pre-marital sex, alcohol/drug abuse, foul language, the list could go on and on of things that are sinful but are glorified in today's...

TEAM UP Philippians 3:17 - Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Jesus came to earth to be our pattern of what we are to strive to be more like in our lives.  We are to pursue that pattern as our goal in life.  But pursuing Christ is not about perfection, it is about the persistent effort to get there.  2 Corinthians 12:9 says "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me."  It is not by OUR works or accomplishments that we are saved.  That is only possible through GOD's grace and mercy.  When we realize that we are weak and need his strength and power, and the strength of Christian people around us, that's when we can really have a breakthrough. As you join with others, learn from the mistakes they make.  The s...

HOLD ON Philippians 3:15-16 - All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.  And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.  Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Coach Wade Phillips was very involved in a ministry in Texas called One Heart.  Its focus was on reaching at-risk and incarcerated youth to help keep them out of trouble.  The idea for One Heart was inspired by a football game between Faith Christian School and Gainesville State School, a maximum security juvenile facility.  Faith Christian's coach's biggest concern was not that his team was competing against players serving time, but rather that Gainesville State had no fans.  So they divided up their parents, fans, and cheerleaders in half so each team would have the same support during the game.  This in itself had to be difficult for some moms since it meant they were now rooting for other boys to tackle their sons.  ...

MOVE ON Philippians 3:13-14 - Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Graduation is a time of moving, or moving forward from what is behind you.  What's behind you, whether good or bad will be gone.  If you were the star athlete or smart kid in high school or college, that won't matter once you move on to the next phase of life.  Going from high school to college or work will always be a major change.  Teams don't dwell on that past, and neither should individuals.  If you lose the football game on Friday night, then Monday morning you begin preparing for the next opponent.  It's smart to study the film from the last game like we can learn from the past but then we have to let it go and move on. Paul had all the reason in the world to let his ...

I was blessed with the opportunity to share the message Graduate Sunday at Tabernacle yesterday morning.  I am thankful for that opportunity and that the Holy Spirit spoke to me and hopefully to others who were present.  I'll try to share each point here over the next few days since the message really spoke to my heart. TAKE HOLD Philippians 3:12 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  The graduates of 2015 would not have made it to where they are today without role models.  Through their success and graduating they have become role models to younger children in the church.  If you don't believe that, do something bad and just watch how quickly they start telling people about it.  We have been given the perfect role model in Jesus Christ.  He came to earth to be our example of how to treat others.  I wish the WWJD bracelets ...