Never Underestimate the Power of a Positive Mental Attitude.

This link links positive thinking to longer life and enjoying life more. God through Paul instructs the Philippians and us to be positive thinkers in Philippians 4 verse 8. It reads: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Notice that our thoughts don't have to have anything to do with our abilities, talents, opportunities or lack of opportunities that are perceived or real.

Winterfest 2006 in Gatlinburg was Incredible!

One of the analogies that I thought was excellent went like this:

Fred the fish was lying on the beach gasping when I found him. I asked him what was wrong and he didn't know. I decided that Fred needed a nice house to live in so I built him a 5 bedroom 3 1/2 bath split level house and I asked Fred how he liked it.

He said the house was lovely as he gasped for air and then commented as he gasped that something was wrong. I decided that Fred need a wife and kids so I caught other fish and put them on the beach there with Fred and asked him if he was happy now. He said he appreciated having a wife and children but that something was terribly wrong. I put in a good word with some of the people I know and got Fred a well paying job. Although Fred was grateful for the job he was just about unconscious when he said, "I'm dying." Out of ideas I picked up Fred and threw him out in the water. It took a minute or two but Fred was revived and leapt up from the water to thank me.

When I asked him what I had done for him he said he wasn't sure. Then he said, "I think I am finally living how I was DESIGNED to live."

God designed us to need Him and we can only get to God through Christ. It only stands to reason that without Christ in our lives we will not be living as we were DESIGNED to live by our Creator.

I thought that was so powerful.

In John 10:10 Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Winterfest Photos 2006!!!

Everyone,

Please go to

http://godfreychurchofchrist.googlepages.com/

You will find instructions on how to see these photos on the Youth Group Photos page.

Depending upon who you ask...

I am a liberal or I am a conservative. I once had a preacher tell me that depending on who was sitting at the table with me I could be either one. Romans 14.3 tells us not to have the ungodly attitude of dismissing our conservative brother as stupid or the ungodly attitude of condemning our liberal brother to hell. With this in mind most people will be offended or worse if those to the left of them on the liberal/conservative scale dismiss them as stupid while those on the right condemn them to hell. Neither attitude is godly. I find it interesting that those who are highly offended as their brother to the right of them condemns them to hell, will at the same time dismiss their condemning brother as stupid. Conversely those offended by being dismissed and even mocked by their brother to the left of them will at the same time condemn their dismissive brother to hell. How can I stand up for what I believe and proclaim the freedom of Christ without adopting one or both of these ungodly attitudes? Since to one degree or another we will always be misunderstood, misquoted or even lied about, which end of the spectrum will I choose? Will I be mischaracterized as a fundamentalist bound by legalism or will I be mischaracterized as someone who says that anything goes and our behaviors and choices won't condemn us no matter what we do? When I look at the example of Paul and his choice of message I do not find Paul ever accused of legalism, but many times accused of the "anything goes" form of religion. Paul addresses this in a very straight forward manner in Romans 3.8. So if I must choose between the mischaracterizations of being too merciful, lenient or lax on sin and being too legalistic, judgemental or condemning on sin, I think it makes the most sense biblically to fall behind the example of Paul and Jesus as being mischaracterized as too merciful rather than being thought of as too judgemental. Will someone mistake my position as condoning sin? People made that same mistake with Jesus and Paul. Anytime I can place my life example in the company of those two, not only does it benefit all those I come into contact with, but of course I will be in line to benefit the most.