I guess after my last blog I kind of left people hanging. I evaluated my New Year’s resolutions for 2008 but made no mention of my 2009 resolutions. Well here they are, pretty much the same as last year with just a little bit of change and a little addition.
1: Get closer to Jesus. Number 3 last year, number one this year! I figure if I draw closer to Jesus first of all everything else should come easier!
2: Loose weight. Number 1 last year, number 2 this year. I’ve got a bunch more weight to loose! I need to loose at least another 100 pounds this year. My long term goal is to loose a whopping 250 pounds!
3: Get my health back in order. I’m still fighting to get my diabetes in order. My chronic repspiratory failure appears to be getting better by quite a bit but I still have a ways to go there too! Thank You Jesus for the healing there!
4: Do a better job with our autistic son Andrew. As Andrew progresses into his teens he needs me to do a better job of being a father to him and guiding him. Andrew takes more attention then the rest of our kids put together times two and I just need to do a better job. Once again if I loose weight and get my health in order this will become substantially easier.
5: Share Jesus more. Number 4 last year. I really feel this one will take care of itself if I do resolutions 1 through 3. The biggest thing keeping me from sharing Jesus more is simply my health. If I can loose a bunch of weight and not become out of breath so easy I will be able to stand for a longer period of time and do a better job of sharing Jesus!
I’d love to hear your resolutions!
Be Blessed!!!
BIG SCOTT
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
New Year Already???
Wow! Just like that Christmas is over already! Can you believe that 2009 is almost here? Of course we say this every year don’t we? Is it just me or does time seem to fly a little faster every year. My friend Mark Oelze brought this to my attention a few years ago when he included in a sermon one Sunday about how technology is taking up more and more of our time every year. We’ve got cell phones that are actually mini computers, IPod’s, laptops, email & so on & so forth. Mark made the point that all of this is supposed to make us more productive & give us more freedom but does it really?
It occurred to me today that with the New Year at hand it’s time to start that annual series of promises that most of us make and unfortunately most of us don’t keep, it’s time to once again to make your New Year’s Resolutions! First, before we make new resolutions we should look back at how we did with last years resolutions. How did I do on my resolutions from last year? Let’s take a look. While I grade mine here go back over yours and grade them!
1: Loose weight. Lost 30 pounds. D+ I should have lost a bunch more!
2: Get my health back in order. C+ I made a lot of progress but I’ve got a long way to go!
3: Get closer to Jesus. C+ The first 9 months I did great but I let too many things distract me that last three months of the year.
4: Share Jesus more. A- I’m pretty happy with this one. The Lord opened a bunch of doors for me to share this year & 2009 looks even better!
There’s how I did. Overall an average of C+ which is pretty good for me. How did you do?
Just remember, God wants you to succeed! God wants the best for you! Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Be Blessed!!!
BIG SCOTT
It occurred to me today that with the New Year at hand it’s time to start that annual series of promises that most of us make and unfortunately most of us don’t keep, it’s time to once again to make your New Year’s Resolutions! First, before we make new resolutions we should look back at how we did with last years resolutions. How did I do on my resolutions from last year? Let’s take a look. While I grade mine here go back over yours and grade them!
1: Loose weight. Lost 30 pounds. D+ I should have lost a bunch more!
2: Get my health back in order. C+ I made a lot of progress but I’ve got a long way to go!
3: Get closer to Jesus. C+ The first 9 months I did great but I let too many things distract me that last three months of the year.
4: Share Jesus more. A- I’m pretty happy with this one. The Lord opened a bunch of doors for me to share this year & 2009 looks even better!
There’s how I did. Overall an average of C+ which is pretty good for me. How did you do?
Just remember, God wants you to succeed! God wants the best for you! Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Be Blessed!!!
BIG SCOTT
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Christmas Story
Luke 2: 1-40 NLT
The Birth of Jesus
1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.”[a] 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
The Prophecy of Simeon
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
The Prophecy of Anna
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
The Birth of Jesus
1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
The Shepherds and Angels
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.
22 Then it was time for their purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.”[a] 24 So they offered the sacrifice required in the law of the Lord—“either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
The Prophecy of Simeon
25 At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
33 Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”
The Prophecy of Anna
36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. 37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.
39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
First Love
I feel the Lord telling me tonight to write on my “First Love.” The NIV Study Bible defines First Love as “The love they had at first for one another and/or for Christ.” This time of year we really need to stop, examine our hearts and see just who or what our first love really is. Is your first love that little baby in the manger or is your first love making sure you get just that perfect present for everyone on your Christmas list?
I don’t know about you but I’ve already got the perfect Christmas gift. That little baby that was born in a manger a little over 2000 years ago has given me everything I’ll ever need. That little baby saved me from my sins and gave me eternal life. That little baby supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory. Paul told us in Philippians 4:19 (Amplified Bible) “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” All I have to do is trust in him.
Who supplies all your needs? Who is your first love? If it’s not the one that was the little baby in the manger we need to talk!
Be Blessed!!!
Big Scott
I don’t know about you but I’ve already got the perfect Christmas gift. That little baby that was born in a manger a little over 2000 years ago has given me everything I’ll ever need. That little baby saved me from my sins and gave me eternal life. That little baby supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory. Paul told us in Philippians 4:19 (Amplified Bible) “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” All I have to do is trust in him.
Who supplies all your needs? Who is your first love? If it’s not the one that was the little baby in the manger we need to talk!
Be Blessed!!!
Big Scott
Friday, December 19, 2008
Tis The Season For The Blues
Is it just me or is Christmas just a little less about Christ every year? I know that I’m not the first one to bring this up and if you haven’t heard it from a ton of people before I’m surprised! I know the true meaning of Christmas and for some reason I’m just not feeling it this year. I’m not trying to be a scrooge or anything but it seems every year I’m a little less excited about the holidays.
Personally I know that with me being off work at the present time and being stuck on disability until I can get healthy again it’s really weighing on me being able to get into the holiday season. I know that there is a ton of people in the same boat that I’m in this year. With the economy down and the nightly news leading off every newscast with a story of how bad of a recession we’re in or this company is shutting down or these people are getting laid off it can sure be easy to be in a foul mood this holiday season.
Fortunately for me I have an outlet. I can hop on my computer, fire up my word processor and vent about how I feel. To make it better I even have people that read every one of these blogs that I right. It’s kind of like having my very own online support group! If you’re in that group that is having a hard time this year and the holidays are getting you down don’t worry as there is help out there.
In most every community there is a Mental Health Association or some kind of public mental health institute. Look them up in the phone book. Also, many churches now have counseling centers. Here in Wichita our church, Word of Life, has its own counseling center headed up by PhD psychologist. Please feel free to give them a call if you’re anywhere close to Wichita. The number is 316-838-6200.
The Christmas holidays are the number one time of the year for depression and it is also the number one time of the year for suicides. If you know of someone that is hurting be a friend and don’t let them suffer alone! If you’re the one hurting don’t be afraid to reach out for help. If you don’t know where to turn drop me an email & I’ll be happy to try and point you in the right direction!
Be Blessed!!!
BIG SCOTT
Personally I know that with me being off work at the present time and being stuck on disability until I can get healthy again it’s really weighing on me being able to get into the holiday season. I know that there is a ton of people in the same boat that I’m in this year. With the economy down and the nightly news leading off every newscast with a story of how bad of a recession we’re in or this company is shutting down or these people are getting laid off it can sure be easy to be in a foul mood this holiday season.
Fortunately for me I have an outlet. I can hop on my computer, fire up my word processor and vent about how I feel. To make it better I even have people that read every one of these blogs that I right. It’s kind of like having my very own online support group! If you’re in that group that is having a hard time this year and the holidays are getting you down don’t worry as there is help out there.
In most every community there is a Mental Health Association or some kind of public mental health institute. Look them up in the phone book. Also, many churches now have counseling centers. Here in Wichita our church, Word of Life, has its own counseling center headed up by PhD psychologist. Please feel free to give them a call if you’re anywhere close to Wichita. The number is 316-838-6200.
The Christmas holidays are the number one time of the year for depression and it is also the number one time of the year for suicides. If you know of someone that is hurting be a friend and don’t let them suffer alone! If you’re the one hurting don’t be afraid to reach out for help. If you don’t know where to turn drop me an email & I’ll be happy to try and point you in the right direction!
Be Blessed!!!
BIG SCOTT
Thursday, December 18, 2008
My Temple
I did it! I finally broke below 500 pounds! I just weighed in and fully clothed with jacket on I weighed 504. If you subtract for the shoes, clothing, jacket, cell phone and etc. it would put me in right at 499 pounds! This is quite an improvement considering for the past two years or so I’ve been hanging around the 520 – 530 pound range! If I remember right when I weighed in about two months ago I weighed in right at 530 pounds. That would be a net weight loss of right at 5% over a two month period. At this rate I should be able to hit my first goal of loosing 100 pounds sometime in 2009!
Now that I’m actually loosing weight again I can start setting goals. As I mentioned above my first goal is to hit 400 pounds sometime in 2009. As much weight as I have to loose these first goals should be pretty easy to hit. I’m setting a long range goal, like a 2-3 year goal of getting back down under 300 pounds. I haven’t been under 300 pounds since the late 1980’s! Eventually I’d like to get back down to where I was when I graduated high school which would put me somewhere in the 250 pound range.
Now that I’m actually loosing weight again I can start setting goals. As I mentioned above my first goal is to hit 400 pounds sometime in 2009. As much weight as I have to loose these first goals should be pretty easy to hit. I’m setting a long range goal, like a 2-3 year goal of getting back down under 300 pounds. I haven’t been under 300 pounds since the late 1980’s! Eventually I’d like to get back down to where I was when I graduated high school which would put me somewhere in the 250 pound range.
Another plus of loosing weight is that it should help with both my cholesterol & blood sugar levels. Right now my bad cholesterol levels are just fine but my good cholesterol levels are pretty low. In addition I'm taking the max dose I can right now of pills to keep my diabetes in check. If my blood sugar levels in the evenings don't start coming down I'll be on insulin for life, which is something I really don't want. My doctor told me yesterday we're going to give it one more month on the pills. She said with exercise, diet, & pills if I keep working hard I should be able to beat having to take insulin if I keep loosing weight!
One thing that I’m going to do to hold my self accountable if to keep putting updates on my blog here. If I make public what I’m doing then I will have a ton more willpower to be successful in my weight loss battle. Another thing that I’ve been doing is seeing my doctor on a regular basis, about every 4-6 weeks. I went in yesterday and saw my doctor and while I was there I had my yearly “guys” cancer screening since I had just had another birthday. I’m happy to report that everything came back negative!
As a side note here one of the biggest killers of men over the age of 45 is either prostate cancer or colon cancer. Not only do I highly recommend, but numerous other medical doctors & health agencies recommend that all guys 45 & older get their prostate checked every year and while that’s being done have what’s called a PSAT test where they check for blood in your stool. It’s not that bad and it could save your life!
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6: 19 & 20: Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. Knowing this it’s about time I do some rebuilding and remodeling on my temple! I hope my journey will encourage you as I travel along!
Be Blessed!!!
Big Scott
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Apology & Trust
First of all let me apologize to those of you who actually read this blog & are on my email list for an email I sent out last week about how hopeless things were for me. Come to find out God is still in control and we were not in anywhere near as much trouble as I thought that we were. All I had to do was to put my trust in God so he could get me through the tough times. I guess that maybe I just needed a little humbling!
Here’s what Matthew 6:25-34 has to say:
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
I don’t know about you but with all of the talk in the news about how big of a recession we are in and the possibility of our economy totally crumbling I was really starting to worry. I know this is wrong. Jesus just told us that in the above verses. I’ve decided rather then worrying that I’m going to trust in God just like Jesus said to do.
Tomorrow is a new day and I plan on taking full advantage of it. We as a family were blessed with a full membership to the YMCA for only $10 a month! Tomorrow I take a new step forward. We join the YMCA and I start exercising again. I start taking control of my health again. I never would have dreamed how far out of shape I could get but tomorrow we start going the other way! Tomorrow I start water aerobics like my doctor instructed.
I need to really loose at least 250 pounds & I’ve got to start somewhere. Tomorrow I take the second step. The first step was seeking help from my doctors & health care team. I did that 2 weeks ago. Tomorrow I get off of my big, fat, lazy rear and put action to my words!
Please keep me & my family in prayer as I move forward, or should I say, back to health! I’ll try to weigh in tomorrow. We’ll all probably freak when we find out just how much I weigh! I figure if I post here what I’m doing then I’ll have a little more reason to succeed!
Until tomorrow…
Be Blessed!!!
Big Scott
Here’s what Matthew 6:25-34 has to say:
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
I don’t know about you but with all of the talk in the news about how big of a recession we are in and the possibility of our economy totally crumbling I was really starting to worry. I know this is wrong. Jesus just told us that in the above verses. I’ve decided rather then worrying that I’m going to trust in God just like Jesus said to do.
Tomorrow is a new day and I plan on taking full advantage of it. We as a family were blessed with a full membership to the YMCA for only $10 a month! Tomorrow I take a new step forward. We join the YMCA and I start exercising again. I start taking control of my health again. I never would have dreamed how far out of shape I could get but tomorrow we start going the other way! Tomorrow I start water aerobics like my doctor instructed.
I need to really loose at least 250 pounds & I’ve got to start somewhere. Tomorrow I take the second step. The first step was seeking help from my doctors & health care team. I did that 2 weeks ago. Tomorrow I get off of my big, fat, lazy rear and put action to my words!
Please keep me & my family in prayer as I move forward, or should I say, back to health! I’ll try to weigh in tomorrow. We’ll all probably freak when we find out just how much I weigh! I figure if I post here what I’m doing then I’ll have a little more reason to succeed!
Until tomorrow…
Be Blessed!!!
Big Scott
Friday, December 12, 2008
My Testimony
I was asked to give my testimony so here it goes. I thought that I’d share it with everyone here on my blog as I’m so proud of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in my life. One thing I’d love to have happen is that if you have your testimony written out somewhere (if you don’t I highly encourage you to do it!) please share it with me and others. I love hearing what the Lord has done in others lives as well!
In 1962 I was adopted as a newborn baby into a loving Christian home. I basically grew up in church. My parents made sure that I knew who Jesus was and did a wonderful job of teaching me the ways of the Lord. By the time I graduated from high school in 1981 I really knew who God & Jesus were. The problem was I didn’t have a close relationship with God.
While I did accept Jesus when I was 12 and was soon baptized thereafter I would have a hard time saying that I was really saved at that point. The one thing missing at that time was repentance. I was never taught that I had to repent and turn from my sins. As a result my sins continued to grow. When I was a junior in high school I started to drink and party. By the time I graduated I was drinking & partying pretty hard.
After high school I pretty much had nothing to do with God or Jesus for the next six or so years. Somewhere in 1987 God started bringing Christians into my life to witness to me. I really began to search and started having concerns about what would happen to me if I died at that point. I really began to question whether I was really saved or not. Eventually I decided I wasn’t.
In 1988 I was racing motorcycles every weekend. After the last race of the year that year one Sunday in October I was about half lit after polishing off the better part of a twelve pack after the races and I went by my buddy’s Tom place. I asked Tom what he was doing that evening and if he wanted to hang out. To my surprise Tom told me that he had been invited to church and that I should come with him. To my even greater surprise without thinking I agreed!
Tom got me all cleaned up and got the smell of beer off of me and of to church we went. We walked in and praise & worship had already started. The girl that had invited Tom was sitting towards the front and Tom grabbed my arm and to the front we went! I was blown away! This was way different from any church that I had ever attended before!
As the music was playing and the people were singing there were people raising their hands and dancing around, praising God and just generally having a great time! I’m not sure why but I thought that this was way kewl! When the praise & worship ended people from all over came up and shook my hand, welcomed me, and just in general made me feel right at home!
After the service we were invited to go out to a young adult get together. We were also warmly invited back next Wednesday evening & the following Sunday. We had a blast at the get together after church that Sunday and Tom & I decided we really needed to go back. Wednesday was really awesome and the pastor poured some really great stuff into us. The following Sunday at the end of service both Tom & I went forward at the alter call and repented of all of our sins and accepted Jesus. Now I knew I was REALLY saved!
The following evening that Sunday I went forward for prayer and the men of the church led by the pastor prayed over me and I was delivered right there on the spot from alcohol and I was set free in Jesus! Wow, was I ever on cloud nine! I couldn’t wait to tell the whole world what Jesus had just done for me!
Fortunately for me the church that I got saved in was really big on teaching and equipping people to take Jesus to the world. In fact they had a K-12 academy and were teaching Bible courses as an outreach through Logos College. For the next two years or so I studied hard and crammed in everything about God that I could get into me.
In 1991 I left for Wichita, Kansas where I’m at now to join up with Operation Rescue and to serve as a street evangelist. During the summer of 1991 I spent almost every day in front of an abortion clinic witnessing to anyone that I could.
After the summer of 1991 I went back to work driving truck. In late 1991 I met the love of my life Pam and in 1992 we were married. In 1993 we moved back to Dodge City, Kansas which is close to where I was born and raised. Things were not going well for us in Dodge City as we were constantly struggling to make ends meet. I failed miserably in being the Godly head of house that God had called me to be. In 1996 Pam couldn’t take any more and packed up and took our two kids back to Wichita leaving me in Dodge City with divorce papers.
In 1997 I packed up and left Dodge City and headed back to Wichita myself. We both wound up in the same church we had been in before we left for Dodge City. The Pastor there ordered that if we were both going to be in his church that we go through counseling so we could get along well enough so he wouldn’t have fighting in his church. It worked!
One thing led to another. We both stayed in counseling and I really started seeking God, hard, and through the leadership of our pastors and via my repentance and changing we were remarried in December of 1999! I’m happy to say that nine years later our marriage is stronger then ever!
In 1962 I was adopted as a newborn baby into a loving Christian home. I basically grew up in church. My parents made sure that I knew who Jesus was and did a wonderful job of teaching me the ways of the Lord. By the time I graduated from high school in 1981 I really knew who God & Jesus were. The problem was I didn’t have a close relationship with God.
While I did accept Jesus when I was 12 and was soon baptized thereafter I would have a hard time saying that I was really saved at that point. The one thing missing at that time was repentance. I was never taught that I had to repent and turn from my sins. As a result my sins continued to grow. When I was a junior in high school I started to drink and party. By the time I graduated I was drinking & partying pretty hard.
After high school I pretty much had nothing to do with God or Jesus for the next six or so years. Somewhere in 1987 God started bringing Christians into my life to witness to me. I really began to search and started having concerns about what would happen to me if I died at that point. I really began to question whether I was really saved or not. Eventually I decided I wasn’t.
In 1988 I was racing motorcycles every weekend. After the last race of the year that year one Sunday in October I was about half lit after polishing off the better part of a twelve pack after the races and I went by my buddy’s Tom place. I asked Tom what he was doing that evening and if he wanted to hang out. To my surprise Tom told me that he had been invited to church and that I should come with him. To my even greater surprise without thinking I agreed!
Tom got me all cleaned up and got the smell of beer off of me and of to church we went. We walked in and praise & worship had already started. The girl that had invited Tom was sitting towards the front and Tom grabbed my arm and to the front we went! I was blown away! This was way different from any church that I had ever attended before!
As the music was playing and the people were singing there were people raising their hands and dancing around, praising God and just generally having a great time! I’m not sure why but I thought that this was way kewl! When the praise & worship ended people from all over came up and shook my hand, welcomed me, and just in general made me feel right at home!
After the service we were invited to go out to a young adult get together. We were also warmly invited back next Wednesday evening & the following Sunday. We had a blast at the get together after church that Sunday and Tom & I decided we really needed to go back. Wednesday was really awesome and the pastor poured some really great stuff into us. The following Sunday at the end of service both Tom & I went forward at the alter call and repented of all of our sins and accepted Jesus. Now I knew I was REALLY saved!
The following evening that Sunday I went forward for prayer and the men of the church led by the pastor prayed over me and I was delivered right there on the spot from alcohol and I was set free in Jesus! Wow, was I ever on cloud nine! I couldn’t wait to tell the whole world what Jesus had just done for me!
Fortunately for me the church that I got saved in was really big on teaching and equipping people to take Jesus to the world. In fact they had a K-12 academy and were teaching Bible courses as an outreach through Logos College. For the next two years or so I studied hard and crammed in everything about God that I could get into me.
In 1991 I left for Wichita, Kansas where I’m at now to join up with Operation Rescue and to serve as a street evangelist. During the summer of 1991 I spent almost every day in front of an abortion clinic witnessing to anyone that I could.
After the summer of 1991 I went back to work driving truck. In late 1991 I met the love of my life Pam and in 1992 we were married. In 1993 we moved back to Dodge City, Kansas which is close to where I was born and raised. Things were not going well for us in Dodge City as we were constantly struggling to make ends meet. I failed miserably in being the Godly head of house that God had called me to be. In 1996 Pam couldn’t take any more and packed up and took our two kids back to Wichita leaving me in Dodge City with divorce papers.
In 1997 I packed up and left Dodge City and headed back to Wichita myself. We both wound up in the same church we had been in before we left for Dodge City. The Pastor there ordered that if we were both going to be in his church that we go through counseling so we could get along well enough so he wouldn’t have fighting in his church. It worked!
One thing led to another. We both stayed in counseling and I really started seeking God, hard, and through the leadership of our pastors and via my repentance and changing we were remarried in December of 1999! I’m happy to say that nine years later our marriage is stronger then ever!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
God Still Has My Back!
God Is Still In Control
I thought that I’d share this quick little story of something that didn’t happen to us last night! We had to go pick our daughter Paula up at East High last night at 9:00 p.m. after her concert rehearsal. We got there a little early so we decided to go done the street to the Kwik Shop & fuel our van.
After I paid for our fuel I had a vision of us pulling out into the street and be rammed by another car. I thought that was kind of weird but went ahead and started to get moving. Immediately I had the same vision again and this time it was more vivid and urgent. I said OK God I’ll precede with care. I pulled out of the parking lot, onto the side street that runs beside the Kwik Shop and stopped at the stop sign.
Cautiously I looked both ways and started to pull out. All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash and locked the brakes. Coming out of the dark was a big station wagon, moving fast, with its lights off! I had managed to stop just short and was missed by just a few feet! Another five feet and we would have been toast!
It is sweet to know that God still has your back! Thanks You Jesus!!!
Be Blessed!!!
Scott
I thought that I’d share this quick little story of something that didn’t happen to us last night! We had to go pick our daughter Paula up at East High last night at 9:00 p.m. after her concert rehearsal. We got there a little early so we decided to go done the street to the Kwik Shop & fuel our van.
After I paid for our fuel I had a vision of us pulling out into the street and be rammed by another car. I thought that was kind of weird but went ahead and started to get moving. Immediately I had the same vision again and this time it was more vivid and urgent. I said OK God I’ll precede with care. I pulled out of the parking lot, onto the side street that runs beside the Kwik Shop and stopped at the stop sign.
Cautiously I looked both ways and started to pull out. All of a sudden out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash and locked the brakes. Coming out of the dark was a big station wagon, moving fast, with its lights off! I had managed to stop just short and was missed by just a few feet! Another five feet and we would have been toast!
It is sweet to know that God still has your back! Thanks You Jesus!!!
Be Blessed!!!
Scott
Sunday, November 16, 2008
By The Numbers
Here's the report on a study I did. These numbers are for Wichita, Kansas. If you live somewhere else in the United States you can probably safely assume that the percentages are still pretty close! I received some updated info since I last posted this info so here it is updated. To make things easier I rounded the numbers to the closest thousand.
By The Numbers…
600 Churches in Wichita (apx.)
250 Seats per church average (apx.)
150,000 Total Seats
362,000 People in Wichita
217,000 (60%) Claim to be Christian
67,000 Too few seats if everyone shows up for church on Sunday
58% Average seats filled on Sundays
87,000 Average Wichita Sunday Attendance
130,000 (60%) Christians miss church in Wichita on Sundays
275,000 (75%) People in Wichita don’t attend church on Sundays
To make matters worse one of our local TV stations, KSN, reported on Friday, November 14, 2008 that only 5% of teenagers attend church! By comparison KSN said that number was 44% in 1944. The last US Census Bureau said that in Wichita 27.1% of the population is less than 18 years of age. Here’s the breakdown on that data.
98000 Youth
4900 or 5% Attend Church
93100 or 95% don’t attend church (WOW!)
While the above numbers may not be scientifically accurate, the numbers should be pretty close as I compiled them mostly from national averages plus what I could compile locally.
Now, my commentary! I hope that the above numbers help explain why our nation is headed in the direction it is headed! If we are only having 5% of our youth in church learning about and worshiping Jesus where in the world will we be in 20 years when these youth become the lawmakers of our country if we don’t do something now to turn this country, and more importantly our youth around.
The good news is that there is still time. It’s not going to be easy and it’s going to take all of us to make this happen. When I say all of us I most certainly include Jesus and his Holy Spirit because His Holy Spirit is going to have to lead us through this monumental battle that we are facing.
What’s it going to take for this nation to repent? First it’s going to take God’s people doing just what Jesus commanded us to do. Mark 16:15 says "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Where is the world? Step out of your front door and you’re in the world! What do you need to do? Share your faith! That’s it, it’s that simple, just share your faith! Need help sharing your faith? Drop me an email and I’ll hook you up with a really simple way to share your faith called “Share Jesus Without Fear.”
Until next time…
Be Blessed!
BIG SCOTT
By The Numbers…
600 Churches in Wichita (apx.)
250 Seats per church average (apx.)
150,000 Total Seats
362,000 People in Wichita
217,000 (60%) Claim to be Christian
67,000 Too few seats if everyone shows up for church on Sunday
58% Average seats filled on Sundays
87,000 Average Wichita Sunday Attendance
130,000 (60%) Christians miss church in Wichita on Sundays
275,000 (75%) People in Wichita don’t attend church on Sundays
To make matters worse one of our local TV stations, KSN, reported on Friday, November 14, 2008 that only 5% of teenagers attend church! By comparison KSN said that number was 44% in 1944. The last US Census Bureau said that in Wichita 27.1% of the population is less than 18 years of age. Here’s the breakdown on that data.
98000 Youth
4900 or 5% Attend Church
93100 or 95% don’t attend church (WOW!)
While the above numbers may not be scientifically accurate, the numbers should be pretty close as I compiled them mostly from national averages plus what I could compile locally.
Now, my commentary! I hope that the above numbers help explain why our nation is headed in the direction it is headed! If we are only having 5% of our youth in church learning about and worshiping Jesus where in the world will we be in 20 years when these youth become the lawmakers of our country if we don’t do something now to turn this country, and more importantly our youth around.
The good news is that there is still time. It’s not going to be easy and it’s going to take all of us to make this happen. When I say all of us I most certainly include Jesus and his Holy Spirit because His Holy Spirit is going to have to lead us through this monumental battle that we are facing.
What’s it going to take for this nation to repent? First it’s going to take God’s people doing just what Jesus commanded us to do. Mark 16:15 says "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Where is the world? Step out of your front door and you’re in the world! What do you need to do? Share your faith! That’s it, it’s that simple, just share your faith! Need help sharing your faith? Drop me an email and I’ll hook you up with a really simple way to share your faith called “Share Jesus Without Fear.”
Until next time…
Be Blessed!
BIG SCOTT
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Harves Is Ripe
One thing I keep hearing over and over again from the Lord is get my people ready! There is a HUGE harvest to be had right here in Wichita! The Lord keeps reminding me that if just 25% of the people that claim to be a Christian here in Wichita ever showed up to church on the same Sunday at the same time there wouldn’t be anywhere near enough churches to hold everyone! Can you imagine that… Just 25% would overwhelm every church in town!!! By the way, you could apply this to virtually any city in the United States.
Wednesday Cessna & Spirit Aerosystems announced the joint venture to build a new jet here in Wichita & between the two of them they would hire 1700 new employees. In addition the news reported that the spin off would generate about an additional 5000 jobs here in Wichita. When I heard this, the Lord spoke to me and told me that with thousands of new people coming to Wichita if we do our part our harvest will be huge!!!
What is our part? It's taking the Gospel to the streets. Getting out & telling people about the Good News of Jesus Christ! Not just going to Old Town on the weekends but going throughout the city witnessing wherever and whenever we can! Every time you make a purchase hand the person taking your money a “million dollar bill.” Going door to door starting right in the neighborhoods by our church and first apologizing to the people for not contacting them sooner and then invite them to church and give them a nice flyer or something to hang on to.
I don’t need to tell you that the signs for the end of time are at hand! If we truly believe Hell is a real place and it is as bad a place as the Bible says it is and if we truly love our neighbors, our family, our friends we had better get out and tell the world about Jesus because we don’t have much time left!!! I keep hearing the same scripture over and over again in my head, Matthew 9:37-38: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Thanks! I just wanted to get that off of my chest!
Be Blessed!!!
Big Scott
Wednesday Cessna & Spirit Aerosystems announced the joint venture to build a new jet here in Wichita & between the two of them they would hire 1700 new employees. In addition the news reported that the spin off would generate about an additional 5000 jobs here in Wichita. When I heard this, the Lord spoke to me and told me that with thousands of new people coming to Wichita if we do our part our harvest will be huge!!!
What is our part? It's taking the Gospel to the streets. Getting out & telling people about the Good News of Jesus Christ! Not just going to Old Town on the weekends but going throughout the city witnessing wherever and whenever we can! Every time you make a purchase hand the person taking your money a “million dollar bill.” Going door to door starting right in the neighborhoods by our church and first apologizing to the people for not contacting them sooner and then invite them to church and give them a nice flyer or something to hang on to.
I don’t need to tell you that the signs for the end of time are at hand! If we truly believe Hell is a real place and it is as bad a place as the Bible says it is and if we truly love our neighbors, our family, our friends we had better get out and tell the world about Jesus because we don’t have much time left!!! I keep hearing the same scripture over and over again in my head, Matthew 9:37-38: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Thanks! I just wanted to get that off of my chest!
Be Blessed!!!
Big Scott
Monday, May 05, 2008
Mother's Day Poem
There is a poem that is so old I’m almost sure it was around in 146 BC. It’s quite silly, but trust me when I say that if you memorize it and then say it to your mom on Mother’s Day, it will melt her heart.
M is for the million things she gave me,
O means only that she’s growing old,
T is for the tears she shed to save me,
H is for her heart of purest gold;
E is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
R means right, and right she’ll always be,
Put them all together, they spell MOTHER,
A word that means the world to me.
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