Tulsa Men of Christ (www.tulsamenofchrist.com)

Thought you might enjoy this.

2011-09-22T09:15:00.000-07:00

Bryan Craig

Sigma Sales, Inc.

www.sigmasales.net

918-749-9301 (Office)

918-830-0918 (Cell)

918-749-1827 (Fax)

From: Influencers [mailto:information@influencers.org]
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 11:10 AM
To: bcraig@influencers.org
Subject: Influencers Weekly Devotional

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Influencers Weekly Devotional

Miracles in your own Backyard

By Bryan Craig

"But He answered, 'You give them something to eat.'"

Mark 6:37

In Mark, Chapter 6, we read an account of where Jesus sent the 12 disciples on a mission trip. He had been teaching them and feeding them for quite some time, but it seems it was time for them to put the teaching into action. He sends them out, 2 by 2, because he knows we all need a "wing man", and he gives them specific instructions. Jesus creates a sense of adventure, as he tells them to take nothing with them on their journey. He implies that everything they need will be provided. It sounds like a great premise for a reality TV show, like the Great Race. It reminds me of times I've gone on a mission trip to a foreign country. Whereas I normally overpack when I travel, when I go on a mission trip, I'm not too worried about what I'm going to wear, and I tend to take the bare minimum. There is also a great anticipation that the Lord is going to show up and do the miraculous. In Mark 6:12, we read that the disciples drove out demons and healed many sick people. When I've been on mission trips, I've seen sick people healed and I'm sure many demons were forced to flee, as we brought the Light of Christ into some dark areas.

Later in verse 30, the apostles get back together with Jesus, and there is a buzz in the air. They are so excited to tell him about their journey, and it seems to be a big celebration. Jesus, the Master, cuts through the excitement and tells them they need some rest. As always, Jesus plans to teach them another important lesson. The disciples go away to a remote place with Jesus, and they want to continue talking about all their spiritual successes on their journey. However, there are many hungry people who find them. These people are hungry, both spiritually and physically. Jesus sees their need, and He has compassion for them. The disciples, who just came back from a ministry trip where they were looking for people to serve, are now oblivious to the needs of the people back home. They actually want Jesus to send the people away. They use the excuse that the people need to go get something to eat.

Jesus, in his stern, yet loving, way, looks straight at them, and says, "You give them something to eat." He lays the burden of the people squarely on the shoulders of his fired-up men, fresh off their miraculous journey. Unfortunately, these men have suddenly lost their spiritual fervor, as they see the situation as impossible. Jesus patiently asks them, "How many loaves do you have...Go and see." They gather 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, and Jesus multiplies it to feed 5000 people. I'm sure the disciples stood there in embarrassed amazement. Jesus never stopped loving, and He never stopped teaching.

In this Journey with our Lord, He will send us on some tremendous missions, where we will be used by Him to do some miraculous things. However, most of the work He will do through us is back home, right where He has placed us. There are needs right around us that Jesus sees, which we may be ignoring or to which we are oblivious. However, as we spend time with Jesus, He will open our eyes to see the needs. We may be looking around for someone else to meet the need, but Jesus is saying, "You meet the need." When we start stammering around, making excuses, He says, "What do you have that can meet this need?" What spiritual gifts, what experiences, what resources, what talents do you possess that may be able to meet this need. Bring them to Jesus, as little as they may seem, and let Him multiply them into a solution which will fully satisfy this need. We should expect the miraculous every day, in every way, not just on mission trips, church services, Bible studies and special events. Be careful or you might miss opportunities that God is giving you, right where you are.

About 7 years ago, we met two special kids who were orphans, James and Jamisha. They were 7 and 8 years old. Their Dad had died when they were toddlers, and their Mom had just died of a brain aneurism. The only family member who could take care of them was a 20 year-old half brother. My wife and I became involved with these kids, and we felt God tugging at our heart to consider bringing them into our home. We had 3 daughters at the time, in a 3 bedroom house. We just couldn't see how we could do this, and so, we didn't. We chose to become mentors to them, picking them up for the weekend occasionally, taking them to church, providing for needs. We watched as they were moved around to different living situations with ex-girlfriends of their two half-brothers, sleeping on couches or floors, never really having a home. Meanwhile, I went on on several mission trips, led many Journey Groups, prayed for many people, and was used by God in many ways. Yet, Jesus says to me, "What about James and Jamisha?"

A month ago, we heard that James and Jamisha didn't have anywhere to go. No one really wanted to take care of them. They are now 15 and 16, with only a few years left of high school. We couldn't believe that no one was stepping up to meet this need. Jesus was saying, "You give them something to eat." But now we have four daughters in our same 3-bedroom house, and we're still trying to recover financially from the recession of the past 2 years, and we don't know what this might do to our family dynamic, and we didn't know if there would be a safety issue. The Lord gently reminded us of all the different experiences He had taken us through which prepared us for this. He called us to trust Him with the details and the provision.

James and Jamisha are now a part of our family, and we see miracles every day. We get to feel the special love He has for orphans and for "sheep who are without a shepherd." We feel His pleasure as we meet the needs right around us, which He is helping us meet. We are living by faith like never before. Our girls are getting to be a part of this ministry, learning to surrender their lives to God's greater purposes. There is work involved. Just as Jesus had the disciples distribute the baskets of food and serve them like waiters, we have had a long list of things to do. There are physical, emotional and spiritual needs, all of which have long been unmet. We are tackling these, with God's help, one basket of bread at a time.

For the disciples, this miraculous lesson took place during one meal. However, the spiritual value lasts a lifetime. We pray, that as we meet this need of two of God's children, He will multiply this blessing over and over again into thousands of lives. Look around your life and ask Jesus to show you someone who is hungry or something which needs to be done. He has a mission for you, right where you are. If you answer the call, you will see the miraculous!

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FW: Influencers Weekly Devotional

2011-08-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

Thought you might enjoy this.

Bryan Craig

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

bryan@tulsamenofchrist.com

918-830-0918

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

From: Influencers [mailto:information@influencers.org]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 5:35 PM
To: bcraig@influencers.org
Subject: Influencers Weekly Devotional

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Influencers Weekly Devotional

Flesh vs. Spirit

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

"God is spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24

"But our citizenship is in Heaven." Philippians 3:20

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." John 3:5-6

Have you been "born of the Spirit?" I know all of you reading this have been born of the flesh. Though you may not be able to produce your birth certificate, if you are walking around in earthly skin and bones, you were born of flesh. You know the fleshly world. You have lived in your skin long enough to watch it develop, and you know very well when your fleshly body feels hurt and when it feels good. As you look around you, you see flesh. You see others carrying the same flesh around, all dealing with some sort of fleshly struggle.

For those who do not know God, all of life is handled from the fleshly perspective. However, for those of you who have answered the Spirit's call to surrender the flesh and the will over to God, your eyes have been opened to a new world. All of the sudden, you realize that this fleshly world is temporary and that your citizenship belongs in Heaven, this spiritual place which becomes a reality. You realize that we are spiritual beings who were made for eternity with our Maker, who is also spiritual.

The Spirit calls out to our spirit, and He begins to teach us new things. He begins to show us that the source of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control is in the spiritual world. He begins to show us that when we deny our flesh, and give ourselves to our spirit, we find power. When we read the Bible, the words are no longer ink on paper, but they are a spiritual food which energizes and strengthens our spirit. When we pray, we are bringing our spirit before the Holy Spirit, uniting the two, so that our spirit becomes like His Spirit.

Then, the real struggle begins. Our flesh reminds us that it is still there. It says, "Hey, buddy, don't forget about me. We have a history together. Remember all the things we've been through together. Don't leave me behind. You and I are still one." And he goes on to remind you of all the things you enjoy and savor and all the things which seem natural to you. The thought of living out of our spirit and not from our flesh seems a little scary, and we feel a little conflicted.

This is why this faith life is a Journey. It is a daily walk, step by step. We must make a choice to surrender our flesh to the Lord. The Bible calls this "dying to self." It is only after we get our flesh out of the way that the Spirit has freedom to move in us. This is why we must start each day seeking the Lord in His Word, allowing His Spirit to prepare us for each day and give us the spiritual perspective we need. We open ourselves to His plans for each day, instead of asking Him to bless our fleshly plans. This is why we Pray, so He can inspire our spirits toward the path He has for us, which most often will involve pouring our lives and our gifts into others. As we live life "in the Spirit", obediently following His flow, we are "abiding" with Him. When we live life like this, we are getting a taste, or a glimpse, of Heaven.

We have to continue living in this flesh, which is deteriorating and fading away, and sometimes our struggle in the flesh can seem like a thorn which won't go away. The Lord seemingly allows these thorns to keep us dependent upon His grace. Though in our flesh we deal with temptation, with emotions, with bad memories and with sickness, we must remember that "greater is the One who is us than the one who is in the world!"1 John 4:4 In Him, we find victory, even in this world, in this flesh.

Through The Journey, men are finding this life in the Spirit. They are finding the joy in living for the Lord instead of living for the flesh. We see men truly finding new life. They are not perfect, but they care more about what the Spirit wants than what they want. They are striving, pressing on in the Spirit, toward the prize awaiting them when they meet our King face to face. It's not about "works"....it's about love, the first fruit of the Spirit. These men love God, and out of their love for God, they walk in love for those around them. As a matter of fact, Love is a great word to describe the Spirit world. For if God is Spirit and God is Love, then the Spirit is Love.

I love the story in Mark 8:22-25, where Jesus healed a blind man. When He first touched the man's eyes, the man said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." So, once more, Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes, and it says he then saw everything clearly. I was touched by Jesus when I was 13 years old, but no one took me on the journey to be a disciple, so my spiritual view was fuzzy. In 1996, at a Promise Keepers conference, Jesus touched me again, and then, I began to see things clearly. As I've learned to abide with Him, the things of the Spirit have become vivid and precious to me.

I pray that Jesus would touch you today and open your eyes to His Spirit and to the spiritual world unto which you were born when you gave your life to Him. I pray you would let His Spirit give new life to your flesh and to your world. I pray you would follow His Spirit all the way to Heaven.

In His Spirit,

Bryan Craig

Tulsa, OK

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Joy

2011-07-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

Thought you might enjoy this.

Bryan Craig

Sigma Sales, Inc.

www.sigmasales.net

918-749-9301 (Office)

918-830-0918 (Cell)

918-749-1827 (Fax)

From: Influencers [mailto:information@influencers.org]
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2011 3:15 PM
To: bcraig@influencers.org
Subject: Influencers Weekly Devotional

Influencers Weekly Devotional

Joy

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy..." Galatians 5:22

"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation." Psalm 51:12

Joy is one of the smallest words in the Bible, but one which has so much power. Joy is a characteristic which should be evident in the life of every believer, yet it seems to elude most of us. However, those who seem to be living the victorious Christian life exude it. It is such a simple thing, but for some reason, difficult to discover.

I think I know why. We have settled for a counterfeit version of joy which the world has sold us. Satan, the "prince of this world", has craftily twisted joy into something it was never intended to be. For example, "happiness" is not joy. Everyone wants to be happy. It feels good to our senses to be happy, so our "happy place" is somewhere we long to visit time and time again. We look for people and situations which will make us happy.

"Pleasure" is not joy. We seek pleasure most every day of our life. We seek it in sex, we seek it in alcohol, we seek it at spas, and we seek it on vacation. Again, when our flesh is aroused and certain endorphins are released, we feel good. So, we naturally desire pleasure.

"Success" is not joy. Everyone in this world esteems success. Whether it is the lifestyles of the rich and famous or achievement at its highest level, we all love to see a "winner." We adore athletes, movie stars, politicians, and all people who seem to have conquered life and who find their way to big stage. We stand in awe of millionaires and wonder what it would be like to live their life. We will work endless hours, manipulate whomever we must, and compromise our morals and ethics all in the search of the "American Dream." We even see this drive for success being passed down to our children as little boys are being pushed in sports to an unhealthy level, all in the hopes of some Father that his son is the next rich professional. We see schools loading kids down with endless amounts of homework, all in this never-ending quest for excellence. We have fallen for a lie.

The problem with the world's counterfeits is that they are all temporal. Whatever satisfaction they may bring to our flesh, and even our spirit, does not last. It quickly fades away, and we're left feeling empty and betrayed. Yet, we usually repeat the cycle, returning to the same vain pursuit. What we are really longing for is Joy.

Joy comes from God. God is eternal, and He has an endless supply joy to give. It never runs out, and it is available to all of His children. It is always there within us by His Spirit, but I'm afraid that when our focus is on the world, joy gets pushed back into the recesses of our spirit. When we finally surrender ourselves to His will and let go of our desires for the things of this world, joy begins to flow back into our lives. It is so much sweeter and more fulfilling than anything Satan is selling. When we discover it, we find freedom. We find contentment. We find peace. We find rest.

Now that I've said what joy is not, let me try to paint a picture of what I think joy IS:

Joy is considering others before considering yourself.

Joy is a loving commitment to your spouse.

Joy is spending time with your children, giving them your full attention, enjoying them.

Joy is reading and meditating on God's Word, finding personal nuggets which penetrate your heart.

Joy is prayer, praising God and interceding for others.

Joy is a grateful appreciation for God's creation, whether it be the endless ocean or the majestic mountains or your own backyard.

Joy is new birth.

Joy is forgiveness and reconciliation.

Joy is giving money to someone who doesn't necessarily deserve it.

Joy is laughter which is not at the expense of another.

Joy is contentment.

Joy is integrity and honor.

Joy is using your spiritual gifts.

Joy is trust.

Joy is hope.

Joy is love.

There are many more example of joy, and those of you who have discovered it could list them. For those of you who don't feel very joyful today, I pray you will examine your life and ask the Lord to show you what's keeping you from it. He wants to give you joy. He loves you, and He has far better things planned for you than you have for yourself. Many blessings to you, my friend, on your Journey to Joy.

Bryan Craig

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Are you Superman?

2011-06-21T06:12:00.000-07:00

Are you Superman…if so, get ready!

Most everybody loves the Superman comic book story, and I particularly love the Superman movie made back in 1978. I was only 12 years old, and I can remember seeing this story on the big screen. It captivated my imagination and my heart. As I have become a man and as I have become a disciple of Christ, I have drawn so many spiritual parallels from this movie.

Clark Kent, a young man, one day discovers his true calling in life. He realizes that he is not from this world, and as such, he has powers and vision that are not from this world. He leaves his life of obscurity in the farmlands of Kansas and moves to the battlefield of the big city. However, before he goes into battle, he spends significant time with his Father from the other world, learning and preparing himself.

My favorite part of the movie is when he unveils himself and lets the world know he is Superman. He first rescues Lois Lane, and then he goes out all night, flying, scanning the horizon for people in need of rescue and for evil men in need of correction. It is a glorious night as he lives out the life for which he was sent to earth.

However, it is only now, that he has set his life in motion, that he draws the attention of Lex Luthor. Lex reads about him in the newspaper, and suddenly, hatred and jealousy fill his heart. He then sets out to destroy Superman. It is only Lex Luthor who studies Superman to find his weaknesses and who will expose them if he can. Lex understands Superman’s world and he knows his past, so he knows how to fight him. Thankfully, we all know that Superman wins the battle in the end.

All of this reminds me of the life of man of God. One day, God opens a man’s eyes to the reality that he was made to do great things and to know that he has great powers at his disposal. He realizes he does not really belong to this world anymore. He is an alien and a stranger here; his citizenship is in Heaven. However, God has plans for him on this earth. The more time he spends with his true Father, the more he will ready himself for the battle. When this man puts his faith and his power into action to help this world in need, he will draw the attention of his enemy. All of the sudden, the Devil begins to scheme at how he can take this man out. He will use the man’s past against him if he can. He will try to use spiritual weapons to fight this spiritual man. He will try to discredit him with the public. He will try to force him into difficult decisions where there are no easy answers. He is a formidable foe.

Every man of God needs to know this. He must be prepared for the battles by spending time with the Father. He must take up God’s Word, which is his Sword of the Spirit, the only offensive weapon in the spiritual man’s arsenal. He must realize that his battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. He must join forces with other men of God who understand the nature of the battle, for together, they will form an even mightier force. He must always remember that greater is the One who is in him than the one that is in the world. If God is for him, who can be against him?

If you are a man of God, you are a Superman! Now, go live the life you were meant to live.

Bryan Craig

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

bryan@tulsamenofchrist.com

918-830-0918

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Report from Joplin

2011-06-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

Report from Joplin

6-4-2011

Approximately 30 men, women and kids caravanned from Believer’s Church in Tulsa over to Joplin Saturday morning. Our hearts and our purpose were united in the love of Christ, not sure what we would find or how we would be needed. As soon as we got into the city limits, we began to see evidence of this beast which stomped through a few weeks earlier. Though the city was operating as normal in some parts, it quickly became evident that the entire population was intensely focused on the aftermath of this tornado. The Central Christian Church in downtown Joplin had offered their entire facility as a headquarters for tornado relief. Their parking lot was filled with pallet after pallet of bottled water, diapers, clothing and food. Inside the church, they were serving meals to volunteers. All over, we saw smiling, determined faces.

We headed to Ground Zero, the heart of the damage. It was about a 3 square mile area, right off of Main Street, and it was barely recognizable. My parents are from Joplin, and I know the city fairly well, but without street signs and many visible markers, you lost your bearings. I’ve never witnessed the damage created by a barrage of air bombings, but it must look something like what my eyes witnessed. Total devastation! As our eyes scanned the horizon, trying to drink up the images, one image stood high above all. A sturdy, steel Cross, which had been part of the construction, stood proudly. You could see it from wherever you were in the damage zone. It truly served as a beacon of hope in this sea of hopelessness. We drove our caravan of volunteers into the heart of the destruction, praying for God to guide us to where we could help. We came upon an older couple, Harold and Alice, who were looking for someone to help them. They had been unable to get into the rubble of their home to find some family heirlooms. They were also very concerned about finding a small, metal box which contained some family treasures. Our team immediately went to work, moving debris, digging through rubble, salvaging photo albums which were of special value to Alice. She was overwhelmed with emotion to receive this help from strangers. One of the walls, which was falling down, had a light switch plate of Mother Mary with her arms around 2 children. I also found a little plastic Bible music box, which played, “The Sound of Music”. Both simple items seemed like signs that the Lord was in the midst of this, with his arms around this family.

We left a grateful Harold and Alice and found more people digging through the remains of their dilapidated homes. David and Kathy had heard the sirens just as the tornado was hitting their home. David pointed to one closet, but his wife took them to another. They dove in, David on his back, embracing his wife, just as the tornado ripped off the upper section of the house. David could see up into the eye of the tornado and saw strange colors of yellow and green swirling in the air. When the tornado left, they saw that the closet David had first chosen was gone. Kathy’s decision saved their lives. One interesting note: the tornado took their shed in the back of the house, but left behind one thing- a Nativity scene. We spent the rest of the day moving debris to the street, doing whatever menial task was needed. Our team dove right into every task, never complaining or shying away.

There was a joyful, loving spirit amongst our team, but not only on our team but everywhere we went. We met men from the International Christian firefighters who were there for the search and rescue and had stayed on to help with clean-up. We met people from as far away as California, all wanting to help. We met McRae, a man who had come by himself, representing his small hometown, who had been there for 10 days, living out of a trailer, working like a dog. We met a drifter, Joseph, who was on his way through this part of the U.S. and stopped to help. This man worked and worked, never saying much. He said he had two conflicting emotions going on- one of such sadness and grief at the sight of the devastation but also one of great joy and love to see all these people coming to help. Nearly every 15 minutes, someone would stop their car and ask us if we needed cold drinks or a sandwich. It was truly amazing. A Christian radio station was passing out free cold watermelon and cold bandanas for any who wanted them.

All in all, it was a wonderful day. It was worth the time, energy and sweat to share the love of Christ with the people of Joplin. Thanks to Victor Cruz, Tim Hart and Believers Church for organizing the trip. Victor will be leading more teams to go back, so if you would like to go, email me at bryan@tulsamenofchrist.com and I’ll hook you up with them. I also understand that The Church at Battle Creek has been sending some teams into the area. My daughters created some decorated jars called, “Jars for Joplin”, and placed them at some retailers in the area to raise money for victims. We’ll be donating some of this money to David and Kathy, as well as to 3 or 4 other families. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation, mail your check to Tulsa Men of Christ, c/o Joplin Tornado Relief, 7420 E. 46^th Place, Tulsa, OK 74145.

“We have suffered terror and pitfalls, ruin and destruction. Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed. My eyes will flow unceasingly without relief, until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.” Lamentations 3:47-50

God Bless You.

Bryan Craig

Bryan Craig

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

bryan@tulsamenofchrist.com

918-830-0918

CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T08:47:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

May you be thankful for God’s bountiful blessings in your life.

I’m thankful that you are a part of my life.

I love you.

Bryan

Bryan Craig

Sigma Sales, Inc.

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-749-9301

bryan@sigmasales.net

Sharing a Great Ministry with you!

2010-10-09T10:31:00.000-07:00

Friends,

Missy and I had the privilege of spending the weekend with some great Christian brothers and sisters from Hollywood and New York, and we were so touched, we wanted to let you know about the ministry. The Ministry is called Mastermedia. This ministry was started 25 years ago, sponsored by Campus Crusade. They recognized the influential role that movies, TV, music and other media play in our culture, and as you know, most if it is not very glorifying to God. So, rather than lead more Christian protests, they decided to start Praying for the Executives at the top of this industry. Then, they decided to start seeking meetings with these individuals to help them understand the Christian “market” for their materials, but more importantly, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Keep in mind, many of these individuals are Jewish. Lastly, they published a Prayer Calendar to engage people like us to join them in the Prayer effort.

Well, Missy and I have been supporting this ministry for over 10 years, and we hear “God stories” of how He is blessing their efforts. This last weekend, we got to meet some of these people who have come to know the Lord because of this ministry effort. They gathered the Christian media professionals for a Spiritual Summit for worship, teaching, connection and encouragement. It was so special to meet these brothers and sisters who, despite their positions of influence, have been humbled and grounded in Christ. However, they are persecuted for their faith, for they are treading in Satan’s territory.

I just felt lead to share this ministry with you because they really need more supporters and more prayer. I’m also praying about the possibility of bringing Dr. Larry Poland, the founder, to Tulsa to share this ministry. You can check them out and start receiving the Prayer Calendar by going to http://www.mastermediaintl.org/

Blessings,

Bryan Craig

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

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Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

My Birthday Wish

2010-09-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

My Birthday Wish

Well, it’s my birthday today. It’s funny how when you get over 40, this day takes on new meaning. I appreciate all my family and friends taking time to call me or email me or text me with birthday wishes. They all want me to have a good day. It seems that this is the one day when I have a valid excuse for being selfish. No one would care if, today, I focus on myself. What do I want to do today? What do I want to eat? What would I like people to buy me? How shall I choose to reward myself for another year lived? After all, today is all about ME, right? At least, this is what I hear the world telling me.

While at first all of this self-focus seems rather appealing, deep inside my heart, I hear a different voice. It reminds me that when I decided to follow Christ, I died. I no longer live, but Christ lives through me. That is why it feels so unnatural to think of myself. When I think of Christ and when I think of others, then I feel alive.

So, perhaps I need to use this time marker of the day I was born as an opportunity to remember my death. I accepted Christ when I was around 13, and then, at 30, I decided to truly follow Him, but I cannot remember the exact dates. But I always remember my birthday. It’s a great day to truly celebrate my new life in Christ.

I pray, today, that I will remember that I am a new creation, not the same person who was born 44 year ago. Today is a great day to spend some time in God’s Word. Today is a great day to Pray. Today is a great day to bless someone. Today is a day of Worship.

When I hear the words, “Happy Birthday” this day and every year from now on, I’ll be thinking about my new birth. You could even tell me, “Happy Deathday,” and I wouldn’t be offended.

This is my Birthday Wish.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth in a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

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Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

Sharing a special moment with you

2010-08-24T08:33:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a special moment with you that I had with my daughter which led to a spiritual revelation:

Sealed in Christ

Last night, I was tired and felt as if I was on brain overload. My mind was filled with the burdens of responsibility in ministry, business and family. I felt like I must be trying to “do” too much. I pressed through, and I managed to take time to be a Dad with each of my children, helping with homework, listening to them read, and doing a devotional with them. Annie’s devotional had a language I didn’t like. It said that if you don’t confess your sins regularly, you may be in danger of not knowing Christ. It reminded me of a pastor who I heard say that when he was a kid, he was concerned that he was always “prayed up” and current with God on his “Forgiveness Account” in case he died suddenly. Annie asked me some questions because this caused her concern. She said she wasn’t sure she was saved because even though she had prayed to ask Christ into her heart two times, she wasn’t sure she really meant it. Not that I totally understand the mystery of our salvation, I found myself telling her that when she asked Jesus to come into her life, she was “sealed” and that she now belonged to the Lord forever. Though, in the past, I’ve somewhat rejected the idea of the “once saved, always saved” theology, as I spoke to my precious 11 year old as her loving “Daddy”, I believed what I told her with all my heart. This morning, as I opened my daily devotional to the next reading, the scripture reference was Ephesians 1:1-14. As I read it, my heart melted as I read these words, “And you were also included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of His glory.” God wanted to affirm me and show me that I was on the right track in what I told Annie. Oh, how He loves us and wants to help us! Some may say, “This is dangerous theology. What if Annie goes into wild living, thinking she has no worries about her salvation?!” First of all, I don’t want her to worry through life with God. Second, she is sealed in “the Holy Spirit”, which means when she does go astray, He will guide her back home. My devotional writer also used Esther 8:7-8, which talks about when a king decrees something and “seals” it with his ring, it cannot be revoked! Wow! Reading this and thinking through this gave me such a peace and joy. Maybe you need to hear these words today, “When you believed in Christ, your King decreed that you were His. He claimed you with His seal by giving you His Holy Spirit. You are His forever! He loves you and will be with you until the day of your redemption. Trust in Him and His plan for your life.”

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

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Another really good one.

2010-08-13T05:43:00.000-07:00

GOD LIVES UNDER THE BED

I envy Kevin. My brother, Kevin, thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.

He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.

He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.

The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.

He does not seem dissatisfied.

He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work.

He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays - oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go! ' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.

His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.

He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.

His life is simple.

He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it.

He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.

He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure.

He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.

Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp.. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.

It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap. I am.. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.

And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

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Have you had your Oswald today?

2010-07-16T05:57:00.000-07:00

“There are times, says Jesus, when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but trust Him. God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural Father, but He is not; He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the notion of the mind of God behind all things strong and growing. Nothing happens in any particular unless God's will is behind it, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but an attitude of mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. "Ask, and it shall be given you." Oswald Chambers

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

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Too good not to share!

2010-07-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may be getting frustrated as you wait on God’s plan for your life to be fulfilled, read below.

Blessings today- God is faithful!

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

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918-830-0918

The MOSO
The Moso is a bamboo plant that grows in China and the Far East. After the Moso is planted, there are no visible signs of growth for up to five years - even under ideal conditions!

Then, as if by magic, the Moso suddenly begins growing at the rate of nearly two and one half feet per day, reaching a full height of ninety feet within six weeks.

It's not magic, it’s God’s creation! The Moso's rapid growth is due to the miles of roots it develops during those first five years of getting ready.

Remember. Even if there is no visible change, your roots are healthfully and happily developing beneath the surface, deep within, getting you ready to move forward! Have faith! - Joel Weldon, The Sower's Seed

Great Devotional

2010-07-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

Just read this, and it was so powerful and convicting, I wanted to pass it along. The late Selwyn Hughes wrote a devotional series called, “Every Day With Jesus” for many years. He is still blessing me with his insights, years after his death. He has been talking about the “burning, cleansing fire of God” which should consume the life of a Christian. Today, he asked a probing question, which all believers should consider:

Honest to God

It might be that, despite the strong emphasis I have been making on the need to have a faith that is set on fire, there are still some who say, “I see the need, but I cannot claim that my life is on fire for God. I still need some more help in order to draw close to this Christ of burning, cleansing flame. How do I go about it?”

Here are my suggestions. First, be absolutely honest with yourself. Begin by facing up to the question of whether or not you have actually experienced Jesus Christ as the Giver of life and the Forgiver of your sins. It may be that you have been drawn to the Christian faith but are not consumed by it, that Christ has never been admitted into your life. Maybe you are religious but have never had a personal encounter with Jesus. If this is the case, I urge you, as soon as you have finished today’s reading, to bow your head wherever you are and invite Christ into your life as Saviour and Lord.

On the other hand, you may be a committed disciple of Christ but with no discipline or drive in your spirit. “The Church is full of people,” observed one teacher, “whose commitment is safe and limited.” Honesty may compel you to confess that your discipleship is a million miles away from the daring and wholehearted discipleship of the first-century Christians who were unreservedly obedient to Jesus Christ and who could say with Paul, “Nor do I count my life dear to myself” (Acts 20:24). Take a moment now honestly to appraise your spiritual life and ask, “Is my life more like a dull habit or an acute fever?”

Selwyn Hughes

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

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918-830-0918

Poem from my 13 year old daughter

2010-06-16T05:46:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a special poem that my 13 year old daughter wrote yesterday.

Blessings,

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

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Who Am I?

Am I just another face in the crowd,

Who can’t seem to be heard even when speaking so loud.

Am I the face that everyone knows,

Yet my internal sadness never shows.

Am I the face that people try to avoid,

And my life has slowly turned into a void.

Am I the face that people enjoy to see,

I am good enough for everyone else but am I ever good enough for me?

Am I the face that people listen to,

Yet my skills lack when listening to you.

Am I the face that is and leader whom people respect,

But sometimes my decisions aren’t always correct.

Am I the face that people turn to in their time of need,

Yet I am never rewarded for doing this good deed.

But none of this matters for I know that I am a child of God,

And He knows my name whether it’s Amy, Brad, Lilly, or Todd.

For it doesn’t matter what people think of you,

As long as you are pleasing the Kingdom of Heaven and the words you speak are true.

“For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14.

TMOC Ministry Opportunity

2010-06-10T07:11:00.001-07:00

Just passing along a ministry opportunity from David Franks, a Journey brother. Contact David directly if you would like to get involved.

Join our Facebook Group by clicking here

*******************************************************
Once again we’ve been given the opportunity to show our Unstoppable Love to a lady who needs us! Janice’s home is in disrepair and she is four weeks away from an Angioplasty. Janice needs a break!

Friday starting at 2pm until Saturday at 6pm, we will be transforming a life by transforming a home.

At 2pm we will unload the house, storing furniture, clothes and misc boxes in a box van; take down drapes, pictures, etc.; pull up carpeting and then Paint the ceilings.

These are our needs.

· General Labor

o Move Furniture

o Remove Carpet and Tack Strip

o Help to move a Fresh water Aquarium

· Electrical Needs

o Replace 2 Ceiling Fans

o Replace 2 light fixtures

o Move Coax for Cable TV

o Add Duplex

· Plumbing Needs

o Reset 2 Toilets

o Replace 4 shut off valves

· Painters

o Airless sprayer to paint the ceilings

· Carpenter Labor

o Help installing Laminate Flooring

o Replace various pieces of exterior wood trim

o Repair Fence

· Lawn/Landscape

o Mow & Trim

o Cut down dead tree limbs

o Clean Flower beds

Many materials have been donated,

· Paint – Thanks to Sherwin Williams

· Laminate Flooring – Thanks to Days Discount

· Wood Trim – Thanks to S&S Custom Wood Moldings

· Furniture – Thanks to Seasonal Concepts

· Discounts from Lowe’s, General Distributors & Sam’s Wholesale

Make a difference, come and help us if even for a couple of hours. Also, we will humbly accept your donations.

Thanks much,

David Franks

General Manager

1021 North Columbia Place

Tulsa, OK 74110

918-832-1641

918-832-1251 Fax

918-810-4327 Cell

www.Fadco.com

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Don't Fight- Surrender by Selwyn Hughes

2010-05-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

Read a wonderful devotional this morning that I thought was worth sharing:

Don’t Fight- Surrender

By Selwyn Hughes

"There are times in the Christian life when we must 'fight the good fight of the faith' (1 Tim 6:12), but there are times when fighting is not appropriate. We are to fight for truth and Christian doctrine, we are to fight for Christian standards in society, we are to fight against evil powers and authorities, but when it comes to dealing with 'the rabble of the passions', the operative word is not 'fight' but 'surrender'.

To fight the passions involves focusing attention on them. And it is a well-known law of the personality that whatever gets your attention gets you. Therefore many people fall under the power of smouldering sexuality at the very moment of fighting it. The strategy is wrong. When you no longer fight your passions but surrender them to God then your attention is drawn from them to Him. You are focusing on Him- not them.

Ah, but does this principle really work in practice? Few people can have had a greater struggle with passions, instincts and appetites than I did. In my youth I was nearly shipwrecked by them. In a desperate state, I flung myself at the feet of Jesus Christ, and He lit a fire on the altar of my heart that has never gone out. Deeper and deeper into my personality it has gone, searching the motives, scouring the desires, purging the secret places of the soul and burning the imagination clean. After all, isn't this the function of fire? If you set fire to the exterior of a combustible object you cannot confine the flames to the outside. When John the Baptist was preparing people for Jesus' ministry he promised this: He will burn up the chaff 'with unquenchable fire'. (Matt. 3:12).

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

Today

2010-04-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today, April 13, 2010, is a day unlike any other! On this day, millions of babies will be born, and people will be rejoicing. Today, millions of people will die, and those around them will feel the pain and loss and grief. Today is someone’s birthday. Today is a special anniversary for so many, or it is a painful anniversary for some. Today will be the day that someone finally gets the news that they’ve been anxiously awaiting. Today is the day when unexpected bad news comes for some. Today, some will be introduced, for the first time, to the love of their life or to someone who will become their best friend. Today, there will be great victories and heartbreaking losses. Today, decisions will be made which will determine someone’s fate. Today is a very big day!

You play a part in the drama, called Today. While some will go through Today with a mundane attitude, numb to life, deaf to the symphony that is playing, you can choose to embrace Today. You can breathe in the air that gives life, drink in Today with a thirst for adventure, and thank God that you got to be a part of Today. You can rejoice will all of those who are celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and victories. You can love those who need comfort, counsel or encouragement. You can open your eyes to every person you meet today, considering them divine appointments. Perhaps a chance meeting that happens Today will have eternal implications. Don’t take Today lightly. This is a big day!

So, open your heart, look around you, listen intently, smell deeply, reach out. This is your day. God created this day just for you, and He wants to spend the whole day with you. Have a great day!

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

Hebrews 3:13

Bryan Craig

Sigma Sales, Inc.

www.sigmasales.net

918-749-9301 (Office)

918-830-0918 (Cell)

918-749-1827 (Fax)

Hope you find Treasure this Christmas!

2009-12-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Luke 2:19

This one little verse, amidst all the great scriptures telling the account of Christ’s birth, has great meaning to me. Mary just had a front-row seat to witness one of the greatest miracles ever recorded in history. A real angel visited her, an impossible pregnancy was conceived, her husband found faith and righteousness to stand by her side, they journeyed a difficult trip on a donkey some 80 miles, this promised child was delivered in a barn amongst the animals, the brightest star she ever saw rested above her like a spotlight and strangers came and worshipped her child. While all of this was happening, I’m sure it was surreal. It must have seemed like a dream. Yet, in the afterglow, Mary searched her heart for the meaning of all of this. She realized the immensity of the treasure in her life.

I love the word “treasure”. We are all treasure hunters. When we find out about something of worth that is up for grabs, we will search high and low to find it. However, we tend to think of treasure only as material riches that have been hidden away for the ages. I think, on a deeper level, the treasure we’re seeking has little to do with wealth. I think what we’re really searching for is significance and purpose and meaning in life.

This Christmas, as you ponder in your heart the treasure in your life, you may feel bankrupt. You may be searching for God, looking for an angel or a star to guide you to Him. It’s been a difficult year for many of us. It’s amazing how one of the most prosperous years can be followed by one of the bleakest years ever. Sickness and death and disappointment may have found their way to your doorstep this year. As we sit back and ponder 2009, for some reason, it’s easy to focus on all of these treasure-stealers.

I think we need to learn from Mary. We need to take some time to treasure up all the beautiful, wonderful, miraculous gifts we’ve seen this year. They are there to be found for all of us, but just like a real-life treasure hunt, they may require you to search, struggle and dig to find them. The treasure is to be found, and it is to be found in God. “If you cry out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3-5

There is a legend that every time you see a Cardinal, you can be assured that a prayer has been answered. This seemed sort of silly at first, but ever since I’ve heard it, I’ve noticed that Cardinals show up in my life at the most opportune times, usually when I need encouragement. You won’t find the Cardinal promise in Scripture, but what you will find is a God who wants to reveal Himself to His children, who wants to do miracles in our lives, who likes to surprise us, who wants to give us treasure. I believe God would even send a Cardinal to give us a sign that He’s there and that He loves us.

From the moment Jesus was conceived into this world, He used ordinary people to participate in His extraordinary work. The Christmas story is more than just Mary’s story. It is your story. God wants to touch you and bring forth great treasure in your life. Keep your eyes open in 2010. You don’t want to miss what God is doing in your life. And when you least expect it, you may see a Cardinal to remind you.

Merry Christmas!!!

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Letter from Jesus about Christmas

2009-12-09T13:21:00.000-08:00

Great letter I wanted to share with you.

Merry Christmas.

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Letter from Jesus about Christmas....

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking

My name out of the season.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily

understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own.

I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just get

along and LOVE one another!

Now, having said that, let Me continue. If it bothers you that the town in which

you live does not allow a scene depicting My birth, YOU can just get rid of a

couple of Santas and snowmen and put a small nativity in your own front yard.

If all My followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the

town square because there would be many of them all around town!

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling this tree a holiday tree

instead of a Christmas tree. I was the one who made all trees. You can remember

Me anytime you see any tree! I created it!

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is My wish list.

Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being

celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are

terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know! They tell Me all the time!

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally.

But, they need to know that someone cares about them!

3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards

his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be

praying for him and his family this year. Then, follow up! It will be nice hearing

from you again!

4. Instead of giving your children lots of gifts you can't afford and which they

don't need, spend TIME with them! Tell them the story of My birth and why I

came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that

I LOVE them!

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive that person!

6. Did you know that somone in your town will attempt to take their own life

this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who

that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile. It could make all

the difference!

7. Instead of nit picking about what stores call the "holiday", be patient with the

people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they

aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas", that doesn't keep you from

wishing them one! And stop shopping there on Sunday. If the stores didn't make

so much money on that day, they'd close and let their employees spend the day

at home with their families!

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary who takes My

love and Good News to those who have never heard My name!

9. There are individuals and families in your town who not only will have no

Christmas tree, but who will have no presents to give or receive. If you don't

know them, buy some food and gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or

some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you!

10. Finally, If you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to

Me, live and act like a Christian! Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do

in My presence! Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine!

Don't forget that I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what

I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest! Check out the list above and

get to work. Time is short! I'll help you, but you must take the first step!

Have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS because I LOVE YOU!!

JESUS

Please pray for my nephew, Sam

2009-12-02T12:58:00.000-08:00

Would you please join me in praying for my nephew, Sam? This is my sister’s 3 year old son who has been experiencing a string of unexplained seizures which have caused him to be hospitalized on several occasions. They have done several tests which have ruled out major concerns, and they have found that medicine somewhat regulates it, but they still have not gotten it figured out. As you can imagine, this has been a source of major concern for my sister, Susan, her husband, Matt, and the rest of our family. To make matters harder, they live outside London, England, where we can’t be there with them going through this. They also recently found that he has an infection in his lymph nodes, which they are treating with antibiotics. She has to take Sam to the hospital 3 times per day until they figures some things out. They really need prayer support.

Thanks so much,

Bryan

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

***PLEASE NOTE****

There has been a change in the way that the Awakened by the Word is being delivered. We have moved to a server-based email delivery system, which means the scripture will be coming from dailyscripture@influencers.org.

If you have not received the Awakened by the Word for the past week, you may need to check your Junk mail or change your settings to allow mail from dailyscripture@influencers.org.

If you have any questions or wish to be removed from this mailing list, please hit Reply and let me know.

Thanks,

Bryan Craig

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

TMOC/Influencers Tulsa

2009-10-20T08:48:00.001-07:00

Tulsa Men of Christ:

You may have noticed a change in the way you receive e-mails from Tulsa Men of Christ. For several years now, you have been receiving daily scriptures, ministry announcements and prayer requests. That will not change. However, one of the most impactful things we do is our men's discipleship process called Journey Groups. This evolved out of a ministry in N.W. Arkansas, called Influencers.

Around 300 men have gone through Journey Groups in Tulsa, and we call these men, "Influencers". These men are making an impact in their families, in their churches and in the community. We pray that God will send us many more men who we can take on this Journey to Intimacy with Christ.

So, as our Tulsa Men of Christ ministry evolves and merges efforts with Influencers, we are taking advantage of the newly updated Influencers website. It has a more efficient e-mail delivery system, access to resources and information, and message boards specific to Tulsa. Hopefully, this will help us stay more connected as together, we battle for the hearts of Tulsa.

Please click here to check out the new website.

Blessings in Christ!
Bryan Craig

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Awakened by the Word

2009-10-15T05:30:00.001-07:00

2 Peter 3:10-13
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."

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Awakened by the Word

2009-10-14T05:20:00.001-07:00

2 Timothy 2:22-26
"Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-13T05:37:00.001-07:00

Ephesians 1:4-6
"For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves."

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-12T05:17:00.001-07:00

John 11:50-52
"You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish. He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one."

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-09T04:45:00.000-07:00

Luke 16:13-15

“‘No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.’ The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.’”

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-08T04:57:00.000-07:00

John 10:26-30

“But you do not believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-07T04:31:00.000-07:00

James 4:4-5

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely?”

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Daniel 7:9-10

“As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of His head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before Him. Thousands upon thousands attended Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-05T04:58:00.000-07:00

Luke 18:9-14

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men- robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other man, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’”

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-02T05:15:00.000-07:00

Psalm 45:3-5

“Gird Your sword upon Your side, O mighty One; clothe Yourself with splendor and majesty. In Your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let Your right hand display awesome deeds. Let Your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; let the nations fall beneath Your feet.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-10-01T05:12:00.000-07:00

John 8:47

“He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-30T05:23:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-29T04:53:00.000-07:00

Matthew 18:13-17

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 48:9-11

“For My own name’s sake I delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I do this. How can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:24-27

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

John 6:27-29

“‘Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval. Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.’”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-23T05:11:00.000-07:00

Nehemiah 6:15-16

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-22T04:52:00.000-07:00

1 John 4:1-3

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 55:6

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.”

TMOC Ministry Announcement: "To Save A Life" Movie Advance Showing in Tulsa - Sept 22nd!!!

2009-09-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Passing along information about the screening of an upcoming movie with a powerful, Christian message.

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

You're Invited!

Tuesday, September 22 - 7:00 PM
Riverwalk Movies
600 RiverWalk Terrace
Tulsa (Jenks), OK 74037

RSVP NOW! CLICK HERE

Outreach Films and New Song Pictures invite you to an invitation-only, advanced showing of the movie TO SAVE A LIFE for select community leaders and their spouses. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to see for yourself, the powerful indie movie about the real-life challenges of teens and their choices. Then plan on taking a group Opening Weekend this January!

(Click here to RSVP, or copy and paste the following link into your browser:http://screenings.tosavealifeleaders.com/events/rsvp/117)

Group leaders are rallying around this motion-picture as one of the largest outreaches for teens... EVER. Average ratings have been ****1/2 out of 5 stars. Read what they are saying:

"To Save A Life flashes moments of genuine brilliance, and the multiple storylines all lead to a satisfying ending. While it has some doses of reality in it people might typically shy away from in a church setting (the film is looking PG-13 in its current form for thematic images), it is shown when story-critical and is tastefully done."
- Josh Griffin, MoreThanDodgeball.com, High School Pastor, Saddleback Church

"This movie is awesome. It conveys the raw emotions of life, and the ups and downs of high school. It shows life isn’t easy and relationships can be messy. My friends who have seen the film are already talking about it and encouraging others to go see it."
-Zach Hunter, Teen Author and Speaker

"Teenagers are going to love the story and cast in To Save A Life. Super realistic portrayal of life on a high school campus – not all fake, like some movies, but the real stuff. This is a movie you’ll want to see with friends."
- Mark Oestreicher, President, Youth Specialties

"An Excellent Film. This film is relevant and thought provoking. It is effective at developing a contrast of ideas with today's culture."
- Josh McDowell, Speaker & Author

"To Save A Life portrays timely issues for today’s teens. Youthworkers, Parents, and Teachers should definitely capitalize on this opportunity to take teens to the theater. Riveting conversations will follow."
- Craig Detweiler, Reel Spirituality Institute, Associate Professor, Fuller Theological Seminary

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

John 3:35-36

“The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 10:36-39

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For in just a very little while, ‘He Who is coming will come and will not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.’ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-16T05:03:00.000-07:00

Ecclesiastes 5:2-5

“Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”

TMOC Prayer

2009-09-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

This is from Brent Lollis, regarding the little boy, Charlie, who has been fighting a brain tumor:

This is regarding my son’s friend Charlie. He’s 8 and has been at St. Jude’s for the last few weeks. He’s had two brain surgeries and has just started radiation. He has a time-sensitive prayer need:

Hello. This is Jeff and I am home this week going back to work and taking care of Brooklyn. Tammy just called me and told me to update this as they are taking Charlie back to LeBonheur hospital as he has been having increased headaches so they did a CT scan today and found there is fluid buildup on the brain. She is going to meet with the doctor in an hour or so about it. Please pray that there is something they can do besides putting a shunt in Charlie. Also, Charlie had his first radiation treatment today and we do not want these treatments delayed. If you see this soon, please pray that the hospital stay will be a short one and we can get back to the St. Jude and the radiation treatments.

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-15T03:55:00.000-07:00

Romans 6:16-18

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-14T04:47:00.000-07:00

1 Timothy 4:7-8

“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-11T04:47:00.000-07:00

James 5:19-20

“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-10T05:06:00.000-07:00

Acts 16:6-10

“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 16:1-4

“To a man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The Lord works out everything for His own ends- even the wicked for a day of disaster.”

TMOC Ministry Announcement: BattleCreek Men's Retreat - EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS TOMORROW

2009-09-08T11:55:00.000-07:00

Tulsa Men of Christ:

Wanted to make sure you knew about a great men’s retreat coming up this weekend. It’s NOT too late to sign up. Dave Jewitt is the guest speaker. Dave has a ministry called Your One Degree, which helps men find their passion, purpose and place in the world. No one man has impacted Tulsa men in the last 10 years than Dave Jewitt. Below is the information on the retreat.

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

THIS WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 11th & 12th at Camp Tulakogee on Fort Gibson Lake

Early Bird Registration Cost is $48 dollars for Saturday only and $68 dollars for Friday and Saturday. Last minute registration on Thursday (10^th) through Saturday (12^th) online and at the door is $58 for Friday and then $78 for Friday & Saturday.

Groups are leaving from the church on Friday 10:00am to play golf at Pryor Creek before the retreat.

Groups leaving for the retreat only are planning on leaving from the church at 5:30pm.

Check in for Friday night is 6:30-7:15 with the first service starting at 7:15pm

Breakfast and Check in for Saturday morning is 8:00-8:45 with the first service starting at 9:00am.

Whether you haven’t been around in a while, are new to the church, or are technically an old fogy we would love to have you at the BattleCreek Men’s Retreat. Dave Jewitt will be our featured guest speaker from www.youronedegree.com with worship led by Jeff Osborn.

With plenty of Beef, the Lake, the manly competitions, and just a great time with the guys why would you want to miss it. We will be on lake Fort Gibson at camp Tulakogee. Everyone will be staying in 4 person style hotel rooms that overlook the lake. Feel free in registration to pick your roommates too! Both registration options include 3 meals on Saturday including a “Beast Feast” night on Saturday.

As a part of the weekend we will go through part of Dave’s One Degree process. Here is also a link to some testimonies of individuals that have gone through this with Dave. Please give it a few minutes for the video to load. http://www.retrospecfilms.com/yourone.mov

Please let me know if you have any questions or challenges registering online.

Chris Campbell, Advance Pastor

international missions and adult ministries

918-355-3699

“Glorifying God by Helping All People, of All Ages, All the time, ADVANCE in their journey with Christ”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-08T04:41:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 3:16-19

“I pray that out of His glorious riches, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

TMOC Prayer

2009-09-07T18:37:00.000-07:00

A 3^rd grade boy, Zack Wertz, died in a car accident tonight. Apparently, him mom was driving and had a blow-out, which caused her to lose control of the car, and it flipped. Please pray for Christina and Shaun and their family as they grieve the loss of their son. Pray for God’s presence to envelope them and bring peace that transcends understanding.

Thank you.

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

TMOC Prayer

2009-09-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

You may have seen the news about a plane crash this morning. Dr. Steven Lester and his wife and two children, along with one other passenger, died when their plane crashed into Chandler Park. I believe they have two other children who were not on the plane. Please keep this family in your prayers.

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-04T04:40:00.000-07:00

Malachi 3:7-10

“‘Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from My decrees and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty. But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ ‘Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me.’ But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ ‘In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse- the whole nation of you- because you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.’”

TMOC Prayer- Update on Kellan Rogers

2009-09-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Here is an update on Kellan, the little boy who had surgery yesterday. This family really needs prayer and support! If you have any ideas on how to help this family, please e-mail me back.

Good Morning,

Kellan did very well yesterday. He was resting comfortably when I left at 3:00. He only lost 1 oz. of blood. They removed about a 1 inch wide x 4 inch length of the bottom (at the base of the skull) in the back of his head where the spine connects to the skull. They also removed the "ring" of the first vertebrae. The doctor hopes this will be all that is necessary. They also replaced the shunt with a programmable one to adjust the pressure and the fluid to expand the skull to make room and relieve the pressure of the "tonsils" against the spine.

He says if this does not work, they'll know in about a month or so, that they will go back in and break the plates in the back of the skull to make more room.

Also, please pray for James, Dejah's ex-husband. He came to the hospital drunk. He was arrested a couple of days ago for a D.U.I. in the company truck and lost his job. Now he cannot support his children and Dejah cannot pay her rent. The district attorney may try to help her get emergency section 8, which means she will have move during this time, and she has nowhere to go. I am praying that they will accept the house she already lives in and that her landlord also agrees to this.

We have small house, 1000 sq. ft. 2 bdrm, 1 bath. and we did this once before, which makes every room a bedroom and the living room a hospital. I am able to do it but my husband has little patience for small children, even though he tries hard.

God is more than able to provide, Joshua 3:5 has been on my mind for several days now. I want to thank you for so much for your help and prayers, you are a dear friend...

Love in Christ,

Ginger and family

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-03T04:52:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 5:18

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

Proverbs 11:30

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”

TMOC Prayer

2009-09-01T04:51:00.000-07:00

You have seen the prayer requests for Kellan Rogers before. Well, tomorrow he is having a very important surgery. Please lift up this little boy.

Monday, August 31, 2009 6:08 PM, CDT

PLEASE PRAY , AND PASS THE WORD AROUND TO PRAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KELLANS SURGERY IS THIS WEDNESDAY . I WILL CALL THE SURGEONS OFFICE TOMORROW FOR OUR ARRIVAL TIME . I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT TIME RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE PRE-OP TOMORROW AT 1:15 PM . PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT ,TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN, TO PRAY.
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY , MY WORDS ARE FAILING ME , AS WELL AS MY KNEES .........

DEJAH ROGERS

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

From: DEJAH ROGERS [mailto:angelkellan06@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 6:23 PM
To: undisclosed recipients:
Subject: SURGERY ON WEDNESDAY

dejah rogers
www.caringbridge.org
site name : kellanrogers

start: 0000-00-00 end: 0000-00-00

Awakened by the Word

2009-09-01T04:26:00.000-07:00

Psalm 43:1-4

“Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell. Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-31T04:31:00.000-07:00

Matthew 7:12

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

TMOC Ministry Announcement: Sean Feucht @ Believer's Church - THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!!!

2009-08-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

Passing along information about a great worship opportunity.

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

I want to send you a personal invitation to join Sean Feucht - founder of Burn 24/7 for a night of worship on:

Saturday, August 29th at 7PM.

We'll be meeting at:

Believer's Church -- 7PM

4705 S. Memorial Drive

Tulsa, OK 74135

This is a night of worship and a SNEAK PEEK of new music that is soon to be released! These new sounds and songs were crafted in the heart of prayer rooms in the nations.

BE SURE TO BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY SATURDAY NIGHT AS WE GO TO THE LORD WITH PRAISE AND BLESSING FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US!!!

Don't miss this chance to come together as the Church and thank the Lord for opening up the heavens over Tulsa!

Sean will also be leading worship for both services at Believer's church on Sunday at 9:00/11:00am if you would like to join us then as well. If you have any questions, feel free to email Josh Baker (joshuab@theburn247.com) or myself. If you need directions, visit www.bctulsa.com.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE! LET'S COME TOGETHER TO SEE SALVATION REIGN FROM THE HEAVENS OVER TULSA!!! WE MUST BELIEVE THE TIME IS NOW OR NEVER!

Thanks and have an awesome day!

Just Jesus. Nothing Else.
Anything else would be a mistake.
--
Brandon Snell
brandon.snell@gmail.com
918.850.6397

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 15:7-8

“If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-26T04:36:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 45:3

“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Excerpt from The Autobiography of George Muller

2009-08-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

This was a powerful quote out of the autobiography of George Muller, written in 1835. Amazing how applicable it is to today:

“One of the things the children of God need most is to have their faith strengthened. I visited a brother who worked fourteen to sixteen hours a day at his trade. His body ached, his soul was lean, and he had no joy in God. I pointed out to him that he should work less in order that his health might not suffer. He could gather strength for his inner man by reading the Word of God, by meditation on it, and by prayer.

He replied, ‘But if I work less, I do not earn enough for the support of my family. Even now, while I work so much, I have scarcely enough.’ He had no trust in God and no real belief in the truth of that word, ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)’

I explained to him, ‘My dear brother, it is not your work which supports your family, but the Lord. He has fed you and your family when you could not work at all because of illness. He would surely provide for you and yours, if, for the sake of obtaining food for your inner man, you worked fewer hours a day to give you proper time for rest. You begin to work after only a few hurried moments for prayer. You leave your work in the evening and intend to read a little of the Word of God, but by then you are too worn out in body and mind to enjoy it. You often fall asleep while reading the Scriptures or while on your knees in prayer.’

The brother admitted this was true. He agreed that my advice was good, but I read in his countenance, even if he did not actually say so, ‘How could I make ends meet if I were to carry out your advice?’ I longed to have something to give the brother as a visible proof that our God and Father is the same faithful God that He ever was. He is willing as ever to prove Himself the living God to all who put their trust in Him.

Sometimes children of God are fearful of growing old and being unable to work any longer. If I point out to them how their heavenly Father has always helped those who put their trust in Him, they might not say that times have changed. But it is evident that they do not see God as the living God. I longed to set something before the children of God that they might see that He does not forsake, even in hard times, those who rely on Him.

Christian businessmen suffer in their spiritual lives and bring guilt on their consciences by carrying on their business in the same way that unconverted people do. The competition in trade, bad times, and overpopulation are given as reasons why a business carried on according to the Word of God could not be expected to prosper. Few people have the holy determination to trust in the living God and depend on Him in order that a good conscience might be maintained. I want to show these people that God is faithful and can be trusted without reservation.

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

TMOC Ministry Announcement: Young Life Golf Tournament

2009-08-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

Passing along information about a Golf Tournament for Young Life, which is a great ministry to the youth in our city. Please support their effort as they join the Lord in saving our kids:

I am writing you to ask you to consider playing in the Young Life Golf Tournament on Monday September 21st at 1:00 p.m. If you are willing to play, and could put together a foursome of your golfing buddies, that would be even better.

Think of the Young Life Golf Tournament as "The Masters" of Oklahoma Charity Golf Events. The Tournament is played at the same exquisite course (Golf Club of Oklahoma) every year at the same time (early Fall). The cost of the Tournament is $300. The money goes to an excellent cause, Young Life, and you will be hard pressed to find a Tournament that will treat you as well as this Tournament. For those that play annually in the Tournament, it is a highlight of the year.

Please let me know if I can provide you any additional information regarding the Tournament. I will attach a flier for you as well. Thank you for your consideration.

Yours,
JAY
Tournament Committee Chairman

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

1 Thessalonians 5:19

“Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-24T04:52:00.000-07:00

Matthew 6:31-34

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

My daughter turns 13 today

2009-08-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

My sweet daughter, Natalie, turns 13 today. Just sharing a poem I wrote for her:

I must write some words for my Natalie Jane, you’re turning 13, and my heart is in pain.

Where is that little girl so sweet and so shy? I can’t believe the speed in which time has flown by.

You captured my heart at your very first breath. And when boys start calling, it will put me to death.

Just yesterday you walked on your knees. Soon you’ll be saying, “Dad, can I have the keys?”

Once you would give me an abundance of hugs. Now, when I try, you act like I bug.

Once you would serve me a pretend cup of tea. Now, you’re a cook, just as real as can be.

I remember your bedtime, you wanted us near. Now, it’s your I-Touch that you hold so dear.

We once played “The Monster”, with Annie as lead. Now, all your friends are all the playmates you need.

And the place you read books was once in my lap. Now, it’s your novels, which keep you so wrapped.

Yes, it’s true that you’re changing, but it’s all for the best. I may act like I’m sad, but it’s purely in jest.

You’re blossoming into a beautiful flower. I couldn’t be more proud, as we come to this hour.

Yes, your life has brought blessing and joy all these years. And now as a teenager, we have nothing to fear.

You’re a wonderful girl, on whom God has His hand. I can’t wait to see His masterful plan.

You will touch many lives, just like you’ve touched mine. With His love and your gifts, I know you’ll be fine.

Though I can’t pick you up and give you a twirl. You always will be my little girl.

Happy 13^th Birthday, Natalie

I love you!

Daddy

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-21T04:36:00.000-07:00

Psalm 23:1-6

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

TMOC Prayer

2009-08-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

This request is from Steve Laswell:

It is Wednesday Night as I write, reaching out to those in the faith.

You are receiving this update as part of my world – actually we could be connecting now through a brother or sister in the Lord who passed this along – still you are part of our support system in Christ.

I’d like to bring you up to speed regarding the journey our family has been on for the past 3+ years with our daughter Monica…we have battled a broken system to re-unite our daughter with her husband, Severiano who has been caught in an “immigration nightmare”.

Basically, their separation was the consequence of misguided counsel by several players in the legal system…especially, a fraud “immigration expert”…it was her advice that caused Severiano to go to Mexico – wrong. But also attorneys were hired for their expertise; yet were not accurate in their counsel.

Until, by God’s grace Monica connected with Catholic Charities and attorneys that work with their organization.

Their confidence and counsel brought clear direction and a new hope to the story.

Bottomline:

1. Severiano is scheduled for an interview Wednesday morning, August 26^th

2. Monica, the boys and cousin Cara are flying to El Paso; they will be driven across the border to Juarez to meet up with husband and daddy

3. A miracle of favor is our request so this family can have their dream back: to be reunited and continue life as a family

If you have time, further details are explained in the letter I’ve copied below which Monica wrote to her church family.

Thanks for being a part of my (our) support system!

Steve

###########################################################################################################

The following is a brief update Monica wrote:

We have received our letter for Severiano's visa interview, it is on August 26th @ 8:15 a.m..

This will be the time to pray specifically for our immigration officer; that he or she would just want him to be able to come home, no further steps.

We have been told not to expect this, that we will be denied again. But I know that it is a miracle we have survived this long and it would be a God thing, to do more than we think is possible!

If we are denied at the interview, we will call a number and receive a second appointment for our extreme hardship waiver to be reviewed. This could be a week later, or 2 months later, it just depends on how many they have at the time.

An officer will then review our packet for 15 minutes and decide if it is an EXTREME hardship on me.

If they decide it is - which they have to be very extreme [clearly none of them have gone through this or this wouldn't even be an issue] - then Severiano will be granted a visa and come home.

OR if they cannot come to a decision in 15 minutes, they will defer us but cannot at that point deny it. We would then be put in stack of deferred packets and processed as time allowed, which could be another 6-12 months.

We are still hoping and believing that it will be the FIRST INTERVIEW sometime on Wednesday morning, August 26^th. If not at that time, then the second hardship review will be it; hoping it happens before Christmas.

The boys and I will plan to meet Severiano at the border. We will fly to El Paso and be driven across the border by a friend of a friend. We will be able to get a little family time in while waiting...

The last time I was able to travel to see Severiano was in April of 2008 with our oldest son Kalen (now 4 years old).

We have been able to communicate over the phone these last 15 months. I have sent him pictures of the boys, clothes, shoes, toiletry items and paperwork needed for passports, immigration and our lawyer through a bus system.

The cost for Severiano to travel to Juarez from his home, south of Mexico City the hotel and food, immigration and medical fees for the 8-9 days of his interview regiment is about $2000 USD. The additional cost for myself and my boys to be with Severiano is an additional $600 for our travel. My parents are making it possible for us to fly instead of drive from OKC to El Paso. We have received some assistance from our church already to help with attorney fees; Severiano’s bus ticket to and from Juarez. If you are feel lead with any amount of assistance for this journey it would be greatly appreciated and not go unnoticed. [If you wish to make a donation mark it “Barrons”, please mail to: OKC Nazarene Church, 4400 NW Expressway, OKC, OK 73116]

Thanks for all your prayers and support for our family, you don't know how much it means!

Here are some specific ways you may pray for us:

· The boys, Kalen (4) and Simon (6 months) will travel well and be in good health

· Ease with the border crossings

· Finances (this has been an expensive process, especially since we are on the second time around due to misguided counsel some many times and the related attorney and paperwork fees)

· Safety both getting there and while in Juarez; it is not the safest border town

· FAVOR – our USA immigration officer will want us to be back together and will approve Severiano’s visa, August 26^th

· Our time together, re-connecting as a family, will be all that we need

When I told Kalen that we would get to see daddy he was so excited he was running through the house "daddy!, daddy!, daddy!"

Once again, thanks for all you do, you are all loved and appreciated!

The Barrons - Severiano, Monica, Kalen, and Simon

"Influencing the world for Christ, one man at a time."

Tulsa Men of Christ/Influencers

7420 E. 46th Place

Tulsa, OK 74145

918-830-0918

www.tulsamenofchrist.com

www.influencers.org

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-20T04:40:00.000-07:00

Romans 12:9-12

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-19T04:51:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 11:32-40

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

Awakened by the Word

2009-08-18T04:48:00.000-07:00

Matthew 22:41-46

“He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ‘Why are you sleeping?’ He asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’”

Tulsa Men of Christ (www.tulsamenofchrist.com)

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Tuesday, September 22 - 7:00 PM
Riverwalk Movies
600 RiverWalk Terrace
Tulsa (Jenks), OK 74037