May, 2009
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Notes from Rev. 5
Posted on May 29th, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
John became instantly fearful the instant he arose to the thrown room of God. Just like Isaiah, he must have had this “Uh oh” moment when you realize you probably could have done a lot of things differently. In an instant, all life-priorities became clear.
But John was waiting for the redemption of man. The voice told him that he was going to see what was going to happen to the end of the church age. He saw undescribable sights. He barely has the descriptive ability to write what he saw and what he wrote will never do justice to the actual presence.
After a moment in awe and wonder, a legal document was confronted to John. It was a will of execution. It had to be opened for the redemption of man to be complete. This was it. Finally the full redemption of man! John had been waiting for this moment but never imagined that it would unfold right before his eyes. Finally, the faith of the saints would be made complete! Finally, the believers will be with their creator! Finally, the bride will be with her groom! “O death where is thy sting? O grave where is your victory?”…
“Who will open this will?” asks a strong, stout angel. “Who will begin the ending of human history?” What about Abraham? Jacob? Moses? Noah? Isaiah?
No one could open that will…
“What!?!” says John. “Someone has to open that scroll!” John knew that if this will was not executed that mankind will not be redeemed. Was that it? John was to see the ending of the human history to find out that human history is nothing more than some enigma? This can’t be! “Please someone must start that execution!”
At that moment, a baby lamb, still bleeding at its neck, walks forward. God hands this lamb, our Savior, the will. He will redeem us!
At first John began to hear the 24 elders singing, “You are worthy to take the scroll.” Then John hears “The Lamb is worthy-The Lamb who was killed.”
“Where were these voices coming from?” asks John. He began to look around and thousands of millions of angels began to sing out, “The Lamb is worthy-The Lamb who was Killed!”
This was followed by the entire creation joining in. Every woman, child, man, animal, bird of the air, lion of the field, fish of the sea cried out “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the One sititing on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever!”
County Trying To Stop Home Bible Studies
Posted on May 28th, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
SAN DIEGO — A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold bible studies in their home, 10News reported.
Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife.
Broyles said, “The county asked, ‘Do you have a regular meeting in your home?’ She said, ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you say amen?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you pray?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you say praise the Lord?’ ‘Yes.’”
Read the rest of the store here.
May 28, 2009
Posted on May 28th, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: My Life.
Brett’s 3rd Brithday.
Nice day. Got to play in the sprinklers with Brett on my day off. Last night I blew up his new bouncy ball that he can sit and hop all over the house, kick over the furnature, break everything in his path, and be heard all across the neighborhood with his thuds.
He actually is asleep with his ball.
He got to eat supper anywhere he wanted to. He chose McDonalds. Any surprise there? Afterwards we got ice cream and Cold Stone. Very nice. Because there were no seats on the inside, we sat outside where there was a very cool mist blowing from the eastern winds. Savor that moment because it’s Texas and that will stop very soon.
Sitting there I came down with mountain fever. I’m ready for the Colorado Rockies. Won’t happen this year.
Notes from Rev. 3b
Posted on May 26th, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: Blogs.
Brief History of Laodicea:
The city of Laodicea was very very wealthy. In 17ad they had an earthquake that leveled the city. They refused financial assistance from other cities to help rebuild it because of their great wealth. They made their wealth from two different avenues. The first is from expensive eye ointment. Apparently, they made homeopathic ointment to treat different problems with eyes. The second form of wealth building came from glossy black wool. This was a very fine and expensive fabric.
Laodicea was rich with material wealth but God asks them to buy gold from Him. Because where their treasure was, there was their heart.
Laodicea was made wealthy due to glossy black wool. They had clothing but God called them necked because they were not pure on the inside.
Laodicea was wealthy because of their eye ointments yet God called them blind.
[Enter your church name here] is wealthy because of our knowledge and education. But are we ignorant because we have little wisdom or knowledge of God (Prov. 1:7)?
[Enter your church name here] is wealthy because of our hard work in the work place. But are we lazy because we contribute little to God’s agenda?
[Enter your church name here] is entertained with all the social networking we do (facebook, myspace, twitter, texting, emailing, blogging)? But are we accomplishing nothing because we have done little social networking with God (ie. prayer)?
It is easier to lost faith during times of success than during times of persecution. It is easier to reach a prostitute or murderer, than to reach a moral, religious person.
May 26, 2009
Posted on May 26th, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: My Life.
I felt like a dead man all day. Its like I enjoy what I do, you know, worship leading and all. But I feel just so dead. Not in a tired sort of way but more in a depressed sort of way. The first reaction is to move on. Just move away from the stress and the problems. But that’s not right. I surrendered to God so He is the one who is in control over that. But I do feel alive the more I talk about church planting. Do I really want to lead worship right now? No, and yes, but mainly no. I guess the best way to describe it is, I really just want to be used. I don’t feel like anything that I am doing is actually making a difference in peoples lives and nothing matters for the kingdom.
Although, Isaiah when through the same issues, I take very little comfort. Its as though I stand at a cross road. I will either suck it up and keep going straight, take another road to get to a different church (but will it take me in the same direction as right now? Will I be feel useful in a few years there?), I could take off in a totally different direction (full time church planting, full time media assisting a church plant, full time pastoring, back to school, finish my pysch degree). I don’t know.
This week, I have made it a priority to get back on track with scripture memorization. Hopefully I can get it back up and running.
May 25, 2009
Posted on May 25th, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: My Life.
It was a great relaxing day. Sure I still had a stuff to do. Today was the first day we actually saw our kitchen counters. They have been packed with birthday stuff all weekend long. But today I got to hang out with the family. It was nice.
There are plenty of pictures of Brett and Brennon running around in a sprinkler which Brett received for his birthday. You might even find Rachel running through there.
Later, Daniel came over. I barbequed chicken and ribs out on the grill, which I think I am getting a lot better at. Fresh charcoal makes the world of a difference.
Brett is finially going “potty” without having to tell people. Its nice to see him just going to the restroom and washing his hands afterwards and not having to help and follow. He is a great and sweet kid.
Brennon is got use to his crib a lot faster than expected. We put him in the crib to start a “cry it out” method. It took about 10 minutes of screaming then off to lala land he went. Can’t wait until he is sleeping most of the night. Course Rachel will be even more excited about that day.
But it is also bittersweet because we see this little baby growing up. I don’t mind them not growing after their potty trained at least. But that’s not happening. Maybe I should start them on cigerettes. That should stunt their growth.
This night, Rachel and I got to enjoy a movie all by ourselves (and some smaller voice that we locked in a closet saying “Water Mama”. Mall Cop was a very clean and good movie. Kudos to Adam Sandler who might be catching on to making more family films.
May 24, 2009
Posted on May 24th, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: My Life.
This Sunday was one of those Sundays were I ran late on just about everything. I woke up around 8 and left for church around 8:50, where I should have been there around 8:15. Same thing happened for Sunday Night. But everything turned out just fine.
This was also the first Sunday in the last 11 weeks that I had an oppertunity to take a nap. For the last few weeks we have been teaching Crown Financial Bible Study at Highland Hills. Finially the course is overwith and I can go back to my naps. Yeah.
Leading worship was much easier this Sunday. I have really felt at peace with this idea of church planting. With this thought in mind, I realize that my current position is only to train me to be better on the field. Leading worship right now doesn’t seem to be so pointless.
This afternoon I had hooked up Brett’s “computer” which he got for his birthday. It wasn’t long before “trying to show” turned to “taking over”. And once again, I am playing video games made for 3 year olds.
While I was playing, I heard Brett in the kitchen snacking on something. I soon discovered that he didn’t get into his birthday cake but was eating the candle on top. There were two chucks missing from the candle. Course this starts a panic attack from Rachel. She’s wanting to call poison control. So the picture is of Brett’s small personal birthday cake, which is untouched, and next to it is the candle. Great stuff.
May 23
Posted on May 23rd, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: My Life.
Today was Brett’s Birthday.
Our families use this time to just get together. We probably wouldn’t get together on Memorial Weekend if it wasn’t for the party. But it’s nice getting all my family and all Rachel’s family together. One of Rachel’s sisters and my brother were the only ones who couldn’t make it this year. This time we had to fight the entire time over the chance of rain, which barely happened.
I started the day off on the bbq. We had an oppertunity for me not to grill outside but I always enjoy it because the house becomes way too crowded and I get to hide outside. This time, I spent a bit on the side of the house trying to hook up a new satelite receiver which ended up not working anyway.
Brett got a ton of new toys to increase the square acherage of his collection. I hope we can find more than an equal amount that we can give away. Great day other than my Denver Nuggets loosing.
Great job on the cake today Rachel!
May 21, 2009
Posted on May 21st, 2009 by Brian Sparks.
Categories: My Life.
Another great day off.
Today I spent most of my time working on the toy castle website. It is coming along. I finially have my game plan to start adding in specials. After this section is added in, next we will start on the “my account” section. Then the next project is to come up with the footer that is controlled dynmically. Then we are off to the races. That will pretty much finish up the project. I hope to have it done by the end of the month which means I really have to get cooking.
The pictures of today is Brett just wanting to be lovable. We are actually fighting in the chair over him being a momma’s boy or a daddy’s boy. He says he’s a momma’s boy but I’ll change that.
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