‘Two Icons’ by Greg Laurie

Two Icons

Greg’s Blog http://blog.greglaurie.com

 June 29th, 2009 Posted in Pastor’s corner, encouragement

 As we all know, two American icons passed into eternity just last Thursday: Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

Farrah Fawcett was once regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful women. Her hairstyle was copied by countless girls in her day, and her posters hung on many a young man’s wall.

Tragically, she contracted cancer and eventually succumbed to it. Prior to her death, when she was still trying to beat it, a TV special chronicled her fight and her hope to overcome this dreaded disease.

Unfortunately, it was not to be and Farrah Fawcett entered eternity.

Although many knew Farrah was fighting cancer and might die soon, the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson was a shock to many. Now, as more comes out about his life, it would appear that he had been on a downward spiral for  months, even years.

Jackson had unprecedented success, winning 13 Grammy’s and selling a staggering 750 million records. But now he too has entered eternity.

I don’t know where Farrah and Michael were at spiritually. I only hope they put their faith in Christ.

 

A man enters eternity

On the same day that this news was breaking, I was called to visit a man on his deathbed. He knew he had cancer and that he only had days to live.

We talked about eternity and though he claimed to have faith, we went over God’s glorious plan of salvation and prayed as he committed his life to Jesus Christ.

I told him that I would visit him again on Saturday, but he did not make it. He ended up passing into eternity, into the arms of the Lord, only hours later.

I am so glad I went to visit him. Thursday was an extremely busy day and I had considered waiting to go until Saturday, but I felt prompted by the Lord to go that day.

 

We need to help people get ready for eternity

That is why we all need to share the gospel. Because we never know when life on this earth will end.

If you know someone who is not yet a believer, go tell them today how to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, the living Lord. Because everyone dies.

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock, is dead.

James Brown, the King of Soul, is dead.

Kurt Cobain, the King of Grunge, is dead.

And now Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, is dead.

But Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, is alive forevermore. Let’s tell people that, so they too can live forever.

Jesus said, “I am he who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18 NKJV).

Post a Comment 49

Helen Merrihew:
July 1st, 2009 at 8:58 am

Pastor Greg;
Thank you for this reminder that we once were without hope in this world, too and someone prayed for us, someone took time out of their busy day to come speak to us about Jesus Christ and eternity and sin and death –
Someone took the risk being rejected, being misjudged, being mistreated in reaching out to us in our ignorance and sin – all because they cared –

 

Someone went out of their way to obey Jesus and the result was that you and i are saved from our sin and have the hope of Heaven with our Savior and an abiding relationship with Him today.

 

We are saved for our King Jesus – We are His and His will is ours –

Thanks for reminding us that this world is not our home and there’s work to do while we’re here.

 

May we keep-on keeping-on serving our Jesus,
Helen

Who You are in Christ!

Dr. John Barnett Teaching about regeneration. (Being Born Again) – LifeIsHere.org

John 1:12- 13

But to all who believe Jesus and accept Him, God gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn!  This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan – this rebirth comes from God.  

Romans 8:2, 9

For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. . .  But you are not controlled by your sinful nature.  You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.  (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.)

Psalm 23 – The LORD is my Shepherd

This video was shot in the Valley of Elah.

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.

Psalm 23

Dr. John Barnett
http://www.discoverthebook.org
Discover The Book Ministries

 

Remembering My Mother And My Brother

Psalm 30:12
“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

 

My Tribute – To God Be The Glory

How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me?
Things so undeserved, yet You gave to prove your love for me.
The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude.
All that I am and ever hope to be I owe it all to thee.

To God be the glory, to God be the glory,
To God be the glory, for the things He has done.
With His blood He has saved me
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory, for the things He has done.

Just let me live my life and let it be pleasing Lord to thee
And should I gain any praise let it go to Calvary.
With His blood He has saved me,
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory for the things He has done.

To God be the glory, to God be the glory,
To God be the glory, for the things He has done.
With His blood He has saved me
With His power He has raised me
To God be the glory, for the things He has done.

 

I’VE JUST SEEN JESUS

We knew He was dead
It is finished, He said
We had watched as His life ebbed away
Then we all stood around
Till the guards took Him down
Joseph begged for His body that day
It was late afternoon
When we got to the tomb
Wrapped his body and sealed up the grave
So I know how you feel
His death was so real
But please listen and hear what I say
I’ve just seen Jesus
I tell you He’s alive
I’ve just seen Jesus
Our precious Lord alive
And I knew, He really saw me too
As if till now, I’d never lived
All that I’d done before
Won’t matter anymore
I’ve just seen Jesus

And I’ll never be the same again
It was His voice she first heard
Those kind gentle words
Asking what was her reason for tears
And I sobbed in despair
My Lord is not there
He said, Child! It is I, I am here!
I’ve just seen Jesus
I tell you He’s alive
I’ve just seen Jesus
Our precious Lord alive
And I knew, He really saw me too
As if till now, I’d never lived
All that I’d done before
Won’t matter anymore
I’ve just seen Jesus
I’ve just seen Jesus
I’ve just seen Jesus
All that I’d done before
Won’t matter anymore
I’ve just seen Jesus
And I’ll never be the same again
I’ve just seen Jesus!

 

(Ida Eilene) Elaine Merrihew: June 29, 1914 to February 24,  2002

 

 

(Alden Leal) Denny Merrihew: October 17, 1949 to May 02, 2007

 

My Heavenly Father;                                                                          

Thank You for the lives of my mother and my brother.  Thank You for what they’ve added to my life.  Thank You for using the witness of my life to  point them both to You. Thank You for allowing me to be able to help them when they needed help, as well as to be there for them when they passed from this life to eternity with You. 

Thank You, Heavenly Father for Your help and strength through those times that were very difficult, when there was no where else to turn, but to You. You have been faithful! Thank You, Heavenly Father, that my mother and brother are in Your presence now, together in Heaven with Jesus. 

There is no greater joy than knowing Jesus and the life He gives; thank You that they both know this now, being face to face with Him and worshipping with all the saints around Your throne. 

This is a day of memorial and thanksgiving to You for their lives. Through Your mighty hand of love and through Your great power, life begins and ends.  An eternity in Heaven is a glorious place to be!

 

“To God Be The Glory,” and “I’ve Just Seen Jesus,” are songs that symbolize how great it is to be with Jesus in Heaven! 

You gifted my mother to sing so beautifully, and now she’s able to sing to You alone in Your presence. Heavenly Father, You are so good! Praise Your holy name, Lord Jesus –

In Your precious Name i give thanks and pray!  Amen. ~   

My Redeemer Lives!

Faith Without Works ~ My Deliverer Is Coming! ~ Brother’s Keeper ~ Hold me Jesus ~

Rich Mullins

 

Worship and Bow Down

 

 Abba Father,

Please help my friend, Sean.  He needs Your healing touch and Your presence in his life right now as he’s so close to the end of his life in this world.  You are his Great Physicial and his Friend.  Sean loves Jesus and You know everything about him and his needs.  Please speak to him in his coma and give him great peace and comfort. Please surround him with Your angels and help him hear their worship of You.  Please use his life to bring his family to know Jesus and for believers  to be drawn closer to You and to bow down and worship You with all our hearts and lives. Thank You for blessing me to know Sean.  Thank You for his heart of boldness to bow down in worship and to lift his arms in praise to You in the congregation of believers, even when all else around him sit motionless, or emotionless, or seemingly unmoved by Your great power and grace. Thank you that Sean’s love for You shines in the darkness of this world as he would put all of his energy into spreading the Gospel and handing out Bibles in the community.  Thank You for Sean’s witness and Your grace seen in him.   In Jesus’ name I ask.  Amen.

Resolutions and Renewed Commitment

RESOLVE – to come to know, perceive, realize

Luke 16:4 – ‘I am resolved what to do…’ expressing the definiteness of the steward’s realization, and his consequent determination of his course of action.

To resolve to, or to decide to, or to determine in one’s heart to do something requires a commitment to follow-through, a planning of a course of action to take, a scheduling of time and place this will take happen, a purposing in one’s heart to stay the course and not be moved or compromise.  To resolve to do something requires counting the cost and making necessary provisions to remain faithful to the task at hand or goal of commitment.

 

Psalm 37:5 – Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring [it] to pass.

 

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.

 

1 Cor. 2:2 – For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

 

Psalm 37

:1 – A psalm of David. Don’t worry about the wicked. Don’t envy those who do wrong.

:2 – For like grass, they soon fade away. Like springtime flowers, they soon wither.

:3 – Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

:4 – Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

:5 – Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.

:6 – He will make your innocence as clear as the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

:7 – Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

:8 – Stop your anger! Turn from your rage! Do not envy others– it only leads to harm.

:9 – For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.

:10 – In a little while, the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone.

:11 – Those who are gentle and lowly will possess the land; they will live in prosperous security.

:12 – The wicked plot against the godly; they snarl at them in defiance.

:13 – But the Lord just laughs, for he sees their day of judgment coming.

:14 – The wicked draw their swords and string their bows to kill the poor and the oppressed, to slaughter those who do right.

:15 – But they will be stabbed through the heart with their own swords, and their bows will be broken.

:16 – It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and possess much.

:17 – For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care of the godly.

:18 – Day by day the LORD takes care of the innocent, and they will receive a reward that lasts forever.

:19 – They will survive through hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough.

:20 – But the wicked will perish. The LORD’s enemies are like flowers in a field– they will disappear like smoke.

:21 – The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.

:22 – Those blessed by the LORD will inherit the land, but those cursed by him will die.

:23 – The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives.

:24 – Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.

:25 – Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread.

:26 – The godly always give generous loans to others, and their children are a blessing.

:27 – Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever.

:28 – For the LORD loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will perish.

:29 – The godly will inherit the land and will live there forever.

:30 – The godly offer good counsel; they know what is right from wrong.

:31 – They fill their hearts with God’s law, so they will never slip from his path.

:32 – Those who are evil spy on the godly, waiting for an excuse to kill them.

:33 – But the LORD will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are brought before the judge.

:34 – Don’t be impatient for the LORD to act! Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you, giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.

:35 – I myself have seen it happen– proud and evil people thriving like mighty trees.

:36 – But when I looked again, they were gone! Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

:37 – Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future lies before those who love peace.

:38 – But the wicked will be destroyed; they have no future.

:39 – The LORD saves the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble.

:40 – The LORD helps them, rescuing them from the wicked.  He saves them, and they find shelter in Him.

Heavenly Father; Your Word gives light to my path and teaches me Your ways.  It’s the desire of my heart to follow You and to remain faithful to You.  Please keep me on the course You have chosen for me that i may be pleasing to You and be filled with Your Holy Sprit everyday, that i may obey Your still, quiet voice and bring others into the kingdom of God for Your honor and glory.  In Jesus’ name i pray.  Amen.

Bringing in the New Year with Roby Duke – “Beautiful Savior”

This time of the year our fellowship at Cornerstone Ministries in Napa,  has looked forward to having Roby Duke lead us in the worship of our Lord Jesus Christ as we finish out the old year and bring in the new.

This year Roby is worshipping around Jesus’ throne face to face with God. We look forward to soon being in sweet fellowship once again as we lay our crowns down at the feet of Jesus and sing together with the angels in sweet harmony in worship and praise of our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

 

Here’s the lyrics to ‘Beautiful Savior’

 

All my days I will sing the song of gladness

Give my praise to the Fountain of Life

For in my helplessness, You heard my cry

And waves of mercy poured down upon my life

 

Beautiful Savior, Wonderful Counselor,

Clothed in majesty, Lord of history,

You’re the Way, the Truth, and the Life

 

Star of the Morning, Glorious in Holiness

You’re the risen One, Heaven’s Champion

And You reign, You reign over all

 

I will trust in the cross of my Redeemer

I will sing of the Blood that never fails

Of sins forgiven, of conscience cleared,

Of death defeated and Life without end

 

Beautiful Savior, Wonderful Counselor

Clothed in majesty, Lord of history,

You’re the Way, the Truth and the Life

 

Star of the Morning, Glorious in Holiness

You’re the risen One, Heaven’s Champion

And You reign, You reign over all

 

I long to be where the praise is never ending

Yearn to dwell where the glory never fades

With countless worshipers will share one song

And cries of ‘Worthy is the Lamb’ are raised

 

Beautiful savior wonderful counselor

Clothed in majesty, Lord of history,

You’re the Way, the Truth and the Life

 

Star of the Morning, Glorious in Holiness

You’re the risen One, Heaven’s Champion

And You reign, You reign over all

 

Barabbas ~ Eternity ~ Afloat by Caleb and Sol Rexius

 

Barabbas written by Solomon Rexius 

“There was once an evil man. He was an insurrectionist, a rebel, a murderer, and a notorious prisoner. This day, however, he would face justice. He had committed crimes worthy of death, and now he was going to be a victim of crucifixion—one of the most vicious forms of capital punishment known to mankind. Death on a cross was only for the worst of criminals.

Partly due to the cold night, yet mostly due to inexpressible fear, Barabbas shivered uncontrollably as he lay face down in his prison cell. He was in utter despair. No hope. No defense. No answers.Barabbas had heard of this man, although some even called Him the Son of God. Supposedly, this Jesus was a worker of miracles, and He even claimed to be God in the flesh. One of Barabbas’ old followers had joined this “Christ” group a couple years back.But he had known Jesus and His followers to be rather peaceful. Why would there be such violent shouting now? As a painful reminder of his own impending doom, he could vaguely hear the crowd shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Still gripped with trepidation and terror, Barabbas heard something that made his stomach twist and his heart stop: shaking keys – the sound of justice. The very next moment, his cell door was swung open and the soldier yelled at him to leave immediately.

But Barabbas couldn’t move.
“Come on, you criminal, get out of here. You’re free.” But his own guilt wouldn’t allow him to believe it. “They’re going to kill Jesus of Nazareth in your place.”

With a thousand questions racing through his mind, Barabbas quickly lifted himself to his feet and hastily walked out of the prison and into the streets of Jerusalem.

A guilty man set free on account of another. Is that justice?”

Written and spoken by Sol Rexius, “Barabbas” is a unique and powerful deliverance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Video Production by Caleb Rexius. Audio Production by Jesiah.

info@calebandsol.com

Their group is called ‘The Oak’

Booking/Contact – 1 (541) 521-1002

Caleb Rexius – Caleb@CalebAndSol.com

Solomon Rexius – Sol@CalebAndSol.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the distance he could hear people shouting; chanting, even. He thought he heard his own name mixed in with the barrage of yells and screams. But there was one name he heard without mistake: “Jesus”.