Overcoming and Persevering

Overcoming and Persevering

Recently, at Rockford, we had the golden opportunity of hearing the testimony of a young man who has persevered and overcome some extreme struggles in life.  He is careful to give God the glory, honor and praise, because without God’s help and Christ living in him, he would not be where he is today.

Price Sparks, a preacher’s son from Tallassee, Alabama spoke at Rockford on June 31 and truly made an impact on the lives of all who were in attendance.

Price graduated from Elmore County High School in 2011 where he was a member of the Maroon Machine and the Panther Football Team his senior year.

He was selected as the National Tourette Syndrome Association Ambassador for the State of Alabama in 2011 and traveled to Washington D.C. for training.

Price received a full academic scholarship to Jacksonville State University and began in the fall of 2011 where he is seeking a degree in Business Management.

Price was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society in spring 2012 and named to the Dean’s List both semesters of his freshman year at JSU.

Price was selected a Jacksonville State University Presidential Ambassador in spring 2012 for the 2012-2013 school year.

He was a member of the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners in fall of 2012 where he was part of the halftime show which included football games at the University of Arkansas and the University of Florida.

Again Price was selected a JSU Presidential Ambassador in spring 2013 for the 2013-2014 school year and this time was named to the President’s List both semesters of his sophomore year at JSU.

Price has spoken to numerous civic groups and organizations, churches and schools, and even to nursing classes at Jacksonville State about his struggles with Tourette Syndrome.

Having Tourette’s was a difficult thing for Price.  He grew up thinking he was different, being excluded from others, and with daily thoughts of suicide.  His entire life was a daily struggle through the first ten years of school.  Then in the eleventh grade he was confronted with the gospel and an invitation to accept Christ as his Savior and Lord.  He took the leap of faith and God has blessed him in many and marvelous ways.

Not counting the acceptance and inclusion into the life of others as he found himself with friends for the first time in his life; his entire future was falling into place, as God rewarded him for being a believer who was walking the walk and talking the talking.  He watched as God gave him the opportunity to a place on the football team at his high school as place kicker and perform with the band during the half time show.  Next he scored a 32 on the ACT and was granted a full scholarship to Jacksonville State University.  In the meantime he was selected to attend the training for the Tourette’s Syndrome Association in Washington D.C. to become a state ambassador in Alabama.  How God favored him in so many ways is a beautiful story of a life God has chosen for a specific purpose and plan.

While we do not know the future for Price, we do know that at this time he is following God.  Through the example of a Godly walk, and countless variety of ways God is using this young man because of his humble obedience to the Savior who has changed him and given him a new lease on life.

God bless you my brother!

Summer and Snakes

Summer and Snakes

By: Dr. Jeff Fuller

We have wrapped up another school year, observed awards programs and graduations, closed out a successful Relay for Life, hosted a wonderful float along the famous Hacket Creek and got through May without any bad weather conditions.  That is the May we have enjoyed in Coosa County.  I would have to say, “so far, so good.”  Right?

Quickly we are heading into the summer season.  A great deal of big things to do in the summer months.  Throughout the county individuals will be dusting off the outdoor grills, planning vacations to the beach, spending time on the lake, or sitting lazily on the porch swing.  It is great to live in such a place, where the pace can be adjusted to the seasons.

Of course here at Rockford, we have several upcoming events which tend to speed up the pace.  Youth Camp will be the first week in June, with the last week being Vacation Bible School.  In July we will host an event for couples and there is no getting around the plans for revival and Back to Church Month in September.

With summer comes the crawling reptiles as they slitter through our yards and the nearby woods.  Snakes come to life and present a ton of troubles.  There have already been several sightings of these creatures of God, with one potential snake bite on the Chilton County side of Lake Mitchell.  Needless to say they are out in force, I do not like them, and they can hurt me-caused by running away from them.

I have so many snake stories, and I am not sure which ones I have told and the ones I have not told.

We use to have a family, the Owens Family, come sing for us when I was back on the mountain.  This was actually Randy Owens mothers group, and they were of the variety of believers who prided themselves in being called, “Snake Handlers.”

One Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Owens and the band came to set up for the evening service.  We were talking about the services from that morning, comparing notes.  We both agreed that our respective services were well attended, spirit filled and the response to the message was wonderful.  But she lost me when she started talking about the snakes being brought out.

“Brother Bill was a just winding down,” she said, “when Deacon Goodman brought out the biggest, prettiest, longest rattler I’d ever laid eyes on.  I got in the spirit, danced down the aisle and took it right out of Deacon Willy’s hands.  I lifted it up, spoke over it and dropped it to the floor.”

I refused to shake her hand or get anywhere close to her.

I read a snake story recently that made me laugh harder than I should admit.

The story is that a lady found a small snake crawling across her floor as she came home from the grocery store.  She dropped the bags in her tracks, and while it was going under the couch, she screamed.

Her husband who was in the shower, came to her rescue dripping wet and wrapped in a towel.  She told him what was happening and he got down on the floor and began searching for the snake under the couch. 

While he was down there, the little monster came out, crawled along his leg and bit him on the ankle.  His wife saw it happen and climbed on a chair, while her husband banged his head on the coffee table attempting to get up from the floor, thus causing him to black out.

A neighbor came over, found the wife in the chair, and the husband unconscious on the floor, called 911 and told the dispatcher that he was at the neighbor’s house, where the wife had killed her husband.

The police arrived first, attempted to get things under control, but about the moment an officer calmed the wife down and started his interview, the snake crawled out from under the recliner.  As the little thing skittered along the edge of the couch, the officer pulled his gun, shot at the slimy reptile, and hit the man in the thigh.

The wife passed out, began to fall from the chair and knocked herself unconscious, hitting the floor with a thud.

The Medics arrived, surveyed the scene and went to the aid of the man first.  They stopped the bleeding, put him on a gurney and started toward the door leading to the front porch.  About that time the snake crawled between the legs of the Medic at the head of the gurney, who fell backwards trying to get away from the reptile.  He dropped the gurney and the husband tumbled to the floor.

About the time the Medic was trying to avoid the snake and fall, causing the husband to roll from the gurney, the wife passed out again.  As she fell her head made contact with the end table and cut a gnash into her scalp.

The Medics reloaded the husband on one gurney and the wife on another and headed toward the ambulance.  The neighbor thinking he needed to get rid of the snake, took his lighter from his pocket, set a piece of newspaper on fire and began chasing the poor snake.  In the process of ridding the den and house of the snake, the curtains caught on fire, and the fire department was called to the scene.

The fire department put out the fire which burned the den and kitchen, smoked up the house, and caused considerable water damage to the rest of the house. 

Later that afternoon, the wife and husband returned to the house.  The husband had stiches in his thigh and ankle, and a butterfly bandage on his head, and a sprained back; the wife had a black eye, snitches in her head, and was sore from her falls.

As they stood, surveying the damage to the house, the little snake crawled out from the rumble, eased along the wall as the two adults looked on dumbfounded, and crawled through the open door and into the wild.

The wife asked the husband, “Ready to get a pet?”

Until next time…

Constantly the Same

Constantly the Same

Today is day two, but the full day of camp.  Yesterday we experienced an uneventful day of traveling, getting settled in and spending some much needed time at the lake.  It seems that for the most part everyone was pretty much tuckered out by the time we got to worship and movies.

As for Monday night worship, it was a good start to the week.  Mrs. Tina led in worship with songs the kids were familiar with, allowing them the freedom to praise the Father in their own, personal way.  They enjoyed the few moments of music and praise, allowing us to focus on the reason we are here.

Bro. Jeff shared the evening message with the students, focusing on a theme interpretation from Hebrews 13:8.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (HCSB)

We were reminded that Jesus Christ is the same in His creation, in His incarnation, in His living and dying.  He never changes.  In creation He was with the Father and the Holy Spirit.  John told us:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John 1:1-4 (KJV)

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 1:9-14 (KJV)

In that moment when God came to earth and put on flesh and blood-the clothes of man-Jesus became God/Man, but in His living He lived out God to all peoples.  He walked this earth as a man, but never sinned.  He was perfect in all ways, and pointed to the Father in all things.  Never once did He falter or fail in the plan and the purposes of God.

Due to the love of the Father, Jesus died for us.  He demonstrated the love of the Father for all by extending His hands and saying, “You ask how much the Father loves you; this is how much the Father loves-He loves you more than life itself.  He loves you so much, He is willing to die for you and your sins.”

That is God!  But that is not all.  No, not at all!  He loved you and died for you, but in dying He cleansed you from sin and the curse of death; but He rose again from the grave to give us life everlasting.  He came to give us life, abundant life; life here and life hereafter.

He is the same yesterday, today and forever!

With that in mind, remember that He is constant, never changing.  He is constant in His love, His forgiveness, life, and in His promises.  Promises?  They are new every morning.  In the Bible do you know how many times the phrase “do not fear” appears in scripture?  Some say one time, others say over 1,000, but really, it appears 365 times.  That means that everyday of the year, Jesus says “do not fear.”  The writer of Hebrews says, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6; Psalm 118:6)

There is now nothing to fear.  Life and death are in His hands.  He controls our lives, the present and the future.  As a believer, the Father sent His Son to die for us and to rise again from the grave.  Now, the Spirit of God resides within us to lead us, guide us, direct us and instruct us in all things that pertain to goodness and godliness.   

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 3:16-21 (KJV)

He is the Alpha and the Omega; He is the Beginning and the End.  He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God-God and man-and He loves you with an everlasting, eternal life.  There is no condemnation in Him.  So today, come to Him and confess Him as your Savior and Lord.  He desires to give you life; life here and life hereafter.

 

 

Praise In The Storms of life!

Is there not anything after John 3:16?

The Context is Important

Tim Tebow made the verse popular.  Before he placed the trademark reference on his face as a focal point during football games, people have for many years held up the reference on placards or poster board as the camera pans the crowd of people in the stands.  It is more a publicity and cultural icon than anything else.

Don’t get me wrong, I like seeing it and believe it to be an all important and vital verse which reaches people, helping them to understand the reason Jesus came.  Yet, there is more than just one verse and I am afraid we may be missing the point of the impact by limiting our focus on that one verse instead of seeing the context in which it appears.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 (HCSB)

In the context we have Jesus speaking to a ruler of the Jews who has approached Him in the night to find some answers to questions which have not settled within his heart and life.  Nicodemus comes to ask Jesus what he must do to have eternal life.  Jesus explains patiently and pointedly that the man must be born again. 

Nicodemus, who has followed the rules of the Old Testament is sunned and amazed by Jesus’ response.  It seems to create even more questions.  His mind cannot reach around the issue that faith and confession and obedience is the response God seeks from those who would follow Christ.

Jesus said that the love of God is the reason He came and God had no other plan than to send His One and Only Son, to be the conduit through which the lost sheep might find rest and peace with God.  It is through faith in Christ alone that we are saved.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6 (HCSB)

The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart. This is the message of faith that we proclaim: ⁹ if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation. ¹¹ Now the Scripture says, No one who believes on Him will be put to shame, ¹² for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him. ¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.^[

Romans 10:8-13 (HCSB)

Now, back to the question.  We can quote verse 16 of John chapter 3 with the best of them.  All of us do it every time we get a chance.  It is important, it is vital, and it is personal.  But what about the next two verses?  Do they not have impact, meaning, revelation for us all?

¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. ¹⁸ Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

John 3:17-18 (HCSB)

Look at verse 17 above.  This verse reminds us that the condemnation is an issue; but saving mankind is the mission.  Many seek to condemn the world, tearing down and destroying those who refuse or reject the free gift of God in and through Christ Jesus.  Yet, the mission is more important than the issue.  The issue is resolved through the mission. 

That leads us to verse 18.  In verse 18 we see the phrase, “Anyone who believes…”  Rich or poor; black or white; the Southside of the tracks or the North side of the tracks: All who believe will pass from condemnation (the issue) to salvation (the mission).  In so doing, the realization is that God’s Son came to save us from sin and give us new life, for we have “passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24b)

Now, for a minute review the whole that text:

“ I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

John 5:24 (HCSB)

That verse reminds us that we are condemned when we are outside of Christ.  The one who rejects and refuses the one way to deliverance from condemnation is condemned.  They are still in their sin; still living in denial that there is a way and only one way to move from condemnation to salvation.  It was God who gave that way in Jesus, to remove the condemnation from condemned man and give Him hope and life-in this world and in the world to come.  The sad truth is that the longer one stays in this state, the harder it is for them to break the chains that constrain them.  Their mind grows callous, their heart gets harder and harder, and they white knuckle the pew each time the invitation is given.  Stiff necked and unrepentant they will die and spend eternity in hell, separated from the lover of their soul for all eternity.

“This, then, is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. ²¹ But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

John 3:19-21 (HCSB)

Look at verse 19: “This is the condemnation…”  That is emphatic.  That is definite, forceful, absolute, and clear.  There is no way to debate it or question it.  Jesus as the final authority of all things and says that for the one who refuses the free gift of God in and through Jesus Christ, they have revealed their true character and are sealed in it; condemned.

There is one more thing to point out and it is important to this discussion.  “The light has come…” Jesus said and He knows something about the light.

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. ⁴ Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. ⁵ That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:1-5 (HCSB)

The world “loved darkness” and this is the trait of that one who rejects Jesus.  In the darkness they hide their sinful and evil ways.  In the darkness they are covered so that not all know who they really are.  In darkness they roll and wallow in the muck of this messed up, sinful, “untoward generation.”  When light comes to penetrate the darkness, shining on it the glory of God and the mission of the Son, then those affected by it the most will fearfully turn to Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith.  That is why I say with all honesty revealed light should and does fearfully reveal the condition of the heart.  The only response that makes any sense whatsoever is to turn away from the darkness and turn to the light.

Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and have dinner with him, and he with Me.

Revelation 3:20 (HCSB)

In conclusion, I will say that what I have written here today is neither politically correct nor a popular sentiment in our “full acceptance” world of the 21^st Century.  I will not or never apologize for preaching the full gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the world today, there are those who refuse to accept that there is but one way to God the Father, and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Oh, they make big arguments as they spout off various philosophies and vile ideologies of manmade thought processes claiming many ways to God, acts of repentance, and paths of enlightenment.  But the Word of God is clear: There is no other way to God but through Jesus Christ.

Also, many enlightened individuals say it is judgmental and demeaning to say that people are sinners, living under condemnation.  This is the reason many believers will not witness; they do not wish to hurt someone’s feelings by calling them a sinner.  Some years ago, an author wrote:

For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin, ¹⁰ as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; ¹¹ there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. ¹² All have turned away, together they have become useless; there is no one who does good, there is not even one. ¹³ Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. ¹⁴ Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. ¹⁵ Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶ ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, ¹⁷ and the path of peace they have not known. ¹⁸ There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:9-18 (HCSB)

Paul, the Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote those words and they ring true even in today’s time.  Outside of Christ, Jew or Gentile, all who are under sin, individuals are doing as they please without any thought or actions which reveal righteousness.  He goes on to say, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 KJV)  Those who live in sin are condemned and do not want the reminder, but the reminder must be made so that they will come to Jesus, the only lover who loved them more than life itself and was more than willing to die than to live life without them.

For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. ⁸ But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! ⁹ Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. ¹⁰ For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Romans 5:6-11 (HCSB)

This is research and may not fully deal with the issues of this section of scripture.  I share this with you, after sharing some of these thoughts with our folks on Wednesday evening a few weeks ago, to help you think and maybe discuss the deep truths of these passages as they relate to the subject of salvation.

The Pastor’s Study @ Rockford

Tina says this is my "Crazy Church" article.

Crazy Church Services

By: Dr. Jeff Fuller

The emergency room of the hospital is an unlikely place to find a church service going on, but this is what Tina and Granny Ruby participated in just a few weeks ago.  Well, actually the word “participated” is not the correct word; it was more like they were caught in the crossfire.

Several weeks ago, Granny was taken to an emergency room because she was dehydrated and very sick.  Tina accompanied her and stayed by her side the entire time.  After triage, they were placed in a “ward” with three beds, separated by curtains. 

Once settled into the ward, with Granny as the only patient in this particular room, the nurses began the process of attempting to find what may be the culprit for Granny.  Fluids were attached, medication was administered, and for the most part the word I was getting by text messaging was that it was going to be a long night.

While Tina was texting me, sharing her feelings about having to wait on results to test being conducted on Ruby and the frustration of a full emergency room, the text turned to play-by-plays regarding the additions to the ward.  While I am sharing these messages with you, I would love to fill in the blanks along the way, but I cannot write fiction as well as sharing the reality of the moment.

“We are now next to a major looney tooney…crazy…needing Haldol in a hurry!” Tina typed.

My response was a typical male response, as I was not really paying attention and quite sleepy, “Huh?”

Tina responded with, “They have just brought a major psycho in next to us.”

I excused my question with, “Oh, I thought you were talking about yourself.”

None too rattled, Tina typed, “No…now two…oh my Lord!  Ok, now we officially have three of a kind.  Three queens, or at least they think they are!  Pitiful!”

A once empty ward was filling up rapidly.  Granny was now not alone and neither was Tina.  In the beds around the four person ward, the attendants had arrived with two more women.  One was a potential patient heading toward committal and the other was someone who goes from emergency room to emergency room, seeking some type of relief to a conceived medical problem.

My response was, “Entertainment has arrived.”

Tina was typing furiously now, “I told one of the nurses to get me some Haldol and I would be glad to show her how to use it!  One crazy wants a lawyer and her pastor; the one across the way gave her the name of her lawyer!  Behind curtain number three, she is Medea, needing a Prozac now!”

It was sounding like Tina was having fun, and I just yawned as I read the text.

Tina asked, “You want to be the lawyer?”

Afraid Tina was about to mention my name, I replied, “No, not the pastor either.”

While one was stationed on one end of the large room, the other was on the other end, and each was pouring out their struggles and heartaches.  Tina advised, “Medea is mouthing major.  ‘We have no problems.’  All three have man problems; said their men have driven them crazy!”

The entire time, Ruby and Tina are in the middle of all this spectacle.  Ruby is wanting to know what is going on and Tina is attempted to keep both of them safe.  Tina is afraid that at any minute the other patients will include them in the storm brewing within the walls of the ward; the room gets smaller and smaller.  Added to this, the nurses had heard the commotion in the ward and shut the sliding door, thus preventing any escape, even by the two sane ones in the crowd.

Tina types, “Update: Medea’s son and man have come into the ward.”

This was not to be any comfort to anyone, even my girls, as they had already taken time for confession; they had already confessed that the men in their lives had been the reason they are in the position they found themselves in at the present time.

Tina continues the commentary, by texting, “Now curtain number one is said to ‘chill out dude and give me something for my head’…A true drug seeker.  Medea has thrown a chair and gotten drug seeker crying and freaking…where are the TV cameras?”

My sweet wife has a good question.  Without the cameras, this reality is almost more than we can believe.  But, believe me, this really happened.

“Now they are preaching to each other and casting out demons!  I’d pass the plate but I’m afraid what may come back in it,” Tina typed.

Relief finally came for Ruby and Tina, as they were wheeled out of the ward and repositioned them to the cardiac unit.  But this left the three queens on their own, to face whatever the future held.  As for my two lovely girls, they were now safe and sound in the care of some very patient and understanding nurses, who had heard the commotion on the other hall.

In very unlikely places, church services are conducted.  Even though this sounded more like a free for all, there are some lessons to learn.  One of those lessons is simple and obvious: these three woman came to a place of medical services to find help for their problems.  We also must learn that we are to go to God for help with our problems.  Our help in time of need will not be found in the multitude of devices and distractions of this world, but only in the place of refuge.

Secondly, confession is good for the soul.  We are to confess our sins to God and to one to another, doing whatever is required of us in the Word of God to make the changes necessary to live the life of Christ-likeness in this world.  It is not the easiest thing to do, but you will find blessing in the sweet relief of His Son’s cleansing flood and forgiving grace.

Lastly, stay close to Him as He administers the healing only He can give.  Too many rush in and rush out of His presence, without a glimpse of His power and purifying touch upon our lives.  We must take time to bathe in His light of mercy and allow Him to pull and pluck out those things which are contrary to His ways for our life.

I am reminded of Isaiah writings today.  I believe this would apply to us:

“Those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 HCSB)

 

Until next time…

 

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