SERVING GOD HERE AND NOW.
According to Dr. Charles Kelly, President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, there is an old Hebrew term that best describes how I feel about the summer of ‘07, “WOW!” It has seemed like almost every other week our students were involved in one area of Loving God & loving people or another. We kicked off the summer by serving as camp staff for a week at a summer camp and ministering to over 900 teens! Then more than 30 of our students helped in Vacation Bible School one way or another (some even serving as leaders). A group of 7 (5 students and 2 adults) traveled to New Orleans for a week of very intense mission activity (more on this to follow in coming weeks). Then last week we were at camp, studying God’s word and learning to apply HIS word to our lives Here and Now.
Here are some suggestions for getting the MOST out of the Camp Experience.
1. Spend the next week reviewing the daily quiet times from the camp hand book (if you already lost your book contact Pastor Allen or Hannah and we’ll make a copy for you).
2. Spend the week after that going back over the daily prayer gatherings.
3. Spend the 3rd week (and the 4th if necessary) reviewing the family group lessons (again contact PA or Hannah if you need help here).
For years I have wondered what a church would look like if once per year or even every other year, the majority of adults in the congregation would also go away for a week or even a weekend to experience God’s Word on center stage of their lives. What if 30 to 50 adults from Deltona Lakes Baptist Church chose to put everything aside, take a day off of work, over look the lawn, forgo a day of relaxation and chose to leave the T.V, the phone, the computer, the fishing poles (ut-oh), or what ever saps your time and devote a Friday night and a Saturday, just 24 hours, to focusing on God.
Moses and Joshua called the children of Israel to make decisions “today” about whether or not they would follow God. The prophets called people to repentance and action “today.” Mordecai challenged Esther about whether or not she had come to be queen “for such a time as this.” It is perhaps not evidenced any greater than in the response of the disciples to Jesus’ call to “Come. Follow me.” They immediately left their nets, boats, tables and families to follow the Christ. The Apostle Thomas might have summed it up when he said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
GOD IS CALLING US, ALL OF US - young and old, child, youth and adult to maturity in and with Him. It is more than a one time decision or a couple of hours in class 101, it is a life time of devotion. David Nasser said this, “Too many of us have lots of emotion and not much devotion...” God is calling us to experience a full life in relationship with HIM.
We Have to Choose Whether or Not We Are Going to Live That Life… this Isn’t Practice. This Isn’t Rehearsal. This Is It. This Is Life, Here and Now.

H.A.B.I.T.S.
That produce a GREAT life!
Some time back Stephen R. Covey wrote a book titled, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. The book identifies 7 habits that will make the reader more effective in his personal and public life. Additionally, it claims that “this is powerful advice that will help you live a happier and more fulfilled life.” (Available on cd for $49.95). How about a better deal than that?
The following is 6 HABITS that will produce perseverance, joy, and fulfillment in life no matter how good or bad things get! The only cost is the time to read this article and the effort to implement the habits. WHAT A GREAT DEAL!
H. = Hang Time with God
The most important habit we can develop is to spend time with God daily. The more the better, but remember God values quality above quantity. Choose a place and a time where there is the least chance of being interrupted. I have a place on my porch that I use. Praying or singing is allowed, but also listening. It may feel awkward at first but stay with it! It takes a little time to learn to “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 49:10)
A. = Accountability
Last year we emphasized every attendee being a part of an accountability group. Here is the problem, many people have stopped their accountability groups. Just because the banner is down, doesn’t mean the practice of accountability should end. Strong Christians have trustworthy accountability partners (note more than one). Begin today to gather a group of 3-5 devoted believers as accountability partners. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)
B. = Bible Study
To love God, we must first know God. We get to know God through reading the Bible. There are two ways we need to study the Bible. Alone (during our “hang time”) and together in a small group (accountability thing). The Bible describes God’s personality, it helps us to experience Him, it describes His attributes, most importantly is repeatedly affirms His love for us. There are more than 7,000 promises God makes to us in the Bible. How many of them can you name? But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 (NIV)
I. = Involved in Church Ministry
We serve God by serving His children. Not only those who are physically children, but all believers. We are all God’s children. There are a multitude of ways to be involved in the church. Things like being a hall monitor for Kidz Force or watching the parking lot on Wednesday’s. Spending one Sunday a month as a greeter or at the welcome center. Volunteering to help put up decorations for a church member or at the church once a year. Showing up for one or more of the quarterly work days we have at the church. These are only a few of the ways to be involved. There are way too many to name them all here.
T. = Tithing
Why is money the second biggest reason people give for not attending a worship service (the biggest reason is hypocrites in the church)? It takes about $10K a week to pay the electric, water, montage, insurance, repairs, paper, Bible study materials, copy machines, office supplies, cleaning supplies, building maintenance supplies, alarm system, various licenses for audio and video, wages for nursery workers, maintenance and custodial staff, office staff, and pastors. In addition to that a % of each offering goes to support over 10, 000 missionaries(in and out of the U.S.) through the Cooperative Program and Florida Baptist Convention. The main reason to tithe is BECAUSE GOD COMMANDS IT! A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
Leviticus 27:30 (NIV) P.S. Before someone says, “That’s an Old Testament idea.” check this out... “Well then,” he [Jesus] said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Luke 20:25 (NLT)
S. = Sharing God’s Love.
Deltona Lakes Baptist Church (the people, not the building) is organized around two key quotes from Jesus. The first is known as the Great Commandments. The second as the Great Commission. The Great Commandments tell us to Love God and Love People. (Matthew 22:37-38 paraphrased) The Great Commission tells us, “As you are going through life, make disciples of those you meet, baptize them, and teach them to obey God’s commands.” (Matthew 28:19 paraphrased) When we start developing the H.A.B.I.T. part of HABITS, the S. naturally begins to happen. After all God wants EVERYONE to know HIM and love HIM.

What HABITS do you have? Class 201 is all about developing and maintaining these HABITS.

I’M JUST ONE PERSON! HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
All through history, “one’s” have been making a huge difference. For instance, did you know:
$ Just one voted caused King Charles I of England to be beheaded in 1649.
$ One vote made Adolph Hitler head of the Nazi Party in 1923.
$ Just one vote decided that Americans would speak English rather than German in 1776.
$ In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union.
$ In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from impeachment.
$ One vote elected Thomas Jefferson president in 1800.
$ Just one man, Noah, heard and obeyed God’s voice and was able to save the entire animal kingdom and procreate humankind.
$ David, as a teen, defeated a great warrior and then Israel won a war.
$ Esther, alone and frightened spoke to the king and a nation was saved.
$ Because of one man’s preaching (Jonah), Nineveh repented and turned to God.
$ One boy shared his lunch and over 5000 families were fed.
$ Peter stood up and spoke the truth in Acts 2 and 3000 people became believers.
$ She was just one, but Phoebe volunteered to deliver Paul’s letter to the Romans. A book has influenced millions of Christians through the ages!
$ Just one man—the Son of God—the greatest gift of all, offers eternal life to you and me.

Our God is in the habit of using the things we see as trivial to do great things. You bet you can make a difference! We have to be willing God REFUSES to force us to serve HIM. We don’t have to do BIG things, just be faithful in doing something.
One person is extremely powerful—especially when Jesus Christ is the One providing the power!

Psalm 51 at 51

As I reflect on my life to date I realize a few things that David spotlighted in writing this Psalm.
First, I am cursed to remember my failures, stupid behaviors, and mistakes more often than I remember my successes. I think I drive the people around me crazy on those days when I express my discouragement and disgust with myself for not being better than I am. I get upset over the times that I wasted on things that now seem less than unimportant. I feel anger for the times in my life that I spent worshiping myself and my own desires instead of worshiping God and HIS purpose for my being.
If taken to excess this attitude can become self destructive. Whenever I look at the things I do that I hate honestly, I have to remember the benefits of God’s love are grace (getting what I don’t deserve) and mercy (not getting what I do deserve). David opens this Psalm demonstrating exact what I’m writing about, that when we look at our failures honestly, the correct response is to call on God to intervene. Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, [aka. mercy] blot out the stain of my sins. Psalm 51:1 (NLT) So, when I look at Psalm 51 at 51 the first thing I realize is no matter what I might think about myself and my failures, God’s mercy and grace far outweighs those things. Which causes David to write, Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Second, I realize that I can’t be better than I was without God. I have no power to develop a “clean heart” or to have a “steadfast” (or loyal) spirit. No matter how much I try to be a person others can follow I am doomed to fail. But I have a hope that God can and will create in me a pure heart and devoted spirit. David pleads with God, Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:12 (NASB) That is exactly what God does for us! HE RESTORES US! Just like taking an old car or house and fix it up (aka restore) to it’s original beauty, so too God fixes us up back to our original beauty, the way HE designed us to be.
Why is God so interested in restoring us? Over and over in scripture God commands us to tell others about HIM. David writes that God’s restoration will result in other disobedient people coming to know about HIM. Then I will teach the rebellious Your ways, and sinners will return to You. Psalm 51:13 (HCSB) The first time I read that it blew my mind! God’s mercy, grace, and restoration for me is not just about me, but it also communicates to others that it is available for them too!
[I hope at this point in this article, you are beginning to realize that no matter how badly you have failed in life, God’s grace, mercy, and restoration is available to you also.]
A third thing that I discovered in Psalm 51 is God is not interested in me being depressed about my past. Rather, HE is more interested in me being devoted to HIS commands. In the Old Testament, when people broke the law (aka. sinned) they had to bring a sacrifice or offering to the temple to gain forgiveness. David writes we demonstrate our love for GOD more through our obedience than in our regret for disobedience. You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. Psalm 51:16-17 (NLT)
It is an easy thing to say to someone, “I’m sorry” that is kinda like the sacrifice thing. Saying, “I regret my actions and I will do everything I can to not do it again to you or anyone else.” is much more difficult and results from a broken heart. That is exactly the kind of attitude David says that God desires. When we look back on our lives, God doesn’t just want us to sacrifice (i.e. say I’m sorry) He wants us to change (or work toward changing) every aspect of ourselves to prevent repeating the same sin(s). The beauty of all this is GOD provides the power to make the change. That is why David wrote, O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. Psalm 51:15 (NIV)
The final thing I’m reflecting on as I read Psalm 51 is that all of this happens on God’s time table. In your good pleasure make Zion prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Psalm 51:18 (NIV) Sometimes I get frustrated because God doesn’t operate at my speed, but then I realize HE does. God knows what I’m ready to handle and what will overwhelm me. In short, I don’t think I’m waiting on God as much as God is waiting on me. He’s waiting on me to get “bless-able” before HE blesses me. Let me illustrate, God waited for Noah to be ready before the flood began. He waited for the nation of Israel to be ready before sending Moses. He waited for Moses to be ready before sending him to Egypt. God waited for 40 years until Israel was ready to enter the Promised Land. Jesus arrived on Earth at just the right moment, because that was when it was ready for Him. Most importantly, God is waiting for DLBC to get ready so that we can handle the blessings HE has for us.
So as I reflect on Psalm 51 at 51, I’m getting ready. Ready to be a blessing to others and to be blessed by God. Preparing as best as I can for God’s activity in my life and the life of DLBC. I’m getting ready even though statistics say that I am closer to the end than I am to the beginning. What are you doing?

Here are the top 10 reasons that college students leave or drop out of school:

1) Too much fun and not enough time given to classes and grades
2) A sense of not belonging; a sense of isolation, homesickness
3) Tired of going to school; burn out
4) Not enough money to continue
5) Personal family issues
6) Chose wrong school based on academic skills
7) Chose the wrong major and/or career path; become dissatisfied
8) Didn't meet with academic advisor when necessary
9) Working too many hours at full or part-time job
10) Moved to a different location or state

*Source: A variety of college research sources

#1 Freshman "15" Yes, you can expect to gain 15 lbs in your Freshman year at college unless you follow a few basic rules. Here they are:

1) Watch your carbohydrate intake. Remember to eat your carbohydrates for lunch and try to eat lean proteins and green veggies at night. (chicken, lean beef, turkey, fish (baked or broiled)) veggies: salad greens, green beans, cabbage, celery, cooked greens, broccoli, brussel sprouts, etc.

2) Start off every day with a well balanced breakfast.

3) Walk whenever you can and utilize the exercise rooms and equipment the College has available for you to use for FREE!!!

4) Stay away from soda!!!! Drink water as much as possible. 8 - 8oz glasses per day will help keep the pounds off.