A lot of times we can all get caught up in what God has done or hasn’t done, where we are at in our lives, etc. One thing remains true; we all need make a decision to worship God and submit to His authority in our lives. Where ever we have been, whatever we have done, good or bad, we need to submit to His plan, we must commit to grow as His disciple. We can trust God to lead us, even when it is hard, when it looks to us like God has forsaken us.

This Memorial Day, let us also remember all veterans, past and present, because everyone who wears the uniform and swears the oath is willing to make that ultimate sacrifice for America. So, in honoring them let’s keep in mind this version of a popular poem as we show respect for those willing to sacrifice all for our exceptional country:

“It is the veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the veteran, who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag, and whose coffin will be draped by the flag.”

This video (Sara Groves, I Saw What I Saw) is a good reminder of what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself”, especially the part of it where the guy actually gives the “shirt off his back”.  Romans 13:8 says, “Owe no one anything except to love one another.”  These days it seems everyone is so busy, too busy to care what goes on around us, too busy to do the will of God.  This video is a challenge to go into all the world and put the cause of Christ first in everything we do.

Check out this hilarious skit about Mother’s Day.

Check out this video from the Newsboys with new lead man Michael Tait, for the song, “Born Again”, the title track off the Newsboys new record which releases June 8th, 2010. This video was shot just outside Tijuana, Mexico in the Baja Penninsula, where the newsboys will be taking friends and fans this summer to embark on one of the biggest home building projects ever to support the poverty stricken people of the Baja.  You can see the Newsboys this year at Kingdom Bound on August 1.

With the National Day of Prayer quickly approaching why not cover a few “Killer Prayer Tips”. This funny video from Igniter Media offers some “not so good advice” about prayer.

Enjoy the video and remember the National Day of Prayer gathering at Lincoln Park, May 6 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM [click here to download a poster]

CHECK OUT THIS VIDEO FROM THE SKIT GUYS ON TANGLE.COM

This is a really great video about God molding us into His image.  It also relates to Pastor Mike’s message from April 18 titled “God: Chisel it Out” (click here to watch).

How do we know if we are really serving God and not just kind of going through the motions.  How can we serve God, for real, not just giving lip service to Him or doing it to justify ourselves to others?

Compare the content of this video with the words of Isaiah 6:1-6.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “ Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said:  “ Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips,  And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”

One key contrast between these two stories is REPENTANCE.  We must admit that we do not have it all together, we must confess to God our faults.  The presence of God will lead us to repentance, which isn’t always a fuzzy feeling, it stretches us and makes us surrender ourselves to God.  How can we serve God more genuinely… we must repent!

Have you even been frustrated by where you are at in life? You want ALL God has for you right now!  Consider how big God is compared to us, some things (probably most things), we cannot comprehend.  God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9); sometimes it’s hard to comprehend God’s plan, but He encouraged, He is in control!