Bill's Blog
Another New Year
by Bill Lowry on 01/07/12
As I began 2012 I pondered on what my "Newest" New Years resolution was going to be, And then I reflected back on some of my previous years ambitious resolutions. In 2001 I preached my very first sermon and I have kept a copy of every sermon I have ever preached. I went back and looked up my first New Years Day sermon back in 2002. At the start of that year I weighed 258 pounds. It was my resolution to eat healthy, exercise daily, and lose 50 pounds. Here we are 10 years later and unfortunately I weigh 249!. Wow! I sure did a great job with that resolution! In subsequent New Years sermons I shared many resolutions of which I was that I was going to live my life for Christ so that others might see Christ when they saw me. Unfortunately that was about as succesful as my weight issues! I hardly exhibited Christ like charachteristics with my tailgating the moron that pulled out in front of me, or causing a ruckus when I got bad service at a restaurant, or got testy with my wife Becky over something silly.
God never ceases to amaze me how he speaks thru other people to teach us lessons. Sometimes we just never know who, where or when it might happen,
My nephew put a post on Facebook that commented on the futility of New Years and resolutions. It went like this; "Why is it people need a January 1st to start fresh when we get a chance everyday to make decisions that will change us forever. Just remember everyday that God us on earth is a chance to remember Jesus Christ already paid the price for us to start fresh and new. Live everyday like its a New Year!"
Can I get a big Amen, here?
Might I just add that we spend our whole adult lives making decisions and setting goals that affect our lives for approximately 50 years. Eternal life is forever. 50 years is such a small portion of life eternal. What if we chose to live our lives making decisions that are based on insuring that we reach the gates and are allowed to enter into God's house. Sounds simple doesn't it. But how do we insure our spot with Jesus and the Father. Jesus explained what the password is for our entrance. The password is found in scripture. The password is found in Matthew 22:37-39. The password is two simple commandments. Love God....Love People! Not try to love people. Not love just your friends. Not love those who love you. Who is your neighbor? Who did God have in mind when he said "Love thy neighbor"? Who is our neighbor? Our neighbor is everyone! Everyone is our neighbor. Jesus loved ALL! Not Some! Not Most! ALL! And he commands us to love ALL!
We get just one chance at this life. We only get one chance to live it loving God and loving people. We only get one chance and one knock on the gate. This year I resolve to live everyday like it is a New Year. I resolve to live every day like it is the last. I resolve to Love God and Love ALL people, no matter what! Will you join me?
Bill
Thankful for a Place Called Calvary
by Bill Lowry on 12/02/11
During this Thanksgiving season I did a sermon series reflecting upon all the things that we should be thankful for to our Father in Heaven. As I sat at my desk in the office one early morning I made a list of all the things that God has blessed me with in my life. The never ending list was topped by a wife who changed my life and parents who loved me beyond all measure. As I reflected on that long list there was one thing that stayed at the very top, no matter what I wrote. My devotional that morning was titled "A place called Calvary". After reading that devotional I moved Calvary to the top of my list and it is still there. I am thankful for a placed called Calvary! Because of a place called Calvary I am not the man I used to be! Thanks to a place called Calvary YOU are not the person you used to be! Thank God! Because of Jesus Christ's choice to go to a place called Calvary we are forgiven of our sins.
How can we describe Calvary?
Calvary; where we see man at his worst, and God at his best.
Calvary; where God's Son shed his blood.
Calvary; where we come with our sorrows, and leave with his joy.
Calvary; where we hear the greatest story ever told.
Calvary; where we come with our guilt, and leave with his peace.
Calvary; where we plunge beneath his flowing blood, and lose all outr guilty stains.
Calvary; where we come with our hell and recieve his heaven!
The ground is level at the Cross. Praise his holy name!
Thanks to a place called Calvary, I am not the man I used to be!
Thanks to a place called Calvary you are not the person you used to be!
Bill
New Adventures
by Bill Lowry on 11/03/11
I am constantly amazed at how God takes us on new adventures every day. Recently I decided to climb Pine Mountain near the house. It is a one mile switchback up, and for my first time up, it was a difficult journey! The reward I recieved for my hard work climbing that mountain was beyond my wildest dreams! There is an overlook at the top that has a view that is indescrible. God outdid himself that day and the magnificent creation that he has provided for us was overwhelming for me! I sat at the top sobbing with absolute joy and elation that God could love even a old tubby and balding guy like me. He has provided for me all my life and I don't know about you but I sometimes forget about all the blessings in my life. Do you? I am blessed with my family, Becky's family, my Christian family, and most recently with my Plainville UMC family. His blessing overflows everday. No matter what happens in our lives this scripture says it all for me, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor ANYTHING else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" Romans 8:38-39
We separate ourselves from God by our actions and disobedience, but he NEVER EVER leaves us! He provides you and I with new adventures EVERYDAY! I challenge God sometimes with "So God, what will you show me today?" Be careful what you ask for you just might find yourself sitting all alone on top of a mountain sobbing over your blessed life!
What an Awesome God he is!
Bill
