CAMPFIRE MESSAGES from Pastors & Ministers of ICCAN

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Comment by Lynn D. Walker on December 8, 2011 at 6:40pm

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

FROM THE PASTOR'S PORCH: The Mystery of being "Saved"!     Last week we talked about the mystery of being "born again" and How Jesus told Necodemus that we cannot see or enter the Kingdom of God unless we are "born again".  We also discovered that being "born again" means to be born of the Spirit and not re-born of the flesh.  So now we know the Mystery of entering into and seeing the Kingdom of G...od.  What we didn't uncover was how does being "born again" happen.  Can we buy this, can we win it, can we earn this or work for it, can we get born again by being “good enough”?? Another great Mystery!!!       The answer to the above questions is an absolute NO!  There is no buying, or winning, or any amount of working that can give us a Spiritual birth.  Jesus said in John 3:15, "....whosoever believeth in Him should not periesh, but have eternal life.  Not really much of a Mystery is it?  You know, God did not ever intend for it to be hard for you and I to be "saved", have eternal life and a close Relationship with Him.  "Whosoever"....that means any one; no matter what your age, your color, or your nationality might be, YOU can be Saved!!  But How???  The key word is "Believeth".  All we have to do is BELIEVE!!  That's right, if we will only believe.      Is that all there is to it?  There has to be more to it than that?  Oh, that's what Satan would like for you to believe.  He would Love for you to believe that you are too bad of a person for God to every forgive you or Love you.  The truth is, God has always Loved you and He always will.  Why do you think he sent his son to die on the cross of Calvary for you.  Let's take a look at John 3:16~ "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".  So now you know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  Mystery solved!!     We not only know how to be saved, which is totally by FAITH in the Son of God, we also even know why, because of God's Love.  You see, Salvation is a free gift from God.  We must understand that our God Love's us and that He is a Giver.  The big question for you today is are you a RECIEVER??  There are only two kinds of people in the world; Recievers and Rejectors.  Which one are YOU?  There is no Mystery to the fact that you must recieve God's Salvation as a free gift, or do without it.  I pray that you have made the right choice.  Blessings, ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on December 6, 2011 at 7:08pm

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

JUST FOR TODAY: You money, your time, and your work is NOT what God desires the most from you and these things will not help you if you don't give God what He wants the most from you.......your heart. If you will give God your heart and stay close to Him, He will keep you on the path that He has prepared for you. What God is looking for in you is an awakened Soul that thrills to the Joy of His Presence; RELATIONSHIP!!! God created you to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. He will provide the Joy; your part is to give him your heart and live close to Him. ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on December 5, 2011 at 8:32am

JUST FOR TODAY: "Surely the Lord is in this Place...."  I pray that all of you have a great day today, but unfortunately it seems like in this old fallen world, there are always problems and troubles to deal with.  What we have to keep in the forefront of our mind is that the Lord is always with us.  No matter what your circumstances are today, Let the Presence of the Lord override anything and everything that you may experience.  If He brought you to it, He will get you through it!!  ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on December 4, 2011 at 7:26pm

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JUST FOR TODAY: One of the many wonderful attributes of God is His Faithfulness. He has given us many Promises in His Word and He has never failed to do any of them.  On the other hand of this relationship, have you kept all the promises or vows that YOU have made to God?  Have you even made any vows to God?  We just Love it when God keeps His promises to us!!  Don't you you think that He Loves it when we keep our promises to Him??  A true Relationship with Jesus is never one sided and neither is Faithfulness.  ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on December 3, 2011 at 10:54am

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

JUST FOR TODAY: Once you are rooted in reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith. But nothing can ever change God or the reality of redemption. Base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God Himself. Once you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will never be moved again!! ~Oswald Chambers
     The Word of God says that we will experience trouble in this old fallen World, but those experiences and circumstances never change the fact that God Loves you and they will never change your destination and where you will be residing 10,000 years from now if you put your Faith in Him!! ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Jeff Hildebrandt on December 2, 2011 at 10:09am

Reason for the Season

 

Is Christmas still about a birth,

Angels, shepherds, peace on earth?

Or is it now about a wreath,

a tree with lights and what’s beneath?

Is Christmas still a manger stall

or is it now a crowded mall?

Parents scurry and children pause

to pin their hopes on Santa Claus.

 

While we complain of corporate greed

there is a thought that we should heed.

The fault is not what’s on the shelves. 

The problem is within ourselves.

If Jesus Christ lives in our heart

then Christmas comes with each day’s start.

And every day, not once a year

we get to share our Christmas cheer. 

 

Jeff Hildebrandt © 2005

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on December 1, 2011 at 8:48pm

JUST FOR TODAY: Why, oh why, do people let their soul get discouraged because of the way? (See Numbers 21:4) Thanksgiving was only last week and people are already murmering and complaining this week. Do you think God will put up with that out of his people? (See Numbers 21:6)" And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died". We better shut that complaining up and get back to being thankful like we were last week! "The squeaky wheel gets the grease" is an old saying of mankind that may or may not work in the flesh, but it is a hopeless mistake to try using that on God!! I don't know about you, but I would rather have God's favor on my life instead of gettin' bit by the Devil!! What's your choice today?? ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on December 1, 2011 at 7:32pm

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

FROM THE PASTOR'S PORCH: The Mystery of being “Born Again”!!

   I like a good Mystery, don't you---A good whodunit movie on TV that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering who the culprit really is, or a good novel that you can't put down for wanting to know how it's going to end?? It seems that mankind has always wanted to know the mysteries of life. Many times we are not satisfied just knowing the way things are; We want to know WHY things are the way they are!

   That is why Nicodemus, a pharisee and ruler of the Jews, came by night to see Jesus. Nicodemus knew that Jesus was a great teacher come from God because of all the miracles Jesus had done. He wanted Jesus to teach him about the mysteries of life and WOW, did he get his money's worth. Jesus unloaded on old Nicodemus and told him of the greatest mystery ever revealed to mankind. In John 3:3 Jesus told him,”....Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”!!

   Does that statement raise some questions in your mind? It certainly did for Nicodemus. He asked Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?”. Legitimate questions I'd say! What a mystery! But when you are asking questions to the Son of God, you are bound to get some pretty profound answers. Jesus answered Nicodemus with this, “Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

   What in the world does all this mean? Well, it's really pretty simple if you understand that most of the ways that God works are completely opposite to the ways of the World. Being born of water, or born into this world means that your mother's water breaks and you “come out” of your mother's womb. But to be born of the Spirit, and come into the kingdom of God there is no “coming out” involved in this birth; the Holy Spirit must “come in” to YOU!!!

   Oswald Chambers wrote the best description I've ever read explaining the great mystery of being “born again”---”The gift of the essential nature of God is placed and made effective in us by the Holy Spirit. He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, making us truly alive. He takes that which is "beyond" us and places it "within" us. And immediately, once "the beyond" has come "within", it rises up to "the above", and we are lifted into the kingdom where Jesus lives and reigns!” (see John ...3:5)

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on December 1, 2011 at 1:41am

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

JUST FOR TODAY: Are you being sensitive to the call of God on your life? Don't believe for one minute that God saved you just so you could bask in the joy and safety of your salvation and that's it. If you are truly saved, God will truly put a call in and on your life. Oh, He may not call you into full-time professional ministry, but He will definitely give you a job to do; could be many small short term assignments, could be one huge life time call, but it will come. The question is are you listening for it or are you ignoring it? Will you make the bold necessary adjustments in your life to do what God calls you to do?? One thing is for certain; you cannot keep on doing what you are doing and follow God! ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on November 30, 2011 at 8:48am

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

JUST FOR TODAY: We have a pride in us that causes us to give and give, but to come and accept a gift, well that is a different story isn't it!  We would give our life for one of our kids or grandkids; We will dedicate our life to a cause that we believe in.  But don't humiliate us to the level of a lousy, no good, bound-for-hell sinner and then tell us all we have to do is accept the free gift of ...Salvation through Jesus Christ!! Truth is, that is exactly what we must do.  We have to realize that we cannot earn, buy, or win anything from God.  There is no question about God being a giver, the big question is are you a reciever?  You either recieve Salvation as a gift or you do without it.  As long as you are self-sufficiant, full of pride and independence, God can do nothing for you.  ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on November 29, 2011 at 5:15pm

 Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH 

JUST FOR TODAY: The gift of the essential nature of God is placed and made effective in us by the Holy Spirit. He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, making us truly alive. He takes that which is "beyond" us and places it "within" us. And immediately, once "the beyond" has come "within", it rises up to "the above", and we are lifted into the kingdom where Jesus lives and reigns! (see John ...3:5) ~OSWALD CHAMBERS
This is a wonderful description by Oswald Chambers of being "born again". During the first birth by water, the water breaks and we "come out" of our mothers womb. During the second birth by the Spirit, the Spirit "comes in" and we are re-born by the amazing Grace of God to live forever in the Kingdom where Jesus lives and reigns. THIS MAKES ME WANT TO JUMP AND SHOUT AND TELL THE WHOLE WORLD ABOUT IT!!! ~Pastor Lynn

 

 

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on November 28, 2011 at 11:42am

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH 

JUST FOR TODAY: Make no mistake about it! I am a Prayer Warrior!! I pray for you and your family's protection from the evil one. I pray for the salvation of your unsaved friends, family, and co-workers. I will pray for any specific need you may have in your life if you will contact me about it. I certainly don't mind praying for you about anything. In fact, it is part of my job description a...s Pastor of COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH. Acts 6 says that I am to PRAY and MINISTER to the Word of God. Prayer is my duty and responsiblity; that's what I do. BUT, I do want to encourage you to join me in prayer and pray for me, too!! I certainly do not have a monopoly on prayer just because I am a Pastor. You have the same priviledge and responsibilty to pray that I have if you are a believer and servant of the Most High God!! Would you please join me in Prayer today and everyday? Together we can all unleash the awesome Power of the Holy Spirit to bring light into this old dark World. Let the Living Waters flow!!! ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Pastor Lynn Kirkland on November 28, 2011 at 8:31am

Do everything without griping and arguing, so as to be clean and above reproach, uncorrupted children of God in the midst of misguided and bad people, among whom you shine as beacons in the world, offering to all of them the living ideas. Then I’ll be proud of you in the dawning Christian era, because you will be my proof that I neither ran in vain nor worked for nothing. For even if my life is sacrificed in ministering to your faith, I am glad and want to share my joy with you. And if you are called upon to do the same, you too rejoice and in turn share your joy with me. Philipians 2:14-18 [The Cotton Patch Version}

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on November 26, 2011 at 6:27pm

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

JUST FOR TODAY: The World tells us that a good relationship is one of give and take, but that's not the way a relationship with Jesus works.  Jesus will never "take" anything from you, and you will never "take" anything from Him, that's for sure.  The transactions between Jesus and his followers are always ones of Give and Recieve; very mysterious ways for us to get used to.  Example: The Bible in...structs us in Ephesians 5:20 to "give thanks" to Jesus for ALL things (good or bad); no matter how you "feel".  He doesn't force you to thank Him, but He will certainly "recieve" it if you do!  In return, Jesus will give you Peace and Joy; no matter what your circumstances are.  You don't force Him to give you Peace and Joy, but you will certainly "recieve" it when He does won't you?  To people who don't know Jesus, I know this all sounds crazy, but no matter what the World thinks, those who obey Jesus in giving Thanks in this way will always certainly be blessed, even though hard circumstances may remain.  Remember back when your Mamma would put "blueing" on a wasp bite to take the "sting" out?  THANKFULNESS is the "blueing" that will take the sting out of all the adversity in your life.  ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on November 25, 2011 at 11:27am

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

JUST FOR TODAY: Thanksgiving day has come and gone, but please continue to be Thankful!!  We serve an awesome God that is worthy of our Thankfulness and Praise 365 days a year.  His Word is a lamp unto our life; full of wonderful promises. His Love for us is unconditional and unending.  His Power and His Strength and His Resources have no limits.  Be very Thankful if you have a personal Relationship with Jesus in your life and please, please pray for those who don't.  Thank you Father God for your Love. Thank you Lord Jesus for your Salvation.  Thank you Holy Spirit for your Living Waters and may they flow and be poured out on all mankind. GIVE HIM PRAISE!!!  ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on November 24, 2011 at 1:35pm

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

JUST FOR TODAY: Never seek to interpret the Word of God, but seek the Revelation of it.  Interpretation of God's Word comes from human intellect and always causes division among God's people.  Revelation of His Word comes from the Holy Spirit and it too causes division; it will separate the will of God from carnality.  ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on November 23, 2011 at 11:54am

 

JUST FOR TODAY: Wouldn't you just Love to see God touch the whole world today? Wouldn't you Love to see God touch your life and the life of your friends and Loved ones? God would Love to do these things for us, but we must cooperate with Him; Saturate yourself with the Word of God and be receptive to the Holy Spirits Revelation thereof; Pray about all things, good and bad, and you will see the p...ower of the Holy Spirit unleashed in your life and in all those around you; Most of all, believe in the Word of God and the power of prayer. We cannot stand on the Word of God if we do not know the Word of God and believe in it. We cannot get answers to our prayers without praying them and praying them with Faith. If you want to see an increase in God's activity in your life, increase your praying in Faith and LOOK OUT!!! ~Pastor Lynn

Comment by Jeff Hildebrandt on November 23, 2011 at 11:35am

thanksGIVING

Remember how it used to be?
Thanksgiving with the family...
Turkey, dressing, maybe ham,
vegetables and candied yams.
Waldorf salad, homemade rye,
mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie.
You'd drink a toast and say a prayer
of thanks for all who'd gathered there.
Remember how it used to be?
Now look around at what's to see;
the dark and stark reality.
Can you improve their memories?
For what you have and how you're living,
you can show your thanks, by giving.

Jeff Hildebrandt © 1990

 

Comment by Pastor Lynn Kirkland on November 22, 2011 at 9:15am

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM PASTOR LYNN & ANN  <CLICK LINK

Comment by Lynn D. Walker on November 22, 2011 at 9:06am

Please visit us at COWBOY COUNTRY CHURCH

JUST FOR TODAY: When Thankfulness goes UP along with Praise, the Blessings of God come DOWN!!  A Thankful Attitude causes the windows of Heaven to fly open and Spiritual Blessings fall freely down to us.  Let's all get a thankful mind-set and rejoice in our Saviour no matter what our circumstances may be.  He is our refuge and our strength, an ever present and well proved help in times of trouble.(Psalm 46:1)  Wild animals find food and safety on the man made refuge areas; the trick is getting out of the public hunting areas onto the refuge!!  Thankfulness is our ticket to getting on God's refuge with access to His Strength and His Help. THANK YOU LORD!!  ~Pastor Lynn

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