Reading The Bible Through In 09  

Posted by Gregg Potts

In the past couple of days, I have invited our church family, First Baptist Church, Dallas, to join me in reading the Bible through in 09. Several have responded indicating they are going to do so. I would also like to invite anyone else who may drop by my blog while browsing in cyberspace to join me and others in reading through the Bible in 09. He are the rules we are going to follow:

1) If you get behind, don't sweat it. All of us will, periodically, miss a day or two or maybe even three or four. It will happen. Don't sweat that. If you miss a day or, a couple of days, you can take a few extra moments and catch up or, just read what you can.
2) If you have questions about something you've read, email me. If I can help explain it, I will. But, please understand, there will be likely be lots of times when I say, "I don't know either, we will have to wait until we get to heaven to know the answer."
3) As we read through the Bible, I want us to learn and have fun doing it. Ok, so, there are the rules... Now, here are the readings through Saturday, January 3.

Jan. 1Genesis 1:1-2:25Matthew 1:1 - 2:12Psalm 1:1-6Proverbs 1:1-1:6
Jan. 2Genesis 3:1-4:26Matthew 2:13-3:6Psalm 2:1-2:12Proverbs 1:7-1:9
Jan. 3Genesis 3:1-4:26Matthew 3:7-4:11Psalm 3:1-8Proverbs 1:10-19

I'm looking forward to this. It's going to be fun. If you decide to join me and others on this trip, either leave a comment on my blog or send me an email at gepotts1@yahoo.com. Look forward to hearing from you and, have a great new year!

Reading The Bible Through in 09  

Posted by Gregg Potts

For those who are interested in joining me in reading the Bible through... follow this link and you will find a list of readings.

http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/january.asp?version=51&startmmdd=0101

Email me or text me and let me know how your journey through the Bible is going.

Join me in reading the Bible through in 2009  

Posted by Gregg Potts

2008 is almost over.
Wow... time flies.
In less than two days we will tear off the calendar sheet that reads "December 2008" and replace it with "January 2009".
A new year.
A new start.
Around this time of year I normally reflect on the past year and look forward to the new one. I will set some goals of things I want to accomplish in the new year. I encourage you to set some goals as well.
One thing I encourage you to do is to plan to read through the Bible. This is a great spiritual discipline and will help you grow as a Christians.
However, you may be thinking, "I can't devote enough time to reading through the Bible."
While I certainly don't know your schedule, I would think that you can. It might mean spending less time say... watching tv but, most of us could get this done. It shouldn't take you more than 30 minutes a day. And, more than likely, you could do it in about 15 minutes.
You could also be thinking, "What if I get behind?" or, "What if I miss a day?"
No sweat, just catch up the next day. And, you may not get the entire Bible read next year but, you can get some of it read and some it is better than none!
So, today and tomorrow (Dec. 30 & 31) seriously consider joining me in reading through the Bible. If you decide to do this, send me an email to let me know.

Gregg Potts

Take a trip with me in 09  

Posted by Gregg Potts

Did the title get your attention? That's my feeble attempt at marketing...lol Now, that I have your attention, let me invite you to take a trip with me in 09. No, I'm not planning a trip to the Holy Land. Sorry if I disappointed you. Instead, I want to encourage you to take a trip with me through the 66 books of the Bible.

This idea is just forming in my mind so... there will be more to come in the next few days but for now, would you consider joining me, beginning Jan. 1, 09 and let's read through the Bible? If so, it will help you grow spiritually.

I will find some type of guide that we can all go by and I will publish it in my blog and on our website. That way, all of us are going at the same pace. And, as we read, I will blog about how God is speaking to me as we read and you can share your experi ences as well. I think this could be a very neat thing.

I mean, I could see people in their Sunday School classes talking about what they had read and discussing what the Lord said to them about those particular texts. Again... it could be lots of fun and it could help us grow in the Lord.

So, for now... would you consider joining me and let's take a trip through the Bible in 09? If so, please email me to let me know "you're in"... If you get behind a few days in your reading, no sweat... we will help out one another.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Let's take a trip through God's word together in 09.

 

Posted by Gregg Potts in

Merry CHRISTmas... it's Jesus birthday!  

Posted by Gregg Potts

It's almost here... Christmas day, that is.
For weeks now we have shopped and sent cards and had gatherings. We have had parades and watched Christmas specials on tv. Tomorrow is the apex of the Christmas season.
We will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world.
Even though we have good intentions, it can be really challenging to remain focused on the real meaning of the season. Christmas is so commercial. There is nothing wrong with giving gifts but it can be wrong if it becomes the primary focus of the season. I battle it just like you do.
When our kids were young I would worry thinking "Do we have enough?"
"Enough?"
What is "enough?"
The fact is, I was succumbing to the temptation of commercialism.
I remember watching the Walton television special growing up. PaPa Walton came home and brought all the Waltons one gift each. John Boy, the aspiring writer, got a writing tablet. That was it. One tablet.
So, compared to the Waltons Christmas, we had MORE than enough.
I guess I'm writing this as much to me as to those of you who will read this. We have a tendency to want Christmas to be this magical moment. We want it to be perfect. You know... the Norman Rockwell scene.. everyone sitting around the table with the turkey in the center, Dad with the cardigan sweater etc...
Of course, TV reinforces this.
So, today, on the eve of the day on which we will celebrate Jesus birth, let's all try to allow the Holy Spirit to give us the peace on earth Jesus came to give everyone who wants it.
There is a story about a lady who tried to teach her children that Christmas is Jesus birthday. To reinforce this, she had an empty chair at the table for lunch reminding her kids that the day is about Jesus.
Christmas afternoon, the family had a guest. A lady entered the house and asked a little girl "Well, did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?"
The little girl responded, "No, but it's not my birthday."
I like that.
Join me this afternoon at 5 for our Christmas Eve candlelight Lord's Supper as we worship our Lord. If you are unable to make the Christmas Eve service, I hope you have a wonderful spirit-filled Christmas.
Merry CHRISTmas.

Let's make sure we are investing our money in eternal things  

Posted by Gregg Potts

This morning I made a stop at a convenience store for come coffee. While checking out I noticed a guy with a cap that represented one of the teams playing for the Southeastern Conference Championship. I commented on his cap and we chatted a minute.
As we walked outside he volunteered the information that he had four tickets for the game and, that he had paid $750 per ticket. I was stunned!
$750 per ticket.
Let's see... some quick math reveals that.. hey, buddy.. you have $3,000 wrapped up in this game and you haven't eaten or paid for parking.
$3,000.00 wow... that's a lot of money..
As he got in this vehicle he said "It's a once in a lifetime experience."
Now, I know that at times we pay extra for things because it is a memory making experience. I understand that.
And, 3K may be the going rate for four tickets for a game of this magnitude. I have only been to one game like this so my experience is limited. Several years ago, I was given tickets to the Sugar Bowl when LSU played Illinois. But, I don't think they cost $750 each.
But as I thought about this, I thought how difficult it is to get people to give to missions but this guy is shelling out 3k for a football game.
Actually, I also thought that this guy could be one who would complain if he came to church and the preacher preached on money! ha! Yes, I know, I'm judging a little there. Maybe he wouldn't complain at all.
But what this whole experience taught me is... we spend money on things that are important to us. If we believe in something, we are more likely to shell out.
This guy is shelling out big bucks for tickets.
What will he have to show for it? Well, he will likely spend a day with his family. That's good stuff.
He told me he had three boys so it will be a "father son" day... That's good stuff as well.
They will have lots of memories.. That's good stuff.
They will have pictures... that's good as well.
All of those things are good and.. to this guy, at least, they are worth 3k. But what's important to you? Hopefully reaching people for Jesus is important.
Let's invest in eternity.

The "what have you done for me lately" mindset  

Posted by Gregg Potts

Yesterday, Tommy Tuberville resigned as head coach of Auburn University.
If you do not follow college football, you may be asking "Tommy who?"
But, my guess is that many of you are at least familiar with the name. You may not be strong followers of college football but, since football is so big in the South, you have probably at least heard the name.
Now, before I go any farther, let me make it clear to any Auburn alumni who will read this blog; this blog post is not a slap at Auburn. Please don't read it that way. Instead, it's a slap at college football in general. Auburn just happens to be the example used.
So, what am I referring to?
Well, first of all, even though I love athletics as much as anyone, sports has gotten absolutely, way out of hand in America. And that sentence is typed by a "sports nut." Yep, I said it. Sports is out of hand.
We are obsessed with it. Well, maybe "we" is too strong. "Many" are obsessed with it.
Recently, I attended a high school playoff game. It was cold. I'm talking cold... Hard cold. I had layers of clothes on to try to keep warm. Everyone else did, too. As I looked around at the crowd that night, I couldn't help but ask the question; "Would you be able to get people out in weather like this for a church service?"
I think you know the answer.
That is an example of how obsessed we are with sports.
The situation with Tommy Tuberville is another example. Tuberville was Auburn's head coach for 10 years. I don't know his exact record but, it was pretty good. He's a good coach. Several years ago his team went undefeated and then got robbed when they didn't get a shot at playing for the national championship.
But this year, Auburn struggled. They went 5-7 and Auburn fans weren't happy.
I'm an LSU fan and I wouldn't have been happy with that record either. I'm not happy and LSU went 7-5.
UGA fans aren’t totally happy and they went 8-3, I think.
So, here's the point; college football coaches are being fired when they don't win 8 or even 9 games. Why? Because we expect so much in our culture.
Now, to be fair, these guys are paid LOTS of money. Tuberville will walk away from Auburn with 5 million. I think I could live off of that. lol
So, it's not like these guys are destitute. But, they are being held to a very, very high standard. Very high.
And that is the point of this blog post. Throughout the Southeastern Conference, more money is being thrown at coaches, and with more money, comes higher expectations. Every school expects to win. So, every week, coaches being paid lots of money are running on the field to play other teams coached by men being paid lots of money. And, both coaches have great players. But, someone has to lose. They don't let games end in a tie.
So, we have a system that throws mega bucks at coaches and builds multi-million dollar facilities and with all of that, the expectations are outrageous. And then, when coaches don't win at least 8 games, they are fired.
Maybe we need to back away from the table here and put this in perspective. It's kind of interesting to me how quickly schools can come up with money to buy coaches out when they want them gone, but churches have difficulty getting people to give to win someone to Jesus. Go figure. I think we have our priorities out of line.