September 2010
2 posts
Bikes & God
The other day one of my sons told me he would like to learn how to ride a bike. I was pumped! This was going to be one of those great father/son moments together where I get to bestow some of my fatherly wisdom and advice. In exchange my son would gush with appreciation of my insight and direction. Yeah right.
Within a few minutes he was mad, I was frustrated, and I think both of us wanted to...
I'm Baaaaack!
I’m back but not in a creepy Jack Nicholson The Shining kind of way. I took a little blogging break but I promise I’ll try not to do it again. I really do want to keep this updated, fresh, and insightful and taking a month off really doesn’t go to help that happen, does it?
Anyway, I picked up a little book by John Stott entitled The Radical Disciple and it’s got a lot...
July 2010
4 posts
Mighty Men: They Were Battle Tested (3 of 5)
In the 1996 movie The Ghost and the Darkness Charles Remington, played by Michael Douglas, gives Col. Patterson, Val Kilmer, some invaluable advice. At one point in the movie Col. Patterson goes into the wilderness looking for the renegade lions with a new rifle. Soon into the hunt he finds himself staring down the sights of the rifle at one of the renegade lions. The lion turns, makes eye...
Mighty Men: They Were Few (2 of 5)
Friends, close friends are far and few between. I’ve honestly been shocked when I meet someone who says they got an entourage of close friends that rolls some 10-15 deep. I just wonder, “How in the world are you that close to so many people?” The answer is, they really can’t be.
As I’ve looked at David’s mighty men in 2Samuel 23:8-39 the second lesson to be...
Mighty Men: They Had Rank (1 of 5)
I’ve been absolutely seized by what God’s teaching me through 2 Samuel 23 and wanted to share what I’ve been pondering because I think it’s applicable for so many in a variety of ways.
In 2 Samuel 23:8-39 we have a list of some the baddest warrior men ever compiled in one place. Not only is this an account of David’s mighty men but it serves to teach us a lot...
Pacing
For about the past year or so I’ve really gotten into running. Before that, I hated it. I use to hate it because I didn’t know anything about pacing. I hit the road or trail like a bat out of hell only to find myself gassed less than a mile into it… and then a veteran runner gave me some advice. He told me I should be able to keep a minimal conversation going while running. ...
June 2010
7 posts
Influence?
I’ve been having some pretty intense conversations lately that are causing me to consider who and what has influenced me over the years. You don’t realize but all of a sudden you find yourself on auto pilot responding to people and situations without asking how you came to that answer or conviction in the first place.
No this isn’t about my faith-basics like Jesus, the Bible or...
One Foot In Front Of The Other
Lao Tzu, 6th century BC Chinese philosopher, is known for a lot of things one being his statement about any long journey. He said:
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
I’ve recently heard some people from the church I pastor to friends I’m close to talk about where God’s taking them. I’ve also heard from others who seem overwhelmed, not in a good...
Anonymous asked: That is so awesome. I love to see when people look into someone's life and want JESUS. We should all live lives that reflect HIS GREAT LOVE for us. If each one of us did that, the WORLD would be greatly effected by the body of CHRIST!
The Gospel Works!
I got a call from a friend who was ecstatic yesterday. She had the opportunity to lead a friend of hers to Jesus. This was a friend she has lived with, loved on, rejoiced with and even suffered with. In short they’ve done LIFE together.
And after years of joy and pain this person wanted what my friend has. She didn’t want a list of books read, classes taken or seminars attended...
Anonymous asked: Andrew,
Hello! My mom (Delorys Ashby) sent me the link that your mom sent her. This may not be the correct place to just say hi, but I couldn't resist!
It's so hard to believe that little "Drew" is now leading a congregation of people to worship our Saviour! It seems like good things are happening and I'm so proud of and excited for you!
Hello! My mom (Delorys Ashby) sent me the link that your mom sent her. This may not be the correct place to just say hi, but I couldn't resist!
It's so hard to believe that little "Drew" is now leading a congregation of people to worship our Saviour! It seems like good things are happening and I'm so proud of and excited for you!
"I have applied all these things to myself... "
I had a lot of people comment on a statement I said yesterday so I thought I would give it a bit more attention.
In my sermon yesterday on 1Corinthians 1-4 entitled Distractions & Division I made this comment about hypocritical leaders/teachers — “If there’s no application to ones proclamation it’s just speculation.”
The Corinthians were fighting about who...
Walk by faith not wait by faith (2Cor 5:7). You’ve got 2 b moving 2 b directed. Fear not & walk on!
May 2010
19 posts
Bryce my 3-yr-old: Obama has a jet pack. Me: Really? Bryce: Yeah. Might not b true but
Let me finish that. Might not b true but it would b pretty cool!
There is no attribute more comforting 2 God’s children than His sovereignty - Charles Spurgeon
Who r your picks for tonight’s @UFC 114? It’s going to b epic!
To the man I just saw in the Transam complete w/ mullet & Izod shirt - thx 4 keeping the 80’s alive!
Raise your sails today & allow the Spirit of God to lead u - Galatians 5
Admiring or Idolizing?
There’s a thin line between admiring someone and idolizing them. When we admire them we take notice and appreciate aspects of who they are i.e. their character, certain gifts or a specific ability.
But when we idolize someone we elevate them to a place they were never intended to hold. We begin to place too much weight on what they do and say and when they fail us or disappoint us…...
Follower of Jesus: Regardless how u feel or anything you’ve done your Identity hasn’t changed (1Cor 1:4-9).
Unity
This Sunday I’m starting a new series out of the book of 1Corinthians called Unity. If you want to get a jump on the first message I encourage you to read 1Corinthians 1-4.
In the meantime head over to our new website, www.thegatheringnc.org, and invite a friend to join us this Sunday. All you have to do is click on the INVITE A FRIEND tab right underneath the flash banner.
I look...
Right Things, Hard Things & God’s Thing. Check out my new blog and follow my tweets @ http://pastorandrewsmith.com/
Right Things, Hard Things & God's Thing
Too often we want to help God out by doing what we think is the right thing. Our motives and intentions may be right but in the end what we’ve really done is the wrong thing. And why is it wrong? Because we put the outcome in our own hands thinking God wasn’t able or interested.
What should we have done? The hard thing. We should have lovingly said what needed to be said. We...
If we pray 4 the Spirit’s leading b ready for divine appointments & providential directing.
So, LOST = dead reunion? Lame!
Glad 2 b back @theGathering this morning! Can’t wait 2 preach on the significance of Pentecost.
On my way back from the beach. U don’t realize how loud the world is until u unplug for awhile.
Stick w/ me...
I don’t know about you but it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the info coming at us these days. With that said, I want to give you an idea how I’m going to use this blog and what you can expect to find by following it.
I want to share life in write-bytes (written form of sound-bytes) with you… the good, bad and in-between.
I’ll post thoughts on theology, books...
Vacations should b time to refresh 4 not retreat from the world.
What if we quit evangelizing and simply lived on mission? We would stop compartmentalizing our lives.
Self righteousness is the most insidious sin among religious people. Jesus is more interested w/ your motives over your methods.