Powerless Lives

Why so many Christians live powerless lives.
The tragic truth of our time is that countless Christians are living without strength when their God is full of power. And I firmly believe that one of the main reasons this happens is that we don’t understand the difference between power and strength.

Over the last week I have seen someone come close to death several times and with many prayers He defeats it and improves with each set back. It seems like semantics, but this is actually what separates the ordinary believer from the great men and women of faith in the Bible and throughout history.

Every Christian believes God is powerful. But not every Christian understands that God’s power is not just a statement. It’s a tangible, practical reality that you have to seize and appropriate to your life.

In other words, God’s power isn’t an "ACE in the deck."
It’s possible for God to have all the power but for you to live in total weakness.

Think of it like this:
God is still all-powerful when you’re continuing to live in slavery to sin.
God is still all-powerful when you’re letting yourself be a victim of your circumstances.
God is still all-powerful when you’re living a life of mediocrity.
God is still all-powerful when you’re living as if He isn’t.

God already has all the power He will ever need to do everything He wil ever want to do. In the world and in your life. But God’s power is only potential until you convert it into strength by faith and action.

Strength is where you seize God’s power and walk it out daily.

To leave the slavery of your sin.
To rise above your circumstances.
To break out of the monotony of mediocrity.
To live a life that can only be explained by an infinitely powerful God.

Don’t waste another second praying that God would be powerful. He’s already powerful. And don’t waste another second praying that you would have more power. The power of the resurrection is inside of YOU. That’s more than enough power for anything you’ll ever face in your life.

You already have what you’re praying for. Take God’s power. Appropriate it. And let it become strength in every area your life.

If you are a believer, you have already been given the great commission and you don't need anyone's permission. ACT in HIS NAME Today.

Come on Church. RISE UP. TAKE ACTION. DO SOMETHING. DO IT with POWER.

till next time,

tc

Eat More Chicken

A few weeks ago I had breakfast with a buddy. We met at Chick-fil-A. We both love their food, but also because as Christians, you’re almost required by law to meet there for breakfast. It's actually one of TC's commandments and the bible states it like this, “Where any two or more are gathered, Chick-fil-A must be involved.” Well maybe not quite like that, but very similar. In the middle of breakfast, as we wrestled with a few issues, he said something interesting: “I wish God had given us a manual for this life we’re called to lead.” That’s a fair request to make when you think about how complicated life gets. We’ve all got bills to pay, meetings to attend, iPhones, Blackberrys or even my Incredible HTC Incredible, that doesn't stop chirping at us, Twitter feeds to read, Facebook friends to talk with, and a million other things that need our attention. Life is loud and complex sometimes.

What if there was a manual that showed us how to live? What if there was a book that talked about being busy and showed us how to have lives of peace? What if we could find, not just a broad philosophy, but actually a plan for each day of our lives? Can you fathom that? I’m not talking about a pamphlet or a website or even a series of YouTube videos that give us advice about double rainbows. Can you imagine hundreds and hundreds of God-spoken pages that read like a love letter to a world on tilt?

What if we had that? I have bookshelves littered with leadership manuals by numerous authors and yet I’ve searched for that book my entire life. And I don’t think I’m the only one. Sometimes, as Christians we lose sight of the Bible. We get used to it. We get familiar with it and forget what it really is. God’s word. God’s love letter. God’s plan. God’s day to day, life to life, heart to heart truth. Maybe it’s because we get busy or we “grew up in the church.” I think part of the reason we pine for a plan when we’ve already been given one is that the enemy distracts us. One of his favorite tricks is encouraging people to search for something they already have. It’s impossible to find something that’s already been found. And the manual for life has been. It’s the Bible. And it’s what you need and I need and even friends at a Chick-fil-A and maybe very soon, like in the next few days, I can sit in a Chick-fil-A booth and just hang a while with you to.

I leave you with this parting thought.

Every now and then shut the phone off and turn of the laptop and the tv and maybe even the radio. Go some place out of the way. Go off the beaten path and just sit and dwell with God. I just bet He will pull up a stool and join you where ever you are.

till next time,

peace

tc

Chillin'

Well it's a lazy Sunday afternoon after another amazing worship experience at LCWM. It just keeps getting better and better and it's so refreshing the hear great and memorable stories come from Pastor Joel. He is by far the real deal and so open with his life's stories. But I sat there today soaking in knowledge of how we profess Jesus is Lord in our lives but many times our lifestyle says just the opposite. The facts are that 94% of people in America say they believe in God. So why then aren't our churches overflowing with people and the body of Christ is exploding with growth. They should be so full that tents should be on every block holding services with that kind of overflow.

Being a teenager in the 70's and seeing my generation literally fall away, it saddens me when I read post on FB of how few people mention God, missions, serving and hardly ever the name of Jesus. I know we get so caught up in our everyday lives that we just forget who holds it all together, Jesus. With FULL FAITH,I believe the Bible when it says "In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Jesus was with God in the beginning. Through Jesus all things were made; without Jesus nothing was made that has been made. In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of men. Jesus shines in the darkness, but the darkness (meaning us) has not understood it."

For the last many decades, I have been very blessed to have many things. A wife who loves me still after 35+ years, a son who makes me so very proud of him, an incredibly gifted and caring daughter-in-law who thru her and my son, has blessed us with a grand daughter. A loving Faith Family (my church) who continues to amaze me. A Pastor and his wife who love people like no clergy I have ever seen before, close brothers in ministry, students who I have had the privilege of sharing life with as their student or college pastor. But above all these blessed things. I have a Savior who loves me like no tomorrow. He quickly points out when I fall as He loves me back thru repentance. He has never once failed me even in the slightest way.

So back to my initial thought. Why do we profess Jesus with our lips and then deny him with our lifestyle? That is what a broken world finds so amazing? So if you are a believer and read this blog. Do this not only for me but for Jesus. Sit up straight, hold your head up and DO THE DEAL. ACT LIKE IT. Paul says it like this, (in my own words). Do what is noble and right and just and you should stick out like a giant spotlight for the world to see. THAT, my friends will be your entrance to sharing Jesus to a VERY BROKEN WORLD.

till next time,
tc
Romans 5:1

Now as for me, I am headed tonight to a 4 day youth thing we call Youth MPact. Even though I am officially a College Pastor, I love being with H/S students period and I have full intention of worshiping MY JESUS. For My Jesus is the one who is worthy of ALL Praise..........

God's Plan

As I was looking at FB (Facebook) tonight, I saw a post by my YP coheart(that's youth pastor) Alberto Sandino, Beto. Beto lost his dad several months back and He misses his voice, his smile and his love very much, as I still miss my dad who went to be with the Lord years ago. I never had the opportunity to meet this quiet man who did so many things for so many people that it is mind boggling. Many times when a loved one passed away, the minister has to dig deep to leave some kind, encouraging words for the family to remember. With Beto's dad it was just the opposite. His dad left a lifelong legacy of "Love God , Love People" planted deeply in Beto and in his wife Ashley that is clearly evident to ones who have had the honor to met and know them. I have been blessed to get to know them both, especially Beto, from both sides of the spectrum, during good times and bad, during happy times and sad. But through the density of life, his dad's kindness and general love for people shows very bright.

Many times I referred to my dad as a silent GIANT. He spoke very little and I hardly ever heard him raise his voice and never knew so many things he did for people until after his passing. Very similar to Dr. Sandino, and yes he was a medical doctor who did things behind the scenes that nobody ever knew about.

So tonight, I praise God for one day the word " brokeness" became real in my life and I knew I truly needed a savior to fix what I had slowly torn down. I hope and pray that my legacy continues in my son and now to my grand daughter for generations to bare witness to. That God through his son Jesus and through the Holy Spirit is very active and very much alive in this broken world if we will only say, Yes.

As I look back on my journey tonight," What would I have changed if I could? I thought about several but these kinda rise to the top. #1- I would have packed the bags more often and taken more vacations with the family. The church will be there when I get back and it will function fine with out me. #2- I would have spent more time with mom and dad, relatives, aunts, uncles, grand parents etc. Time has a way of slipping through our fingers very quickly.

So for whoever reads ths blog, understand this, I may be getting older but in NO WAY, will I ever stop serving Christ and stop loving people. I may be 84 and still hanging around students but Wow, will I have some stories to tell.

Time is precious and Life is Truly Like A Vapor, so seise every moment you have like it's you last, cause it just might be.

till next time
peace

tc
Romans 5:1

Changes

Sometimes God lays things on our heart that we just can't quite comprehend and NEVER fully understand. For years I have seen church " culture" go from growing to decline. I am starting to see churches die simply because they are stuck in the past and not moving forward. If we are to be the same and never change why did Jesus come and make a drastic shift. It's the same for church life today.

I saw a great example of that a few months back that has been floating around in my mind and it will just not go away. I saw a certain young couple walking up to a "church service". I noticed them because they were very different. They were dressed in "Extreme Gothic" attire. Five or so years ago they would have been stopped at most churches front door. At this worship service, they were so warmly welcomed it stood out in my mind to this day. This couple said absolutely nothing to anybody there except to each other. They were greeted by at least 10 people that day.

Recently I returned to this church and guess who I first saw as I was approaching the entrance doors, this couple. Still dressed in Goth and welcoming people from many different walks of life. Why are some churches so accepting and some so cold and dead. Is Jesus not there anymore or has the church culture shifted gears. Today's culture is changing people, so get ready. It will blow past you or you can embrace it and show God's Love in a new way, but it's changing, like it or not.

Aren't you tired of denominational barriers saying that this is the only way to do something. That doing some certain things divides the church and causes turmoil. That having church in a school building,a rented vacant building is wrong. I know a church who's biggest business sponsor is a bar. They want nothing in return and have told the pastor, "we believe in what you are doing and the people who go there are real". I heard one person critised a church pastor that he didn't preach the word out of the KJV bible. Then I hear last week a guy who said, "them church. All they want and talk about is money". We have got to get real and be more like Christ if we are ever going to make a difference. Again, many churches think that doing certain things divides a church. The only thing that divides a church is a narrow mindset of who Jesus really is. Jesus can make something out of nothing and can do anything with something. Narrow minded religious babble will kill a church and I pray before that happens people will wake up.

Change is coming people, like it or not. My generation did a loosy job of showing and sharing Jesus in the world and it's time to change. So if you are stuck in the KJV and are protesting a video worship set and a video message, you sure will protest a "Hologram worship experience" because it's already here and coming to a worship experience near you.

Question? How many students come to your churches youth group. How many leave after High School Graduation and seem to fall off the planet? 80% by most recent stats. There are many factors to blame but as this trend continues, all churches will sink into the abys. Go in a differnet direction and I just bet, God will show you things in a new way.

Now this in not a church bashing blog. I love the body of Christ and I serve Jesus through it. I do disagree with some on their way of thinking, but I pray, we all need to think in a different mindset. Sometimes putting new wine and an old wineskin just doesn't work. Just sayin"

till next time
peace

tc

I mowed my grass a few days ago and it really needed it. Between the 90-something degree weather every day, and a hectic schedule the last couple of weeks, I'd neglected to cut it. But that night was actually a few degrees cooler when I got home from work so I pulled out the mower and began to mow down the jungle before my neighbors revolted.
As I cut a path through the thick, overgrown grass, I thought about the fact that I actually “sort of” like having tall grass to cut. At this point in my life, I really don't EVER enjoy cutting grass like I used to. But, if I have to do it, I want to do it when I can see progress made instantly. I like looking back at the strip of grass I just cut, and seeing it neatly topped off next to the still uncut grass. AHHHHH Instant gratification.
I had an idea that night that maybe sometimes God is slow (at least, from my standpoint) in handling our problems because He wants us to see that it's Him at work. When our worries seem to go from bad to worse, growing up and threatening to take over our lives completely, perhaps it's because God knows that if He took care of things sooner, we wouldn't notice or truly appreciate the difference. I don't want to cut a lawn that will look the same both before and after it's been cut. Maybe God feels the same about our lives.
Just another weird thought......


till next time
peace
TC
Romans 5:1

In an Instant

First of all, RARELY am I ever short of words to say or write. But, last Wednesday was one of those "Kodak Moments" that you wish could last forever. One of those rare times in your life that you actually feel God's very strong in your life, like He is right there looking over your shoulder. One of thsoe rare times when your life flashes before your very eyes. The words are so close, but yet so very far away and words just don't do it justice at all. No where even close. But last Wednesday 6-30-2010 at 5:09pm a new legacy was started and our first grandchild, Payton Landry Coats was born. First, I praise God for the miracle of life and for the love that Brad and Elisha have for each other. A good long time friend Charles Bamburg told me last week, "There's nothing like it in the world", and I think He was right about that. Now, I still have not totally grasp this whole Grand Parent thing, but I am sure it won't take long.

When I look into Payton's face, I see many of my son's facial features and I see the petite character of his mom. So tiny at a whopping 5lbs but so incredible to just look at. Tiny hands, tiny feet, but a strong set of lungs. When my wife holds her in her arms, her face lights up. That look can not be earned and is yet another gift from our Heavenly Father.

So our legacy continues and God is to be praised as the giver of life.

Till next time,

tc
Romans 5:1

New thoughts

Being Father's Day I spent time with family today. I traveled to Bossier to see my son, daughter in law and soon to be grand daughter (a few weeks still away). I attended a church today that holds it's services in a movie theater on the Boardwalk. A great idea in itself being that everyone goes to the movies. It's like "neutral ground" for the ongoing war of Good Vs Evil. Years ago, I started seeing a trend of people just walking away and leaving the church. Mostly the ones who get out of High School then go off to college and party their life away for the next 5-10 years before reality sets in and they land back on planet earth. To put their nose to the grindstone and bust their butts for 40 years and get sucked into the American Dream of materialism, wealth and lots of bling bling. Then one day the light pops on in their brain (if there is a brain left after drinking and drugs from their earlier years)and they realize it was all a lie. Sad to say, I was once there but God's Grace was sufficient and pulled me up, slapped my face, WHAM, a new me arose.

I absolutely was blown away by what I saw an experienced today. So we went to "SIMPLE CHURCH".

Simple Church is (strangely enough) where I saw the need about a dozen years ago (in my opinion) is the direction where the church should go. Doing things that churches aren't doing to reach people that traditional churches just aren't reaching. I strong feel anything outside of sin is fair game, regardless what people think. Myson and daughterin law have both been going for a while now. They have it in the movie theater on the Boardwalk in Bossier. The now have 4 services. They use LOTS of video clips. Today we saw a clips using stick me and kids cartoon drawings about Dads. Then a country music video, Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood and clips from Summer vacation w/ Chevy Chase.

The concept was initially funded by First Bossier and some die hard individuals that saw that church has to chage and reach in a new direction, and it has exploded but has taken it's hits due to it's fast paced nature. 50 minutes and wham ur out. 2 song worship set, video, message and go. It has been so popular they have a simulcast in the theater next door.

Unbelievable worship experience that has reached many that would never step in a regular church. Very diverse people from all walks of life who are making a huge difference in Bossier.

Back to my initial thoughts, excuse my ADD. I overheard two families talking this morning about their former church. I didn't mean to ease drop (well yea I did) but I am always aware that everyone has a different story and the more I hear, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more knowledge I have towards trying to " make a difference in the dying world.". One said his former church was just not satisfying "his needs". The other family said," they look like a church, act like a church but they are dead inside simply because they never do anything put side their 4walls. They are stuff full of pre-packaged ministry in a box programs and unnecessary 4 wall fellowships.

My initial thoughts were enough to make me vomit (sorry). The first church in Acts got their ACT together, (corny I know. But you gotta admit, the timing was perfect). After the Holy Spirit fell, they were BOLD and SERVED others. Then came this dude named Paul who wrote letters to wake churches up and the New Testament was full of letters from Paul to churches that were in trouble. Either they were being selfish, teaching incorrect doctrine, women were bickering, and on and on. The church, the bride of Christ, the church, the body of believers that Christ loves and protects and died for, was imperfect then and still is today. But, we are to be part of that body, as imperfect as it is because He told us to. Here’s the thing…going to church is not about us. It is about joining with other believers, coming together to worship God and bring Him honor and glory. We live in a day when everything is about us, our comfort, our needs being met, our happiness, our dreams. But when you read scripture, it is all about God and His honor and His glory, His mercy, His grace, His love and His justice. We are the blessed recipients of His grace and His mercy and His redemption. So…what to do about churches that we feel don’t meet our needs. Here is what I think. Find a body of believers where you are certain the Word of God, the Bible, is believed to be the inspired word of God and infallible and inerrant in it’s original form. It is the written source of authority from God and should be the only source of doctrine. Then, make sure that the church teaches from scripture and holds to all of the basic things of the Christian faith, the Trinity, Jesus is the son of God and yet God and is the redeemer, the importance of water baptism and communion, the Holy Spirit, that one must repent and be born again to be saved from eternal damnation, etc. Then decide what you want the church to look like in it’s servant hood capacity. If it is lacking as the writer of the letter felt it was, then change it! Be the one to start a soup kitchen, be the one to start a ministry for unwanted college students who are broke and have no money to tithe. How about SINGLES?

Be the one to set up activities that include both marrieds and singles,
be the one to make sure the orphans and the widows are cared for,
be the one to become a missionary,
be the one to start a jail ministry,
be the one to start a homeless shelter,
be the one to do the things you think the church should do but isn’t.

Why in the world do we all think someone else should be the one to do what we all think churches should do?

Be the one to start it if you don’t like what is missing.
Stop complaining about the church and be Jesus’ hands and feet to the world, to your community, to your family, to the poor and change something–if only one thing–change it if you don’t like it.

If you feel like they don’t value your opinions, show them that you know what you are talking about and your thoughts can be respected. You see, maybe people are just too lazy to do anything and they want someone else to set everything up so they can jump in and spend an hour here or an hour there and feel good about themselves and what they did. Again I say, it is not about us and feeling important, or right, or valued! It is about God and honoring Him, not about feeling good. So everything we do and everything we say, should all be to honor Him. So we should selflessly serve one another and let it start with us!

You think the church is doing it wrong? Quietly start participating and help to change it into what you believe Christ intended it to be. It will NEVER get better if everyone who sees it flaws walks away and shakes their head at it and says I am not going to go there because I am disappointed in it. Change it for Christ’s sake!


till next time !

tc
Romans 5:1

"The End"

Ever had one of those days like where your were, you just wanted to be somewhere else? That is today. Today is just not one of my wanna be around people day. If I could, I would go far far away from the noise of the hustle and hurry of this modern day society and just go sit somewhere quitely. Someplace quiet, either near a flowing, bubbling stream or high on a mountain top.
Over the past several months, I have really dug into "The Cross of Christ". I find that on days like these, I just want to go sit and talk to MY Jesus. Notice, "MY" Jesus. I read and reviewed a book that was sent to me by my old buddy Mark Hall, Casting Crowns frontman. Mark wrote this book named , "Your Own Jesus". In this book Mark describes how we each see Jesus differently and how we relate to who he was and is in our life today. Today, I see Jesus as a great listener. Someone who can sit and listen all day long to me and one I can truly lean on. I know what your thinking, TC what's up? What's going on in your brain? Well, Actually nothing and that's the problem.

On previous times in my life, when I seem to go into a CALM SEASON, where there is no drama happening, no family issues I am listening to or dealing with. Just nothing worth mentioning that is going on and that is what has me thinking. In previous times, God has me in a season of resting. Usually preparing me for something HE is getting in order, then when I least expect it, a new season begins and most times without me even knowing it. God is up to something new in my life and that is why I wanna get away and just talk to MY Jesus. I know something is around the corner and I wish I knew what it was. But then if I did, Why would I need Faith? And that in itself is a whole new ballgame there.

Job says it like this in the KJV , "Tho He slay me, yet will I trust in him", and with that I fully agree. Time will tell in this daily walk with MY Jesus.

So how are you and YOUR Jesus today?

till next time,

tc
Romans 5:1
Jesus is not a means to an end; He is the end.

So what's your excuse ?

This past week & all through the weekend, I took on the responsibility to give our home an XtReMe MaKeOvEr. After moving from BIG new house to older and outdated house, I just had to make it happen. So my question is, "Have you ever painted a house"? Your answer is probably, NOT in a million years. It's not easy, washing, scrubbing, sealing, painting, trimming, cleaning up your mess afterwards. I have a much greater respect for painters, carpenters, contractors and the peeps who make our homes look good. Now climbing up a steep ladder to paint a chimney is NOT for me and the older I get the more I despise heights. Next hung new shutters, reworked the patio, repainted doors front and back. I even painted the drab and dull white front door a deep burgandy. As the neighbors walked and drove by they all stopped and starred. "WOW, what a difference, I Love it", was the genuine consensus. Next up was a serious case of mowing, weed eating and edging the driveways and such. When I finally finished, I was exhausted, but as I walked to the street and looked, I felt very proud of what I had accomplished mainly by myself. Now my wife DID HELP SOME, So it's best that I make mention of that fact, hint hint.

So as I took a break today at work, my brain started to work, go figure. Maybe God is that way as well. When we say YES to his call and then step up and reach out and do Good Things that makes a difference on this spinning ball, I truly think God smiles and is proud of us heading into something we are not qualified to do and through his grace, He gives us the motivation and the drive to finish and finish well.

It may be wierd to compare a house project to serving the Lord. But the principle remains the same. There is a job to do, so who is gonna do it. SEND ME is the answer God is looking for. As the marines say it, "Looking for a Few Good Men".

So what's your excuse?


till next time

TC
Romans 5:1

Good Friday or was it?

Well it's been a while since I have even opened my blog. Sometimes, we just need a break from stuff and blogging was one of them. BUT, I am back in the saddle again.

Sometimes I get the urge to write. Just sometimes, not all the time and when I do, it's some random thought that pops in my head from some underlying brain activity that has not yet settled. Kinda like space junk drifting in the heavens somewhere. But this time it's to state a few things.

I have been very deep and really zoning in on what this Cross is all about for months now. Nearly every believer should have a pretty good idea what happened from Psalm Sunday until Easter. If you don't,......... well, I won't go there today. But, the more I find and comprehend, the deeper it takes me and in conclusion I beleieve that, "We are very messed up people". I can grasp when Paul says,"NOT EVEN ONE". I look at my life and see sooooooo many blown opportunities. Wasted time to never get recovered and recycled again. Why do we do that. We see and conclude what we do or don't do and say the wrong things and fix the problem and then down the road somewhere we drift off into Never Never Land. Why can't we ever stay focused on THE PRIZE and finish strong.

I watched The Passion of the Christ last night again with students from my church. That movie always stirs my soul but I believe that the beatings where much more intense than any movie can ever show. Then Jesus hanging on the cross and prayed for the ones who were nailing him to the tree. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing". I think they knew, but they had no clue who it really was. I have no way of even imagining what Jesus must have felt. ALL GOD but yet ALL HUMAN. Human in Nature but Divine as well and allowing it to go forward knowing that all this built up anger God had from the beginning of time and forever more was about to be put on him. (Silent long pause.....................). God's Wrath !!!!!!! Pouring out. Earth trembling. Lightening crashing. Thunder roaring. Earth opening up. Mountains faling. Men running scared. Such an incredible picture that it is hard to visualize and feel.

Before the Cross is for anyone else’s sake, the Cross is for God’s sake. That was it's reason.

Divine satisfaction (God shows His holy character) thru divine substitution (God slays His only Son). That is it's meaning.

I have heard the following words for years and always thought it to be true until now.

"When Jesus was hanging on the Cross, was He thinking about me or you?"
My answer is NO. Jesus hung on the Cross for GOD'S GLORY, not because I am a nice guy. He was absolutely obedient to his Father to the end. He accomplished his mission. He finished his business on earth.

So what's happening in your life? Do you have any unfinished business with God?
The more I serve, the more I see that there is something Bigger out there that we all know and His Name is GOD.

Love God Love People is easy to say, so what's your hangup?

Today being Good Friday was NOT a good day for Jesus'. But in the process it became a great day for us.

Divine Substitution makes way for Divine Satisfaction and that is the GOOD NEWS that we need to share.

80% of the people you ask to come to church on Easter Sunday will come. There is NO easier time to ask than now.

Do Something!

till next time

tc
Romans 5:1

www.timcoats.info

Where Christmas Started

When I look back at where Christmas all started, I see something simple, something humbling, peace, joy and most of all, love. It’s because of God’s love for us that the Christmas story even exists. I see a place that looks like a barnyard and some smelly shepherds as they watched God's greatest miracle happen, while the world sleeps the night away. But as I looked around just today, Christmas has become the busiest time of the year. People fight over toys, Wal-Mart employees get trampled by crazed people looking for a deal, and what's in it for ME is today's standard. Our every thought is consumed by each house having the most lights on it , sending out cards so everyone can see how wonderful your family is (right), buying the best gifts, and if your a parent, making sure the kids get some cool toys. How different do these two scenes seem to ya? How in the word did we get so far away ?

Strangely enough, Christ came to redeem that which was lost. His focus was never on Himself. His desires were always to obey the Father and save all of humanity. The church that started in the book of Acts was focused on telling others about Jesus and serving their neighbors and their communities. People living real authentic lives and openness flourished. Living and sharing life together in good times and in bad. People chose to sacrifice for the good of others, freely giving up things that they once held tightly. People today often seem too inwardly focused. We argue over absolutely meaningless and very stupid topics while people are hurting. Families are falling apart. So how did we get so far from what God intended?

I think we need to be looking at the world through the eye's of God. Let me retract that, I KNOW we need to have God’s view of the world. We can look around and justify everything that we do with words, but God’s offer of redemption is open to everyone. Christ did not die for some, but for everybody. Christ allows us to be a light in a very dark world. Sadly enough, most choose to keep that a lid on it when it comes to even mentioning the name of JESUS !!!

HIS mission is not complete if we are not involved in some way - some how. I've been in ministry long enough to see opportunities are everywhere, especially NOW . Even with the economy in a downward spiral, how about giving of your time. Find a family, a single mom, an adolescent 6th grade boy that can't sit still for a hundred bucks, but who is hurting because he has no one to call dad and show them some Christmas love, God's love. Buy food for a local food pantry or for your church and help feed families or someone during this holiday season. Do what Christ did and make a sacrifice. Give away something you don’t need to help someone in need. God gave us a gift. Won't you share it with someone?
till next time,

peace be with you
tc

TOOOO MUCH !!!!!

Within in the next couple of years, if not already, this next generation is going to go through a Major Burnout. Some of you can already identify with what I mean, but for others consider this: go through how many commercials, Facebook invites, Twitter messages, church events or global campaigns you’ve been asked to contribute to in just the last day, week or month. Tons right!?! < ENOUGH ALREADY >

Everyday in ministry, I hear about very real needs, I see images from parts of the world where people are hurting, I hear how basic things like shoes, water and medicine can be such a huge help. These things, this pain and the hurt of others I see causes pain in me even if from thousands of miles away and it is happening multiple times a day. After a while it starts to feel like emotional torture and of the 5 or so billion people on the planet, it is estimated that over 1.5 billion of them have no way of hearing about Jesus before they die.

Even worse I can’t keep up with them all. They all seem important and urgent, so I give $5 bucks here, I sponsor a kid and buy shoes to give away, I give to missions and I feel the meaning to the word "pain and suffering". I feel and see it around me more than ever before. In the midst of that I hear how I have a purpose, a meaning, a calling to do something to change the world but what do I chose, where do I commit, which is the sacrifice I make?

For me I’ve noticed that I have started to just back off and see all the “asks” as marketing and interruptions. I want to fast-forward through them like we do now with commercials during shows and football games. But that isn’t the right response either, God wants our hearts full, connected and aware of the people around us.

I don’t have a fix or formula at all. This is something that is heavy on my heart daily. All I have are questions and realizations that I keep chewing on in my heart about this new age where we are instantly and globally connected as individuals. I’ve listed a couple below, but I’d love to hear if you see something similar and what God is teaching your heart as we seek to leave God’s mark on the world for now and for the next generation.

Being so connected in this information age can deceive me more than ever that I can play God. I can be focused on causes just as much from pride as a servant’s heart.
My only source of meaning and purpose that satisfies comes from God, not from what I do.

So if loving God doesn’t feel like it is enough, then where am I trying to find meaning? and do I really even love him?
We serve out of obedience because of our deep love of God and how his heart has changed ours.

So where do I go and what do I do when I get there?

Time will tell and the Spirit will prompt. That I am assured of.

till next time<
peace
tc
Romans 5:1

So What Do I Do Now ??????

I was asked just last week where I get words to write for my blog. But each and every Week, I get questions and with questions comes thoughts and meditation, etc. With all that rolled together, the words just kinda flow and I really don't spend lots of hours agonizing of it. Maybe 10-15 minutes. A prolific writer I am not. But I do like to write down thoughts and just share with who ever reads this blog and maybe strike a spark in someone and allow them to reflect on what is MOST IMPORTANT IN LIFE. So here we go !!!!


Let’s be honest. Isn’t it easier to give your life to Christ ONCE than to live for Christ every day ?

In today’s society you will find people that claim to be Christians, but very few of them are “followers of Christ”. WHY? Well, I thought about that question for some time before I ever came to this conclusion. I think some people make their salvation decision a one-time experience and not as a lifetime commitment.

God doesn’t want you to bow your head, raise your hand, and pray a prayer. Knowing God is an ongoing 365/24/7 lifetime commitment. Think about it like this. Let’s say you just graduated college and found your future spouse and got married, but after the wedding you never spoke to her again and to top that, your commitment was then to something or someone else. Would that be considered a REAL marriage? NO.

Your marriage should have been a top priority. Just like a marriage, you have to communicate with each other. God hears the prayers of his children but you have to talk to him. I know your thinking WOW, I can talk to creator of the universe and He will listen to ME.
Guess what? You just went from knowing about God to KNOWING GOD. You just went from religion to a relationship and THAT IS WHAT GOD WANTS MOST.

Having been in student ministry for quite a while, I used to get (and still do)get e-mails or phone calls from students who say, they made the commitment to Christ but they feel like they are slipping away from God after a period of time. That happens to lots of people (clergy included), so YOU are not alone. The problem is that many students made their commitment based on emotion and NOT from an understanding of what it means to be BORN AGAIN. That also happens when evangelism is more about the number of members in a church than in making disciples.

Christ wants us to move past the basics of faith and really fall into the deeper things of God. Paul had to really jump down hard on the Corinthian church because they would never move beyond milk and into the meat. They were stuck on the basics and were content not to move beyond that point. If you never move you’ll never get closer to God. It’s just like playing football, you will never get better till you try and give out effort.

God is calling you to go beyond the average. So, how do you get there?
1- Push yourself deeper into prayer and the word. Increase that 5 minute quiet time to 15-30 minutes. Increase the amount you read and the way you APPLY God’s teaching to your life.
2- Hang around other fellow Christians. People that will help you grow.
3- Share what God has done in your life with those around you.
4- Get more plugged into your church. Don’t just attend when those “special events” come around. Really get involved.
5- Make another commitment to go deeper in ONE area of your life each month.

If you are truly committed, God will be there. He is here today & will be here tomorrow. You are the only thing that is missing.
If you still aren’t sure what to do, call me, text me, facebook me, or even send me a snail mail letter (postal service).

Till next time,
May the Holy Spirit draw you closer to the Father who is Everlasting,
All Powerful, All Knowing, All Merciful and just plain old cares about YOU.

tc
Romans 5:1

Our Message should NEVER CHANGE but Our Methods Must Change.

Sometimes God just jumps all over me. He stretches me and makes me step outside my comfort zone. Sometimes, I end up in places doing things that I Never EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT. A few months back, I left my church home where I had been for over 30 years. God was stretching me then and continues to stretch and mold me into what he wants me to be today. Just a couple weeks ago, I found myself being stretched again and was led to partner and use what I have learned in life with another ministry I believe in and have watched for several years.

Now let me say this. Being plugged in to a local body of believers is VITAL to your spiritual growth and accountability. There is nothing warmer or more friendly than getting a handshake and a hug from your pastor and his wife and seeing good friends that share your same beliefs. NOTHING on the planet can ever come close. But, sometimes people just won't step inside a church building. They have been burned, been looked down on whatever the reason why. So, I strongly believe we have to meet people where they are and leave our comfort world and just GO. Sometimes GO, doesn't mean GO at all. Sometimes GO, means going to them by whatever means it takes to get us there. That's why our fellow arc church Lifechurch.tv started having their church service broadcast over the internet. Church Online has been a huge success and reaches thousands each and every week using the internet as it's platform.

One of the advantages of attending a church online is the ability to stay anonymous. No one is going to judge you because of your skin color, your weight, your style of dress (or lack there of), or the zit on your face that won’t shut up.

So if you don’t feel comfortable in a church online, you simply click on the little ‘x’ & move on. I have found that most people who are hurting & struggling with a deep, dark secret will not step foot in a normal church. It can seem socially awkward. They may not have good clean clothes to wear or better yet a "suit" to wear. But they will go to an online church experience because a) no one will even know they are there and b) it just takes one click to leave if things get weird.

Sometimes, the links that people click on has revealed exactly what people are searching for when they click on the link to come to church online and church online can ‘see’ into their hearts & know where they are hurting and it is very dark.

So with al that being said, I am currently a chat host in one or the worship experiences. My time is for Saturday night at 9:30pm. So if you ever get to visit church online and it happens to be the Saturday night 9:30 experience and you see the chat room box being very active, it will probably be me giving viewers hope and encouragement.

Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light for the world! Follow me, and you won’t be walking in the dark. You will have the light that gives life”. How cool is it to use an unconventional tool like church online to share with those hurting that there is a God that loves us more than we can imagine that desires to restore our souls? There is hope. And ‘this hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls’ (Hebrews 6:19).

AGAIN, any church online will absolutely NEVER NEVER NEVER replace the fellowship and encouragement of attending a local body of believers and being plugged into what I call my " FAITH FAMILY ". I SERIOUSLY LOVE where God has me and at Life Church West Monroe.

till next time,
peace
tc
Romans 5:1

What I have learned in Life so Far

I've learned....

That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

That just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.

That having your son fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

That being kind is more important than being right.

That you should never say "no" to a gift from a child or God.

That money doesn't buy class. That has to be earned.

That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs to act goofy ever so often.

That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

That simple game of “catch” with my father during summer nights years ago did wonders for me as an adult.

That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

That it's those small daily happenings that make life so incredible.

That under everyone's hard outside is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. Why should I think I can?

That sometime ignoring the facts does not change the facts.

That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you. Let God will deal with them later.

That love, not time, heals all wounds.

That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

That when you keep bitterness locked up inside, happiness will dock elsewhere. So let it go.

That I wish I could have told my Mom & Dad that I love them one more time before they passed away.

That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

The devil's greatest trick is making humanity think that he really doesn't exist.

Faith is like a river, the more you stay in the middle the safer you are.

Sin is like a vacuum cleaner, the closer you get the stronger it pulls.

Live in the moment , and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering .

Life is never boring unless you decide to quit changing.

What would happen if just for ONE DAY. we focused our actions on helping people rather than on oursleves. Would the world explode. Probably not, but our hearts probably would.

When you truly love students, they return more than you give.

When the calling of God is scary, we lead by reminding the people of God that Jesus did not come to make us safe. He came to make us brave through FAITH. He ask us to just step across the street because we don't realize what isn't a part of our daily lives, we ignore it, sometimes we don't want to see it."

That when you're in love with Jesus , it shows.

till next time,
peace
tc
Romans 5:1

I woke up early this morning just starving to ride on my Motorcycle in the "cooler" morning air. I ended up in Vicksburg and rode thru the National Battlefield Park. An incredible day all by myself to ride up and down the slops while diving into the cooler valleys and sunshine hilltops. Near the end of the battlefield drive is the cemetary. I always have to stop and pay my respects to the soliders that died there for something that they believed in. It made me look at where I am and caused me to ask myself the question "What I have I died for today?" NOT MUCH was my answer. I thought about that question a lot today and hope to keep thinking about it for a long time.
To suffer is to gain and to die is gain.

till next time.
peace
TC

Dating / Hanging Out

Guys - This One is for YOU !!

Something scares you. It’s not terrorism, economic recession, global warming, or gasoline prices that could hit 10 bucks per gallon by the time you’re done reading this. These things might worry you, but something else makes your palms sweat and your pulse hit triple digits: asking someone out on a date.

That’s because asking someone out involves potential pain. If the object of your affection becomes aware of your intentions, he or she might not reciprocate, and that’s going to hurt. I don’t care if you’re the most self-confident, well-adjusted person around; rejection hurts.OUCH !!! It makes anyremaining friendship awkward at best, humiliating at worst. Revealing romantic feelings is a risky business, RIGHT?

Many people find a way around the risk. Or at least they think they do. Instead of asking someone out on a date and being bold in their intentions, they turn to the soggy alternative to dating: “let's just hang out.”

So here's the deal: You like someone but you’re afraid to let him or her know. So instead of asking the person on a date, you go on approximations of dates that allow for softer denial of all romantic intentions. You study together. You exercise together. You find some really lame excuses to call, text, and e-mail. Worst of all, you engage in the most stupid of conversations and great abys of non-dates—going to coffee. This just has the trappings of a date dude — a cozy place with a cold glass of tea, a good atmosphere with music — while allowing everyone involved in our immediate space is actually on a date. Fear of YOU suffering rejection alone has resulted in the "Starbucks" mental;ity. It's just coffee. SURE IT IS.

People suffer through this in the hope that the object of their affection will eventually buckle and reveal his or her true feelings. They wait and watch. They keep making up excuses to hang out while waiting for God to give them a SIGN. If you’ve been down this road before, you know that it’s seldom successful. You remain stuck in the “friend zone,” which is "relationship purgatory of sorts" if you have a crush on someone.

Are We Dating or Not?
Look, I may not be the youngets guy on the block but I will put it on th eline that I know what Christian females are looking for. The biggest complaint I know of from Christian women was that Christian men weren’t assertive enough. They described men who drove them crazy by calling and hanging around while never asking them out on a real date. They said that it was exhausting trying to figure out which guys liked them versus which guys liked them. So let me unravel a few differences between dating and hanging out, in hopes of making yolur life easier and satisfing for the ladies in your future. Now you can take it or leave it. It's all up to you.

•Asking someone if they’ll be at church next week is hanging out. Asking someone if they would like to go out with you is dating.

•Making up a reason to call, e-mail, or text someone is hanging out. Calling just because you want to talk, and telling the person so, is dating.

•Going to coffee is hanging out. Going to dinner is dating.

•Doing something with the object of your affection and seven other friends is hanging out. If the two of you do something alone, it’s dating.

•Hiding your feelings is hanging out. Telling someone you’re interested in pursuing a more serious relationship is dating.

The Purpose of Hanging
Go ahead and hang out with someone if you’re just getting to know him or her. By all means, don’t ask a person out just because you think he or she is cute but know nothing else about them. You might have nothing in common with the person. The music she loves might make you throw up. He might be a deranged serial killer. OK, he’s probably not a serial killer, but you get my point. It’s important to hang out before asking out. The problem is that many people never make this "leap of Faith". They hang out continually like a grandfathers clock slowly ticking, perpetually swinging back and forth, creating confusion and tension that could easily be dissipated by asking someone "Karen, We have been hanging out for awhile and I would love to make it official. Would you have dinner and a movie with me this Saturday night?" DUDE, that's a DATE !!!!!

Then I get the question, “How do you know when it’s time for a friendship to go further?” or “When should two people stop hanging out and start dating?” Figuring that out is the easy part. If you find the person attractive, you can’t stop thinking about him or her, and you’re unsatisfied with the close intimacy that friendship provides, then it’s time to ask out instead of hang out. The problem usually isn’t that people don’t know whether or not they want to date, it’s that they’re afraid the other person doesn’t feel the same way.

GET OVER BEING REJECTED.
This kind of fearful hem hawing isn’t how Christians should do things. This isn’t who God created us to be. I’m not saying that in defiance of some antiquated courtship rituals. I mean we shouldn’t be so stinking scared. We shouldn’t be afraid to date. Overcoming this fear involves two steps:

1.Get a life. Something needs to be more important to you than finding a boyfriend or girlfriend. You need a passion, something that excites you and gives your life meaning and purposful, LIKE JESUS. More on that in anoter blog. It should be something thrilling and at least a little daring at the same time. Not only will this give your life focus and keep you busy, it can build self-esteem. As you begin to move forward toward your goals, you’ll feel better about yourself. Have you ever noticed that a lot of people find love when they’re not looking very hard for it? It’s usually because they’re in the middle of a meaningful journey. And that just happens to make them more attractive. This part should be easy for Christians. We have something, or rather Someone, who’s eager to give our life a sense of mission, meaning, and value aka: Jesus.

2.Be authentic. At some point, someone decided it wasn’t cool to let someone know that you’re interested in him or her. I guess people think it makes you seem desperate. That can be the case sometimes, but it’s not true if you’ve taken care of Step 1 above. Being honest and bold about your feelings doesn’t come off as cheesy if you have self-confidence. It shows courage and self-esteem. It shows that getting rejected won’t devastate you because you know and like who you are. The alternative to this is “hanging out” with someone and hoping to catch a lucky break. That takes a lot more time and trouble to get what usually turns out to be the same result.

Take a look at 1st John 4:18 says that “perfect love drives out fear.” While it’s normal to be nervous when you ask someone out, God’s perfect love should cast out all fear that you’re unlovable, unworthy, and destined to be alone. You’re exploring the possibility of a relationship with one person. If it doesn’t work out, God’s love will take care of you far more than the love of any human on earth.

So guys, there you have it. Take it our leave it. That choice is yours. But to the guy who called asking for wise counsel, I continualy tell them seek God first in ALL THINGS. Then if you get no answer and you call me at 2am, I will smile and say
www.timcoats.blogspot.com and roll over and go zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

till next time,
peace I leave with you
tc
Romans 5:1

What do we do when you don't know what to do?

There aren't nice, neat, simple, pre-packaged answers for why certain things happen to certain people. Sometimes a close friend or someone like a minister or pastor can shed some light on a sitation. But when there is nothing more to say, where do we turn? Maybe it's when there is nothing more to say that God's silence is broken and God finally speaks.

Jesus lived with the utmost awareness that God is doing something, right here, right now, and anybody can be a part of it, if they will only say yes and believe. Jesus encouraged his followers and anyone who would slow down long enough to listen, to search, to question, to wrestle with all the implications of what he was saying and doing. Christ inspired, challenged, provoked, comforted, and invited people to be open to God's work in this world. Wherever Christ went, whatever Christ did, Christ started a simple dialogue about what matters most, because for HIM, God is always inviting us to open our eyes and join in.

I recently learned a former student has shifted from christianity to being an agnostic. It's kinda like a knife in your back. But, in wrestling with this situation, I have gained a peace and a new determined spirit through some simple prayers of asking "God why? ". A simple answer is all I got. The answer, " Pray".
So I continue to pray for this individual and for this situation to be handled by the Lord himself. Never give up. Never Give Up continues to echo in my brain. To continue to look for the answers to the hard questions and when we get worn out and exhausted, God is still there.

So my challenge is this: Join in the dialogue, Join in the discussion... search, question, and engage on what matters most and if you need help,I am always a phone call or a text away.

Till next time
peace I leave with you,
tc
Romans 5:1

I saw someone late yesterday afternoon whom I have known for a long time. Naturally He asked how I had been and the usual yada yada yada conversation. He then asked me what was so different about where I was attending church now. I briefly figured out that I was about to compare and I stopped. So I told him, "Here's what my current church is all about and you figure out and compare what the church you have in mind is all about and what they are doing to reach people for Christ and do the math."

Life Church IS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS and absolutely LOVES in home small groups. It has no "Sunday School" that is what small groups are for. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Life Church IS CALLED TO BE OUTWARDLY FOCUSED.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…Matt 28:19

Life Churches MESSAGE NEVER CHANGES BUT OUR METHODS MUST CHANGE.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb 13:8

Life Church believes that TO REACH PEOPLE NO ONE IS REACHING, YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS NO ONE IS DOING. Little Life - Life Kids - Ignite (Student Ministry) have nearly doubled in recent months. Connect- Brand new never before New College/Career just cranked up and has over 20 students and young adults in it's first week. Young Adults, Married and Singles small groups just gearing up. Totally new worship Band that is incredible. Newly renovated high tech Sanctuary. Just last week alone had 4 micro-mission serve projects to serve the community. Sponsors multiple churches in Mexico all by it's self. Has yearly Single Mom's Banquet with over 100 single moms in attendance. Has widow projects bi-monthly. PLUS SO MUCH MORE. Got any questions?

After that He scratched his head and said, WoW, See you.


Just sayin'
tc