Thanks Cooper Tires!

For all the support you have provided me as a part of the IRL Ministry in the USF2000 series this year. Lunches, encouragement, singing, communion meditations, a place to sit, and chapel support. Thanks to the entire Cooper Tire crew. Special thanks to Rod and Nikki. You guys are a blessing from God.

Are You Thankful?

Below is an excerpt from today's chapel service message at Road Atlanta....

When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. - Luke 5:4-11

Simon Peter got it.... moments before Jesus showed up, he had one of his worst nights fishing... Then Jesus.... showed up... and they received probably one of the largest catches of their life... moments later, instead of focusing on temporal accomplishments, they turned their attention to eternal accomplishments... they followed Jesus....

Where is you hope & faith.... On temporal or eternal things? What do you thank God for?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

"If God never does anything more than rescue you from hell, redeem your enslaved soul, and guarantee heaven on the other side, He's done enough to keep you grateful for the rest of your life; if He never does anything else. And it is the mark of the redeemed to have a grateful spirit, who are thankful in life, and grow to be thankful for the bad things. When bad things happen, trust in God. When good things happen, brag on God. Be thankful." - Dr. Joseph Stowell

Was Jesus preaching the gospel?

Had a question today that got me thinking a bit... In Luke 20:1 "On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel" - what does it mean to say that Jesus was preaching the gospel?

A quick word study resulted in the NLT translation that uses "good news" instead of "gospel" and a word study of "gospel" in the NASB some of the same scriptures are referenced.

So was Jesus preaching the gospel, is it about himself... the answer is yes....

• in Luke 22:35 Jesus referred to the Good News when he sent others
• in Acts 8:12 Philip referred to Jesus as the good news of the kingdom of God
• Paul refers to his mission in Romans 1:1 as the gospel of God (or Jesus Christ)
• in John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”
• in Mark 1:17 Mark recorded Jesus was "proclaiming the good news of God... Jesus said believe the good news and then instructed the fishermen to "come follow me" (implying he is the good news)
• Jesus proclaimed his own life, death and resurrection in John 11: 25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
• so... Jesus is the Gospel

We will be talking about Luke 5 tomorrow which talks about the fishermen that dropped everything and followed Him...

so go preach the gospel, the good news of Christ...

Petit Lemans at Road Atlanta

Heading to Atlanta today for the last race of the USF2000 series this year. The chapel this week will be at 2:30 on Thursday. The message this week is on "thankfulness". Pray for movement of the Holy Spirit this week as we wrap up the year.

Thanking God for you and your support today. Thanking God for His son Jesus Christ.