Tradition, Culture, or Biblical mandate – Part 1 – Men and hats

Greetings All

Sometimes I wonder if the things that we do in the church are because of tradition or a Biblical mandate.

I am going to throw out one.

Let me know your thoughts.

In a lot of churches men are asked to remove their hats in the church out of respect for the Lord. The same request is not made of women.
Some so called youth or Hip-Hop churches don't make that request.

So men not wearing hats in the church, is that a tradition, or Biblical mandate?

What say you?

Take care,
BCII

Does God want us to be happy?

Greetings All,
I was talking to a friend that I am mentoring last week and he made the following statement:
“You know that God wants us to be happy.”

I went into mentor mode and challenged him to back that up with scripture.
He said:
“I don’t know but I am sure that it is there somewhere”

So I challenged him to find the scripture and to get back to me.

I thought that it would also be a good challenge to my friends in blog-land.

So, what say you?

Does God want believers to be happy?

Please back up your answers contextually with scripture.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Take care,BCII

Christian Singles

One of my friends just posted a blog and asked the question,
>>What is going on with our Christian men???
I thought I would post a reply.

>>What is going on with our Christian men???
Guess what?
Just like all men …
WE HAVE ISSUES!

So here is the question…
Would you like to find that out early in the relationship or after several years when they finally decide to stop acting and be real?
Sometimes "open and honest communication" comes from our actions louder than our words.

I know it seems hard but it is just a trial.
Here is what scripture says about trials:
New American Standard Bible
James 1:2-4 (NASB)
2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

You also want to beware of "Missionary Dating"
There are people out there that will "fake salvation" just to rope you in.

There is a Christian Rap song that I like that has the hook,
"Everybody in the Church ain't Christian"

So what is a single Christian supposed to do?
Stay focused on the Lord!
Increase your time in Ministry
Increase your time in Prayer
Increase your time in Bible Study
Stay focused on the Lord!

1 Corinthians 7:32 (NASB)
32But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

As a single we have more time to devote to the Lord in ministry.

So when the flesh, the world or the devil tells you that you should be married, increase your efforts to focus on the Lord.

Christ Is ALL!
BCII

Staying focused on the LORD

Focus:
I have learned that the most important thing is to stay focused on the Lord. It is a hard road but not impossible. God will never give us more than we can handle and who knows better what we can handle than the Lord. The Lord will stretch us but not break us. The book of James let us know that our trials are custom made for us. The purpose of trials is to 1) Draw our focus on the Lord. 2) Teach us what to do WHEN we face that trial again.

Revival:
We just had 5 days of revival. The theme was developing a heart for God. The messages were delivered by Pastor Kenny Grant from Savanna, GA. The Lord used the message of the week to focus me on how I shine His light. On the outside things seem to be good. I think that I do a somewhat decent job of shining Christ to those that are around me, especially around like-minded Christians. My issue is not 11am but 11pm as pointed out by Pastor Grant. Being single when I leave church, I am on my own. I find that it is very easy to let my mind wonder and lose my focus on the Lord. I am also noticing that at work it is very easy to get caught up in the world. When gossip and other bad conversation show up around me instead of objecting and letting the Light of Christ shine from me, I remain quiet. It is easier to say nothing and let it pass than to let people that I find it wrong or offensive. I have even found myself getting caught up in the conversation.

Prayer:
For those of you reading this that know and understand that Jesus is God, I would appreciate your prayers. I realize this prayer request means that the Lord will put me in more and deeper situations but I know that this is what I need.
God's Grace & Peace to you all,
BCII

4-0

Ok, yesterday I made 4-0.
I spent most of the day at church praising the Lord for 40 years of life. 10 years in a personal relationship with Him. It was a good day. As my friends found out, I received a lot of love and appreciation. While my goal is not to get praises from men, it is good to know that you are appreciated. My goal is always to encourage others through God’s Word.
Yesterday evening I spent the day with my parents. I appreciate them for their guidance and direction and ALWAYS showing me love.

So let’s see, 40 years old, single, never married, no children, making a little more than half of what I made 5 years ago.
In the world that may not sound flattering but here is the truth:

• Jesus is God!
• The Lord knows what is best for me.
• I can focus my time and energies on serving the Lord.
• Teaching is so much more satisfying than what I was doing in Corporate America
• I can encourage and motivate others to grow in their walk with the Lord.
  

Yea! I got the better deal.

Do I desire to be married? Yes.
However, my main goal is to serve the Lord with all my heart.
That is my chief desire.
I want what the Lord has for me.
A lot of time that goes against my nature but I know that what the Lord has for me is the best.

The phenomenal thing is that I am lovin’ 40. I have life breath and a most importantly a relationship with the Lord, the creator of the universe.
It is my desire to grow closed and closer to the Lord.
He has shown me so much love, it is incredible.

Well, that is my blog.
Let me know what you think.

Christ Is ALL!

BCII