greg | bearss

How many times have you said “I don’t have TIME!” TIME for _______ (you fill in the blank) or “If I only had more TIME to_______” TIME is of the essence, TIME keeps on ticking. Our life seemingly is all about TIME. Looking at God’s Word there are a couple of ways that we see TIME referenced. There is the Greek root “Chronos” that is the tick-tock-you-don’t-stop time, days, years. This is the way most of us think about TIME. There is another word that is used, another way TIME is referenced, another way to think about it that just may bring new perspective. The word in Greek is “Kairos” and this reference to time is all about seasons and the right timing or God’s timing. We see this in the Apostle Paul’s writing to the church in Corinth: And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—2 for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now i...

Studying the book of Nehemiah has caused me to ask this question: What if the book of Nehemiah is really a parodox of the family of God?   The book of Nehemiah has been taught in many and various ways.  I have never heard the story of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem as a reflection of what God wants for families that are seeking to live for Jesus or those struggling because of the enemy's ravaging attacks on their family.  Yet that's exactly what I see when I read this rebuilding process.  Maybe you are reluctant and think that families are faring pretty well these days.  As a pastor of “the least of these” let me assure you that unfortunately, that is not the case for the average family in America.  Families in America are under attack and unfortunately, the enemy seems to be gaining ground on his attack on the family.  Look at just a few of revealing statistics regarding families in America: 50% of marriages in America will end in divorce. 8.8 years is the average le...

How Do You Love Your City? This is the question we have been asking our church LakePointe. We’ve been talking about how to love the city we live in as a community of believers. The discussion has taken us to Matthew 25 . We realize something that changed our mindset. The fact that “we are the least of these,” and as “the least of these” we are to be out reaching to the “least of these” that are still out there! To understand put yourself in Jesus story as the “I” and put Jesus in as the “YOU.” Also, look at the physical needs that were met in the narrative and see how it plays out with these as spiritual needs: 35 “For I(insert your name) was (spiritually) hungry, and you(JESUS) fed me(the bread of life). I was (spiritually) thirsty, and you (JESUS)gave me a drink(from waters where I would never thirst again). I was a stranger(estranged, lost spiritually), and you(Jesus) invited me into your home(a relationship with Him, His church). 36 I was naked,(not clothed in righteous...

GOD’S POLITICS These are my thought's on politics originally from a guest post that I was asked to do for a leadership organization LCEF: I love politics! I hate politics!  Where do you fall in the previous two statements?  Are you worn out from all the mudslinging? Glad the commercials and debates are over? How are you feeling now, post-election?  What song are you singing?  Is it: “It’s the end of the world as we know it...”  or is it “Celebration time, come on, let’s celebrate!”?  Maybe a better question is: what are the people you find around you singing?   Something that has hit me like a ton of bricks is the truth from God’s word concerning politics.  God is concerned with our world, He’s not a distant once-was god but is an: everlasting, always will be, always has been, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, all powerful, with us GOD!  As surprised as you or I may have been or not been, God wasn’t surprised at the election results.  It didn’t shock Him, and He isn’t ...

The aftermath of Easter means different things to different people. If you are a pastor then you are likely to be in the after-glow of what God did in your services and you saw new faces and plenty of old faces return. Maybe there were people that you were praying would come but didn’t. Maybe you set new attendance records or maybe it was just another Sunday. From what I have seen pastors are typically excited and a bit worn out at the same time after Holy Week and Easter celebrations. I know that many churches add extra services for more people to attend throughout Holy Week and Easter. If you are not a pastor it probably meant you had to hunt harder for a parking spot if you went to church or if you went out to eat you had longer lines at Crackle Barrel. Here's what I experienced: At LakePointe we had 5 worship opportunities adding 3 additional worship experiences than we normally would have. We were excited about the people that God would bring through the doors of La...

TOP 5 WAYS TO BE SURE YOU WON’T HAVE THE MARRIAGE OF YOUR DREAMS 1. Stop Communicating With Your Spouse! Talk about them not to them, and give them the silent treatment as much as possible! It’s best if you can yell something unrecognizable at them and storm out of the room. If you need help watch a five year old do it and be sure to be animated like them! 2. Stop Listening To Your Spouse! See #1 add, quit taking their call, and responding to their text message’s, un-friend them on FaceBook so they can’t see what you’re up to with your friends. Avoid being in the same room with them at all costs. 3. Always Assume The Worst About Your Spouse! Never give them the benefit of the doubt, stand under the motto “they are guilty until they can prove they innocent!” Be sure to second guess everything they say even if it sounds reasonable--watch old reruns of People’s Court or Judge Judy for more ammo accusatory phrases! 4. Focus On What Your Spouse Does Wrong. In fact k...