Prayer Praise Purpose

2009-12-02T12:33:00.001-08:00

Testing out mobile blogging.

Adding Google Wave to a Blog Post

2009-11-29T21:50:00.000-08:00

So I watched the (short) Google Wave video by the developers of Google Wave. I noticed that one of them had a small wave in their blog. I trying to figure out how to do this and make some easy to follow instructions for anyone who might want to do the same thing... let's see if I can embed it myself first...

Starting Strong

2009-08-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

Partners and friends of the ministry,

Greetings to you. I thank God for you all and your continued support of the ministry. Conquerors Through Christ (C.T.C) is moving forward thanks to your encouragement and support. As we enter into a new fall semester my involvement on campus is still minimal due to my main focus being fund development. I amcloser than ever to reaching my goal. Right now I am operating with 30% of what I need to be a part-time staff fully devoted to serving the students at UofL. Ministering to the students of UofL will become my primary focus with your continued support.

My friend and elder in the ministry, Kimberly Blackford, is transitioning into an associate area director role.

She is also a liaison between all the Black staff in our area and the Black Campus Ministries [B.C.M.] division of InterVarsity.

Although Kim is in a new position she is still very much active as Campus Staff for C.T.C. Pray for her as she continues to transition into these new roles and as she seeks to be closer to the students by moving back to Louisville from Versailles.

Erica Wilson is one of our co-presidents this year. She asks for prayer for strength & confidence leading a small group Bible study. She asks for prayer for a better understanding and continued growth in the Word.

Our other co-president, Rosalynne Duff, asks for prayer for keeping God first in her life. She also asks you to pray for strength for all of our student leaders, that we may accomplish all that God has for us to accomplish. They both thank you in advance for your prayers.

I would ask that you continue to pray for Gods sovereign hand to be upon me as I continue in finding partners in the ministry. There is much that I want for myself at this moment in my life but I ask that you pray for all my needs to be met. Pray for my persistence in seeking the Lord and my diligence in obeying the Word of the Lord.

May the Lord continue to bless you as you stay faithful to the commitments that you have made to share with me in this ministry and any other ministry endeavors that you may be involved with in any way. May you forever be reminded of where your reward is, that you may pursue Christ along this journey until your meeting Him face to face. Amen.

Thanks,

Robert Thompson

My thoughts on homosexuality

2009-07-06T00:16:00.000-07:00

I’ve had awkward feelings and situations in my own life when it comes to my religious beliefs about homosexuality. I have friends who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual. I’m not very close to any of them. I think because the assumed feelings that we both hold toward one another. Maybe not all of it is assumed. There is a certain stiffness about my personality when I know that I am interacting with someone living that kind of lifestyle. I feel as if I almost have to continuously exude “I’m sure in my identity; I believe what the Bible says. We’re friends but I don’t condone your lifestyle.”

Being Sure In Your Identity

It’s not my job to judge or convict people. Jesus hung out with all kinds of people. The religious leaders almost had a heart attack at the sight of how he was “buddy-buddy” with people they’d ignored [Luke 15:1&2]. I’m sure Jesus didn’t have to exude this “I’m here with you but I don’t condone your lifestyle” kind of attitude. Jesus being truly sure in whom He was freed by that fact to love people as they ought to be loved (unconditionally).

Unforced Evangelism

Undoubtedly conversations about God naturally sprung up as a result of experiencing such amazing Love; because unconditional love has no other source. God is love. Even when the sinful we about to encounter the convicting truth of God’s word I’m sure Jesus expressed it with concern for the eternal soul of the person. Jesus doesn’t speak from a religious head-knowledge that attacks the person instead of the sin. I’m sure the word was expressed to them in love, and it was the goodness of God that led me to turn from their sin (repentance).

If I’m truly sure in who I am I’ll just live out the love that’s been put inside by God. The indwelling spirit of God and the goodness of God shining through me, his living house, will lead men to turn from sin and lead them to the truth of who Jesus is. May the Lord do it according to his good pleasure.

Relativism

I know too many who let their personal experiences totally blind them to the fact that a sin is a sin; even if you love that person. People not only become blinded by personal experience with someone involved in homosexual activity but to many other areas like lying, sex out of marriage, lewd thoughts, and many other areas. What’s true is relative to people now; even with Christians. We act as if sin is relative. But it is not. If truth is relative then there is no truth. If your truth is a lie to me and vice versa… where is truth?

Conclusion

Your ‘love’ for someone doesn’t exempt you from the truth of God’s word. Just because you know a certain person to be ‘a good person’ or you thing you’re a ‘good’ person doesn’t mean you’re going to heaven. We’ve all fallen short of the glory of God and none of us are ‘good’ enough to get into heaven. If you don’t believe in Jesus the Christ (who he is and what he’s done/doing) and turn away from your sins (repent) you’re going to hell… gay or straight. Accept him for who He is (He is alive) or reject Him for whom you think He was (He is dead to you, and you are dead to Him).

Biblical Responses to Homosexuality:

1. 1. Acknowledge the complexity

2. 2. Open Doors with Conversations

3. 3. Treat Other Christians with Respect

4. 4. Have the Right Perspective

5. 5. Express Concern for Kids [in a healthy way]

6. 6. Have Compassion

[Listed from the book UnChristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons]

I Corinthians 13:4-6

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Prayer in the Library

2009-04-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Great God of all that I’ve ever known and will know

I ask that you come at this moment in history and speak directly to the hearts of those who do not know you in the pardon of their sins. I ask that you compel your people to show love to this generations of unrepentant sinners. Help us not to give them the list of do’s and don’ts. You said that men would know us by the love we show to one another. Help us to display love for one another because we really have been changed… not just because we’ve been commanded to. We want signs, we wonders, but you told us that the only sign that a wicked generation would receive is the sign of Jonah. Help us to repent and love those whom we don’t want to love. Forgive us of our sins.

Help us to show mercy on those whom we think deserve it least. Help us to not be jealous as we see how much you love even our enemies and the disobedient. You signs and wonders would follow those who believe. Help us to believe, to seek justification through faith, not by works or by the law. Increase our faith; let your kingdom come quickly. We don’t know the time or the hour, but it’s not hard to discern the times. Prepare us, help us not to be enamored with being right about when; help us to be faithful, obedient, and diligent at all times. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Dazed

2009-03-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

Sitting here in the man dungeon (Basement)I’m still hyped on the Red bull I just had to have on the way home from Ft. Knox. Today (or actually yesterday since I’m writing at 1:36am) has been an easy day. I’ve been in the same EKU shirt that I went to sleep in. I got up and put on clothes and went about my day. I had my Rasin Bran, watched the View (yes straight men watch the View… by choice!) and had me another heaping bowl of Raisin Bran. I promise that box of two scoops of raisins and bran had enough fiber to clear an elephant.

I painted half of our front screen door(because I’m a slacker) then I went to Firestone to hear the same things I heard the other day… “It’ll be an hour and a half before we even look at your car.” FOR AN OIL CHANGE!!! Anyways… I crossed the bridge early to Clarksville to get some Taco Bell before rehearsal.

I got to the Ballroom in enough time to hear one of the leads sing my favorite song from All Shook Up; It Hurts Me. He did an incredible job. I got through practice, mapquested the easiest way to Ft Knox and made my way. Too bad I didn’t know until I got there that my teacher wasn’t going to be able to make for the first day of class, In which I made my way all the way from Clarksville IN for… DANG IT!!

Oh well. I got to chill with my god daughter for a while so it all worked out for the good. Thank God for his promise of working things out for the good for those who loved Him and are called according to His purposes. It’s such a blessing to be called. Lord help me to do all those things I know I should do even when I don’t want to. My prayer life is slipping. The only reason my reading and studying your word has not slipped is because I have to preach two sermons back to back very soon.

Help me to reprioritize my life that you would have your rightful place as first and foremost that all those things that I desire would be added to my life. You’re great. Thank you for my loved ones and the people that you have put in my life. Even though I don’t always treat them as I should or pray for them as much as I should thank you for giving them to me. Thank you for allowing me to be a blessing to them as well. Continue to use me to be a light in the dark places, for those whom I know well or don't know well, or don't know at all. Help me to not take them for granted Lord.

Bless you.

It’s in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus the anointed one I pray, AMEN.

Get It Over With

2009-03-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

I figured the quicker I get the first post out of the way the easier it would be for me to get the rest of them out of the way.

I’m going to Five Guys by myself today just because I feel like I deserve it. I definitely don’t feel like I can afford in necessarily but I’m going to treat my self anyway.

These rehearsals have been hard on me in many ways. Spending so much time preparing for All Shook Has left me with very little time to spend doing things I need to do outside of this musical. It’s also taken away from my being able to spend time with those who mean the most to me. I’ve never been great at time management… ok; I’ve always been horrible at it. But now I’ve just got to do something about the use of my time or I will fall behind in everything:

Fund Development/Campus ministry

Taking College Classes

Saving Up For “the real world”

Communicating with loved ones

Keeping up with church ministry

(in no particular order)

These are top priorities right now and I can’t allow myself to fall behind in any of them. There’s just so much to do and I value sleep too much to be that guy who doesn’t take the time to get adequate sleep. So what’s the answer? Cut everything that won’t advance any of these. Everything is permissible, but not beneficial. Whatever is beneficial I need to focus of these things and give them the time they deserve. Everything else is expendable. That may sound harsh, but I think that if we really decide to focus more on what will advance the call of God on our lives we would be so much more fulfilled. We think being well rounded means you have to be able to do it all. But I think being well rounded means being well rounded in those areas that you’ve always been gifted in to some degree. God puts us in communities for a reason. And the American way of do it yourself has individualized us and made us very independent. God desires and wires us to be dependent on one another that we would not idolize ourselves and our abilities. We need to find our place in community and start rocking the heck out of whatever it is we do best. I think I’ll start seeing the change I want in my life once I do that.

What about you? What do you want to see change? How could you help a community of people called to the same change? What’s your “place”?