I was thinking about what I should write, and I realized that day after day people read my articles though they don’t know a bit about my back story. My past has so much to do with where I am. To understand me, you really need to know where I came from. So here it goes. Continue reading My Forgiveness Story

As I write this blog, I’m thinking of what the Labor Day holiday represents for those who labor for our country. It was started for the union movement to help workers represent their needs so that employers won’t take advantage of them. My dad believed in unions. As a matter of fact, this past summer he was voted in as Vice President of IBEW local 605 . When compared to the kingdom of God, we as believers in Christ are to labor for the kingdom. Know that the bible says works wont get us into Heaven, but only faith can in Jesus Christ. We know that God took a break on the seventh day in Genesis and He says we also should rest. But remember, we as Christians should be laboring for the kingdom with the strength of Christ for “I can do all thing in Christ who strengthens me.” While this does not mean we can jump over a building, we can retrieve strength through Christ when we are doing something for Him. I hope you all have a good Labor Day and God bless!

Care Pastor
Will Parsons

Whether you like it or not, from the time we are born until the time we die, we go through shifts in life. Some that we can mark are junior high, then high school, then its time for most of us to leave the nest and start a career or go to college.  This shift can be very awkward, because for the first time in our life we are putting what we learned from the time we’re born and making it practical.  Then there is young adulthood when it’s the time most people get married -  which is a big step in someone’s life.  Then come children, grandchildren, then eventually death. However, what makes your shifts in life come easier is having Christ with you.  You see, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; but Jesus has come that we may have life, and have it to the full.  In reality, the life of  a christian is not easy. The Bible speaks of persecution and believers losing their life.   The difference is not having an easier life, but having Jesus with you in the hard times.  So whats your choice?  Are you going to give up every thing, ask Christ to forgive you of your sin and save you, and live the shifts of life with His help?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Church using Social Media to Reach More People
Hattiesburg, MS
The methods of churches reaching people has evolved from large crusades and door-to-door cold call visits to Facebook invites and blog discussions. The Grove Church, a new church launched in September of 2009, focuses on social media to tell the masses about Jesus.
“These days if you aren’t on facebook or twitter, you don’t come up on people’s radar,” said Greg Johnston, Lead Pastor.
The Grove Church’s “Connection Pastor”, Justin Grice, is responsible for maintaining the online community. “We are committed to connecting people to God, to others, and to service. Sometimes that means connecting online through social media” Grice said. “Every person on our church staff writes a blog to stay connected with our congregation. These days people don’t just want to hear a sermon on Sunday. They want to know what you are thinking about during your everyday life on Monday.”
New methods are needed to gain followers as membership in mainline churches drops. The Southern Baptist Convention, with which The Grove Church is affiliated, has seen a decline in membership and baptisms. “We have been gripped by the reality of the lost condition of our world and about our condition as a denomination, but through this journey we have also been set on fire by the call of God to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Ronnie Floyd, chairman of the SBC’s Great Commission Resurgence Task Force.
The Southern Baptist Convention is rolling out an aggressive campaign over the weeks before and after Easter to bring people to church. It has developed a video rich website at www.findithere.com with personal stories of people who found hope from trusting in Jesus. The website is coupled with television advertising that will play locally on WDAM as well as flyers left at doors inviting people to church this Easter.
“It is my prayer that God uses the Find it Here effort to show people the love of Christ,” Grice said. “People, especially young people, feel burned by churches. I hope that people will see through our reaching out online and on television that we do care about their hurts and don’t look down on them.” The Grove Church meets at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday’s and is found online at grovechurch.com
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Direct questions to Justin Grice at 601-336-0468 or justin@grovechurch.com

You may not know it, but the student past (Britt) and I have a little competition going on. He has the the blackberry curve and I have the iphone.  The competition is to see who has the best app for there phone. I have a new app I can’t wait to show him, but he always gets me when he says do you have the app that charges your phone and I respond  they don’t have an app for that. We live in a society that is dependent on quick fixes and is amazed by new technology. People say they have an app for everything, but one thing they don’t have a app for is a broken heart.

It reminds me of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked “what must I do get into heaven.”  Jesus responded to him, “sell all what you have and follow me.” Rather than following Jesus, he went back to his wealth and possessions living  the life he wanted to live. So the truth is thatjesus is the only one can heal a broken heart that is filed with sin. Will you let him heal your heart and stop trying to fill your life with apps that leave you wanting more. Lets sayif we compare your self to a smart phone: what apps would you fiill your life with instead of Christ?

Well there is the Consumer app- This App is made up of Wall street, Ebay and Amazon which try to make you fill the void of unhappiness with quick fixes that don’t last.

Addicted app: This is your favorite app: the one you go to all the time. It can be sex, drugs, or alchohol

The Controller app: this app hasto be over someone or something, trying to fill your void with power and popularity.

You may realize one of these apps represent you. Remeber what I said about the only one who can fill the void. That is Christ and Christ alone!

In Christ Bro Will