July 13th I'm speaking in a church..The pastor is fine tuned to the Lord and a sermnette won't work here. The pastor is expecting a word from the Lord..Therefore I've been doing me best to get my ears in tune..
I've got my message pretty much compiled as most messages come from experiences so after we go through them we can help our brothers and sisters, I've been doing alot of study on the tongue..and God revealed a huge nugget to me..He revealed a HUGE sin in my life that I was unaware of..and it could help someone else as well..so here is the nugget and gross sin God brought to life in my life...
James 3:5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
My mind focused on the little BIG word boast..and in this context it shows boasting as awicked evil sin..let's look.
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
I ask my wife..why is boasting so evil?? She quickly answered ..."Because it's a manifestation of pride." Then I understood..it was the cause of Satan being kicked out of Heaven..and then my mind thought of these verses..
1 John 2:15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
One more verse before I share.. Galatins 1:10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Quickly..for many of you know where I'm going with this..Boasting is simply looking for the approval of man..It can be expensive..as I buy tons of fishing tackle to win a tourny on freshwater that doesn't even have a pay off....yes ..tryin got imprress others can be expensive..I've spent 1000s..also there is tention often with my boys as we try ot beat each other in video games..also there is ill feelings with my workers as Istriveto be the best in the school..and I see it here as we try to out do each other in the Biblical theology.My friend this attitude/ spirit permeates our entire life..IT IS A HUGE SIN!![X(]It cost alot here..On certain forums here we post our bows, our trucks, our wives..our homes..our big deer and big fish..we are slaves to the need to be recgonized..I was humbled to learn what a fool I've been..I've repented of that mess and no longer have the need to outdo anybody..It's sin..The Pride of Life my friend is sin..We are honestly here to serve one another and bring glory to God..not to be looking for approval from man but the approval that comes from God..and the irony of it all as my wife has revealed to me..people can see it all along..She said it really embarasses her at times..and honestly..I never saw it.I see it now and repent of it and ask you all to forgive me as well..Just from recognizing it has brought great peace to me..I've retired of that selfish spirit..Please forgive me..
chuck, you do not need to ask for my forgiveness , but you have and I gladly give it. But you are my friend, and friends do not judge or keep an account. But you are correct in your finding, and we must die to self in every manner , that we may live in Him and He in us.
God bless you Chuck, and best of luck in your message. Just tell them the love story about Christ, that we call the Holy Bible.
IMO there is a very fine line between boasting and giving praise, which is why i rarely if ever answer a post "how many deer have you killed" "whats your biggest fish/deer".
don't try to impress anybody, you'll only be disapointed, do your best and know that you gave 100%, be satisfied with the results and work from there
there is nothing wrong with being fair, in all honesty i have not taken the HNI tournament very serious, why would i???? no reward, no trophy, only (and i don't wan't this to come out wrong) bragging rights[&:], amoung friends i enjoy this compitition, if someone took this to intend they we the next big thing, well look around, it is very insignifigant in the big picture (like most of what we do[&:]) and i realize most of us know that...
chuck as far as the money you spend to catch fish, there is nothing wrong with trying to improve what you enjoy, you have introduced many people to the only exposure they'll ever have with God, how could that be a bad thing.... winning that tournament means nothing to me, winning my crown means everything
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On certain forums here we post our bows, our trucks, our wives..our homes..our big deer and big fish..
is that pride, or is it praise, i thank God for all that he has done for me, i amblessed beyond measure, we all are, i guess it all goes back to how you accept the blessings
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John 3:16
things are more like right now than they've ever been
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.
William James
God has been reminding me why I have so much. Not by my hands, but by His, I am so blessed!! Glory to God!
We all need to brag on God more. When we try to get man's approval, we are taking God out of the picture. We can do no great thing without Him. I try now to incorporate how muchGod has blessed me in my conversations with others more than I used to. It's so good to see people's faces when you say, how much God has blessed you. The average man on the streets doesn't hear that enough, not to mention what kind of seed you're planting for future harvest.
1Cor.9
[ol][*][24] Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.[/ol]
I think you are making MUCH of Little!
Chuck, I have never got the impression that you were prideful or boasting. That's JMHO but that's what it is. You, like several others on this forum, have always gone out of your way to be a brother in Christ, inspire people to follow the Lord and be a lamp in this world. And you always thank God for your blessings.
As for all of the contests, posts with pictures, etc., I don't think posting or telling others about your blessings is inherently bad. God really is merciful and generaous with all of us. Seeing his gifts in our blessings and thanking him for it is not bad. Not giving him credit or thanks, however, would not be the best way to go.
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Jesus Christ--The reason for the season!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran.
If you're certain you know everything, there's little opportunity to learn anything.
I sincerely asppreciate the compliment my friend..but I have been very comvicted about it..Since I've repented of it I feel 100 % better..and so does Aaron my son..I no longer drag him out of bed at 5:00 AM to be the camera man for me when I fish..[&:][&o]..I let him sleep in.and stay home..I feel much more free..and Aaron enjoys the sleep..and I'm still having just as much ,if not more fun catching fish with my favorite friend of all..GOD..
A nugget and confession of sin
..yes ..tryin got imprress others can be expensive..I've spent 1000s..
, which is why i rarely if ever answer a post "how many deer have you killed" "whats your biggest fish/deer"
and I'm still having just as much ,if not more fun catching fish with my favorite friend of all..GOD.. 
