Running out of time (The God of All Grace part 2)

"But may the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you." (1 Pet. 5:10)

I have a limited amount of time to write this before getting to my next scheduled thing. In fact I always have a limited amount of time. In reality I have a limited amount of everything – time, energy, opportunity, money, etc. and if you want to know the truth, so do you! We are finite every day and in every way.

As we think on the second part of the description of God as being “the God of all grace” I want to dwell on the “all” part. He is not limited in His grace. It never is in short supply, the transportation system to bring grace from the throne to you is never disrupted, it never runs out no matter how much you need. He is a God of unlimited grace. He is infinite every day and in every way.

So the next time you feel like your needs exceed God’s ability, or the reach of His compassionate grace – let this verse stop you and redirect you. He has not used up His allotment of grace on all the other needy people and left you without – He is the God of all grace. Thank Him for that today and live like that today – you had better get started time is short.

Jesse

Video version of this teaching

Here are some recent family pictures - enjoy!

The God of All Grace (1 Pet. 5:10) part 1

"But may the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you." (1 Pet. 5:10)

For some reason a phrase from this verse had lodged itself in my mind over the past few days. Did you notice how Peter addresses God? He calls Him "the God of all grace." Stop what you are doing for a few moments and think about that. We have in our lives, caring for us the God of all grace. I will address the last two thirds of that phrase later but think for a moment about the fact that He is the GOD of all grace. If he were gracious and not God, He at best would be a benevolent person but not have the ability for that good will to do anything in our lives. No the "all grace" is empowered by the omnipotent God!

God has never seen a tight spot He could not get us out of. He has never faced a dilemma that did not have a third option. He had never faced a disease He could not heal. He has never encountered an obstacle he could not overcome or a roadblock He could not remove. He is able to deliver grace to you.

Are you in need of some encouragement today? If so, remember this; the God of all grace is on your side and He delights when His children turn to Him in faith and seek His help. So...what are you waiting for?

Jesse

Video Version of this teaching

A (non) Drive Time Video on Gratefulness

As many of you know it has been sometime since I have made any new Drive Time Videos - I will spare you the details for the absence but I am make a new series of videos that while not from the road are from the heart and more importantly from God's Word. As always I appreciate your support and feed back. Just click the play button on the video below or if that is showing click the link to go to a webpage where you can view it.

Blessings,
Jesse


Click here to go to video page

Know your preacher?

I need your help. Usually I try to write items on this blog to inform, entertain or inspire you but this offering is a little different. As most of you know I am working on my Doctoral Dissertation and as part of that project I am doing some original research. My subject is the role of the hearer in the preaching process. What I need is your opinion. Since I spend most of my time behind the pulpit I need to know what the person in the pew is thinking. I will do these polls over a period of time in three question segments. It should only take a minute or two of your time but your input will be a great help to this seminary student.

Just click the link below to get started and let me thank you in advance for your participation, Also, please feel free to pass this on to anyone you may like, I could use all the opinions I can get. All responses are anonymous; so tell me what you think of preaching, listening and preachers like me.

Jesse

Please note that after you click "VOTE" after each set of answers, you will be taken to a results page, use your browser's "Back" button to return to the page to answer the following queston.
TAKE THE POLL

Who is in Charge?

So who really is in control on the field during an NFL game? The picture above that I took last Sunday in Dallas may give you a hint (you can click on the picture for a bigger version – you may have to use your browsers “back” button to back to the blog). In the picture you see players – it’s not them. You don’t see any coaches but it is not them either. How about the referees in their snazzy striped uniforms? Nope. Photogaphers? No. Cheerleaders? No again. It is really the man with the weird looking orange gloves. His title is NFL liaison or sideline coordinator. It is his job to get the word from the TV director in a control truck outside the stadium that the TV commercials are over and the game can restart after a break. The Refs cannot start until the sideline coordinator tells them to, on the field nothing happens until he says so. The orange gloves are so that the refs can easily see his hand signals to start or stop the game.

This got me to thinking about this – the person who is really in charge of something is rarely the person you see in the foreground. Perhaps in this political season a few folks would do well to remember that there is something more in play than just the acquisition of political power. Leaders in the church would do well to remember that no matter the title there is someone more unseen to who we are responsible. On an even more personal level we are each in charge of very little and all of us are persons under authority. So, we should all act like it.

Perhaps this would be a good time to express you submission to the God Who rules over all by offering your words of acknowledgment of His place and power to Him in prayer. As you practice the discipline of submission not only will He be honored and pleased, it will help you refocus to see His hand in your life, and you don’t even have to look for orange gloves!

Jesse

A few more pictures from our trip

The Sign

Matt. 27:37, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38, John 19:19

A hand-written sign is not meant to last long – it only for a fleeting temporary event that will soon be gone like the event of which it speaks. The person who actually put the letters to a discarded plank of wood and tacked it to the cross of Jesus had no idea that what he was labeling was far from a passing event. It was penned with as much care as a “yard sale” sign stuck on a utility pole, but it was placed over the head of one who cared enough to be sacrificed on our behalf.

The inscription in full was: This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews. The Jews objected and demanded the sign be edited to include “he said, I am king of the Jews. (John 19:21-23), they were OK with it being a claim of a rebel but they did not what it to be a straight-forward declarative statement. Pilate caused it to be written in way to show contempt for the Jewish authorities – this was his view of a king that would come from the Jews a weak and dying would-be ruler. These were not words the Romans believed-- but they were absolutely true! Jesus was and is the rightful heir to the throne of Israel (cf. Luke 1:32-33) but is also King of Kings (I Tim. 6:15). These truths and Pilate's words though written in unbelief attest to Christ’s sovereignty and His divinity.

The hand-written sign was to mark a moment but it testified to a movement. Something far greater was happening, something that would alter the destiny of all who believe in the King of the Jews.

Since He is our King and we are subjects in His kingdom, our response should be obedience -- complete, unquestioning obedience. God desires and deserves our worship but worship means more than offering our words to Him; He desires compliance with His will, in this is He pleased (I Sam. 15:22).

Family Update

In addition to my Bible studies and essays I post weekly on this Blog, I have decided occasionally to update you all on the happenings of the Waggoner family. So, many of you have taken the effort to stay in touch and Julie and I appreciate that so much. First of all let me identify all in the picture above.

L to R: Julie, Eric and Jessica, Katie and Brian, Brandon and Heather and Me,

We both are doing well and are blessed beyond words and are constantly amazed at the goodness of our God. We were so thankful for a late summer get-together with our entire family; we enjoyed a relaxing weekend as well as a visit to the WV State Fair. In September I was blessed with the opportunity to speak at a Missionary Retreat in Ecuador. It was also in September that we said goodbye to the congregation of Bible Center Church. Thankfully we live in a day where even though we may be separated we can still stay in touch. We are so thankful for the 12 years of ministry that the Lord gave us.

We have been traveling a bit of late, I was in Chicago for some ministry meetings back in the summer, Julie I traveled to be with friends in North and South Carolina, We visited family in Richmond VA a couple of weeks ago and last week we went to Morgantown for the WVU – FSU game, and took a couple of days to travel through the eastern mountains of WV. In a couple of weeks we will be traveling to Dallas to see the Cowboys play – this has been a long time dream of ours and we are looking forward to seeing our favorite team play live! We also are working a mid-west trip in mid-November. Below, I have put some links to photo albums from some of the above if you want to take a look.

We have also been going through a renovation of our kitchen and a few other fix-up projects that have kept us busy and I am spending part of each working on my Doctoral Dissertation. I hope to be finished by the end of January.

We have been in contact with a few churches in need of a pastor. I can’t provide details yet but I would appreciate your prayers that the Lord will give clear direction to our next place of service. Whether we end up near or far we will always give thanks for each of you.

PHOTO ALBUMS:

Waggoner Get-Together

From the Road

WVU game

Fall in the Mountains

Jesse Waggoner

Time Warp

"Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come,” (Isa. 44:7)

The language in this verse refers to God declaring in advance what will happen in the future. This is a question that spotlights His prophetic ability, and especially His exclusive ability do so. The Bible is full of fulfilled prophecy; more than 60 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled on the day Jesus was crucified. Time does not permit the ability to explore many of these, but I would refer you to ten chapters further in Isaiah and to read chapter 53 and reflect on how accurately it depicts the death of Jesus. In this verse, He is challenging any skeptic to show even one example that shows that anyone else has this ability, and while the skeptic is silenced the believers should be comforted to know that He is a God who can definitively proclaim the future. In this He has no rivals.

He is unrivaled in time, and He is not just existing in time but expressing His will through time. Note well the time frames in this verse. First of all…

He operates in the past

It is He that “appointed the ancient people.” Here, He is looking back to expose His sovereign control. The people of the past were appointed, literally “placed” by God. One only has to look at the historical sections of the Bible to see everywhere His hand at work. We can likewise see His had operating in our lives and we should mark well the places along our path were He has involved Himself in our lives

He operates in the present

This is seen in this line: “and the things that are coming.” God is operating in the midst of things that were then coming to pass in the present. The trends, events, movements, circumstances and happenings of their day are connected back to the same verb “appointed” as the events of the past. He alone can appoint the events that unfold in present time to be in accordance with His will. But we are not finished. Also…

He operates in the future

Lastly He appoints “the things that are coming and shall come.” This final terminology focuses our attention on the future. Just as surely as He has appointed the past and present, His appointment, His placing, His setting of the future is likewise sure and good as done. God is the only One who can operate in the future as well as the past and present

Our heavenly Father wants us to know that the One who speaks in the past and prophesies concerning the future also traces the arc of our lives through time by means of His controlling, loving, powerful hand. Based on that, how does that help us in these troubling times in which we live? Simply, He is in control at all times!

Jesse Waggoner

The First, The Last and Everything in Between

“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. (Isa. 44:6)

This verse means infinitely more than just that God has always been, that He predates everything else; it references that He is the reason everything else exists. From cover to cover, the Bible does not blush to call God the Creator of all things. “In the beginning God created…” (Gen. 1:1), “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3), “all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16 KJV), "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created" (Revelation 4:11). When it comes to creators, remember there is only One.

Let me ask you a question: If God has the ability to create you does He have the ability to protect you in the present? Here is where we begin to see that He is the only One available for our trust and the only One worthy of our trust.

Not only is He the cause of all things, likewise…He is the culmination of all things He is the first and the last. Again, this means more than just He always will exist, He will also bring all things to a conclusion. He wrote the preface to all creation and He has already written the final chapter. Colossians 1:20 is a summary of the culminating activity of God; in this verse we see that through Christ, God will “reconcile all things to Himself.” The reconciliation is as in reconciling an account or a checkbook. When it is all said and done, all things will be as God chooses them to be; all accounts will be balanced.

May I ask you a question: If God has the ability to create you and you believe He has the ability to get you from here to heaven, does He have the ability to get you through the rest of today? If so, then let me challenge you to acknowledge His control, to obediently behave in harmony with His control. He will control you either through your worshipful obedience or in judgment, in spite of your objections…

So…give Him control

Through your will and choice, accommodate yourself to His control. Allow your trust in His control to pluck you from a sea of fear and doubt and lift you to new heights of confidence. I know this is challenging when what our eyes see lead us to fear. But we, in faith, need to reconnect with the only One who is unrivaled in control- our King and Redeemer.

Jesse Waggoner

No danger, no stress, no life!

Earlier this year Julie and spent an enjoyable day at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando. During a walk through one section of the park we came to the area containing gorillas. The one pictured above caught my attention and I spent a few minutes observing him enjoying an afternoon snack while watching the people who were watching him. Disney is quick to inform park guests as to how well the animals are cared for. This guy gets regular checks by the vet, they are supervised by primatologists, and their diet is strictly controlled for quality and nutritional value. They are protected by various means from any threat. In short for the most part they have it made. No poachers to contend with, no food shortages or lack of shelter. Just eat, sleep, repeat! Just do what you do and let folks who want to see you up close take a look without having to go to the Congo.

Sometimes we long for that kind of stress-free life -- but is that really living? No obstacles to overcome, problems to solve, no risk, no win or lose just maintain. Seems like all of that discomfort and chaos that I often complain about is part of God's plan to help me grow and become more like His Son. The struggle is necessary it is not optional in God's plan. So the next time life gets a little scary think about my hairy friend back at the zoo, is that really living?

Zoos are for animals - I prefer to live in the wild.

Blessings,
Jesse

Worship!

Last Sunday I had the joy of worshipping with the folks at the Chaupimolio, Church in Ecuador. I have posted a short video clip so you can take a look. It has been a long time since I have been with a group who worshipped so joyously and loved each other and the Lord so dearly. Being here was truely the highlight of my trip. By US standards the folks do not have alot, the church is on a dirt street, all of them walked to church.

I am reminded of this verse: 2 Corinthians 4:18 "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."


Video Clip of Worship Service

Blessings,
Jesse

Greetings from Ecuador

I want to give you all a quick update from South America. I have had a wonderful time of ministry in this beautiful country and with these beautiful people. I have enjoyed interacting with national pastors and visited two churches. I spent three days sharing the Word with a great team of missionaries in the delightful city of Banos. It sits at the foot of Tungurahua which is an active volcano. The beauty there is astounding. The work that these servants of the Lord are doing is likewise astounding. I think they have taught me more than I have taught them. I spoke on the subject of faith and I really feel that this time in God’s Word was an encouragement to us all. I then traveled to Pifo where I am staying on a missionary compound.

Today I was privileged to worship with the congregation of the Chaupimolino church. This church has seen great growth in the last months and has expanded their outreach and building. Hopefully this church will be fully led by nationals in the not too distant future as the missionaries phase out and begin a work in another city. The worship was energetic and from the heart. It was evident that these brothers and sisters love each other and the Lord. After service we traveled north of Quito to visit the monument at “The Center of the World” which sits on the Ecuador. Thank you all for your support and prayers . I will try to write more later, until then if you want to see a few pictures use the link below.

Ecuador Photo Album

Blessings,
Jesse

Passport in Hand

A quick update on my missions trip: A week from today I will be in Ecuador, I will be sharing the Word with a group of dedicated missionaries at their annual field conference in Banos. I received my renewal passport in eight days(A big praise)and I am busy preparing messages. Thanks to so many of you who have offered words of encouagment and given to make this trip possible. Thanks too to those of you who offered to help me with Spanish - I appreaciate the attempt but I think I will stick with English for now. Please pray that I will accomplish all that the Lord intends for this trip. I will try to update you while there, and give a full report on this blog when I return.

Blessings,
Jesse

Here's what's next for me

As many of you know my departure from Bible Center Church was announced last Sunday. After 12 years and growing to love the congregation of BCC it is with some sadness we make this transition but we are looking forward to the future. So what will we be doing? In the short run…

1. In mid-September I will be traveling to Ecuador to minister the word to a team of missionaries serving there. I am already working on several teaching ideas I want to share while with them. Also since the opportunity came up quickly I need to raise about $1000 right away. If you would like to help out you can use this link below I do not have a way to make these gifts tax-deductable but all money will be used for ministry purposes, if you have any questions send me an e-mail jw@waggonermedia.com.

WaggonerMedia Support page

2. A new batch of Drive Time Videos is on the way. So some encouragement from the road will soon be coming your way.

3. I will have the chance to continue my doctoral studies at an advanced pace. I may be through by early 2011.

4. We are looking for opportunities to share the Word. A few are in the planning stages, if you know of somewhere that may need a preacher for a Sunday or for an event, please let me know.

5. We continue to seek God’s leading toward a full-time pastoral ministry. Exciting possibilities are out there. I will share as I can and we do ask for your prayers in this regard.

Thank you all for your love and support, it means more than you will ever know.

Blueridge Parkway

It is on my bucket list, I want to drive the all 469 miles of the Blueridge Parkway, I have been on short sections of it, and recently on my way back from a wonderful weekend with family at a wonderful Bed & Breakfast (a converted barn) we detoured through a short section of the Parkway, and paid a delightful visit to Mabry Mill which is the most photographed location on the Parkway. But job and life called and after a peaceful hour and half it was time to reconnect with the interstate highway system and head home.

One of the reasons I like this road (in addition to the mountains, fresh air etc.) was that is is not a road that is about getting somewhere, it is all about being somewhere. The enjoyment is in the journey not the destination. The max speedlimit is 45 and it is less than that in many places so you are not going to get anywhere quickly, you must slow down and enjoy what is passing by your fenders. I confess that on most days I am not very good at that, it is all about the next appointment, meeting, lesson, sermon or video to be produced. It is what is coming that is important. The only problem is; I miss the blessings that are passing in a blur.

So why don't you join me in this exercise... for a moment slow down to 35 MPH, roll down the windows, turn off the stereo, take a deep breath and enjoy the blessings that are in this moment. You wll be amazed at what you notice and you may just reduce you stress a bit to boot.

Jesse Waggoner

Drive Time Video

The first six episodes of my current teaching series is available via Drive Time Video. If you want to view higher quality video you can visit the podcast archive page and choose the download link to download the MP4 videos.

Also feel free to follow DTV on Twitter @ twitter.com/DriveTimeVideo

See you on the road.

JW

Walk in... Living Like Jesus One Step At a Time

Here is a preview of the current study being released via Drive Time Video --In the Christian life we focus on our future and on Jesus' work to "clean up" our past but He wants us to walk with Him each day. Each step we take is to be in harmony with His character and His Word. In this study we will learn about how to take our "Walk" to the next level. We will study several New Testament passages where are commanded to walk in...love, glory, obedience etc.

I hope to see you on the road.

The Cross Beside Jesus

Here is a portion of my message at Bible Center on 4-11-2010

Easter 2010

Some new pictures taken a Bible Center on Easter Sunday 2010 have just been added to the WaggonerMedia Gallery. My thanks to Jordan Damron for taking the picture and to Steven Vanhorn for sharing them with me.

Easter 2010 Photos

Blessings,
JW

Good Friday Service

Here is a video clip from WSAZ coverage of the Bible Center Good Friday service.