Getting fit in 2012

I've been using a free weight loss/fitness website for the past few days and love it! It's called Lose It! Here are a few reasons why you should give it a try if you've tried other programs that didn't work:

• It an easy calorie based program. No counting points.
• A database of food items are already in the system so you don't have to look up the calories for every item you consume.
• You can add to your daily calorie intake by doing some excercise. The more you exercise, you more you can eat!
• It's FREE!
• You can "friend" others who can provide mutual accountability.
• Some of your data (your calorie intake and weight loss) are graphed so you can visualize your progress.
• Those who "friend" you can see you weight loss progress but they cannot see your weight unless you allow it to be visible on your profile page.
• Etc.

If you're interested in taking care of God's temple (1 Corinthians 6:19), consider joining www.loseit.com and friending me. Simply type "matt ellis" into the friend locator and you'll see my picture.

It's a Small World After All

It's fascinating how small our world has become with the arrival of the internet. One person can easily influence folks in other countries from the confines of his own home or workplace. To illustrate, the following is a list of the hits I have received on my blog over the past 30 days.




Pageviews by Countries

United States 907 Canada 6 France 4 Australia 3 Hungary 3 Malaysia 3 Netherlands 3 Guyana 2 Israel 2 India 2

To forgive or not to forgive...that is the question

I had a conversation with someone recently regarding the topic of forgiveness. He was grappling with the desire to forgive and yet the inability to act on that desire.

With a sincere heart, he asked me how he could win this battle  that was raging within him.

I noted that refusing to forgive is an illogical response to wrongs committed against us. Essentially, when we refuse to forgive, we are saying, "Since someone wronged me, I will continue to abuse myself for years to come."

But as illogical as that response may be, I know all too well the problem he described. I struggle with it. Truth be told, everyone does.

And yet, the command in Scripture is clear and we must comply:
"And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ." (Ephesians 4:32).

In our conversation, I gave a few suggestions on how I've been able to forgive and move on. I'll share the one that has helped me overcome the big stuff.

It begins with this conviction: The person who claims to be a believer and yet, having committed a large offense, refuses to make it right is showing themselves to be lost.

• Matthew 18:15-17 tells us that if someone doesn't make things right after repeated attempts at reconciliation, they are to be treated as a lost person regardless of whether or not they claim to be saved.
• 1 John 3:6 states that anyone who claims to be a believer will not sin (in the original language, this is written in the present, continuous sense - "He will not keep doing wrong."). Believers will sin but will eventually make it right.
• Passages like 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Ephesians 5:3-5 tell us that folks who claim to be believers and yet remain in sin are deceived. They are not saved and are not on their way to Heaven no matter what they think.

These three bullet points are VERY serious. They are stating that folks who remain in sin, refusing to make it right, are showing themselves to be lost and on their way to Hell.

(I recently preached on Hell. If you want a little glimpse into what it will be like, click on the link at the end of this post.)

So, as I talked about forgiveness, I mentioned that I found it easier to pray for someone when I realized that if they continued in their sin, refusing to make it right, they may be bearing the fruit of someone who will spend eternity in Hell. 

That paradigm shift has helped me cross the line. Instead of holding onto grudges, I have found it easier to pray for the offender. I have prayed that they would make things right. I have prayed that if they are not saved, that they would make that right before it's too late.

I don't care how justified you may feel in holding onto grudges against someone who has wronged you. I've struggled with those feelings, too. The real issue is where people will spend eternity. Only the most calloused of hearts can remain indifferent to someone who will soon experience the torments of Hell forever ... and ever ... and ever ...


Here's the sermon (video) on Hell: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KGD66PNX

Praise & Love and why they are inseparable

This morning, I read Psalm 134 where it calls upon the reader to praise the Lord.

“Now praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who stand in the Lord’s house at night! Lift up your hands in the holy place, and praise the Lord! May the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.” (Psalm 134:1-3)

As the average Christian reads those three verses, they probably feel the pangs of conviction and think: “I really need to praise the Lord more. I don’t do it enough.” (Of course, by “praise,” we mean enjoying times of contemplation on the Lord’s incredible attributes and proclaiming the glory of those attributes.)

Let’s suppose that I’m speaking to a hypothetical believer. He shows up for church but sings the songs half-heartedly. Away from church, he acknowledges that he rarely speaks of how wonderful God is.

After he acknowledges his struggles with praising God, I pose this question to him: “Do you LOVE the Lord?” More than likely, he would give a resounding “Yes! Of course I love Him! Doesn’t every believer!?”

And that’s the problem … we separate love and praise. In reality, the two are directly tied to each other.

For example, I absolutely love my wife. We spent a few hours together recently to do a little Christmas shopping for our boys. Now, I cannot possibly tell you how much I loathe shopping but I wouldn’t give up the time we spent together for anything! We laughed. We held hands. We communicated on a deep level on topics ranging from how we’re raising our boys to what we think God is up to in our lives. It was FUN because I loved the person I was with, my best friend!

Now, imagine that you came up to me and said, “Matt, I wonder if you could give me 5 things that you greatly admire about your wife.” I guarantee you that I would have no trouble whatsoever! In fact, I’ll rattle off a few right now:

1. She loves the Lord.
2. She loves and takes care of her family.
3. She brings out the best in others.
4. She genuinely cares for others.
5. She has a servant-heart.
6. She is a high-achiever.
7. She is industrious.
8. She is frugal with her family’s finances.
9. She’s fun to look at!!!
10. I could easily keep going...

That list didn’t take me long at all. Essentially, it’s a list where I was singing Kim’s praises. Why did I find it easy to praise Kim? Because I love her! Praise is a natural outflow of love.

Now, let’s imagine that a husband and wife aren’t doing too well. They constantly fight and the love fires are burning dangerously low. If you were to ask each spouse to give you 5 things that they admired about each other, do you think they could do it? Probably not. Why? Because it’s difficult and unnatural to praise someone that you don’t love.

So, are you praising God like you should? When’s the last time you praised Him, I mean REALLY let ‘er rip? Maybe a more relevant question would be: “Do you even feel like praising Him?”

If you're struggling to obey all of those biblical commands to praise God, maybe you should start somewhere else:

"He said to him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment." (Matthew 22:37-39).

Sermon (video): Why Christmas is a Big Deal

Pastor Adrian Rogers of Bellevue Baptist Church used to say: "The good news without the bad news makes the good news no news at all."

Using that principles, this sermon seeks to show the beauty of Christmas in all of its glory by investigating the bad news: "Where would we be if Jesus had not come?"

Click here to view the sermon preached at First Baptist Church of Brooksville, Florida on November 28, 2011.

Sermon (video): Armed and Dangerous (Ephesians 6:10-18)

So what is the Christian life like? I think you will realize by the end of this sermon that being a follower of Christ is very similar to warfare ... and God has equipped you to be a victorious warrior in the fight!

(I began this sermon with a picture, not visible on the internet version, of some of our warriors in the Middle East who were suited up for battle. It is precisely the kind of image Paul was thinking about when writing of the Christian life.)

Sermon: Armed and Dangerous

It's What You Do - Not When You Do It

In his book, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, author Chuck Swindoll speaks about the incredible man named Caleb. After quoting Joshua 14:7-12, he writes:

"I love it! Caleb, though eighty-five years old, did not say, 'Give me this rocking chair.' No, not Caleb. He said, 'Give me that mountain - up there where those giants live!' He is still unafraid of the giants. The last thing we see of Caleb is his trudging up that mountain at eighty-five years old, rolling up his sleeves to take on the giants."

Then, the author quotes from a dated Wall Street Journal full-page message:

"It's What You Do - Not When You Do It"

Ted Williams, at age 42, slammed a home run in his last official at bat.

Mickey Mantle, age 20, hit 23 home runs his first full year in the major leagues.

Golda Meir was 71 when she became Prime Minister of Israel.

William Pitt II was 24 when he became Prime Minister of Great Britian.

George Bernard Shaw was 94 when one of his plays was first produced.

Mozart was just seven when his first composition was published.

Now, how about this? Benjamin Franklin was a newspaper columnist at 16 and a framer of the United States Constitution when he was 81.

You're never too young or too old if you've got talent. Let's recognize that age has little to do with ability.

On squirrels and holiness

This morning proved to be interesting … and if you have a weak stomach, do not read this post.

Zach and I went through our usual morning routine after Kim took Sean and Joseph to school. We headed out the door, hopped into the car, drove to the bus stop a few blocks down the street and waited.

In a moment of transparency between father and son, I acknowledged that Satan would love for nothing more than to derail us on our road toward Christlikeness. I warned him that the desires and opportunities to satisfy those sinful desires would grow but by God's grace and strength, he must master them. 

I told him that God has called us to be holy. I told him that we are set apart for Christ and that we should not even let our big toe step off the road of holiness.

While I acknowledged that I’ve failed many times and cried out for God’s forgiveness, holiness is a serious matter.

I reached a point in the conversation where quiet settled in. I wondered if I was getting through to him. I wondered if I had been too “preachy.”

Just moments later, as we both watched, a car passed us and made its way down the street. Two squirrels darted out from a yard and ran in front of the car. One didn’t make it. The tire ran over its head.

As the car continued down the road, the squirrel tried to run but its head was dragging on the ground like dead weight (more like a heavy pancake). In a few moments, it dropped to the ground. Its legs continued flaying about but only for a few seconds.

Almost as quickly as it happened, the squirrel stopped moving and was reclassified. It moved from “squirrel” to “roadkill.”

I saw my opportunity to drive home my previous point. I pointed my finger at the dead squirrel and said, “Zach, that’s what Satan wants to do to you. You pursue holiness and it will never happen.”

As he got out of the car to board the bus, he looked at me and said, “Great illustration!” I hope it sunk in.

Sermon (video): God's Design for Children and Parents (Ephesians 6:1-4)

As relationships between parents and children continue to deteriorate in our culture, God's Word instructs us regarding how we can glorify Him in this relationship. 

Personal note: I tended to be more instructional and less personal the first half of this sermon as I spoke of the child's responsibility to obey and honor their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3). As I spoke on Ephesians 6:4 where God proclaims the parent's responsibility, I sensed that God was nailing the truth home to my heart and those in attendance. There were many that responded at the end of this sermon with a desire to renew their passion for working to help their children along on the road of holiness. 

To view the sermon, click here.

Powerful praying in troubling times

Have you ever been overwhelmed with "life"? I mean, life got so tough that you didn't know which way was up! It's in times like those that we realize just how vulnerable we are. While some believe themselves to be "the master of their fate" and "the captain of their souls," it is in those times of trouble that we are reminded just how powerless we really are. 

Yet, there are many words of comfort and instruction to be found in Scripture for those traveling through difficulty. One of my favorites is found in Isaiah 37:14-20.

Let me explain what the problem was and then give you a four-step prayer that God was pleased to answer.

Sennacherib was the Assyrian leader who wanted to defeat Jerusalem. Long story short, he had the ability to do it and the track record to prove it. Jerusalem was just one city in a long line of cities that would be demolished by this warrior. And just to make sure that Hezekiah, King of Judah, was clear of Sennacherib's intent, the Assyrian leader sent a letter to him to explain his intentions.

What King Hezekiah does with the letter is incredible and is easily applicable in 21st century American life. Hezekiah took the letter to the temple of the Lord and prayed.

Let me share just a few thoughts from God's Word about how to pray in tough times.

1. Acknowledge God's sovereignty ...
That just means that you take your mind off the problem and begin your prayer thinking about how awesome God is. Realize that He is powerful enough to handle anything that you are dealing with ... ANYTHING!

 

Hezekiah did this in verses 14-16 - "Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers, read it, then went up to the Lord’s house and spread it out before the Lord. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 'Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are God – You alone – of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.'"

2. Plead for God's full attention ...
You may feel uncomfortable with this point but Hezekiah wanted to make sure that God was giving him His full attention.
 
Listen as Hezekiah prays in verse 17 - "Listen closely, Lord, and hear; open Your eyes, Lord, and see; hear all the words that Sennacherib has sent to mock the living God."

3. Elaborate on the problem ...
Let's admit it. God already knows everything we're facing before we tell Him about it. But, for some reason, God enjoys it when we come and tell Him.
 
Listen as Hezekiah informs God in verse 18 and 19 - "Lord, it is true that the kings of Assyria have devastated all these countries and their lands and have thrown their gods into the fire; for they were not gods but made by human hands – wood and stone. So they have destroyed them."

4. Ask for God's intervention ...
Hezekiah ended the prayer by telling God what he thought should happen.
 
Verse 20 "Now, Lord our God, save us from his hand so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord – You alone."
 
But, here's an important point. Notice that Hezekiah asked God to move based upon God's benefit. God is about the business of glorifying Himself among the inhabitants of the earth. He desires to draw all peoples to Himself. So, Hezekiah based his request upon the fact that God's desire to glorify Himself and draw people to Him depended upon Jerusalem's salvation.

So, what happened? Read Isaiah 37:21-38 to find out. Hint: Within 24 hours, Hezekiah was jumping for joy because of what his great God had done.

Why does God let life get so tough?

Sometimes the roller coaster of life can really leave your head spinning. A doctor looks you in the eye and says you have cancer. A phone call in the middle of the night informs you that a loved one has departed. The boss hands you a pink slip. The car breaks down. A child begins to make some horrible choices and won't listen to your counsel. The list could go on and on.

Why do those things happen? In fact, with our belief that God is sovereign and reigns supreme over the events around us (Ephesians 1:11), how are we to think about these tough times? I was recently reflecting on that question. Let me share my thoughts.

Exactly 21 days ago, I set out on a mission. I had told a young "Timothy" who I am mentoring that he should pick out some task that he didn't want to do but that would benefit him in the long run and just do it. I realized that I needed to take my own medicine and so I "googled" a plan for beginning runners.

I HATE running. Not much about it is appealing to me ... but I LOVE the results: more energy, better attitude, less stress, higher metabolism, providing the Lord with a healthier "temple", running with my boys, and on and on.

So, I followed the online instructions and ran the first day. It called me to run 1 minute/walk 1 minute and do it ten times. I almost killed myself doing it. I was gasping for air and felt horrible after the run.

The next day, I got Day 2's instructions in an e-mail. I had to do the same thing as Day 1. My legs were still killing me and my lungs were protesting. But I ran anyway. I pushed myself to do exactly what the running plan called me to do.

Well, long story short, I just finished today's run. It's Day 21 and I ran for 5 minutes/walked for 1 minute and did it 5 times. I was tired but not nearly as bad as that first day!

If you were to ask me if I enjoyed the training, I would quickly (and I mean quickly) say "No!" It was hard work for a guy that was out of shape and overweight.

But if you were to ask me if I'm glad I did it, I would quickly (and I mean quickly) say "Yes!" Why? Because I'm enjoying the results. You see, I fought through the tough times because I knew they were preparing me for the good times.

How does that flesh out in our spiritual walk? Simply, that God brings difficulties into our lives for various reasons but often, it's because He's developing us. He's toughening us up. He's getting rid of the spiritual flabbiness and laziness and making us usable to Him. Being used by Him is what we were made for!

We only get one shot at life. The rest of eternity will give us time to reflect on what we did with these few, short years on earth. Often, God sends us to the "gym" to work out so that we can much more clearly reflect His glory in our attitudes, thoughts, words, and actions. He is equipping us for service to Him.

Don't resist God's work. Is it fun when you are in the "gym" and difficulties come? No! But does God promise to work it out for your good (Romans 8:28)? You betcha!

Don't get upset when trials come into your life. Realize that God is using them to make you more usuable to Him. Who knows what may be around the corner. God is training you for something!

Sermon (video): God's Design for Husbands - Part 2 (Ephesians 5:28-33)

God's Word is clear when it instructs husbands to love their wives with the kind of love illustrated in Christ's love for the Church. What characterizes Christ's love? How would that kind of love look in a marriage? Is this kind of love even possible?

This sermon is a continuation of the one preached on September 25, 2011. To watch it, simply click here.

Sermon (video): God's Design for Husbands - Part 1 (Ephesians 5:25-27)

God's Word is clear when it instructs husbands to love their wives with the kind of love illustrated in Christ's love for the Church.
What characterizes Christ's love? How would that kind of love look in a marriage? Is this kind of love even possible?

Click here to view the sermon.

Sermon (video): God's Design for Wives (Ephesians 5:22-24)

It's the text on wives and submission and it typically gets people upset. But does the text merit such a response? Is it possible that the message God is giving to us is exactly what is needed for a mutually enjoyable marital relationship? Could it be that God has a vested interest in great marriages?

Click here to view the sermon.

On trips to Heaven and writing a book about it

Have you ever wondered what Heaven is like? Have you ever wished that you had a little more information than what is given in Scripture?

What’s it like moments after death? Do our loved ones form a welcome committee upon our arrival? What does Heaven look like? Smell like? Sound like?

All of these questions and more, many of which are not answered in Scripture, are provided if you’ll just purchase the books (mild sarcasm permeated virtually every word of the previous sentence). Now, please understand me on this. I’m not standing in judgment of the authors of books like “Heaven is For Real” or “90 Minutes in Heaven.” I’m not saying that those folks didn’t experience what they say they experienced. I’m just stating that I’ve got some serious concerns about them.

First, they present as fact what is not revealed in Scripture. Doesn’t this undermine the usefulness of Scripture? Doesn’t this assume that what God has seen fit to reveal to His church for 2,000 years about Heaven is no longer good enough? 

Second, the information conveyed in these books is completely subjective. There is no possible way to “prove” that what they are saying is true. It may be true but there’s no way of validating it.

Third, it opens the proverbial can of worms. The conversation is now based not upon the authority of Scripture but upon each individual’s experiences. So, if one person who tells us that they’ve gone to Heaven expects us to believe their story, what would keep us from believing Bill Wiese’s story (“23 Minutes in Hell”) of how he was physically taken to Hell in a night’s vision. And if we believe his account, where do we stop?

Fourth, I’m concerned that those who have had an out-of-body experience may not be able to interpret what they’ve experienced. There are many who have seen the "light at the end of the tunnel" who have never claimed to have a saving faith in Jesus Christ. There are stories of those in other religions who have experienced places of bliss after their death rather than torment. 

Jesus was clear in John 14:6 when He said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. Therefore, we MUST conclude that if unsaved folks are encountering similar experiences as those that claim to be Christian, we simply cannot be certain what they are experiencing post "death." To write a book about the experience means that conclusions were not only made but are then presented as fact. Dangerous, in my opinion.

I’m not saying that these things don’t happen. I’m simply, once again, stating that Christians have no biblical paradigm through which to think about these phenomena. Some may think that 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 may be a "proof text" for an out-of-body experience. However, a logical reading of that Scripture plainly shows that the Apostle Paul could draw no conclusions about whether the experience was real ("in a physical body") or a vision. Therefore, we can draw no conclusions about "out-of-body experiences" and "trips to Heaven" from this passage.

Fifth, Jesus shed some light on this subject in His parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus states that these two men died. The rich man lifted his eyes in a place of torment and Lazarus was transported by angels to the place where Abraham was (Heaven). 

Now listen closely. I want you to catch this. In verses 27 and 28 of that text, the rich man in torment begged Abraham to grant a request. “‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him (Lazarus) to my father’s house – because I have five brothers – to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’” What was his request? An out-of-body experience! He asked that Lazarus arise from the dead and warn folks of the reality of Hell. If the rich man had lived in 21st century America, he may have even asked Lazarus to write a book about his visit to Heaven while he was at it. 

Listen to the few words of interaction following the rich man’s request in verses 29-31. (When Abraham mentions “Moses and the prophets”, he’s talking about the Old Testament Scriptures written by those men.) “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ” 

The principle here is pretty clear. Abraham said that the Scriptures were sufficient. If folks weren't convinced by reading God's Word, an account of someone who had an out-of-body experience would do no good. We learn that it is not God’s pattern to send people to Heaven (or Hell) and back simply to tell others of their experience and encourage them to receive the gift of eternal life.

In conclusion, I’m not saying that those who have written such books are being untruthful. I’m not saying that they haven’t experienced what they write about. I’m just saying that a thoughtful Christian must read them with caution. A thinking Christian must base no theology upon something in those books not found in Scripture. You may want to read any of these books but here's my advice ... err on the side of safety and read them as fiction. 

If you’re really interested in a book on Heaven that handles the topic in more substantive, biblical ways, you’ll want to pick up a copy of “Heaven” by Randy Alcorn. I have read this book and absolutely enjoyed it!

Sermon (video): 911 - A Call for Help (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)

On the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, what are we to think about what our country has experienced in the past 10 years? Can God simply overlook sin and insubordination by His creation or does He act? If He acts, how so? And based upon our assumptions, how should we then respond?

Listen to this sermon preached on September 11, 2011 to hear God's answers to those questions by clicking here.

Grandma Ellis (October 7, 1930 – February 19, 2010)

Grandma Ellis

Nostalgia can be a very satisfying practice! Everyone should have those special times to which they periodically retreat into the recesses of their memory to enjoy. Those are the memories that bring a warmth to the heart and a smile to the face. One of my favorite times upon which I reminisce is moments spent with my Grandma Ellis. Here are just a few of the wonderful memories I had with her.

One gift that God gave Grandma that she blessed so many with was her work in her kitchen. I remember those visits to her house. When we walked in the door, almost immediately following the welcomes and hugs, she asked if anyone was hungry. When you sat down to eat, it would be your own fault if you left the table hungry. Grandma would ask at least three or four times if she could get you anything else.

My Grandpa and Grandma Ellis

I found it advantageous to bring an appetite to Grandma's house ... especially my sweet tooth. Grandma was never without a dessert in the kitchen. Whether it was Mississippi Mud Cake in the refrigerator or Half-Moon Apple Pies as a centerpiece on the table, there was plenty occasion to earn an encounter with diabetes in my old age.

On some occasions, I would stay with my siblings at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I was never sure what time Grandma woke up. I just knew that when I opened my eyes, the house was filled with the aroma of sausage, bacon, biscuits and fresh eggs that Grandpa had gathered that morning from the chicken house out back. There was orange juice, chocolate milk and even some coffee she made in the percolator on the stove. On a rare occasion, there may even be some Red-Eye Gravy. (I had heard that earlier in Grandma's life, she wouldn't just bring eggs from the chicken house. She'd wring a neck or two and have fried chicken that evening.)
 

Another fond memory of Grandma was her love for family. I remember the joy on her face each time we visited and she opened her front door. If I made myself available for talking to her, away from Grandpa's conversation, she would ask about how things were going and would always enjoy learning everything "new" about me.

My grandma Ellis and Great-Grandma Spears

She also had a love for her mom. We took many trips to the country to visit Great-Grandma Spears. These were occasions when time seemed to stand still. It always seemed that we stepped back into time as we sat in the living room / bed room and listened to Great-Grandma talk about all that had transpired since the last visit.

I was always aware that these trips weren't really about me or my siblings. The purpose of the visit was for Grandma to give her mom some company and do anything that Great-Grandma had been unable to do on her own. (I remember on one occasion when we stayed the night with Great-Grandma. When I asked how I could get to the restroom in the middle of the night without waking Great-Grandma, Grandma gave me a bed pan. Memories.)

Another unquestionable attribute of Grandma was her devotion to the things of God. It showed up in many ways. For starters, when we got to spend the night at her house on Saturdays, we awoke on Sunday to the sound of the kitchen radio. Typically, Elton Wilson, the pastor of Grandma's church was on the radio with a message and some music. We would be invited on that broadcast to join Bible Baptist Church for worship. (I always thought that it was incredible to hear the pastor on the radio and actually get to see him later that morning. Something about being on the radio seemed to make him bigger than life to me.) 

There was never a question of whether we were going to church. I am certain that if I had ever asked Grandma if we were going, she may have checked my head for a fever or something like that. Asking such a question was ludicrous. Everyone in the Ellis household just knew that when the church doors were opened, we would be walking through them.

To keep me and my siblings quiet during church when we happened to join them, Grandma would always pull out a piece of Wrigley's Spearmint gum. To this day, when I buy a pack of Wrigley's on a whim, I smell it and it reminds me of Grandma.

Kim and me spending some time with my grandparents

In the final years of Grandma's life before age robbed her of her memory, Kim and I spent much time with them. We spent time with Grandma and Grandpa when we dated and continued to enjoy trips to their house after our wedding. One thing was clear - Grandma loved Kim. She told me so on many occasions. And Kim loved her back.

I'll never forget taking Grandpa and Grandma back home to Clarksville, Tennessee after a family member's wedding in Lexington, Kentucky. I drove with Grandpa in my car and Kim drove with Grandma in her car. When we arrived, Kim and I noted that non-stop conversation had taken place in our vehicles for the entirety of the four hour trip. We further noted that she and I had said no more than 50 words during the whole trip. Grandma's talkativeness just meant that she felt at home with Kim. Grandpa? Well, he just enjoyed another opportunity to talk.

I really miss my Grandma. I believe that my sons would have greatly benefited from getting to know her. All they remember are her final years in the nursing home with serious health problems. However, we look forward to being reunited with her again one day in Heaven.

Final note: For a very brief video clip of Grandma's house, click here. It will mean absolutely nothing to most of those who read this post. To me, every corner of that house and yard has a wonderful memory. It's fodder for nostalgia.

Sermon (video): The Exciting Spirit-Filled Life (Ephesians 5:18-21)

The Bible tells us to "be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). It sounds exciting and promising, especially when we realize just how many times we falter in our walk with the Lord. Could this verse be the key to victory in our lives?

 

Listen to this sermon preached by Pastor Matt Ellis on September 4, 2011 at the First Baptist Church of Brooksville, Florida. Hear what God's Word says about what the Holy Spirit can do in you and through you when He is allowed to fill you. Simply click here to be redirected to the sermon.

Video: Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch (2007)

Kim, the boys and I watched the Space Shuttle Atlantis launch in 2007. We were positioned about 10 miles away from the launch pad across the Indian River in Titusville, Floria. I was shaking from the excitement and unfortunately, the camera was in that shaky hand. However, I still view it periodically to relive the moment. I thought I would share it.

Click here to view the video.

Sermon (video): Walk as Children of Light (Ephesians 5:8-14)

One of the great calls in Scripture to live a holy life in a corrupt world is found in Ephesians 5:8-14. Upon first glance, the terms seem to be a bit ambiguous (after all, what does it mean to be "light"). Yet, digging deep into God's truth yields an unspeakably clear and spectacular call to be more like Jesus in our thoughts and actions.


Simply click here to view the sermon.

Reflections on 14 years of marriage

Kim and I recently sat down to watch our wedding video. We had not been able to view it for about 12-13 years because our VHS copy had decided long ago that it would much rather show lines and snow on the screen. Kim and I would have rather watched the wedding but we had no choice in the matter. So ... we were overwhelmingly surprised when we found out that my Mom had another copy of our special day. I immediately converted it to digital. Then, Kim and I sat down to relive what took place on May 10, 1997 in the sanctuary of Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky.

One of my favorite pictures from that day was taken immediately following the ceremony. We had just been married and we peered longingly into each other's eyes with smiles on our faces. (Something this picture shows very clearly is who got the better end of the deal. ME!!!) One of the primary reasons I love it is because it captures a moment at the beginning of our lives together when we were filled with thoughts of joy and hope. In our minds, we felt that we could take on the world because we had each other. Everything was right in the world. We could not fathom in that moment that the sea of life would soon get terribly rough.

Before I mention specifically what those rough times were, let me make one comment from my vantage point 14 years after our wedding day. Little did I know on that day that our marriage would not simply be a reason for my own personal joy. (Being married to my best friend has provided plenty of joy!) I had no idea on that day as "two became one" how having a front row seat to the story of Kim's life would grow me in so many different ways.

Quite possibly one of the greatest qualities that Kim has is her ability to experience difficulty and constantly rise above it. Kim has had ample opportunity to model this in her life. Very soon after our wedding, her grandmother who lived in Campton, Kentucky, who had been such an encouragement to her in her growing up years, passed away. This was someone that Kim had grown remarkably close to throughout the years. Her grandmother was her friend, her counselor, her ear and her shoulder to lean on.

But the greatest blow of all took place when her mom was diagnosed with cancer only six short months after our wedding day. For 9 months, I watched as Kim sacrificially took care of her mother. Even as Kim was carrying our firstborn son in her womb, she selflessly served the woman who had shown my wife how to be a godly woman. When Kim was 5 months pregnant with our firstborn, we attended her mother's funeral.

Since then, Kim has undergone an emergency c-section as we feared for the life of our firstborn. She has experienced the death of her father and a grandfather. She has sat helplessly as a doctor looked her in the eye and informed her that she had cancer.

But from my front row seat, I've seen her find strength in the Lord to get back up and keep on going. Whatever the trial, whatever the circumstances, I've never seen her wallow in pity or discouragement unless it was for a very short time. I've seen her discover the strength that the Lord has made available to her and she keeps going. She still has the sweet smile and heart of gold. She hasn't allowed bitterness to characterize her. Instead, she is known by those around her as someone who has a tender and compassionate heart.

When I peered into her eyes 14 years ago, I had no clue how blessed I would be by my lifelong union with Kim. I pray each morning for my boys' future wives and pray that God will bless my sons with a wife as incredible as the one He gave to me.