Jonathan Hill

Sunday Recap-Core Foundations-God's Word

2010-03-08T11:32:00.007-06:00

Yesterday it was fun preaching on the authority of Scripture and what we believe about the Bible. It was even more fun studying and preparing. We have started a series called CORE FOUNDATIONS that will take us back to reaffirm what the core foundations of the faith are. Like I said in my message all the resources I use I freely pass on so that you can do your own study. See Below:

Here is a link to a resource I used from a sermon I preached in 2005 that gives some of the key scripture on the Word of God. Print it off and ENJOY!
Here is a link to subscribe to get the free Magazine from the Voice of the Martyrs to stay up to speed on the persecuted church. This will give you a relevant perspective of modern martyrs for the Word of God.
In my message I shared several scientific and medical facts that the Bible declared well before any scientist or Doctor. Some of them were found in this online article: That Amazing Book by Terry Watkins
Here is a link to some facts about the Bible's 40 authors from an article that came from a book by Josh McDowell called Evidence that Demands a Verdict
I also got some of the history of the Bible and elaboration on other theological jargon from the following resource:
Training for Service-A survey of the Bible by Orin Root
Systematic Theology-Wayne Grudem
Systematic Theology-Dr. Norman Geisler-volume one

We had a great gathering yesterday! We welcomed our newest member Charlotte Triplette. We also got to encourage two of our members, Jedia Fuller and Nathan Williams, with wonderful words of blessing.

I love serving at Church Ablaze...this is going to be a fun and educating series...Next week..God's Nature! Find us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/churchablaze

Dance Instructions-2010 Sweetheart Ball

2010-02-11T11:07:00.004-06:00

We have exciting news to share! For the first time at our Sweetheart Ball the Eye to Eye Marriage Enrichment Community will be offering a 40 minute dance lesson to all that attend early. Maureen Coury has taught dance with Author Murray dance studios for 8 years. She loves dance and she loves teaching spouses how to work and flow together as one.

Maureen and her husband will be at the Ball giving some introductory group instruction on a few basic Ballroom Dancing steps. YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS OUT. Whether you have two left feet or no rhythm at all it will be fun to hold your spouse and improve your skills.

Time
-Doors open at 5:00pm
-Dance instruction starts at 5:10 and will finish promptly at 5:50pm
-6:00pm the Event will begin

During this time there will also be early bird prizes given away at random. So come early and join the fun.
We only have two days until festivities begin and we have already SOLD OUT! If you would like to register and be put on a waiting list in case of cancellations please call 405-288-1393.

Sweetheart Ball-Longest Married Couple Search

2010-01-30T13:34:00.006-06:00

Things are coming together for the Eye to Eye Marriage Enrichment Community's 2010 Sweetheart Ball.
Just recently the Ball was featured in the Life section of the Daily Oklahoman. (Click here) Carla Hinton has issued a nice article describing the event and kicking off our search for the longest married couple.
We are searching the state of Oklahoma for the longest married couple. We hope to honor the couple at the ball, and if the couple cannot attend, Eye to Eye leaders want to tape a short video interview with them to be shown at the ball.

If you know of someone all we need is:
1) Number of years married
2) Brief history of the couple (i.e. number of children/grandchildren, why they should be honored)
3) Contact-Name, address, phone, and email

Submit your entry via email to info@eyetoeyecommunity.com or call 405-288-1393

Over 100 couples registered so far. Register today!

Price: $75 per couple
Group Seating: Four couples per table list couples at time of registration
Three ways to register:
1) Online (Preferred): www.sweetheartball.info
2) Phone: 405-288-1393
3) At Greg Jones State Farm Insurance Offices
1035A SW 19th St
Moore, OK 73160
405-794-0020

We need your help-2010 Sweetheart Ball

2010-01-12T09:27:00.008-06:00

If you have ever been to the Sweetheart Ball or know someone who has. Please send me stories of how the Sweetheart Ball and or Eye to Eye has affected your marriage. Email all stories to: eyetoeyemarriage@gmail.com. Your entry may be selected for a future publication. If you would like to remain anonymous please state such. Eye to Eye is pretty broad so the story could be the affect of the Facebook page, the monthly bible studies, or the Summer BBQ. Your story of impact could be from the November Getaway or the Sweetheart Ball. Maybe it is a specific couple within Eye to Eye that has come along side your marriage and shored it up. Please share your thoughts!

Momentum is building for the ball after Jan 15th the registration price for the ball will go up from $65 to $75 so hurry! Register on line here.

Help us spread the word in three ways:

Get flyers that you can hand out to your neighbors, church groups, coworkers, and family. They can be be printed from the website (Click here). Also you can have flyers mailed or delivered if you are in the Oklahoma City Metro by emailing your name address and the amount you need to: eyetoeyemarriage@gmail.com
Become a champion couple and take responsibility to fill up one or more tables with four couples. Group registration can be done on the website (Click here)
Forward or link to this post and pass it to everyone you know.

Statistic: 80% of people that have attended our past balls found out through word of mouth! It is a massive grass roots effort..WATCH OUT COX CENTER HERE WE COME!!

Become a fan of Marriage on Facebook: eyetoeyemarriage
Follow us on twitter: @eye2eyemarriage
Call us: 405-288-1393
Email us: sweetheartball@eyetoeyecommunity.com

Eye to Eye Sweetheart Ball-How it began

2010-01-09T02:01:00.008-06:00

Have you ever been apart of something that was bigger than you? Take a moment and read what happens when you obey the call of God in your heart. Below is an excerpt from the Sweetheart ball website.

In 2001, Clarence Hill and his good friend, Nathan Williams, got together to put on an evening of romance and fun for their wives and some of their friends on Valentine's Day. This wasn't the first time that they had done this, but it would prove to be the beginning of something special. The theme of the evening was "Eye to Eye" and the focus was "how can two walk together except they agree?" Some of their single friends got together and made a little storefront room into a romantic chamber of love and intimacy.To mix laughter with romance, Nathan and his wife Tina hosted their own rendition of Family Feud. They called it Couples' Feud. Everyone had a blast in an age old feud of women against men, but, for some reason, the records of who won...have been lost. Hmmm?After all of the good food and fun, the couples slow danced and shared words of appreciation and love to their spouses during what has become known as "Face to Face" time. As the evening was brought to a close, Nyrhone and Delanie Brewer were officially crowned as the first Mr. and Mrs. Eye to Eye. Everyone filled out comment cards and expressed interest in being part of a monthly couples' Bible study. This community of couples has come to be known as the Eye to Eye Marriage Enrichment Community.
Every couple that has actively been a part is excited about telling others of the friendships, the growth in their marriages and the change in their own personal lives that has come through being a part of the Eye to Eye community. Through monthly participation in Bible studies, along with a summer barbecue, a weekend getaway and most importantly the invaluable godly friendships that are born, the couples have discovered that a 2-hour-a-month commitment mixed with relationships with like minded couples is a combination for success in marriage and life.

Since the first ball in 2001 the ball has grown every year. What started with under ten couples is now expected to reach over 350 couples. I would like to invite you to join us in celebrating our 10th Annual Sweetheart ball. All of the information can be found at http://www.sweetheartball.info/ . I will be passing on more information about the community and about the Ball in future blogs. Right now think of every married and engaged couple you know and have them register online today. Registration is at a special rate until Jan 15th.

Become a fan of Marriage on Facebook: eyetoeyemarriage
Follow us on twitter: @eye2eyemarriage
Call us: 405-288-1393
Email us: sweetheartball@eyetoeyecommunity.com

The One Year Bible

2009-12-30T13:44:00.008-06:00

Hey, would you like to join us? Lisa and I along with our children decided to go through the Bible again next year Starting Jan. 1st. We want our friends and family to be immersed in God's word. We are going to use the One Year Bible..which has a reading in the old testament, new testament, psalms, and proverbs for everyday.

Five years ago...we used the One Year Bible and it was a great tool to aid in consistent bible reading. Would you like to join us?

Sometimes doing things together helps you accomplish more!

Choose your version of the One Year Bible:

NLT-New Living Translation
NIV-New International Version
KJV-King James Version
ESV-English Standard Version
Online version

We use the Day by Day bible for our kids 8 and under

They are for sale at Christian bookstores also! Some are only $10

Let's saturate ourselves with the word of God in 2010. Periodically I will post encouragement for keeping the Word of God central. A few months ago I wrote about the importance of the family table (click here). Now it is time to take it up a notch. The entire bible! One Year! READY, SET, GO!!!!!

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We did it!-Day 30 of 30 Negativity Fast

2009-12-30T12:15:00.009-06:00

Today is the last day of our 30 day journey to rid our selves of negativity. It started Dec 1st with 15 reasons to fast from negative words. All the past blog post can be found here. Through facebook, twitter, word of mouth, church, and posters we have made a statement, "Negativity is out and positivity is in as we roll into 2010." I learned 10 key things on this fast.

It is a minute by minute battle to combat negative words and thoughts.
You can not tame your tongue you must tend to the condition of your heart
The only way to get your heart right is to allow the forgiving and cleansing power of Jesus' sacrifice to cleanse it properly.
Filling your heart with the Word of God smothers the negative thoughts and leaves them powerless.
You really can address negative circumstances in a hopeful way. I learned to say "let me rephrase that" alot over the last 30 days.
The greatest challenge to stay positive is often with the people you are closest to. (i.e. marriage, family, friends, and coworkers)
"Dis" or "En" is a small prefix in front of the word courage that will determine if you walk in faith or walk in defeat.
Discouragement is real and leads to other things like: Fear, dismay, feelings of abandonment, sadness, forgetting what God has said, terrified, weak, fear of enemies, disobedience out of fear, terror, you want to quit, doubt, intimidated, dread, and you believe lies about you.
Encouragement is real too. We have the power to put courage in our hearts and other's hearts through our words and through the Word of God.
This fast reminded me that God have given us a wonderful tool in our words and we can create atmospheres of peace and life or turmoil and death.

My friend Nathan Williams came up with a working definition of the word encourage.
Encourage: to put courage in (en) the heart. To have HEART means to have inner strength and courage.
Speak words to others that leave others with H-E-A-R-T:
H -Hope
E - Enthusiasm
A - Assistance
R - Rejoicing
T - Total Confidence

I need to thank you for joining us, my wife for all of her great blog post, my friend J.D. Stegall for his encouraging blog post, my friend VERSES for his poster design with Thinqbold media, all of the businesses, churches, families, individuals, etc. that took the challenge to be negative free for 30 days. And also for the greatest church family (Church Ablaze) who had to listen to me beat the drum of encouragement all month. NOW LET'S MAKE IT A LIFESTYLE..SHALL WE!

Take a minute and comment on what you learned?

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Story of a Super Model-Day 22 Negativity Fast

2009-12-22T10:12:00.010-06:00

Can you believe we have 8 days left of our negativity fast? It has been encouraging in our household and our church. My wife is one of my main encouragers; she is my biggest fan. I love her! She is my super model! She models biblical, Godly womanhood with grace and compassion. She should be on the front cover of every magazine (fully clothed) with her 6 children, bible, and apron. :-) The only way to be a good encourager to someone else is to allow the God of all encouragement to encourage you. Lisa, shares in her blog How the word "But" changed my life (Click here), her journey from discouragement to encouragement. Please read it and then respond to her question at the end of the blog.

Enjoy!!

-If you feel like you keep failing at this negativity fast read this post, you may not have the right heart.
-Are you just having trouble overcoming read this post.
-Need a poster to help you remember to stay positive: 1) 11x17 Poster 2) 8.5x11 Poster
-Join in as we fast from negative words for 30 days. I wrote 15 viable reasons to join this campaign in a previous post. Entire churches are joining, small groups, corporate offices, classrooms, families, teams, etc. are all joining in. This campaign will change your life! It is the right thing to do.

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Can you really change?-Day 16 Negativity Fast

2009-12-16T12:44:00.008-06:00

As we roll into day 16 of our negativity fast. I read a blog post by my friend JD Stegall in regards to Death and Life. Please click here and read it in it's entirety. His writing caused me to realize that there are plenty of people that are attempting the negativity fast and have realized that they are really uprooting tons of negative words and actions that have been done to them that they have been reciprocating to others. I want to ask you a question and please send me your comments on my blog. How do you completely retrain your thoughts, words, and actions to line up with the way God desires for you to be a positive, faith-filled person if you never had that example growing up? What are your thoughts?

-Join in as we fast from negative words for 30 days. I wrote 15 viable reasons to join this campaign in a previous post. Entire churches are joining, small groups, corporate offices, classrooms, families, teams, etc. are all joining in. This campaign will change your life! It is the right thing to do.

12 days of Marriage-Day 15 Negativity fast

2009-12-15T14:02:00.008-06:00

It is HALFTIME....we are on day 15 of our negativity fast. I wanted to encourage the married or engaged couples today. I saw on the Marriage Network Oklahoma blog a great plan to build your marriage during this holiday season and negativity fast.

It is called the 12 days of Marriage and can be found here: 12 days of marriage. The Marriage ministries in Oklahoma have networked to provide a comprehensive resource for the married couples in Oklahoma called Marriage Network Oklahoma. A good friend of ours Donna Edwards of Living Well Ministries leads the charge.

Whether you are married or not the Holiday season does not have to be stressful. Purpose in your heart to not yield your heart or tongue to negative thoughts and words. Intentionally, praise and encourage everyone in your sphere of influence. One of the greatest gifts is thoughtful loving words spoken from a sincere heart.

-If you feel like you keep failing at this negativity fast read this post, you may not have the right heart.
-Are you just having trouble overcoming read this post.
-Need a poster to help you remember to stay postive: 1) 11x17 Poster 2) 8.5x11 Poster
-Join in as we fast from negative words for 30 days. I wrote 15 viable reasons to join this campaign in a previous post. Entire churches are joining, small groups, corporate offices, classrooms, families, teams, etc. are all joining in. This campaign will change your life! It is the right thing to do.

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Free Posters-Day 11 Negativity Fast

2009-12-11T10:58:00.000-06:00

Rolling into day 11 of our fast from negativity, there is nothing like a visible reminder of what we should be doing. I have attached two links to two sizes of posters. Click the images to download:
IMPORTANT: YOU MUST HIT YOUR BROWSERS BACK BUTTON TO GET BACK TO THE BLOG AFTER DOWNLOAD. DO NOT HIT YOUR CLOSE BUTTON.
1) 11x17 Poster
2) 8.5x11 Poster

This is a free resource that people are posting in their homes, offices, churches, schools, etc. Let's influence our environment with this poster. Hopefully, this poster will be a reminder to bite our tongues; to stop and think before we react; seek to encourage and speak words of life to people versus tear them down.

-If you feel like you keep failing at this negativity fast read this post, you may not have the right heart.
-Are you just having trouble overcoming read this post.
-Join in as we fast from negative words for 30 days. I wrote 15 viable reasons to join this campaign in a previous post. Entire churches are joining, small groups, corporate offices, classrooms, families, teams, etc. are all joining in. This campaign will change your life! It is the right thing to do.

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Sweetness of the Lips-Day 10 Negativity fast

2009-12-10T09:25:00.004-06:00

She did it again!! I have to take a moment to admit that my wife, Lisa Hill, is the writer in the family. I just blurp every now and then. She can communicate in two paragraphs what is takes me to communicate in and essay. Sweet lips are what we all need during this 30 day negativity fast. To keep my words encouraging I have intentionally had to keep saying this phrase, "hold on let me rephrase that." One day a few years back I accidentally called my home phone and ended up recording a message. Well I heard the stress and strain in my voice as I was correcting one of my children. I said to myself, "Jonathan was it really that serious?" I realized then and am realizing now, you can get the same point across with out the vocal undulations and snide looks. My wife really hits it home with her blog post on the Sweetness of the lips (click here). Let's share this sweetness with everyone we meet. Find somebody and surprise them by being sweet today.

If you feel like you keep failing at this negativity fast read this post, you may not have the right heart.

Join in as we fast from negative words for 30 days. I wrote 15 viable reasons to join this campaign in a previous post. Entire churches are joining, small groups, corporate offices, classrooms, families, teams, etc. are all joining in. This campaign will change your life! It is the right thing to do.

If you would like to receive email updates of my new post click below:
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How to Clean Your Mouth:Soap or Hot Coals?-Day 9 Negativity Fast

2009-12-09T12:46:00.005-06:00

Day 9 of our 30 day negativity fast. It is our second week. Back on day four of our negativity fast I blogged about the Anatomy of the Mouth. In that post we revealed that there is a hidden component of your mouth which controls it's functions. "Taking a fast from negative words is not merely a physical exercise of controlling the motion of our mouth, but rather tending to the condition of our hearts." I asked a question, how do we tend to our hearts.

Through the years there have been several tactics used to attempt to clean up our speech. One of prominence is washing the mouth out with soap. I have also heard of people putting hot sauce on the tongue or making the transgressor drink Castor Oil. All of these means can instigate change, embed anger, or completely clean out your digestive system but can it get at that hidden component of the heart?

In Isaiah 6:5-8 (NIV) I found another method instituted by God and delivered by an angel: "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." Then one of the seraphs (an angel) flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

During this first eight days of this negativity fast I hope you have come to the realization that it is impossible to rid your speech, thoughts, actions, and attitudes of negativity in your own strength. Some of us have probably felt like Isaiah in the above passage, a person of unclean lips and living among people with unclean lips. We can also glean from this passage a key prerequisite to having a successful negativity fast. We must have our hearts purged of sin in order to have our mouth cleansed of negative words.

Before a Holy God our best attempts are seen as unclean (Isaiah 64:6) and our need for help is exposed like a roach when the lights are turned on.

Hot coals represent purging, cleansing and pardoning. To be considered acceptable to God an unclean thing must go through purification. In this case it was Isaiah's mouth. In our case it is our mouth by way of our hearts!

The hot coals are not meant to burn your lips but rather clean your heart,
-they are not meant to scar your mouth but heal your heart,
-they are not meant to hinder your speech but qualify and bring life to your words,
-they are not meant to brand your guilt but pardon your sin.

God's word is like a fire Jeremiah 23:29. The Holy Spirit works as fire, Matt. 3:11. God's method for cleaning up our speech thoughts and actions are done by a means that effects us at the heart and conscience level. Read below:
Hebrews 9:13-14 (CEV)
According to the Law of Moses, those people who become unclean are not fit to worship God. Yet they will be considered clean, if they are sprinkled with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a sacrificed calf. But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. That's why his blood is much more powerful and makes our consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death.

God wants your speech to produce life but it can only happen if it comes from a good heart that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. In the eyes of God there is only one acceptable sacrifice for our back biting, evil, slanderous, pessimistic, doubtful, and sinful words, thoughts, and actions (Heb. 10:14). God provided this sacrifice, His only son who was sinless and pure. Jesus was tempted at all points yet without sin (Heb. 4:15). The clean was given for the unclean. At a conscious level you can receive power to bless others from a pure heart if you put your faith and trust in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.

Don't attempt to do this Negativity Fast in your own strength. Surrender your heart to Christ and allow the Spirit of God to give you a new heart which will give you new speech with no soap required.

Join in as we fast from negative words for 30 days. I wrote 15 viable reasons to join this campaign in a previous post. Entire churches are joining, small groups, corporate offices, classrooms, families, teams, etc. are all joining in. This campaign will change your life! It is the right thing to do.

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Overcoming-Day 08 Negativity fast

2009-12-08T11:52:00.003-06:00

We are on Day 8 of our negativity fast and by now I think we all realize we have plenty to overcome. Hopefully we realized there is no need to do this alone or in your own strength. My wife, Lisa Hill, resurrected her blog to pass on some encouraging words about overcoming. We have both been holding each other accountable in this 30 day negativity fast and it is transforming our home. Click the following Link: Grace and Truth and pass it on to encourage others.

Enjoy!!

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A personal testimony-Day 05 Negativity fast

2009-12-05T21:49:00.006-06:00

Day 5 folks. I am learning this is a daily battle that can only be done by God's grace. I have a good friend whose blog I want to share with you. J.D. Stegall committed to join our 30 day Negativity fast and dedicate one blog post a week to the subject. I pray that you are encouraged by it. He shares about his personal story of overcoming negative words and a negative life at: Today's Truth Writer (Click here).

Enjoy!!
.

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Marriage Crisis-Day 04 Negativity Fast

2009-12-04T12:02:00.006-06:00

DON'T DO IT!!! Divorce is not the answer. Marriage problems can be repaired. Negativty in our marriages must cease. This post is for the couples struggling in their marriage right now. This post is for the couples you know that are struggling (pass it on). This post is for that stubborn spouse that wants to keep their problems a secret. DON'T DO IT!!! Divorce is not the answer.

This post is not a well thought out literary master piece at all. I just have an urgency to shoot from the hip. Last month myself and a few others took 30 days to pray 5am-6am. One of the main subjects was marriage. See our marriage prayer here at this post. At the bottom of the post are a few good resources that can turn your marriage in the right direction.

For those of you that don't know I am a part of a marriage organization called Eye to Eye Marriage Enrichment Community . For 10 years we have had ZERO divorces for couples that have been through one year of our "Walk together" bible study. You can read about the strategy here. We are throwing a huge party at our 10th sweetheart ball next year to celebrate. I am not here to sell an organization but if something is working you need to find out why. Let me share with you some quick bullet points that have kept divorces at bay.

Keeping the word of God central as you build your relationships. Seeking Christ centered resources that fill your marriage with the TRUTH versus opinions.
Creating a subculture of other married couples with the same goal of having vibrant marriages. This could be family, friends, neighbors, or church.
Set regular and routine things in your yearly calendar that focus on building your marriage. This should include: Bible studies, fun events, conferences, alone and with and with other couples.
Not keeping our problems a secret. Marriages are one of the most prevalent secret societies in the world. We cut our hand we run straight to the hospital. We run into marriage problems we bind each other to secrecy. This must stop!
Recognize you are fighting a literal enemy! And it is not your spouse! Satan, the world system, and your own lust (sin nature) are all fighting against your oneness in marriage.
When you run into a roadblocks WASTE NO TIME..get help quickly. Identify that seasoned couple that you can sit with to talk to. Have identified the church small group or Sunday School class that is focused on marriage. Be prepared to contact your pastor or Marriage leader in your church. Agree with your spouse during peacetime what you both will do when you run into wartime road blocks.

True confession: My wife and I have been married for 13 years. We have been through sex issues, money issues, communication issues, inlaw issues, etc. We are still together and each of our 13 years of marriage has gotten better and better. OK, here is what you don't know. All 13 of those years we have had an older couple in our lives that we have run to with our issues. All of those 13 years we have had companion couples in our season of life to live life with. All 13 of those years we have attempted to pour into others marriages through our struggles. Listen I am a pastor and a marriage leader and I have sought consistent help in my marriage. WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE! Get Help! Get Help! Let the cat out the bag! Get some accountability for the most important earthly relationship you have.

Last story: There is a couple where the husband was caught in pornography, he was put out the house. For months they grew bitter and cold towards each other. Multiple children started building resentment toward their dad. Things appeared hopeless and bleak. Long story short, he is back home and they are rebuilding their marriage relationship and parent child relationships. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!

She never stopped praying and seeking God
He never stopped praying and seeking God
They both ran to their Godly friends for advice
The both ran to their pastor for advice.
They both started Chirst centered classes together to over come addictions and find inner healing.

They are still in the process of overcoming but THEY ARE NOT DIVORCED! Divorce is not the answer. Let's take a stand in this culture and build tall Guard Rails to protect this Godly ordained institution of marriage.

Got questions? I will do my best to help or find someone that can.

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Anatomy of a Mouth-Day 03 Negativity Fast

2009-12-03T09:17:00.007-06:00

Today is day three of our 30 day negativity fast. I am hearing moaning and groaning from friends and family near and far that it is tough to stay positive. Without a doubt, it is a challenging task. Since we all have three days under our belt it is fitting to understanding that there are some perquisites to successfully fasting from negativity. One of them is understanding the anatomy of the mouth.

Paraphrasing the dictionary Britannica.com, the mouth is the orifice through which food and air enter the body. The mouth opens to the outside at the lips and empties into the throat at the rear; its boundaries are defined by the lips, cheeks, hard and soft palates, and glottis. It is composed of a vestibule, open space, between the cheeks and the teeth, and a lower chamber filled by the tongue. In addition to its primary role in the intake and initial digestion of food, the mouth and its structures are essential in humans to the formation of speech.

The above definition tell us that the mouth is only a tool used for the"formation of speech" so our words originate from somewhere else and the mouth is a tool of vocalization. Read this passage below:

Matthew 12:33-38 (New Living Translation)
33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

I like verse 34 in the NASB version which says, "For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart."

Quick summary:

The origin of our words comes from our hearts.
Words are like fruit and our hearts are like fruit trees.
Our hearts can be evil or good, and in addition they can be filled with evil or good.
Evil words come from an evil heart. Good words come from a good heart.
Our identification to others is often formed by the fruit we bear or the words we say.
Our words shape others judgement of us. They can reveal the judgement of innocence or the judgement of guilt.

So from the anatomy lesson above we understand that the mouth has a hidden component called the heart that really controls all of our words. With that being said, taking a fast from negative words is not merely a physical exercise of controlling the motion of our mouth, but rather tending to the condition of our hearts. So just how do we tend to our hearts? Give us your comments.

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Join the 30 day Negativity Fast

2009-11-30T10:49:00.005-06:00

Starting Tuesday, December 1st we are asking everybody to fast from negative words for 30 days. This is a campaign that will change your life. The tongue possesses power according to Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." It is your choice rather you use your tongue to build up or tear down..speak life or speak death..encourage or discourage..utter doubt or utter faith.

Fifteen reasons to join us and fast from negative words:

People are spending too much of their life focusing on self criticism, critisizing others, and being pessemistic.
Too many people are living below the level God has designed for them because they are confessing, meditating, and thinking about negative things.
Your relationships with God, spouse, children, coworkers, family, friends, and generally everyone you come in contact with will get better. Your worklife, home life, and church life will all improve.
People around you will begin to eat the fruit of life from your lips and flourish more because of your positive encouragement.
You will be taking the axe to the root of negative words and uprooting them so that they can be replaced with postive, faith filled words that are based on the true promises of God.
It will force you to think of better ways to communicate your desires.
It will help you to stop believing lies about your self and become the person God made you to be.
It will aid you in changing your perspective on even problematic situations.
It doesn't ignore problems but helps you deal with them in the right way.
You will train your self to be solution focuses rather than problem focused
Guarding your speech means you are gaurding your heart, which means you are changing your beliefs, which means the core of who you are is being afforded the opportunity to be transformed.
Things that used to be fearful obstacles will turn into opportunities as you anchor your heart and confessions in God's word that will give you courage and strength to overcome.
You will become "other-minded" versus "self-centered".
It will ignite your faith in God, service toward man, and love for all.
You will be certain despite circumstances that God is faithful and you won't allow situations to easily alter your moods and attitudes.

Will you join us? If so comment on my blog or facebook, or twitter (use the hash tag #negativity fast). If you are a blogger please write during the month of December on the subject send me the link or tweet the link with the hastag #negativityfast.

LET's DO THIS!!

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Ten Things I am Thankful for

2009-11-25T10:09:00.005-06:00

Randomly things I am thankful for.
1) For God always being the rock in my life. Keeping me with a sound mind. Leading and guiding me through tough decisions. For displaying his Glory and grace to a person that doesn't deserve it. By the grace of God I am what I am!
2) For a gorgeous wife that creates a serene home life for our family and is my number one fan.
3) For six children that are growing in love for God and each other
4) For a church family that I can truly call friends.
5) For my relatives on both sides of the family that have mass love and support.
6) For getting three of our parents through major health issues this year. Also for bringing my parents to live withing 7 minutes of us and making my brother my new next door neighbor!
7) For opening doors for our church to meet in another churches facilities
8) For providing financially for my family in a slow engineering year
9) For our marriage ministry and Homeschool Coop family which help create a flourishing environment to raise my family.
10)For all of my old and new friends that I have been united with through social networking.

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus Concerning you." I Thes. 5:18

Coaching-A Tool for Teaching Character

2009-11-23T23:51:00.006-06:00

Nothing pulls the character out of a person more than playing competitive sports. I have seen the most calm, cool, and collected person turn into a wild, flagrant, tyrant on the basketball court. For training young boys to be Godly men, a round orange ball, or an oval brown ball, or a little white ball can be used as tools to chisel out and refine young people with discipline and Godly Character. I love to have the team near muscle exhaustion, huffing and puffing then tell them the true story of Christ and his perseverance. There was one instance where a young boy just lost his temper and hit another player. I was glad it happened. It was my opportunity at that moment to share about the dangers of uncontrolled anger and how Jesus was the man's man when it came to temperance (self control). Coaching is full of opportunities to teach life lessons to the team and give them biblical applications.

I encourage parents to not try and get their child on the "best" team when they are young. Get them under a coach that will reinforce your Godly values and teach sound fundamentals. Skill and ability will develop over the years with consistent practice. Likewise, Character is also developed over the same years. If you choose a coach that is all about the sport and not your child's character, you could have a coach that is undoing all that you are trying to instill. One time we had our sons in a flag football league where the coaches and the referees were coming to blows in the middle of the game in front of the youth. In another instance a coach used cursing and intimidation to make his point. He really belittled the boys to their face all the time. That wild, yelling, cursing, coach model may work for older players (even though I don't endorse it), but not in the formative years of a child's life say 13 and under.

What is my point...I love coaching. Never thought I would be the one with the whistle in my mouth shouting "on the line!". When you follow your children's interest you begin to open up all types of new chapters in your life. I coached basketball at the YMCA for two years and now I am coaching for the Oklahoma City Storm. I am truly no authority on the sport just a dad that loves to train fearless followers of Christ. By any means necessary! A father on the court first then a coach.

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Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 30

2009-11-03T09:07:00.006-06:00

I am back in blog world. Yes! By the way we made it to day 30 on our 3o day prayer journey. I haven't posted since Day 23, but that we finished off with a bang. Jeans with holes in the knees is a good sign when it comes from prayer. I have so much that I want to share but don't have the time to write it all down. The last 30 days were transformational for me personally. Ten quick things I learned were:

Regular routine group prayer shakes heaven
The people you pray with become your best friends

It will spark revival in your church.

You begin to help others out of the over flow vs. a depleted spiritual tank

Your heart stays in a repentant humble state which makes hearing from God clearer.

Age old strongholds people have on their lives begin to lose their grip

Your faith increases to believe on things that you had previously given up on.

It is contagious...it spilled over to my marriage, to my children, to my friends,....prayer is contagious

It was effective...there were over 100 prayer request during those 30 days...and I am positive there were 100 answers

God was glorified...we were humbled..Nuf said!

We decided to raise the bar and start fasting once a week also. Plus intensifying our closet prayer time along with group prayer. Prayer does change things. I would advice anyone to get with a group of guys or gals and start praying it will revolutionize your life.

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Marriage Prayer-Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 23

2009-10-22T06:28:00.008-05:00

We are on day 23 of our 30 day prayer journey. It is hard to believe that I haven't posted since day 15 ; nevertheless, prayers have continued to go up from 5am-6am daily.
Today we emphasized marriages in our prayers. Of course we started with our own marriage and prayed for our spouses specifically. I would recommend that every husband read the book "The Power of a Praying Husband" by Stormie Omartian. I first read this book back in 2002 and carried it around as a companion to my Bible for three months. I don't read many life changing books, outside of the bible, but for me this was one of them. The author gave me tools how to pray specifically for my wife in areas I would of never thought of. Today we prayed for our wives emotions, motherhood, moods, relationships, priorities, and various other details that we often overlook.
This prayer journey that we have been on has spilled over into my marriage. I have to admit that our prayer life together was lacking. We would come together over needs that may arise, but that is it. For the last three weeks, thanks to some good advice from some marriage mentors we have in our life, we have been able to sit knee to knee, hand in hand, eye to eye and pray for and with each other. It is so amazing how this act knits our hearts to each other and to God simultaneously.
Our marriages need the protection of prayer. There are too many things pulling at us these days to go without praying. A man has to pray to keep his heart pure from sexual temptation, to temper his critical spirit, to find proper value for his wife (I Peter 3:7), and to love his wife like Jesus loves His church (Eph 5:25). A woman has to pray to keep her affections towards her husband, to control angry and hurtful words, to find proper respect for her husband (Eph 5:33), and to submit to Him as unto the Lord (Eph 5:22). All of our hearts get hard at times, bitterness settles in, and hurts can alter our feelings. Prayer is like an antidote for a snake bite, when the remedy of prayer is applied it finds the poison and neutralizes it.
We must fight for times to pray for our spouses. Praying together as a couple and praying individually for each other. My advice if you struggle in this area, like I have, is pray this simple prayer "Lord teach me how to pray for my wife. You know her better than I do, fill my mouth with words and my heart with thoughts that can intimately acquaint me with her ways" (A wife can pray in a similar manner). Also, read good books on the subject and seek counsel from a mature man or woman of God.
God as I end this blog post I want to pray for all my married family, blog readers, Facebook friends, and twitter friends. Father, cause spouses to open their hearts towards one another and towards you. Help them to see the value in each other and may they have mutual love and respect for each other. Lord, help them to overcome the temptations and lures in our world that draw their affections away from each other. Help that man that is trapped in porn and intimate fantasies outside his marriage to get help and be delivered. Help that woman that has a better relationship with her children, coworkers, and girlfriends than her husband to turn her attention to her spouse. Father, marriage is being mocked at today in our society, I ask you to raise up a generation of men and women that honour their marriage vows and will persevere to stay together through all the obstacles of life.
In Jesus name Amen.

Additional resources for your marriage:
Eye to Eye Marriage -Facebook page (become a fan) & Website & Twitter
Living Well-Website
Family Life-Website
Focus on the Family-Website
The great marriage Experience-Website
Marriage Today-Website

We are taking prayer request from all of our friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers so email me at jhill1972@gmail.com

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Are Facebook Friends Real?-Thirty days of Prayer-Day 15

2009-10-14T08:42:00.012-05:00

We are on day number 15 on our 30 day prayer journey. I haven't posted since day 09 but we have been praying, nevertheless. Last week I was on my facebook site and I looked over at the friend counter and saw 444 friends. I was a little shocked that I even know that many people. I figured I had blindly said yes to "friend request" one too many times and there was a bunch of people on there that I didn't even know. But, as I started looking at the list that was not the case at all; going through the list caused me to remember something significant about almost each person.

Then I had one of those God thoughts. Why don't I start praying for my Facebook friends. Over time, Facebook can loose it's thunder so why not put it to good use.

Lisa and I, along with my morning prayer group are taking the first letter of the first names and going A-Z ( a letter or range of letters a day) and praying as the Lord leads us. What has been very humbling about it are the close to forty prayer request we have received from friends old and new. As I expressed in a previous post, friends are important to me, whether over facebook or face to face.

Prayer transcends time, culture, gender, race, relationships, age, social status, geography, religion, politics, and mostly any barrier that it comes in contact with. Jesus taught us that prayer in His name grants us access to the Father, prayer is a vehicle for asking God, prayer is a catalyst for healing, prayer is a weapon of spiritual warfare, prayer is an expression of humility. The bible teaches that prayer should be made for your family, your friends, your coworkers, your leaders, and even your enemies. (Luke 18:1, Matt. 21:21-22, Matt. 5:44)

With the far reaching capability of prayer why not use today's tools such as Facebook, Twitter, myspace, or blogs to pray and serve your friends or followers. Don't just be satisfied with the quantity on your friend or follower count. Put it to a good or should I say a "God" use. Jesus reached multitudes on foot. Didn't he say we would do greater works? (John 14:12) Our social network friends need more than what we can offer them; why not give them one of the greatest gifts, which is heartfelt, sincere prayer to the Father on their behalf. It doesn't matter if they believe in God or not. God is very good at knowing the heart of man and turning it as He wills. Facebook friends are real people with real needs not just a face and status updates.

We are taking prayer request from all of our friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers so email me at jhill1972@gmail.com

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The Tenderizer-Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 09

2009-10-08T10:06:00.010-05:00

We are on Day 09 of our 30 day prayer journey. It is amazing how prayer works. Prayer is like this adhesive agent that binds you in heart to who you are praying to, binds you in heart to the situation you are praying for, and binds you in heart to the people you are praying with. Prayer is like a mallet to a piece of tough meat and it beats on your heart until your heart is tenderized to hear the voice of God and to receive answers from God. I understand why Jesus made statements like this:

Mat 5:44-45 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

The toughest time we have to get our hearts right is when we are wronged against. Praying for the person is the furthest thing from our minds in most cases. Ironically, it is on the only thing that can take the nasty, restraining, and vengeful feeling out of our hearts.

I have to admit 94.5% of the time when I fall on my knees to pray about a situation where I was wronged I lay my heart out to God and He reveals my own faults, then that frees me up to deal with the circumstances calmly and fairly.

It goes like this "Father I need help, this person is getting on my nerves, he isn't listen to me and is so prideful and stuck on himself. I know I am right. Open his eyes to see that he is wrong. Help me to deal with his stubbornness. He just makes me mad." Then I wait a little bit and my words begin to play back in my head and I realize that in my heart I am 2x worse than what I claimed he was. God begins to show me how I treat others, and how I have treated him in the past. God begins to show me blind spots in my character. The holiness of God begins to shine in my life and I begin to feel like an unworthy crumb. Then it all turns when I think of this one point. Jesus died for me in spite of my bad attitudes, pride, and sin. Jesus forgave me so I can forgive this person. I confess my own faults to God and go back to that person and ask them to forgive me even if I only did one thing wrong and they did fifty things to me. THIS IS WHAT PRAYER CAN DO!!!

Eph 2:1-4 (CEV) In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. (2) You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn't obey God. (3) Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else. (4) But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God's wonderful kindness is what saves you.

Prayer to the Father in the name of his son Jesus is the best remedy for all of our heart conditions. The mallet of prayer tenderizes our heart and causes us to remember that we are forgiven and that frees us to forgive. Go and tenderize your heart with prayer.

Like I said in my last post we are taking prayer request from all of our friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers so email me at jhill1972@gmail.com

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Thirty Days of Prayer-Day 08-Prayer request

2009-10-07T07:55:00.006-05:00

Please let me know if you have any prayer request. Email me at jhill1972@gmail.com or comment to this post. We are on Day 08 of our 30 day prayer journey. I know I haven't posted since Day 06, but you are probably hearing too much from me as it is so I will just post periodically versus daily.

Requesting prayer is an act of humility. The mere act speaks volumes and declares your need and dependence on others and on God. No one was created to live this life alone. James 5:16 tell us to "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth (power to accomplish) much." We have been lifting up all of the request that we have been given through email, facebook, twitter, church, and word of mouth. Prayer is like a locomotive, getting it started is kind of slow but once you get going momentum propels you forward. We really feel the momentum to cast all our cares on Jesus and pray for everybody from the President to our old friends. Galatians 6:2 tell us to, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." It is God's will that we humble our selves, pray for others, and bear each others burdens.

Today's focus verse was Romans 12:11-13 and we focused on praying for people by name that they would eagerly serve the Lord in their jobs and in every area of their lives as if they are serving Jesus himself. The passage encouraged us to not be slothful or lazy in our affairs but to have zeal in our service and a fervency in our attitude. That we would never give up and realize that our most menial task has value in God's eyes when we adopt and attitude that we are doing it for Him. We also were reminded in prayer our responsibility to be given to the needs of other people. We recognize that we were created to share and distribute to those in need.

Again if you have any needs we would love to lift them up in prayer.

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