Thanks for Showing UP!

My apologies for the lack of updates!!! Life has been busy. Here is what’s on the plate (1) trying to buy a house (2) training for a 5k on May 24th in Modesto (3) possibly training for the Worlds Jiu Jitsu tournament in Long Beach on June 5th (4) studying to take CLEP tests for 36 units so I can be done with my B.A. from Regions University, formerly known as Southern Christian University, now known as I don’t even know what! Oh yeah (5) and family, God, church, and work – all of which are interrelated for me.

This week was packed with the West Visalia Church of Christ Lectureship which I attended Monday through Wednesday morning. Monday morning I spoke at the lectures. On Friday I attended a funeral in Hughson for the mother and grandmother of some of our members in Ripon. Today was my nephew’s birthday and we headed up to Stockton to celebrate that. After the party we all ate dinner in Ripon and the family went to the park. When we got to the park I ran home (exactly three miles!). WOW – What I week.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day in America. I’m preaching on “Thanks for Showing Up.” I got the idea after reading over some Mother’s Day stuff on the internet. NO, I am not using someone else’s sermon outline even though I got the idea from an illustration in someone else’s sermon outline. His sermon, in my opinion, would have been much better had he framed it all around the “thanks for showing up” illustration. Tomorrow we will see how it turns out :)

To all the Mothers out there, THANK YOU! Especially to my mother who has put up with me for over twenty-six years – now that’s a mother!

Sow the Seed,
Caleb O’Hara

West Visaila Lectureship

I'm still in Visalia at the lectureship. Videos of the lectures are up on the web at http://wvcoc.blogspot.com/. Just be sure not to watch mine. When I get a chance I will update.

Sow the Seed,
Caleb O'Hara

Mi Vida Loca

Today is just an update in the life of Caleb BLOG. It’s been an absolutely crazy day. This morning I went to my computer to finish up lots of work and my computer was not working. At 2:10 I FINALLY got it fixed – what a nightmare!

Tomorrow I am continuing a sermon series called “Square ONE: Back to the Beginning.” If you can’t tell by the title they are all lessons out of Genesis. Tomorrow we look at the great gift of freedom God gave man. The beginning reveals the freedom to chose, and yes the freedom to sin. Sin puts its ugly mark on this planet and mankind and God has been in the redemption business ever since. Well that’s the gist of the message.

Immediately following Sunday evening worship we are heading to Visalia, California. First thing Monday morning I’m speaking at the West Visalia Lectureship on “More Like Jesus in Tolerance (Romans 14).” Romans 14 is probably one of the most hotly debated passages in our brotherhood these days and they picked ME to speak on it. What’s the deal? I guess my friend Cliff Sabroe doesn’t like me too much. Yesterday I finished translating the entire passage and now it’s a matter of tweaking and reworking so that my exegesis can become proper exposition. My whole first part of the week will be spent there in Visalia. I’m looking forward to seeing some of my mentors: Denny Petrillo, Hi Jones, and Byron Benitez while I am there as well.

This week I have been grieving the loss of my American Idol Brooke White. Her moral character is something to be applauded. So Brooke, we will miss you. My wife is happy though. Now I can’t talk about her anymore :).

On a final note, last night we went and heard Frank Chesser preach at the East Main church of Christ in Stockton. It was good to see family and friends and Frank’s message on sin was very appropriate. Wayne was looking good and I pray the Lord gives him many more years of service in the Kingdom.

That’s all for now!!!

Sow the Seed,
Caleb O’Hara

Is Jesus the Way or Not?

The modern "Church Growth Movement" naturally leads itself to this end. Must one come through Jesus to get to the Father? It's a simple yes or no question that Jesus Himself answers (John 14:1ff). Apparently even if the Scriptures say it it's not good enough for those in the Church Growth Movement. It might turn people away, and if people are turned away the numbers go down, and if the numbers go down we must be doing something wrong!!!



UPDATE:



Think About It...

Sow the Seed,
Caleb O'Hara