Saturday, July 29, 2006

BIKE RIDE WITH GOD #435

SURFING WITH JESUS #435072906
Pastor Gene A. Dasher Sr.
2355 Parkway Dr SE
Cleveland, TN 37323
gene@SurfingwithJesus.com
www.SurfingwithJesus.com

BIKE RIDE WITH GOD

When I first met Christ
It seemed as though life was rather like a bike ride,
But it was a tandem bike,
And I noticed that Christ
Was in the back helping me pedal.

I don't know just when it was that
He suggested we change places,
But life has not been the same since.

When I had control, I knew the way,
It was rather boring, but predictable...
It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead,
He knew delightful long cuts,
Up mountains, and through rocky places,
At breakneck speeds,
It was all I could do to hang on!
Even though it looked like madness,
He said, "Pedal"

I worried and was anxious and asked,
"Where are you taking me?"
He laughed and didn't answer,
And I started to learn to trust.

I forgot my boring life
And entered into the adventure.
And when I'd say, "I'm scared,"
He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed.
Gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy.
He said, "Give the gifts away;
They're extra baggage, too much weight."

So I did, I gave them to the people we met,
And I found that in giving I received,
And still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, In control of my life.
I thought He'd wreck it;
But He knows bike secrets,
Knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,
Knows how to jump to clear high rocks,
Knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

And I am learning to shut up
and pedal in the strangest places,
And I'm beginning to enjoy the view
And the cool breeze on my face
With my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ.

And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore,
He just smiles and says...
"Pedal."
(A special thanks to Charlotte for sharing this with us.)

1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
To join us weekly or stop receiving Surfing with Jesus, please send your request to gene@SurfingwithJesus.com, Please continue to pray with us for the request we receive each day.
My sole desire as I share is to uplift Christ, fellow Christians, and share the love of Jesus with others.







Wednesday, July 26, 2006

WE ARE ALIVE (QUICKENED) WITH CHRIST #434

SURFING WITH JESUS #434072606
Pastor Gene A. Dasher, Sr.
2355 Parkway Dr. SE
Cleveland, TN 37323
gene@SurfingwithJesus.com
www.SurfingwithJesus.com

WE ARE ALIVE (QUICKENED) WITH CHRIST

Ephesians 2
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Paul is talking about our old sinful nature. Here he emphasizes that we do not need to live any longer under sin's power. The penalty of sin and its power over us was destroyed by Christ on the cross. Through faith in Christ we stand acquitted, "not guilty" before God. God does not make us slaves or robots or someone that can't think on their own. We will still be tempted to sin and return to our old ways. The difference is that before we became Christians we were dead in sin and slaves to our sinful nature, but now we are alive (quickened) with Christ. Praise the Lord! Jesus paid this price for anyone who will call upon him and receive this wonderful gift of Salvation.

When someone gives you a gift you don't say, "How much do I owe you," the appropriate response to a gift is "thank you." Yet how often do Christians, even after they have been given the gift of Salvation, feel obligated to try to work their own way to God. Our Salvation is a gift, we should respond with gratitude, praise, and joy.

We become Christians through God's unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, or act of service on our part. However, when we are quickened and become alive in Christ, I believe we will desire to serve Christ and share our knowledge of his love with others and lead them to this same life we have in Jesus. We are not saved merely to sit and enjoy our gift but to rejoice even as the angels do when someone else has returned to God and received his son Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and Master. Herein, the spiritually dead are made alive and become a new creation desiring to share and receive the goodness of God.

1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

To join us weekly or stop receiving Surfing with Jesus, please send your request to gene@SurfingwithJesus.com. Please continue to pray with us for the request we receive each day.

My sole desire as I share is to uplift Christ, fellow Christians, and share the love of Jesus with others.



Wednesday, July 19, 2006

I DID IT MY WAY #433

SURFING WITH JESUS #433071906
Pastor Gene A. Dasher, Sr.
2355 Parkway Dr. SE
Cleveland, TN 37323
gene@SurfingwithJesus.com
www.SurfingwithJesus.com

I DID IT MY WAY

This past week I was selfish and out of loop I guess you would say but I had a wonderful time as my grandson and I spent a week together doing what I wanted to do.We traveled to Florida and I was blessed to visit some folks I wanted to see.

Our first stop was in Jacksonville, Florida. The first night I visited with my near 90 year old uncle who has been in the ministry since he was a teenager. His health is not as strong as it once was but he still has fire in his heart for Jesus. It was so good to spend time with a warrior of the Lord and share the goodness that God has bestowed upon us. Should I live as long as he I hope my flame keeps kindled and the fire keeps burning to help hurting souls find their way to Jesus and help them grow in his love.

Our next night, I met with a childhood friend that I had not seen since 1958. It was like walking back into a friendship that had never failed. It was so good to meet him and his family. They were just home folks and made us feel very welcome. I just wish we could have had more time to catch up on things. I told him he was a fossil when he told me they had been married for over 40 years. Of course, I guess I'm one too but it's just unusual with us Viet Nam Vets. It seems so many homes were hindered or destroyed over the years. This is very sad to me.

Next, I met with a Viet Nam Vet I was stationed with in Cat Lai that I haven't seen since 1967. He was kind to invite us to spend time in his home and share a meal. Very few people even know where Cat Lai is but we have an inside joke that if you know about the pink floating latrine, then, you've been to Cat Lai. We couldn't get thru with one story before one or the other remembered another one. This could have gone on forever but I knew they had to work the next day.

My precious grandson kindly listened and endured three nights of these ole stories with my family and friends. Yes, I was blessed to see and share past times and catch up on our families. It is wonderful to have friends.

The rest of the week we spent going down the coast, stopping at beaches and lighthouses, and just enjoying being together and having a few days of fun. Selfish, yes, but how long has it been since you took time to go out of your way to share with someone that has touched your life in the past. Often, we wait until it is too late and we see the paper or get a call they are no longer with us.

I encourage you to take time for you, your family, and friends. It will be worth every effort you put forth to share with each other. Sometimes we just have to go out of our way to do things that need to be done. Jesus went out of his way for you and me when he left heaven, came to earth, sent by God to set us free. I'm thankful I am free in Him today. Have a great week and as the kids say today, "Just Do It."


1John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

My sole desire as I share is to uplift Christ, fellow Christians, and share the love of Jesus with others.

To join us weekly or stop receiving Surfing with Jesus, please send your request to gene@SurfingwithJesus.com. Please continue to pray with us for the request we receive each day.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A YIELDED LIFE #432

SURFING WITH JESUS #432070606
Pastor Gene A. Dasher, Sr.
2355 Parkway Dr. SE
Cleveland, TN 37323
gene@SurfingwithJesus.com
www.SurfingwithJesus.com

THE ABUNDANT LIFE IS A YIELDED LIFE

Romans 6:10-13

10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

It is no secret how we are to live the abundant life; it is revealed in Christ in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Faith that saves identifies you with Christ in his death. Faith that yields identifies you with Christ in his resurrection. This is the abundant life.

As a believer you have a choice; you may yield unto God by faith and enjoy abundant life, or you may yield unto sin and endure a defeated life. The power of a yielded life will lift you up above the shadows and plant your feet on higher ground. It will lift you above circumstances that hinder abundant living. This life begins when you yield to Him as Master, allowing Him to live His life through you by faith. Lord help me live an abundant life in you today in Jesus name I pray.

1John 1:9 " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

To join us weekly or stop receiving Surfing with Jesus, please send your request to gene@SurfingwithJesus.com. Please continue to pray with us for the request we receive each day.

My sole desire as I share is to uplift Christ, fellow Christians, and share the love of Jesus with others.