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Start: 2026-07-19T17:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-07-19T17:45:00-05:00
Location: Lakeway Baptist Church

THE RACE

June 19, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,“–Heb. 12:1

Here the Christian life is here likened unto a race and we need to make a personal application. Each of us have a “race that is set before us“. We are not at liberty to just run as we please. While some things are the same for all God has a specific plan for each of us. We see that best in 1 Cor. 12 where the church is likened to a body with each member a part. God doesn’t use us all the same way, but He has a plan for each of us.

Using the figure of a race we each have a certain lane or course assigned to us. It’s not enough to just run, we must run where God assigns us–otherwise it isn’t lawful. For example, God has called many to preach, but He hasn’t called all preachers to be pastors. Not only that, not all pastors are called to the same place. I could preach anywhere, but I would not be discharging my duty unless I pastor in the place God “set before” me. In my case that is Lakeway Baptist Church in Humble, TX. For me that is the most important position on earth. That is my “holy ground”!

Even so each of us should run the race “set before us“. We have no right to do otherwise. Just joining a church isn’t enough. We must be in the church God has appointed for us and doing the work He has assigned for us. He has given “to every man his work” (Mark 13:34) and we are neither successful nor safe unless we do it. Many spend their life involved in religious activities, but they are off track. All their effort is in vain because it is not according to God’s plan. They are running toward the wrong goal.

Notice that there is no mention of winning in our text. Whether we win or not doesn’t depend on what anybody else does–we’re not in competition with others. Success is determined by how well we run the “race that is set before us“. To win we must run fervently and faithfully to the finish.–HDS

A BLESSING UNKNOWN TO OTHERS

June 18, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

Sometimes we have great blessings that we’re not even aware of,or blessings not known by certain others. I think of this every year on “Father’s Day”. On this day we are reminded of our obligation to honor fathers, and that is fine. It is a good thing to give dads what they deserve. For many of us Father’s Day is a time for reminiscing as we recall the delightful days with our dad. What we seem to forget is that for many people there are no such delightful days, no precious memories. They never had the privilege of having a good father.

Some poor kids were raised in a single parent home by their mother, or a grand-parent. Some do not even know who their biological father is. Others were raised in broken homes under the authority of wicked vile step-fathers who either neglected or abused them. And even among those who were or are being raised by their biological parents, a rare thing today now-days, life isn’t always good. Many fathers are unloving and unconcerned, yet the children are forced to live under their authority. For people like these Father’s Day is more than meaningless. It is more like a cruel joke that makes them sick to their stomach.

As much as I wish it wasn’t so, that’s the way it is, and we are powerless to change it. All we can do is pray for these children and try to encourage them any way we can. That’s the purpose of this article. I want them to know that they are not forgotten. I want them to understand that, although they never had a loving father, they are loved. There are others who do care about them. Most of all, God loves them and desires to be their heavenly Father.

I also want to remind those who had or have a godly father that they are greatly blessed and should be deeply grateful. To have a good father is an awesome gift—be thankful for him. Do everything in your power to let him know how much he is appreciated. You have a treasure that is unknown to most kids today. Please honor your father in every way possible and take time to thank God for him. You have a blessing not known by others. Think about it! –HDS

THOUGHTS ABOUT FATHERS

June 17, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

There is no question about it–God expects us to honor our father. What you might not realize is that many of them, the best of them, feel undeserving. They are aware of their faults and failures, and wish they were better. Sometimes, although greatly appreciated, the nice things said about them in a Father’s Day card hurts more than the words of a critic. They hurt because they are aware of their shortcomings. They want to live up to the glowing compliments and it hurts when they don’t. They wish they could live up to the exaggerated statements about them and are embarrassed when they can’t.

Let’s be honest, regardless of how good your father is it’s fairly easy to find some fault with him– if that’s what you’re looking for. However, before you take that route I want to suggest that you stop and think about some things you might not have considered.

— He became a father without any experience.

There is no trial run, practice period, or special class to prepare him for such a difficult task. You can’t expect perfection. There is not a father on earth who could not have done better and most of us wish we had! It’s not easy dealing with the many different needs of a child, especially when you have no training whatsoever.

— Learning is a process.

Fathers have to learn as they go and sometimes life is going faster than their learning rate. They are always playing catch-up. Just about the time you think you’ve got it all figured out you’ve got a teenager and that’s a game changer for sure. Nobody is ready for that!

— He has other responsibilities as well.

There is no way dear old dad can give you his full attention all the time. He has other things to do–like putting food on the table. If you had any idea what he has to deal with on the job you might give him more credit than you do. It’s easy to find fault when you don’t have to earn the money, pay the bills, and take care of other stuff you never thought about.

— He is probably more aware of and concerned about his faults than you are.

Give him some credit. Naturally there are exceptions, but most fathers care more than you think. Dads are not like moms. A mother’s love is up-front and personal, it’s unmistakable. Dad’s aren’t always that way–even if they should be, and it can be for a number of reasons. But men cry too. You might be surprised if you knew just how many tears your dad shed because of his failures.

— He struggles with his growth and character development just like everyone else.

Don’t expect more from him than he is able to give. If you knew his whole story, what he experienced as a child, you might be more patient with him. It doesn’t excuse his sin, but it helps you understand a bit better. He might never become all that he should be (the same is true of you). But–

— He is your father and is to be shown respect, regardless of his failures.

His faults do not excuse yours. His sins do not give you the right to be unloving and unkind. There is no denying, some fathers are as mean as junk-yard dog, as selfish as a pig, and as unconcerned as a rock. It is awful that you have such a man for a father, but he is your father and you are obligated to be respectful. His best chance for change just might be seeing the love of Christ in you. God loved us “while we were yet sinners“(Rom. 5:8), let us do the same. I’m not saying that you should just ignore his sins, pass them off with the wave of your hand. I’m saying that you shouldn’t let his failure cause your fall.

— Consider his good points.

Isn’t that what you want from others? As I said, there are exceptions but chances are there are some good qualities about your father –perhaps more than you know or want to admit. You can blot out the sun with a penny if you hold it close enough to your eye, and some of you have lost sight of the nine good things about your father because you are focused on the one bad thing about him. Stop tormenting yourself, and look for something to be thankful for–it can change your life. Your bitterness will not make you better. Think about it!

Note: None of this is intended to minimize or excuse the failure of fathers. As Christians there is no excuse for us not being the best fathers possible. Hopefully this article will help folks understand how difficult it is and encourage us to pray for one another. We all need it! HDS, 6/17/17

THE URGENCY OF THE GOSPEL

June 17, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”–Luke 14:21–23

On Sunday night, October 8, 1871, D. L. Moody was preaching at his church in Chicago on the topic, “What Shall I Do with Jesus?” At the conclusion of the sermon, he told the large crowd to take the text home and think it over. The following week he announced that he would preach on the cross, and ask them to answer the question. But that night the Great Chicago Fire swept across the city, destroying thousands of buildings, including Moody’s church, and leaving some three hundred people dead.

“I have never since dared,” Moody later said, “to give an audience a week to think of their salvation. If they were lost they might rise up, in judgment against me. I have never seen that congregation since. But I want to tell you of one lesson that I learned that night which I have never forgotten, and that is, when I preach, to press Christ upon the people then and there and try to bring them to a decision on the spot. I would rather have that right hand cut off than to give an audience a week now to decide what to do with Jesus.”

Salvation is literally a matter of life and death—eternal life and death—and our presentation of the gospel to others should reflect that. It should be a matter of greatest urgency.

If we realize the certainty of Heaven and Hell, there is no room for casual witnessing to the lost.(Daily in the Word)

SOMETHING YOU CAN CHANGE

June 16, 2017 By Pastor David Stone

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”–1 Sam. 30:6

As much as we might dislike it, there are some things we can’t change or control. That’s a bitter pill for some people to swallow. Let’s face it, we all prefer to have things our way. We want to be pleased. So what do you do when you’re in a situation you can’t change or control? You don’t like it, you don’t want to accept it, but you can’t do anything about it. Do you go to work trying to force change? Do you curl up in a corner and pout? Do you vent your anger? Or do you accept it for what it is and move on? It’s your choice.

You might be in a situation where someone set out to make you miserable. They want to destroy your happiness, and you might blame them for doing so. However, strictly speaking, they can’t. Happiness is a choice. No one can take it from you, it has to be surrendered. Don’t allow others to make you miserable. Your happiness shouldn’t depend on what others do or don’t do. Although you want their love and wish things were different you can be happy without it. You can’t always change or control how they feel about you, but you can refuse to give them power over you–power to determine whether you’re happy or not. If your joy is in the Lord nothing they do can change it.

People can be cruel and it doesn’t bother them a bit to cause you grief. Some make it their mission in life to make you miserable. They do it because they lack love, which is a reflection of their attitude toward God. And as painful as it is for you, their problem is even more serious. Don’t allow their failure to cause your fall. It isn’t wise, healthy, or necessary for you to give up your happiness. You aren’t helping anyone by caving in to their desire. The best way for you to have the best chance to see them change is to be the person God wants you to be. That’s not always easy but for a Christian it is truly possible. God can enable you to overcome the difficulties of life and demonstrate what great things He can do. That’s a goal worthy of your full attention. If you haven’t been doing that, that’s something you can change! And that can make a difference. As someone said, ” I can change no other person by my direct actions, but I can change myself and when I change others tend to change in reaction to me”.– HDS

THE RACE

A BLESSING UNKNOWN TO OTHERS

THOUGHTS ABOUT FATHERS

THE URGENCY OF THE GOSPEL

SOMETHING YOU CAN CHANGE

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