“My
(or Your) Extreme Soul Makeover” By Ken Avellino December 20th,
2009 Several years ago, as a fundraiser, several of us from the church went to Six Flags and worked. I was assigned to work in the food court, making funnel cakes. All of us have had experiences where we couldn’t understand why a food server couldn’t get our order right. This gave me the opportunity to see this from the other side. I had people asking me, “Is that a funnel cake, or is that something the dog hacked up?” This is the first time that I have been asked to deliver a message, and now I am seeing this from the other side, too. It gives me a greater understanding of the responsibility of a preacher.
I
grew up in a suburb of Matthew
19:25-26
…with God, all things
are possible. This was after Jesus had been talking to the rich young ruler. He knew the commandments, but he also knew that there was something more. Jesus didn’t care that he was rich; Jesus preached to everyone from all walks of life. Romans
8:31 …If
God be for us, who can be
against us? God called me when I was young. When I sought Him, He changed me; He changed my personality. My dad helped me build my house. I bought him some insulated coveralls, and he was out there working. One time I saw him, and he was shivering, and his nose was running, and I said, “Why don’t you go home, Dad? We got this.” He said no; he didn’t want to go home. He said, “I feel useful.” Romans
8:37-39
… we are more then
conquerors through Him that loved us… Love and confidence causes us to do amazing things. When I first got saved, I was kind of in and out. Pastor Davis told me one time that I needed to really get serious about the Gospel. I told him I would try, and he said, “Don’t try. You’ve been trying, and it hasn’t been working. Make up your mind, and do it.” I did make up my mind, and I’m still here, 28 years later. Ephesians
3:19-21
…able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think… I had two guys working for me that both filed for workman’s compensation because of back injuries. I honestly don’t know if they are legitimate or not, I figure the insurance company will sort that out. That’s why I have insurance. My rates will go up, but at least this is covered. One of them called me last week, and told me that his lawyer is getting to be too much of a hassle, and he’s just going to drop the claim. Then the other one called me, and said that they have determined that his injury was really just an old injury that they should have taken care of fifteen years ago, that got aggravated at work because they didn’t take care of it then. So that’s off my shoulders. The things is, you have to turn things over to God, and not take them back (I like to do that—no, let me fix it with my bigger hammer). Just step out in faith and submit to His will. Philippians
1:6
…He which hath begun a
good work in you will perform it… I used to play baseball with my brother; we would take turns pitching and hitting. He used to wait until it was getting dark, and then hit the ball deep into the woods. When I went to look for the ball, he would yell out, “I quit!” and he would go home. It was my ball, so I had to go look for it. He wouldn’t do that if it was his ball. But God doesn’t start a project and then quit. He will never leave us nor forsake us. 1
Corinthians 1:26-29
…no flesh should glory in His
presence. I had a plan to join the Air Force as a jet engine mechanic. I passed all the written tests, but then, they had me take a test for color blindness. It turns out that I’m partially color-blind, so I wasn’t qualified. So, I went home, and my dad said, “Oh, no, you’re joining something!” and he took me down to see the Navy recruiter. The Navy recruiter told me 300 times, “You’re going to love the Navy!” He lied. Anyway, I joined the Navy, and I got saved while in the Navy; see, God knew that wouldn’t have gotten saved in the Air Force. I got out of the Navy, and moved up here. You know what I do for a living now? I match colors. It’s all God. 1
John 4:4
…greater is He that is
in you, than he that is in the world.
It
is a very rare thing that a pitcher pitches 81 consecutive strikes. Nobody ever has a totally
perfect day. We
went on a trip, and before we even got
very far, I drove over a set of railroad tracks with the trailer, and
it messed
up the brakes. I
was able to get to the
parts store, and pick up the parts, and I fixed it.
We got on the road again, and somewhere
around James
1:17
Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above… You are special. I can’t do what you do; everyone has gifts and talents. Remember on Happy Days, when the Fonz hit the juke box, and his favorite song came on? Someone said, “I wish I could learn to do that.” And he said, “You can’t; it’s a gift.” The most terrifying word in the English language is commitment; commitment to God, to marriage, to quit a habit, to an occupation, to ministry. Give your life to God and join us to fulfill the Scripture: Philippians
4:13
I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me. Sermon notes by Pete Shepherd |
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