New Year and a New You

Charles Lamb said “New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.”

We are just hours from a New year. If we believe Lamb, then we all will be having a birthday.

The reason we like to celebrate a New Year is that desire to begin again. Well, I have some GREAT NEWS. No, its not about the economy, politics or sports. But even more important. YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN.

That's the good news of Jesus. How?

No one can begin again without realizing your need of a new beginning. Nothing every changes until one realizes the need for change.

Only the Holy Spirit using the Word of God can show you who you really are. A desperate, depraved, and destitute person without God. Our sin has separated us from a holy and just God. We are not good...at least not according to God's standards.

In our realization of our situation, we become broken to the place that we no longer blame anyone or anything for our condition and circumstances. We see that we are the problem. And we see the magnitude of our problem so repulsive to God that we even understand and stop arguing the justice of hell and justice. We even see that if God did not save us and sent us straight to hell, that we'd understand.

But in that moment of brokenness, the Holy Spirit will show us that it was for that person that Jesus died. Jesus took our punishment - our hell - on the cross. He died in our place. What love. He did it not because we deserved it (we have already determined that) - but that He loved the Father who wanted to have relationship with us and could not because of our sin. So Jesus died for our sin so we could live and not die.

If you will simply put your faith (trust) in Jesus alone; then you can be saved. You can not trust anything else or anyone else - but everyone is just like you (yes, Billy Graham, the Pope, Mother Teresa, you name them). And you can't trust your own works because they are coming from such a horrible person.

Trust only Jesus. If you are broken, I don't have to tell you what to do. It will flow. You will express your sorrow to this precious Saviour and hate who you are and what you have done that you never want to be that person or do that again. (This is called repentance).

The good news is that Jesus has already forgiven you, and He will respond to your sorrow and repentance with washing you as white as snow - lifting your burden - and making you new.

It will be Jesus and Jesus alone that saves you. Trusting only Him.

Then tell someone. Call someone - write them an email - go to a local church and tell them what you have done. More importantly - what Jesus has done in you!!

I pray that won't experience a new year, but a new you!

Our Thought Life and a New Year

As we approach a new year, it is edifying to remember that "we are new creatures in Christ." A new year is not necessary for us as believers because all that a new year does is give us a fresh 365 days. There is no power or strength provided midnight December 31 to make us better persons.

But with Christ, "His mercies begin afresh each day." (Lamentations 3:23 (NLT). But the most important fact is that in Christ, "we are new creatures." We have been radically changed. Just as the human seed determines our DNA, so the spiritual seed of the Word of God in us activated and fertilized by the Holy Spirit becomes our new DNA.

I am not who I was and will never again be who I once was. I am a new person - I am "not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!!" II Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

The real person is who I am in Christ.

But the number one issue as believers we deal with is our thought life. The vile and disgusting things that can still inhabit our minds are repulsive. Then we say, "How can we be a new person with thoughts like this?"

Paul teaches us that these evil impulses arise not from our new hearts, but from the power of sin that lives in our flesh. Paul writes "so it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me." Romans 7:17 We are not to be defined by the weakness of the flesh but the strength of the spirit.

The issue for the mind is a re-training. It wants to do what is right, but it needs to learn discernment and discipline.

One of the favorite stories of 2008 that I learned was this:

Zig Zigler told the story of a guy who didn't touch a golf club for seven years, and lowered his score by nearly twenty strokes. What was his secret? He had been a prisoner of war who kept himself sane by playing an imaginary round of golf in his mind every day. Each day he played eighteen holes, imaging different weather conditions and different course designs. In meticulous detail he pictured himself hitting each shot flawlessly. After doing this for seven years, he finally got a chance to play a round of golf and lowered his score from the mid-nineties to the mid-seventies without ever practicing. (Toward a Deeper Walk by Marcus Warner, page 24).

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Philippians 4:8 think about such things

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds

So as we begin a new year, may we renew our minds so we can continually experience more and more of the new life that is already in us. Sounds better than a new year resolution.

Merry Christmas 2009

God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas, which is love;
the radiance of Christmas, which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
the belief of Christmas, which is truth;
the all of Christmas, which is Christ.

Wilda English

Congratulations to Don Graham on 50 years in ministry

Last night (December 14) I had the opportunity to go to Deerfoot Baptist Church, Trussville, AL to celebrate with my dear friend, Bro. Don Graham. Bro. Don was celebrating 50 years in the ministry and what a great night it was.

Bro. Don and Mrs. Jean have meant so much to so many through the years. For 35 years he served five churches (including Bellevue Baptist, Gadsden and FBC Center Point), two years as a foreign missionary and now for over 12 years as an interrant minister.

I don't remember the first time I met Bro. Don but I do remember the first time he took an interest in me. He was pastoring at FBC Center Point (Birmingham area) and I had the privilege to spend some time talking to him about preaching. I was elated. From that, God begin knitting our hearts.

He later would teach at my invitation in the North Alabama Center of New Orleans Seminary tackling Psalms. He did an outline of every Psalm and I still have those in my files today. Several of the students who met him during that class in Boaz also developed a long term relationship with Bro. Don and were present last night to honor him.

I have had Bro. Don on several occasions to preach where God has permitted me to serve as pastor. In the latter years of his ministry, God has found a voice in Bro. Don to preach the message of revival. God is using His servant in a great way in that ministry.

I had the privilege of going with Bro. Don in 2004 to Wales to be a member of a team celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Welsh Revival. What an honor.

Another thing about Bro. Don is his love for basketball. On more than one occasion, Bro. Don and I have shared a basketball game whether its been the Final Four of high school or a college game. We've even sit in the hot sun together at the SEC Baseball Tournament.

I am "his liberal" friend. Even last night he acknowledged me as his "liberal" friend. haha The only reason he says that is on my cell phone is some contemporary Christian music so he jokingly calls me liberal. Oh, yes..there is one more reason. I went to the SEC-Big East Basketball games last December in Birmingham and it happened to be on a Wednesday night. Now the church had given me those tickets for Pastor Appreciation so they knew the game was on Wednesday night. But he now has added that I go to basketball games on Wednesday nights instead of church. But by the way, he was also at that game that night. I got him the tickets and he took them. I am just following the good example of a mentor. haha

I love and honor Bro. Don and say "Congratulations." He will never read this because he does not have email or Internet access (and neither does he have a cell phone). But never-the-less, I take this space to honor him.

Two Cofield Weddings in 2009

You know you are getting old when you can now announce that your children are getting married. Well, let me announce OUR SONS ARE GETTING MARRIED!

Roxanne and I are so excited for our sons that they both believe they have found "the one" for them and have announced their intentions to wed.

Keith announced earlier this year. His fiancee is Kim Angleton. Keith met Kim at Jacksonville State while in school. Her parents currently live near Tampa, FL. but did live in Jacksonville for several years where Kim went to high school and college. She graduated last December with her degree and is currently teaching.

Keith and Kim have chosen June 6 for their wedding date for Rainbow City (Gadsden).

Then Kevin over Thanksgiving we begin to know that Kevin was about to do the same and he made it official this weekend. His fiancee is Tammy Larivier of Hokes Bluff. They met at a restaurant in Gadsden where she was serving and they have quickly fallen in love.  She is a 2006 graduate of Hokes Bluff High School and plans to attend  Jacksonville State University to become a sonagraphist.  She is an active member at Ford's Valley Baptist Church.

They have not chosen a definite date but they tell us that it will be in 2009.

As Kevin asked, "Can you guys take two weddings next year?" And my only response is that I'm glad I'm not the "Father of the Bride." haha

We will finally have two daughters in the family and we are thrilled.

We are so blessed and are delighted to share this good news with our friends and family.

II Chronicles 7: 14

In the month of October, God laid on my heart to preach concerning where America finds itself in these days.  I shared how I believe that one of the evidences that America is already under the hand of God's judgement is the two primary choices we had for President.

In the midst of that message, God also reminded me of II Chronicles 7:14.  He began speaking very strongly about what we need to do as believers.  We can not change America, and we can't even change our churches.  But we can change ourselves, with God's power.

God begin working in our fellowship around II Chronicles 7:14 to the point that I preached there for several weeks and testimonies have been given (and still are) of what God is doing through that passage in individual lives.

This past Sunday I shared these concluding thoughts:

I. Humble themselves

1.  God cannot humble us;  He only provides situations where we can handle ourselves.  Calamity is meant to drive us to God in humility and repentance.  However, for most people, calamity does not produce repentance - it produces rage.  The response to calamity separates the righteousness from the wicked.

2.  The opposite of humility is pride.  Pride is self-dependency; humility is God-dependent.

3.  In humility, we become honest and transparent.

4.  Pride covers up; humility confesses.

5.  Humility admits you need others; prides goes it alone.  The humble regularly fellowship with other believers because they recognize they can't make it alone.

6.  Humility is also expressed in servant hood.  (Mark 10:43)

7.  Be humble or stumble.

Proverbs 13:10 "By pride comes nothing but strife."

James 4:6 "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

II.  Seek my Face

1.  This means, "to desire something."  What is that you desire?  A revival is needed because Christians have desired something more "than seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness."

2.  Seek is a passionate word.  It carries the same type of passions as Jesus when He said, "He came to seek and save those which were lost."  Have we lost our passion for God?"

3.  His face is to seek His presence.  Not seeking His hand (gifts or provisions) but His face (presence, approval).

Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God."

Philippians 3:10 "That I might know Him...."

Psalm 27:4 "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek:  That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His Temple."

III. Turn from their wicked ways

1. To turn is to repent.  A child of God must be a regular repenter.  In the Eastern European countries, they call a believer a "repenter."

2.  A person must turn from "his" wicked ways.  It is easy to see other people's sins, but a person seeking revival sees only his sin.  Matthew 7:3-5

3.  This also speaks of taking personal responsibility for your actions.  Vance Hanver said, "If you demands your rights, you will have a riot on your hands;  if you take responsibility, you will have a revival."

4.  We see our ways as "wicked."  The word for "wicked" is horrible, detestable.  The worse sinner I know is __________.  How do you answer that question honestly?

I John 1:8-10

I Timothy 1: 15 "...came to save sinners, of whom I am chief."

Removing the Mask

Steve May did an excellent article this week "Removing the Mask."  I had to share it with you.

Our heroes usually wear masks so their true identity can't be known. Like Spiderman and Batman and the Green Lantern and Zorro...and, of course, the original masked man:  the Lone Ranger.

We benefit from their kindness -- they frequently save the world from bad guys -- but we don't know who they really are.  They may be our heroes, but our knowledge of them is limited.

There's a sense in which the same could have been said about God.  In the Old Testament we learned about him, we saw how his people benefited from his kindness, but we couldn't really know him personally, intimately.  It was like he was behind a mask.

On Christmas Day, the mask was removed.  He revealed himself to us through his Son so that we may know him as he really is.  This is why, when Philip asked Jesus to reveal the Father, Jesus said, "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."  (John 14:9)

God's plan is not to be our hero.  He wants to be more than the one we call on in times of trouble.  He wants to be our constant companion, our Father, our friend.  He wants us to know him personally.  This is made possible through his Son, Jesus Christ, who was sent to us two thousand years ago.  This is why we celebrate his birth.

Some quotes

"Life isn't waiting for the storms to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain."  (Unknown)

"When I really enjoy God, I feel my desires of him the more insatiable and my thirstings about holiness the more unquenchable...Oh, for holiness!  Oh, for more of God in my soul!  Oh, this pleasing pain!  It makes my soul press after God...Oh, that I might not loiter on my heavenly journey!"  (David Brainerd, eighteenth-century pioneer missionary to Native Americans)

"Hope is the present enjoyment of a future blessing.  Faith, on the other hand, is simply understanding God's goodness.  Hope brings the future into the present;  faith takes the present into the future."  (T.W. Hunt)

"...a neglected prayer closet is the beginning of all spiritual decline."  (Charles Spurgeon)