Top Dead Centers- Hays Hills Baptist - men's group

10/11/2024

So… I put notes (spiritual) in my ‘notes’ on my phone quite a few times a week or a month. As something crosses my mind/heart I write/type it down to help my own spiritual growth, and because I actually feel compelled to.
I jotted this down awhile back, I added some stuff from our own pastor Aaron from this past Sunday, and felt compelled to share it.
It’s super long… and I wouldn’t blame you for scrolling on by. Lol

* Baptism

Driving to work this morning I was listening to a sermon from Adrian Rogers… Pastor was addressing ‘counterfeit’ teachers, preachers and prophets.
In a piece of that sermon he spoke of baptism and the seriousness of it, or the ‘non’ seriousness’ of it. And by non serious he was speaking of folks that say “well yeah I’d like to be saved! But I got plans this Sunday. How’s bout next week?”
1st I (not pastor Rogers) want to clear up a few things. The want to for ‘self’ is WAY different than the want to because you physically carry Jesus Christ in your heart!
One of my pastors stated it very beautifully last Sunday. “Me dunking you, this water…it doesn’t save you.”
Now, once truly saved what do you do with it? Coast through life saying ‘yes, I’m saved.” Like you have a generator when the power goes out. Extra food in the pantry. Jesus is just… there. Waiting for you to ‘use Him’ when and if you have to?
Or do you just study more and state ‘I’d love to serve more, but I’m too busy studying, growing.’ Or maybe you were baptized years ago and now say ‘well I’m saved…when I feel like coming back, when I do serve again I’m gonna the best server ever. But not right now…?’
This is NOT what it’s about!
I have had multiple ‘debates’ over quite a few years of the importance of Baptism. Physical versus the Spiritual. And this is truth. Baptism is only as important as you allow it to be in your heart!
If some one who believes yet dies without physical baptism, does that person not receive Eternal Salvation? Yes! Yes they do! If a thief on a cross next to Christ can be confirmed and conformed without physical baptism, why not the good neighbor…believer?
Does the lack of physical baptism tell us that they do not serve? About as much as the person who has received baptism and refuses to serve, but only recognize it as something for ‘themselves’ for ‘one day’.
If we say it’s about a relationship not a religion then put more faith in the spiritual baptism…then receive the physical part of it.
5 summers ago I was driving kids in a youth ministry around in a bus to different day to day locations so they could learn, serve. I met a 12 year old boy named Noah. Noah was so excited to talk about Jesus Christ… but he would make sure to tell everybody he met (while he trembled with excitement) that he was being baptized on August 12th!
Now, Lord forbid something happened to Noah and he didn’t make it to August 12th. Does he not receive eternal salvation? Noah has carried Christ in his heart, DEEPLY! But because he didn’t make it to that pastor and pool of water…he’s outta luck?
You know the answer to that.
Physical baptism is important! As a sign of obedience. But then, what do you do with it? Purity and cleansing comes from Spiritual baptism…. And you feel no other purpose but to serve.
Spend as much time talking to God as you do ‘reading’ God, and you can’t help what happens to your heart next.

Wear it on the inside as much as you do on the outside.

10/06/2024

North Carolina Quarter midget Association is doing a toy drive for kids of the counties and regions affected by the hurricane.
‘Ships to: Christie Ickler’
Please donate.

09/12/2024

I always told myself I would not be that ‘Facebook preacher’. But….

For my Christian family.
Every where Paul went there was a riot, or a revival.
Had been in street brawls, he had been beaten, he had been imprisoned. He chased and had been chased.
His apparent theory was ‘if there is no offense, then there is no effect.
Paul understood that he had been given grace and mercy, laid on him by Jesus Himself! He knew that salvation wasn’t a goal to achieve, but a gift to receive.

Too many times we stay in our lane, safe place, surrounded by folks who think like us. Who pray using the same scripted words. Going through the same weekly routine of having the same ‘God’ conversations, with those same folks who…think like us.
Paul wasn’t going to be that person. Paul took his love for God to places it was not personally safe to. He did not keep his conviction of faith in the same old environment. He wanted to be the 1st to REALLY tell you about The real God.
Paul would stir a pot, and then kicked it over! For his Jesus Christ!
Who is your Jesus? Do you tell folks about Him? Are you living outside of the safe barriers, relying on just your belief that God has your 6?
Are you setting off riots in search of revivals… and seeing the good in both?
Paul was a “troublemaker “ (Acts 17:6). Jesus did not pick him because he was a ‘safe’ choice.
Do not relax in a comfortable posture, and say “I serve…I follow Jesus Christ.” Paul did exactly what Jesus did. Paul ‘followed’ the example left to him, by Him.

09/11/2024

Alistair Begg said “there is a final exam at the end of this course. You’re blessed when you know that Jesus trade his ‘A’ for your ‘F’.…”

I say just because He did, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try for a ‘B’… at least a C+, maybe?

09/02/2024

Billy Cox, I hope this somewhat helps.
Love The Lord like He won’t be there tomorrow. Recognize sin and live for righteousness.

Folks of the Testaments
All through The Old Testament we witness people who looked towards the Coming of Christ. The prophets announced it. They informed a wicked world’s population of a redemption that would cleanse ‘dirty’ and apply ‘righteousness’.
From Isaiah to Jeremiah, and hints here and there for all to have knowledge, that He was coming!

Then, all through The New Testament we witness Him! From His life,His lessons…His sacrifice.
At which point we see a people, still of a wicked sinful world, yet now they look back on Jesus’s. Some continued the work, while most ‘leaned’ on what was given.

What we witness from start to finish of The Gospel is ALL Jesus. While one section looked forward, the other glanced back.

Now for us? Backwards or forwards?
Our witness is in front of us! We work, learn,,,and live looking forward to Him!
EVERYBODY born of a mother’s womb at some point in their existence will question their own morality and more importantly their own mortality…and they will turn to The Lord! It’s fact!
So what do the folks of The Old Testament and The New Testament, as well as us; ALL share and have in common? We live/lived in a wicked, evil dying world! Even as sinners and unbelievers we can ALL recognize that.
The Old Testament had Daniel 12. The New Testament (perhaps) goes further in relatable information with 2nd Timothy 3. Both writers, The Apostle Paul and the author of Daniel wrote directed by The Lord. Both painting a very bleak picture of the future. Both believing they were possibly living in that ‘end times’. While both were living approximately 225 years apart. Showing us that try as you might *Matthew 24:36-38 is the clearest picture, (prophesy?) of when this will occur!
Not your crazy neighbor 2 houses down. Or the saved (again) friend on social media… or even the rattlesnake pastor at the community church! NOT ONE…. Not even The Son!
Get right with God outta love… outta Fear of The Lord, but NOT ‘fearing The Lord’ because somebody scared you.
As a Follower The ‘end times’…. When they come are a Victory for Us! Old, New and current! Not something to worry about. So forwards or backwards…. Only look to Jesus. He gave His WHOLE self, not just for them,they or…us.

08/30/2024

ALL MEN!
Please feel free to join us for breakfast this Saturday August 31st at Hays Hills Baptist Church!
8:30-9:30am….come to the front of the sanctuary (big building) and somebody will direct you to the cafeteria.
I’m not sure what we are having, but I’m sure it’ll be good!
Not a member? Scared of church? Think we’re pompous, hypocritical church folk? Show up anyway! I dare ya! Lol
If you want to attend, please message me so we know how many to feed. Only Jesus Christ does miracles with a basket of food.😉

Hope to here from you!

08/23/2024

This week at Hays Hills Baptist Church the TDC men’s study continues to follow the travels of Abraham with Genesis 20.
Have you ever repeated the words of this passage below… either out loud our quietly to yourself? Sure you have!
If I asked the question ‘what must a Christian have before anything else?’ most Christians and non believers alike would answer with the same response “Jesus Christ!”
Matthew 11:27. Colossians 1:15.
One does not occur without the other. Fear of God has to exist. Without that it’s a dirty guiltless conscience that you refer to as ‘paid for’.
You must have Fear of The Father to even identify The Son!
With that, comes ‘awe’ of what was, is,,,and always will be.

Feel free to join us this Sunday, Building E, room3 at Hays Hills…10:45 am

08/09/2024

Don’t just be “blessed!”…. Be a BLESSING!
God gives you a certain amount of time. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not yours. You can’t buy or beg for more. When He says it’s up, it’s really up!?!?!

There was a man, a king…Hezekiah. He ruled over Judah, the southern section of Israel in a time when false god and idol worship were rampant throughout Judah. His works were those of a faithful servant to The Lord.
Hezekiah became deathly ill. Even the prophet Isaiah told him “you will not live very much longer”. Hezekiah began to pray and weep without seizing from his death bed. Did Hezekiah weep and fear for himself? Pray out of self pity? No! He had far more to do for this land and God’s people. Lots of work still lay in front of him. He could not bare the idea that he would not be able to finish his job!
With that The Lord gave Hezekiah 15 more years of life! Was it because he was blessed? Yes… but more importantly he was blessed because he was a blessing.

Do more with it! God didn’t put you ‘here’ and get you through ‘that’ so you could just sit back and say ‘I am blessed!’.
Nobody has ever said in the face of death ‘Lord get me through this! I haven’t bought my dream house yet! I have a promotion coming at work! I think I just met Ms./Mr. Right!” NONE OF THAT!
So if you’re living for the fundamentals of your family, kids, wife, community,,,God; then don’t wait until death has its nostril right up in your ear to show, love,,, and serve what you are truly working for!
Don’t just be blessed! Be the blessing!
Being ‘blessed’ is egotistical if you’re not doing something with it.

07/28/2024

*Long post*

This is not a ‘religion’ post
This is about the Christian Faith.
—————————————————————-
1. Matthew 5:10-12
10)Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11)Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12)Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
——————————————————————
The fastest growing populous in the world of the Christian Faith is occurring where?
China! While the numbers are skewd a bit by ‘government approved (organized)’ sects, consisting of 5 groups. But there are non governed rebel pockets from China, and all of Southeast Asia that are dramatically growing!
Why? As human beings, when persecuted and sadly at our ‘last option’ we tend to turn ultimately to The Lord for help.
Make no mistake the true Christians of China are not just being persecuted, but WAY more! Yet their numbers do not decrease.
Approximately 2.3% of China, roughly 44 million people are ‘registered’ Christian… not counting those pesky rebels! And those percentages are growing everyday!
Now, while in The USA… to put it bluntly, we persecute ourselves! We have every opportunity to read The Gospel, attend Faith based gatherings,,,, we can openly PRAY! Yet we very rarely do.
The question you wanna ask is ‘but what’s our percentage?’ ….well it’s 63%. Because we have the freedom to say so, unlike the Chinese. And again to put it bluntly honest, that all we do, is say we are.

My point is true persecution grows Faith.
In the past couple of days I could not fail to see scenes and memes, video of my faith being mocked. I also couldn’t help but notice that a lotta folks were up in arms about it. Question; short of sharing you anger about it on social media, how else did you react? Did you attend church? Did you find fellowship? Did you PRAY?
Their mocking can never dismantle God! He’s God! He doesn’t need you defending Him. He needs you to not just say you are with Him, but WANT Him! There are 44 million (plus some) that understand that. While they are secretly trying to get MORE JESUS, we are more concerned with political standpoints. More concerned with our ‘friends’ knowing what political party we are affiliated with…. Instead of shouting to the world that we are a follower of The One and Only, Jesus Christ!
Spare the ‘I can’t believe they did that’s’ when your not willing to skip Sunday brunch for church…. Or just opening your Bible and giving yourself the opportunity to more than just a ‘said I was’ Christian.

Sorry if I hurt feelings.

07/26/2024

This Saturday morning at 9:00am we will be gathering at a different location. Maudie’s Tex-Mex on Brodie Ln. and Slaughter (far South Austin).
If you are new to seeing this… ‘the gathering’, it’s where people who want to come and talk about God, Jesus Christ land The Holy Spirit outside of church can come and fellowship.
We talk about numerous things but always trying to keep the objective, God talk.
We can sit with skeptics, theologians, new believers, none believers…. You name it! Everybody is welcome at this table!
If you have questions, or you feel you have answers, we want to hear them.
Some folks do not feel comfortable in a church setting. This is for you,,,them.
This is an honest, non judgemental arrangement of people who just need God. And who doesn’t?

It’s no secret that Jesus surrounded himself with and worked with the absolute unlikeliest characters that one would think. He did not shroud Himself in the religious ‘scholars’. In fact those in religious circles mocked Him for keeping the company that He kept. And those in His circles could tend to be prejudiced towards one another. But for the love of God, they found The Son.
We are ALL the most ‘unlikeliest’ in our own minds if we stop and truly think about it. But Jesus Christ says different! He pursues us!
So all you ‘unliklies’ this is for you!
9:00am Saturday at Maudie’s. Hope to see you there!

★★★★☆ · Tex-Mex restaurant

07/06/2024

Short notice (I’m apologize) …. But our race in Houston has been canceled/rescheduled due to foreseen bad weather.
That being said, I will be at Chavelo’s at 8:30 tomorrow morning.
Again, this is not a Bible study. This is for anybody that needs fellowship, or wants to discuss God, Jesus Christ and The Gospel.
Things we could address are boundless!
I have a good friend and I believe he works out everyday! More power to him. Lol
I know he feels energized, refreshed, clean (although stinky and sweaty Id say)… but he’s ready or more ready to face the world with his regiment.
This is my regiment. I like ‘talking God’. I like open honest folks who want ‘more God’. And we can discuss what He has or you feel He hasn’t done in your life.
Proverbs 27:17. We are the works, the tools of an almighty God! And He tells us ‘sharpen each other’!
ANYONE who just wants to feel more equipped to face the world… a little more refreshed, clean and energized, join us.
Trust me, we’re all guilty at any table. So there is no pressure no judging…just an honest fellowship.

Chavelo’s
108 Austin St, Buda, TX 78610
Address

06/30/2024

We had an awesome turnout for TDC mens Bible study this morning! A lot of fairly new faces! I Was told before I came in ’we have a crowd…’ . Lol
We’re a ‘small group’ so an extra 3 or four people is crazy on our perception! it was great to see!

We finished up Genesis 13. Putting it hand to hand with the Sermon… Of challenging paths.
Abram trusted that God would never leave him! No matter how tough it got. Abram knew that he could take the paths of impossibilities, and The Lord would still make it ‘possible’. God would provide! WAY more than Abram could even imagine!
But… the times ahead will still get challenging, even more than Abram could even imagine!
Feel free to join us next Sunday morning for Genesis 14!