tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58089602024-03-05T03:46:20.513-06:00Solitude and SilenceThis is the personal blog of Dr. Steven R. Branson, Pastor of Village Parkway Baptist Church, San Antonio, TXSteven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-75457454676353979432009-05-26T12:56:00.004-05:002009-05-26T12:57:08.301-05:00Rain - Thank You<!-- this is empty at this level. Place image in template at blog level to display the blogger's image --> I am enjoying the rain that we have had the last few days. It has been refreshing to remember what "rain" really is. It has been so long since we have seem much here in San Antonio. The rain helps me to remember the power of God in this world Job 5:9-10 says, "Who does great and Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-19751624297487714882009-05-25T09:25:00.001-05:002009-05-25T09:25:53.000-05:00Sins of SodomOne of the great privileges of my life is that I was born and raised in the United States of America. My father served in the Navy during the Korean War and I was raised by my family to honor those who faithfully served our country in the military. It has been my privilege for over 30 years to pastor men and women who have faithfully served our country through 3 wars.Since the founding of our Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-62624793298967249352009-04-12T20:05:00.003-05:002009-04-12T20:20:07.993-05:00Solitude for JesusJesus had gone to the synagogue for worship on the Sabbath. During the time of worship a man who was demon possessed cried out during the time that Jesus was teaching. Jesus healed the man and the crowd in the synagogue was amazed. Something new was happening that they had never seen before in their lives. They wondered about this new teaching and began to spread the word about the Lord Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-64424194588452286442009-04-12T19:50:00.003-05:002009-04-12T19:59:20.799-05:00New Emphasis with my BlogMy two trips to Costa Rica has caused me to stop and reflect upon what is important in life. I have always known that our hope is to be built upon Jesus Christ and Him alone. It is a fact that we have all grown up with in our lives. My struggle as a pastor has always been a disconnect between people at church and then out in their everyday lives. At church they are so victorious and in life they Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-46267529717351136982009-01-12T11:32:00.005-06:002009-01-12T11:38:16.151-06:00Construction UpdateWe are making progress slowly on our new buildings. The plumbers are working on the foundation of the three buildings. The site crew is working on the parking lot for the front of the church and the east side of the church. We are looking at about April for the project to be finished.Also we were without internet access at the church for over a month. But as of Saturday, we have access again to Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-63838481102884641212008-12-17T15:26:00.003-06:002008-12-17T18:06:55.551-06:002008 Pageant - Village ParkwaySteven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-37748456206970986302008-12-17T14:58:00.004-06:002008-12-17T15:11:20.166-06:00Description of DanielIn Daniel 5 the Queen of Babylon gives her husband a description of Daniel:He has a spirit of the holy godsIlluminationInsightWisdom like the wisdom of GodsExtraordinary spiritKnowledgeInterpretation of dreamsExplanations of enigmas (something hard to understand or explain)Solving of difficult problemsLater Daniel 6:3 says - Daniel began to distinguishing himself among the commissioners and Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-15837909313158408922008-12-05T10:16:00.004-06:002008-12-05T11:15:11.995-06:00The Spirit is Willing But . . .I am studying Dallas Willard's "The Great Omission" - he makes a very powerful statementThe body can acquire a "life of its own" - tendencies to behave without regard to our concious intentions. In our fallen world this life is prepossessed by evil, so that we do not have to think to do what is wrong, but we must think and plan and practice - and receive grace - if we are to succeed in doing whatSteven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-17002658451879510852008-11-24T09:59:00.003-06:002008-11-24T10:01:54.640-06:00Ouch! Not much you can say. Oklahoma won. But the seaon is not over and the possiblities still remain for an amazing year for Texas Tech.Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-12568215610854066162008-11-21T10:04:00.004-06:002008-11-21T10:14:48.441-06:00Construction UpdateThe sidewalk in the front of the church was poured on Wednesday. This sidewalk runs from the east end of our facilities to the worship center and our new front entrance.There is still more work to be done, but we are beginning to see a real change in the front of the church.The Facility Study Committee met with Paul Sanchez, our architect who is in charge of our building project on Wednesday Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-35968640756149374522008-11-21T09:00:00.006-06:002008-11-21T09:22:09.076-06:00ThanksgivingPaul tells the church at Colassae to do two things: (1) Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart; (2) Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you. (Colossians 3:15-17).In these same three verses are three calls to be thankful: (1) Be thankful (v. 15); (2) singing with thanksgiving in your hearts to God (v. 16); (3) giving thanks through Him to God the Father.The ability to be truly thankful Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-52963198574984753452008-11-07T10:26:00.006-06:002008-11-07T10:37:21.458-06:00Construction at Village ParkwayWe are slowly moving forward at the church in our construction project. This is the front of the church between the Worship Center and the Education Building. We will have a new walkway from the front parking lot to the entrance of our worship center. We will also have handicap entrance at this point also. The picture on the right is the new sidewalk that will be across the front of the entire Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-62794415303176092552008-11-07T10:22:00.003-06:002008-11-07T10:26:16.944-06:00Senior Adult CampI just got back from a week at Lost Maples Senior Adult Camp at Leakey, Texas. It was a great experience and I had the opportunity to speak four times. I taught from 2 Timothy 1 and 2. This was my second time to be camp pastor for the camp.Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-6757925639507846572008-10-22T17:42:00.003-05:002008-10-22T17:46:39.686-05:00Economics - SimpleEconomics can actually be easily understood. Here are each of the basic economic philosophies explained in simple "two-cow" terms:Communalism: You have two cows. You keep one and give one to your neighbor.Communism: You have two cows. The government takes them both and--from time to time--provides you with sour milk.Fascism: You have two cows. The government takes them and sells you the Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-91789563098633730002008-10-19T07:19:00.002-05:002008-10-19T07:31:30.113-05:00Bible Study - Galatians 3:1-9When you read the story of Abraham you are amazed at a man who had such faith. When God speaks he responds. He is a good man who handles life very well. When you review his story you findGod spoke to Abraham when he was 75 years old and he left Haran and when to Shechem. Lord told him, I will give your descendants this land.There was a famine in the land and Abraham went to Egypt. This is where Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-45138767863289812172008-09-14T07:15:00.008-05:002008-09-14T07:28:04.610-05:00This is where Jan and I vacationed with my brother's family this summer. This is an view of Crystal Beach. I spent many of my high school and college days on this beach. The house we stayed in this summer is no longer there. Most of the homes are now gone.Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-17968711316393397282008-09-13T22:26:00.000-05:002008-09-13T22:27:44.454-05:00Guess Who?Can you guess who I am?I am not yet 45 years old but already I have taken the nation by storm.I am known for my avid love of the outdoors.I hunt, fish, hike, and camp whenever I possibly can.I have made my mark in politics as an unlikely Republican reformer.Of course, I have had to take on the Republican Party establishment.Not that the Democrats are too fond of me either.I have a large, happy, Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-86881583521150181702008-09-13T08:26:00.002-05:002008-09-13T08:30:36.691-05:00Pray for those in Southeast TexasI have family and many friends who live in Southeast Texas. I asked that you join me in praying for the grace of God to sustain them during these days. There is still no word this morning on conditions in Beaumont, Orange, and Port Arthur. Lord show mercy to those who live in the Golden Triangle area. My home area is Orange, Texas.Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-32612162622672409532008-09-13T08:21:00.002-05:002008-09-13T08:26:44.139-05:00Bible Study - Psalms 119Verse 165 – Those who love your law have great peace and nothing causes them to stumble.When our lives are characterized by a love of God’s word there will be evidence that the love is real. The evidence that the "love of God's word" is real is we have “great peace.” There is no fear impacting our lives. We live quietly, rest quiestly and walk quiety because of the great peace. The reason for Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-13064601273081529512008-09-01T07:59:00.002-05:002008-09-01T08:02:00.237-05:00Sarah Palin - Pro LifeSarah Palin's Personal Pro-Life Story: (from Susan B Anthonly List)In April of this year, Sarah Palin gave birth to her fifth child, Trig, who was born premature with Down Syndrome. Recent statistics show that in the U.S., approximately 90% of Down Syndrome diagnoses end with the mother choosing abortion. Palin on her family's reaction to the diagnosis, in her own words:"We knew through early Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-87227305560662765312008-08-29T09:16:00.005-05:002008-08-29T09:25:39.323-05:00There are many special moments in ministry. I had such a one this summer. I had the opportunity to do a wedding for the daugther of a very close friend. We had a very beautitful setting in Cancun for the wedding. It makes life fun to share special moments with friends. These are moments that you remember for the rest of your life. I am always grateful to my Lord for special times like this.Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-75538851953188882402008-08-29T09:11:00.001-05:002008-08-29T09:15:58.167-05:00Bible Study - Job 22Eliphaz suddenly attacks Job with a simple statement, “Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end?” (22:5) Eliphaz is a friend of Job and has known him for some years. He has seen him raise his family and has walked through life with Job. Now with Job’s children dead and his money gone, Job’s friend see him as a wicked man. What causes a friend to change?Eliphaz accuses him of Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-38756219437009492532008-07-29T09:14:00.000-05:002008-07-29T09:15:08.597-05:00Daily Bible Reading - Nehemiah 6In the midst of a good work, Nehemiah has a meeting with a man by the name of Shemaiah. Shemaiah tells Nehemiah that is life is in danger and that he needs to go to the temple for his safety. Now this seems like good advice for the great man of God. His life is in danger, but the advice is evil.In fact, Nehemiah was able to perceive that Shemaiah was a liar. Nehemiah response to this little Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-47774479054788480152008-07-16T08:51:00.002-05:002008-07-16T08:55:24.262-05:00VBS - Having a great timeWe are having a great week at Vacation Bible School. VBS is always a lot of fun and a great time to teach our children about Jesus Christ. I always am amazed at the faithfulness and time that people are willing to give in sharing the good news of our Lord. I asked that you be in prayer for us as we finish this week. Pray that the kids will understand the truth of God's Word.Steven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5808960.post-27475891948918577342008-07-15T11:53:00.002-05:002008-07-15T11:57:40.149-05:00Bible Study - 2 Chronicles 28Just a thought for the day. 2 Chronicles 28:19 "For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to the Lord."How often are we influenced by another person's lack of discipline or rebellion to give us an excuse for our lack of restraint? It is so easy to blame others for our unfaithfulness to the Lord. TroubleSteven R. Bransonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10118682716625143576noreply@blogger.com2