I have started writing on a regular basis on my Facebook page instead of in the blog environment. So if you care, I would love to be Facebook friends. I have found two benefits:
(1) I have more friends there than those who read blogs.
(2) I am limited to 420 characters.
Maybe I'll come back later...but feel guilty having a blog and not writing regularly. So I will just re-direct where I am more faithful at the effort.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Am I Rescuable?
Wierd thought today. We are about to recognize the 5 year anniversary of the hitting of Hurricane Katrina. The video clips from New Orleans are popping back up again on the news. Pictures in my own mind of working in the shelters and rebuilding houses are pretty vivid again.
For some odd reason, it brought back the story of the man who was on his roof as the flood waters rose. He was crying out to God to save him. A boat came, a helicopter came...yet he would not take their offer of help. You know the story.
I was reading this morning in Psalm 22 and there was a repeated phrase that struck me, "Let Him deliver him; let Him rescue..." I was just wondering if there have been times in my life when I was crying out to God for deliverance and God sent it. However, in my own stubborness, I would not let God work out my rescue.
Wow! I hope this makes me more discerning and humble next time.
For some odd reason, it brought back the story of the man who was on his roof as the flood waters rose. He was crying out to God to save him. A boat came, a helicopter came...yet he would not take their offer of help. You know the story.
I was reading this morning in Psalm 22 and there was a repeated phrase that struck me, "Let Him deliver him; let Him rescue..." I was just wondering if there have been times in my life when I was crying out to God for deliverance and God sent it. However, in my own stubborness, I would not let God work out my rescue.
Wow! I hope this makes me more discerning and humble next time.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Do my attitudes and actions match?
Do you ever wonder why that just at the moment when you feel that you are not doing so well in displaying Christ...God puts another opportunity in your journey to let you try? And sometimes you know that you blew it (at least in your heart)...but what God let other people see was His grace.
I spent Friday and Saturday with our basketball team in Columbia. Friday night, we played with 5 guys...at least for the firsts 3 minutes of the game. That is when 'The Rev' (Billy Graham) got hit in the face and was put out of the game because the blood in his eye may him unable to see. Of course there was no foul called. We played the last 29 min. of the game with 4 players (against the other team's 12)...and at times against 2 stripes and a score keeper who refused to count all of our baskets. But we finished the game (eventually with only 3 players)...losing only by 6.
Saturday morning...with 6 kids (one of whom still cannot see very well)...still battling a hostile environment against an older team...I honestly thought that I crossed the line of a good witness a few times. I felt really bad about it all afternoon. But then showed up for the 4:00 p.m. game to have a parent from another team compliment me and our team on how we displayed a great Christian witness. I still had to repent and thank God for allowing something good to be seen, even in my horrible attitude.
We played the 4:00 p.m. game...at one point down by 16 points. We had a lot of frustration. But because of what had been said earlier to me, I felt the need to challenge out team to display character (really challenging myself). There was visible animosity left from the morning game. But we ended the game with only 4 players on the court...a 7 point win...and what I thought was our first decent witness. And just when you think the story ends...there is more.
I drove the 2 hours home Saturday night in order to preach Sunday morning. I left immediately after the service to drive the nearly 2 hours back to the northeast side of Columbia to play for the championship against the team we had played on Friday night. Less than a mile from the gym, I received a call from one of our players saying that they were at the gym and the other team had forfeited...4 hours earlier (but without a call to me or anyone from our team who had paid for another night of hotel).
My wife who was traveling with me on this venture asked me if I need a few minutes to 'chill' in the van before going in to get a 'clarification'. Honestly, I was so ticked...(the time and gas of a 300 miles round trip...with meals for 4 people). But as I walked in, there was the coordinator holding out the championship plaque...greeting me with a sincere apology. Now what do I do? All my team are standing there with their parents...and grand parents. I simply asked why I had not received a call and calmly expressed my disappointment due to the expense and time invested by out team (and their families).
He again apologized...and one of the grand parents said that it was all right because they had a great time at the hotel the night before. And then the coordinator said that he (and a local college coach) had watched our team for two of our games. They were so impressed with our effort, play, and attitudes that the coach was planning to follow-up with some of our kids.
So what was I to do? Take a crazy picture on the playground outside with our team...holding up their championship plaque...then get back in the van for the 2 hour drive home...confess my bad attitude...repent...and then stand in amazement at how God could show Himself (protecting His name) even when...
Well, it really challenged me to think about how much glory God could get out of my life if I actually had the Christ-like attitude that I know He really desires from me (even in adversity).
I spent Friday and Saturday with our basketball team in Columbia. Friday night, we played with 5 guys...at least for the firsts 3 minutes of the game. That is when 'The Rev' (Billy Graham) got hit in the face and was put out of the game because the blood in his eye may him unable to see. Of course there was no foul called. We played the last 29 min. of the game with 4 players (against the other team's 12)...and at times against 2 stripes and a score keeper who refused to count all of our baskets. But we finished the game (eventually with only 3 players)...losing only by 6.
Saturday morning...with 6 kids (one of whom still cannot see very well)...still battling a hostile environment against an older team...I honestly thought that I crossed the line of a good witness a few times. I felt really bad about it all afternoon. But then showed up for the 4:00 p.m. game to have a parent from another team compliment me and our team on how we displayed a great Christian witness. I still had to repent and thank God for allowing something good to be seen, even in my horrible attitude.
We played the 4:00 p.m. game...at one point down by 16 points. We had a lot of frustration. But because of what had been said earlier to me, I felt the need to challenge out team to display character (really challenging myself). There was visible animosity left from the morning game. But we ended the game with only 4 players on the court...a 7 point win...and what I thought was our first decent witness. And just when you think the story ends...there is more.
I drove the 2 hours home Saturday night in order to preach Sunday morning. I left immediately after the service to drive the nearly 2 hours back to the northeast side of Columbia to play for the championship against the team we had played on Friday night. Less than a mile from the gym, I received a call from one of our players saying that they were at the gym and the other team had forfeited...4 hours earlier (but without a call to me or anyone from our team who had paid for another night of hotel).
My wife who was traveling with me on this venture asked me if I need a few minutes to 'chill' in the van before going in to get a 'clarification'. Honestly, I was so ticked...(the time and gas of a 300 miles round trip...with meals for 4 people). But as I walked in, there was the coordinator holding out the championship plaque...greeting me with a sincere apology. Now what do I do? All my team are standing there with their parents...and grand parents. I simply asked why I had not received a call and calmly expressed my disappointment due to the expense and time invested by out team (and their families).
He again apologized...and one of the grand parents said that it was all right because they had a great time at the hotel the night before. And then the coordinator said that he (and a local college coach) had watched our team for two of our games. They were so impressed with our effort, play, and attitudes that the coach was planning to follow-up with some of our kids.
So what was I to do? Take a crazy picture on the playground outside with our team...holding up their championship plaque...then get back in the van for the 2 hour drive home...confess my bad attitude...repent...and then stand in amazement at how God could show Himself (protecting His name) even when...
Well, it really challenged me to think about how much glory God could get out of my life if I actually had the Christ-like attitude that I know He really desires from me (even in adversity).
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Friends, Foes, Partners, and Statistics
I know this may come as a complete shock...but I realize that not everyone likes me. There are those who actually do not like me, some who tolerate me, a few who like me, and a few who are my friends. And as this goes for me, I am sure that it is the same for the church that I pastor.
There are those who do not like our church, some who like our church, and some who are friends of our church. However, it is my understanding from God's Word that just as I am supposed to love people (no matter what their affection for me)...we should also love other local bodies of believers (churches) regardless of their affinity for our own ministry. Further, it has become so apparent in this current world culture that one church or even a group of church will never reach the world with the Gospel alone. We not only need to love other individuals and churches, but we need to partner wherever possible for the furtherance of the Gospel and God's Kingdom.
This requires that each of us do our part...not trying to do the part of another. It means that we celebrate what God is doing in and through others. But for this to be effective in a world that sees through hypocrisy...it must be genuine, even when we wish the seeming success of others could have been our own.
It was rather confusing this week for me to read about my own denomination claiming to have had greater success in this past year than in any in the last 50 years for reaching people with the Gospel and seeing them profess Christ through baptism. Don't get me wrong. I am very excited to be partnering with a movement that is striving to reach the world...including the 3.5 million people in South Carolina who do not have a relationship with Christ. And I agree with the article that states that newer churches tend to be more effective...thus the need to plant more church. Just look at the fact that over 1/2 of the top 20 SCBC churches for baptisms are less than 12 years old.
But here is what I do not quite understand. We utilize the statistics of these churches in order to make us look increasingly effective. However, it was not that long ago when a major event in our state was cancelled due to animosity over the fact that two of the top 15 churches' pastors speaking. And there are so many church planters who cannot plant SBC churches because local association pastors will not step up and sponsor them...even in name. I frequently hear some pastors of established churches talking about how we do not need new churches or how the contemporary models are irreverent.
As a church planter who came from an established church that dropped sponsoring us when it became unpopular, I have my own emotional struggles at times. God delivered me from any animosity toward those who do not like us...or me for that matter. Truth is...we need established churches and new churches. That is why our five year old church helps and partners with both. God has helped me appreciate more all of my pastor brothers more...and their churches.
But what does the lost and unchurched culture think? We cannot have it both ways. We cannot publically criticize our brother pastors (and church planters) and their churches (and their church plants)...and then claim their statistics. The lost and unchurched see right through it, making us more ineffective and that 3.5 million number will continue to grow.
So with that little frustration vented, Praise God for Perry and Newspring Church...Don and FBC Spartanburg...Perry and Brookwood Church...David and Rock Springs Church...Artie and Cornerstone Community...Don and Northside Church...the ones who have Baptist in the name and those without it in the name. And by the way...Thank God for Jeff Doughty and Total Praise Church (our Church of God brothers) and Covenant Presbyterian and Bethesda Methodist and my Church of Christ friends who are shining the light of Jesus at the local coffee shop. I wish I had more friends and partners like you.
There are those who do not like our church, some who like our church, and some who are friends of our church. However, it is my understanding from God's Word that just as I am supposed to love people (no matter what their affection for me)...we should also love other local bodies of believers (churches) regardless of their affinity for our own ministry. Further, it has become so apparent in this current world culture that one church or even a group of church will never reach the world with the Gospel alone. We not only need to love other individuals and churches, but we need to partner wherever possible for the furtherance of the Gospel and God's Kingdom.
This requires that each of us do our part...not trying to do the part of another. It means that we celebrate what God is doing in and through others. But for this to be effective in a world that sees through hypocrisy...it must be genuine, even when we wish the seeming success of others could have been our own.
It was rather confusing this week for me to read about my own denomination claiming to have had greater success in this past year than in any in the last 50 years for reaching people with the Gospel and seeing them profess Christ through baptism. Don't get me wrong. I am very excited to be partnering with a movement that is striving to reach the world...including the 3.5 million people in South Carolina who do not have a relationship with Christ. And I agree with the article that states that newer churches tend to be more effective...thus the need to plant more church. Just look at the fact that over 1/2 of the top 20 SCBC churches for baptisms are less than 12 years old.
But here is what I do not quite understand. We utilize the statistics of these churches in order to make us look increasingly effective. However, it was not that long ago when a major event in our state was cancelled due to animosity over the fact that two of the top 15 churches' pastors speaking. And there are so many church planters who cannot plant SBC churches because local association pastors will not step up and sponsor them...even in name. I frequently hear some pastors of established churches talking about how we do not need new churches or how the contemporary models are irreverent.
As a church planter who came from an established church that dropped sponsoring us when it became unpopular, I have my own emotional struggles at times. God delivered me from any animosity toward those who do not like us...or me for that matter. Truth is...we need established churches and new churches. That is why our five year old church helps and partners with both. God has helped me appreciate more all of my pastor brothers more...and their churches.
But what does the lost and unchurched culture think? We cannot have it both ways. We cannot publically criticize our brother pastors (and church planters) and their churches (and their church plants)...and then claim their statistics. The lost and unchurched see right through it, making us more ineffective and that 3.5 million number will continue to grow.
So with that little frustration vented, Praise God for Perry and Newspring Church...Don and FBC Spartanburg...Perry and Brookwood Church...David and Rock Springs Church...Artie and Cornerstone Community...Don and Northside Church...the ones who have Baptist in the name and those without it in the name. And by the way...Thank God for Jeff Doughty and Total Praise Church (our Church of God brothers) and Covenant Presbyterian and Bethesda Methodist and my Church of Christ friends who are shining the light of Jesus at the local coffee shop. I wish I had more friends and partners like you.
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