Me at 3:30 pm....It's tame.

It is 3:30am on a Friday morning in the heart of Talladega AL. I woke up from a great slumber ready to begin my day and my body not realizing that we had 180 minutes of time left before we need to get up. As I laid in bed,contemplating why in the world can I go back to sleep? I remember those college days when I would ask the Lord to wake me in the middle of the night for prayer. He did on several times. I begin to stare at the ceiling praying for folks. I began to pray for folks who have a problem with me and I don't know why. I want to keep the bond of peace in every thing I do as the bible calls us to do. Some of these are hurt because of good decisions I have made with the Gospel instead of my personal preference. It is deep inside all of us to want to be loved and liked by all. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not to hate people but to love them, however my love for Christ can be so great that it seems like love. Some have left the church I pastor and I have no understanding of why they left. I have overwhelming desire to keep loving them. To keep loving them because I will spend eternity with them and we will be heartbroken at the time we were "mad" at one another in the short time on this dirt ball. PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE YOU...Check..prayed for.
Next came the lost people. I found myself desperately pleading for God to some thing supernatural in the lives of a man who sister goes to my church. Every time I see him, there is a pain in his eyes. I am building a relationship with him, but there are times when I just want to grab him and say "Jesus knows your pain and want it." I pray for the family across the street from my house. The Lord is doing a work and we have seen people saved. I want the rest of the family to come know the Lord.
Then, I thank God. I thank God for Tommy Challender who is getting better everyday. I pray for Mr. McCormack who has to be the sweetest man I know. I thank God for Gene Bolding who died last week and is now seeing the face of the Lord. I thank God for members of my church who love the Lord and will do any thing for Him. I thank God for fellowship with other pastors who are far better men of the Lord than I will ever be. I thank him for my salvation. Well, this is me at 3:49 now. Praising the Lord and wanting to surrender more of my life to HIM.

Oh yeah, my dream before I woke..I went deer hunting and saw some big deer and my gun would not shoot every time. I have had this dream more than once. Well, at least, the deer hunting and not being able to shoot. Any dream interpreters? I think I should give up hunting and work on my golf game.

New Appreciation!

I am writing our VBS curriculum this year. After much prayer and consideration, I leaned toward the Life of Paul. Title: Journey Themee: YOu have a journey, because God has a plan. (Jeremiah 29:11) After much studying and looking over passages I have a new appreciation for Paul. A man (like you and me) led by God through beatings, stonings, imprisonment, shipwrecked and finally killed for his faith. How great his impact upon the world! To keep going through trials aand press on ti tell people to hang in there and to love God and even love the people that hate them. I have people leave my church and it breaks my heart. None of my members have never thrown rocks at me. Press on. We share our faith and get blasted terribly for it. Press on. If we are looking for revival in our churches, cities, and our nation, we have to be willing to "press on" through the trials.

GOD BLESS

I AM A COWARD!

Lately,I have just really been in self evaluation mode. I guess that happens when you pastor a church and have dreams bigger than what reality is giving you. I want the bigger church and ready for my book to be #1 on Amazon. I want at least one person to come to know the Lord and be baptize every Sunday. And, yes, I understand all these shall be at God's will. I see the great preachers of old and the crazy and unbelievable results that happened when they preach. Jonathan Edwards would preach monotone and reading his sermons the Spirit of God was so incredible that people wept for their salvation. What has happened? Where is that power? I am too busy trying to keep people's attention, but these great men had that power because hours of prayer and seeking the Lord's face. They were intimate with Almighty God. Some prayed so much they did not eat and made themselves ill. Some were so engrossed with prayer for 10-12 hours a day in prayer was the mainstay. Yea, Yeah. I know quantity over quality. However, maybe quantity comes when I give Jesus the chance and time to show His quality. So why am I a coward? I am coward to tell people "NO." I am coward to teach my people that I might serve them better in my prayer closet on my face before an Almighty God and not at their bedside. I am coward to worry about petty stuff that others can do while I should be spending time with the High Shepherd on what my job is as under shepherd in taking care of HIS sheep. I am coward to not wanting to draw close to the Lord because I am afraid of what He might show me. He might show me those unknowing sin. He might show me an enemy to embrace. He might even lovingly chastise me. SO I am Coward. In admitting this, the Christian faith tells us when we are weak Jesus becomes strong in us. It is not the world's opinion, they already think that we are weak. It is the opinion of ourselves. Self-loathing? No, it is the truth. We know who we are. We are the guy who has taken a deep breath to pump up his chest and look strong. In reality, we are dying for air and need to breathe in the breath of life. I am letting out my air and deflating my chest and admitting that I am coward. Now, lets see what God can do. Love ya.

Me, Needs,Wants, and Worm

I turned 38 on November 2nd. I began to look back at my life and the days seem to have disappeared into a pit of forgetfulness...I can ponder and remember where I was at certain times and then I think, "Wow, that was like ten years ago." I love to remember and reflect on memories but not to rest upon the glory days of my youth. I am just amazed of where God has taken me and the wonderful people He has placed in my life. There have been heartaches and trials that I wish would have never happened, but as I look back they have helped me enjoy my faith in what God is doing now. To you, it may not seem that much I pastor a small church of 80 or so in Central Alabama. I am not radio, I don't have a multi-mllion dollar book deal, I don't own a suit that cost over $100, no $80. I don't have a full time staff. But for me, it is the place where God wants me. Want is the better word, because God needs nothing. His want for me is my need for Him. I don't know what the next 30 years will bring me or where I will be, but I am resolved to know God and be where he WANTS me. Scripture? You remember in Jonah the Lord appointed a worm to eat the tree so Jonah would stop his whining. Whatever God appoints you to do, no matter how small you may think you are, it is BIG for God.

How Conservative Are You?

In the midst of an election that is some 12 days away (on my birthday I might add), people have drawn lines in the sand and are standing on where they are politically. I have heard it said, "You don't discuss politics or religion with anybody." Well, I some times listen to those quotes and some times I don't. I don't in this blog. Matter of fact, I will intermingle religion and politics.
For the sake of keeping the subject on the task (and without showing you my political science kidding, of course),we will drop this to its least common factor on describing the two sides of the political spectrum. Yes, I admit there are addendums and pseudo-stands in between the two. One side believes in the government providing for its citizens. We need to help people in which the government becomes the solution to all of life's problems. The other side believes the constitution has already mandated the roll of government and we need to stick with the original plan. Both agree that government has a role in helping people. We need police, military protection and some regulation to protect from products and services. We need a government that provides an atmosphere for everybody to have the ability to have life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. We need a government who has a judicial system that rules not by case law but biblical law which was the case until the latter part of the 19th century. Ok, back to the question and purpose of the blog: HOW Conservative Are you? Generally speaking, conservatives want people to take care of themselves. Well, these people want people to take care of themselves until it comes to them who need to be taken care of. If we did cut back welfare, social security, WIC program, then who is going to help the people in real need? The problem is conservatives( which I "are" one) want the freeloader to stop sucking off the teat of the government and ultimately the taxpayer, but are we willing to use our monies to help folks if those government programs are gone? If you don't want the tyranny of the government, then the solution is self support without the government.I know the excuses will fly. "Well I dont have the money?" Scripture says LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELVES." Do you? We do what we want to do. We will make the excuses. Would you be willing to sacrifice for the case of helping someone? For instance, Nashville had a massive flood. Where were the New Orlean type reports and the screaming and gnashing of teeth for the inactive of government? It wasn't reported by the newscast. Why? People took care of themselves and their neighbor. There were no stories of manipulation for a liberal agenda CNN to broadcast.Where was Geraldo? My church gives paper for the school across the street. I am sure there are folks in my church asking why. These are the same people that will be yelling about an oppressive government, but feels they should not give paper to the school because they pay their taxes....UGH...This not burger king...You cant have it your way...So how conservative are you? Are you willing to be the solution when you don't think government should be?

God Deserves Better?

Recently, a good friend wrote an article called "God Deserves Better." His intent and point in writing the article was to shed light on our busy schedules and the amount of time we give to activities compared to the amount of time we "give" to God. We do spend a lot of time and money on things that preoccupy our lives. We will spend hours in front of the boob tube (TV) watching shows that make us non- productive. Those shows add nothing to our lives or eternity.We have hobbies (mine is golf)where we will spend at least 4 hours and money. On the flip side, I think if I read my bible and prayed in 15 to 30 minutes that I am super spiritual and have done my time with God. The discrepancies of where our time is surely lopsided and noted. My friend expounds how we have to be early for kick off or get to the movies to see the previews. On the other side, if we are late for church then it's ok or we don't even go. We don't read our bible every day but we want miss the season finale of our show.
I agree with my friend that our noted spiritual laziness is there. It shows in our churches, in our society, in our schools, and in our families. I have always asked the question: "What if we tithed our time to God?" You know 2.4 hours a day just for God. Did not the Lord say test him on the tithe? I guarantee we wouldn't be the same, but who has 2.4 hours to give? We do if it is a priority and important to us. We need to give more of our time in prayer and reading the Scriptures and MAKE IT A HABIT like eating. However, I do disagree with my friend. I disagree with him in that it is not God who deserves better, but us. Yes, you and me. God is not a being whose status on how he feels is set by us. He is God. He is God, powerful, holy, judge, Creator, whether I pray or not. Christ is still the Savior whether I acknowledge him or not. Even though, He does say you deny me before men and I will deny you before the Father. God is God. He does not get depressed if I don't call or come to visit. It is me who is missing out. It is you who misses the blessings of hearing and conversing with God when you dont read or pray. Again, it is not an excuse for us to be lazy. God is God independent of me.
Also, I disagree with my friend in that those events that "steal" away our time from God can and should be spiritual acts of worship. Pastor Rob Bell argues that nothing is secular to the believer. It is all sacred. It is a sacred event to play golf, to go to a ballgame. How? Did not Paul say to the Corinthians: Whatever you drink or eat, do it all for the glory of God. A trip to Walmart is a sacred event. What makes it sacred? The believer is the dwelling place of Holy Spirit (God). Wherever you go, God is present. Wow and ouch, that is sobering thought. So what's my point? Spend time with the Lord for you and do all that you do for HIM.