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Choices

4 Oct

We all make them … Everyday.  And we are EACH RESPONSIBLE for our own choices.

Sometimes I really get tired of folks who don’t want to take responsibility for their choices.  They blame everyone else all over the world for their mistakes and bad moves.  Even parents believe their children could never go wrong … WOW!  There must be something in the water!!!  I don’t know about you, but I do know my children are as imperfect as I am.  (GASP!!!  NEITHER THE PASTOR NOR HIS CHILDREN ARE PERFECT?????)

Truth is, we will ALL stand before God one day and each of us will be judged.  EVERY ONE OF US will be held accountable for the things we’ve said and done on this earth.  That, my friends, is where our choices will come back to roost.

Why not seek God and ask HIM for help with our choices everyday??

Knowing God’s Will

27 Sep

Many people who are MUCH SMARTER in THEOLOGICAL realms have written many books, papers, and articles about knowing God’s will for our lives.  So why tackle this on a rainy Monday morning in the FloSC??  Because IT’S MY TURN!!  We touched a little on this yesterday in worship and I want to deal with it a little more today …

In Jeremiah 29, God assured the Children of Israel He WOULD bring them back from captivity in Babylon.  Even though life seemed hopeless, there was still hope for them!!

In verses 11-13, God said these words:  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

I believe these words hold true to us as well!!  Even though this was specifically directed to these in captivity, God’s nature rings through loud and clear in this passage:  He has a plan for YOU!!  A GOOD PLAN!!  God desires that you KNOW HOPE and KNOW that He has plans for YOUR FUTURE!!

The discovery of this plan can be as much of a journey as YOU desire it to be … In Pee Dee-speak, you can really BOG DOWN IN THE MUD on this one if you are not careful!!  Finding God’s will for your life is not as difficult as you might imagine!  Sure, there are times when we need a specific answer and God requires us to wait … His timing is ALWAYS PERFECT!

But Jesus gave us a very specific starting place with this, which you will find in Matthew 28 and in Acts 1.  We are called to be IMPERFECT VESSELS carrying the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST to all the world!!!  We are called to GO MAKE DISCIPLES, to BAPTIZE THEM, TO TEACH THEM EVERYTHING HE HAS TAUGHT US.  And we go with HIS POWER and HIS PRESENCE to do it!!

When it comes to specifics of God’s will for our lives, the real question is HOW does He want me to share and WHERE does He want me to share??  Everything else is pretty clear!

Before I get a million contradictory comments, YES, I KNOW GOD CALLS EACH OF US TO SPECIFIC ROLES AND GIFTS IN THE KINGDOM!!  But you have to admit that it all BEGINS with the GREAT COMMISSION!!

The GC is the first step to knowing God’s specific will for your life!!  Until you take that step and begin to tell others, you will be bogged down in the mud!!

Pulling together

23 Sep

I am thankful … Thankful to see God’s people pulling together!!  God’s kingdom, working together to build HIS name, not ours!!

This week, I’ve seen this in two powerful ways.  The first was a luncheon I attended yesterday for the Florence School District One Faith Based Initiative.  I was gathered with other pastors and school administrators all across our school district as we discussed ways for our churches to make a difference.  I have much respect for Dr. Brooks as an educator and a Godly man … we are fortunate to have him at the helm right now.  I am encouraged as I see God at work and churches bridging gaps to make a difference.  I look forward to the work EBC will do at Sneed and at Royall.

Another powerful way I see this is in the testimonies of God’s power at work in the lives of EBC members.  PLEASE KEEP SHARING WITH ME!!!  I LOVE IT and it fuels me to press on!  God is doing so much in the lives of EBC folks and when I see Him at work, it really does infuse a shot of much needed power in me!!

On the tv show “The A-Team,” one of my favorite parts of the show was always at the end when Hannibal would light his cigar and say “I love it when a plan comes together.”  Today I am starting to know what that feels like!!!!  (Quick … somebody get me a cigar!)

A Turning Point??

20 Sep

Yesterday was a tough day for me at Ebenezer.  It’s never easy to take a message like that into the pulpit.  But deep down in my heart I KNOW it was the right thing to do!!

If you want to go check it out, hit this link: http://www.truthcasting.com/player.aspx#showChannel=100000030

My prayer is this will be a turning point in our hearts and lives.  A time when we realize that WORSHIP REALLY IS NOT ALL ABOUT US, OUR LIKES, OUR WANTS, OUR COMFORT, OUR CONVENIENCE.  WORSHIP IS ALL ABOUT GOD!!!  So, why don’t we concern ourselves with HIS WANTS???

Seriously … And Jesus Himself TOLD US what God expects:  TRUE WORSHIP happens when we worship Him in spirit and in truth.  When we love Him with all of our hearts, minds, bodies, souls, and all of our strength.  When we love each other MORE than we love ourselves.  When we stop judging each other … Wait, when we stop doing ALL OF THE THINGS that are God’s job!! When we allow Him to be God and we accept that we are His people!!!

I could go on and on, but I hope you get it by now!  We’ve got to get back to all of this being ABOUT HIM and NOT ABOUT US!  We need to WAKE UP and REALIZE that we cannot do this on our own … WE NEED GOD!!  When we start trusting Him THAT WAY, things will start happening for the Kingdom of God that we cannot explain except to KNOW that it is GOD!!

So … is this a turning point?

Becoming something we were not supposed to be …

9 Sep

I’ve been reading a book from another fine graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary named David Platt.  Radical discusses the idea that we in the US have “Americanized” the church and taken it to a place Christ never intended.  A place that many churches around the world would never go.  We’ve made it about our comfort and convenience.  Wait a minute … there is the problem right there:  We’ve made it about US instead of about GOD!!!

I’ve been reading this book and evaluating where I am right now.  Where we are right now.  Not only Ebenezer, but churches across this area.  And Platt is correct!

There is something fundamentally WRONG with a church that complains about having to move from the sanctuary to a gymnasium to worship together (for space purposes) when there are men and women around the WORLD worshiping in secret, for DAYS at a time, out of fear for their LIVES.  There is something fundamentally wrong when we have 5 gazillion committees to do 3 million things and only two hundred people sharing all of the jobs.  (Call that ministerial estimation!!)

I am reeling right now about this one:  We have many great programs and ministries at Ebenezer.  Every one that I see has the purpose of pointing adults, youth, and children to Christ; the purpose of helping to support and build a solid relationship with Christ.  Every one of them has the purpose of discipling in some way.  And it just evidences Platt’s premise when, as a senior pastor, I hear more complaints about our programming than I do broken hearts about those who are lost and dying that drive by our church EVERY DAY.  And the REAL church had better do something about this, because pseudo-churches are popping up all over.  Much of their message does not measure up to the words of Christ.

Believers in Christ, we MUST listen to the words of Paul in II Timothy 4:

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

That time is here and now.  What are we gonna do about it? THIS IS NOT BURGER KING!!  We are people, and have many differences.  Let’s work our differences out WITH LOVE.  In fact, Peter said Love overlooks a multitude of sins!!  Why don’t we love each other, sacrifice our comfort, and get about the business God called us to in the first place??

PLEASE BE THE REAL CHURCH!!!  Let’s become what WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE!!!!

Constructive Criticism

1 Sep

What is the difference between criticism and constructive criticism??  Two things come to mind.  FIRST OF ALL, subject matter.  Is the criticism being shared a valid concern?  Is it something that will really help a person??  OR is it just a rant?  SECOND, was it shared from a GOOD HEART or in malice??

This week, I had a visitor.  A friend.  What he said to me is not as important as HOW he said it.  He shared a little constructive criticism.  OF COURSE, my initial response was to be defensive.  But, quickly, I realized what he said was valid and he shared it from a place of loving his pastor.  He wanted to help me by sharing it.  And it took great courage to share it.

How did I know this??  I could see it in his eyes.  I could hear it in his voice.  And it made me appreciate him even more than I already did.  It was the way he shared that told me.  Carefully chosen words and a gentle demeanor.  Honestly, I’ve heard much criticism in my day.  MUCH of it through the grapevine.  I also appreciated the fact that he came to ME instead of sharing it in the court of public opinion.

It IS the church BEING the church!  An older brother coming to the aid of a younger brother!  Man, I LOVE my family in Christ!!!!

Are you ready to choose?

23 Aug

Joshua 24:14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

Are YOU ready to choose today?  EVERYDAY we make the choice.  Will we serve God, or will we serve OURSELVES??  I believe with all of my heart that God is sick of our lukewarm, selfish choices.  So … WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE TODAY??

Remember the plans!!

18 Aug

Remember what God told the children of Israel through Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:11??  “For I know the plans I have for you, ” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  SO … God has a plan for HIS PEOPLE!!!  If you belong to Him, He has a plan for YOU!!

Easy words to hear, but hard words to live.  Especially when it comes to relationships.  I am one of those who believe that God has a plan for every aspect of your life, EVEN MARRIAGE.  And, if you want to know the fullness and completion a marriage is supposed to bring, you need to find the right partner!!  Paul knew what he was saying when he wrote that we should not be unequally yoked.  The marital relationship should be a reflection of the love, mercy, and grace of God, and bring glory to Him!!

Consider the story of two brothers, each of whom knows Christ.  Each married for his own reasons and on his own timetable.  One of them married young and against the wishes of many friends and family.  He wanted a bride to complete his life.  He did what he thought would make him happy.  (When we pursue our happiness over God’s plan for us, it NEVER works out to our advantage.)  In a couple of decades of marriage, he has endured emotional abuse, separations, infidelities, and much misery.

The other brother took his time.  Sought God’s face about it.  Found a bride who is also a believer.  Marriage, for them, continues to be a great journey.  Now, don’t get me wrong:  They face obstacles, temptations, struggles, and great problems.  But they face each one hand-in-hand, and they work hard to put their hands into the very Hands that formed the world.

These are real brothers.  These are true facts.  Neither has a perfect life, but would you rather walk through the harshness of life WITH God or WITHOUT??

REMEMBER THE PLANS.

Premeditated Sin, part deux

4 Aug

Yes, I know I’ve written about this before.  But I had a great discussion with a friend yesterday about this very topic … And it is on my heart this morning.

How do you think God feels when we decide we are going to protect one area of sin in our lives and claim to be His??  As if we were saying, “I feel the need to steal.  All of the time.  And I intend on continuing to steal, regardless of what the Bible says and regardless of what God thinks about it.  After all, He made me this way …”

Anyone who says this should be aware of LIGHTENING striking SOON … So, if you plan on saying this, please do it OFF church property.  We’ve had our share of lightening this summer!!!

Seriously, do you REALLY think this kind of living puts you in good standing with God?  With His church?  We have to get to this place where we BELIEVE GOD’S WORD.  And if God’s word says it is sin, IT IS SIN.  And if anyone openly plans on continuing in sin, and yet claiming Christ, they are openly disregarding the blood and sacrifice of Christ.  So you do the math on where they stand with Him …

Tired of the games??

2 Aug

I get tired of the games people play.  Sometimes I can’t even form words about the games people play.  I SURELY cannot blog about them in detail, because I would get into so much trouble.  But I see it all:  People playing games with each other, with love, with God, with the church, with their jobs, and with their pastor (just to name a few).

There are times when I get full … filled up and cannot take it any more.  And just when I think I can’t do it anymore, God reminds me of a couple of things:

1.  As long as there are people, there will be games.  Of course, the games will decrease and disappear as maturity grows.  But our nature is to play games, to work angles, to negotiate.  Games, unfortunately, are a fact of life on earth.

2.  God called me to love people.  Regardless of the games.  And that call is still alive, still loud and clear.

I take comfort in knowing that God is still in charge, regardless of the games.  And He is doing something special at Ebenezer Baptist Church.  I am just glad to be a part of it!!!

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