One Pastor's Perspective

Ok, yesterday when I referred to Good to Great by Jim Collins, I talked about passion for the vision of an organization.  There were several other key elements of organizational greatness I left out.  I probably won’t remember them all, but there were a few that made a real impact on me.  Such as:

Get the right people on the bus!  Your organization needs the right people for it!  Those who fit.  Those who are apt to adapt and make a difference in your organization.

Get the wrong people off the bus!  Not typically something that would fit a church mind you, but in a business organization, if there are “right people” for your organization, then there must be “wrong people”.  Those who do not fit.  They need to go (according to Collins).

Get the right people into the right seats on the bus!  Another powerful strategy for any organization (and especially a church) is to make sure you have the right people playing the roles that suit them.  Playing the roles that fit their skill set and their calling!!  Having the right people on the bus is not enough … Having the wrong people in the wrong roles can damage an organization.

There is even MORE to the book that all of this.  It really is worth the read!!  However, just as I said yesterday, I hope the passion for what God has called you to do will light a fire in your heart, today and everyday!!!!

I read something this morning in our Word for Today devotion book that really struck me.  Worth thinking more about.  In the context of God moving us out of our comfort zones, the writer wrote “It’s okay to wait on God for directions and the power to carry them out, but not to keep repeating some earlier experience you’ve had.”  But, WE LIKE THE MOUNTAIN TOP!!

I’ll never forget the first mountain top experience I had after accepting Christ.  It was in a youth worship rally … I was an adult youth worker, but it was powerful.  One of those worship times where I never wanted to leave.  Kind of like Student Life, Centrifuge, and their cousins, these worship experiences are designed to take us to the mountain top.

Just like Moses in Exodus (chapters 19-32).  Moses was up on Mount Sinai, FACE TO FACE with God (so to speak).  Certainly a POWERFUL time of worship for him.  But he had to come down.  God NEEDED Moses to lead the people.  I’ve always wondered if I’d been Moses, and I came down from this awesome time of God and saw the children of Israel, my flock, engaged in idolatry and other disgusting actions, worshiping a golden calf and absolutely not thinking about God at all, would I have said:  “Hey, guys … I think I left my phone up there.  Back in a little while!!”  And gone BACK UP there with God and said “It’s so nice up here with you, I want to stay FOREVER!!”

When we seek to construct our lives and the lives of our children to stay on the mountain top, we are actually in direct opposition to God’s will for our lives.  He calls us to the mountain top, and He also calls us into the valleys.  But He never calls us ANYWHERE that He won’t go with us … that He won’t EMPOWER us.  You KNOW it was hard for Moses to walk back down that mountain and do what he was called to do.  But he did it.  And God was glorified in the end.  And Moses was seen as righteous in God’s eyes …

I’m sorry I must be so serious today, but DO YOU??  Have you done things in the past you regret??  Have you done things that wouldn’t bring glory to God??  Well … HAVE YOU?

Yesterday I had a chance to catch up with a couple of friends.  Friends who allow me to be a regular guy, who don’t force me into the official role of my vocation.  They just let me be me.  I’m appreciative of that!

One of the topics that came up (and it seems to be a much-discussed topic lately) was the past.  How Satan and sometimes people from our past will try to remind you that you are not perfect, that you have a past, and that it might be embarrassing for others to know your past.

Guess what??  WE ALL HAVE A PAST.  We ALL have things we’ve done that we regret.   Two weeks ago I blogged about the same topic … Guilty

All I can tell you is, believe it or not, GOD KNOWS YOUR PAST.  AND HE LOVES YOU ANYWAY!!!  And, as far as I am concerned, NONE OF US have the right to judge others based on their pasts.  We all have past mistakes.  And GOD FORGIVES!!

It’s funny how Satan works the same strings in the lives of so many people.  Remember, he is the father of all lies!!  And, ultimately, he might tell you that you are unlovable and unforgivable.  But God says differently!!

Who are you going to believe???  Personally, I believe God is more concerned with where you are NOW in regards to a relationship with HIM!!!

Sometimes it can be so easy to focus on the things that don’t go well in life and take the best things for granted .  This is due to our worldly nature, that is always peeking through and trying to be dominant in our hearts and lives.  Today, I am thankful for people who often are taken for granted.  People of God, who really try to live His way and pursue His will.  And I am thankful to be surrounded by them!!

These are the people who:

• Trust God during the good times and the bad times
• Jump in and just do what God has called them to do
• Seek His kingdom and His righteousness first, and allow Him to place everything else in order
• Put God first in all areas of their lives
• Remember their commitments to Him and consider it an honor to fulfill them

This list could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  Today, I’m taking a moment to focus on them and all they do at Ebenezer, and in my circles of family and friends.  And I am thankful God has surrounded me with them!!

We in South Carolina have seen our share of hurricanes and tropical storms.  We know what it is like to need help, and we’ve received it at times.  My heart swelled at the outpouring for Hurricane Katrina years ago when we at Ebenezer sent multiple teams down to the Gulf Coast to help with recovery.

Well, this little storm named Sandy rocked the northeast US last week, and the time is here again to help!!  I know it was only a category 1 hurricane, but the cluster of storms with it did as much damage as the hurricane.  This massive storm hit an area of our nation that is not usually prepared for hurricane activity.  Many people have great needs, and we are in a place to help in small ways that can make a HUGE difference!!

We’ve heard stories and rumors of help being refused by unions.  Some of those are true, and some have proven to be untrue.  But those stories do not relieve us of our responsibility to answer God’s call and help in whatever way we are able!!

I am asking you to PRAY.  If God leads you to help, bring some of the following items to Ebenezer by MONDAY, November 12.  The Red Cross listed these items as items of need:

Diapers, baby wipes, baby powder, formula, non perishable food, blankets, batteries, pet food, clothing, cleaning supplies.

Some of the guys from the South Carolina Baptist Convention Disaster Relief team also recommended we consider small gas cans.  Many people in these areas do not have gas operated appliances and therefore no gas cans (no safe way to transport gas to generators).

Pray.  If God leads you to help, please do!!  We are trying to secure a big truck for this load of help, but right now we could fit all of it into a Honda Odyssey van.  Let’s really push to fill a BIG TRUCK UP!!!

In 2 Timothy 4, Paul encouraged Timothy in the work God called Timothy to do.  He told him many things about doing the work of an evangelist and finished the meaningful passage by telling Timothy to “fulfill your ministry.”  While we are not all called to be vocational missionaries, pastors, and evangelists, we ARE all called to fulfill our ministries (whatever they might be).

It is true that God has given each of us unique gifts and roles to play in building the kingdom of God.  God did not HAVE to accomplish His purposes this way:  He chose to allow us to come along side and build with Him.  When we think about that, it really is a huge blessing!!  Just as my father allowed me to go with him (even before I was probably helpful) and learn about HVAC and all kinds of other contracting things, God allows us to join Him in His work.  And, just like those days with my dad, the REAL benefit was the time I spent with him.

Yes, the biggest benefit to joining God in His work is the time we get to spend with Him up close.  The things we get to see and the ways we get to help make it happen!  That is reason enough to join Him wherever He leads, and once you’ve done that and seen His hands at work up close, YOU CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ADVENTURE!!

So, it’s Monday morning.  Kind of cool outside here in Florence, SC.  And a perfect day to find God at work, discover what He’s called YOU to do, and GET THE JOB DONE!!!

Apathy for the kingdom of God is running rampant in the North American church.  It’s hard to believe God’s people could care less about what He is doing around them, but in many cases it’s true.  One of the elements of the church in Honduras that I LOVE was the absence of apathy … They really do act like the Acts 2 church.  I pray we can get there.

I used to believe it was just a lack of care.  Fire insurance Christians tend to not care about God, His work or His will once they think they have their ticket to Heaven.  According to the teachings of Christ, it doesn’t work that way.

Now days I wonder if it is due to a lack of vision … a lack of understanding of the big picture.  Do we really understand that even what we deem as the “little things” make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the Kingdom of God.  Maybe even an ETERNAL difference!!

We cannot apply our sense of value or importance on the things God call us to do.  Because THEY ARE ALL AS VALUABLE AS GOLD and AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING ELSE HAPPENING IN HIS KINGDOM.  God invites YOU to join Him and has given you the gifts you need to complete the mission.

Let’s all show up and do the things He’s given us to do!!  You’ll never be blessed more by anything else than you will by walking in the center of His plan for you!!

As a lifelong student of basketball, you see many parallels to life in the sport. And I love this sport.  At one time, playing ball was ALL I wanted to do.  Then coaching came along, but it wasn’t as much fun as playing.  Now I am relegated to watching because of my left elbow and the potential to dislocate.  I’ve found many life lessons on the court, and one that really strikes me today is the fear of shooting … Yep, that’s right!!

But WAIT … ISN’T THE POINT of basketball to SCORE??  To shoot the ball through the hoop as many times as you are able, and to prevent the opposition from doing it!!  The one with the most points WINS.  So, if you are afraid of shooting, why play?

Good question.  And there are many reasons to be afraid to shoot.  Fear that you won’t make the basket.  Fear that you will get your shot blocked.  Fear … that you will fail in some way.  And, little kids and rookies are not the ONLY ONES paralyzed by such fear.

The fear of failure gets WAYY TOO MUCH respect in our society and world today.  If you don’t shoot … if you don’t take your shot … YOU WILL NEVER SCORE.  In gun speak, if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time.

And, if you DO shoot … you will be criticized.  And that is ok!!  It’s so funny to me to watch people who are actually DOING something taking criticism while those who do little or nothing do not.  In politics, in business, in sports, and in life, there is ALWAYS someone who thinks they have a better idea and could do it better.  Just look at how much criticism Jesus took — AND HE IS THE SON OF GOD!!

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FAIL!!  DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SHOOT!!  Have you ever heard the story of Thomas Edison and the lightbulb??  There are a variety of versions of this story and numbers associated with his quote, but this seems to be the most accurate version.  When asked by a NY Times reporter about all of his failures at inventing the light bulb, Edison replied “I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

Take the shots God gives you!!  DON’T BE AFRAID!!  TRUST HIM AND HAVE FAITH!! When He calls on you to take your shot, HE HAS ALREADY PREPARED THE WAY!!

The GREATEST FEELING ON THE COURT is shooting and watching the net pop as the ball spins perfectly through the hoop!  It won’t happen everytime … but all it takes is a time or two, and you’ll be hooked!

Late Saturday night, Drew and I got back to the house and found another sign in my yard:  A sign that says Pray then Vote.  I love it, and absolutely agree with it.  And I wondered who put it there… Had my list of suspects, and it turns out the one who put it there wasn’t even on the list!!  No matter, I am glad it’s there and pray it provokes thought for the next few weeks and time propels us towards the most important election day of  the 21st Century.

Another friend of mine tweeted about one of these signs.  She added the thought that we need to pray AND know the issues AND vote.  I think she is right, too.  When it comes to the vote, I believe in trusting God just as I believe in trusting Him with everything else in life.  And I believe in knowing the issues and the candidates.  Knowing their platforms and their values.  Not just voting because someone runs with a particular party or group, but really knowing what they believe.  And comparing them to my values and beliefs.  And for me, that carries a BIG influence on what I do with my vote.

Over the years I have also learned to know the candidates as much as I can personally know them.  And that probably WON’T HAPPEN if I just believe what is written about them in the press.  I personally know if local media decides to pump a candidate, they will paint the most rosy and unrealistic picture of that candidate even if they are NOTHING like this picture.  I’ve watched that happen even this year.  And, I’ve seen good candidates attacked for no good reasons other than they didn’t bow down to this or that (I have a friend who is going through that right now).

Personally, I want a candidate who won’t bow down.  And if you look hard enough, you just might find one.  There are one or two of those out there in local races this year!!

So, heed the sign and dig a little deeper.  PRAY!!  INFORM YOURSELF!!  PRAY SOME MORE!!  Then VOTE!

A question:  What does it really mean to be a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church??  To be a member of ANY church, for that matter??  Should it mean something?

I think so.  It means so much more than merely having a name on a church roll and a sense of pseudo-security.  Church membership is a commitment to God AND to a family of faith.  I’ll talk more about that from the pulpit this coming Sunday.  But, rest assured it SHOULD mean something.  At Ebenezer, our church fathers developed a membership covenant in 1823.  And, honestly, we have strayed.  Sometimes I wonder if it is time for us to REBOOT!!

Hope you have a great week and praying that we all (not only Ebenezerites) can BE THE BODY OF CHRIST THIS WEEK!!!