One Pastor's Perspective

Last night Diana and I were making stuff for her Christmas party!!  (When you are on Whole 30, YOU HELP COOK candy and stuff because you can sneak undocumented chocolate …)  Her mixer has been on the blink for a while and I ordered the new gear to fix it.  So we began the evening working on the mixer.

I’d watched the video on how to fix the mixer and overlooked one small, key component:  There were two times in this rebuild that I would need a snap-ring wrench.  And I cannot find mine …  So after fighting it for about a half-hour, I was off to Lowe’s and hoping they had one!!  I was in a hurry:  Candy was waiting and I wasn’t about to disappoint.  Honestly, I was frustrated because we’d already made one store run and I had overlooked the need.  So I really was in a hurry.

I pulled up to the intersection of David McLeod and Holly Circle in front of McLeod Health and Fitness.  A shortcut for me.  I was impatiently waiting for my light to turn green so I could speed across and get into Lowe’s … You know, in case I had to run across to Harbor Freight before they closed.

Here, I should add that ever since Hurricane Matthew, most of Florence has forgotten the meaning of a traffic light.  And people are stressed about Christmas.  It’s kind of like New Orleans was in the early 90’s:  When the light turns green, you count at least two seconds before going through the intersection or you WILL HAVE A WRECK.  Period.  Count on it.

But I was in a hurry.  My light turned green and I looked across and all I saw was a panel truck.  And he was stopped.  I started to floor it … but a small voice said “Wait.”  And for some reason I did.

A half second later, a beat-up pickup truck appeared on the other side of the panel truck.  He had to be clipping over 40 mph as he ran through his RED light, which had been red for a second or two at this point.  He never even slowed down.  And I said out loud, “HUH??”

Who was the still small voice??  I’d like to think it was one of those moments when the Holy Spirit actually said something to me AND I ACTUALLY LISTENED.  Honestly, I sat there for another second or two because it immediately occurred to me that I almost left this world.  In a hurry.  It caused me to slow down and realize that wrench wasn’t a life-or-death thing.  I also remembered joking with someone earlier in the day that “y’all wouldn’t know what to do without ME!!”

Life is no joke.  Listen to the still small voices.  And, for goodness sake, OBEY THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS.  Please???

I was recently talking to a friend and the topic of advice came up.  What would I say to a young minister just starting out?

That one is easy … WE ARE CALLED.  Remember there are always people hanging on your every word.  NOT to sound self-absorbed or self-important:  It’s not a “let’s hype the importance of ourselves” kind of thing.  But, whether you know it or not, whether you realize it or not, there is always someone in your world that is watching.  That is listening.  That wants to know if Christ is real and could base their judgement on whether or not He is real on YOU.

Some say “That is an unfair idea!!”  I agree.  I have never met a minister who was/is perfect.  We all make mistakes.  We are all human and if someone watches me long enough, I KNOW I will disappoint them.  But I am called.  It takes a great deal of discipline to remember the things I say and do, the things I post on social media, certainly the things I say from the pulpit of Ebenezer are constantly being weighed against the Word of God.  And, again, I know there are times I fail.

Still, others in the crowd would remind any minister “YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE SIGNING UP FOR!!”  I’ve had people say that to me over the years:  When I’ve had to leave my family on vacation to deal with pastoral care.  When I’ve had to leave my parents, dealing with illness, so I could go and deal with a problem.  To those who believe any young minister “knows what he/she is signing up for” the answer is THAT IS NOT TRUE!!   I only wish I’d been adequately prepared for that which I would face.  But I am called.  And to my call, to my Savior I will remain faithful.

When I turn back to the thought of the day, I am drawn to Hebrews 10:24 …  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  Let us be mindful that our words either draw people towards the Kingdom of God or drive them away.  Let us realize that our words either build up others (and therefore build the Kingdom) or they tear them down.  We live in a world where it is so easy to immediately let the universe know what we are thinking (per social media).  It has always been true that we shouldn’t always say everything that comes across our minds.  If that were true, there would be no need for spiritual discipline.  We are imperfect … Fallible …  Flawed …  Our thoughts are so often not God-centered, but self-centered.  Even the thoughts of the best of us.

And here is the irony of it all:  The world NOT ONLY looks toward the lives of ministers to see if God is real … IF Christ is your Savior, THEY ARE LOOKING AT YOU, TOO.  No matter who you are.  No matter what you do.  They are looking …Silently.  And they want to see if He is real.

What do they see in you?

A rare event happened yesterday.  One Ebenezerites have probably seen far too often, yet it doesn’t happen much:  I was speechless.  After watching the HOW Campaign Video from 2008, I could barely speak.  When I stood to introduce two men who mean the world to me (Oscar Holland and Ted Mears), I honestly could not find the words.  For someone who makes a living as a “public speaker”, this is rare.  Maybe too rare.  But, there I was …

I watched the HOW video from the hallway behind the choir loft.  The words of all of those people welled up in my heart.  As Oscar Holland stated yesterday, Ebenezer has been talking about building a sanctuary for 50 years or more.  For ALL of my life.  I watched the video and saw faces of our EBC forefathers and mothers.  Once again, I heard the voices of people like Wallace Fulmer …  Jeddie Luhrs … Ginny Rogers …  I saw the face of Jerry Enzor.  I saw others who no longer live in our area but were a huge part of this church.  And it all started bubbling up for me.

Then, as I walked to the pulpit with nothing prepared but to speak from my heart about Oscar and Ted.  Oscar pastored EBC for most of the 1960s and into the ’70s.  Ted followed Oscar and was here well into the ’80s.  And both of these men have chosen to retire and be part of Ebenezer.  I know these men well, and I know they worked their lives to the bone to help this church prosper.  They were obedient to God first and foremost.  As I said yesterday, when I grow up THIS is the kind of man … The kind of PASTOR I want to be.

So, when you approach the sacred desk and plan on sharing what is in your heart, that is exactly what comes out.  And I could not speak.  I was overwhelmed by all of this.  And one more thing …

That one more thing being the BIGGEST THING in my heart.  When I stop and think about what God is doing at Ebenezer Baptist Church, I realize how unworthy I am to even be here.  To be a pastor, let alone the pastor of this great church.  And I count my blessings.  And I wonder if I am living on borrowed time.  And I know that the fact that God can use me in any way at this church is LIVING PROOF that He can use ANYONE to do ANYTHING.

And when you stop and really think it through, THAT will overwhelm EVERY ONE of us.

Here we are.  On the verge.  I feel like Joshua, about to lead the Children of Israel across the Jordan and in to the Promised Land.

Tomorrow we will do something we’ve really never done in my 21 years at Ebenezer:  A walk-through for Sunday.  Not really a rehearsal, mind you, but a walk-through to test microphones, lights, get familiar with everything.  There will be close to 100 people there tomorrow morning to get our ducks lined up for Sunday.

Sunday will be an emotional day for Ebenezer.  We’ve worshiped in what will now be known as the “Chapel” since 1889.  On Sunday, we will begin our Sunday worship day in that room one more time.  And then, as a group, we will move to the new facility.  With an added surprise or two!

Speaking for the staff and myself, none of us will probably sleep on Saturday night.  The excitement is building!!  We are on the verge of God’s next major step for Ebenezer Baptist Church.  My prayer tonight (and from now own) is that God will use that new room for His glory!!  Not for ours.  If we built it for US, we built it for the wrong reasons.

Are you missing out?  Do you even realize it??  This is not a trick question.  In fact, it is quite serious.  But the devil doesn’t want you to know or believe the next few things I will write.  I am praying you will read on ….

Last night at our Quarterly Business Meeting at EBC, we confronted an issue that every church confronts at different points in their church lives … In our business meeting, many important issues were discussed and the same 10% of our Sunday morning crowd was there.  And they are probably NOT the ones who needed to hear what was shared last night.

As a pastor, I wonder if the other 90% just doesn’t realize how vitally important these items shared are??  Or, do we simply not care?

We all have issues and problems in our lives.  We all have victories.  We LOVE to share in each other’s victories.  But all of us certainly think “I don’t need more complication in my life.”  So, perhaps we do slide out on times like this, hoping someone else will handle it.  But what if God gave YOU and only you the skill and ability to address a certain situation we face?  What if YOU were the only one who had the answer, an answer given to you by Him to bring to His church??

Business meetings at EBC are much different from other churches of which I have been part.  No yelling, no throwing things, no fisticuffs … Nothing that makes it look like the WWE.  And that is a GREAT thing.

A big issue we are facing right now as we prepare to move into a new worship center is that we are experiencing a lack of commitment.  An unwillingness to serve.  An apparent unwillingness to tithe.  And, after Hurricane Matthew, that is very apparent.  We will be fine, but there will be struggles as we transition and prepare for the new payment on the building.  We do not want to short-change any ministry as we make this significant move in the life of our church.

Tithing … Serving … this is an obedience issue.  This is an unwillingness to trust God with everything!!  We say “I don’t have time!!”  And “I don’t have the money!!”  But the truth is, we make time and money for that which is important to us.  We live in a society where many people live paycheck-to-paycheck.  I’ve been there.  And one of the things I learned is if I put God first and tithe at least 10% of my income, He always made the rest of it work for everything we needed!!  And that is still true today!!

But don’t make the mistake of believing that we should tithe because it makes financial sense!!  Don’t make the mistake of believing “If I serve, it will earn me points in Heaven!”  If you make that mistake, you really are missing the blessing!!

The blessing is this:  MONEY and TIME cannot possibly provide the PEACE and SATISFACTION IN LIFE that you will know once you REPENT of your sin, FOLLOW CHRIST with all of your heart, and OBEY HIM in every way!!  Put Him first in EVERY WAY of your life!!!

Don’t take my word for it … TRY IT AND SEE!!

And, for goodness sake, GET INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF YOUR CHURCH!!  God is calling YOU to it!!

The spice of life … the spice of almost every relationship … can be found in differences.  When I think about my relationship with my wife, which has been growing since I met her over 32 years ago, there are two main components that make it work:  We DO have many interests in common, and we have MANY differences.  There are things she loves for which I do not care, and vice versa.  She has abilities that I do not have, and vice versa.  It is funny how these difference make as much of an impact on our ability to survive as the similarities make.  She makes me better in ways I could never achieve.  (And HOPEFULLY vice-versa)

The same is probably true in most of my friendships.  We are all naturally attracted to friends with whom we share common ground, but there are always differences that glue the friendship together.  And, in my life, I’ve always been taught to respect the differences.  In other words, it’s okay if we disagree.  We do not have to be identical for our friendship to work.  That is at the heart of the ART!!  The art of Relationship!

And, this is an art that is quickly dying.  I see it all over social media about a variety of topics.  Politics.  Religion.  Sports.  Social media seems to provide a pseudo-anonymity that allows an individual to say things they perhaps wouldn’t say in person.  To do things they might not normally do.  As more and more of us migrate our social interactions to this venue, we are losing a vital ability in this Art of Relationship.  And this trend could be irreversible if we are not careful.

Just take the Presidential election:  Reds HATE the Blues.  Blues HATE the Reds.  And both HATE the third and fourth parties.  I remember a day when I could disagree with my neighbor or brother or friend and still love them.  Still be civil towards them.  But that day is quickly passing.  It makes me wonder what the aftermath of this election will be, no matter who wins.   In fact, if this trend continues, it won’t matter who wins because we (the “United” States) will lose miserably.  Our only hope is to find a way to pull out of this nose-dive.

We are NOT totally beyond redemption.  We can make a difference RIGHT NOW.  BE THE CHANGE.  YOU… YOU BE THE CHANGE.  I WILL BE THE CHANGE.  We can make a difference.  This is not the first time in the history of civilization this has happened.  As my good friend Lee Freeman reminded me last night, Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that there is “nothing new under the sun.”  This is not the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last.  But it needs to stop now.

And YOU could make all of the difference in the world.

A great friend appropriately reminded me today to “stay true to my calling.”  Good words for any pastor to hear (especially on a Monday!!)  This afternoon, I have been thinking a lot about my calling.  About what it meant to me 25 years ago when I left a booming career in IT to follow Him wherever He would lead.  About what it means to me today, after spending over two decades in the same local church.

Apparently my calling began before I can even recall it.  A good friend from way back reminds me often that she can still remember when we were in kindergarten and I proudly announced that “I am gonna be a preacher one day.”  I do not remember that but I am sure she is 100% correct!!  If you knew me through my high school and college years, you would’ve thought that to be a misunderstanding.  There was NO WAY that boy would ever be a minister of any kind.

In spite of me, God had a plan.  He maneuvered me exactly where He wanted me to be … Where He NEEDED me to be.  I worked for several years in an up-and-coming part of the Information Technology industry and He called me to leave it.  Walk away.  Take my wife, my 9 month old daughter, leave my job, and go where He led.  I did it.  I vowed to follow Him completely, even when I might be the only one.  He is my Rock.  And this has been quite a ride.

He moved this country boy to New Orleans for three years where Diana and I had to make it over 600 miles from our families.  It was tough but we made it.  He gave us an awesome family in our church, the Woodmere Baptist Church of Harvey, LA, and another awesome family in our seminary family.  He gave Krissy several pairs of surrogate grand parents, including Dr. Sid and Virginia Buckley who were already family to us before we ever moved there.  It was an exciting time and a simpler time.

Then He moved us to Ebenezer Baptist Church in Florence, SC.  We first came here for me to do Youth Ministry and after a few years, this church asked me to be their senior pastor.  He gave us yet ANOTHER great family.  And the calling continued.

Over the years, there have been many peaks and awesome times.  And there have been many valleys.  There has been much to celebrate.  There has been a few times to mourn.  And, honestly there have been a couple of times when I have wanted to go back in time and BEG that little kid NOT to say that prophetic statement he so proudly announced.  And, yet, God is still the same.  He is still here.  And the calling is still loud and clear.

And, just as my good friend reminded me today (even though he probably doesn’t even realize it), when I keep my eyes focused on God it doesn’t matter what storms I might face.  I will never face them alone.  I am also most thankful for a wife who walks with me 100% of the time.  God is my Rock, and many times she is my anchor.

What does the future hold?  None of us knows the answer to that.  But we take great heart, because we KNOW Who holds the future.  And He is at work all around us.

So, today I am thankful for the calling.  And I have good news for you, too …  God has called YOU to something equally as awesome!!!  Are you willing to discover it?

Tonight I will lead the third session in a six-session class on Sharing your Faith.  God is the object and subject of any Christ-centered church … (Or, at least He SHOULD be).  Our primary focus is WORSHIP, but very closely linked is the challenged Jesus issued in the Great Commission: that WE are to be HIS VOICE here on earth.  WE are commissioned to GO and TELL the WORLD that He died for their sins.  That He defeated SIN and DEATH and is ALIVE!!!  And that HE is our WAY (and the ONLY WAY) to a relationship with God the Father, the relationship for which we were CREATED!!!

So we are challenged to TELL THE WORLD.  The WORLD starts right here.  It is all around us.  And, if we are to be heard in our world, if we are to be taken seriously, we must live lives that tell the story as well!!  I think that is what Paul was talking about in Romans 12:1-2 when he challenged us to offer our bodies as LIVING SACRIFICES.  To live in a way that is SET APART.  To not CONFORM to this world, but to be TRANSFORMED because we have allowed Christ Himself to renew our minds.  Paul said if we will do this, we will be able to clearly see God’s will for our lives.  God will be pleased with us.

But there is something else here.  Something we could easily miss if we do not read carefully.  If we live lives that are HOLY, SET APART, and TRANSFORMED, the world around us will KNOW there is something different about us.  They will KNOW Christ is REAL.  And when we establish THAT with the manner in which we live our lives, they will WANT TO HEAR about Christ!!  Not only do we earn the right to be heard, but they will WANT TO KNOW more!!

And, so, we go … And we tell …  And we not only tell those who look like us, dress like us, and act like us.  We tell EVERYONE within our reach!!  No matter how much alike or different they might be!!!  Our call is just to TELL!!

That is the reality of living as an act of worship to God.  It pleases Him, and it tells the world that He really is WORTHY!!!

Go and do likewise …..

Believe it or not!!  SOMEONE is listening to you!!  And your words make a difference, whether they be positive or negative.  They matter.

This weekend I was floored by a social media post from an owner of a small business in my town.  A post that I found offensive, and when he was challenged, it went from mild to wild.  My first thought was “If this is the kind of man he is, I do NOT want to do business with him.”  Then…  IMMEDIATELY … a situation came to mind about Ebenezer.  Some words were said in front of someone (by a MEMBER of our church), and this person walked away thinking “If THIS is an example of Ebenezer, that church has serious problems.”

TRUE STORY.

And it grieves me.  I often talk about how our presence in the community is a representation of Ebenezer AS WELL AS the Kingdom of God.

There is no defense for the things that were said.  I might think “Well, the one who was offended might be looking for an excuse to not attend and engage a church.”  But that doesn’t matter one bit.

I might argue that NO ONE at Ebenezer is perfect.  That we make mistakes, ALL OF US.  In fact, follow me around for a little while and see how imperfect I am!!  AND I AM THE PASTOR!!  But that is no excuse, either.

The truth is, YOUR WORDS MATTER.  MINE DO, TOO.  Who we are in our communities is who we are, period!

WHO ARE YOU?

Lately, I am often reminded that I am an example.  A leader.  God has entrusted me to pastor and lead one of His most prize possessions …  HIS Church.  A local church.  One of many, but extremely important and loved by Him.

I have also been reminded there are some in my world that hope I am living an example that points to Him.  They take seriously the words Paul wrote in Hebrews 13 (as do I) and seek leaders who live for Christ … Who fear God.

WHAT A HUGE WEIGHT!!  WHAT A RESPONSIBILITY to live a life that is somehow worthy of emulation!!!  Honestly, it is impossible.

BELIEVE IT!!

It humbles me when I think there are some who want to follow an example I set.  Because, I KNOW how imperfect I am.  How weak I am.  Yet, I also know God has called me to live my best, not only because I am His disciple, but because I am a pastor.  I KNOW I am called to live an example that points to Him.  In spite of my failures and imperfections, I indeed pray that somehow people will see Him, how good He really is, and how merciful He can be through my life.  And that is tough.  Because I fail.  Because I fall.

So, yes, it does humble me when I realize I am called to be an example of Him.  And it frightens me to my core.

And, it should YOU as well (IF you are a disciple of Christ).  Yes, I am a pastor.  But if you are His child, YOU are called to be an ambassador right alongside ME (and the rest of the Church).  The world is looking at us to see if He is real.  And the truly frightening thought is they judge His reality by what they see in YOU and in ME.

BELIEVE IT!!!

Thanks be to God that we have the Holy Spirit to help us every step of the way.  NONE of us is perfect, and NONE of us ever will be on this side of eternity.  So how can we do it??

Proverbs 3:5-6!!

Trust God with all of our hearts, follow Him with everything that we are, and when we fall off the horse, get back up and get on!!!!  That is ALL we can do.  And if we approach life doing our best, praying He will bless and use it, and then allowing HIM to do what He can do with our offering of praise (OUR LIVES), He can make this work.  HE can take our best and work wonders all around us!!!  TO HIS GLORY!!

BELIEVE IT!!!!