A Pastor’s Monday
9 JulYou might not think about it, but Monday is a WEIRD day for those of us in ministry. Many pastors take Monday as their day off BECAUSE of what I am about to write. You see, Sunday is a full-fledged workday for those of us on the ministerial staff of EBC. It is the pinnacle of the week, a day we study and prepare for all week leading into it. Then we pour our hearts out in the various things that we do. And then, it is done … or is it??
Monday is a day of reflection. While we should reflect on the good things, often it leads to thinking about what I could’ve done better. Who I didn’t see (although most days I can check Facebook to see what those I missed did on the Lord’s Day). It is a day that feels emotionally flat and empty. I do a lot of menial work around the church on Monday, because it gives my batteries a chance to have a little success and recharge.
It is also a day when I think about the concerns of the coming week. This week, as I busily prepare for my departure to Honduras (next week), I’m thinking and praying for my Mom and Dad. Had a good but brief visit with them this weekend. Mom has a little minor surgery tomorrow, and Dad has something a little more substantial coming on Friday. I am thankful Krissy is doing an internship at their hospital in Greenville, and that my little sister is coming up for Dad’s surgery.
For now, I need to find some coffee and start thinking about this coming Sunday. One of the bold facts of life for every pastor is: Sunday’s COMING, whether I’m ready or not!!!
In One Accord …
2 JulActs 2 describes the day of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit moved in a mighty way to lead the early church into a time of glorifying God and reaching THOUSANDS. It was unlikely the early church would’ve EVER been that effective in such a brief period of time, but there IS an explanation. They waited on the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus told them before He ascended. They were obedient, and look what God did with them!!
Rev. Oscar Holland shared some thoughts about this on Saturday night at the Honduras meeting I attended. It really sparked a thought in my mind: What could God do with Ebenezer if we were all in one accord?? If we were all in the same place, together, listening to Him, what great things could He do with us??
Truth is, we are not in one accord right now. There is a little too much pride and conflict rolling around. As I told our deacons last night, Ebenezer is actually in pretty good shape compared to some others I know. But, we are not in one accord. And the only reason for that is that we are not all listening and waiting. And to apply this principle from Acts 2, the Holy Spirit will not pour out on us until we are waiting on Him and in the same place!!
So here is the challenge: What if we all started praying this simple prayer: “Lord, bring us all to one accord. To one place.” What if we committed to pray this EVERY DAY for one month?? Let’s do this and see where we are in August!! And if Ebenezer is not your church, what if you prayed that for YOUR church?? What great things will we see from God if we all agree to do this??
What if it sparked a revival in our world?? It could!! Test and see that the Lord is good and faithful!!!
A little more to this “Ideal Family”
26 JunYou know, there is one other question Paul answers, both in Ephesians 6 and elsewhere, about this Ideal Family thing. What if one spouse serves God with all of their heart, and one does not?? What is that one to do?
The answer is STILL SERVE UP TO YOUR PART OF THE BARGAIN. Yes, this really goes against the values the world has taught us about protecting ourselves and being careful. HOWEVER … if you are married, you can either go “all in” or not. And if your answer is “not,” then you are not planning to succeed anyway. Paul writes on in Ephesians 6, telling slaves to obey their masters and do the best they can do, and in this they might show their masters Christ. I’m not saying a Follower married to a non-follower is a slave, but the same principle is true. Live your life according to the Holy Spirit as well as you can … God can use that to shine the light of Christ THROUGH you and to that spouse.
Test and SEE if the word of the Lord is true!!
Without my right hand
14 JunFor the next 10 days, my right hand has left the country. He will be halfway around the world serving on a mission project with 11 others from the Ebenezer Youth Ministry. That’s right, Drew is on his way to Kenya.
I remember MONTHS ago when Justin challenged our youth to pray and ask God if He was calling any of them to go. Drew got his answer pretty quickly. After a couple of weeks, I asked Drew “Have you been praying about it?” He assured me that God had given him a clear YES and he was just waiting on every one else to catch up. Then, a lump in my throat: I wondered if Drew was taking it seriously… Little did I know that my son was intently listening to God and just waiting on His next move. As a general rule, we adults DON’T DO THAT often enough. We want God to lead and bless, but the truth is we want to keep moving. We have a problem with being still and knowing He is God. Makes me proud that my son was doing exactly what he should’ve been doing: waiting on God.
And now, the wait is over. And he is on his way! And I’ll be without my right hand for a few days. But that’s okay … He might be my right hand, but his heart belongs to His Savior. I wouldn’t have it any other way!!
Something for Dad
7 JunThis is not a Father’s Day post. Nor is it a present. Or, maybe it is …
I sit here in Garden City alone right now. I am the only one awake (as usual). This is the FIRST day of our week in which I actually see the sun peeking through the sliding glass door. We might actually get warm today!! But, there is something missing …
That “something” is the reason I woke up at 7:20 on a vacation day (I am one of those that once I am awake, it’s all over). That one thing … one person … is my oldest!! Krissy is doing an internship with the Greenville Hospital System in June and July, so we do not have her at the beach. And, it’s not right!!
Yeah, I know: She is now a senior at Clemson. This was bound to happen sooner or later. But I wish it had been later!! And I am reminded of something I’ve always been told and now I must tell YOU, DADS: You’d better be making memories with your kids. Because, one day, those will be all you have!!!
Yeah, DAD, I am calling YOU out. The only way you can make memories with your kids is to BE A PART OF THEIR LIVES. In a MAJOR WAY. Money and stuff are great, but they mean NOTHING to a kid who has a dad but he is not part of their lives. I know kids who’ve already lost their dad … and they would give ANYTHING for more time. That is what they remember and that is what they want!! NOT STUFF!! And, likewise, I know adults who have lost a child. And they all say the same thing!!
MAKE MEMORIES, DAD!! However you can! It will be the only thing that helps you keep your sanity one day when you miss your kid like crazy! Trust me …
The Lord gives and He takes away
30 MayIn the second part of Job 1:21, Job says this: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (NIV) Never have I seen the meaning of that verse more evidently than in the past seven days in the life of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
This week we have great cause to celebrate with our family!! David and Tracey Daniel are in Korea preparing to bring Maddox home. Many at EBC have prayed for that little boy and that adoption for well over a year. I remember, as if it were yesterday, the day they came and we prayed about this at the start of this procedure. Great joy overwhelms all of us who have walked this difficult path with them, and we are THRILLED that Maddox is on his way HOME!!!
In the same breath, we mourn with our brother (and faithful staff member) Bill Watkins. Bill discovered last week that his step-dad (whom Bill calls DAD because he raised Bill) was found dead in his apartment in Los Angeles. With many tears, Bill boarded the next flight to LA and is now out there trying his best to get home. There is a much longer story behind all of this, but Bill needs our prayers now more than ever. This is one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do.
All of this reminds me of Romans 12:15, when Paul reminded us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” This week we have cause to do both.
May the name of the Lord be praised!!
One Pastor's Perspective 