Raw

23 Jan

That is how I feel this weekend … Raw.  I don’t write that to elicit pity, or any other kind of response really.  But that IS how it feels right now.  (LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR:  Don’t worry about ME.  I’ll be fine.  PRAY FOR THESE FAMILIES PLEASE!!!)

Funerals are like novacaine.  They numb me a little.  And for the past couple of weeks, I’ve done / attended too many.  This weekend I had two very different funerals:  A huge, community-wide funeral for Philip Kennedy and a small, private, family funeral for Don Belcher.  I consider both men to be friends … So this weekend, I had too much novacaine.

I pray for the families of these, and others who’ve lost loved ones in the past few weeks:  the Singletarys, the Watfords, the Smiths, the Carrolls.  We as Christians have some understanding of what happens after death because Jesus TOLD us.  But that doesn’t stop us from missing those we love.  The void has to heal best it can.

So, we as a church spring into action and help in any way we can.  And in EVERY one of these situations, I’ve watched you, Ebenezer.  And you are doing the Kingdom of God PROUD!!

Let’s pray for healing for each other this week … and especially for these families!!!  Love you guys!!

Today’s Sermon

22 Jan

Don’t forget the Golden Rule

16 Jan

Yesterday I preached on the Greatest Commandments, which consists of the Shema and the Golden Rule.  There is a valuable life principle at work in the Golden Rule, and one that we forget too often.

Fred Sanford (on Sanford and Son … ok, if you remember that, you’re probably my age or older) had his own version of the Golden Rule:  Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.  Yeah, that’s funny!  It is also what the Golden Rule has become in the modern world.  Get the other guy BEFORE he gets you.  Just straight-up survival of the fittest.  No Godly principles at work here!!

Diana recently faced a situation where a man who barely knows her decided to tell her off over a situation that wasn’t real.  (This did not happen in Florence.)  In hindsight I believe he was doing this to cover one of his own mistakes.  I was not with her at the time, and all I wanted to do is … Well, I’d better not blog too deeply here.  God and I finally saw it His way, and I did want to share something with this guy that I think would help him in life:  If you respect others, they will respect you.  But if you live your life disrespecting others, that is exactly what you will get from them. If you want respect, you must treat others respectfully.  Does that make sense??

Another truth, that this fellow probably wouldn’t understand, is this:  those of us in Christ are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.  (That is exactly why God won our little discussion, and He’s right!!)

Jesus said if we will love God with EVERYTHING WE ARE and love each other as much as we love ourselves, we would be getting to the heart of the Law and the Prophets.  God will be pleased and this world will be a much better place!!!

Don’t forget the Golden Rule today!!!

How Great is the Love of God?

15 Jan

Death and the New Year

14 Jan

Two-thousand Twelve … Or, is it Twenty-twelve??  Either way, we are well into a new year and with that comes winter. And with that, a post-holiday season of death.  Not something we like to think about, but this year it is DEMANDING our attention.

Some of my friends at different funeral homes confirm it:  This is one of their busiest times of the year.  I guess when you think about it, some who are close to dying make it a goal to celebrate another Christmas.  So it makes sense that late December and January would be a time for such things.

In the past two weeks, we’ve had our share at Ebenezer.  And then some.  Many families have been touched by death.  Yesterday, I was put on notice for two more that are very close.  For me, all of this is another reminder that life is precious.  And death knows no prejudice.

Praying today for some people I love who are hurting.

Meeting myself at the door

9 Jan

Do you ever feel like life is running so fast that you MIGHT meet yourself coming through the front door??  That’s where I am right now.  Mostly good stuff happening, but life is running at a break-neck pace right now.

Unfortunately, part of what is happening right now is the post-Christmas period.  This year, we’re seeing a lot of death.  I’ve asked some of my funeral director friends before, and they confirm it:  More people die after Christmas than any other time of the year.  And we are seeing it at Ebenezer.  And there are still a couple of families who are close right now, too.

I’m praying that God will help me lead in a worthy manner today.  Praying that same prayer for you, too.

Today’s sermon, calling ALL leaders OUT!!

8 Jan

Ministry should build the kingdom

4 Jan

One of the principles of ANY ministry MUST BE building the Kingdom of God.  If it doesn’t build the kingdom, in some way, then the church shouldn’t be doing it.  Period.  This is a guideline that we, the staff at Ebenezer, has tried to live by for YEARS and YEARS now.  We believe in it and we weigh everything against it.

I love basketball.  I played in high school.  Started coaching while in high school, and continued for years afterward.  I’ve really enjoyed watching my kids play and love it.  And, honestly, I love college basketball more than any other sport on TV (YES, more than football.  Go figure.)  That’s why it is really hard for me to write this, but I am personally having a hard time seeing how the youth basketball league at Ebenezer is building the kingdom.

I KNOW it does good things, like bring families into our church and other participating churches that might not come in otherwise.  Maybe that is enough.  But it seems to me the problems are getting worse and some other churches are not willing to be part of any solutions.  In fact, one church in particular seems to be involved in most of these types of problems.

The most recent disgusting event (the events get more and more disgusting every time) is a coach in one of the younger leagues that told his team to take a certain player that was really good for another team out.  “Draw blood if necessary.”  By the way, they did flagrantly foul the kid and put him out of the game.

REALLY MAN???  Is winning THAT important to you??  Is that what this league means to you??  To your church??  I can tell you with all certainty if he were an Ebenezer coach, he would’ve coached his last game.

I am praying this week that his church will take this matter as seriously as it actually is.  I am praying that all churches who participate will look at this league and see it as a tool to build the kingdom, not an avenue to put another trophy in their trophy case.

And, come to think of it, maybe the solution is not dismantling the league, but disinviting churches that refuse to see this as a ministry??  Hmmm … interesting thought.

Giving 2011 a grade …

2 Jan

Yesterday, from the pulpit, I told EBC if I had to assign a grade to the year 2011, I would give it an “A!”  Then I said I would explain that at another time and another place.  Then, about 45 seconds later, I explained it … But here is a more thorough explanation.

When I reflect on 2011, in some ways it has been extremely difficult.  Bordering on brutal.  Of course, there was THAT DAY I should’ve called in sick to work:  March 3.  I took a wrong step off a curb, broke 2 elbows (I would’ve broken three if I’d had 3) and my life is now changed forever.  I’d never been so helpless in my adult life.  I’d never gone FIVE solid months without being able to sleep all night, regardless of whether or not I took pain medication.  For me, one of the worst things about it was the uncertainty for the first ten weeks, not knowing if my left elbow would heal tight or if the doctor would have to go back in and start all over.

There was a lot of prayer and there was a lot of trust.  After surgery, while laying in the hospital, I remember hearing Steve Green in my mind singing “Praise the Lord.”  I’ve always believed that God inhabits the praise of His children.  So I started praising Him.  This was NOT a reaction to pain medication or a delirious outcry.  I remember consciously realizing God can and will make a difference IF I permit Him to do it.  I started praying “Lord, use this somehow.”  He has used it soooooo many times in the past few months that I cannot list it all here.  HE IS GOOD, and HE IS FAITHFUL.  And He makes GOOD on His promises!!!

Now, I realize that all of this sounds like what you would expect a pastor to write … But I’m telling you this is 100% true.  And He didn’t do this because I am a pastor … and I didn’t cry out to Him because I have some special communication channel with Him (some people really believe that).  I don’t have a bat phone to heaven, although if I did, that would be REALLY COOL.  No, I was able to make those petitions because I AM HIS CHILD.  Plain and simple.  And, if YOU are His child, YOU have the same opportunity to give Him your disasters and He can make something incredible out of it.  And YOU can bring Him glory with it.

So, all in all, I DO give 2011 an “A!”  God is on His throne, He is still working miracles all around us, and He WILL use a wretch like me when I allow Him to!!!!

Worrying about what other people think

1 Jan

Quite a challenging day we live in … With information at the fingertips of whomever wishes to work for it and social media brimming with EVERYTHING some are doing at EVERY MOMENT.  The term “privacy” has all but lost its meaning.  Yet there are still areas of our lives that need privacy.  That beg for it.

I’m not talking about those dark corners where some hide sin.  Sure, anyone doing wrong wants to keep it in the dark and never wants those around them to know.  No, the fruit that our life exhibits is out there and I do believe people should see the fruit of Christ in us.  So the dichotomy is this:  We SHOULD be concerned about how we live our lives.  And yet, there is a time for privacy.  There are areas that are really not the business of others.

I was talking to a friend tonight about some challenges that poor health presents to a family member.  This family faces some major decisions.  Tough decisions.  And one of the least things they should be worried about is what others think!!  The public sometimes is quick to present opinions without knowing all of the facts.  Often these opinions are formed by people who know less about the facts than they think.  There is a time in life when silence is golden.  Or, as my momma always tells me, “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!!”

Experience with my father tells me you never know what you’ll have to do until the situation of life presents itself.  Then, you pray and ask God for direction … and DO WHAT HE SAYS!!  No matter what others might think!  We’ve been very fortunate with Mom being able to keep Dad at home thus far, and pray for continued help in that area.  But I’ve seen firsthand that sometimes you have to do what you have to do … Regardless of opinions formed on the outside.

As we enter the new year, I hope and pray all of us will think twice before we judge others!!  Try walking a mile in their shoes.  It might change your opinion!

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