Top Ten Things I liked about this weekend
19 SepOur staff and most of our church spent the entire weekend here on campus for our Family Worship Weekend. Yes, by any other name this is a REVIVAL!! (Not because it was a series of meetings, but because it has renewed our hearts) SO … here are the top ten things I loved about it:
10. Tom Blackaby’s accent … Canadian!! (Tom protests he was born in California, but c’mon … I’ve never heard a Californian talk that THAT, eh!)
9. Jeff Slaughter’s accent … MISSISSIPPI!! Yeah, I know Justin is from Mississippi … but he doesn’t talk like THAT!
8. I met folks from Camden and from FLORIDA that came up for this weekend!!
7. Jimmy Norton tried to take Tom and Jeff clubbing on Thursday night … It’s just not a visit to Ebenezer unless you get to spend time with Jimmy Norton!!!!
6. I got to see Harry Freeman dance … err, wait a minute. We’re Baptists. Ok, I got to see Harry Freeman do “interpretive movement” on stage Friday night!!!
5. Thanks to the kindness of Tamara and Jimmy, I got to have one of Wendy Frazier’s lemon squares. Really had nothing to do with the revival, but it WAS a high point of the weekend!!
4. AIN’T THAT FUNKY!!!!
3. Spending time with these guys that led us was one of my all-time favorite parts!! I had breakfast with Tom on Saturday … with this world-renown speaker, author, and theologian … And we talked about our kids, sports, and stuff!! Yeah, we talked shop some, too, but it was nice just to hang out with someone who has walked where I walk!! And, as far as spending time with Jeff goes, it’s always fun to talk to that dude!! One of the things I love about both of those guys is they are the same, no matter where you encounter them. No huge egos … Just regular guys who thirst to serve God!!
2.YOU SHOWED UP, EBENEZER!! Okay, everyone didn’t. But MANY OF YOU DID! And, as an added bonus, God changed our hearts for the better!! Those that missed it really missed something special!
1. I KNOW the Holy Spirit was at work in this. In every way. From the inception of this idea until the last prayer was prayed!! Several folks have commented to me “Man, you must’ve told Tom a bunch about Ebenezer!!” Not true! We did give Tom and Jeff a “lay of the land” about our church, but the Holy Spirit was CLEARLY talking through them this weekend. Here’s a hint: Where Jeff and Tom do not constantly watch over us, the Holy Spirit DOES and He knows EVERYTHING that goes on around this place!!!!!
The Next Move is YOURS
19 SepToday is the first day we discover whether or not this weekend has any impact on Ebenezer. We spent time this weekend with two icons of worship and understanding God’s word … You can’t get too many people to lead a revival better than these two. I am thankful I got to spend some time getting to know them more … I had breakfast with Tom on Saturday and God reinforced a few things, mainly that people are people no matter where you are on this Big Blue Marble. Tom told stories about pastoring that sounded just like he’d been here looking over my shoulder!! The time I spent with these guys was special, and I won’t soon forget any of it!
But even THAT wasn’t what this weekend was all about … We seek to build God’s kingdom, to live obedient lives to HIM!! HOW will we do this?? WHEN will we get started?? WHERE will it begin for us??
All we can do is open our eyes, look for where God is at work, and JOIN HIM!! And that is up to you! The next move is YOURS!! Will you have the courage to make it?
A thought for Pastors (and for all)
17 SepI just had a great breakfast with Tom Blackaby … One on one. A chance to talk about everything in the world, and to talk about nothing. We did both!
At one point, he told me a story that I will roughly quote: “Once, at a preaching conference, there were four speakers on the agenda for an evening. The first three spoke and each went overtime. The third, who was a preaching professor at a seminary/college, eloquently spoke and upon his finish left the podium to a standing ovation. The fourth man stood, knowing things were way overtime, and shared the word God gave him. He left the podium with half of the room on their knees before the Lord.”
Which pastor would you rather be???
One of the things I like about Tom is there are many similarities between us, about which I had no idea until we spent some time together this weekend. And I know when he shares, he is sharing what God put on his heart to share. I’m thankful for men and women who follow the Holy Spirit and trust Him. God can do much with disciples like that!! Lord, make ME a disciple like that!
Day One
16 SepDay One of the Family Worship Weekend is HERE!!! This is a day for which we’ve prayed for months. And our prayer is simply this: That families in our area will draw closer to God and closer to each other as a result of what He does this weekend!!
I know there are several “distractions” for this weekend (Clemson V Auburn, USC V Navy, opening day of deer season for rifles), and yet this is where God led us and this is where we are. As I write this, Jeff Slaughter and Tom Blackaby are already preparing for this weekend. I am preparing for a funeral, but after that, it’s all about what God will do tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday. And my prayer is EVERY FAMILY that needs a closer walk with God and a closer walk with each other will be there!!
The schedule is:
TONIGHT – 7pm – Worship Rally with dessert social afterward
SATURDAY – 4pm – Session ONE (Adults with Tom and kids with Jeff)
5:30 Supper in the FLC
7:00 Combined worship in FLC
SUNDAY – 9:15am Sunday School
10:30am Combined Worship in FLC
Praying for Courage
15 SepThat’s what I am doing … Every day. Praying for courage for Ebenezer.
I believe our hesitancy to completely sell-out to God is a lack of courage … A fear of the unknown. It is a frightening thing to completely be in the hands of God. Human nature migrates us towards a need for security and stability. For some of us, that is a need to be in control. When we are totally, completely sold out to God, HE IS IN CONTROL!!
When I was a small child, I swallowed a nut. Not the yummy, salted, roasted kind … The kind that fastens to a bolt. The nut lodged in my throat and I began to choke. This was apparently before the Heimlech maneuver was widely known, because as I turned blue my babysitter grabbed me by my ankles, turned me upside-down, and swung my back against the wall. (I know … this explains A LOT) It must’ve worked, because the nut dislodged and I turned from blue to red in the face again! (I’ve NEVER liked rollercoasters, and I wonder if this is why?)
We might feel like we’ve been burned in some way in life, but that is NO REASON to NOT TRUST GOD!!! In other words, our control issues SHOULD NEVER interfere with our trust in God!! He is GOD!! His plan is so much more than ours could ever be!!!!
So, today and everyday, I will pray for courage for each of us that make up Ebenezer Baptist Church. For me … for you … for them … When we get to this place where we trust Him we will be so much better off!!
A Simple Band of Gold
14 Sep
Well, here it is!! Over six months later, and TODAY I was finally able to put my wedding band back on!!! This wedding band is very special to me, not only because my bride of almost 24 years put it on my hand. Not only because it is a symbol of the promise I made to her, her family, my family, the whole world, and God that I will be the BEST HUSBAND God allows me to be for the rest of our lives. This band has another significant meaning … It belonged to Diana’s dad, who died when she was a senior in high school.
I only got to know Don Duncan for nine months. He was a Godly man. He was fun. He was ferociously loyal to his family AND to his Clemson Tigers (a trait his daughter has, and now his grandchildren, too!) And his family loved him. And he returned their love. When I look at him, at my dad, and my grandpa, I’ve had some pretty good mentors about what it means to be a husband, father, and lead a family. And I’ve got a lot to live up to. This ring reminds me of what God expects from me … and a dad who is hanging around with Him in Heaven right now. When I see Don again one day, I hope he’ll tell me I did his ring justice!!
More Scandalous, Juicy Gossip about Ebenezer
12 SepYeah … I’ve got to stop using titles like that. Sadly, though, it is guaranteed to get people to read this blog entry!!!
Today I want you to know how excited I am about our Family Worship Weekend coming up this weekend (September 16, 17, & 18) with Jeff Slaughter and Tom Blackaby. This event is for ANYONE and EVERYONE (not just Ebenezerites) and has been prayed over and designed to bring families BACK to a right worship relationship with each other, and most of all with God!! Our staff and some other hard-working Ebenezerites have worked to bring this thing to fruition and all we now need is YOU!! YOU to PRAY … YOU to BE THERE and SEE what God has in store for us all!!!
It all starts Friday night at 7pm with the Family Reunion, a time for all of us to gather and enjoy each other and enjoy GOD!!
Saturday, Session 1 starts at 4pm followed by Dinner at 5:45 (please contact the church office and let us know if you are coming to dinner) followed by Session 2 at 6:30.
Sunday morning, we will be on our combined schedule with Sunday School at 9:15 and Combined Worship in the FLC at 10:30 (with NO Evening Worship).
God is doing something really exciting here!!! Hope you will come and see!
For all they do …
8 SepHere they are …
Some of my best friends and some of the hardest working people I know. And they are doing it again. Serving, working hard behind the scenes. Making things happen for the kingdom. And they have no idea I am writing this (and might not like the fact that I am tooting their horns).
Yes, that is the staff of Ebenezer hard at work. Today they were serving a lunch to the DOT workers of Ebenezer Road, something only a handful of people outside of that picture even knew was happening. But that is how the EBC staff rolls. They work hard, they make the ends meet, and they don’t look for praise or recognition. Perhaps that’s why I get so flustered when I hear people saying things that aren’t true about our staff or their work ethic. Now, none of us are perfect. But that picture contains some of the hardest working people I know. And I’ll be the first to tell you they’ve carried ME through the past few months.
And I thank God for them … each of them … Yes, even the Steeler fan.
A New Kind of Labor Day for me
5 SepOkay, so this is my first Labor Day in which I’ve been able to do only a FEW of the things I wanted to do. Drew and I have been working in the yard this morning … fighting with the lawn mower (currently, the lawn mower is winning. But the day ain’t over!) I have also discovered that I cannot pull the lawn mower cord without searing pain in my right shoulder … Hope that gets better!!
Anyway, this Labor Day weekend has shown me several things I’m glad to see:
1. Dad is doing ok. Not great, but ok. His memory is starting to go, and that brings interesting conversations. He still thinks I’m down here in Florence working on an HVAC quote for Ebenezer. He forgets that I’ve been here over 16 years, with over 10 now as Senior Pastor.
2. I CAN still go to a Clemson football game and cram into the stands with all of the other sardines. Diana protected my left elbow at all times. It was physically tough to do last Saturday with almost 100 degree temperatures. But we’ve survived to this point!!
3. I can still play Papa Bear when I need to. Krissy was riding into Clemson from her apartment with her roommate (who had to work Saturday). As they pulled into the parking lot, a couple of drunk frat boys opened a taxi door and shattered the mirror on the roommate’s Jeep. We walked up as the two drunk guys were getting kind of heated. I calmly folded my arms, got between them (very close to the drunkest idiot) and started calmly talking to them. They calmed down like a couple of pups. Every time I walked away, they would get riled up. And I would walk back over, fold my arms, and get really close to the dude. He magically calmed down every time. I was watching to see if he wet his khakis, which I hope he did. I never told them who I was, but they knew I knew Krissy and Megan. That’s all they needed to know. Little did they know I could do nothing more than fold that left arm … Again, they didn’t need to know that. I kept them calm until the policeman got there and it worked out.
Now I sit here … A little frustrated about the morning, but glad I got to do some cool things this Labor Day weekend.
One Pastor's Perspective 