BRRRRR!

8 Dec

15 degrees outside!  WOW!  I guess physiology or time can explain this, but cold weather has more of an affect on me now that it did when I was young.  Growing up in Easley, I braved my share of these temps in years gone by …  Back then I was more of a polar bear.  I could walk outside in this weather in shorts and a t-shirt (I had to wear that around the house because dad kept it so warm in there with our buck stove).  One of my jobs was to keep wood in that stove.  I had to go outside A LOT in the cold.

Now, I am not a huge fan of the cold.  Days like these make me miss the beach in June!!  So that is what I will be thinking about today!!

The Christmas Double-Clutch

6 Dec

Christmas-time is here!!!!  Hard to believe another Christmas is upon us.  From a church calendar perspective, EVERYONE who is somewhat active has A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF TO DO this month.  And it will go by like a flash!!  Will you slow down and see it for what it really is??

Even though Christmas is here, we are STILL CALLED TO BE THE CHURCH in every way!  I am appreciative for over 80 people who want to take their commitment to God to the NEXT LEVEL and really BE the church He planted us to be!  My prayer is this:  As we move ahead, we won’t lose it all in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season!

It all begins with PRAYER.  Prayer needs to be at the foundation of EVERYTHING we do, EVERY TIME we do something as individuals or as a church.  So, as we get caught up in the Christmas double-clutch, don’t forget who we are and what we are called to do!!  And PRAY about it!!

23 Years ago today …

5 Dec

23 years ago today I did the best thing I’ve ever done, next to accepting Christ as my Savior!!  I married my sweetheart, Diana Lynne Duncan!  Some said we were too young … and maybe we were.  But here we are, 23 years later, still in love and still goin strong!!

I definitely got the better end of this bargain … When she married me, I was a computer programmer in an up-and-growing company.  She never bargained for the pastor’s wife gig and all the heartaches that come with it.  But when we surrendered to this, we did it together.  And she gives it her all in everything she does for the Lord.  And she doesn’t complain when we miss holidays with our families … or when the phone calls come at weird times (sometimes with really strange reasons) … or when the money is what it is.  Much like the Energizer Bunny, she just keeps on going and going!!

There is so much more that I could write, but I think she’d enjoy it more if I told her face-to-face!!

A Wild Week

3 Dec

Yeah, this has been a wild one. Nothing scandalous or controversial happening this week, but a wild one indeed!

The highlight (or maybe lowlight) happened yesterday while taking Drew to West Florence. We were riding down Hoffmeyer Road and we heard a CRASH! I thought a rock had hit my window … Drew said “uh, Dad … Your back window is shattered.”. Sure enough, it was!! And we have no idea why. Hit by a rock? Rear-window defroster malfunction? Church member shooting at me??

We will never know. And for now, my glass is being replaced. Thank God for insurance!

Reflections from another Thanksgiving

29 Nov

I am thankful for so many things … One of the greatest this year is another Thanksgiving with my dad and mom.  We drove up last Tuesday after church and didn’t come home until close to the end of the debacle called the Clemson / USC game on Saturday.

As I reflect on the week, a few things occur to me:

1.  My trips home consist of me working non-stop to get projects done at the house.  Whenever I slow down, I crash.  Nothing wrong with that, because I have to get this stuff done when I have time and time is at a premium.

2.  Its kind of surreal to sit back and think about all that Dad and I did together around that house and now I am doing this stuff and he can’t help.  Dad built this house.  Literally.  He only contracted a couple of things out and did 99% of the work himself.  Mom, Donna, Elaine and I helped, but he did most of the work.  To sit back and think about the things I am doing to the house now without him kind of stinks.

3.  Physically, Dad isn’t doing bad at all.  But I see the dementia increasing every time I go home.

4.  I fried 1 turkey this year and 3 turkey breasts.  I am glad Dad taught me how to do it, but again, kind of surreal to do this without him.

But, again, I am thankful to still have him here.  And I worry about Mom.  She is working so hard and pushing herself beyond limits.  Praying for them hard everyday.

Where does it all stand??

23 Nov

God is at work.  All around you.  And He is at work all over Ebenezer!!

To date, almost 80 people have made a commitment to step up and BE THE CHURCH God intended for us to be!!  Out of 1300 members of EBC, that’s not so great … OR IS IT??  Because, with all of my heart, I believe God will light us on FIRE with only a handful of people who are willing to be obedient to Him!!  If you are one of the 80, watch for more news coming down the pipe in the next couple of days concerning what it means to be the Viral Church at Ebenezer!!!

What are we doing here??

21 Nov

I mean, really … what are we doing??  How can we ever believe that God likes the games we play with Him.  We tell Him we will be faithful, we humble ourselves before Him, but it is only for a moment.  Then, BUSINESS AS USUAL!!  Havin’ it OUR WAY!!  (Just like at Burger King!)

That has been one of the biggest problems with many churches in the US for longer than I care to tell.  We put our best clothes on, spit-shine the buckle of the Bible belt at the holy hour on Sunday morning, and never think about it again.  Until a week or two later, that is.

God is READY FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT!!!  And, for those who think this is a new movement, go read Acts 2!!!  It’s time the church START ACTING LIKE THE CHURCH!!!  And it is an exciting time!!!

Truth is, WE aren’t doing A THING!!  GOD IS IN CONTROL OF THIS ONE!!

Excited

18 Nov

That’s what I am!!  EXCITED!!  I am pumped that we exceeded our Operation Christmas Child goal!!  Especially in this day and time, when pundits claim all of that type of philanthropy should be decreasing, WE EXCEED OUR GOAL!!  And set what is possibly an all-time high!!

Could this be a sign that we really are going to TRUST GOD!!  And not try to take matters into our own hands!!  I sure hope so!!

Proud of you, Ebenezer!!

Spiritual Health

16 Nov

Many times over the past couple of weeks I’ve blogged, tweeted, preached, and taught about SPIRITUAL HEALTH.  God put this topic on my heart because it’s an issue at Ebenezer.  A correctable problem.

There are two facts I am sure of:

1.  The Spiritual Health of Ebenezer Baptist Church is DIRECTLY RELATED to the spiritual health of her members.  Because, after all, WE ARE THE CHURCH.  And I know there are some out there who have VERY HEALTHY spiritual lives.  And some who do not.

2.  If we work to be more SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY, God WILL address the other problems we face.  Like finances.  Like finding workers to help with ministries.  Like huge decisions that lay before us.

So, I am praying for the spiritual health of Ebenezer.  Will you join me??

Clearing things up

10 Nov

After speaking with a few folks about Sunday’s challenge, there are a few things I want to remind EBC as you consider this:

1.  DON’T BE AFRAID!!  This is not some sneaky way to get you to join a pyramid scheme!!  I’m not going to email you and tell you that you are now changing diapers in the nursery for the next three weeks!!!  This is about what God is calling YOU to do, not what I think you ought to do!!!

2.  This is NOT about ME, and it’s NOT about YOU.  It’s about God and what He wants to do with Ebenezer!!  We need to all be praying and asking for that EVERY DAY.

3.  The reason I asked you on Sunday to write it down and get it to me is that NO ONE is assumed on this one.  I hand-wrote a note and put it in the stack that I want to pursue God’s will for ME at Ebenezer.  Don’t assume that you are on this list … you will only get there with a conscious effort to be put on there!!  (Some have called, some have emailed, some have Tweeted, some told me on Facebook.  ALL of those are on the list!!  But you HAVE TO TELL ME!!)

As of this writing, we are up to about 60 folks who want to be a part of this viral movement.  A movement for us to put our HANDS AND FEET to work to build the Kingdom of God!!  Are you praying about joining us??  Let me know!!!

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