A Deep Thought

5 Nov

Better save this one … I don’t often have deep thoughts.

This week, I’ve done EVERYTHING on my iPad. All of my communication and social media (with the exception of a few tweets from my phone), wrote my sermon, kept in touch with the election and local news. The ONLY things I cannot do with this device are access Flash sites: Unfortunately, several of the video sites I use still use Flash. Hope that changes.

Because, if it did, I really could do EVERYTHING I DO from my iPad!! When I bought this iPad, I also bought a bluetooth Mac keyboard, which has made all of this much easier.

That boggles my mind. In its current configuration, there are a few things that make it necessary for me to have a desktop at work. But the day will come when something like this will be my primary computer.

Coming from a old-timer that got into this stuff in the mid ’80s, that is REALLY COOL. If I could go back to myself in college and show this, I wouldn’t believe me. (But, that is partially because I know me and, well, probably shouldn’t get into that).

And I glance over at my iPhone and wonder how long it will be before I am blogging this same type of thought about that???

Communicating the Vision

4 Nov

I am currently sitting in a breakout group that is honestly recapping a lot of what I’ve heard all week here. And one of the things I hear LOUD AND CLEAR is the need for effectively communicating the vision.

I’ve always been a believer in the fact that GOD sets the vision for Ebenezer Baptist Church. In fact, I believe the vision He has for us is sound and biblical. I also know everyone will not agree with this vision and some will rebel against it. But the fact remains that God is CLEAR what He wants Ebenezer Baptist Church to do … to BE.

God is clearly calling us to reach THE LOST. Those that DO NOT KNOW JESUS CHRIST as their Savior. And there are PLENTY within the reach of our arms that do not know Him. And don’t know anyone who would disagree with this vision so far … The failure we are experiencing is largely in our approach.

We’ve GOT TO MOVE BEYOND OUR IDEA THAT WE CAN JUST “BE” Ebenezer Baptist Church and expect the lost to come running to us!!! That might’ve worked 50 years ago, but it will not work today! We need to consider ourselves as MISSIONARIES and be willing to do what it takes to reach our target!! Just like Paul … to be all things to all people (as much as we are able) so that we might reach some!!

Are we willing to do that?? Even if it meant redefining how and where we worship? Are we willing to inconvenience ourselves and possibly let go of some of our preconceived notions about what should be?? This WILL require us to step out of our comfort and into the breach. Are you up to it?

IF SO, then I AM BEGGING YOU TO JOIN ME. Begin by praying about all of this and asking God WHAT HE WANTS. This is not about David Wike. This is not about ____________ (put your own name there). This is about WHAT GOD WANTS. And if it becomes about anything else, it will fail miserably.

NEXT ITEM:
Put YOUR FAITH INTO ACTION. Ed Stetzer challenged us this week with this thought:
We all know that 80 percent of the work in a church is done by 20 percent of the people, right?? That is just an accepted fact of church in the South. THAT IS A SIN!! God gave EACH OF US GIFTS and HE EXPECTS US TO USE THEM. Are you willing?

This will be a viral thing … What are you willing TO DO for the kingdom?? Help with video ministry?? Help with greeting?? Cut grass?? WHAT IS IT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO?? NOW is the time to get off the couch and FIND IT and DO IT!!! We need it desperately! PEOPLE NEED TO GET INVOLVED AND SERVE THE LORD!!

Finally (for THIS post), it is time to put our money where our mouths are … It is time to get serious about GIVING to GOD!! If every family tithed on the average income level of our area, our budget would exceed $3million dollars. Right now, we are struggling to make a $1.1 million budget and considering how we can tighten our belts for next year.

Don’t get me wrong, we NEED to be frugal and responsible in how we spend God’s money. But the shame in all of this is ministries will suffer simply because God’s people are not being faithful and giving to Him. How can you make a difference?? Good question!! ASK THE ONE WHO WILL GIVE YOU THE RIGHT ANSWER TO THAT … GOD!! Start praying about it NOW!!

If you want to catch a little more of this fire that God is lighting, COME TO WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY MORNING!!! I PROMISE YOU WON’T REGRET IT!!! In fact, I DARE YOU TO COME AND ALLOW YOUR FAITH TO BE PUSHED!!

I wondered why God brought me here

3 Nov

This week I am at the Worship Facilities Expo in Atlanta. I wondered why God brought me here … Something compelled me to come and I was unsure what it was. I just wondered if it was because I needed a little break or something … But God had another plan.
Because HE has shown up in a big way. I don’t know how many churches are represented here this week, but I am finding that many, many churches face the same issues we face. And we ALL need to refocus on God and what HE is doing. We as churches try to plan too much sometimes. Our faith is weak. We need HIM to make it, NOT US!!!
Ironic that I’ve been working on a sermon for Sunday out of Joshua 24. And God CLEARLY put some things on my heart from these sessions to share. It’s almost as if He brought me here to make me sit down and listen to a message I’ve got to take back to Florence.
I am praying for you this week, Ebenezer. I hope you are praying for me (and you can pray for Robbie and Dean, too)!!!

I wondered why God brought me here …

3 Nov

This week I am at the Worship Facilities Expo in Atlanta.  I wondered why God brought me here … Something compelled me to come and I was unsure what it was.  I just wondered if it was because I needed a little break or something … But God had another plan.
Because HE has shown up in a big way.  I don’t know how many churches are represented here this week, but I am finding that many, many churches face the same issues we face.  And we ALL need to refocus on God and what HE is doing.  We as churches try to plan too much sometimes.  Our faith is weak.  We need HIM to make it, NOT US!!!
Ironic that I’ve been working on a sermon for Sunday out of Joshua 24.  And God CLEARLY put some things on my heart from these sessions to share.  It’s almost as if He brought me here to make me sit down and listen to a message I’ve got to take back to Florence.
I am praying for you this week, Ebenezer.  I hope you are praying for me (and you can pray for Robbie and Dean, too)!!!

Signs you are drinking too much coffee

1 Nov

This was the email from http://www.mikeysfunnies.com  I read it and those who know me will KNOW why I had to post it!!!

 

SIGNS YOU’RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE

~ Starbucks is accepting bids for a franchise located in your house.

~ The National Bank of Colombia has offered you a Platinum Visa card with zero percent interest.

~ Folgers has offered you a “distributors” franchise for your block.

~ Your co-workers are getting rich buying stock in companies that manufacture foam coffee cups.

~ You just went to the store and bought ten cases of non-diary creamer “to get you through the week.”

~ Those strange footprints in the ceiling of your office.

~ You haven’t slept in a week and no one notices, not even you.

~ You find yourself sneezing Folger’s Crystals.

~ Juan Valdez starts sending you hand-written Thank You notes.

~ You eat garlic to overcome coffee breath.

~ Your dentist upgrades to a belt sander.

~ Alvin & the Chipmunks start to sound like Barry White.

~ Auctioneers begin to make sense.

And the number 1 Sign You’ve Had Too Much Coffee…

~ YYoouu ssttaarrtt ttyyppiinng lliikkee tthhiiss..

The Blind Side

29 Oct

Walking on the Rail Trail is therapy for me … There are surreal moments (like when “You can still rock in America” by Night Ranger comes on and I am walking on an old railroad bed???  Get it??  Think about the video) and there are times when I can just think.  This can be good or bad, depending on my current state of mind.

And, I’ll be honest:  The last two weeks have been very difficult.  I’ve faced things I never thought I’d face.  And I started thinking about the Blind Side.

Not the movie, the concept:  Every quarterback has a blind side.  When he squares to throw the ball, his unprotected back WILL BE EXPOSED for a period of time.  And in life, WE ALL ARE IN THOSE SPOTS AT TIMES.  This is not a pity-party:  I have some of the best friends in the world who I KNOW HAVE MY BACK.  But there are times when circumstances change and you can feel the blind side exposed.  And those times are NOT FUN.

Like I just wrote, I KNOW I have friends who’ve got my back … and I have theirs.  But there are times when all of us are exposed.  There are times when people let  you down.  And you can fret, and you can be disappointed, and you can be angry.  And, honestly, those responses just complicate your situation.

Have you ever stopped to realize that people are FALLIBLE, JUST HUMAN.  They make mistakes and they are imperfect.  THAT IS LIFE.  But if you ever stop long enough to pray about all of this, God might just let you in on a little secret.  He might ask you “why are you depending on PEOPLE to protect your blind side when that is MY JOB??”  (My being said by GOD ALMIGHTY)

If you stop long enough to think and pray about all of this, God DOES have your blind side.  And He will NEVER FAIL YOU.

ANOTHER Fall Festival

28 Oct

It’s 2010.  Ebenezer has yet ANOTHER Fall Festival under her belt.  No big deal, right???

When I think about what it takes to make a fall festival happen, there are so many people to thank that I wouldn’t DARE do it on here.  Our Family Enrichment team takes the lead on this, but there are so many groups involved that it boggles the mind!  Sunday School classes and ministries come together to staff the different games and events!  The church staff works hard to fill in the gaps and glue it all together!  Hundreds of church members donate candy for the entire event and specific baked goodies for the general store AND for some of the indoor events.

All things considered, the Fall Festival at Ebenezer is a snap shot of the church working together to make something really big WORK!!  And, orchestrating the entire thing …. GOD!!  And we thank Him for every good thing that will come out of this night of hard work … the largest one-night outreach event we do!

My Boss

27 Oct

Being the pastor of a Southern Baptist church is no piece of cake … And, being a MIDDLE CHILD while serving in that role only COMPLICATES things!  I work in what is statistically one of the most unstable professions in America.  Statistics report the average tenure of a Southern Baptist minister to be somewhere in the area of 18 MONTHS.  And that is NOT because there is a bishop or higher power reassigning them:  They just get fired!!

However … I ultimately answer to a Boss that is a little higher up the ladder than the 1,300 members of Ebenezer Baptist Church.  I answer to GOD ALMIGHTY, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Sustainer of all that exists.  HE is in control.  HE beckons for His people to STOP FEARING the future and JUST OBEY HIM.  HE has a plan for each of our lives that is so much greater than anything I could conceive, a PERFECT PLAN for MY LIFE and for yours!!

Actually, if Jesus Christ is your Savior, He is YOUR BOSS TOO!!  If we will ALL slow down enough to listen to Him and then OBEY Him life will IMMEDIATELY become much less stressful and more rewarding.

So, come on … Listen to THE BOSS!!!  HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING!!

From a different perspective …

26 Oct

This morning I rode to Raleigh with Dean and Robbie.  The target??  The Church Information Technology Round Table for North and South Carolina.  Very interesting to hear what different churches are doing to enable kingdom growth.  Never overlook the role IT plays in this today!!

Through all of the details, nuts, bolts, ICs and LEDs, this is a MINISTRY and a crucial part of modern ministry in the year 2010.  And it will only grow to play more and more of a role in the church of tomorrow!!  I’m thankful for these guys and what they do to make a difference!!  It’s another of those unseen and seldom-known roles that keeps things clicking!!

If you really slowed down enough to notice, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes to help a church like Ebenezer (and, really, EVERY OTHER CHURCH) do the things we do.  Ed and I are very visible in the pulpit on Sundays … Andi is visible in Children’s Church … Justin is very visible in Youth Ministry … and PAM is highly visible in this unseen world of infrastructure!!  Mary, Lisa, Dusty, Bill, Edwin, Jerry, and Kitty are the hands and feet from the staff that make it happen!!  From the congregational side, MANY OF YOU are the ones that make this happen as well!!

And when I look at all of this from this different perspective, it makes me even more thankful!!!

God and His timing

22 Oct

The sermon writing process for me is … well … different.  It’s hard to define.  I seek God and He leads me in different ways, almost every week.  This Sunday I am preaching a sermon about how our judging is different from God’s. And, as always when I preach about judging, I am now praying we will ALL see this as a chance for God to guide us.  Judging is a difficult topic for any pastor, especially when there might be some out there thinking a sermon is being “aimed” at them.  Let me tell you the unique way this sermon came to be:

Ten days ago I was actually working on LAST Sunday’s sermon and preparing for Wednesday night’s prayer meeting, and I suddenly KNEW exactly what I would be preaching this Sunday.  No events leading to it or anything, it was one of those times of God giving me His plan … His SPECIFIC plan for this coming Sunday.  I emailed the info on this Sermon to Mary and Ed at that moment, and it surprised them so they asked if I’d changed my mind for this past Sunday … No, this is for next week!!

I love it when God does that!!  So I ask you to pray with me as we excitedly await what God will do this week at Ebenezer!!!

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