One Pastor's Perspective

The question came up in Deacon’s meeting this past Sunday: Could we have a revival?? And I ask, COULD WE???

The first establishment in this blog is the use of the word REVIVAL: We traditionally use it to mean a series of meetings with a guest speaker to fire things up in a local church. But THAT IS NOT REVIVAL. We DO need to plan a revival meeting, but that is something the church traditionally does FOR THE LOST IN THEIR COMMUNITY. And, for it to work, revival must ALREADY be alive and burning in the church!!

So, how do we “get revived??” Church, we need to pray EVERYDAY for it. If Ebenezer were to have a revival, starting in the HEARTS OF THE MEMBERS, drawing each of us CLOSER to God, He would do things far beyond explanation and we would be AMAZED. Revival is NOT a series of meetings . . . Revival is a state of OUR HEARTS, returning to God and walking with Him. And when I look at over 500 people worship on Sunday mornings, and around TWENTY-FIVE on Sunday nights, I KNOW we are a church in need of revival.

And, it MUST START from the top. I am praying for it!! How about the leaders?? Will YOU pray for it?? How about the deacons? Will YOU pray for it? Will you be bold enough to ask God for revival IN YOUR HEART?

If we do this, God WILL ignite the fires in our hearts. And having a revival meeting will be a natural, NOT because of the nostalgia of wanting a revival meeting, but because WE HAVE TO TELL THE WORLD THAT JESUS CHRIST LOVES THEM!!!

But, we will HAVE TO BE WILLING TO WORK FOR IT!!! My question for all is: ARE YOU WILLING???

MAN . . . We need REVIVAL.

Yes, today is the day . . . The kids go back to school. The daily schedule gets more into a normal groove. As much as I love Christmas and the holidays, I am glad. Being a creature of habit, I love “normal.”

HOWEVER, 2009 has the potential of being anything BUT a normal year. In many ways, ways that all of us know so I don’t even need to list them, we begin this year in a difficult spot. Waiting. Watching. Hoping things will turn around, not only for us but for the entire world. We really are a world looking for a little hope. Looking for someone to turn it around. Looking for a Savior.

Now, THAT sounds like a sermon. Get it??

The FBI had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks, interviews and testing were done, there were 3 finalists; two men and a woman.

For the final test, the FBI agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. “We must know that you will follow your instructions no matter what the circumstances. Inside the room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill her!” The man said, “You can’t be serious. I could never shoot my wife.” The agent said, “Then you’re not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home.”

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about 5 minutes. The man came out with tears in his eyes saying, “I tried, but I can’t kill my wife.” The agent said, “You don’t have what it takes. Take your wife and go home.”

Finally, it was the woman’s turn. She was given the same instructions, to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one after another. They heard screaming, crashing, and banging on the walls.

After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman, wiping the sweat from her brow. “This gun is loaded with blanks,” she said. “I had to beat him to death with the chair.”

The moral of this?? DON’T MESS WITH A WOMAN.

You have less than 24 hours of the year 2008 remaining . . . WHAT WILL YOU DO??

There are a variety of possibilities: You could go fishing. You could go to Wal-Mart. You could go to a movie. You could go to the gym. You could run around your neighborhood with a tortilla shell on your head. You could veg out and watch TV all day. You could paint. You could play chess. You could eat a salad. You could listen to your favorite music. You could rotate your tires. You could play Twister. You could take down your Christmas decorations. You could NOT DRINK. You could play video games. You could clean out your refrigerator. You could go to the park. You could go for a walk. You could go for a drive. You could call an old friend. You could clean up your yard. You could go visit your parents. You could read your Bible. You could wear pajamas all day. You could sit on your porch and talk to people as they walk by. You could ride a bike. You could go to the beach. You could go to the mountains. You could reorganize your attic. You could clean out your garage. You could punish your kids for no reason. You could wash your windows. You could have an impromptu root canal. You could eat a twinkie. You could write mindless things on your blog. You could send out spam. You could dye your hair. You could build a giant magnifying glass in front of your television to make it look bigger. You could stay home. You could play football with your kids. You could cook. You could eat out. You could dye your grass blue.

So whatcha gonna do??

I just counted my cell phone calls from yesterday . . . Alledgedly, I am taking some vacation this week. (And, losing some after Wednesday) And, on my “day off” I got 32 calls that were work-related.

I wonder, should I turn it off?? That is a no-brainer. But with two deaths this week, I am unable to do that.

But, WOW!! There is no such thing as a vacation day when you are in town.

Would YOU lead a life that blesses others?? Do you know anyone that does??

I do. A friend for many years. An encourager. A man of faith. A strong, Godly man. I will do his funeral on Wednesday (and it will be exponentially difficult).

His name – Wallace Fulmer. He has a wonderful wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He lived to the age of 85 . . . A good, long life, but those of us who love him selfishly wish it was much longer. He served on a submarine in World War II, quite a feat for a tall, lanky kid. He worked for the railroad for his entire career. He’d been a member of Ebenezer since the late 1950s. He served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, on countless committees, and as a mentor and friend to many, many people that walked the halls of 524 S Ebenezer Road with him. He lived a life that blessed others, both in his WORDS and in his DEEDS.

I met Wallace when I came to EBC on June, 1995. He was tall and big like a bear . . . NOT OVERWEIGHT by any means, just a big ol’ boy. Even then, at 72, his handshake could BREAK YOUR HAND. (He gave me that same handshake, and yes, almost broke my hand again two weeks ago in the hospital).

He was the kind of guy who didn’t go around poking his nose in other’s business, but if asked, he would offer the best advice. And, a lot of people asked. There IS wisdom in years lived, and Wallace was a wise man. He was STILL the kind of leader that will be irreplacable at Ebenezer.

He loved children. I know he was a great grandfather. Wallace always wanted to know what my son was doing, and if he saw Drew at church, he would ask him a few questions (to make sure he was behaving) and then give him a peppermint. He really got a kick out of checking in on Drew and the others his age. I think Wallace saw a lot of himself in some of those guys.

I saw him and I heard him sharing encouragement and blessings with LITERALLY hundreds of people. In a world where most older church leaders would not appreciate an influx of young families, Ebenezer is set apart: Its older leaders have ALWAYS encouraged me to keep doing whatever it takes to bring young families in. Wallace was at the front of that line telling me that the most.

Why am I writing this?? In all of the years I have known him, picked on him (in self-defense), visited with he and Eula, he had never done what he did two weeks ago (just before he was discharged from the hospital). I went up to visit him on the day he went back home. We talked for a few minutes. As I usually do, we prayed together. Then I told him I would see him later.

I walked out the door of that 7th floor room at McLeod and I heard him call my name. He said “I’ve got something I need to tell you.” I went back in and he really humbled me. He told me how much it meant to him to have me as his pastor, and it was a long conversation.

Wallace was my friend back when I was the youth minister. He had encouraged me every step of the way. When Ebenezer called me as pastor almost 8 years ago, no one at EBC was prouder than Wallace.

This morning, it hit me . . . That was the last thing he ever said to me. I’ll treasure those words . . . Ironically, he had shared the same words with Aaron Chaney a few days before and Aaron had emailed me. I actually have the words he said in an EMAIL!! That blessing is what I will remember most about my friend, Wallace Fulmer.

And, even if he had never said those things to me, I would never forget him. I’ve not seen too many people who LIVED the Greatest Commandment like Wallace. And that just reminds me that while Heaven is a little bit better today, this earth will get a little worse unless we sinch up our belts and get to work . . .

For those of us who knew and loved Wallace, it is time to get to work and take up the slack.

The date is December 29, 2008. The New Year is coming, full steam ahead. It is four days after Christmas Day. CAN Christmas REALLY be over??

When I was a kid, I thought Christmas should be EVERYDAY. I loved getting presents, and will freely admit that is what Christmas meant to me. The electricity surrounding Christmas was like NOTHING ELSE I knew. Words cannot explain it, but every year there are some things that give me that same feeling by reminding me of days gone by.

As an adult, the electricity is fading . . . My children still love Christmas Day, but at 18 and 13, it is not quite the same. HOWEVER . . . Now that my heart is tuned into the REAL meaning of Christmas, I realize it is NOT OVER. Truth is, it is NEVER over.

Christmas is ENTIRELY about God’s gift of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. A gift that is available to anyone EVERY DAY of the year. Ironically, I was RIGHT when I was a kid — just for the wrong reasons. But that’s okay.

That puts a different kind of charge in my heart . . . A BETTER one. Cool. Christmas IS everyday!!!!!

Twas the morning after Christmas
And all through the house
Barely a creature stirring
And, no sign of a mouse.

The children, still nestled
All snug in their beds
As visions of Wii
Dance in their heads.

Ma doesn’t wear a kerchief
And I have no cap
Sitting in my parents’ den
Notebook in my lap.

And, what to my sleeply eyes
Doth appear??
Bills, bills, and more bills
Enough to choke a deer.

The presents all opened
The snacks are half gone
And, any small remnant
Of my diet is blown.

And, now, a still moment
To ponder the reason
Of why God began
The first Christmas season.

God loves us so much
Beyond what we know
That He sent His Son
Whose light would soon glow.

His earthly light
Shone bright as a star
And by His disciples
Would spread to afar.

His light, not doused
As He hung on a tree
A tomb could not hold Him
And, He did it for me . . .

For me, and for you
He paid for our sin
He defeated death
And our souls He would win.

And now, our job
To tell EVERYONE
The meaning of Christmas
This act of God’s Son.

And now, I do wonder
What will we do
That the presents are opened
And Christmas parties are through?

Will we work hard
To tell the whole world
Or will we keep quiet
Keep His banner furled?

Will we be like Santa
And take a year’s rest
OR will be be like Paul
And give Him our best?

We will each make a choice
Each day and each night
Merry Christmas to all
And I hope yours is RIGHT!

Its about time!! It was supposed to get down to 20 or so last night. I don’t think it did, not that I would know. But it is COLD!! Christmas is REALLY HERE!! Will we have a white Christmas?? Only if I stand on the roof and shake potato flakes out of a box as my kids get up on Thursday, but I guess I COULD …

As we move closer to our wonderful holiday, remember there are many in need this holiday season. We’ve received a record number of phone calls this year, and there are more to come. There are many people in our region who need help. Are you willing??

Also, we cannot forget our soldiers around the world who protect the freedoms we enjoy day-in and day-out. Some of them stand posts in weather MUCH COLDER than 20 degrees. They sacrifice time with their families, their homes, and the comforts only provided by freedom. They make these sacrifices so WE can enjoy them. PRAY for our men and women of the armed forces as you enjoy this most sacred holiday.

If we would all work for peace on earth, maybe they could be HOME next Christmas!

Here we are!!! Santa Claus is comin to town, READY OR NOT!!! Are you ready??

This week will be like a rollercoaster. Two days to get ready for a weeks’ worth of stuff at church. It WILL be a rollercoaster, and I WILL work on some of this stuff at home. The only problem with that is I will have to do some of the work on Greenville, and that is always tough.

Hope you have all of your shopping done, and if not, take a BODYGUARD with you to the mall!!!