Showing True Love



Yesterday, I preached on John 13: 31-38 which is Jesus giving his disciples a new commandment to love each other. I pointed our several things regarding this passage of scripture. The most important is that this is not a new commandment but a completed commandment.

God gave Israel the Ten Commandments basically telling them that they could not follow them so a sacrifice was needed to atone for their sins. The commandment “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the original commandment. The command to love one another that Jesus gives his disciples (and us) is not new in the sense that it had never been given before. The Greek word for new that is used here does not refer to an innovation - something never before existing. Rather, it refers to renewal and restoration. The love commandment's newness comes from the fact that the work of the cross and the gift of the Holy Spirit were about to make it possible to really love one another for the first time. The commandment was renewed by the work of Christ. Because of what Christ did on the cross, we are able to truly love our neighbor and our fellow Christians as God first intended us to do so.

Our people at Common Ground took this sermon to heart yesterday and did show love to one of own; in every sense of the word “love.” This past Monday, we found out that Barbara Dean passed away. Barbara was only with us for a year before she had a massive stroke which made her wheelchair bond and unable to speak (or sing). Because of the stroke, she was sent back home (by her daughter) to Nassau Bahamas so she could be taken care of by the family. That was 3 years ago and this past Monday God called her home. Emmy (her daughter) still comes to our little church. We made known that a minimum of $350 was needed to help Emmy make it to Nassau for the September 4th funeral of her mom. Roger (our senior pastor) told the people during the announcements of the amount needed and $650 came in. Not only do we have enough for Emmy’s plane ticket, but extra for whatever is needed. We took this new commandment to heart yesterday and by our actions we showed we are Christ's disciples.

Any of the spiritual gifts can be and have been imitated by non-Christians for profit. Any of the external marks of piety that Christians have adopted can be faked. But sustained, on-going love for each other, love modeled after Christ's love for us cannot be counterfeited. Such love is the true mark of the Christian.

Conservatism Does Not Equal Salvation


This post is influenced by what I have been hearing the last few weeks on talk radio and Fox News channel (which I enjoy watching) and seeing since the early 1980s. I am very conservative in my Biblical Theology and Liberal in my Methodology which means I preach Christ is the only way to heaven but serve others with God’s love with no strings attached. God draws people to Himself not me. When it comes to politics I try to be apolitical; meaning, I do not use God’s pulpit to preach the GOP or the DNC platform. I hold to what Billy Graham once said, “I’m not for the right wing or for the left wing; I’m for the whole bird.”

I think in our churches; especially the evangelical ones (once called fundamentalist churches) that when we see and hear someone who is a conservative politician who think they are a Christian; especially if they claim to be one. I’ve learned to not make that assumption. Some who claim to be are and some are not; God truly is the only One who knows His children. I want to caution Christians to not leap to that conclusion.

I agree with Glenn Beck on somethings and I think he and his radio partners are funny; however, I can not and will not call him a Christian. He is a Mormon and if you know anything about the “Latter Day Saints” you know they are not Christians. They hold to works to earn salvation and they believe that God (or what they call God) is only one of many gods. He is the god of this section of space but there are others. There is only one true God and there is only one way to heaven and it’s not through works; it’s through Jesus Christ. So use caution when you put too much into what Glenn Becks says when he is saying America needs to get back to its foundation. He is speaking about “spiritualism” and not Christianity. He sees (I heard him say this on the O’Reilly Factor) the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and any other group’s god as being the same; they are not. Research it out; yes the Christian and Jewish faith hold to one true God but the Jews do not see Jesus as the promised Messiah. When you research Islam, Allāh is not the same name for the God of Christianity, but is the name of the moon god thus the use of the Islamic symbol of the moon and star.

I am saying this so you don’t assume a conservative politician is a Christian, or a liberal politician isn’t a Christian; check them out. Since the 1980’s rise of the “Religious Right” more politicians have made the claim of being a Christian. I can not say who is and who is not but actions speak very loudly. The best test to determine if a person is a true Christian (not fool proof) is if they say Christ only when speaking about eternal salvation. If a person says Christ plus (anything) they are most likely not a Christian or really theologically ignorant. If they say Christ plus the church, Christ plus good works, or Christ plus . . . a read flag should pop up because of John 14:6 (Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.).

I write this only to make sure people are not blindly following anything or anyone other than the one true God and relying on Him through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection from the grave. Be a person a political conservative or a political liberal; if they confess Christ only for salvation they are a child of God. If a person is a political conservative or a political liberal and says Christ plus whatever, there is a good chance they are just religious. Being religious will not get a person to heaven; the person Jesus Christ does. It’s something to think about.

The “One” Who Does



From time to time, I think about what God is doing with Common Ground Community Church. I can’t believe it hasn’t been a year yet since we put more focus on getting the ministries of the church more organized. Roger (the Senior Pastor) asked me to get the church better organized because this is my giftedness. Last night Teresa mentioned how he has changed (in a good way) and it is because he can now just focus on studying for sermons and preparing for the Leadership Training sessions we do for future leaders of CGCC. In less than a year, a lot has happened in our little church and ministries are more organized and we are growing.

It can be freeing to know that you can rely on someone else to get things done so you can focus on your passion. I learned several years back that God is the One who builds a ministry/church. After all, the church is His bride. I’ve been a stuff member of some churches that say you must do XYZ and the ministry or church will grow. Sometimes it did and sometimes it didn’t. If it grew, then you felt like you did things right and if they didn’t you had the stress of figuring things out to get it to grow. If you notice the common denominator is “you.” We don’t do anything to grow a church and/or ministry. God does the growing.

As the Executive Pastor of CGCC, my goal isn’t to organize the church to better reach our community with the gospel of Christ. My goal is for us to stay out of God’s way and follow His lead. If we keep our eyes on our Master, He will direct us where He wants us; He will send people to us to reach and teach; and He will send us labors to work with us to reach our community.

Once I discovered this truth; that it’s all about Him and bringing God the glory it has freed me to serve Him better. It’s not about building a name for myself in the SBC or having people ask me how we got it done or how we grew to X number; it’s all about pointing people to Jesus Christ. The words me, we (the Elders of CGCC), or us (the members of CGCC) should never be used in completing the work of the gospel. God does not need us to do His work; He chooses to use us.

Remember the main goal of the any local church. It’s not to build to a certain number; it’s not to be known in our community, city, start, or country; it’s not to have other churches calling asking how, why, or when; it is all about honoring our Savior and bringing Him the glory.

You’ve Got to Be Kidding!!

Today the department I work in at Dollar Tree did a team building outing; it was fun. Before we left, I sent out a memo suggesting another type of team building event. I put a link to this blog along with a link of the video of me finishing Saturday’s race. I wrote that next year’s “The Military Challenge” race would be an ideal team building event. You can have up to 5 people to a team. I meant it as a joke, but I have enjoyed the reactions from my co-workers.

Not long after I sent the memo, I was talking with Teresa and I heard “You’ve got to be kidding; that man’s not right!” from the lady who sits beside me. I told Teresa I thought she had read my memo and she did. I know that are some that might even think about it but I know they are few. We adventure racers are few and far between.

On Saturday, I did see a team of 4 that started with me in the second stage from First Baptist Church of Norfolk. I thought that maybe next year I can get a few of the guys from Common Ground to run with me. One almost did this year until he did something to his knee. We have some in our church that would try it at least. Maybe next year, there will be a Team Common Ground. That would be a different type of outreach.

The Military Challenge 2010

Below are some photos of the race I ran in on Saturday, July 31. This race is Teresa’s anniversary gift to me; 14 years on July 20. My wife knows me so well; I loved this gift. In the middle of the photos is a link to the race’s website that has a video of me finishing the race; its 25 seconds long. If you are wondering why I ran this race, my answer is why not. That’s how I’m wired. A challenge is never too big.
Since this is “The Military Challenge” there were a lot of military there. I saw a Marine wearing a t-shirt with “Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body.” I agree completely. Enjoy seeing my insanity.

The face of a very excited man ready to get dirty!

It's 6:45am and we just arrived at the VA Beach Sporting Complex.

You people are crazy; it's 6:45am. It's sleeping time!

Stretching for the race.

Just kissed Ripley for luck.

And the race begins.

Finishing the 20 fense posts; that was killer!

Coming out of the mud pit.

Tom making his way to the last obstacle; the slip and slid.

Tom starting the 20 ft long slip and slid.

Just about to finish.

The Military Challenge 2010 - Virgina Beach, VA :: FinishCam.com

A clip to see me coming through the finish line. My actual time is 39:51.55; I was the 2nd group.

Very happy to be done.

Happy to have some cold water.

Tom not caring that he is white under the shirt; it's alot cool with that off.

Tom washing off the mud.

Last phot before Tom took off the pants. Yes he had biker shorts on.