Bi-vocational Ministry



Yesterday, I met up with a pastor friend of mine for coffee. He introduced me to a gentleman who is an interim pastor of a church in Hampton. I really enjoy meeting new people, and talking with Randy was a treat; the 90 minutes went by quick. Randy is looking to get back to the mission field in Asia by end of the year and the church will need a man who can pastor and love them going forward. I asked questions about the church and Randy asked questions to see where I stand on important areas. The one question that I knew would come is if I wanted to be a bi-vocational pastor or a full time pastor. If you are reading this and don’t know, I’ve been a bi-vocational minister for most of my ministry life. In fact, in my opinion every Christian is called to the ministry and are to tell others about Christ. It’s only a select group of men who God calls to equip the church to be able to grow in their walks. These men are called pastor, elder, or bishop (all the same office of the church).

The answer to Randy’s question is yes; I’m willing to be bi-vocational and/or full time. In my mind, I’ll be full time even if I have to work a secular job to pay the bills. I’ve thought about this for a while now. I would pastor a church for no pay if it would help get a group of Christians growing in their walks with Christ and reach their community with the gospel of Christ. God would ensure I’m taken care of; I’m His child after all.

God has supplied me with a great job at Dollar Tree, where I get paid very well with benefits. I also am able to do church work at my desk if my duties are complete. While church planting and leading a Bible Study in Carrollton last year, most of the studies were prepared at my desk at Dollar Tree. I’m not robbing my employer; my boss told me as long as my work is done I can do whatever at my desk. I’m able to manager my days off to do church duties where I need to. Most churches can’t afford to supply medical insurance so having it through my job will be one less thing a church would need to try to provide; that money can be put back onto the church’s bank account and used to reach the lost for Christ.

Being bi-vocational has been interesting because I have to manage my time so I can earn a wage but also make sure the people God has entrusted me with are cared for. There are many challenges being bi-vocational but I love it because I see it as being on the front lines of the Spiritual war. I would go crazy if I was stuck in an office; I’ve been there and done that before. If I was full time as a pastor, I would spend more time at the coffeehouses, restaurants, parks, and other places meeting new people and showing them Jesus. Pastors are to lead by example and being in the secular world and serving Christ at the same time shows Joe Christian how to manage their secular job and their calling as a Minster in God’s army.

Who Am I?




I still am left in awe when God uses me for His glory. It amazes me He can and will use me to further His kingdom. I just finished putting together this Sunday’s sermon and it came together so quick and easy. God was putting things at my figure tips that I would need for the sermon; Bible verse, illustrations, and even graphics for the power point slides. It’s amazing; have I said that all ready?
God can easily use creation to proclaim His glory, but He chooses to use us humans. I can be so lazy and willful but He still wants to use me. He doesn’t need me; I need Him. I need Him for everything and He is always there to supply for my needs. That is awesome.
Thank you for your mercy; thank you for your grace, and most of all thank you for your forgiveness.

World View



I’m getting so sick and tired of the media parading same sex relationships. Another female star has announced that her long time girlfriend and her are “engaged.” It’s starting to make me sick. I’m totally for loving sinners where they are and loving them into the Kingdom. People do not care what you know until they know how much you care for them. The only people Jesus ever condemned in the N.T. were the Pharisees because of their attitude. As a child of God, I’m called to show people Jesus and the Holy Spirit is the One who shows people their need for a Savior. I think I’m more sick of the world view of our society.

The world view you hold determines how you react to situations. If your world view is secular, then same sex relationships do not bother you because it’s up to the individual to determine what they believe. After all, truth is subjective (not really but the world thinks so). Your world view depends on your starting point. If your starting point does not consist of God, then you will have a secular world view where anything goes. If your starting point does consist of God, then you will have a Biblical world view; where you pass everything through the filter of the Bible.

Our society’s standards have changed a lot since the early 1950’s. America is a religious country but a Christian country anymore. Our society preaches tolerance until someone points out something is wrong according the “The Standard” which is the Bible and that’s when the tolerance preachers become intolerant to what is right in the eyes of God. The Liberal media isn’t right nor is the left wing nuts who are trying to force feed their agenda to the American people. As a conservative preacher, I would not even say that the “Religious Right” is correct all the time either. As a Christian, I’m called to love people where they are. These people (if the Holy Spirit) is working on them will see their need for a Savior.

My starting point is based on the Truth. The truth is found in the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Since my starting point is based on Jesus, my world view is that of the Bible. I will proclaim the good news of Christ, love people as Christ showed me in the gospels, and point people to Him. When He forgives them of their sins and they become a new creature, I will be there to equip them to grow in Him. And as they grow in Him, they will repeat the process. I call it Spiritual Reproduction.

Muddy Buddy 2009

Last weekend Chuck Love and I ran in a race together. It was all about the fun and two friedns getting to hang out. Below are some photos from the race.

The water was cold but refreshing.

Mud should not hurt, but this mud pit left marks on the knees.

I'm finishing up the last rope.

Chuck happy to not be dead.

I'm checking to see how muddy I got.

Chuck is happy to be done.

I'm happy to be done with another race.

Chuck and I wanted to be cheesie.

For Men



Ephesians 6:10-13 teaches us that if you are a Christian man, then you are called into the battle of life. This is not an invitation. This is a command. For far too long, men have been on the sidelines, in the bleachers, or on the couch while the "spiritual forces of evil" have corrupted our culture, attacked our families, and infiltrated the Church. If you are a Christian man, then you are a leader. As faithful followers of Jesus Christ, we must become the sacrificial servant leaders that He modeled for us. We are to be His true ambassadors 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

It’s time for Christian men to get off our rears and “Cowboy the @#*% Up (Bruce Willis in “Tears of the Sun”).” It’s not up to the wives/mothers to instruct and lead the families; it’s the calling of us men to lead our families. Mark Discol in the early years of Mars Hill Church had young men not stepping up and being husbands and fathers so he had a special service for only the men of the church. In this meeting, he laid out what being a man truly means using the Bible and at the end handed all who attended a bag with two marbles saying, “Here’s your balls back.”

Boys learn to be men by watching the men in their lives. I encourage the men who attend our weekly men’s group to lead their families. We have a young man who asked me if it is alright for him to start bringing his one month old son to class. I know this is to give his wife a little rest before church, but I told him it’s never too early to teach a boy to be a man. Who knows, maybe these group sessions will stick with him. It’s time for the church to focus on getting men either back or get the men who are there involved. It takes a real man to love Jesus.

Little Eyes Are Watching



This morning, I received an e-mail from my sister, Wendi, about her 8 year old son Justin. The note reads, “Justin's school is having a run/walk today. They get prizes for the number of laps they can do in 30 minutes. This morning Justin was doing his stretch exercises like you taught him. He plans to run the whole time like his Uncle Tom. We'll see what he actually does.”

This note just reminds me of how important it is for us adults to be mindful of our words and actions around the little ones. Justin and I only ran together twice while they visited at Christmas. It amazes me what he took away from it. Justin is only 8 years old but because I took the time to show him something that interested him, he has applied to his life.

I tell the men of the Bible Study I lead on Sunday mornings, that men learn to be men by watching either their fathers or the men in our lives at a young age. In general, children are watching us; how we react to issues, discussions, and/or conflict. We should be mindful of our actions and words everywhere we go but especially around children. They are little sponges that absorb every little word. When little and learning, children want to be just like daddy and/or mammy. They will mimic everything we do. It’s amazing.

Last month, a friend of Teresa and mine’s father died from cancer. In his memorial, the son said that his father was the same in church as he was in the house. Since he practiced what he preached and walked the walk, the four siblings all doing something in ministry. We never know what lessons we are teaching though our actions. Remember, actions do speak a whole lot louder than words ever will.

Swamp Stomp Half Marathon Photos

Below are some photos Teresa and some friends took of last weekend's half marathon. I wrote down some thoughts in the post under all the photos. You can't see it but I sweat so much that I had salt above my eyebrows and the side of my forehead. It was awesome.

Looking fresh before the race starts. That blue cloth holds alot of water; it kept the sweat from my eyes.

People lining up for the race.

Entering the last 50 yards.

Making my way through the final few yards to the finish line.

Finishing another race.

Looking at the Frost's little dog.

On my way to give Teresa a kiss.

Checking my watch for my final time as Elain congratulations me.

Ed Frost and me enjoy the music and the fellowship.

My bid number and medal.

Finishing Strong




On Saturday, I ran in my second half marathon. My goal was to finish better than my first one. A few weeks ago, I set my mind on finishing no later than 2 hours 30 minutes; I race my first half marathon in 2 hours 41 minutes back in August 2008. The morning of the race, that time changed in my mind to 2 hours 25 minutes. I started off well with averaging 10 minutes a mile. As I was running, I hit the wall that all runners hit. I hit it after 9 miles. I had to dig into myself and push through. When I made it to the finished line, I saw that I finished the race at 2 hours 23 minutes. This is 18 minutes faster than my first half marathon. I was stoked.

Every race I run, I want to finish strong. I don’t want to walk the last part of it or walk over the finish line. I want to run through the finish line. As most races, on Saturday the passage of scripture came to mind that Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I also thought of Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Just as my desire to finish strong in the road race, I want to finish strong in the Christian race. I want to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant” out of my Lord’s mouth. When my race is over and I breathe my last breath, I want to be running the Christian race as strong and fast as I have since the day God drew me to Himself.

Networking



I enjoy FaceBook because I’ve been able to get reconnected with college friends and see what some former teens (now 20 somethings) have been up to since they finished high school and left our youth group. A lot of people my age (late 30’s) have been getting on the community. The main reason I first got on the bandwagon was for networking. Most of the ministry people I know here locally first joined FaceBook for the same reason as me; networking.

Over the weekend, I had a note from a friend of mind who started a church a few years back in Franklin, VA with a need. The church is looking for a Worship Leader. A name popped in my head of a young man who was in our youth dept back in the 90’s who has earned a degree in music from the same college I attended so I sent him a note asking if he was looking for a church. He replied with a yes and sent me his resume. I sent my pastor friend a reply with the name of this talented young man and then forwarded his resume to him. I haven’t heard anything else regarding this but it would be cool if God opens this door for both men. If so, then FaceBook had a part of this union.

DON'T LEAVE IT ON THE DESK

I came across this story. It's an older one but has a great truth to it.

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States. Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery. Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. 'How many push-ups can you do?'

Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.' '200?'

That's pretty good, Steve, ' Dr. Christianson said.

'Do you think you could do 300?'

Steve replied, 'I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.'

'Do you think you could?' again asked Dr. Christianson.

'Well, I can try,' said Steve.

'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' said the professor.

Steve said, 'Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it..'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.'

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked,
'Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?'

Cynthia said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'

'Sure!' Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe, do you want a donut?'

Joe said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut.. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut. Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship. When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'

Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'

Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'

Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Scott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Look! This is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.' And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his brow..

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'

Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'

Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'

Professor Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?'

Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?' Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. 'Yes,' he said, 'give me a donut.' 'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was handed a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular. Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a donut?'

Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'

Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda. Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. 'Dr.
Christianson, why can't I help him?'

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book.

Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.'

'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding, 'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.'

'Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'

An E-mail Story



Below is a story I received from a friend. This is a true story. it just shows what God can do through a child.

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was 'too crowded.'

'I can't go to Sunday School,' she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: 'This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.'

For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.

He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there...

A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.

When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century).. Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia , look up Temple Baptist Church , with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University , where thousands of students are educated.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, 'Acres of Diamonds'.

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

The Best Moment



Saturday, I ran in the Shamrock 8K race in VA Beach, VA. There was a record crowd of runners; 8, 000 of us. The weather started at 35 degrees so I had a sweatshirt, sock cap, and gloves along with shorts (hate running in long pants); the sock cap came off at mile no. 2 and the gloves came off at mile no. 4. I saw a few people that work at Dollar Tree but no one from my department (10 of us registered). As usual, I zoned out about 20 minutes before the start of the race and started focusing on the race which means I turned on my I-pod and relaxed my mind and didn’t pay attention to the people around me. The 8K was easy because I run longer on my normal Saturday morning runs so I was focusing on my pace; wanted to run 9 minute miles and I did. I finished in 45 minutes and 8 seconds. That was third place for the Logistics Department. Not too bad since most of the runners in my department are 10 to 12 years younger.

I can think of two good moments of the race. One was seeing a man running with a large American flag flying in the wind. It brought a tear to my eye and I thanked God for our country. But the best moment was when the Casting Crowns song “Praise You With the Dance” came on my I-Pod and I was running on the wood walk. The wind was blowing and to my right the waves were rolling on the beach. It was an awesome moment. I couldn’t help but worship my God as I ran this part of the 5 mile course. Just thinking about it puts a smile on my face. That was an awesome moment.

Another Race



Tomorrow is the first race of the season for me. It’s a shorter one; 8K (less than 5 miles). I learned back on Thanksgiving’s Day that running to 35 to 45 degree weather isn’t that bad if you have the right clothes so I’ve been running throughout the weather. This race is a little different for me. A few of the managers in the department I work in have registered and it will be neat to see if I can beat them. They are all 10 to 11 years younger but I am in better shape. My goals are to keep my pace at 8 to 9 minute mile and beat the younger managers. It will be fun; the temp should be upper 40’s and sunny.

Tomorrow’s race will be a warm up for the Swamp Stamp next month. The Swamp Stamp is a half marathon through the Dismal Swamp State Park. I’ve heard it’s a little easier than the Rock-in-Roll Half Marathon because the route is all flat and is the old Rt. 17 so it’s all on ash fault which is better for the joints.

It’s amazing what only one year can change. This time last year, I just started back at running again after 12 years of no running. The 5K (3.14 miles) race in May was my first race. Since then, I’ve run in 2 5K races, an 8K Mud Run, and a half marathon. My goal for this year is to do one triathlon. We will see.

Worldview



Yesterday, I received an e-ail from Barna Group with an article on worldviews. The article dealt with how Christians view the “Biblical Worldview.” Below is a small portion:

For the purposes of the survey, a “biblical worldview” was defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists; the Bible is totally accurate in all of the principles it teaches; Satan is considered to be a real being or force, not merely symbolic; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; and God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe today. In the research, anyone who held all of those beliefs was said to have a biblical worldview.

Varying numbers of Americans embrace the different aspects of biblical worldview thinking. The survey found that:

• One-third of all adults (34%) believe that moral truth is absolute and unaffected by the circumstances. Slightly less than half of the born again adults (46%) believe in absolute moral truth.
• Half of all adults firmly believe that the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches. That proportion includes the four-fifths of born again adults (79%) who concur.
• Just one-quarter of adults (27%) are convinced that Satan is a real force. Even a minority of born again adults (40%) adopt that perspective.
• Similarly, only one-quarter of adults (28%) believe that it is impossible for someone to earn their way into Heaven through good behavior. Not quite half of all born again Christians (47%) strongly reject the notion of earning salvation through their deeds.
• A minority of American adults (40%) are persuaded that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life while He was on earth. Slightly less than two-thirds of the born again segment (62%) strongly believes that He was sinless.
• Seven out of ten adults (70%) say that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing creator of the universe who still rules it today. That includes the 93% of born again adults who hold that conviction.

Rest



Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him--Psalm 37:7a. Newton’s first law of motion was the law of inertia: All objects in the universe tend to remain at rest or continue in motion until acted upon by an outside force. In other words, nothing stops or starts randomly or by accident. If we bring Newton’s law to spiritual life we might say that rest and activity occur as a result of choice. The biblical rest that the psalmist spoke about in Psalm 37 is not the same as laziness or is it the absence of spiritual activity. This kind of rest means to stop striving in our own strength and depend on the Lord. When we think of rest we think of ceasing physical actions. When we rest in the Lord we cease things too, like: worry, anxiety, tension, and fear. When we rest in the Lord we also increase some things like: trust, faith, and submission to the will of God. And what about increasing these too—prayer, Bible study, and consulting with a trusted mentor. Don’t forget while we rest, God is awake!

The Next Great . . .



Over last few years I have come to terms with who I am in Christ. I’m not the smartest, best looking, or edgy person; I’m just me. I remember attending Baptist Bible College and hearing the stories of Jerry Falwell and what he did while at BBC. I heard men who wanted to be the next Jerry Falwell. Don’t get me wrong, I feel God used Jerry in his life but there is (or was) only one Jerry Falwell. Now that Billy Graham is not doing as much as he has done in the past, people are looking to brand the new Billy Graham. Rick Warren’s name has been thrown out as a possibility. There is only one Billy Graham and there is only one Rick Warren. God put things together to develop these men into who they are (or were) so that He (God) could/can use them in the way God has determined.

In the gospels, Jesus didn’t heal blind people in the same way every time. There are seven times that Jesus healed a blind person and each time, He used a different method. As you read the Bible, you can see the different types of people God used to bring Him glory. God didn’t use the same type of person but used a great assortment of personalities, temperaments, and backgrounds. I believe God likes to use variety and not just the same old same old.

In my years of following God, I’ve learned that the ones to who seem to have it together truly don’t. They either fall to sin or just don’t accomplish much for God. The ones who seem to achieve much (in my opinion) for the kingdom just don’t seem like much in the eyes of man. But when you see how they rely on God and see what God does through them, it’s just amazing.

Instead of trying to be the next Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, Rick Warren, or whomever just be the best you God has made you to be. For every Jerry Falwell or Billy Graham there are hundreds or thousands of unknown men and women teaching and preach Christ that we do not know about. As David wrote in the Psalms, God knew us before we were even born and has established our steps. God has put us through the things we lived through (good, bad, or indifferent) to mold us into who we need to be to bring Him glory. Our sole purpose is to bring God glory and to give Him honor. Instead of trying to be the next great pastor or have the next great church, we should just be the best us God has made us to be.

Think about.

Love Worth Having



I’m reading “A Love Worth Giving” by Max Lucado. The book is a study of 1 Corinthians 13 or the “Love Chapter” as I call it. I always enjoy reading Max Lucado books. They are full of good information wrapped around great stories. It amazes me that Max has written as many books and leads a church. He must have good asst. pastors assisting him.

I originally bought the book to just read but as I’ve made my way through this book, I want to develop a sermon series. The insights Max offers are good stuff. I’m sure with the information in this book plus my own study, a study of 1 Corinthians would benefit our church members.

Yesterday, in the chapter that covers verse 7 ([love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.) I thought about what Christ has done for me. Christ saved me from my sins but beyond that continues to grow me and pick me up when I fail Him. I have a saying, “its tough being human but someone has to do it, and I do it so well.” Being a Christian doesn’t make a person perfect; it makes us forgiven (of our sins) and a child of God. Since we are a child of God, He loves us and wants the best for us. Agape is the Greek word used in 1 Corinthians. Agape is the word that describes how God feels for His people and for those He died for on the cross.

How can I not try to do the best I can for the One who took all my sins on Himself on the cross? In myself, I will always fail my God. The great thing is that it’s not me but Him. I can’t be perfect but He can make me perfect. As I walk with Him (daily) through my Bible reading and prayer, He molds me into the man he wants me to be; knowing that He loves me with the agape love blows my mind. Without Jesus in my life, I am nothing. It is only because of what Christ did makes me worthy. I pray that I never forget this.

Broken People



Last night I was part of something I’ve never been part of. I was part of a spiritual intervention. One of the men of our church have been telling half truths and lies, and last night his mother-in-law had me (as an Elder and his teacher) and the Sr. Pastor come to her house so we could be witnesses. I’ve met with this man several times and had been lied to about what has been going on in his house with his wife and family. I felt sad for him but knew this was needed. He has hit bottom and knows that the leadership knows of his deceit. The Sr. Pastor basically called him out and told him that he is defaulting back to his old ways when he lies, and the Pastor is completely correct. I’ve talked with Joe (not his name) today and told him that I forgive him of the lies he told me and how he mislead me. I’ve learned to trust my 6th sense or discernment; I’ve felt for sometime something wasn’t right but wasn’t sure. He has a ways to go (as we all do) but if he continues to trust that God can help him become the man he should be he will be fine.

Sometimes it takes God breaking people for them to stop playing church and be real. Palm 23 shows us that God is our shepherd. The second half of verse 4 says, “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” The rod and staff of a shepherd are used to keep the sheep safe and on track. If a sheep doesn’t heed the shepherd’s leading and does its own thing, the shepherd will break the sheep’s front two legs. The shepherd then carries that sheep on his shoulders until the legs are healed. Most of the time, after this happens the sheep keeps close to the shepherd but if that same sheep starts on the same path the shepherd has no choice but to kill it to keep the other sheep from following the bad behavior.

This is similar to some Christians. They think once they are saved they can continue in their old ways. Our Master wants the best for us. He (through the Holy Spirit) leads us in the way we should go. If a Christian keeps doing their own thing, God breaks them. It could be in the form of losing their jobs or poor health. I know when I see a Christian going through trials, that’s when they tend to grow the most. God doesn’t always have to break people to get them to change. The shepherd knows when to use his staff to lead the sheep and when to use the rod to break a sheep’s legs. Breaking is always as the last resort. God only breaks people after he gives them changes.

Being broken will hurt; I know from experience but in the long run it’s for our benefit. God loves us so much He died for us. What we think is best isn’t even close to true best. The true best is only found in obeying and honoring God.

Dedication and Focus



My sister-in-law’s (Beth) boyfriend is a gym owner and a bodybuilder. Randy has won some bodybuilding contests and is training for one that will be held in Florence KY in March. Being a bodybuilder takes a lot of dedication and focus. Since Randy is training, he can’t have any carbs or sugar and a week before the contest he will need to limit his water intake to maximize his muscle definition. In my mind, there are bodybuilders and muscleheads. A bodybuilder is an athlete who has to balance diet and weight training along with aerobic workouts (i.e. jogging, biking, and/or swimming). A musclehead just works out with the weights with no or little thought of diet and cross training. I have a lot of respect for bodybuilders.

I wish I had the dedication and focus to be one. My M.O. over the years have been working out for 3 to 4 months and stopping for 2 months and starting back. The last year I have stopped this M.O. and have been going to the gym 5 times a week. My body is starting to look better and my lifts have improved. I’m more interested in a well rounded health and exercise program so I do more aerobic then lifting. I lift weights on Tuesdays and Thursdays (doing a full body program) with swimming and stationary biking on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and jogging on Saturdays and Sundays. I’m going up on my bench but right now I’m lifting around 210 pounds. I’m up around 110 pounds in my arm curls. I’m doing better because I’ve worked out straight now since last March and have been swimming constantly since June (I’m up to 30 minutes straight in the pool doing laps) and have run in multiple running races. I feel good.

I say all this to say that being a bodybuilder takes dedication and focus in the same way a Christian should have dedication and focus in their walk with Christ. There are Christians who have a walk (Bible reading, prayer, and church attendance) the same way I used to exercise. They are hit or miss and they haven’t grown in their Christian maturity. They are like a guy who is still bench pressing 50 pounds after exercising for years. Their M.O. could be reading their Bible for a solid 3 months and then something distracts them and they go several months without reading; could be getting up early for praying time for several months with one morning they decide to sleep in and before they know it months go by; and/or could have good church attendance until summer comes and they stop attending church. All these items are needed for a person to grow in their faith in Christ. Leaving any of these items out is like a guy who looks like he’s in a great shape (looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime) but can’t jog more than a mile before needing to stop for air. You look good and sound good but when trials come your way, you are derailed.

I mean not to come off judgmental but the Bible calls us to hold our brothers and sisters in Christ accountable. We have way too many Christians who are effete. They fall for the same sins time and again. In order that we constantly grow in our walk with Christ we must take note of the dedication and focus of a bodybuilder. We must train (read our Bible, pray, and attend church regularly) daily. We must avoid the spiritly carbs and sugars that will rob us of our hard work. Spiritly carbs and sugars can be allowing your eyes (and mind) to wonder where they shouldn’t, being part of things a Christian should have no business being part of, and the like.

Just as bodybuilders have workout partners, we as Christians should have partners. Another word for workout partners is accountability partners. An accountability partner will help us keep focused on the things that are well pleasing to God. An accountability partner will ask the hard questions; how’s your daily Bible reading going, are you praying, and how are your relationships? This is set up not to make you feel bad or like a loser but to help you and encourage you to get to the next level. This is like a workout partner helping their buddy go from bench pressing 300 pounds to bench pressing 400 pounds; by encouraging and giving them a hand when needed.

We (me included) need to be better at being dedicated and focused on our growth as Christians. God left us here for a reason; to further His kingdom. Let’s be a spiritual bodybuilder and grow lean spiritual muscles that we can flex for God and bring Him the glory.

Forgiving Others



In our world where payback is the norm and almost demanded, we called to forgive others in Luke 17:1-4.

Luke 17: 1-4

1He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!
2"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.
3"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4"And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him."

I must admit, I do struggle with this on the road. Especially if a person is driving in the left lane slower than me and they aren’t moving to the right lane (which should have slower traffic). The word moron either is thought or said out loud. I do get over it in a few minutes, but that does get on my nerves.

There are benefits for forgiving others their debts against us. According to the current psychology, when we forgive others we have less health issues. When we forgive it releases something in our body that relieves tension. But it’s still hard to let it go when people do you wrong. I had an experience in 2002 that taught me a lot about forgiving others.

On Mother’s Day of 2002, my sister’s then husband of 12 years left her a voice message telling her that he is leaving her for another woman. That threw my sister for a loop. What followed were weeks of staying with her (either over night or until she went to bed). I was so bad at Joe (not his real name) that I wanted to hunt him down and beat the mess out of him. That’s when the Holy Spirit told me to chill out. It was revealed to me that it’s only by God’s grace that I wasn’t like Joe. It was God’s job to work in Joe and not me. After a while I have come to forgive Joe for what he did to my sister to the point of shaking his hand and wishing him the best the last time I saw him.

We have to remember that it’s only because of what Christ has done for us on the cross and that God has drawn us to Himself that we are new creatures. We grow in our walk with Him but it’s because of his grace we are forgiven. If it wasn’t for the regeneration of grace, we would be just like the people who need our forgiveness. And if the person who offends you is a believer, let God deal with them. There is a plan laid out for that in scripture. It’s up to you to forgive.

Loving This World



Andy Warhol is one of America’s best-known pop artists. He readily admitted that his world revolved around pop culture with its shallowness, fleeting pleasures, and “fifteen minutes of fame,”. He once summed it up like this: “I am a deeply superficial person…If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and films and me, there I am. There’s nothing behind it.” Contrast that with the apostle John’s perspective of 1 John 2:15-17: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” When the Bible says, “Do not love this world,” it does not mean we are not to admire and appreciate the beauty and blessings of this life. But rather, the world in the sense that John was speaking about is our world system and things that are opposed to Christ and all that He stands for. When our primary desire is for pleasure, possessions and popularity things aren’t right. We call that sin and sin destroys. Loving the world tears down our relationship with God, it denies our faith in God, and discounts our future with God. Let’s live our life for the Lord and walk with Him in fellowship sweet.

Following God's Lead



A friend sent me the below poem about the word "Guidance." It speaks volumes.

Dancing With God

When I meditated on the word Guidance,

I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.

I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.

The movement doesn't flow with the music,

and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,

both bodies begin to flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back

or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.

It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.

The dance takes surrender, willingness,

and attentiveness from one person

and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.

When I saw "G": I thought of God, followed by "u" and "i".

"God, "u" and "i" dance."

God, you, and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust

that I would get guidance about my life.

Once again, I became willing to let God lead.

My prayer for you today is that God's blessings

and mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.

May you abide in God, as God abides in you.

Dance together with God, trusting God to lead

and to guide you through each season of your life.

Biblical Leadership



Pastors are like everyone else who confess Jesus as Lord. The men who have been called to lead a body of believers are just that, men with the same temperament, faults, fears, and strengths. Granted, a man who feels the calling to pastor people must meet all the requirements listed in First Timothy chapter 3. Since it is God who calls a man to pastor His people, He is the One who makes a man worthy to be a pastor. As a natural man, a pastor has nothing to offer God. It is because of God’s gift in the person Christ Jesus, we are made worthy.

As a man who has the calling to lead a body of believers, I know that my calling is to copy Christ. To do what He showed in the New Testament. Not to direct my agenda, but to follow the agenda God gives me.

Reading through “Summer Church Pre-Launch” training material by Dr. John Worcester, I came across the below list on how a pastor should lead his people.

1. Lead like a shepherd not like a cowboy

2. Build a trust based relationship not FEAR BASED relationship

3. Persuade them do not THREATEN THEM

4. Go before and set the example rather than STAY BEHIND and crack the whip

5. Care for and love them. Don’t USE AND ABUSE THEM

6. Lead them don’t DRIVE THEM.

7. Develop followers through delegation and doing ministry together

8. Delegate to those with the right attitudes and develop skills on the job

9. Look for leader types who will also follow

10. Negotiate everything up front and make authority boundaries clear

11. Keep all your promises

Being a pastor in an established church or church planter, the man of God must be a servant first. People will be willing to follow a person they feel cares for them.

I'm Happy!



I just got a call from the computer shop that has had my laptop for a week now. It’s nice and clean of all spy ware and ready for pick up. Teresa will go by and pick it up today. I can’t believe how happy that makes me. For almost 3 weeks, we haven’t had a computer at the house after having one for 10 years. The family computer stopped allowing us access to the internet 3 weeks ago so we knew something was up. It’s older (4 years old; ancient for computers) so after the shop told us the amount of money it would cost to remove all the spy ware and viruses, we decided to buy Teresa her own laptop. My laptop is only 1 year old so we had the shop clean it up.

Teresa is more technical than I so she has used the library computer to research how to prevent this from happening. We have a new WiFi server we are hoping will help. My laptop was hijacked because (we think) we’ve been using our neighbor’s WiFi and didn’t have a filter. We now know better.

It will be nice to have all my stuff back (pictures, videos, and other saved stuff). It has been weird not having what I need at my figure tips. Weird but this has made my day.

Slow But Learning

I’ve been in the ministry since I was 16 years old (age I was called to full-time ministry). I’ve worked as stuff member and as a lay-leader at 4 churches during these years. Over these years I would have to say God has taught me a lot (through His Word and through action). I remember when I was in my early 20’s I read a lot on birth order and personality make-up (both through secular and Christian authors). I remember one book told you your personality make-up and the Bible person that was the same as you. I remember reading that Simon Peter and I have the same personality. When you’re twenty-something that’s cool, but as you grow older it tends to bite you in the rear. Always removing my foot from my mouth got old. I’ve learned to be slow to speak and long in the thinking before opening my mouth. Teresa (my wife) has been a great help.

The last 3 years, we have been working at Common Ground Community Church and been planning to start a new church but God has redirected us the last few months. Now, we are looking at taking a smaller church and grow it. I’ve talked with a couple of churches here in VA and no doors have opened. It’s all good because I know we are on God’s timetable and he will open the door in His time.

Earlier this month, I had a church call me from MO. It was weird to have a church call me. This is a small country church that wants a bi-vocational pastor. I don’t mind doing bi-vocational (done it most of my ministry career). There is on big problem; I’m not a country preacher. I grew up in the suburbs. I sent them my resume and Teresa and I prayed. They asked to hear me preach and I gave them the web address of Common Ground website (there is a recorded sermon I preach in December). I never thought they would call me back but one of the search committee members called yesterday. They want to hear another sermon and asked if I can mail one to them; small church couldn’t afford airfare to fly us out. I told them OK but I had a weird feeling. I know I didn’t want to go and I could tell Teresa isn’t interested in moving. I told myself that if I send it and if it’s God’s will the door will open and then we will go and if not nothing will come of it. It sounded all nice and spiritual. At 3 am this morning, I woke up. I couldn’t get back to sleep. I knew what I had to do so after talking with Teresa, I e-mailed the point of contact and said thank you but no thank you (put nicer than that).

I had come to my senses. I want to pastor a church. I want to equip a body of Chris-followers to grow and reach out to their community. I was willing to try and kick in a door where I know that we (Teresa and I) would not fit. Teresa and I had this conversation last week when we were driving around where Teresa spoke to my heart. God used Teresa to say just the right think to me about looking for a church. Her words still ring in my ears; “God will open the right door at the right time. We just need to wait for Him to open it.” Now that will preach. I can be slow but I do learn. We are waiting on God. We are at the best place we can be.

Facebook

Last week, Teresa and I had to put out computer and my laptop in the shop. We have some virus issues. We are using the local library to check e-mail and other things (I’m use it’s computer for this posting). This morning I was able to talk with my cousin in HI via Facebook and a friend here locally. It’s cool to be able to get connected with people that live so far away and also keep in touch with people near you.
My time is so busy with work and ministry so when I can connect face to face I do that. I love meeting friends over coffee at Java Café (better coffee than Starbucks). But with my schedule, I can’t meet everyone. Facebook has been a great tool to help me keep connected with friends who attend other churches. Facebook has been great staying in touch with my family who live in almost every state in the union.
If you are on Facebook, send me an invite and I’ll make you my friend. I can always use more friends.

Power of the Resurrection

“He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. (Matthew 28:6)”

I never get used to reading about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I cry every time I read the gospels. I pray I never get over it. The passage I put above just jumped out at me today. “for He is risen, just as He said” made me rejoice in the Lord.

The crucifixion was the fulfillment of the agreement God made with Israel. It was a conclusion of the Law. Jesus didn’t just die in our place as a payment for our sin, He set us free from sin itself. Because Jesus was raised from the grave, we have the victory. The power of the resurrection is that we can overcome the sin that once held us down. Because of what Christ did, we can be more than conquers over sin and death. Jesus took the keys of death and hell from Satan when He was raised from the grave.

When you feel that you just can’t win or be delivered from any sin, remember that Jesus is seating on the right hand of God the Father and being our attorney and pleading your case. If you do know Jesus Christ as Savior, you are a new person. The Bible says that all things are new. God only sees two colors; white and red. Red is our sin and white is what purity looks like. When Jesus saves us, He seals us forever in His blood so when God the Father sees us He sees us through His Son’s blood which makes us appear white. That’s the power of the resurrection.

Feedback

The man I see as being my first and main mentor (the main person God used in my early ministry life) sent me his feedback regarding the list of questions I will ask when a church asks to talk with me about being their pastor. His feedback was:

“If you intend to turn an older church around you will want to look and listen for some humility among the leadership and people. If they are proud God will resist them and let them die. You don’t want to do palliative care for a dying congregation.”

I see this as very sound advice. I do not want to waste God’s time in pastoring a church not willing to change in order to reach the lost. I feel there is a time God sets up a church to exist to reach the people He wants the body to reach, and there is a time that God is finished using a particular body and allows it to die off. I do not want to wastes God’s time so I see the list of questions as a great tool. Of course, God can always move and change the hearts of a body to want to go from being self-centered to community/lost centered or being inward focused to being outward focused.. After all, it is really about honoring and serving God and not any tradition a church has had for any amount of time.

That’s why I intend to walk slowing with my Father and follow His lead so when He opens the door to lead His bride, I will know it’s Him leading me and not me.

Questions



I’ve been thinking and praying more these days on what God truly wants from me. In what way does He want to use me? In the last 3 years, God has taken me on a journey that I could not have imagined just a year before it started. I have a desire (I feel it’s a God given desire) to pastor a church. I want to lead a body of believers to grow beyond their limitations and start seeing the world as God sees it. I want to equip them to “get over themselves” and reach out to their community; to show love to the loveless as Christ did.

I know that with any calling, God equips the person to accomplish the task He has called them. With that said, I feel the journey I have been on the last 3 years has been one of learning and being stretched. The different people God has put in my path and the different tests of my faith have changed the man I was just 3 years ago. The start of this journey was something only God could have orchestrated. I can see His fingerprints throughout. The next step (I feel) will be an open door to lead a church. I know that as I’ve talked with several churches I need to develop questions to ask them to see if the door is opening for Teresa and me. Through reading the books “The Interventionist” and “Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can, Too” I see the importance of creating a list of questions in order to see if God is opening a door. Below is a list of questions I intend to ask any church who has asked Teresa and me to visit with them. I’m sure as I pray and read more and talk with fellow church leaders, this list will grow.

1.In the church’s history, how many pastors have you had and what is the average tenure of a pastor?
2.What do you think the duty (based on scripture) of the pastor is?
3.What functions do you want me to lead, and what areas do you think I should be hands-off?
4.What do you think the duty (based on scripture) of the deacons is?
5.What do you think the function (based on scripture) of the church is?
6.What do you think the responsibility of the church member is to the function of the church?
7.What are you willing to change (i.e. style of worship, décor, etc) to reach the lost?
8.What aren’t you willing to change?

Godly View of Trials

There are some people that God has put in my path that I feel it's an honor for me to work with or have worked with. Ron is one of these people. I got to know Ron pretty well while I worked in the Point Harbor Community Church's men's ministry. Since Teresa and I felt Point Harbor Community Church to work with Common Ground, I've seen Ron twice but we send e-mails all the time. Below is an e-mail from Ron that leaves me thinking that Ron knows the One who is in control of our lives. I my opinion, this is the correct way to view trials and tribulations.

I hope your family is well. Zee and I are still on the battle field for our Lord. I had rotator cup surgery on Dec. 22nd., my sister went home to be with the Lord Jan. 11th., her father is in the last stages of cancer as well as a cousin.

We have been studying the book/letter to the Phiippians. Just reading about Paul's many circumstances gives you a new prospective on your own. One thing that jumps out at you in the pages is the love, concern for the people of God that Paul had inspite of all other things going on in his life that made him personaly uncomfortable.

"These are the times that try men's souls". Isn't that so true? These are the times that a God who is in control of it all has allowed to be. I see why our Lord put such a low value on complaining and being unthankful. I see why it's not good to think one is entitled to only the best in life. I see how we can become so consumer minded, even in the church, to have the audacity to pick who we want to minister to. Even in the toughest times God continues to call us to the side of others in need. He continues to supply our needs according to His riches in Christ.

Isn't it blessed and wonderful that He does not put more on us than we can handle. We can do that to ourselves quit well. It's true that we should pray and wait for an answer so that we could be in the center of His will..but we don't always because we are mere humans, YET HE REMAINS FAITHFUL!! Pray for us on Saturday.17th. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m.

In Him

Ron

My Testimony

I was looking through my Microsoft Word documents and came across the below. I wanted to share this with you. If interested, read on.

On a Sunday morning in 1977, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior at the age of 7 years old. In 1984, my family joined Fellowship Baptist Church (now Point Harbor Community Church) in Chesapeake, Virginia. In that same year, I surrendered my life to God to do with as He wanted. I made myself available every time the church needed help. Every summer, I spent time at the church building helping with cleaning, maintenance, visitation, and washing the buses. No task was too small, because I was ministering. I carried a New Testament in my back packet everywhere I went so I would be ready to witness.

In 1986, I sensed God’s call on my life for full time ministry. With a new sense of purpose, I began to share the love of God with my classmates. I carried a Bible on top of my schoolbooks so that people would ask why. This gave me witnessing opportunities. I helped the Youth Pastor with anything and everything with the intent to learn and a sincere desire to minister with him and to the youth of our church.

In 1989, upon graduating from high school, I enter Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri to pursue a degree in Missions/Bible. After 3 years of study, I left college and return to Virginia to reassess and seek specific direction concerning God’s calling in my life.

From that time on, God has taught me much about waiting on His timing and trusting in His guidance. I have utilized this time in my life to deepen my faith-walk and actively serve in various ministries at three dynamic churches, both vocationally and as a lay leader. Currently, God has sent me Common Ground Community Church (a Southern Baptist Church Plant), where I’m partnering with the pastoral staff in the areas of Small Groups and Discipleship.

Doubt

I’m reading through the book of Matthew in my personal study and I came across the passage of Matthew 14 where Peter walked with Jesus on the water. After Peter became afraid because of the storm and began to sink, Jesus asked why he doubted. I heard a theory about this passage in that Jesus was asking Peter why he was doubting himself and not doubting Jesus’ power. This makes sense to me because Peter had enough faith to believe he could walk to Jesus on the water. The problem was when reality set in (seeing the wind and waves around him) he started to doubt his own abilities.

When Jesus calls out a person for a special task; be it to preach His word, move to a foreign country, or to just walk across the street to your neighbor He equips us for this task. I think when people freak out about the task God gives them to do it’s more about doubting ourselves and not God. But when you doubt our own abilities, you doubt God’s power. After all, God is the One who made us who we are (good, bad, or indifferent). Our S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experience) was created and developed by God to being glory to Himself.

I think in order to be fully committed to what God has laid on our heart to do for Him, we have to forget about all the fears we may have and keep our eyes solely on the One who called us to the task. According to Ephesians, God has already completed the tasks He has called us to do for Him. God knows all things and created all things. He knows what is in our path and will protect us and/or carry us through it. As long as we keep our eyes on God and do His work, we should not doubt ourselves. God has made sure we were ready before He called us to the task He is doing through us.

Read Matthew 14 and see.

Changing Our World



I just received a newsletter from a friend who is starting a new church in Westpoint, VA (just north of Williamsburg). He had some sound words for this this new year and I wanted to share it with you.

"As we turn the page into the new year we wonder, “What does the world hold for us in 2009?” We can look forward to many blessings in the next year. But also in our world there is much trouble and many challenges. We may see it in the news or experience it in our personal lives...War. Poverty. Disease. Political unrest. Moral decline. Ever wonder, “Is there anything I can do?” You might be feeling powerless to change the world, but you and I possess the power to change the world one heart at a time. Acts 1:8 tells us, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Want to do something that matters for eternity in 2009? Be a witness of the Gospel. Share your faith with individuals who are searching in darkness for the Light. As we stand at the beginning of a new year, my prayer is that I will reach out to more and more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be a part of the solution to the problems facing our world."

Think about it.

Mind over Matter

I’m sure most of you if not all of you know the phrase “Mind Over Matter.” It’s basically pushing through difficulties to achieve a goal. I remember as a teenager seeing the Clint Eastwood move “Heartbreak Ridge” the phrase being used in a way that I think of every time I use the term. In the movie Clint Eastwood plays a Marine gunnery sergeant trying getting a motley crew of Marines (Forest Recon) back into sharp. In a scene where a big muscle bound guy comes up to him and tells him that the group no longer has to mind or obey his orders because he no longer matters. It’s a great scene.

I had a “mind over matter” moment today at the gym. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I do 25 minutes on a stationary bike and 20 to 30 minutes swimming laps in the pool. Today, after 5 minutes my body was telling me to just swim 15 minutes because I over worked my shoulders and back yesterday doing free weights. I told myself to just get to 15 minutes and then we will see. After pushing through 15 minutes in the pool, I pushed on and did a full 30 minutes of laps. I pushed through the pain and achieved my goal of swimming 30 minutes. I have to say that I’m tired right now but this too will soon pass.

Technology



I’ve been thinking how great technology is over the weekend. I just finished reading a series of novels based in a medieval period and how long it took the characters to communicate long distances. They would travel for weeks to move just 50 to 100 miles. I think we take the technology we have now for granted. I had my truck serviced and the state inspection done on Saturday and while waiting I pulled out my Palm cell phone and surfed the web and answered e-mails. It wasn’t until I was done waiting that it hit me how great we have these days.

I normally don’t think about how easy we have it with our cell phones today. Two weeks back, Teresa and I were getting the house ready for the family (for Christmas) and we came across our first cell phones; bought them in 1999. They were heavy compared to what we have now and they were just phones. They didn’t have a camera, camcorder, web-access, or anything else we take as being normal on our cell phones today. I drive at least 38 miles round trip to work everyday (which is roughly 50 minutes in the truck) and just a hundred years ago this trip would have taken most of the day. In Biblical times most people only traveled maybe 15 to 20 miles from the home; most people lived most of their lives only traveling 10 to 15 miles from their home. Our technology is growing fast; yesterday Teresa saw the cell phones we have for only $50 and I think we paid $150 just 6 months ago. The same can be said about computers.

The reason why this struck me as interesting is that the people in ministry have great tools at our figure tips. We can be in contact with the office without needing to be in the office. With cell phones and laptops, we can stay out in the “field” and still stay in touch. God called us to be about our Father’s work but most are locked up in their offices doing administration stuff. I love being bi-vocational so I can be out and about shining God’s light on the field I have been entrusted with. When God opens the door for me to be a Senior Pastor of my own church (actual it is God’s church) I would be not in the office as much as some pastors. I will be in the coffeehouses and other place getting to know the community. Technology has given us the tools to do so much more than our forefathers. We should use it to the max to reach our world for Christ.