Again Jesus



On Monday night, our “The Truth Project” group talked about the State. After watching the video clip, we discussed the health of the U.S. and the concerns we have on how the country is changing. I’ve been thinking about this and I must admit, I have not been praying for our country or the leadership. I have confessed this sin to God (He calls us to pray for our leadership). I’m praying that God leads our leadership (Proverbs 21:1 “The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.”) the way He wants them to go. If you allow yourself to think about what’s on the news everyday, it can make you depressed.

Evil in the U.S. is increasing on a daily basis. Murder, rape and child abuse are flooding America. Children are destroying schools and killing their fellow students. Terrorism has finally entered The United States of America. We watch the news; the anchors will gladly interview the Democrats and Republicans to find out the answer on how to solve these issues. The Liberals and Conservatives, and the racial and gender activists talk as though they know how to fix these problems. According to them, we need more sex education or less sex education, more sex or less sex, bigger government or smaller government, more restrictive laws or more lenient laws, and on and on. They tell us that if we just raise or lower the taxes, and build more prisons or release more prisoners, that America will just fine. We need more freedom, or we need to sacrifice some of our liberties. They all think that they know the answer, but they obviously can't all be right. The fact is that none of them are correct.

Unless, the Christ-followers do what we are told to do and pray for our country, we have nothing to complain about. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 (“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”), we are called to humble ourselves and lay aside politics (I heard it said best by Billy Graham that God isn’t for the left wing or the right wing; He’s for the whole bird.) and ask God to heal our country. We haven’t had a revival in our country in a very long time. After September 11, 2001, people went to church in large numbers but with in a few months everything was back to the norm. We need a revival in our country.

I heard it best said that the word “Revival” means “Again Jesus.” Our churches need Jesus again. We don’t need programs or campaigns to get people to come to our church. Church attendance means nothing if the people coming aren’t saved. We need our hearts broken for the lost around us; until we (as Christ-followers) have revival in our own hearts, how can we expect revival to happen in America. We need to get on our faces before God, and confess our sins and ask for God to break our hearts for our lost family members, neighbors, co-workers, and our communities.

Until we Christ-followers have broken and changed hearts, our country is doomed to go the way of the Greek Empire, Roman Empire, Great Britain, and other countries that God has put to the side by either destroying them completely or removing their power. Until we have Jesus Again in our churches, we can not do anything of good for our country. Pray that God breaks your heart.

Not My Eyes



I had a strange encounter on Friday in the gym’s locker room. A co-worker who goes to the gym at lunch like me made a comment about the lady who was working out in the free weight area with us on Thursday. He said that he was hoping she was back. I made a comment that I was doing stationary bike and would not be in the free weight area. He told me that I should change it up if she’s in there. I told him that the woman actually got on my nerves because before every set her trainer had her do, she would complain. Yes, she was easy on the eyes but I tried to not look (or stare) at her like this co-worker. My co-worker looked kind of perplexed because of my attitude. I told him that when I got married, I made a vow to respect my wife so I try not to look at other women even though I am not prefect I try not to stare at the women who work out with us. I could tell that this was an alien idea to him.

Jesus made it clear that if a man looks at a woman and lusts after her, he has sinned. In the eyes of God, if you daydream about having sex with a hot young thing you see in the gym; in the eyes of God you committed sexual sin. If I had stared at this woman yesterday and daydreamed about doing things with her, in the eyes of God I would be guilty of adultery. As a child of God (because of the blood of Christ) my eyes are not my own. My eyes belong to Him who owns me lock, stock, and barrel. Jesus paid for my sin debt and now I belong to Him. Just as I told my co-worker, I’m not prefect but I try to avoid staring and when temptation is there I ask God for help. Paul told Timothy to run away from youthful lusts and so I do. As in the movie “Monty Python Holy Grail” I yell in my mind, “Run Away! Run Away!”

I learned a song as a child that seems it up: “Oh be careful little eyes what you see. Oh be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love, oh be careful little eyes what you see.” God is everywhere and all knowing. He knows what can trap us and He always makes a way to escape temptation. If I couldn’t control myself yesterday and not look at the woman working out, I would have left the gym without lifting a single weight. I would rather go a day with out exercise than sin in the eyes of my Father.

Married dudes; you made a commitment to your wives. Be careful where you allow your eyes to wonder and where your figures to click on the internet. You lust after other women and fantasize enough and you may just fall to sexual sin. A thought can turn into action. Don’t even give Satan a toe hold or he will push his whole foot in. Just close your eyes.

The Wisdom Book



I make it a practice to read through the book of Proverbs once a year (sometimes twice). When I was 14 years old, I was encouraged to read the Bible by my pastor. When I got to Kings and read about Solomon and his God given wisdom, I asked God for wisdom. You see, I grew up with a reading disability. I was placed in a special school from grades 3 through 6. When I was put back into “regular school,” I was placed in the special needs (used to be called Special Ed) classes. Through God’s working, I was removed and place into the regular classes and made good grades. I even was given an award for a 4.0 average in Earth Science. Since I went through all that, I know whatever ability I have to learn is God given. I hold fast to this fact, and give God the glory for all my successes.

Proverbs has taught me a lot from my first readings of it. Reading Proverbs 16:32 (He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty) has shown me how to relate to people. If a person is upset, they lash out at the nearest person. If you do not reply back, they are stopped in their place. Answering kindness for rudeness or cruelty will be much more a punishment for the attacker because they feel foolish.

I’ve shared this with people when I can. One of our members shared with me that God brought this to his mind when a former high school classmate put a stupid comment about church on his FaceBook wall. He wanted to reply back quickly but remembered what I shared about the lessons learned from Proverbs in my last sermon. He waited and replied after asking God how he should respond.

James 1:5 is my life verse; “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” I am a witness of this verse being true. God is so faithful to His children. He will give us what we ask for. If you need wisdom and/or help with getting knowledge, ask and He will give it to you.

Memories



The last few days, the past have come to my mind. Through Facebook, I've reconnected with people I've thought of but not talked with in 10 years. Today, a young couple who were in our youth group in the late 1990's got married. Today was the first time in 6 months I've been back to the old church. I saw people I haven't seen in awhile. I talked with several old friends. It was a good time.

I have a lot of memories at the church where the wedding was held. I took a few minutes to myself and walked around. There were some changes but the memories are still there. I pray that God will give me more years to create more memories I can give back to Him. For His glory.

Calloused People



For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Matthew 13:15 (NIV)

Johanna Spyri grew up in Christian home and was tutored by the village pastor. Sadly, as she approached adulthood, she pulled away from the faith of her family. She moved to Zurich and gradually grew more calloused about the faith she learned as a child. In the grip of depression, she returned to the Lord and recovered her mental and spiritual health. Johanna soon began to write about her native Alps, stories that express Christian truth. Her most famous book, Heidi, describes a calloused old man who hadn’t been to church in decades. Eventually the tender witness of his granddaughter, Heidi, softened his heart, and he returned to the Lord with childlike wonder.

It’s easy to become calloused toward God and His church and to pull away from the faith. This is sometimes because of painful events, sometimes because of neglect, sometimes because of a willful choice. This type of spiritual callousness keeps out Gods love. If you’ve grown calloused, ask God to soften your heart so you can feel His love and rediscover the wonder of His grace. Maybe you are burdened for someone who has become calloused toward God. Hang in there and continue, as Heidi did, to love this person and pray for them to return to God.

You Never Know



You never really know how impactful a sermon will be in people’s lives. If you look at the stats most of what is said people forget. Today I was reminded what an impact I can have for Christ when the Holy Spirit is at work. A gentleman, who attends the men’s small group I lead, told me that he was glad I’m married. I looked at him and said so am I. He missed last week’s sermon because he stayed home with a sick child so his wife could come to church. All week she was quoting what I said in my sermon. If I wasn’t married he would have been jealous that his wife talked so much about another man (he was joking). I do remember she told me last week that she is looking forward to doing “The Truth Project” when our church does it during the summer. My sermon of Truth last week really made an impact in her life. I was blown away; not at what God did but that He chose me to use to do it. It is awesome.
Another gentleman over heard us talking and told me that his daughters really enjoyed the sermon as well. I was taken back. Sam has 5 daughters (yes, 5) and I only met 2 of them and his wife once. They really liked how I used the “Last Battle (last book of the chronicles of Narnia series)” to explain Isaiah 40:22. According to Sam, his daughters took that the other points and they had a good discuss over lunch. That’s what Sunday morning sermons should do; cause the people of God to think.
It was so humbling to hear these testimonies on how God used me last week. You never know how God will use you. It’s not that He needs us; it’s that He wants to use us. I pray that God will have more opportunities to use me to bring Him glory.

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.