The Three C's

I've been trying to learn how to better use social media. It can be confusing and frustrating at times. I was told that, "You need to be more committed to it." There term "commitment" has lost its meaning in the culture we live in today. When my parents were working they worked at the same company just about their whole careers. They went to the same church their entire married life (until death separated them). Our family lived in only two different homes for the fifty-eight years I have been alive. Maybe "commitment" is not the proper term, maybe "consistent" is better; I'm not sure you can separate the two. But I do know that both are centered in the word "character." If there is anything that our churches, culture, and families are in need of it is men and women who understand and live lives of commitment, consistency, and character.  Paul tells us, "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do ALL in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." (Colossians 3:17) My Dad taught me, "When you know WHY you are doing something the HOW will become easy to figure out." All we do is for the glory of God! That means we should be committed, consistent and do things with character (the right way; God's way)!

Be faithful!

I was privileged to speak at the Baccalaureate Service at Welch College in May. I asked myself the question, "What did I wish someone had told me when I graduated from Welch 33 years ago?" I thought about what challenged could I give these students who were about to walk out in ministry, some for the first time. The Lord brought me back to the thought time and time again, "Be faithful."
Be faithful because God is faithful. Be faithful to the God that has saved you and afforded the education you have been given. Be faithful to your calling, whatever area ministry God has called you to. By the way, I do believe every Christian is called into ministry! Be faithful to your family (marriage and children). Be faithful to the Word of God. Be faithful to the denomination who has help provide for your education. Be faithful to the people God has called you to serve. Be faithful to Welch College.
There are hindrances to being faithful (1) Delayed obedience to the Word of God, (2) Letting comfort be your driving force and (3) Being caught up in the comparison trap!
Being faithful is not an option in the eyes of God. He is constantly looking for faithfulness in the lives of believers. Everyone does not have the same opportunities. Nor do we all have the same abilities. But we all have something. We have the capacity to be faithful in our own life. (Matt. 25:14-30). Be faithful! 

What does God want me to do?

I have people ask me frequently what does God want them to do. While this is not an exhaustive list it is a beginning and gives us something to consider. 

What does God require of men (people of God)? Deuteronomy 10:12-13 gives us five requirements: (1) Fear God-remember who He is!, (2) walk in His ways-not the ways of the world, (3) love Him-remember how He loves you, (4) serve Him-His people, His church, and (5) keep His commandments-be obedient. Remember obedience is doing what God says, how He says do it, when He says to do it, and doing it with the right attitude. Practically living this out in your life is seen in verses 18-19.

It is finished....no, it has just begun!

I started a journey about 12 years ago. In 2001 the Lord opened the door for me to step into the role of Pastor of First Free Will Baptist of North Little Rock, AR. I realized after a few years in this role I needed more training and a better understanding of this role the Lord had placed me in. I had a wonderful education in the field of music from Welch College (1986 graduate) but the office of Pastor was completely different. I had served under some great mentors (Larry Clyatt, Randy Corn, Ben Scott, & Jackie Brown) during my years as Music and Youth Pastor in Tennessee, Georgia, and Arkansas. They had taught me many valuable lessons but I knew in some areas I needed more training. So at the age of 44 I started graduate school.

Pastoring full time, family, and completely rebuilding the church after a fire (2007-2008) slowed the process down some but in August of 2017 I finished my doctoral program. There are several things you realize after this goal is achieved:
1. God must stay at the center of everything you do in life.
2. You do not do this on your own. Family, friends, church, professors, and mentors are a must.
3. You do not know everything! You will/should be a lifetime student.
4. You can learn from anyone, even someone who has a different view from you.
5. Education is not the end it is the beginning.

Thank you to all those who help me reach this goal. I pray that I might use all that I have learned for the glory of God. I want to encourage everyone to become a life-long student of the the Word of God and the service of God.

Plan Now!

Once again some time has passed since I last posted on this blog. We have been busy as a family. Debbie and I have had several additions to our family. Our second granddaughter was born in April, Meredith Jane has been a blessing to Jacob and Lynsey and big sister Caroline is adjusting well. We spent a wonderful week with our family in Florida late this summer which culminated in the marriage of Andrew and Erika. Matthew is in grad school and working at the hospital. The ministry Debbie serves with opened up more emergency shelter and long-term care homes for children, so she has been busy training staff. I have submitted the first manuscript of my dissertation and will be making revisions soon.

That is all the updates for now! I would like to offer a few words of encouragement to young couples who are trying to live for the Lord, have a godly marriage and raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I know it is a battle! But is is worth the fight! Satan will use every weapon he can to stop, discourage you, or distract you. Stay in the Word, Worship and Prayer. If you do not plan to live a godly life, have a godly marriage and raise godly children it will not happen. We plan for everything else in our lives but to live for Christ. Most of us have a day planner on our desk or phones, we plan our vacations, and we plan for retirement but do we spend just as much time and resources planning to live for God. Remember James 4:13-17.

The Circle Gets Smaller

Not really sure if this is good or not, I would love you comments. As I get older I find that the circle of people around is getting smaller. Over the years I have lost family members and friends to death and there have been others that have moved away due to jobs or to get closer to family. Those events are just a part of this life and something that all of us must learn to accept. But as I get older I have found that I begun to cherish and seek out time to spend with fewer and fewer people. I know this sounds a little strange for a Pastor to say. Don't get me wrong, I love being with the people of our church and I love meeting new people and ministering in our community and denomination. Maybe I feel this way because my children are getting older and we do not get to spend a lot of time together. Maybe it is because my Mom, brother and his family live in another state. All I do know is that I have begun to cherish the time that Debbie and I get to spend with them. I believe this pattern was true in the life of Christ. As He neared His death on the Cross, He drew the disciples to Him in the Upper Room. As He went to the Garden to pray He called on the inner circle of Peter, James and John. Perhaps at the crucifixion it was only John and Christ's mother, Mary. We need to cherish the time we spend with anyone because things can change so quickly in this life. Who is your "inner circle"? Can you trust them? Are they good influences on your life? Maybe we need to be more careful who we spend our time with! Is Christ a part of your inner circle? Do you cherish your time with Him? As we face the end of this life, He is the only One that will be there. What a joy it is to know He will escort us from this world into eternity with Him!

It is a snow day in Arkansas. It is still hard for a boy from South Georgia to get use to snow! I sit here reflecting back on 25 years of service here in North Little Rock and over 30 years in the ministry. If there is one word that would describe what I feel it is GRACE. The Lord has saved me and kept me by His grace. It was His grace that called me to salvation, that enables me to grow as a Christian, and it will be His grace that leads me into His presence. His grace placed me in a family that loved the Lord and brought me up in a Christian home and loving church. I was privileged to have great Pastors and Youth Pastors that taught me the Word and challenged me to serve the Lord. The Lord graced me with good friends that supported each other in our walk with the Lord. I made a lot of mistakes growing up and I am thankful for the grace of God that protected me from allowing those mistakes to define me or hurt others. It was His grace that led me Welch College and into full time Christian ministry. Perhaps His greatest act of grace, a part from my salvation, was giving me my wonderful wife Debbie. God then graciously gave us three children with wonderful hearts for service. By His grace we have served three wonderful churches in Nashville, Savannah, and North Little Rock. Many have asked me how we have stayed 25 years in one church-It is grace! The people of North Little Rock have been extremely gracious to our family and especially to me. It is all about His grace! Where would we be without the grace of God? I do not want to think about that!