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!

I know it has been awhile since I posted last. I have entered into a new chapter of my life. I am a grandfather now! WOW! My daughter and son-in-law who are serve at a church in Royal Oak, MI are the proud and grateful parents of a little girl. When she was born my mind quickly went back to the day that my daughter was born and I held her for the first time. I carried her from the delivery room to the nursery and walked past a hallway filled with our friends from college. I often think I wish I knew then what I know now. Why doesn't God give us children when we are wiser, more mature, and better prepared? I then realized because He wants us to trust Him! He wants us to lean upon Him for the guidance we need in raising our children! He wants us to trust Him to provided spiritually and financially for our families. We all want what is best for our children and grandchildren and isn't that exactly what God wants! Then why don't we trust Him? He can provide for them and protect them in ways we cannot even begin to do. Have you been blessed by God to be parents or grandparents? Will you trust God with those precious gifts?

This is the Friday before Easter Sunday. It has been referred to as Good Friday. There are many ways in which it can be considered good, perhaps the best is that our salvation was provided for on this day by the death of Jesus Christ. I was running this morning and thinking about the sacrifice of Christ. I have been blessed by a good life. I have not faced many health issues and have been supported by a great family, wife, and church all of my life. I have enjoyed some good years! Then I thought that Christ, in the prime of His physical ability and ministry potential, sacrificed it all for me. He gave the best of His life! Many people give the best years of their life to work, family or even to the church. Christ sacrificed all of that for me! What are you doing with the "best" years of your life? Doesn't Christ deserve them?

The last several years I have started to understand why Solomon asked God for wisdom when he began to lead the children of Israel. Early in my life and ministry I would always ask God for wisdom when it came to the "big" decision. I knew I needed God's direction when in came to marriage, where to go in ministry, my family, even buying a house or car. Those were things that I saw as having "long term impact" on my life and the lives of others. Over the last several years I have started to realize I need that same wisdom everyday of my life. One easy way to define wisdom is, "the ability to live a life pleasing to God." If that definition hold trues, and a Christian's goal is to please God with his life, then I need wisdom everyday! I need God's wisdom in every relationship, every task that I face, and every decision that I make. When you woke up this morning you probably asked God to protect your family, lead someone that you know that is lost to Him, or provision for a need you have in your life. Maybe we would be better off if we just asked God for wisdom. "Lord, how can I live my life to please you today? Please give me wisdom to do just that."

WOW! It has been a long time since I have posted. I took some time to finish my graduate degree. The amount of research was more than I thought but it was a great time of learning. My Dad accused me of wanting to be a life-long student so I would not have to work. I found out that you can do both! I have been challenged by the thought lately that many of us in the religious academic world like to argue doctrine and truth but few live it. I often thought of what it would be like to sit in a economics class and listen to a teacher who had just filed bankruptcy or in an ethics class taught by a teacher who was facing charges for fraud. I would probably ask to be moved from the class. Yet this same tragedy happens every Sunday in pulpits around the world.  Many have become students of the Word but not doers of the Word. This effect has also trickled down from our pulpits to our people. Many Christians will discuss their theology but do not live their theology at work or at school. This is dangerous for the Christian and the unbeliever. When I was growing up there was a saying, "If you talk the talk, walk the walk." Maybe we need to "practice what we preach." (James 1:22-25)

OK! I know it has been awhile since I have written on this blog. I had complete my thesis. The research and writing was time consuming so the "extras" had to wait. The last several months I have been reminded of how little control we have of things in our life. I try to stay physical fit by running and eating the proper foods. I try to stay spiritual fit by prayer, study of the Word, and accountability with others. The educational process has helped with mental fitness (my Dad told be I would be a "professional student"). But with all of our efforts we are still completely dependent on God. He is the Creator and Sustainer of our life. Just when you think you have it all "figured out" something comes along that you cannot understand or control. I believe God is once again reminding us to trust Him! I preached a sermon recently entitled, "Dependent or Independent?" Many of us want to live our lives independently but it is so much easier when we are dependent on God!

That Was Different

The last several Sundays have been really different for me. I had to spend several days in the hospital and then for several weeks I could not preach. Since I started ministry in 1983 I have always been in church, in ministry, except for 5 Sundays I can remember. God has truly been good to me! I had to sit and watch, via the internet, worship services at church. They were great! One of the services was the Sanctuary Choir's Christmas Worship Service! I was also able see the Christmas Day service and hear my daughter and son-in-law sing! Brother Phil Whiteaker preached an excellent message. I sat on my sofa and watched but it was NOT the same as being there. I am a dogmatic supporter of the local church. When I was in the hospital none of my favorite radio or podcast ministers came to see me. None of them sent be a card or made a phone call to ask how I was doing. I did not have any of them deliver a meal to by home. But I did have a church family who prayed, visited, and supported me through it all! All of us will face difficult and trying times in our life! God, through His Son Jesus Christ, ordained the local church to help us through this life! If you are not a part of a caring, thriving local church-Find one! Come to ours! The local church is just another way God has provided for His children. THANKS to First Free Will Baptist Church of North Little Rock!

Traveling

I enjoy traveling most of the time. I do not care if it is my car, bus, plane, boat or even running. Most of the time things go smoothly if you plan well. If I was driving my Dad always taught me to have the oil changed, tires rotated, replace old belts and hoses, and clean the car before I left on a trip. When I fly I have learn to carry on as much as you can and go through security screening with as little on as modesty will allow. (that sounds scary). Debbie and I have been on several trips out of the country and one thing we have learned is you MUST have your passport. The reason being it is easy for you to get out of the country (especially into Mexico) but the problem is getting back in the USA if you do not have your passport. If you have traveled out of the country you know that one of the best feeling you have is when you arrive back in the US the customs agents says, "Welcome Home". Can you imagine what it will be like that day when Christ welcomes His children home? I hope you are looking forward to that day! As with most vacations, they are too short. Our time on earth is short compared to eternity with Christ. Do what you have to do to make it HOME! Have your passport (Christ) with you, He is the only way to get HOME!

Left Field

Have you every heard the old saying "That came from left field!"? It means that you were not expecting whatever just happened. There are times in life that you can see something coming and other times you get blindsided. The times you don't see something coming are usually the hardest to deal with. I believe that is when we see the depth of our faith and commitment come into action. This may be a little hard to understand but in sports, baseball especially, you practice constantly to teach "muscle memory." You teach a player how to swing or throw so that in crucial situations in a game he/she does not think about what to do, it becomes a natural reaction. Nerves or doubt in their abilities never come into play, they just do what they have been taught.

Applying this to the Christian life is simple. I learn to trust Christ everyday, even with the simple things, so that when I am "blindsided" my "faith muscle memory" takes over and I still trust Christ. His Word and promises are still true no manner the circumstances. The only problem is we never "practice" our faith enough to gain the memory that it needs and when the difficult times come it our life we either begin to doubt or place our trust in something else besides Christ.

So my advice today is to get out and practice your faith! Trust Christ with everyday-especially the good ones- so that when the tough ones come along you are prepared to trust Him as well.

Seeing the Beginning from the End

Have you ever jumped to the end of a book to find out how it ends? You are about half way through the book and you cannot stand not knowing how it ends so you turn and read the last chapter. Have you ever wondered how your life will end? Will Christ return before you die? Will you die from natural causes or because of an accident? Have you ever made a decision and wished you knew the outcome before you made the decision? If I ask her to marry me, how will our life together turn out? If I change jobs or move my family can we make the adjustments needed? We have been studying the omniscience of God (He is all-knowing). It is amazing that God sees all of time simultaneously. He is never "surprised" by anything. He is sees my life not just from the beginning to the end but from the end to the beginning! He knows what I need, when I need it, and how much I need. He sees my enemies and their attempts to separate me from Him. God's omniscience gives great comfort and peace if I trust Him. Remember God is too loving to be unkind, to wise to make mistakes, and too powerful to have His cause defeated. God wants the best for my life! He will provide what is best based on His omniscience. It is easy for us to trust God with the "whats" of our life but will we trust Him with the "whys"? He knows all! He knows what I need and why I need it. Will you trust Him with the "whys"?

Getting Old

I guess that I am getting old and grumpy or maybe it is just the cold weather but I more than a little aggravated. Let me first of all say that I love sports! I grew up playing anything that had a ball involved with it and played some things that didn't. I also love watching sports on TV-especially baseball. I also want to make it clear that our church is focused on outreach to our community and around the world. But I refuse to cancel or alter a regularly scheduled worship service so that people can watch the Super Bowl. I do not mind having a fellowship time after the service if the game is still on but I believe that is as far as the church should go! What kind of statement are we making to the world? What kind of statement are we making about God? I have heard the arguments for ......most are empty. If you can clear my thinking on this please let me know. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God....." Isn't the Christian life about priorities?

Relationships

This month is our Morning worship services we have been focusing on connecting. Connecting with God, with the body of believers, with unbelievers, and with ourselves. The first connection, with God, is the key to all of the other connections. I am constantly amazed at what God does and I am overwhelmed when I think what God could do when we as Christians truly "connect" with Him. We connect with God through His Word, prayer, and worship. I am reminded that if the only day that I worship God, meditate on His Word, and bow before Him in prayer is on Sunday-we are in trouble! Our corporate worship should be a culmination of what has happened all week long in our personal worship. Have you ever been to church and felt like you just did not "connect" with God? Maybe it was not the music, preaching, or fellowship. Maybe it was because there was no "personal worship" during the week! Are you connecting with God? Get into His Word! Pray! Worship! Get connected!

Christmas Sacrifice

The madness has begun! I watched on TV this morning as thousands of people stood in line to get in a store to buy a gift for someone that they loved. It is amazing the sacrifices that people will make to see the smile on some one's face that they love on Christmas morning. That thought took me in two directions. (1) The sacrifice Christ made to bring glory to His Father and (2) why aren't we willing to make those kind of sacrifices when it comes to our relationship with the Lord? It is amazing people will sacrifice sleep, money, and time to get that special gift but will not do that to draw closer to the Lord. The Lord sacrificed His life to bring us into a right relationship with the Father yet we complain when we are asked to sacrifice anything for Him. What would you do to bring a smile to the Father's face? Would you stand in line to give your tithe at church Sunday? Would you "camp-out" to be the first one in church on Sunday? God gave the greatest gift to you, what have you given to Him?

GROWING

I have been preaching about the growing Christian. It is obvious that a church cannot grow if Christians are not growing. (I am talking about a "true church"). There are several components of growth. First, GOD must be at the center of all that we do! Next we must be READY to grow by planting the Word in our heart and breaking up the "hard ground" of sin and pride in our life. The third step is taking advantage of the OPPORTUNITIES that God places in our life. We must begin to see every person as a person who either needs Christ or encouragement in his walk with Christ. The fourth step is WORK! It takes work to grow as a Christian and to grow a church for God. This involves our time, talent, passion and resources. The last step is the SPIRIT of God. As "good ole' Baptist" we tend to leave the Holy Spirit out of our lives and our churches-this dangerous! I believe that is why we are weak and our churches are "dead". Are you growing as a Christian? God wants us to grow!! I was just thinking!