Blending Into the Shadows

I have two burdens on my heart for this blog. One concerns how people are left to blend into the shadows of life the older and less mobile they get. The other one is how we have a tendency to drift into the dark corners of life when we are not walking in fellowship with the Lord.

Let’s address the first. As a pastor I have spent a good deal of time ministering to senior adults in hospitals or homes. I have listened to their stories and have often thought about the real possibility staring at me that one day I may grow old and I may not be as mobile. It is not a pleasant thought. It reminds me of a conversation I had with my pastor back in Lufkin, TX many years ago.

It was a Sunday night and as he and I sat on the front pew before the start of the service he began speaking very candidly to me. He told me that some of the most lonely people in the world are retired pastors. After they retire a new pastor eventually comes to take his place and begins to build his own memories with the flock. Soon people no longer need their former pastor and soon forget about him for the most part. Life moves on. The retired pastor often has trouble at this point. The older he gets his health may become more frail but fewer and fewer former church members will stop by to visit or call to check on him though he may have spent decades doing the same things for the flock.

My pastor then looked me in the eye asked me to promise him that once he retired and I would always check in on him. I made that promise and do not want him to see his last days blending into the dark shadows of life unseen and forgotten. He has had a tremendous impact on me and therefore I want to honor that impact by not letting him be forgotten. I know the church he has pastored for over thirty years will not let that happen either.

It is a stark reminder that I am growing older too. With each passing year I can feel the effects of old age creeping on. They might not be apparent to others but I see the signs coming. One day I could be the one alone, forgotten, and no longer needed. How do I want people to treat me in those days? That motivates me want to be a better pastor.

There are so many people in society who were once productive members. They worked, volunteered, gave, sacrificed, and served their local church. Many of them wish they could be just as active as they always were yet their health fails them. Their minds may still have the want to but their bodies just cannot physically do what they once did. They do not have the energy to keep on the go and so they sit alone. They hope and pray someone will remember them and long for a phone call, a drop in visitor, or a card or letter in the mail. Days of disappointment often turn into weeks and weeks into months. Before long, years have passed and a whole new generation comes on the scene that do not even know the aging saints who gave so much of themselves and their money to the church. When their names are mentioned new members give blank stares. We must not let these people blend into the shadows. We must make some time periodically to go, to sit and to listen. We must simply remember and love. [Jn 13:34-35] We must be available to those in the shadows of life. [Matt 25:31-40]

I am also extremely burdened for those who drift away from the Lord and lurk in the shadows of life embracing their sin and the shame that comes with it in the darkness. Sinful deeds are openly done in the darkness. We think no one sees and we think we can hide our wickedness but God sees all. There is nowhere we can run from His presence. Sons and daughters of the light can even grow accustomed to living in the shadows because their deeds are evil.

I recently received a phone call from a distraught mother who was burdened for one of her children. I had preached an event for his youth group many years ago and she called asking me to pray and to call this child. I have done both but this child is still lurking in the shadows. Only God can bring him back. How easily we give up on those who drift away. It is awkward. We don’t know what to say and inevitably say too much or nothing at all. We find ourselves not really knowing what to say but James tells us, “…if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” [James 5:19-20] That is never easy to ask someone the hard questions and to confront one straying from the truth. It may not be easy but it is necessary. I have needed it in my own life many times from my wife and from a trusted band of brothers. They have often had to confront me and to ask me the hard questions. At times I have been angry and offended but on the other hand when I listened to their concerns the Holy Spirit used them to speak truth into my heart. They were used by the Lord to bring me out of the shadows. God has used many preachers and books to bring me out of the shadows into His glorious light. There is a freedom living in the light with nothing to hide. Jesus said it right, “For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” [Jn 3:20-21]

It is time to walk into the shadows to remember those who gave so much and to reclaim those who have strayed from the truth. Neither is easy or convenient but both are needed. I plead with you as you read this confront me, speak truth to me if you see me straying. As I get older I hope the Lord will call someone to remember to listen, to care. Until then, I hope I do the same for someone else. “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” [Matt 7:12]

Reflections

Do you ever have one of those moments when you stop and reflect on life? I had that experience one week ago today. I attended a community prayer meeting and had a wonderful time with God. When it was all said and done that prayer encounter with the Lord caused me to spend the rest of the day reflecting on Him and my role in the Kingdom of God.

There was a time in society when people were encouraged to think deeply and reflect. The intellect was stimulated with thought provoking questions and truths. There was a time when reading a book was a more common use of time than listening to the radio or watching television. Today there is little time to read even though we have access to more information than ever. We are trained to listen to sound bites on the evening news or catch the headlines on web but when do we ever digest the sound bites and reflect on the implications of it all.

Our days are scheduled well in advance with multiple appointments and commitments. Even when we do schedule vacations we feel the pressure to squeeze as much in as we can and justify doing so in order to get the most bang for our buck. In all of this there is little if any time to reflect. Reflect on the pace of our lives. Reflect on the condition of our families. Reflect on our relationship with the Lord. Reflect on the spiritual condition of our churches, communities, and country. We often make next to no time to reflect on the scriptures and let truth fall into our hearts.

It is early on a Tuesday morning and I am at the office alone well before the sun comes up. I have spent a great deal of time reflecting and the truth is I do not like some what I see in my own life. There are far too many inconsistencies. I do not like the condition of my walk with the Lord. Though I love Him and desire Him it seems I have lost a deep seated passion to run hard after Him. [Ps 63:8] KJV I miss the intensity that has often gripped me to know God and chase after Him in relentless pursuit. It is easy to fall into the rut of going through the motions but we were created for much more than that.

As I reflect I am brought face to face with the truth that our enemy never ceases trying to trip us up. I was given a grim reminder as another minister fell into gross immorality ruining his testimony, destroying his family and ministry, and hurting a church and community. This is a startling reminder to wake up and realize that we might be saved but our testimony is not safe until we get to Heaven. We are to endure to the end and I know that on any given day if my flesh is not crucified and if I am not walking in the Spirit I could be tripped up just like many others have been before me. This is a sobering thought.

As I reflect on my life I see that so much of what I am called to do gets pushed to the side to be involved in many things others want me to do. I know I have to be in control of my time and devote myself to prayer, study, and writing while not neglecting the flock God has entrusted to me. There never seems to be enough hours in the day. I leave the office everyday wishing I had more time to read, write, pray, and study. I have to make choices about the best use of time and that can only come when through reflection I contemplate how I am living each day. Am I living with purpose?

Reflecting is good but I am not going to waste all my days looking back. I have to learn from my past mistakes and look forward. Paul wrote it like this, “Brethren I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” [Phil 3:13-14]

Reflecting helps me to run harder, to push forward in the faith, to pursue the prize of knowing Christ more fully and serving Him with more passion and devotion. I am thankful for the mental ability to reflect. God is using it to help me run the race of life with more purpose and more effectiveness.

I enjoy long trips alone with the radio off as I am alone with my thoughts. Life used to have more time for this. When you rode a horse you had built in time to reflect. If you plowed a field you could use your time for thinking and pondering life. I often done the same thing while sitting on a lawn mower or riding a bike. We must build in times in our lives when we think and reflect over how we are living. That must be evaluated in the light of the scriptures.

Even athletic teams know the value of reflection as they view game film to learn how they can correct mistakes. It would do all of us good to do a little post game analysis on each day. Where did we succeed? Where do we need improvement?

Take some time today to reflect on your life and your relationship with the Lord. Think long hard about the deep issues in your life and pray for God’s direction and solution. Let us present to Him a heart of wisdom and let the Lord teach us to value the number of our days. [Ps 90:12]

Humble Pie

I got a large dose of humble pie early this morning. I got up early to go to the Fitness Center where I was to meet another man from our church to play racquetball. I felt pretty decent about my chances to hold my own. I took a class on racquetball in college. That was thirteen years ago. I played pretty often about six or seven years ago. I was thirty six then not forty three. I knew I would be a little rusty but I did not realize I was about to be force fed some humility like I had not experienced in a long time.

As we started our match I quickly came to the realization that my cardio training on the Stairmaster or the Elliptical had not prepared me for all the running, stopping, twisting, contorting, and lunging to hit the ball. We had not been playing long when through deep breaths I thought to myself, “You are in big trouble. You just started and you are already winded. You had better pace yourself.”

My opponent knew just where to hit the ball to make me run more which only served to leave me gasping for more air. I had no time to recuperate as the next bullet like serve came bouncing off the wall leaving me more times than I care to admit swinging with all my might and connecting with nothing but air. One time I actually swung and missed the ball twice on one bounce.

It was humiliating. The longer we played the more I began to sweat and long for air in my lungs from having to lug this oversized body around the court. My opponent seemed to be floating on air. His shots were precise, his serves like laser beams while mine seldom even were legal. H never appeared to tire and told me casually afterward that he runs three miles a day on the days he does play racquetball. That would have been nice to know on the front end. I might not have agreed to playing him.

I do not know how long we played. At one point I commented the score had to be about 90-4. I am a competitive person and normally do not enjoy losing. On this occasion I was too tired, too uncoordinated, and too unskilled to even make the game competitive. Finally in boredom my opponent called it a day without having even broken a sweat.

Peter challenges us in His book [II Peter 5:5-6] “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you at the proper time.”

What does it mean to clothe ourselves in humility? The word “humility” means to have a humble opinion of oneself, a deep sense of one’s own littleness, and to have lowliness of mind. We are tempted not to wear such an attitude all the time. People compliment us and we like the strokes to our ego. We begin to tout our successes even if other people do not and keep a list of personal statistics and track records of accomplishments. We like to be a made a big deal of. We often let our focus drift from making a big deal out of Jesus to living to make a big deal out of us.

John the Baptist got it right when he said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” [Jn 3:30] He saw his own littleness and the greatness of Christ in contrast. He was lowly in mind and his own estimation of himself.

I am thankful for a good old fashioned dose of humility to help me remember I am not a big deal but God is a big deal. I have limitations, weaknesses. I get tired and am unskilled. Far too many Christians have inflated opinions of themselves and are being set up for a big fall. We all need regular doses of humble pie.

I talked with one of my greatest friends today. He tragically told me of another pastor who fell morally to an affair with a lady in his church. He was the quintessential pastor with the highest academic accolades, a proven track record of past successes, and a large vision for his church.

While his wife was recovering from a life threatening illness, this high minded, large ego preacher slipped. Somewhere he took off humility and began believing his own press clippings. He slipped off the garment of humility and replaced it with pride. While pretending to be the captain of the ship he was really acting out the part of a teenage boy with out of control hormones. We learn from the Proverb that, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” [Prov 16:18]

I want to learn humility and to wear it gracefully in places like the racquetball court and not in the public arena of morale failure. This is a warning to all of us. Take heed lest we fall too. We have no room to boast. All we have to boast in is Jesus Christ and His cross. [Gal 6:14] Let us slip into the work clothes of humility and clutch them close to our chest grateful for the reminder that we are too must combat pride and embrace humility. Let us be reminded this day that if we are prideful and filled with ourselves we will find God in opposition against us and we will fall.

Lord, thank you for humble pie today. May I never grow weary of its taste.

Hold My Hand

Brenda has had an infection in one of her toes for nearly a year now. She put it off and put it off but finally agreed to go and see a doctor. We drove over to Midland so see a physician. Dr. Weaver had not been in the examination two minutes when she diagnosed the problem as being an ingrown nail.

Brenda has tried several things to cure the toe but nothing has worked. The doctor told us that there were two treatment options. The entire nail could be removed permanently or a partial part of the nail could be removed temporarily. We opted for the second treatment.

One of Brenda’s fears about going to the doctor was that she might have to get a shot or be stuck with a needle. She has a phobia of needles. I don’t think you understand. SHE HAS A PHOBIA OF NEEDLES! I could see the fear building on her face and eventually working itself out through her dear ducts. I got up to her hold her hand and made a classic mistake.

I gave her the hand with my wedding ring on it. When the doctor stuck her toe to deaden it for the procedure Brenda began squeezing my hand like a vice grip. My wedding ring began to cut into my fingers under the pressure. The more pain she felt the harder the squeezed and then just like that it was done. A few moments later she removed part of the nail and found the ingrown nail and removed it. Again Brenda held onto my hands and squeezed but a minute and a half later the whole thing was over and done.

God spoke through Isaiah in [Is 41:10] “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

There are times in life when male or female, strong or weak, big or little we need God to reach down from eternity and to hold our hand. When it is dark outside and my boys cannot see to find their way they do not fear if they can reach out in the darkness and find my hand. Just knowing that I am there brings peace and comfort. It is the same way with God. In the darkest times God reaches down to hold our hand to offer strength and comfort. When we reach out to grasp His infinitely strong and sovereign hand; peace floods our hearts and minds. [Phil 4:7] If we draw our hand back in defiant independence we are left to cope with the darkness with our own limited resources. Many try. It is a hard row to hoe.

Last night we went to open houses on two of the campuses for Tucker and Turner. Turner was excited twisting, leaping, running, skipping, and twirling. It was driving Brenda crazy. At one point he forgot what he was doing and took off running across a parking lot which is a big no no in our house. I told him to hold my hand and that as long as he was holding my hand he could jump, twirl, twist, and shout. He could leap, skip, and bounce all he wanted. The one condition was he could do all of that just as long as he kept hold of my hand. I wanted him to know the safety of my boundaries while still being able to enjoy himself.

The simple act of holding a hand can have so many different implications for a believer. It can remind us that God is in control and serve to strengthen and comfort us in the painful times of life. Holding the hand of God can also serve as our protection. Holding His hand can bring security in insecure situations.

Now let’s take that one step further. How many people need a helping hand? We, the body of Christ, serve as Jesus’ representatives. We are to be the hands of Jesus to those who are in need of assistance. We must be willing to lend a helping hand even without being asked. We are to offer a loving pat for those hurting and filled with sorrow. We are to gently hold the hands of those who are ill offering prayer on their behalf. We are to extend a loving hand for those experiencing excruciating pain. Look at the example of Jesus; [Matt 8:2-3] [Matt 14:30-31] [Mark 5:40-42] [Luke 4:40] [Luke 13:10-13] Those are just a few examples.

Such a simple act has so many implications. Today there are two simple applications. There might be times when like Brenda or like my boys you may need to reach out in your spirit to grasp the hand of God. He has a big hand which will not only engulf yours but also all your burdens as well. Give them to Him one by one. The other application is that somewhere in this world someone needs a loving ministering hand to hold or to help. Will you be that hand for someone?

Waking in the Arms of Jesus

Each Tuesday morning I go to the Care Center to lead a service for the assisted living residents there. We sing a few songs and I teach something from the scriptures. Afterward I try to go by a few rooms and visit with some of our members. This morning I had the privilege of going to see our oldest living member. She is one hundred one!

She is frail but her spirit is strong. Today she was very sleepy and while I visited her with a senior adult lady from our church she had a hard time hearing and communicating. She kept fighting drifting off to sleep. That is when the other lady told her, “One day you are going to go to sleep and wake up in the arms of Jesus!”

That has stuck with me through out the day. Just a few moments earlier I visited with a lady who will turn one hundred on October 29^th. I can’t imagine the frustration mixed with the joys of living to be such a ripe old age. I know at forty three I cannot do things I used to do at twenty three and thirty three. I went to the fitness center early this morning before coming to work. I began working my way up doing presses with dumbbells. I had to stop way short of the weight I was lifting back at Howard Payne University. I cannot fathom having the limitations of fifty seven more years on this body.

We all know that we will not live forever and drifting off to sleep one day and waking up in the arms of Jesus with a glorified body and into our everlasting reward defies imagination. What a day that will be. Jim Hill penned those very words in a hymn. “There is coming a day when no heart aches shall come – no more clouds in the sky

No more tears to dim the eye. All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore.

There’ll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear, no more sickness, no pain

no more parting over there. And forever I will be with the One who died for me.

(chorus) What a day, glorious day that will be! What a day that will be when my Jesus

I shall see, and I look upon His face – The One who saved me by His grace.

When He takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land;

What a day, glorious day that will be!

There must come a point when it is more appealing to look over yonder into eternity than to try to cling to what is left behind here. There comes a day when we have more loved ones over there than we have of those left behind here. There comes a day when every day is a labor as our bodies wear down and begin to fail while we linger here and start to contemplate the glorified bodies we will receive in Heaven. What a day that will be indeed.

[I Cor 2:9] gives great hope for those who long to wake up in the arms of Jesus. “But it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

Don’t read over that too fast. No eye has seen anything that can compare to the beauty and splendor of Heaven. No mountain range, sea shore, scenic forest, or picturesque sunset can compare to the glory of Heaven. Our eyes have never beheld such beauty and wonders and that does not even begin to describe what we will see in Jesus. There are no words. It will be something we will have to experience for ourselves.

No ear has ever heard anything as beautiful as the sounds that will resound in Heaven. I do not know what they all will be but I do know one anthem that will be played over and over again night and day. “And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within, and day and night they do not cease to say, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, The Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.’ And the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever.” [Rev 5:8-9] Louder than any choir you have ever heard, more in harmony and pleasing to the ear than any singer you have enjoyed will be this booming chorus reverberating the halls of Heaven and penetrating our souls.

Still we are not finished. No man has ever come close to imagining what awaits us in Heaven. Colors will be brighter. Our thoughts higher, our senses greater, our hearts purer, and the glory of God more brilliant than the sun. No painter could capture this with oil paints on a canvas. No writer could lasso and corral the right words to convey what Heaven is like. It defies both description and imagination. Still we are contemplating Heaven and not the King of Glory. We do not have that kind of mental capacity this side of eternity. It would blow our circuits.

Alas, we are left with the simple hope and trust that one day each of us who had trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior will breathe our last breath here and wake up in the arms of Jesus. O what a glorious day that will be.

Numbers

We have numbers for everything. We are issued a social security card number. To drive legally you are issued a driver’s license number. We have telephone numbers, numbers for our addresses, as well as credit card numbers. We deal with numbers to balance our bank accounts. We even keep numerical statistics for our athletic competitions. Life is a big numbers game.

Recently a few numbers came to have a great deal of significance for me. 409. 499. 94. 2. 5,000. These may not have much significance for you but each one of those numbers represents a specific and tangible answer to prayer. Before this is done I hope they will take on added meaning for you as well.

By now everyone reading this knows the Lord uprooted my family from our beloved Paradise flock to come to Seminole where I now serve as the pastor of First Baptist Church. When we first began meeting with the people to discuss being called here we were told the average attendance was around 140. We also were told that Sunday night crowds had dwindled down to seven people and Wednesday nights had around five.

Brenda and I were amazed and in awe when 297 people showed up for Sunday School the Sunday they voted on us. There was a buzz in the air and a great deal of excitement not at just getting a new pastor but that so many people had been in attendance. Since that day we have continued to see huge crowds and a jam packed sanctuary.

Each class set a high attendance goal for Oct 18^th. When the goals were tallied, the challenge was to reach out to, pray for God to send, and to welcome 400 plus people in Sunday School. For weeks we have prayed, invited, and prayed some more. We have planned and by faith trusted God to help us. Yesterday when all the rolls were counted we had a staggering 409 in Sunday School! Only God could have done that. People who have been members of FBC Seminole for decades cannot remember seeing attendance that high in the past fifteen to twenty years. To God be the glory! We prayed and asked the Lord for 400 plus people and the Lord blessed us.

We also had 499 in worship. We had a choir mainly to add more seating in the sanctuary and we had close to a hundred people sitting in our fellowship hall watching the service on a live television feed. That is staggering. God assembled worshippers in His house. What a joy to be a part of something that God is blessing.

The number 94 represents all the guests we had in Sunday School yesterday. I was introduced to a family from a neighboring town who came in response to an invitation from one of our members. There were so many faces I did not know. To have 94 new guests come to worship and learn with us was an answer to prayer. It is never easy to come and try out a new church. Everything is new. You do not know where to go or what to expect. You walk nervously into a crowded room looking for a familiar face before you find a seat and hope to blend into anonymity. What a joy to get to meet these new people and welcome them into a church family who have made my family feel so welcome over the past two months.

The number 2 also represents a specific answer to prayer. This past Wednesday night one of the prayer requests lifted up was not only for God to save people but for God to save an adult. We had an adult woman pray to receive Christ along with a teenage girl. What a joy to see the Lord do His saving work. Others lifted their hands to respond that they were saved yesterday as well but were not ready to make that public. The angels are celebrating the new birth of two more to God’s Kingdom. Hallelujah!

Finally, the number 5,000. Again this number represents an answered prayer. We have been praying for two months about a house and the Lord writing His signature all over the house so we can give Him glory for it. After weeks of searching we finally found the house we are confident the Lord appointed for us. Saturday afternoon while reading the paper and watching a football game on television I heard a knock on the door. When I opened it there was a couple from the church. I welcomed them in and after exchanging a few pleasantries they gave us a card. At this point I need to back up to an incident which happened earlier in the week.

Earlier in the week while Brenda and I were enjoying lunch, the wife who came to visit that Saturday afternoon, came into the restaurant alone. We invited her to pull up a chair at our table and enjoyed some fabulous conversations. Something was mentioned about my book Behold the Faithfulness of God and she came by the church office afterward to get it. The Lord ministered to her through reading it.

As we all sat in my living room that following Saturday, her and her husband asked me to open the card and said the Lord had been dealing with them for sometime even before they got the book. Inside the card was a miracle check for $5,000 to help with the purchase of our home. My jaw went slack and my mouth gaped opened. Brenda was on the other side of the room and could not see the check but she knew it was another significant miracle of provision by the Lord as she wiped tears from her eyes. They are not rich people. They had been blessed and wanted to bless us in return. Praise the Lord!

While writing this I am on a personal prayer and writing retreat in a farm house surrounded by cotton fields isolated from town. While in this place I have bee seeking the Lord and trying to process all I have experienced over the past forty eight hours. To you each of those may just seem like numbers. To me they represent encounters with God. They are milestones I will file away to remember the Lord’s power, His grace to hear and answer prayer, and to boast about His enduring faithfulness.

Somebody reading this is also facing a number. Maybe it is a past due bill. Maybe it is a seemingly insurmountable tax figure. Your God is just as able to help you with your numbers as I have seen Him do for us in the past forty eight hours. It doesn’t matter how big the number and how large the need, God is sufficient and more than able to come to your rescue. Two more numbers before I leave. [Eph 3:20] [I Thess 5:24]

Farm House

One of God’s many blessings to me over the years has been the opportunity to get away from time to time to the prayer cabin I have often written about in East Texas. I have met with the Lord in that rustic cabin for well over a decade. I recently had the chance to spend two nights there and it was bittersweet. It was sweet because I had time to meet with the Lord in that place. It was bitter because since I moved ten hours west, I felt it was one of the last times I would get to retreat there.

God is so gracious. Recently, I was contacted by a deacon in our church who told me he knew of a place that I could use to get away from time to time to write and to pray. One day we met for a lunch and he drove out of town to an old farm house surrounded by farm land. The house is located right off of the Lamesa highway. It is a white vinyl sided three bedroom farm house. Nobody lives here anymore. The former owners of this house were members of FBC Seminole and were dearly loved and blessed by former pastors. They were pillars in the church and both have since died and moved on to glory.

When the daughters were approached about my using this house from time to time to both pray and write they graciously afforded me this opportunity. Weeks ago, I looked at my calendar and set aside this day for a personal retreat. I got up this morning with a couple of books, my Bible and this computer and made my way out here. I have enjoyed this day in solitude and reflection. I have prayed, written, read scripture, and meditated on the Lord.

Just a few moments ago I got up and as I was looking out a window I saw a bird resting on a branch in a tree. The closer I examined the bird I discovered it was a dove. The dove was symbolic of the Holy Spirit in the Bible and I took comfort in the thought that God was reassuring me that this will be a place where I will meet with Him in significant ways. This is also a place where I receive more empowering from the Spirit of God to shepherd, to preach, to lead, and to write.

Though my ability to go the prayer cabin has been hindered God has given me great accessibility to this farm house. It is located about thirteen miles from my office. I have sat at this bar throughout the day praying and writing. I enjoyed being alone with no television, no telephones, no internet, but with the sweet presence of God. My affections for the Lord have already increased in this farm house. His word has touched my heart and His presence revived me for greater effectiveness in service. It is almost time to go back and I do so with greater fervor to serve my Lord and the people of Seminole.

This is my secret rendezvous to meet with my Lord. It is a sacred spot nestled in the middle of thousands of acres of farm land. While traffic may pass on the outside no one knows the divine encounters I am enjoying on the inside. I have sat before the Lord and sought His counsel today concerning what country the Lord is calling FBC Seminole to follow Him to in missions. Two keep coming to mind. I asked for specific vision and direction about the future of FBC Seminole. Though somewhat foggy still in my mind a clearer picture is coming together. I sought His counsel about future staff members and about what direction I am to go in preaching on Sunday mornings. I am beginning to settle on what the Lord wants to speak to His people on Sunday mornings.

God is so good to me. I am blessed to have been given access to an idea place to get away for spiritual renewal and to write blogs and books that will minister to people far beyond FBC Seminole. What a joy to have been given this blessing. I want to steward it well. I am looking forward to the time that books will be produced within these walls. I believe for the day when the voice of God will stun my soul as He reveals His counsel and His purposes. I yearn to see the day when God’s specific vision will be planted in my heart for Seminole.

Jesus, thank you for this farm house and for those who lived here and served you faithfully for many decades. Thank you for those who have made this place accessible for me. I trust you for divine encounters and many times to meet with you at this farm house. I trust you for times when Jase and I will be able to seek you together in prayer. I trust you for times when other trusted brothers will be able to meet with me here to cry out to you in prayer. You are my God, my Lord, and my Father. Thank you for meeting with me at this farm house. The best is yet to come.

Hallelujah Good

In a world where there is so much bad news and tragic things people have to endure and cope with we need to hear some good news and we need to celebrate the small blessings in life as well as the big ones.

This past Sunday evening, as we were visiting with dear friend from Paradise who made a surprise visit, after the evening worship service, a lady from our church dropped by and left a loaf of homemade bread given as a gift from her mother in law. There was a card with the bread affirming our call to this church and appreciation for our ministry here.

I used that bread to make toast a few days later and Turner took one bite of that bread and shouted, “This is hallelujah good!” We all laughed around the table. That little comment has had me thinking over the past few days. Why don’t we enjoy the everyday blessings of God more? God’s goodness is all around us. There are multiple blessings we take for granted over and over again.

Just this morning I dropped by the donut shop to get breakfast for Brenda and me. One our church members was there buying donuts for her daughter who is celebrating her birthday today also. When I tried to pay she insisted that she was buying mine. She was adamant and pushed my hand away with the money to purchase my order. She persisted so strongly that it was embarrassing as people were in line behind us. I submitted. I left with prayer under my breath thanking the Lord for such loving people and for His blessing.

I experienced this same type thing over and over in Paradise. Unexpected and surprised blessings came in every form. In fact, I am still receiving blessings from Paradise. When our friend came to visit us recently from there he brought two coconut cream pies made from the loving hands of Leisha Young. God’s blessings are all around us and more times than not those blessings are in the form of people. I love people and am a rich man in relationships.

Whether it be people back in Lufkin, the gracious people in the Paradise community whom I brag on often, or the loving and friendly community we are finding here in Seminole; our lives have been enriched greatly because of people and the multiple ways they have loved, served, supported, blessed, and provided for Brenda and me. People are “Hallelujah good!”

All of this reminded me of a scripture. “The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” [Lamentations 3:22-23] What a sweet and treasured and truth. Every day the Lord is showering down loving kindness and we are so busy we often fail to notice. We do not take into account the blessing of blue skies, painted flowers, picturesque sunsets, and puffy clouds floating overhead. When was the last time you really enjoyed eating food? I don’t mean you inhaled every bite without actually enjoying the taste. I mean you savored your food enjoying the texture, tasting the different flavors, and enjoyed your eating experience.

Turner enjoyed the toast immensely along with the rest of our family. I also enjoyed the coconut cream pies, Simply delightful. Eating those coconut cream pies can lead a man to worship and even more so when enjoyed in the company of cherished friends. They were hallelujah good. When was the last time you enjoyed the simple pleasure of some hallelujah good food?

When was the last time you really enjoyed being with family or friends? God meant for us to enjoy being together, to laugh together, bear one another’s burdens, and to share pain together. Since moving to Seminole I have seen a good deal of grief. I have preached four funerals and attended four others in less than two months. I have watched many people have to say good bye to loved ones. Let us enjoy the hallelujah good times now before it is too late and we are forced to live with our past memories and the regrets of not having more time with the people we love.

Celebrate the little blessings. Every day God is cascading new mercies on His children. They are new and point to the never ending faithfulness of God. If we could enjoy the hallelujah good times more they would help us to keep the faith when we are forced to endure some trial or suffering or to wade through the turbulent waters of heartache and sorrow. God is a good God. Everyday He demonstrates this over and over again. Open your eyes today and watch in the many small ways He is pouring our new mercies. Amen Turner! Life is hallelujah good!

Signing on the Dotted Line

We have to sign our life away on so many things. I could not believe the amount of paper work that had to be signed to open a new checking and savings account or to get a new post office box here in Seminole. Sign here and sign this. We are used to having to sign our names on the dotted line.

I signed my name on the dotted line of two other important documents. One I will tell you about now and the other a little later. After weeks of praying, seeking, and waiting on the Lord we finally signed a contract for a house here yesterday afternoon. God has moved and worked to bring this about. We trust that He will continue to work but it is official. We have signed a contract on a house and now await the details to be finalized for the closing date. I have and continue to pray for the Lord to be honored and to write His signature all over this deal. I continue to pray that He works in such a way no one can deny that He put the deal together.

I felt no stress or anxiety as I signed page after page. I felt a peace that surpasses all understanding. [Phil 4:7] I know we are walking in the will of the Lord. There has been a great deal of praying on our parts as well as in two churches; FBC back in Paradise and the FBC here in Seminole. We have not walked this road alone. We have walked it on our knees with brothers and sisters in Christ with whom our souls are knit together.

We will now continue the process of making Seminole our home. We will seek to put down deep roots and to get very involved in the community. We will love people from all walks of life and have people come into our home to build relationships and to do ministry. With each passing Sunday God is putting more and more of our hearts into this community. Signing our names on the dotted line is our faith attempt to begin a long term ministry here.

More importantly than that was the day I signed my name on the dotted line with a relationship with Jesus Christ. My name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. [Rev 20:12] He has made all the difference in my life. Having Jesus sign my name in the Lamb’s book of life has brought more contentment and more reward into my life than I could ever put into words. It is because of what He did for me in forgiving my sin and saving my soul that I was willing to sign my name on a contract for a home here in Seminole. I am His bond-servant. He owns me and signing that contract was just another step of faith in a life of many such faith adventures. He is worth all of it and more. He is worth leaving friends, family, a loving flock, and a bright future. He is worth moving to strong winds, wide open spaces, amazing sun sets, and a new flock. He is worth uprooting and starting over. He is worth leaving my comforts and securities and following His call no matter the personal cost or sacrifice involved. He is worth it all.

To Jesus I pledge allegiance by signing my name on the dotted line in service for Him. For better or worse we are Seminolians now. We are in this for the long haul. Our name has been signed on the dotted line. What about you? Have you signed on the dotted line with no turning back to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ? Will you follow and trust and obey by signing your life on the dotted line for His glory. He is looking for those who will come to Him for salvation and for a life devoted to worship of Him and service for Him. Will you sign on the dotted line today?

Preaching Myself Happy

This past Sunday night I started preaching through the book of Romans. I have long wanted to preach through this book but knew it would be a monumental challenge and a place where we would camp out for many years. My heart was blessed by just preaching through the first six verses of Paul’s salutation to the Romans. He has more doctrine in his opening remarks than many preachers have in a month of Sundays.

The longer I preached the more the truth resonated in my heart and filled me to overflowing. I could not contain the joy that welled up deep inside. I could identify with Paul when he called himself a bondservant. The more I meditated and preached on the grace of Jesus and plan of God to send Him to earth which was prophesied 500-1,500 years before the birth of Christ and well over three hundred times, the happier I became.

One man commented after the service that it had been a long time since he had seen a preacher preach himself happy. I had never heard that phrase before but that is exactly what happened. I found the truth of the scriptures touching and blessing my heart first and foremost. I want to be more than a preacher of the Word of God. I also want to be a life long student. The first person I preach to is to be to myself.

I have many times studied myself happy in the scriptures. Sitting alone in my office prayerful pouring over the scriptures and mining truth like a miner digging for coal, I felt like the truth was molten lava burning in my heart about to erupt. God’s truth ignites my passion, wells up my deepest affections, and refocuses my priorities which are apt to get out of whack. It has been pure joy and good old fashioned fun to stand before congregations of a few dozen as well as hundreds to preach or teach that truth. At times I feel it inside of me. God has used His truth to consume my thoughts and control my actions and burn in me like an inferno. Like a starving man after a hard day’s work I crave the meat of the word of God and it should affect me first and foremost before it is ever preached from the pulpit.

Too many preachers are good at telling everyone else how to live but do a poor job of living truth before the parishioners and at home. Their sermons are more of do what I say and not what I do messages. I have failed miserably to live up to every sermon I have preached but that is my desire. I want to live truth, experience truth in my own heart and life, and then deliver it to spiritually hungry people.

I am humbled that God chose me to preach. I was born to do this. He chose me and appointed me for this task in my mother’s womb like Jeremiah. [Jer 1:5] In about twenty five minutes I will enter the sanctuary to begin worship and to preach another message from Romans. I intended to preach through about five or six verses earlier this week but was stopped in my tracks after studying one verse. God’s word is alive and sharper than a two edged sword. [Heb 4:12] It is good for the soul. I am anxious like a race horse in the starting gate ready to be released. I am already happy because God’s word has moved my soul again tonight. I have tasted truth and it was sweet to my soul like honey. [Ps 119:103]

When was the last time you read yourself happy, studied yourself happy, or listened yourself happy with the scriptures? In our hurried lifestyles we often fail to stop, to reflect, to ponder, and think deeply on the scriptures but when we do, they are sweet to our souls. God can use His truth to nourish our souls and to renew the joy of our salvation. Are you finding God’s word dry, stale, and tasteless? If so I can assure you the problem is not with the Bible but is with you. Do you hurry through devotions or do you let the honey of scripture fall onto the pallet of your soul producing pleasure, the pain of repentance, and the pure joy of new revelation of Jesus Christ.

I long to be a preacher who preaches himself happy and to preach and teach to a congregation who listen themselves happy and all of us learn to read ourselves happy in Jesus. Let us be forewarned that Jesus is not just looking for readers and hearers only but for doers of the word also. [James 1:22] Whether you are studying, reading, meditating, listening, or preaching; may the Lord use His word to produce an exultation in Him that defies our circumstances and our feelings.

I must go now. The preaching hour approaches and I feel myself all happy inside. I rejoice that a crowd will assemble both in the pews and before televisions to feast on the juicy, savory, everlasting, truth of scripture. May it produce a joy and a maturity that cannot be replicated by any other means.

Standing Firm in Suffering

It has been a difficult week. I have felt the pain of many people suffering. Some are suffering from the consequences of sin and rebellion against the law of the Lord. Some have suffered for following Jesus by faith. A few have suffered not one but a string of tragedies mixed with the storm of trying to cope afterward. Others have suffered the consequences of other people’s choices and there have even been some who suffering the excruciating pain of tragedies.

As Paul wrote, “And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” When people suffer the church body should and often does rally around the hurting, the lonely, the discouraged, the ones in bondage to sin, and the destitute by offering a shoulder to cry on, prayers of hope and faith, and words of comfort and counsel.

Sooner or later suffering comes to us all. It might come in more severe forms to some as opposed to others but all face the painful realties of torment inflicted by trials that produce suffering. When we see people around us suffering we at times do not know what to do or what to say.

I recall talking with a father who had a son tragically killed by being rolled over by a tractor when he fell off the fender while the grandfather was driving. I asked him how he was coping several weeks after the funeral and his response was not what I expected. He thanked me for asking. He said in dealing with people nobody ever wanted to talk about his son. They would intentionally avoid talking about him but this father and mother needed to keep the memories alive of their precious baby boy. Talking about him was actually therapeutic for them. I have remembered that all these years and often ask people who are suffering how they are coping. Many doors have been opened to minister in these situations.

Many wonderful people in the Kingdom of God suffered. David Brainered who was a missionary in the 1700’s battled tuberculosis and died at 29. He left behind a journal that has inspired many to endure sufferings. He stood firm in the face of cold winters coughing up blood trying to win Native Americans to faith in Christ alone by saturating his mind in the scriptures and by long seasons of prayer and meditation.

William Cowper was a hymn writer in the 1700’s who suffered from depression and attempted to kill himself on more than one occasion. He battled depression his entire life. He fought to stand firm by meditating on the scriptures and cultivating a friendship with John Newton who loved Cowper to the end writing many letters and offering countless prayers for his tormented friend.

Missionary Adoniram Judson suffered the death of wife and children in his ministry on foreign soil and almost went insane over the suffering at one point. Instead of running away from God in anger Judson kept drawing nearer to God and eventually found his spiritual and emotional equilibrium.

Personally I am reminded that I serve a Savior who suffered the cross. He endured that cross joyfully and pressed on. His example inspires me to endure even when times get tough as they eventually do.

The longer I am in ministry I no longer feel I have to have all the answers or the “right thing to say” to people who are suffering. I just want to love them, cry with them, and try to share their pain as I stand firm with them. I want to walk through their pain with them, offering nothing more than my presence and my prayers. I know God is sufficient to support them and hold them up during the times of trials and sorrows. [Job 1:1-22]

Job has always helped me. Job knows what it is like to suffer like nobody else I know. When he responds to his heart ache by worshipping and not casting blame at God, his painful and grief stricken faith response inspires me. That is where I want to be but often during much less suffering I have cratered into the pit of despair and doubt.

I pray the Lord would give us the rock solid faith of Job. I need to expect that suffering will come to my life and those I love from time to time. I need to be prepared for it and not be caught unexpected. I pray we can all soak in the scriptures long enough to work through our sufferings and we do not forsake or abandon those going through suffering but walk shoulder to shoulder with them. With the strength of Christ [Phil 4:13] and with the body of Christ around us, [I Cor 12:26] we can endure [Hebrews 12:1-3] and overcome [Rom 8:35-39] any amount and different kinds of suffering.

Monopoly Money

That might sound like a strange title but before the end of this article it will make sense. I have seldom felt as deep a burden as I do in my heart in these days. I have been inundated with reports, meetings, and heart wrenching stories of the power of sin and the grip of Satan on the lives of people and the devastating implications for families. I am referring to people back in Paradise as well as in Seminole.

Satan is a liar and a masterful deceiver. He makes sin look so appealing, so tantalizing, and luring but never tells us the powerful destructive force sin will have not only on our lives but also on those around us. [Jn 10:10] “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.”

He is a smart deceiver. He works by planting thoughts in our minds and if we allow those thoughts to go unchecked by the word of God, before long, what were only thoughts will turn into rebellious and wayward actions. “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” [II Cor 10:5] Our thoughts must be surrendered to Christ. Every thought must be taken captive under the submission and dominion of Christ and His word.

When Satan starts planting schemes in our heads to rebel and to chase the fancies of sin, and we begin to entertain those thoughts and to dwell on them we lose rational thinking. We become vulnerable to deception and our world becomes topsy turvy where what used to seem right feels wrong and what was wrong seems right. Our feelings at this point can begin to betray us. What we want and what looks so appealing may be nothing more than a trap from the enemy to ensnare us and to steal our testimony and destroy our witness.

Satan is the father of lies and promises that if we will give in we will have a huge pay off in the end. This is not new. This is exactly what he used against Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They thought gratifying their desires would bring reward but instead it only brought death and shame with the curse of sin.

THERE IS NO HUGE PAYOFF! HE IS A LIAR! When it comes time to get paid and rewarded for our sin what we find out is the Devil pays in monopoly money. It is worthless. He never tells us about the shame we feel from distancing ourselves from God. We are never told about the empty hollow feeling we feel because sin NEVER satisfies and more sin only leaves us more DISSATISFIED! Soon we are looking for more and more ways to find that fulfillment we are seeking which keeps eluding our grasp because only Jesus can give us that abundant and full life. SIN NEVER HAS AND NEVER WILL. When we come to be paid with the promised gratification the enemy assured us for our sin we only stare in disbelief at a wad of crumpled monopoly money left behind by the last person he duped. It has no value and we are left empty handed. We will never find what we are looking for in the sewage of sin. We were promised bliss and pleasure evermore in the presence of God [Ps 16:11] only to be tricked into humiliation and disgrace along with endless guilt and condemnation the enemy heaps on us.

I weary of watching relationships be broken because of sin, watching faithful Christ followers begin to stray off the straight and narrow path, marriages crumble, preachers erring into immorality or liberal preaching, and hypocrisy feeling at home in the pews.

Have we come to the point where we hate the Devil and we hate sin? Have we come to the point where we truly abhor what sin does in our hearts and how it moves us further away from God who alone is our oasis to satisfy our hearts in this dry and weary land where there is no water? [Ps 63:1-2]

Monopoly money may suffice in the board game but in the real world we need substance to survive not the shadows and smoke of make believe and fantasy world of pretending. It takes real money to buy groceries, pay the mortgage, and clothe our families. In the real world it takes the presence of Jesus to empower us and renew us to withstand the onslaught of temptations and relentless assaults on our minds.

I am both angry in my spirit and grieved deeply when I look around and see what the enemy has done and is doing to people I love and care about. My only hope is that Jesus is greater than the enemy who brings destruction and steals the joy of people’s salvation. Jesus can restore that and He has given everything we need to live a Godly life. [II Pet 1:3] “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

When we get through this world Jesus will not pay in monopoly money. Our reward in Heaven will be real and everlasting. There will be endless joy, infinite delight, and everlasting pleasure at the revelation of Christ and all of His glory. It is time to quit playing games and put away our sin and give the devil back his monopoly money. Abundant life awaits and outweighs anything our adversary can offer.

You Have Not Because You Ask Not

FBC Seminole has been raising money to install a new children’s playground for the past couple of months. When the playground was actually installed the project went over budget about $12,000. The church had nearly raised the initial costs but when the project went over budget the committee had no other choice but to go back to the church to ask for the additional money. This was going to be done this past Sunday night but God had other plans.

I had been burdened for several weeks that not one time since I had been pastor here had I heard this matter of raising money for the playground brought before the Lord in prayer and asking Him to provide all that was needed. Several men donated their time, labor, and even crews from their own companies to assemble and install the playground. We still went over budget and the church corporately did not pray about this.

We changed that yesterday morning in worship. We took some time and lifted up that need along with others. One man in particular prayed that God would supply all the money needed by the end of the day. I immediately agreed with that prayer in my spirit knowing the glory of God would be furthered.

We gathered later that evening for our scheduled business meeting and worship service. When the time came to report to the church on the progress of the playground and ask for help with the additional $12,000 needed to complete the project the chairwoman of that committee began to get misty eyed staring at the congregation. She then recounted that someone had driven to her house during the afternoon and given her a check for $13,000. Hallelujah! Coincidence or Providence?

How many times have we felt we could do things on our own without asking the Father to help. We use our talents, ingenuity, and financial resources and in essence tell God we don’t need you on this one. We can handle it ourselves. God wants us to depend on Him and to seek Him. [Jer 29:11-13]. God stands ready to come to our aid but many times we never ask. We never ask Him to come to our rescue or to step in and make the way smooth. The world sees us working but rarely do they see or hear about what only God can do.

We submitted ourselves before the Lord yesterday morning and asked Him for provision and God swooped in by moving someone to give the remaining amount of the money needed. We asked and God stepped in. He doesn’t always answer our prayers that quickly. In fact there are some prayers that take much longer. [Luke 18:1]

That is not the point though. The point is that we face endless trials, choices, and have needs that could be met more easily if we asked God for help more often. Stubborn pride arises and says we don’t need help. We are perfectly able to do it on our own. “… God is opposed the proud but gives grace to the Humble.” [I Pet 5:5b]

The world has seen what people can do in the church. They are ready to see what only God can do. A playground and $12,000 is not a big deal and barely a stepping stone to cross over. It is only a building block in our faith as we trust the Lord for more and more. $120,000 is no harder for God than $12,000 who has infinite resources. He has infinite wisdom, strength, and power to handle any situation that comes our way. Our God is able.

The old evangelist D.L. Moody heard a message by a man named Henry Varely. Varley made a comment that challenged Moody; “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.” Moody began thinking to himself, “The world has yet to see! With and for and through and in! A man! Varley meant any man. Varley didn’t say he had to be educated, or brilliant, or anything else. Just a man! Well, by the Holy Spirit in him, he’d [Moody] be one of those men.” Moody won hundreds of thousands to Christ through His preaching.

God is looking for yielded men and women who will trust Him and be vessels for God to work through. God is looking for the same things in churches. He is looking for congregations who will believe Him for the impossible like taking the gospel to the whole world. [Matt 28:19-20] God is looking for a people who will trust Him for the impossible and improbable when He calls them to.

Henry Blackaby writes in his classic book Experiencing God, “Our world is not attracted to the Christ we serve, because they cannot see Him at work. Let the world see God at work and He will attract people to Himself. Let Christ be lifted up-not in words, but in life. Let them see the difference that a living Christ makes in life, a family, or a church; that will make a difference in how they respond. When the worlds sees things happening through God’s people that cannot be explained except that God Himself has done them, then the world will be drawn to the God they see.” pp.117-118.

Let us be a people who ask the Lord. Let us believe by faith in His ability to do anything as little and providing $12,000 to pay for a playground or any other need that might come our way. Let it never be said of us that we have not because we did not ask.