Living Against the Grain

Noah lived in a wicked time. Every imagination of the people was evil continually. Every thought of the people included plotting how to do more evil. In Genesis 6 God sighed that He had made mankind.

In this dark pagan environment one man stood in contrast. We learn three things about Noah. He found favor with God. I find that interesting in a time when everyone lived so wickedly God decided to destroy the whole earth Noah found favor, or you can also translate that word grace, with God. The question begs to be asked how? How did he find favor with God? God revealed Himself to Noah and by grace Noah found favor with God the same way you and I do.

We also learn that Noah was a righteous man. The word means complete or without fault. Do you believe Noah really had no faults? Do you believe he never sinned? [Rom 3:23] “We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” According to that verse Noah sinned just like the rest of us do. How could he be declared righteous? Again it goes back to grace and faith. He believed God and experienced grace that led to him being declared righteous. He did not earn righteousness through good works any more than you and I do. Through faith and grace God gave Noah what he could not earn.

We also discover that Noah walked with God. I cannot tell you how deeply this impresses me. In a time when everyone else rejected God and pursued wickedness Noah stayed in communion with God. Day in and day out though surrounded by wickedness Noah stayed close to God.

The more Noah walked with God the more He found strength to resist temptation and choose the better path. It could not have been easy. It is never easy to stand alone. After getting saved I found myself out with three of my best friends one Friday night. We were all under age but the driver knew a place where we could buy alcohol. We all walked into that store and the three others bought beer and wine coolers. I bought a Pepsi and a Snickers. Why? I walked with God and loved Him. Pleasing Him meant more to me than pleasing my friends.

Noah lived against the morale grain of his times. While the whole society lived wickedly Noah swam upstream of immorality to honor God. I cannot imagine the courage this must have took. Like I said earlier, it is never easy to stand alone. Noah kept walking with God and kept living against the grain of his times. This must have caused some friction with people. When you choose to live your life differently than the cultural norm it causes friction. Culture wants us to conform but when you walk with God you have the strength not only to stand but also to march to the beat of a different drummer.

When society says sex before marriage is not only okay but normal, God says sex outside of marriage is sin. When culture encourages couples to live together before marriage God does not lower His standards. When this pagan age tries to redefine marriage as between two men or two women God’s law does not change.

Do you walk with God? Do you walk so closely with Him that you live against the morale grain of the masses? Does your life cause friction among the condemned and compromisers? We are not to conform to this culture but to continually be transformed by the renewing of our minds. [Ro 12:2] Do you as a parent have the guts to not back down from your children’s incessant demands to go, buy, watch, or listen to something because everyone else is? We need more Noahs who cannot be bought, promoted, intimidated, influenced, or silenced into cultural conformity. We need men, women, and students who walk with God and live against the grain of culture.

I am not saying living such a life is easy but I do believe living that way has impact. Noah is a hero in my book. I admire his stand and walk with God in such a dark, pagan, and wicked society. I have not even talked about the task of building the ark that took him well over a century to complete. God called and Noah continued to live against the grain of his times by obeying. In the end Noah and his family were spared while everyone else on the planet drowned in the flood.

Lord I plead with you to teach us to walk with you and commune with you at such a deep level we are not afraid to live against the grain of our times. I ask you for faith to obey and to stand firm when many choose the easy route and compromise their convictions. Please make us more like Noah. In Jesus name, amen.

Finishing

Yesterday I took my bike out for its first return to Paradise ride. At first I had to get adjusted to riding a bike much lighter and faster than the mountain bike I have been riding the past several weeks. Soon I grew comfortable shifting gears and pedaling faster. I chose a brutal route though. Thirteen grueling miles with eighteen different hills. By far this route proved to be most challenging since I moved back to Paradise. One road had seven hills in a row one right after the other.

Along the way I saw a couple of different people from the church. All in all I had a great ride but all the hills began to take a toll. I have not ridden thirteen miles since living in Seminole and there are no hills out there. The ride challenged my endurance and strength.

When I came to the last leg of the ride I had to navigate a road with three hills in a row and finish the ride on another couple of roads with one hill each. I had to finish though my legs, feet, and calves burned. Quitting was not an option.

I enjoyed private elation when I finished and came to the driveway of our temporary residence. Relieved I dismounted to park my bike in the garage of our friend. It dawned on me then that riding my bike and surmounting every hill is symbolic of life and overcoming trials. Some hills are steeper and longer than others just like some trials are more difficult than others.

While reading the scriptures this morning two verses really touched my heart. Let me share them with you. “So he built the house and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.” [I Kings 6:9] “So Solomon built the house and finished it.” [I Kings 6:14]

The context of these two verses is Solomon led the cause to build a temple for the Lord and he spared no expense in doing it with excellence. Here is the thought that captured me today. Twice the scripture read Solomon finished the task.

I am a dreamer, a visionary, some might say. I have dreamed great dreams for God wherever He has planted me. I remember my first great ministry dream as a youth pastor in Weatherford, TX. I dreamed another great dream in the first church I served as pastor in Burke, TX. I continued to dream grand dreams of writing books, taking mission trips, holding and preaching tent crusades, and hosting teen and college outreach services when I founded No Compromise Ministries.

God planted the dream in my heart to start CentrePointe Community Church. The dream died painfully. I dreamed grand dreams in Paradise when I served First Baptist Church to see the church grow and relocate. When the Lord moved us again I began to dream grand dreams for Seminole. Now I have a dream of buying land and buildings for a hospital in Copan Ruinas, Honduras but we have only raised $18,000 toward a needed $152,000.

Now here I am once again dreaming a grand dream for God in starting Faith Community Church but here is what got to me this morning. Seldom have I seen the dreams come true with the exception and publishing some of my books. I do not doubt God’s leadership in relocating my ministry from time to time. I just want to see a dream realized and finished. This was brought home even further this past weekend.

Brenda and I attended the retirement reception for my pastor, Charles Roberts, who retired this past Sunday after thirty-four years at the same church. The scriptures this morning coupled with Brother Charles’ thirty-four year legacy give me the desire to finish. I want to stay the course and finish the ministry God has set before me with endurance.

Starting a project is much easier than finishing. I felt more energetic at the start of my ride yesterday than near the end. Starting this church is new and exciting today but what about years down the road. In two churches I have begun the initial process of drawing up long-range plans for building. I have not even got to see either one break ground.

On this day I am asking God to allow me to finish the dreams He puts in my heart. I want to see every dime raised for the hospital in Copan Ruinas. Could God use you to be a part of making that dream come true? Every financial gift is needed and welcome along with prayers. I want to see it finished for the glory of God.

I want to see Faith Community Church grow and impact this area. I want to see facilities built at some point and completed as well as paid off debt free. I want to see dozens and dozens of other books, I not only write, but also publish and distribute all over the state, nation, and the world. I want to finish.

Each dream comes with challenges just like my bike ride yesterday. Finishing is harder than starting. O Lord, please let me stay and finish the dreams you put in my heart. Please help me persevere with the hospital in Copan Ruinas. Please grant me the discipline, inspiration and strength to keep writing for you. Please let me stay to see Faith Community Church grow and be used mightily for you. Make me a finisher. In Jesus name, amen.

The Tapestry

Like a finely woven tapestry – so has God woven people through my days,

Each has added value, taught and tempered modeling Jesus and His ways,

Each is a blessing far beyond my ability to speak or write words to express,

How God takes people through joy and pain their hearts are compressed,

Friends and flock have added warmth and comfort against wintery blasts,

Though some have been left behind the depth of love and friendship lasts,

God, thank you for the flocks you have entrusted me to nurture and feed,

Thank you for the harvest of those you saved after sowing the gospel seed,

Many have stood by our side as the hands, feet, and heart of dear Jesus,

We have labored for God’s glory working for Him who always sees us,

Thank you for the intercessors who have prayed hours and hours on end,

God thanks for the folks who braved the trials and stood against the wind,

I am grateful for the people who loved not only with words but also with deeds,

Many have given financially in answer to our prayers helping in time of needs,

Some have given us blessings such as clothing, books, food, and even sunglasses,

Some gave financially so I could travel abroad taking the gospel to the masses,

Many have sent cards, letters, and messages of affirmation, love, and lots of hope,

Some may not appear significant but were life to one clinging to the end of his rope,

Each person but a single thread in the tapestry of our ministry – each one endeared,

Fondly woven memories in our minds and on our hearts have each been seared,

In the tough times these have blanketed us to shield from the pain and suffering,

That God often uses to shape our character through pressure and some buffering,

God thank you for those who have stayed the course and served so valiantly,

Together we serve and fight for You charging ahead courageously and gallantly,

My cup overflows with the blessing of the tapestry of family, friends and flock,

May I always treasure them until the last chiming and ticking of my life’s clock.

The Team

It started with a single idea – through prayer it turned into a dream,

A new church gathering – multiple people forming to make a team,

Each person unique – gifted to fit into God’s wise and grand design,

Some new to church – others sensing a calling bordering on divine,

Faith Community Church was birthed the last sultry Sunday in July,

We met in a daycare – and school cafeteria grateful for God’s supply,

The numbers and the converts have grown – attendance abounded,

God has answered prayers and left us amazed – clearly astounded,

Our hearts have been woven by the dream – being kingdom minded,

To seek to see saved those confused by Satan - the spiritually blinded,

Some set up chairs, hang signs others sing and serve where they can,

All coming together to fulfill God’s purpose and to work out His plan,

To plant other churches and take the gospel globally to the nations,

Watching spiritual darkness dispelled turning despair into elation,

I serve with a team, a flock, a congregation who in spirit are united,

Learning to love, bless, and serve community humbly and excited,

Each player needed and gifted – functioning as one single heartbeat,

Casting down lies – battling our foe – overcoming evil and his deceit,

A team of warrior I lead – prayerful battles for war has been declared,

We fight on bended knee – confident God hears and answers prayer.

Teamwork

You have probably heard the old saying, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” I believe that is true. You see this in athletic competitions. Often times the better team out performs the team with superior talent. You see this in business when a group of workers buy into the company vision and overcome obstacles to succeed.

Sadly one place at times you can miss seeing true teamwork is the local church. All it takes is one or two power hungry pastors, deacons, elders, or committee members and teamwork can be thrown out the window. In the place of teamwork you can find fussing, fighting, power moves, manipulation, and selfish ambition.

That is not the topic of this blog. I would rather spend a little time bragging on the people of Faith Community Church. They are working together as a team. Yesterday we entered a float in our homecoming parade. Our plans included making people aware of our new congregation while seeking to bless the children in the community. We used the theme, “Bubbling over with spirit.” We built a three dimensional version on our church logo, threw out eighteen buckets of bubble gum, passed out three hundred bottles of bubbles to the children along with several t-shirts. We blew bubbles all along the parade route. People worked diligently to pull it all off. It blessed my heart to see the workers and to see the finished product. A job well done troops.

Watching our team come together to dream, brainstorm, and eventually put the float together blessed my heart. God is literally uniting our hearts around His vision of reaching people in Paradise and Wise County. When Sunday morning services are over it is like watching busy bees putting lunch tables and chairs back in place while also packing up the sound equipment. Men, women, students, and children all pitch in to clean up on Sunday mornings. If people are not working to put everything back in place we have others who are working diligently to make our guests feel welcome by engaging them in conversation.

We have people who work on creating advertising, work with our children, provide refreshments for our students and children on Sunday nights all without fan fare and desire for attention. People are finding their place of service and giving of their time and talent to build the kingdom and grow this church.

At times I feel like a coach directing people to different positions and celebrating when they perform at a high level in their given areas. Our music has been astounding. Our children’s ministry is organized, fun for the kids, and most of all scripturally saturated. Events are planned together as a team and pulled off together as a team.

Our people love being together. Several of us went out to eat last night after the parade and laughed enjoying great Mexican food and one another. People linger long after the Sunday morning service is over talking. We often sit together at ball games. This seems to me to be what church was always meant to be. Simple. People loving one another and serving together to accomplish a common goal. I am proud of our flock. We have a long ways to go but I love watching the team labor together shoulder to shoulder.

Faith Community Church, thanks for letting me serve as your pastor and for taking the dream of this new church to heart. We are in this together. Thanks for the ways you give, pray, serve, and love the Paradise community. Though we are many members we are one body and Jesus is the head. We all have a role to play. [I Cor 12:14-27]