Tarzan, The Boss and The Genius

That is a pretty strange title for a blog entry. I assure you before I am through it will all make sense. I awoke early this morning like most other days and started doing the things I normally do. I got dressed, took out my Bible and began to read where I left off yesterday. I opened my journal and found a clean page to jot down my entry for the day.
Something strange happened. I was jolted from my sleepy devotional and trying to get Taylor up and off to early morning football practice to a reality that would forever link me with Tarzan, The Boss, and the Genius.
Before we go any further who is Tarzan, who is The Boss, and who is the Genius? I am referring to Johnny Weismuller, Bruce Springsteen, and Ray Charles. How could my life be connected to these larger than life personalities? We all have the same birthday.
Yep! Today is my birthday and I forgot all about it until I started writing in my journal this morning. Out of curiosity I searched the web to see who else was born on September 23. That’s where I discovered that I share a birthday with some pretty famous people.
Today has bee like most any other day. I checked myself as I was journaling and decided that I did not feel any different at 42 than I felt at 41 or 40 or 37 etc. I did the normal things I do most mornings. I cooked and ate breakfast. I shaved and showered. I wore my favorite color of pants khaki, and I went in to the office. I made a hospital visit, found a new Chinese Restaurant and ate alone, and have spent the rest of my day in the office, talking on the phone, and answering emails, along with some reading and message preparation.
According to one website I looked at the average life span for a male can be between 73-80 years old depending on what region of the world you live in. That is somewhat sobering that I have lived more than half of my life. I still do not feel like an adult, especially a middle aged adult, even though I have adult responsibilities. I still feel young and exuberant on the inside but my body tells me from time to time that I am getting older.
42 is still considered pretty young. I am pretty active. I run. I lift weights. I ride a bike. I play ball with my boys. Yet, even Tarzan, the Lord of the Jungle, died. So did the Genius Ray Charles. Bruce Springsteen is getting up there. This all causes me to reflect on a scripture [Ps 90:12] “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Nobody lives forever unless that person is in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Then there is life everlasting.
The Psalmist is asking for help in not taking life for granted and to make each day count as well as to invest those days wisely. At 42 there is still so much I want to accomplish. I have shelves of books I still want to read. I still have numerous more times I want to read through the entire Bible. I have dozens of books floating around in my heart and mind that I want to pen before it is too late. I want to make more memories with my wife and boys. I still want to ride my bike for 100 miles on some given day. I still want to travel to England, Wales, Scotland and walk where some of the pulpit giants of the past have walked. I want to grow old faithfully holding the post of this pulpit and preaching the riches of God’s words. That is only smidgen of the things I would like to do before I leave this earth. Time is ticking and as the saying goes, “I’m not getting any younger.” I must live life with greater focus, purpose, and with radical discipline to make the most of each day. I cannot procrastinate away this life and wake up at the end wishing I had been more diligent. It is time to be more diligent right now and each day between now and my last.
Still at 42 I feel strong, energetic, and ready for the journey toward the end of my appointed race. George Mueller was able to live into his 90’s and stayed active preaching and serving Christ until the day he died. That’s how I want to go out. I want to faithfully serve Christ till my last breath. Like a friend of mine says, “I’d rather die with my face in the dirt than my head on a pillow.”
Though I may share the same birthday with Tarzan, the Boss, and the Genius I can assure you I don’t have the desire or need to see my name in neon lights. I want to be known as a servant of the Lord more than being remembered for playing a character nicknamed the Lord of the jungle. I am not the boss but merely a servant of the Boss and Lord of this universe. I am no Genius like Ray Charles but I keep company on a daily basis with the God whose creative genius planned and purposed this universe. I don’t know how many days, months, or years I have left but I do know who holds my life in the palm of His hands. I do know that while I live in relative obscurity here, the day will come when I will be ushered into the presence of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and will be introduced as His child and share in His inheritance.
So while I have days left to live down here, I shall seek to live to promote the glory of my Lord, my Boss, and my genius – JESUS CHRIST.

A Prophet's Ministry

I was sitting in my hotel room in Odessa, TX soaking in God’s word. It was a lovely time of savoring Christ along with preaching a revival for a friend. My hunger for God’s word was insatiable and I found myself literally getting lost in reading it. Whole mornings seemed to fly by while I devoured verse after verse, chapter after chapter, and book after book.
While reading through the book of II Chronicles I received one of those life transforming words from the Lord. [II Chron 18:1-27]
In this passage the king of Israel (Ahab) and the king of Judah (Jehoshaphat) allied themselves together to fight against Ramoth-gilead. They sought counsel from the prophets and four hundred of them were assembled.
When asked if they should proceed in battle, in unison the prophets said, “Go up, for God will give it into the hand of the king.” [II Chron 18:5] Jehoshaphat’s response is very intriguing. He says, “Is there not yet a prophet of the Lord here that we may inquire of him?”
Four hundred prophets had told the kings what they wanted to hear and yet there was no confidence in their message. I see the same thing in this day. People really need to hear a word from the Lord and what they get far too often is as one pastor put it, “advice talks with a religious twist.”
People have and continue to need hear a word from the Lord. In these last days, our pulpits are filled with ear tickling and Bible neglecting speech makers who hold their thumbs to the prevailing winds of the day before addressing their packed pews. In an effort to remain popular with the rich and influential, declaring truth without compromise gets put on the back burner in order to spew six steps to success and how to become happy and healthy pep talks.
What happened to the prophets who lock themselves up with God until God burns a message in his heart? He has been replaced with Brother Browser who gets all his messages off the internet and Pastor Pep who gives pep rally talks week after week. Are there still prophets of the Lord who will swim against the morale current of this day and boldly declare the word of the Lord?
Praise God there was one prophet in Israel who was not silenced by success nor swayed by popularity in his preaching. His name was Micaiah. The king hated him because of his bold prophesying.
When approached to give the kings a word from the Lord, he was urged to go along with the other prophets. This is still happening today. Preachers are urged by many denominational leaders to fall into the mold of seeker sensitive preaching who major on entertainment and creativity but often minor in truth telling.
Micaiah was a different sort of preacher. Read his bold declaration, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.” [II Chron 18:13] He could not be bought, intimidated, silenced, nor influenced as to what to preach.
How this day needs such a preachers again. Our nation needs men who would confidently stride to the pulpit with volcano hearts and thunderous voices who hear from God. We need men educated in the prayer closet just as much or more than in the seminary class rooms. We need men who will proclaim truth even when it is not politically correct but because it is eternally correct! We need preachers who believe the Bible and bleed the Bible when they preach or write for His glory. We need men more interested in favor with God than networking and gaining favor with men for career advancement.
As I read about Micaiah I was stunned. Right on the heels of reading this passage, God instructed me to preach the hardest and most difficult sermon I have ever had to preach. I knew it was going to be controversial, against the grain of what people wanted to hear, and yet over and over again in my head all I could hear were the words of Micaiah, “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”
I was nervous that night before going into the pulpit. I was extremely emotional when I climbed the steps up on the stage and placed my hands on the pulpit. For the longest time, I was silent. I could not even find the words to pray. Finally the words of a desperate prayer formed at the same time the pained burdened in my soul manifested itself in the form of tears. I wept through the first third of the message continually calling those people to God’s word. Verse after verse, minute after minute I sought to deliver God’s message both boldly and yet tenderly, courageously and yet sensitively, truth driven but mixed with love. It was a night I will not forget.
Just like on the day Micaiah delivered his word from the Lord, my word from the Lord was also rejected. It was a grievous night. I was sickened and wanted to flee back to the refuge of my hotel room and the presence of God.
I remember praying earlier that morning about how sad it was to be a prophet much of the time. I have preached numerous times and been avoided, rejected, and ridiculed while ministering as one of God’s prophets.
Even as I write this, I am once again being called to deliver a prophetic word to my flock which will prove to be hard and divisive. Once again I am not looking forward to the task but as a man of God I have no other choice. I pray for empowering and anointing. I pray for a desire to be a God pleaser always over being a man pleaser.
Preacher if you find your eyes skimming these words, I pray the Lord would burn the words of Micaiah deep into your soul and brand them on your heart until you are consumed by them. “As the Lord lives, what my God says, that I will speak.”

The Closet of Brokenness and Repentance

I can’t really say what triggered it all. I only knew as I sat in my office nearly a year ago that I was at the end of myself, which is a very good thing. For months I had felt I was going through the motions in worship, public prayers, and preaching. Sundays began to feel more like something to survive than a day set aside as holy unto the Lord. I felt myself trying to survive the next sermon and get through the next set of Sunday activities. I felt ill prepared and less prayed up week after week. I was preaching God’s word but I had lost the passion, the fire, the zeal, and the faith to believe that God’s word was making a difference in people’s lives. One particular Sunday morning I had enough. I was determined to get a fresh word from the Lord for the service or preach nothing at all. I refused to go through the motions for another Sunday.

I had one of those encounters with the Lord that in hindsight proves to be a spiritual marker. I have had several of them along the way. There was the spiritual marker at Abe Martin Stadium in Lufkin, TX where I met the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. There was the spiritual marker at Pineywoods Baptist Encampment where I knew the Lord called me to preach and I surrendered my life to that call. There was the spiritual maker of meeting and talking to Brenda on the campus of Howard Payne University and knowing she was God’s best divinely chosen to be my helpmate. She has been that and so much more over the past seventeen years. There have been several spiritual makers in what I affectionately call my “prayer retreat cabin” located outside of Palestine, TX. I also have had numerous such spiritual markers right here in this same office I have met God for these three years. One encounter with the Lord on a Sunday morning really stands out.

I did not know it at the time, but my time with the Lord in my office on October 7, 2007 was a time that I will not soon forget. I was convicted and broken and the message the Lord burned in my soul that morning was more for me personally than for anyone in our church. It was a message about offering the Lord defiled offerings and blemished sacrifices, or in short giving God our second best.

I prayed through [Malachi 1:6-14] and used that as my text. Sitting on the front pew during the worship service before it was time to preach was agonizing. I knew that my own personal sin in not offering the Lord with my very best in study and preaching had hindered our church. It was time to come clean and acknowledge my sin as well as the sin of the rest of our congregation for falling into the same trap during Sunday morning worship. I also knew that many people were falling into the same sin I was and it was time to “shut the gates and quit uselessly kindling fire on God’s altar.” [Malachi 1:10] God not only deserves our best in worship but demands it as well.

After preaching the message I withdrew from the crowd, found a secluded closet to hide in, and lay prostrate on the dirty floor to seek the face of God. What took place in that small dirty little closet will be lived out over the next months and prayerfully for the rest of my life. How do you put into words those intimate encounters with the Lord when He gives you audience with Him and His presence is so very real?

It was pitch dark inside that closet. It was not as dark as my sin riddled heart was before God though. .I was broken and for the longest time could only manage one prayer over and over again, “God, I am sorry. God, I am sorry. God, I am so sorry for offering defiled and polluted offerings and sacrifices to You. Please forgive me.” The tears could not be held back as they fell into puddles beneath my face. My heart was broken for the people of Paradise but I was much more broken knowing that I had offended God. Like David, my sin was ever before me and I came to understand in a fresh way that against God I had sinned. [Ps 51:3-4] “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” It was a painful time filled with brokenness. My heart was contrite and I was humbled in His presence. I could not make any empty promises being reminded of God’s warning in [Eccl 5:2] “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.”

I was broken over the lost passion I once had for preaching God’s Word. I recall how I used to rise so early on Sunday mornings to prayerfully get ready to preach. All that changed somewhere. It was not intentional. Somewhere along the way I grew tired of praying and preaching my heart out and seeing so few results. I am not just talking about visible results. I’m talking about not seeing the internal results of a changed and transformed life and congregation over the years. So I began to rationalize that my job was to preach the truth and the listener was responsible to God to respond. On the surface this sounds true but what changed for me was my expectation for God to move. I became calloused in my heart during the invitations and I lost the burning fiery passion to not only preach but to believe God for results. I became the very thing I have abhorred in others. I became a professional preacher with a hard heart.

Each tear represented a dead and lifeless sermon (or rather I should say a speech) I had delivered devoid of power and passion. As painful as that time was, it was needed. It had been a long time since the Lord had held the mirror to my heart and really let me see the sin that had long been rooted there. Uprooting sin is never a pleasant thing. It is painful but for me the pain of not preaching with passion and anointing and offering God my best would be more painful.

I don’t know how long I was in that closet of humiliation and crying tears of repentance. I know when I got up I was a new man. Cleansed. Forgiven. Renewed. Refreshed. Revived. Most importantly I was restored to my Father. Since then I have found a renewed passion to meet with Him for long and sustained unhurried times of prayer. I have felt a new passion rising in me to deliver His word both verbally and through writing. I have been called into a fresh desire to study, to preach and to write all to make much of Him and not me.

I left that closet a new man. I cannot help but feel, if more Christians went into their prayer closets with true repentance and brokenness, what a positive impact this would have on our walks with the Lord and our churches. Day by day we drift a little further away from the Lord, grow a little harder in our hearts, accept the dry and weary conditions of our spiritual lives, begin to allow compromise to uproot former commitments, and grow accustomed and satisfied with offering our great God second rate, polluted, defiled, and half hearted sacrifices. He deserves and demands our very best.

When was the last time you took a real honest look in the spiritual mirror? When was the last time you were moved to tears of repentance because of your sin? When was the last time you felt authentic in your worship and service to the Lord? If you have been giving God your leftovers in time, energy, and devotion maybe you need to withdraw from family and friends and go into the closet of brokenness and repentance. Life, forgiveness, and healing await you on the other side.

Not long after that encounter with God, I was moving some chairs in a room where that same closet is located. The door was left open and I stared into that small isolated dark corner of our church for a few moments. I was immediately reminded of my encounter with the Lord in that place. I will always remember that as the closet of brokenness and repentance. I am sure I will find my way back there from time to time. I hope you do too.

The Game

I have been asked to write something for a group of seventh and eighth grade football players to be included in their pre-game sack lunches before away games. While trying to combine the elements of football my greater purpose is to point each of those young men to Jesus Christ.

There is a big game on the schedule out of town for today,
Let me ask you – with what kind of effort will you play,
Will you play second rate giving less than your absolute best,
Or will you play every down like a warrior and pass this test,
The hits will be hard and your body may weaken and ache,
But will you play through the pain – your will refusing to break,
There is a champion who set the example for all who will listen,
He willed through pain as blood drops on his body glistened,
He had a strength and indomitable will to conquer his foe,
His courage was put on display for all to see and know,
When others would have given in and refused to finish strong,
This warrior endured the battle – quitting would have been wrong,
Now today as you suit up in your gridiron armor of green glory,
When the buzzer sounds - what will be the end of the story,
When helmets crash and bulging muscles of flesh collide,
Who will lose and who will stand in the end on the victor’s side,
In case you have missed it – there is a bigger game called life,
My champion is a Sovereign King – His name is Jesus Christ
How will you play – like the champion He created you to be,
Will you lose heart – throw in the towel and be tempted take a knee,
Jesus offers strength to all who are willing to ask, believe, and submit,
He offers eternal life to those whose sins they are willing to admit,
There is a game today, on a field of glory the battle will be waged,
Play with the heart of Jesus – may champion’s hearts be engaged

Teachable Moments

This past Friday night we gave the boys the choice of going to the out of town varsity football game or staying home for a family movie night, which we have not done in months. The boys chose to stay at home. While Brenda was preparing supper the boys and I went to the high school practice football field to throw the ball around and play a little game amongst ourselves.
When we drove up to the field I immediately noticed dozens of birds spread over the field eating whatever they could find. I instantly thought of [Matt 6:25-34]. In these verses Jesus talks about the flowers in the field and how He clothes them and how He provides for the birds of the air though they do not sow or gather in barns. We are infinitely more valuable to our God than flowers or birds.
I parked my truck and gathered Taylor -13, Tanner - 10, Tucker – 9, and Turner – 5 around me to teach them those truths. I did not preach a sermon but rather related Jesus’ words and asked the boys to look at the birds feeding on the practice field while considering the fact they had not done one thing to earn such provision. They did not sow nor do they labor to store up food for the future, yet God meets their daily needs. In the same way God provides for us and we are of much more value to Him than the birds. Therefore, we are not to worry about things but live in the simple trust that the same God who provides for the birds and clothes the lilies of the field will not neglect to meet our needs either.
It was just one of many such teachable moments I have had with the boys over the years. Tiny windows of opportunities in real life often open and give parents the chance to reinforce the scriptures they study in the home and at church. These life lessons can come at any moment and as a parent we must be ready to take advantage of them.
This past Thursday Taylor was playing his second seventh grade football game. It was a tough game but he played very well. I have challenged him along with his brothers to make playing every sport about Christ. I cannot tell you how excited I was to see him leading his teammates in prayer before the start of the game. Taylor understands that he is not playing to glorify his name but for the glory of God. This was another teachable moment he and I had together this summer during some of our workouts.
I urge you parents to look for teachable moments with your children. They might come while watching a movie, driving down the road, or some situation that arises at school. Tanner has had to deal with this issue at school. There has been a certain boy who has repeatedly kicked Tanner at recess, walking down the hall ways, and in the class room. My first reaction was not God honoring. I talked with his principal and simply stated that if this kid was not reigned in I would be forced to have Tanner take matters into his own hands. This has taken place over the matter of several months. Tanner is bigger and stronger than this troubled kid and I know if released could more than handle his own. A few days later I was convicted that Jesus would love this troubled youngster and therefore I encouraged Tanner to pray for him instead of retaliate. That was last year and it worked by the end of school. I thought of the scriptures in [Matt 5:43-44]. “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbors and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” [Matt 5:39] “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” When school started this fall, this kid started doing the same thing when Tanner stood up to defend a girl who was being picked on.
I have to be honest. My flesh wants to do the opposite. It is right at this moment that I have the opportunity to teach Tanner what I really believe about the scriptures and Jesus in real life situations. This was and still is another teachable moment. One thing is for sure. My Heavenly Father is still teaching me through such moments. May we as parents be both the teachers and teachable at the same time. In so doing, it is my hope that each of us will be able to pass on the legacy and heritage of our faith to our children and grandchildren.

The Great Debate II

I ran into my friend again today and our debate continued. We civilly discussed a wide range of topics from politics, to social issues, to the rights and roles of women and men. Before our debate ended, there were several others drawn into the conversation. At one point, six people were weighing in their opinions on monotheism, abortion, hypocrisy, and the presidential elections along with the validity of the Bible being the word of God. I will say the debate was passionate but there was also good natured ribbing one another. While some were ducking for cover I was relishing every moment of this mental battle. The exchanging of ideas and beliefs was again much like a sword fight with tactical maneuvers and carefully crafted answers to difficult questions.
The bottom line is that I want to be a defender of truth and I want to see my friend’s eyes opened to truth. Not just truth as I see it but truth in general. My heart aches to see this friend along with others who joined in our conversation today, meet the Savior. Once again our conversation turned to how some people who claim to be Christians live in hypocrisy. That is a point I could not deny or defend because it is true.
It reminds me of a conversation I had with an African American preacher many years ago about the subject of outreach. He was involved in what he called street ministry. He walked along the streets and talked to the down and out. Often he heard similar stories about men and women who were prostitutes, crack addicts, and alcoholics. These people were interested in Jesus but turned off by the church because of the lifestyles of people in the church. With tears in his eyes he told me people can’t get to Jesus because of people in the church. That has stuck with all of these years. I wonder if my friend and others who joined our debate are really attracted to Jesus but see it all as myth because of the lifestyles of many of His followers.
How do I love my friend with no strings attached, seek to defend and live the truth, while not judging their opinions and beliefs, nor condemning those people who live hypocritical lifestyles who sit in pews not only in this community but all over this world. How do I lovingly persuade the existence of a God and a Savior my friend denies really exists? How do I spend my life preaching, teaching, and defending the truth of the scriptures both in the public arena and in the quiet corners of the world like the one our second debate took place in?
One thing is for sure. Many Christians and far too many preachers have acted arrogantly, obnoxiously, and too piously to do a lot of good for the very people who need to know the love and the grace of our Savior. My heart aches for those living in spiritual confusion and darkness day in and day out. My heart is weighed down with a heavy burden simply because I care about the one I have carried these debates on with. It is not a matter of being right or wrong. I know what hangs in the balance and this is a sobering truth for me. Eternity hangs in the balance. Heaven and Hell hang in the balance. [Rev 20:11-15] The full and abundant life hangs in the balance. [Jn 10:10] To ignore this somber truth is to in essence sentence my friend to damnation. Please do not get me wrong here. I am not saying that I have any power to persuade or convince my friend to be saved. That is only something that God can do. I am saying that I might be one of the many tools God uses to accomplish that purpose. To keep my mouth shut and not point my friend to the Savior would be evidence that I was not much of a friend. Friends point other friends to the things in life that can be of benefit to them. We are past recommending movies, books, doctors, restaurants. I am recommending my Savior Jesus Christ.
I know there is nothing that I will be able to say or no thought I can reason that will convince my friend of the truth. That is only something God can do. Only God can convince someone that He exists. Only God can convict someone of sin and of the need to be saved. Only God can draw people into a relationship with Him. I can love, I can pray, and I can continue to speak the truth of God’s word which is everlasting truth. [Ps 119:160] God has to do the rest and He does and I believe will. Over time I know that love, prayer, and truth are like a wrecking ball that will weaken the resistance and draw people to Jesus.
If people could only see the truth of who Jesus is, the depth of His love, the breadth of His grace, and height of His compassion; they would come to Him. I know Satan is a formidable foe. There is a war being waged over the soul of my friend and over the souls of millions around this world. Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” [II Cor 4:4] My mission is to proclaim the hope of the gospel message even though it may appear foolishness to some [I Cor 1:23] it is still the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. [I Cor 1:18, 24] My mission is like the mission Paul had in [Acts 26:18]. My mission is to, “ to open their eyes so that may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”
I know our debate will continue. We are both hard headed. We both are independent mavericks who do not buy into party lines of thinking just to go along with the crowds. We understand the value of thinking for ourselves and questioning the issues. We are both on quests for truth even though our journeys are going in different directions. The issues will continue to generate passionate conversations. Our debates may draw attention as they did today? We will agree to disagree multiple times over but I will not judge, condemn, or write off my friend. I must be in this for the long haul and seek to educate myself on a broader scale so I can talk intelligently on a wide range of topics and seeking every moment to turn those conversations to the greatest reality in the universe and that is Jesus Christ. He is not only my hope but also the hope for this world. He is also my friend and I cannot wait until the day I get to introduce my debater friend to my best friend Jesus. What a glorious day that will be. Until then, the debate goes on.

Walking with God

[Gen 6:9] “These are the records of Noah, Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.”


Have you ever given any consideration to the time you are living in? These are volatile times as proven by the sudden crash in the stock markets, the financial collapse of major financial institutions, not to mention the war on terrorism and the upcoming presidential elections. Noah lived in volatile times as well. In fact the Bible tells us that God saw that the wickedness of man kind was great and his thoughts and intentions were evil. [Gen 6:5] It was a dark and twisted time to be alive.
In the middle of evil minded men and women, Noah lived a life of distinction. He lived a life that was set apart from the rest of his culture. In fact, you could say that Noah lived counter cultural. He swam against the morale current of his time and bucked the political correctness of his era with his firm stand for what was right.
How could it be that when the rest of the culture was offending God that Noah is said to have found favor with God? [Gen 6:8] When the rest of society was rebelling against God and His laws, Noah was renowned for being righteous and blameless. Now, you know as well as I do that being found righteous and blameless does not mean that Noah was perfect. He had bad days like the rest of us. There were days when his attitude was bad. He sinned and needed forgiveness from time to time. There most assuredly were days when Noah did not get it right but still the course of his life was so different he was called blameless. He was blameless because he lived in a right relationship with God. He was righteous not because he was perfect but because he walked with God and knew the blessing of forgiveness.
How could Noah have had the morale courage to go against the tide of what was morally and religiously acceptable by the majority? I think a big portion of this mystery can be solved in the last phrase of [Gen 6:9] “Noah walked with God.” What does that mean?
After church this past Sunday night, I left my truck parked so my family could all ride together to go and eat afterwards. It was late after we finished eating with some people from the church so I decided to leave my truck and planned that Brenda could drop me off at the office the next morning.
You know how Monday mornings goes. In a mad dash not to be late she was off to get the kids to school and to grocery shop and I was not ready. I decided I could walk to the office. The weather was gorgeous, not a cloud in the sky, fall like temperatures in the upper fifties, and a slight wind out of the North. It is about a ten minute walk from my front door to my office. I set out on a casual stroll and began conversing with God about the day, for specific people I am burdened for, and about some personal things. While on foot, I could not get the message about walking with God off my mind.
That is what set Noah apart. He walked with God. What do I mean? Noah was engaged in a personal relationship with the Almighty Himself. He spent time conversing with God, discussing issues of life, strolling along with the Sovereign Creator of this universe. Noah’s relationship with God was just as real to him as his relationship with his wife or his boys. Noah walked through the days of life in friendship with the Lord. It was during these walks that he found the courage to be different and live a life of distinction. It was during these tranquil travels with the Lord that Noah not only found friendship with God but also favor with Him. Those walks praying to the Lord and pondering the wickedness of his times helped Noah find conviction, courage, and strength to stand for truth.
I walked with God this past Monday morning. As I took each step of that ten minute journey, God walked with me. I did not see Him nor could you if you had driven by; but I felt Him. I sensed His presence as I unloaded my burdens on His massive shoulders. I felt His love as we communed on that walk.
How different our lives would be if we learned how to walk with God like Noah did. Day in and day out we need to talk to Him about what troubles us and find strength by reading the scriptures. This helps us keep things in perspective. From our perspective down here things look pretty bad. The economy seems to be collapsing. Gas prices continue to rise along with utilities, groceries, and retail items. Companies continue to down size. Politicians make promises they cannot deliver and we wonder who is telling the truth and can be trusted with our futures. We live in times when the moral fiber our society seems to be unraveling at the seems and things that have always been wrong are being propagated as right while what we have long held as right are now being told they are relatively right for us but not for everyone else. Right today seems to be a matter of personal preference more than absolute truth. In these chaotic and confusing times, we need more Noahs (from students to senior adults) who will walk with God and find their moral compass in a relationship with Him.
For me, that means early morning times in the scriptures and prayer. That also means I have to carve out moments of solitude and silence so God and I can enjoy one another. When I walk with God by reading the Bible I have great peace. [Ps 119:165] When I pray casting my cares on Him I no longer feel weighed down by the troubles and anxieties of this world.
I urge you with all that is within me if you are feeling apprehensive about life to start walking with God. It would be my privilege to introduce you to my constant companion, my faithful friend, and my good God. His name is Jesus and He is ready and willing to forgive, to deliver, to save, and to start a life long walk with you. Do you know Him today? You can never enjoy walking in relationship with Him until you are first introduced to Him. It would be my joy to introduce you to my best friend Jesus so you could start walking with Him too.

He Is Able

The stresses and pressures of life are relentless like waves pounding a sea shore. There is always somewhere else to be, something else to do, and another meeting to attend. When was the last time you woke up with nothing on the calendar for that day? Most of us are over committed which only serves to increase the stress level. Add to that the financial burden most people live with as prices rise and the dollar has to be stretched further to make it to the end of the month. We have to deal with stress of unexpected trials and tragedies like losing loved ones unexpectedly, car accidents, or wild fires like we had back in this community last February. There are those who live under the stress of chronic pain day in and day out who have forgotten what it feels like to go through a day without aching and throbbing in anguish. Many watch hopelessly as the health of loved ones slowly deteriorates and eternity hangs in the balance.
How do people cope with the pressures of life? Unfortunately some are not able to cope with the stresses of life very well and in search of relief often turn to destructive behavior which only serves to exasperate their troubles even more.
I would like to offer a simple verse of scripture that has helped me on my pilgrimage through life on numerous occasions. Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in you. [Ephesians 3:20 HCSB] He is able. Able to do what you might ask? Anything? Whatever you are facing today He is able to handle it, solve it, move it, and grant strength to endure it, give comfort in the midst of it, and make provision for it. He is able! The word able in this verse means God has the power to do whatever we need Him to do. You cannot conceive of a situation that is beyond His ability. Nothing is impossible with Him. [Luke 1:37]
If you facing a financial crisis today God is able to provide for your need. [Phillipians 4:19] If you are in a hopeless situation God is able to be your rescuer and deliverer. [Psalm 50:15] If you are living under more stress than you can handle God is able to give you peace in exchange for your stress. [John 14:27] God is able, in fact, He more than able – superabundantly and exceedingly able - to meet you at your point of need. [Ephesians 3:20]
I am not writing these things from the mentality of a paid salesman but rather from the mindset of a satisfied customer. I have taken these verses along with others and have applied them to the stresses and problems in my own life. You want to know what I have found. God is a promise keeper and not a promise breaker. Don’t get me wrong. There have been numerous times over the past two decades that I have doubted God was able. If I didn’t doubt that He was able to fix my problems I sure began to think He didn’t care and had abandoned me. Over and over again I have discovered that GOD IS NOT ONLY ABLE but that He is also WILLING to rescue me. I found this to be true over and over again in the darkest, most confusing, and excruciatingly painful times in my life as well as the most gleeful times too. He is able but He also does it on His time table and not mine. I urge you today to take the stresses of your life and hand them over to the God who is able to help you. [Psalm 55:22] I am not saying you will see your circumstances change over night, though He is able. I will assure you that if you wait long enough, if you trust tenaciously enough, and if you truly cling to the hope that He is able, He will come through for you too. In fact, I am so convinced of this truth that I have a little plaque hanging on the wall above my desk that daily reminds me, “He is able.” As you go through your day, remind yourself repeatedly that your God is able.

The Great Debate

I love the exchange of ideas and therefore love to debate. I find these discussions in groups or one on one thought provoking and stimulating. I have passed many hours of my life debating truth with friends and loved ones. I love to think. I often hurried from philosophy classes in college to discuss new ideas I was trying to wrap my mind around with Brenda. We would talk for hours as time would permit in between classes. Though I never gave my best efforts to formal education I did and still love to read and discover new truths and ideas. I guess you could say I enjoyed self education more than formal education. I enjoy the discussion of topics both secular and sacred, temporary and timeless as well as political to philosophical. That is why I enjoy blogging so much. It offers me the perfect outlet to write and formulate ideas and to express my thoughts and opinions. Most of where I find these ideas is in the Bible which at some point makes it to the printed page.
Yesterday, after starting my day extremely early, I went down to the little café where it is my customary morning habit to eat breakfast while reading, doing sermon preparation, and at times writing something. Over the years I have cultivated several relationships in that place. It is the kind of café where almost everyone knows your name and you see the same people seated at the same tables in the same chairs morning after morning. I got there a little late and by the time my breakfast arrived most everyone else had cleared out.
I entered into a lively conversation with a person I have talked to about Christ on numerous occasions. I had no idea where our conversation was leading when it started. We exchanged ideas like two people wielding swords at times being on the offensive and at times retreating in a defensive posture. Our great debate encompassed ideas ranging from homosexuality, abortion, absolute truth, relativism, pluralism, the presidential election, Jesus Christ, monotheism, the origin of the Bible, sanctity of life, euthanasia, marriage and parenting, animal rights, sex, the existence of hell, and the glorious hope of the gospel. It was a great debate! Questions were formulated from both sides and many were extremely difficult to answer. Ideas were explored and examined. Issues were discussed and disputed in a civil manner. It felt like a mental wrestling match. Right at the point you felt you had your opponent down for the count they would countermove and come back with a new tactic.
My heart melted as this confused person, who is honestly open to truth but does not think that any one religion can have the corner on the market of truth, offered a wide range of ideologies and philosophies of life that fly in the face of everything I believe in, preach about, and write. Instead of growing frustrated because my intellectual opponent would not be persuaded that I was right, my heart welled up with more love and compassion.
As the hour and half wound down, (yes, we actually debated for an hour and a half – thank God nobody came into the café during that time) I was reminded of what Jesus said about Himself in [Jn 14:6] “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” I asked the question what did this mean. Jesus did not say he was one of many truths. He stated that He was the truth. The absolute truth. That statement is offensive to the crowds who preach tolerance and that everyone not only has the right to their own religious beliefs but that those beliefs are also equally right and true when considered with other religious beliefs. Nobody is right and nobody is wrong. Jesus’ statement about Himself is exclusive, intolerant, and not culturally or politically correct. He says He is the truth, and the life. He says He is also the only way to God the Father and therefore the only door through which a person may avoid eternal damnation and wrath.
As our great debate came to an end I simply asked my friend if they were happy. I already knew the answer to this question. Their response was negative. I left the simple challenge to try Jesus. People in this world will try anything and everything before they will try Jesus. In my opinion we are troubled by Jesus. He does not hold his finger to the prevailing political and philosophical winds of our day. He is not insecure and does not need public approval ratings to be or state truth. He simply is. You can believe it or accept it but by His own definition, He is truth. Our disagreement or acceptance of that statement does not change the truth. He simply is.
My debate opponent admitted that they had never really tried Jesus. I assured my friend that Jesus is what they have been looking for all their life and that He is satisfying.
People don’t want there to be a God, a Savior. If there is only one then there can only be one set or rules and what most of the world would have to come to terms with is that they are not playing by God’s rules. The multitudes devalue the scriptures and ignore the commands. The consequences are evident. Many do not want an authoritative God in their lives and therefore invent gods of their convenience and choosing to accommodate compromising lifestyles.
The great debate had to end so I could make it to a meeting. While witnessing and trying to reason with my friend about Jesus I felt an inward assurance that the very God my friend was so unsure was real is working to draw the debater to Himself. I left the café pumped that I had the opportunity to share the hope of the gospel in the context of debating other issues.
Dear Jesus, I ask you to reveal yourself to my friend. I ask you to open their eyes and softening their heart. I ask you to convict of sin and let truth not only settle in the soil of their hardened heart but to also germinate and bear fruit. I look forward to the day when my friend will discover that you are the greatest truth and the greatest reality in the universe. Until that day comes, please hasten the day for our next great debate. Amen.

Guiding Light

Life can be very confusing at times like an endless maze we are supposed to navigate on our quest to find fulfillment and contentment. Factor in the endless decisions that have to be made such as; where will we live, who will we marry, how many children will we have, how do we invest our money, what kind of car do we purchase and what kind of gas mileage does it get? How does a person really know they are charting the right course?
In this day of technology with our global satellite positioning devices, instant messaging, and internet service on our cell phones, how could life be so confusing? We have more tools to make life more comfortable, convenient, and capable, and yet life seems more out of control, confusing, and discontent for millions of people. Even today in this modern sophisticated society one book alone can help all of us. Many say it is an antiquated and outdated book and totally irrelevant for this fast paced society. I choose to believe this book holds the meaning and purpose to living. What book am I referring to? I am talking about the Bible which is the best selling book of all time. You might be surprised to discover how relevant it is to life in the twenty first century.
[Ps 119:105] “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The idea here is that reading and meditating on God’s word is like a person holding a candle or a torch and walking through the wilderness on a dark night. The light from the candle will help you see your next step. The light will help to keep you from stumbling over obstacles or wandering down paths that might lead to danger. You may not be able to see far off into the distance but you will have enough light to help you find the way through the forest one step at a time.
God’s word is a lamp to help guide our steps through every facet of life. Are you having trouble finding contentment with your spouse? Have you lost the romance and the passion in your marriage? God’s word has counsel about that. Read the book of the Song of Solomon. Are you finding it difficult to make ends meet financially and are you concerned about your future and whether you have enough resources to retire on? Read the book of Proverbs and you will discover several financial principles to help you get the best return on your finances and how to manage your money. Are you experiencing anxiety and a troubled heart over issues that seem to be beyond your control? Read [Phil 4:6-7]. Are you having trouble raising your children and feel overwhelmed by the responsibility? Read Proverbs again and try [Col 3:18-21] and [Eph 6:1-4]. Are you forced to endure the rest of your days without your soul mate who died prematurely leaving you to face the future alone? Read [Is 41:10] and [Joshua 1:9]. Are you fearful as you enter into your senior adult years? Read [Psalm 71:17-18].
If you read God’s word consistently you too will find a lighted path upon which to walk through this life. I am not saying that reading God’s word will necessarily mean that your path will be trouble and trial free. What I am saying is that God’s word will be the candle dispelling the darkness and confusion of those trials as we find our way through them. The Bible offers hope to the hopeless and comfort to the brokenhearted. This world could certainly use some more of that. I encourage you to open the sacred scriptures and find the light for your situation to show how you are to proceed on this journey called life.

Stranded

After an eventful day I pulled my bike out of the garage to put in a few miles before the start of the Paradise varsity football game this past Friday night. My plans were simple. I had under two hours to get in an eighteen mile ride, shower, and to be at the concession stand at the football stadium to work the first half of the game.
I have seldom felt any better as I began my ride. Hills seemed easier than they had ever been in the past. There is a certain point on the course that I have always made it to in around thirty minutes. I pedaled faster and faster and powered up hills all the while eyeballing the time. As I neared the thirty minute point of the ride I knew I had the chance to break my previous personal best time. In order to make it I had two hills, one a long slow ascent and the other a shorter and more aggressive climb to get over before reaching the end of that stage of the ride.
As I pedaled I mentally kept talking myself through the burning in my thighs and the burning in my lungs crying out for more air. I beat my thirty minute time by four minutes and was even more elated as entered the most difficult part of the ride.
Of all the routes I take I love this one the most because it has a series of challenging hills. There are total of nine steep hills from that point on the course back to my drive way. Three of the nine hills are brutal. Two of those three brutal hills are atrociously wicked. There have been times I felt a turtle could have passed me as I stood on my pedals to grind my way to the top ever so slowly. Even in my lowest gears there have been days I struggled to get to the top.
On this ride of my life, even those hills seemed little matched for the blue Cannondale road bike and the Lance Armstrong like performance I was having. Just kidding Lance. I knew I had a shot to beat my own personal record on this eighteen mile track. As I entered the final eight mile stretch on my favorite road to ride on because the surface is so smooth and all the difficult hills lie behind me, I felt super strong and super fast. Just as I rode over the crest of the second to last hill on the whole ride, I kept hearing a popping noise behind me.
I swerved my front wheel to see if there was something going on in the back wheel and knew immediately I had a flat. It was frustrating but I thought it was not that big a deal because I have all the necessary items needed to repair a flat on my bike in tool kit mounted to my seat. To make a long story shorter let’s just say I wasted my CO2 cartridges to air my flat tire I found myself stranded. What is really irritating is that my last thought as I walked out the front door was that I needed to get my cell phone and take it in case of an emergency. In my hurry to get on my way I did not get the phone and with no way to get air I was stranded on a country road.
My only choice was to start walking pushing my bike with my right hand. Nobody stopped for help. At times I tried to run because I knew I was going to be late. With each step I dug in faster knowing I was supposed to be at the football stadium by 6:30 p.m. I was several miles from home and nowhere near the house of anyone I knew. I was also embarrassed wearing those tight fitting bicycle shorts (but with the cushioned padding sown in). I was not about to walk up to the house of a complete stranger wearing those skin tight shorts. Picture shrink wrap on Shamu the whale and you get the mental picture of my dilemma.
One mile turned into a mile and a half and finally near two miles later I made it to one our member’s house sweating profusely and used his phone to get a ride home. What can be learned from this little adventure in my life?
First, I did not heed the prompting in my heart and mind to get my phone. Was that the Lord preparing me for the difficulty I was about to face on my ride? If so, I refused to listen and it cost me dearly. I know the same thing happens in all our lives over and over again. We either do not listen or we refuse to heed the warnings and counsel of the Lord. We then find ourselves stranded and wander why? We must learn to be more sensitive to the Lord’s promptings and counsel.
The lesson I really would like to leave that episode with is that God took my being stranded and orchestrated a beautiful ministry opportunity out of it. I got a ride back to my house from one of my buddies who live near the house where I called from. Our church member was more than willing to drive me home but I have not seen my buddy in awhile and his family has not been in church in a longer while and it gave me the opportunity to reconnect with him. God took a bad circumstance in my life and did something good with it. He does that often. He turns the ashes of lives into beauty. [Is 61:3]
I just returned from celebrating the dedication of a house for a lady who lost her previous home in a wild fire in the Paradise community eight months ago. Volunteers donated time, finances, and building materials through a ministry called Nehemiah’s Vision to build her a brand new house. God took the tragedy of her loss and turned it into a blessing in disguise. We may feel stranded but the truth is God is orchestrating blessings and something beautiful out of the painful and stranded times of our lives.
One other lesson I am reminded from that ride is that though I felt stranded, God never forsook me. He kept me safe from the traffic that passed me but did not stop. He gave me endurance to walk and jog to the house where I was able to use the phone. He orchestrated the chance for me to visit one of my good friends in this community. I also made it to the concession stand only ten minutes late. Though I felt stranded, in hindsight I can see He was there. That reminds me of a verse in Is 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
Some of you feel stranded in life right now. You feel alone, maybe even a little scared. Take heart. God does not leave us stranded. He is a very present help in times of trouble. [Ps 46:1] He does not abandon us when the going gets tough and we have nowhere else to turn. He not only refuses to leave us stranded, but He also helps us. He comes to our rescue and He holds us firmly in His mighty hands. Being stranded on a bicycle a few miles from home is nothing compared to what some of you are going through. Some are exhausted from the hill like trials you keep trying to climb but feel like the summit will never come. He strengthens us to keep going. He encourages us to take another step and then another until one day we look up and find we made it and He was helping us all along the way. He helps us deal with the “flats” in life that so inconvenience us.
Do not give up. May you learn from my experience that yes trials do come into all our lives but God does not leave us stranded. He does not leave us high and dry. He is a constant presence to all who call on Him for help. [Ps 50:15] So please be encouraged on your journey that no matter how difficult the night or day may seem, joy comes in the morning [Ps 30:5] for those who keep trusting and find that God does not abandon His own.

God and the Gridiron

I have been given the privilege of coaching sixteen eight and nine year old little boys in football. It is no secret that football is my favorite sport. I played from childhood right up through college. To this day I get excited when two a day football practices start, or when I walk through a smelly locker room and smell the sweaty pads. I love football. I love the big hits, the breakaway runs for a touchdown, the aired out passes, the bone jarring tackles, and especially the quarterback sacks. (I was a defensive lineman and have a special place in my heart for quarterbacks but especially when they are on their backs.)
This summer as I preached my way through the book of Colossians I have been drawn back to the reality that life really is about living for Christ. Jesus Christ is the greatest reality in the whole universe. [Col 1:13-23] [Col 1:27] [Col 2:1-12] [Col 2:17-18] After preaching one message I felt impressed to go to all our high school football coaches and challenge them to make this football season about glorifying Christ. That is when it dawned on me that as a Christian first, as a dad second, as a pastor third, and as a volunteer coach lastly, God was entrusting me with the same responsibility of investing spiritually into those sixteen young men I will be spending time with over the next two months. I determined then that I was going to make our team about Christ and promoting His glory.
I have always prayed with the teams I have coached in the past but this year I decided to take it to a whole new level. I talked to the parents the first day of practice and told them that I would be praying with their boys and doing a devotional with them after every practice. I told them I was the pastor of the First Baptist Church Paradise and that I would not shove it down their throats but that there are a lot more important things than football to teach these boys.
After each practice of hitting drills, trying to learn new plays, and running wind sprints, we huddle up and I share a verse of scripture and we have a closing prayer. My heart leapt within me yesterday morning when one of the families on our football team came and visited our Sunday school class and came to worship with us. That’s what it is all about. I trust throughout the course of the next couple of months I will have opportunities to share my faith and see others drawn to the Savior.
That is our responsibility. Yes, I want to win games and to have a successful season. Yet, the real measure of success should be for all believers how many people are coming to the Savior? [Rom 1:16] “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and to the Greek.” You can mix God and the gridiron if we are not ashamed of Christ and His good news. The same thing can be done on the soccer field, basketball court, baseball diamond, and even out in the work place.
The Lord has just simply given me a way to take two of the greatest passions of my life; God and football and let them work together for God’s glory. I do not know how many if any games we will win this season but I know we are going to succeed at the bigger game of life. I know these boys are going to hear spiritual truth that potentially be life transforming. It makes it worth the time invested in practices and games if Christ is glorified by our little team.