"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:25-28)
These were already strange times, but the COVID-19 virus has raised the panic to a brand new level. Some folks are paranoid about the possibility of contracting this virus. Others are acting as if they are invincible to it. I believe prudence is somewhere between these two extremes.
The Church I pastor has for the first time produced a Live-Stream of our Sunday services. The bright spot of this is that more watched online than normally attend on a given Sunday. Although, Live-Stream should never take the place of gathering with other believers. We need the fellowship, the corporate worship, and the opportunity to encourage each other in person.
There are many hysterical voices out there that see a conspiracy from various sources that either desire to kill us all or bring us into subjection to totalitarian government. The news media and many politicians are using this pandemic as an opportunity to advance their particular causes. The Stock Market has been in a free fall due to the treacherous times. The result is that many are living in fear because they are uncertain what they should believe and what action, if any, they should take.
The above passage from Luke is part of a prophetical message given by Jesus that speaks of His return to establish His Kingdom. I hold to the view of a Pre-Tribulation rapture of the Church. On this basis, what is spoken of by Jesus means that the rapture is up to seven years sooner than what Jesus spoke about in this discourse. If we see these things already coming to pass, it ought to cause believers to be looking for the soon coming return of Jesus for His Body.
Throughout history there have been wars, natural disasters, plagues, and pandemics. This may not be an indication that Jesus will return in the next month, but He could! At some point He will return and the majority of the world will be unaware of what has come to pass. What comes next will be worse than anything experienced thus far.
Jesus is coming! The issue for consideration is "are you ready?". If you have trusted Jesus as your personal Savior, then you are ready. If you are trusting your morality, you are not ready. If you are trusting your religion (or lack thereof), you are not ready. If you are trusting the faith of your parents or grandparents, you are not ready. If you are living in denial, you are not ready.
In this time of paralyzing fear, find your peace and refuge in Jesus!
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Saltines for Thanksgiving
Better is a dinner
of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
(Proverbs 15:17)
Better is a little
with righteousness than great revenues without right. (Proverbs 16:8)
Better is a dry
morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
(Proverbs 17:1)
Better is an
handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of
spirit. (Ecclesiastes 4:6)
Thanksgiving is tomorrow.
I am amazed at the preparations that Sandy is making for this unique
opportunity to enjoy family as we pause to thank God for His manifold blessings
to us. I am in awe as I realize that the
meal we will enjoy is beyond the comprehension of many people around the world. For many it will not be what they will eat
for their meal, it will simply be whether they will eat.
We are a blessed people.
We live in a land of abundance.
Even the “poor” among us have
a higher standard of living than the majority of the world. Our blessings have been passed on to us by
myriad predecessors who sacrificed, faced hardship and deprivation, and laid
the foundation for our current standard of living. Primarily, we must remember that our
blessings have come from God Himself. We
can never earn these blessings, but we can at least show thankfulness for the
gracious outpourings of God upon our lives.
I would be less than honest if I claimed that the
wonderful meal together with family wasn’t being eagerly anticipated. Thanksgiving is one occasion where family
members make a concerted effort to gather and enjoy being with each other. Perhaps your family is like ours and will
have turkey as the main dish, or maybe you could choose to have ham.
What would be the reaction tomorrow if the family
gathered together and all of the traditional foodstuffs were removed from the table? In their place there would be a stack of
saltine crackers. Would we sit down and
thank God for our bounty, or would we assume that a cruel trick was being perpetrated? I have decided that there are some situations
where I would be happy to have saltines for Thanksgiving.
I would be happy to have saltines for Thanksgiving if the
people I love could live in peace and harmony with each other. Perhaps even the political divide in our land
could be spanned if folks would look beyond their own selfish desires and look
for ways to bless others.
I would be happy to have saltines for Thanksgiving if I
could once again see a move of God similar to what I experienced as a teenager. It was during this time that the person of
Jesus and the moving of the Holy Spirit became a reality in my life. My faith was not only confirmed, but I
surrendered to preach during this time of Spiritual renewal.
I would be happy to have saltines for Thanksgiving if it
meant that my family would have their needs supplied. My feast would be happily forfeited if I
could see my family walking with the Lord and finding their joy and purpose in
the will of God for their lives.
There are so many things that are far more important than
a single sumptuous meal. Perhaps we need
to adjust our perspective and be thankful for our blessings of the past, but
let’s also dedicate our lives in such a way that God will bless even more in
the future.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
We Are Not Ignorant, but.......
"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."
(II Corinthians 2:11)
One of the great frustrations and heartbreaks of my nearly 45 years of being a Pastor is watching folks fall into traps of temptation and bondage when they actually know better. Sometimes it is seasoned believers that fall, other times it is new believers that listen to the lies of those around them, and even those who were raised in Christian homes take a path that leads them into heartache, deception, and destruction.
I vividly recall one dear brother who had trusted Christ and the Lord had delivered him from serious alcohol addiction. He was on fire for the Lord and was an inspiration to his family, his friends, the Church, and all he came in contact with. Gradually, I noticed a change in his behavior. One day, he met with me to share that he now believed he could drink alcohol in moderation and it would not affect his walk with the Lord. It didn't take long before he had lost his family, his testimony, and had returned to his former way of life. He knew better, but......
Another example was a dear friend that came to the end of himself over drugs and agreed to go to a Christian home for help. He did marvelously and the facility even wanted to hire him, but for a number of reasons he chose to come home and stay. Eventually, he fell back into addiction and lost his life at the hands of law enforcement. He knew better, but....
I have seen too many circumstances where professing believers have thrown away their marriages because of lust. When they have agreed to counseling, they have often used the phrase, "Don't I have the right to be happy?". My response is always, no you don't have a right to be "happy", you have an obligation to do right, and in the process of doing right God can fill your life with happiness. They knew better, but.....
I am often puzzled by those who have been raised in homes that sought to follow Jesus and yet they chose paths that either denied the faith or walked contrary to their upbringing. Sometimes, the home is at fault because the faith was not lived out consistently. There are other times when the draw of the world, the flesh, and the Devil will deceive even those who were raised to the best of the parents ability. They knew better, but......
Looking at my own life, I realize that I have experienced my own share of failures and rebellious actions. Perhaps I have assumed that I was entitled to a particular fulfillment of lust. Perhaps I assumed that the rules didn't really apply to me. Perhaps I simply thought I could handle something that I knew was dangerous. I always get in trouble when I rely on my own understanding instead of relying on God's Word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I should know better, but......
We have an enemy that desires to destroy our lives, our testimony, and our reputation. God has given us the necessary information and help to overcome anything that is inspired by Satan. The choice is ours, will we live in victory or will we allow ourselves to be deprived of what we could be for the Lord? We know better, but.....
(II Corinthians 2:11)
One of the great frustrations and heartbreaks of my nearly 45 years of being a Pastor is watching folks fall into traps of temptation and bondage when they actually know better. Sometimes it is seasoned believers that fall, other times it is new believers that listen to the lies of those around them, and even those who were raised in Christian homes take a path that leads them into heartache, deception, and destruction.
I vividly recall one dear brother who had trusted Christ and the Lord had delivered him from serious alcohol addiction. He was on fire for the Lord and was an inspiration to his family, his friends, the Church, and all he came in contact with. Gradually, I noticed a change in his behavior. One day, he met with me to share that he now believed he could drink alcohol in moderation and it would not affect his walk with the Lord. It didn't take long before he had lost his family, his testimony, and had returned to his former way of life. He knew better, but......
Another example was a dear friend that came to the end of himself over drugs and agreed to go to a Christian home for help. He did marvelously and the facility even wanted to hire him, but for a number of reasons he chose to come home and stay. Eventually, he fell back into addiction and lost his life at the hands of law enforcement. He knew better, but....
I have seen too many circumstances where professing believers have thrown away their marriages because of lust. When they have agreed to counseling, they have often used the phrase, "Don't I have the right to be happy?". My response is always, no you don't have a right to be "happy", you have an obligation to do right, and in the process of doing right God can fill your life with happiness. They knew better, but.....
I am often puzzled by those who have been raised in homes that sought to follow Jesus and yet they chose paths that either denied the faith or walked contrary to their upbringing. Sometimes, the home is at fault because the faith was not lived out consistently. There are other times when the draw of the world, the flesh, and the Devil will deceive even those who were raised to the best of the parents ability. They knew better, but......
Looking at my own life, I realize that I have experienced my own share of failures and rebellious actions. Perhaps I have assumed that I was entitled to a particular fulfillment of lust. Perhaps I assumed that the rules didn't really apply to me. Perhaps I simply thought I could handle something that I knew was dangerous. I always get in trouble when I rely on my own understanding instead of relying on God's Word and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I should know better, but......
We have an enemy that desires to destroy our lives, our testimony, and our reputation. God has given us the necessary information and help to overcome anything that is inspired by Satan. The choice is ours, will we live in victory or will we allow ourselves to be deprived of what we could be for the Lord? We know better, but.....
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Age Doesn't Always Bring Wisdom
"Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment." (Job 32:9)
Today I am celebrating 66 years of life. I am amazed at how much things have changed during my "brief" journey. I am also amazed that so much remains unchanged. We have much more technology, but wisdom seems to be an elusive quality.
I can remember home phones that were on party lines, you had to pay extra for a private line, and it was good entertainment to pick up the phone and listen to the conversations of your neighbors. Today, almost everyone carries a phone with them that can do much more than any early computer.
I can remember a time when we treated everyone with civility, even those with whom we disagreed. The Senatorial hearings on this date shows this is a bygone notion. Perhaps folks should pass a civility test before they are allowed to use social media or speak in important meetings. Of course, this would violate the notion of "free speech", but it would be a refreshing change.
I can remember when you could watch the evening news and you never knew the political leanings of the reporter, because he only desired to present the facts. Today, news in general is a platform of hysteria that is pushing an obvious agenda.
I can remember when church was a place for fellowship and worship rather than a place of mere entertainment. The preacher would preach the Word of God with a desire to see lives changed rather than a self-help speech that pacified us of our condition as long as we continued to give and support the program.
I can remember when sinful actions were committed in the shadows of secrecy. Today, sin is flaunted and society demands that we not only tolerate wickedness but we must celebrate it. To do less than endorse wickedness means that we are "intolerant".
I can remember when people were recognized for their ability and industriousness rather than their "education" and "connections". Some of the greatest preachers had very little formal training, but you knew they had spent much time with Jesus.
I can also remember that sin was just as black and deplorable in the "good old days" as it is in current time. No generation can claim that they were the best and brightest, but we definitely have a long way to go to reach our potential in the will of God.
I can remember when we looked forward to the future with hopeful anticipation. I am definitely looking forward to meeting the Lord Jesus and spending eternity with Him, but in the meantime I would like to finish my race well. I am praying that God will again stir a generation and that they will yearn to see God do a work that will return us to a Biblical and moral mindset.
Hey younger people, give this older guy a reason to look forward to the future with hopeful anticipation! The ball's in your hands, don't fumble it.
I can remember home phones that were on party lines, you had to pay extra for a private line, and it was good entertainment to pick up the phone and listen to the conversations of your neighbors. Today, almost everyone carries a phone with them that can do much more than any early computer.
I can remember a time when we treated everyone with civility, even those with whom we disagreed. The Senatorial hearings on this date shows this is a bygone notion. Perhaps folks should pass a civility test before they are allowed to use social media or speak in important meetings. Of course, this would violate the notion of "free speech", but it would be a refreshing change.
I can remember when you could watch the evening news and you never knew the political leanings of the reporter, because he only desired to present the facts. Today, news in general is a platform of hysteria that is pushing an obvious agenda.
I can remember when church was a place for fellowship and worship rather than a place of mere entertainment. The preacher would preach the Word of God with a desire to see lives changed rather than a self-help speech that pacified us of our condition as long as we continued to give and support the program.
I can remember when sinful actions were committed in the shadows of secrecy. Today, sin is flaunted and society demands that we not only tolerate wickedness but we must celebrate it. To do less than endorse wickedness means that we are "intolerant".
I can remember when people were recognized for their ability and industriousness rather than their "education" and "connections". Some of the greatest preachers had very little formal training, but you knew they had spent much time with Jesus.
I can also remember that sin was just as black and deplorable in the "good old days" as it is in current time. No generation can claim that they were the best and brightest, but we definitely have a long way to go to reach our potential in the will of God.
I can remember when we looked forward to the future with hopeful anticipation. I am definitely looking forward to meeting the Lord Jesus and spending eternity with Him, but in the meantime I would like to finish my race well. I am praying that God will again stir a generation and that they will yearn to see God do a work that will return us to a Biblical and moral mindset.
Hey younger people, give this older guy a reason to look forward to the future with hopeful anticipation! The ball's in your hands, don't fumble it.
Monday, July 3, 2017
VBS Times Forty-One!
We recently completed VBS at the church I am privileged to Pastor. This is one event that I truly look forward to each year because I believe it has the potential to influence the next generation for the cause of Christ.
Over the years, I have seen much of the recommended program change to keep up with "contemporary" tastes, but it intrigues me that some of the old things still seem to keep the kids excited. We currently enjoy video presentations, interactive stories, and extensive decorations to keep the kids focused upon the message. Yet, closing out each night with competitive singing of "Hallelu," remains a favorite with the kids of all ages (and many adults as well).
VBS is a time for the preacher to "let down his hair" and act a little crazy in front of the kids. Personally, I think this is good for the kids to see the preacher as a person, and it's also good for the preacher not to take himself too seriously. It's a time where many different members of the church family can overlook their differences and work together for a common cause. In my many years of being a Pastor, I have been blessed by many good folks that were willing to go the extra mile to make VBS a success.
It is intriguing to me that young people who were in VBS in the early years of my ministry now have kids of their own, and a few even have grand-kids. I have received a number of kind messages from some of these folks that wish we could recapture some of those by-gone experiences.
Over the years the technology has advanced tremendously. The program and organization has become much more user friendly. The publishers have become much more attuned to help churches put on a successful program. Yet, one thing is unchanged if VBS is done as it should be done, Jesus must be the focus of all that is done. Once again we were blessed with a number of young people who professed their faith in Jesus as Savior. Mere entertainment without a spiritual challenge is just high tech babysitting.
I find that I move a little slower physically, but my passion to challenge young people with the Gospel is still strong. I don't know how many more times I will be able to do my part in VBS, but the focus must remain for us to make much of Jesus!
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)
Over the years, I have seen much of the recommended program change to keep up with "contemporary" tastes, but it intrigues me that some of the old things still seem to keep the kids excited. We currently enjoy video presentations, interactive stories, and extensive decorations to keep the kids focused upon the message. Yet, closing out each night with competitive singing of "Hallelu," remains a favorite with the kids of all ages (and many adults as well).
VBS is a time for the preacher to "let down his hair" and act a little crazy in front of the kids. Personally, I think this is good for the kids to see the preacher as a person, and it's also good for the preacher not to take himself too seriously. It's a time where many different members of the church family can overlook their differences and work together for a common cause. In my many years of being a Pastor, I have been blessed by many good folks that were willing to go the extra mile to make VBS a success.
It is intriguing to me that young people who were in VBS in the early years of my ministry now have kids of their own, and a few even have grand-kids. I have received a number of kind messages from some of these folks that wish we could recapture some of those by-gone experiences.
Over the years the technology has advanced tremendously. The program and organization has become much more user friendly. The publishers have become much more attuned to help churches put on a successful program. Yet, one thing is unchanged if VBS is done as it should be done, Jesus must be the focus of all that is done. Once again we were blessed with a number of young people who professed their faith in Jesus as Savior. Mere entertainment without a spiritual challenge is just high tech babysitting.
I find that I move a little slower physically, but my passion to challenge young people with the Gospel is still strong. I don't know how many more times I will be able to do my part in VBS, but the focus must remain for us to make much of Jesus!
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)
Monday, October 17, 2016
Heaven Help Us!-- Early Voting in Georgia Is Underway
Throughout the last 40 years, I have had people ask me in each election who I was supporting. There have been times when I was very enthusiastic about my choices, and there have been other times when I was saddened at the poor choices that we had presented to us. The national election this year has proven to be the saddest example of poor choices in my life. If I thought a third party was viable I would heartily vote for such a candidate, but this is not realistic. I know some will have cause to criticize my choices, and I would encourage those critics to prayerfully vote as they feel led of the Lord. I believe David Jeremiah summed up this election very well when he said, "we may not be able to vote for someone that is like us, but we can vote for someone that is not against us."
Here are my choices. You can print them out and use them as a possible voter guide, or you can simply ignore my choices and accuse me of dementia or being misguided. Regardless, it will give you some fodder for entertainment.
President- Donald J. Trump
United States Senate- Johnny Isakson
Public Service Commissioner- Tim Echols
U.S. Representative from the 12th District of Georgia- Rick Allen
State Senator from the 20th District- Larry Walker
State Representative from the 150th District- Matt Hatchett
District Attorney of the Dublin Judicial Circuit- Craig Fraser
Clerk of Superior Court- Jackie H. Dalton
Sheriff- W.A. "Bill" Harrell
Tax Commissioner- Ralph H. Jackson
Coroner- Richard N. Stanley, III
County Commissioner District 2- Trae Kemp
Constitutional Amendment 1- No
Constitutional Amendment 2- Yes
Constitutional Amendment 3- No
Constitutional Amendment 4- Yes
God help us to pray, vote, and seek the face of God for our land!
Here are my choices. You can print them out and use them as a possible voter guide, or you can simply ignore my choices and accuse me of dementia or being misguided. Regardless, it will give you some fodder for entertainment.
President- Donald J. Trump
United States Senate- Johnny Isakson
Public Service Commissioner- Tim Echols
U.S. Representative from the 12th District of Georgia- Rick Allen
State Senator from the 20th District- Larry Walker
State Representative from the 150th District- Matt Hatchett
District Attorney of the Dublin Judicial Circuit- Craig Fraser
Clerk of Superior Court- Jackie H. Dalton
Sheriff- W.A. "Bill" Harrell
Tax Commissioner- Ralph H. Jackson
Coroner- Richard N. Stanley, III
County Commissioner District 2- Trae Kemp
Constitutional Amendment 1- No
Constitutional Amendment 2- Yes
Constitutional Amendment 3- No
Constitutional Amendment 4- Yes
God help us to pray, vote, and seek the face of God for our land!
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
I'm Tired of Beating Myself
I cannot speak for all men, husbands, dads, or pastors, but I can share my own experience and heart. Perhaps I have been too prone over the years to assign blame to myself when I saw failure in the lives of those I care about the most, but I fear this is not entirely unique to my own emotional construction.
In my years of family life and ministry I have experienced some of the greatest joys imaginable, but I have also endured some times that nearly overwhelmed my soul. The difficult times are always those times that I am driven to serious self examination. The blame is all mine when I have failed to walk with God and provide Godly leadership to my family and church. The blame is a little harder for me to pass off when a church member turns against the ministry they once loved and supported, when a friend in ministry falls into some grievous sinful lifestyle, or a family member allows philosophy or substance to bring their life to the brink of destruction. In these moments, I find myself wondering if I could have done more to be a better example or to provide necessary encouragement.
Cain's defense before God could be echoed by us all "....Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). As I continue to age the more I realize, in a sense, that we truly are our brother's keeper. The church has the responsibility to encourage, exhort, and rebuke as we bear each other's burdens. The issue at hand though should draw us to the right conclusions.
Yes, we can share in the victories and defeats of others, but we also have to realize that our own personal responsibility can only extend so far. As a husband, I am to provide love, security, support, and compassion for my God-given wife. As a dad, I am to provide unconditional love, an example, Godly instruction, and a consistent life of following Jesus. As a pastor, I am to love and care for the folks that God has led me to serve, preach the Word faithfully under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and provide an uncompromising example of standing for right.
There is a point though that I must stop afflicting myself over the failures of others. When we have honestly did the best we could perceive and those we love fail, we must realize that they made a personal choice and they are accountable to God for their decisions. The Bible is filled with examples of those that served God faithfully, and yet those closest to them failed to follow in their footsteps.
My desire at this stage in my life is to show my family, my friends, and the folks I have served in ministry just how deeply I love them. I will pray for them, rejoice with them, weep with them, and at times weep for them. Ultimately, each of us will stand before God and give an account for our life. I am not sure exactly how God will conduct our judgment, but let's give our best to Jesus now and face that time with as clear a conscience as possible.
If we have failed someone, let's see the way to make it right. If others have failed us, let's forgive them and pray for them. If loved ones have fallen, let's pray without ceasing for their help and restoration. Let's be like the father of the prodigal and await with anticipation the return home of our loved ones.
In my years of family life and ministry I have experienced some of the greatest joys imaginable, but I have also endured some times that nearly overwhelmed my soul. The difficult times are always those times that I am driven to serious self examination. The blame is all mine when I have failed to walk with God and provide Godly leadership to my family and church. The blame is a little harder for me to pass off when a church member turns against the ministry they once loved and supported, when a friend in ministry falls into some grievous sinful lifestyle, or a family member allows philosophy or substance to bring their life to the brink of destruction. In these moments, I find myself wondering if I could have done more to be a better example or to provide necessary encouragement.
Cain's defense before God could be echoed by us all "....Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9). As I continue to age the more I realize, in a sense, that we truly are our brother's keeper. The church has the responsibility to encourage, exhort, and rebuke as we bear each other's burdens. The issue at hand though should draw us to the right conclusions.
Yes, we can share in the victories and defeats of others, but we also have to realize that our own personal responsibility can only extend so far. As a husband, I am to provide love, security, support, and compassion for my God-given wife. As a dad, I am to provide unconditional love, an example, Godly instruction, and a consistent life of following Jesus. As a pastor, I am to love and care for the folks that God has led me to serve, preach the Word faithfully under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and provide an uncompromising example of standing for right.
There is a point though that I must stop afflicting myself over the failures of others. When we have honestly did the best we could perceive and those we love fail, we must realize that they made a personal choice and they are accountable to God for their decisions. The Bible is filled with examples of those that served God faithfully, and yet those closest to them failed to follow in their footsteps.
My desire at this stage in my life is to show my family, my friends, and the folks I have served in ministry just how deeply I love them. I will pray for them, rejoice with them, weep with them, and at times weep for them. Ultimately, each of us will stand before God and give an account for our life. I am not sure exactly how God will conduct our judgment, but let's give our best to Jesus now and face that time with as clear a conscience as possible.
If we have failed someone, let's see the way to make it right. If others have failed us, let's forgive them and pray for them. If loved ones have fallen, let's pray without ceasing for their help and restoration. Let's be like the father of the prodigal and await with anticipation the return home of our loved ones.
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12)
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