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)

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!

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.

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12)

Free Range Spirituality

I have recently been amused by the “free-range” chicken commercial that shows a chicken wandering all over the country.  He sends pictures back home, but they have no idea where he is or why he is there.  I gave this concept a lot of thought and have determined that a lot of “christians” are practicing a form of “free-range” spirituality.

A recent article stated that many Americans consider themselves to be growing more spiritual, but they no longer believe in the church.  While there is much to criticize about the modern church as an institution, the concept of abandoning something that was established by Jesus goes contrary to Scripture and true spirituality.

When we use the term spiritual, we must remember that it can encompass a wide spectrum of thought and practice.  Hinduism, Demonism, Spiritism, Islam, Pantheism, Wicca, Christianity, and every cult can be seen as spiritual by their adherents.  Spirituality without the Word of God and the Holy Spirit is a dangerous element that can lead many astray from truth.

Too many professing believers have been deluded into thinking that church affiliation and involvement is an optional portion of the Christian life.  I remember many years ago having a visitor attend our services, and on his visitor card he wrote that he was a member of the “invisible, universal church”.  I suppose if you are a member of an “invisible” church, then it is acceptable to support the ministry with invisible tithes and offerings.  Many of the mega-church ministries have made this mindset even worse, because it is very easy for people to simply get lost in the crowds as folks come and go for the multiple services conducted each Sunday.

Jesus refers to the church as His Bride.  In light of this description, I think it is only appropriate that we take the institution that was started by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit as something that is worthy of our support and attention.  As Paul journeyed in his missionary travels, he started churches in many of the places he ventured to with the Gospel.

Pastors have a responsibility to serve and lead the folks that God given to their care, “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (I Peter 5:1-5).  The individual believer also has a responsibility to heed the advice and leadership of Godly instruction, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17).

It is hard to instruct those that feel no obligation to be faithful to the church that God would have them serve Him and others.  The church is still viable, but for it to be what it needs to be, we need the faithfulness and support of those who claim the name of Jesus.  This is not a time for “free-range” spirituality, but it is a time when God’s people need the support of solid Bible preaching and the fellowship of other believers.  It is difficult to live for God, but it is more difficult when we are wandering alone without the support of those who are committed to our care.

Journeying through the Desert

Life is a journey.

Just like any other journey, we will encounter a variety of scenes and a host of environments.  Personally, I enjoy traveling through lush areas that are filled with trees, streams, and wildlife.  I even enjoy traveling through vast expanses of fertile farm land where there is an abundance of new life that will sustain many.  The areas that I don't particularly care for are the barren deserts and wastelands.

I have learned that the ministry that God has called me is a journey which encounters all of the scenes I have described above, and more.  In fact, sometimes I find myself reminded of the old America song that has the lyrics, "I've been through the desert on a horse with no name."

The desert spans of life are the places where many of us will falter, fail, and be tempted to surrender in our journey.  God will at times, in His purpose, lead us into a desert to help us learn to rely upon Him.  God revealed this truth to the children of Israel in their wilderness journey, "So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.  And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?  And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them," (Exodus 15:22-25).

It was God that led them into the place of no water.  The people complained and God turned the bitter water of Marah into water fit to drink.  That could be seen as the end of the story, but God reveals more details: "And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." (Exodus 15:27)  Just a short distance from the scene of their complaining was Elim, a place with twelve wells of waters and seventy palm trees.  Had they simply traveled on, they would have been able to enjoy the bounty that God had in store for them without the drama and doubt.

Sometimes ministry can seem to be like lush tropical forests with a proliferation of new life, and at other times it can seem as if we are stuck in a desert that seems endless as we gaze toward the horizon.  When we are in the desert times of life, we have to make a choice.  We can simply give up and our bleached bones will be a testimonial to what could have been.  We can gripe and complain and God can make the bitter water tolerable to us.  We can trust God and faithfully journey on.  If our confidence is in the leadership and power of God, then there will be an oasis ahead.  Also, no desert lasts forever.  The Sahara is a massive desert, but the jungles and grasslands of the African continent await if you travel far enough.

Do you feel as if you are in a desert?  Travel on, it eventually will end.  Are you dry and thirsty?  Go to God in faith, He waits to refresh us "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:  And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses." (Isaiah 44:3-4).

Life is a journey.  Travel on, the desert will end!

Graduation Day!

I remember the day that I trusted Christ as my Savior.  Mr. Charles Faust, a faithful Sunday School teacher, had shared the Gospel with me week after week at Tenth Avenue Baptist Church.  His passion for my salvation led me to accept the Good News and become a child of God.

Unfortunately, I rarely saw the same passion in church as I saw in that Sunday School class, and I soon became bored with church and began to drift.  No matter where I attended church, the preachers seemed very proper but didn't seem to really captivate my attention.  My life was beginning down a dangerous path that could have very well led to much heartache and sorrow.

I will never forget my first Sunday at Providence Baptist Church.  I really didn't want to be there, in fact I hid in the car during Sunday School, but I knew I would have to go in for church since my family would be looking for me.  When Bro. Hancock got up to preach, I was not initially impressed.  He wasn't that big of a guy, but he had the heart of a lion.  I had never heard anyone preach like him.  He simply told it the way it was without decorating the message with religious and impressive language.  The way he preached, it seemed as if he had been watching me all week and was telling everyone just how bad I had been living.  I did not like him!  Even though I didn't like him, I went back the next week so I could dislike him some more.  Over a course of weeks God began to move in my heart.

It wasn't long before my family quit going to church, but the church van from Providence was always there to pick me up and carry me to church.  I grew to love and appreciate the straightforward preaching of Bro. Raymond Hancock, and God used him to gradually help transform my life from a potential thug to a follower of Jesus.  I cannot overstate the deep appreciation that I have for the ministry of Dr. Hancock and Providence Baptist Church.

At Providence I met my future bride, Sandy Wade, and Bro. Hancock conducted our wedding ceremony.  It was under his ministry that God called me to preach and his signature on my Ordination Certificate is one of my prized possessions.  As I sat and listened to him preach each week, I gleaned much on how to conduct myself behind the pulpit.  In the years that followed, I would occasionally take some of my folks to hear him and they often commented that I had adopted much of his preaching style.  I wear that as a badge of honor.

Yesterday Dr. Raymond Hancock won his battle with mortality and stepped into the presence of Jesus.  He has graduated ahead of many that he influenced for the cause of Christ, but his dividends continue to grow as those whom he influenced are still serving Jesus.

Thanks for being there Bro. Hancock.  Thanks for being faithful through the wonderful and the difficult times.  Thanks for being a role model for me when I desperately needed one.

Tis the Night Before Christmas

Christmas....

As a child, I had a love/hate relationship with Christmas.  It was always wonderful at Mema's house, but elsewhere it presented challenges within my mind.  Growing up with divorced parents always caused me to desire that my kids would never have to face the conflicts that I felt.

As an adult, Christmas is always my favorite time of the year.  Although, I am still prone to be a mixture of Scrooge and the Grinch if I am not careful.  I am so blessed to have Sandy, the love of my life, help me celebrate Christmas the right way.  I find the greatest pleasure simply watching as my family opens their gifts and shows their delight.  Tonight I will spend some time in reflection and contemplation remembering the Christmas mornings when our kids were young and recounting their joy and appreciation for their gifts.  I am truly grateful to God for each of my kids and their families.  Tomorrow, when a number of the family arrives, we will be able to watch as the family opens gifts and I see the same level of delight in the eyes of the grandkids that we saw years ago in our kids.

As I think of the gifts that we share with our family, they are merely a token of the love that we have for each of them.  As I think of the gifts for my wife, I realize that she is deserving of so much more than I could ever give to her.  Outside of my salvation, she is the greatest gift that God has ever given to me.

Christmas Eve is a time of anticipation and joy as we await the dawn of Christmas, but this was not true on that first Christmas.  The text for a recent sermon series, "The Spirit of Christmas", began with "The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)."  The world that Jesus entered was dark, dreary, oppressed, and enslaved by sin.  In all honesty, that same condition is true today.  Our nation may dress up the holiday and make it a time of celebration and distraction, but the same heart condition of the first Christmas persists today.  The ultimate Christmas gift is Jesus Himself!  Without a personal relationship with Him, the day loses its true significance.  With Jesus, the day is glorious as we remember the birth of Christ our Savior.  Without Jesus, we could easily quote Scrooge and say "Christmas is a humbug."

Spend some time thanking God for the "unspeakable gift" of Jesus.  In light of the gift of God we can truly appreciate all that Christmas really should be to us.

Christmas is a day to relish.  The Savior came and brought light to a dark world.  His light in our hearts brings salvation, joy, and purpose.  Thank you Father for the gift of Your Son!