The B.I.G. Blog

B.I.G. shoes

2012-02-04T10:09:00.003-05:00

Below is an excerpt from Chapter 2 (B.I.G. Shoes) of my book. (Un-edited)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (John 14:12) In one statement Jesus sums up what is both an obligation and an opportunity to those who choose to follow him. It is an obligation because he is clear of this connection between the words anyone, follow, and will. It is extremely important to understand that Jesus is not offering a suggestion here, instead he emphatically calls us to accept the terms and conditions of following him.

A few years ago, my wife and I joined a local gym, and I signed up for an automatic payment withdrawal from our checking account. Normally I avoid automatic payments of any kind, but the reality is that most gym memberships require it these days, along with a yearlong contract, or so I thought.

Around the same time as the end of what I thought to be my contractual agreement with our gym, my family and I were planning to re-locate to south Georgia. With only one more month left on the contract, and only one more automatic payment to be made, I decided to allow the last payment to go through and not cancel the membership in an effort to avoid any early termination fees. As far as I knew, everything was fine. About two months after the contract was supposed to end, I noticed the gym had not ceased accessing our checking account to automatically withdraw the funds for payment. We were still paying membership fees for a gym we no longer used, in a city where we no longer even lived. Immediately after discovering what was obviously an oversight on the gym’s part I made several phone calls only to make a discovery that changed the way I do business to this day.

According to the terms of the contract, our membership would be automatically renewed annually on the anniversary date except in the event that I provided them with a minimum of sixty days’ notice. Now how could a one year membership turn into a two year membership? The answer, I failed to read the fine print.
Most of you have made this mistake, or a similar one before. In an effort to belong to the gym and access the benefits that accompany a membership, I neglected to read the fine print, or as the contract phrases it the “terms and conditions” portion of the membership. Fortunately I was able to come to an arrangement with the gym management, but there is a lesson to be learned here that applies to modern Christendom, and should be closely examined by those who insist on laying claims to the Christian tradition.

Modern Christians, particularly in the western world, have by in large neglected to read the “terms and conditions” section of the agreement to becoming followers of Jesus. Take note that Jesus is clear when he establishes the terms of discipleship. The further and further away we have progressed from the time Jesus made this statement represents the same distance to which we have placed our own proximity to living out the terms and conditions under which our agreement with him falls.

It is an obligation, one by which we are not at liberty to make arrangements about. Anyone who follows Jesus will do the same works that he has done, and do greater works. Those are the terms, those are the conditions, not his suggestions. Throughout the pages of the gospels, we can clearly see the works that Jesus does. While many of the works we see Jesus do are miraculous, I somehow don’t think that Jesus was challenging us to go throughout the world turning water into wine, and spitting on mud and putting it into people’s eyes.

The issue is Jesus is challenging us to produce the same results he produced when he walked the earth. Feeding the hungry, providing the thirsty with drink, and most importantly creating an environment where people can have an authentic encounter with the Father, through an authentic relationship with his followers.
If this is indeed our obligation, and Jesus has indeed left us with some extraordinarily B.I.G. shoes to fill, then a question should arise in our hearts and spirits that should shake the very foundation of our current “Christian” paradigm. This a question that I was forced to ask myself, as I began the journey to heading into a B.I.G.ger direction for my life. The question; “If Jesus expects us to fill his B.I.G. shoes and do the works that he did, and greater works, then why is the world in the same shape he left it in?

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

No Excuses

2012-02-02T06:50:00.002-05:00

The following post was written several weeks ago during my social media hiatus:

A few days ago while watching my favorite channel ESPN, I inadvertently caught a glimpse of a rather interesting story. It was a brief story covering recent controversial comments made by women's tennis star and champion Serena Williams.

In a nut shell she made remarks about not loving tennis. Some people were shocked and disappointed. She went on to say that she never really liked sports as a child and hates to exercise and train.

The most amazing part of this statement is that everyone viewing can clearly see that she is in amazing shape and is an extraordinary athlete.

Yet somehow, I could identify with her sentiments. Playing sports in college was a chore. It became such a chore that I left 1 whole year of eligibility on the table and walked away, taking 37 credit hours my senior year to push my way out of school. When an opportunity presented itself for me to participate in a spring event showcasing Midwestern senior football players, I declined. Why...I had begun to hate sports. It took alot of time and energy and occasionally got me hurt and I was just tired of putting the work in. I did not want to practice and learn new plays and watch film and have meetings. I did not want to run, lift weights, and watch my diet. I just did not want to take the responsibility for improving my game and taking it to the next level. The result, I made excuses.

A few years ago in an effort to get back into shape and lose weight, I hired a trainer. Bottom line, it worked. I lost 30 pounds.

Fast forward to approximately a little over a year ago. My family and relocated to Lagrange, GA. and I gained every bit of the weight back.

At first my response was to find new workouts, a new gym, and eventually spend more resources. Still I failed to get back into shape. I'm glad to say that I am now back on track (I've lost 16 pds in 31 days) and it took a hard look at myself to motivate me to do something.

Here's what I learned. Neither the trainer nor the machines at the gym are responsible for my health. The trainer can motivate me and mentor me, but I still have to actually do it. So I did. Instead of spending more money to not take responsibility for my health, I decided to do it myself and take what I learned and learn more and do more.

As a pastor, and most pastors will agree with me here, one of the most frustrating statements to hear from church members is the statement "I feel like I'm not being fed."

Now normally this phrase is intended as an indictment of the preacher and the programs at the church designed to promote spiritual growth.

Problem is, that statement is an indictment of a lack of spiritual maturity and discipline.

Expecting the pastor and/or the church to "feed" you spiritually is like expecting the machines in the gym to make you lose weight by just walking in the gym.

Serena Williams' statement gives light to the reality that we all must be personally responsible for the condition (or lack thereof) that we are in. Working out and exercising is a discipline that must be self motivated and the same is true of spiritual growth. While Serena claims to hate exercise, she continues because it is a part of who she is and what she does and what she wants to become.

People who outsource their spiritual growth to a 45 min sermon once a week are sadly mistaken if they believe that growth will be produced from that encounter. You may not like to do it, but for the sake of who you are, what God wants you to do, and who God wants you to become, you must become responsible for your own spiritual growth. Read and study, and pray for your self. Stop being lazy and "feed" yourself.

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

"Dark Days"

2012-02-01T12:04:00.001-05:00

Before my hiatus from social media (going "Dark") I read an interesting article from a pastor who who spoke about his introverted personality. (Ironically I went into my "cave" for 31 days while processing his thoughts.)

I could totally identify with his assessment and found that much of the things he said that he has done as a result of his personality type, I too have done.

In a world and culture that values charisma and extremism, introverted personally types are often looked at as hermits, rude, and/or arrogant. I have been called all of these and much much more that I care not to repeat.

As a child growing up I didn't understand my aversion to big crowds and to being singled out. I thought I was shy, because that's what I was told. Truth is, our culture doesn't quite know what to do with introverts. We are not the team captain, homecoming king or queen, and eventually, we are overlooked for positions of leadership within the corporate and business world because well, we are not considered "people" people.

It wasn't until I made it to college as a football player, and eventually becoming a starter on defense, did I understand the pressure to conform to societal standards of personalty.

Looking back in retrospect, the first few years of college now seem to be what I call the "darkest" years of my young life. Although I had experimented with drugs and alcohol as a high school student, the pressure to perform as an athlete and leader in a culture that neither understands nor accepts introverts in that role, drove me to engage in behaviors that would give me the personality I "should" have.

While at the time I did not consider myself an addict, I now see that my affinity to marijuana and alcohol took a rock bottom experience to shake me into the reality of my habit. That is the tell tale sign of an addict.

My experience, an incident that placed the lives' of others I cared about in danger. Before you allow your mind to wonder, it was actually not my fault. I wasn't driving, nor was the driver of the vehicle intoxicated. But I did attend the event with others who should have never been there.

Yet, that was the biggest revelation that led to my eventual change of heart and direction. It was a God moment in the truest since of the world. An authentic "come to Jesus" if I have ever had one.

In that moment, I understood in an instant the essence of the Christian faith, being able to think outside of your selfish nature. If wasn't until I understood my behavior in the context of how it affected others, did I understand my sin. That's what Jesus does, places himself as the punishment for our sin, giving us a context of the consequences of our decisions being placed on another person life. For me it was a life that I deeply cared about, my then girlfriend, and now wife of 11 years.

Jesus did the opposite, we are the lives' he deeply cares about. He took it on himself because of the prospect of the future relationship. Relationship was the key to my epiphany. Relationships with my wife and more importantly a relationship with Jesus.

With that being said, I want to give some advice to parents of teens.

1. Help them to understand their personality is a gift from God that doesn't need altering. That's what drugs and alcohol do, they change you into someone that God didn't make you. Have more faith that God got it right. If your introverted, that's OK. God knows and is cool with it.

2. Be sure your teenager has people in their life that shape their decisions. They need someone other than you that they care about that they would never want to experience the consequences of their sin. The key to them changing is to begin to think outside their selfish nature that says "I am the only person who matters." Leverage the relationships that matter to them, and foster an environment to connect with more meaningful adult relationships.

3. Jesus matters because they matter to Jesus. Ultimately that relationship will produce phenomenal growth, but they have to see why it matters. Never underestimate Jesus. Keep him in the conversation, always. It will pay off eventually.

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

The B.I.G.gest Question

2011-12-31T20:55:00.004-05:00

With only a few hours left in 2011, I thought I would share just a few thoughts about where I'm headed for 2012. I am going dark (no social media) once the new year hits. The plan is to unplug for at least a month, however it may extend beyond that time, God only knows.

I plan on 2012 being a B.I.G. year for my family and I, and as a result I am launching several projects that we all very excited about. One of those endeavors is the completetion of my first book, "Live B.I.G."

Below is an excerpt (another one) from the first chapter "The B.I.G.gest Question"

Life is full of questions. In fact, I’ve learned that life is a series of questions. Every day begins with a question. Depending on your particular context those questions may be quite different from the questions that others will pose, yet still everyone begins their day with a question. This is the plight of humanity. Since the beginning of time we have been asking questions. This is who we are. The ability to ask questions as actually one of the greatest gifts that God has ever given. Questions represent the capacity to extend our minds beyond what is immediate. Questions represent our ability as humans to engage in what is possible as well as to engage what is practical.

Questions are what make us special. They are what make us the most extraordinary of all of God’s splendid creation. Questions are what give us the ability to live B.I.G. They are the key to opening the door to the world of faith, a door that some seldom truly seek to open, while others merely stand beneath the frame without ever truly crossing the threshold. When we fail to use this key to open the door, when we are discouraged from using this gift to cross the threshold, we unintentionally reduce our lives’ to a relatively short and small existence here on earth. This was never God’s plan for humanity. God’s plan was for humanity to live B.I.G.

The journey to embracing the key to unlocking the door to faith, and the courage to cross the threshold often begins with our earliest, or most memorable encounters with religion. For me, it began as a child growing up in a traditional Missionary Baptist church. My father was a pastor, so you can imagine that there was no lack of exposure to the church. Church was the epicenter of our community. It was the place where transactions were made. Relationships were established and re-established in the church. Business and professional connections were made. Most importantly though, it was the place where people were introduced to Jesus: a transaction that should impact the lives’ of all those who would encounter Jesus. While I can only speak of my own experience, I am willing to make an overarching assumption that the church’s introduction of Jesus to others resulted in the same manner for them as it did for me. The harsh reality is, it did little to nothing to change my life, let alone lead me to live B.I.G. My life post-Jesus was just as small as it was pre-Jesus. Initially it felt as though this particular transaction wasn’t worth the cost.

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

Politically Correct

2011-12-31T12:48:00.001-05:00

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11 NLT)

Most people know these words that Paul penned to the Corinthian church especially if you grew up in the church or religious circles.

The most interesting thing about these words is that it comes right in the
middle of a discussion about two things, love and language.

The Corinthian church had a major issue that Paul was addressing. Many people felt a sense of spiritual superiority over others within the church family because of a controversial spiritual gift called glossolalia. We know it as speaking in tongues.

I'm not attempting to address what can be a doctrinally divisive issue within Christianity, but what I am addressing is Paul's original intention.

Paul's point to those who thought they were superior because of their "language" was this: Even if you could speak a "heavenly" language but showed no love, it's useless.

While making his point, Paul begins to talk about growing up and becoming mature. In a nut shell he is asserting that maturity is found in those who have love and not flowery language.

What's my point? 2012 is an election year. I've watched as the mud slinging has already gotten underway. The problem is most of the mud slinging and "language" being used is by those who claim to be spiritually mature.

No I'm not talking about the candidates, I'm talking about my fellow Christians. It's unfortunate, but the same fight that Paul was writing about is still prevalent among the church today.

Loveless language seems to always peek among the body of believers when politics is involved. Making assertions about someone's Christianity because they belong to a political party or vote for a candidate that differs from your choice is, according to Paul, immature.

Phrases like "You can't be a Christian and vote democrat (or republican)", are just signs of spiritual immaturity. It's the use of language in an effort to seem more mature than others, when in reality it lacks the love that suggests
maturity.

In Acts chapter 1, just before Jesus ascends back to heaven, his disciples ask him about restoring power back to Israel. Jesus responded by first, pointing to the the fact that it was God's business when and how the politics of the time would be run, and secondly and more importantly, he shifts the focus to our greatest concern, teaching others about him.

The fact of the matter is, if we spent more time loving each other and sharing Jesus with the world, we
wouldn't concern ourselves with attaching our spiritual maturity to the things we say about others.

Paul's bottom line is the same as mine,
let's grow up and love one another.

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

11 Lessons from 2011. Re-Post (Unedited)

2011-12-30T10:30:00.004-05:00

With only two days left in 2011, I've taken some time to reflect on the year and the lessons I've learned in life and ministry that I hope to share with you.

I'm currently processing these lessons so I'll share them with you in a sporadic and random order.

With that being said here we go.

1. Change the scorecard. We often feel we are losing because we a grading ourselves wrong. I am about to confess my sins here. One of my biggest struggles is with losing. I hate to lose. I am not one of those parents or adults that "lets" their child beat them at board games or video games. I don't "let up" when competing in sports no matter the age or skill level of my competition. While I am not a sore loser (I can accept the finality of defeat), I am not a good loser in the sense that if I can beat you, I will.

This is no doubt a learned value most likely cultivated in my days of playing high school football in Texas. For those who know about the football scene in Texas, you know what I am referring to. Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing. That is a hard lesson to unlearn and I carried it on to the college field, and eventually from the field to my life.

I have been discipled to win. But over the last year I have learned that I have a strong desire to win, because I hate the feeling of losing. The problem is I have been continuing to judge my wins and loses the same way I did in a sporting contest.

In sports it's all about stats. (I have a separate thought on that later.) Much of what I had come to know as "not losing" was actually not winning either.

I've learned that instead of trying to earn enough points to avoid the feeling of losing, I should change how the game is scored. For instance, the use of time and money become tools instead of proverbial "touchdowns".

In 2010, a church I pastored for 3 years dissolved. Two major issues, time and money, neither of which we had much of. In my mind we had lost, because we couldn't score in those areas.

The reality is as I look back on 2011, what we did for 3 years was a huge win. It prepared us all for something better and gave everyone involved a deeper sense of what the church was about and how God could us to "win" people to Jesus.

We hadn't lost, we won! I was just using the wrong tool to measure our success, mainly because I like to win.

You can't score in a basketball game the same way you score in soccer or football, or tennis. So it is with life.

Most of us hate to lose so bad, we never actually take the time to realize we're actually winning. I've learned that the relationships I have are strong, my walk with Jesus is maturing, and I am in a very good place in life despite the many changes that I've been through in the past 18 months. I'm not losing because God is with me, and that's always a guarantee of winning.

2. Celebrate the little things. We live in a culture that fails to appreciate small things. Have intentions to pay attention to the small.

Technology is leading in this lesson. Over the years we have seen our TV's computers, cell phones, and various other gadgets get smaller.

But here's what I learned, small is the new big. Technology has shown that we can have something smaller without giving up quality. In many cases technology has advanced in ways that allow us to have better quality in a smaller package.

Over the last 18 months I've experienced quite a bit of downsizing. We moved to a smaller town, into a smaller living situation, with less over all "stuff".

I've discovered that the overall sentiment of my family is we are actually much happier. Because of this I have learned to appreciate the small things in life that somehow eluded me in the past. Little things like soccer games on Saturdays. Small things like breakfast at IHOP. Little things like reading to my kids at night, because I'm actually home, or taking them to school because I have time.

Needless to say, small things matter in a BIG way so learn to appreciate the little things in life.

3. Stories weigh more than stats. Life changes when life is exchanged. Sometimes you can't truely measure progress by the numbers.

Working in the "church" world should automatically make this a virtue. Our very faith is based on the collection of stories of Jesus and his interaction with humanity. There are no stats in the Bible, just stories of transformed lives'.

Unfortunately "church" work can be seen leaning toward stats for validation. Bodies, buildings, budgets etc. 2011 helped me return to the virtue of stories. Stories give hope. Stories give healing. Stories ultimately point us to Him.

4. Divinity and diversity are connected. God exists in a divine diversity of unity called the trinity. We see God when there is diversity.

God is a community all by himself. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All distinctly diverse, yet united as one. The strength of God is found in his tri-unity. When we learn to be ourselves while being one, humanity will reach its greatest potential.

5. Create new memories. Authentic faith is made up of both recollection and recreation.

Faith is centered on the rehearsal and the re-creation of memories. We remember what God has done, while re-creating new memories. 2011 brought a year where I spent more time creating new memories with my own children. Trips to Disney, Sea World, Florida etc were all part of weaving the power of memories into their life of faith. Jesus showed us this divine principle when he took a meal called the Passover and assigned a new memory of his love for us to that occasion. Each time we celebrate communion, we rehearse his love for us while re-creating a new memory of our life with him.

6. Generosity ignites passion. Investing in others ignites their passion and yours. Your heart will follow your treasure not the opposite.

This one is simple. Invest in the things you want to be passionate about. This year I put my time and money into people, being extremely generous in blessing others. As a result, they became passionate about God and so did I.

7. Direction trumps purpose. Know where you want to go, not just what you want to do/be. Dysfunction is a result of no direction.

I discovered God is much more concerned with where I am going than what I am doing. That's why Jesus describes his role in the world as the "road". Following Jesus is about direction first, dysfunction second. Most of us will spend time making new years resolutions that deal with our "dysfunction". The key is to map out your direction. When we head in the right direction, we tend to shed the things that are dyfunctional.

8. Don't over estimate your importance. God invites us to play a part in what He is already doing. It is a privilege.

We are not as important as we think. I think purpose driven theology has unintentionally given birth to a bunch of "important" Christians. People who have built their own "kingdoms". Truth is I've learned that God can really use anyone, which means that he doesn't have to use me either. It's a privilege that he offers.

9. Go with the flow. Flexibility is a sign of strength not weakness. Things that are unwilling to bend will eventually break.

Working with teens requires a working knowledge of grace. Flexibility is a central ingredient. I've learned to understand context and culture and be flexible. The more rigid you are the quicker life will break you. Relax a little and watch God work.

10. Being a leader means being willing to be vulnerable at times. When you're out front, your back is exposed. It's ok, it teaches humility

This year I've learned to help others learn about me. I have an introverted personality. That means I am very private. But it also means that people don't get me, but it's been my own doing. In 2011, I've learned to teach people about me, that requires humility but it does create better relationships. If you want to lead, help people learn about you, after all that's how Jesus did it.

11. Rest is deeply spiritual and not to be confused with sleeping. Rest is essential to spiritual growth.

In 2011 I struggled with sleep. That was a medical issue that I have resolved yet still I have not rested much. Reason being, they are not the same. I'm learning to actually rest.. After all God doesn't sleep but he did rest from his work. Rest is a discipline that I need to work on. Be sure that you do the same.

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

Live B.I.G.

2011-12-06T15:03:00.005-05:00

Below is an excerpt (un-edited) from the book I'm writing entitled "Live B.I.G."

“What is my purpose?” This a fundamental question in the life of many believers. The problem I have discovered is that this question is not “THE” biggest question. An intentional focus on the discovery of one’s purpose maybe a portion of what is involved in the continued spiritual development of a believer, but by in large there can be complications with this approach.

To begin with it reduces the life of the believer to something far smaller than the call to follow Jesus with reckless abandon. The discovery of purpose is essentially a discovery of function. While it is immensely important to understand the unique way in which God created us individually and the expectation and impact we have in the advancement of God’s kingdom, I am afraid that without the proper theological grounding, a pursuit of purpose can easily and subtly morph into a pursuit of pleasure. The pursuit of purpose can eventually become the engine that drives the need for personal fulfillment. This ride is a ride that can be extremely dangerous in the life of a believer, so dangerous that we inadvertantly reduce the role of Jesus in our lives' to a personal "fixer" rather than the one we should "follow"

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

BLACK FRIDAY S.O.U.P.

2011-11-22T08:14:00.016-05:00

This year (and the last several years) I have been thankful that I no longer have to work retail on BLACK FRIDAY. For those who are employed in retail and have an obligation to work this Friday, my prayers are with you.

One of the reasons I grew to despise BLACK FRIDAY is because it seemed to be the one day a year that people lose their ever loving minds. I can remember the angry mobs outside my store waiting for the doors to open. I can vividly recall the threats of bodily harm made against me and my fellow co-workers. But more than anything, I can all but close my eyes, and feel the spirit of greed in the atmosphere.

While I enjoy getting a good deal, and while I thoroughly enjoy giving gifts, there is something seductive about the nature of consumerism. It subtly seduces us into feeding the need to have what we want now. It has a way of seducing us into wanting things so desperately we would willingly deprive ourselves of sleep and sanity.

Ultimately, I came to despise BLACK FRIDAY because it creates an environment for people to enter into debt. This year 13.2 million people entered into the New Year in debt from purchases that they made in one single day out of the year. In one day, in a few hours, 13 million people were seduced into the spirit of consumerism, only to pay the price the other 364 days of the year.

Remember Jacob and Esau? Esau was seduced into selling his birth right for something that he just couldn't wait to have in his possession. Now, for those of you who don't know, a birthright could be considered everything that encompasses your future, your hopes, your dreams, and your ultimate potential in life. Esau gave all that up for a bowl of soup.

I like to say that he didn't sell his birthright so much as he bought a bowl of soup, and the price was his future. If you ask me that's a pretty hefty price to pay.

Here's a lesson I've learned in my own life that I'm hoping will help you out. When it comes to being seduced into the spirit of consumerism and greed and feeling the need to have something I want right now, I ask myself this simple question; Am I settling for S.O.U.P.? Am I willing to Sell Out my Ultimate Potential for something I want right now? I mean a good deal is one thing, but leveraging my future hopes, dreams, and potential to get something I want now hardly seems worth it.

Truth is most of us settle for S.O.U.P. We scramble to purchase things we don't really want, with money we don't really have, in an effort to impress people we don't even like.

So enjoy this holiday season of shopping and gift giving, but do ask yourself before going into debt, if you are mortgaging your future to have something now. Are you settling for S.O.U.P.? If the answer is yes, then walk away and save yourself from the dangers of debt.

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

"Something is missing"

2011-11-16T10:10:00.007-05:00

(Unedited version)

Something is missing from the lives’ of many Christians or as I like to say “followers of Jesus”. It’s been missing in my own life and spiritual journey, and without sounding judgmental, I’ve noticed it missing from the lives’ of several other people I know to be followers of Jesus. It’s very subtle, so most of us don’t even know we’ve lost it. It’s like losing your favorite pen. You know you had it once, you loved it, you probably even paid a decent amount for it, but somehow you misplace it one day and can’t find it. At first you attempt to get it back, but as time goes on you just get used to it. It’s gone, it’s missing, and you just become OK with it, after all it’s not the end of the world.

This thing that’s missing, it’s not just personal either, it’s corporate. It’s missing from our churches, our youth groups, senior ministries, and our praise bands. It’s absent from our ushers, greeters, parking lot attendants, and grounds keeping teams. It’s often missing among our church staff members, elders and deacons, and even our senior pastors.

This thing that’s missing is also missing in our communities, our schools and universities, day cares, and day camps. It’s missing, and just like that favorite pen, it’s not a big deal as time goes on, but then again it impacts everything we do as Christ followers.

What is it that’s missing? Dreams. You’re probably thinking I’m crazy but keep reading and I’ll explain. Ecclesiastes reads “Yet, God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. “

Here’s the scoop. God gives humanity an incredible gift that he plants in our hearts, and Solomon tags it as eternity, but here’s what he is actually getting at. God places a gift in our hearts that allows us to see past the here and now, and envision His work in our lives in this world in ways that transform reality as we speak. In short, God gives us the gift of dreaming for a different outcome.

Before you think I’m going all new age on you, think for a second about the numerous stories in the Bible where God uses dreams to expose us to a new reality that he is crafting on our behalf. Dreams are God’s way of helping us to hope for something bigger and better. Dreams are God’s tool for exposing us to the reality that He is constantly writing the stories of our lives’.

In Joel 2:28 the prophet shows us that the out pouring of God’s spirit is accompanied by dreams and visions. You see, we’ve lost sight of the fact that as followers of Jesus we are people who believe in the unseen. That’s who we are, that’s what we do, that my friends, is in our DNA as Christ followers. Jesus had this same discussion with Thomas in John 20:29 when he declared “Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.”

We believe in heaven, a place we have never seen. We believe in angels, we believe in miracles, we believe that God came to humanity as Jesus and lived, died, came back to life, and went back to heaven. We are blessed with a gift to believe in things we cannot see and do not always understand.

Solomon says it’s a gift that was only given to humanity. Nothing else that God created has this incredible capacity to believe past what we can see with our eyes. That is why God expects us to dream big. Dreaming is not superficial, it’s actually supernatural.

Dreaming for the things God plants in our hearts is our way of connecting to the wonder and splendor that is encompassed in the God we serve. Dreaming is what compels us to follow God into places unseen and uncomfortable so that God can unleash his greatest blessings upon us. Dreaming is what compels us to love the way Jesus loves us, because we dream of a day when love will conquer hatred, fear, and division. Dreaming is what compels us to feed the poor, and serve the needy, because we dream of the day that God will allow us to see an end to extreme poverty in this world. Dreaming is what drives us to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, because God has given us the capacity to envision a day when Jesus will return and claim his beloved. Dreams give us hope. Dreams give us healing; Dreams help us remain connected to our unseen, but never unreliable God. When we dream, we connect to God’s deepest desires for his children, the capacity to walk by faith and not by sight.

Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life."

Dream B.I.G.

Pastor L

“Watch your Mouth”

2011-11-14T13:05:00.001-05:00

Let me just cut to the chase. Words matter. The words that we decide to let come out of our mouth are an indication of what is actually going on in our heart. Jesus said it best when he said “It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” (Matt 15:11).
I am a student pastor. I understand teenagers. I understand that teenagers don’t have the maturity to always respond appropriately. I understand that teenagers can be impulsive, emotionally charged, temper mental, and at times dysfunctional human beings. I get that. That is the primary reason I attempt to handle them with the same grace God extends to me. But just so I am clear here, I am not in the slightest way attempting to use grace to dismiss sin. For that matter neither is God.
I was very recently made aware of a situation regarding several students in our ministry that continue to use foul language, primarily through social media mediums such as Facebook and Twitter.
While I use social media as a tool to communicate to our students and parents let me clear up a misconception; I do not monitor the social media accounts of our students. Maybe I should, but I don’t. If in the past I have come across anything I found to be inappropriate, I address it with them privately. But perhaps I have failed in laying it all out there…publically. So for those of our students who will read this, understand that the use of foul language on Facebook and Twitter and in person for that matter is unacceptable.
Here’s why:
What you say only exposes the true state of your heart. For those of you who are leaders in student ministry, using foul language, especially where everyone can see it, only weakens your credibility as a Christ follower, and as a leader.
Ephesians 4:29 reads “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
What I saw on Facebook today definitely fits the category of foul and abusive. Cursing one another out, quoting foul lyrics, even abbreviating your cursing into “code” only exposes the fact that you have a lot of growing up to do. And that’s ok, we all do, but as your leader I would be a failure if I didn’t push you to grow. Cursing and using foul language doesn’t make you cool, tough, or any other of the things you think it makes you. In fact, the reality is it makes you look stupid, disrespectful, and immature.
In a time where your generation has been marked as the “keep it real” generation, the contradiction between being young followers of Jesus and immature, undisciplined thugs, is often shown in how you conduct yourselves when no one is looking. The problem is, everyone is looking, and yet there appears to be no conviction as to the words that you use to communicate with each other. That my friends is not keeping it real.
James says it like this in James 3:9-10 “But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison. My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn’t right.”
Praising God with the same mouth, (or keyboard) that you curse people out with is not right, and it’s not real. It’s simply wrong.
Colossians 3:7-8 “You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.”

Watch your mouth,
Pastor L

Paterno, Penn State, and protesters.

2011-11-12T19:49:00.001-05:00

(Not Edited)

A few days ago I tweeted that the Penn State Scandal was about to make me lose my breakfast. Literally. While I wanted to continue watching the news in an effort to gather all the facts, the mere thought of the issue made me sick to my stomach.

While we are encouraged to use the term "allegedly" when referring to the case, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that the allegations are true since there was a witness to some of these allegations.

Here's my thoughts:

Paterno is complicit. Hands down. I don't feel sorry for him one bit. Here's why. As a former college football player, I am aware of the hidden reality that the head football coach in a program at a major university has a tremendous amount of influence. To assume that Paterno did his due diligence by reporting the sexual assault to two people above him is absurd. One phone call from Paterno indicating his demand for an investigation would have ended this all over a decade ago. Someone as important to the university as him has the reach to make just about anything happen that he wanted to, including covering up what he had been made aware of.

Sandusky was his guy. His coach. He allowed him to remain part of his coaching staff even after receiving information that he had been caught raping a young boy in the showers at his football facility.

Even if Paterno was skeptical of the truth of the matter, he definitely had the power to at least suspend Sandusky pending an investigation. The truth of the matter is, Joe failed those young men in a very tragic way. For a man who has built his career on coaching and mentoring men he has exposed himself as a fraud. That's my opinion. Any man who knowingly allows abuse of young boys to take place on his watch in his facilities by one of his coaches, and does not do everything possible to see the abuser buried underneath the prison he belongs in, is in my opinion not only a fraud of a man and a coach, but also a criminal.

Something made him (Paterno) report what he was told to those whom he reported to. Did he know something? Why not follow up to pursue legal action? Why not fire Sandusky? Here's a better question..Why do nothing?

The problem is that Paterno becomes complicit because he failed to use his influence to save the lives of young men. By not taking action he in fact provided Sandusky with the platform as a high profile Penn State coach, and the eventual place(Penn State facilities) to sexually assault teenage boys. On the street a person who provides a platform and a place for sexual misconduct is called a pimp. Yes I said it. By not protecting those boys, he was in fact promoting it.

Penn State then becomes equally if not more responsible. Firing Paterno does not distract from the fact that they failed those boys as well.

On March 1, 2002: Graduate assistant Mike McQueary witnesses Sandusky sexually assaulting Victim 2 in Penn State showers.

Not the first time he has been caught using school facilities to abuse children, yet the school acknowledged the abuse by banning Sandusky from bringing children onto the campus and taking away his keys. Translation.."Sandusky rape boys somewhere else other than Penn State". UNACCEPTABLE!

As for McQueary, how do you witness a man sexually assaulting a young boy and NOT end up in jail for beating the hell out of him? Reporting what you have been told is one thing, witnessing it and not getting involved immediately is the biggest failure of all. Yet, he was put on "leave". Penn State officials once again have blown it and show that they still don't get it. Epic fail. Our kids must be protected and anyone and everyone who fails to stand up for them are complicit and as guilty as the abuser.

And yet thousands are protesting Paterno's release. Citing he deserved more than a phone call. In my opinion he has only begun to receive what he deserves. In an age where coaches are being fired for having knowledge that their players sold personal property for profit, and an era where former college players must vacate awards because they have been found guilty of violating NCAA regulations, it is my opinion that any and all awards, accomplishments, and records associated with Paterno's and Sandusky's tenures as coaches at Penn State after finding out about Sandusky should be vacated.

It infuriates me that people have the audacity to protest the firing of a coach who willfully did nothing to protect innocent children.

It infuriates me that a coach witnessed a fellow coach rape a young man and did not physically stop him.

It infuriates me that we live in a culture that overlooks the well being of our children, the instinct to protect them from predators, and the passion to pursue justice on their behalf at all costs.

My prayers go out to the the victims and their families. I pray that one day we learn to protect you.

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

2011-10-26T11:28:00.006-04:00

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. Last night I had the honor and privilege to speak at an event promoting awareness in the city of Lagrange where my family and I now live. Here's what I shared:

Silence is golden. In just three little words, this age old adage defines what I believe to be the primary contributing factor to a society and culture that slowly and subtly reduces basic human value. To equate the absence of a voice to the value of something that many deem to be precious, only secretly reinforces one of the primary conditions needed for the triumph of injustice. The great Edmund Burke once said “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” For years we have been taught that real and true value can be found in an erroneous virtue that communicates the necessity for silence.
As human beings our greatest gift is our voice. The harsh reality that you and I face tonight is that we are immersed in a climate and a culture where the value of many of those in our own community is being reduced minute by minute and hour by hour because their voice, their value has been unjustly stolen from them.
There is a proverbial elephant in the room that this world, this country, and yes even this county has remained far too silent about. Far too long, have we been silent about the reality of its presence among us. Far too long have we been silent about the reality of the pain it causes. Far too long have we been silent about the perpetrators behind the violence, and the victims who stand voiceless.
Statistics show that 1 in 4 American women will experience domestic violence at some point in her lifetime. Women whose voices are often never heard and whose value has attempted to be reduced. If silence is golden, our souls remain guilty. 15.5 million children have witnessed domestic violence at least once in the past year. If silence is golden, our spirits must remain guilty. From 2003 through 2010, at least 962 citizens in Georgia alone lost their lives due to domestic violence. In fact, Georgia was recently ranked 10th in the nation for its rate of men killing women related to domestic violence issues. If silence is golden, then we as a society are guilty.

You see that proverbial elephant resides right here, in our small town affecting the lives of our neighbors, our church members, and our school mates. Here in our small town we too have lost lives’ as a result of domestic violence all while many of us remain silent because silence is golden, but if silence is golden than yes our small town and we its citizens are guilty.
One of my favorite passages in the Bible challenges our culture and our society to dismiss this notion that remaining silent in the face of violence and injustice is a virtue. Proverbs 31:8 reads “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and ensure justice for those being crushed.” It is a basic call to humanity, that despite what your belief system is, we are called to be the voice for those whose voices can often not be heard. It is a challenge in the name of human dignity and all that is just to break our silence, to restore that value to those who have been victimized, and to create a new virtue that says that victims of domestic and dating violence will not go unspoken for.
Often times when tragedies occur, our cultural norm is to pause in honor of those we have lost. Taking a moment of silence as a way to reflect on the value of the lives’ of those whose voices are no longer a present reality among our lives. But the challenge we must take, and the pledge we must make as human beings, and as citizens of this county, is that our brief moment of silence is only the beginning of a movement against the silence. A movement against not speaking about the issue of domestic violence in our communities. This moment, must become a movement against not speaking out about the issue of domestic and dating violence in our public and private schools. This moment of silence, must be the spark that ignites an explosive movement against the silence in our churches. Our challenge and our cause is to resist the fallacy that silence is valuable, and that silence is a virtue. As a community, we must be the voice for those who often times cannot speak for themselves, and ensure justice and peace for those who are being crushed with the evils of domestic violence. The question we must each ask of ourselves tonight, “Will I be that voice?”

Love B.I.G.

ONE

2011-10-03T18:07:00.001-04:00

(Un-edited)

A few days ago I read an article that multi-ethnic churches are still extremely rare even in the 21st century.

With all the advancements that the church has made over the years, it appears that we are still behind the curve when it comes to cultural and racial diversity.

Jesus prayed that all those who follow him would be "one" just as he and the Father are "one". The aforementioned article exposes a sobering reality that his prayer has yet to be actualized even in the age of the greatest human advancement in the areas of technology, science, and medicine.

The church has also advanced in many areas, suggesting that the Church is indeed a living organism and not just an organization. The problem is that we have advanced in astronomical ways except when it comes to actually being "one"

Dr. King once said Sunday is the most segregated day of the week. While I agree, I think it only illumines the reality that the church that Jesus established is severely fragmented every single day of the week.

In the story of Joseph (old testament Joe) we see one family that was extremely divided. The result, was the alienation of one of the younger sons Joseph. What's interesting is that after years of separation, segregation, and alienation, Josephs brothers run into a grown up Joseph and still do NOT recognize him as their brother.

I don't claim to have the answer to the lack of "oneness" that Jesus prayed for, but I do think that one of the issues we face as believers is that we are part of a family that lacks the intention to see each other as "brothers".

Perhaps the reason his brothers sold him in the first place is because they refused to recognize that despite their differences he was still their "brother" and not just a "bother".

Today I am challenging myself to "recognize" my brothers and sisters in Christ, in all of our diversity, as my family.

Will you join me in the journey to becoming "ONE"?

Love B.I.G.

Pastor L

Re-Post: Why I LOVE student ministry!

2011-09-15T19:16:00.001-04:00

I originally posted this in December of last year. After returning to student ministry over ayear ago, I thought I'd re-post just for fun.

As I was sitting here reflecting on my recent return to youth ministry I thought about 10 reasons I like working with youth more than adults.

10. Nobody cares what I wear. After years of dealing with adults it's nice to dress down all the time. My idea of dressing up these days means wearing my black converse instead of my white ones.

9. I don't have to use big words. I have a M.Div. from Emory. Emory is a great school and I learned alot there. Most adults hear that I have an Emory education and expect me to be really smart. With kids I don't have to use Greek and Hebrew when teaching. Heck, for the most part I barely have to speak proper English.

8. Youth ministry for the most part is free of fear. With adults you have to explain everything, soothe their doubts, and calculate all the risks. Youth are willing to try anything. That's because they're not afraid of failing. If you don't believe me just look at their report cards

7. Predictable attendance. Adults are too fickle. They may not attend a service or an event because they are too tired, or the weather is not nice enough. Sometimes they may even skip church because they have a beef with the pastor. With kids it's entirely predictable. Most kids in youth ministry can't drive, which means I can pretty much predict attendance because their always begging for a ride. The other plus is that I can increase and maintain attendance with two basic marketing strategies. FOOD AND FREE STUFF.

6. Counseling is easier. Counseling adults is complex. They have all types of issues, mostly revolving around what someone said or did to them as a child. With kids that's not the case because they are children, so they have yet to develop the "my childhood sucked so bad and that's why I'm screwed up complex." Prayerfully if I am any good at what I do I can help them resolve some issues while their still young, that way I save the Senior Pastors of the world some grief in the future.

5. Counseling is easier. Yeah I know I said that one already, but I think it deserves another slot on the count down. Seriously, there are some very troubled adults out there with alot of baggage.

4. Technology. Most adults are still learning how to use their VCR's let alone all the new technology that is out here. Kids these days know how to work everything. Technology also helps me reach further. I can counsel 10 kids at one time using FB, twitter, and text messaging because most kids between 12-17 have a smart phone and 88% of their communication is through technology. Talk about multi-tasking. I am counseling a kid right now while I'm typing this!

3. Child care. No, not providing child care for them, but finding child care for my own children. With surrounding myself with 80-100 teenagers, it increases the probability of finding reliable babysitters for my 2 boys. Ok, I'm just kidding, but if any of our youth read this and want a babysitting gig, hmu. I'm just sayin' :0)

2. Mission trips, video games, and cook outs. The holy trinity of youth ministry. If you're really good, you can squeeze all three into one week. Most people think youth pastors organize these types of things to entertain our kids, but the truth is we plan them for ourselves and try not to act too excited about attending so it seems that the event was actually designed for them.

1. Drum Roll Please................ Unlike Adults, youth are young. Sorry Adults, but youth ministry rocks because I get to spend time helping to shape the next generation of great Christian leaders. I have an amazing group of young leaders and I pray that God allows me to be around to see how they turn out. So far I think the church is in good hands!

God No's

2011-09-05T12:30:00.001-04:00

Prayer is one of those spiritual disciplines that we often don't fully appreciate. I think that's because we have connected prayer to the ideology that it's purpose is solely for fulfilling our requests.

There was a time when that was exactly my concept of prayer. Telling God what I wanted and waiting for it to happen. Like most, when I didn't receive what I asked for I became extremely upset. My thoughts immediately went to the reason God didn't give me what I wanted. Usually I would come up with one of two scenarios. One, I didn't pray correctly. It wasn't hard enough, or I didn't pray enough times about the same thing. Maybe I didn't quote the right scriptures or perhaps I had sinned and God didn't want to listen to me at the moment. The second, God really didn't have the power to deliver.

The other day I spoke to a parent who stated their child was angry with God and didn't believe in God's "omnipotence". (big word for all "power".) My response; Good I'm glad she is angry, that means she gets it!

Believe it or not, disappointment is an acknowledgement of God's power. I used to think that the reason I didn't get what I wanted was because of me, but that would mean I was in control of God's response. Then I thought it's because God "couldn't" do what I wanted, but that just meant that God's power was only demonstrated by responding in my favor, which in all honesty still places all the power in my hands.

You see, I find comfort in God's "No's" because that means that ultimately God really is in control. If God ALWAYS did what I wanted then He really has no power at all, and quite frankly I am not interested in serving a "push over".

Am I disappointed when God doesn't give me what I want? SURE, but only because I am confident that God can. No one gets disappointed with someone that they don't have expectations of. Like most people, I would love for God to do what I want but when He doesn't, it reminds me that he really does have all "power" including power over my personal agenda. Pray because you believe God can, trust because sometimes God won't.

Pray B.I.G.

Pastor L

Washing our hands

2011-09-02T06:20:00.001-04:00

Disclaimer: What I am about to say is both extremely political and extremely personal at this point in my life. It ventures significantly beyond the normal content of my posts.

It's just after 5:00 a.m. and after making a restroom run, I pumped my hands full of soap and turned on the water. About 10 seconds into my hand washing routine I began to feel an intense burning sensation around my thumb area.

It was then that I realized that I had an enormous cut at the base of my thumb. As I examined it, still burning from the soap and water, I discovered that it was just as unusually deep as it was wide.

How could I not have noticed? I'm not even sure when and why it happened. Truth is most of us have had this happen to us at one point or another, but eventually the pain makes us take notice of the wound.

(Here comes the issue)

Most people who know me well know I am not the one to pull the race card. I DO NOT subscribe to the victim mentality, and I DO NOT believe in crying racism about all of the issues that affect minorities in this country.

However, after a spending a year in a very stereo-typical southern Georgia town. A town that is still literally divided by the "tracks", I have come to learn and observe that the the issue of racism in this country has cut so deep and so wide that the occasional "washing of the hands" mentality toward the racism issue only reveals that there are still significant wounds that are still present in the hands of blacks and whites in this country.

The idea that we can totally wash our hands of this issue causes a burning irritation, that reveals places in our own souls, communities, and cultures that have been wounded without our conscious awareness.

While I don't have the answer to all of our issues I do know that racism is a SIN issue, so no other institution in my opinion has the credentials to address it other than the church. The problem is the church's hands are just as scared as the worlds, yet even more attempts to "wash" our hands of racism is made in the very same institution.

As followers of Jesus, we are given an "out" when it comes to this SIN issue. "There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28 NLT)

To be honest whether you're Black or White, Hispanic or Asian, perpetuating hate toward another race, ethnicity, or culture is a lot of hard work especially in the church. It's much easier to accept the equality that comes as a result being a true follower of Jesus. That way we don't have to fight for WHO is right, rather together as ONE body we can fight for WHAT is right.

Love B.I.G.

Pastor L

Sinners for Dinner?

2011-08-30T19:48:00.001-04:00

Jesus was a trouble maker. He was constantly annoying the religious leaders of his time. No wonder so many had issues with Jesus and his crew.

In Mark 2:13-17 we find Jesus annoying the Pharisees again. This time he is having dinner with some friends that happen to be sinners. Can you imagine Jesus sitting at a bar chatting it up with a bunch of foul mouthed, lying, cheating, fornicating, law breaking SIN loving heathens?

As I am thinking about it, it almost makes sense why the Pharisees would be annoyed. What part of being a religious leader is that? How could you associate with "those" people? They even asked his disciples "how" he could eat with sinners and tax collectors.

I'm guessing he put the food in his mouth, chewed and swallowed, that's "how" he ate with them. I can't imagine it took a strategic effort to be himself. Yeah I am being sarcastic, but it really was a dumb question. In fact Jesus didn't answer their question, instead he responded with "why" he was eating with them.

Maybe we shouldn't think so much about "how" we could be around "sinners" and instead focus on "why" we should hang out with more non-Christians. So that through being ourselves and being who we are as followers of Jesus, people will want to be around us long enough for us to make an impact on their lives'.

Besides I'm glad Jesus hangs out with sinners, otherwise I'd be pretty lonely.

Love B.I.G.

Pastor L

Mistaken Identity

2011-08-25T09:38:00.008-04:00

There is an old myth that claims that the more time you spend with someone, the more you start to resemble that person. While there is no scientific evidence to support this theory, I think there is actually some truth to that claim.
I noticed something extremely interesting recently about modern day “Christians”. Those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus spend an enormous amount of time, energy, and resources into convincing people that 1) God exists and 2) that we are actually true Christ followers.

A very sad reality is that people who truly followed Jesus in the biblical text never had to fight that battle. As a matter of fact, it was extremely difficult for them to convince anyone that they were not disciples of Jesus. Remember Peter’s denial of his association with Jesus (Mark 14:66-72>)? When Peter tried to convince people that he was not a disciple of Jesus, they weren’t buying it.

One of my favorite stories is in John 1:19-27. It turns out that one day the leadership of the local church approached John and asked him if he was the Messiah. Of course John denied it, but what a statement about his life! He had to convince them that he WAS NOT Jesus. John’s life fit the description so closely, that they actually mistook him for Jesus.

If you ask me, I think that is a better fight to fight. Imagine if we all lived and acted so much like Jesus, people couldn't tell us apart from him. Instead of fighting to convince the world that we KNOW him, try being so much like him that you have to convince the world that you are NOT him.

Serve B.I.G.
Pastor L

I'mMortal

2011-08-23T15:29:00.036-04:00
The recent death of mega church pastor Dr. Zachery Tims has caused many to weep, wonder, and watch. Many weep for the loss of a spiritual leader, father, and friend. Many wonder about the cause for his death. Many watch as his biological family, and his church family move toward the journey of grief following such a great loss.

Much has been said, and much more has gone unsaid about this untimely death. All speculation aside, the reality is, is that when a death occurs,life becomes extremely fragile and transparent.

As a former hospice chaplain, I have experienced alot of death. I have personally sat at the bedside of dozens of people as they took their last breath. I have preached more funerals and memorial services than I can even recall. I have literally spent thousands of hours serving the terminally ill and their loved ones.

Death, as taboo of a subject as it is, is full of life lessons. One of my favorite books in the world is a book titled "Tuesday's with Morrie" by Mitch Albom. My first experience with hospice came as a seminary student at Candler School of Theology. As a part of the curriculum for a contextual education course, we were assigned to read this book. (If you have not read this book I highly recommend it). Within the pages of this book was a line of wisdom that has helped shaped my world in tremendously profound ways. In the middle of a conversation about the discovery of our own mortality as humans Morrie says these words to Mitch, "Learn how to die, and you will learn how to live."

Spending so much time with dying people over my combined nearly 5 year stint as a hospice chaplain, has taught me the true value of those words. The problem is most of us don't think about death, let alone have any desire to learn how to do so.

This profound statement made by a dying man is actually a core biblical truth that Jesus calls us all to embrace.

I think that is why it is so difficult to deal with the death of a spiritual leader. Jesus makes the connection between embracing death, and the discovery of real life. In all actuality, it is the constant connection to our own humanity, fragility, and brokenness that provides us the opportunity to embrace the life giving power of a relationship with Jesus. The problem is, most people of faith ignore this reality all together, especially when it comes to our leaders.

Far too often we disconnect our leaders in our own minds from their mortality. Pastors die too, because pastors are people just like you.

Death does have the potential to provide us with a new vision for "life". The Biblical account of Jesus own death is the ultimate example. As a pastor I pray we may take the advice of Morrie and embrace the reality of our mortality, before we face the pain of death. "Learn how to die, and you will learn how to live."

As a pastor I pray that we as pastors and leaders resist the culture that places us on pedestals that read "Immortal" and lose our lives' in such a way that we discover "I'm Mortal." Paul states it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:16 "Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are bing renewed every day."Prayers go out to the Tims family, and the NDCC family. May the reality of Dr. Tims death, cause us to embrace the centrality of true life in Jesus.

Love B.I.G.

Pastor L

Who am I?

2011-08-21T21:00:00.001-04:00
There is a question that I have been looking to answer for nearly 25 years now. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to know the answer to this question; "Who am I?"

What I am about to share is completely raw and honest, and for at least two decades it has shaped my self identity.

Around the age of 8, I had a conversation with a classmate that rocked my world. After a class room discussion about black history, we sat at a lunch table together discussing the subject of black history. My then classmate, turns to me and expresses his objection to the treatment of African Americans in the U.S. At first I was offended, and then he went on to reveal to me that he was Hispanic. Why is that such a big deal? Because for almost 9 yrs I thought every human being that was ever born was either Black or White.

Crazy, I know. But without going into alot of detail, you can already sense trouble. You see my whole identity was tied to my very narrow, ignorant understanding of the world. Once I found out that things were not as black and white as I was taught, I lost myself and my identity in the world.

For the next several years I would scramble through life not knowing who I was. It affected everything from my understanding of family, to my attitude toward education.

As a result I became extremely guarded. For several years I was bullied and made fun of for being "dark skinned". I didn't have many friends, and didn't really want to have any.

I became extremely defensive, withdrawn, and sensitive. Girls didn't like me because I was so withdrawn. As a result I was called "gay".

By the time I got to high school I shook off the stigma of my middle school days, only to find out that now the problem wasn't that my skin was too dark, the issue was that I wasn't "black" enough.

The older I got, the more difficult answering that question became. My peers didn't accept me, so I begin to act in ways that they defined as "black". I won't go into detail of those activities, but it only reinforced some very negative stereo-types of black people, as well as leaving me scarred and in quite a bit of trouble too.

So, "who am I?" It's to bad I found out what did at 8, other wise I would have never had this problem. I would have been black because everyone else was white. See the larger issue was that who I was until that point, was based on who everyone else was, or was not.

Believe it or not this false sense of identity doesn't go away without a fight. For most of my adult life, I have struggled with this issue: Defining my self by observing what others are or are not.

This is dangerous, extremely dangerous. I'm still very guarded and sensitive. For most of my earlier years in ministry, I developed a "preacher persona" that was based on my discovery of who my colleagues were or were not. I found myself buying fancy robes, wearing 3 piece suits, and expensive shoes. I tried hard to preach like a "black" preacher. A few years later I found myself completely changing my style and image, just because I didn't want to be like "them". But truth is, what I came up with wasn't really "me" either.

Needless to say I have spent many years trying to answer this question in the right way. Unfortunately, the church hasn't been much help. Many churches define themselves by describing themselves in ways that point more to who their "competition" is not, then who they are.

About 2 years ago, with God's help, I begin to journey down the path that is helping me answer the question "Who am I?" I'm still sensitive, I'm still very much a work in progress, and I still have the tendency to be defensive, but let me tell you how I have grown.

I am unique. I'm not all the way "gospel" and I'm not all the way "contemporary Christian". I am a little urban and a little suburban. I'm rock and roll, jazz, and hip-hop. I'm a laid back joke telling preacher who can "whoop" it up every now and then. But most of all I am learning that I don't have to reduce myself to be someone who God did not create me to be by answering the question based on who others are or are not.

The little boy in me still struggles with the fact that I'm not "black" because everyone else is "white" . But he is learning that when I can appreciate that the world is not merely black and white, I can come closer to finding out who I really am.

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

Speed Bumps

2011-08-16T07:36:00.006-04:00

Just a random thought this morning. I hate speed bumps. They slow you down, get in your way, and sometimes cause damage when you move to quickly over them. They are an inconvenience I was I could eliminate.

Most speeders feel me on this one. Every morning I leave my apartment to take the kids to school and those dang speed bumps stand in between me and my desired timing.

Here's the thing that struck me this morning; I need those speed bumps to be in place so that I don't hurt someone else. Lets face it our flawed human nature causes us to over look others in our pursuit of accomplishing our goals. Often we move at such a rapid pace that we run over people's hearts in the process.

I need speed bumps in my life so that I am reminded not to "run over" people in my haste to make things happen. The harsh reality I am reminded of as I write this is that I am selfish. So are you. We all are, because we're human. The key is to remember just that, we ALL are human, which means that the people we inadvertently run over have feelings too.

Thank God for "speed bumps" that make us look out for others.

"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, THINKING OF OTHERS AS BETTER THAN YOURSELVES. Don't look out for only you own interests, but take an interest in others, too." -Paul (Philippians 2:3-4)

Live B.I.G.

Pastor L

Devine Detours

2011-08-10T08:08:00.001-04:00

No one likes waiting, wandering, and wanting. Everyone loves to make it to their next destination without any distractions.

The other day I was driving down the road on my normal path headed to my intended destination only to be distracted by a detour. Truthfully, detours drive me crazy. Who wants to wander around looking lost and trying to figure out a way to make it to where you want to go.

I'm sure that's how the people of Israel felt after God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. I can hear them now.. "Really God...Really?". It's frustrating to be stuck in the wilderness especially when you know there is a shorter route to your dreams.

Here is the thing, God actually led them into the wilderness instead of taking them the direct route into the promised land. God's reasoning...It was longer but it was safer for his people.

What's the point? Sometimes God takes us into the wilderness because it's actually His will. Not every route to success is direct. Sometimes the long hard trek through the wilderness is the best way to "make it". Just remember if God leads you into the wilderness, God loves you out of it. It's not a disaster, it's just a "Devine Detour"

Peace

Pastor L

"Footwork"

2011-07-06T16:53:00.008-04:00

A few years ago, while employed as a hospice chaplain, a colleague told me about a humorous story involving a mutual patient. While visiting what had been a former patient of mine, and a current patient of his, he asked the very sweet elderly woman if she would like for him to read her the Bible. Pausing for a moment in what was an apparent attempt to process the question; she finally looked up at him and in a serious and very concerned tone replied “The whole thing?”

Funny, but that’s how living a life of faith often feels. Overwhelming. How can I possible do everything the Bible teaches? Many of us have been taught that following Jesus means taking a “leap of faith.” Problem is, no one is able to make that leap, no one. That’s why Jesus came to us.

In Psalm 17 King David writes these words “I'm not trying to get my way in the world's way. I'm trying to get your way, your Word's way. I'm staying on your trail; I'm putting one foot in front of the other. I'm not giving up.

David understood a very important principle. Faith “work” is about “footwork”. He claims that the pursuit of doing it God’s way according to God’s word is “putting one foot in front of the other.”

Here’s a thought, when it comes to living a life of faith don’t let the “whole thing” overwhelm or intimidate you into doing nothing. Following Jesus means committing to a life long journey that starts with putting one foot in front of the other.

Today pray, read your Bible, go to church, join a small group but whatever you do decide take another step toward Jesus and don’t give up.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:8

Peace

Pastor L

Hungry for Heroes

2011-06-16T13:56:00.002-04:00

As a child growing up I loved cartoons. Remember the days when Saturday mornings was reserved for a huge bowl of cereal and a morning full of cartoons. It was the only day of the week that I willingly woke up early. As I reflect on those days so far gone, I can recall that my obsession for cartoons was really rooted in my fascination with super heroes.

Spider man, Superman, Flash, The incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Batman, it really didn’t matter who was on the tube. I just loved to sit and allow at least half of my day to be filled with heroic images; images that in many ways shaped my perception of reality, including my self-image. It’s no wonder I am so excited about this summer’s movie line up. Thor, X-Men, Green Lantern, Captain America, I mean this is a re-emergence of my childhood days! It’s as though I was missing something critical and now, now that void is fulfilled.

When I was in seminary I took a course called cultural hermeneutics. That’s just a fancy way of saying cultural interpretation. What I learned is that trends in culture can often point us to something that is unconscientiously being communicated. Suddenly a thought hit my like a ton of bricks. The hottest thing in cultural media this summer is the insurgence of “Hero” movies. I mean this summer’s movie scene is “hero heavy”. Perhaps I’m not the only one who felt a void of heroic images in my life and my story. On many levels I believe something deeper is taking place. Over the course of time, the images of positive, respectable, heroic males in the lives’ and stories of our culture have been slowly eroding and have all but been erased. I mean the idea of “manhood” and “fatherhood” has been continually re-shaped and re-packaged into something far more negative. If you don’t believe me just take a look and listen to the images that are often portrayed.

Remember the story Jesus tells of the prodigal son? In reality this story is not really about the son at all. Jesus shares 3 stories or parables all about things being found, but in the 3rd story, the prodigal son, the primary theme is not about the redemption of a person or an object, it is about the redemption of a role.
Because of his attitude about his father, the younger son asked for his inheritance before his father died, which in reality would be the equivalent of asking the old man to “kick the bucket.” As the story goes on the father’s role slowly erodes until it is completely erased.

It wasn’t until he realized the role of his father, and the heroic image of what type of man his father was, that he “came to himself.” Here’s the deal though, he was able to “find himself” because he had a father, and a man who left him with the right image. The image of what it meant to be a real man. A heroic image that made a profound impact on his personal life story.

Men, the world is hungry for heroic images of real men. Men who will re-enter the stories and lives of our children and our culture. The world wants heroes; the question is we will be a part of their story?

Happy Father’s Day
Pastor L

See no evil, hear no evil.

2011-05-30T21:28:00.001-04:00
I was once told that when it comes to gossip, rumors, and lies to "believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear". Generally speaking, that is a good rule to live by. The question is what are we to do with the half that we do see? What if it looks to be deplorable?

Normally I refrain from voicing my opinion about heavily debated public issues. We live in a culture that both craves and detests public opinion. This approach has created the "Only God can judge me" theology.

But hey it's true, and God knows I've used that phrase over and over again in my own life, but I'm afraid that far too many times we look the other way and let people off the hook for public misconduct.

Recently the news released a report that Bishop Eddie Long has settled out of court for allegedly using his influence to have sex with four young men who initiated the suit against Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA.

On Sunday, thousands cheered Bishop Long at his church due a monetary settlement that will dismiss the case.

Fundamentally I have a HUGE problem with that. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 states "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Settling out of court may not be an admission of guilt, but it sure as hell is not proof of his innocence either. That in principle is nothing to celebrate. If anything it gives the "appearance of evil"

We may only have half the story, but the half we have seen reeks of guilt. Is that the image that you want to leave the world with? The Bible says to stay clear of even appearing to be in the wrong.

And that is NOTHING to celebrate.

Pastor L

2011-05-23T10:39:00.003-04:00

Rapture Ready?
If you are reading this then I am assuming you are not in heaven and that you are still here on earth with all the rest of us. By now you have probably figured out that Jesus has not yet returned to earth, and that Mr. Camping and his faithful followers were once again wrong about their predication of the exact date and time that Jesus will return. News like this gives us all some great material to work with. You have probably heard lots of jokes regarding the rapture and the wrong predictions that have been made regarding the timing. I must admit that I too have had my fun with it, and it was well….funny.
The reality is that no one person knows the time of the 2nd coming of Jesus. Heck, Jesus himself claims he doesn’t know when that time is, “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.” (Matt 24:36).

So while we will never know when that day will come, we do know that it will come, and if you ask me not knowing should be far more effective then knowing when that time will come. I mean the thing that kept me out of trouble when I was home alone as a teenager was the thought of knowing that my mother could show up at any minute. The one time that I did actually get into a little situation, was the time that I disregarded that reality.

The point I am trying to make here is that while we make fun of false predications about the return of Jesus, there is a small part of us that doesn’t take it seriously enough. When Jesus told his followers in the 1st century that he would return, they took him VERY SERIOUSLY. So much so that they way they did life was centered on the urgency of this reality. If you read the book of Acts you can almost cut the tension with a knife because the early church was extremely intense. Intense because they believed that it would literally be “any minute now.” Fast forward a few millennia and Christianity has become far less exciting, much less impactful, and sadly less respected. In my opinion it’s because we no longer live with the same sense of urgency.

“So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.” (Matt 24:42-44)

I had a mentor that once told me, “If you stay ready, you won’t have to get ready.”
Live, Love, and Lead EVERY DAY like Jesus is coming back EVERY DAY.

Peace,
Pastor L

Guardian Angels

2011-05-08T08:08:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we took a team from our church into Tuscaloosa to partner with Samaritans Purse in providing disaster relief to a devastated city.

What we saw was almost ungodly. Entire communities that existed just days ago were completely erased from existence. Houses were moved off of their foundations. Whole cars were tossed around in the wind like tissue paper. The scene of many of the sites we visited carried an almost deathly silence, not of the voices of humanity, but of the voice of God.

Just before leaving our last work site of the day, I came across an item buried deep below the carnage that was virtually in untouched. It was a small statue of an angel watching over the world.

Psalm34:7
If you honor the Lord ,
his angel will protect you.

I don't know all there is to know about angels, but in that moment I felt God's presence and protection for the people who weep for relief and the people who work to restore. Maybe the protection that God provides is for our hearts and our hopes, even when we lose our homes.

To the guardian angel(s) that protect the hopes of all those who were affected by the tornadoes in the south, THANK YOU.

Blessings,

Pastor L

Gaurdian Angels

2011-05-08T08:08:00.001-04:00

Yesterday we took a team from our church into Tuscaloosa to partner with Samaritans Purse in providing disaster relief to a devastated city.

What we saw was almost ungodly. Entire communities that existed just days ago were completely erased from existence. Houses were moved off of their foundations. Whole cars were tossed around in the wind like tissue paper. The scene of many of the sites we visited carried an almost deathly silence, not of the voices of humanity, but of the voice of God.

Just before leaving our last work site of the day, I came across an item buried deep below the carnage that was virtually in untouched. It was a small statue of an angel watching over the world.

Psalm34:7
If you honor the Lord ,
his angel will protect you.

I don't know all there is to know about angels, but in that moment I felt God's presence and protection for the people who weep for relief and the people who work to restore. Maybe the protection that God provides is for our hearts and our hopes, even when we lose our homes.

To the guardian angel(s) that protect the hopes of all those who were affected by the tornadoes in the south, THANK YOU.

Blessings,

Pastor L

First Class Comfort

2011-04-30T21:16:00.001-04:00

This week, the world watched as various news stations across the globe begin to report on a series of powerful tornadoes that virtually destroyed several cities in the southern region of the United States. Wednesday's tornadoes marked the second-deadliest day of twisters in U.S. history, leaving 341 people dead across seven states, including 249 in Alabama.

While there are many many issues that impact the rescue and relief efforts, and while I do not supposed to know all of what is required to organize such a massive effort to bring aide to so many hurting people, I do know that people deserve first class comfort from those of us who profess to know and have experienced comfort from God in our own times of personal disaster.

1 Corinthians 1:4 "He comforts us in all of our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

In this first few lines of Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul talks about a danger that he personally faced during his ministry. Although he never quite says exactly what that danger was, he does say that it almost resulted in him and others losing their lives'. (Verse 10)

Paul reminds us all that God is the source of all comfort and that he comforts us in our troubles so that WE can comfort others in their troubles. Here's what's so important about this verse. Paul seems to suggest that those who have experienced God's comfort in their own personal calamity are then responsible for comforting others. Notice it is much less of a suggestion, than it is a RESPONSIBILITY.

Yes, comforting others is a responsibility that we as Christians must embrace, but the greatest part of that responsibility is that we are to "...give them the same comfort God has given us." God always provides first class comfort to those who are hurting. God has never provided anything less for you or me when we needed comforting.

In essence, there are problems, there are challenges with providing support, there are infrastructure issues, yes there is looting, yes there are scams, but we are called to deliver first class comfort because that is "...the same comfort God has given us."

Some may be able to travel, others able to give, but in whatever your efforts to provide comfort for the people affected by this terrible disaster, be sure that it is first class.

Blessings,
Pastor L
Posted in: Uncategorizes stations across the globe begin to report on a series of powerful tornadoes that virtually destroyed several cities in the southern region of the United States. Wednesday's tornadoes marked the second-deadliest day of twisters in U.S. history, leaving 341 people dead across seven states, including 249 in Alabama.

While there are many many issues that impact the rescue and relief efforts, and while I do not supposed to know all of what is required to organize such a massive effort to bring aide to so many hurting people, I do know that people deserve first class comfort from those of us who profess to know and have experienced comfort from God in our own times of personal disaster.

1 Corinthians 1:4 "He comforts us in all of our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

In this first few lines of Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul talks about a danger that he personally faced during his ministry. Although he never quite says exactly what that danger was, he does say that it almost resulted in him and others losing their lives'. (Verse 10)

Paul reminds us all that God is the source of all comfort and that he comforts us in our troubles so that WE can comfort others in their troubles. Here's what's so important about this verse. Paul seems to suggest that those who have experienced God's comfort in their own personal calamity are then responsible for comforting others. Notice it is much less of a suggestion, than it is a RESPONSIBILITY.

Yes, comforting others is a responsibility that we as Christians must embrace, but the greatest part of that responsibility is that we are to "...give them the same comfort God has given us." God always provides first class comfort to those who are hurting. God has never provided anything less for you or me when we needed comforting.

In essence, there are problems, there are challenges with providing support, there are infrastructure issues, yes there is looting, yes there are scams, but we are called to deliver first class comfort because that is "...the same comfort God has given us."

Some may be able to travel, others able to give, but in whatever your efforts to provide comfort for the people affected by this terrible disaster, be sure that it is first class.

Blessings,
Pastor L

Jump in a Lake!

2011-04-25T16:15:00.006-04:00

I am a type S personality. For those who are not familiar with personality discovery assessments let me fill you in to give you some context. A type S personality can be described as the following: Extremely reserved, loyal, cool-headed, and faithful, usually avoids risks and confrontation, and generally dislikes conflict. Most people who really know me, knows that those few words are actually quite accurate. I hate conflict, and I hate confrontation, however S personality types are also generally sensitive and protective people.
There are very few things that can cause me to become publicly vigilant. Usually my protective and sensitive traits kick in when it comes to one thing, children. I am a youth pastor. I like hanging out with young people and young adults. Teenagers are crazy, disrespectful at times, and sometimes get on my last nerve. I love kids, they whine, they cry, they bite, and they are naturally selfish little people. Still I love them to death.
With that being said, there is one thing that will absolutely drive me to go Lamar B.C. (before Christ) on an adult; smoking around your children, particularly in a car, and more specifically around infants and toddlers. My advice for parents and/or adults, who feel the need to smoke with your children in the car, and by the way only roll down your window so you can flick the ashes out, is to TIE A ROCK AROUND YOUR NECK AND JUMP IN A LAKE!

For those of you who find that offensive, I’m pretty sure Jesus would back me up on this one.
Luke 17:2 Better to wear a millstone necklace and take a swim in the deep blue sea than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time!

I’m just saying’
Pastor L

Think B.I.G.ger

2011-04-18T22:29:00.003-04:00

Think B.I.G.ger

Transitioning from high school to college was extremely difficult for me. One of the areas that I was most challenged was transitioning from being a high school football player to a college student athlete. Like most freshman, my first year was spent riding the bench. Of course, like most freshman I thought I was ready to play the game at the next level, but the reality was I wasn’t even close. Most of the issues did not lie in my physical abilities rather it was my lack of knowledge of the game and my inability to think my way through the game on the college level. The following season the starting free safety transferred to another school and I was given my shot at the starting role, only to learn that I had some BIG shoes to fill. Stepping into a role where others have achieved success requires a lot of courage. Truth is about 90% of the transition can be attributed to the way we think. I quickly learned that in order to fill BIG shoes, I had to fill my head with BIG thoughts.

Just before his death Jesus tells his followers that believing in him means learning to fill some very BIG shoes. “The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things...” (John 14:12). Wow did you just read that? Jesus expects those who follow and believe in him to do more than he did. That is one heck of a pair of shoes to fill.

The thing is though; filling those shoes requires us to think BIG. Thinking BIG refers not to making much of us; rather it is learning to make much of Jesus. While we have some very BIG shoes to fill, Jesus makes it clear that the size of our belief in him, determines the size of the lives’ we live. I am convinced that far too many “Christians” think far too little of Jesus. Modern Christianity has been reduced to Sunday’s, Wednesday’s and an occasional mission trip. That’s far too small, and way too easy. Jesus expects us to do better and do it BIGGER, but that requires us to think BIGGER of him and his ministry.

When we think B.I.G. (Believing In God), we can ask God do ANYTHING that is related to filling those very BIG shoes, and Jesus promises that God will give it to us. The problem is we think too small. People are hungry, homelessness and poverty still exist, people die daily from very curable diseases and often times the BIGGEST prayer and the BIGGEST program we can come up with is to bless our church and our family, and oh yeah let’s hand out some soup once a month.

Followers of Jesus are required to think B.I.G and pray B.I.G. Jesus expects us to fill his BIG shoes; the question is are we up for the challenge?

Think, Dream, Love, Serve, Live,

B.I.G.

Pastor L

Elevators

2011-04-11T19:06:00.002-04:00

This past week I spent 3 days and 2 nights with 24 teenagers. While on a tour of colleges in the Atlanta area we stayed at a very nice hotel in the Perimeter area. This hotel was so nice that just riding the elevators felt like a day at the spa.

The thing about elevators though is they always require you to push a button in order to make them move.

A few weeks ago we finished up a message series on dealing with the pressures of school. The last topic we discussed was the issue of peer pressure. While peer pressure can be positive or negative, the reality is that most teenagers (and adults for that matter) are alot like elevators. Just hit the right button and you can lift them up or bring them down. The trouble is, you never quite have control of your own life when you're an elevator. Other people determine your direction.

When dealing with pressure do yourself a favor and be an escalator instead of an elevator. Escalator's determine their own direction, elevator's depend on directions.

Peace,

Pastor L

GOD: PAIN, PRESENCE, POWER

2011-03-30T17:00:00.002-04:00
GOD: PAIN, PRESENCE, POWER

LIFE SUCKS. LIFE IS GOOD. LIFE SUCKS, AND THEN LIFE IS GOOD AGAIN. Truth is, most of us feel this way. If I were to take a poll, many of the friends and colleagues I have, have experienced extreme difficulty over the past 6 months, let alone a life time.
The world is steadily rotating on its access, taking the same 24 hour period it has always taken since the beginning of its existence. Yet, somehow the pain and suffering of humanity continues the same cycle over and over and over again. Earthquakes, wars, and economic crisis’ are just a few of the symptoms of a pain filled broken world full of hurting people. Reality is, there is nothing new under the sun. People have been hurting for centuries, and along with such tremendous pain comes the even more tremendously painful questions of life. How could God allow this to happen? How could an all-powerful God allow so much pain. If God is love, why does God permit so much pain and suffering in the world? We are not the first to wrestle with this set of extremely important questions. We will not be the last. God however, is absolutely certain of his love for us even when we are uncertain about our love for him.
The key is not in having all the right answers, but in learning to ask the right questions. In John chapter 9, Jesus’ disciples ask the cause to which a man born blind can be attributed. Jesus in his response, explains that not only is their assumption as to the source of the man’s suffering wrong, but they have also failed to ask the right question. Their question, “Who is responsible for this man’s blindness.” Jesus’s response redirects the focus to God’s ability beyond his suffering.
In Psalm 23, King David pens a beautiful and poetic description of God’s presence and power as it relates to our pain. The psalm offers two major scenes, the two major scenes that life offers us all. He begins the passage in the pasture where peace and prosperity are abundant, he also speaks of the valley, the place of life where we encounter pain and suffering.
Notice that the place of peace is the result of God’s leading and blessing, and the valley is a place where he (David) has walked into. David never attributes the valley to a decision that God has made. He never says that God has caused the valley, or led him into the valley. He is clear about the place that God has led him, and that’s the place that resides beside “still waters.” Despite the location he found himself in, David is clear that God is there with him.
I often say that God has the hardest job of all. God receives total blame for the valleys and only partial credit for the pastures in life. The reality is, God is good. God provides guidance that always results in peace, however the world we live in has tragically been altered as a result of our own sin. When David says “he walks” into the valley, he is not blaming God for suffering, rather he points to the human condition of suffering as a result of a fallen world.
Here’s the deal, no matter whether life sucks, or life is good, God is still present with us. There is so much evil and pain and suffering in the world, it’s actually a miracle that we can recognize the presence of God anywhere amidst a fallen world.
The real question is not “Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people”, rather it is “How does God manage to produce any good in such a bad world?” It is what I call the ultimate grace statement. That is the key to understanding the omnipotence of God. God’s power is not based on prohibiting the occasional occurrence of “valley moments” of life, His power is found in the ability to allow His grace, love, and presence to penetrate the deepest of evil, sin, pain, and suffering, and set up a table to “fellowship with us in the presence of our enemies.” That is the story of Jesus and the cross.
God’s power is not reduced to merely protection only, but is absolute because He is present and recognizable in the midst of our pain and suffering, offering us a chance to continue in a deep, intimate, comforting, empowering, and transforming relationship with Him.
God is with you in the valley, He can be found, and His love for you is absolutely unstoppable.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life.”
Blessings,
Pastor L

2011-03-30T15:56:00.003-04:00

“Love the way you lie”
One of the most common issues I am constantly confronted with by students in youth ministry is the issue of gossip among students, particularly in the school setting. I read a statistic that stated that the average person will have participated in 168 hours a year gossiping. That’s 7 days, or one whole week spent participating in condemning conversation. If you break that statistic down to a life time average, it would weigh in at around 17 months and 2 weeks. That’s 524 days of gossip. By the time a student completes 12 years of schooling they would have participated in approximately 2016 hours, or 84 days of gossip all before graduating. While these numbers may not be completely accurate, the thought of spending any considerable amount of time cutting others down with our words should be an offense itself.

The truth is, what we do with our words is an issue that God has been trying to get us to be mindful of since the beginning of creation. As a matter of fact, gossip is such a huge deal to God that it appears as one of the 10 commandments. God warns us in Exodus 20:16 about a false witness against our neighbor. The primary principle in establishing this as a commandment is to prevent anyone from communicating about someone in a way that can cause unjust and unfair judgment to come their way. In other words, don’t communicate anything that will cause someone to be judged unfairly. In essence, unfair judgment is always the result of a gossiping tongue. When defined in those terms, much of what we do could in fact be considered gossip in God’s eyes.

The reason I believe that our students (and adults for that matter) participate in so much gossip is because we live in a culture in 2011, which saturates or lives with the personal business of others. Back in the day it used to be about the People’s Court, and Jerry Springer. Along came Real World MTV, and the rise of social media. Every day celebrity gossip shows such as TMZ give us tidbits of juicy gossip on the celebrities we love and love to hate. Facebook and twitter encourage us all to share what’s on our mind, where we are, what we are doing, who we are with, what we are reading and watching, and who we are in relationships with. I mean we LIVE to gossip.

Nehemiah had this same issue in the Nehemiah chapter 6. After refusing to leave his work to come down to Sanballat and Gesham, the rumors began to fly. An open letter was sent containing gossip and rumors about Nehemiah. The letter was left unsealed for a reason, so that others may see what was being said about Nehemiah. If you ask me it was the B.C. version of a Facebook “wall” post, a message about someone else that becomes publicly expressed.

As a result of the culture we live in, there is very little expectation of privacy, loyalty, and integrity. Anyone and everyone’s personal business has become “fair game”. Proverbs 11:13 reads “A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep confidence.” Gossip can be defined as public unproductive communication about another’s personal affairs, which results in them being unfairly judged. With that being said, we must be mindful of the messages we send by media or mouth that cause others to be judged unfairly.

In conclusion, Paul instructs young Timothy in 1 Timothy 5 to offer support to older widows, while requiring the younger, physically able widows to work. His reasoning as to why they should work will almost shock you. “… they are likely to become lazy and spend their time gossiping from house to house, getting into other people's business and saying things they shouldn't.

People who are not focused on getting their work done, have the potential to become gossips. IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO BUSINESS OF THEIR OWN, SPEND TIME IN EVERYONE ELSE’S BUSINESS. There’s an old saying that an idle mind is the devil’s works shop. Students, (and adults) stay busy doing God’s business, stay focused on your work, and you will reduce the risk of becoming a gossip. After all, God instructs us to be careful about communicating in ways that cause other’s to be judged unfairly.

Blessings,

Pastor L

You Can't Bring Me Down

2011-03-22T13:58:00.005-04:00

“You Can’t Bring Me Down”
School can be a daunting task on its own, but when you add all of the other factors like…well people, it can be an entirely different beast. Last week we talked about the value of education. Education and learning is a BIG deal to God. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded that we are to love God, with our hearts, souls, and our MINDS. In fact in Jesus’ time, teachers were the big shots. Learning was of extremely high value in their time and culture.

That says a lot about God’s perspective on education, but what happens when school is full of distractions and disappointments? Do we forget the work that we are engaged in and become swallowed up by the messiness that is sometimes attached to our educational experience?

Many of the students I deal with struggle with school, not necessarily because of the papers and projects, but because of the pessimistic people they have to encounter daily. Daily I hear of stories of distractions that deter them from pursing their education.

The story of Nehemiah provides some great insight into how to stay focused on the work at hand, and not the words of others. In Nehemiah chapter 6, Nehemiah is working hard on the project that God called him to, namely rebuilding the wall, when his haters continue to deploy every tactic in their arsenal to distract him from his work. This time they pretend to want to meet him and make up with him after saying harsh words to and about him.

Nehemiah’s response, “I am engaged in an important work, and I am unable to come down. Why should the work come to a halt when I leave it to come down to you?” Notice that Nehemiah’s response to the distractions of other’s words was to focus on the work he was doing.

Students, never allow someone to “bring you down” to their level with their constant distractions because you have work to do. The greater the potential distraction, the more intense your focus on your “work” should be.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God, love self, and love others, and in order to be engaged in the work of loving like God, we must never allow anyone or anything to pull us down, and distract us from using our minds to accomplish the purpose of God in the world.

Stay focused on your work, and don’t come down.

Blessings,

Pastor L

Higher Learning

2011-03-18T10:19:00.003-04:00

I am a huge fan of documentaries. I love hearing people's stories. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is of Jesus in his childhood. After his parents discovered he was missing, they searched frantically for days before finding him in the temple with a gathering of teachers both asking and answering questions.

When his parents asked why he had wandered off and caused such a panic, his reply completely threw them off. Jesus stated that he was now in hot pursuit of the business of God, and they should've known where to find him.

What's most interesting to me is that a young 12 yr old Jesus, places a direct connection between pursuing his God given purpose in life, and the importance of learning. After all his pursuit of "being about his father's business" led him to a gathering of teachers.

Dustin White, a friend and predecessor, stated in a message to teens recently, that education allows us to grow closer to God through finding out about the world God created. Math, science, history, geography are all ways of studying God's handiwork.

I couldn't agree more. You see education is a BIG deal to God. So much so that when God choose to become human, he came into humanity and grew to become a teacher.

Higher learning isn't about just getting higher grades in class, it's about finding a higher calling in life. One that is connected to the business of God. A calling that gives you purpose in the world God created.

Students take your education seriously, it's the beginning stages to being about God's business.

Blessings,

Pastor L

Loving is Learning

2011-02-28T14:22:00.005-05:00

Today is February 28th. Tomorrow is March 1st. Why is that date important? Over the last few days my wife and I have been hitting the books with our 5 year old son in an effort to earn enough reading hours to get a FREE ticket to Six Flags. Honestly, I haven’t been to Six Flags in a while, but I seriously doubt there is that much for a five year old to do. Yes there are plenty of activities, but he’s not yet old enough to ride the really cool rides. In reality I don’t think that it’s the free ticket that is the big deal here, it is the principle that learning is rewarding.

God actually makes a big deal about learning too. Remember when Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment. He pulled his answer straight from the Old Testament when he responded “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Jesus, a teacher himself, helps us to understand the key ingredients to having a healthy relationship with God and with others. We are to love God, with our hearts, souls, and our MINDS. Subsequently, our ability to love God is deeply connected to our love for self and our neighbor. Essentially, our responsibility to God, ourselves, and our neighbors is not just to engage emotionally, but God also expects us to engage educationally.

Sydney J. Harris, a famous journalist once stated, “The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows”. I couldn’t agree more, and if you follow the pattern that Jesus gives as his answer to the greatest commandment, you’ll notice that it echoes Harris’ sentiments.

Proverbs 19:8 Says “To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; those who cherish understanding will prosper.” Somehow education begins as a mirror, in which you see yourself only to miraculously be transformed into a window, in which you begin to see the world around you. A large part of being able to love ourselves and our neighbor is dependent on how we intentionally engage in educating ourselves as a means of loving God with our whole being.

Whether it's a formal education, or just picking up a book or newspaper, living life should be about loving to learn. After all it's those who cherish knowledge that prosper.

Today love God, love you, and love others by learning something new.

Deal,
Pastor L

Parents Just Don’t Understand (Parents) wk 3 "ROAD SIGNS"

2011-02-21T13:38:00.003-05:00

Growing up I would often tell myself I couldn’t wait until I was able to be old enough to move out and call my own shots. It felt as though adulthood and complete independence from my parents could not come fast enough. Well, now that I’m “grown” I can honestly say that I was young and stupid. The fact is, being an adult is not all the fun that I hoped and imagined it would be. I have discovered though, that much of my dissatisfaction with adolescent life and my parents had to do with dealing with the reality that my life was governed by parental rules. As a teenager I hated rules. Rules to most teens are stupid and make absolutely no sense.

Now there are some rules that are in fact stupid. For instance, did you know that it in New Jersey it is against the law for a man to knit during fishing season? How about this one, in Pennsylvania it is illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors. If you think that’s something, this one will blow you away (pun intended); the municipality of Port Arthur, Texas has laid down the law that obnoxious odors may not be emitted while in an elevator. Stupid rules do exist, but chances are the rules your parents give you are actually quite beneficial to you if you have the proper concept of rules.

About two weeks ago I got pulled over by the police for a minor traffic violation. I made a right turn on red at an intersection where turning right on red is prohibited. Now two things were involved in my decision to break this rule. First, a larger truck was in front of me, and not being able to see the light completely, I decided to just sneak in behind the truck and make the turn because he did. Second, and probably the more honest answer, was that I think that rule is stupid. Everyone knows that most intersections allow right turns on red, but not this one. In my opinion not being able to turn right on red is stupid, but the reality is that it doesn’t matter how stupid I think the rule is, it is still a rule that is worth following.

One of the most popular scriptures regarding parenting is Proverbs 22:6 “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” In the past, I have viewed this text like most parents and Bible readers. My primary understanding of this statement was that discipline was the order of the day when it comes to successfully raising children. While that is a portion of the tone of that Solomon gives, to understand it in that way is incomplete.

When I read what Solomon offers as sound parenting wisdom, I continue to return to the image of road signs. You see Solomon seems to be more concerned about the journey our children will be on throughout the course of their lives, than he is the justice we must serve as parents. He points to the idea that there is a path, or road, that our children are on and that as parents our responsibility is not only to discipline, but to direct.

The message translation says it this way, “Point your kids in the right direction, when they’re old they won’t be lost.” The primary goal in Solomon’s opinion is to provide good directions so our children won’t BE LOST. This is important, because from time to time the reality is, is that our teens will GET LOST on the road of life. Heck, some of us adults periodically get lost when dealing with the pressures of the world we live in. The point is, that road signs never allow you to BE LOST. Road signs do many things, but above all they are designed to do two things. They are designed to give direction and protection. Here’s a statement that I think sums up Solomon’s advice; Discipline (Rules) without Direction (Road Signs) can be Dangerous.

When lying down the “law” with your children, find opportunities to discuss with them how the rules you set are signs that will help keep them safe in the process of taking this journey down the road called life. When they get older, they won’t BE LOST because they will always be able to make decisions based on the road signs that you set up for them as children. When we take the time to give direction and not just discipline , it may end up being the difference between whether or not our children just receive “discipline” or develop sense of “direction”.

Parents Just Don’t Understand (Teens) wk 3 "ROAD SIGNS"

2011-02-21T12:59:00.005-05:00

Growing up I would often tell myself I couldn't wait until I was able to be old enough to move out and call my own shots. It felt as though adulthood and complete independence from my parents could not come fast enough. Well, now that I’m “grown” I can honestly say that I was young and stupid. The fact is, being an adult is not all the fun that I hoped and imagined it would be. I have discovered though, that much of my dissatisfaction with adolescent life and my parents had to do with dealing with the reality that my life was governed by parental rules. As a teenager I hated rules. Rules to most teens are stupid and make absolutely no sense.

Now there are some rules that are in fact stupid. For instance, did you know that it in New Jersey it is against the law for a man to knit during fishing season? How about this one, in Pennsylvania it is illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors. If you think that’s something, this one will blow you away (pun intended); the municipality of Port Arthur, Texas has laid down the law that obnoxious odors may not be emitted while in an elevator. Stupid rules do exist, but chances are the rules your parents give you are actually quite beneficial to you if you have the proper concept of rules.

About two weeks ago I got pulled over by the police for a minor traffic violation. I made a right turn on red at an intersection where turning right on red is prohibited. Now two things were involved in my decision to break this rule. First, a larger truck was in front of me, and not being able to see the light completely, I decided to just sneak in behind the truck and make the turn because he did. Second, and probably the more honest answer, was that I think that rule is stupid. Everyone knows that most intersections allow right turns on red, but not this one. In my opinion not being able to turn right on red is stupid, but the reality is that it doesn’t matter how stupid I think the rule is, it is still a rule that is worth following.

Road signs do many things, but above all they are designed to do two things. They are designed to give direction and protection. Knowing where I want to end up isn’t good enough unless I have some guidance that helps me determine where I am in relation to where I want to be and that helps me minimize the potential danger that may cause me to never reach my destination.

Have you ever noticed that road signs are always placed a great distance before you encounter what it’s instructing you to do? Dead end signs are never placed at the point of the dead end, but hundreds of yards before. This is done so that you can make a good decision about the direction you’re headed, before it is too late, and costs you too much.

The rules your parents have for you work very similar to road signs. Along this road called life, you will need some direction and protection. You will also need information that will help you make good decisions in the future about the direction you’re headed in life. Don’t view your parents list of rules as opportunities to control your life, rather look at them as valuable tools designed to help you get to the destinations in your life that you have always dreamed of reaching. If you can honestly see the value in the signs your parents post in your life, you will be able to reach your highest potential and go further than you ever dreamed you would. Pay attention to the rules, they will get you where you want to go.

P.S. In case you were wondering, the officer just gave me a warning!

Clark Kent

2011-02-18T20:50:00.002-05:00

I love super heroes. Batman, Flash, Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, and of course Superman.

One thing I've always wondered about the Man of Steel, is how he managed to keep his identity secret. I mean, put the glasses on...he is plain old Clark Kent. Take them off and throw on some red and blue caped undies.. and BAM...Superman.

Here's what I noticed, Clark was still just as strong, still able to fly, and still faster than a speeding bullet. It's not necessarily his fault that people didn't recognize how "super" he was. I mean, would it really have mattered if anyone knew who he was?

Here's what I'm learning as life goes on. Don't settle for being "Clark" when you know you have Superman potential. Be your best all the time, no matter what people think of you.

Deal,
Pastor L

Parents Just Don't Understand wk 2 (Teens) Water into Wine

2011-02-08T18:56:00.005-05:00

Water or Wine?

As a child growing up, I can vividly remember what it was like trying to manage parental expectations. Being a PK (preacher’s kid) certainly did not help me with the anxiety and tension that comes from trying to live up to those expectations. Living up to your parent’s expectations can seem like a lot of pressure at times. It can almost be paralyzing to think about what is expected of you.

As I have grown into adulthood, I have realized that some of what I thought was expected of me was actually not accurate. For the most part there were three main areas of parental expectation. School, social life, and spirituality. None of which seemed to be manageable at the time. My grades sucked, my friends where bad influences, and I couldn't’t even spell Christianity…ok so maybe I am exaggerating but that’s how I felt at the time. As a teen, what my parents expected was so misunderstood that it often seemed that they wanted me to “walk on water” or turn “water into wine”. Someone once said that communication is not communication until the hearer “gets it.” As a teenager I did not quite “get it.” Maybe it was my parents, maybe it was me, but the only thing that mattered was that it left us both frustrated.

Jesus once had an encounter with his mother that always grabs my interest. Although he was not a teenager at the time, I think it was still an interesting exchange that lends some insight into parental expectations. While having a great time at a wedding, Jesus’ mother comes up to Jesus in front of his friends and tells him that the wedding has just run out of wine. Jesus’ response was not one that I would suggest, basically asking his mother “What does that have to do with me?” Interestingly enough, he ends up intervening and performing what John says was his first “sign”.

A few things that I noticed about this exchange. First, Mary never explicitly says what she wants Jesus to do about the dilemma. Second, Jesus mentions to her that it is “not my time.” Lastly, Jesus instructs the servants to use some nearby water pots.

I think that the majority of parental expectation is designed to produce maturity. It might feel like a pain in the butt, but it does help you to reach your potential. Mary, helped Jesus perform his first miracle! If you can understand that, then you’ll be better off. So here’s what you need to do…Ask for what you need to succeed.

Jesus turned water into wine, but Mary never asked him to do it that way. Now, Jesus is Jesus, so it was probably a good move, but you’re not Jesus and you can’t turn water into wine. What you can do is;
1. Ask to talk to your parents about what they expect from you and
2. Ask them to teach you how to do what they want you to do.

Jesus was clear in asking for what he needed to meet the expectations his mother had. He also made an interesting connection between expectations and timing. Don’t be disrespectful, but do have a dialogue with your parents about expectations that you may not be “ready” or “mature” enough to handle yet. Just remember that when they do think you ready, it’s because they are trying to get you to reach your potential, not perform “miracles”.

Deal,
Pastor L

Parents Just Don't Understand Wk 2 (Parents) Success(ion)

2011-02-07T20:02:00.014-05:00

I'm not really a Packers fan, but I was glad to see them win last night for a couple of reasons. One, I'm a fan of Charles Woodson. I think he is a great player, and being a former defensive back, I can appreciate all of the unseen impact he has on the game. The second reason I was glad to see them win is probably more along the lines that resonate with most people. Aaron Rogers has finally stepped out of the proverbial "shadow" of Brett Farve.

Now I have nothing against Farve, but I do know what it's like to live life under the long shadow of your predecessor. Truth is, Rodgers has been a great QB since taking the starting role in Green Bay, but unfortunately we tend to focus on the wrong attributes when measuring a person's success.

As a parent, I am learning a valuable lesson that I think applies to this scenario. Being a success is not contingent upon you being someones successor. Here's what I mean.

Most parents have the proclivity to slip into the "vicarious living zone." We desperately want our children to pick up where we left off, often times casting an enormous shadow over them. In many ways, our unrealistic expectations reduce the definition of success to their ability to be our successor.

It's a tough pill to swallow, but I realized that a small part of my support for my son (who is only 5 by the way) during his indoor soccer matches stems from me slipping into the "vicarious living zone." If we are not careful, we can easily craft a set of parental expectations that are more focused on our child being our "successor" than them being "successful" at whatever God is calling and blessing them to accomplish in their lifetime.

Aaron Rodgers was already a successful QB and being Farve's successor is not an expectation that should shadow him for his entire career, let alone determine and define his success as an NFL QB.

Parents, let's focus our expectations on helping our children be successful in their own rite and not just a successor to our personal agenda.

Psalm 112:1-2
Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying HIS commands.
Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed

Deal,
Pastor L

Sticktoitiveness

2011-02-05T09:36:00.005-05:00

Don't recognize this word? It's pronounced "stick to it ive ness". I define it as the art and discipline of sticking to a commitment.

This time last year I lost 30 pds from strict diet and exercise. ( Ok I really started in October of 2009, but by Jan I had lost 30 pds). Point is, I had a plan, I did it and then I quit. It didn't happen right away, but slowly and surely I re-gained 15 of the 30 pds lost. Truth is I got LAZY. LAZINESS is the kryptonite for STICKTOITIVENESS. I have never thought of my self as being lazy, I mean I am generally always busy doing something. Truth is though most of us are lazy and don't even know it.

Proverbs 12:27 "Lazy people don't even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find."

According to Solomon the definition of lazy, is a person who starts something without following through. Catching the game (or taking initiative) is great, but if we don't cook it (commit to what we start) we are in fact LAZY.

Like many people I failed to stay committed to my healthy lifestyle because I made 2 major excuses. I am too busy to excercise, and I don't have a place or equipment to exercise with.

Problem with that is that "diligent people use everything they find." In essence doing so many things that I can't find the time to stick to my healthy lifestyle is LAZY! Using the excuse that I don't have equipment and/or a gym is LAZY!

I'm back in the game now, and I plan to raise my STICKTOITIVENESS meter up a few notches in more areas of my life.

Word of advice, don't do so much that you can't follow through on anything, and use what you have to get the job done. That's STICKTOITIVENESS!

Deal,
Pastor L

“Parents Just Don’t Understand” (Parents) week 1

2011-02-02T11:16:00.003-05:00

“Parents Just Don’t Understand”
This phrase seems to be an anthem for teenagers all over the world. No matter what your background is, at some point in time during the course of your teenage years you have felt this statement to be absolutely true. There is an interesting quote from an unknown author that I think accurately describes the issues that teens face today. “The problem with teenagers is that they’re just like their parents were at their age.”
Now that I am a parent of two young children, I am learning that nothing could be truer. I watch them daily as they work, play, cry, and laugh and I realize that already they are just like me in so many ways. The problem is that many times parents forget what it felt like to be a teen or pre-teen and how we too felt that our parents had no clue.
The reality is, is that for the most part parents really don’t understand. One reality that parents must come to grips with is that being a 16 year old in 2011 is not the same as being a 16 year old in 1968. Simply put, times are so much different for the youth of this generation than even the generation that immediately precedes them. As a youth pastor, I am often much harder on parents than I am on the children I pastor for one simple reason; everything in Bible points to the reality that parents are supposed to be a blessing to their children. I have been working with children, teenagers, and young adults for about 11 years and I have found that the only way the church can make an impact in the lives’ of children is if the church becomes partners with parents.
When Jesus was just 12 years old, the Bible records that he embarked on a trip with his parents to Jerusalem. This trip was an annual excursion and by this time had surely become a routine part of their family life. This particular trip however almost ended in disaster because Mary and Joseph ended up leaving Jesus behind for several days before returning to find him safely in church hanging out with good people. In our day, this would be an instant referral to DFACS! Much more can be said about this story, and we will unpack it together over the next few weeks, but if there was one issue to raise as to why their child was left behind, it would be because they made an ASSUMPTION as to where Jesus was. The story records that Mary and Joseph assumed that Jesus was with the other travelers.
Parents, here comes the punch line. Never assume anything about your children, good or bad. The primary reason there is a disconnection between parents and teens, the primary reason that most parents just don’t understand where their children are spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally is because the truth is we make a lot of assumptions about our children. After a few minor mishaps in various shopping situations, I learned quickly that my job as a parent is not to demand that my child “keep up with me” in the store, rather my responsibility is to keep my eye on my child and know where he is at all times. Doesn't sound like much of a difference, but trust me, putting all the responsibility on your child to stay connected to you will almost always result in you looking up and discovering you have no clue where they are. Here’s a challenge for this week, find out things from your kids that you have always just assumed you knew about them. Ask them to share their story with you. When they say they are “fine” ask them what that means. Assumptions are the product of missing information. This week, get the information you need to understand who your teenager is becoming.

Parents Just Don’t Understand (Student Devotional) Week 1

2011-02-02T11:11:00.004-05:00

In 1988 rapper/actor Will Smith released a Grammy award winning song that became an anthem for an entire generation of youth. “You know parents are the same no matter time nor place they don't understand that us kids are going to make some mistakes so to you other kids all across the land there's no need to argue parents just don't understand.”
Have you ever felt this way? Chances are you have, and if you haven’t trust me there will come a time when it does happen. Now that I am a parent, I must admit that it is the hardest, yet most important job that I have ever had. As I have grown older, I have also realized something that almost wrecked my whole world. I discovered that my parents aren’t perfect. Somehow I have always known that, but the reality really set in when my parents got divorced and things begin to get sort of “sticky”.
The hardest thing to do sometimes is to get along with our parents when we are hit with the reality of their imperfections. The Bible tells us to “Honor our father and mother.” It can be a tough task sometimes, but here’s some incentive, God promises that if we do our lives will go well and we will enjoy it much more. When God gives us this advice about honor, He is literally saying to find and appreciate the value of having parents and guardians in our lives who love us and although they are not perfect, generally want the best for us.
Now all that sounds good, but the reality is still that parents at times really don’t understand Teenagers today live in a completely different world than the world their parents lived in when they were teens. While parents may not always understand you, there are a few things that you can do to help them understand you better, so that you can receive the blessing of a long and enjoyable life that God says is the result of placing value on a relationship with your parents.
First, spend time with your parents more often. Parents are people too. The need love and acceptance just like you do. Spend at least 10 minutes a day talking with them about anything you choose. Try not to let the only time you talk to your parents to be when you have a problem or a want/need. Eventually your parents will feel as though you want them to be a part of your life, and it will help them to understand you better too.
Second, when having to have a difficult conversation with your parents, know what you want/need from the conversation. Say why you want to talk about in a way that communicates what you need. For example.. “Mom, I have something to I need to talk about and I need you to just listen.”

Third, identify your feelings. Express what you are feeling in the course of the conversation. For example.. “Dad, I need to talk about something..but it is kind of embarrassing.”

Fourth, pick a good time to talk. Timing is extremely important. If you need to talk, ask you parent when they are available to have a conversation with you. Pick a good place to have the conversation. Taking a drive or a walk can often be helpful when having tough conversations.
Fifth, interpret what you are saying. Parents are old(er). They don’t always understand you because you can sometimes speak a different language. When you use a word, an idea, or an emotion, describe and define what it means to you. If you want your parents to understand you, don’t leave it up to them to assume what you mean when you say something.

Lastly, you have to intend to get along with your parents. Parents respond to application not just intention. Saying you intended to do something or not do something doesn’t gain you as much trust and freedom as actually doing what your parents ask from you. Remember, you have to find the value in the relationship with your parents in order for your life to go well. God promises that when you do that, thing will be better than ever.

Left-overs

2010-12-28T09:38:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving is over and done, and certainly by now we have all finished off the remaining portions of Christmas dinner. Unless you're planning an equally sumptuous New Year's Day feast, it's probably safe to say that we are all done dealing with left-overs.

The thing about left-overs is that no matter how great the food was, it can only be tolerated so many days after it was first made. We can package it, refrigerate it, store it, take it out and re-heat it, but eventually it gets old and maybe it's just me, but I think the food even slowly loses its flavor.

While I like left-overs as much as the next guy, I have come to realize that some things should just not be eaten over and over again. With 2010 coming to a close, I wonder how many of us are willing to approach 2011 trying to carry "left-overs" into the new year. Here's a word of advice, some things that you enjoyed in 2010 may not need to be stored, re-packaged, and re-heated in 2011. Some habits, relationships, and decisions just need to be respectfully discarded. After all, "left-overs" are only good for a time period, and maybe, just maybe the time has come to let it go.

-Pastor L

The gifts that keeps on taking

2010-12-26T07:43:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas Everyone! I pray you had a wonderful celebration yesterday and that Santa brought you everything on your list! Every year my wife and I concentrate majority of our gift giving efforts on family and friends. In particular we try to make sure our two boys have a great Christmas experience complete with all the trimmings. Normally we will exchange a gift between the two of us, or simply just embark on a shopping trip together to get what we want for each other. This year the item on the top of my list is pictured above. As I become more trendy, especially as I pastor youth, I have found myself slowly becoming an apple junkie. Apple Tv is an amazing little device that I just knew would be perfect for my growing collection. The problem is this virtually inexpensive device is probably going to end up costing me as much as the gift itself. After setting it up, we found that it continually threw off our current Internet connection. Nothing wrong with the device, we just discovered that our router doesn't have enough juice to power a laptop, two iPhones, a wireless printer, a Nintendo wii with netflix, and the apple TV. So the result is that we will have to purchase a more powerful router, not to mention the money we already spent dealing with the problem before coming to that conclusion.

I'll purchase the new router eventually, and I'll enjoy my new toy, but I guess the moral of the story is be careful that you don't do or want something that is going to cost you more in the long run. Think I'll take that one into 2011....maybe you should too.

-Pastor L

Christmas Presence

2010-12-16T09:55:00.001-05:00
“Christmas Presence”

Have you ever had one of those “moments”. You know those times that you just can’t explain, but somehow you don’t feel quite up to “it”, whatever “it” is. Those moments always seem to surface at the most inopportune times. Well, honestly it’s not like those moments are ever really welcomed, but the reality is they come, often times like an unwanted holiday guest. We can find many reasons for these “moments” in life, especially during the Christmas season. Studies have even shown that the weather can play a large part of the “funk” we feel during this time of year. For others, it’s the pressure that a commercialized Christmas has placed on our shoulders to purchase and perform for our families and friends. Then others are simply reflecting on loved ones that are no longer here to celebrate this season with us.

Whatever the reason, and perhaps it’s a combination of many things, I found myself in the center of one of those meaningless “moments” this morning. Searching for something to lift me up and out of this feeling I turned to these words in Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the virgin is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuael.” Fast forward to the book of Matthew in the first chapter and this is the message that Joseph received from an angel. You see, Joseph was really in the middle of one of those “moments”. Life for him couldn’t suck any worse than dealing with the shame and embarrassment that both he and Mary were having to deal with. The message however was so clear that it changed his perspective, and I am hoping it will change yours as it’s changing mine.

“..and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means GOD IS WITH US.” One of God’s greatest presents to us is His presence with us. Carl Rogers, a famous therapist, became well-known for a particular approach to counseling called person centered therapy. The basic principle of his approach was that in order for the counselor to truly help their client, they must have what he called, unconditional positive regard. His theory claims that the therapists function is to be present and accessible to the clients and to focus on their immediate experience.

That is Gods present to us. No matter what, when, why, or how we struggle God has committed to be with us in our immediate experience. Our present from God, is His promise of His presence with us. This week celebrate God’s presence in your life, even in the middle of your “moments”.

Blessings,

Pastor L

CHRISTmas

2010-12-14T12:57:00.001-05:00
CHRISTmas List

There are many things that Christmas represents, and somewhere in what has become a whirlwind of a celebration, Christmas becomes about developing a series of lists. Think about it, there are Christmas gift lists, for others as well as a list of items for you. Then there are Christmas card lists, grocery lists, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably already started your New Year’s resolution list.

You see Christmas can become a lot of things if we allow it. Not that any of these lists are not meaningful. In fact being able to organize your thoughts and your tasks can help increase your productivity and in some ways, if done correctly, can also help you enjoy this season a bit more.

So, since we are in a season of lists, I thought it would be a great idea to add one more list to your list of lists. I realize you have so many things to do that you don’t think you could possible add one more thing to your daily agenda, but I promise you this list will make your Christmas 1,000 times more enjoyable.

This year, make a list of reasons why Jesus is the true reason for Christmas. Seems simple enough, but the reality is often times we are sucked into the whirlwind of shopping, and sending, and singing, and more shopping and we easily forget to stop and bask in the true essence of this glorious season.

The birth of Christ is a very BIG DEAL. Make sure this year you place your devotion, admiration, and celebration of who He is in your life, at the top of your list of things to do this Christmas.

Blessings,

Pastor L

A Christmas Story

2010-12-10T17:57:00.001-05:00
In 1998 (I think that was the year), I made my way home from college to spend Christmas with my family. Over the next several days I noticed that alot of my things came up missing. My watch, a clock on my wall, a few other items that I can't recall at this time. Interestingly enough the number of present under the Christmas tree continued to increase. All I could remember thinking is, "This is the most presents under the tree that I have ever seen."

Well, by now you probably sense where this is going. On Christmas morning I sat around with my siblings and unwrapped Christmas gifts that already belonged to me! I guess my dad thought it was pretty funny (of course we were furious). We got our real gifts after that, but I don't think it was quite the same.

Do you have an crazy Christmas family stories?

Why I like youth ministry (3)

2010-12-06T22:17:00.004-05:00
Ok, here's the top 3

3. Child care. No, not providing child care for them, but finding child care for my own children. With surrounding myself with 50-60 teenagers, it increases the probability of finding reliable babysitters for my 2 boys. Ok, I'm just kidding, but if any of our youth read this and want a babysitting gig, hmu. I'm just sayin' :0)

2. Mission trips, video games, and cook outs. The holy trinity of youth ministry. If you're really good, you can squeeze all three into one week. Most people think youth pastors organize these types of things to entertain our kids, but the truth is we plan them for ourselves and try not to act too excited about attending so it seems that the event was actually designed for them.

1. Drum Roll Please................ Unlike Adults, youth are young. Sorry Adults, but youth ministry rocks because I get to spend time helping to shape the next generation of great Christian leaders. I have an amazing group of young leaders and I pray that God allows me to be around to see how they turn out. So far I think the church is in good hands!

Why I like youth ministry (2)

2010-12-06T21:13:00.009-05:00
Ok, here we go again

7. Predictable attendance. Adults are too fickle. They may not attend a service or an event because they are too tired, or the weather is not nice enough. Sometimes they may even skip church because they have a beef with the pastor. With kids it's entirely predictable. Most kids in youth ministry can't drive, which means I can pretty much predict attendance because their always begging for a ride. The other plus is that I can increase and maintain attendance with two basic marketing strategies. FOOD AND FREE STUFF.

6. Counseling is easier. Counseling adults is complex. They have all types of issues, mostly revolving around what someone said or did to them as a child. With kids that's not the case because they are children, so they have yet to develop the "my childhood sucked so bad and that's why I'm screwed up complex." Prayerfully if I am any good at what I do I can help them resolve some issues while their still young, that way I save the Senior Pastors of the world some grief in the future.

5. Counseling is easier. Yeah I know I said that one already, but I think it deserves another slot on the count down. Seriously, there are some very troubled adults out there with alot of baggage.

4. Technology. Most adults are still learning how to use their VCR's let alone all the new technology that is out here. Kids these days know how to work everything. Technology also helps me reach further. I can counsel 10 kids at one time using FB, twitter, and text messaging because most kids between 12-17 have a smart phone and 88% of their communication is through technology. Talk about multi-tasking. I am counseling a kid right now while I'm typing this!

Ok stay tuned for the top 3 coming soon..

Why I like youth ministry

2010-12-06T20:56:00.001-05:00
After being a pastor and a chaplain for a number of years, I recently returned to youth ministry. I have a great job working with an awesome group of young people in LaGrange, GA.

As I was sitting here reflecting on my recent return to youth ministry I thought about 10 reasons I like working with youth more than adults.

10. Nobody cares what I wear. After years of dealing with adults it's nice to dress down all the time. My idea of dressing up these days means wearing my black converse instead of my white ones.

9. I don't have to use big words. I have a M.Div. from Emory. Emory is a great school and I learned alot there. Most adults hear that I have an Emory education and expect me to be really smart. With kids I don't have to use Greek and Hebrew when teaching. Heck, for the most part I barely have to speak proper English.

8. Youth ministry for the most part is free of fear. With adults you have to explain everything, soothe their doubts, and calculate all the risks. Youth are willing to try anything. That's because they're not afraid of failing. If you don't believe me just look at their report cards!

Stay tuned for the rest of the list

Starting Point

2010-12-05T19:08:00.000-05:00
Starting Point

It is now day 115 since moving to LaGrange, GA. Honestly life has been a roller coaster since making the decision to move. Moving to a new city is always a new adventure. In 2000, I moved to Atlanta and I can still remember my greatest challenge in moving to a new city. It wasn’t making new friends or finding a new job. It wasn’t being home sick or finding a new apartment. My biggest challenge in moving to a new city was learning how to get around. Navigating new terrain can be pretty scary, especially since most men will never admit to being lost (not that I mind that anymore). Over the course of time I have learned that using assistance in getting around a new place is actually quite beneficial. My personal preference is yahoo maps. The other day I had a lunch meeting with a new friend, and because I still don’t know LaGrange that well, he sent me a link to a map and directions showing me how to find him.

I used to think that the most important part to finding my way to my destination is to know the final location, however I begin to discover that the most important part of the journey is knowing where to start. For about 5 years my family and I lived in a home in Acworth, GA, which is north of Atlanta. The area where we lived was so newly developed that many of our friends and family could not find us when visiting for the first time because our home did not register on GPS or on any online mapping service. This used to really frustrate me because when looking up directions from our home to any location, the directions would often be confusing because it never started us off from the right spot. I would literally have to read the directions and attempt to locate a street that looked familiar so that I could find out how to navigate through what was so confusing.

I recently took an online poll of persons who knew others that were not Christians and had series objections to becoming a follower of Christ. When I asked what some of the reasons they had been given, they ranged from the idea that most Christians are fake to the Bible has too many inconsistencies. Now most people who are not Christians usually have a good reason why they are not, and unfortunately many of those answers that they gave were probably very relevant to them. Here’s what I noticed, only one of the answers given about why they would not consider becoming a follower of Christ, had anything to do with Jesus. Most objections to Christianity unfortunately begin in the wrong starting point.

The Christmas conversation and the Christian conversation must start with JESUS. Christianity is the only religion that is based on a person and an event. If you remove JESUS from the conversation, then well, you cease to have Christianity. So here’s the point, if you don’t start in the right place, then trying to figure out how to get where you think you want to go isn’t going to make much sense. This Christmas, let’s be sure that we know where the starting point is. We begin our conversation and our celebration with JESUS.

-Pastor L

Sunday's Best

2010-09-05T19:10:00.004-04:00

Here's my weekly list of highlights from the week

-We are continuing to get settled into our new home. I have to admit that it has been much tougher than I thought. Particularly because there are certain people that I miss seeing every week.

-Speaking of missing people. I am very glad to hear that a very special family that was a HUGE part of our church, have found a new church home that they really enjoy. That makes me feel good. I wish them all the best.

-I am beginning to realize that my new job is alot like my old job. This adventure is alot like planting a new church. There is so much to do, yet so much potential. I look forward to taking part in the work that God is doing with NCC and their youth ministry.

-I started reading Tony Dungy's new book, "The Mentor Leader." I'm only a few chapters in, but it is a great book so far. I really admire Coach Dungy, and his ministry continues to remind of the importance of mentoring and being mentored.

-Speaking of mentoring, I believe that is one of the reasons God now has me doing ministry in LaGrange, GA. I can't tell you how many parents (especially single parents) have approached me about their child needing to have a mentor figure in their life.

-Most of my life I think I lacked such a relationship, until about 5 years ago. maybe that's why I have such a sensitive heart when it comes to being intentional about investing into the lives' of young men and women.

-On another note, I sang with the praise and worship team this morning at NCC! I used to lead praise and worship about 7-8 years ago, and I honestly have not lead worship in about 5 or more years. It felt good to sing again. For me it was more symbolic than anything else.

-To add to that, I started getting sick on Friday, but I was able to still sing this morning. I am still sick, but I feel better than I did on Friday and Saturday.

-Glad to have the day off tomorrow..Happy Labor Day everyone!

Secret Recipe

2010-09-02T16:40:00.006-04:00

Have you ever known someone that has had a secret family recipe that they just refuse to give up? I know several people like this. They don't mind sharing in the finished product of their recipe, teasing you with every sumptuous bite, knowing that you will never know how to replicate the dish that you just enjoy so much. If you're like me that irritates you to know end. For most of my adult life I have been a "show me" type of guy rather than a "give me" type of guy.

Well, I have a recipe for you that is sure to change your life for ever. Are you ready, get you pencil and paper as I give you the recipe for.....COURAGE.

I have always been taught to be brave, to not show fear, to have courage, but what does that really mean anyway. The dictionary says that courage is the quality that enables a person to face difficulty or danger. ??????

If you ask me that sounds more like what courage does, but it doesn't explain what it is or how you get it. I was frustrated until I came across a family recipe that I want to share with you.

In 2nd Timothy 1:7 Paul gives us a recipe for courage. First he explains to Timothy that fear is a spirit that doesn't come from God, then he tells Timothy what God does give us. On first glance it appears to be three isolated attributes that God empowers us with, but on second glance I think Paul is giving us the recipe for courage.

God has not given us the spirit of fear...instead here is the ingredients for the opposite of fear...courage.

Paul says that courage is basically 1 part power (or ability), 1 part love, and 1 part self discipline.

When he speaks of ability, Paul is not simply talking about our own ability, he is talking about God's ability and power that works through us. It is as simple as saying that God places in us an "I can" spirit, instead of an "I can't" spirit that comes from fear.

The love that he talks about is not a generic, everyday, run of the mill type of love that most people have. He is talking about a top of the line, love of God that is unconditional, irreplaceable, and never expires. (No substitutes please)

Finally, he says that self-discipline, or a sound mind is the final ingredient. After all courage and carelessness are not the same thing.

Throw all of that into a pot, mix it up real good, and wallah, you have courage! The kind of courage that will stick to your ribs and keep you encouraged enough to take on any obstacles that comes your way.

So let's review... Courage= God's gifts + God's Love + God's wisdom

Try out the recipe when you get a chance and let me know how it comes out.

"God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

Deal,
Pastor L

Sunday's Best

2010-08-29T17:33:00.004-04:00

Highlights for NCC this week

-Another great Sunday at NCC

-Great message focused on how to be spirit led parents

-I continue to be amazed at how God has given us this opportunity at NCC

-Many people continue to welcome us and to show us hospitality

-I am starting to connnect with the youth at NCC, I have already had some great conversations with some of them.

-Today was Community 101. NCC's course on church membership

-Many people continue to have great expectations for youth ministry, and so do I. Sometimes it can feel like a lot of pressure to deliver, but I am sure that God will do His thing.

Sunday's Best

2010-08-22T16:04:00.007-04:00

Here's a few highlights from today's service

-Today I had an opportunity to share the teaching platform with Pastor Larry and Pastor Rickey. I had a great time.

-The music as always was awesome, can't wait for Night of Worship tonight and the opportunity to share communion with our new church family.

-We also had the chance to share the stage with my family as Pastor Rickey introduced them to the congregation. That was cool. (Of course everyone was smitten by our two boys)

-The church had a reception for our family after both services today. That was a special time to share refreshments with the membership and greet them personally.

If you haven't picked up on the theme yet, it is all about sharing. What I have learned and continue to learn is that much of what makes life worth living is the opportunity to share our lives' with one another. I am so appreciative of our new family, and although we won't remember names right away, and we are still getting to know everyone in the very few days we have been here, we are overwhelmed by the tremendous hospitality that is being shared with us.

I think Jesus models this ministry the most prior to him even beginning his own public ministry. In John Chapter 1, the Bible records that a few of John the Baptist's disciples spotted Jesus walking by and decided to follow Him. After noticing he was being followed, Jesus turns and asks them what they wanted. Their request was simple, they wanted to know where he was staying. Jesus then invites them to "come and see". The story goes on to say that they hung out with Jesus the rest of the day.

While it seems simple, this one act of ministry played an enormous role in Jesus' future ministry. One lesson I learned in my 3 plus years of hospice chaplaincy is that being willing to share your life with others, has a profound impact on how much God can develop that relationship. For many church goers (and pastors), our assumption and approach has too often been that those who are in need of our ministry should share their lives' with us. As a chaplain, I learned that this must be reciprocated.

Jesus not only opened up his home, he opened up his life to share with them for the day. He opened up his sacred space (his home) and became completely vulnerable in the process, and this is ultimately a picture of what he would later do for us on the cross. He would open up his life in an effort to bring us new life.

You see we have experienced great hospitality from NCC during our transition, but more importantly an exchange of lives' has begun to take place. After 3 and 1/2 years of hospice ministry, I developed a phrase that helped me to remain committed to such a difficult ministry. "Life change happens when there is life exchange"

Jesus shared his life with us, so that we may share our new life in Him with others. Thank you New Community Church for sharing the love of Christ with us.

Deal,

Pastor L

Cut-Backs?

2010-08-17T07:06:00.009-04:00

Almost one week ago my family and I moved from Atlanta, (Ok, we really lived in Acworth, but Atlanta sounds much cooler)to LaGrange, GA. As I am writing this I am asking myself the very same question that you are probably asking me. "Who in the world moves TO LaGrange, GA.?"

So here's the deal, the move was a result of a major cut-back for my family. We moved to LaGrange because I accepted a position as a youth pastor at New Community Church in Lagrange. (Shout out to NCC!) We moved from a two story home and neighborhood that we loved, to a two bedroom apartment in a city where we hardly know a soul. We donated much of our possession because it simply wouldn't fit in our new location. Like many families facing this current economic instability we faced some major cut-backs.

No-one likes cut-backs. The phrase itself carries such a negative connotation that the very mention of it stimulates tension in the minds of those who are forced to consider such measures. The reality for me is that the ultimate cut-back was not the house and the furniture, and yes even leaving some friends and family behind, the ultimate cut-back was the reason for the entire move. You see the church that I planted and pastored for over three years decided to dissolve due to..you guessed cut-backs. With a slumping economy and an ever increasing unemployment rate our church found itself facing the reality that perhaps its season had come to an end.

I can't tell you how much it hurt to make that decision, to submit to the fate of the dreaded "cut-back" monster, but in this process I discovered that God often uses cut-backs to call us forward.

In John Chapter 15, Jesus tells us that when we are connected to him (the vine) we will produce fruit. Often times when we feel that we have failed at our calling and mission it somehow suggests that we lack connection, after all where is the fruit?
I can honestly say that for weeks, even months I have felt like a complete and utter failure.

But Jesus says something interesting that has begun to bring healing to my life and hope for the future. In verse two of the chapter he states "He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more."

WOW! Did you see that? Jesus suggests that sometimes cut-backs, are not a symptom of fruitlessness, but a strategy to produce more faithfulness.

Pruning (or cutting back) is what helps us to be even more fruitful.

Here is the lesson I am learning, sometimes cut-backs are necessary for God to continue to keep you connected to Him, in order to produce the most fruit possible. For quite sometime my life's prayer has been "God, where can you get the most out of me?

I guess God answered my prayer. So the cut-back of my church, the cut-back of leaving our home, family and friends, all serve as a process to answer my prayer for complete and total faithfulness to God's plan for our lives'.

Focus on being faithful, and God will prune you to be fruitful.

Deal,

Pastor L

My Church or Yours- (Re Post)

2010-06-10T14:10:00.001-04:00
Your Church or Mine?
Originally Posted Mar 31, 2010 8:58 PM

Recently I had a conversation about leadership with an elderly man who, for all intensive purposes, did not realize that he helped me a ton in understanding the role of a leader. (or maybe he did!)

It turns out that he is a member of a church of which the pastor is a colleague. When I asked this 80 something year old man if he was a member of my colleagues church, the old man replied "Actually, he (the pastor) is a member of MY church."

At the time it was quite comical, but as I reflected on it after our visit at his home, I began to realize just how profound his statement was, and how it can help young leaders like myself to foster the humility it takes to be in a position of leadership.

The truth is the man was right, as leaders, pastors, ministers, or whatever your "title" is in your local church, the real power in leading is to know that your "followers" don't belong to you, you in fact belong to them.

I think that this concept has been eroded over the years, and unfortunately has led to the often times good intentioned leader making crucial and critical mistakes that damage the credibility of their church and ultimately Christianity.

Being called to serve a local assembly of Christians is much less about the church being "ours" or claiming people as "our members", as it is knowing that they claim us as one of them who is called and privileged to lead them.

I once had a professor in seminary who stated "Our education doesn't belong to us alone, but it belongs to those to whom we have been called to serve." Isn't that what God did when he gave us Jesus? He became one of us, and claims us as his own, as we claim him as our ours.

Here's the lesson I learned from my conversation with this wise old man. I am called to SERVE my congregation, and my patients, and their families, and that means that I belong to them. I belong to the service that God has entrusted me to give them. They are not my property, nor are my parishioners items to be inventoried each year in order that I might give a fiscal report of how well "business" is going.

Pastors, Preachers, and Leaders WE belong to the cause of Jesus Christ and His church as God has assigned us, THEY do not belong to us. Paul says it best in Colosians 1:25 "God has given me the responsibility of serving HIS church..."

Learn to lead, by learning to serve...

Deal,

Pastor L

Keepers or Killers?

2010-04-18T16:59:00.004-04:00

Last Sunday at GGCC we began a new sermon series on family. Family is extremely important to God, therefore it should be extremely important to us. There are all types of families and we certainly honor them all. Truth is, family is much more than just who we are biologically related to. Family means different things to different people, but there is one thing that is true of all families, and that is family is complicated and crazy.

Crazy family members are nothing new. In fact crazy goes back a long way. Remember Cain and Abel. Cain killed his brother in what could probably be the first record of family craziness. The truth of the matter is that Cain's act of violence against his own brother stemmed from his lack of relationship with God.

In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain refused to give God his best..resulting in the eventual killing of his own brother. When God asked Cain as to the whereabouts of his missing brother Abel; Cain responded with the now famous line "Am I my brother's keeper?"

Here's the deal, that is a good question to ask ourselves when it comes to family. No, I don't mean is it our responsibility to keep up with our brother's and sisters. What I actually think the question should be is "Are we keeping our brother's and sister's" Here's a better way to pose the question.."Are we the reason why our family is kept together?"

The truth is if we are not personally giving God our best, then the answer is a resounding "NO". You see my personal relationship with God (or lack thereof) impacts my family in a tremendous way. When I refuse to give God my best, I fail at being my brother's "keeper" and succeed at being my brother's "killer".

When it comes to family there is only one of two roles you and I will play; "Keeper" or "Killer". So the question is are you going to be a "keeper" or a "killer"?

Your family can only be as strong as your relationship with God.

Deal,

Pastor L

Your Church or Mine?

2010-03-31T20:58:00.007-04:00
Recently I had a conversation about leadership with an elderly man who, for all intensive purposes, did not realize that he helped me a ton in understanding the role of a leader. (or maybe he did!)

It turns out that he is a member of a church of which the pastor is a colleague. When I asked this 80 something year old man if he was a member of my colleagues church, the old man replied "Actually, he (the pastor) is a member of MY church."

At the time it was quite comical, but as I reflected on it after our visit at his home, I began to realize just how profound his statement was, and how it can help young leaders like myself to foster the humility it takes to be in a position of leadership.

The truth is the man was right, as leaders, pastors, ministers, or whatever your "title" is in your local church, the real power in leading is to know that your "followers" don't belong to you, you in fact belong to them.

I think that this concept has been eroded over the years, and unfortunately has led to the often times good intentioned leader making crucial and critical mistakes that damage the credibility of their church and ultimately Christianity.

Being called to serve a local assembly of Christians is much less about the church being "ours" or claiming people as "our members", as it is knowing that they claim us as one of them who is called and privileged to lead them.

I once had a professor in seminary who stated "Our education doesn't belong to us alone, but it belongs to those to whom we have been called to serve." Isn't that what God did when he gave us Jesus? He became one of us, and claims us as his own, as we claim him as our ours.

Here's the lesson I learned from my conversation with this wise old man. I am called to SERVE my congregation, and my patients, and their families, and that means that I belong to them. I belong to the service that God has entrusted me to give them. They are not my property, nor are my parishioners items to be inventoried each year in order that I might give a fiscal report of how well "business" is going.

Pastors, Preachers, and Leaders WE belong to the cause of Jesus Christ and His church as God has assigned us, THEY do not belong to us. Paul says it best in Colosians 1:25 "God has given me the responsibility of serving HIS church..."

Learn to lead, by learning to serve...

Deal,

Pastor L

So what are you saying?

2010-03-02T14:05:00.010-05:00
I've been pretty low key for the last several weeks. No blogging,and not much twitter or facebook updates. When the year began, I made a commitment to do more of all three. My goal was to stay connected with the world through all of my social media outlets. Some where along the line I struggled to keep my commitment simply because I felt I had nothing to say.

Recently, I was challenged in a major way in this area. By nature I am introverted, so I am already a relativley quiet person, but I am learning that there are times when silence is just not acceptable.

Over the last week, my voice was aroused from it's slumber called silence. There are times when not speaking out is just as deadly as speaking the wrong words. So I began to reflect. With so much tragedy and suffering in the world, what are you saying? With all of the terrible natural diseasters and starving people in Haiti, and now Chile..what are you saying? With all of the homelessness in Atlanta or the city you reside in, what are you saying? For those with family who are struggling..what are you saying?

Sometimes life's worst calls for our words. Remember, silence is not always golden. So what are you saying?

Deal,
Pastor L

First Class Comfort

2010-01-16T11:57:00.006-05:00

I want to take a break from the two previously scheduled posts, (Lessons from '09 and Sunday's Best) to blog about the recent devastation by way of earthquake in Haiti. On Tuesday of this week, the world watched as the various news stations across he globe begin to report on the 7.0 earthquake that virtually destroyed the nation of Haiti.

While there are many many issues that impact the rescue and relief efforts in Haiti, and while I do not suppose to know all of what is required to organize such a massive effort to bring medical aide to so many hurting people, I do know that the people of Haiti deserve first class comfort from those of us who profess to know and have experienced comfort from God in our own times of personal disaster.

1 Corinthians 1:4 "He comforts us in all of our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

In this first few lines of Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul talks about a danger that he personally faced during his ministry. Although he never quite says exactly what that danger was, he does say that it almost resulted in him and others losing their lives'. (verse 10)

Paul reminds us all that God is the source of all comfort and that he comforts us in our troubles so that WE can comfort others in their troubles. Here's what's so important about this verse. Paul seems to suggest that those who have experienced God's comfort in their own personal calamity, are then responsible for comforting others. Notice it is much less of a suggestion, than it is a RESPONSIBILITY.

Yes, comforting others is a responsibility that we as Christians must embrace, but the greatest part of that responsibility is that we are to "..give them the same comfort God has given us." God always, always, always, provides first class comfort to those who are hurting. God has never, ever, ever, done anything less for you or I when we needed comforting.

In essence, there are problems, there are challenges with providing support, there are infrastructure issues, yes the airport is back logged, yes there are scams, but we are called to deliver first class comfort because that's "..the same comfort God has given us."

Some may be able to travel, others able to give, but in whatever your efforts to provide comfort for the people of Haiti, be sure that it is first class.

Blessings,
Pastor L

Less is more (part 2)

2010-01-09T16:40:00.003-05:00
Stay tuned for the rest of the list.....

Pardon the previous commercial interruption. Now back to our list
Here are numbers 8-6 on our countdown of lessons from '09.

8. Less Space- I learned how to do more with less in this area of my life in several ways. The most meaningful lessons came as a hospice chaplain. I learned that people with life limiting illnesses are constantly losing their sacred "space." In my line of work, those we care for relinquish their personal and sacred space to complete strangers such as nurses, nurses aides, doctors, social workers, and chaplains. Their entire life becomes an open book, medically, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I am always honored when families invite and include me in their "space" in order to provide them with much needed spiritual care. I've learned that in order to really impact a persons life, we all have to be willing to expose our own. You see the only way to make the relationships with my patients meaningful is to also allow them into my sacred "space." It is then that I found that not only did I have something to offer them, but the relationship became reciprocal. They often blessed me with the wisdom and ministry that God has given them as their gift to the world. Less "space" made me more open. Tip for 2010 "Life change happens best when there is life exchange."

7. Less gas- Before you laugh, I'm talking about the kind that goes in your car. Remember the quote above..."If 40 is the new 20, then when it comes to putting gas in my car half is the new full." How true that was for many of us in 2009. Although the prices weren't as high as let's say right after hurricane Katrina, the reality is that gas prices hit us all in the pocket hard. Here's what I learned though. The less gas I had the more intentional I became about my destinations. Sometimes God has a way of reducing the distractions in life, so that we have no choice but to focus on where we really need to end up in our journey. I found that my energy was best served when I eliminated unnecessary trips. In other words, I didn't have the time or resources for "trippin" or people who were "trippin." Less gas definitely meant more focus. After all I only had so much to use to get where I needed to go. Tip for 2010, don't waste your fuel or energy on going nowhere. Set a course and use what you got to get you there.

6. Less Words- Kind of funny to say this considering that I am typing this as I speak, but 2009 became a year of less words for me. I learned that less is more when it comes to the use of words. I initially learned this principle as matriculated through seminary at Candler School of Theology. We were taught to get rid of the "fluff" when writing papers. I actually carried this as a point of change for me in '09. About 8 months ago, I read an awesome book called "Communicating for a Change" by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones. In it he talks about an idea that is darn near heresy in many preaching circles, and that is to preach only 1 point. The idea was a bit challenging for me to absorb, but I thought I'd give it a shot in an effort to become a better communicator. Long story short..so far so good. I am more prepared, and have gotten great feed back as to my parishioners being able to "follow and apply" what is being preached each week. While that is great, this point is not about my preaching changes, but it is about communication. In life we all communicate something about who we are and what we are about, and most times our words have nothing to do with it. True we all talk a good game, but when it comes to living it, let's just say we all have challenges. I have found that the reason that is is because we often try to communicate to many things at one time. Just like a bad sermon, people can't really follow us with all the mixed messages we send. As a pastor, chaplain, father, husband, and most importantly a Christian I have re-discovered the importance of being clear on what I communicate with my life. So in 2009 less was definitely more in the area of what my walk and my words are. So my life is now much like my sermons....one point and that is I am determined to point others to Christ. There's not much else my life should say. Tip for 2010 "Your conduct precedes your confession, so watch your words."

Sunday's Best

2010-01-05T07:45:00.004-05:00

Okay let me first start off by saying that I definitely fell off in 2009. As the year went on and life continued to happen the time between posts grew longer and longer. When I started this blog, it's purpose was to share my thoughts and experiences as husband, father, pastor, and hospice chaplain. It's purpose was to connect with the world in a way that was meaningful and positive. My dream was to use this vehicle as an opportunity to "dream out loud."

Like many of us, my time and my dreams got swallowed up by what Tommy Newberry calls "the sheer velocity of life." With that being said I am back on track and ready to move forward.

Last year, I gave some highlights of the week each Sunday of what was going on in the life of my church. Sunday's best is simply the expression of appreciation for what God is doing in the community I am privileged to serve. Here are some of Sunday's Best

-We started of the New Year with a bang. We began a new series called "Dairy of a Dreamer: Lessons from the life of Joseph." The first part of the series was called "Dreaming for Dummies". Unfortunately we had some technical difficulties with our laptop, and only a portion of the recording was saved. FYI if anyone has a working laptop they would like to donate to our church email me at graceandglorycc@gmail.com

-We had some first time and repeat visitors on Sunday. Always good to see the church growing. The beginning of the year is always a great time for evangelism. People are really seeking change.

-Sunday night my wife and I got together with two families that we are very close with and spent about 5 hours going over our visions, hopes, dreams, and goals for the new year. It's always good to have people who you can share with, pray with, and hold you accountable. Let me just say that from what we discussed, great things are definitely coming.

Let me end by saying that God wants us to be dreamers. Joel 2:28 says that the out pouring of God's spirit results in dreams and visions, check it out for yourself. With that being said I challenge you to dream big and dream bold for 2010.
"Expect to win in 2010."

Deal,

Pastor L

Dreaming for Dummies

2010-01-01T12:32:00.007-05:00

2010 is final here. 2009 was a tough year for many people and unfortunately many of us have found ourselves just trying to make it. No matter how rough life gets, and no matter how many hits you have taken in 2009, go forward with these few words in mind....NEVER EVER EVER STOP DREAMING!

Proverbs 13:12 reads "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life".

My goal this year is to experience the fulfillment of the dreams that God has given me and my family. Here's the thing though, many of us, myself included, said the same thing on January 1st of 2009. So what makes dream chasing so difficult? Why is it that we always seem to fall away from living out our dreams?

In the story of Joseph (Gen 37) the Bible records that Joseph had two dreams that he was one day going to be a powerful and influential leader and that his brothers and father would one day recognize him as such.

The Bible was very clear that Joseph's brothers HATED him. In fact, it makes sure to mention it 3 times and even speaks about how they could not even speak kindly to Joseph. No doubt Joseph knew that his brothers disliked him, but strangely enough he tells them about his dream not once, but twice causing them to become even more enraged.

Now many people have suggested that Joseph was too immature to understand that he should have probably kept those dreams to himself. That may be true, but I think that it is that same sort of innocence and immaturity that actually qualifies a person to be a dreamer.

You see by all accounts Joseph's dream was completely unrealistic. His brother's hated him, his father scolded him, and besides he was the second youngest. If anyone were to rise to the position of power in the family it would have been one of the older brothers. I mean Joseph was just a 17 year old boy who tended his father's sheep, and the Bible even says that he worked for his half brothers. Who did he think he was to be dreaming such things? Didn't Joseph know that the deck was stacked against him?

That's what makes him so unique. Joseph displays the one quality that we all most possess if we want to live out our own dreams. At the risk of offending you I am going to tell you the reason why you and I never manage to live out our dreams...are you ready? The reason is that we are not DUMB enough!

Joseph was too dumb to even realize that what he was dreaming was not supposed to happen. I believe that being a dreamer takes a certain level of naivety that many of us no longer possess. Have you ever noticed that children are never able to understand why something can not work? Joseph, who was only 17 at the time, had absolutely no clue as to why him one day being important and powerful was so offense to his brothers. He was so dumb that he told the dream to his brothers who hated him even more.

I think that may be one of the reasons why Jesus equates the Kingdom of God with children. Children have a naivety about them that causes them to never accept that they can not achieve their wildest dreams.

Most of us are familiar with the series of books "...For Dummies" These series of books are designed to help us attempt and complete projects at which we have little to no experience at all. Well, in my opinion "Dreaming for Dummies" really only needs one page, and that page would read "Dreaming is for Dummies".

Not trying to insult you, but in order to be a dreamer, you have to be dumb enough and naive enough to believe that there is no good reason that exists as to why you can not achieve what your mind can conceive.

Stop trying to be so smart. Stop over thinking your dreams. After all "Dreaming is for Dummies"

Deal,
Pastor L

Xtreme Make Over

2009-10-04T18:08:00.007-04:00
I am still new at this pastoring thing. As a matter of fact I often take extended periods of time making critical decisions because I still wrestle with the gravity of actually living life as the spiritual leader for a number of families that God has placed in our path. With that being said, I try to make every move we make as a church impactful. Last week I made a decision that changed the life of our church and to be quite honest I wasn't quite sure it would go over well with the people. Last week I canceled church. Today we had no worship service. Instead challenged our congregation to go out and be the church. Today there was no Sunday school, no worship music, no sermon and it was probably the most powerful move of God that our church has experienced since it's inception. Today we took a group of volunteers to one of the hardest hit areas of the recent floods in Atlanta and spent the day in service. We met a woman named Trish whose home has been flooded not once, not twice, but 5 times over the years. Her story was amazing, and what was just as amazing was the way our church was transformed through serving this amazing woman. What I saw was not just an extreme makeover being done to Trish's home, I witnessed an extreme makeover being done in the hearts' of God's people. Jesus once said that the way to greatness is service. Today, our church was catapulted into greatness. Today we got an extreme makeover.

Deal,
Pastor L

Roadside Assistance

2009-09-27T21:29:00.002-04:00
Roadside Assistance
Luke 10:25-37
About two years ago, I had a friend call me and asked me if I had triple A. I must admit, I first thought that this was just a random question, and although somewhat strange, I decided to humor him and answer the question anyway. It turns out that he was inquiring as to whether I had triple A because he was having car trouble and needed to have his car towed to his mechanic to have it checked out. He thought that if in fact I had AAA, that I would be able to have a tow truck tow his car in for him.
Now I must admit that I had no idea if I had AAA. I vaguely remember my wife mentioning that we had roadside coverage with our insurance policy, but I honestly had to tell him, “Let me call and check.” Well it turns out that I did have it as a part of my coverage, however it did not allow me to extend that service to anyone or any car that was not on the policy. You would think common sense would have told me that I couldn't’t just call up my insurance company and have them tow a car that was not covered under the terms of my policy, but I still somehow felt responsible for helping my friend even though I was bound to the limits of my particular insurance policy.
The fact that I was bound by the boundaries and limitations of my policy did not change the fact that he was still in a desperate situation. The fact that my policy described, defined, and determined who was eligible to receive the benefits of my policy did not change the fact that he was in still in a stressful and straining predicament. Most of all the fact that my policy dictated the terms of my service, did not remove the innate desire that I had to come to the aid of my friend who so desperately needed my assistance.
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live.”29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
In this text the lawyer, who would have been an expert in interpreting and teaching Jewish tradition, law and policy, is essentially looking to purchase an insurance policy with Jesus that will ensure that he is on the right road to eternal life. He asks, “What kind of policy do I need to ensure that I am on the right road, and the correct path that will lead ME to eternal life?” “What kind of policy can I purchase, that will cover all of MY needs as I travel on this road towards eternal life.” “Jesus, I need a policy that will cover any and every unexpected bump in the road, as I am making MY way towards eternal life.”
Jesus responds, “What does the law say”, “What does your current policy read?”
He answered "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself."
It seemed simple enough, if you need a policy that will protect you on this road to eternal life, if you need a tradition that will take you down the road to eternal life, if you need a law that will look after you on this road, then love is the law, the tradition, and the policy that will protect and cover you on your journey.
7He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself."
Like all good theologians, the lawyer wanted to justify himself, in other words he wanted to understand the limits of his policy. Just who is my neighbor, and just how far do you expect me to go with this? Who can be covered under this policy?
The question “Who is my neighbor” would have been a legitimate question. Normally the term “neighbor” did not apply or refer to anyone other than a Jew. In the Old Testament the commandment given in Leviticus 19:18 is given in the context of how Israelites should treat fellow Israelites.”
By asking the question “Who is my neighbor?” the lawyer is seeking to not only justify himself, but to justify the limits of love, found within the policy of the Old Testament commandment. He was seeking to justify that along this road called life, along this road on the way to eternal life, along this roadway to God, there are some people who are simply not covered by the policy. There are some people can not benefit from the road side assistance that comes along with the policy because they are not covered under the description and definition of the policy.
Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road.
The road from Jerusalem to Jericho spanned approximately 17 miles. When Jesus says the man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, he literally meant he went down to Jericho. Jerusalem was situated approximately 2,700 feet above sea level and Jericho was positioned at approximately 800 feet below sea level.
Traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho resulted in a 3,500-foot drop from one city to the next. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was known to be a tedious, treacherous, troublesome, and tiring, route. This road was known for its rough, rocky, rigorous, and rigid terrain. This road was known to be both dangerous and difficult and was often draining physically, spiritually, and emotionally. The road from Jerusalem was so difficult to navigate that it became a breeding ground for thieves and robbers, because the craggy limestone hills provided cover for criminals and crooks as they waited patiently on their next victim to come along.
It is on this road, that Jesus says a man fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. Life’s road can be just as dangerous. Life’s road can be just as harsh. This road we call life can sometimes bring us just as much surprise, hurt, shame, and pain as the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. It was on this road that Jesus says a man fell into the hands of robbers.
Now we see that Jesus gives a biographical sketch of all the persons on this road except for the victim. He tells us that the first passer by was a Priest, the second a Levite, and the third a Samaritan, he even gives a sketch of the assailants, by classifying them as robbers, but Jesus never gives us a biographical sketch of the victim, left by the roadside half dead. He only tells us that it was a man. We don’t know his position, his occupation, and his social or economic status. We don’t know his religious or political affiliation. We don’t know if he was young, or old, black, white, Hispanic or Asian, all we know is that Jesus says that he was a man.
I believe that Jesus was ambiguous about the identity of the man because the road does not discriminate. This rough, rigid, and rigorous road that provides protection for thieves and robbers, does not care about your social economic status, everyone who travels this road, travels with risk. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho could care less about political or religious affiliations, everyone who travels this road, travels with the risk. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho does not make distinction between race, gender, or educational background, everyone travels this road, travels with the risk that at anytime, and anyplace, for any reason, they could be beaten, stripped, and left for dead. This road is the great equalizer; it does not make distinction, or division for those who travel on it.
This road called life does not discriminate between black or white, liberal or conservative, male or female, this road called life does not distinguish between clergy or laity, students or professors, when we travel down this road called life all are subject to its up’s and down’s in’s and out’s twists and turns. When we travel this road called life, we are all subject to its shame, pain, hurt, and humiliation.
On this road called life, the rain falls, and the flood waters have the potential to change lives in a matter of hours. In other words, as long as you are living and traveling on this road from Jerusalem to Jericho, as long as you are traveling on this road called life, anything can happen, at anytime, for any reason, to any person.
On this week many people traveling down the road of life found themselves victims of the tragedy that the road often brings. 9 people died in the flood. Thousands of others have lost everything they had. Millions of dollars of damage occurred, and the reality is that it could have happened to any one of us.

For all those effected by the recent events surrounding the flooding in the ATL area, we pray for you, we stand with you, and we serve along side you. We are your "neighbor"

Deal,

Pastor L

God's Mirrors

2009-08-24T18:02:00.005-04:00

I once read a story about 4 priests that were having lunch together one day. One of the priests spoke up and said "Our parishioners are always confessing their sins to us, let's take this opportunity to confess our sins to one another." All four agreed, and the first priest said "I confess that I have an issue with drinking, every so often I have too much to drink." The second priest said "That's nothing, I have a problem smoking, I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day." The third priest said, "I have you both beat, every month I drive out of state to the casino where I spend all of my money gambling." By this time each priest was feeling a sense of relief. They had confessed something that they each secretly struggled with, and needed to come to terms with. After a long pause, the first priest said to the fourth priest, "Well aren't you going to confess you sins, after all it is just between us four." The fourth priest declined to confess several times, and after some coaxing by his colleagues, he finally agreed to confess. "Well", he said, "As it turns out, I don't have a problem with drinking, I don't have a problem with smoking, and I don't have a problem with gambling, the truth is....I have a big problem with gossiping."

While this story is quite funny, it does point us to the spiritual discipline that many of us no longer practice with intention. Before you stop reading, I am not speaking about going to confession. The death and resurrection of Christ gave us all direct access to God, so there is no need to confess anything to me or anyone else for that matter.

Confession of sins, is actually less about a list of no no's and more about committing to the spiritual discipline of self-examination. Confession of sins is about being willing to face up to our own short comings in light of God's will and purpose for our lives'. John Piper, gives what I feel to be a great definition of sin. He says that sin is "Settling for a level of pleasure that is less than what God intended." Pretty insightful isn't it? I mean think about it, Adam and Eve settled for one tree when God intended for them to enjoy an entire garden.

With that in mind, I believe that God gives us ample opportunity to examine ourselves and our sin, and confess them to Him. One of the ways that I believe God does this is not through tragedy, but through an undeniable, indescribable display of God's grace and power in our lives'. In other words, God often uses miracles as mirrors to show us who we really are.

In Nehemiah Chapter 9, the people of God "confessed their sins" after gazing into the finished product of a vision given to Nehemiah by God. As they stood in awe of the wall that was rebuilt in just 52 days, I believe that something began to happen to them internally. There was a sudden spiritual renewal that begin to take place. As they stood in front of something that was nothing short of a miracle it became as though they were starring at themselves in a mirror.

You see when we take the time to appreciate the everyday miraculous occurrences in our lives, when we take the time to observe the wonderful blessings that God has bestowed upon us, when we take the opportunity to pause and gaze into God's glorious presence, we soon discover how we have settled for a level of pleasure in this life, that is so far beneath what God actually intended for us to enjoy.

I can imagine that starring into the wall was like starring into a gigantic mirror, eventually causing the people to confess that for days, weeks, months, and years they had settled for less, they had sinned against God.

Peter had this same revelation in Luke 5:8 after a huge miraculous catch of fish courtesy of Jesus. Instead of being excited about the catch, Peter starred into mirror of God's miracle and saw just how sinful he actually was. His only response was "Get away from me, for I am a sinful man."

So here's the deal, take time to recognize the miraculous in your life, gaze into the things that God has blessed you with. Observe the grace of God actively working in your situation, and if you stare long enough, if you gaze into the miracle long enough, we will eventually stare into a mirror that shows us who we really are, so that God can help us to become who He wants us to be. Miracles are God's mirrors

Deal,
Pastor L

Respond-sibility

2009-07-23T18:43:00.006-04:00
One thing that I am learning as I continue to live life as a husband, father, pastor, and hospice chaplain is that life takes no prisoners or excuses for that matter. That's why having a vision is extremely important to living a Christian life. Vision is the difference between existing and living. Vision is what connects our faith and our works. Vision is what helps us to experience God's preferred future for our lives.

Here is something that I learned recently about vision...Vision requires being willing to be responsible and respond-sible. Sounds simple, but the kind of responsibility I'm talking about is the kind of responsibility that stops many of us from ever really responding to a visionary life style.

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah gets word that the situation in Jerusalem is NOT GOOD. In essence, the people are suffering, and it appears that there is a lack of hope, and a shortage of vision. Nehemiah, in his own words, wept when he heard this news. In fact Nehemiah was heart broken. (Last week's sermon.."Heartbroken Heroes")

Vision often begins as a deep concern, or as I put it on Sunday..."A broken heart is the spark that ignites a vision." Nehemiah was really heart broken. He cried, and cried, and mourned, and fasted. Don't get it twisted. Nehemiah was no punk! He wasn't overly emotional or sensitive either. He was experiencing the burden of vision.

The burden was so great that he does something interesting next, he prays. What's the big deal right, that's what we would expect him to do right? But it's not the prayer so much as it is what he prayed. (Read Nehemiah Chapter 1 in your own time.) Here's what's special about his prayer. Nehemiah included himself in a prayer of complete responsibility and respond-sibility for the current situation in Jerusalem. Why is that special? Nehemiah was born under Persian captivity and had never even been to Jerusalem. He was so burdened with the state of affairs, and the suffering of the people that he assumed the responsibility and respond-sibility for the current situation as well as the changes that needed to take place.

Visionaries are willing take responsibility, and respond even when it is not their fault or necessarily their concern for that matter. Imagine if we actually took on the responsibility of being our "brother's keeper" even if it isn't "our fault" or "our problem" or "our people". Imagine what the world would be like if we took on the responsibility of feeding the hungry even if it isn't "our fault" or "our problem" or "our people." Imagine what the church could do if we actually took responsibility for those who are suffering even if it isn't "our fault" or "our problem" or "our people" or "our church" or "our denomination" or "our race" or "our country"

Imagine what what the world would look like if the Body of Christ would be willing to take on the responsibility and respond-sibility for seeing other people's lives' changed, despite the notion that it is not "our problem."

That's what Nehemiah did, that's what visionaries do.... that's what Jesus did. He took on the responsibility and the respond-sibility of dying for our sins despite of it all.

If you want to change the world, you have to be willing to take responsibility and respond-sibility.

Deal,

Pastor L

To know me is to love me

2009-07-13T07:09:00.005-04:00

Recently, lot's of people have been asking more and more questions about me, my work, and my family. So here is an excercise that I did a while back, naming 25 random things about me and my life. Some things may surprise you, but here it is anyway,enjoy!

25 Random Things to Share

1. My first name is John...but I go by Lamar because my parents never called me John growing up. Maybe because my dad's name is John too. (No I am not a Jr.)

2. I have traveled the world because my dad was in the army. I have been to Germany, Austria, and Holland.

3. I have three siblings. An older sister and 2 younger brothers. They all live in Texas.

4. I used to be able to speak spanish and german, but no so much anymore.

5. I am a PK (Pastors Kid) for those who don't know church lingo.

6. In 2007 my family and I founded a church in Paulding County GA. www.graceandglorycc.org

7. In college I worked in a bakery. My carrot cake and brownies were legendary at the university. I still bake from time to time.

8. I played football in college for 4 years. I was pretty good too, until I got hurt.

9. I am an introvert.

10. I have a wife and two sons Malachi (4) and Michaiah a.k.a Chief (8 months)

11. I have 5 tatoos. All before age 20 (wouldn't do it again)

12. I have always loved to read even as a child I would fall asleep with books on my face. Currently I read about 2-3 books a month.

13. I almost got kicked out of highschool my freshman year. Skipping class to much.

14. I am over 6 feet tall. (6'1")

15. I love old school rap. Not really feeling too much of this new stuff out now.

16. My favorite all time artist is Stevie Wonder. (and Michael Jackson)

17. Both my wife and I have Masters Degrees from Emory University. I have an M.Div. she has a MPH

18. I have two nephews and one niece.

19. I used to work for Kmart, Kohls, and Starbucks. Yes Starbucks, while I was in Seminary. The coffee kept me awake!

20. I once gave away a car....no strings attached.. and it was in perfect working order. Actually I had just replaced the transmission, tires,and new brakes. (The person I gave it to really needed a car.

21. My favorite movie is Coming to America...SEXUAL CHOCOLATE....SEXUAL CHOCOLATE!!!

22. I would like to one day move to Malawi and start a church. (Malawi is where my wife is from)

23. I used to want to be a detective.... I guess God had other plans for me.

24. My favorite scripture is Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is more desirable than great riches, to be esteemed is worth more than silver or gold."

25. I work as a Chaplain for a Hospice in Atlanta where i work with terminally ill patients and their families. Word to the wise....Life is precious, take time to enjoy it while you can.

Deal,

Pastor L

After the Love is Gone

2009-07-12T13:23:00.009-04:00

Earth Wind and Fire! One of my favorite groups of all time. I love these guys. There music trandscends both generations and cultures. One of my all time favorite songs from EWF is "After the Love is Gone." Relationships are a funny thing, expecially when "love" is involved. I personally think no one "falls" in love, I believe that we chose who we will give our heart to, and whose heart we will allow ourselves to recieve. No matter what type of relationship, whether it is romantic, platonic, or even business, the end of that moment in time can be devastating. Feelings, are some times hurt, words are sometimes exchanged, and hearts are sometimes broken. So what do you do "After the Love is gone." What do you do when the relationship is over and the love is no longer mutual. In the words of EWF what do you do when something that was right is suddenly so wrong.

Recently I discovered that a former relationship that I had, had gone so wrong when I thought it was different. You know the expression "There was no loved lost", well let's just say that isn't the case here. Despite my initial feelings of resentment, and yes anger I am reminded of what Jesus says to do "After the Love is Gone." Matthew 5:46 "If you love only those who love you, what good is that.."

So what do you do when the love is definitely gone, and what was right has suddenly become so wrong? Here is a radical concept....ready....Love them anyway. Jesus sums it up for us and makes it very simple. Only loving those who love you isn't saying much at all. In fact he says that even people who don't know him can do that.

So as hard as it is, I'm going to take Jesus up on this one. "After the Love is Gone", love again, love anyway, love agape.

Deal

Pastor L

Follow the Leader

2009-06-24T20:26:00.004-04:00
About a week or so ago, I took a risk that proved to be not only unsuccessful, but stressful as well. While using my twitter account, I noticed several ads about how you could gain followers by logging on to a certain site that I won't mention by name. Like most people I know, I jumped at the chance to have more followers. So I clicked the link to the site and without thinking, entered my Twitter account info without reading the Terms of Agreement, and pressed the button. I was so excited about gaining more followers I didn't consider that the method I was using to gain followers would never work. If you have already tried this like I have, then you already know that the site will post ads using your account to tweet from. The next thing I knew I was tweeting non-stop about how you could get more followers. I won't even mention the fact that they want you to pay for the service to get more followers. Needless to say I quickly reversed the effects of my decision in order to salvage my credibility amongst my Twitter and Facebook family. It wasn't worth it and besides, it wasn't like I wasn't gaining followers on my own. As a matter of fact I found out the best way to gain followers is to follow someone else. So here's the lesson learned. Becoming a leader and gaining followers has no shortcuts. The best way to get someone to follow you is still being willing and able to follow someone yourself. Good leaders are the result of good followers.

Deal,
Pastor L

Sunday's Best

2009-06-21T22:04:00.007-04:00
Another great day @GGCC. It's always nice to see visitors return to worship with us. I guess that means that God is definitely working in our ministry. So here's a run down for the day, actually beginning yesterday.

Yesterday we held our church fellowship @ Oregon Park in Marietta. The turn out was great, especially since we saw several new faces at the event. It's always nice to do events outside of church, because it gives us an opportunity to connect with the community. I even had a few of my colleagues from my seminary day's to take the long hike from Atlanta to Marietta to show their support. Shout out to Pastor Michael Harris of Acts of Faith Baptist Church.http://www.actsoffaithbc.org/

After the food and fellowship, we headed up to the baseball field for a game of softball. While I didn't play the entire game, I did get in on the action at in the last two innings. Good thing too, I was able to bring in the the game winning run with my last hit!

We finished of the weekend with a great worship service. We are in new series on Stewardship, so it wasn't exactly a Father's Day type sermon, but I think it went well. I am going to post a separate blog about the sermon, but here's the topic..
S.T.A.R.bucks Stewardship and oh yeah, I preached the entire sermon in a Starbucks apron and hat. Interested...stay tuned for more.

Deal,

Pastor L

Keep Shooting

2009-06-12T19:49:00.013-04:00

Let me preference this by first stating clearly that I am not, I repeat I AM NOT A LAKER FAN!!!

Now that I have that out of the way, I will admit that that Lakers look poised to add another ring to their collection. While I have been routing for the Orlando Magic to win (Only because I am not a Laker fan), last nights performance by the "Lake Show" was absolutely noteworthy. I wasn't so much impressed with how the Lakers played, as I was impressed with how the Lakers finished. Even more specifically I was impressed with how the Lakers starting point guard, Derek Fisher, finished the game. "Fish" for the most part has had a pretty dismal showing during this series. In fact, he has been pretty average through out this entire playoff run. Just like in life, when you are not "in the zone" all of the talk begins to surface about how you know longer have "it", or how you are "getting to old", or how about this one, you've "lost a step".

There has been, and maybe rightfully so, lots of talk about Derek Fisher's poor performance during this and the the other series' that the Lakers have played so far. Because I am NOT A LAKER FAN, I will admit I was also one of Fisher's biggest critics. Last night, however, Fisher silenced this critic, and many others, regarding his poor play by hitting two clutch 3 pointers to seal the win for the Lakers. Fisher only ended up with 12 points, but it was how he finished the game that people will remember.

You see "Fish" gave a great example and an even greater testimony in his post game interview,(click title of post for link) of what it means to keep your faith when your proverbial "game" seems to be off. In life sometimes your "game" is going to be off, and yes people will begin to talk about you and around you about how you just can't cut it anymore, or how you're a "has been", or about how you too "old", or too "young", or too "inexperienced", but just do what Fisher did. Keep praying, and keep shooting, eventually you'll get back in your "zone" and your shots will fall.

Paul said it best when he said to forget what is behind you, and press for what is in front of you. Keep shooting, after all, when you win the game, no one remembers how bad you've played in the past, they just celebrate how great you played in the present.

Even when your game is "off" Keep shooting, eventually you'll score.

DEAL,

Pastor L

Wait your turn

2009-06-11T20:30:00.002-04:00
What is it about waiting that causes most everyone to give up? Let's face it, waiting is not fun, especially when you are anticipating something desirable. Today I was on my way to visit with a few patients at an assisted living facility and I found myself dealing with having to wait. See, the location that I was going to is not one of my favorite places to visit. It is not because of the facility itself, the place is amazing. It is not because of the staff, the people there are really warm and caring and take great care of the residents. My one and only problem with going to this facility is that it doesn't have enough parking. Most days I am blessed to get one of the two remaining parking spots. Other days I manage to arrive just as someone is leaving. Today I arrived and there were no parking spots. I was so frustrated that I almost decided not to stay, but to leave and return at a later date, possibly next week. Instead I pulled out of the parking lot and went across the street to a shopping center where I parked my car and you guessed it, waited. As I sat there it dawned on me that much of my life and ministry has been in "parking lot" mode. I travel from a great distance to arrive in a place that I know I should be, only to get there and find that I have to wait for a spot to open up. I guess that's life, sometimes you have to wait your turn, but if you stick around eventually your find your "spot" in life.

Deal

Pastor L

Managment Material

2009-06-10T21:24:00.003-04:00
Most everyone I know has been affected by the recession. Though we don't really speak much about it anymore, most of us are still dealing with the effects of the slow, barely moving at all economy. Gas prices are steadily creeping back up, and just the other day GM filed for bankruptcy. Times are indeed tough, and though we know they will eventually get better, we still have to deal in the here and now. Right now, people are just trying to keep their heads above water. Despite all of the downsides to this economic recession, there is one bright side that I have personally experienced. That bright side is that it has taught me and my family how to be better managers of God's stuff. It's no secret that when money us tight, most of us know how to rise to the occasion. Consider this recession a chance to sharpen your management skills. After all it all belongs to God we are
just managers.

Sunday's Best

2009-05-04T09:55:00.002-04:00
Yet, another great day @ GGCC yesterday. Service was awesome as always and the presence of God was very evident. It is amazing how God continues to bless your very young church. Yesterday we heard part 3 of our current series The Family that Prays. Yesterday's message was about making wisdom a beloved member of our family. You know when it comes to family, there's a lot that we don't know. Family is one of God's greatest gifts to humanity. There are all types of families and all types of family dynamics. Family is God's way of providing us with support and love, but the truth is sometimes we don't always receive it and sometimes we don't always appreciate it. In Proverbs 7:4 Solomon admonishes us to make God's wisdom a member of our family because it protects us from being drawn away from the gift that God has given in our families. Wisdom is protection from heading in the wrong direction. Accept and appreciate God's gift to you, your family.

Deal,

Pastor L

Learning to Learn

2009-04-21T11:02:00.003-04:00
Proverbs 19:8 Says to acquire wisdom is to love oneself, those who cherish understanding will prosper.

I am approaching my third year of having graduated from Emory University with a Master in Divinity. That means that 6 years ago I, along with many other of my colleagues, embarked upon a vision of acquiring new and insightful knowledge which we could utilize in serving in various areas of our ministry calling.

When going through the actually process, the headache and heartache of pulling all nighters, reading multiple books at a time, writing papers, and taking tests, seemed to be more of a nightmare than a vision from God. Let's face it, graduate study is not for the faint of heart, or wallet, for that matter.

I swore that after the time I had spent reading and investing in books and more books and even more books, I would not read anything else except the Bible, simply because I felt worn out and that Candler School of Theology had successfully depleted my desire to learn.

Some 6 years later, I have found through reflection that my desire to learn is even greater than it has ever been. I have gone from never wanting to pick up another book again, to constantly ordering books on-line, and even reading 4-5 books a month. My thirst for knowledge seemingly can not be quenched.

You see what I learned over the years of post seminary ministry is that one must learn how to have a desire to learn. Of all the courses that I sat through at Emory, the one thing that 3 long years and 80 credit hours taught me is, how to cherish understanding.

That's what education does for you, it doesn't just teach you facts and figures,it causes you to realize that there is so much that you don't know about this vast world of ours. Knowing how much you don't know, gives you a desire to want to learn more.

Proverbs 19:8 Says that acquiring wisdom is a sign of self love, self worth, and self respect. In a time where people are bruised and battered and their self esteem, self worth, and self respect have been diminished, nothing can create a sense of pride like learning to love learning. Whether it's a formal education, or just picking up a book or newspaper, living life should be about learning to learn. After all it's those who cherish knowledge that prosper.

Today learn something new

Deal,

Pastor L

“Wounded, but still a winner.”

2009-04-15T19:52:00.003-04:00

This past Sunday we celebrated the most important date in the Christian tradition. On this day we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each year as Christians we celebrate what I have come to call the “superbowl” of our faith. It is on this day that we are reminded that we are on the winning team, and that we have the ultimate victory in Christ Jesus!

When Jesus rose from the dead, the Gospel of John declares that he appeared to his disciples who were gathered together in a closed room. The gospel dictates that Thomas, one of the disciples, was not present during the first appearance of Christ. When he was told that Jesus was indeed alive, Thomas responded that he would not believe until he was able to touch the wounds that Jesus had sustained during his crucifixion.

What is it about human nature that causes us to want overwhelming evidence to validate our faith? I believe that Thomas, like many of us, needed to touch the wounds of Jesus in order to understand that Jesus understands our pain.

You see, Thomas missed out on the first appearance of Jesus, and just like many of us, whenever we feel that we have missed out on something important in life, we tend to struggle with our faith. Some of us feel that we have missed out on the opportunity to be raised by both parents in a loving family environment. Others feel they have missed out on the opportunity to live the life they have always dreamed of. Whatever it is we feel we have missed, it may often do damage to our ability to have and sustain faith. In other words, sometimes our past wounds, can prevent us from having a victorious life of faith.

Jesus, upon his second appearance encouraged Thomas to make contact with his wounds. Jesus wanted Thomas, and he also wants humanity to understand that he too has experienced pain and suffering and as a result was left wounded by the circumstances of life. That’s what’s so great about Jesus, he understands our wounds, and yet he demonstrates and empowers us through his death, burial, and resurrection to be winners despite being wounded.

The Apostle Paul said it best “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Despite being wounded by the circumstances of this world, because Jesus Christ is alive, you and I can still be winners!!

We can do all things through Christ!!

Deal,

Pastor L

Sunday's Best

2009-04-12T19:55:00.004-04:00

Wow, what a day!! Resurrection Sunday is always special, but today was indeed a special Sunday.

Shout out to our team at GGCC. They worked hard to put together a service for this Sunday that would fit perfectly with the message and the celebratory atmosphere. I am truly amazed at what a small group of people can do when they set their minds and hearts to giving God the glory.

Today we had a few new faces join us for worship. That's always a great feeling when your a Pastor of a new church. Thank God for growth, no matter how small or slow, (this is something I am learning over the course of time), or both.

Our children's ministry gave a wonderful presentation in song and dance. I am always so thankful to see so many children in service. There were so many children this morning that I was told that they ran out of worship flags for the dance! Shout out to Mrs. Mona, our children's ministry director. Big props to her and her crew for making it happen once again. Love you guys!

We also had a great friend of ours return to minister to us in song. Let me just say that this sister has one of the baddest voices I've ever heard. She completely blows me away every time I hear her sing. It's like hearing God sing through her! Shout out to Mrs. Kendra "Beauty" Munoz and her family for blessing our socks off again.

My sermon today was titled "Wounded..but still a winner." The entire message was focused on the resurrection of Christ and his appearance to Thomas who insisted on touching his wounds in order to believe that Jesus was really alive. Can't give the whole sermon here, but here it is in a nut shell...we can win in life just like Jesus, despite being wounded. Christ gives us the victory through his resurrection. Hallelujah!

We have been recording audio of our services and my sermons for about 5 weeks now, and think these last two weeks we have really found the quality we need.(FYI stay tuned for links to listen to portions of the sermon online.)

Afterward we finished service with our normal all you can eat pizza buffet, (we currently meet at a bowling alley...yeah I'll tell you that story later, but hey it works for us.) This is always great because we get a chance to hang out with the members and visitors, have some great pizza, and play video games too. Nothing builds a church like food and fellowship!

All in all today was a great day! I look forward to seeing our visitors again, and to continue to grow as a family striving to do God's work in Paulding County.

Deal,

Pastor L

Resurrection Sunday

2009-04-10T11:47:00.001-04:00

Happy Good Friday to all. This truly is a GOOD FRIDAY. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad, and happy, and excited, and enthusiastic, (okay so I added the last part).

Listen, I am extremely excited about this weekend's celebration, after all Resurrection Sunday is the single most important day in the world. It is the day that we celebrate the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died for us all, and rose so that you and I can also be victorious in life.

Grace and Glory Christian Church, wants you to join us this Sunday @ 10:00 a.m. to celebrate our victory through Christ in grand fashion. I am so amped about the service, its going to be off the chain.

We will have a special musical guest, our children will be ministering in song and dance, and there will be several other surprises that you definitely don't want to miss. All of this takes place this Sunday @ 10:00 a.m.

Stars and Strikes in Dallas,
2400 Hiram Acworth Hwy
Dallas, GA. 30157

Hope to see you there,

Deal,

Pastor L

Dis-appointments

2009-04-09T17:03:00.000-04:00
Question... Why do Dr. Offices charge you for being late, missing appointments, or for failing to cancel within 24 hours of scheduled appointments? Is it that their way of dealing with dis-appointments? Let me just tell you...today I waited for an "appointment" for over an hour and not once was I told "We are going to give you money because we are running late today and we didn't call to notify you in advance.". I know, sounds silly, but technically we should be able to enforce the same policy with them as they enforce with us. The reality is though that the only price they pay is at the expense of our patience. What I found though is that disappointments are like dis-appointments. They are often a result of what we feel to be unmet expectations and unbalanced efforts between two parties. So my advice in dealing with disappointments is the same in dealing with dis-appointments, patience. What seems to be unfair and unbalanced sometimes a actually is, but just like a long wait at the Dr. Office, your there for a good reason and if you get upset and leave before the work is completed, you'll end up having to experience it all over again.

Dis-appoints both require and strengthen patience. Don't give up before the work is complete.

Deal,

Pastor L

Life Changing

2009-04-07T16:22:00.000-04:00
Everyday I meet people who change the world. Everyday I meet people who are unsung heroes. Everysingle day I meet people who are legendary figures in their own rite. Everyday I am inspired by people who have discovered the secret to living a productive, world changing, community impacting life. Everyday I have the privilege of sitting at the feet of the world's foremost experts in philosophy, theology, and sociology. Everyday I get to meet someone whose perspective on life, love, and happiness is profoundly shaped by the earth shattering news that they have a life limiting illness, the likes of which many do not recover from.

What do I do everyday? I am a chaplain for a hospice company in the ATL area. Most people think of hospice and their mind takes them straight to thoughts of death and dying. But it is that same mentality that causes so many of us who have health and strength to live lives' that are far less impactful then those who have very little life left.

What I have discovered over the course of time, is that leading a world changing kind of life begins with an appreciation for the time we have here on earth. The reason most think of death and dying when thinking of hospice care, is because we as humans have a tendency to fast forward through life with the same mentality. We speed through life as though we are pressing fast forward on our DVD players. It's not until we realize that life is getting shorter, that we slow down and make time for changing the world.

I once read a book entitled "Tuesdays with Morrie", in the book a dying college professor tells his former student, "Learn how to die, and you will learn how to live." In the short while that I have been doing this line of work, I have come to know and to love many persons that have since passed on that would echo those sentiments. I think that's why Jesus says those who try to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will keep it. It seems more of a legacy thing to me more than anything else.

Learning to die, means learning to relinquish our tendency to control every area of life including time and space. The most intimate setting that can ever take place is when a person that is broken and vulnerable accepts you into their life with no reservations. Everyday that is what my patients and families do. They change the world, because they encourage and empower us to learn how to relinquish control and share our lives' with others, even when we are vulnerable. That's their legacy, teaching others who to share their lives with the world. That's what Jesus did by going to the cross, and that's what he is calling us to do in order to change the world.

"Learn how to die, and you will learn how to live."

Blessings,

pastor L

Bailouts, Bonuses, and Budgets.....Oh My

2009-03-27T08:17:00.000-04:00

With just 60 + days in office, our new president has spent a considerable amount of time addressing the already and continually weakening economy. With millions of people losing homes, jobs, and retirement funds, it appears as though the task at hand is one that is too large to fix. Nevertheless, I am confident that things will get better, not because of the efforts of our government (although I offer my full support and prayers to the current administration), but I am even more optimistic because this will be a time when people will begin to pull together and re-discover the value of God in community. I once took a class in seminary on cultural hermeneutics (probably misspelled that word), and it was interestingly enough very helpful in being able to "interpret" cultural icons and events through the lens of theology and scripture. Now I must admit that I have not done this intentionally since taking the course, but I am going to take a stab at it now. In this season bombarded with talks of bailouts, bonuses, and budgets, there is one thing that continues to strike me about the human condition. That is that no matter how wealthy your become, or how much you can acquire throughout your lifetime, we are all finite beings that are in need of constant reminders of our limitations. Many people blame the crisis on many different issues, but here's what I think is a obvious sign of our humanity. It seems to me that the whole issue boils down to the fact that many people, corporations and private citizens, and politicians, have "bitten off more than they can chew." I mean isn't that usually the beginning stages of a crisis like this one. The truth is that everyone is involved and at the same time the blame must be properly placed. Fingers can only be pointed at the frailty of the human spirit and our inability to do things on our own without messing them up. So here's the nuts and bolts of it, this whole thing began with humanity (Adam and Eve) "bitting off more than they could chew." Since the beginning of time sin, has been about attempting to have more than we can handle at the risk of damaging our relationships, with God and with our fellow human beings. The end result is usually the same, and that is we end up losing what we did have, and struggling to overcome the negative effects that leave a residue on our relationships. All the talk of bailouts, and budgets, and bonuses, is really a conversation that points to the ultimate issue, that as humans we need someone and/or something to help clean up the messes we make because we attempt to live life without sensible limitations. God's plan for humanity was to bail us out of the effects of sin, but also the mindset of settling for less than what God intended for us to be and have, by trying to get more than what God has alloted us. So in the end, I am confident that things will turn around, not because the government will provide us with a comprehensive plan, but because God has a proven track record of having the ability to lift humanity out of it's own mess, and place us back on course for living in relationship with Him and with each other, so long as we are willing.

Getting Started

2009-03-26T22:23:00.001-04:00
Ok. First off, I am new to this. So bare with me through the next couple of weeks or so. So, now that we have that out of the way here's a little about me. I am a Husband, father, and Pastor. I also work as a Chaplain for a hospice in Atlanta, GA. I am the founding pastor of Grace and Glory Christian Church (check out the website). We are a really cool, multi-cultural, non-denominational, family friendly, keep it real, community of Christ followers. If you live in the Atlanta area, (cobb, paulding, and cherokee county) in particular, come check us out.