Christmas At The Zoo

These pictures were taken last night at the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia.






Luke near Tiger Den

Santa's place at the Zoo. (Sans Santa. He's obviously taking a needed vacation. I here ya, Nick!)

Kids looking at Christmas cards made by local elementary schools

Roasting marshmellows at the Zoo.

More cards. Notioce the Channauka card in the background ;)

This tree changed lights with the music. Should have shot video. Oh, well.

Christmas 2009

Stevie's new hat.


Patty's new robe.



Getting a good look at what everybody is getting.

Gotta love Snuggie....err... Fuzzie Wuzzie

Luke is checking out his loot and Da is praying this is not a Mama Mia DVD

Stockings are the best part.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

From Peanuts to the Pressbox by Eli Gold

If you read my blog you know that I love college football. So, it was with great anticipation that I waited for From Peanuts to the Pressbox by Eli Gold to arrive. I found the book to be light and entertaining. Not quite what I had expected from someone who had a childhood dream of wanting to be a sports announcer. I had hoped that the book would be filled with antidotes and wisdom, something a little more inspiring. I did like the book, it just left me wanting more.

Eli grew up around sportscasters. He is passionate about it and the names and faces surrounding it. He made it his mission in life to become one of "them", and succeeded! The book is written for those who love sports, because those who have a casual interest in them, may not be that interested. I think the book could have been improved by Eli sharing some of his wisdom with those wishing to follow in his footsteps. The book has some quirky, funny moments along with a few dry spells.

Swine Flu Alert

If you wake up and see this in the mirror, you might not want to go to work!

Update

So it's been a while. If you're still out there and checking my site, thanks!

The last few weeks were full. Between administrative duties (we Southern Baptist run on a different schedule. September 1st start our new SS year, October first starts our new financial year, and January 1st starts our new calendar year), sermon prep, I also had four funerals this month, several major surgeries in the church, and I found out that I have diabetes. A full September for sure.

We have learned much about diabetes, including a session with the PA at our doctor's office that specializes in diabetes awareness. We have much to learn, but we are confident that a change in life style, coupled with medications will allow me to control the disease without becoming insulin dependent.

On the church front, the new church year and resumption of the school year has brought our attendance up. This is always encouraging.

So we battle on, as always. I am hoping to resume regular post in the month of October and cathch up on some of the topics I have missed.

With love to all and in Him,

How 'bout Them Dawgs!

Be Back Soon

Hey everybody.

I have been dealing with a crazy busy schedule and some medical problem over the last few weeks. I should be back this week on my schedule and finish up my posts on the Fruit of the Spirit and some really interesting stuff on Revelation, plus some insight into my mysterious absence.

In Him.

Fearless

Max Lucado has done it again. With Fearless, Lucado tackles the most basic of human emotions. Why do we suffer from fear? Lucado opens up the book by asking this question. He then spends the next thirteen chapters detailing some basic fears that most of us suffer. The last chapter summarizes the book by looking to God to protect us. After all, if God is in control, why should we fear anything?

In typical fashion, Lucado mixes humor with emotion, story-telling with object lesson, and ourselves in perspective with God. He has woven these qualities into a tapestry of emotion. By recounting fear in his own life, he opens up the imagination and allows us to contemplate our own fears in our own lives. In doing so, he opens up a window into some dark places. However, this ultimately allows the light of Christ to shine in.

This work also includes a study guide for each chapter at the end of the book. This would make for a great solo study, or even in a small group setting or Sunday School class.

If you are like me and have loved any of Max’s work, (I own a copy of all of his Christian living titles) you will be especially drawn to Fearless. I highly recommend it!

OK, One More Thought

The more I thought about the last Lesson of the Goose, the more I thought about Mark 14 and Jesus at Simon the Leper’s house. Here’s the story...

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. 4 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? 5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 7 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. 8 She has done what she could. Mark 14:3-8 (NKJV)

Why is it that we who follow the Great I Am, are the ones who are first to shout, “You can’t” every time a new plan arises? For those who see the world as the half empty glass, notice that these people “criticized her sharply.” It is so sad to see fresh ideas and enthusiasm dashed with the cold water of legalism and orthodoxy, even when it’s a half glass. Stop barking discouragement and start honking encouragement!

This woman’s passion was for Jesus and she got pounded for it. Notice Jesus says that she did what she could. What could she do?

Could she sing? That seems to be valuable in the church world. I don’t know.

Could she teach? Another commodity desperately in need. Again, I have no clue.

Could she give lots of money? This seems as the only criteria some have for judging worth in the church. Obviously she had means, because the perfume was expensive, about a year's salary. Probably $35,000 in today’s economy. But it is also possible this represented her life’s savings. But again, I don’t know.

What I do know is that she could love Jesus. And she did.

Oh how I long to always be the opposite of the Ephesian church of Revelation 2, full of correct doctrine, but cold in its application. How I long to never lose my first love, to have correct doctrine, yes, but also to see it fully implemented in my life.

There are many who see the glass half empty. Half empty treasuries. Half empty pews. Half empty ministries.
There are few who see the pews half full. Full of potential and simply awaiting someone to fill them. You know, I serve the Great I Am, not the Great I Can’t. Through Him all things are possible. I’m just gonna keep on honking encouragement until His appearing.

Even so, Lord Jesus, come!

Last Lesson From The Goose

Time to move on.

We can take many lessons from the nature God created. Here are a few lessons from the formation Geese make as they fly North and South seasonally.



#5. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.




Lesson: We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging- -not something less than helpful. Don't tear down--build up. Don't criticize--encourage.


Check out the "Goose" label for other lessons.

Where You Are

Possibly my favorite praise chorus is Where You Are.

I just want to be where You are
Dwelling daily in Your presence
I don’t want to worship from afar
Draw me near to where You are


I just want to be where You are
In Your dwelling place forever
Take me to the place where You are
I just want to be with You


I want to be where You are
Feasting at Your table
Dwelling in Your presence
Surrounded by Your glory
In Your presence, that’s where I always want to be
I just want to be, I just want to be with You


That about sums it up. I know He IS everywhere. (Don’t get technical with me.) But I want to be with His presence and surrounded by His love.

How ‘bout you?

Nephews

My nephews, Sam and Jack: The next Stan Musial and Bob Gibson!?



Phil and Joe Niekro never looked better! Even when they both played for the Bravo's.






What poise. What grace under pressure!









Such confiedence. Such assurance. Such focus!









OK. Maybe not. But he's still pretty darn cute.





Go Cards.

The Other Half

“It’s not what you do with your life; it’s who you do it with that really matters. It’s this other half that really matters” ~ Rio guy from Post Grad


It is not what you do, but who you do it with. I love that quote and I love that I’ve gotten to do half of my life with the right who!


He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22 (NIV)


I don't always say it enough...I love you, Patty!

Lessons From The Goose

We can take many lessons from the nature God created. Here are a few lessons from the formation Geese make as they fly North and South seasonally.

#4. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.


Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership responsibilities. Burn-out is the most common clergy killer and a plague among the laity.


Check out the "Goose" label for other lessons.

Can't Hardly Wait!

3 days and counting!

The Two Witnesses

In Revelation 11 we read about the Two Witnesses.

I wonder....hmmmm...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wonder if God is accepting applications for one of these 2 positions? I could do this job. I would love the benefits.


The Bible says that if any one tries to stop them when they preach, fire comes out of their mouths and devours that person.


This could come in handy.
“Preacher, we wish you wouldn’t preach past 12 o’clock.” Psssssst.
“Preacher, we can’t find any one to teach the seventh grade boys class.” Psssssst.“Preacher, what in the world were you thinking preaching on tithing? Talking money and sin from the pulpit is a sure-fired way of running people off.” Psssssst.“Preacher, I make a motion that we paint the baptistery purple & orange with a Tiger Paw in the front.” Psssssst.“Preacher, the Constitution and By-law says tha” Psssssst.

Also, the Bible says that they could keep it from raining for as long as they wanted. They could turn the water into blood. And, they could cause plagues to strike the earth as often as they want.


Well, maybe I’d better leave this to the experts. I wouldn’t want to accidently start a swine flu epidemic because I overheard someone gossiping about a fellow church member.

Facelift

Thanks to Jen Gets Fancy for the new look. Hope y'all like it. I certainly do!

Check her out at the link below or the embedded link on her name. She is very reasonably priced.

The Lord’s Day

Ahhh. It was a good Lord’s Day. A great Lord’s Day, actually. Let’s begin with Saturday. Our Sunday School class watched Fireproof and had a fellowship. The Lord blessed. We launched the Fireproof Your Marriage curriculum this morning. The Lord more than blessed, he provided a miracle, and these days I’ll take everyone he chooses to send my way. Church was wonderful. Afterwards we had lunch with some spectacular people. We were so encouraged by that fellowship. Again, God is so good. I laughed so hard and had such a good time with these fellow Believers. Tonight, the Revelation study. Great crowd, and a good study.


I’m a blessed man.

This has been the Lord's day.

Lessons From The Goose

We can take many lessons from the nature God created. Here are a few lessons from the formation Geese make as they fly North and South seasonally.


# 3. Whenever a goose falls out of the formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in front.


Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go.


Check out the "Goose" label for more.

Blessedly Old

Here are a few reasons I feel old:

1) Children: Today my BabyGirl registered for classes at college. ***siiiigh**. As if the constant reminders about my graying hair and receding hairline didn’t make me feel old enough, I only have one left in school.

2) Diets. I started dieting last week. When I was young I could cutback a little, drop the cokes and up the water and lose weight. I did good this week. Weigh in was today and I have lost 5 pounds. Not bad for week one, but I know I’m getting old because I didn’t LOSE any of it! I know exactly where it went. A lot more work goes into it now. I am considering a new blog. I can chronicle my weight loss journey. I think I’ll call it FatPastor.

3) Twitter. I came in to the blog world hesitantly, but soon found I loved it. I came into the FaceBook world kicking and screaming, and found it to be laborious and boring, but OK as a communication tool. Please don't ask me to join your mafia. I don't even know what that means! Twitter I don’t get. Never will get. I feel like some of the seasoned adults at church when they speak of computers. “I don’t know nothing about ‘em, and don’t want to learn!” Amen, on Tweating.

Let me ask you; are "Twitters" egomaniacs that think that I really care that they just ate lunch, or are they so consumed with their consumer electronics that they must justify the thirty bucks a month they pay for their Media ad-ons by updating their status sixteen times a day? Where do you people work!? How do you have time to tap out sixteen status updates on that wee little keyboard? In either case, Leave Me The Heck Alone! Tweat to some one who has time to read a bajillion texts a day! And let me tell you, that ain’t me!

Here are a few reasons I feel blessed:

1) This is the day the Lord has made.

2) I will rejoice and be glad in it.

3) I ministered to a family today, (a group of siblings) that made the toughest decision of their adult lives. Details can be spared, but I spent my day at a nursing home. It was heartbreaking all around. In the midst of the anguish; however, we all laughed as their mother relished in her talking teddy bear. It was a beautiful moment of levity in a stress filled day. And I silently thanked Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who Provides, for that blessed moment.


Thank Him always,
for everything,
for He is worthy!

Nothing To Write About

Another Sunday, come and gone. I started A Jet Tour of Revelation tonight. Must have been an anticipated study, our attendance was waaay up. Got to love that.

I must say though, Daniel and Revelation have not moved as easily from sermon to post as I originally thought. Plus, there were a myriad...make that a blizzard, of, “That’s uhm...pretty...uhm...boring. Really. Love ya, though. I mean, you’re a nice guy and all. Very pastoral, quite a handsome devil...in a Dom Deluise kinda way. But the Eschatological Musings post??? What up? I mean, dude!?” comments.

OK. OK. It doesn’t translate. I’m still a fine Bible expositor, I’ll have you know. It just carries better in person. I’ll let you know next Sunday night if the crowd grew or shrank. That’ll tell a lot.

So. That leaves me with nothing to write about.






















Except this one small thing I’ll say about Revelation, then I’m out of here.

The book of Revelation is divided into five parts, or five extended visions.
In Chapter 1 we see The Vision of Christ. (That's what it's all about)
In Chapters 2-3, we have The Vision of the Churches. (I may actually post about these seven churches in detail as the narrative and historical context are quite fascinating.)
From Chapter 4-18 we have The Vision of the Condemnation. (I may have to blog about the significance of the number 7 in numerology and eschatology. Oh, and the 4 Horsemen. And the Two Witnesses. And the Beast. And the Harlot that rides on the Dragon. It would be inconceivable to not go there.)
Chapter 19-20 is The Vision of the Coming King. (My favorite part. Jesus on a White Horse. That's good stuff!)
And it rounds out with Chapters 21&22 The Vision of the Celestial City. (i.e. Home Sweet Home)

Well, I could go on and on. But for now, I say: Farwell.

The Good Life

"Of all virtues and dignities of the mind, goodness is the greatest, being the character of the deity; and, without it, man is a busy, mischievous, wretched thing." ~ Sir Francis Bacon

"He has shown you, o man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8


The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness...and goodness. Galatians 5:22


What does it mean to be good? For some it is the culmination of life. To live the good life, so-to-speak. A hot tub, back rub, and a drink at the pub? The Money, Mansion, and Mercedes in the garage mentality? For some it is a virtue. How well did they treat other people? Did they kick dogs or push down old ladies?

Some say goodness is a matter of the head. If we will only educate our citizenry, teach them ethics and morals and values, they will be good. My question is, whose values and ethics. If it is based on majority rules, then abortion is an ethical (i.e. a good) thing. No, goodness is not about education. If you educate a thief, you’ll only get a smart thief.

Some say goodness is a matter of the hands. The fact is, doing good does not make you good. Goodness is not something that man manufacturers. It is something that God gives. The Bible makes that abundantly clear. “There is none who does good, no, not one.” Romans 3:12. People are not basically good. People are basically bad.

So the biblical conclusion must be that, “Good ain’t good enough.” We consistently fall short of meeting God’s standards of piety and goodness. This means that goodness is not a matter of the hands or a matter of the head. Goodness is a matter of the heart. Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” Goodness is not a matter of what you know, nor what you do. It is a matter of what you are. Goodness is not a deed that you do; it is fruit that you bear. It is not about what you know, but about Whom you know.

See, if you have love in your heart, joy in your soul and peace in your life; then you will be patient and enduring, you will be kind and ...yes...even good. Nevertheless, it all goes back to love in your heart, doesn’t it. And how do you get that? Micah 6:8, the last part says that you must walk humbly with your God.

How do we live the good life? By having a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Lessons From The Goose

We can take many lessons from the nature God created. Here are a few lessons from the formation Geese make as they fly North and South seasonally.

#2. When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down. They stay with the goose to help and protect it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out with another formation to catch up with the flock.


Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other.

Check out the "Goose" label for more...

Rick & Bubba’s Guide To The Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage

A Book Review

It is not to often that I laugh out loud while reading a book, but I certainly did while reading Rick and Bubba’s Guide To The Almost Nearly Perfect Marriage. The story Rick told about husbands, wives, and driving directions is hilarious. Having said that, calling this book a “Guide’ is rather tongue in cheek. The boys spend the majority of the book poking fun at themselves and their respective spouses. As I mentioned earlier, it is humorous, but lacks a lot of substance.


In reality, I would recommend the book for wives to read, so that they could get an idea for what their husbands are truly feeling (err, thinking. We men don’t tend to “feel” very much when it comes to relationships.) Guys, if you would like a good laugh then this book is a good choice. This is especially true considering the bonus CD that includes spots from their radio program.


To use this as a study might be a stretch. However, it would be a good companion study along with How To Get Your Husband To Talk To You, by Connie Grigsby and Nancy Cobb. My wife has led this as a ladies study at our church and it was a huge success. The two could be combined for men to study Rick and Bubba while the ladies studied Connie and Nancy.

Well, food for thought.


Blessings,

Steve

Lessons From The Goose

We can take many lessons from the nature God created. Here are a few lessons from the formation Geese make as they fly North and South seasonally.


#1. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird behind it. By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent more flying range than if each bird flew alone.


Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier when they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

I'll add another in a few days. Look for the "Goose" label.

Blessings,

Steve

The Disciple's Pledge

I am a part of the Kingdom of God
I am a disciple of the King
By His grace I pledge my loyalty
I will not look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be silenced
My past is redeemed, my present is victorious, and my future is secure
I am through will low living, sight walking, smooth knees, and no vision
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, popularity
I do not have to be right, recognized, regarded, or rewarded
I live by faith in His word. Walk by His Spirit, and labor by His power
My face is set, my step is steady,
The road is narrow, but my destination is sure
My companions are few, but my guide is reliable
My purpose is clear, my victory unquestioned
I will not be detoured or delayed
I will not be compromised, lured away, or turned back
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice
Hesitate at the presents of adversity
Ponder at the pool of popularity
Meander in the maze of mediocrity, or
Negotiate at the table of the enemy
I will not give up, shut up, or let up
I want to be prayed up, and filled up until I am called up to heaven
Either at my death or His appearing
And when I see King Jesus
I want Him to be able to look at me and say
“He is My disciple.”

A Year? How Time Flies!

Here are a few of my favorite posts from last summer, just in case you missed them. Don't forget that I was in Atlanta looking for a church. A real live pastor, with out a real live church. :)

Jesus Christ, Superstar?

Handling Fear in the Face of Oppression

The Inconceivable Glory of Fish Vomit



Blessings,

Steve

Family Night

So last night was family night. For you SBC folks, that’s our Brotherhood, WMU, RA/GA time. On family nights I generally work with the yutes. Last night I gave them a puzzle, and now I'll share it with you. Maybe you’ve seen it before, maybe not, but...

Can you find sixteen books of the Bible in this story!?



I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu. Kept people looking so hard for facts and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books were not capitalized: but the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others it was a real job. We want it to be a most fascinating few moments for you. YES, THERE WILL BE SOME REALLY EASY ONES TO SPOT. Others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit, it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud laminations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now, for there are really sixteen books of the Bible in this story.


Can’t stand it? Have to know but can’t find them all? Post a comment with your email and I’ll send you the answer.

Blessings,

Steve

You Complete Me

Hmmmm. August 4th. Why does that date sound important? Something...something...Oh, yeah. It is the day I became complete.

I love the elevator scene in the movie Jerry McGuire. A deaf man is talking to his wife in ASL. He points to her and then draws a circle in the air. Interpretation: “You complete me.” No man is truly complete until he finds the one woman God intended for him—made, created, and designed to be his other half. Right down to our DNA, God matches us.

Listen, don’t take my word for it. Consider the Bible's account the first marriage...

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:21-25 (NKJV)
And so, every August 4th, I give a little extra praise to God; for knowing my DNA and completing my life by giving to me the same gift He gave to Adam-- bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, and an eternal mate for my soul.

Happy Anniversary Patty Dawn Anderson Leigh. You complete me.

How Many Church People

HOW MANY CHURCH PEOPLE DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

Charismatics - Only one. (Hands are already in the air.)

Roman Catholics - None. They use candles.

Pentecostals - Ten. One to change the bulb, and nine to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians - None. God has predestined when the lights will be on and off.

Episcopalians - Eight. One to call the electrician, and seven to say how much they liked the old one better.

Mormons - Five. One man to change the bulb, and four wives to tell him how to do it.

Baptists - At least 15. One to change the light bulb, and two or three committees to approve the change. Oh, and also bring a casserole.

Lutherans - None. Lutherans don't believe in change. But bring the casserole, anyway.

Unitarians - We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb, and present it next month at our annual light bulb Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, three-way, long-life and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.

Amish - Light bulb?

The Ant and the Grasshopper

OLD VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Be responsible for yourself!

MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, "It's Not Easy Being Green." Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, "We shall overcome." Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Barbra Boxer and Nancy Pelosi exclaim in an interview with Brian Williamsthat the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share."

Finally, the EEOC drafts the "Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act," retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.

Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Barak Obama appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients during his administration. The ant loses the case. The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow. The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
Vote Republican


Check it out! This fits under the "told you so." category


WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's treasury secretary said Sunday he cannot rule out higher taxes to help tame an exploding budget deficit, and his chief economic adviser would not dismiss raising them on middle-class Americans as part of a health care overhaul.
full text:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/2-Obama-officials-No-apf-2491158742.html?x=0&.v=7

The Fruit Of The Spirit Is: Grapefruit?

So the fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace and Longsuffering. Stevie asked me the other day what is longsuffering? Longsuffering is kind of like grapefruit. Grapefruit is a hard fruit to eat. For me anyway. I love it. And it is supposed to be healthy. (Isn’t there a grapefruit diet?) But it’s hard. Cut it in half and eat it with a spoon and stingy juice will squirt in your eye. Peel it and eat it like an orange and you have quite a mess with the peelings and the skins. But I love it and so I put up with it. Likewise Longsuffering is a hard fruit of the Spirit. So what is longsuffering? It is, of course, patience and endurance. Listen to James explain this concept...


For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:3-4 (NLT)


The word for complete here means mature. God's goal for us is that we be mature Believers; and complete patience makes for a mature Christian. So why do we need longsuffering? Well, troubles and troublemakers are in our lives to develop patience, perseverance, and persistence. It is by patience we see God's work in us, and it is by perseverance we learn God's will for us.


Do you know why longsuffering is so hard? Because it involves waiting. I am convinced one of the most difficult things to do in life is wait. We wait at red-lights, we wait in line at Wal Mart, we wait for football season to get here, and when it is here we wait for Saturday! But we HATE to WAIT!!! We are a culture that exists on instant satisfaction. Microwave popcorn, fast food, instant Lotto tickets, and (as Luke has discovered) TV dinners. For our culture waiting is a difficult, if not an impossible thing to achieve.


The other day I watched Amazing Grace, the movie about William Wilberforce. If you haven’t seen the movie you should. He spent 50 years in politics with one thing in mind, one goal, abolish slavery in England. On his deathbed, he learned that parliament passed the law. He never gave up. He knew somethings were worth fighting for. Some things require endurance and patience, and...oh, my...Longsuffering. Do we have that type of patience, that ability to see a tough issue through to the end.


James goes on to say, “be patient until the coming of the Lord.” (vs 7) The only reason the world is still here is not because God is powerless, nor is it because God is passive; it is because God is patient. He is longsuffering. Jesus is coming back. Make no doubt about it, that is His promise. The question is, what are we doing while we wait? Be patient with others and spread the good news of Jesus Christ and His Amazing Grace!


Blessings,


Steve


FYI

read more about William Wilberforce here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wilberforce

Why We Do What We Do

Whenever I think about why I do this, ministry I mean, I go back to a hundred Sundays like this one. Here is one of three new creatures in Christ from this Sunday.

How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. (Eph 1:3 NLT)

Beaverdam Baptist Church

We had Baptism and the Lord's Supper this particular Sunday.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Con't of A Jet Tour Through Daniel

It has been said that Daniel wrote history with more accuracy before it happened, than anyone else has after it happened. The central question is, “Do you believe that Daniel wrote the book, or that it was published after the time of the Maccabean Rebellion, around 150 BC?” In-other-words, was it predictive or a forgery. I’m certain you can guess where I stand.


For one thing, I have no problem with the supernatural. I believe that God is the Father of Time (Is 9:6), so seeing the future is no harder for Him than for us to look to the right or left. Secondly, Josephus records that when Alexander the Great came to Jerusalem with intents on burning the city, the High Priest showed him Daniel’s writings. Specifically where he (Alex) was mentioned. Alex was so impressed by this he didn’t destroy the city. And then there is the Septuagint. This is the Old Testament written in the Greek language. It was written in Alexandria by Greek speaking Jews in the 3rd or 2nd century BC, well before the coming to power of Antiochus Epiphanies in 175 BC. Daniel is included in the Septuagint.


Daniel’s history is also more accurate than that of secular historians. For years opponents said that Daniel was a forgery because there was no King Belshazzar in secular history. (Daniel 5) But not only did the Nabonitus Cylinder, discovered in 1901, prove there was a King Belshazzar, but also that he was the co-regent. This explains why Daniel was only offered the third highest position in the land. Belshazzar couldn’t offer Daniel # 2, because he was # 2 himself. Opponents only argument is that Daniel is too precise and to accurate to have been written before hand. They cannot handle the supernatural, so they dismiss the facts.


So I hold to Danielian authorship. What this means, practically is this: If Daniel has been right so far, we can put complete confidence in what he says will happen next. We can trust his writings about the times of the end. As he said himself in Daniel 2:45, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.

So what does Daniel say? In the dream given to Nebuchadnezzar in daniel 2, Daniel saw four world empires represented in the form of a staue. The head of gold represented Nebuchadnezzar himself. This was the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The chest and arms of silver represents the Medio-Persian Empire. (If you’ve seen 300, you know about Xerxes, their most famous king.) The belly of bronze represents the empire of Alexander the Great. And lastly, Rome is seen as the legs of iron.




There is no fifth world empire. If there ever is a fifth world empire, close your Bibles and forget about the future, because it is up for grabs. What Daniel did see; however, was a continuation of the Roman Empire that will revive itself in the “latter days.” This Revived Roman Empire is seen in the feet of iron mixed with clay. It will be a ten-nation confederacy, most likely the European Economic Union.

The leader of this empire will consolidate his power and rule over the entire planet. He is most commonly known in the Scriptures as Antichrist, or the one who is opposite of Christ. He will rule over the feet of iron and clay. He will be on the "throne" when Jesus makes His bodily return to the planet Earth to set up His millinial Kingdom. Ahh...so, so, so much to discuss, and so little time to write. Look for my next three posts on this subject...The Times of the Gentile...The Terror of the Antichrist...and The Triumph of Jesus Christ.

Until then,

TTFN.

Blessings,

Steve

Peace Like A River

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace. Joy is contentment with life and our circumstances. Not happiness as we think about it. Well, peace is a similar fruit in that way. I want to let you in on a little secret about peace. Peace is not the absence of problems. Peace is the presence of Jesus in the midst of your problems. You see, you cannot always rejoice in your losses, but you can always rejoice in the Lord.


Paul told us that we should “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NKJV) What is the opposite of not being anxious? Not worrying. The English word worry comes from the German “wurgën” which literally means to strangle. Worry strangles out our love and joy, and robs us of our peace.

I heard about a man who was a worrier. He worried so much and about so much, he caused people around him to worry. One day he came home from work and he was happy as a lark, his disposition had totally changed. His wife said, “What’s gotten into you? You’re not worried about anything?” He said, “No. Not at all.” She asked him what had changed sense he left for work. He said he had hired a professional worrier to worry for him. Naturally, this worried the wife. She said, “How much is that costing us?” He nonchalantly told her, “$1,000 a day.” She almost passed out! “How are we going to afford that bill!?” she screamed. To which he replied, “I’ll let him worry about that.”


Let me tell you what worry does, spiritually speaking. Worry makes us practical atheists. We may say we trust God, but when we worry, we’re telling God we don’t think much of Him or His abilities. We also tell God we think He is a liar. That He does not keep His word. Like Romans 8:28 or 1 Peter 5:7 where we’re told He works things together for good, and that we are to cast all of our cares upon Him.

So to have peace, we need joy—contentment in our circumstances. And to have joy we must have love—a commitment we make to ourselves and others. Then we may have true, Biblical peace. As Corrie Ten Boone once said: "When I look at the world, I get distressed. When I look at myself, I get depressed. But when I look at Jesus, I am at rest."

Blessings,

Steve

But You Can’t Fool God!

You can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. (Or as Spanky from the Little Rascal’s would say, “But you can’t fool mom any of the time!”) So goes the old saying, at any rate. Perhaps more correctly stated; however, it should be said that you can never fool God.


The Psalmist writes “Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see?” Psalm 94:8-9 (NIV)


There's no fooling God. There is no place we can go where He does not see our every move. Those people who think they have God fooled are only fooling themselves. God sees all things, He hears all things, knows all things...nothing escapes His attention. For those who live in sin, that is a very frightening thought. The question then becomes, do you care that God is watching? Are you glad to know that the Master sees all?


For those who walk in righteousness, there is no problem. I say, “Let the Lord watch!” It is good to know that He is here. It is comforting to know that He sees me. It means that, no matter what, I am never alone! And that produces a peace that passes all ability to understand and keeps me from a spirit of timidity.


Blessings,

Steve

Eschatological Musings

So I’m preaching on “A Jet Tour Through Daniel” on Sunday nights in preparation for a vs by vs study on Revelation this fall. It is my personal opinion that Daniel is a book that is more pertinent to living a moral and spiritually victorious life than to eschatology. .

Nevertheless, Daniel is an eschatological gold mine. It is very difficult for me to preach Daniel with out discussing 1:8, “For Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat.” Or chapter 3 and the consequences of following God with selfless determination. Or Chapter 5 and the moral and national implications of riotous living. Or Chapter 6 and the reward of steadfast discipleship.

But for this “Jet Tour” I will focus on the eschatological importance of chapters 2, 7, 9, and 12. Daniel is the key to unlocking Revelation. I hope I will do some justice to this controversial and exciting subject.

A few thoughts:
1) Only 1 thing needs to happen for Jesus to come and rapture the church. The angel to shout and the trumpet of God to sound. (1 Thessalonians 4)
2) No one knows when Jesus will return. I remember a book called 88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Return In 1988. (Turns out the guy was wrong 88 times.) Don't listen to date setters. Matthew 24:32-36
3) According to Daniel 2 and 7 there will be a ten nation confederacy that will be ruled by a single, dictatorial leader that will reign and rule over the world during the seven years known as the Tribulation.
4) This leader is known as the Antichrist.

So, coming up on Sunday the 26th I will discuss Daniel 2 and the statue of Nebuchadnezzar and what the ten toes represent.

If you’re in the neighborhood, drop by. If not check out the blog as I’ll update my thoughts here. Either way, pray that I do this subject the justice it deserves. And pray for those you know who do not know Jesus, that they may find Him before it is everlasting to late.

Blessings,

Steve

I’ve Got The Joy

So the fruit of the Spirit is Love, then Joy. So I’m pondering on the aspects of joy for the Believer. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that joy, for the Believer, is to be separated from happiness. It’s not that we shouldn’t have happiness. We should. It’s that our joy should be present regardless of our felings. In-other-words; you cannot be happy without being joyful. But you can be joyful without being happy. Happiness is external. Joy is internal. Happiness depends on outward circumstances. Joy depends on inward character. Happiness depends upon what happens to you. Joy depends upon Who lives within you. Happiness is based on chance, while joy is based on choice.

Think of happiness as laughter and joy as peace or contentment. Laughter is good for you, and laughter is healthy. Solomon said: "a merry heart does good like a medicine." (Prov. 17:22) The usual reason for laughter is because something makes us happy. But we don't always laugh because we are not always happy.

But there is a contentment, a gladness of heart, that goes above and beyond happiness—joy. Biblical joy is peace. Consider what James said, “Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into various trials. (James 1:2 NKJV). How can we be happy when we go through a trial? We can’t. But we can be content, knowing that, “All thinks work together for good, to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.” (Romans 8:28)

So laughter is good. So how about a joke? A rabbi and priest and a lawyer walk into a bar...OK, maybe not. on a serious note, Vance Haven once said: "The men of the world are not laughing at Christians who 'get happy' over being saved, half so much as they are disgusted with Christians who are showing no evidence of a dynamic transforming experience that makes us love what once we hated, and hate what once we loved."

David put it this way, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.” Psalm 5:11

Laughter is good, but joy is better. Joy resonates in the life of the Believer who has found that God is all they need, because God is all there is. Billy Sunday said, “If you have no joy in your religion, there is a leak in your Christianity.” Jesus said in John.15:11, "these things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

What does it all mean? I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart...down in my heart to stay. As many church signs have quipped, No Jesus—No Peace. Know Jesus---Know Peace.


Blessings,

Steve

First Fruits: Love

So I have been reading and studying about love this week in preparation for the message tomorrow. The first fruit is love, and that makes sense. It is the gateway to the other fruits. (You really can’t have peace, joy longsuffering, etc. with out love.) What I am finding is that the Bible sees love differently than the way we see love. We tend to see love as a feeling. God sees love as a commitment. We see love as an emotion. God sees love as a responsibility. We see love as a matter of the heart, and God sees love as a matter of the will.

I can’t help but think about (and show my age) The Partridge Family crooning “I Think I Love You.” If you “think” you love me, you don’t love me very much! However, our Western Culture has taught us that love is an emotion, a feeling. And a fifty percent divorce rate to go along with that. I don’t advocate arranged marriages, but communities that have them have a much lower divorce rate that we do. I heard about a woman from India who defended arranged marriages by saying, “We don’t get to choose our parents or our siblings, but we grow to love them.” As I said, love is a commitment, not an emotion.

It is a commitment God makes to us and asks us to make to others. It is why Jesus said that the Greatest commandment was to “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.” Matthew 22:37 (The Message) Then love others as we love ourselves. Jesus says there is a hierarchy of Love. God first. Others second. Ourselves last. What would happen if we all lived that example. I should think divorce rates would plummet. Infidelity would disappear. As would child abuse, rape, jealousy, envy, disrespect, and strife. Wars? Murders?

Overall, though we must get it straight and love ourselves and others and God the way God loves us. With a commitment and a dedication. How do we start? By loving ourselves enough to trust in God and His love for us. So start by loving yourself enough to ask God for His love to dominate your existence. Quit sitting on the premises and start standing on the promises! And remember, God loves you and wants the best for you.

Still feeling a little out-of-favor these days? A little unworthy? Then remember this---
God does not love you because you are valuable. You are valuable because God loves you.

Blessings,

Steve

Fruits of the Spirit

I’ve been planning a series of messages coming up that will focus on the Fruits of the Spirit; you know love, joy, peace, Longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Gentleness, and self -control. We are often (Believers) represented as trees in the Scriptures. For instance, in Psalm 1 we are like a tree planted by the waters.

There is such an interest in the Gifts of the Spirit these days. We all have at least one gift, no doubt about it. And in all honesty, most have more than one. But no one has them all. However, we are all called to have all of the fruits. It makes more sense to me to focus on the fruits, then, instead of the gifts.

It’s like a story I heard about a boy that used to climb down a tree near his bedroom window in order to escape punishment. One night he over heard his father tell his mother that he was going to cut down the tree, because it had stopped producing fruit. The panicked boy spent all night with a bushel of apples and a tube of superglue, and the next morning the tree was full of apples. He then listen for his father to come in with the morning paper and ran downstairs to the breakfast table to see if his plan had worked. Sure enough, the father said, “I can’t believe it, that old tree is full of apples.” Then, looking right at his son, he exclaimed, “It’s a miracle!” Getting nervous, the boy said, “Why do you say that dad?” His father smiled and answered, “Because it’s a pear tree.”

The one thing about a tree...it is known by its fruit. A peach tree doesn’t grow cherries and a pear tree doesn’t grow apples. Fruit reflects the character of the Tree that produces it. Umm...and a Believer’s character is reflected by the fruit he produces. Makes some sense, uh? Are we producing love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self -control?

So focus on these nine “fruits.” Are they present in your life? Do you bear them all? Do you love, have joy, and are you at peace? Are you longsuffering? Are you kind, good, and faithful?Do you exhibit gentleness, and self -control? Let the Holy Spirit fertilize your life and till the fallow ground of your heart so you will bear much of these fruits.

Food for thought.

Blessings,

Steve

Happy Independence Day!

Consider the following...

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.... We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
(Full text found at http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html)

In my younger days I was a patriot. It was all about the USA. I was a citizen of the United States. Not an American. One could be an American from Canada (a North American), or Brazil (a South American.) naturally, I knew many people that thought of South Americans as people from Alabama. Come to think of it, I think they all were from Alabama.

At any rate, my older years have been consumed with another citizenship, with another “nation.” A Kingdom, actually. I still love my country, still love following politics, I'm just not as consumed these days. Despite what Governors may or may not do, (for the love of all that is Republican, Haley Barber, please keep your zipper up and don’t resign!) Despite what law the president overturns or rules he disregards, I love my country. Mostly I worry about what this country will be for Luke. And my grandchildren. And I realize what we need is not another conservative congress. Not another conservative, CHRISTIAN president. Not a new Supreme Court. What we need is revival. Listen to the Psalmist

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." 3 The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad. 4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South. 5 Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. 6 He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. 126

As we celebrate our Indepence today, let us remember how Dependent we are upon God. The Bible says that if God’s people will call upon Him, He will restore the Land. (2 Ch 7:14) Pray for our country today, and ask God to bring revival, that we may bring in the sheaves.

Blessings

Steve

To Close To Where I Got In

Donald Grey Barnhouse tells of a little boy that constantly fell out of bed. Night after night, the thump and cry would rouse the parents from their sleep. One morning, the father asked his son, “Why do you think you keep falling out of bed?” The boy thought for a moment and said, “I don’t know. I guess I stay to close to where I got in.”

While we may chuckle at the boys observations, this is a sad and unfortunate reality for many Christians. They remain to close to where they got in, and don’t stretch themselves to make sacrifices for Christ, and the result is too few people in church, too few baptisms, and too few dollars being given.

Salvation is an incredible transformation. Obviously, it is one that is essential to eternal life. However, Christ has called us, once transformed, to a life of growth. Peter said for us to desire the sincere milk of the word. (1 Peter 2:2) We are to grow our infantile spiritual lives through Bible study. But Paul encourages us to move, like a baby, from milk to meat. (1 Corinthians 3:2) I would say that we should move at least from milk to grits! If milk represents where we got in, and say T-bone steak represents full time vocational ministry, at least move on to some cereal or something! Start tithing, share your testimony, volunteer for a service ministry. Go from learning to teaching God’s laws and Christ’s principles. Christ tells us to multiply our ministry by going, telling, and replicating. (Matthew 28:19-20)

In order to do these, we cannot stay close to where we got in. We must move farther and farther into Christ’s Kingdom. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are involved in The Christian CIA. They come in to church on Sunday to get the game plan, then enter covert mode when they leave. Jesus doesn’t want undercover agents! He wants heralds, clarions, and preachers of the Gospel.

Where will your faith take you in 2009? 2010? Move closer to Christ; study the word, teach it’s precepts, and share the faith with everyone you meet. Please, desire the sincere milk, but for Christ’s sake move on to the blessings of a diet full of ministry meat.

Blessings

Steve

Take a trip

Take a trip to the far away land of Pattyville. Or, to A Girl And Her Spatula. Visit for a while at Being An Adult Isn’t Easy. (Amen to that!)

Need a place a little more academic. Visit Moore to The Point, or Dr Mohler’s Blog. Controversy your bag? Go to Grace And Truth.


Peruse and enjoy.



Blessings,

Steve

SBC Wrap Up and Vaction

SBC Wrap Up

As always, I find the SBC a refreshing and rejuvenating experience. Although I didn’t hear enough preaching this year, it was still an up lifting experience. Met many old friends. Spent too much time in the Lifeway store booth and not enough at the seminary booths. Had our picture made by Olan Mills, missed that the past few years, and spoke with SEBTS about their D Min program. I think I’ll stick with CIU for now.

The political back room, good-ole-boy system that took a ding with Frank Page’s election is back in full blossom. The GCR task Force was practically on the podium when the vote to form it was being taken. This is not surprising, mind you. Nor were the names listed. I am continually amazed that the small church pastors, who make up 80% of the churches are left off things like this. Our perspective will be sorely missed.

We took a firm stand FOR our beliefs by removing Broadway Baptist. This was not a stand against homosexuals. They do that well enough by themselves. This was an affirmation of a Biblical truth.

Vacation

Well, we’re off to the beach for some relaxation on the sand and some catching up on my reading. On my reading list for this week...you ask with baited breath.?. Here are a few



What Every Christian Ought to Know: Essential Truths for Growing Your Faith (a reread)

What in the World Is Going On? 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore

Signs of Life: Back to the Basics of Authentic Christianity

Darwin on Trial

Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters

The Significance of Salvation: A Study of Salvation Language in the Pastoral Epistles


Just kidding on that last one. Wanted my brain to look bigger!

SBC part three,

1) I made it to the seminary today, and I’m very happy I took the time to get there. I got to see the sesquicentennial addition to Norton. Walked through the Honeycutt Center, picked up a new shirt at 5th and Broadway. good times

2) Met the Kindrick brothers. See pics below. Patty cries every time we watch FTG, and I thought she was going to choke up today. They are very nice men; an example of humility.

3) Laughed at the resolutions that were declined. Who-boy. I love the resolutions that come every year….
We resolve that Government Schools are satanic…
We resolve that the SBC should change the name of Easter to Resurrection Day…
We resolve that the SBC should tar and feather anyone not baptized in a Baptist church and at the hands of a Baptist minister. And we’ll start with the shuttle bus drivers…
We resolve that the Lord’s Supper should be close. Or closed. In-other-words, for us four and no more…
We resolve that Biraq Insane Osama be impeached immediately if not sooner because he is a gay Mooslum. Or a Mooslum who loves The Gays. Which ever way it was, he should be imprecably impeached through Psalms! And we resolve to pray for him with Christian, brotherly love. Using imprecatory Psalms. Because we care about him. And are proud of him. Even though…
We resolve that he is the Anti-Christ.


More to come…

Steve








Patty with Kindricks





Ditto with Luke

SBC Observations Part Deux

1) The most notable thing was the absence of any motions made by Wiley Drake. Perhaps he was afraid to fly after praying imprecatory psalms against the president, or since making threats against the president is a crime, perhaps he has been added to the No Fly List.

2) It never ceases to amaze me how “Calvinists” are blamed for everything wrong in the convention. This latest attack comes from Morris Chapman, most likely caused by the GCR document. Like many in power, Chapman seems most afraid of losing his grip, and the money is the most important tool in keeping said power. So he lashed out at Dr Mohler who made the GCR motion.?. I can tell you this, not a single one of these anti-Calvinists can say that Dr Mohler does not believe in sharing the gospel or trying to win the lost! It was under Dr Mohler leadership that Southern requires all seminary students to take Personal Evangelism, for Pete’s sake! And the only ones who are making a fuss are the anti-Calvinist folks. Most of whom I have known drive off plenty of folks every year all y themselves.

3) There was a lot of name-calling this year. It is wise to remember that labels libel.

More to come….

Steve

Tweeting

I am considering starting to tweet. Or, twitter. Is the verb form Tweeting or Twittering? I really believe in my heart of hearts that people care that I am going to bed. Or that I’m watching The Bachelorette. Well, typing while Patty watches the Bachelorette. But you understand. I saw on their website that BP was Tweeting from the convention. Wow. Next, Jerry Vines will be tweeting. Then I must have twitter.

Hmmmmmm. Maybe not

Well…TTFN

Smiles

My mentor, Jim Phillips, snapped this pic on Sunday. A picture is worth a 1000 words. And this picture represents why we do what we do. It's not about us and our proclivities, our doctrine, or what we think shoud be secondary or tertiary. It is all about Him, and showing people how wonderful His love truly can be.

Blessings,

Steve

At the convention

So here I am at the 152 session of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville.

Observations:
1) The shuttle service is horrible this year.
2) The exhibit hall is hopping, as always.
3) the pastors conference is a bust so far. Haven’t heard Huckabee yet.
4) the Italian ice is pretty darn good. But they need Peach flavor.
5) Looks like I will not make it to the campus or the luncheon from my alma mater Mid Continent. That’s a shame.

* Anonymous

You know who you are. I have received unsigned cards and letters before, and I am not intimidated by them. I suppose all pastors have...from time to time. Dwight Moody did. Often, actually. He has the greatest one-liner of all times. Once, during a revival meeting in 1899, Moody was handed a note with one word, “Fool!” When he arose to preach he mentioned the note saying, “I have received many letters with no signature, but never a signature with no letter.” HaHa.

As I said, I have received a few before. Two came to me and one to my deacons while in Symsonia. They basically said I was an idiot and that the deacons were cowards. The funny thing is that even though the person thought they were anonymous, we all knew who had written them. (Hi Mureen.)

I received an “anonymous” card yesterday. You know who you are. And can I just say...
Thank You. The card was sweet, the timing perfect, and you are incredibly appreciated. I do believe that God gives us the strength to endure, but a little pick-me-up from a friend (or friends) is always great! Patty and I are thrilled, as always, to have such a loving group of people to be blessed to pastor. So again I say, thank you (or thank y’all.)


May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace. (1 Peter 2:1)


Blessings,

Steve

Baptist Business Meetings

All pastors have their horror stories. “The big one of ’95.” “The church business meeting where a fist fight broke out.” True story: once during a special called business meeting, one man who was on the losing side of a vote, walked to the front of the church and removed his offering envelope from the plate before walking out the door.

Rick Warren says that because we vote, we have winners and losers. If you hang around church long enough, eventually everybody loses, and so the church is just a bunch of losers. Of course some people just love to fight. Some only come for the show. (You can spot these folks easily, because they have brought Coke and popcorn to the meeting.) Some truly have the best interest of the church at heart. Some are there because they believe themselves to be parliamentarians. (You can spot them also. They are the ones with their Constitution and By-Laws at every meeting.)

I came across an article outing some proposed rules for business meetings. And…I thought I would share them with a hardy Amen!

Here are a few rules I would like to suggest that churches employ for their business meetings.

First, non-tithers should not be allowed to speak or vote at church business meetings. If that rule seems unfair then the time allotted for members to speak should be in direct proportion to how much they give. For example, a person who gives 2 percent of their income to the church should be given the opportunity to speak for 20 seconds, the person who gives 4 percent should be allotted 40 seconds, the person who gives 10 percent for 1 minute and 40 seconds and the person who gives 20 percent should be allowed to speak for 3 minutes and 20 seconds, etc.

Second, no one should be allowed to speak or vote at the church business meeting who is more conversant with the church constitution/by-laws and Robert's Rules of Order than the Bible. I have known deacons who could quote Article III, Section 4, paragraph 6 of the church constitution, but couldn't find the Gospel of John in the Bible.

Third, the only members who can speak or vote at church business meetings should have at least a 75 percent attendance record. In other words, if the church has Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening worship services or Bible studies each week or 12 such meetings a month, a member should be in attendance for nine of those meetings in order to participate in a business meeting.Having this rule will prohibit conniving members from importing scads of inactive members for crucial votes -- like for the termination of a pastor.

Fourth, a man who is silenced and controlled by his wife should not try to make up for his lack of authority at home by attempting to assert himself and control the church business meeting. Unfortunately, some men are as bold as a lion at a church conference and as meek as a lamb at home.

Fifth, some church business meetings should be held in a wrestling arena or hockey rink, because there is nothing spiritual about them and they hardly qualify to be held in a "house of prayer." Half Nelsons and flying pucks are more likely to be seen in some church business meetings than grace and unity.In case you think the preceding suggestions are manifestly unspiritual, I want you to know that I have written them facetiously or tongue-in-cheek -- well, maybe somewhat facetiously. Others of you may be cheering the suggestions because if they were employed, your church business meetings would be significantly improved.

Here is the question: What kind of impression would an unsaved person get about your church if his only exposure to it were a business meeting? Furthermore, if the resurrected Christ were to visibly walk into your church business meeting would He feel at home in His Church?

You can read the entire article here:
http://www.sbc.net/redirect.asp?ci=955&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebaptist2baptist%2Enet%2FIssues%2FGCR%2FMHC%2D05%2D29%2D09%2Easp

The bigger question is, "What do unsaved people think about us?" When they hear us talking about the church, the meeting, the preacher, the choir, the youth. Would what we say make them want to turn to Christ? And if not, why would we say it!?

Food for thought.

Blessings,

Steve

Preacher Hangover

Today is Monday. How can I tell? PHS. (Preacher Hangover Syndrome) A fellow once asked Jerry Vines why he took Friday as his day off, instead of Monday. Jerry said, “Man, there is no way I’d take my day off on a day when I feel so bad.” Apropos, Jerry. Amen. My only question would be, “You get a day off?”

What is PHS? Many people do not realize that the preaching event is spiritual warfare. When the man of God stands in the pulpit, he is battling in the heavenlies. This is draining upon body and soul. It is tiring. When the body or soul is not at its peak, it can be absolutely draining. That is PHS.

I was at the hospital Thursday when it started. A slight hack, hack. By bedtime I new what was coming. The sinus pressure, then drainage. I awoke Friday with a sore throat and a dry cough. It worsened Saturday, and by Sunday morning, it was a full blown case of sinusitis.

I hack and coughed through two sermons. The spirit was willing, but the body was weak. I have spent too much of today feeling bad. That’s the pastor’s life of course. And don’t you dare think I am complaining! People don’t stop hurting, grieving, mourning, or getting sick because I am any of those things. So we persevere. We do not grow weary in doing well. (Or at least trying too.)

I used Isaiah 40:31 as part of my Esther 5 study last night. Here it is in the King Jimmy. (From my feeble memory banks)

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as on eagles; they shall run, and not grow weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (KJV)

I am waiting Lord. Chuck Swindoll says (Why is it that everything he says is so quotable?!), that when we wait upon the Lord, 4 things happen. 1) Our strength is renewed. While we wait we are re-energized for the battle. 2) We gain a better perspective. A birds-eye view, if you will. The eagle sees things from a perspective that is above our own. 3) We are given a supernatural determination. You can make it through the darkest days with out giving up hope; believing that there is something good and worth fighting for. That these people you have been called to love and shepherd are worth the weariness. 4) Perseverance. Walk and not faint means that you have a stick-to-itiveness. That you are able to go the distance, to fight the good fight, to finish the course.

What is PHS? It is giving your all and then some. It is being weary, and not slowing down. It is feeling lower than dirt, and still answering the phone, still making the visit, still sharing Christ, and still feeling incredibly blessed that you get to.

Blessings,

Steve

He Is Our Path

The story is told of a man on an African safari deep in the jungle. The guide before him had a machete and was whacking away the tall weeds and thick underbrush. The traveler, wearied and hot, asked in frustration, “Where are we? Do you know where you are taking me? Where is the path?!” The seasoned guide stopped and looked back at the man and replied, “I am the path.”

I love that story, perhaps mostly because I ask that question from time to time. I have found that living in a small community in South Carolina can be like a safari. “Do you know where I can find Cassatt-Junction Road?” “Sure! Go to where uncle Lem used to have his farm. Turn right by that oak tree where Sally Hoskins was hung by the Yankees back in 1865. If you come to the sight of the Great Barn Fire of ’56, you’ve gone too far. Turn around and go back.” And who can trust the GPS out here. If you are ever coming home from Lake Wateree at night, for heaven’s sake don’t trust the GPS! It has no idea about dirt roads or wooden bridges!

Have you ever asked God if He was sure He knew where He was taking you? I have, and God’s answer is the same as the safari guide’s...“I am the path.” Even if God did tell me what path I was on, I would be as lost as if I were looking for Cassatt-Junction Road. God sees the Big Picture, and I don’t.

God also saw fit to send me a Guide, however. Jesus promised in John 14, “I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true.” (CEV) The Holy Spirit says, “I am the Path.” Whatever storms of life may rage around us, we have an advocate with the Father. No matter how confusing the directions sometimes seem, (where Uncle Lem used to have his farm) Jesus promises us that He “will not leave us orphans.” (John 14:18 NKJV)


Blessings,

Steve