Upside Down Christmas Video

Check out this video... it is well thought and pretty neat!

4 Words Video

Click on this link to view a neat Christmas Video

4 Words for You

Merry Christmas

Forget Santa… Try An Allegorical Tale Worth Your Time

As we approach Christmas, I want to talk to you about “The Shack.” It is a novel written by William Paul Young. It is a story about a man named Mac. Mac has had his ups and downs in life and after experiencing the death of one of his children, he has become pierced with a deep sadness. As you meet Mac and hear the retelling of his story, you begin to get to know him in a very realistic way. He is a man who is living, yet it is really a zombie like existence. His life has been derailed and he can’t get back on track (some of you know folks like this or even may be in his shoes). The story leads us with Mac to visit a small shack in the woods in the dead of winter after he receives a mysterious note. When he arrives he meets God.
I won’t give away any more of the story, but let me say that this particular book has generated a great deal of buzz. Most who have taken the time to read it, have loved it. Many have passed along copies to friends and loved ones so that others might enjoy it too. One guy named Jerry said on his blog, “I found The Shack to be a fascinating piece of work. I loved it too. I've already given away two copies. I really appreciated Young's images of things like forgiveness, (God) the Father, and the unique relationship of the members of the Trinity. I too was reminded that the Lord Jesus lives in the present more than the past or future, and that's good for me today. It was good to be reminded of God’s desire: "I want all of you and all of every part of you and your day." "Rules and principles are simpler than relationships" was a great reminder, too, of how easily we slip into legalism, judgments. Anyway, I'm impressed with Young's abilities with words, and I'd highly recommend this little volume to anyone who asked.
There are those who are frightened by the book. They are worried that people may take some things literally or accept Young’s story as gospel itself. A number of pastors and theologians have had “a fit” over the book. Even Lifeway book stores pulled it off the shelves temporarily. Fortunately, they put it back! Yes, some of the images and settings might be unsettling. Pastor David Dykes of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, endorsed the book but he says, “God the Father is portrayed as a character who goes by the name “Papa.” This image is what gives the 21st Century Pharisees apoplexy! Is God really like this? Is that what the author is saying? Of course not! No more than Jesus is really a powerful, noble lion named Aslan! But you don’t hear many (although there are some) who are criticizing the Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis. I recommended “The Shack” to a pastor friend of mine recently and I warned him that for those folks who are wearing their religious underwear too tight, it will definitely cause a theological wedgy!”
I agree with Pastor Dykes. I remember all the hullabaloo about Jesus Christ Superstar, the Passion of the Christ, and other “controversial” Christian forms of entertainment. Ironically, maybe the controversy has helped sales of the book, now over 4 million and who knows how many hand me downs given. The other day when I went to my dental appointment at Dr. Hackbarth’s office in Bridge City, many in the office were in process or had already read the book and they loved it. The depiction of God is unique and different than many have come to think and it is a breath of fresh air. So, I would recommend my readers pick up a copy and don’t let others tell you what to think. Think for yourself and take the chance to see the story not as fact, but look for the allegorical truths woven within the text. I do believe Young has written an important text for anyone to enjoy and provided a place for some to meet the Holy Spirit... in the Shack.

Bridge City on CBS News! Many folks still struggling after IKE

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4636641n

Scared to Check Your Investments?

The news has gone from bad to worse. Have you looked at your retirement account lately? How about your kids’ college fund? If they are invested in anything associated with the stock market from mutual funds or 401K’s, then it is very likely that you might be too scared to even peek at the numbers. You probably knew a few months ago about how much you had… but since then… it has been all downhill.
It has gotten so bad that you don’t even want to hear a financial report. The latest news is… the market fell again today or if not yet, it will! There is a huge amount of fear and panic that has swept our financial system, including your local banks. People are afraid that their life savings are melting away like the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz.
As I sat and contemplated what to write in this column, I thought, “What can a preacher tell you that can help you in this situation?”
Did you know that the Bible talks about money more than 100 separate times? It’s true.
God believes that we must understand our money and get our priorities in order before we can become the disciples that God wants us to be. Pastor Andy Stanley says, “you cannot wholehearted follow your Savior and remain lost financially. God simply says too much about it.” In other words, if you take Jesus seriously then you know that Jesus says more about money than any other one thing, even salvation. Matthew 6:21 says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That is why your heart sinks when you hear your accounts are down. But here is the big problem. Luke 16 claims that we cannot serve two masters, “we cannot serve both God and money.” Do you find it weird that Jesus says this? I would have expected Jesus to say something like, you cannot serve both God and Satan or whatever, but Jesus chose money. Pastor Stanley goes on to say that God knows that the primary competition for our hearts is… our money and our stuff. The trick is to understand and adopt the way God wants us to look at our stuff. When we take God’s view of our stuff, we become free to live with our money and stuff. Again in Luke Jesus explains a parable about money. Jesus tells people that their money and stuff needs to be used on earth in such a manner that it becomes a tool for the kingdom of God. Let your temporary money and stuff be used to have eternal impact.
Think about it. Think about how many wonderful people that you know or have known who gave of their money, time, and stuff to impact the church(es) in your community or even in the world.
I quickly think of the owner of the Chic-fil-A chain, Truitt Cathy. When I was a young pastor in Jonesboro, Georgia, the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro was know as “the church that Truitt built.” He used his resources for the kingdom of God. Today, the restaurant is closed on Sundays and in that Cathy makes a bold statement that he values Sunday, or even his employees, more than money. What if we all took Jesus’ words to heart and realized that all of OUR stuff, including our money, isn’t OUR stuff at all… it’s all His stuff. What if we knew we would change lives by using our stuff for the glory of God and not worrying about hoarding or saving so much, but allow ourselves to be generous with a mind set on eternal things. My goodness, this sounds like a sermon. Well, I guess that’s what a preacher might say and I am one so…

Wow! God Is Big!

Last week I showed a video to our Providence Church youth group. If I had told those young folks that we were getting ready to watch a presentation by a guy named Louie Giglio called “Indescribable”, I am not sure how many would have stuck around. Fortunately, Louie is an entertaining guy and he presents very well to both young and old. His topic was pretty huge. It was a presentation about the solar system, stars, and the universe.

Did you know that our solar system, as big as it seems, isn’t that big at all. If we compared the size of our solar system to the Milky Way Galaxy it would be like the size of a quarter (like the one in your pocket) dropped on the ground with in the continent of North America. So when you see a picture of the galaxy, the solar system is simply a speck in on of the numerous bands in the galaxy. But get this! The Milky Way Galaxy is only one of the billions of galaxies in the “known universe” WOW! Do you feel small or what? Yes, we are very, very, tiny in the vast expanse of the universe. The Hubbell telescope has allowed us to see in deep space and view areas of space that we never ever dreamed.

Now, here’s the cool part. As big as all that there is… is, God knows each and every one of you reading this article (or not) by name. Not only does He know your name, He knows how many hairs are upon your head (or lack thereof). Not only does God know you name and your physical appearance, God knows your heart and mind. Now… as big as the universe is, God has made it because we matter to Him. WOW! That’s pretty amazing isn’t it? God has chosen to be in relationship with human beings. Why might you ask? Because God wants to adopt each and every one of us as His child. That is the message of the gospels, adoption! We have no real right to be with God, but God has chosen us and cleaned us up so that He may take us home with Him and reveal to us His incredible glory.
Genesis 1 says, “God said, ‘Let there be light’.” Later, the gospel of John tells us that when God brought forth this wondrous Creation, Jesus was always a part of the Triune Godhead. John writes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

God amazes us by His extreme creation and vastness, yet He amazes us too by the fact that He cares about something so small as each one of us. We think we are big… we think we know… therefore it is hard to imagine that we are so small and that God has not only created the universe but is an active caretaker of the creation. That’s so much of our struggle. God is either too big to care or too small to do anything about our lives. Yes, God is big… bigger than we can imagine, but God does care and God is with each one of us.

Recently, I had a conversation with someone who was worried about our world and the future that is coming. Be it politics or economics, the world seems like a roller coaster. But it has been before and it will be again. You know, I can’t conceive of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit sitting around pondering what to do with this creation. I believe that there is a plan, a process that must be played out. We call it history. Really it should be called “His story.” But I know that whatever happens, whoever gets elected, whatever happens to the economy, whatever war breaks out… or peace for that matter, I believe that we have a God who can be counted on. I believe we have a God who is big enough to be in charge of the big picture. No matter what happens, we can be confident in God in this life and the next.

God Is More Than Fair

A few weeks ago I read a wonderful book by Pastor Andy Stanley entitled, “Since Nobody’s Perfect… How Good Is Good Enough?” The basic premise of the book is: Good People don’t go to heaven. I believe he is right when he says that most people reject this view. Clearly, there is a disconnect between what it means to hear Jesus’ words about salvation and what we think is fair and good. Stanley goes on to say that many people want God to let good people into heaven, but lack a real understanding of what “goodness” is. For example, when early scientists claimed that the world was round and that the earth orbited the Sun, they were thrown out of the church and placed under house arrest. Also, during the 1960’s an African American woman entered a church sanctuary to join in an all white congregation’s worship service. She arrived about thirty minutes before the service. The deacons were aghast and decided that the “good” thing to do would be to simply turn off the lights and maybe she would leave. When this tactic failed, they finally went to her and asked her to leave. Through the ages, we, as human beings, have struggled mightily with the concept of “goodness.” These are simply two minor examples, I am sure that you can think of so many more failures to be “good.”
So, do you believe Jesus? I have heard people say that they like Jesus. I have heard people say they admired Him. Even when someone said they didn’t believe in Him, I never heard anyone say, “Jesus is a liar.” So the question remains… do you believe Jesus? Do you? In many of Jesus’ confrontations with the religious and “good” people, the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, and law keeping public, He was blunt and to the point about who is heading into the kingdom of God. Matthew 21: 42-45 reveals Jesus viewpoint, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, this became the chief corner stone; this came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them.”
These may be hard words to hear. We know many good people who do not accept Christ or even those who claim to be Christians yet they rely upon their own “good lives” by the world’s standards but fail to seek God through the forgiveness of sins. It is hard to hear that not everyone you know or even love may be going to heaven. We may find ourselves wishing God let “good people” in. But if that were the case, what would be good enough? God has standards. But here is the real “Good” news.
God’s standard is more than fair. Going to heaven is not about being good! God does not want to judge anyone by their “goodness.” We would all fail. God wants to judge us by our acceptance of the fact that we cannot and never will be able to live up to God’s standard of righteousness. We cannot depend upon our goodness…we must depend upon God and the grace which is provided only by God. There are no other ways to heaven, no other gods, no buy-ins, no works, nothing except grace alone. Apostle Paul speaks to this when he says in Romans 12, “Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” Yes, God is more than fair. God accepts everyone who believes in Him. If you didn’t know already… you are His beloved child and God yearns for the day when you stop fooling yourself into thinking that somehow you are “good” with God. God wants true dependence and submission not independence with a self centered view that you, like Adam and Eve, can make your own way in the world. Honestly, I believe this is one of, if not the biggest issue that plagues the modern church. Some good folks somehow think they can create a stairway to heaven with just being “good.” It was a struggle for folks in Jesus’ day and it is in ours as well. It is not about rules and regulations, but relationships. That’s it and that’s Good News!

While We Were Away... Pics from our visit with The Jones Family

Allyson and Hannah

Lydia... Have you been eating chocolate?

Allyson and Abigail

Beth and Allyson cooking up a storm... no wait... please don't!

Abigail has a future as a taxi cab driver (Ned on board)

Cousins Galore! Ned 4, Max 2, Lydia 3, Abigail 9 Hannah 11, Daniel 13

Where Was God When Bridge City Flooded?

When I moved to the area a few years ago, I heard that one day a storm could come and all of Bridge City could be under water. But, that had never happened before and when Hurricane Rita hit, it didn’t happen then either. So, it really couldn’t happen... but it did.
From inches to feet, Bridge City flooded. The images that we received on the television and internet sites could only shock the residents of the Golden Triangle. It was true. Bridge City and parts of Orange were flooded.
It was a Sunday morning that I spoke to my neighbor to find out that my home had not flooded. I was thrilled, but others had suffered catastrophic loss. Then it happened. Someone said to me, “You must be living right, God spared your house.” Those words simply stunned me. I know this person was well meaning, but the Christian gospel message had simply flown by and had not been captured in the least. Good??? Good??? Good has nothing to do with it. Did this dear person not know that Jesus came and preached that it was no longer about being good? God’s favor is about another “G” word, grace! Matthew 5: 45-48 teaches, “This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you." (from the Message)
The lesson above is that the world is not a fair one or an equitable one. The rain falls on both good and bad people. The earthquake shakes, the tornado tears, the lightning strikes… with no discretion about who is good or bad. Famine comes, war ravages, violence erupts, crime hits, and disease disables… with no discretion about who is good or bad.
Bridge City is not the first town to suffer and it will not be the last. Again I turn to scripture to find words that comfort. John 9 tells the story of Jesus meeting a blind man listen to what is said, “Walking down the street, Jesus saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked, "Rabbi, who sinned: this man or his parents, causing him to be born blind?" Jesus said, "You're asking the wrong question. You're looking for someone to blame. There is no such cause-effect here. Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines.” God did not send Hurricane Ike. (If anything, the ruler of this world, Satan, may be at work) In Jesus we see a man who never walked up to anyone and made them blind, or lame, or sick, or anything detrimental to people. Jesus was a healer, a teacher, a man who loved people, even forgiving those who would kill Him. In that, I find utter comfort. God will be here to help us pick up the pieces and rebuild lives. God was with those who were trapped… God was with those who responded… and God will be with us as we comfort and care for those in need. I believe God, while not causing these events, works through them to show us how to love one another. People are the treasure, not the stuff.
Until next time, God bless!

Video of Bridge City after Ike

click the link below and watch local news coverage!

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1138292619/bclid1137896012/bctid1795036818
how will bc rebuild?
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1138292619/bclid1137896012/bctid1805534857

for more pictures... http://www.kogt.com/
go to photo gallery on main page on left.
click on events, then on ike.
what a site...

Pictures of the Flood of Ike

Bridge City Texas was flooded by the storm surge on the morning of Hurricane Ike. Everyone that lives in BC city limits was flooded and then some. Basically everyone from my house to the Neches River and Sabine Lake had inches to feet of water in their homes and or businesses. It is truly catastrophic!
Pizza Hut in Bridge City


Jack In BC

the road from my house to BC

Hurricane Ike Has Hit

It is now 3:00 a.m. I sit in my niece's home in Tyler, Texas watching the streaming internet broadcast from KFDM out of Beaumont. I have no idea what is happening at my home in Bridge City nor my office at St. John Lutheran Church in Nederland.
I am specifically worried about flooding in the B.C. area. I am also feeling a sadness. I have heard that some folks that decided to stay in the area are now suffering. One email received at KFDM is from a family that needs rescue from 4 ft. of water in their home.
It truly makes me think about story of Noah. Noah told people that the rain was coming. Some even doubted him and probably laughed at his preparations. But, you know the worst part of that whole story is the fact that Genesis 7:16 tells us, Noah and his family and all the animals went into the ark..."then God shut the door behind him." I don't think Noah could have done that to anyone begging to get on board, but I don't think God did either. I actually don't think anyone thought it would rain at all. But had the door been opened, it would have flooded the ark and the future would have been lost.
As I sit in my comfortable shelter, I feel terrible for those who thought they would "ride it out." My prayers are with them and I know God loves them dearly.

Some ramblings!

In the midst of this sorrow, I also find comfort in having recently read the book, The Shack.

Tragedies come in varies forms and to various degrees. The loss of property can be heart breaking, but it can be overcome. The loss of life however, is pain nearly beyond our capacity. If you have not read The Shack, I highly recommend you do so. Ironically, I have heard the majority of theologians who have loved it and a few others who think it is a heresy. Personally I thought it was wonderful. Hmmm... but you need to decide. Don't rent your opinion from someone else. Yes, we pastors try to lead in the right direction, but occasionally we disagree. Everyone I know who has read the book loved it. In fact, one said it was life changing. WOW! Life Changing! Isn't that what evangelism is about... getting individuals into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ?
No, it is not always absolutely perfect theology, but I have numerous books on my shelves that fit that bill and no one, other than another preacher, will ever read them! Thus, The Shack, has accomplished an important goal... it allows someone to read a story and find God's grace, healing, and restoration. While the story is fiction, it is a beautiful, and at times funny, portrait of who God can be and why we are here on this planet. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy!

Take care and get out of the wind!

The Race That Counts Isn’t In The Olympics

So... are you as tired as I am? Have you been staying up late each night waiting vigilantly for that certain Olympic race or event? Have you enjoyed watching these Olympics? I have. It has been wonderful seeing Michael Phelps break record after record in all of his swimming events. I especially loved the 4 x 100 relay when the United States team came from behind in the last seconds to barely edge out the French team. (The fact that the French swimmers talked trash before the race made the USA’s victory that much sweeter.) I can hardly remember the last time jumped out of the chair and screamed at the television for anything that didn’t involve a football. The cool part was that I knew millions of other Americans were jumping up and screaming too (including my son)! Other nights we have marveled at everything from gymnastics to volleyball.
For whatever reason, these games have been better than most. But the Bible tells us of another more important race. 2 Timothy 4:6 says “This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting—God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.”
But what does it mean to run a race for Christ? How do we… how should we… how can we? Life itself is the race. Our confusion lies in our opponent. Who we are pitted against? Most of the time we think our opponents are our other brothers and sisters. It begins early with competitive contests against others for grades, sports victories; power, beauty, prestige, and money to only name a few. We are deceived by our real opponent, the Evil One, Satan! He is our opponent and his desire is to use each of us and our brothers and sisters to serve his purposes. When we oppress, judge, hurt, and ridicule other people, we unwittingly serve Satan and not Christ. It happens in the secular world and it certainly happens in the churches across our land.
Our victory is in Christ and Christ alone. It is not in our behavior, our goodness, but only in our forgiveness. And Christ stands ready to forgive and restore. Our race is to outwit and outmaneuver Satan in such a way to honor God and seek God’s will in our lives and in our service to others. The race is a life-long spiritual journey to walk each day with God and lean totally upon God and God’s wisdom. You can begin to hear God’s voice each and every day in your life. God does not only speak to people of the Bible certain people today, but God desires to speak directly to you. Really!
Hebrews 12 describes it like this, “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” Jesus finished His race and so can you. You are called to run against Satan and his lies about life, especially lies about your abilities and value to God. Your relationship with God is your very life-line to eternal victory. Satan will attack you and try to sell you a counterfeit faith, be on your guard. God wants people to be His disciples not just members of the church. Disciples read their Bible, pray, and live in community so they can know God in such an intimate way that each day they are certain their lives (their race) are headed for the victory stand next to God… to win a prize more precious than gold! (P.S. You do realize that our particular race is a three-legged race and we can only win when Jesus is our partner! But you probably already knew that.)

My Newest Pet Peeve Came to Light at the Movies

Not long ago, I got a phone call from my good friend Tom Butler. Tom and I went to school together and we often talk about all sorts of subjects. Our conversation began with his delight in his new job. By the time the conversation had gotten cranked up, he was in rare form. He was stuck in five o’clock traffic in Charlotte and suddenly a barrage of subjects and complaints came streaming forth with hardly a breath taken. I think he complained about every pet peeve from politics to sports. So, when he finally took a breath, I told him my latest pet peeve. (We all need a friend like this to tell our peeves to!)
My recent pet peeve is one that some of you might find annoying too. If you read my column or listen to my sermons, you know that I love movies. Recently while attending a movie, I was amazed by the number of teens that could not manage to tear themselves away from their cell phone/blackberry long enough to watch the very movie that they just paid for. Instead, the teens, one sitting two seats over from me, continued throughout the movie to text friends. Ironically, the movie theater had a large sign that asked people to turn off their cell phones and even ran a pre-movie message about doing so. Of course the teen next to me got there late and missed the commercial and obviously did not read the sign. Yes… I am getting old! Maybe this might not bother you. Maybe I should just sit there and ignore the small bright lite (in a dark room) just because… you know… they’re just kids right? That might have been a life or death text… right? Nah!
Kids are kids are kids! Things haven’t changed that much. I am sure that somewhere in the late 80’s someone walking near my car probably thought I should turn that music down. It was annoying! In the 70’s, my brother-in-law needed a hair cut and a shave… according to guys my dad’s age. In the 50’s and 60’s, it was rock and roll that would destroy the culture. But none of that stuff was interfering with my watching a movie was it?
Proverbs 13:24 says, “A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.” Rude is still rude. Do I care if kids have cell phones? Not one bit. But when it comes to acting with respect for others, I absolutely think that parents should teach their kids when and where it might not be appropriate to use some of their gadgets. Don’t get me wrong; a few weeks back, I took a group of middle school kids to a camp. I love to be with young folks. And no, Christian kids aren’t all angels nor are non-Christian kids devils. It really depends on parents doing their jobs as parents. Parents, I beg you. Stop… slow down and take the time to teach your children the morality and principles of faith. In 20 years, they won’t care how many ballet classes or ball games they played if they have a solid Christian foundation in their lives and in the lives of their parents. We live in a generation where kids are busy six days a week and parents feel guilty about getting them to church on Sundays. Too many folks run themselves ragged trying to give it all. Yet all that is really important is to have Jesus Christ in the life of every family. I have four kids, so I know it’s not an easy task. But, it is a choice!

Good Guys and Villains

I guess I am still a kid at heart; I still love to go to the movies. Maybe it's because I have kids that I still find comic book characters fascinating. Be it Iron Man, Spider-Man, Superman, or as the case may be recently, Batman. It has to be more than me who finds thrill in the comic book stories spun by both DC comics and Marvel considering the substantial box office records broken last week. Somebody else out there loves this stuff too!

While I left the actually magazine's behind years ago, big screen or small, I find myself drawn to it like a moth to a flame. The new installment of Batman: The Dark Knight comes with far more action than its predecessor, Batman Begins. This time, Gotham City, is plagued by the crazed lunatic, the Joker. For those who thought Jack Nicholson broke the mold on how to play the villain, think again. The Late Heath Ledger may be nominated for an Oscar for his role. He may be considered one of the best bad guys ever to hit celluloid.

Okay, so I know this is not a movie review column, but I found some unique links between the Dark Knight and Jesus. For fans who have yet to see the movie... stop now! And yes, I know that Jesus is not a comic book character! But, here goes.

Batman upsets society. He is a vigilante who goes about fighting crime to protect the lives of people. But there is something else. He dares to reach down into the gutter to do the job others who are unwilling or too corrupt to take on. In many ways, while this endears him to the public, the criminals and even the police are not amused. In the same way, Jesus upset the social norms of His day. He dared speak to women, welcome children, heal the lame and leapers, even on the Sabbath. He was an advocate for the poor and oppressed and called the religious leaders and wealthy accountable for their actions. In short, both are depicted as larger than life heroes.

But, heroes are hard to come by. One great line from the movie is, "You either die the hero or you live long enough to become the villain."

Jesus embodied this quote. To those whom He healed, spiritually, physically, and mentally during his earthly life, he was a hero. Yet, in the last day of that earthly existence, Jesus was scorned, mocked, spat upon, and reviled as a villain. He died a horrific death and, had it not been for Joseph of Aramathea, His body might have been left for the dogs to dine upon. In this latest installment, Batman becomes the hunted villain too. I find it interesting that it is self inflicted fate. He allows the public to think ill of him rather than causing the people of the city to lose hope if they ever know the real story. The hero today may be the persecuted tomorrow. It was left to a crowd to condemn Jesus. A crowd that was incited to shout, "crucify Him!' again and again.

While I enjoy the fantasy of Batman, Batman is fictional. Jesus' life, self sacrificial death, and eternal life are a reality. Hebrews 1 says, "After He finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God, far higher than any angel in rank and rule." Again in Hebrews 2, "It makes good sense that the God who got everything started and keeps everything going now completes the work by making the Salvation Pioneer perfect through suffering as he leads all these people to glory."

Everyone needs this hero to save us. Be sure to pick the right one! I hope you can accept Jesus as yours!

The Good about the Good News

What comes first... repentance or forgiveness? That is the question Professor J.B. Torrance raised with his theology students. This question was used to stop the soon to be preachers in their tracks and really make them think hard about the heart of God and the reconciling work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Torrance’s point was that God’s forgiveness (i.e. grace) is unconditional and is to be proclaimed as such to the world. John Calvin said “a man cannot apply himself seriously to repentance without knowing himself to belong to God. But no one is truly persuaded that he belongs to God unless he has first recognized God’s grace.” Yet how is one to understand God’s grace if it is not proclaimed to him or her as a fact rather than a conditional promise?

Dr. Baxter Kruger tells this story. He says, "I had a conversation with a young man who was somewhat disturbed by my simple declaration that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (2COR 5:19) and by the fact that I turned to the folks gathered at our meeting and declared that all without exception had been forgiven and embraced by the Father himself. In the conversation afterwards, I asked the young man, ‘what is the gospel?’ 'What do you tell people to believe?’ ‘what is the good news?’ He answered, ‘I tell people to believe in Jesus.’ I then asked, ‘believe in what about Jesus?’ His response was telling, ‘I tell people that if they repent and believe in Jesus, they will be forgiven.’ ‘So,’ I said, ‘the object of our faith is not Jesus and our salvation in him, but the possibility that we can be forgiven, if we repent and believe in Jesus. So we are summoned to believe in a Jesus who may be our savior if we repent and believe in him correctly, and in doing so (which we can’t) we actually make him the savior?’

Do we really believe in the fact of our forgiveness through Jesus and thus have something real to believe in? Or do we believe in the "possibility" of our forgiveness, and thus believe in whatever it is (our faith, repentance or goodness) that makes the "possibility" a reality?

Kruger goes on the say, "the gospel is not the news of what can be if we make it so; it is the news of what is, of what God has established in Christ. ‘God was in Christ reconciling the cosmos to himself." Thus, J.B. Torrance, John Calvin and even the Apostle Paul were right. Forgiveness is prior to repentance, and thus, even, prior to faith itself. Without the fact that God, in Christ, was reconciling the world to himself on that cross, then there is nothing real to believe. Without the proclamation of this truth as truth in our churches today, we give people nothing to believe in except themselves and the existential power of their own faith, abilities, and self-energized repentance. We cannot be afraid that there is anyone on this earth who is not supposed to hear that they are forgiven, embraced and included. Remember... grace is a free gift... presented by God... so that you are free of your sin. It is a reality and we thank God for our gift and acknowledge that we are in constant need of such a wonderful gift. We strive to be more, yet by God's grace we are free of sin and live each day, humbly walking with our Savior. That is Good News!

Check Your Daughters or Sons Date with These Helpful FBI Hints

Hello Dads and Moms,

I saw this blog elsewhere and had to post it for you. Maybe it will help?

These agents specialize in profiling individuals in order to predict behavior. Use these tips to rest easy until your daughter comes home at curfew, courtesy of Rodale Publishing:.
• Tip #1 from FBI agents – ask your daughter for her date’s full name ahead of time and then Google him, look him up on My Space, Facebook and You Tube. Any personal profiles or videos that come up will give you a good sense of his personality. Check out his favorite movies, books and videogames. According to Clint Van Zandt, who worked for the FBI for 25 years, reality mimics fantasy. He says he can’t tell you how many times he’s asked a criminal where they got their ideas and they’ve said they saw it in a movie.
• Then, when he gets to the house, evaluate his clothing. John Douglas, a former FBI investigative chief, says what a person wears reflects their overall level of judgment. So a jacket, combed hair, and cologne say – ‘I care. I’m trying to put my best foot forward.’ Camouflage pants, unwashed hair and body odor say ‘I only care about myself – and even then, not so much.’
• If the guy has any visible tattoos or piercings – ask about them. Generally the more in-your-face they are, the more they represent a cry for attention. People who demand that others notice them, may have trouble being sensitive to another person’s needs. Ask about the meaning behind the body art. It’ll provide insight into his character.
• As you’re talking to your daughter’s date – let the conversation stop. See how he fills the pause. That puts a person on edge and you can see how they handle stress.
• Finally, the FBI agents recommend that you directly state what your expectations are when he’s out with your daughter. Watch his body language. If he folds his arms and moves away, no matter how subtly, he’s resisting what you’re saying. So take down his license plate number, just in case.

The End of The World

When I was a teenager, one of the popular books of the day was "The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey. It was a book that scared the pudding out of me! It was still the era of the Cold War with Russia (USSR) and tension was always high. Lindsey used the Bible to explain the coming end of the world. His explanations were based on scripture and images that he put together to interpret a final war and the coming of Jesus Christ. After reading the book, I really thought that I might not grow up before all of this happened.

Since Lindsey's book, others have presented theories about the coming end of the world. Many of the views seem very logical or plausible. Are you worried about the end of the world? Do you think often about it? Does it seem that the world has gotten worse over the last few decades? Maybe you think about this idea often. Maybe you never think about it at all. I am often asked what I think since I am a pastor. Here's what i say.

The end of the world is coming. I know because I read the end of the book (the Bible). The Bible says in Matthew 24:29-31, "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." I do not purport to explain the coming of the end. I only know that THIS world, as we know it, will come to an end. I know that Jesus Christ will come again and He will be the one to deal with Satan and all of Satan's followers (again... I read the end of the Bible). I know that Jesus has promised all of His followers a place with Him. (What that is exactly like, I'm not sure, but I do know that it will be better than anything I or anyone has ever experienced)

The world that we live in is bad, but I am not sure that it is any worse than it was 50 or 100 years ago. Maybe we just have faulty memories and believe that the past was always better. So I cannot say that the world is coming to an end because things are terrible. In fact, most Americans have a better life than ever and the freedom to choose to worship God in more ways than ever. Whether people make that choice is another matter. Therefore, the end of the world may be no more closer to happening within the next few years than it has been in the last 30. Matthew 24:36-37 tells us we do not know when all this will happen. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah."

But the end of the world will come for us at the end of our lives. That is also a date we do not know. The answer to the question of when the world will end lies in our own deaths. For each this world will end. Thus, we might want to take heed to listen to Acts 1:11 "...Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?" Live today a life of discipleship and keep your eyes fixed on serving Christ and the day will come when you may look up at Him with wonder and He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" God loves you. Until next time, blessings!

The Life, Death, and Life of a Lady

This past Monday I went to a funeral. This shouldn’t be much of a surprise because as a pastor, I often conduct funerals, but on this occasion, I was there to support my friends. The friends were Roger and Beth Durham and their children Josh and Heather. Roger’s mother, Mrs. Laura Durham, had died after a battle with cancer and I wanted to be there.

I had met Mrs. Durham on several occasions. She was so nice and always had a wonderful smile on her face. But, I think that I learned more about her at her funeral than I ever learned about her when I met her. She was not much into talking about herself. She was, in fact, quite unassuming and soft spoken. But there was always something special about her. It was something that was unspoken and yet it beamed from her like a lighthouse beacon. She was a devout Christian. Her faith could not be contained. It radiated out of her even if you met her on only a few occasions, you just noticed something about her. I want to let you read a portion of her obituary, “As can be attested by all who knew her, Laura was a truly devout woman of the Lord, a trusted confidant, a gracious and loving mother, as well as a devoted Grandmother and Great-grandmother. She exuded love in every encounter be it with family, friend, or stranger. Her life was a constant example of God’s grace and love on Earth. She warmed hearts, caused laughter, and fed the body and spirit of everyone until their heart was content. Whether she was baking cookies for VBS or baking bread and cinnamon rolls for family and friends, she warmed the hearts of everyone who knew her. Laura’s house was one of good cheer, continuous love, and unending patience.”

The funeral service was so appropriate. Her pastor Dr. Joe Worley recounted her tenure as a secretary at First Baptist. She was a pleasure to have in the office and represented the church with dignity and grace. One of her sons, Rev. Larry Fondren, gave the eulogy. His words were elegant and he emphasized that tears were due to loss of being with Mrs. Durham, not due to her future… because she was with her Lord. The service was a celebration of a life well lived and I was thankful to have been there to hear about the impact Mrs. Laura Durham had on all those whom she met.

The Bible tells us about life, about death, and about life after death. In John: 14, these words of comfort can be found, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Was Mrs. Durham some sort of Super-Christian? Yes and no. She simply gave her life to Christ and Christ dwelt in her heart and ruler her very being. That is a blessing you can have too. All it takes is the humility to surrender your life and pray for Jesus to take it over. That’s it! No magic formula or special words… Jesus already loves you and is waiting to lead you. Mrs. Durham did that very well. Granted, not all Christians may be able to exude the kind of love that she gave, but we can give it our best shot!

My hat is off to such a wonderful story of Christian faith, may the same be said of us all at our funerals.

Biblical Truth Can Be Found Not Only In the Bible

Last week, my kids and I went to see the newest super hero movie, Iron Man. The kids really liked it and it was very well done. More importantly, the message was clear. (For those of you who do not know the story, I will quickly give a recap)
Tony Stark is a brilliant young man who inherits a weapons manufacturing plant from his father. Tony is everything the word “playboy” implies. He is a partying, egotistical, arrogant, and self-centered fellow who lives to make money, spend money, and meet the young ladies. But something amazing happens along the way. On a trip to the Middle East, he is kidnapped and held hostage by a band of terrorist who ask him to create a weapon of destruction for them. He begins to realize that his only hope is to use the tools available to create something that can help him escape his captors. He does… and Iron Man is born. While I will not give you the rest of the movie plot, the main thing that happens is that Stark discovers new priorities. Suddenly his former lifestyle becomes irrelevant and he realizes that his life can best be used in helping people instead of creating death and destruction for profit. I want to share with you a couple of Biblical stories which illustrate a transformation of priorities for individuals.
The first is the story of Saul of Tarsus. You know him as Paul in the New Testament. Before being renamed, Paul (then known as Saul) was one of the most adamant opponents to the Christian movement. He was having Christians arrested and stood by as Stephen was stoned for testifying to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In Acts 9:1-20, we read that suddenly Jesus appeared to Saul and he was blinded. When his sight was restored, Saul gained new insight to Jesus and literally saw his life in a different light. Saul became Paul and transformed into a zealous defender of the Christian faith. We know of that faith through all the books of the New Testament which bear his signature.
The second story is about a Syrian commander named Naaman. His story is found in the Old Testament book of II Kings chapter 5. Naaman, although a man of power and prestige, had a sever skin condition that cause him great agony. The prophet Elisha sent word to Naaman by way of a slave girl to dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman listened to the words of Elisha and did exactly as he was told to do and only then was the skin condition cured forever. Through this miraculous healing, Naaman realized that there was only one true God and swore that he would never sacrifice to any other gods except God. His life was forever changed!
That’s the challenge for us. What part or parts of our lives do we need to examine in order to see our priorities fall into place? Even in the best believer, there are ways to improve ourselves and our walk with God. When we believe we are either too good to grow in Christ or we convince ourselves we are too bad to even be in such a relationship, we are simply allowing ourselves to be fooled. You are probably somewhere in between and that means we can and should find new ways to get into a deeper relationship with God. It may be in your worship, your prayer life, your Bible study, or even your service to others. Focus in on just one of these aspects of faith and try to improve in that area. It may even be in some small way, but it is progress. Somewhere there is room for improvement and/or transformation.
The truth is… we are all put here for a reason and that reason is to glorify God and serve others in His name. We do these things by a continual effort to get to know God better. Put your priorities in order and be an Iron Man or Iron Woman for Jesus Christ.

Holy Moments Happen

This past Wednesday, in Portland, Oregon, Sara Tucholsky of Western Oregon University hit a home run in women’s college softball. It was her first home run in her career as a college or high school player. Why is that significant? Yes, her three run home run made the difference in the 4-2 win over Central Washington University and eliminated them from the playoffs. But that is not significant; in fact those kinds of things happen all the time. What is significant is what happened after Tucholsky hit the ball. She was so excited that as she rounded first base, she stepped over the bag and failed to touch it. She took a step toward second base and realized her error and pivoted to return to first and touch the base. But as she spun around, she felt something POP! She crumpled to the ground and knew that she had injured her knee so badly that she could not even stand up… let alone go around the diamond and touch all the bases to complete her home run. After speaking with officials, it was ruled that Tucholsky had to touch the bases for it to be a legal home run and she could not have a pinch runner or be aided by her team in any way. What do you think happened?

In Matthew 25:37-40 says, “Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!”

Two members of the opposing team, Central Washington team members, went over to Tucholsky, picked her up, and walked her around to each remaining base including home plate so that her home run would count. Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, the starting first baseman and shortstop left their positions and lifted Tucholsky up as human crutches and made sure she touched each base. WOW! The two women didn’t even know that this was Tucholsky’s first ever home run or that she was a graduating senior and her college career was now over with the injured knee. They said, “We just wanted to help.”

Now that is what I call sportsmanship or should I say sportswomanship! In an era filled with players rushing into the stands to fight each other and even fans, it is refreshing to see the heat of competition cooled off by the desire to help someone else. It was not about winning or losing, it was about doing what was right. Tucholsky hit the home run, but Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace had the biggest hit. They acted on their God given idea to help. Yes, they acted, but God planted the idea in them to assist a fallen player, even if she was on the other team. When you go out to watch a game, hold a baby, embrace someone you love, enjoy a concert (like the one last week at Lamar State College of Port Arthur featuring the Oak Ridge Boys) or any other joy in your life, you are in touch with your creator. In a very clear way, you are IN CHURCH. The creator of life and giver of joy allows us to tap into the joy shared between the Father and Son. The Holy Spirit brings us a taste of the love that exists in the Triune God. Have you seen a Holy moment or recognized God’s presence today in your life? I know that you have and if you think hard you do too, even as you have read this article, God is with you now. In Matthew 10:7 Jesus makes this claim, “The kingdom of heaven is near.” Once we realize that God is with us everywhere, we can begin to know God as our companion and shepherd each and every day. Each day God’s mighty works and love for His creation, including you and me, are breaking forth… look for God today.

God is sure to show up!

Prayer Day labyrinth to be ‘journey toward God’ by Darragh Doiron The Port Arthur News

While the whole community is invited to The Prayer Path labyrinth, Beth Faulk is confident of one RSVP.
“God is sure to show up,” Faulk said.
Providence Presbyterian Church will host the interactive event from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, which is the National Day of Prayer.
The path is designed to be a quiet time for busy people to experience God, Faulk said.
“That’s the purpose of the labyrinth. It’s a time to slow down, be with God and pray for our nation and government,” Faulk, parish associate, said.
Buddy Ware and Larry Hagen used chalk lines to mark where blue gaffer’s tape will mark the path on canvas spread across the gym floor. Booties will be provided for those who want keep their shoes on, or else they’ll have to sock-foot it, Ware said.
The labyrinth is not a maze. It has an entrance and an exit. Visitors will read as they go and stop at points, such as a stop with pebbles that will represent problems to drop into a bucket.
“They’ll let go of their worries,” Faulk said. “The journey is toward God.”
Walkers should forget about their grocery lists and meetings and use the time to focus on God. If they have a specific prayer or healing request, they should bring it.
“They should set aside any barriers from thinking about God,” she said.
Several religions have incorporated labyrinths into their faiths for 3,000 years, Faulk said. Members have walked a path that St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Groves provided, Faulk said.

“They loved it. They felt like they had a truly moving experience,” she said.
She said members, who are meeting at St. John Lutheran Church at 4600 Jimmy Johnson Blvd., hope to recreate that feeling and share it with others.
“Come and enjoy it with us and walk it expecting to experience God,” she said.
Church member Nancy Currie said excitement has surrounded the project.
“When Pastor Beth brought the idea to our Christian Education Committee, everyone caught the excitement bug and has helped pull it together. We think it is a unique opportunity to help our community celebrate the National Day of Prayer in a meaningful way,” Currie said.
Currie said Sue Hagen and her husband worked hard to find supplies for and finish up the project for visitors.
"What an opportunity, indeed, to be able to share this wonderful experience with the community,” Hagen, of Bridge City, said. “We have had an opportunity to walk the labyrinth in our church on a couple of occasions, and it was such a moving experience to be able to journey through the labyrinth and feel the presence of God. Being able to focus on our walk with God and spend time listening to what this soul-searching activity speaks to our souls is something that we are looking forward to immensely. We sincerely hope it will be a meaningful journey to many.”

For A Long Time, I Thought…

When I was a boy, I heard many sermons in the church where I attended. Time and time again, I was told that Jesus loved me and He was a wonderful Shepherd and Counselor and all those other glorious names. Therefore, I want to be a Christian. You know, I wanted Jesus to take care of me and be my protector. And I needed it. Why did I need a protector you might ask? No it wasn’t from the bully at school or from an older sibling whipping up on me. It was from the wrath of God the Father! Yes, I thought that God, you know, the old guy on the throne with the white beard (the God in the Old Testament)… was not happy with me because I was… a sinner!

For a long time, I thought this way and I was relieved when I learned that this concept was not something I just dreamed up. Other people, maybe even you, identified with this view as well. Theologian Baxter Kruger says, “The ideas that God, the Father needed to be appeased in order to accept us, and that Jesus became human in order to suffer the wrath of his Father on the cross so that we could be accepted, always struck me as terribly wrong. But, growing up in the deep South, such notions were all one ever heard, and heard repeatedly, and still do. In this atonement theory, the Father is in two minds about us, or, at the very least, there are two sides of the Father, the one being the righteous, just and holy side, the other being the graceful, merciful and loving side. The one thing we knew for sure about God was that he could not simply forgive us and accept us as his fallen creatures. The truth, we were told is that He could not even look upon us vile sinners. His holiness and justice and righteousness demanded satisfaction before forgiveness could become a reality. And so on the cross Jesus bowed as the Father’s holiness, justice and righteousness formed into wrath against our sin and was poured out upon him instead of us.”

The trouble with this understanding of God is that there is no forgiveness at all. The Father simply takes out His wrath against the Son. We are told that we should be glad it’s Him (Jesus) and not us! While Jesus can become human and live amongst us, eat with us, heal us, and love us, the Father is stuck on the outside because His holiness and perfection cannot look upon sin and we cannot be accepted because we are sinners. Thus, we have a Father who is of one nature and a Son who is of another.

Scripture teaches that God (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit) is ONE God, yet three persons. This concept is called the Trinity. While it is not expressly stated in the Bible, it is specifically implied. Texts like John 14:9 “he who has seen me, has seen the Father”, John 10:30 “I and the Father are one”, and Hebrews 1:3 “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature” all indicate that, in Jesus Christ, God the Father is revealed as well.

In his book, On the Incarnation of the Word of God, St. Athanasius comments on this subject. He says, “As, then, the creatures whom He had created…were on the road to ruin, what then was God, being Good to do?” The old saint of the Church knew that God was of one nature God’s holiness, justice, and righteousness are in tune with His love and mercy. God refused to abandon His creation and decided before the beginning of time to let nothing come between Him and us, not even sin. Thus, Jesus is not the sacrifice to God on our behalf, NO… God the Father and Son are at work in tandem. God pronounces a mighty word of grace to us all through the cross. Romans 8 is trying to remind us of this truth when it says, “I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” The Father and the Son invite you (through the Holy Spirit) to enter into a love affair. They already have a crush on you!

PA congregations share worship space

Article by Darragh Doiron for The Port Arthur News, PORT ARTHUR —
Good neighbors are sharing brotherly love.

The congregations of St. John Lutheran Church and Providence Presbyterian Church can’t get any closer. They’re sharing a building.
“It’s worked exceedingly and abundantly beyond our wildest imagination,” Buddy Blake, St. John pastor, said.
Clay Faulk explained how his flock moved into the St. John gym for a while as their new church is being built. Everything that filled the former church complex now fits in the host gym.
“Believe it or not, we fit in here,” Faulk said, moving a curtain to show stacks of chairs, books and office equipment. “We’re crashing on the couch, literally.”
An altar, piano, tables and chairs are arranged around the basketball goal. A clump of mismatched couches in the corner is where the young people gather at court-side services, he said.
Providence Presbyterian Church is the new name for Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, which just moved from Gulfway Drive. Members are camped out at St. John Lutheran on Jimmy Johnson Boulevard but will soon break ground on a new home on North Twin City Highway.
Faulk said the United Methodist District bought their former home on Gulfway Drive with plans to start a new church.
“It was difficult for people to let go of a building they loved,” Faulk said, but added that they’ve adopted a motto for the process: “If God leads you to it, God will lead you through it.”
“We’re so thankful to the Lutherans,” Faulk said.
The pastors have worked out a schedule that Blake refers to as a three-course feast. On Sundays, locals can catch a 9:30 a.m. Presbyterian service in the gym, a 10 a.m. Lutheran service in the sanctuary or an 11:15 a.m. Presbyterian service in the sanctuary.
Blake said he had faith the arrangement would work out. They aren’t charging rent, but the guests are making a contribution that helps St. John’s expenses. An added benefit is that there are now enough people for a full, blended Sunday School, he said.
“When the opportunity came up, it was something that I knew almost from the very beginning was going to be a tremendous blessing,” Blake said.
The groups plan to be merged neighbors for at least 18 months.
Beth Durham is part of the Providence congregation. She said the changes call for an attitude of adjustment. “It hasn’t been easy, in fact I think the more challenges we have faced, the more of an affirmation it has become, that Satan doesn’t want us moving forward. It’s very difficult to trust in the unknown, but that’s where faith comes in, and I think we’ve all learned that our faith needed to be kicked up a notch,” Durham said. “We’ve had to step out of the box, or out of our comfort zones. But God is seeing us through this move, and we anticipate many new ministry opportunities on the horizon.”
After all, they’ve changed before. Faulk said that in the early 1900s First Presbyterian came into being on Mobile Street, then in the 1960s moved to Gulfway Drive. In the 1970s, the Westminster Presbyterian church joined them and they renamed the congregation First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. With this move, members decided to create another new name with Providence Presbyterian Church.

Paying Attention to the Crowd You Won’t See This Sunday

In the busy time of Easter week, I took a moment to sit back and listen to some music. I was drawn to a song by one of my favorite bands from the 90’s, INXS (Yes, I do listen to things other than Amazing Grace). One of their songs, The Stairs, speaks of how we all exist each day without really thinking about each other. A section of lyrics are, “Listened to by the walls, we share the same spaces, repeated in the corridors, performing the same movements. The nature of your tragedy is chained around your neck. Do you lead or are you led? Are you sure that you don't care? There are reasons here to give your life and follow in your way. The passion lives to keep your faith though all are different all are great. Climbing as we fall, we dare to hold on to our fate and steal away our destiny, to catch ourselves with quiet grace… we pass each other on the stairs.”
I think that these words speak to the human tendency to exist each day without really paying attention to the world around us. I think this song touches on the universal importance of seeing other people as… people just like… you and me.
It can be hard to value one another. Different ideas, different views, different political and economic situations make it is easy to overlook others who are not like us. While we live in an age of vast communication, internet, cell phones, (even my children text each other on their Nintendo game player), yet we are ever more isolated in a world of cyberspace. Real relationships are becoming less meaningful. It has gotten more and more difficult to know each other. Bible teacher Beth Moore commented that she finally realized how much time she spends emailing people she never even sees, yet ignores those people she sees everyday spending little or no time at all with them. Do you see people each day and yet really ignore them?
Yes, there are reasons here to give your life. Christians are called to rethink their lives. Once you become a Christian, then… suddenly… it’s not all about you and your needs. Life becomes something that is given away to those people that we pass on the stairs, or in the streets, or wherever you might go. The gospel of John 15:13 states “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” The Church that is only concerned about itself will not continue to thrive. The Church must teach its members to be passionately active in seeking to introduce Christ to others. Such churches work hard to make people who are “un-churched” feel welcome and provide a message in a context that is meaningful. Thus, today we live in a world where the people we pass each day generally live in the bondage of life without Jesus. Should we try to do anything about it or simply walk on by without thinking twice, too scared to speak and too afraid of failure? Jesus lived, died, and rose from the grave so that you and I can, through faith in Him, live with Him forever. That is “Good News!” That’s what Easter is all about.-not rabbits or eggs or baskets or lilies or pretty white outfits. Easter is about a God who refuses to let us remain in our bondage. Easter is about the passion of God that burns to reclaim us from sin and death. Easter is about once we know Jesus, we live to spread the news to those who are yet to meet Jesus. And in all of this, we might find our destiny (purpose) and live lives in the light of God’s grace.

Lest We Forget Jesus’ Journey

Here are some questions to ponder this Easter Holy Week. Did the Son of God give up his Father to become human? Did Jesus step out of the circle of relationship with the Father and Holy Spirit when He was born in the stable? The answers to these questions are all “of course not.” In Jesus, the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is lived out in a divine-human existence. Don’t fly past the importance of the Incarnation of Jesus as a human being in solving the problem of our estrangement from God. Thus the cross of Jesus is not the solution to sin, it is the answer to the God forged relationship with humanity. The cross can overshadow the birth, life, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.
Think of the situation when people are trapped in a burning building. The firemen may spray water on the blaze, but it is likely that they will have to attempt a rescue by actually entering into the burning building. Turn the scenario around, if the firemen never come out of the building then they too are lost. Today the firemen stay in contact with other firemen outside of the blaze and keep them apprised of the situation.
Theologian T. F. Torrance make this statement, “perhaps the most fundamental truth which we have to learn in the Christian Church, or rather relearn since we have suppressed it, is that the Incarnation (the life of Jesus) was the coming of God to save us in the heart of our fallen and depraved humanity… the Incarnation is the coming of God to take upon himself our fallen nature, our actual human existence laden with sin and guilt, and our diseased mind and soul in its alienation from the Creator.”
The same is true with Jesus. Jesus entered into our world in a rescue effort that would not be stopped. Jesus never lost contact with his Father and the Holy Spirit. The rescue attempt was painful and it looked as if Satan was going to be able to have the last word… but… then again, death was not the last word was it? In Adam and Eve, humanity was fallen, lost, and bound for death. In Jesus, He is the new Adam, the true human and the bonds of sin and death have no hold upon Him. He is the living atonement for all of humanity and we witness a God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) willing to die to bring us into a right relationship with Him. Was it because we deserved it? No, it was only by God’s choosing… His grace that enables us to join Him in the resurrection. John 11:26 says, “whoever lives and believes in me will never die!” I pray that you have a meaningful Holy Week and that you know that God loves you enough to give His life for you.

The Dreaded Disease of Pietism

I heard the story of how there was once a pastor who was preaching a series on Jesus being the “perfect” human and still fully divine. The pastor was especially fired up in one of the sermons and challenged anyone in his congregation to tell him if they knew or knew of anyone who was perfect. To this challenge, one man stood up. The man said that, yes he did know someone who was perfect. The pastor stood amazed. Who could believe that there was anyone, other than Jesus who was perfect? The pastor pressed the man to explain and tell everyone who this person was who was perfect. The man replied, “According to my wife, her first husband who is now deceased was perfect!”
Who is perfect? Can anyone totally keep the law in both heart and action? That is the question the apostle Paul dealt with in the letter to the Romans 3. Paul says, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one…no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin… righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
The reason that I bring out this point is that too many people think that once you become a Christian “you should be perfect.” Either the new Christian feels that somehow they have failed because they have suddenly not changed overnight or the non-Christian believes that Christians see themselves as perfect and others as imperfect and therefore, superior to those who do not attend church. Quite the contrary! Christians struggle with sin each day, for the rest of their lives.
I will never forget one particular Sunday in my early ministry. I had just preached a sermon on sin when a woman came to the door and proudly proclaimed that “she used to sin… but she grew out of it!” To this day I am still not sure just what she thinks sin is! In their book, Un-Christian, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons tell us that this pietistic understanding of Christianity is exactly one of the reasons non-churched people stay away from the church. Self righteousness is a result of a core belief that “good” behavior elevates an individual to a higher status before God. Ironically, that concept is totally wrong and is exactly what Paul says is the gospel. Good works do not matter if they are not a by-product of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
As a pastor, I find that there are people who think that I, not just Jesus, should be perfect. Not long ago, I got upset when a basketball game my son was playing in got out of hand and became overly physical and rough. When he was thrown to the ground for the third time, I stated that I thought the call resembled male cow manure… but I didn’t quite say it that way. Someone near heard me and acted as if I had slapped their mama! No, I was not proud. In fact, I apologized, but it didn’t seem to matter. I am a preacher, and for some people that means I should be very close to perfect. I wish that were true, but I and every other preacher out there is just like you… a sinner fallen short. If we in the church can come to grips with our own reality and decide that we have a lot in common with “those sinners” we might be better off and we might have a chance to see Jesus’ church grow.

Lent… It’s More than that Stuff in Your Bellybutton

This year I have had more people ask me about Lent than ever before. So, I thought you might want to get a quick refresher on the season. Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. It originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a time of preparation for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. The early church of the New Testament observed Lent, believing it to be a commandment from the apostles.
Let me give you some other history. I begin with a celebration many of you enjoyed, Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras (also known as Carnival in some countries) is usually a period of celebration. It was originally a festival before the fasting during the season of Lent. It is celebrated in many places with parades, costumes, dancing, and music. Mardi Gras or Carnival, comes from a Latin phrase meaning "removal of meat," is the three day period preceding the beginning of Lent, the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday immediately before Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of the Lenten Season. The same three days are also known as Shrovetide ("shrove" is an Old English word meaning "to repent"). Shrove Tuesday is more popularly known by the French term Mardi Gras, meaning "Fat Tuesday," it contrasts the fasting during Lent by emphasizing the need to fill up before fasting. Many churches now observe Mardi Gras with a church pancake meal, eating together as a community before the symbolic fasting of Lent begins.
Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter Sunday, is the first day of the Season of Lent. The name comes from the ancient practice of placing ashes on worshippers’ heads or foreheads as a sign of humility before God, a symbol of mourning and sorrow at the death that sin brings into the world. It not only prefigures the mourning at the death of Jesus, but also places us on the cross in Jesus’ place. We realize that He was the innocent and we are the guilty, yet grace has saved us from sin and death.
Thus, Lent begins in ashes and it journeys though darkness to the foot of the cross. It is a spiritual pilgrimage that lasts for 40 days (except Sundays). We pray and fast and think about all Jesus did for us. I have heard the passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14 quoted a lot: ". . .if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”Finally Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday as Jesus enters into the city of Jerusalem. The Lenten Season ends with Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper with the disciples), Good Friday (the day of Jesus’ crucifixion), and Holy Saturday (the day Jesus rested in the tomb). Forty days to contemplate the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit… the one God who gives us joy, love, life, laughter, and salvation. Forty days to remember that we deserved the cross, not Him. Forty days to praise God and thank God for the radical love that is still with us now. Death has no sting, because God has claimed you as His own. Just so you know!

Who Cheers for Goliath?

Next week the Super Bowl game will be played in Arizona. Already members of the media have descended upon the city in anticipation of writing or filming the stories, headlines, and special interest pieces. Whether you know it or not, the New England Patriots are playing against the New York Giants this year. The Patriots are undefeated on the season and have already broken the single season win total set by the 1972 Miami Dolphins and look to go 19-0 if they defeat the Giants. The Giants are the Cinderella team that has pulled off an amazing win streak with each victory being on the road. So who do you think has dominated the headlines and been the sheik pick to win the game over the past week? The New York Giants, of course! Why would anyone pick the Giants to win when the Patriots boast the juggernaut offense led by cover-boy Tom Brady and bad-boy turned good-guy Randy Moss? Because no-one cheers for Goliath, that’s why.
The story of the future kind of Israel, David, and his battle with the giant Goliath is told in 1Samuel 17. All the other warriors of Israel looked at the Philistine army and saw the giant Goliath ready to battle in hand-to-hand combat. All of the soldiers were afraid to go out and face this huge man. The Israelites were not “professional” fighters like we think of in today’s army. Many were farmers and merchants who joined in the fight against the enemy armies when needed. Here was Goliath. His armor probably outweighed most of the men. He looked unbeatable. A small boy who had experienced dangerous work watching his father’s sheep, realized that he could defeat the big man. He had killed both a lion and a bear with his own hands and now he could kill Goliath too, but he needed God’s help. He was sure God would help him. He picked up five smooth stones and when he went out to battle Goliath, he loaded his sling with one of the stones and hurled it toward the giant man. When the stone struck its target, it cracked Goliath’s forehead and sent him tumbling down to the ground. David even cut off the giant’s head with the giant’s own sword. All were amazed!
David was an underdog. We love underdogs in our society. Think back to all the underdogs who won big games or events. The USA men’s hockey team in 1980, Buster Douglas defeating Mike Tyson, the New York Jets defeating the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III (Joe Namath guaranteed it), NC State over Houston in men’s basketball in 1983 (my personal favorite), or even this year when division II Appalachian State defeated Michigan in college football. All of these events and movies like Rocky, Hoosiers, and even Star Wars have created a culture of people who cheer for the underdog.
While the boy David was an underdog, we see that throughout the Bible, God seems to be a fan of underdogs who look to Him for help. Moses, Nehemiah, the prophets, Paul, and the early church all were not expected to accomplish much. Even the mighty Roman Empire that put Jesus on the cross would come to worship Him less than 800 years later. Because of God, they all overcame every obstacle placed before them.
Do you feel like the underdog in life? Many people feel that they haven’t gotten the breaks or the opportunities that would make them better. That is a harsh truth in our society, but you have an advocate… God. God loves you dearly and while that might not get you a raise at work or a supermodel girlfriend or boyfriend, it will gain you release from the worries that any of that has any real importance. We give thanks for God’s love and mercy and know that it is by grace and not our actions that we are loved. We seek God’s will and not your own in an effort to know God and be obedient disciples.
If you like the Dallas Cowboys or any other team in the NFC East, how could you pull for the Giants? It is a difficult decision, but what choice do I have? So who cheers for Goliath? Next Sunday, it will be me…Go PATRIOTS!

The Gospel Is Not One Bit Legalistic

How’s your New Year going so far? Are you feeling anxious because you know the credit card bill is coming in the mail? Did you do enough at Christmas… give enough… too much… did you give the “right” gift… did it all go well? All these are questions you may ask yourself after the holidays. All too often we expect a great deal out of ourselves. This sometimes leads us to question what we have done and what we have left un-done. Everyone has shortcomings and yet sometimes we simply wish we could do it all. And we feel guilty when we can’t get it all done. Even in our faith life, if we could just “do more” then it will be enough.
I recently read an article by Dr. Roy Gane. He addresses our overt need to live up to others expectations and our own. We live in a society where performing well is praised and failing is frowned upon. He says that from the time we are children, we are taught lessons about “getting it all done.” Many people fall into the trap of believing that their entire self worth is wrapped up in living up to “a standard.” It is likely engrained into our subconscious that we just aren’t doing enough. This is just another form of legalism. Jesus attacks such legalism in Matthew 5:17-18 by saying that He “has come not to abolish the Law but to fulfill the Law.” Also this in Ephesians 2:8 by saying, “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
People of Jesus’ day and ours get caught up in legalism. In other words, rather than the Law protecting people and serving them, the Law was used to oppress some people.
Gane names two common ways that we get caught up in legalism. This occurs when there is a latching onto non-essential views and creating an elitist atmosphere for those who agree and condemnation for those who don’t. I am reminded of a story about a little girl whose Grandfather told her that Sunday’s were made for worship and she should be prayerful and slow. The child walked by a horse in a fence. The horse had his eyes closed and looked relaxed, the girl shouted, “Old fella… you must be a good Christian horse!” In other words, if you don’t act accordingly, you must not have the right faith. The second form of legalism is that of having works righteousness or what I call “a get-of- hell-free card” in your pocket (if you have ever played the game of Monopoly you know what I am talking about). That is when someone actually believes that if they are “good” God will be happy and welcome them into heaven. Obedience to God is not simply living by lots of rules.
The answer lies in the fact that we all, no matter what we do, fall short. But, we really don’t get what we deserve… God’s wrath. We get what we do not deserve and that is grace, forgiveness, and love. The problem with any form of legalism is that we hear a false gospel. God’s love is not dependent on our obedience or lack thereof. It is legalism that causes the Pharisee to be proud in the presence of a tax collector. It is legalism that causes a missionary in Africa to believe that God is more pleased with him than the businessman in America. It is legalism that causes the Christian in the pew to feel superior to the golfer on the tee. And it is legalism that causes the preacher to think God is more pleased with him than with the tatooed woman sitting in the bar.
The truth again… God loves you and is wholly and completely in love with you. You are the child God always wanted and God has made each of us pure, not by our work, but by the work of Christ on the cross. Christ’s blood shed for us all is the gospel. We are loved. That is why we want to be obedient, because God first loved us and we are so thankful. Examine yourself and rely totally upon Christ. May you be blessed and freed by reading this message! Until next time, in Christ!