Dunked!

When I say, “Dunked.” Were you thinking of this?

Well, I like that picture…no question about that. But, it’s not what I had in mind. I like this one better!

This is Madilyn Dowell.

And the end result…

Guess what? I had the privilege of doing this 14 times this past Sunday! Yep…I said, 14 times! Isn’t that amazing? Take a look…

Over and over again, for one solid hour, we baptized! You say, “Are you only baptizing once per year or something?” Nope. We baptize when we need to. We baptized 29 last year over a period of six baptisms and this is our first this year.

Take a look at our “Prayer Chapel,” which was our sanctuary for about 131 of our 137 year existence. Can you say, “Packed out?”

The excitement beforehand was amazing! Here’s me with Carson Edmiston…

What a joy!

Check out the smiles on the faces of the folks watching…

We had ‘em sitting in the old choir lofts. To put this in perspective. We had 421 folks in the service on Sunday and about 250 came over to the Prayer Chapel and didn’t get out until after 1 pm just to support and encourage these folks being baptized… Awesome!!

Here’s a great shot of me and Erick Langseth (the father), with his son, Elijah. You know there is no place in Scripture that says a “pastor” must baptize someone.

Did you notice in the picture of the entire group (above) that there were several teenagers and adults? Yep. 8 of the 14 were over the age of 15. Do you know why? Because a lot of folks simply have “Hell insurance.” Now there is nothing wrong with this…especially as children. This is all they know. They simply don’t want to go to Hell.

So, before the baptism, I pointed out to the children to look at the teenagers (who had all made professions of faith as children themselves, and had all been baptized before)… I said, “Children, as you grow…remember that you must determine and decide to follow Jesus every day. You must make up your mind that when middle school and high school comes, that you are still going to follow Jesus.”

I believe the “rubber really doesn’t hit the road” in the life of someone spiritually until they are tested to see if their conversion was true. I’ve written about it in my book, as well, that we don’t have a 90% failure rate with our children leaving the faith by their 20th birthday. The problem is that the majority of those that “leave the faith” were never truly saved, regenerated, born again in the first place. Is that you?

Do you truly know Jesus Christ, personally…or do you simply know a bunch of facts about him? It’s been said that many people will miss heaven by 18 inches. Why 18 inches? That’s the distance from a person’s head to their heart. You must know more than just facts about Jesus to go to heaven. You must know Him personally and that only happens in the heart.

You see, it’s the facts, the knowledge, the information, which the Holy Spirit of God uses to drive us to the understanding of our lost condition and the need of confession and repentance of our sin and our desperate need for someone to save us from ourselves. That someone is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to this earth to do what you and I can’t do…which is live a perfect life, die, rise again and conquer death, hell and the grave.

Do you know Him? I mean really know Him? I’m not asking if you are a fine of His or if you saw a picture of Him on Facebook, that you’d click, “like.” I’m asking does He have control of your life? Is He in the driver’s seat or are you? Who’s the boss of your life? If He’s not driving…then, chances are you might be living on a false promise. Make certain of your salvation. The Scriptures teach that we are to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. What does this mean? Be scared? Be frightened? Work your way into heaven? No. That’s what all the other “religions” teach. No. All we have to do is trust in Christ. And as we grow in Him, we will grow in the process of being made holy (that’s called sanctification).

I’m really convinced that’s what happened to most of those “adults and young adults” who were baptized Sunday. They may have genuinely been saved at a younger age, but the truth is…each and every one of them told me: “We weren’t living it!” That pretty much sums it up!

Jesus said, “Why do you say that you love me, if you don’t keep my commands?” These young adults are ready to be “salt and light” and live it! Now that’s what I call a “slam dunk!”

Is it going to snow this winter?

Is it going to snow this winter?

That may not be an important question to you, but it’s a serious question being asked by my two six-year-olds. They keep asking, “Daddy is it ever going to snow?” They were spoiled from last year when we got almost 30 inches of snow. My sister, Kim snapped this shot of Katy, Kandace, Taylor and Leah from a big snow last year…

This year…

Well, that’s it. A dusting a couple of weeks ago.

You know we are in a La Nina year. That simply means that the conditions in the Pacific Ocean are not favorable for our weather patterns to be “snowy.” Last year we had a blocking high pressure off the coast of Nova Scotia. Not so this year. You might have heard that Seattle is being hammered by snow this week. This is very unusual. Interestingly, Mt. Rainier, in Washington state…

has a summit of 14,411 feet is expected to get over 100 inches of snow over the next five days. Wow!

So, the weather patterns are just not syncing up for us this winter. And you know, that’s ok. Because you can’t have a snowy year every winter. My power bill has certainly been easier to handle versus last year. But, back to the question at hand from Clara and Andrew. “Will it snow?” Well, let’s see what the almanac has to say.

See those highlighted circles? That indicates a chance of rain or snow on each of those dates in February. Now does that mean it will snow? Maybe…maybe not. But, it’s interesting to look at and contemplate. Can we trust almanacs to give us accurate weather forecasts? Not day-to-day, certainly, but if they hit the pattern right, they can get within a week or a few days of these events. So, we’ll see.

As an aside, I asked one very good and accurate weather forecaster from a Winston-Salem, NC TV station if he thought we’d get any this year and he thinks we “might have a shot at one good one.” I hope for Clara and Andrew’s sake, he’s right. But, the neat thing is that “man” can do nothing about this. God controls the weather patterns 100% of the time. Isn’t that great? Ever thought about what it would be like if man controlled the weather patterns. You talk about big-time arguments. Wow!

I wanted to show you a picture of something I saw at church last night. Take a look…

That’s Aaron Hudler washing dishes with his father, Jerry Hudler looking on. Way to go Aaron! He jumped in there and is washing those pots like a man! I hear ya! And I love it! I love the fact that Jerry expects his son to work. He expects him to have a work ethic. So do I! Here’s Andrew working in a blur vacuuming the rug at the office building we clean each week…

Here’s Andrew and Clara sweeping in the warehouse bathroom where we clean each week.

Is hard work going to kill them? No way! Will it make them better? You better believe it will. So, why is it that so few parents expect their kids to do anything?

Can I ask you a couple of questions? How many times should you have to ask for something to be done? When should you expect obedience?

Let me give you some answers right from Scripture (many Proverbs and Ephesians 6:1)

• Immediately (not later or in a few minutes)
• Completely (not partially)
• Dutifully (with a good attitude)

It has been said: “It is right that children should obey their parents and no further question need be asked, no further reason for obeying need be sought.”

I believe the following:

• Do not do for your children what they should do for themselves
• If they dirty something, they should clean it
• If they’re old enough to “get it out,” they are old enough to “put it up”
• If they leave a door open, they should go back and close it
• If they turn something on, they should turn it off
• Don’t bail them out when they’ve acted irresponsibly
• Don’t state for them time after time the established guidelines for chores and standards of behavior…consequences must follow quickly
• Don’t wake them daily when they are old enough to set an alarm clock or you will create dependence on you and they will blame you for not getting them up
• Don’t do homework assignments for them
• Don’t pay for their mistakes…if they “break it,” they pay for it

This is tough stuff though. Are you willing to do it? Am I? You know there are basically three types of parents.

#1 Permissive-Doing everything for the child.  You want to be their friend.  But what you’ve become is the child’s slave and they run the house.  You are constantly snow plowing your child’s road for them.  You do everything for them and you are afraid to tell them no.  You are running a Holiday Inn instead of a home.  In essence, “the inmates are running the asylum.”

Permissive Parents allow “child-run” homes and will be heard saying things like:

• I can’t make that for dinner at our house, the kids just won’t eat it.
• I prepare meals in two batches—one for my husband and me and one for the kids.
• We can’t have that family over to the house, their children are so much younger than ours that ours wouldn’t enjoy them.
• We can’t go there, the kids would get bored.
• We can’t take our kids into the church service, they’d never last.
• We won’t be able to go, our little Princess just doesn’t do well in those situations.
• We’ll probably be changing teachers or possibly schools because our little Bobby doesn’t enjoy Mrs. So & So.
• Junior refuses to…
• Susie just won’t put up with…
• I don’t want her to hate me…
• You bribe with treats and TV…

Remember, whatever we allow in moderation our children will take to excess!

#2 Authoritarian—You as a parent are always right and you “Lord” over the child with an iron fist and run the home like a dictator.  There is fear and worry as the parent barks out orders.  The child never feels secure in this environment and internalizes fear and doubt.  Children in this environment stay in the cocoon and some can even become bitter, angry and violent in later years.

#3 Authoritative and Responsive—this is the parent that finds that middle ground and has realistic expectations based on the child’s age, temperament and maturity.  This is the parent that loves the child unconditionally, but has expectations of them nonetheless.  They are responsive to disobedience without reacting in anger and hostility.  There are consequences for disobedience that are fair and expressed ahead of time.  The discipline is consistent and loving.  There are no entitlements in the home and there are no Holiday Inns.  This parent knows the secret about what all children want and it’s this:  All children, by and large, want is to please their parents and they want their parent’s respect.  Short and sweet, they “want” us and want us to be proud of them.

Perhaps you are a combination of these three. I find myself in that category, if I’m honest. Truth is, I really do want to follow the Lord in all His precepts and all His ways in raising my children. With much prayer, self-discipline and hard work…it can be done.

$20,000, Shoes, Tim Tebow and Homeschooling

$20,000, Shoes, Tim Tebow and homeschooling. ??? Wondering, “What in the world could this post be about?”

Well wonder no more!

We’ve been raising funds at our church to purchase a mission house in Texas to plant a church in an area where there are no churches reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As of Sunday, we were $20,000 short of our $80,000 goal that we must meet by 2/14/12. Well, not anymore!

I had a man call me yesterday morning and say, “Pastor, I sent you an email earlier, but it bounced back to me and didn’t go through. My wife and I were going to give $5,000 for the work of the Mission House. So, my wife said to me, ’Must be the Lord, honey. Why don’t you just do the whole thing and be done with.’ So, pastor, that’s what we’re doing. You don’t have to think any more about the Mission House funds. It’s done!”

Can you say: “Hallelujah!” I can! Oh my! God has provided again! Isn’t it so true that it seems the answers come when almost all hope is lost? I know Mary and Martha felt this way about the death of their brother Lazarus. But, Jesus is always right on time! Thank you Jesus!

Ok…now for the shoes. Katy, and Kandace (my 17 and 13-year-old daughters) and my wife, Pam just got back from New York.

(You might remember this “blessing” from my last post.) Well, Katy had a marvelous revelation while at Carnegie Hall. She wrote a blog post yesterday called, “The Shoes in Carnegie Hall.” Here’s an excerpt:

While I was sitting on the Carnegie Hall stage during rehearsal. I looked down at my feet while I was waiting for my turn to sing and something hit my like a ton of bricks as I looked at my shoes. They were one of my favorite pair of shoes. They are just plain black shoes with a strap. I love to wear them. I wear them a lot, because they work for comfort and look nice too. But it hit me that I had worn them in Ethiopia. In fact, I wore them to the most rural village we went to… Mount Geleye. They had walked on the ground of some of the most extreme poverty in the world.

I looked up and saw where I was then. Carnegie Hall’s golden glow almost became a blur as I looked back down. Those shoes had gone from the two most opposite places. From the depths of Africa to the most famous and beautiful Hall in the world. God spoke to me the simple words, “And so you go. You have shared Me with the Ethiopians and you will share Me with those here tonight. And, you are to share Me with everyone in between.” Just as my shoes had seen the two extremes, so had I. God told me that He sees them both and all between. Even my little town of Wilkesboro. He told me to be used wherever I am. Everywhere.

Beautiful are the feet of those that bring the good news, says Romans 10:15. I choked up as I remembered the persecuted in Africa and then as I thought of the many confused city people who rush through the bright streets of NYC and then of everyone in between.

It may sound crazy but, my shoes reminded me to go. Go. Go. Go to my church and use my gift there. Go to Mexico and serve there. Go to Africa and serve there. Go to NYC and serve there. Go where Jesus says. For now I’m at home and I’m determined not to get down because the excitement is over. It has only begun. God has stamped my heart with a mission. I am to make Him known through my actions, words I write, music I play and sing and the smile on my face. I won’t let Him down. Will you? Will you? He has so much planned and it starts with a, “Yes, Lord. Use me.” Click here for the entire post…

Here’s another awesome thought. Tim Tebow. Rick Reilly, a writer for ESPN brought me to tears. Here’s an excerpt from his article, “I Believe in Tim Tebow”:

This whole thing makes no football sense, of course. Most NFL players hardly talk to teammates before a game, much less visit with the sick and dying.

Isn’t that a huge distraction?

Stephanie Taylor Not everything Tim Tebow does on one knee is controversial. Ask Zac Taylor.

“Just the opposite,” Tebow says. “It’s by far the best thing I do to get myself ready. Here you are, about to play a game that the world says is the most important thing in the world. Win and they praise you. Lose and they crush you. And here I have a chance to talk to the coolest, most courageous people. It puts it all into perspective. The game doesn’t really matter. I mean, I’ll give 100 percent of my heart to win it, but in the end, the thing I most want to do is not win championships or make a lot of money, it’s to invest in people’s lives, to make a difference.”

So that’s it. I’ve given up giving up on him. I’m a 100 percent believer. Not in his arm. Not in his skills. I believe in his heart, his there-will-definitely-be-a-pony-under-the-tree optimism, the way his love pours into people, right up to their eyeballs, until they believe they can master the hopeless comeback, too.

Remember the QB who lost his leg, Jacob Rainey? He got his prosthetic leg a few weeks ago, and he wants to play high school football next season. Yes, tackle football. He’d be the first to do that on an above-the-knee amputation.

Hmmm. Wonder where he got that crazy idea? ”Tim told me to keep fighting, no matter what,” Rainey says. “I am.” Click here for the inspiring article. Have a tissue ready.

Want a hero for your kid? There ya go!

By the way, Tim Tebow was homeschooled all the way through High School until entering college at the University of Florida, where he won the Heisman his Sophomore year. (Not bad for a homeschooler, huh?)

Speaking of homeschooling. If you want to see an absolutely hilarious look at the “7 Lies About Homeschooling,” take a look at this short video. You’ll need tissues again, but this time in hysterical laughter. This is a must watch, especially for homeschoolers.

“7 Lies Video…”

Well, there you have it. $20,000, Shoes, Tim Tebow and homeschooling…all wrapped together! Hope you enjoyed!

Man, Am I Blessed!

Man, am I blessed! I really am! I was thinking about just how good the Lord is to me and it’s overwhelming to consider. How about you? Remember the old song, “Count Your Blessings?” The lyrics of the chorus are: “Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done!”

Well, I’m going to take a moment to do that. First off…right now my family (three of them) are in New York City. Take a look…

They left on Tuesday night and we’ll be coming back on Sunday. The girls were invited to sing with the Annie Moses Band at Carnegie Hall as a part of a 200-member choir.

Here’s the blessing of it. The cost of the trip was impossible for my family to meet. We’ve tried to faithfully give to the purchase of a Mission House our church is buying in Weslaco, TX so that we can plant a church there and also to continue the work that we’ve begun in Progreso, Mexico where we’ve built a church. Incidentally, there were 13 people who made a profession of faith in Christ last Sunday at the church in Progreso! They’ll be baptizing them next Sunday and at Mt. Pleasant we’ll be baptizing 14! That’s 27 souls added to the kingdom! What a blessing!

The point is, there was no way to do both. My children swallowed hard and said, “No problem, Dad.” Their desire to put the kingdom of God was and is a blessing to me.

But, God had plans to bless…because He blesses beyond measure! I’m convinced this family (shown with ours) had something to do with an anonymous “blessing” that allowed not only Katy and Kandace to go, but Pam as well.

Thank you Hall family! God used you to bless our family! Thanks David and Kathy for looking after my girls up there in the big city! We love you!

So the girls are soaking the sites in between a ton of practices and rehearsals. They went to Broadway play last night and will be going to see the Empire State Building this afternoon. What a blessing.

Man, am I blessed! I just can’t get over God’s goodness…like with this lady…

Pam is the most amazing woman! Wow! After 21 years of marriage, I still can’t believe I’m married to her! Oh…and these guys…

What a blessing, indeed! My parents, Pam’s parents, the MPBC church family, Iron Men, mission work in Ethiopia, Mexico, good health, my book, and most of all…

The Savior! Jesus Christ! Oh what an indescribable gift! The price he paid! He suffered my Hell for me. Darkness…separation from the Father…all for me. Amazing!

I return to the song, “Count Your Blessings.”

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain: Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, *Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. [*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold; Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all; Count your many blessings, angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Man am I blessed!

Gettin’ Anything Out of Church?

Sometimes I hear believers having conversations about church and I’ll hear one Christian ask another, “Are you gettin’ anything out of church?” Seems like a simple question doesn’t it? But, there is a lot to consider.

What is church?

Why do we go to church? What is our responsiblity as a believer to our church? These are questions that come to mind as I consider the first question: “…gettin’ anything out of church?”

In a recent Barna Research study, (can be found here), I noticed some interesting statistics. It was found that most people (66%) feel they have had “a real and personal connection” with God while attending church. Of course that means one-third of those who have attended a church in the past have never felt God’s presence while in a congregational setting. Also, when asked about frequency, most of those who have attended church describe these ”real and personal” encounters as rare. One-third of all adults in the country report connecting with God at least monthly (35%) while in church. Among those who attend church every week, 44% said they experience God’s presence every week and 18% do so on a monthly basis.

But, is that the point of church? Are we simply to attend church to get a “feeling?” That seems kind of self-serving. Does it seem that way to you? Seems a little selfish to me. Aren’t we supposed to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together so that we may stir up one another to righteousness?

²⁴ And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵ not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25

Are we to be in the entertainment business as churches? Are we supposed to be worried if people who come to our houses of worship “get anything out of it?” Well…I don’t want to be too quick to give an answer here. Why? Because I don’t think it’s a ”cut and dried, yes or no” answer. If we are looking for goose bumps and hair standing on end each week, then I believe we are short-sited to what the “assembling together” is supposed to be. Yet, I do believe we should “get something out of coming” together as believers. Let me explain.

The Bible teaches (and this is always where we should look for answers, right?) in Acts 2 that the believers would meet together and do four things.

⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common. ⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

Do you see what they were doing? It’s listed in verse 42. They #1 Devoted themselves to the Apostle’s teaching (they studied about Jesus) #2 Fellowship #3 Broke bread (ate together) #4 Prayed.

Now where do the goose bumps show up in that? Well, they can, interestingly enough. You see I get goose bumps (no joke) just being around other believers. I thoroughly enjoy being around my brothers and sisters in Christ! I’m absolutely enamored to hear stories of how Jesus is impacting their lives. It’s fantastic! It really is!

Yet, in our entertainment-saturated culture, many church leaders believe they have to conjure up some sort of “emotional experience” each week during the “worship service.” Why do we think this? Because we think we have to somehow keep up with the world, I’m afraid. We think we have to compete with concerts and great speakers/orators and the like. Yet, we don’t.

Church is simply the assembling together of the believers to study the Scriptures, fellowship, eat and pray. Are our churches focusing on these things or are we trying to conjure up some sort of “experience” each week for the believer.

Now don’t get me wrong. I have no problem with goose bumps. I like them! But, that’s not why I come to church, nor should it be. I get goose bumps when I’m singing with other believers the words to Chris Tomlin’s song, “I Will Rise.” I love the words:

There’s a peace I’ve come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There’s an anchor for my soul I can say “It is well”

Jesus has overcome And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won He is risen from the dead 

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles’ wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise I will rise

Aren’t those powerful words? You bet! So, when you couple those words with music! Wow! You might get some goose bumps! Wonderful! But, it’s the words, it’s the fellowship with other believers and the edification of the saints as we sing those words together that brings the greatest satisfaction if you ask me. But, coming to church just to “feel something” seems very selfish to me. It kind of seems that it’s “all about me” if I think that way.

Let me share a couple of more things. The Barna study probed the degree to which people say their lives had been changed by attending church. Overall, one-quarter of Americans (26%) who had been to a church before said that their life had been changed or affected “greatly” by attending church. Another one-fourth (25%) described it as “somewhat” influential. Nearly half said their life had not changed at all as a result of churchgoing (46%). Let’s see. Is it “coming to church” that is to change our lives or is it Jesus Christ? A building of block and mortar has never changed a single life that I know of, but certainly Jesus Christ can. In fact, “church” is not even about a building. The believers worshipped without buildings for over two centuries in one another’s homes.

Finally, Barna and his folks found that most people cannot recall gaining any new spiritual insights the last time they attended church. Asked to think about their last church visit, three out of five church attenders (61%) said they could not remember a significant or important new insight or understanding related to faith. Even among those who attended church in the last week, half admitted they could not recall a significant insight they had gained. You know this is sad. As a pastor, I think about what I just typed and I say to myself, “Kevin, surely you can study, pray and prepare, seek the anointing and guidance of the Holy Spirit to impart at least one ‘important insight’ to people when you speak.” Again, it’s not that I have to ”put on a show” when I preach. But, surely there is enough passion and unction in me (brought by the Spirit) that I can share at least one thing that causes people to say, “Yeah…I learned something today…I’m glad I came.”

One last thing. Church size doesn’t seem to matter.

Barna says:

Many heated discussions occur about the optimal size for a church, but this data suggests that church experiences do not differ all that much based on the size of the church. For the most part, attenders of small, medium and larger churches described similar outcomes from their church engagement. Looking at moderate differences, attenders of mid-sized churches (defined as those with 100-299 adult attenders) were slightly less likely to report positive outcomes from church than were those attending larger and smaller congregations. Also, those attending larger churches (300+ attenders) were more likely than average to say they had gained new spiritual insight and understanding and that their church clearly prioritizes serving the poor.

Interesting stuff. So, are you “gettin’ anything out of church?” Maybe the question should be: “What are you putting in?”

What Are Our Kids Tossing Overboard?

This past weekend we had a retreat for the young adults of our church. I call them “young adults,” because that’s what they are (no matter what the culture may call them…such as adolescents, youth, etc). They are indeed young adults if they are over the age of 12 (the age that Jesus told his parents, “…didn’t you know I had to be about my Father’s business.). It was a fantastic weekend!

Friday night this was an especially powerful move of the Spirit of God. What was experienced that evening by about 35 young adults and 20 adults will never be forgotten by any of us. What happened? I can’t explain it. I guess if I could, it would be a “God-thing.” Because, it certainly was a move of the hand of God.

I had the privilege of speaking to our young adults and the Lord had directed my mind, quite some time ago, to speak about their “spiritual box.” What is a spiritual box?

Well, we all have one. It’s what we grow up with and are taught by our parents, our church, and other Godly influences in our lives.

Paul told Timothy to not let anyone look down on him because he was young, but to set an example for all the believers in his speech, conduct, faith, love and purity (1 Tim. 4:12). He also told young Timothy:

¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

Did you see the “how from childhood” part? Most of our kids have been taught about Jesus since they were little and that’s good and bad. Obviously it’s good, because we want them to know about Jesus…but, the bad part (“dangerous,” may be a better word, because there is nothing “bad” about hearing about Jesus, but I think you understand), is that they can become “Gospel-hardened.” They can know all the facts and all the lingo and all the “Christianese,” but not truly and genuinely know Jesus.

This was the case with four young adults this past Friday night. They grew up in solid…I mean rock-solid, Christian homes…but, they didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. They simply “knew about Him.”

Friday night I talked about life using the analogy of being on a large cargo boat.

On this large boat I shared with the teens that they have boxes on this cargo ship that they’ve brought with them. They have a box of “Me” with all kinds of things such as our hair color, eye color, height, weight, etc. They have another box that says, “Education” and another one that says, “Sports/Dance/Musical Classes,” and another one that says, “Fun.” Finally they have a box that is labeled: “Spiritual.”

After a while on the ship the waves and water are about to overtake the ship. This represents our culture and how it can easily swamp us and sink our lives. So, the Captain shouts, “We must throw items overboard, now!” So, our young adults take a look at their boxes and they begin to decide between:

• Me
• Education
• Sports
• Fun
• Spiritual

Which box do you think they’ll choose? Oh, by the way…there is one thing I need to mention. On the back of the spiritual box it says, “Mom and Dad’s.” That’s right. The stuff in the spiritual box are not really theirs. They don’t own those items themselves. It’s their mom’s and dad’s. They don’t own their own faith.

What’s in the spiritual box? Well, it’s the stuff they’ve been taught since their childhood. Ultimately, for many young people, it’s what’s find in the Nicene Creed. What’s that?

The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christian liturgy (public practice of worship). It is called Nicene (/ˈnaɪsiːn/) because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Nicaea by the first ecumenical (of or relating to the Christian Church) council, which met there in the year 325. Here it is. See what you think:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

So, when many of our “Christian,” (I have that word in quotations…because I’m convinced many of our “professing” Christian young adults actually do not know Jesus Christ as Lord…they simply have sought “Hell insurance”), young adults are pushed…I’m afraid they will throw off items out of their spiritual box. The process they are undergoing is “cognitive bargaining.” Cognitive bargaining is thinking that goes like this…

They say, “Yes…I want to be a Christian…because that’s what my parents expect. Yes, they want me to be faithful to Christ, but I want to fit in and be liked by my friends. So, I’ll just throw off some of the things that they believe, just so I won’t look weird.”

In other words they don’t want to look strange. So, they begin tossing overboard the doctrines of Christ…they say, “I don’t think I can hang on to these ‘radical’ views any longer.” So, because of the things they see in relationships on TV and YouTube and Facebook, the constant barrage of anti-Christian themes in movies and music…they keep tossing off spiritual cargo. They begin to believe, “It’s just too costly.” They begin to believe that they can’t believe in just one way to heaven. They are unwilling to say that they are going to “save themselves” for marriage…much less refuse to get in the turnstile “dating scene,” so that they won’t lose their hearts, even if they don’t lose their virginity. It’s just too much! So, off the ship are tossed the items in the spiritual box.

Most of our young adults have never been pressed spiritually. But, what if a young adult arrives at college and they have a roommate that has Hindu parents and then as they are talking one day, the exclusivity of Jesus as THE (not “a” way…but, THE way to heaven) comes up in a conversation. The Hindu roommate asks your young adult (the “Christian”), “So, are you saying that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. Because if you are, then you are saying my grandfather is in Hell and my parents are going there too just because they’re Hindu and don’t believe in Jesus at all?”

What will they say? Many will chuck that spiritual box overboard when that “wave” hits them on the deck.

Yet many parents say, “My kids aren’t like this.” But, are you sure? If they are being socialized by the prevailing culture of the day in our schools and by media and music that doesn’t speak about Jesus…if they have little or no appetite for the things of God now, today…then why would we think they will somehow get stronger in high school or college under these “winds and waves?”

On Friday night…we had a room full of young adults who had to determine if #1 Did they have a spiritual box with their name on it and #2 Did they value the items in that box? I told them, they could take heart. Why? Because we have been here before. We must all remember that Christians in Rome walked past despicable sexual acts in the streets on the way to buy bread at the market in first century. The same occurred in Corinth. If you don’t believe me, read first and second Corinthians.

It will take massive convictions to hold to the things of God and not throw them overboard. There were idolatries all around the first century believers…yet they stood firm…even to their death.

Jesus asked…”When I return…will I find faith?” Yes, He will if we do what He says:

²³ And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

I pray He will find me faithful and my children faithful as they seek to “set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Luke 9:23-26

What about College?

I talked to a man the other day who is still working at the age of 67 primarily to put his granddaughter through school at Wingate University. She is getting her doctorate and he said that counting room and board, tuition, gas, and all expenses related to her being there it was running $46,000 per year. YIKES! He said, “She’ll have about $200,000 in student loans to pay off once she’s out of school.”

Is that what we want to saddle our young people with? I sure don’t want to saddle my children with that. So, what do we do?

I read a fantastic article that I want to share with you about the subject of college. I’ve got one graduating this year and of course everyone is asking her, “Where are you going to college?” The quick and easy answer.

Nowhere

Not physically at least. We are currently looking at online courses that can be taken from home (much cheaper than room and board) on college campuses and oh, did I mention the “college life?” You know…that “college life” we so desperately want our children to experience. Let’s see now…hmm…drinking, partying, sex, drugs, mostly pagan and liberal professors. Hmm… And I want to pay thousands of dollars per year for that?

This article by Marvin Olasky, editor of WORLD Magazine is excellent and will offer some great perspective on the subject. Take a look at his article entitled:

College Bubble

Marvin Olasky

(WNS)–Looking ahead at the next bubble to burst: higher education. Costs keep going up at traditional four-year colleges, in part because—with the notable exception of some Christian colleges and a few others that are student-oriented—professors do not make teaching their prime activity.

Examples are numerous. Here’s one: This past year the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP) released a study showing that 80 percent of the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin receive full-time pay for teaching an average of 63 students per year, the equivalent of three classes per year of 21 students each.

The joke used to be that tenured professors with too much time on their hands sold real estate on the side, but this past year a New Jersey physics professor went to extremes. Police arrested him, along with a distinguished former president of the University of New Mexico, for allegedly running an online prostitution ring.

Most professors, of course, spend time in other pursuits. The Pope Center for Higher Education Policy in North Carolina recently asked whether an English professor who teaches Shakespeare will advance his career more by (1) Closely rereading the major plays of Shakespeare and their most important critiques, reading about Elizabethan history, preparing for lectures, and correcting written grammar when grading papers, or (2) Writing the one-millionth academic article on Shakespeare, “with an emphasis on cross-dressing, food, or some other obscure topic.”

The answer: Number 2. And thus taxpayers spend thousands of dollars to subsidize conference papers that perhaps half a dozen people read, out of obligation. If you have a free half hour, visit the Postmodernism Generator (elsewhere.org/pomo) and make up amusing titles of the kind that fill research journals and allow professors to pretend that they are productive. Examples include “The semiotic paradigm of context in the works of Madonna” or “The capitalist paradigm of expression in the works of Fellini.”

While students write poorly, professors prattle instead of teach. Meanwhile, parents pay tuition because it’s socially the thing to do—and they’ve also bought the talk that college graduates earn much more than non-graduates. That’s true, but Richard Vedder, an education economic expert, estimates that two-thirds of superior earning comes from the intelligence and character of the earner rather than the degree itself.

That raises another question: Do colleges help or hurt character formation? Some students work hard, particularly when they add a part-time, bill-paying job to their classes, and some colleges demand hard work, but many students have an implicit deal with many professors: Neither will work hard.

The blog Gonzo Town describes college years, with some hyperbole, as a “four-year window in which to master the fine art of drinking beer,” with “cheap tickets to Division I football and basketball games and their fantastic after parties … a bottomless trough of free time to play computer games in your apartment, eat pizza, [consume] lots of beers, drugs, sports, parties, games, sex.”

Gonzo Town has a good suggestion: “Go to community college for two years. By doing this you have the following advantages over your mostly deluded elite counterparts at a four-year university. You will have no debt, you can earn money, perhaps live at home and save money, get more or less the same curriculum the university college offers—at a fraction of the cost.” Drawbacks, though, include fewer parties, and “you have to put up with your parents for a while longer.”

Some students can then transfer to a college, but Gonzo Town also offers a second option: “Learn a trade and become a ‘skilled worker.’ Here is a truly revolutionary concept, so radical in fact, the entire U.S. and European modern economies were built upon it. Question: Who earns more than a lawyer, a resident physician, or most company directors? Answer: a plumber.”

I’m not at all suggesting that those called to be lawyers, doctors, professors, etc., should not go to college. I am suggesting that work as an electrician, landscaper, or X-ray technician, or in hundreds of other occupations that don’t require a four-year college degree, also glorifies God and should be honored by all of us. Many high-school graduates should spend their time that way instead of incurring huge loans for the opportunity to be unemployed and resentful.

I will say this. I was a businessman for 17 years. I hired and fired dozens of people from those who had an MBA at Wake Forest University to those who had nothing more than a college degree. Do you know what I looked for? Those who an demonstrated they could: #1 Get along with others #2 Learn (had intellect) #3 Teachable #4 Gumption (In case you don’t know what this is. It is good ole fashion ingenuity, drive, strong work ethic…self starter and all those other words we use. I kind of like “gumption” though, don’t you?) I would suppose to you that these are things that can be taught anywhere…and for a whole lot less than $46,000 per year.

Now She’s Gone and Done It!

Oh boy…now she’s gone and done it! She? Who’s she? And what’s she “gone and done?” Well, it’s Pam of course!

She’s the beautiful young lady to the far right (beside of the old, bald guy ).

Yep…she’s gone and done it! She’s entered the fabulous and fantastic world of blogging! Yippee! I’ve told her for months that she needs to blog. Her insights and wisdom are wonderful! She has a way of seeing life from the perspective of a wife (a Pastor’s wife at that), mom (homeschool mom at that) and as a believer in Jesus Christ that will bring hope and encouragement to many.

Want to see?

Take a look at her first couple of posts and stay tuned for more from Pam at Silver Linings and Such.

I love you, Honey! Thanks for being an inspiration to many…especially ME!!

2012-What’s Going to be Your Focus?

2012 is bearing down on us! We’ve got less than three days left in 2011. The ball is being prepared in Times Square as we speak…

How’s it been? What was 2011 like for you? A year to remember or year to forget? What was your focus in 2011? What did you really want to accomplish? Did you get it done? Were you successful? Did you fail? Is the “jury still out?”

There is much I could say in answer to all of these questions…but, I’ll keep them to myself, because I would prefer for you to think as I’m thinking now. In light of these questions, I’ll ask one more question:

What’s going to be your focus in 2012?

Could it be to :

Make more money?

Get a promotion?

Get a new job?

Lose weight?

Ultimately, I’ve made up my mind on what my focus will be. It’s simply this:

Adding people to the Kingdom of God. Making more Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

That’s it! That’s the overriding them and goal for my life in 2012. And here’s the deal…it’s got to start in my home. I’ve got to make disciples of my children while I’m making disciples of others. Many get this messed up. They either ONLY make disciples of their children and couldn’t care less about discipling anyone else or getting involved in anyone else’s life OR they seek make disciples of everyone EXCEPT their children.

So, I believe that the balance is to make disciples of others while I’m making disciples of my own children. It’s both. Now please don’t misunderstand me…the first priority must be to the home and the children that comprise the home…but, we can’t be isolationists and mutually exclusive.

In this post I’ll briefly discuss what the Bible teaches about making disciples in the home. In the first verse of Psalm 127, we are told: Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

The Lord God must build the house and Jesus Christ must be the rock foundation on which we build that house. A house is not built overnight. It takes months and in some cases, years to build a home and that’s why we must not think that we can “complete the job” and then move on to discipling others. It must be done simultaneously or in essence we are very selfish people and just care about “our own.”

So, we realize that our children are built and developed over many years of teaching and training. So, just how are we building the lives of our children? What are we building into their lives? Fathers, particularly, must answer these questions and with prayerful introspection. Why? Because it’s our job to lead in the home in the spiritual discipline and nurturing of our children (Ephesians 6:4).

Philip Lancaster in his book, Family Man, Family Leader, says:

Those of us who live in modern America (and similar lands) live in a giant slum, speaking in terms of the condition of our family life. The physical houses are, for the most part, structurally sound and reasonably attractive on the outside, but the families that inhabit them have deteriorated over the years to the point where they are barely holding together, if they are at all. Even the best of them are only a shell of what families once were, since the members of the household have little meaningful life together, and they are not fulfilling the callings God has given fathers, mothers, and children. They are badly in need of restoration.

These are sobering words, yet true. We must honestly look at our lives and our schedules as we enter a new year (2012) and ask ourselves what our houses look like from a foundational level. Are we trying to cover and hide cracks with a façade of religion or are they strongly built on the Word of God? Will we make the necessary repairs that lead to strength and growth in our families.

As a pastor, I sometimes look at the world and ask myself, “How can we fix our churches and ultimately this nation and repair all of these families?” Lancaster shares an encouraging answer to this daunting question:

The need is utterly overwhelming when viewed overall. But the solution is well within reach when viewed from the standpoint of each household. A father doesn’t have to fix the whole society; he just has to fix his own family. And here is the amazing and hopeful thing about God’s national rebuilding plan: the renewal strategy that is within the reach of each father—making changes in his own home—is the strategy that will have the greatest overall effect for the kingdom of God. As each of us sees to our own little sphere of dominion, our own families, the combined effect will be renewed communities, churches, and nations. (Emphasis his)

My heart almost skips a beat when I read those words because of what could happen if we decide to get serious and make the necessary changes in our homes. The great puritan churchman, Richard Baxter preached reformation in the 1600’s. Still today, his words ring true. Baxter wrote:

You are not likely to see any general reformation, till you procure family reformation. Some little religion there may be here and there; but while it is confined to single persons, and is not promoted in families, it will not prosper, nor promise future increase.

The reality is unless we radically change the way we view the role of the family in the church and the home, we will not see an end to the systematic decimation of both institutions. We will either win the culture back one family at a time or we will lose the culture one family at a time. It is that simple. Either way you look at it, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the key.

What will be your focus in 2012? Let’s work for the kingdom and let it begin in our homes and stretch throughout the world, as we go and make disciples of all nations. Let’s begin seeing our jobs and income…our money…our time…our talents as simply tools the Lord Jesus has given us to use for His kingdom…not ours. Amen?

Amen.

Happy New Year!

The Most Wonderful Time of Year

Man, do I love Christmas! As Andy Williams sings, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

In fact, the older I get the more I find I like those old “traditional” Christmas carols sung by Williams, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Johnny Mathis, Peggy Lee, Bing Crosby and the like. We crank up the music right after Thanksgiving and enjoy it all the way through New Year’s.

Getting the Christmas tree is blast for our family…Katy located the “perfect” tree for us this year…

I thoroughly enjoy the parties… Here’s a shot of our Bible Study class at the home of Dan and Melanie Parrish playing a game…

I enjoy the food and the extra time with family.

Christmas Eve we were at Pam’s mom and dad’s. George loves it when the girls and Pam’s brother Mike play music together…

Clara got her a cute little bear…

We had a blast last night at my mom and dad’s…

Good looking family, huh?

What a joy! And then…

Bang…

It’s all over. I mean Christmas comes like lightning and then BANG…it’s over. Today is December 26th and we’re back to reality and well…it’s kind of a downer isn’t it? What a tremendous build-up to a single day of the year and then it comes and it’s gone as quickly as you can say, well: “Merry Christmas.” So, do you know what I’ve learned with 43 Christmases now come and gone?

Enjoy every day like it’s Christmas.

Sound trite? I’m sure it is…but, even more than ever I see the importance of enjoying each day for what it is…”a day that the Lord has made and we are to rejoice and be glad in it.” Why can’t December 26th be just as joyful and delightful as December 25th?

I believe it can be if we see Christmas Day for what it is. It’s the day we celebrate the birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. It’s when God chose to come in the flesh in the second person of His Godhead. It’s when Emmanuel (God with us) came to become one of us.

You may ask, “Why did Jesus have to come?” Simple…because of sin. We have a sin problem that dates back to the Garden of Eden. Because of man’s choice to sin, we are all born “fallen,” and sinful. We are hopelessly lost. So, in the fullness of time…God sent Jesus, born of woman…

⁴But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  Galatians 4:4-5

Only a man could be “born under the law.” No animal or angelic being is “under the law.” Only humans are born under the law and only a human being could redeem other human beings born under the same law. Born under the law of God, all humans are guilty of transgressing that law. Only a perfect human—Jesus Christ—could perfectly keep the law and perfectly fulfill the law. So, we can be delivered from the guilt of sin, which Jesus accomplished on the cross, exchanging our sin for His perfect righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Only by the shedding of blood is sin forgiven (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22). The blood of animals, (although acceptable on a temporary basis as a foreshadowing of the blood of the perfect God-Man), was not sufficient for the permanent remission of sin because “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Jesus Christ, the perfect man, Whom we often call the “Lamb of God,” sacrificed His human life and shed His human blood to cover the sins of all who would ever believe and put their trust, faith and lives in Him. If He were not human, this would have been impossible. His payment would have been unacceptable.

Jesus took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7). He took off His robe of deity in Heaven and laid it aside to come to earth. This laying aside was not a change of nature, but a putting aside of his position. It means while possessing all the nature and attributes of God, He did not use those attributes for His own personal use but only for His Father’s will and pleasure. He did this for you and for me.

So on this December 26th I can still have just as much joy as I had on December 25th? Why? Because the Christ-child grew to be a man and paid the price of my sin by becoming obedient to death…even death on a cross.

Yesterday most Americans chose to celebrate Christmas in a living room floor with presents galore. Few went to church to honor the Christ…the Christ of Christmas. In fact, the thought struck me as I was driving to church yesterday morning on a mostly empty 4-lane highway…

Most people don’t even get it…Christmas that is…

It’s the most wonderful time of year because of Jesus…and that’s why we give gifts… We give gifts to celebrate the greatest gift ever given to man…

For God so loved that world, He gave…

His only Son…

Why is it the most wonderful time of year? Is it because folks spend more money than at any time of year and load up their kids with more “stuff” that they’ll simply throw under the beds in a few weeks (I’m guilty here too)… Is it because of all the food and overeating (again…I’m guilty)… Or will we truly understand that what’s really so wonderful about this season, or any day of the year for that matter, is the fact that Jesus came to give us life if we would choose to receive Him by faith and make Him Lord. Now that is wonderful indeed…every single day of the year!