Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Post - election Test

Dr. Wyman Richardson, pastors FBC of Dawson, GA. created this test. It is timely and very helpful in giving us perspective on the presidential election. Take the test, then ask yourself how you should respond to the election results.
  1. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, Jesus will still be King.
  2. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our responsibilities as Christians will not have changed one iota.
  3. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the greatest agent for social change in America will still be winning the hearts and minds of men and women through the gospel, not legislation.
  4. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my primary citizenship will still be in this order - (1) the Kingdom of God, (2) America, not vice-versa.
  5. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the tomb will still be empty.
  6. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the cross, not the government, will still be our salvation.
  7. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, our children will still be more concerned with whether or not we spend time with them than with who is President.
  8. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my neighbor will still be my neighbor, and loving him/her will still be the second greatest commandment. (Do you know the first?)
  9. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see abortion ultimately overturned will still be winning men and women to a high view of life through the gospel of Christ.
  10. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, the only way to see gay marriage ultimately defeated will still be winning men and women to a biblical view of marriage through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  11. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, my retirement will still not match my treasure in Heaven.
  12. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, "Jesus Is Lord" will still be the greatest truth in the Universe.
  13. True/False: The day after the election, regardless of who wins, we will still know that God is in control.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Vision

Anyone taking a trip usually has a destination in mind. I'm sure there are some out there who are spontaneous enough that a destination is to limiting. But for those of us who want a goal at the end, a vision is what you foresee being your final destination. A vision is usually bigger than you can imagine, harder than you can fathom, and more wonderful than you can wish for.
Do you have a vision for your life? What three measurable goals would you hope to accomplish before you die? A modified "bucket-list." I'll share with you some of mine, maybe it will spark some things for you. By the way, these are not my BIG three, just a list in general. I would love to see Europe, the Holy Land, maybe even India. I would love to write a book (topic unknown). I think it would be cool to hang out with John MacArthur, a spiritual giant, and Harrison Ford, my movie hero.
So, after you list your three, start making goals to reach them. Yeah, these aren't just pie-in-the-sky ideas, these have to be measurable goals, remember? What are my three goals, you ask? Ask me sometime and I'll tell you.
I want my church to spend the month of November on a sort of spiritual vision quest. What does our Sovereign Lord want our, His, church to be. I believe that if we can get an idea of who we are to be then we can begin deciding what we are to do.
Some of you may be thinking, "this sounds purpose-driven to me." I guess so, if that helps you wrap your mind around it. I went through the purpose-driven fad, but I still like the biblical view of knowing who I am in Jesus. I think this is possible for a specific group of believers too.
Anyway, back to my church who I've asked to pray, read, meditate and fast to ask the Lord to show us who we, as a specific body of Christ, are to be and become. I find this to be a fascinating task. I believe that God will unite His people and show a collection of individuals several dreams that when put together become one united vision.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

You are Loved

Hey, two Sunday's ago, CrossPoint gave Tricia and I two wonderful gifts and a card full of warm words.
I just want all of my church family to know how much we appreciated your awareness of Pastor appreciation month by recognizing us. So many Pastors are out there hurting and alone, even when they are surrounded by their church.
CrossPoint, you did a really honorable thing by "appreciating" us.
Well, you are loved, Beloved of God!
I am sure there more ways for me to let you know that Tricia and I love you, but I hope you read this and know it.

"We love you!"

One thing I have a passion for is discipling people. An aspect of discipling is to admonish and teach. If you or someone you know is struggling with life issues/struggles, please let us know. I would love to sit down with them and prayerfully help them/you through any tough times.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Powerful thought

I read a powerful quote in one of my devotionals this week. It came from the perspective of God as he listens to our prayers for the salvation of a loved one. Although we can become frustrated and not know why so and so has not come to salvation, God is still active. Can we bring conviction? Can we bring adversity, or blessing, or the searing prick of salvation to one's conscience? No, but we pray to a God who can.
Do not give up on praying for that loved one. You don't always know what God is doing in another's life. Salvation may seem impossible to us, but not to God. He practices in the impossible.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Time at the Master's Feet

I am going to confess something to you: I have not had a consistent quiet time with my Lord for several months. MONTHS! I know, I know, you haven't either, but who's judging?

Well, convicttion came upon me. A gentlemen in our church told me how he gets up at 5:00 am to spend time with God before going to work. Here I am getting up at 6:00 am and going to work without spending any time with God. Usually, I would try and squeeze a time in during the evening after dinner or before. But, there would always be interruptions, and it is hard to focus. So, after I heard about the 5:00 am time, I knew I needed to get up and act like I love my Lord.

So, I get up at 5:30 and spend a half hour reading and preparing my mind for the day. What, you thought I was going to say I get up at 5:00 am? I'm not the Pope, just paul.

I am writing this to encourage all of us to make some time to be like Mary and do the better thing and sit at the Master's feet.

Whether it is in the morning or the evening, find a quiet place and a comfortable chair to be with Jesus.

I am following the year with a prayer guide I picked up at a book store years ago. It guides me through scripture readings and prayers throughout the year of certain topics. The next couple of things I do vary depending upon what I feel like doing: Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost (modern language edition);" "Magnificent Prayer" by Nick Harrison; "Spurgeon Gold" (a book of quotes from Spurgeon) by Ray Comfort; and a small Bible study using Precept Ministries material.

I can do this in about 30 minutes. How good it is to spend time with my Lord! I am confident that the Lord speaks directly to us through the Word. Any other words He gives to me during the day usually come filtered through what I read that morning. I have been going into work with more comfort and confidence than I have had in a long time.

Beloved, do the better thing and sit at the Master's feet.

The Weapon of our Warfare

This morning in my devotion time I read some things that reminded me of our strongest weapon for bringing the Kingdom of God to earth -- prayer! You thought I would say something really new and profound, nothing is new under the sun. But, prayer remains our strongest tool in our alliance with our King Warrior -- Yahweh-saboath, The LORD of hosts, the God of the angel armies!!!

In Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest," he said for September 10th, "God's training ground, where the missionary weapons are found, is the hidden, personal, worshiping life of the saint." (See my next post about our devotional time.)

John Piper said, "When God hungers for some special satisfaction, he seeks out a prayer to answer. Our prayer is the sweet aroma from the kitchen ascending up into the Kings' chambers making him hungry for the meal. But the actual enjoyment of the meal is his own glorious work in answering our prayer. The food of God is to answer our prayer. The most wonderful thing about the Bible is that it reveals a God who satisfies his appetite for joy by answering prayers."

Beloved, let us embrace our prayer time as a time of warfare. It is our prayers that The Lord allows us to partake with Him in his redemption of the world. God wants you and I to join Him in taking back this world. Does He need our prayers? No. Does He want our prayers? Yes. Why? Because all that He does is for His own glory and He allows us to partake in glorifying Him by praying to Him to do some incredible work. What, did you think you were the center of the universe. Wrong-ola! Jesus said, "I AM."

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

...to the ends of the earth

What will CrossPoint look like in one year? five years? ten years? fifty years?

That all depends on what we decide to do now. Dr. Bob Price always says, "If you keep on doing what you have always done, you will keep on getting what you always got."

What are we as a church to be about? Why does the church exist? You know the answer don't you.

Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He is present with us in the form of His Holy Spirit, empowering us to do the work of an evangelist.

Are you ready to get dirty for Jesus? Ministry is messy. If it isn't then you are just running a social club. CrossPoint will not be a social club.

We are a HOSPITAL for the dying...

We are a LIGHTHOUSE for those in danger of drowning...

We are a BULL HORN to sound the warning of coming judgment and freedom in Jesus...

We are CROSSPOINT where people's lives intersect with Jesus!

Begin praying today:

First, that we will know and understand the terror of the Lord and that we would see and know that people without Jesus are lost and will face God's wrath, 2 Cor. 5:11

Second, pray that the Holy Spirit will give YOU a continuing and agonizing burden for the lost, Rom. 9:1-3.

Third, pray for Holy Spirit power in witnessing, Acts 1:8.

Firth, pray that you would intentionally look for opportunities to witness, Col. 4:3; Matt. 7:7.

We are His witnesses to the ends of the earth. Are we?

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Adorning the Gospel

It was amazing to me how God was stirring in my soul Sunday morning. As a Pastor I try not to be completely dedicated to my notes. I certainly did not dedicate this Sunday morning. God was really speaking to me about areas of my life and how they were out of balance. I truly believe that God was also speaking to some of you.

As I was preaching the Lord showed me this visual of walking up to the base of the cross of our Lord and just hugging it. It was just after they had taken our Lord down, so everything was still fresh. The dark clouds, the weeping people, and the cross. I knelt down and clung to the cross and smelt the wretched odor of blood and sweat. The blood still running down the beam and touching upon my cheek. These were real. That was real. Cling to the cross this week. Place your fingers in the holes made by the nails. Smell the blood, see the stains in the crevices of the wood. Imagine why He died there, for you...

for you...

for you....

When we realize fully what He died for, whom He died in place of, then we will begin to have a real understanding of our salvation. Our salvation will become precious. Our lives will become meaningful. Others lives will become important. Life is not about jobs, or retirement. It is about Jesus, the cross, the lost, the party awaiting us at the end.

Ponder this week the cross.

Ponder how this pondering will em-blazen your adornment of the gospel.

Life is about adorning the gospel.

Leave comments, I would love to know what God is showing you also.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

What Really Happened in Colorado Part Three

While we were in Colorado we visited Pike's Peak, it was amazing. I wrote this in my journal after we visited the Peak.

Tuesday, August 7th of 2007 at 4:25pm I wrote:

Coming down from Pikes Peak there was such thick clouds we couldn't see very far down. I thought how being a Christian is like living on the mountain It is majestic, breath-taking, soothing, and dangerous. But only if you can see without the clouds obstructing the view of just how high up you really are. When the clouds roll in we forget how wonderful it is to be up so high. When we forget our Lord and walk in our desires it is the same as the clouds rolling in. We can get used to this exhilerating life our Sovereign Lord has given us, take it for granted. We can lose sight of how majestic, breath-taking, soothing and dangerous He is. The difference between Pikes Peak and me - I can control the clouds.

What Really Happened in Colorado Part Two

One of my callings was to be a counselor. In fact as I was graduating from college I thought that counseling was to be my profession. A timely word from my Youth Pastor, Mike Jarrett, that ultimately came from God was not to go down that road. The Lord birthed that desire, but it would not be born until these last couple of years.

Little by little God has been teaching me about counseling and I have had some wonderful opportunities to counsel teenagers, marriages, and men. I love it.

While in Colorado one of our requirements was to take a personality test. They used one of the best, the Myers-Brigg Personality Indicator. It is really thorough and helps a person to discover who God designed them to be. I am excited, because you have to seek approval to be able to purchase this material and use it. I was accepted and can use it. I hope to eventually get some in-depth training with it. But, for now I hope to incorporate it into my pastoring work of counseling.

Tricia and I have received so many godly words from people who we love. They have spoken endearing words into our hearts and we are better because of it. People like my parents, my in-laws, Pastors, and friends. I believe that God wants Tricia and I to be able to do the same for other souls who are hurting and in need of guidance.

What Really Happened in Colorado

It has been a year since our trip to Colorado and as I reflect back I can see how it was life changing for me and Tricia both.

There was so much turmoil in my spirit during that last year at Cornerstone, I had picked up a lot of baggage that was really influencing my view of God and how He saw me.

One of my primary strengths is that I care for people, this is reflected in my spiritual gift of pastor/shepherd. At the same time this strength can hide my primary weakness--my obsessive need to be approved by people. This need to seek others approval fleshed itself out in my continual struggle to walk two lives. One life was with the people I care about and who are my dearest friends and the other was my loyalty to my Pastor, Bro. Bob. I was constantly being pulled in two directions and I hated it.

I was so scared of leaving Cornerstone that I continued to live in this grip experience. I had this warped view of logic that said it was okay to try and please both lives, one that disagreed with the direction of the Pastor and the other that got along for security of a job and a paycheck. It was only by God's goodness that He brought my true feelings to light and simply booted me out into the real world.

I made a statement at CrossPoint last week during my sermon that really shook me. I hadn't planned on saying it and I am discovering that alot of what I say comes in the moment. I know, that can be bad because who knows what I am g0ing to say and that can be good because it allows for the Spirit of God to move spontaneously on me. I said during my sermon that I would Pastor for free. I really meant it. I know the Apostle Paul said that elders who teach are worthy of double honor and I appreciate that about 'ole Paul, but if I'm not willing to try and build the Kingdom for free, then I am not called to build it.

At Cornerstone I never had that perspective. I had a lazy, self-absorbed perspective that betrayed the Kingdom. I believe it was God's will for me and the family to get out of there. I am so thankful of my years there and would not trade it for anything.

So, one thing I learned in Colorado was that "I don't have to prove myself to anyone." God made me uniquely me and He is showing me that I am only responsible towards Him. Yes, I am accountable to others, no doubt. But, my perverted view of finding worth in myself through others really had me in bondage. I found my worth through Cornerstone and that was perverted, it would be if I tried to find my worth through CrossPoint. My worth is found in God's love for me. I am His beloved Son, a Warrior Prince. The church does not owe me anything and I don't owe the church anything. I owe God everything.

One of my journals reveals what I am trying to say here: Wednesday the 8th of August, 2007, at 8:51 am. The Sovereign Lord loves me. He also said He sees me as majestic, breath-taking, soothing, and yes, dangerous. My Father is pleased with me for who I am, not what I've done or will do.

More about Colorado later.