Tonight has generated a few stories that I’d like to share with you but to do that I’ll have to go back to the beginning. My blogs are about events that come across my path on a daily basis and I’ve had so many share how they are an encouragement to them. They are events that have actually happened in my life and relate to my life on a daily basis. I try to use these events to help you become stronger in your faith and your commitment to Christ.
While growing up I had the perfect childhood. Great parents, an amazing church that taught me about the love of Christ, I had a few years where I had perfect attendance at school and my grades were really good. My bumps along the way were an appendix that burst when I was young, a tooth knocked out while playing baseball and an infection that….well, let’s not go there.
It wasn’t until I was 18 that things began to change. My eyesight changed and I had to get glasses. Then in my late 20’s my physical health began changing. A guy who had never ever experienced an allergy had all of the sudden began developing allergies to everything that there was in life. For the next several years I was miserable because my eyes were constantly burning and my sinuses were always running or plugged up. I could sneeze for hours at a time and no relief was ever found. The older I got the worse my allergies got. Then it happened….the most divesting thing I’d experienced in all my days.
Tami and I lived in the country while pastoring a wonderful church in Wooster, Ohio. While we lived there a great friendship grew with a neighbor who lived just down the street. Not only did his family become faithful attendees of our church but also our friendship led to many great rounds of golf. Dennis was a good loser because I was a much better golfer but that is another story for later…I love you Dennis! LOL But the course we golfed at every week was an amazing course, Country Club quality but at cheap man pricing, which was located out in the middle of farm country. Every spring when they were getting the fields ready for planting they would fertilize them with liquid manure which was horrible to smell. Every year we would tolerate the smell just to golf this great golf course.
Then it happened, one year while we were in the middle of our round of golf Dennis began complaining about the smell. I looked at him amazed because it didn’t smell the stince. And as we began talking I quickly realized that I could no longer smell. Something that I had just accepted as a part of my normal everyday life was gone, I could no longer smell. And it wasn’t long before I discovered that I could no longer taste the various flavors of life.
That event occur over 15 years ago and I’ve come to accept it as just a part of my life. I can’t taste or smell so there are so many thing in life that I’m missing out of. Spiritually I wonder how many of us have lost our sense of taste and smell and we can no longer see the wonderful things that God has for us as His children. We just accept the norm knowing that nothing is different yet God has so much for us to taste and smell. The Bible says, taste and see how good the Lord is! Yet, if I can’t smell, I can’t taste. Don’t lose your taste of the Lord!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Don't Let How Things Look or How You Feel Stop You
Last Friday my ill health began, and as I’m sitting here today it’s been a rough few days. I started by not feeling very good. I wasn’t sick, but I knew I wasn’t feeling right. On Saturday I tried to take it easy and just rest, hoping to find myself feeling back to normal by Sunday morning. Sunday came and by the end of our morning service I didn’t feel good at all. My body ached all over, I couldn’t breathe, and I had a horrible sore throat. Sunday was amazing because Tailgate 2014 we saw 14 people commit their lives to Christ, the food at the Tailgate party was fantastic, and many who visited us on Sunday said that they’d be back again. So if I gave a spiritual grade to Sunday it would have to be an A+ because heaven was rejoicing with us for those who committed their lives to Christ.
If I were to give it a grade on the physical side of things it would not be an A+. The weather was cold and dreary, we couldn’t have our Tailgate Party outside for the first time in 7 years, I felt miserable, and we didn’t reach the goals that I had for the church. The worship service was great and the preaching was not horrible…lol…but at the end of my sermon a breaker on a set of houselights went out and we had to finish with part of our auditorium being in the dark. I can always find something to complain about, and I wonder how many of us live our lives that way?
Since Sunday, I have been home sick, and even as I’m writing this I don’t feel good. I’ve been to the doctor and been given prescriptions to help me get better, but they haven’t helped yet. However, I don’t choose to live focused on the negative but instead reflect on the good things. We had an amazing service where lives were impacted by the gospel. I’ve heard that one family that came Sunday does not attend any church and were so blessed by their experience that they plan on attending again. Another family not only accepted Christ as their Savior but said that the service was exactly what they needed because they were going through difficult times. Yes, I had higher expectations, but God did exactly what had to be done in the lives of those who were at service that day.
If I were to give it a grade on the physical side of things it would not be an A+. The weather was cold and dreary, we couldn’t have our Tailgate Party outside for the first time in 7 years, I felt miserable, and we didn’t reach the goals that I had for the church. The worship service was great and the preaching was not horrible…lol…but at the end of my sermon a breaker on a set of houselights went out and we had to finish with part of our auditorium being in the dark. I can always find something to complain about, and I wonder how many of us live our lives that way?
Since Sunday, I have been home sick, and even as I’m writing this I don’t feel good. I’ve been to the doctor and been given prescriptions to help me get better, but they haven’t helped yet. However, I don’t choose to live focused on the negative but instead reflect on the good things. We had an amazing service where lives were impacted by the gospel. I’ve heard that one family that came Sunday does not attend any church and were so blessed by their experience that they plan on attending again. Another family not only accepted Christ as their Savior but said that the service was exactly what they needed because they were going through difficult times. Yes, I had higher expectations, but God did exactly what had to be done in the lives of those who were at service that day.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Election Week - Did you vote?
This week is an exciting week if you are an American. It’s election week, the time we get to decide who will represent us in our state and national government. I really like the early voting option because I was able to vote over a week ago and don’t have to worry about crowds or the weather affecting me. I hope that we all can appreciate the privilege we have to vote because so many great men and women gave their lives to preserve that right for us as citizens of this great country.
The sad truth is that many citizens take this privilege for granted. I’m often amazed at the percentage of those able to vote who actually take the time to exercise their right. I was listening to the radio this morning and heard it projected that about 37% of eligible voters will actually vote. And most of the excuses offered for not voting are embarrassing: things like, “It won’t make a difference”, “I forgot”, or “I just didn’t feel like doing it.” And we wonder why our country has become so lackadaisical. The church is entering a time when we can no longer sit back and just accept whatever happens. We are being attacked, and the attacks are not going to stop. When churches are being subpoenaed to turn over the transcripts of sermons preached to see if they are preaching a message of hate it is scary. This is only the beginning unless we start voting in men and women who hold to the values that are important to us. One thing that I promise is that I will never compromise the truth of the Bible because an elected official tells me that I’m required to!
So that brings me to the important issue of where I’m going with this blog. I am a Christian, born again, saved, on-my-way-to-heaven follower of Jesus Christ. I’ve been bought with the price of Jesus giving his very life for mine. This act of forgiveness is not just for me but for every person who has ever been born, yet how many people never respond to that free gift? How many people don’t even know about that free gift because no one has ever shared it with them? Just as I, as an American, feel a right to cast a vote to determine the future of our country, I need to understand that as a Christian I need to make a choice on sharing what God has brought into my life.
I think we need to be diligent about protecting our country, but I feel we need to be even more diligent about sharing about our eternal destination. So many have been deceived and just don’t pay attention, and we need to change that perspective. Every day we come across people who have not heard the gospel message or have not really had someone ask them the important questions about their future. Let’s be the church that is not afraid to ask the questions that really matter: “Have you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins?” “Do you believe in heaven and if so how do you get there?” “Will you come visit my church this week?” There are so many directions we can go with this eternity-changing subject.
The sad truth is that many citizens take this privilege for granted. I’m often amazed at the percentage of those able to vote who actually take the time to exercise their right. I was listening to the radio this morning and heard it projected that about 37% of eligible voters will actually vote. And most of the excuses offered for not voting are embarrassing: things like, “It won’t make a difference”, “I forgot”, or “I just didn’t feel like doing it.” And we wonder why our country has become so lackadaisical. The church is entering a time when we can no longer sit back and just accept whatever happens. We are being attacked, and the attacks are not going to stop. When churches are being subpoenaed to turn over the transcripts of sermons preached to see if they are preaching a message of hate it is scary. This is only the beginning unless we start voting in men and women who hold to the values that are important to us. One thing that I promise is that I will never compromise the truth of the Bible because an elected official tells me that I’m required to!
So that brings me to the important issue of where I’m going with this blog. I am a Christian, born again, saved, on-my-way-to-heaven follower of Jesus Christ. I’ve been bought with the price of Jesus giving his very life for mine. This act of forgiveness is not just for me but for every person who has ever been born, yet how many people never respond to that free gift? How many people don’t even know about that free gift because no one has ever shared it with them? Just as I, as an American, feel a right to cast a vote to determine the future of our country, I need to understand that as a Christian I need to make a choice on sharing what God has brought into my life.
I think we need to be diligent about protecting our country, but I feel we need to be even more diligent about sharing about our eternal destination. So many have been deceived and just don’t pay attention, and we need to change that perspective. Every day we come across people who have not heard the gospel message or have not really had someone ask them the important questions about their future. Let’s be the church that is not afraid to ask the questions that really matter: “Have you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins?” “Do you believe in heaven and if so how do you get there?” “Will you come visit my church this week?” There are so many directions we can go with this eternity-changing subject.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Are You Up To The Challenge?
The Challenge! Last Sunday morning I issued a challenge to the church. This is something that I started thinking about several weeks ago, and now it’s out there. When I shared the challenge with the church, I can assure you that Tami had no idea I was going to do it. I didn’t even look her direction while talking because I didn’t want to get the look…you know, the look that says, “Are you crazy?” After service, I’m happy to report that she understands my heart and is willing to support my crazy idea.
Here is the Challenge: 500 people in service on Tailgate Sunday. Over the past several months I have felt that Abundant Life needs to get busy bringing people to church. I’m not looking for those who already have a church home and are happy with where God has them; I’m looking for those people who are involved in our lives that do not know the Lord as their Savior, or those who are searching for a place they can call home and get involved in ministry. If we have over 500 in service on that Sunday morning, I will have my head shaved after my Tailgate dinner. I even said that the person who brings the most visitors will get the first swipe with the clippers.
When we get down to the nuts and bolts of what I’m doing, I want you to know that it’s about winning the lost. I’m believing for 75 people to find Christ as their Savior that day. That those visiting will see our love for Christ and our desire to make a difference in lives in our area. Hair will always grow back, but this may be that one opportunity for someone to hear the gospel message and respond, Yes Lord! The Bible tells us that all of heaven rejoices when one soul accepts the Lord, so let’s do whatever we need to do to get the message out there.
Here is the Challenge: 500 people in service on Tailgate Sunday. Over the past several months I have felt that Abundant Life needs to get busy bringing people to church. I’m not looking for those who already have a church home and are happy with where God has them; I’m looking for those people who are involved in our lives that do not know the Lord as their Savior, or those who are searching for a place they can call home and get involved in ministry. If we have over 500 in service on that Sunday morning, I will have my head shaved after my Tailgate dinner. I even said that the person who brings the most visitors will get the first swipe with the clippers.
When we get down to the nuts and bolts of what I’m doing, I want you to know that it’s about winning the lost. I’m believing for 75 people to find Christ as their Savior that day. That those visiting will see our love for Christ and our desire to make a difference in lives in our area. Hair will always grow back, but this may be that one opportunity for someone to hear the gospel message and respond, Yes Lord! The Bible tells us that all of heaven rejoices when one soul accepts the Lord, so let’s do whatever we need to do to get the message out there.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Wild and Crazy....we all have those weeks
Have you ever had one of those weeks when you find yourself asking God, “Why”? Why is life so crazy, why do I have to deal with that person, why is my job so stressful, why is it so hard to get everything done? I think each of us has those weeks, and it doesn’t mean that something is wrong with us or we’re doing something wrong, but instead it just shows that we’re alive. That’s part of life even though it may be a part we’d like to eliminate.
So we have to decide how we are going to handle these weeks, which will unavoidably occur in life. People find a lot of ways to cope, and unfortunately many of those coping mechanisms bring about more harm than good. We can cope by pulling back from those who truly love and care about us. We can cope by escaping to another area of life that seems more pleasant and easier to handle. We can cope by finding a drug to bring relief, or by just ignoring the situation and running away. I’ve seen every one of these approaches used as a way to find relief, and the truth of the matter is that they will never solve the problem, and in most instances they make the situation worse.
What I’m learning is that when I’ve exhausted every human way of trying to resolve the “Why” is the time I finally stop and look to the Lord. I don’t understand why, in my stubbornness, I usually wait to approach God until everything else has failed, but that’s my tendency. The good news is that when I do finally come to God, He doesn’t reprimand me about coming to Him last but instead is there with open arms and unconditional love, ready to teach me a valuable lesson about life. Through my “Why God?” times, I learn how amazing His love is for me and how there is nothing in life that I can’t do because God is for me.
I wish this lesson could be taught without having to go through storms in this life, but that’s not how it works. Without the storms I’d quickly forget about how amazing God is because I’d be all caught up in doing what I want to do because the real John can be selfish. Another big plus is that when I’m going through those tough times I get the privilege of seeing how great the family and friends are that God has placed into my life. The Christian life is challenging, but it’s also the greatest life to live because we get to impact others with a message of hope and love.
So we have to decide how we are going to handle these weeks, which will unavoidably occur in life. People find a lot of ways to cope, and unfortunately many of those coping mechanisms bring about more harm than good. We can cope by pulling back from those who truly love and care about us. We can cope by escaping to another area of life that seems more pleasant and easier to handle. We can cope by finding a drug to bring relief, or by just ignoring the situation and running away. I’ve seen every one of these approaches used as a way to find relief, and the truth of the matter is that they will never solve the problem, and in most instances they make the situation worse.
What I’m learning is that when I’ve exhausted every human way of trying to resolve the “Why” is the time I finally stop and look to the Lord. I don’t understand why, in my stubbornness, I usually wait to approach God until everything else has failed, but that’s my tendency. The good news is that when I do finally come to God, He doesn’t reprimand me about coming to Him last but instead is there with open arms and unconditional love, ready to teach me a valuable lesson about life. Through my “Why God?” times, I learn how amazing His love is for me and how there is nothing in life that I can’t do because God is for me.
I wish this lesson could be taught without having to go through storms in this life, but that’s not how it works. Without the storms I’d quickly forget about how amazing God is because I’d be all caught up in doing what I want to do because the real John can be selfish. Another big plus is that when I’m going through those tough times I get the privilege of seeing how great the family and friends are that God has placed into my life. The Christian life is challenging, but it’s also the greatest life to live because we get to impact others with a message of hope and love.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Oh No! I Think I'm In Trouble
Well, the good news is that the Cowboys beat the Seahawks last Sunday in Seattle. The bad news is that, according to the Bible, I should be stoned. Let me explain. Sunday morning, before my sermon, I was sharing about my Life Group that would meet later that day to watch the Cowboys game. I have a great Life Group because all we do is watch football, eat, and talk about anything and everything. So while talking about our group I proceeded to tell everyone that even though the Cowboys were going to lose we could still have a fun time together. I then went so far as to say that if the Cowboys won that the rapture of the church would happen five minutes later.
And then it happened—the Cowboys played their best game of the year and won an exciting game. I turned to those with me and said that the rapture better happen quick or I’m going to be a false prophet. Before I could get to my house that evening, the texts started coming in, asking what happened to the rapture. Lesson learned: don’t trust the Cowboys, they’ll let you down every time you put your trust in them! Lol!
I know that God doesn’t care that I made a silly prediction about a football game, and I’m really happy that the Cowboys were able to win for all their fans, but it did get me thinking about my words. I want to be a man that people can depend upon in every aspect of my life. If I say I’m going to do something, then I want to be known for doing it. Earlier today I had a business call, and because I was caught up in another meeting I knew that I was going to be late to the call. I didn’t want the other party to think that I didn’t value their time, so I sent them a text letting them know that I would be about 10 minutes late to the call. They didn’t mind and appreciated that I cared enough to let them know. That short text took about 20 seconds to type, but its greatest value was showing that individual that I can be counted on.
In my journey with Christ I want to be a man of my word. When I commit something to Him, I want to be faithful in fulfilling that commitment. Many times I may fail, but that doesn’t stop me from making new commitments. The life I have with Christ will not be complete until the day Christ returns for His church or I pass from this life to my eternal life. Until then, I will pursue Him with all that I am!
And then it happened—the Cowboys played their best game of the year and won an exciting game. I turned to those with me and said that the rapture better happen quick or I’m going to be a false prophet. Before I could get to my house that evening, the texts started coming in, asking what happened to the rapture. Lesson learned: don’t trust the Cowboys, they’ll let you down every time you put your trust in them! Lol!
I know that God doesn’t care that I made a silly prediction about a football game, and I’m really happy that the Cowboys were able to win for all their fans, but it did get me thinking about my words. I want to be a man that people can depend upon in every aspect of my life. If I say I’m going to do something, then I want to be known for doing it. Earlier today I had a business call, and because I was caught up in another meeting I knew that I was going to be late to the call. I didn’t want the other party to think that I didn’t value their time, so I sent them a text letting them know that I would be about 10 minutes late to the call. They didn’t mind and appreciated that I cared enough to let them know. That short text took about 20 seconds to type, but its greatest value was showing that individual that I can be counted on.
In my journey with Christ I want to be a man of my word. When I commit something to Him, I want to be faithful in fulfilling that commitment. Many times I may fail, but that doesn’t stop me from making new commitments. The life I have with Christ will not be complete until the day Christ returns for His church or I pass from this life to my eternal life. Until then, I will pursue Him with all that I am!
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Annual Trip to Anapra, Mexico
I’ve just settled in for the evening as it is the night before we will head into Anapra, a neighborhood in the city of Juarez, to build two homes. This is our eighth trip into the Juarez area to construct homes, and I’m amazed at the impact we have had in these neighborhoods. So many men and women have teamed up with us through the years to help make this happen. I want to say “Thank You”! Whether it was gathering clothes, food, candy, and toys or giving funds, everything you’ve done has made this all possible.
This year is special because we’ve never built two homes during one trip, so we will be able to impact two families this year. I’m often asked why we continue going to an area that so many are afraid of because of the violence that is often highlighted in our news. My answer is that after you go you see how big the need is, and we can’t help but go back to reach out with the love of Christ.
Our trips have really changed through the years, and those who have traveled with us can testify to that change. In our early years it was all about the build. Get there, build it, and head home. Our third trip put us in a neighborhood where there were a lot of children, and the men had so much fun playing with the kids. I’ll never forget thinking that someone was going to die because Jim Sharp had started playing baseball with the kids using a shovel as the bat. I could see the shovel hitting a kid because they were too close to the batter. Thank the Lord, the best result of the play time was a lot of happy kids!
Every year we’ve expanded our outreaches, and we plan on impacting over 400 individuals with the gospel message this week. Not only have we expanded our outreaches during our builds, but we also have men and women who make trips throughout the year to go in and minister to families.
This year is special because we’ve never built two homes during one trip, so we will be able to impact two families this year. I’m often asked why we continue going to an area that so many are afraid of because of the violence that is often highlighted in our news. My answer is that after you go you see how big the need is, and we can’t help but go back to reach out with the love of Christ.
Our trips have really changed through the years, and those who have traveled with us can testify to that change. In our early years it was all about the build. Get there, build it, and head home. Our third trip put us in a neighborhood where there were a lot of children, and the men had so much fun playing with the kids. I’ll never forget thinking that someone was going to die because Jim Sharp had started playing baseball with the kids using a shovel as the bat. I could see the shovel hitting a kid because they were too close to the batter. Thank the Lord, the best result of the play time was a lot of happy kids!
Every year we’ve expanded our outreaches, and we plan on impacting over 400 individuals with the gospel message this week. Not only have we expanded our outreaches during our builds, but we also have men and women who make trips throughout the year to go in and minister to families.
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