Don't have time to make a rhyme

Yes, I know, it is a contradictory title but stick with me a bit. For years, we (the Church as a whole) have made slogans that rhyme with the New Year that is coming in. For example, years ending in 7 usually have something to do with going to Heaven. Even heard that one about 2011. But now we are entering a new territory for our trendiness because for the first time in literally 100 years we are entering into years that we are not use to making rhymes with. I mean, for Pete's sake, what really rhymes with 12 that fits our recent trendiness? :<) And forget about the Teen years we are heading into. We might actually have to become clever again????

I've never really got into the whole rhyming thing anyway because from my experience, they are usually forgotten by mid January any way. I do believe at looking at the past year and learning from it and looking ahead and planning for it and as I have been in the process of doing that, I began looking at it in terms of my walk with God. In fact, I spoke about it this past Sunday and just have a few thoughts to share with those that care to read them. My introspection revealed to me that I've been guilty of giving God excuses at the end of a year for the things I should have done but failed to. Every excuse seemed a good one. My time is precious and scarce as far as the freedom of it. I'm busy doing "God" things all the time. Yeah, I know I need more prayer time, more study time, more conversation time with God but hey, I'm out there and doing it all the time.

So after much honesty and conviction I decided that the thing that I wanted to go after this year, more than I ever have before, is simply giving God my best and not my excuses. It's not much of a slogan or catch phrase and I really can't rhyme it with 12 but I am determined that when I look back at the end of this year, I'm going to be able to say that I gave God more than my excuses, I gave Him my best. 

That ideology got me to thinking about other things in the kingdom that we get sidetracked with. Do you know that finding fault with others was one of the first fruits of the sinful nature? Adam blamed the Woman that God gave him and Eve blamed the Snake that God had created so both of them essentially blamed God for their sin. One of the first things I look for in conflict resolution is who blames who first. More times than not that person, the blamer, is the person at fault.

I'm concerned in the Church world these days. Concerned with Ministers that continually find fault with other Ministers or ministries. Ripping and tearing, most times, even men and women that they do not know to shreds because of what "I've heard" or "they say." Maybe they have a different take on a traditionally held belief and because it doesn't line up with what I've always thought, they must be wrong. I believe we are afraid of being challenged to think or even defend what we believe with honest transparency that can hold up to scriptural challenge.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in challenging false and heretical doctrines that cannot possibly measure up to Scripture but I can live with the the fact that someone doesn't believe in Mansions in Heaven. (something that BTW cannot be found in the original Greek writings and before you send hate mail, I haven't stated what I believe on the matter) I read this week where one Minister was ripping on another Minister because of his belief in a OSAS (once save always saved) doctrine and to read it you would think that everything that the Man could possibly say would have to be wrong simply because it did not measure up to the other mans belief. While I am not a defender of OSAS, I do believe it is much more difficult to walk away from grace than traditional Pentecostals have always believed. In fact, the Word of God declares that I am "sealed until the day of redemption" but let's not confuse scripture with my traditional outlook. :<)

So why do these things bother me so much? It's because I believe we use them to blame others in order to make us feel better about ourselves and our own excuses for not doing what we should be. No where in the Great Commission do I read that we are to go out and attack other ministries. No where do I read where God has called me to be His Policeman because the Holy Spirit is not quite up to the job. No where do I read that I gain bonus points for tearing others down and in doing so, cast dispersion on christianity as a whole.

Let's face the facts. The World or the Lost or those without God do not care if I believe in speaking in Tongues and you don't. They don't care if you Baptize in "Jesus name" or  in the name of "the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. They don't care if I believe someone can backslide and walk away from grace and you don't. In fact, all that they see when these things occur are people that claim they believe in Jesus and just can't quit fighting about it and that my Friends, is the point. I am called to show the love of Christ to the world and quite frankly, ANYTHING less is nothing but an excuse wrapped in a shroud of self-holiness.

So I ask you today to join me in 2012. No rhymes, no gimmicks and no excuses. Let this be the year that we can look back on and say, "God, I've given you my best!" Yeah, it may still fall short and be inadequate but to be honest, I believe that God would be thrilled with a Church world that was simply better.

Happy New Year, again????

"It's like Deja Vu all over again" to quote the infamous Yogi Berra. Seems like that I was just here a second ago, looking at a New Year and now it has already passed.

To me, it seems like Life goes in stages. From zero to twenty it seems to be an eternity that will never arrive. Then as the responsibilities of adulthood and marriage come into play it seems like a 33 1/3 speed LP (showing my age) being turned up to 78. Things quickly begin to change and this ride we call Life kicks into high gear. After that, Parenthood arrives, (hopefully in that order) and it seems that Life turns into a Tilt-a-whirl ride without a safety bar and the best you can do is hope to hold on. I'm hoping that by the time that I get to the age that my almost 14 year old Son thinks I am now, it begins to slow down a bit!

The speed of Life now requires me to sit down and look back on what I actually held on to in the past year and taking the time to do so reveals that more time has passed than I realized. 2011 brought many changes, challenges, victories, defeats, hopes and dreams. While some of them will remain private I feel like sharing others.

The year that Sam passed Debbie in height! It was about this time last year that I was telling Debbie that she had better start adjusting her vision while looking at Sam and sure enough, around mid-year he passed her rather quickly. Not only has he grown in height, he has filled out in a way that I am envious of. In fact, if I had filled out in the way he has, I would probably have had a decent Football career. Around his age I started hitting the weight room and did fairly well pertaining to the upper body but I still had these scrawny Childer's legs that I still have today. Except that today it's more like 200 pounds sitting on top of toothpicks. I'm fairly certain that in 2012 I will be experiencing the same thing Debbie just did because he is fixing to pass me up, probably by March. He has grown into a fine Young Man that I am extremely proud of. If God never blesses me again, I probably won't like it but can certainly can say that He has blessed me in abundance through the gift of my Son.

The year of Adversity! Toward the last couple of months of 2010 I was made aware that I had seriously hurt my Shoulder. At the end of January this year I had Shoulder surgery and they found the damage was quite a bit more extensive than even what the MRI had shown. In the subsequent rehab and recovery in the months that followed I realized that I had been living with pain that I had not even recognized and that I had been doing so for years. It's a scary thing to realize that what you had come to know as "normal" was actually a pain filled endurance. I learned some very tough lessons through the process. 1. I'm not the young Gun that I use to be. (frankly the hardest lesson to learn and admit) 2. Pain is given to us for a purpose. Ignoring it is not being tough, noble or admirable. It's just stupid and it becomes the Life you settle for instead of the one destined for you and the consequence is that it colors every choice and decision you make. 3. Accept help when it is there. I realize that sounds funny but I'm convinced that it is a truth that MANY people need to realize. When self-sufficiency crosses the line into blatant stubbornness you are like the Lawyer that has himself for a client.  Anyway, I'm doing pretty well now and becoming much more aware of taking care of myself.

The year of Blessing! As I am finishing my first full Calendar year of being Indian Trail's Pastor, I look back on a year that God has truly blessed. In this past year we have:
~grown in attendance and finance
~reached out to our community in a powerful way
~Had several successful celebration/revival services where not only we were blessed but we blessed the servant as well
~had a wonderful Homecoming celebration
~saw several healings and miracles take place
~helped bring Christmas to a group of Native American children
~went to a full compliment of Services and began new ministries

Also, in the field of blessing, Debbie and I celebrated 25 years of marriage. At least I believe Debbie counts that as a blessing too but regardless, I am a blessed Man. She is not your a-typical Pastors wife and for that I THANK GOD! I could not and would not be doing this without her. We are a team that people don't often realize because she operates more in the background, (by her choice) but she is AWESOME in the areas that God has gifted her and I could never ask for more.

A year of Realizations! This year has revealed several things to me that had previously gone unnoticed, either by stubbornness or ignorance. (either way it was my own)
The first is the realization that I am currently doing what I have been called or destined to do. Sounds funny I know but let me explain. When I received my calling, I always saw myself as an Evangelist/Teacher more than a Pastor. I've always felt that my time as a Pastor has been a Season of necessity. Something that I was willing to do but never felt qualified for. The totality of the events of this year has brought a change of heart for me as I have come to the realization that I have been made for this. In fact, I live for it. For me, there is no greater calling and accepting it has brought an incredible peace. I still feel unqualified and as strange as it sounds, I hope I always do. The more I depend upon God, the better I will be.
The next one involves what I learned through adversity. Learning to accept help when it is there. Probably the most misunderstood part of me is my reluctance to accept help. It often gets misinterpreted as other things but it's just been difficult for me to do. I still haven't figured out all of the reasons why but I at least came to recognize it and I'm slowly working on it. I know part of it is my foolish pride because "there's nothing I can't do on my own." lol It wasn't just coincidence that the worst blizzard we have experienced in more than 20 years happened the same day as my Shoulder surgery. A five foot drift was standing all the way across the front of our House and down our driveway and for the first time in my Life there wasn't a blasted thing I could do about it! Pastor Tom Neal and a crew of men from the West Aurora Church of God came over and literally dug us out and I could do nothing but stand and watch. I figuratively thought I was going to die but in that time I saw some truths revealed that it took a bum shoulder to finally figure out. To say that I am stubborn is like saying that Coal is black. But occasionally the 2X4 to the forehead gets through. I'm working on it. In fact, this Summer during the planning for a Church event my Children's Pastor basically asked me to make a decision that fell within her venue and to her shock my response was, "If I had to make that decision I wouldn't have a need for you." I think she understood it but if not, hopefully now. We love you, Susan!
The last realization that I will share is this. Life goes in a flow. You either get in an go with it or you sit where you are at and watch it pass you by. As my health improved into the Spring I renewed my love/hate affair with running. I can honestly say that it has been one of the most beneficial experiences of my life time. The lessons I've learned during this intensely private time have been intent and incredible. In fact, because of the experiences I am going to try my hand at writing a Book. The title, by the way, will be "Lessons learned on the Run." I won't go much more into it now but pray for me as I attempt to go with the flow.

2012 scares a lot of people because of the foolishness of Mayan Calendars and such. But I have a confidence that 2012 is going to be an incredible year for the people of God. Hang on for the ride of your Life!

Me and the Prez!!!!

Yep, today is our birthday! He is one year older than I and still has hair. I don't like him already!

Last night he partied at the Aragon (sic) Ballroom in Chicago. (sounds like a nice place but it's pretty much NOT) Last night I worked the Night Shift in an attempt to help our Country get out of debt. OK, OK, I worked to bring home a paycheck and the Government did benefit a tad from it but you get my drift.

The political events of the past few months has really bothered me. Months of partisan bickering over the "debt ceiling" seemed to miraculously come to an end when Gabby Giffords showed up to place her vote. I'll agree it was an impressive and feel good moment but it does make one wonder what it will take to get our Congress to act together for THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY instead of their respective parties.

Let's think about it, shall we? We all have a debt ceiling. The difference between ours and the governments is that we don't have much say in it. In fact, we really have none. Banks decide what we can borrow based on our supposed ability to repay. The problem with Government is that the same Morons that got us into the massive debt are now deciding on what their limits are. The truth is that as a Country, we are broke. Not only are we broke but we are broken.

Take for instance our beloved Congress. We have been hovering around this Crisis for literally months, (when in fact we should have been fixing it years ago) and there are myriad problems in our Country that need fixing but within the last 6 months, part of our Congress's efforts has been spent on putting Roger Clemons, (another guy born on this same day) on trial for lying to Congress. Lying to Congress???? Really???? A baseball player??? Heck, I'm surprised they didn't put him in an office on Capitol Hill and have him pass some legislation. In Illinois, we would elect Him Governor twice and then throw him into Prison, hoping beyond hope that He would make our license plate so that we could sell it on E-Bay!!!!!  How much money have we wasted on prosecuting a ball player for being a liar? It is truly ridiculous. 

We have other problems, Guy's and Gal's! Unemployment is crippling our already over-taxed working class. Infrastructure is literally falling down around us in this State and many others. More jobs are going Overseas by the day but we sure are showing that over-paid Ball Player that you better not lie to Congress! They don't like the competition.  

It's time we get real as a Nation and as Individuals. Government was never intended to bail out Car companies, Mortgages, Banks and yes, even Health Care. It's no wonder we are broke. We have these great entitlement programs but never a plan to pay for them. The "left" doesn't want to let go of them and the "right", well, I'm not really sure what the "right" wants anymore. They talk fiscal responsibility but talk should end when actions don't line up.

The "Lefts" answer is to tax those wealthy corporations more and more and the "Right" says it's not fair to put the entire burden on those Captains of Industry. Meanwhile, we slide further and further downhill every day. It's really not that hard but fixing the problem will require everyone to become less greedy and therefore will probably never happen. But since it is my Birthday too, I feel the need to opine my opinion a tad more.

How about that we charge a flat tax rate on all Fortune 500 companies. As they bristle, let's say for arguments sake that they pay 10% of their Profits each year. Not from the Profit and Loss sheet than can be easily manipulated but from the actual profits generated. The same ones they currently base their bonuses on! Ouch!!! The Good Lord only asks for that much, surely you can do it for your Country!! OK, before the Captains hyper-ventilate let me unveil the part of the plan that will turn things around.

For every 1000 jobs that these companies generate, they can deduct 1%. For every 1000 New jobs created they can deduct 2%. Yes, it is conceivable that they can literally work themselves out of paying taxes at all but what will have happened in the mean time? JOBS!

The problem with today's Workplace is that they are feasting on greed with no motivation to put more people to work. "Lean and Mean", "5S", "Six Sigma" are all business philosophies that focus on one general theme and that is, get as much as you can out of as few people possible and get rich. They encourage workers to come up with better ways to do their jobs but the desire behind it is not to employ more people but actually less. These are Japanese driven business philosophies but they are cut short of the Japanese loyalty to their workers. You see, once you have a job in Japan, you have a job for as long as you want it. No wonder they are Leaders in things such as Robotics. They know they aren't going to be replaced by them. Are Japanese companies wealthy? Absolutely! Wealthy and loyal to their workers. Something American should pay attention to.

And let's talk Congress for just a minute. When was the last time you voted yourself a pay raise?? Why should they get to? If I don't bring my Department in under budget, someone else will in the near future. Let's see who has the courage among them to enact legislation that requires a balanced budget be brought in each year or no pay raises. We've heard them threaten Soldiers pay and Retired workers pay during the recent crisis, using shameful scare tactics to get their way but not once did I hear a Congress person say, let's forfeit our pay! One of the things that bother me whenever I'm bored enough to watch C-Span, (which I do recommend you do on occasion) is the high number of "no votes" that appear on every Bill. Where are these Clowns at? Why aren't they representing us by being there AND ACTUALLY VOTING. How about we dock their pay for every missed vote?? Just thinking out loud, Folks.

No, I doubt that these things, even if possibly enacted, would cure all of our ills. But wouldn't it be nice to just be "better?" OK, that's my Birthday rant! I can't wait to turn 50!!!!!

What we might miss

Before you get very far in reading this, go ahead and click on the title subject and watch the awareness test that is shown. You may have seen it before but if you haven't I'm sure you will find it interesting.

Now, that Ad was made for Motorcycle awareness but it has a stark message that can be applied to much of life and especially our spiritual lives. Many times we ask God for answers to our prayers without realizing that He may have already answered them. The fact is that we are often so focused on what we hope the answer to be that we do not make room for what His answer might be and we miss it, even when it moonwalks right across the screen of our life.

I'm learning to pray each day for God to allow me to have His vision, not mine. I'm learning to thank Him for the things He has already answered and appreciate them at the same time. No, I'm not perfect, not even close but when my focus becomes centered around God, I see everything much more clearly. Just thought I'd share!

A great Easter

It is Saturday night and I've been reflecting on this day. Easter is tomorrow but I can already say that I've had a great Easter weekend.

Friday night I took my beautiful Bride of 25 years to the Loop in Chicago, where we dined at one of our favorite Restaurants and spent the night in a nice Hotel with a Lakefront view. It really didn't matter that it was cold and rainy. The company was outstanding and the night was relaxing. We reflected on the past 25 years, how many people that said we wouldn't last 6 months, (yes, they literally said it) and the fun times we've had and what a wild ride its been. I know we aren't a perfect marriage because I am in it but it is a marriage that is close enough to it for me. I love ya, Deb!

Then on Saturday morning we took the early train back home and joined our Church family in our 1st annual Community Easter Egg hunt and Celebration. What an incredible day it would be! With Indian Trail, I've been blessed with a Congregation that is willing to work to reach out to our community and work, we did. Our Children's Pastor, Susan Smith, worked hard to get the word out and volunteers lined up. We had the support of the Aurora Police department, who sent out one of their fine Cadets with a Squad Car for the kids to go through and also the Aurora Township Fire Department, that sent out a crew with a Fire Truck and gear for the kids to wear. (the kids also got to blow the Fire truck horn OVER AND OVER again but hey, it's ministry lol)

We had 2 separate egg hunts, divided by age and I can't rightly recall how many eggs were hidden but it was well over 1000. The big hit of the day was the Bounce Houses that we had rented. People were looking all over for me and they would find me with the kids, helping them go down the slide on the bounce house. I Love Kids! I met well over 100 of them today and had a blast in doing it. I talked, yelled and screamed with them to the point that I will be hoarse for Easter Sunday but I count it all worth it. Not only do I love kids but I also found out long ago that investing in them is the best way to build the Church that God loves. Adults can learn so many lessons from children if we would just take the time.

So I sit here tonight, excited about what tomorrow may bring but full well knowing that we were part of a God thing today. Within the past 6 months our Church had a prophecy given over it that God was getting ready to illuminate us to the community. I believe I heard the light switch turn on today! We had people coming from all across town and even more exciting, ones that lived within blocks of us. Do I believe that they will all come to Church? No, but I know some that are already planning on it and more importantly, many more know we are here today than ever has before. God is blessing this work! Happy Easter

Purpose or Pleasure

We recently had a Revival during which one of the messages, entitled, "Purpose or Pleasure", spoke to me in a powerful way. During that message I realized how easy it is for us to forsake one for the other, even with the best of intentions. Sometimes our idea of what God wants from us becomes skewed by what we want and we don't even realize it. The Word was so powerful that it drove me to a good place. A place of repentance. I believe that one way we can pursue purpose over pleasure is to live a life of continual repentance.

That kind of thinking messes with traditional religious thinking because we tend to think of repentance only in terms of coming to Christ at salvation. But the truth is that every substantive move of God begins with hearts of repentance and the fact is that no matter how "good" we get at serving God, (at least according to our thinking) the more we can find to repent of daily and it isn't a thing of condemnation but rather desire to step closer.

I woke up today with a thought that I know was Spirit driven. God was speaking and what I heard was this, "What will you pour on me today?" I thought that was sort of funny as I am accustomed to asking God to pour into me! Then, as I began to think on the question, the story in Luke chapter 7 began to enter into my thinking. In that story, Jesus is being received into the Home of an apparently prestigious Pharisee. While there a Woman, that Luke described as immoral, heard Jesus was in the house and went home to get the most precious thing that she had. An Alabaster box of perfume. As she entered the Pharisee's house, and depending upon which version you read, she either stood or knelt at His feet. And poured the perfume on Jesus feet as she also wept on and kissed them. Truly one of the most powerful images of worship in the Bible but as I was thinking on it, I felt God urge me to read it again and see what I was missing. (it is interesting what you can still miss after years of following)

Upon reading the accounts in several versions the thing that jumped out at me was this. We've always had this image of her sitting or kneeling at his feet but the account in every version actually reads that she either stood or knelt at His feet while being behind Him. Kind of changes the imagery we often associate with it, doesn't it? Here is this Woman that the community considers to be immoral, She hears that there is one that can truly help with her life but in bringing herself to Him, although she brings the very best that she has, She can't even face Him. The rest of the remarkable story is that she is forgiven every sin and the ones that stood in judgment of her were literally put to shame.

Then the Spirit of God began comparing and contrasting what we present as worship today, with this story. What do we bring to worship? Sadly, I believe that we often bring Him our leftovers. Whatever is left of our time, our finances, our commitment and our service. We show up expecting blessings, many times expecting the one who blessed to do so within our time frame. We've taken our humbleness and traded it for arrogance. Yes, I do know who I am but if I ever forget that who I am is because of what He has done, then I am in the saddest state of all. There are people in the kingdom today that make arrogant and self-centered demands of a God that we, in and of ourselves, don't even have the right to approach from behind and we bring nothing of ourselves in the process, except for our greed for more. The best that I have is nothing in His sight but does that still excuse me from not presenting it? I think not.

Don't get me wrong, I know I am forgiven and I should live my life in that manner. I know His word is for me and that I can proclaim and declare it boldly. I know that as far as my enemy is concerned, I am the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. What I am speaking of is in how we approach God in our worship of Him. I want the best that I am to be broken and poured out upon Him. I want to always see Him as my kinsmen Redeemer, the one who paid the price. I want my worship to be all of me without giving thought to tomorrow or the cares of the day. Yes, I can approach His throne with Confidence but that should never translate into arrogance.

The greatest part of the story to me is this. It did not matter to Christ what the world thought of this immoral Woman. Maybe we can still learn lessons from that? 

Sad day for the 1st amendment

By clicking on the title you will be redirected to a news link containing a story about the Supreme Courts recent decision involving the 1st amendment. I say that it is a sad day and decision because it's difficult to believe that the 1st amendment was ever meant to be used to harass families as they bury their relation but that is in fact what the Supreme Court recently decided.

The case involves the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS. led by the infamous "Rev." Fred Phelps. They are known for picketing Funerals for our Servicemen who have given their lives for our Country because they believe that we are in war as a punishment of God for allowing homosexuality in this Country. In my opinion, They (Westboro and Fred Phelps) are ignorant lightening rods of nothing but hatred and the fact that they picket the Funerals of Servicemen should not be protected under the 1st amendment but rather they should all be tried and convicted for Treason against our Country.

1st and foremost, (and a "Rev." should realize this) God's judgment has never been nor ever will be poured out by the hand of Man. Look at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Did man have a part in it? Westboro and Phelps believe that 9/11 occurred and the ensuing Wars after wards were God's judgment against the U.S. I have some serious questions about that. 1. If 9/11 was God's judgment, don't they believe the Towers would have been filled to capacity on that dreadful day. Yes, more than 3000 people is a travesty but the early reports based upon the usual occupancy easily topped an estimate of more than 6000 people in a few instances. 2. If it was God's judgment, why did it affect only the area of ground zero? Any 1st year seminary student would be able to tell you that if God poured out His judgment in New York City that day, New York City would be no more. 3. Why just homosexuality? An honest look at our Nation will draw a conclusion that we are indeed a sinful nation. In my opinion, if God is going to pour out his judgment based on our sin, it will happen because of abortion 1st. Murder trumps who we have sex with any day of the week.

Anyone who knows me will not be surprised when I state that yes, I believe homosexuality is indeed, a sin. I fully realize that not everyone will agree with me but the Word of God is very clear on the matter and just for the sake of argument, let's say you agree with me. What then, does that make Homosexuals? To me, it makes them sinners that need the love and mercy of God. People that I am bound to try to reach. Before I point my finger of judgment against them, I need to also take a look at who I was before my conversion to Christ. With all of my faults and all of my sin I was, "a sinner that needed the love and mercy of God." I didn't need Fred Phelps to tell me that. All that I needed was the conviction of God's Holy Spirit. Believe it or not, it still works today.

Will the day ever come that God does pour out His judgment? Yes and when it occurs, it will be the unmistakable hand of God and He won't need Idiots with picket signs in order to get the message across.