Its Still Got a Few Memories left in it
September 7, 2008
Back in 1996, when I was nineteen, I purchased a used Honda four-wheel drive ATV. Over the last twelve years a lot of memories were made on that ATV. Originally it was used to transport me from field to field as a cotton scout. Memories of mud bogging with close friends that I haven’t seen in years flood my mind when I sit on that machine. We would ride for hours each weekend. Most of these guys are now preachers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, or farmers. It was a steel horse that I used to work cattle along side of two now deceased cow dogs that I once owned. When Jamie and I started dating back in 1999 Sunday evening four-wheeler rides was one of our favorite pastimes. The memories are more than I can count but they continue to bring my joy to the boiling point. In 2004 when we entered fulltime ministry it was left beneath a tractor shed to collect dust and rust. A few weeks ago I aired up the tires, pressure-washed away the dust and mildew, and cleaned the gas tank. I was more than a little surprised to see that it would still run. It no longer shines, the racks are bent and rusty, the tail light is busted, it has no working brakes, and the seat is nothing more than a piece of exposed foam. Although it has definitely seen better days it still has the power to light up the faces of my wife and little girl. A lot of people, like that machine, sit around and collect dust when they have quite a few memories left in them. It doesn’t matter if you have seen better days. The point is that you still have the power to light up someone’s life. Solomon said, “Do not say, why were the former days better than these? For you do not inquire wisely concerning this” (Ecclesiastes 7:10). The command is one to live and bring joy to someone else’s life. It really all comes down to this; we can stay under the barn and rust out or we can smile, polish up, make some memories with what we have left, and wear out. Amen!!! Polish up and get on with it then.
When Small Things Grow Up
September 1, 2008
Earlier this week I cut down a pine tree in my back yard due to a dangerous broken limb hanging over Anna Ryan’s play area. It was close enough to the house to potentially do major damage if a storm came. Years ago that tree was planted as an apparently harmless seedling. As a seedling it could do little damage but it was inevitable that it would grow up. Similarly, people often select a small puppy seemingly oblivious to the fact that it will one day grow into a large obnoxious dog. Little thought is given to the fact that these seemingly small things grow up.
Sin is a lot like a tree. Romans 6:23 declares, “For the wages of sin is death.” Where sin is present something has to die. Unrepentant sin of any kind or perceived size puts a damper on our relationship with God. We read in Isaiah, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Each day our bodies slowly die until we are laid in the grave. Our spirits are different. Unlike our body, our spirit can be renewed daily. Don’t read more into this than I am saying. I simply mean that we daily make a choice to receive or reject God’s grace and that if we reject it our spirits are slowly dieing. Jesus had to die that we might have this grace, yet we knowingly plant small sins (whatever that is) in our lives and pretend it will not produce the fruit of death.
Praise Jesus that He has redeemed us and forgiven our sins. However, forgiveness of sin does not equal escaping the consequences of sin. We must never categorize sin but we must understand that some sins have greater consequences than others. No matter what the sin it is better to remove it from your life while it is small. The tree I removed this week took far more work than it would have taken a few years ago. To remove a tree is costly and it leaves a yard littered with stumps. Like sin, to allow the trees to remain litters my yard (life) with unwanted debris, presents a variety of safety hazards for my family and home, and blocks the sunlight (Sonlight). Had those pine trees never been planted it would have been far better. Uproot sin the moment you realize it is there.
Hurricane Disaster Relief
August 25, 2008
A few weeks ago I preached about how we as believers have a responsibility to help the broken “rise up” so they may walk again. If Free Will Baptists in the state of Florida are to survive, we must work together at a level beyond the local church.
No one in the State of Florida is exempt from the devastating effects of a major hurricane. Ivan and Katrina left a path of devastation 100 miles inland. When a major hurricane hits life does not soon return to normal. When a tropical storm or a category-one hurricane makes landfall, it is not a time of great concern for most unless they reside in a floodplain. People simply gas up their vehicles, buy extra batteries, stock the shelves with a few non-perishable items, wait out the storm, and have a community wide barbeque. Category-two storms create minor concern and minimal damage.
Major hurricanes present a different scenario. We had just moved to Pensacola when Ivan made landfall. We evacuated to Georgia only to get caught in a tornado that was a product of the hurricane’s outer bands. We watched Fox News and saw familiar sights destroyed. Churches from Georgia sent us back with all the supplies we could carry on my truck and trailer. When we returned the damage was worse than we could imagine. Space would not permit me to write about it. One man made a statement, “Things will never be the same.” No statement better sums up the effects of a major hurricane. In time we saw several people come to Christ as a direct result of aid that was brought from churches. After Katrina the devastation was indescribable. Due to a logistical error the people of lower Mississippi had virtually nothing for over weeks. Most of the aid in this devastated region came from Floridians traveling the “I-10 corridor”.
It is only a matter of time before another major storm devastates Florida. Unfortunately, there are not enough contractors to come close to being able to repair the damage. These areas are also plagued with conmen beyond measure. It is our responsibility to work together and do our part to alleviate the suffering. Always remember you may be next!!!
A Time for War
August 17, 2008
If you ask people if there is ever a time for war most would quickly respond without a second thought yes! However, if the same question is asked on the brink of war many of the same people who formerly answered yes would respond with a definite no. Although we honor war veterans, we are not willing to pay the price ourselves to maintain freedom. America has not had to pay a devastating price for war since the Civil War. In no way am I attempting to demean the sacrifice of Americans in subsequent wars, Pearl Harbor, or 9-11-01. I simply want to underscore the point that we have not fought another war on home soil since then. War always cost lives, money and severe risk. Although I have never been in the military, as a historian I am not ignorant of the cost of war.
Many are asking the question: Is this the right war? Solomon said, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace. I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1; 8; 10-11). Not only is thre a time for war, but war is sometimes a beautiful thing in spite of the high cost. In spite of the high cost it is doubtful that many Americans would undo the effects of the Civil War or World War II. War can only be beautiful if it preserves freedom. T accept that war can be beautiful we must believe that some things are worth dying for.
He question remains: Is this war in Georgia the right war for America? First, let me say that as I write it has not yet erupted into a full blown war and I hope that it does not. America can no longer live in the modern world with a policy of isolationism. “Only the dead know the end of war.” No matter how much we seek to avoid it, war will eventually come to us. The only choice we have is will we fight it on our terms or someone else’s. Today let me emphasize, today America is still the greatest superpower the world has ever known. Russia chose to strategically fight a war that forces America to act or lose its credibility in the world. If we lose our credibility it will embolden every thug in the world. It will then be only a matter of time before we fight a greater war on someone else’s terms. Pray for our president, a man appointed by God for such a time as this.
Taking Every Thought Captive
August 9, 2008
Taking Every Thought Captive to the Obedience of Christ Sunday night when Jamie and I went to pick up Anna Ryan from her grandparents, she met us at the door and uttered a very profound statement. I immediately said, "Hey that will make a great title for a pastor’s corner. All week I have toiled in vain to remember what that statement was, thus depriving myself of the benefits of the thought. Paul understood the importance of taking every thought captive so that our lives may benefit from them. The word captive means to be held as a prisoner. I once thought that we were to lock up the bad thoughts to keep them from doing us harm. The opposite is true. We are to hold on to the good thoughts and the bad thoughts won’t hang around. The Bible says, "I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). Paul is saying that if we hold on to the Godly thoughts it will force the bad thoughts away, but if we let the Godly thoughts escape the battle is lost. Corinth was a wicked city filled with every imaginable evil. Paul explained the proper way to wage spiritual warfare, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled" (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). When you wage war you must understand your position on the battlefield before you can fight. We mistakenly believe that we are basically good and must simply keep evil out of our lives. Evil has a stronghold on every human heart which is exceedingly wicked. As Paul explained these must be pulled down. We do this by obeying every good thought that God sends our way. An obedient thought is always ready to punish a disobedient thought in your own life. Pay careful attention to the verse it says your life not someone else’s. Failure to obey leaves Canaanites in the land and destroys the future for our children. This is why there is so much sin in America today. Be positive; daily take your thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
I Can See
August 4, 2008
A couple of weeks ago I accidentally scratched my glasses and thus ordered new lenses. It turned out to be a blessing because I got my prescription updated. I had noticed that my vision was lessening as of late but I simply chalked it up as a fact of life that must be accepted. Thursday as I was getting a hair cut I observed the objects around me with my glasses off. I felt as though I were in a state of suspended animation with no objective point of reference in my life. A few minutes later while sitting in the vision center at Wal-Mart the receptionist brought my glasses with the new lenses. I reached for them, slowly pulled them to my face, and exclaimed with joy as angels sang, “I can see.” I was able to discern distant minute details with clarity that I had not had in years. Few people have the vision of an eagle, able to see the intricate details in live, but most do not. We go around seeing, but through a glass dimly. Jesus was in the business of opening blinded eyes. Jesus explained the purpose of parable to His disciples, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, so that seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing thy may hear and not understand; lest they should turn, and their sins be forgiven them” (Mark 4:11-12). Jesus gave us the key to seeing. There are two kinds of people spiritually: those on the outside and those on the inside of God’s will. We fail to see the intricate blessings of life because we have predetermined what we will do or not do for Christ. We fail to see what we consider small sins such as prayerlessness, legalism, and self-sufficiency because we are afraid to yield certain areas of our lives to Christ. Remember that a small virus can often be more deadly than a large saber-tooth beast. Jesus commanded the Church at Laodicea to “anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see” (Rev. 3:18). God only enhances our spiritual vision if we are willing to act on what we see! How’s your vision?
Cleaning the Inside
July 27, 2008
Last weekend I was washing my wife’s car with a little assistance from my two year old daughter Anna Ryan. I explained to her how she needed to rinse the car while daddy washed it. She quickly complied and was doing a marvelous job, a little too marvelous. As I was scrubbing the driver’s side I looked through the window and to my horror she was washing the inside for the car. She had opened the passenger’s door and commenced to soaking the seats, radio, floor and everything else that did not need water on it. I became irate and immediately began towel drying the water after I scolded her.
A child will always expose hypocrisy. She was right, the inside of the car needed cleaning but I didn’t want to deal with it. If we commit our ways to the Lord, He will often use our kids to clean up our character. It may go unnoticed until it comes into contact with Christ. Have we allowed sin to be finely ground into the carpet of our lives? If we do not allow Christ to totally cleanse us, there will be a musky smell to our lives that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Like my wife’s car, once the word of God comes in contact with an area of our lives it will create a stink until we allow Christ to have His complete way.
Rather than hate the sin many Christians hate the agent that exposes their sin. Jesus declares with power, “Woe, to you scribes, and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also…. Even so you also appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:25-26; 28). Christ continually cleans our inner man. Has God opened the door to your life and exposed anything recently? To refuse Him is to embrace hypocrisy and lawlessness while denying and preventing His power from working in our lives.
Ledges, Hedges and Wedges
July 20, 2008
Life is full of ledges. They are all around us every day. They usually promise a spectacular view, but we must remember that the wages of sin is death. Sin is a lot like a credit card, you may receive free interest for a while but eventually you have to pay the debt. In life we can’t help but see the ledges, but we don’t have to go play on them. Christians often play on the ledges of debt, pornography, idolatry, alcohol and idleness. When we fall we wonder how this happened. We fail to guard the spiritual aspect of our lives as we should. We seem to think that we can live as we desire and have a sterling walk with God. This is not so. Playing on these five ledges will always prove costly if not deadly.
As believers we can erect hedges around our lives and those of our children. IF you have a problem spending money, cut up the credit cards. To quote the old adage, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Keep yourself busy reading, praying, spending quality time with your family, and get active in church doing the Lord’s work. Beware unmonitored internet access or television. Too many teens have rejected God because they had a television in their bedroom with access to late night channels. Meanwhile dad and mom were asleep in bed comfortable their children were safe while the enemy was attacking their soul. The bottom line is that we must not set ourselves or our families up to fail in a “moment of weakness.” When we erect hedges to protect our lives for God, Christ honors that. God honored Job’s efforts to serve Him by erecting a few hedges of His own. “So Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have you not made a hedge around him, and his household, and around all that he has on every side?” We must not lower our hedges. Later God lowered Job’s hedges but not without abundant grace and a greater manifestation of Himself.
If we have no hedge we fall of a ledge and tragically create a wedge between ourselves and God. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). If we don’t erect hedges around our lives and those of our families we create a cycle that ultimately leads to a form of pseudo spirituality that ends in death.
Praise That Must Never Cease
July 13, 2008
America is not the nation it was when I was a boy but I love it nonetheless. Our future as a nation seems dark and time may prove it to be so. Everywhere I go I hear dismal words coming from people’s mouths. Jesus said that out of the heart the mouth speaks. This simply means that people are giving up hope because their hope is misplaced to start with. When the world loses its perspective it is understandable but when the people of God forget God society rots. We are the salt of the earth and salt is a preservative.
In Psalm 137:4 the children of Israel asked from the banks of Babylon, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” it seemed an impossible thing to praise God when so much had gone wrong. Family members were slaughtered, raped, separated, and dispersed to a foreign land as slaves. Hope for the immediate future of their nation was lost, but hope was not. God never withdraws His power to sustain love, joy, nor peace that passes all understanding where a remnant remains loyal to His heart. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. The Holy Spirit is liberating no matter our circumstances.
We often say that we praise and worship God. The irony is that we must first worship God before He will accept our praise. How can we praise God for who He is if we have not been in awe of Him for who He is? Worship that fails to praise is worship that is disobedient to God. If we truly worship and praise Him how can we be without hope Thomas Paine opened the American Crisis with the immortal line, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” God showed Himself faithful throughout the American Revolution. As Christians we need to once more learn what it means to cast ourselves upon the mercy of the Lord. It means that God was, is, and always will be faithful to Himself and those faithful to praise Him irregardless.
1776
July 6, 2008
On the courage and conduct of this army.”
General George Washington July 2, 1776
This nation was founded by brilliant men burdened with the knowledge that they controlled the future of unborn generations. They fought, died, sacrificed, and suffered great deprivation for their posterity. Today it seems that we as a nation are unable to see beyond what is expedient to our own lives.
The year 1776 was filled with great disappointment. The British landed on Staten Island on July 2, the same day congress voted for independence. Over the next six months Washington
faced one defeat after the other. With morale at an all time low he slipped across the Delaware River on Christmas night to ambush a group of Hessian troops at Trenton New Jersey. It
would have been easy for those men to give up the fight and go home, but they would have been unable to look their families in the eyes.
Without God there can be no basis for our freedom. It is time for the church to return to Christ with our whole hearts. The Great Awakening was the fire that fueled the American Revolution. Revival is still possible if only we will believe and be willing to pay the price. Without the Spirit of God we are powerless to change anything. Our nations history will attest to the fact that God loves an underdog, especially when He delights himself in the Lord.