Being Very Serious (Part 33)

We were fortunate to have a ministry called the UCOG Child Development Center while I pastored in Union, SC. It is a ministry that has transformed a lot of children's lives since it's inception. Yes, it is a daycare and kindergarten program, and for most pastors, ministries like this are more trouble than they are worth. What makes this ministry so unique is the Director, Mr. Rick Boulware. Rick is probably one of the most humble people that you will ever meet and has a spirit of meekness you have to have to be servant of God and people. He knows how to be firm when he has to, but it's his spirit of meekness that has made this ministry work and be a support for other ministries of the UCOG. He is one fine Christian gentlemen in every sense of the word and I am glad to say he is my friend.

The Greek word translated “meek” is "praeis" and refers to mildness, gentleness of spirit, or humility. Meekness is humility toward God and toward others. It is having the right or the power to do something, but refraining from it for the benefit of someone else. Paul urged meekness in Ephesians 4:1, 2 when he told us “to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” 

Jesus is the model of meekness. Paul said in his letter to the church at Philippi 2:6–8 that “[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross!”

Being in the very nature God, Jesus had the right to do whatever He wanted, but, for our sake, He submitted to death on a cross. That is the ultimate display of meekness. We as believers are called to share the gospel message in gentleness and meekness. Peter instructs us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” The KJV translates the word for “gentleness” here as “meekness.”

If you know Christ as your personal Savior you are growing in meekness. It may seem counterintuitive, but Jesus’ promise stands as he preached in Matthew 5. A meek person will be happy, blessed, and fulfilled. Living in humility and being willing to forego your rights for the benefit of someone else models the attitude of Jesus Christ. Great leaders are still great servants. They remember where they came from and don't let their egos rule over them because they think they have arrived. Meekness helps them to more effectively share the gospel message with others.

Striving for power and prestige is not the path to blessedness, but meekness is. Thinking you are somebody special and acting that way will interfere with eternal blessings, but a spirit of meekness will create an eternal inheritance. Acting one way in church and living another way on the outside leads to confusion, but walking the walk leads men and women to God. Never forget it's the meek who inherit the earth! 

Being Very Serious (Part 32)

The word "blessed" to most people usually means "to be prosperous." When a person acquires good fortune, we call them “blessed.” Yet in Matthew 5 Jesus calls people “blessed” who appear to be quite the opposite. Individuals who “mourn” don’t seem to be “blessed". To "mourn" means “to experience deep grief.”Jesus therefore is contrasting the world’s idea of happiness with true blessedness, which comes from having a right relationship with God.

Jesus indicates in His Beatitudes that this mourning is due to grief people have over sins in their lives. The people who seek forgiveness from God for these sins can receive a "state of blessedness" through the comfort they receive from the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself called the Holy Spirit the Comforter that He would send after His ascension. The Holy Spirit comforts those who are honest about their own sin and humble enough to ask for deliverance and healing from them. Those who hide their sin or try to justify it before God can never know the comfort that comes from a pure heart.

Jesus reminds His disciples in Matthew 5 that they cannot seek happiness the way the world does. True joy is not found in selfish ambition, excuses, or self-justification. A state of blessedness comes only to those who mourn over their own sin and repent. That message is confirmed in Isaiah 66:2 "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word."

When you agree with God about how bad your sin is, repent of it, and seek His power to walk away from it, then Jesus promises joy for you from the Holy Spirit. The kind of "mourning" that leads to repentance is truly one that is blessed. Repentance results in forgiveness and cleansing from God. Repentance means your old life has passed away and a new one is just beginning. Repentance means the things that you can't forgive yourself for doing will be eradicated from your record by the blood of Jesus. It's amazing how Jesus can turn your mourning into blessing if you just ask Him!

Don't wallow in your guilt and shame, but realize that you can stand justified before God if you accept Jesus. Those who learn to mourn over their own sin and repent truly find the very heart of God. It's that intimate fellowship with Jesus that is the very foundation of true happiness. Those individuals build a city that cannot be hid and develop a heart for God that is pure and clean. They were humble enough to recognize they were sinners and their mourning (weeping) only lasted for a night because their joy came in the morning!


Whether it's sin, the loss of your health, a loved one, or some traumatic episode that spirit of mourning invades your atmosphere. I have to let God be my source of comfort now more than ever. I challenge you to let God turn your tears into triumph and your mourning into praise. You will never regret the decision to let the convicting, saving power of Jesus attack the negative atmosphere and bring you the laughter you need.

Being Very Serious (Part 35)

Pastor I. C. Morris, Jr. is in glory today, but he was a great mentor to me when I served as his Associate/Youth/Minister of Music in North Carolina. He was one of the finest Christian gentlemen that I have ever known and had a love for automobiles that most people would ignore. He was the one that influenced my love for Ford Mustangs and even helped me rebuild my first one. His love for convertibles rubbed off on me and that's why I drive one today. Brother Morris never saw a piece of rust, but he saw the finished product. At one time I remember he had several convertibles and fastbacks in his fleet. I saw some when he bought them and then had the honor of riding or driving those same vehicles when he finished with them and they were just like they came off the showroom floor. The man was a master pastor, a master with people, and a master of Mustangs. I owe a lot to that gentleman for all he taught me about ministry and Mustangs.

Somehow I feel there is someone reading this post today that feels worn out and worn down. You feel battered and beaten by the rough waves and jagged rocks of life. You've suffered abuse, neglect, and been left for dead by people that you thought cared about you. You've been used up, tossed aside, and feel like you're no longer able to stay afloat on the sea of adversity that life has thrown your way.

You need a restoration! 

God is a master craftsman when it comes to restoring people. He can transform your brokenness and make all things new again. Even renovations that you once considered impossible become glorious possibilities with His touch. He can remove from your heart the decayed parts affected by bitterness, selfishness, or other sins. In fact, He’s anxious to see what you can become and eager to see His purpose in you completed. His goal is a total makeover of your attitudes, actions, and He will persevere until you are restored.  He won’t rest until He’s totally reconditioned you and if you don’t resist His makeover, you’ll become like Him. Then you will reflect the image of the One who restored you. 
God loves you just as you are, but He can't leave you that way any more than a classic car lover can resist restoring an old weathered automobile. Those enthusiasts, like Brother Morris, have a gift for recognizing what’s special and taking what's old and worn out and making it new again. Your God is a greater workman who lovingly restores the people He loved thru the blood of His son Jesus.
Will you allow Him to restore your heart? Will you let Him take away the rust and neglect and put a new shine on your life? It's not just a cosmetic change that He will bring, but one that will change your destiny forever. So whoever this is for today, remember He can restore you in every facet of your life. Trust Him, serve Him, and see!

Being Very Serious (Part 34)

I had a friend of mine at the General Assembly in San Antonio a few years ago eat a steak that was so big it flopped over both sides of the plate it was on. I remember when he was finished he said he was so full that he wouldn't eat again until the next day. LOL! We've all probably said and done the same thing. We often eat so much at one sitting and get so full that we think we will never be hungry again. Man, it was great to see that full plate when we started to eat and even greater as we wolfed it down, but in the aftermath we question our own sanity and wonder how in the world could we eat so much at one time. Alka Seltzer, here we come!

That same attitude prevails in the church world today. In every denomination the table is spread and the spiritual food prepared every Sunday. Pastors everywhere have prayed and sought God for His direction and preach there is room at that table for all who want more of God. Yet many in their congregations feast on just enough to satisfy themselves and then seem to never get hungry again. They get saved, satisfied, and seemingly saturated. They sacrifice just enough to quench their thirst and quell their hunger. They don't really want to change everything, so if they get just enough to eat and drink it's okay with them. Sadly, many of these individuals are leaders in our churches and fellowships and are content just to be where they are in their relationship with God.

It is that lack of hunger and thirst for the Word of God that has created a tremendous void in evangelical circles today. We desire to be so seeker friendly we don't preach about sin anymore. We are so afraid of offending somebody that we tell stories and tales that have nothing to do with the Bible. We want to make everybody feel good about who they are and their station in life. You rarely ever hear a sermon on hell, the devil, or the need to live a sanctified life because none of these subjects are seeker friendly.

Yet Jesus said in Matthew 5 that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness would be filled. Too many church folks have been satisfied for so long they have forgotten what it is to seek after real supernatural food. Miracles didn't happen in the early church because of a feel-good sermon, but by the power of prayer fueled by hungry men and women of God. Sinners came to the altar because preaching the Word brought conviction and a thirst for repentance. We cannot just feed on the victories of the past, but we need to cultivate a culture that is motivated to feast at His table once again daily.

It's that hunger that made the COG come alive in the beginning and will keep us on ablaze until the end. It's that thirst for righteousness that enabled us to overcome the world in the past and will continue to protect us from the attacks of the enemy in the future. It was that hunger and thirst for righteousness that made the early church a force to be reckoned with 2,000 years ago and is the only thing that will give us supernatural power today. So let our prayer be that our hunger and thirst for the righteousness of God will never be stilled or become stagnant, but constantly renewed by our desire for more of God. Now is not the time for a spiritual diet, but a daily feast in the presence of God!

Being Very Serious (Part 31)

There are some folks who deserve special recognition from every church leader and member today and until the Lord returns. It's the folks who volunteer each week to make the church and grounds presentable to the public and comfortable for all who do nothing. It's the Sunday School teachers, youth and children's workers, the maintenance people, and of course the custodians who help us make our jobs a lot easier. I have done them all as a teenager and even as a pastor and it is a lot of work. It takes a special calling to clean commodes, pick out gum wrappers from songbook holders, and in general deal with maintenance problems in the church nobody else wants to deal with. It also takes a special calling to deal with screaming babies, unruly children, and parents who think their child can do no wrong. Those special people who do these jobs week after week are precious to each congregation and pastor.

Now I know from experience that some misuse their position or try and be something they should not, but that happens in every walk of life. Just because it's church doesn't mean that everybody does everything for the right reason. In some of our smaller churches you either don't have enough volunteers or money so the pastor, his wife, and even his children end up doing many of these jobs. I have had to cut as much as 10 acres a week on some campuses and then have people complain because something didn't look right. I have scrubbed toilets and cleaned floors only to see some of my oldest members throw down candy wrappers right in front of me. I know how I felt when that happened, so I can imagine how those who volunteer and do such a great job feel when church folks disregard the hard work they put in.

Yet their labors are not in vain. I speak for every pastor who has a church or church member who thinks he/she ought to cut the grass at the church each week-You are wrong! When that pastor is gone your church will still be there. It's the church's responsibility to make sure the yards are cut and the maintenance is done, not the pastor's. Pastors come and go, but the church remains. Sadly, not enough people are volunteering or tithing enough to hire a lot of things done so the pastor is burning the candle at both ends. He's trying to prepare spiritually for you and also trying to maintain properties and wearing himself/herself down. That's why I appreciate church members who will make the sacrifice to do some of the things they do around the facilities to take the load off the pastor. It's because of you and your works that many pastor's breathe a sigh of relief, knowing your job will be done when they get to church on Sunday or Wednesday night.

I have one word for you complainers, critics, and those who want to fuss about everything someone volunteers to do-HUSH! You COULD have volunteered, you COULD have participated, you COULD have done the job, but you didn't! So if you didn't do what you should have, you have NO right to complain about the volunteers who do theirs. You should be thanking them because without their help, YOU would have had to do the job. And if that were the case it would have been undone!

So again, thank you Lord for the volunteers I had in my ministry and for those who volunteer to help other pastors today. We appreciate what you did and do for God.

Being Very Serious (Part 29)

I hear a lot of sermons about spiritual warfare and being armor bearers, but not a lot about being an example of a believer and bearing the fruit of the Spirit. If the church is to grow again as she once did Christians must bear spiritual fruit daily. Her members need to be more concerned about whom they represent than who they are. Because of Calvary, we're free to choose to bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Think about the things I'm sharing today in this blog after you read them. It's easy to say "Amen" to them all, but another thing to follow through with them in your daily living.

Even when you are treated badly even by people you love no situation justifies hatred. Their injustices toward you may warrant bitterness, but you can choose to love instead of hate. You can love God and what God loves, love your neighbors, and even love your enemies in spite of their treatment toward you. It's not easy, but loving someone never is. You love because you want to bear spiritual fruit and be an example of a believer.

Each day invite God to be the God of your circumstances. Refuse the temptation to be cynical. Refuse to see people as anything less than human beings created by God. Refuse to see a problem as anything less than an opportunity to see how big your God is.  Live forgiven and forgive others so that you may live.

Overlook the inconveniences you face in life. Don't rebel against new challenges, but face them with joy and courage. Be kind to as many people as you can for such is how God has treated you. Go without a dollar before you take a dishonest one,  be overlooked before you boast, and confess your faults before you accuse others of their faults.

Keep your promises. Never let your debtors not regret their trust, your associates never question your word, and your family never fear that you will not come home. If you raise your voice let it be in praise, clench your fists let it be in prayer, or make a demand let it be only of yourself.

You are a spiritual being and after your body is dead, your spirit will soar. So the fruit you bear now will have implications on your future. Don't let what will rot, rule the eternal. Be impassioned only by faith and influenced only by God. If you are successful, then give thanks. If you fail, then seek His grace. Bear spiritual fruit so that when the day is done, you can place your head on your pillow and rest knowing you have done your best to plant gospel seed that day. If every church person would bear this fruit we could change the world for better together. The world has enough gossips, cheaters, thieves, and ego maniacs and so does the modern church. We can change the way the world looks at us by the way we live and bear spiritual fruit.

Being Very Serious (Part 30)

When we come to God, we must realize our own sin, spiritual emptiness, and poverty. We must not be self-satisfied or proud in our hearts, thinking we don’t really need God. If we are, God cannot bless us. 

James 4:6 declares that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humility is an ingredient often lacking today within the body of Christ. We are taught how to win well and conquer, but not so much on how to yeild our egos to God. Humility begins when you understand that you're not self-sufficient enough to handle spiritual things. It doesn't mean you have the spirit of a doormat and get walked all over. It doesn't mean that you allow yourself to be fodder for idol gossip. Being humble means that you realize you have certain limitations that can only be filled by God. You can't save yourself from your sins or from you past, but you willingly surrender your life to God because you understand that He can do what needs to done with your life.

Jewish tradition teaches that humility is among the greatest of the virtues, and its opposite, pride, is among the worst of the vices. Greatness and humility, in the Jewish tradition, are not incompatible. They complement one another. For a man to be humble he does not have to be someone who "has plenty to be humble about." In fact, the greater the man the more humble he is expected to be and is likely to be. The Torah, say the rabbis are compared to water for just as water only runs downhill, never uphill, the Word of God can only be heard in a humble heart.

The Jewish leaders also were fully aware that any personal attempt to attain humility for the wrong reason was self-defeating and that pride can masquerade as humility. Vanity and self glorification are easily recognized for what they are, but mock modesty is less easy to detect. It is not unusual even today for a man to take pride in his humility or to indulge in the more subtle form of self deception in which he prides himself that he is not a victim of false modesty.

Humility is not just the mere absence of pride. It consists not so much in thinking little of one's self as in not thinking of one's self at all. As a retired pastor, I have seen many in ministry brag about statistics that were not true or mislead others into thinking they were someone special because they were the loudest voice in the room. Why preach holiness is the way and then fail to teach that humility is the key to being obedient to God? It's not always the one that crows the loudest or demands the most attention in a crowd, but the person who truly understands that without humility they cannot touch God.

So let our prayer as the church be, "God take off the shackles of pride and fill me with a spirit of humility." It might not stroke your ego, but it will certainly bring you into the presence of God.

Being Very Serious (Part 28)

Do you know who is the most difficult person to love?

-Not your friends.

-Not those less fortunate than ourselves.

-Not even your enemies or those who have despitefully used you.

Then who in the world could it be?

Sometimes the persons most difficult to love are the ones who seem more fortunate than we are. The one who receives the promotion we deserved. The one who gets the recognition we desired or the honor we sought or the affections of those over us that we had hoped to win. It is easy to resent those who seem to be more fortunate, who get all the breaks, or seem to forget where they've come from.

We have all been disappointed at not getting the break someone else did or the promotion that we expected. I have always wondered when a minister received accolades about accomplishments in their ministry why things about their approach to success went unnoticed. I'm not talking about those who really earned their way to the top, but the ones who emptied one church or more to build theirs and were patted on the back as though they had done something great. Or the ones that falsified reports to make their works look better than they really were. More than one pastor has face that truth when they have moved into one of those situations.

I spoke with another retired minister a few days ago who still feels the sting of being slighted when he was in active ministry. His work was just as important as the larger works in his state, but he felt miniscule then, just as he does now. So regardless of generations there are many who have problems with this particular situation. And when you have felt rejection it's hard to rejoice with how those who seem to get all the breaks are faring in life.

One person said to me recently, "You have to let go, or you'll get dragged. Unless you let things go, you should be prepared to have that thing drag you around until you do let it go." Whether it's envy, strife, being mistreated, or feeling mistreated or disrespected we have to let it go or get dragged. Trust me, being dragged is not a place you want to be in. Besides, if you ever want to grab onto something good, you'll need a free hand.

Being Very Serious (Part 27)

Illustrations are wonderful tools in a message. This is one that I have used before that I hadn't heard used much if any in someone else's sermon. I trust that it will help you make your altar call or a specific point in a message that you preach. If you are a lay member it would be good to use to share about how much God loves us.

God Climbed Into Our Playpen:

Jeffie was in his playpen and he was crying. Tears were rolling down his little cheeks, his face was red as it could be. He was crying, and he looked pitiful in his little baseball T-shirt and a diaper.

Then Jeffie's Grandpa entered the room; Jeffie's little face lit up when he saw his Grandpa! He immediately reached out his little arms in supplication and said "Out Pa Pa out."

What is a Grandpa to do? How can someone resist that?

So Grandpa went over to the playpen, he bent over. He reached down to lift his little buddy from captivity and distress . . .

Just then "Law and Order" walked into the room.

Momma said "Jeffie, you stay right there! I'm punishing you because you have been naughty! Dad, leave Jeffie alone!"

What is a Grandpa to do?

Grandpa backs off and is thinking, "I can't just pick up a book and read it with Jeffie here. He would think I was uncaring and distant. I can't leave the room because he would feel like I have abandoned him."

What is a Grandpa to do?

But you know what? Love always finds a way. Since Grandpa couldn't take Jeffie out of the playpen, Grandpa climbed in with Jeffie!

Grandpa said "If you are in the playpen buddy, I'm in the playpen too. What are you in for? What is your sentence?"

Having Grandpa join him in his "prison cell" brought Jeffie great comfort and joy. In the midst of his captivity, Jeffie no longer felt so alone.

What Jeffie's Grandpa did is also a picture of what Jesus Christ did for us when He came to Earth as a baby.

God the Father yearned to reach down into our "playpen of captivity" and pull us out. He could not . . . because of our disobedience . . . because of our sin. What did God do?

God climbed into our "playpen" with us!

When Jesus Christ entered into our "playpen of captivity," He took the sin and disobedience that should have been ours alone, releasing us from our captivity . . . allowing us the opportunity to experience the fullness of life God has for us!

The message is simple, clear and personal: God with us . . . He loves you so much He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18 (NIV)

Being Very Serious (Part 26)

A young minister asked me just recently if I could give him some advise as he started his ministry as a pastor. I told him that I wasn't perfect as a pastor, but I would think about it and pray about it and see what the Lord would put on my heart. Hopefully these things will help him and any other pastor that reads them. I wish I had known some of these things going in because I had to learn a lot of them by experience. If they help those who read them then I have done what the Lord wanted me to do.

Good Advise For Pastors:

-Always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it counts more than what you say.

-Make promises sparingly, and keep them faithfully, no matter what it costs.

-Praise good work, regardless of who did it. Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about somebody.  If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, never spitefully.

-Make merry with those who rejoice; mourn with those who weep. Be interested in others, their pursuits, their work, their homes and families. Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard him as a person of importance.

-Don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Be cheerful. Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of a load.

-It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable. Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue.

-Refuse to talk of another's vices. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of valuable time and can be extremely destructive. Let your virtues speak for themselves. 

-Be careful of another's feelings. Humor at the other person's expense is rarely worth it and may hurt when least expected.

-Pay little attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe them. Disordered nerves and bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting.

-Do your best, and be patient. Don't be too anxious about the credit due you. Forget about yourself, and let others "remember." Success is much sweeter that way.

Being Very Serious (Part 25)

The problems you face today and in the future will either defeat you or develop you depending on how you respond to them. Unfortunately most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring.

-God uses problems to guide you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention? 

"Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways."   Proverbs 20:30 (GNB)

-God uses problems to test you. People are like tea bags. If you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God ever tested your faith with a problem? What do problems reveal about you? 

"When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience."   James 1:2-3 (NCV)

-God uses problems to discipline you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something, health, money and a relationship by losing it.

"It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws."   Psalm 119:71-72 (LB)

-God uses problems to shield you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem, but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. 

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."   Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

-God uses problems to construct you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. 

"We can rejoice when we run into problems they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of Character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it; until finally our hope and faith are Strong and steady."   Romans 5:3-4 (LB)

Here's the point: God is at work in your life even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him.

Being Very Serious (Part 23)

We label churches today just like we label groceries. Some are conservative, some are liberal. Some are exciting, some are boring. Some emphasize the outward manifestations, some are more seeker sensitive. It's a shame we just can't be the church that Jesus intended that would touch lost humanity with the gospel of salvation and deliverance. We either have to improve on the way we do church or it no longer appeals to the masses has become our thinking. You can have the best facilities, the best music, even the best programs, but if you don't have a pastor or people that are hungry for God nothing will matter.

I am sick of labels and experts telling us that church as we know it is doomed. I have already stated in a blog that many of our small town churches are in trouble because of the shrinkage of their community and their economy, but that doesn't apply everywhere. I am convinced that this generation is wanting to get back to just the simple gospel. The fads of lighting, technological effects, and other gimmicks will one day fade away. People will still  be searching for truth and the church, large or small, should be the one that provides it.

Denominational walls will never really go away in my lifetime and probably not yours. Some people will affiliate with the church just because that's the ideology of their family, yet that mentality has changed dramatically in the past 2 decades. Some of the same issues that have been around forever have now come to the forefront because many churches refused to address them thinking they would go away. Because of this almost two generations have walked away from the religious affiliation of their youth and wandered into other areas of spirituality foreign to their former faith. That is why the church spiritualized other venues and incorporated them into what we now call worship to try and bring them back in.

I will soon have two teenage grandchildren and I believe you need a ministry for young people that is up to date. I also have three under the age of 10 so children's ministry is important as well. Yet what I've seen over the past three decades has been more emphasis on worship and a lack of teaching the fundamentals about living holy for God. Our children and grands need to know about worship and understand it's purpose, but  they also need to know how to live for God every day.

It was godly parents and the church that helped me learn the difference about how I should live if I'm going to worship God. It was the church that prayed for me when I was in need and helped me when I didn't know what to do. It was the church that helped provide my spiritual covering. Everything isn't perfect in the church and disguising those imperfections doesn't help her credibility. We must acknowledge that we are sinners saved by grace and the only way we can keep doing right is to keep our hearts sanctified by the blood of Jesus. We are to be a shining light in an otherwise darkened world. That's why we need the church and the church needs us.

The power of God birthed the church and is what keeps the church alive today. There will be those who have the spirit of Demos and walk away. There will be hypocrites in church just there are on your job and in your community. However, in spite of her flaws, the church of Jesus Christ is alive and well. Let's keep her that way.

Being Very Serious (Part 24)

Sometimes my wife will look at me with tears in her eyes and say, "I wish it had been me that had the stroke instead of you." She loves me so much and she means it when she says it. I tell her every time, "I'm glad it wasn't you and that I'm still alive." My life is different than it was a year and a half ago, but it's still my life. I am thankful to God that He spared me and allowed me to be with my wife and my family for a few more days (hopefully years). I have learned in all things to be thankful, even though some days are harder than others.

It's was a challenge for me to grow up with a thankful heart. From an early age I was exposed to a culture of complainers, gripers, grumblers, and critics within the church. They complained about the heat or the air, the music being to loud, the sermons being to long, the pastor making to much money, and about everything in general. I had so many friends and families leave church when I was growing up and when I pastored because somebody was unthankful for the blessings of God and expressed themselves negatively in the wrong place at the wrong time. I remember the days of funeral home fans, open windows, no p. a. equipment, slat-back pews, and uncarpeted floors. I wonder did they complain back then that the paper in the fans was too thin or that they had to expend to much energy when they came to church fanning themselves?

Worst of all to others they seemed ungrateful toward God for any of His blessings all the time. It would be hard for me count the number of complaints and criticisms that were spoken about something that had to do with the church during my lifetime. I've often wondered how those who went through lean times and now have received so much can be so unthankful and critical.One of the great indicators of true spirituality is not measured by how many times we go to church, how big our Bibles are, or how long we pray, but it is measured by the level of gratitude that is in our hearts. When we are ungrateful, the heart of God is saddened, the Holy Spirit is grieved, and the joy of the Lord is quenched within us.
-Being thankful sweetens you, but grumbling sours you.

-Being thankful brings sunshine to your countenance, but being ungrateful casts a shadow.

-Being thankful brings a melody to your words, but criticism makes you sound like a clanging cymbal.

-Being thankful keeps your feet on the pathway of celebration, but complaining takes you down the road of despair.
When our hearts are filled with gratefulness we may feel like our thanksgiving is inadequate, but we can be certain that our thanksgiving is always appropriate. It will gladden the heart of God to hear your heartfelt thanks being freely offered to Him each day you live. Don't let those complainers stop you from being thankful and giving praise to the Lord. Do it whether it too hot or too cold. Do it whether the music is too loud or too soft. Do it when you like the pastor or when you don't like the pastor. The only person who suffers from an ungrateful heart is YOU!

Being Very Serious (Part 22)

How many of you have fought to keep your integrity in your personal and spiritual life? Too many people have forgotten what the word means, so here's a small introspective about the meaning of integrity:

-Integrity is who you are when you are in a place where no one knows you.

-Integrity is what you do when you could take advantage of a situation.

-Integrity means saying "I'm sorry" when you have done something that impugns some one's character unjustly.

-Integrity means being truthful with yourself and others at all times.

-Integrity means being open and honest with God in every circumstance.

-Integrity means honoring those that are leaders over you even when you don't agree with them.

-Integrity is being okay with who you are and not trying to be some one you're not.

-Integrity is being a square peg when everyone else says to fit in you've got to be a round hole.

-Integrity says that in spite of your age you will respect the generations before you.

-Integrity says that being on the outside looking in is okay if it means sacrificing your honesty to be on the inside.

-Integrity is something you can't buy but you can earn.

-Integrity may cost you promotion at a time when you think need it, but it will reward you in the end.

-Integrity helps you understand that you are not right all of the time and that other people's opinions really matter.

You are not born with integrity, but you learn how to develop it at an early age. It is the key ingredient that sets your future in motion. Don't let daily tasks erode or corrupt it. Hold fast and it will see you through the tough times!

Being Very Serious (Part 19)

My heart goes out to the Graves family at the loss of their 2 year old son Lane, who was killed by the alligator at Disney World on Tuesday night. I know that family did not expect to lose a loved one when they went there. I cringe every time I think about what they must be going thru. They went expecting to have a time of relaxation and instead in one unexpected moment faced devastation. When we lose someone we love in such a tragic fashion it's almost impossible to conceive what the family feels. My prayers are with that family in this time of loss.

The families of the individuals killed and wounded in Orlando over the past weekend have also been in my prayers. Although I don't agree with the LGBT lifestyle nobody deserves to die like that. Think about the loved ones who will be scarred for life because of the hatred and devotion to an extremist belief that one man possessed. We all thought we had to worry about communism growing up, but nobody ever talked about radical Islam and the pain it would cause in the world.

When you least expect it weird things happen. They can happen to you or to me and no matter how close to God you are they rock your world. It takes a brave individual to stand tall when these adversities happen. I remember while pastoring in Union receiving a call at 3 a.m. about an unexpected tragedy. It took years for some of the family members to get over that loss. I also recall times while pastoring that I was affected by the sudden loss of a beloved member. One minute they were here and the next they were gone.

Grief affects us all differently, but some grief seems to be greater than others. I am sure all of the loved one affected by the events I mentioned above will take a long time if ever to deal with their situations. I can only imagine what they are going thru individually and collectively. As pastors we have to learn how to deal with grief in their churches and how to show sympathy in an unexpected event. We have to learn that each situation, although seemingly the same, has to be treated differently per the family. I am not talking about showing preferential treatment, but about dealing with the grief that they are going thru.

My mom has lost all of her siblings, mother and father, and my dad. She has been a trooper thru it all, but even she had to learn how to deal with her grief. She is a survivor having lived longer than all of her family and still kicking. But even she will tell you that it took her awhile to deal with dad's passing. Grief is like a knife that constantly stabs you in the heart and soul and puts a vise grip on you. It's only by prayer and the grace of God that your overcome it.

I said all this to get to this point-in times of an unexpected episode it pays to have a good pastor and a loving church family. Sometimes they are the only ones we can turn to when we need help the most. I said this as a pastor about the importance of a good church filled with loving and caring people. People that will show their concern when you are sick in need, or go thru one of these life changing events. If your church isn't like that then make up your mind to became a person of change. All it takes is one person to show the right attitude and become a difference maker in a time of grief and need in another's life.

Being Very Serious (Part 18)

Obedience is better than sacrifice according to God's Word. Saul sure would have stayed out of trouble if he had only listened to God, but he didn't and look at the mess he got in. All my life I have heard that word "sacrifice" tossed around the church, but I always wondered why it only seemed to matter to a few people in the church and not all of us. Just think about it a minute. How many people do you remember growing up who always wanted to talk a good game, yet when the opportunity came to put up or shut up they never showed up. When I was building a church 25 years ago over 1/2 of the labor was done by myself and two other brethren. Many said they'd help but never showed up. One of the men who talked a good game came to look at the finished product before our dedication and begin to criticize several things that we had done. He never offered to lift a hammer or drive a nail but could find fault with a lot of the things that we did. It was hard to keep my sanctification that day!

I was pastoring another church and we had remodeled the church facilities and before we could finish out the loan the bank required the old building to be painted on the outside before they would release the rest of the funds. I called a special work day because some areas were 30 feet high that needed to be painted and I do not like working that high up by myself. Knowing the situation and the timing of the loan I needed some help, but not one person showed up to help so I spent all day Saturday on a ladder trying to get it done. I was close to heaven that day because I don't like heights. Surely the Lord sent angels to watch over me that day while I was high up on that ladder.

I am not the greatest carpenter, but as I said in an earlier blog most pastors learn to do things because the funds are not always available when you need them the most. Yet nowhere do I find that God requires sacrifice of pastors alone. It is a communal thing involving the whole church. I will always wonder about people who say they love their church that fussed about everything and never did anything to help in time of need. They could always find a problem, but never came up with a solution. They wanted me to make the sacrifices because that was what I was paid for, but they never did. I praise God that more than 2/3's of every church congregation I served made the sacrifices necessary to maintain ministry and property. It was the other bunch that bothered me. The ones who only came to church when they wanted, but wanted to tell me how to run it. Or the one's who thought a $1 represented their right to dominate a business meeting but never lifted a hand to help. Someone had forgotten to tell them that sacrifice goes both ways.

I understand sacrifice as do most pastors. I left one church several years ago that never paid me several hundred dollars in back pay they owed me. I sacrificed just to try and keep that church together because of bad financial decisions they had made in the past. I have a loved one who pastored a church that he personally supported due to certain financial situations he inherited before finally selling the church, but never collecting a dime that was owed him. Were we bad money managers? Nope, it's just that a $1 won't pay debt that is so large your mind has troubled conceiving it. When you inherit debt someone has to sacrifice to get the bills paid.

Obedience IS better than sacrifice, but everyone needs to be willing to sacrifice to be obedient. If you vote to build a building and go in debt you should be willing to sacrifice until the debt is paid. You voted to go into debt so you ought to be man or woman of God enough to stand with your church through thick and thin. Too many people say one thing and then do another, and that includes those of us in the ministry as well. If God wants something done we better be obedient, but we must also count the costs. This generation has learned very little about sacrifice. That's why this day is thought of as the day of entitlement. A recent survey said that over 80 % of those under 25 say America owes them something. Sadly, I know a lot of those folks will never learn the meaning of sacrifice without being obedient to God.

Some people will say I am stupid for not getting my pay that I deserved. Some will say you should have gotten paid first and let the church bills go, but I wasn't raised that way. I only had one report to our international and state office from my church be late until a few years ago and that was because my clerk forgot to mail it. My dad always taught me that the church comes first and I bought into that and practiced it all my years of pastoring. Right or wrong, I did the best I could and I got the short end of the stick financially many times. I am sure there are plenty of other pastors that have done the same. Would I do it again? Probably-because I believe the reputation of the church must be protected and sometimes personal sacrifice is the only way to do so. But I would also emphasize before you make any decision today financially count the cost and make sure you have people willing to do the same. Make sure they are loyal to their church and will stick with you even when you disagree because if you don't you will be hurting in the end.

Being Very Serious (Part 21)

Pentecostalism is the fastest growing branch of evangelical churches in the world today. It is so overwhelming that even traditional non-Pentecostal churches are now accepting the last days move of the Holy Ghost within their services. We hear reports of an outpouring of the Spirit on just about every denomination in the world today. When I was growing up Pentecost wasn't popular and was frowned upon by non-Pentecostal groups. In fact, when my grandfather received the infilling of the Spirit back in the 1930's his family thought he had gone crazy. People would walk on the other side of the street to avoid coming in contact with him in his home town. Nobody wanted anything to do with someone who spoke in an unknown tongue.

I am a 4th generation Pentecostal. I found out that my great grandparents were some of the first in the low country of South Carolina to experience the power of Pentecost. What's so amazing is that many who made fun of us and our Pentecostal infilling are now a part of us. I believe that as the times grow more desperate sincere people are beginning to seek a deeper relationship with God and many are discovering if you seek you will find. What they are finding is the same experience that the 120 found in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost. Tongues of fire are falling and sitting upon the heads as the Holy Ghost endues them with power from on high. What a great day to be Pentecostal!

There is a concern, however, that we have emphasized the outward aspects of the Spirit for so long that we have forgotten the cost spiritually to keep the Pentecostal fires burning. Many of our old line Pentecostal denominations or fellowships are being bombarded with new theologies that try to take away the initial sign of this Holy Ghost baptism, which is speaking with tongues as the Spirt gives the utterance. Others are debating the necessity of spiritual gifts within the church and have formally stated in many of their local congregations there will be no more outward manifestations of the Spirit publicly in their services. The Charismatic movement of the 70's has been wonderful in introducing non-Pentecostals to Pentecost, but it has produced a lot of skeptical ideas concerning the power of Pentecost into the established Pentecostal churches. Because of these different ideologies many of our mainline Pentecostal churches are filled with believers who are saved and satisfied no longer seeking the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Some are even questioning His necessity within the realm of Christianity.

We in the Church of God need to affirm our Pentecostal heritage. We need to stand up for what the Bible says about Pentecost and not be persuaded to go to the right or the left on this issue. Every church has gone through a period of extremism and we are no exception. I have seen it growing up in this faith as many of you have. We were too extreme on some items, but lax on others. Now that attitude of laxness is beginning to affect our hunger for the move of the Spirit and the infilling of His power. The infilling of the Holy Ghost power is not for personal gratification, but an enduement of power for service. We need the Baptism of the Holy Ghost to help us live right, do right, and be right in this troubled age. We need to stand on the power of Pentecost to defeat the enemy of our souls. We need to seek His presence and the infilling of His Spirit every opportunity we get.

It's not about shouting, or prophecy, or even the laying on of hands. All of these are outward manifestations of being filled with the Spirit. It's about having the power of God within you that gives you the ability to say "NO" to the devil and to share the message of Jesus in places you never thought God would send you. It's about being Pentecostal in spirit and not just in name. It's about seeing the moving, convicting power of God in a day filled with occultism and doubt. It's about being what we once were-a living, breathing example of what happened on the Day of Pentecost. That's my desire and my hope for the future of the Church of God. Let us never waver from the reality of Pentecost!

Being Very Serious (Part 20)

Bishop Tim Hill said it in his message at SCCOG Camp Meeting this year and I have preached this as well much the same for the past several years. Too many people are capitalizing off the word REVELATION in our day. If it's not another new prophecy book, it's some other explanation about what is going to happen after Jesus comes to rapture His people. Others sell After The Rapture supplies of food and batteries in case you get left behind or the rapture doesn't take place until the middle of the Tribulation period. Confusing? Yes it is. There are probably more new books on Revelation or the Apocalypse than you can imagine. If you want to make an easy buck today say something stupid or profound about the book of Revelation or prophecy and you can open your checking account and cash in. Everybody wants to hear about calamity but doesn't want to prepare for it. Which one are you?

If I were to tell you a storm is coming tomorrow that would destroy your house you would laugh at me and tell me I was crazy. Then if that storm did come and your house were destroyed you'd search me out to find out how I knew that was going to happen. You would tell others that I could predict the future and pretty soon I would have a massive following because something I said before it happened took place and you were an eye witness of it. I play a game with my younger grandsons with a quarter. I will pretend to make the quarter disappear and then magically reappear behind their ear. Due to their youth I can easily distract them enough to hide the coin in my shirt or under my leg until the right time to make it reappear. Distraction is the key. As long as I can keep them distracted they will never know where the coin is coming from.

That's how easy the devil is in distracting people today from the truth. When another new book about Revelation comes out people try to find a time frame or escape clause in it. When someone announces a date or time that Jesus will return and then it doesn't happen the skeptics say again we who believe are a bunch of idiots. I appreciate people wanting to search the scriptures for truth about Revelation, but Jesus already told us that no man would know the day or hour. There is no new revelation or doctrine. There's nothing else to decipher out of Revelation. Oh yes, it's good teaching material and it sells books, CDS, and even provides a schedule for the writer/speaker, but the answer is simple-Just be ready and you won't have to worry about it.

If you want to know what is going to happen in the future read Matthew 24 and 25. That should answer any questions you have about prophecy or Revelation. Who cares who the Anti-Christ is? Who cares about when he is born or will take over? His spirit has already been around for over 2,000 years The way of escape has already been planned by God the Father through His son Jesus Christ. If you get your heart right with God you'll never have to worry about a time, date, or place of eternity. You can know where you will be and who you will be with. That's why you are given a choice today while there is breathe in your body. Why spend your hard earned money on figuring out how much time you have left or trying to discover a new revelation? Where you spend eternity is your choice. Are you man or woman enough to make it?

Being Very Serious (Part 17)

Casting a vision is one thing, but catching a vision is something entirely different. Many of us have cast visions for our local ministries for years often only to see that year end and the vision we cast go unfulfilled. Then we begin to ask: Was it my fault or the congregation? Was it too great of a task to accomplish or did we not do enough to complete it? Was it something the people didn't buy into or something I really didn't expect to happen? Vision casting is real easy. Anyone can do that. It's the vision catchers that I want to be around and hope their experience rubs off on me.

The problem has been for years that our idea of becoming a vision catcher is to go to a seminar or a training session and take the information we learn and try to become what the teacher or trainer told us we could be. Simply put it doesn't always work that way and finally at some of the seminars I last attended the speakers admitted it. Certain things won't work in a rural area that work in a city. Some churches refuse to do anything differently in spite of God's directions and hinder your vision. Other things interfere with vision catching such as the age of the congregation, the acceptance of multi-cultural communities, and the financial limitations that are imposed on church budgets that limit creativity. You can have all the vision casting you want, but if you don't have the means to catch it will never be caught.

Many of our communities in the South are drying up numerically because most of our smaller towns are loosing their industry. That means more and more of our potential attenders/members are leaving those towns or cities to find employment in other places limiting our growth and vision in those areas. As the older folks pass away a lot of their offspring have either left the community or married out of our faith and attend church elsewhere. I was blessed to pastor the Union Church of God for 13 years and found a church in a small town that not only accepted the yearly vision I cast, but also worked with me to try and accomplish it. I saw a lot of visions fulfilled while I was there and have some of my former staff and converts in ministry today continuing to cast and catch their vision. However, that county is almost 14,000 smaller in population today than it was in 1997 when I went there to pastor. It's hard on any pastor to catch their vision when the community around them is drying up and the next generation has moved on from the fellowship.

I personally should have placed more emphasis on individual discipleship. That's what I believe limited me in becoming the vision catcher I wanted to be at my last two churches. When I was growing up in the COG we really placed effort on evangelism and just expected people to become disciples because they accepted Jesus, but in today's society Jesus has become a disposable word to many people. They use His name only when they want something or when they're in trouble. Church is not important nor are the tenants of faith. If we had spent as much time building disciples 25 years ago as we do emphasizing activities and social events today our church would be profoundly stronger and more vision catchers would have emerged.

Cute sayings are wonderful, especially if you incorporate your vision into them, but in our changing society we really need to emphasize discipleship, dedication, and determination. Only these individuals will truly become vision catchers, anointed by God to lead our church into the future. A true disciple never forgets where they have come from and is determined to stay in the Word of God and live a dedicated life to fulfill the vision cast before them. They will stand with the church through thick and thin regardless of the times and work united to catch the vision their pastor has put in front of them. They will adopt a consistent prayer life, become a reader of the Word on a regular basis, and witness every day to the lost and dying. They will see a need and prepare themselves in all areas to fill that need and become a true disciple.

We don't need bigger visions, just some bigger vision catchers.

Being Very Serious (Part 16)

Attitude can change your altitude. You either feel low or high due to your disposition. Some days it seems impossible to smile and then on other days you just feel the spirit of laughter. We do have to be serious at times, but not all the time. God Word tells us that a "merry heart doeth good like a medicine". Have you had any medicine lately?

This world has some very serious problems today. Problems that most common people can't solve because they are too complex and literally above our abilities. That causes a lot of frustration and a real problem to your attitude. You can't understand why people do like they do and why things are so hard to change and it really messes with your mind. I recently talked with a retired coupled who have made it very well financially since retirement until now in their late 70's. Their  income in July 2016 will drop to half of what's be for the past 12 years. One of their retirement funds will be out in July and they have no idea where any other funding is coming in from. But their words to me were, " The Lord will provide!" Their attitude at 77 and 75 wasn't "O Lord, how we gonna make it?" but " We're trusting in an unseen hand!"

David reminded us that he had never seen the righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread. If you are a true child of God what makes you think God will abandon you? He will always show up on time. I remember about 38 years ago our car insurance was due and I did not have the money to pay for it. I had taken a large pay cut to go where God called me to serve so money was tight. Someone called me to their office the very day it was due and gave me the exact amount I needed to pay it. Not a dime more or less, but exactly what I needed. He can do the same for you and I as well today.

It begins with an attitude of gratitude. A spirit of thankfulness and blessing to God for His blessing to you. He never promised you'd be trial-free, wouldn't fight devils, or face dark times personally, but He did say He'd see you through. I have to remind myself of this everyday. The past 10 years have been the darkest of my ministry-5 heart attacks, eight knee surgeries, a stroke, and leaving a church I should have stayed at. There are some days I have questioned God about all of it and some days He seems a million miles away. But it all comes back to attitude. Do I believe God had a purpose in all I've gone through? Did He really forsake me as a lot of people did during those times? Did He lie in His Word and that it only seems to work for some and not for all? I say a 1,000 times "NO" to all those questions. My attitude is that Jesus is just a close as the mention of His name.

If you'll change your attitude and start praising Him even when you're in the pit you'll experience His overcoming joy. Now that's an attitude that will never let you down!

Being Very Serious (Part 15)

How many people do you know live with a spirit of regret because of something they did or didn't do? There are probably more individuals than you realize who face this giant everyday and it's scar on them seems to never heal. Whether it involved a bad decision on their part or a failure to react to a situation that harmed them in the long run really doesn't matter. It's just the what could have been's that haunt them over and over. Sometimes those memories seem to never go away but are constantly binding and crippling them from what God wants to do with their future.

We all make bad choices from time to time. I think even in the ministry we make them because we're more human than we want to admit. Promotion for those in ministry is often an ego thing. It becomes more about numbers and increases than about God's will. Ego does get in the way of God's will at time and influences our decisions about positions more than we want to admit. When we think that we have all the answers is when we usually end up in trouble regretting decisions that we have made. There are many times that I regret making some choices that I did while pastoring or even physically moving from one church to another. My dad always told me there were good people and bad people in all places and he was right. I found out the grass isn't always greener because of promotion. Most often it's because the septic tank is bigger in that location.

I wish I could go back and undo some of the decisions I regret until this day, but I can't. I wish that I would have taken some situations more seriously and stopped them before they infected me with that feeling of regret. I also wish that some situations I had not taken so seriously and allowed them to affect my health as I did. What I've learned is that hindsight is a whole lot better than foresight. We hope that some things will just go away or that some people that have hurt us will change, but it usually doesn't happen that way and we have to get involved. That's when we make choices that either make us or break us.

I'm sure Moses regretted not being able to go into the Promised Land because of one moment of bad judgement. I'm sure David regretted his failure with Bathsheba. I'm sure Peter regretted his denial of knowing Jesus. But all of these men were just that-men. They were not perfect but flawed like all of us. God took them just as they were when they submitted themselves to Him. The Bible says that Moses did make mistakes as did David and Peter. Yet they were just individuals who made good and bad choices and had to live with them just like we do.

Our challenge today is not to live a life filled with regret. I know that I personally made some bad choices and decisions that I can't do anything about today because they are in the past. I have to decide whether or not they haunt me or I conquer them. I either win or lose my future because of this battle with regret. If I let those bad decisions, bad people, or bad situations win, then regret rides me to my grave. But if I accept that God is forgiving and everything happens for a reason I am a winner.
I choose the latter. Which one will you choose?

Being Very Serious (Part 14)

Iron sharpens iron says the Bible and sure enough we see it do so even today. Conflict affects everyone from the youngest to the eldest in a marriage, in a family, and in a church. No one comes out of it unscathed. It can create a better bond or a lasting division. It can mold some ones future or scar their past. It can manufacture warriors or cause individuals to hang their heads in defeat. There is no greater task than learning how to deal with the spirit of conflict in our society today.

We are seeing a minority cause so much anguish in our world right now that it will have a stronghold on us if we don't come to grips with it quickly. It is an unleashing of unthinkable ideas of even a generation ago that mistakenly confuses liberation with liberty, renovation without change, and perverseness versus normality. Combating this spirit of conflict publicly invites ridicule, censorship, and indignity upon those calling for a resolution. This spirit of conflict is seemingly bent on the destruction of our freedoms, families, and faith. Utter devastation is upon us unless we make up our minds and hearts that through God we will prevail.

The conflict over sexual identity is invading every aspect of our lives and the more we struggle with it the more it seems to advance. The conflict over what is sin and what is not sin has invaded the church and we have varied opinions from clergy on which way we should go. The conflict over which freedoms are protected and which aren't is continuing to flood the political arena. This conflict is more than a passing phase in our history, but a real threat to our history. History is correct in one aspect-every fallen nation has fallen from within and unless we take the attack to this spirit of conflict America is next.

Politicians can't solve this dilemma. Those that have tried have failed miserably, although many have put up a gallant front. Religious leaders that were once respected have compromised the Word of God and the faith and have become fodder for the pigs. Even parents who have tried to teach the truth and discipline their children are persecuted for doing the right thing. So what, my friend, can break the spirit of conflict we face today?

Prayer!

I'm not being a Debbie Downer, but it isn't easy to pray when all hell seems to crashing down around you. In fact, it isn't easy to pray even if you were a trained professional because the devil will do what he can to restrict your ability to do so. He will attack your time and efforts to make prayer a part of your daily life. Yet it is prayer that changes people, situations, and breaks the spirit of conflict every time. The spirit of confusion has to flee when we begin to pray. The power of repentance and renewal begin to take over when we begin to pray. Hardened hearts are broken by the power of prayer and a spiritual revolution begins to take place instead of conflict.

I have had to deal with conflict as a senior pastor and youth pastor. It's hard to please everybody and be everything that people want you to be. In fact I still struggle with the after effects of some of those conflicts because they wounded me deeply and personally. Yet I recognize my only hope in the life, for my family, and for my denomination is prayer. Some of those scars will never be healed. I know this because Jesus left this life scarred because of a spirit of conflict. But I know that there is hope for this generation and beyond because the spirit of conflict is subdued by the spirit of prayer.

That old saying, "Prayer Changes Things", really does speak truth. Pray for your families. Pray for our society. Pray for our leaders. Pray for your church and denomination. Pray for a spiritual breakthrough. Revival is more than a series of services, it is seeing the spirit of conflict retreat in terror to the blessings of God.

Are you ready to see it?

Being Very Serious (Part 13)

I grew up in a church parsonage. I still remember most of them that we occupied when I was a boy. The State Youth Director's parsonage in Little Rock had a wrap-a-round porch. The one in Tulsa had gas heaters built into the walls. Osceola, Arkansas saw us living in the country. In Miami it was close to K-Mart. The first one we lived in Pahokee even had wall-to-wall eyes at night because of the lizards that would crawl in when the lights were turned out. The point is as a boy and as a man I have had my experiences living in a church parsonage versus now living in my own home.

My mom and my wife never left a parsonage dirty. In fact, we would usually have the clerk of the church come out and check them before we left so the next pastor's wife wouldn't have to clean as much when they moved in. That was the way that I was raised and the way that my wife and I have always tried to be as a pastor. It's my house while I live there, but it is a parsonage and belongs to the church. So if I am living in a parsonage I'm going to be a good steward and make sure that I keep it and the grounds in great condition while I'm there.

Many of our churches still have a parsonage, but due to neglect or a lack of finances in the local church they are in not in the best shape. Becky and I moved from a beautiful parsonage more than once to a Mill House that was un-level or in need of repair. I am not the carpenter like my brother Dennis is, but I learned quickly that I had to learn how to do a lot of the repairs myself if our living conditions were going to change. I praise God for the good men and women we pastored who also made sacrifices to help get their church properties in good order. Without their physical and financial support we never could have made it happen.

Recently I became aware of how some of us in ministry are not as concerned about the appearance or condition of the properties that God has placed us over. I have pictures to prove how filthy and rundown some of those situations were and I wonder where has our love for God and for His blessings to us gone? Having to retire because of my health I realize now how important it is to have a place of my own to call home and Becky and I do every thing we can to keep it in tip top shape. We treated our parsonages and properties the same way. If something needed to be done at the church and the person who was supposed to do it didn't, I did or she did. The same with the parsonages we lived in. She and I treated those places we lived in and served as though they were our own. That's what we're supposed to do as an example to the communities we served as pastor.

When I realized that I could no longer do some of those things as pastor due to my stroke I stepped down. If I couldn't take care of what I was given charge over, it was time for someone else to take up the mantle. My point in all this is if God has blessed you with a good church make sure the property is taken care of. Make sure the parsonage is not in disarray. I learned again from experience what it is to have church property and no money to repair it. That's one of the most awful feelings for a pastor who is charged with taking care of God's business. Some messes you found you didn't create, but somehow you have to deal with the responsibilities left behind. Do your best to take care of God's property. Your people will speak well or evil of you based on what you do.

Being Very Serious (Part 12)

The I love music! One of the hardest things to accept since my stroke is my inability to play most of my instruments. My guitars sit in my closet and I am trusting for the day the Lord will touch me and allow me to at least chord them again. My banjo and uke sit collecting dust (that's an exaggeration if you know my wife) and my left hand just doesn't have the movement that it did before to really play the piano as I once could. I can say out of all that was affected by my stroke the use of my fingers on my left hand was the least thing I worried about, but have suffered the greatest loss from. I have finally got them to use my computer keyboard as they should, but I thank the Lord for Spellcheck more than I ever did. Take music from a musician and it's almost as close to torture as you can get.

Music has always been a part of our legacy in the Church of God, but the devil has fought our church over music since I was a teenager. Our standard for years in the SCCOG was the Annual Singing Caravan held from District to District to introduce a yearly songbook filled with new songs. Most of the individuals involved in the endeavor have passed on to glory now. Dozens of  COG people across SC used to attend the meetings to learn the new songs each year. In fact, my wife and I have a collection of the convention books from the late 40's on. I always said it was my generation that began to bring the change in music to the church. The pop songs of my day became easy songs to change the words to and use their melodies. We didn't sing Kumba Ya My Lord, but we did sing My Sweet Lord inserting the word "Jesus" instead of "Krishna". O Happy Day was in the Red Back Hymnal, but we did it differently. The songs of Andre Crouch, like I've Got Confidence and Sammy Hall's Jesus Is The Man For The Hour  and others begin to affect a generation. I remember some of our Youth Directors during that day getting chewed out because they let that type of music go on in our Youth Camps. In fact, I remembering directing the 1st choir in Eastern North Carolina from the Pine Valley COG in Wilmington, NC to ever use a reel-to-reel soundtrack at the Kenly Camp Meeting. We even had to bring our own recorder to play the tape. Since that time soundtracks started being produced on cassette tapes, then on CD's, and now can be downloaded off the internet as MP3's. Technology has entered the church music business like never before and now you can have a whole church service without live musicians.

But as the music and production became more sophisticated, I started hearing complaints about the "canned music" (which really were the soundtracks). For years I've heard about our music being too rocky, or too loud, or the words too repetitious, or our music program is too well planned. I believe more churches fight over or split over music than anything else in their local congregations. You can change a lot of stuff in time within a church structure, but mess with music people are comfortable with and you're in trouble.

Doesn't history tell us that many of the hymns were rejected earlier in the existence because of some of them sounding like converted bar tunes? Didn't the churches that rejected worship with anything other than a piano or organ start to emulate our music style and even use our songbooks in their worship? Have you personally ever let preference of style stop you from worshipping God? Those are serious questions that you need to answer.

Every generation has a preference in music. I personally don't like rap music, but some Christian artists have gone that route and are doing something for God with the generation who likes it. I am not talking compromise of lyrics or message, but there are some sincere individuals who are serving the Lord who realize that's it's not their style that makes them righteous, but it is who they perform their music for. For so long we have tied music and worship together that we have forgotten that it's worship that God is more pleased with than all the music we can perform. Music can lead us into worship, but it is not a substitute for worship. The squabbling over style INTERFERES with worship. So does that make it pleasing to God? Lucifer tried to make the music/worship thing all about him and look what happened. God really is not concerned about your personal preference, only about your desire to worship Him whatever style of music is being played. I love southern style, contemporary, worship style, and good old fashion red back hymnal choir singing. A musician of any sought really loves them all. My music tastes run from the Imperials to The Oaks, Christ Church and Brooklyn Tab, Steven Curtis Chapman to The Booth Brothers. I like it a little gospel style, country style, rocking style; well, you name it and I like it. But regardless of your tastes it's not worth sacrificing your worship of God over music style.

So whether it's Amazing Grace or How Great Is Our God, singing out of a convention songbook or the Red Back Hymnal, or even off  a screen that's most important, but how you use the music to lead you into worship God. It's not about being comfortable or sitting or standing there complaining to yourself about how it's so much different than it used to be, but about focusing on the One who made the music and gave you the opportunity to worship Him. Pickers and players will come and go, music styles will always change and be disputed, but worship will never be replaced. The next time a song that doesn't suit you is played block it out and focus on the Master. You'll find before to long it doesn't matter what the song or style is because you have entered His presence.

Being Very Serious (Part 11)

One of my former members shared a quote from one of her friends that basically said most people believe what they see on the outside makes them look like a great person, but those that know them intimately know the truth about their real identity. What a powerful statement but so very, very true. So many people only see the outside and never really discover the true nature of a person. Some people can be so convincing that they fool everybody but God. I must admit I've been fooled by some of the best of them and I thought I was a discerner of spirits. Innocent people get hurt along the way because they experience the true nature of that person and cannot convince others that they are not what they seem outwardly. Good people get ruined, reputations are destroyed, and the person that is a wolf in sheep's clothing seems to get away with their deception.

When you have experienced it yourself you realize the futility of the situation. People are easily swayed by the outward appearance of an individual, but all it takes is one snake in the grass to cause you great difficulty. The problem comes when you reveal what really happened in a situation and nobody will believe you because of the way the person who did the damage appears to the public. The answer you get back is often "I just can't believe that THEY would do you like that!" Again, I think it's because people don't want to rock the boat and be the one to identify a flaw in that person's character (who is not what they appear to be) that everyone seems to admire.

I have often said that I am not perfect and I have been quoted out of context several times, but I have never intentionally tried to besmirch some one's character. Personally, I've had a retired minister that I pastored church go to the bank where we did church business and tell the head banker I was destroying the church I was pastoring. I have had more than one pastor lie about a church to me and when I got there found something entirely different than I or my AB was told. I have had members tell others I never visited them when they were sick only to discover my business cards that I had left when I went by to see them lying on the mantle of their fireplace. I had one individual that said I wasn't holy enough, but he himself to could lie and use my name in an ungodly method. I could go on and on about this. The one common denominator in it all is that these individuals appeared to others as godly and know matter what I said in my defense it didn't register with their admirers that these people were not as holy as they appeared.

I apologize for including ministry in that category, but I have found out, as well as some of you that read this blog, that fruit can look good outwardly, but be rotten on the inside. If God had looked only on the outside of David the shepherd boy then a king would never have been crowned. But He saw David for who he was, which was a man after God's own heart. We are not privileged  like God to see an individual's heart or secret activities. It is in those times that we have no authority over the wrong-doing done in secret. Some people get by with it so long, as I heard my Pastor say Sunday, that it becomes normal to live a double lifestyle. Instead of trying to see the dedication of a person and know their true nature we are often dazzled by their charismatic ways and reputation and then we end up suffering the consequence when they let us down.  We need examples, but we also need a restoration of integrity in the pulpit and the pew. We need open heart surgery among the ministry and laity of the church.

There is a day of reckoning coming. People, preachers, and pretenders may get by with their stuff in this world, but not on that day. Let our prayer be that we do not become the person that appears one way and then lives another. Lord, don't let their junk infect us. Those kinds of people almost swallowed me whole, but by the grace of God I now pity them.  I don't won't to be a pretender but a contender for the faith. How about you?