Surviving Bad Attitudes-Part 1

The article in yesterday's newspaper about the decline in salvations, baptisms, attendance, and financial support within the Southern Baptist denomination is just a reminder of how many people are looking at the church as an outdated institution. The article went on to say that there must be an attitude adjustment internally and spiritually if the current trends are going to be broken within their denomination.

Literally, because of all of the worldly pressures put upon the church as a whole to survive in these troubled time some bad attitudes have developed within the church. Almost every church, independent or denominational, during this recession period of the past 3 years has gone through some kind of crisis that has created this spirit of negativism that is infecting us with bad attitudes.

When a church has a group within it that develops a bad attitude it can cause great pain. To them the church has become their personal institution where they must have their way or nobody will be happy. And to be honest with you that is what is killing so many good churches today.

We enjoyed 13 years of ministry in Union, but our last two there were the hardest. During that time I had to deal with situations both spiritually and financially within the church that literally broke my heart. During our time there we remodeled the church, built a family life center, remodeled the day care, and left the church with less debt than it had when we went there. Becky and I had worked so hard during that time period to rebuild the church image in the community during our pastorate there. 

Yet after leaving Union because we felt God was through with us there we had some disgruntled folk that literally tried to destroy our reputation in the community and within the church with lies and false tales. Even before we left their influence over leadership caused them to not acknowledge our 13 years of work in their midst. We had buried their loved ones, dedicated their babies and watched many of them grow up, spent thousands of hours at the hospital, worked countless days on structures and properties, and did hundreds of others things. Because of a few bad attitudes and threats to leadership we didn't even get a plaque thanking us for our service to the church. I don't think Becky will ever fully recover from some of the stuff that was said about her outreach ministries that were nothing but lies after we had moved.

Needless to say, we were hurt by a church that we loved and gave everything to. Were we perfect and did we do everything right? No, but we did the best we could. But even giving our best effort wasn't good enough to please everybody within the church. And just a few folk, who we thought were our friends and supporters, let their bad attitudes mark our entire ministry there at least in our hearts and minds.  

The church I am currently pastoring is no different. I have had to deal with more stuff in the past 15 months that I had to deal with in 13 years at Union. Sometimes I just want to say to God, "Why are you doing this to me?" I know that God called us to our current church and I believe God is going to help us turn it around, but I'm dealing with 8 years of hurt that they have gone through that has created some very bad attitudes. I have grown to love many of these people, but some never have given me a chance to love them or even get to know them because they are holding on to the things of the past that have caused them pain and hurt.

After awhile you become so bonded with a bad attitude that only God has the power to break it, but someone has to be willing to let Him do so. You may say, "Pastor, why are you writing all this? I thought this was supposed to be a blog to encourage us not discourage us!"

Well I hope to do so by reminding you of this one fact-even Jesus could not please everybody. He had to deal with bad attitudes for most if not all of His ministry. He had to handle things that nobody else wanted to handle and deal with junk that nobody else wanted to deal with. Yet He did so with integrity and confidence knowing that God would vindicate Him in the end and that His Father's will would be accomplished through Him.

Just remember this:
-The church is not perfect. For as long as any of us are in it, it will have some imperfection. We are all subject to having a bad attitude on any given day. The solution for a believer is the church is the place where these things can be dealt with.

-The church is the only place where people feel they can vent their daily or weekly frustrations at one individual such as a pastor and make themselves feel better. Rather than going to God and getting the help they need, they allow their bad attitudes to become gossip, trash, critical spirits, and destructive forces that can and do hinder the spiritual growth of the congregation.

-The church is the one place where people want their way more often than they do God's way and will many times do what they can to achieve it, even if it means hurting others. Bad attitudes create lies out of personal opinion, unsubstantiated facts, and just plain old meanness in one's spirit.

But there is a solution to surviving bad attitudes and I hope daily this week to share with you how according to God's Word. Starting tomorrow I am going to take you on a road of progress that I hope will help you learn how to survive bad attitudes. Prayerfully you will take this journey with me.

Reliving the Dream

Proverbs 29:18a "Where there is no vision, the people perish..."

Our family just got back from a trip to California where I got to live out a childhood dream of going to Disneyland. Disneyland officially opened on July 18, 1955. On Sunday, July 17, 1955, Disneyland hosted a live TV preview, among the thousands of people in attendance were Ronald Reagan, Bob Cummings and Art Linkletter, who shared cohosting duties, as well as the mayor of Anaheim. My fondest memories from childhood were the black and white days of Disney and the Mickey Mouse Club. Never missed a single program.

While in Disneyland I watched and saw a video again of it's planning stages and grand opening. I heard Walt Disney give the following dedication day speech which triggers some very fond memories. He said:
"To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world."

What a thought and vision. Walt Disney's dreams have had an influence on the world even since his death in 1966. Almost 50 years later his influence is still affecting the world.

As much as the Disney story still inspires me, I regretfully feel that the institution that once "turned the world upside down" has lost it's way in 2011. The church should be a place where memories of good things are created and where the dreams and hopes of the future in heaven inspire us to do greater things than Jesus did to touch the world. Yet alas, somewhere we have lost our way.

It was never God's intention for the church just to become an institution. In fact, when it seemed it was going to become one He sent a wave of Pentecost upon people hungry for God and once again shook up the church. Whether it was in the mountains of North Carolina, the plains of Kansas, the streets of LA, or even recently in the Gulf Coast region of Florida, God has always sent the Holy Spirit when the church began to broach the form of an institution.

Let me break it down this way:
-God intended for the church to be a happy place-a place where people that where lost could find their way and receive a life-changing experience.

-God wanted the church to be the focal point of ministry here on earth to the world and it's needs, not just a place that was inclusive of a small handful that ignored the needs of the poor, lost, and hurting.

-God wanted the church to be a place of worship, joy, inspiration, dedication, and never ending faith. His plans were not just for mega-campuses and high tech ministries, but to simply be a gathering place of praise and communion with Him.

Through highs and lows the dream of Walt Disney still touches millions around the world daily. Can we truthfully say that about us in and through the church?

Acts 4:31 "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

God, please help us to relive our dreams and see visions of what we are supposed to be and can be if we trust in You. Amen!

San Diego

Well two more days in California and then headed back to good old SC. I know they have a lot of earthquakes out here,but man the weather has been awesome. I enjoyed Disneyland and California Adventure. I got to fulfill a dream I've had since I was 4 years old. Believe me the Indiana Jones ride was worth the trip.

Well, I get to fulfill a second dream today by going to the San Diego Zoo. Looking forward to that....but the best part of it all is to be with my family. I thank the Lord everyday that He has allowed me to live and be able to enjoy my babies. Hannah will be 12 shortly, Gracie will be 8, and Hay just turned 3. I hope I get to enjoy them a whole lot longer.

All the gold in California

Well the trip so far:

-Californians are real friendly.
-The beaches are beautiful.
-It's extremely crowded.
-The trees are beautiful.
-The weather is perfect (average 68 degrees).
-Got to see the Kodak Theater, Madame T's wax museum, and the Walk of Fame.

Biggest disappointments:
-Hollywood was'nt what I expected.
-neither was Beverly Hills.
-Roy Rogers had little feet. (LOL)

You Didn't Get The Letter?

Schools out and summer is near!

I am blessed to have a wonderful wife, a great son and duaghter-in-law, and 3 healthy beautiful grands that I get to spend a whole week with. Looking forward to the time together. Until I return read this:

One day God was looking down at the earth and saw all of the evil that was going on. He decided to send an angel down to earth to check-it-out.

So, He called on a female angel and sent her to earth for a time. When she returned she told God, yes it is bad on earth -- 95% is bad and only 5% is good.

God thought for a moment, and said maybe I had better send down a male angel. To get both points of view. So God called a male angel and sent him to earth for a time. When the male angel returned he went to God and told him yes the earth was in decline -- 95% is bad and only 5% is good.

God said this is not good. So, God decided He would send a letter to the 5% that were good to encourage them -- a little something to help them keep going on the right path.

Do you know what that letter said?

Oh, you didn't get your letter either?!!!

You better straighten up then!

Don't Say This To The Police

1. Sorry, Officer, I didn't realize my radar detector wasn't plugged in.
   
2. Aren't you the guy from the Village People?
   
3. Hey, you must've been doin' about 125 mph to keep up with me. Good job!
   
4. Are You Andy or Barney?
   
5. I thought you had to be in good physical condition to be a police officer.
   
6. You're not gonna check the trunk, are you?
   
7. I pay your salary!
   
8. Gee, Officer! That's terrific. The last officer only gave me a warning, too!
   
9. Do you know why you pulled me over? Okay, just so one of us does.
   
10. I was trying to keep up with traffic. I know there are no other cars around. That's how far ahead of me they are.
    
11. When the Officer says "Gee Son... Your eyes look red, have you been drinking?" You probably shouldn't respond with, "Gee Officer your eyes look glazed, have you been eating doughnuts?"

A friend of mine decided to turn the tables on the telemarketers. He told me I could share this with you:

I used to hate it when telemarketers would call but nowadays I welcome them with open arms. Their calls are opportunities for me to turn the tables and inconvenience them instead of them inconveniencing me. Perhaps they have now blacklisted me because I don't get as many calls as I used to but when my caller ID box shows "Private Caller" my adrenaline rushes and I am ready to play.

One of the new ploys that telemarketers are using is to call you electronically. You pick up the phone to hear a recorded voice say, "Please stay on the line for an important message." They actually expect you to wait on hold while they take their sweet time before getting around to selling you something.

The last time I got one of these calls, I put on some classical music and waited for someone to greet me. As soon as I heard the telemarketer say hello, I said in my best radio advertiser voice, "Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line. Our next available representative will be with you shortly." I let the music play and would repeat those phrases at thirty second intervals.

Finally I turned off the music and said, "Hello?"

"Hello, this is Jane with Allied Travel. How are you today?"

"Well, my gouts been acting up, I've got terrible hemorrhoids, I've got poison ivy on the bottom of my feet and I just ate a pizza so the heartburn will be coming on soon."

"I'm sorry to hear that sir but I'm calling to tell you about some of our exciting travel packages that ..."

I interrupted her, "You don't really care about how I'm doing, do you?"

"Why, sure I do?"

"You want to come over and 'pitch' some horseshoes?"

"Well sir, I can't do that right now. I have to call people and tell them about our travel packages."

"You can use my phone. Come on over."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"You don't like me do you?"

"Of course I like you sir."

"So why won't you come over?"

"Well, I'm working."

"I got some pork rinds and some Pepsi and I could fry up a little fatback if you'd like."

"Boy, that sounds real tempting but I'll have to take a rain check on that."

"Okay, how about tomorrow then?"

"I can't. I'm working."

"How about the day after tomorrow then?"

"Actually sir, I'm not supposed to get too personal with the people I call."

"Why'd you ask me how I was doing then?"

"That's just a courtesy."

"You don't like me do you?"

"Yes sir. I like you just fine."

"So ... You want to come over and 'pitch' some horseshoes?"