Long Time Coming

It has been more than two years since I last wrote anything.  In that time God has brought our family through so many changes. We moved from south Louisiana to West Texas.  Not only is the culture different as night and day, but the climate couldn't be more opposite.  We went from extreme humidity and rain to extreme drought and dry.  I am now pastoring my second church in two years, third position in three.  Both my boys have been in four schools in the last two and half years.  Needless to say it has been tumultuous these last few years.  

Now, after all that, many would have given up and run the other direction.  I couldn't.  I knew and know that God works it all out for His glory and for my good.  To see where we've come from to where He has brought us, I can't say I would change anything.  I wish we didn't have to go through these things, but it is all part of this amazing journey.  God has shown us so much and taught a great many more lessons that we can now pass on to others.

I'm not perfect, but I serve a perfect God.  He has walked with us on this journey, every step of the way. He has led us by the hand through some of the most difficult times in our lives.  I didn't have to see the outcome, I only had to see His hand.  Now I want to share all that He has done.

Maybe you're struggling with what to do next and don't quite know what to do. Stop and give it ALL to Him.  God never promises a smooth journey.  He promises to never leave you or forget about you.  He will lead you through this journey.  Stay tuned to hear of some of the things that God has done and how you can take your situation and turn it into Glory for God.

Revival

What does Revival mean to you?  I struggled with this word for a long time, not really agreeing with it in the context of the church.  To revive something it has to be dead or on the brink of death.  I guess the truth is that I really didn't want to deal with the fact that the church needs to be on life support.  The church is having trouble breathing on its own, and needs God to do the breathing. 

The truth is, the only way a church can be alive is if God does the breathing.  Someone asked me a question the other day, he said "if God were to completely pull His hand out of the church, how much of it would go on?"  You think about that question as it pertains to your church.  If God were to pull His hand/Spirit from your church, what would change?  Whose driving the bus? Man? God?

Somewhere along the way most, not all, churches saw fit to relieve God of his captain status and put themselves as navigator, so that they could pick and choose which direction to follow.  God is not the co-pilot, the navigator or second chair.  He is the Captain, the Pilot, the number One!  Church I feel we are living out the the letter to the church at Ephesus and if we are not wise to heed the words of Jesus to that church, soon we will become like the church at Sardis, or worse.

Ephesus was on the brink of death because they had abandoned the source of their life, they left their First Love.  The church at Sardis was dead and was in danger of the wrath of God, unless they repent.  Then He said of those that remain, the remnant, that they would be saved because they were undefiled.

There is now a remnant of believers in the church who are alive and wanting the bride of Christ to reveal the glory of the groom.  If we will as the Book of 2 Chronicles says, humble ourselves and pray and seek God's face and repent, God will begin the work of revival in our churches. If you are a believer and have had or have a desire to see the Spirit of God move on the church as he did in the upper room the day before Pentecost, then I am calling on you to join me in "Crying Out" to God for this awakening.  Join me in this, let's raise our voices together and beg God to begin this work in us, that it may overflow to all those around us.

To DVR or not to DVR, Is that the question?

As I am sure that you have no doubt have at least heard of the mini series on the History channel called the Bible, right?  Well, this has been billed as the most epic Christian event in modern history (drama added).  It was pushed on Facebook, and almost any "Christian" website out there.  It was supposed to be a very big deal.  It was also advertised to Christianity as being scripturally accurate.  Many supposed bible scholars were consulted and the direction and production were done by proclaimed Christian celebs.  So I set the DVR to record on Sunday nights from 7 PM CST to 9 PM CST.

As I watched, I have to admit I was doing so with a bit of skepticism.  After the first episode was complete, my wife and I had a very strong conversation.  We both have our BA's in Bible.  We both grew up in church and we both have a love for the Word of God.  We also hold the Word in high esteem.  So, what I am about to share, I do so with a desire for the truth to be told.  I believe the intent was good, but I was always told that "the way to Hell is paved with good intentions". 

I understand there is no way to get the WHOLE Bible into a tv series.  I also understand that SOME dramatic license would be taken.  With that in mind let me enlighten you to some, not all, of the content that was missed or misrepresented. 

Noah and the Ark: Gen 6-9
The only thing I really didn't agree with was that there was a deck for Noah to step out on.  The Ark represented in the show really played of what most of us grew up thinking it looked like.  the Bible in Genesis 6 describes the details of the building of the Ark.  There is no description of a deck or upper area to walk out of onto a deck.

Abram/Abraham: Gen. 11-25
From what we read in the story of Abraham in scripture we see first that his name was Abram and God changed it when He made the covenant with him, as well as Sarah was originally Sarai.  I noticed that Lot's wife was a very vocal woman and pretty much told Lot what to do.  The only time Lot's wife is really mentioned is when they were fleeing Sodom and she looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt.  I found it odd that in all the times God spoke to Abraham it was audible except when He told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.  This next detail to me was very laughable.  In the show they had Sarah realizing that Abraham had not taken a lamb for the sacrifice and went running after them, as if they just went over the hill to sacrifice.  The Bible tells that they traveled 3 days to Mt. Moriah and a they had at least one servant with them.  Sarah would not have made it as old as she was running for 3 days to find them.  There is so much more to the characters in this story.

Moses and the Exodus:  The book of Exodus
From Genesis 26-50 we read the story of Isaac, his sons Jacob and Esau, the formation of the tribes of Israel and the how the Israelite's ended up in Egypt.  The book of Exodus Begins the story of Moses.  Moses after being found in the basket by Pharaoh's daughter would have been treated like a son of Pharaoh.  What they left out was that he was nursed by his biological mother and would have learned all about his ancestry.  When he fled into the wilderness, he got married and had kids before he came to the burning bush.  When he came back to free the people of God, God used him to bring the 10 plagues.  the last of which was the most important and the least detail was given about it.  They were given detailed instructions on how to perform the passover ritual.  That, however, was left out.

As they left Egypt the Bible tells us that the Egyptians gave the Hebrews all manner of gold, silver, fine clothing, etc.  That God caused them to look favorably on the Hebrews.  God gave them everything they would need to make the journey, so they made their way to the Red Sea.  Because people find it hard to believe that as the Red Sea was split and the Hebrews walked on dry ground across, they show made it as though it wasn't.  The Bible clearly tells us that His people walked to the other side on dry ground, so there wouldn't have been all that water flying about.  The show also had Pharaoh staying back while only his men chased them.  The Bible says that Pharaoh lead the charge and was killed along side His men.  The Bible also says that it took Egypt 100's of years to recoup all that was lost.  The years in the wilderness, the building of the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant, the giving of the Ten Commandments, and many other fascinating details of the exodus are found in the second book of the Bible.

If you are like me, you want the whole story.  Not just a few details.  take time to read these stories for yourself.

Stay tuned for Part 2...

Maranatha!

To be completely honest,this is going to be about all the post-election hoopla, or verbal vomiting that is going on.  The majority of my friends, in life and on facebook, are supposed followers of Christ.  As I read so many many of their thoughts on facebook, I was struck with disbelief.

My thoughts were flooded with scripture after scripture of all the times God poured out His RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT on the people of Israel.  Every time the people went their own way and did what was "right in their own eyes", God did exactly what He said he would if they went that way.  Now, I want you to remember something, these were God's people, not the rest of the world.

Why is it that we want to blame the problems of our country on our president, our government, or some other helpless soul?  The problem here are the "so-called" people of God.  The direction of our country is in direct correlation to the direction of God's people.  The sad thing to me is that we expect as believers to show up one day every four years to make a stand.  The stand we make is to be a daily stand.

When the people of God actually humble themselves and fall on their face before God in His reverent Holiness and we begin to live in obedience to the commands of Christ, then and only then, will God begin to heal this land.  It doesn't matter what our country was founded on, that foundation was dismantled a while ago.  What matters is what we base our lives on today.  Until the church of God rises up to do the work of God through the power of God, then things will continue to deteriorate.

My challenge, to whomever reads this, is to do what the apostle Paul said in 2 Cor. 13:5 "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you ^[b]fail the test?" (NASB)  Search the scriptures, be like the Bereans, know the truth written in the Word.  It's not about Sunday services, it's not about how much you give, or how much time you spend with other believers. That is all important, but what matters is "what am I doing, for the sake of Christ's kingdom?", "Am I being obedient to the great commission?"

We cannot prove our salvation by words or proclamation,  we prove it by obedience to the WORD!

Peace

Prayer Drive By

   After I dropped off the kids this morning for school, I drove around a bit.  I wanted to see if I could find a couple of my members houses.  Knowing most of them were at work I was lead to do a "prayer drive by".  I would drive up slowly and say a little prayer for protection, peace and the Will of God to be done in them today.  Then God really broke my heart for this city.  I hear so much about all the negative here; shootings over here and drug deals over there.
     The only way this city will ever change is if God becomes the driving force in the lives of BELIEVERS.  If you want to understand why things are the way they are, you have to first take a long hard look at your life.  Does your life and lifestyle exhibit passion for Christ and His kingdom, or is something else holding your focus?
     There is a difference of being "aware" of the bad and the negative and letting it control our thinking, our speech or our families.  The Bible tells us in II Timothy 1:7 that God has NOT given us a spirit of fear.  He has however given us a spirit of Power, His power and Love, His love, and sound mind, or as one translation put it "self-discipline".  God has equipped His people for the work He has laid out for them.  Why then do we walk as if we are crippled and defenseless.
     Do you have a difficult decision ahead?  Pray!  Do you have children that aren't doing right?  Pray for them, fervently!  Are you frustrated with this city, this state, this country?  Pray; pray like never before. Pray as if your very life depends on it.  By the way, IT DOES!
     As I was pondering all of this, God laid this song on my heart and I want to share it with you:

New Kid on the Block

This coming Sunday will mark one month since arriving in Big Spring.  We already feel at home and part of the family here.  It would be easy to rest on my "laurels", if you will, but I feel this desire to continue to push forward.  I sense that God is at work here, and my only response can be one of complete surrender.

The biggest part of the first few months here will be to assess the situation.  After this first month my initial assessment reveals a body that is "bruised, but not crushed".  This church has been through a lot over the past few years and I am determined not to be a part of the past, but a part of the future.  I see a people hungry for God to do something, but just not sure what that will entail.  I also believe there is a willingness to change, a willingness to move on and not sit back in self pity. 

This Church, Birdwell Lane Baptist Church, is going to impact this community for the cause of Christ.  I know this because I have seen there desire, there heart.  God will use you if you make yourself available to him.  I ask that if you are reading this you will partner with us in prayer that God will use this church to expand the Kingdom of Christ.

In His Grace,

My Journey

 *This is long and more than likely has several grammatical errors, please forgive me in advance*

   Based on several monumental events, the month of August has become my favorite month.  It all began in Ft. Worth, Texas on August 29, 1972.  Yep, that was the date my parents life changed for ever.  Another highly important date in the month of August was the 28th in 1999.  That was the date I gave heart to Amanda Jolene Landry for keeps.  As important as those two dates are to me, the next two dates that I will mention have far more impacted my life.

   I had grown up in church.  I tell people that I went from the hospital nursery to the church nursery.  My grandfather was my pastor at that time; as he was for 9 of the first 13 yrs of my life.  I grew up hearing the word of God preached and knowing all the stories of the Bible.  Growing up in church tends to make trusting Christ as savior a little more complex.  "Church Kids" usually believe they are saved because they were told they made some profession of faith as a child; some even as early as 5 years old.  Now I'm not saying that a 5 year old can't repent and put their faith and trust in Christ.  My personal belief is that children that young lack the mental, emotional and spiritual maturity that it takes to make such an important decision.  I remember as a 5 yr old, after a special church service, telling my mom that I didn't want to go to hell.  The next thing I remember was calling my grandparents in Massachusetts and telling them I "got saved".  Subsequently, I was baptized and life went on as normal.  Normal for me was church.

   I remember one time in my life when I was faithful to church.  I was always there.  Camp, youth services, Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, if something was going on at church I was there.  I loved it, it was all I knew.  Then, when I was 13 my grandmother passed.  I had a very special relationship with her.  We lived only 5 blocks away and whenever my grandfather would be away preaching I would go and stay with her.  Being the oldest grandchild has some benefits.  I took it especially hard.  Now I know my grandmother didn't love me anymore that she did the other seven grand kids, but I did spend the most time with her.  At that point in my life things seem to unravel.  It wasn't a year later we had changed churches and soon my parents were getting a divorce.  During that time I had become addicted to pornography.  Mind you this was between my 13th and 14th year of my life.  Junior High and High school were rough years in my life, as most kids would proclaim.

   In 1985 we began to attend Retta Baptist church, in Burleson, Texas.  Mom really wanted us to get involved and like I said I didn't know anything but church, so it was easy for me.  This church was different, there weren't as many restrictions as was at my other church.  I loved youth camp, it was the highlight of my summer.  I would do all kinds of fundraisers and extra work to raise the money to go.  I still have great memories of youth camp that I will share with my kids when they get to that stage of life.

   In the summer of 1989 I was to turn 17 years old and begin my Junior year of High School the next fall.  I was preparing for camp as usual. I don't remember the speakers name or the theme of camp that year, but I remember the reoccurring message that week.  The message that I kept hearing was to those who had played the "church game".  The Holy Spirit was speaking to me and I knew, but I kept telling myself I had been saved as a 5yr old.  I made a commitment to spend more  reading the Bible and praying.  The first test of this would come the Saturday following camp.  That morning I got out of bed determined to do things different.  But the whole time I was reading I kept having this feeling that something wasn't right.  Then I remember the Holy Spirit telling me, as if it were audible, this won't mean anything until your have a relationship with me.  On my knees in my room I repented of my sin and put my faith and trust in Christ. That was August 6, 1989.  I was Baptized on Sunday the following week.

   Now, there was a noticeable difference in my life.  I didn't go to church because it was the normal thing for me to do, I went because I hungered for more of the word, to be taught and trained.  Understand, I still had a sinful nature and I really struggled with pornography.  It's a secret sin, nobody knew my struggle except God.  I would go weeks, sometimes even months without a problem, but it only took one fall to send me on a spiral.  I would struggle with this issue for the beter part of my life.

   In the summer of 1994 we had just lost our youth pastor and the church had brought in a former youth to interim fr the summer.  He was a good friend, and I had already been involved on a volunteer basis.  That Summer I led the worship team for the youth and we had a great summer.  We did some youth revivals and just had a great time that summer.  At camp that year I knew that God was calling me to full time ministry.  Again, I put it off, thinking it was just an emotional decision.  On August 21st, 1994 I surrendered to the will of God in my life and committed myself to full time ministry.

   Mind you, I was still battling pornography.  I went to college and ultimately spent more time playing than studying.  I had an on again off again relationship with academic probation.  After, my 5th semester, returned home unable to maintain my grades, my finances or my relationships.  I felt like a miserable failure.  I was engaged during this time, and that relationship was a failure, mostly because pornography ruled how I treated her.  We eventually parted ways and I began one failed relationship after another.  Allowing the pornographic images in my mind to dictate my path when it came to girls, was becoming to much.

  I finally changed churches and started going to church with my mom and some other family.  This church was an active missions minded church.  Every year they held a missions emphasis month.  It was the March of 1999 that determined the next course of my life.

   Let me go back and say that during my time at college I had held a summer interim youth job and a part time youth pastor position, but when I came home in January of 1997 I decided to let the ministry alone.

   Now, where were we, oh yes,  March of 1999.  I was a corporate trainer for chain restaurant, and was scheduled to be gone the Sunday of the 21st to open a store in Tulsa.  A massive snow storm pushed the trip back a week.  I was off so I was able to attend church. Now, I didn't normally attend Sunday school, but this week I did.  Little did I know I would meet my future wife that morning, but that is exactly what happened.  That is the day I met Amanda Landry.  Her parents were missionaries going to Romania.  We exchanged information that day, and 5 months and a week later we were married.  The day before my 27th birthday.  It was during that five months that God used the Landry family to get me back on track.

   In October of 1999, I started as the full time youth pastor at then, Fundamental Baptist Church in Decatur , Texas.  We were on staff there for two and a half years and during that time our oldest son Logan was born and our second son Hayden was on the way.  In March of 2002 we left that position and was in search of our next place of ministry.  We went almost 7 months looking for a position.  During that time The Landry Family came home from the field after My brother in law was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.  My father in law took the pastorate at Baptist Tabernacle in Shreveport in July of 2002 and in August I was called as the youth pastor and school administrator.

   Things seemed to be going great. this youth group was growing and the school averted closing and had actually grown.  In the summer of 2003, I again found myself in the grip of pornography.  So much so I was watching online at work.  Yes it had gotten that bad.  The Bible teaches that "everything done in secret will be brought to light".  That's exactly what happened.  This wonderful family I had married into found out my dirty little secret.  Amanda had known about from the beginning, but really didn't know the depth.  This time was different.  She was ready to take drastic measures, she didn't want her boys to have to deal with that.  We were both taking classes at Louisiana Baptist University to get our bachelors degrees, but this night we skipped class to talk.

   We went to a near by park and sat in the car and talked.  She explained to me how serious the situation was and how upset she was.  How I had lost her trust and how I had hurt her severely.  She explained to how I Had committed adultery in my heart.  But what she said next carried the most weight and I will never forget it.  She looked at me and said, "every time you look at those images, you spit in the face of Jesus as he is hanging on the cross".  That put such a graphic mental image in front of me that I just broke down and wept like I had never wept before.  God had shown me my sin in a way I really hadn't ever realized.  That was a defining moment for me.

   Amanda and I made a covenant together.  She won't hold me accountable, she would check and clean my internet history.  She would constantly ask me how I am doing and stay on me.  I went through an online purity program.  Understand something, an addiction to pornography is harder to overcome that an addiction to crack.  This is a daily battle I fight, but I have two accountability partners and I have an internet accountability as well.  This will be a daily fight.  Every day is a battle with sin, for any of us.

   Since then We have been Missionaries to Slovenia and a Worship pastor.   We have come a long way in our journey and are looking forward to the road ahead.

   The key to overcoming sin in your life is to surround yourself with other Christians who will hold you accountable.  Accountable to reading the word and spending time in prayer, to spend time with your family, to become the man or woman God wants you to be.

   The reason for this story is to show that God can use anyone to accomplish his purpose and plan.  I would love to talk with you about your struggles and pray with you.