Promises To GOD

Promises To God,
I arrived at the hospital ER on Easter Sunday morning after receiving a phone call from some very distraught young parents.  "Our baby is very sick and is going to be life-flighted to a larger hospital can you come?" Yes, I replied I will be right there. As I prayed with Jack and Kay we watched their extremely sick child being loaded and then evacuated out to a Children's Hospital about 75 miles away. They fell apart, Jack told me with tears in his eyes, I have made some promises to God and if our baby is spared I will be at your church next Sunday.

Building relationships with people who don't know Jesus is part of what we are called to do as Christians.  Even if they are hugely different from who we think our average prospective church member might be.

 I first met Jack and his soon to be wife Kay in my office at the church.  They had come to talk to me about performing their marriage ceremony.  Jack was a very outgoing guy while Kay was soft-spoken and reserved.  In our pre-marital counseling sessions together I learned about Jack's prior drug habit and how Kay helped Him to get clean.  They had come from broken homes and not one person in their families regularly attended church.  During our discussion I commented on their tattoos, they both had pentagrams tattooed on their shoulders. It was then that I discovered that Jack and Kay were practicing Wiccans.  They told me that a few of their vacations were spent in Salem, Massachusetts attending Wiccan workshops and classes in the art of casting spells. They had been involved with an organization called The Witches Education Bureau.  Jack and Kay were hoping to teach others how to become more effective in their craft. I cringed inside as they spoke about converting people to their belief system.  It almost sounded like a class on friendship evangelism.  Neither Jack or Kay had any church background and they had no intention of leaving their faith.  They were happy being Wiccans.  I agreed to marry the two because I felt it would be better to see them married than to let them live together. I also thought it would give me a chance to continue to be in their lives.  I told them it would be a Christian wedding ceremony because that was all I would do. I also told them that I would be praying for them and their marriage. They agreed and were happy with the planning process and the wedding service.

It had been a few years since I heard from Jack and Kay but I recognized Jack's voice immediately when he called.  "Pastor, can you come?"  After helping them with directions and giving them some money for their trip to the Children's Hospital  I went on to the church for our Easter Sunday celebration.

That evening I received a call from Jack and he told me that the child was doing better and it would take some time to reach a full recovery. I told him that we at the church had prayed for their child that morning and we would continue to pray for a full recovery.  Jack thanked me for all that I had done and he repeated what he had told me at the hospital that morning, "I will be coming to your church next Sunday morning."

Jack began to attend on a regular basis and it wasn't long before he brought his children with him.  He was quite knowledgeable about the equipment in the sound booth and began to serve there.  Jack accepted the Lord Jesus into his life and soon after that Kay made the statement, "If my kids are going to go to heaven someday I want to be there with them." So Kay began to attend. We had been praying for Jack and Kay's extended family and then I was asked to perform Kay's bother's wedding.

All of a sudden we were raising baby Christians in our church.  Jack called me one Sunday after a particular service that included communion.  He said, "Pastor, That was awesome how we all did shots together, I sure do love Jesus."  Yes, we have a long way to go and a lot to learn but Jack and Kay will grow by the grace of God and the love of a church and Pastor. God loves it when people make promises to Him.
Pastor's, don't give up on the outcasts or the untouchables after all that is who Jesus came for!

Lift Up Your Head!

Depression plagues scores of people around us.  It is in part one of the leading causes of suicide.  The onset of depression can occur because of weather, change in the seasons, financial problems, family discord, any number of reasons really.  For kids bullying is one of the biggest reasons given for suicide.  Social media has brought bullying into the very places we design to keep our kids safe.  It seems that people younger and younger are looking to suicide as a way out of their problems. It breaks my heart when I hear of a preteen or young teen that takes that course as a solution to their problems.

Suicide is not the answer to any of the problems that people have.  It is a false hope, a lie that is whispered into someones ear to bring destruction.  I believe that the evil one hates God's prized possession so much that he will do anything to stop the plan of salvation.  I believe that a spirit of death or suicide will linger on with a family that has lost a close relative to interject the idea that suicide might be a way out.  Children of a parent that commits suicide are more likely to consider taking their life rather than children who haven't been touched by suicide.

What is the answer?  Well if you see a Shrink they will give you medicine and counseling and that can't hurt.  But what happens when the cause is a spiritual problem? People in this day and time do not even consider that to be a possibility.  In Jesus day there were a lot less people than there are now.
Jesus dealt with many different people who were demon possessed or oppressed.  We as pastors, see almost zero people for spiritual counseling when it comes to this kind of problem.  In my near 25 years of being a pastor I have only seen a few people with these kind of problems.  Jesus on the other hand in just three and a half years of ministry saw many people struggling with these issues.

People have gotten so far away from the truth of God that the only issue a church can solve when it comes to peoples problems is poverty.  Give us money to help us maintain our lifestyle.  When we ask if there is a need for spiritual help?  The church has no clout.

My answer to you who are considering suicide... Don't do it.  There are other ways of dealing with your problems.  Problems are just that and don't seem to go away.  But the question to ask yourself is this.  Will this still be a problem in 1 year or 5 years?  If I just change my job or school will this problem go away?  If I just come to grips with the idea that sin might be causing the issue to be worse and if I stop sinning it would get better? God will walk with you through your problems.

Lift up your head.  Get away from self pity.  Get out and breathe the air and ask God to help you through your problems.  Have faith in God because He loves you so much.  Let Him In. He can help you.

I'm Praying For You!!!

No, It's Not Gas

Excitement bubbles beneath the surface of an unsettled calm.  I can tell that something is about to happen. No it's not gas.  It is the anticipation that comes when you can feel the stirring of God.  I have seen Him move many, many times. In church services where people are changed or healed or times when they are charged to do something and accept the challenge.  I have been witness to the move of the Spirit and I have had times when God's Spirit filled and used me to accomplish His task.  There is no greater feeling then when you feel like you are a tool that fits perfectly in the hand of God.  The hand that created everything.

Sometimes it just happens, out of calm comes an explosion.  Like a flash flood that no one sees coming.  God really truly moves on His own time. In the most magnificent way possible God will show up when people are open to Him.  It's not always an explosion, sometimes it like an alarm clock or even a gentle breeze that cools a sun blistering day.

Last night in our teen youth group God showed up like someone just poured syrup over a bunch of pancakes. One of our teens asked for prayer about something very serious going on in their family.  The mood of the whole group turned to stone serious.  The Spirit of love and care came down on our group as we prayed together about this issue.  I could see God working through the other youth as they did their best to try and comfort and show concern.  God worked through those kids as they showed support.

Thank You God for showing up last night.  Thank You for Your perfect timing and Your love.  I know You have so much more to do and that is where the excitement comes from.

Again, it's not gas!

Most Important Vote

Well here we are again!  Election day.  Not one of my favorite days of the year because it shows the true division in our country.  Growing up in these United States I have lived through and voted in many election.  After all it is our responsibility to get out there and vote... Right?  Where did it all go wrong?  When did we become so divided?  Why has it lead to so much hate?

I know that people have different ideas as to how our nation should continue, but I am worried about if our country will continue.  One side claims victory while the other side claims oppression.  The difference is we can't agree to disagree.  When someone wins someone loses.  Elections of the past have shown that when one side wins over the other that more people voted for one person over the other. The winner wins and the loser goes away but still supports the winner because they won.  Pretty simple. But in these days after elections their will be claims of cheating and lawsuits will come about.  It will not be clean cut.  It will be dirty.  Sides will be drawn up and protests will ensue.
All because we are so divided.

We are not divided on little thinks but on huge things.  Issues that will control how people live, work and raise their kids.  It was said that America was the great melding pot but what happens when we don't meld?  What happens when we become so diverse that we fight over who is right.  It happened here in this country once before.  It was called the civil war but war is never civil.

I am a pastor with a strong belief and faith in God and in the Bible.  So as I vote I will vote in the directions of my strong convictions.  Someone who has different beliefs will vote their strong convictions and we both will think that we are right.  The difference is what you do after the vote.
Will you love people only if they voted with you or do they become the enemy?  No one likes to lose.

When this election is over, win or lose...  Love each other!  It is as simple as that.

The Slow Country

  Living in the South has changed my way of thinking about passing time.  I used to set and fret about all the things that I had to accomplish on my ToDo list.  Being ambitious in the South looks much different than in the North.  Goals are still set and ToDo lists are still important but the pace is not as important.

We moved to the Low country of South Carolina about two and a half years ago.  As we get older the pace suits us better, it is a slower life.  People around here call it the slow country for a good reason.  Life moves in a more relaxed groove.  Their are many retired people that live in this area but even the millennials seem to take their time.

I remember the days of hurried living where everything in life had a pressing deadline but now it seems like deadlines are on a sliding scale. If it don't get done this month we still have time.  It took me sometime to adjust to this slower pace, realizing that no matter how hard I pushed people or plans things just happen when they happen.

You will still now and then run into some people who have not adjusted to this way of life yet.  Rakers and Shovelers people who are out to change the known order of things.  They try and change this place with money and applied leverage but things seem to go back to where they were after the money runs out.

Their is a difference between slow and boring.  Things around here are far from being boring and just because the process runs a little slower doesn't mean that life is without color.  Oh no... Their is plenty of excitement and it seems to never end.  Their is always something to see and something to do.  New adventures wait just around the corner.  The South has come a long way since the little tobacco towns and the bales of white cotton.

It has become the desired way of life for more and more people every year. Thanks for letting me ramble!

Could Be A Carpet Bagger

Well since we last spoke some major changes have taken place.  I felt like my job was finished in the small northern Ohio town.  So we left people we loved and those who were tired of us, a mostly successful ministry to journey into the Old South.  In fact it is the place where the slaves were sold and the war was fought over it.  We now live on one of the Sea Islands of South Carolina.  Part Southern and part Slave culture.  The Southern culture is highbrow.  Mansions with oak trees covered in Spanish moss.  Kind of a snobbery exists on the downtown streets and in the parlors of the mansions on the point.  The Slave culture or Gullah roots has turned into a slave to the now black culture.  But on the average, people are people.

The place I have come to work in is a whole world of difference away from Ohio.  Many people here are welcoming and friendly but they seem closed up.  Willing to be cordial and hospitable but not open.  There are many transfers like me, northerners who come for the weather and the beauty of this fine fort.  By the way the name of the town is Beaufort pronounced “boe,” not “bue” (except in South Carolina)—is a French name that means “handsome” or “great” or “strong,” as in a fortress.  People seem to have taken the name of the town and set up their own little fortresses.  

Those transplants who come from north of the mason-dixion line are treated with suspect.  Kind of like the carpet-baggers of times gone by.  But it seems as though they relax this mistrust with time.  
Time will tell!  
I will keep on trusting God for direction and how to do His work in this beautiful place.  May God's will be done and His plans be fulfilled.

I write again soon!
Y'all be blessed!

THE BIG GREEN TOMATO EXPLOSION

Many years ago...


... I shared a room with my younger brother Tim.  We had a large attic type room with the ceiling following the roof line down to about 3 feet off the floor.  Taller people would bump their heads as they walked closer to the wall.  Tim had his side of the room and I had mine.  I have many fond memories of us sharing a room, because that meant that me as the older brother of 5 years was experienced in the art of fooling my younger brother who was  the more inexperienced.  What was fun for me was not always popular with him and more than a million times I would get in trouble after carrying out a little plan.  I would play my little jokes on him.  He would scream MOOOOOOOM, and at that point was usually when I would receive my comeuppance.  Many times that punishment found me in the garden weeding or hoeing around the corn.  I hated working in the garden.  That is why mom or dad would send me there. One day after I had received my comeuppance for a wonderfully concocted tease, I was there in the garden weeding and my brother decided it was time for a ya yana ya ya ya moment.  You know what that is, little kids say it all the time.  Kinda like  nanna nanna boo boo you can't ketch me.  On the same line anyway.  At the time my parents were building onto our house, so there was a huge pile of dirt mounded up just behind the construction site right in front of the garden.  My brother (who never did anything wrong') climbed the hill and started his banter.  "Ya yana ya ya you got in trouble."  Hey I was the older brother, I should have been shown some respect but instead I was ya yana ya ya'd.  I was furious, I was livid...  I grabbed a big green tomato and launched it in an arch fashion, not directly at his face but in a arch.  You know an arch like one half of the golden McDonalds arches.  With no real plans of hitting him. Honest!  But what happened next from my point of view was the most funniest  thing I had ever seen.  He moved around trying to dodge the tomato.  Oh yes he saw it coming.  He was trying to get out of the way, but the way I see it, he wanted to get hit. That big green fruit exploded on top of his head.  I mean it looked like someone had placed a green tomato on his head, put a firecracker in it, lit the fuse and it exploded.  He ran screaming into the house.  I laughed until I came to my senses.  Replaying the scene in my mind, I thought was that his brain that just blew up or was that the big green tomato that I had launched. Their was not blood shed that day, no brain damage, just green salsa all over the place.  Again I received my comeuppance.  As I would for many different reasons that year.  Some kind of conspiracy if you ask me.  I was totally innocent.  I can tell you this...  We had the prettiest weed free garden that year.  I can still see that green tomato flying through the air and then an explosion of green goop....

 Man I hate to weed in the garden!