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!