Why Anti-Bullying Doesn't Work

My parents used to dip my fingers in jalapeno juice. 

Why was I subjected to such cruel and unusual punishment? Because I wouldn't stop biting my fingernails, leaving my fingers looking awful. At first the burning was a pretty strong deterrent, but still didn't stop me from this poor habit. A guitar did. 

If you've never played guitar, that highest E string is pretty thin. This becomes very apparent when you're biting your nails very short and the string jams between the nail and the skin, as happened to me during a worship set one morning at church!

(Dramatic re-enactment)

That was it. I resolved to stop biting my nails to improve the appearance of my hands, and allow me to play guitar pain-free. It's been 7 years and I haven't gone back to it since. So what made the change? I needed a reason to stop. Telling me it was bad wasn't nearly as impactful as gaining a real understanding of why I should quit. 

Which takes me to the subject of bullying. If you haven't seen the heart-wrenching video of Keaton Jones sharing his experience of being bullied at school, you should.

As I watched, I began to ask, "Why aren't the anti-bullying campaigns working?" Clearly because kids don't have a reason to. Bullying isn't overcome without a strong reason why, and saying, "It's wrong" clearly isn't enough.

We have to make our kids pro-people.

The strong reason is this: every person is a creation of God (Gen 1:26). He has built them with value, worth, and an eternal soul. When someone is bullied, the very creation of God is mocked. Sadly, Christians in my elementary school were some of the harshest bullies I faced. Imagine if instead of making fun of my cheap clothes they had talked to me about treasures in Heaven! Think of how my life could have been changed earlier with knowledge of a God who loved me. Loving Christians could have made such a positive impact!

I want to see an end to bullying. But instead of focusing on anti-bullying, teach your kids to be pro-people! Remind them that every person has been made in the image of God. God has placed many types of people in our circle of influence so we can love them and learn from them. I know this has motivated me to a fresh conversation with my own kids today. 

You Need To Shut Up and Pray

You talk too much. I know this is true, because I do it too. 

We've often been told that praying is just us talking to God, but I'm realizing that's only half right. In reality, prayer is a back and forth conversation with God.

The Hebrew word "palal" is the common OT form of the word prayer "and it expresses the idea of coming between two parties" (Vine's Word Studies). In the NT, "proseuchomai" is the word you'll see most often referring to prayer to God. It's meaning isn't mere conversation, but an attitude of worship.

The question is: Are YOU talking too much in your prayers? 

And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 (ESV)

Today I realized my prayers aren't very wide. While I'm praying for others beyond myself and family, I stopped my prayers this morning and said, "Lord, where else are you calling me to focus my prayers?" It's not only because my prayers have power, but I believe God is always challenging us to live in greater awareness of others. Awareness is unlikely to take root if I'm talking all the time.

My prayer was followed by a few moments of silence and then unexpected words! I found myself praying for those impacted by the hurricanes, those soon to be impacted, and those working to impact these communities for the gospel . Prayers for President Trump and his advisers as they went to the U.N. soon came. The people of North Korea, people God created and loves, were also lifted up in my heart and mouth.

What prayers is the Holy Spirit holding for you today? Before you start the prayer wheel turnin', be sure you invite God to turn it with prayers that empower others while stretching your heart and mind. Let's be willing to shut up, listen, and THEN pray! 

Don't Stop Believing....or Talking!

Why is it that God seems to deal differently with the unbelief of His people? This question came from my recent simultaneous prep for a sermon and Sunday School lesson.

"So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief." Hebrews 3:19

In Hebrews 3, God clearly reveals that Israel was kept out of the Promised Land for one reason. It wasn't their unworthiness, but their unbelief. As a result, the Jews wandered in the desert for 40 years until that unbelieving generation died out.

So why did Moses get a pass?

In Exodus 3, Moses is fully confronted by God and challenged with a great task:
"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." Exodus 3:10

If you know the story, you know that Moses offered up numerous objections. Even as he spoke directly with God, Moses continued to suffer from unbelief.

So why did God stick it out with Moses, but Israel had to wander the desert? The difference I see is a willingness to keep the conversation going. When Israel was met by the challenges of God's call, they didn't talk to Him about it at all. Instead, they began discussing who they could replace Moses with to take them back to Egypt. You know...the place they lived as slaves!

Years before this, Moses is called by God to lead these people out of that very same slavery. During the course of the conversation, Moses repeatedly attempts to get out of this call. He doesn't believe he has any ability to truly by used by God in such a big way. Essentially, he's dealing with unbelief, and yet, Moses never quits the conversation.

Therein lies the lesson. God knows we're going to have faith struggles, believing God's promises because of our own inadequacies, a long delay, or the perceived impossibility of the task. But God is gracious!

As Jesus was brought a demon-possessed boy to be healed, the boy's Father asked Jesus to do something if He was able. Jesus tells the Father that all things are possible to Him who believes. This father seems to have believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but he still dealt with doubts. Maybe it was because his son had suffered so long, but he responds to Jesus, "I do believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). Jesus then casts out the demon and heals the boy.

God knows you. God knows your heart. God knows your faith struggles. In all of this, unbelief is a constant barrier that allow us to miss God's best because we failed to pursue it. When the situations are challenging, keep the conversation going! Bring your doubts and fears to God. He is capable of not only working in your situation, but in strengthening your faith in the process. So keep talking, believing that God is working and listening!

When the Time is Right

My son just got a truck...and yet he's had it for five months.

Back in March, Tyler started driving a lot more with his permit. One morning, I began to realize we may need an extra vehicle to actually get five family members to all the places they need to go. On the exact day I had this realization, my mom called to say she and my step-dad wanted to give Tyler one of their vehicles they weren't using much anymore.

I hadn't prayed about it yet. In fact, I had barely become conscious of the need, and already God had been working out the timing on a blessing for our family. (Shout out also to my gracious siblings for being totally excited and cool with Tyler receiving this incredible gift from his grandparents.)

In April, Tyler was asked to write down three wishes for a creative writing assignment. As I read over it, I noticed Wish #2: "I wish for a car. Hopefully a truck...don't care what kind it is! And I'd like it to be black."

Meanwhile, this is what God had already provided...

But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me Micah 7:7

Here's my point. Stop living in what you can see. Stop presuming God isn't working while you're still waiting. If God had given my son this truck a year ago, it would have been wasted, just sitting around while he didn't even had a permit. Instead, God brought him what was needed when it was needed and not before!

I'm reminded that God is perfect. He exists outside of time, never hurrying to catch up. God is the master storyteller working behind the scenes on our behalf. When I'm calling to Him, He hears me. Like the old gospel song says, "He may not come when you want Him, but He'll be there right on time!"

Will that black truck you've been hoping for always be God's answer? No, but our responsibility is to pray specifically and then trust God with the specifics. When the time is right, God will give us the right answer. Remember His words from Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God."

A River of Prayer

Prayerwalking along the river is a favorite spot of mine. 

As I walk along I pray against my sin. I pray for my family, my friends, and my church. But, as I walked and talked with God today the image of the river became an image of my prayer life.

Like my prayers, this river changes. Some days it's choppy and churning, while other days leave it as smooth as glass. My prayers are like that too. Sometimes, I feel like a spiritual mess with more in my heart than I could ever let out through my lips. There are also the days I feel a great peace in the wake of a big answer from the Lord, or merely because I've learned to wait more patiently for the answer.

My prayers have changed alongside these waters. Certain prayers for my children have turned to praises, while others grow in persistence. Church emergencies are now water under the bridge, part of the testimony of God's work in our church. As I pray, I find God deepens the shallow expectations of many of my prayers.

The river also warns me against forgetfulness towards God's work. How many prayers have I sailed down this river? Water that was right next to me a few weeks ago has traveled hundreds of miles since. In the same way, so have many of my prayers. I've seen God answer, whether "yes" or "no", and I see that He continues working on my behalf. The river reminds me against merely throwing out new needs, but to thank Him for the requests that have since been handled by a loving, powerful God.

So whether your prayer life is choppy or calm, prayer still matters. Keep talking to God. Keep sailing those prayers down that river to the God who has created us and loves to hear from us. 

Who Really Wrote the Bible?

Did God dictate every word of Scripture, or simply inspire the men who wrote the words?

I've pondered and talked over this question with people for years. A recent reading through 1 Corinthians 7 led me to go ahead and write my thoughts on the subject.

"I, Not the Lord"
Paul's chapter on marriage reiterates God's command against divorce (1 Cor 7:10), but then he goes a step further. Paul writes that believers should remain married to their unbelieving spouses, if that spouse isn't overtly hostile to Christianity (1 Cor 7:12). But look at how he says it:

"To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her."

Paul seems certain that verse 12 isn't in conflict with God's standards, but he doesn't have a clear statement from scripture or Jesus to reference. So he qualifies that his words here didn't generate from any place he could definitively point to. These parentheses cause great hesitation in some people.

The written words of God
I actually see this parenthetical statement of Paul to be very encouraging to the idea of divine authorship. Paul understood he was writing more than just temporary letters. He reveals this by instructing the Colossians to pass their letter along for the church at Laodicea, and to read the (now lost) letter Paul had written to them as well (Colossians 4:6). These letters continue to be "passed along" in our churches today.

But if scripture is God's Word, why didn't God just write it down Himself? Simply put, God likes using us! It's incredible how involved God allows us to be in the process of Kingdom-building. The writers of the biblical books were tools in the hand of God. However, I don't believe they were mindlessly dictating, but utilized by the Lord as individuals. 

All Scripture is God-Breathed
2 Timothy 3:16 is clear that all scripture is "God-breathed". That means, God was intimately involved in the process. Some interpret this as God telling each writer every single word to write down. That just isn't the God I've gotten to know in my walk with Christ, and my reading of the Bible.

God was the inspiration, but the individual writers' fingerprints are evident as you read their books. Matthew was passionate about reaching the Jewish people with the Gospel, and so under the inspiration of God, he wrote a gospel that references the Old Testament and speaks to that audience.

Meanwhile, Luke partnered with Paul in reaching non-Jews for Jesus. Luke certainly could have written a gospel like Matthew's, but God inspired him to write based on his experience and concern for Gentiles. So while the two books contain similar details of Jesus' life, you can see the way God allowed the gospel passions of the individual to come through their writing.

This is why two pastors or bible teachers can cover the same passage with lessons that are absolutely biblical, but not identical. God has inspired the individual. Whether God dictated each word, or inspired the writers as they worked, God still has a touch on every letter of His Word. 

The Bible is God's Word
I have no doubts that the Bible is God's inspired Word. I've studied original manuscripts. I've attempted to live my life by it's words for decades, and encouraged others to do the same. Watching the impact of these words in my life and others, has only served to increase my confidence. I pray three things for you in reading this post:

1. That you will trust God's Word.
2. As a result of that trust, you will read and apply the Bible daily.
3. Remember God made you as an individual to serve Him in a unique way. Don't try to be like someone else!

Did Jesus Cheat?

The only time I cheated in school was Kindergarten. 

(Where was this shirt when I really needed it?!)

Even at that young age, numbers never made sense to me. But they made sense to Emily! And so I casually glanced at her answers on the way to my first ever 100%, sticker covered counting page! Thankfully, my 1st grade teacher realized I couldn't tell addition from subtraction and got me straightened out the following year.

So yes, I cheated.
But, did Jesus?

That's the question I was recently asked through my role as an online writer with GotQuestions.org

"Could Jesus really be a complete sacrifice if He rose from the dead? Isn't that cheating?"

I think it's a great question. And the good news is that Jesus didn't cheat death, He beat death!

Neither Jesus' death or resurrection were to be a surprise, clearly stating the need for both on numerous occasions:

"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." Luke 9:22

So while Jesus knew that He was appointed both to die and to rise again, that didn't make His death any less of a sacrifice or hardship. In fact, to see the distress of Jesus crying out, "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?", grabs me every time. So don't be of the impression that the cross was a breeze for Jesus since He would rise again.

Jesus rising from the dead wasn't cheating death, but beating death! His resurrection proved to everyone that when He offered us eternal life, He could deliver! Jesus says in John 10:28, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." If Jesus were still dead, there would be no reason to believe such a claim.

So Jesus rising from the dead doesn't diminish the life and death He lived to become our complete sacrifice. Instead, it serves as the ultimate proof that Jesus can deliver on absolutely every promise He makes. 

You Don't Question God!!!!

A new Christian recently told me the one thing he knew is that you don't question God.

I told him he actually knew less than he thought.

People often say to question God is presumptuous and even faithless. I argue there are two ways you can question God. One is acceptable, and one is not. 

The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk questioned God. With all the evil he saw around him, he questioned if God was paying attention.

"...why do you look idly at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?" Habakkuk 1:13

Take a few minutes to read the short book of Habakkuk, and you find this man questioning God on every page! What's more remarkable, is that each time he brings his questions and complaints, God is willing to answer Habakkuk's questions and accusations.

Why would God do this? Essentially, it was due to the attitude this prophet displayed in his questions. Habakkuk closes his book saying that even when the situations around him don't make sense, 
"...yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:18)

1) The wrong way to question God
Questioning Him in anger, unwilling to hear the response. You refuse to allow God's purposes to have priority above your own.

2) The right way to question God
Questioning in sincerity, willing to hear. You recognize that God doesn't always work the way we do (Isaiah 55:8-9), and so you genuinely seek to understand.

To question God correctly, doesn't mean you can't be honest in your emotions. If you read all of Habakkuk's short book, you see a man with very raw emotions. But, he didn't allow his feelings or circumstances to close him off to genuinely listen for God's answers. This honest dialogue between a man and his God, ultimately satisfied the prophet and settled his heart for what was to come.

So talk to God. Bring your questions, because He can handle them. And while you're at it, be sure to bring your thanks as well for all the ways He's worked before. 

Making Time for Priorities

You have two choices:

• Become the most decorated soldier in the history of the 30th Infantry, OR...
• Read the Old Testament 70 times in your life, and the New Testament 280 times.

(General Harrison on left)

3 Star General William K. Harrison chose both.

Harrison lived an amazing life of military service. He was the first American to enter Belgium in WWII, received numerous medals and honors for valor, and was part of United Nations Command during the Korean Conflict.

He even caught up his Bible reading after three days on the front lines holding off Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. By Harrison's 90th birthday, he had not only read the Bible repeatedly, but was profoundly impacted by it.

And you can't find any time to read the Bible?

Oh how I love your law!
  It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
  for it is ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
  for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged
  for I keep your precepts.
-Psalm 119:97-100

I've been there. Feeling there's no time to read while finding time for Netflix, video games, and social media. My intention isn't to beat you up, but to remind us of the gifts we receive from God's Word...

• That encouraged me during joblessness
• That reminds me of grace when I realize my sin
• That teaches me to live like Christ

My days spent with the Bible are much better than the ones without it. Would you agree? Then look today at what priorities you need to set to spend your time on the most important things.

They Need A Hero!

Maybe it's just a boy thing. 

Growing up, I dreamed of being the hero. Childhood daydreams (usually during Math class) allowed me to rescue the helpless and fight the bad guys. Even joining the National Guard in college provided a chance to pay for school while serving as a defender to my fellow citizens. 

But if a situation arose that really called for a hero, would I be ready? This question became real with the stunning news story of a local woman attacked in a convenience store. The video shows a man taking her to the floor and trying to rob her as grown men backed away or merely watched! After a long struggle, the assailant finally left when threatened by the manager with a taser. 

Watching the video, I insisted that I would have stepped in and been the hero. But the more I consider it, I wonder how ready I truly am for such a moment?

The words from "Ride" by Twenty-One Pilots comes to mind...

I'd die for you

That's easy to say

We have a list of people that we would take

A bullet for them

A bullet for you

A bullet for everybody in this room

But I don't seem to see many bullets coming through

See many bullets coming through

Metaphorically I'm the man

But literally I don't know what I'd do

The truth is, I have opportunities like this on a regular basis. There are people all around me who are in spiritual danger. Their souls are under spiritual attack as the enemy blinds them to the salvation that is only found in Jesus. And like the bystanders in the convenience store, I miss opportunities to be a hero for someone's soul.

"...he who is wise wins souls." Prov 11:30 (NASB)

Are you ready to be a spiritual hero? There is no shortage of endangered souls. Instead of arriving at the end of our day, counting missed opportunities, let's begin our day in prayer and preparation to be a witness for the gospel of Christ. As Christians, we have been saved not only for our benefit, but to spread that message of hope in a hopeless world. It's time to be the heroes God has equipped and called us to be!

A Wedding, A Stroke, A Funeral...in One Week!

This is the kind of week that makes me think about my life.

After completing a couple's pre-marital counseling, I finalized plans for their big day. It makes me think back to my own special day almost 18 years ago.

Then I dealt with a long-time church member who suffered a stroke. While conscious and seemingly aware of her surroundings, she was unable to communicate in any meaningful way.

And to wrap up the week, another long-time member passed away who had been unable to attend church for years. Her story on this earth is now over, and I wonder if she felt important things were left undone?

These weeks can be pretty emotionally daunting for me. Not just as a pastor, but as a person. And when I think about these situations, I'm reminded of the words of the great Garth Algar:

Do you wish your marriage had the same bliss as those honeymoon days? Stop lamenting how it used to be, and make it better today! Listen more! Love expressively! Stop waiting for him/her to make the first move!

Do you fear a medical condition that could rob you of opportunities with your family? Then treat each moment as a gift, ensuring that if your voice were suddenly gone, your family and friends would have no doubt in regards to your love and thoughts towards them.

Do you worry that death will come with things left undone? Then stop waiting! What keeps getting put off until tomorrow? In the words of that "other Garth", what if tomorrow never comes? Confess your dreams to God, seeking His approval and enabling to accomplish them!

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1 (And sort of the Beatles...)

Life is full of seasons. Don't long so much for a summer that may never come, that you fail to enjoy the beauty of winter. Everyday you have a pulse, you have a purpose. So live it now while you can!

Diligence is Worth the Cost

Why do I keep paying for virus protection? 

Once again I've paid for my yearly subscription despite not having a single virus last year. Having been bit by a computer virus in the past, I am very discriminating of what emails or websites I click on. So maybe it's time to just stop wasting that money. After all, no threats were found.

And yet...


I'm not sure I would apply that thinking to:

• Maintaining fire extinguishers in our church
• Keeping a spare tire in my trunk
• Paying my life insurance premium....(OK, funny story here. When I worked in insurance, an executive once said to me that life insurance is a bet: The customer is betting they'll die and we're betting they won't. We want them to live worse than they do!)

We recognize that much of our diligence is to prepare for situations that rarely happen. And yet, we wouldn't want to be caught unprepared in any of them. 

"[Be] praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance..." Ephesians 6:18

Flat tires are sporadic, but temptation is not. It's a reality everyday, and our alertness allows us to see temptation as a spiritual battle to be fought. We won't win them all, but we'll lose a lot less by spiritual diligence.

A Christian who says, "Everything's going pretty good, and I really don't have time to pray and read the Bible", is setting himself up for defeat. The good moments are your opportunity to prepare for the challenging ones we KNOW are right around the corner.

So I'll keep investing in that virus protection. Likewise, be sure you're investing spiritually in moments that are yet to come! God has supplied us with everything we need to stand for righteousness. Take up the challenge of living a diligent Christianity for the glory of God and as a witness to the lost. 

So Easy a Corpse Can Do It

Do you have a favorite personal accomplishment? 

My first 10K really stands out. I had run 6 miles before, but never competitively and over such a brutal course of hills. My trial runs generally timed just over an hour, but that day I finished in 59:16. Stoked does not begin to describe my feelings crossing the finish line. 

Regardless of our accomplishments, they all have on thing in common...effort. This came up during a conversation with a friend recently. His men's small group shares some real accountability, and some of the guys were celebrating the sins they hadn't participated in.

At least until the psychologist in the group spoke up. 

"Don't celebrate something a dead guy can do. You didn't look at pornography or scream at your wife? Neither does a dead guy."

"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:17

Which do you think God most wants from us: to avoid sin or pursue righteousness? A dead person has no problem avoiding sin, but to pursue righteousness requires a pulse. 

If you've avoided profanity-laced outbursts for an entire month, that's awesome! But is your intent to curb the spicy language or to change the vocabulary of your heart? Faith is shown by our choices. Not that we merely avoided sin, but intentionally chose righteousness. 

What sins are you avoiding? Are they merely on hold, or are you prayerfully adjusting your heart as an act of faith and obedience? You have a pulse, so go live God's purposes!
My final encouragement to you is two-fold:

1. Celebrate the accomplishments of avoiding sin!
2. Go beyond avoidance and pursue obedience!

A Christian Considers the "Muslim Ban"

While some are speaking out loudly on President Trump's Executive Order regarding immigrants and refugees, I haven't said much. This was mainly because I didn't really understand it.

I would venture to guess that few do.

There are countless news stories and social media posts, but not a lot of facts. I attempted to read the executive order but oddly, whitehouse.gov does not list the January 27th action.

(Screenshot from whitehouse.gov on 1/29/17)

It does list a separate action from January 28th, revealing this is not a lack of website updating. After hunting more, I did find the full text here in an article from CNN. I strongly encourage you to take the time to read it.

After reading the entire Executive Order, I was surprised to find three components missing:

1. The word "Muslim"
Though the seven nations listed are Muslim majority nations, to call it a Muslim ban is not legally correct.

2. A Plan. 
Section 4a of the Executive Order calls on several cabinet picks and agencies to "implement a program" for preventing entrance of foreign nationals who seek to do us harm. While the current system is not perfect, it seems proposed adjustments to the current system would have been less disruptive than no system at all.

3. Compassion

As a parent, I want my kids to be safe from the plague of terrorism. And that's the same dream for many parents trying to escape war-torn areas like Syria (one of the seven nations). While vetting is important, shutting these families out for even 90 days could be their death sentence. Meanwhile, there remains little reason to believe that even after 3 months, a firm plan will be in place to allow screened, legal immigrants and refugees entry into America. 

America has spent the greater part of the 21st century, attempting to spread opportunities for liberty to people who have never known it. Combating radical Islamic terrorism can happen as we responsibly and safely allow for the entrance of immigrants and refugees. The generations to follow would be able to remember how America welcomed them in and said, "You're now one of us."

Christians are called to be equally welcoming. The Bible is clear that God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11). God is willing to accept people from all nations, languages, and backgrounds. So how can we turn away an opportunity for those in need of the gospel to come to an America where they can freely hear it? As Christians, we have been shown the greatest compassion possible from the God of the universe. This is our opportunity to model compassion in order that many would move from the darkness of terrorism and lostness, into the liberty of America and the gospel of Christ. 

What To Do When You Don't Get Your Way

He voted against it. Such a terrible idea shouldn't be pursued.

But Cal was in the minority. His church had voted to spend millions on a new multi-purpose building. Of course they needed more youth and education space, and the recreation area would be great. But MILLIONS?!

Cal wondered what was becoming of his church. He considered whether the church had missed its purpose and if he should just move on. So he prayed, asking the Lord what he should do. And the Lord directed him quickly. 

His pastor surely anticipated Cal's requested appointment was to read him the riot act before storming out the doors, never to return. Instead Cal sat across from his pastor and said, "I want to head the project for our new multi-purpose building."

As a long-time contractor, Cal was an obvious choice before he had expressed his disapproval of the project. When his pastor asked why he would lead a project he voted against, Cal replied, "If our church is going to have a new building, God's calling me to make it the best it can be." The end result was a great new addition to the church that came in under budget and highly useful. Cal himself expressed how glad he was that he humbled himself to remain faithful to his church during a time of disagreement.

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have...you cannot get what you want so you quarrel and fight." James 4:1-2

We all want our own way, but to insist on it without considering others OR that we might be wrong, guarantees arguments on the horizon. Christians are light in a dark world and the world needs us to shine an example that will lead them to Jesus. If you find yourself fighting with others, can I encourage you to stop for a moment and ask yourself: Are they creating this fight, or am I? 

So when you don't get your way, be like Cal. 
Don't move to Canada.
And don't be moved to anger.
Be moved to prayer. Look for YOUR opportunity to end fights instead of starting them!

A Pastor AND A Person

I'd never seen one out in the wild. But there he was. My fifth-grade teacher...at the store!

(Not my actual teacher)

He was wearing jorts (it was the late 80's, so he gets a pass) and a smile, neither of which I had ever seen before. Mr. Lockridge was pushing a cart full of groceries and I realized he was just like me, needing milk, cereal, and potato chips to exist. That encounter pretty much rocked my world. 

When I run into people from church around town, they have the same look I shot my teacher that day. It takes them a moment to remember I'm not just a pastor, but a person with all the same needs and errands that make up their lives.

And that's the case on a spiritual level too.

Recently in my men's small group, I confessed to having a real prayer struggle as my list of people and requests kept growing to overwhelming levels. My prayers lacked any joy or power as I merely ticked down the the list. 

That's when Fred, an actual person, said to me, "Don't forget that prayer is just talking to God." How many times had I said this to people? Probably more than I could count, but I had forgotten it myself. And so that's what I did. I put away the list and just talked to God, trusting Romans 8:26 as my source of simply allowing the Holy Spirit to show me what was important to pray for today. 

And my prayer life has been renewed.

Don't forget your pastor, priest, youth minister, and worship leaders are just people. We do our best to be spiritual leaders, but we're still just people with all the same worries, doubts, and issues. Pray for your spiritual leaders. Encourage them. And remember, they put on their jorts one leg at a time just like everyone else!