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!