...too small a thing...

Arguements

Do you ever find yourself in an argument with another person from time to time? Do you ever find yourself in an argument that no one really cares about? Maybe no one really cares but pride is such that you  can't let it go and you will not back down. Many things people would disagree on do not matter even a few hours later. We as people are so prideful however so we want to get our way. We want to get our opinions into the mix. We learn to be assertive and so we learn to argue. We feel if we back down we will look weak or if we give in that we are somehow less of a person. 

Think about this with me for a minute what has upset you in the last week enough to prompt you to disagree and maybe even argue with someone. Was it really worth an argument? 

Now on the other hand there are some things that people argue about that do matter. They matter a lot. Moral issues and values really do matter. Truth about God matters. Our beliefs and our rights matter. These things can and often do stir arguments. But sometimes people are unwilling to stand up for these things that matter and their rights and values are trashed or abused because people are not willing to argue for their own rights and points of view. 

There is a saying that is worth repeating, "Choose your battles wisely." The meaning is decide what you are willing to argue about and what you feel you should just let go. 

2 Timothy 2:14-16 NASB   14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,

Some arguments are worth having and some are not for sure, but we must always be careful to about getting involved in any arguments. We should always be careful to think about why we are willing to take an opposing view of someone else on anything. Our values and our beliefs should rule in decisions about arguments and we should always examine our own prideful hearts to see why we are involved in any argument we might find ourselves involved in with anyone.

The number one onion that matters is always what does God's Word say about anything we give consideration to, or we decide to debate or argue about.  If God's Word is direct or definitive about anything there is nothing to discuss. If the issue is not so clear according to the Bible we are to carefully consider all things and live in accordance with as much biblical principle as we can find.

There is little to be gained ever by an argument. Be careful and be focused on what God's word gives us to live by.  

When I Am Awakened In the Night

I sometimes wonder how much of a sleeping problem I really have. I went to bed at 9:15 pm because I was so sleepy. But with one of the dogs waking me up at 1:30 am I found it a bit hard to go back to sleep. Many things on my mind and particularly a couple of people and situations come to mind and so I read and pray a few minutes. Now as I am writing I feel I could go back to sleep, but I also feel compelled to pray. Pray and write this message. Maybe The Lord has a reason for me to be up simply to pray. 

I am thinking about these people the Lord has put on my heart. I truly believe we can be prompted by the Holy Spirit. So the task of night prayer is not to be taken lightly. Paul wrote in his letter to the Church at Ephesus to pray at all times, and to pray specific for him. If I had gotten that message from Paul I know I should take it seriously. I have gotten messages from chance meetings, phone calls, Face Book messages and emails. These are messages God has given me knowledge of situations and people's probems and do I feel strongly that I should I take seriously the need to pray? I think so. But when I know some things and know that prayer is needed and I neglect to pray God is not glorified or praised by my neglect. God can use the prayers of the saints. To neglect prayer is to miss opportunity.  Even if it is the middle of the night. 

Epheisans 6:18 NASB 18With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Psalm 63:6 NASB  6When I remember You on my bed,  I meditate on You in the night watches,

Notice I added the bolding of the print for emphasis. 

So I should not get too upset if I wake up sometimes If I realize that there may be work to do. The work of prayer. I will not name the ones God had put on my heart at this moment but I thank the Lord for the chance to pray for them. 

Prayers prayed and this blog written, I am going back to sleep. 3:31 am April 19, 2015. 

$$$$

This is a post that will attract a bit of attention just by the title. Now I must warn you that this is a post about money and about giving away money. Written by a preacher. This can open a can of worms for some people. People say that they do not like to hear preachers talking about money all the time. So I will be careful to give you some thoughts that I believe are biblical. But I have been at PGBC for 2 and one half years and I have only preached on money once before. This will be the second sermon and it is indirectly about money. 

So, do you? Do you give some money away? Some people do and some do not. Money is a tool to be used just like any other tool. You can buy things with money, so we all need it to a degree. Although it is possible to live without money or at least with very little. Some people do. Some live with lots of money and are very concerned about their money all the time. So much so that they are preoccupied with money. 

We all have attitudes, and routines with the money that we have. We tend to buy the same things over and over most of the time. We eat the same foods, we have been eating, buy gasoline at the same place we always buy it, and we pay the same bills each month. We have definite patterns with the use of our money. On occasion we may use extra money for something special or to treat ourselves to something we want or desire. All of us have at one time or another lost some money due to recession, or a lost wallet. 

Of course we get most of our money the same way each month by whatever we do for a living. Or by whatever investments or sources of money we may have in our lives. And money patterns tend to run in a 30 day or monthly cycle. 

Money comes and goes in our lives on a regular basis. The trick for most is that we should save some of it to gain some wealth. Right? Well at least this is what we tend to think. This is part of our attitude about money. We think we must spend less than we take in so that we are providing for the future. 

How much money do you have? Do you know? Do you keep up with exactly how much you have at any given time? It is really kind of hard to know exactly sometimes, because your money really consist of all the things you own. Some things you own may have great value. Guns, jewelry, land, cars, and even stocks and bonds are all things with a good deal of value that we may think we know what they are worth, but they are not really of value until we use them or sell them to get cash that is more easily spent. What are you doing with the value you own? This is really how much money you have. 

I am preaching on money tomorrow. Sort of preaching on money, I should say. The book of Haggai is about rebuilding the temple. If you are rebuilding the temple you will have to pay for it to get it done. We are entering a Capital Fund Raising program at Piney Grove because we need to make improvements on the buildings. I know that there is plenty of funding at Piney Grove as our people are blessed by the Lord in so many ways. Seeing the needed improvements for effective ministry in the world today requires us to look at who we are and what we are doing in ministry. This is really the task tomorrow more than just trying to get people to give they need to see what we must do.

 In working with the Building committee we will need about $ 250,000.00 in addition to the funds we already have to complete the yet to be finalized improvements. So over the next 2+ years in order to pay for these capital improvements we are proposing and bringing to the church a plan to raise funds.  That seems like a huge amount of money at first look but over time it is not so formidable.  It is obvious by reading the Book of Haggai that the same issues with money existed in Israel in the 5th Century BC as do today. So the issue is getting people to see the need of the improvements and realize what role they will play in making this happen. 

I really wrote all of this to ask you one question. What are you choosing to do with some of your money that makes a difference to others? You see your attitude about money can be a selfish one that  keeps you focused on your money.  Or you have come to the realization of a simple truth that God owns it all. There is really no such thing as YOUR money. God has entrusted you with assets, and things of value, and of course some cash money. It is all HIs. Now you are supposed to be a good steward with money and take care of your family, and take care of the responsibilities that are yours.  You have to do what He has called you to do, and I am sure God does not call anyone to a task and not give them the resources they need. But money stored up in the bank or in a vault does not help or benefit anyone. Money must be used, to be of benefit to anyone. Just think about what God has called you to do. "Consider your ways" the prophet Haggai  tells us several times. This is my message today. 

Haggai 2:8 NASB  8‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts.  

Knowing Pain

The Lord put it on my heart this morning to write a word about the subject of pain. We all have it from time to time and we all seek to avoid pain. There are different kinds of pain. As a pastor I have to see others in pain which is why I would guess this is on my heart this morning. A dear friend is in the hospital in a great deal of pain. I ask for your prayers for my friend Butch Alexander for his pain from a very complicated surgery. 

But I also see other types of pain. I ask for your prayers for several families who have lost loved ones to death this week. They are in a time of emotional pain. 

I spoke with several people who are in severe pain from troubled or broken relationships yesterday and they seek for the pain to be relieved just like the others who have pain. 

We all know pain from time to time and we seek a remedy. Sometimes to find relief is more difficult for some causes of pain than others. When we see others in pain most people will be moved with compassion and desire to help. If we are unable to aid or comfort or if all of our effort to aid are rejected or are ineffective we ourselves will feel emotional pain from watching suffering of pain. When we arrive at a point like this we will so often cry out to God, "Why do you allow suffering like this God?" Or thoughts are, "God you can stop this pain." "God you can fix this pain." "Why are you not doing it?"

Men have sought an answer to this question for many years. Most of us have been there in our own suffering to ask God this question because we have had pain. I have told the stories of my own pain from 2001 when I almost died with acute pancreatitis. It was painful both physically, mentally and emotionally. But I praise the Lord that the pain I felt has passed and that I experienced it so I understand the pain and suffering of others so much better than I would had I not undergone this pain. 

I do not have adequate explanations for why we have to undergo pain but I do have the profound promise from God that our sufferings will be relieved one day.  

Revelation 21:4 NASB and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

I also have the truth that Our God knows first hand every pain and every bit of suffering that we endured. 

Isaiah 53:3 NASB He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

I also know that he uses the pain that we have to grow us. As tough as that thought is we need to try to understand this. 

Romans 5:3 NASB And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

One day God will allow us to understand why we have pain but for now we must endure. My prayers are with all who I have tried share your pain this week and every week. Our God is good, All the time. Even when we are in pain. 

 

   

A Sermon Worth Reading Again

The Sermon on the Mount is worth reading again and again. Matthew chapter 5 is where this great message starts. The Beatitudes are the first verses of message and these verses describe to us who is blessed. The ones blessed are getting blessed because  they are disciples of Jesus. This message starts by pointing out that there were crowds, but that when Jesus went up on the mountain He began to teach. And then it says His disciples came to Him. Going to Jesus is intentional. We do not, or cannot follow Jesus from a distance. We cannot give lip service to the church or to the idea of Christianity and be a true disciple. 

Some people might think they can be a "Sunday" Christian. But if you know a person who is only committed one day a week they will soon be exposed as a hypocrite. The true seeker of Jesus will follow him even it is up hill. A true Christian will absorb all Jesus has to say.

Some would look at the list of the beatitudes and pick one phrase or one verse and say to themselves I am blessed because I am a peacemaker. Or I am blessed because I am meek. Realize this: When you become a disciple you are totally and completely undergoing a transformation into the image of Jesus Christ. 

And when a person follows Jesus the Lord gives us a list of what will begin to happen in our lives as we grow in our relationship with Christ. The list of beatitudes applies to every aspect of a believers life. This is not a list to choose what we like in our flavor of blessing this is truth being revealed as to who the disciple is becoming. 

A true Christian will have the blessings of being: 

Poor in Spirit, Mourning, Being Meek, Hunger and Thirsting for Righteousness, Being Merciful, Being Pure in Heart, Being a peacemaker, and even the blessing of being persecuted. These things come about for those who realize who Jesus Christ really is and leave all to become His disciple. Some of these blessings like being persecuted may not seem to be a blessing? But Jesus assures us that Great is your reward in Heaven if you are persecuted. 

I am amazed at how people "claim to be in Christ" and continue to live like the devil. They cling to being a part of a local church and put great hope in showing up for an hour a week at a service. 

Being in Christ or following Him means total life transformation. Take a look at yourself and consider is your life being transformed. The list of beatitudes is a place to start to check and see  how much of your life is being transformed. This is truly worth reading again and again. 

The Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5:1-12 ESV

1Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

2And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

7“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons^a of God.

10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

The Lift is Going UP

Praise the Lord! The paths have been cleared and the work has begun on the new Lift at Piney Grove Baptist Church. The top picture is the stairway where the People Lift will be installed being dismantled. The second shot is from inside the file storage room and you can see the cut through the block wall, and the opening of the shaft for the lift. Hopefully this will be operational for this years Homecoming on May 17.

We are making good progress on the renovations at Piney Grove. Refresh, Renew, Reach is a theme for the raising of capital to make the improvements in our worship building. Over the next few months we will be undergoing some pretty major changes.

God has truly blessed us and we are ready and stepping into the future as a church who knows and honors the past but looks forward for those yet to come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. There are many things we could say. Rise up! We are on an upward course! Things are looking up! Moving on up!  Because we want to go higher. But the truth is the lift will go both directions up and down. This will give the church  the ability to move senior adults and other people who struggle with stairs, from one floor to the other without going outside around the building. Thank you all who are working hard to make this happen.  

 

The Trouble Today Is....

Last night I was priviliged to sit on a panel at a senior level Criminal Justice class at Kennesaw State University to discuss "Ethics and Morality" in the Criminal Justice system. I was the only civilian as the other 4 members were high ranking police officials from Swanee, Marietta, Kennesaw and Smyrna. But I felt at home with the topic as 13 years of Police Chaplaincy have exposed me to a lot of situations in police that others might never see or even think about.

Dr. Stan Crowder the professor for the course started the discussions with several teaser sort of questions and one of the first really got me thinking. The gist of the thought was, "What are the young people facing today, who are trying to get into the work of Criminal Justice that they might not face a few years ago?" A very long question and there was quite a lot of debate but there were several answers we should be sharing with out children or teenagers before they make some mistakes they could not overcome. Here were four major things that were talked about in these discussions.

1. Today young people could go visit a friend in Colorado where smoking pot is legal and get high with no fear of the law but when they return home they could be declined employment due to a positive drug test. There is a conflict in laws that say this is OK in one state but THC is still a substance that is illegal.

2.  Today young people are exposed to social media very early and develop a whole lot of history that the world can track wherever they have an internet connection. To not be involved in Social media is to be old fashioned and backward they would feel, but to be involved any and all problems you have in life may be exposed to everyone. 

3. Temptations for our young people are far more prevalent than they were a few years ago. Sexual temptations are everywhere because of the acceptance of premarital sex, the acceptance of same sex relationships, and the common use of pornography.

4. The demise of traditional family is continuing and this does nothing to encourage or help the young people of today.  

Now what really surprised was that it was said that we cannot wait until the 4th year of college to learn these things we need to teach them to first year students. I agree the FIRST GRADE.

The problem today is not with our children it is with our adults who feel entitled and have no respect for authority. This is obvious in the news as people are disrespecting both law enforcement and clergy everyday.

A second thing was asked, "Do you think this is going to get worse?" My answer is, "Yes!" I have read the prophecies in the Bible and some bad times are coming. But this is where society is going and you do not have to go that way. You as an individual can take a higher road. You can join the ranks of something that came out of the discussions called, "advanced citizenship." Are you a person respected and making a difference? I submit it starts with what you believe. It starts with your faith.

When you have a strong faith in God the troubles that young people can get into seem to be pale when they have the most important aspect of life down pat. Share your faith people it is what we need for the trouble of today.

    

Praise God For Opportunity

About 12 years ago the Lord gave me an opportunity to preach on a regular basis at Hickory Heights Baptist Church. The Church had run into some troubled times and needed guidance and leadership. At the time I was on staff at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church and the Noonday Baptist Association had ask us to get involved to help the small congregation. We stepped in as a church to help our brothers and sisters in Christ. What an opportunity this turned out to be. Because of the opportunity I grew in the Lord, and so did both churches. After about 18 months we were able to call a pastor and the church flourished and then reconstituted with a fresh start. 

About 8 years ago it seems a similar set of circumstances left Hickory Heights without a pastor and once again in dire need. I had just left King Springs as pastor in order to pursue full time the Mission work that I sensed and believed God was calling me to do. The leadership at Hickory Heights ask me to fill the pulpit and I did for two weeks until I realized they needed so much more. We talked again and I agreed to be the interim pastor for the next year. The Lord truly blessed us and we stabilized and the Lord blessed and once again Hickory Heights  began to grow. Although it was an extra work load I was blessed greatly. During this time I  was so torn what to do as the church asked me to be the pastor on several occasions. I did not sense the leading of the Lord and after a year felt it was time to leave. The Lord provided another pastor for the congregation and they have had some great years. 

It is sad but once again this faithful group of people finds themselves without a pastor and facing difficult times. Once again the situation has come to my attention. I could not turn away and not at least try to help. This time however it is very different. I am not the one to preach from this pulpit. But I have ask Piney Grove Baptist Church and they approved unanimously plans to help the congregation at Hickory Heights. We have a wonderful associate Pastor in Tommy Reinhardt and he is willing and eager as I was 12 years ago. I am thankful that Tommy is willing to work extra and preach and pastor this resilient and dedicated body of Christ. He started Easter Sunday and this seems to be a blessing for all involved. 

Now we are not only going to involve Tommy but others as they can help too. A young man named Nick Swanson stepped forward yesterday to fill the pulpit as Tommy is away for a well earned vacation. Two others from Piney Grove are stepping forward to take care of Wednesday nights. Opportunity seems to grow people and I am grateful for all of these young men. I know opportunity has grown me. Nick not only took advantage of yesterday mornings opportunity but also preached for us at Piney Grove last night. I was blessed as he brought a powerful message from Psalm 27. Opportunity grows people if they will say yes and be willing to serve.

If there is one thing that God has taught me it is to take advantage of opportunity when you have it, and to give opportunities to others every chance you get. How blessed I am by Piney Grove Baptist and by Hickory Heights Baptist to serve our Lord. I am so excited about what I believe God is going to do in the lives of all who are involved. 

I Hate It When This Happens

My son had some azaleas that he wanted to pull up because they are a little out of control. So I loaded my tractor yesterday morning and drove it over to his house. We began the work with a little trial and error as to how to wrap a chain or hook a strap to the bushes and when we go a good grip there was a struggle but they were beginning ro give way. One big one we wrestled a few minutes and then once I got it up that is when it happened. The hillside was just steep enough for me on it sideways that the heavy dirt ball hanging from the bucket with it as high as I could raise it was like a pendulum and when it swung to the downhill side the chain slipped and the tractor just rose up on two wheels and flipped to the left. I jumped to safety but you see the results of a tipped over tractor. 

A trip to Northern Tool to get a strap ratchet come along, a hydraulic jack, two large ratchet straps, and a new chain; then two hours of hard work and we turned the tractor back on its tires. One rear tire was flat so we had to jack the tractor one more time and work a few minutes to re-inflate the tire. Then the hydraulics were gone. To load the tractor back on the trailer by hand was a trick. But since we had a new come along, we were able to do it with a little rigging and a whole lot of elbow grease. 

All in all no major damage to me or the tractor but the azaleas are still in the ground and they may be laughing at me. 

Deliver Us Some Evil.... What?

Most of us learned the "Lord's Prayer" as children and we have often recited it as a prayer with others at appropriate times in life. Now we all know there is the line in the prayer where we would ask the Lord to "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." I think sometimes in our hearts we change this when we are faced with temptation. The Lord does not to lead us into temptation, we are pretty good at coming up with this  ourselves. We think up ways and look for the path to better ourselves through any and every situation in life. We learn to take care of ourselves so to speak and along the way find many things that are not what God would have for us. So we want stuff for our selves and we do need some stuff yes like "our daily bread" but we must be careful because we get greedy pretty quick. 

Now here is where we start our prayers. Praying for stuff for us. We pray "Dear Lord, please let this or that happen." This may be anything that is good for us but is "good" for us if it is at the expense of someone else. The problem begins when we pray for stuff for "us" instead of praying for and seeking what God's will is in a situation. Selfish prayers are so subtile and so self focused that lots of people would pray for things selfishly and think that since they are "praying" that they are doing something very good.

Praying for God's will to be done is always right. And come to think of it as we pray the Lord's prayer that is the context of the entire prayer is it not?  We pray this prayer asking for God's will to be done. We pray only for a provision for today and always pray for others. God is the focus. For His will, for His Kingdom and for His power and Glory. It is so easy, so tempting to pray for ourselves, for our loved ones for OUR WILL to be done. When we do we have changed the line to say to God "Deliver us some evil Please."

         Matthew 6:9-13 NASB

         9 “Pray, then, in this way:
            ‘Our Father who is in heaven,
            Hallowed be Your name.

      10‘ Your kingdom come.
            Your will be done,
            On earth as it is in heaven.

      11‘Give us this day our daily bread.

      12‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

      13‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

James in his letter realized how people were praying selfishly and had some really strong language to correct the churches who circulated his letter. 

James 4:3 NASB  3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

In your prayer time be sure you are not trying to place an order with God for something for yourself. Some smart aleck preacher might just ask you, "Would you like fries with that order of evil?"