Heart Language

Have you noticed the high concentration of commercials for Rosetta Stone? This is a computer program that teaches foreign languages. It seems that more and more people are interested in learning a language other than their heart language. I've toyed with the idea of buying the Russian version so that I (and other volunteers) will have a better idea of the language when we take our mission trips to Russia over the next several years.

 

But I'm intrigued with the idea that people want to know a language besides their heart language. That is a great illustration for what is happening spiritually all across the world, but especially in America. God created us with a heart language; a language that communicates between God and us. He intends us to be in relationship with him - a relationship that is real and personal and vital. The task of each person is to learn that language and dialogue continually with God.

 

But the goal of those immersed in modern culture are seeking a different language. They are forsaking their heart language for something else…anything else. They will be able to communicate with each other but not with God. They will have neat relationships with each other but no relationship with God. They will think all is fine in this world but realize in eternity that they missed the point.

 

The point of this life is to communicate with God. His language is unique to him but accessible by anyone who calls on the name of Jesus. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a Rosetta Stone program for this? Instead, God has called us to teach them by telling them about Jesus Christ.

Ministry with Personal Agenda

The worst thing you can put on a salad is oil and vinegar. Look at the bottle. You have to shake it up! I’ll bet that no long after you shake it up and pour it on the lettuce that it separates into oil and vinegar again. YUK!

Even worse is when someone engages in “ministry” to advance a personal agenda. There are lots of newsworthy things to put in a newsletter without having to beat up other Christians. They guys on TV who mix ministry and personal agenda are pretty easy to spot. I just wish everyone doing ministry would leave her personal agenda out of the discussion.

Freedom

We celebrate our freedom this month. People talk about their freedom to do this or do that. Things like putting obscene bumper stickers on their cars or treating their spouses any way they like is not what the settlers had in mind, I don’t think. They wanted freedom from oppressive government and freedom to worship God as they saw fit. I admire that a lot more than I admire what some folks today want to claim as “freedom.”

 

In reality, we all live freely within boundaries. That sounds strange but it’s true. You are free to pursue any career you like as long as it is legal. See what I mean? Freedom within boundaries. For most of us, that’s no problem, but for some…well, you can spot them, can’t you?

 

The Bible says that all things were created and established by God. Even government is God’s idea. When a country operates according to God’s standards, the people are free to live and enjoy life and worship him. When these things are suppressed, the government is no longer operating according to God’s standards.

 

Some people think that living according to God’s standards binds or enslaves them. But just the opposite is true. That’s because freedom is a five-letter word: Jesus. Only in Christ can we truly be free.

"My Stray Dogs"

Maybe I’m missing something, but aren’t stray dogs homeless? Ownerless? Thank you, I thought I was right about that.

 

So this lady pulls into the church parking lot and stops. A deacon goes to her to see if he can help her and she says, “Oh no, I’m just feeding my stray dogs.”

 

First, if they are yours, please take them home with you rather than feeding them in our parking lot. By nature, “stray” dogs “stay” where they find food. We are a church and we love all God’s creation but we don’t need dogs, dog food and its by-product in our parking lot.

 

Second, if they are yours, please take them home with you rather than feeding them in our parking lot. What caring dog owner would feed her pets in the parking lot at a busy intersection? She’s inviting these animals she claims as her own to die. They will eventually become road kill because they have learned to come running every time a car that looks like hers slows down.

 

It is virtually impossible to get rid of unwanted dogs in Saline county yet all across the county, state, and country unwanted babies are aborted for convenience or to avoid embarrassment or some other insufficient reason.

 

Why can’t people put their compassion to work in an arena that really matters?

Growing Old

I don’t think of myself as being young or old, just somewhere in the middle. This month is a reminder of my aging. My birthday is the first week of May, my oldest son graduates college the first weekend of May, and the same son is getting married the last day of May. It’s going to be an a-MAY-zing month!

 

What’s really amazing is that God wants to be part of our lives at all these different stages. As I get older I am reminded that Heaven is closer now than ever before. Thinking about Heaven is exciting. But I also have to remember that while I am here on earth I have specific instructions to share the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. The Bible tells me that God’s Spirit is with me as I obey his command.

 

As the students pass through the portal of graduation into a new aspect of life, they will find that God wants to be part of their lives, too. Decisions about colleges and careers can seem overwhelming. As parents, we should teach our children to discover God’s plan before making major decisions. It will make all the difference in the world later on.

 

Nothing is as life changing as marriage. Was that an “Amen!” I heard? Including God in the formation of the marriage helps increase the likelihood that the marriage will last. Christians are not perfect, but we do have a source of strength and wisdom in God. His strength enables us to stay in a marriage and work out the problems. His wisdom guides us away from potential problems before they happen and through existing problems. Marriage is a wonderful gift from God and is a blessing when founded upon his love.

 

Your life is probably a lot like mine. Opportunities to trust God are plenty. So are chances to blow it.

What's Important to Us

The young woman couldn't make a singing career so she relied on high-priced prostitution to make a living. Guess what...now she's famous!

Her singing career is taking off. A pornography magazine is pursuing her. Pop culture has a superstar and all it took was prostitution to get success rolling for her.

Makes me wonder, "What's important to us?"

Immorality, Politics & Us

Another politician is embarrassed and in trouble because of sexual immorality.  The New York governor is not the only person in this dilemma, just the most recent to have his picture on every news website and his name as the punch line of late night jokes.  I see three problems in the previous sentence.

One is the late night jokes.  More people laugh about this than mourn over it.  Another person’s problems are funny to the public rather than a point of concern.  Our culture has stopped caring about other people and their problems from the standpoint of helping and fixing.  We now feed on the fallen as a way to humor ourselves…maybe to justify our own fallenness.  Pray for the culture.

Another problem is the news coverage.  Agreed, this is news-worthy but the talking heads miss the point, just like the comedians and their audiences.  One person said that this is a uniquely American problem – not the adultery but the fact that it is viewed as a moral wrong – and that in Europe it wouldn’t even make the back page of the papers.  I’ve come to the point that I don’t want American culture to be the harbinger of truth, much less European culture!  Politicians are in the news talking about this, too.  Most of them think it’s a tragedy.  Democrats think losing this man from public life is a tragedy.  Republicans think keeping this man in public life for even 48 more hours is a tragedy.  The real tragedy is that a family is attacked by Satan and Satan seems to have won.  Pray for the family: husband, wife, children.

The third problem is that the governor is not the only one in a dilemma such as this.  Hardly anyone is shocked by these headlines anymore.  This is a common happening in Hollywood, New York, even Little Rock.  Maybe even in your family.  Commonplace does not equal moral rightness.  If we let the majority determine what is right we then remove God from the discussion.  God needs no person to agree with him to validate his truth.  God would have spared Sodom and Gomorrah if even ten moral people had been found there.  Those choosing immorality totaled nearly 100%.  In America the issue would be settled: immorality is OK.  But God is not swayed by public opinion.  Pray for the country.

And I don’t think God sits by inattentively as the world takes a downward spiral morally.  I don’t know what God will do in response or when he will do it but I’m sure there will be a reckoning.  There always has been.  Pray for mercy.

Ekaterinburg, Russia

I spent fifteen days on a mission trip to Russia in February.  What a great experience!  There were four pastors that traveled to Ekaterinburg and surrounding cities to conduct Bible conferences.  During the four conferences we spoke to well over 300 believers.  What is so amazing is that there are only 840 believers in the entire state of Sverdlovskaya.  Can you imagine the effort it would take to speak to one-third of the believers in Arkansas?  What a privilege to speak with them and encourage them in their faith…which is a hard life in Russia.  Only one person out of two hundred is a believer in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

 

After I returned home I went to Lifeway Christian Stores and was talking about the trip with the sales person.  She asked, “Did it change your life forever?”

 

It did.  I’m ready to pack up and move my family over there but I still believe God has called me to preach right where I am.  What I will do is mobilize my church to partner with believers in Russia through prayer and financial support so that more and more people come to know Christ.  I hope to take some of my friends at Cross Road to Russia in the years to come.

Waxing Eloquent

So I’m writing the weekly devotion for the church’s website.  It’s about asking God for wisdom like Solomon did.  I start out by saying, “Imagine you found an Arabian lamp in your basement.”

 

No.  What I said was, “Imagine you find and Arabian lamb in your basement.”  Then I go on to say that you rub it just to see if a genie pops out!

 

What a dummy!

That's What It's All About

I was sitting in the waiting room at the clinic for a Hepatitis B booster shot. This is in preparation for the trip to Russia. It was 8:15. The waiting room was about half full for others who had the 8:30 appointment like me. I'm not sure how so many people can have an appointment at the same time. There were more in the waiting room than the number of doctors in the clinic. I guess this is similar to the airlines when they overbook seats.

In one corner was a guy about my age dressed in a suit and reading a book. A few seats away was an older fellow. Turns out that the young guy was a sales representative for a drug company. The old man recognizes the book the younger guy is reading and strikes up a conversation. Both have been in the Bible Study Fellowship for many years and the discussion goes on a while about that. Then they begin talking about their churches...I won't mention the churches but will say that I'm ashamed that we share the same denomination.

The younger guy's supervisor goes to the older guys church and they start comparing things. Each one seems to want to "one up" the other. Before long they have covered the topics of attendance, gymnasiums, children's facilities, and budgets. I guess all of that is OK except when they talked about funding missions. Both churches give 6% to the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention. They used to give much more but in recent years have scaled back on CP Missions in order to fund mission trips and projects within the church. The older man suggested that his church reduced their giving because the mission boards didn't spend the money the way his church thought they should. The younger man agreed.

The older man thought 6% was generous because "6% of a $6 million budget is a lot of money." Members of Cross Road should be pleased to know that the most recent budget for our church included an increase of 1% to CP Missions. That amounts to about $1,000 more in 2008 than in 2007. By the way, 2007's budget also contained a 1% increase to CP Missions. Plus we set aside money for local missions and mission trips above that. Plus we have given larger missions offerings the past 2 years than at any time before.

I'm glad to tell folks that CRBC is mission-minded. We prove it by praying, giving, and going. And we are doing more of each than ever before at a time when others are scaling back in some areas. Preachers can get dreamy-eyed and wish they were the pastor of such-n-such church but I'm glad to pastor your church because you've got your mind on what is really important.

The men went back to talking about the success of their basketball programs. One does Upward Basketball and one has an in-house league for children. Both said that through these leagues they were able to attract kids and then get their families coming. The older gentleman said, "When parents step into the entry to our children's department and see what we have, I don't know why they would want to go anywhere else."

"That's what it all about," the younger one said.

They never talked about Jesus or sharing the gospel or helping people mature spiritually. From their conversation one could assess, fairly or unfairly, that they think church is about attendance, buildings, and money.

I've always thought church was about Jesus.

Resolutions

"I am resolved no longer to linger..." These are the words to a Christian hymn that tells of a desire to flee the world and cling to God, to do his will. The word "linger" is a problem for me.
I piddle too much. Maybe you know how it is? "OK," I tell myself, "just one game of Hearts on the computer and then I'll get back to studying." "I'll quickly scan the news (paper and sites) then I'll move on." "Just one episode of Deal or No Deal and I'll be done."
I'm usually trying to meet deadlines at the last minute. I would much rather complete my tasks early and then have time for piddling. It just doesn't come easy for me even though I love the work I do and the preparation necessary for it.
So, a week and a half into the new year I'm making a resolution: I am resolved no longer to linger.

Gotta Get in Shape

I feel terrible. I'm not sick, just out of shape. I need to lose 100 pounds. There, I said it, out loud, publicly. Even if I get down to the same weight as when I graduated high school, I'll still be 15 pounds too heavy, according to the charts. But I'd be happy to just get started in that direction.

I'm going to Russia in 6 weeks. I've been warned that the most used mode of transportation will be my feet and legs. So I started walking in the early morning hours. But then it rained for about a week straight - or at least the area where I walk became a pond for several days - and I used that as an excuse to stop. Now I can't start again. And all the while, Russia is getting closer.

It's a terrible time to try to eat right and exercise. Have you tried Tuti's Crock Pot Candy? If not, you are missing one of the finer things in life. If so, you know what I mean. Now Deana is making it and one of the ladies at church is making it. I can't get away from it. Not that I try very hard.

That's the real problem. It don't try very hard. I preach that what you say really doesn't matter until you act upon what you say you believe. OUCH!

Here's the revised exercise plan. I'll take my walking clothes to the office (which is next door to the house) and take time during the day to walk. I'll also ride the stationary bike when weather is wet. I can't use cold as an excuse because the place in Russia I'm going to hasn't seen 20 degrees in weeks. It will be worse when I get there.

I don't think I can lose 100 pounds in six weeks but I did lose about 40 pounds in 8 weeks one time. Watch the carbs, cut the calories, drink lots of water, eat lean meats and vegetables, and exercise at least 4 times a week for 30 minutes per event.

I should feel better soon. I should fit into my clothes better soon. I should be able to walk around Russia without dying.

Pray for me!

Life's Not Easy

She's sixteen. She's the star of a Nickelodeon program. She's the younger sister of a pop music icon. She's pregnant.

This girl had every opportunity ahead of her but she gets sexually involved with a guy from church. A guy from church!

Let me chase this rabbit for a minute. Guys at church are not always the best guys. And the girls there aren't always the best, either. But don't we expect church to be the safest place to meet guys and girls? It's been my experience that meeting your future spouse at church is far better than meeting her anywhere else.

But she had choices, and making decisions is one of the hardest things anyone ever has to do. Another hard thing is living with your choices. Another is correcting bad choices.

Life's hard but making better choices...at any age...would make life easier.

Golf & Bowling...I'm lousy at both

I watched a lot of ABC's The Wide World of Sports when I was growing up.  Every Saturday morning I would watch a few cartoons then settle in for Cowboy Bill Watts, Skandar Akbar, Mr. X and others on wrestling on Channel 4.  That would be followed by the Major League Baseball Game of the Week with Joe Garigiola and Tony Kubek.  Please excuse my spelling of any of these names!

I watched the Summer and Winter Olympics every four years.  The first Olympic heroes I remember are Mark Spitz and Franz Klammer.  I remember Dr. J and his exciting dunks.  The undefeated Miami Dolphins.  I was at the 1976 Cotton Bowl with Arkansas v. Georgia.

I'm one of those guys who can watch, listen, or participate in sports constantly.  Trouble is...I'm no good at any of them.  For example, my average in golf is about the same as my average in bowling.  That's not good for either sport.

I thought I could pick up snow skiing pretty easily - afterall I idolized Franz Klammer - but I broke my leg on the bunny slopes.  That's not good.

I like playing softball but when I'm in the outfield there better be two cutoff men in order to get the ball back to the infield.  That's not good.

I was the deep snapper in high school football.  I was the guy who snapped the ball to the punter.  My record is 35 yards in the air...over the punter's head.  That's not good.

I've decided that most sporting events require too much preparation and skill and fitness.  I'd rather watch on TV or listen on the radio or sit in the stands.

You know what?  I'm OK with not being any good at all that.  But I won't be satisfied if I'm no good when it comes to serving the Lord.  I'm willing to put in the preparation, develop the skills, and get spiritually fit.  How 'bout you?

Things I Missed with Jim & Caleb

For me, the worst part of divorce is that my relationship with my boys has been forever changed.  The best way – God’s plan – is that divorce never happens and children always live with their parents.  Over the last fifteen years I’ve done a sometimes good and sometimes bad job of keeping a good relationship with them.  I suspect I could have done better.  I’m proud of them and love them but feel I could have been more influential in their lives.

And the non-custodial parent – that’s what the court calls me – gets four days a month to be with the kids.  At least that’s how it was in my case since their mother moved 120+ miles away.  I missed a lot of games and plays and concerts and just everyday living that you can’t really experience through a phone call.  I missed the Tooth Fairy, PTA, lunch at school…  They could probably create a longer list than I can.

Now I have two grown men and I still want to influence their lives.  I want them to be godly men.  In order to influence them in this way I have to be a good example.  I can’t miss these opportunities.

Rain

It seems like we’ve had rain almost every day for a  couple of weeks.  Most days the rain has been heavy.  But I’m told that we are still short on the year-to-date totals.  Once you get behind it’s hard to catch up!

I’ve learned that this principle works in our walk with God.  Christians refer to the spiritual life as a daily walk – with the emphasis on daily.  How often do we forget or neglect to spend time with God?  It doesn’t take long and it seems we are so out of touch with him…that he is so far away.

A church a few miles from here posted a message on their sign that reminds me of a truth that hits home far too often: When it feels like you are not as close to God as you once were, God is not the one who moved!

It will take a lot more rain for catch up with the YTD average.  Fortunately, it only takes a prayer to return to a close walk with God.

Fireworks

Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie, & Chevrolet.  What is more American than that?

Last night I had three of the four plus fireworks.  Although the Arkansas Travelers are not very good, I love baseball and had a great time.  We had a rare partial double header!

Last week the Travelers played the Frisco Rough Riders in Frisco.  The game was delayed three times by rain until it was finally halted in the middle of the tenth inning with the score tied at zero.  Since the Travelers won’t play again in Frisco this year and since Frisco is in Little Rock this week, the natural decision was to complete the game prior to the game Wednesday.

The teams took to the field.  Bottom of the 10^th.   Score 0 – 0.  Two pitches later the Frisco catcher pounds the ball over the left field wall for a walk off home run.  Game over.  It didn’t take long for the July 4^th fireworks to start!  It took even less time for them to fizzle out!  We had to wait 57 minutes for the start of the regularly scheduled game – the second game of the double header.

The second game was great baseball – for the Rough Riders.  Their pitcher went the distance pitching a 1-hit shutout.  Frisco swept the double header 1-0 and 3-0.

Since the game was moving along quickly (1-hitters usually do) there was plenty of time between the end of the game and the start of the city’s fireworks display on the Arkansas River.  So the kids got to run the bases!  Riley loves that.

Then the fireworks display!  I enjoyed baseball, ate a hotdog, drove home in my Chevrolet, and watched fireworks.  I need a piece of apple pie.

Day Camp

I am currently serving in my first fully supported church pastorate. Up to this point I've served bivocationally - I worked another job to support my family. Because of this, I've not been able to do a lot of things with the church that I would like to do. For example, the Pulaski Baptist Association conducts a Day Camp for 1st-6th graders each summer. I've not been able to participate previously but this year I accompanied 12 children and one other adult from our church.

I had a blast! It's pretty cool to see the kids have such a good time playing in safe environments. It was my first opportunity to spend quality time with many of them and I'm thankful for the chance to be with them. We also had Bible study each day and a missionary report - from a real missionary! The kids loved it.

If Christianity is all about relationships then this is a great Day Camp. Hopefully, these kids will remember the fun we had this week and turn to me for help as they grow older. This week was the foundation for that kind of relationship.

Parade

As she told me about it all I could see in my mind was the Chinese New Year parades with the paper dragons bouncing from side to side and up and down.

Last Sunday Dianna was preparing for the worst.  All the doctors said she had cancer and that it was spreading quickly.  Her mother wanted to me to talk with her about her salvation because there was a good chance she would not live much longer.

Monday morning Dianna went to surgery.  Monday afternoon her mother called to tell me there was no cancer.  They had been parading down the halls of UAMS.

Tuesday morning I went to see Dianna again.  She looked much better than she had on Sunday night.  Physically, she was tired from the surgery.  Emotionally, she was on cloud nine.  Spiritually, she was thankful and praising God.

Dianna told me that as soon as she woke up she began to ask those tending to her how bad the cancer was.  There was no cancer!  She began to wave her arms and shout (almost like a cheerleader) “No Cancer!  No Cancer!”  When it was time for the family to see her they all joined the cheer.  As Dianna was moved back to her room she and her entourage paraded down the halls of the hospital, “No Cancer! No Cancer!”

People along the route joined in.  Nurses station after nurses station.  It was a parade…orchestrated by God.

Remembering the Courageous

Billy Graham said, “Courage is contagious.  When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”  Those men and women who died in military service for the United States lead all of us to greater courage.  And so we remember them and honor them this weekend.

 

The US Army website offers this statement about courage:

Personal courage has long been associated with our Army.  With physical courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and at times risking personal safety.  Facing moral fear or adversity may be a long, slow process of continuing forward on the right path, especially if taking those actions is not popular with others.  You can build your personal courage daily by standing up for and acting upon the things that you know are  honorable.  (http://www.goarmy.com/life/living_the_army_values.jsp#courage)

 

Many who gave their lives defending freedom did so with great courage standing up for what is right.  Others showed the same courage and returned home to family and friends.  To each person who has courageously defending our freedom we say,

 

“Thank you and God bless you.”

 

As a Christian, we have someone to help us stand up for and act upon those things which we believe.  Jesus Christ is the perfect example and the Holy Spirit is our source of courage.  And when one of us takes a courageous stand, the rest of us gain the courage to do the same.

 

Memorial Day is reserved for remembering the courageous who died defending our freedom.  Praise God for them!  Now, let us remember to be courageous as we follow Christ.