First Day

Today is Riley’s first day of 4^th grade. He’s done the “first day” thing several times now but today was a little different. He says he doesn’t like school. That’s different. Riley has always liked school and the first day has been a time for excitement and surprises. I go to pick him up in less than two hours. We’ll see how he liked it.

I think the issue Riley is dealing with is two-fold. This is his 6^th first day, counting K4 and K5. It’s old hat. The flair is gone. He’s seen it all, he thinks. Have you ever grown complacent in your relationship with God and his people?
“It’s just another Sunday.”
“Is it time for another revival already?”
“Can’t I just take a break from teaching my class for a while?”
“Please don’t ask me to help on this project.”
Complacency is your own failure to see the excitement in something. Bottom line, it’s the result of lagging behind the Lord in your daily walk.

Riley’s second issue may also inflict church-goers. He’s been hearing from other kids that school is no fun. He’s starting to believe it. And if he acts upon those beliefs, reality will fall right in line. School wont’ be fun if you know it’s not going to be fun. Do you know anyone who thinks about church like this? One sour attitude attracts others like a dead ‘possum attracts vultures. And I mean to draw parallels in just about all the ways you can think! Going to church is a terrible experience when you hang out with others who think the same thing. Sitting through a service is boring (I can’t stand the way people use that term to describe what is really their own lack of desire to get involved) when you sit back and do nothing.

Yes, it is true that God doesn’t change, but the depths of his character is beyond our ability to completely research during a lifetime. The Bible says his mercies are new every morning; so I believe each worship experience can be new and fresh even though you been to hundreds of them. You can listen to people who have a poor walk with Jesus, you can make up your mind before you get here, or you can come to church this weekend like it’s the first day.

The last week or so has been a span of hot, hot days. Temps reached 100+ and humidity was off the scale. But a front passed through yesterday and immediately the temperature and humidity were much lower. I think we all praised the Lord for the relief.

The transition between the hot weather and the cooler weather was accompanied by a storm. As the comforting air collides with the stifling air, a storm brews. The comforting air always wins.

Seems like this is the way our troubles are, too. At least my storms always seem to be the transition from turmoil to calm. The most difficult times in my life have been when I realized I needed to be closer to the Lord. God has always waited patiently for me and Satan has always put obstacles in the way. The result: epic storms.

Some people are afraid of storms. I understand that, but don’t be afraid of the storms that usher in the peace of God. Change is uncomfortable but what God’s Spirit will change you into is worth it.

Urgency

I spent about 90 minutes on a Facebook chat with a man who graduated from the same high school that I did but several years earlier. We didn’t really know each other but through a sequence of posts on Facebook we began the chat.

Regarding religion, he is Buddhist, it anything. He leaned that way but really didn’t believe anything.

I’m Christian and unashamedly so.

The chat was interesting.

I talked about salvation in Jesus Christ alone. He said he could embrace Christianity except for the part about Jesus being God. The problem is that you can’t be Christian and not believe that.

My friend was home in Arkansas for just a short time then returned overseas to teach. We had no contact since then.

I learned that he died earlier this week. To my knowledge, he had not embraced Jesus Christ for salvation. I hope there is something I don’t know and that he and I can strike up a friendship in heaven for eternity.

I learned something a year ago. Everyone wants love, forgiveness, and redemption. They may not know how to express that desire but that is an inner longing.

I learned something this week. The need to share the gospel with all people is an urgent need. Time is short. Eternity awaits us all.

Fourth Grade Testing

Riley is going into the fourth grade in just a couple of weeks. He went to K4 and K5 at Arkansas Baptist, then first grade at Lawson Elementary, then 2^nd and 3^rd grade at Chenal Elementary. We wish we could have kept him at Arkansas Baptist but my move from bivocational to fulltime pastorate came along with a pay cut so we couldn’t afford the tuition any longer. However, this year the school is giving pastors a substantial discount so Riley is headed back.

Today is the day he is tested (assessed, they call it) to determine where he is in comparison to where they think incoming fourth graders should be. He was a little ahead of the public school students when he went from private to public so I’m expecting he’ll be a little behind going back into the private school system. Two of Riley’s years in public school were excellent; one year was not so much. Fortunately, that down year was not last year. He made up some ground in third grade that he had lost in second grade.

His mama is more nervous about the testing than Riley is. But it is what it is. Wish I had made him read more this summer. And work on his multiplication tables. Did you know they don’t call it that anymore? What I learned as “multiplication tables” Riley learned as “math facts.” A sign of the times? People aren’t interested in tables of information anymore, just give ‘em the facts as quick and concise as possible. Maybe it’s just that two syllables is easier than seven.

I just reconnected with a friend from fourth grade on Facebook. Tod Riley was at Dardanelle for just one year but he and I were good buddies. The playground had an old tree trunk (huge) laying on it. It was the favorite play place and meeting place. Tod and I spent lots of time there. I hope Riley makes friends and memories in fourth grade like that.

Looking Out My Window

I am sitting at the dining room table looking through the blinds into the front yard. The house is close to the road and we have a circle drive so there is not much grass in this part of the yard. What I can see are two wooden planters, three pine trees (my father-in-law calls this place “Three Pines Estates”), the road and beyond. Not much on this hot summer day except the weeds in the planters blown about by the dry, hot, summer wind.

So I’m reflecting on Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus recorded in John 3.

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

God’s Spirit is always around us, within us. God’s ways are higher than our ways so he is often up to things we don’t know about or understand. Even our own salvation is hard to understand.

Another glance out the window and it seems the wind has stopped. But staring a little long I see slight movement in the planters. So it is with God. Sometimes a quick glance into our lives and we think God has stopped. But if you’ll spend a little time seeking for the Lord you will find he is at work.

The wind is sometimes refreshing. Sometimes the wind blows things out of the way. Sometimes it brings rain that cleanses the air.

Looking out my window reminds me of God’s presence in my life.

Hummingbirds

We have a hummingbird feeder on the front porch. I can see it as I sit at the table working. An interest thing is taking place: the birds are sitting on the perches of the feeder while they sip the homemade Kool-Aid. They just sit there. I’ve never seen them just sit there.

All the hummingbirds I have ever seen have been flapping their wings at super speeds. Even while they sip the Kool-Aid. I’ve never seen a hummingbird sit on the perch.

I wonder why the bird known for its rapid wing movement would sit still. Apparently, the constant flapping doesn’t hurt them or tire them. So why rest?

Pretty good question to ask each of us. We are so used to the rapid lifestyle we lead that stopping or resting never crosses our minds. Sure, we say we need a day to relax or we take vacations to get away from it all, but we never really slow down. It’s true, isn’t it? When was the last time you slowed down or stopped long enough to rest for an extended period of time?

It’s been a while for me. I’ve had business trips, ministry weeks, camps, and stuff. I have weekly deadlines for sermons and publications. Today is July 20 and I thought 2010 just started.

So the lesson of the hummingbird is strange but important. We need to slow down. Stop. Relax. Enjoy what God has provided for us.

Down Time

It’s been hectic these past few weeks. Homecoming. SBC in Orlando. Fathers Day. PBA Day Camp. VBS. July 4. Picnic at the Parsonage. Siloam Camp. Sunday Evening Outreach. I’m behind schedule on the normal things around the house and office. So, “no rest for the weary,” right?

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Easier said than done. But better done than ignored. So I’m taking it easy this week. Still going to the office. Still making the rounds a pastor makes. Just spending a little less time doing all that and more time with the Lord.

Home from Siloam

Cross Road Baptist Church made a huge philosophical shift this week. We took kids to camp. Several years have passed since the church has taken kids to a week-long summer camp. I’ve heard lots of reasons why but I can’t accept any as valid since camp is so great a tool for evangelism and discipleship – the heartbeat of the Christian church. CRBC is headed in a good direction. We have a core group of kids who are excited about camp – that’s not been the case in a long time here. We have leaders who believe in Siloam. That’s a fresh attitude, too. And the commitment to Siloam will get stronger each year.

Now, here’s a little info about this year’s camp. Riley, McKenzie, Isaac, Tripp, and Brittany made up a great group of campers. Some of them and some of their families were a little apprehensive last weekend but this weekend is so much different. Siloam does that to people. I attended the children’s park with four of the students. Gwen McCallister attended the youth park with Brittany. All of us had a great time highlighted by vibrant worship, biblical preaching, new relationships, and HOT weather! Plus record rainfall for a week of camp. More than 5 inches of rain fell on Monday night and another strong (but short) storm came through the camp Thursday night. The creek was rolling most of the week.

Both the boys’ cabin (B-14) and the girls’ cabin (G-13) won a daily honor for cleanest cabin. It’s not just that our cabins were cleaner than the others, which would not be a hard accomplishment to achieve, but the cabins were actually very clean. Good job, guys and gals. Thank you.

A new game called Ga-Ga Ball captured the boys’ attention. I call it Goo-Goo Ball because some of the players acted like babies when they were forced out of the game. It’s a fast-pasted game something like dodge ball. I’m sure the boys will talk about it…a lot!

This year’s theme is “Search and Rescue.” And the memory verse is “For the son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Some people are just plain lost and need help. Others (believers) may be off course and struggling to find their way. They need help. Jesus came for them and for us. Let’s join him on the greatest search and rescue mission ever. Siloam is an important piece of the puzzle.

Praying in Faith

A few days ago Ken Whitten posted this on Twitter and I retweeted and sent to Facebook.

“Faith is the bucket of power lowered by the rope of prayer into the well of God's abundance. What's down in the well, comes up in the bucket.”

A friend on Facebook made a great comment asking a question about a situation many of us have faced.

“And when the bucket comes up empty anyway? What does that tell you?”

I am posting my response here in hopes that maybe it will help you when you pull up an empty bucket.

The key to praying in faith is to persistently seek God's desires. I've prayed for things I've wanted and the bucket has come up empty. God doesn't fill my wish list but gladly and generously gives me what he desires that I have. The Bible refers to that as praying according to his will.

Another key is to realize that God desires a right relationship with us most of all. I've had to ask for forgiveness for things that have stood between God and me before I could experience all the other things.

And sometimes all that is good but it's just not yet God's timing. From my perspective, I pray thinking now is the right time. God sees my life from his eternal perspective so he knows when is the best time.

Paul Overstreet wrote a song 20 years ago that says, "Keep praying til the answer comes."

Three hindrances to effective praying are selfishness, sinfulness, and stopping. We are to pray according to God’s will and in so doing we won’t pray selfishly but seeking his greater desires. Sin can hinder our praying so we are to confess our sin, which is more important to God, so that we can talk with him about other things. Persistence is important in prayer – not in order to change God’s mind by pestering him but by agreeing with him about the importance of the thing we are praying for – so we cannot stop praying until we get the answer.

A man in my church is so confident in the Lord that he prays about it and leaves it in God’s hands. I agree with that and don’t want to imply that we must pray constantly about this one thing. Instead, we pray until we have confidence that the Lord will do what we are praying for. So we pray until we no longer pray selfishly. We pray until our prayers are obstructed by our sin. And we keep praying until the answer comes.

Thoughts on "The Decision"

The LeBron James spectacle is nowhere near over. Dan Patrick said on his radio show yesterday that the American culture created the atmosphere for such arrogance and selfishness. The loss of Christian values across the landscape of America is evident. “I’m going to take my talents…” Who does LeBron think he is? Who snickered with approval when he practiced that line?

I’m not a fan of the NBA so I’ve not seen him play very much and I won’t tune in any more often because of this. Some might say that I have no dog in this hunt because of that. But the greater loss or gain is not about basketball but about what is acceptable human behavior.

No doubt about it, LeBron can and should make his own decision. But narcissism has received another grand endorsement. Like we needed that.

Now here’s a better decision: accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and yielding to his Spirit to guide all you do.

What Kind of Dad Am I?

I wonder sometimes what kind of Dad I am. I have three boys and I’ve never been fishing with them. One of the best memories I have of my dad is fishing with him below the dam on the Arkansas River at Dardanelle. Can I be a good dad and not go fishing with my boys?

Time lost is never regained. The years of being a non-custodial parent living at least 125 miles away have taken their toll. I am praying for God’s guidance in restoring and recapturing what has been lost and damaged. I want to be a good dad.

So what kind of Dad am I? I am one who loves his children and wants the best for them. I am one who is proud of his sons. I am one who wants their lives to center around Jesus Christ. I am one who wants to spend time with his sons. I am one who thinks his sons can accomplish anything.

With or Without Opposition

I’m watching Riley play a baseball game on the Wii. He is using the 2-player setting but just playing by himself. When he’s pitching the other remote is laying in the floor beside him. When he’s batting he pushes the button to pitch a fastball down the middle. Then he hammers a home run. The score is 15-0 with no out in the bottom of the 1^st inning. He’s getting bored.

As fun as winning a baseball game is, doing it with no effort isn’t much fun.

The Bible describes the Christian life as a battle against evil spiritual forces. We are assured of victory when we trust in the Lord but the battles are always hard-fought. I wonder if we appreciate what the Christian life offers. Or do we get bored. Or do we miss the joy.

Although we have opposition, we can still have joy. And even when the Lord is taking care of our battles behind the scenes we shouldn’t get bored.

The score is now 29-0. He’ll quit soon.

Don’t quit on Jesus. He won’t quit on you.

Rest for the Weary

June has become the most physically demanding month on the calendar for this pastor. And nobody is to blame but myself.

Our church is associated with the Pulaski Baptist Association. PBA hosts a Day Camp for 1^st-6^th graders each year in June. We are also a Southern Baptist Church and the annual meeting for the SBC is in June. Those events are scheduled well in advance and I want to participate in both.

But then I asked our Vacation Bible School director to move VBS from July (the traditional time for it at CRBC) to June because I think we’ll have better participation and impact. We’ve done this the past three years.

So June is jammed full. The only week not scheduled with an event is the first week of the month and school is not yet out by then.

Here I sit on July 2. VBS ended yesterday. A three-week run of physically demanding events is over. I’m tired.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Day 1 of VBS

We had a great start to VBS last night. We usually start on Monday, end on Friday, and have Family Night the next Sunday. But this year we decided to start on Sunday with Day 1 and Family Night rolled into one. I think it was a success. We have 36 children registered and expect more to come today and tomorrow.

Jeff Deckard with Cowboy Up for Christ Ministry shared his testimony and the gospel with the help of his Palomino “Little Man.” Jeff compared the relationship he has with “Little Man” to that which God has with us. Obedience. Trust. Sacrifice. His message was good for all ages. You can find out more information about Cowboy Up for Christ Ministry at the website.

The Bible study for Day 1 centered on creation. Did you know that you (and all humanity) are God’s greatest creation? That’s the truth and I can praise him for that! God is good.

SBC Just a Few Days Away

I’m just a few hours away from leaving for the SBC in Orlando. Pretty excited about it for a few reasons. But bummed for one: Deana and Riley don’t get to go. We started out two years ago trying to save money for this trip but never accumulated enough. We don’t save very well so just a few unexpected expenses along the way wiped us out. We are now saving for a trip to the Grand Canyon next year when the SBC is in Phoenix. Praying that this works out better for us.

Now for the positives. First, messengers to the convention will hear recommendations from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force that was assembled after the 2009 meeting. I have been supportive of a Great Commission Resurgence from the beginning a little over a year ago. I’ve also been vocal with my critique, both positive and negative. I think someone Tweeted about me a few days ago. At least, the tweet made me think twice before speaking so boldly. I think my comments were valid; maybe a bit emotionally energized. I am ready to vote for the Task Force recommendations and expect great opportunities for me, my church, and my denomination.

Second, I am traveling with five pastor-friends. This should be a blast! No telling what will happen along the way with the likes of Danny Johnson, Lary Tidball, and John Watt on board. It will be up to Larry Walters, Tom Strike, and me to provide balance and sanity.

Third, I need energized. I’ve worked in organizations with hundreds of other people and managed a team of more than a dozen while also indirectly overseeing distant locations. I’ve owned my own retail company. I’ve been in positions of great responsibility and positions requiring manual labor. But being a single staff pastor is the most draining task I have ever undertaken. This is not a bad thing and I’m not complaining, but I need to hear the messages and reports that will be part of the SBC. I get very few opportunities to be the listener; I’m usually the speaker. This will be a great week of participating in a different way that always serves to energize me for my calling as pastor of CRBC.

Though the SBC probably won’t cycle back to Orlando for several years, I have moved to the front burner a trip to Disney World for Deana, Riley, and me. We have to save better this time and I need to lose some weight so I will fit in the roller coaster cars. Would you pray for me about that?

Weary of GCRTF Stuff

My inbox gets crowded with stuff for and against the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force recommendations that will be presented next week at the Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando. Quite frankly, I’m tired of it. Luckily, the convention is soon and the issue will be decided.

But I really don’t think the rhetoric will die down. My circle of pastor-friends is divided. I suspect that is true across the convention. And if it is, then the vote next week won’t really settle anything.

Those who are promoting the recommendations make me believe that they think there is no other solution to issues facing the convention and that many young pastors and their churches will leave the convention if this doesn’t pass.

Those who are against the recommendations make me believe that they think change is the worst way to approach the issues facing the convention.

I like the idea of emphasizing world evangelization and admit my failure to put forth my best effort. I can do much better personally and leading my church in this area.

I like the idea of emphasizing unreached areas of North America even if that means I have less denominational support for my traditional Bible-belt church.

I like the idea of reducing bureaucracy in a denomination that claims to be a convention of churches rather than a top-to-bottom hierarchy.

I like the idea of allowing those who specialize in training missionaries for cross-cultural ministry to do so even if that blurs or eliminates previous lines of authority.

I like the idea that more of my church’s CP dollars go to outside-Arkansas Southern Baptist entities. I’ve never considered designating those dollars and probably would not consider it regardless of the outcome of the vote. But I would like to know that Arkansas Baptists are being the best stewards possible.

What I do not like is the perception (mine) that some SBC leaders want to improve their SBC giving by creating nomenclature to disguise this truth: they will spend no more on missions than they currently do. Why the high pressure on this issue? It must be embarrassing to run for a national SBC office and have it published that your church does not support CP very well.

From the beginning I’ve been surprised at the response from both sides. Some seem offended that someone would question their stewardship. But I get correspondence regularly from SB entities encouraging me to be a good steward. Even had a guy imply my church is not really giving what we claim we give to CP because we don’t know the math necessary for preparing a budget.

And then the proponents of the task force recommendations want me to believe that their solution is the one and only solution that will fix the problems within our convention.

I love the Southern Baptist Convention. We do a good job of preparing men and women for ministry. We have a system of financial support for missionaries that has no comparison. We value all people and want them to hear the gospel and know Jesus as Savior and Lord. We cooperate as autonomous churches.

I’m all for a Great Commission Resurgence. I preach it. I believe we must get back to the Great Commission. I am pressing my church to be a missions outpost with global impact. This is the focus of my doctoral project. I’m committed to the idea.

But I’m weary of all the stuff in my inbox.

My church is small. Our missions dollars don’t total much. I wonder if my opinion will be as valued as they want me to believe my vote is.

Refreshing

One of our church members passed away and her funeral was this week. As is customary, the family gave some of the flowers to the church to use in our services this weekend. We don’t keep the AC running in the building throughout the week so the only place to keep the flowers fresh is in my office.

I’m looking at an arrangement that is two feet wide and three feet tall. Pinks, purples, and greenery. Very pretty.

Had we left the arrangement in the sanctuary the heat would wilt the flowers by Sunday. Not very pretty. The one place where the flowers will stay fresh and pretty is in the office where I keep the temperature below 70 all the time!

You are not much different from the flowers. Kept under the right conditions you will flourish. Exposed to harsh conditions you will wilt.

What are the right conditions? Where is the temperature and humidity just right? In the presence of the Father! Just like the flower will wilt if not kept in my office, so you will wilt if you do not stay close to the Lord.

His love is refreshing.
His forgiveness is refreshing.
His counsel is refreshing.
His mercy is refreshing.

The flowers don’t have a choice – they sit where they are set.

You have a choice. Will you stay close to the Lord and thrive or will you wander and wilt?

Forever

The oldest member of our congregation passed away last night. Lena turned 97 on March 15. Not only was she the oldest member but she was one of the longest-tenured members having been a charter member of Cross Road Baptist Church at its founding in 1971.

I’ve heard stories about her from family and church friends that tell of her feisty demeanor. But I only knew her as one who loved the Lord, longed to attend the church, and thought the world of her family. The only stern words she ever had for me were, “Why haven’t you come to see me?” after she had been in the hospital for a couple of days before I made the visit. But she said those words with a smile on her face: she was glad to see her pastor.

It’s an honor to be someone’s pastor. I’m told (and I believe it) that you are the preacher when you first come to a church, then a pastor after at least five years, and finally a leader after a few more years. But I think Lena considered me her pastor and I’ve only been at CRBC for three and a half years.

For someone who was 97 and had been a member in one church for 39 years (almost exactly) and had been a Christian for many more years to call me her pastor, well that’s a great honor. I will gladly speak at her funeral and talk about her stubborn ways and her loving attitude and her legacy of family she has left behind her and the impact felt by CRBC.

A disease may have hastened her death but the hope of scripture is that she (and all of us, too) entered the presence of the Lord at the very moment her earthly body died. And in his presence there is no sickness or pain or sorrow or tears or dying. Only life and worship and joy. Forever.

Something From Nothing

From where I sit I can see two of Riley’s projects. One is complete – he found it in the bottom of his backpack this weekend. The other is due tomorrow. One is some kind of candle or reflector, I guess. The other is a diorama (I just learned that word, too, so don’t feel bad) of a cave – a topic they’ve been studying in school.

What catches my eye is the materials used to create these things. A box that once held bags of potato chips. A cardboard spool that once held paper towels. Marbles, rocks, stickers, construction paper. All held together with glue and tape.

Honestly, I don’t remember making stuff like this when I was in school and I turned out just fine. My fortune cookie said, “You have an active mind and a keen imagination,” thank you very much!

I guess this is one way to recycle.

Riley has made ocean scenes, a castle, and countless smaller displays and projects. Takes a lot of stuff to do that.

The Bible says that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. He did it without raw materials and supplies. He just did it. Spoke it into existence. Wouldn’t that be cool? “Cave diorama, be complete!” I don’t have that kind of power. That’s one of the reasons I’m not God.

I’m glad God is God.

Swing, Batter, Swing

Our boys are starting to swing the bats. And that’s a good thing. The Red Roc Rockets (ages 10 and under) are nine boys who have a pretty good time at the ballpark. Their record is 12-3 (I think, not counting a 2-2 tournament record). They have won most of their games by simply outscoring the other team. Obviously. But specifically, by taking advantage of wild pitches and stealing all the way around to score.

They have not hit very well. The losses have come when the other teams’ pitchers weren’t very wild. Without the runs from stealing home, the Rockets have been a weak team.

But the bats are waking up! Just in time for post season tournament, too. That’s when the pitching will be a little better so we’ll need to get runs the old fashioned way – by hitting the ball.

We (the Dads) have noticed that when one or two players get a walk the next few batters just look for a walk, too. Getting them to swing at the ball is a victory at times! Like I tell my son, more good things can happen when you hit the ball than when you get a walk.

In baseball, that’s called being aggressive. In life, it’s called being proactive.

As a Christian, I need to look for ways to bring glory to God rather than sit back passively waiting for a moment I can’t ignore. The children’s song says, “Praise Him in the morning, praise Him at the noontime…praise Him when the sun goes down.”

In other words, I need to swing the bat!

My Personal Arbitron Radio Ratings Diary

I am a fan of radio. I should have been born a generation or two earlier because I love listening to radio. Especially sports on radio. Not just sports talk shows, but the actual sporting event.

I once heard a story about a sportscaster from the radio-only days of baseball. He would sit in a studio waiting for the telegraph to spit out the news from a ballpark. He only received basic information like the lineups, line score, and box score. He took that information and created a broadcast for his listeners as if he was telling the story of the game live as it happened. He had sound effects for the crack of the bat! I have listened to many games mesmerized by the excitement in the voice of the announcer.

I the early- and mid-90s I spent everyone other Friday night and Sunday night picking up my boys and taking them back. The 120 minutes in the car with them is some of my best memories. I had to do a lot of fathering in just a few hours a month; I hope it made an impact. But for years I never saw a Super Bowl on TV. I would listen on the radio after dropping them off. Same with Monday night football because for many years I had classes in Little Rock and would listen to the game on the radio as I drove back to Russellville where I lived.

I’ve come to the point that I’d rather listen to a game on the radio than watch it on TV.

I love radio. Even worked in the business for a few years. I had a Southern Gospel music program. I was the “on air talent” at live remote broadcasts. I cut commercials and sold advertising. If I could have made a living at it I would probably still be involved in some way.

So with all this love for radio, I was finally selected to participate in an Arbitron survey. This is the company that monitors listening habits so that radio stations can prove they have a huge audience and justify the rates they charge for advertising.

Guess what all my listening diary contains. Sports. Sports talk. Baseball games. And a little Rush Limbaugh mixed in.

Do you have a bucket list? Mine includes calling games on the radio. The closest I’ve come is when I did the stadium PA for a PeeWee football game. I was in high school and we jocks had to work the game. Some were referees. Others made up the chain gang. I was the announcer. And I called it like I was on the radio! “Bye-bye, LeMasters!” as Brad scampered more than half the length of the field.

Fully Charged!

I lost the charger for my cell phone for a few hours Saturday. I looked in all the normal places at home but did not find it. I looked in the car but it was not there. I went to my office but it was not in my computer bag and was not plugged into the wall or USB slot in my laptop. I even walked from the church to the house looking for it on the ground.

Soon my phone was shut off due to lack of power in the battery. That’s an awful feeling – both the actual lose of power and the losing of power. Questions like this ran through my mind. Should I try to catch up on the Words with Friends games where it was my turn to play? Should a check email and voice messages one more time? Should I hurry to town to buy another charger? It was an awful feeling!

The Bible tells us in Acts 1:8 that the Holy Spirit is our power. He gives us strength and energy for living. He is constantly present to keep us charged.

But I sometimes get disconnected and lose power. I begin to feel the drain and it’s an awful feeling. I start selecting what I will and won’t do. What I consider priorities and urgent needs gets so out of whack. What I should do gets shoved aside while I use what power I have to accomplish meaningless things.

I doesn’t have to be that way. I should never lose power. There is no reason for it because the source of power lives within me. (Notice that I did NOT say the source of power WAS me.) God himself lives within me to constantly recharge and energize me. Anything less than 100% is my fault. I didn’t take time to pray. I let my daily Bible reading slip. I didn’t consider God in my decisions. I put other things above my Lord. And then I lose power.

Reverse these things and I maintain power. Pray. Read my Bible. Look to God for guidance. Put him above all things. Fully charged!

Oh, I found my charger on my desk in the church office. I had placed a stack of papers on top of it.

Section 216, Row D, Seat 12

From Section 216 the breeze was from right to left and strong enough to make the flags beyond the center field fence stand straight out. After moderate temperatures during the day and the shadows pulling across the ballpark, that was enough wind to make short sleeves a bad choice for a 7:10 first pitch.

Then the drizzle began. Most of the night we were misted by raindrops so light that they looked like summer bugs dancing in the stadium lights.

None of that mattered when the Red Roc Rockets took the field with the Arkansas Travelers shortly after 7:00 PM CDT. Riley plays first base most of the time. He pitches a little, too. He took the field with the Travs’ first baseman Efren Navarro who wore jersey number 16. That was Riley’s number for the last three years. He changed it to 44 this year because his all-time favorite Traveler and now LA Angel Mike Napoli wears that number.

But Riley and Efren did have something in common besides playing first base. Both are left handed. I intended to watch Efren play the position to pick up some pointers for lefties playing first but I got caught up in the event and didn’t pay that much attention – which is unusual for me because I usually keep a scorecard and monitor every pitch as if I am a scout from the “bigs” looking for the next superstar to call up to Anaheim.

What I paid most attention to all night long was #44 for the Rockets. I never amounted to much in baseball but Riley is pretty good. I hope I am not living vicariously through my son like a lot of dads do. I love the game and Riley is good at it. Maybe I can keep it at that.

Riley wears his pants knee-high. That’s not how most players at any level do it these days but the baseball purist in me has rubbed off on my son. He looked natural standing on the fresh-cut infield grass with a man who will probably be in the Major Leagues within a couple of years. Two of the last three Travelers first basemen made it; maybe Efren will, too. And Riley has a brand new baseball with one autograph on it: Efren Navarro.

The game against the Tulsa Drillers started out on the sour side with the opponents getting a 3-0 lead in the second inning. But the Travs battled back to tie the game at 3-3 then let it slip away to 5-3 in the top of the 8^th.

We didn’t see that because we left at 9:00 after 7 innings. That’s not like me, either. No matter what the event, I stay until it’s over. We are always the last to leave the movie theater because some bloopers may be coming up after the credits. I always stay at a concert until the last song is sung because I want to soak up the entire experience. I’m always the last to leave church because, well, it’s my job!

And I don’t leave a ballgame early. I’ve seen too many late-inning comebacks. I’ve seen too many great plays and I don’t want to miss another one. I can’t stand the thought of an incomplete scorecard. But I wasn’t keeping score. The wind and lack of sunshine and the constant presence of mist or drizzle made it reasonable to leave at 9:00 after 7 innings.

The score was tied 3-3. Another reason not to leave.

We flipped on the radio and found KARN 920 AM just in time to learn that the top of the 8^th was over and the Drillers had pulled to a 5-3 lead. Nothing happened for the Travs in the bottom of the 8^th. The Drillers could add nothing in the top of the 9^th.

By this time we were close to home, which is far enough away from the AM station’s tower that we drove out of the range of the nighttime signal. By the time we got Riley into the shower and into bed the game was over. I pulled up travs.com and learned that those who stayed until the end saw a half-inning of hope that resulted in a victory.

The Bible says that those who stay true to the end will be saved. It says that those who put their hand to the plow then look back are not worthy to be called disciples. I wish I had stayed in Section 216, Row D, Seat 12 until the end with the Travs. I know I am staying to the end with Jesus.

Do It Right

I remember coach Roy McSpadden telling the team that if we do it right we won’t do it as long. During drills in the 1979 Dardanelle Sand Lizard football season, we heard that over and over again. If we didn’t do it right, we would do it again! Until we got it right!! I’ve kept that verbal nugget in my mind and on my tongue for over 30 years.

The DirecTV repairman just left the house. Our reception just abruptly quit a few days ago. Deana called the toll-free number and went through the fix-it procedures they prescribed but nothing worked. So we had to have a home visit.

We had another repairman visit us a few months ago because tree limbs had grown into the line-of-sight of the old dish location. He moved the dish and reception was back to the great service we have grown used to with DirecTV. But he took a shortcut by splicing a new section of cable to the old to make the distance needed for the new dish location. Today’s technician said the spliced areas were open to the weather and probably just got wet, corroded, and failed.

Do it right and you won’t do it as long.

Scott (today’s DirecTV helper) replaced the old spliced cable with a single run from dish to receiver.

Do it right and you won’t do it as long.

Makes me think about shortcuts I may take in my walk with God. A shortcut here and there won’t hurt, I think to myself. But before long I’m a long way away from the Lord. A missed prayer time. A displaced Bible reading. A skipped Bible study class. A zoned-out time of worship. Each event doesn’t sound like much. Just one morning when I’m in a hurry and have to skip my quiet time doesn’t seem like a big deal.

Do it right and you won’t do it as long.

Learning and growing require doing it right. Learn more and grow more by doing it right the first time.

Yo-Yo

I signed up for a weight-loss contest about a month ago. I lost about 10 pounds in the first 3 weeks but my weight has crept back up the last few days. I have to get on top of this!

One of my former employers was a pretty big guy. He said he had lost a hundred pounds – the same ten over and over again. He also said he was working on his second million. He had given up on the first.

I guess I’m not alone in this struggle. Exhibit A would be the number of health/fitness gadgets you can buy from an info-mercial. Exhibit B is the TV show that is a contest to lose weight. I could go on and on, but the point is that many of us struggle with our weight.

After a recent church service, we had homemade ice cream and cookies. I had a small portion of ice cream and two cookies. The guy sitting next to me said, “Get some more. It won’t make you fat.”

While I was thinking how to respond with something catchy, he leaned in and said, “You’re already fat.” He’s right.

So, up and down I go. But I have to do better. The Bible says that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. When I can see dust on top of the piano at church I get a little irritated. When the bathroom trashcans aren’t emptied, I do it myself because I don’t want anyone else to see the church is a mess. I have to take that approach to maintaining the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Baseball

I’m not sure what’s wrong with me. I haven’t watched any Major League Baseball yet and we are almost a full week into the season! I must be sick!

I do know that Cincinnati lost their first game and that they had win last night with a walk-off HR. Not sure about much else.

But I’ve been watching the Red Roc Rockets 10-and-under team play. Last night’s game was exciting. The Rockets won 13-10. Joe was the winning pitcher and Riley picked up a save. Riley hit an inside-the-park homerun – really, with no errors. Zac hit a triple down the first base line. Teal and Jake were two of several players who got hits or walks and stole 2^nd and/or 3^rd. We even had a few steal home on wild pitches.

Defensively, Nick made a couple of plays at second, Jake was solid at short stop, and Isaac and Joe kept the ball in front of them most of the time at catcher. Dakota made some good plays in center. He and Riley did a good job getting the outs at first.

I’m looking forward to more of the Rockets. Hope to see some Reds games. Maybe get to an MLB park once this summer. Baseball is here and I’m loving it!

Sick People and Doctor's Offices

I broke my left leg 10 years ago. For the most part, I’m OK except that I didn’t rehab like the PT said to. Note to anyone rehab-ing an injury: do all your PT says to do.

During baseball practice two weeks ago, I was helping the pitchers and did something to that leg while demonstrating proper technique. Why was I demonstrating something I know very little about? Great question! Nonetheless, my left leg is messed up.

I put off going to the doctor for two reasons. We were leaving three days later for a week in Russia. And, I generally put off things like this anyway. But I’ve been thinking about a trip to the doctor.

When I go to the doctor it is because I have something wrong with me. I can’t remember ever going just to say, “Hi!” I suspect that he expects me to have a problem when I come to see him. His waiting room used to have signs designating areas for “sick” patients and those not sick. I always sat next to the “sick” sign and wasn’t ashamed to do so because I assumed everyone knew I was sick or I would not have been there. I wondered why people would sit on the other side of the waiting room. Except for the sales reps, all those people were just in denial!

So my doctor expects me to have some kind of physical problem when I come to see him. That’s fair. And I expect him to do something about it. That’s fair, too.

Jesus said it was the sick who needed a doctor, not the well. And he came into the world to heal the sin-sick. Jesus knows I am sin-sick. And I know he can do something about it.

Reflections on Easter

We had a great day of worship on Easter Sunday at Cross Road Baptist Church. It started at 6:30 A.M. with the Community Sunrise Service. We hosted the event this year and members of Martindale Baptist Church and Holly Springs Baptist Church joined us in worship. Our churches have a special sense of fellowship that neighboring churches don’t always have. I appreciate their pastors and leadership for this.

Then our regularly scheduled worship service was outstanding. The singing was superb as the choir sang two songs. One was a medley about the cross. The other was a modern song. And the preaching was good, too!

Easter is all about the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the victory he gives over sin and death. For believers, Easter is a time of celebration. We have an eternal home in heaven because of the resurrection if we accept God’s free gift of salvation.

For unbelievers, Easter can be a time of new birth. Often the pointed messages and images of Easter get the sinner’s attention and draw him to Jesus. When that is the case, Easter is again a time of celebration!

I’m glad God love the world so much that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life!

Sunny Days

Spring has sprung at my house. The daffodils and pear trees are in bloom. And the days are warm. The jacket needed in the mornings definitely get tossed in the back seat by noon. It’s a pretty time of the year.

Temps will probably be in the 70s when we get on the plane in Little Rock Thursday. When we step out of the airport in Ekaterinburg Saturday morning the temperature will likely be in single digits. Spring hasn’t yet arrived in Russia!

But we are looking forward to a week of ministry in a place desperate for the hope found only in Christ Jesus.

March Madness

I’ve watched a few of the NCAA Tournament games yesterday and today. Upsets and OT are the headlines. I like watching the fans in the stands. Some are wearing their school’s colors. Some are waving banners and flags and posters. Some and just plain crazy – like the guys stripped down to their jeans and had their torsos painted. I saw a video on the local news last night about Arkansas Tech’s fan who wears a green spandex suit similar to Blue Man Crew – covered head to toe. He runs around the stands hyping up the crowd.

They love their teams and will do anything to show it.

I love Jesus but sometimes hold back from showing it. It’s not my personality to make a scene but surely I can be more demonstrative when it comes to praising God publicly. What about you?

“I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God
for the salvation of everyone who believes:
first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
(Romans 1:16 NIV)

On the Mark

I am reading the Gospel of Mark today. This gospel is one of my four favorites because of its fast-paced action. Jesus is always doing something. Mark moves from one thing to the next. While other gospels may be docu-dramas or romances, Mark is an action-packed thriller.

Speakers at the Expository Preaching Workshop at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary challenged me to read the Bible to a greater degree than I have in the past. I’ve always thought that if I read a little each day, maybe the whole Bible in a year, I would be OK. But when I consider that the Bible is not only my life but my living, I realize I should read it more.

For the moment, I have three reading plans. One to read the Bible through in a year. One to read Psalms and Proverbs each month. And one to read the text for upcoming sermons and Bible studies. Maybe I should integrate these somehow but I just know that I have to read the Bible more. Why? It’s the “trade journal” for my career. Three times a week people sit before me with this question in their hearts: What does God’s word have for me today?

The challenge to read the Bible has brought me great encouragement and joy. As I continue, I expect to learn more about God, his will, and myself.

On the Mark…get set…go!

Saturday Morning

It’s my own fault.  I am responsible for it. I do it to myself.

Can’t remember the last time I actually had a day off with only R&R on the schedule. My work habits through the week always result in business to do on Friday and Saturday. I get everything done – mostly. I just have to take one or two extra days a week to get all my chores finished.

This week was a little different because I spent Monday and Tuesday at a conference in Fort Worth at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Much of what I do it worthwhile – like the conference. Just a few things that I need to cut out throughout the week so I’ll have a true day off.

So this Saturday morning is filled with stuff I have to get done by Sunday morning. I’ll break for Riley’s baseball practice, lunch with Deana & Riley, and a little SEC basketball.

It will be a full day but I really wouldn’t know what to do if it wasn’t. I don’t handle free or down time very well. I get restless. The spiritual discipline of being still is one I should practice and improve. “Be still and know that I am God.” Guess I can’t really know God unless I am still everyone once in a while!

Why be part of PBA

One of our leaders told me tonight that it seemed to him that Pulaski Baptist Association had just sorta gone away. He is not aware of PBA's ministries. There is a communication gap and I'm part of the problem. So i wanted to take this post to improve the communications to our church regarding the association.

 

Pulaski Baptist Association is a group of 60+ churches in central Arkansas who cooperate in phenomenal ways to accomplish significant ministry. PBA assists churches seeking pastors and pastors seeking churches. They scholarship pastors seeking a seminary education. They support church mission trips.

 

Cross Road Baptist Church (me, specifically) has received back from PBA much of what we contribute financially. PBA is especially good as equipping pastors to be better pastors for their churches. CRBC benefits (hopefully) in this way.

 

PBA facilitates mission opportunities for our churches. CRBC has made two mission trips to New Orleans to help refurbish homes after Katrina. PBA and its churches take numerous trips deep into Mexico where over 1,000 people have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord over the last four years. Opportunities for churches to partner with churches in St. Louis began last year. You may remember that CRBC tried to put a trip together but failed to garner enough volunteers.

 

PBA provides a website that anyone can use to share the gospel.  Check out www.whorocksmyworld.com and give it a try. Another site that will impact children evangelism is in creation at this point and could be available later this year. PBA isn't doing business as usual but is taking advantage of technology to reach lost people.

 

PBA has purchased two 15-passenger vans that are available to churches for use on missions trips, VBS transports, etc. Churches like CRBC cannot afford a new van but we have these available when needed. We used one of the vans for our trip to New Orleans in 2008.

 

PBA hosts a ministers lunch one the second Wednesday of each month. Most weeks also include a Brunch Bunch meeting for pastors of small or single-staff church (like me) that has proven to be the most important aspect of our association with PBA because I am no longer isolated at the corner of Colonel Glenn and Congo Ferndale Roads. I have developed deep friendships with many pastors who encourage me in my ministry. I hope I can do the same for them.

 

We have joined with Faulkner Baptist Association in recent months for a pastors retreat and a preaching conference. Pastors from our associations had the chance to preach and share testimonies to equip and encourage one another. I leave in the morning to go with many of these pastors to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for their Expository Preaching Conference. I hope to be a better preacher from what I gain from this event. PBA is paying for all transportation and lodging at the event.

 

I could go on and on about the value of being part of Pulaski Baptist Association but I'll save some for later. I pledge to CRBC and to PBA to be a better champion of the association.

 

Too Full

My laptop is over three years old. That’s ancient for a computer. The speed is not so bad but the hard drive is too full.

I’m a packrat when it comes to electronic files. Hey, you never know when you’ll need it! So I have files saved on there that I’ll never open again.

And I have gobs of programs that I don’t use. I bought a logo design program when I started at Cross Road. I developed a few logos then found out I could do the same thing with Microsoft PowerPoint and Publisher. I also have a home design program that’s probably 10 years old. I installed it when the church began the new building so I could produce floor plans. I should probably remove it but I just keep thinking I’ll need to do something with it just any day.

You can see why my laptop is too full. It has 70 gb of storage – that was a lot three years ago. But it’s so full I can’t do a defrag – must have 15% free space and I’m at less than 10%. I bought a 500 gb external storage thingy and have been moving stuff to it for a  couple of months but haven’t created much free space so today I removed my Bible study program (it’s big) and reinstalled it to the external drive.

Now I have some breathing room.

Makes me wonder if my life is full of stuff I don’t need or never use. Is there any useless stuff cluttering up my life? Probably so. The truth is that all the unnecessary stuff is taking up space where good stuff could be.

Maybe it’s time to simplify – streamline – focus.

Plans

I headed out this morning to go to the bank, get a prescription refilled, and visit a friend in the hospital. Well, I made it to the bank, forgot to take the prescription, and the friend has been discharged from the hospital. This trip illustrates many things. First, sometimes things go as planned. At the bank I was able to make the deposit and pick up more deposit slips. That was a good stop.

But the second thing about the trip bothers me. I am forgetful. I don’t remember when this affliction first beset me. Because of this, I’ll have to make another trip to town today because I am completely out of the medication and I’m supposed to take it daily. Way to go, Bob! What do you think are the chances I’ll actually remember?

Third, our plans sometimes blow up because something good (or better) happens. Getting discharged from the hospital was a good thing for my friend. Had my plans worked perfectly, he would still be there.

I guess this is why the Bible says we aren’t to rely too much on our own plans. Instead, we are to always be looking for God’s activity and align out plans with this. Much better than having 1/3 of your own plans actually come to pass.

Reminders

I woke up yesterday with a nagging dry cough. I set the CPAP machine’s moisture level to “zero” Saturday night to see if I can get by without the humidifier part of it for the trip to Russia. That’s probably why I have the cough – still.

Several years ago I developed the same kind of cough but didn’t think much about it. Then four years ago I came down with pneumonia – unrelated – and in the process of doing chest x-rays, my doctor found some abnormal lymph nodes in my chest. We used words like “Lymphoma” and “cancer” over the next couple of appointments. I had scans and tests and finally had a procedure to remove a node for biopsy. The good news is that I don’t have cancer but I do have another disease called sarcoidosis – my lymph nodes affected are shot.

The nagging cough, as the surgeon explained it, was my nervous system’s way of getting the enlarged lymph node away from the nerves in my throat and lungs. The cough served to shake things up a bit. I don’t think today’s cough is for the same purpose but I am remembering those months in 2006 when I was unsure of my condition.

Although I didn’t know what was wrong, I did have a peaceful demeanor because of my faith in Christ. I knew that no matter what happened I would be OK. Maybe not OK physically in this world, but OK because he loves me. I wanted everything about this experience to glorify Christ. If nothing was wrong – praise the Lord! If I had a disease but was healed – praise the Lord! If I had a disease but was cured – praise the Lord! If I had a disease that would claim my life – praise the Lord! I made up my mind to accept God’s will and praise him no matter what.

That nagging dry cough is only a nuisance. I really praise the Lord for it because I am reminded of his presence in my life. Yellow butterflies also remind me of the Lord’s presence but I’ll save that for another post.

Deadlines

I’m rushing today to complete an assignment for the DMin seminar I took last month. It is to be postmarked TODAY! There’s just something about a deadline that both comforts and disturbs me.

First, I find comfort in a deadline that is far away. I can wait and do it later. I don’t have to designate my time so rigidly. I am safe because I am not yet late turning in my paper.

On the other hand, I am disturbed by deadlines that are quickly approaching. I lose sleep. I don’t do my best work. I take time from my family. I binge eat and bite my nails.

I am 45 years old and have been in school a total of 30 years. You would think by now I would have learned and changed my ways. Instead, I continue down the same path that, honestly, started a long, long time ago. Old habits are hard to break.

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Certainly, the verse applies to my desire to sin and my rejecting God’s ways. I am new and no longer desire sin – although I still sin – and I want to follow God’s ways – although I don’t always do it. But I have noticed a change in my life over the years as God’s Spirit has chipped away at the old Bob and brought out the new Me. And I like what I see.

I think the verse also applies to my procrastination regarding deadlines. But God’s Spirit will only change the parts of me that I give him access to. I don’t have a problem with procrastination – that’s just the symptom of a larger problem. I have a problem yielding all my life to God’s Spirit.

Maybe you do, too. Let’s pray that our hearts and minds will be completely open to the Spirit and willing to let him have his way in our lives.

 

Footnote: As I am writing this, I received a Twitter update from author Len Sweet. It said, “Deadlines are like bumper cars. They’re only fun I you hit them dead-on. (from Heather Wilson)”

 

Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bobloyd

Be my friend on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bobloyd

 

Birds

I don’t usually get concerned about feeding birds when the ground is covered with ice or snow, but today was different. Riley and I have been spreading birdseed on the snow on the deck and the birds have flocked to it. The Cross Road Birdwatchers Society could have had a great time identifying the different species feasting on the seed. Or the Cross Road Bird Hunters Club could have bagger their limit easily!

I saw as many as fifteen birds on the deck at one time. When they saw me peeking through the window they would all fly away. But they would gather again within a few minutes. Because of this, I couldn’t get pictures, though.

We had a woodpecker, a female cardinal, two kinds of blue birds (a big one and a little one), some small brown birds without stripes, some small brown birds with stripes, some small black birds with lots of yellow, a robin, and a camouflage bird. You know how the military jets are painted like the sky on the bottom and like the ground on the top? There were a few birds on the deck that had light grey tummies and dark brown or black backs. I’m guessing they are prey for bigger birds and this is the way God camouflages them.

Isn’t that just like God? He protects us from our enemy, too. Cloaked in garments of righteousness (his, not our own), we are safe. Yes, the devil will go after us but he cannot defeat us. But we must be clothed in his righteousness and keep our eyes on the Lord.

And another God-thing… He takes care of us even better than he takes care of the birds. And he often uses other people as conduits for our blessings just like he used me to feed the birds today.

The New Building

I spent several minutes in our new building this morning. No electricity so it was cold and dark. But I propped a door open and walked around in the shadows. Our volunteers have spent many hours over the last few weekends putting up sheetrock. From the set of doors in the end of the building, you can no longer see everything in the building because the sheetrocked walls block some of the view.

I remember one of the ladies in New Orleans who was so excited when a team from CRBC finished hanging the sheetrock in her post-Katrina home. She couldn’t help herself but blurted it, “Now it looks like a home.” Our building is beginning to look like a fellowship hall with a kitchen, bathrooms, and classrooms. I can’t wait until we quit calling it “the new building” and start calling it the fellowship hall.

In the Bible, God says that each believer is the house of God (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). I wonder how many of us are just the shell of the building we are supposed to be. I wonder if we allowed the Spirit of God to begin the remodeling of our lives but have closed him out so that he cannot complete the work. I wonder if God gets excited when he sees the work in progress. I wonder if he gets discouraged when he sees things in your life that are undone.

Our prayer should be one of confessing the sin of wrestling control of our lives from God. Then we should submit to the Spirit’s work in our lives so that we can be the wonderful temple of God he intends us to be.

Podcasts

I’ve had my iPhone since September but have really just started using the iPod built into it. I registered to attend the Expository Preaching Conference held annually by Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (March 8-9 this year). I found the audio files of previous conferences on iTunes so I downloaded several and have been listening to some great preaching.

 

So that got me to thinking…What other preaching can I find on iTunes? I was amazed at how much is out there. I even started recording and posting my own sermons on the church’s website (www.crbclr.org/sermons) although I haven’t looked into what is necessary to post to iTunes. Anyway, I downloaded sermons from Liberty University’s chapel services last week and listened to them today while driving to the hospital and back home. One was a sermon by Mike Huckabee and the other by Charles Lowery. I was inspired by the messages and also happy to find a common thread in them so I posted two statements as my status updates on Facebook (www.facebook.com/bobloyd) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/bobloyd).

 

Mike Huckabee said that life is perishable. You either give it away or you throw it away. You use it or lose it.

 

Charles Lowery said the life is short. It’s a quick trip from diapers to Depends.

 

Take advantage of every day and live it to the fullest giving glory to God in your words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes. Your relationships with Jesus and the people around you are the most important things in life.

God Equips His People with Leaders

Sermon from Haggai 2:20-23 preached on January 31, 2010 at Cross Road Baptist Church by Bob Loyd.

 

http://www.emedialink.com/video/9586/God-Equips-His-People-with-Leadership

A Difference in Roads Taken

We’ve had a pretty good winter storm over the last few days. Freezing rain began to fall Thursday with snow overnight and through the day Friday. Schools, churches, government offices, and businesses shut down. Arkansans don’t handle the ice and snow very well.

We live in Saline county about a mile and a half from the Pulaski county line in two directions. This is sort of a “no man’s land” when it comes to law enforcement, road repair, cutting edge utilities, etc. AT&T put in their U-verse lines to within a mile or so of the house. They stopped at the entrance to the upscale gated community. City water just came in about three years ago. We all are on septic tanks.

So I was surprised when the Saline County Road Department sent a road grader past the house toward the county line. Funny thing is that Pulaski county did nothing or their side of the line. We made it to Benton (Saline county) and back Saturday with no problems. Headed to Little Rock (Pulaski county) Sunday after church and was shocked by the bad condition of the roads. The route to Little Rock is fairly heavily travelled but there is no sign that the Pulaski County Road Department has been out that way.

But I’m not writing to bash the road departments but to comment on the choice of roads and destinations from a spiritual perspective. And this is not about the spiritual condition of Benton versus Little Rock, although someone else may want to pick up on that.

Our choices make a huge impact on our lives. Take the wrong turn or travel the wrong road and you face danger and difficulty. Head in the right direction and you stand a much better chance of arriving at your destination safely. In fact, with the Lord you are guaranteed to arrive at your eternal destination safely. Even the stops along the way are better travelling with the Lord along the Lord’s highway.

So take care when deciding which turn to make or which road to take. It makes all the difference in the world.