Pastor Rick's Blog

Labor Day

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Today our country recognizes the American worker. We take the day off from work to celebrate the hard work we do all year. Of course there are many in our country today that are unemployed and would love to get back to work. Our prayers go out to all of those who are looking for employment.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, the apostle Paul wrote, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your own hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” We were created to work. Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”

Ecclesiastes 3:12 says, “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God.” We are much more satisfied when we are constructive. It is important to take time to rest. We appreciate days like to today when we can rest from our work. The Bible speaks to the importance of rest and taking time away from work. Even our God rested from all His work at creation on the seventh day. We need to rest but then we need to return to work.

Ecclesiastes 3:22 says, “I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot.”

The Things We Do For Acceptance

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:00:00 GMT

There is an amazing story found in Judges 11. This was the period of Israel’s history when “every man did what was right in his own eyes.” The results of people judging their own actions led Israel in and out of oppression. They would turn away from God, and leave Him no choice but to raise up an opposing nation to judge them. After a while the people would realize they had sinned against God and so they would call out to God in repentance. God would then provide an individual to lead them out of oppression. This cycle went on for several hundred years.

One such leader was a man name Jephthah. He was the result of an unfaithful relationship between his father and a prostitute. (Judges 11:1) Gilead raised Jephthah with his other sons but they mistreated Jephthah. The Bible says in Judges 11:1 that Jephthah was a mighty warrior. This was one of those natural talents the Lord had given Jephthah that will come into play later in the story. Because Jephthah had been outcast from his family he fled his brothers and settled in the land of Tob. (Judges 11:3) The scripture says a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him. That seems to be a pattern in society when people are shut out by the very people who ought to be accepting. Many an individual has found acceptance from the wrong crowd when they were rejected by those who should have cared for them.

It wasn’t long after that Israel found themselves in that cycle of disobedience, so God raised up the Ammonites to judge them. Israel remembered that Jephthah was a mighty warrior so they asked him to lead them against the Ammonites. Jephthah agreed so long as they would do exactly what he said and make him their leader.

Just before the great battle occurred Jephthah prayed and asked the Lord to help him win the battle against the Ammonites. To insure his victory Jephthah made a vow to God that if He would help Israel win he would sacrifice the first thing that crossed the door to his home when he returned. God did help Israel win the battle but unfortunately for Jephthah it was his daughters that he would have to sacrifice. (Judges 11:34)

This story is a reminder of the foolish things we often do to be accepted. Jephthah wanted to impress his brothers so much that he was willing to trust in a vow more than God. God had worked everything out for Jephthah. He had given him a special gift. He made him a mighty warrior. God had also brought just the circumstance for Israel to call for Jephthah to lead them. Jephthah was the son of a prostitute. He couldn’t help that but he could trust God to bring him the acceptance he desired without making a foolish vow.

Raising Children Who Turn Out Wrong

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:00:00 GMT

These are challenging times for parents. One of the most difficult assignments we have in life is raising kids who turn out right. We do the best we can, pray as hard as we know how, but ultimately it is up to them to make the right choices in life. As far back as the Old Testament the Lord stressed the importance of parenting. Moses wrote these words, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord]. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might. And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets (forehead bands) between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 - AMP)

A parent’s first responsibility to his or her child is to build respect and reverence in them for God. Often parents want to place this responsibility off on the church. We are so accustomed to outsourcing things today that we think we can outsource the spiritual development of our children. We send the school to be taught how to read and write. We hire coaches and experts to help them with sports or gymnastics. We take them to daycare to be entertained for the day. But when it comes to their spiritual development, God places the responsibility on the shoulders of the parents. Churches can partner with parents to help them in the process but ultimately spiritual growth and development should happen at home.

*Here are twelve rules I once read for raising a delinquent child:

1. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he or she wants.
2. When he or she picks up bad words, laugh at them.
3. Never give him or her any spiritual training.
4. Avoid the use of the word “wrong.”
5. Pick up everything he or she leaves lying around.
6. Let him or her read any printed material they can get their hands on.
7. Quarrel frequently in front of your children.
8. Give a child all the spending money he or she wants.
9. Satisfy your child’s craving for food, drink and comfort.
10. Take your child’s side against neighbors, teachers and policemen.
11. When your child gets in trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, I never could do anything with him or her.
12. Prepare for a little grief, you will be apt to get it.
(Taken from “The Christian family” by Larry Christenson)

Living As A Manager

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:15:00 GMT

Many Americans spend more than they make. For some the problem is they do not make very much, but for most people who find themselves in debt today, they simply are being irresponsible with the Lord’s money. The Bible says in Psalm 24:1,; “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” This pretty much rules out the idea that we posses anything! Jesus taught often about stewardship. A steward was someone in the first century who was given oversight to manage an individual’s property or possessions. Usually the steward was a slave but had been given certain responsibilities to manage things because he had proven himself trustworthy. “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." ( 1 Cor. 4:2)

In Luke 16:11 Jesus said this, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” The best way for a person to get control of his or her finances is by understanding that everything we manage belongs to the Lord. Our possessions are actually His and we have a responsibility to be good managers of all that He has entrusted into our care.

The Lord has given to us clear and guiding principles on how we should manage His possessions. There are some 2350 verses in the Bible that address the subject of money and possessions. Scripture gives us clear principles on earning, spending, saving, investing, giving, getting out of debt and how to teach our children to manage their money. In summary here is what the Bible says about each subject.

Earning money – we are to earn our money honestly and avoid dishonest gain
Spending money – we are to spend our money wisely
Saving money – the best way to save money is little by little
Investing money – we are to invest in the things that bring eternal reward
Giving Money – we are to give generously and help those in need
Getting out of debt – we are to be committed to it and not give up
Teaching our children – we are to lead by example and use every opportunity to instruct them.

Building Strong Families

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:00:00 GMT

“Relationships create roles, roles create responsibilities”. I heard this phrase for the first time while attending a class on Family and Marriage in Seminary. I have used it many times over the years especially when talking to couples about marriage. Every relationship we have in life creates a role whether it is one as husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, or friend to friend. Those roles create responsibilities. We are connected to people by our roles and all roles have certain responsibilities.

When it comes to the husband and wife relationship God is clear on the responsibilities. In Ephesians chapter 5 the Lord defines the responsibilities of husbands and wives. He says to the wives; submit to your husbands as to the Lord. He says to the husbands; love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Psychologists say that a man’s number one psychological need is significance. God must have understood that pretty well because He understood the best way a wife could meet her husband’s need of significance is by supporting him. A woman’s number one psychological need is security. The best thing a husband can do to meet this need in his wife is to love her and make her his priority in life. These responsibilities are not easy but when we commit to observing them we help provide a healthy atmosphere at home. This will lead our spouse to want to be at home and it will provide a safe and happy environment where our children can learn to do the same when they grow up and move on. And that is how we build strong families.

Building Strong Families

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:00:00 GMT

I grew up in the era when families were strong. Most of my friends grew up with their biological mothers and fathers. There were few blended families in our neighborhood or church. But today that has changed. Many children are growing up with step parents, grandparents, siblings, and some even from more than one failed marriage. At Fellowship one of our Core Values is “Building Strong Families.” In years past churches benefited from strong families. Husbands and wives were committed to each other and to raising their children with strong moral values.

I believe people still want this today in general. However, so many have fallen victim to society’s attack on family values that rather than benefiting from strong families, the church finds herself in the position of having to help the family. Strong families do not just happen. It takes effort and commitment on the part of family members to be healthy. It also takes the realization that our family is not fine. This “I am ok you are ok” mentality that prevails in society today keeps us from addressing the concern. We look across the street or over the fence and compare our own families to those around us and figure we are doing pretty well. After all, the real world is not like “Leave it to Beaver” or “Father Knows Best”. Those were television shows in years past that depicted a home where the Father was not unfaithful to his wife, and took a real interest in his family.

It is time to get back to the basics when it comes to our families. During the month of August we are addressing this subject at Fellowship. Each Sunday morning we will be addressing one of the family roles and try to give biblical direction for how each is to function at home. It takes much more than a house to make a home. I believe God has placed a high priority on the family. I invite you to join with us this month as we use these weeks to build strong families so once again the church can be the beneficiary.

Preparing Us To Lead

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Have you ever thought about how God prepares us for what He has prepared for us? It must be amazing for God to watch as His plan unfolds on earth. We are limited to what we read in history, a brief overview of the future from the Apostle John in the book of Revelation, and our own time on this planet. We get a glimpse of things, but our Heavenly Father has watched it all unfold since the beginning. He creates us and then in time He watches us as we begin to take our place in His master plan.

I wonder how many times the angels gather around the throne and God says, “watch this!” Perhaps that was the way it was when God brought Moses to Egypt. Moses had a miraculous childhood because God protected him in the very River where Pharaoh had declared all the male babies should be drowned. Then God had the daughter of the same Pharaoh take Moses in and raise him as a child. For the first 40 years of his life Moses was exposed to all the wealth and power of Egypt. Then because Moses tried to take matters into his own hands, he had to flee Egypt to the desert. It was there that for the next 40 years God would take some of Egypt out of Moses and replace it with a Shepherd’s Heart.

God spent 80 years preparing Moses for 40 years of ministry. He used two very opposite training courses but He got the job done. Moses needed both the experience of life in the Palace of Egypt, and the patience that comes with tending sheep in order to be effective at leading the Israelites through the desert.

Many times we think we are ready to lead when we are not. One Bible Commentator said, “it took God just a moment to get Moses out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Moses.” The lessons Moses learned in Egypt would help him when he returned to face Pharaoh. But taking care of sheep for 40 years would teach Moses lessons that would serve him best as he dealt with the wondering Hebrews. Perhaps God is using your circumstances right now to prepare you for something He has prepared for you in the future!

Earning Respect as a Leader

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:00:00 GMT

One of our Core Values at Fellowship is; “Servant Leadership.” We are always empowering leaders and the best leaders are servant leaders. Servant leaders take their example from Jesus Christ who led by example. Jesus never asked His followers to do what He was unwilling to do. The Son of God took on humanity and humbled Himself as a servant. (Phil. 2:5-8) He was not too good to put on a towel and serve His followers. (John 13) His love for His followers endeared them to Him and no doubt led them to lay down their very lives for His Kingdom.

Servant leaders earn respect. They do not demand it. There are three things that will help any leader earn the respect of those who follow them; first, by being teachable. A leader should always be learning. It has been said that when we stop learning, we stop living. We should always be learning from others. We should listen to people who know us, listen to people who know more than us, and listen to people who care about us.

Secondly, a leader needs to be consistent. Just as in any sporting contest we want the referee or umpire to be consistent, leaders need to be consistent when dealing with others. Morale and motivation can be lost in any organization when a leader is inconsistent when dealing with people. A leader cannot afford to show favoritism or be partial when handling people.

Thirdly, a leader needs to be attentive. Leaders need to know the people they lead so they can offer them the best possible leadership. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ knows His sheep and so He knows every little detail of their lives. This way He can give them exactly what they need so they will be set up to succeed. It is important for people to be in a situation where they can succeed. The job of a leader is to help the people they lead to succeed. Their success makes the leader more successful. Jesus Christ did not set His followers up to fail. He was patient with them and taught them patiently so that they would be successful after He went to heaven.

Respect is paramount to good leadership, but respect must be earned!

You Are Up!

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:10:00 GMT

Jesus once promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church. He has kept that promise for about 2000 years so far, and I am confident He will keep it for the years to come. One of the reasons Christ’s church has persevered so long is that the church continues to perpetuate leaders. When one has finished his or her time, there is another ready to take their place. The church is a Leadership Factory. No one is indispensible in the Lord’s work. Everyone is important and some excel above others, but God’s work does not depend on us.

After Moses died the Lord told Joshua that He would lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua had been a leader in training for the 40 years that Moses was out front. But after Moses died, and the Lord took him to heaven, Joshua would assume the role of leader. He was different from Moses. He had skills that Moses did not have, just as Moses had skills that Joshua did not have. Moses was patient and learned the art of organization from his time in Egypt. The skill that would be needed to take possession of the new land however, was more military. And that is what Joshua brought to the table. He was gifted in battle and his time had come.

It is amazing how God always raises up the right leader for the right circumstance. Even today we see how God brings the right people to the right responsibility at just the right time. We have a responsibility to do the best we can while it is our time to serve, but we also need to be training the next generation for when our time has passed. Tomorrow’s generation needs to learn from those who are leading today and be ready when God says to them what He said to Joshua; “You are up!”

Our Great Freedom

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 14:40:00 GMT

Yesterday our nation celebrated its independence. What a privilege to live in the land of the free! I have never known life any other way because I was born and raised right here in America. I have visited other countries since becoming an adult, and with the lens of television and the internet I have seen life in other countries. And with that said I can proudly say that I am glad to be an American. I feel blessed to be an American. I thank God for His blessing upon America.

The Bible says that God blesses faithfulness and obedience down to the 3rd and 4th generations. I am confident that so much of what we enjoy today as God’s blessings are the result of generations before us who were committed to Christian values. I am not implying that past generations were perfect, but I do believe they laid a strong foundation of faith for this country. Many of them did not have the benefits and advantages that we do today, and we would not have the ones we enjoy if it had not been for them. I am sure they are proud of the fact that we have it better today than they did. Although I find myself asking the question; is it really better?

We have greater technology, medicine, automobiles, communication equipment, etc… But do we really have it better than they did? We have become a country of entitlements. Our generation seems to be the opposite of the ones that lived before us. Rather than leave things a little easier for the next generation, we seem to be laying our financial woes on the next generation. The same Bible that says God will bless down to the 3rd and 4th generations also says that God will punish down to the 3rd and 4th generations. I hope and pray that we will not saddle them with such an albatross of debt.

Servant Leadership

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT

The greatest leader the world has ever known was Jesus Christ. Some might disagree with that statement because when He left this earth He had only gathered about 120 faithful followers. But when you consider that 2000 years have come and gone since He resurrected from the dead, and that countless millions of people have since chosen to follow Him, I believe He was the greatest leader of all times.

Jesus style of leadership was one of a servant. “It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:1-5)

This was not the only time that Jesus had served His followers. He often took the time to meet their physical needs. It has been said that people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. I believe the reason Jesus’ followers gave their lives for Him was because He gave His life for them. His ultimate act of love was when He laid down His life for them at the cross.

I hope you will join us this month as we explore the topic of servant leadership. If you can’t join us at Fellowship each Sunday during July then tune into the messages on our website each week. After all, if Servant Leadership was the right style for Jesus Christ, then it is the best style of leadership for His followers today.

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Lessons From An Oil Spill

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT

There is no doubt this oil spill is causing great concern as it does affect so many lives. All the experts and government intervention do not seem to have the answer to fixing the problem. And it is not as though they are not trying to stop the leak. I do not intend to weigh in on the politics of this crisis, or point blame. I do however want to say that there are other leaks occurring in our country that are causing moral damage. For some reason this does not seem to be as much of a concern as oil polluting the waters of the Gulf.

As the oil rises to the surface of the Gulf people are becoming more aware of the problem. The camera at the bottom of the ocean showing the amount of oil spewing into the Gulf does not cause nearly as much alarm as the aerial few from the sky. Seeing the pictures of the wildlife covered with oil breaks your heart and puts a proper perspective on how massive this thing is. It didn’t seem to be an issue for a lot of people when the oil was spewing out of a pipe on the ocean floor, until it started surfacing and became wide-spread. I think that is the same perspective a lot of people have about our moral crisis. As long as it is below the surface and under the radar, we turn the other way and pretend it doesn’t matter. But as it begins to manifest in the broken lives of people who live near us we realize something needs to be done. By that time it seems unmanageable. It is out of control.

I suggest that immorality and the lack of moral values have been spewing out of the pits of hell for centuries. It is definitely manifesting itself on the surface now as people’s lives have been covered with the stain. We see it in the divorce rate, chemical dependency, addiction to pornography, abortion, sexual perversion, and so much more. When will we notice? When will we rise with the same anger and intolerance as we are seeing today over an oil spill to sound the alarm that a greater danger is attacking our country?

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Home From Panama

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT

The church has two cell groups that presently meet in two different cities. It was my privilege to attend both group meetings on Tuesday evening. Once Ronald gets settled he plans to begin a third group in his neighborhood. With the addition of the donated house the church will be able to add a fourth group in the near future. Presently the church offers a youth meeting on Friday evening called “Intino.” Recently five young people accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior. This donated house will allow them to expand “Intino” and reach many more young people for Christ.

It is great to see that the church in Panama continues to prosper even after their pastor passed away. It is a testimony to the grace of God as well as to the leadership provided by their former pastor Ronald Murillo Sr. There are four men who are stepping up to lead until Ronald Jr. can move to Panama. I sat under two of them on Tuesday night, and while I could not understand their Spanish, the Murillo’s informed me that they were “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

We are excited about our continued partnership with the work in Panama. Brother Ronald is 30 years old and should have an impact on the youth. Already there are several young couples in the church who are eager to reach their country for Christ. On Sunday June 27th I will be presenting to the people of Fellowship a full report about Panama, and some of the ways that you can get involved to help. In fact I will present several of the mission opportunities we have at Fellowship in both services on June 27th.

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The People of Panama

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Fellowship is partnering with the BMAA of America and the church in Panama. We made a commitment to assist the missionary Ronald Murillo almost a year ago. Ronald and his family came to Texas back in January so that our people could hear his vision for the work in Panama. He visited several of our A2 groups, Celebrate Recovery, and spoke with staff members about worship, children’s ministry, students, and much more. When he returned to Panama he was so excited about the partnership and had already spoken to some of the people in Panama about implementing new strategies for the ministry. However, just 6 days after returning to Panama, Ronald had a heart attack and died.

This week I am in Panama meeting with Ronald’s son, Ronald Jr. Brad and Penny Gathright are traveling with my daughter Olivia and I to meet with Ronald about our continued partnership. Ronald has felt the call of God to move from Costa Rica to Panama to continue the work his father began about 18 months ago. The church in Panama is excited about their future and eager for Ronald to become their pastor. The church has been given a house to use for the ministry. We will help them with some light construction in order to make the house more usable for the church. Presently they have three cell groups (What we call A2 groups) meeting with one general worship service on Sunday. This house will allow them to offer another group bible study along with some offices for the ministry. We have already sent money for them to purchase the supplies they need to repair the house. It will be great to work alongside of the people.

We are also going to discuss future short term mission opportunities for the people of Fellowship. Panama is a beautiful country. We want to give the people of Fellowship an opportunity to go to Panama and assist the church with things like, VBS, camps, student ministries, Celebrate Recovery, construction projects and many more. Many people come back from such trips forever changed. I do appreciate your prayers for us while we are away this week as well as for the work in Panama. The Lord willing we will return home this Thursday evening. I look forward to sharing with the people of Fellowship about our continued partnership with the work in Panama.

A Time To Remember

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Memorial Day is a very special time for those who have loved ones that served in the military. My own father did not die in battle but he did represent our country in two wars, World War II and the Korean Conflict. My father was part of a mop up crew that was sent into Germany toward the end of the war. His unit’s assignment was one that he never liked to talk about. He was not proud of what he did, but he was always proud of his country. He passed way in March of 2009. He was part of that great generation that people talk about today.

Yesterday our nation honored the men and women who have sacrificed for our freedom. Those who made the ultimate sacrifice are remembered and will not be forgotten. Some went voluntarily and others perhaps only because they were called up, but all laid their lives on the line. We thank God for them and owe so much to them. May our nation never forget these brave men and women!

Just as there should be a Memorial to our nation’s soldiers, the scriptures exhort us to have other memorials as well. We are to remember the mighty works the Lord has done for us, and the law that He has given to us. It is a good thing to remember the good things the Lord has done. It is easy to forget all the great things the Lord has done. I think this was the reason He commanded Moses to write down the mighty works He performed in the dessert as they journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. Israel needed memorials along the way so that when their children asked; “what do these stones mean” their parents could tell them about the significant event that happened there. Such memorials are important today so that the next generation can learn about God’s blessings upon our lives. Each generation has a responsibility to the one that follows to instill faith and values. Their dependency and trust in God depends on it. With the way things are going, and the direction we seem to be headed, they are going to need it. In a world that is falling apart it is nice to see people who are not.

Unleashed

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Acts chapter two records one of the greatest outpourings of God’s Spirit in all history. It was the Day of Pentecost when all of Israel celebrated. Thousands of people had come to Jerusalem to celebrate, and the early followers of Jesus were all together in one place. (Acts 2:1) Then it happened! Suddenly the scripture says a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. (v2)

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (v4) I don’t know what these men and women were thinking as they assembled earlier that day. It had been 50 days since Jesus resurrected from the grave and approximately 10 days since He ascended to heaven. They were meeting together and no doubt praying when this occurred. I love the way it reads; “suddenly.” It happened that quickly. One moment they were praying and the next moment they were filled with the Spirit.

What do you suppose would have happened if they stayed in the room where they were assembled? Being filled with the Spirit and speaking in languages that were not their own they begin to disperse among the people gathered in Jerusalem. As they did and as they shared the good news about Jesus Christ, people from other dialects begin to hear for the first time what happened. They were presented with the gospel truth that Jesus Christ had come from heaven to pay the debt of sin, and that He died, was buried but arose on the third day. The result of this outpouring was that 3000 people came to believe in Him. But what would have happened had these 120 followers of Christ remained in the room? Filled with the Holy Spirit had they begin to share in the room the message in these other languages, no one in the streets would have heard, and the results would have been much different.

The fact is they were unleashed by the outpouring of the Spirit that day, and they allowed the Lord to use them to reach so many. We have similar opportunities today. We have people all around us who are different. We have the opportunity to get out into our neighborhoods, work places, markets, recreational fields, and communicate to them the good news about Jesus Christ. Staying in the room will not get the message to the masses. Worshipping on Sunday and studying the Bible in our small groups will not get the message to the masses. Those things are necessary for growth and encouragement, but what we need today is to be unleashed to go and share the gospel with people for whom we are the most passionate.

All of us have interest and passions in life. There are people with whom God has made us more connected. Our hearts beat for their salvation, much as the apostle Paul’s beat for the Jews. (Romans 10:1) My prayer is that the power of the Holy Spirit would so fill us that we would be unleashed to go to our respective places and tell them that Jesus loves them, He died to save them, and if they will turn to Him in repentance, they can have eternal life.

Feeling Older

Mon, 17 May 2010 04:00:00 GMT

It is that time of year again when all the High School Graduation Invitations begin coming in the mail. I don’t know about you but these usually remind me of how old I am getting. It has been 35 years since I graduated from high school, but that is not what makes me feel old. What makes me feel older is seeing the students who are graduating, and remembering when some of them were born. Each year I get an invitation or two that causes me to say; “I can’t believe he or she is graduating from high school.”

Oh well, time marches on! I am sure many of the parents feel the same way. It was just no time ago when their children were taking their first steps, or playing in the yard. In just a few days they will be graduating from high school, or college. Wow! It hardly seems possible. Congratulations to all the graduates! This Sunday Fellowship will recognize all the high school graduates who attend our church. It is an annual tradition and we look forward to seeing the student’s displays in the Lobby, and to recognizing them in our 10:30AM service.

There are always challenges for students when they graduate, but it seems to me that challenge is becoming increasingly greater with these troubled times. I am reminded of the importance we have as parents to instill moral values and faith in God to our children. They are going into a world that is becoming more and more secular and less and less godly with each passing day. History has proven however, that godliness can change society. The answers to our current problems do not rely in the White House or Congress. They do not rely upon the nations of the world sitting down in a peace-talk, or by bailing out foreign governments who have overspent. Our hope is in the church of Jesus Christ. As His church we have a responsibility to teach and equip our children to be salt and light in their generation. Each generation owes it to the next to pass on the moral values and faith that was given to ours by the generation that precedes us. I only pray that we have done our job well so that these graduating seniors will go out and influence their age for the Kingdom of God.

Thanks Mom

Mon, 10 May 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Yesterday was a very special day at Fellowship. Mother’s Day is always a special day. I can remember when I was a child going to church on Mother’s Day. It was about as well attended as Easter. Each year our family would go to the cemetery and put flowers on the grave of my grandmother. I never met her. She passed away long before I was born but every year we visited her grave, and my father paid his respects to the woman who meant so much to him.

Today I want to place some flowers before my own mother. She is still alive and is very active at Fellowship. I don’t think you have to wait until someone passes away to pay your respects. In fact I think it is much better to tell them how much they mean to you while they are alive, than to wait until they pass away. My mother has been an inspiration in so many ways. She was always supportive of what my brother and I wanted to do. Our relationship as adults has far exceeded what relationship we had when I was a child. I lived with my parents for 18 years but I have lived on my own for going on 35 years.

When the Lord called me to Fellowship in Forney back in December of 1977, my parents lived just 6 miles from the church. They had been driving into Dallas for many years to attend a church that my grandmother had suggested the name for. It was much larger and had more opportunities for people to engage, but my parents decided to come to Forney and help their son. They felt led to give their support and dedicate themselves to doing whatever was necessary for Fellowship to grow. Through the years my mother has served in the nursery, taught children’s bible classes, did the weekly deposits, cleaned the church, cooked Wednesday night meals, and volunteered for any and everything that was necessary at the time.

I can remember when I was younger going to work with my mother at times. Maybe I had a doctor’s appointment, or was too sick to go to school, but I can remember watching my mother as she worked. She was in the insurance business, and long before they had computers to work with I can remember my mother mutli-tasking. She had a phone receiver on her ear, one hand working a calculator and the other typing on a type writer while giving someone a quote over the phone. She was amazing and most everyone in the insurance business knew it. If you wanted to get something done, give it to Aunita Lemons. She was fast and she was accurate.

To this day my mother continues to work years past her retirement age. She gets up and goes to work 3-4 days a week and she never misses church or an A2 group meeting. She embodies the word faithful. A few years back my mother cooked our Wednesday night meals at Fellowship. She had back surgery and on our way home from the hospital she wanted to run by the church to take care of a few items for the person who was going to take her place that week. Oh yea, she is an incredible woman. I don’t know if my dad could whip your dad, but my mother can whip your dad. She is an inspiration to all who know her, and most certainly an inspiration to my brother and me.

How About That Weather?

Mon, 03 May 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Our 4th annual Impact Weekend is behind us. It was such a blessing to visit many of the work sites and see so many people working hard as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. I was told that I was in charge of the weather this year, and all I can say about that is, it was perfect. I wish I could take responsibility for the weather but the truth is we must give praise to our God for holding back the storms in our area. We started Saturday morning with some heavy showers, but they had moved on through by the time everyone was showing up to work. The overcast clouds kept the temperatures down and we have a lot to be thankful for. We have really enjoyed good weather for all 4 Impact Weekends. Last year, there were heavy showers that moved in toward the end of the day on Saturday, but most of the work was completed before the rain.

Impact Weekend is really just one aspect of Fellowship’s overall impact strategy. We really do want to make an impact for Jesus Christ by serving as His hands and feet. All the training and equipping that goes on in our church from week to week through the various ministries is geared toward the goal of sending Christ’s followers into the world to impact others. We believe this is what Jesus had in mind when He called out 12 men and trained them. Before He left them He instructed them to go into all the world and make disciples. He had spent three years teaching them the meaning of the scriptures, and showing them how to serve others by serving others Himself. Jesus said the works He performed was visible proof that He had been sent from the Father. Those same works performed by His followers today give more credibility to the fact that we are Christ’s followers than anything else. They proof much more than our words.

I am grateful to be associated with a church that is willing to invest in their community. We send mission teams to other countries to help at times, and that is a worthy cause. We must have a global philosophy of ministry, but you do not have to go to a third world country to find poverty. Poverty exists in our community. I pray that Impact Weekend will continue for years to come, and that others will want to partner with us as did the people of C/Life this year. I believe the Lord Jesus Christ cares about the physical needs of people in our community, and I hope we will continue to serve as His hands and feet to help them.

Changing of the Guard

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT

This past week I attended the national meeting of the Baptist Missionary Association of America in Fort Smith Arkansas. It was a great time of fellowship with people I do not see that often, and it was nice to hear reports from the various ministries supported by the BMAA. The meeting was harmonious and all those responsible for hosting it deserve a well done.

On the closing night of the Association meeting it has become tradition to hear the Mission’s Report and to commission any new missionaries that are being sent to the field. This year there was eight new missionaries being assigned to countries in the Far East, Laos, India and even a couple in the United States of America. It was awesome to hear the hearts of these newly elected missionaries as they prepare to go to their respected places of ministry. Some of them were in their early twenties. It is wonderful to know that the Lord is still calling young people to be missionaries.

At the close of the report the Association honored a good friend of mine, Brother Grady Higgs, for seven years of service to the National Mission’s Department. I have known Brother Grady for most of my 33 years in ministry. We have served on Boards together and his last seven years as the director of BMAA missions has only strengthened our relationship. He is retiring so he and his lovely wife, Norita can travel to spend time with their children and grandchildren.

Brother Grady has been an effective pastor in the association, and his leadership in the missions department has propelled BMAA missions to a stronger global influence. I appreciate him and thank God for how Brother Grady has allowed the Lord to use him over the past seven years. I am sure that he will find some other way to be used by the Lord in the years to come, but he deserved the recognition he received the other night. The Bible instructs us to give honor to those for whom honor is due, and I believe Grady Higgs is one such individual.

It was a blessing to watch as the Association chose a man by the name of John David Smith to replace Brother Grady as the new director of BMAA missions. John David has served on the mission field and he brings a lot of experience to this position. Though it might not rise to the level of when Joshua took Moses’ place, God has provided another man to lead His work. He always does. The work of God goes on. He is faithful to call others to lead when the time comes for those who have led to step aside. So may God be with you John David Smith! May the Lord give you wisdom and courage to lead this amazing worldwide ministry! And may the Lord be with you my friend Grady Higgs! I pray that you will allow yourself the freedom to enjoy the time you have earned for being a faithful and dedicated servant of our Savior!

Face Book

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Over the past few weeks I have reconnected with some people on Face Book. I’ll admit that at first I was against this internet site, but after reconnecting with some people that I have not heard from for years, I have a change of heart. I still do not have my own Face Book page, as I am borrowing Ann’s when I want to find someone, but I am leaving my options open for that one.

It has been a real pleasure to hear stories from people I haven’t heard from for years about their lives. I have been interested in the details that have led them to where they are today. I have laughed and cried as I have heard stories of experiences that I was not around to witness, even though these people were part of my everyday life once. We lose connection with people for many reasons. Relationships are so important to our lives. I have said many times that relationships are the only thing we can take to heaven with us. We can’t take our possessions or material things, but we will be able to sit down in the Kingdom of Heaven and carry on with our relationships. (That is if the person we have a relationship with is a born again believer.)

I know a lot of Christ’s followers who are looking forward to sitting down with some of the saints from the past in heaven. They are eager to talk with Moses, Paul, Elijah, Peter, Mary, Joshua, etc…. I will admit that as well. I think it will be neat to talk to these saints of old about their experiences we have read about for many years. I want to see Joshua’s face when he describes how it felt the day the walls of Jericho fell down, or when Peter describes how it felt to walk on water. But I am just as eager to sit down in the Kingdom with people I have shared my life with on earth. It will be so special to remember the times we shared on earth. And what a blessing to reconnect with people who have been in heaven for a while! I can’t wait to reconnect with people I have known. And I don’t think I will need a computer! We will have eternity to find each other and hear our stories.

Security in Heaven

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT

On Thursday of this past week I had the good fortune to attend the Masters in Augusta, GA. It was a lifetime dream and something I had not planned to do until a dear friend called and invited me. All I can say is it was worth it. Besides seeing the best golfers in the world compete on probably the most historic course in golf, I got to see what you can’t see on television, and that is the beauty of Augusta National. Ann and I were in Augusta back in October while I was promoting my book. I did a television interview at a studio in Augusta, but I only got to see the golf course from the road. They don’t allow non members on the grounds except for Master’s week. I never dreamed I would be going back in just 5 months.

The crowd was eager to see the return of Tiger Woods, so it took a while to get to the course. Traffic was backed up but we finally made it, only to discover the line of people didn’t end when you parked the car. There was a line of several hundred people to the gate, so Cliff Musgrave and I waited our turn. The security personnel did a good job getting people into the gates in a timely matter, but it takes time to screen everyone and go thru their personal belongings. Cliff had been there the year before and he assured me that it was this way last year as well. It wasn’t just because of the return of the world’s number one golfer. As we made our way to the gate and finally our turn to go thru security, I turned to Cliff and said, “Do you suppose it will be like this when we enter heaven?”

I understand that homeland security is necessary today, and I will admit it makes me feel a little safer when you see people going thru metal detectors and being searched. I just don’t know why they have to search me? I am glad everyone else is being searched, but hey I am an honest guy! They should just let me past all of that. But it doesn’t work that way. It is sad that we can’t even go to a golf course without the hassle of being searched, but that is the world we live in after 911.

They don’t allow cell phones at the Masters. Now that is going too far. How you suppose to go all day without using a cell phone? But I did! I can actually remember when I didn’t have a cell phone. I also remember the first time I used one on a golf course. It was about as big as my golf bag, but I made and received calls. I have one now that is small enough to carry in my pocket, but oh no, they wouldn’t allow it at the Masters. Don’t they know that I am a pastor and may need my phone in case of an emergency? Here is the moral to this experience. There won’t be any cell phones or need for security checks in heaven. There will be a book in heaven and if your name is written in that book you will be allowed in. And guess what? It will be even more beautiful than Augusta National, and the fulfillment of an even greater life’s dream for me.

A Tiger Sighting

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Most people who know me know how much I love to play golf. It was a sport that I didn’t appreciate until I became too old to play the ones I grew up with. Even though I played golf on my high school team it was not a sport that I really appreciated until afterwards. I don’t consider myself an avid golf fan. I do watch golf on television and have been to a few professional tournaments. I enjoy playing it more than watching it, but this week I have the opportunity to attend the super bowl of golf, the Masters.

A church member and friend invited me to go along this year, and I must admit it is a dream come true. Just to be able to walk the historic Augusta National where the likes of Nicholas, Nelson, Jones, and so many others have played will be a tremendous blessing. To see the green fairways, the azalea’s in bloom, and to observe the manicured greens will be a great experience. And oh yea, there will be a Tiger on the course. Tiger Woods is making his return to professional golf at the Masters. It will be interesting to see how he is treated by the fans. There is no doubt that the PGA is glad to see his return. Revenues and sponsorship has been down while Tiger has been on the sidelines. Even the players seem glad to have him back, even though it may mean for them that they will be fighting for second place.

I don’t know enough about what has happened to weigh in on how I fell about all that. I am grateful for God’s grace that forgives and allows us to start over, but I don’t know if that has happened or not. I for one was a little disappointed after I found out Tiger was going to be there. When I was invited he had not yet notified the public of his return. I was looking forward to seeing the golf course and enjoying the nostalgia. Now, I don’t know what to expect when I get there. I am sure he will capture a lot of the attention, not to mention the television coverage. He has certainly earned that. He may very well be the greatest golfer in history. Again I don’t know enough about that to weigh in on it either. All I know is I am getting to do something this week that has been a long time dream. I am thankful for the gift and grateful for the opportunity, even if there will be a Tiger on the course.

Sunday Is Coming

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:15:00 GMT

There has been a lot of talk this past week about Congress passing the Health Care Bill. Radio, television, the internet, coffee shops, hair salons, and just about everywhere people were talking about health care. For many it is considered a slippery slope. It was a dark day and a defeat to American’s freedoms in the mind of many Americans. You could even compare the way a lot of people felt on Sunday evening to the way the early church must have felt on Friday evening when Jesus was crucified. They were confused and all seemed hopeless. Jesus was taken from the cross and put in the tomb before 6:00PM on Friday evening. Most of His followers had scattered but word must have spread to them that Jesus was dead.

Friday and Saturday must have seemed like eternity to Christ’s followers, but Sunday was coming. On Sunday Jesus Christ arose from the dead. He had told them this would happen but evidently they didn’t fully comprehend what He meant until it happened. The New Testament writers have indicated as much in how they tell their story. They heard Jesus say; “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” but it wasn’t until He actually arose from the dead that they connected the dots. He told them often about going to Jerusalem to die but I don’t think it really sank in to them until after it all happened. They had three days for it all to soak in. When the authorities took Jesus from them in the garden on Thursday night until early on Sunday morning when the women brought the news of His resurrection, the apostles must have thought of nothing else.

So it is Friday in your life and all seems hopeless. Rest assured my dear friend Sunday is coming. The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead now resides in His followers. He has promised that He will not leave us or forsake us. He will come to us and His presence will be for us whatever we need. I don’t know how this health care debate is going to end. I don’t know what it means for America, but I do believe America has better days ahead. Our hope is not in Congress or the White House. Our Hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ. While it may seem like it’s Friday and Jesus is dying on a cross. Sunday is coming and soon He will be seen in the air!

Lifting Up The Son

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:15:00 GMT

There were many individuals that claimed to be the Messiah in the days of the New Testament. The religious leaders along with the average 1st century Jew had heard many make this claim. Jesus Christ was not the first or the last that would claim to be the Son of God. So why do we believe him?

Jesus had this conversation with the citizens of the first century in John 8. They pressed Him to understand just who He was claiming to be. In fact in verse 25 they asked, “Who are you?” They did not understand that Jesus had been telling them about the Father and so in verse 28 he said this, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be, and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.”

He is obviously speaking here about the crucifixion. In fact that happened. The Roman centurion that had stood by Jesus cross while he was being crucified gave this testimony, “surely He is the Son of God.” (Matt. 27:55) Christ hour finally came at the cross. Even His followers did not understand the significance of His death at the time. They would write about it later, but they did not appreciate how Christ would be revealed during his crucifixion. Jesus once spoke of how Moses raised a brazen serpent in the camp of Israel so that anyone who was bitten by one of the poisonous snakes in the wilderness could look and live. In the same way Jesus said that when He was lifted up from the earth, all who looked in faith to the cross would receive the gift of eternal life.

Most in society would view the crucifixion as a defeat. A young man at the age of 33 lost his life because people rejected the good he had done. But God views the crucifixion as a triumph. It is our faith in the Christ who died on the cross in our place that gives us eternal hope. The writer of Hebrews even says that “for the joy set before Christ endured the cross.” This is why I believe in Him. He not only died on the cross for my sins, He arose on the third day. His resurrection is God’s exclamation point on Jesus’ life and ministry. God accepted the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross by raising Him from the dead. We will celebrate this event in just a few days.

All the others who claimed to be the Messiah are dead. You can visit their graves and you will read, “here lies so and so.” But if in fact the tomb where Jesus was placed in where they say it is, Jesus is not there. He arose from the dead and ascended to heaven where He waits for word from the Father to return for us. Anyone who can raise Himself from the dead has to be the Messiah in my book!

Making A Come Back

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:15:00 GMT

Yesterday, I presented a message at Fellowship titled, “When You Have Recovered.” It was taken from the words that Jesus spoke to Peter just before He led His followers to the Garden of Gethsemane. They had been arguing over who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God, and Jesus told Peter how he would deny knowing Christ that very night. Peter did not believe he would do such a thing and claimed his loyalty to Christ. It is true that when the authorities came for Jesus in the garden Peter was the only one who stood up for Christ. He took out a sword and proceeded to cut the ear off of one of the Roman soldiers. But later than night, after Jesus had been taken away, Peter did deny knowing Christ three times.

A lot has been made over the years about Peter’s denial, but what impressed me was Peter comes back. Jesus not only predicted that Peter would deny Him, but He predicted that Peter would recover and become the rock upon which Jesus would build His church. It is an amazing thing when someone believes in you like Jesus believed in Peter. Jesus had changed Peter’s name from Simon not long after Peter became a follower because Peter means “rock”. It was a long and dark night for Peter after Jesus was taken from him in the garden. Peter never thought he would deny Christ but he did. Yet his come back and recovery is a testament to God’s unbelievable grace.

Peter was the one who stood on the Day of Pentecost to address the crowd who accused Christ’s followers of being drunk when the Holy Spirit came down that day. They were all speaking the gospel in languages not their own and many were confused until Peter begin to explain how this was the fulfillment of the Prophet Joel. He went on to explain that the same Jesus they had crucified had been raised from the dead, and now was both Lord and Christ. And it would not be the last time that Peter would boldly testify of His Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am convinced that our Lord believes in us as well today. He is not waiting for us to fail, He is praying for us to succeed. That is what He told Peter He would do while Satan was trying to sift him as wheat. He promised to pray for Peter that his faith would be strong. What a novel idea! Instead of standing by and watching our fellow believers struggle with Satan’s sifting we should hold one another up in prayer. Prayer is a mighty weapon and it let’s our fellow believers know that we believe in them too.