TUCKED AWAY FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Today, Monday, was not a good day.  Not only was I drained emotionally, mentally and spiritually from preaching yesterday, but physically I just did not (do not) feel well.  Nothing hurts, and there are no sharp pains.  The best way I know to describe it is I just feel 'blah.'  My devotion time was nothing dramatic.  My prayer time was nothing monumental.  I had my personal time with the Lord, because I know I needed to, but I must be honest and say that I didn't come away with some fresh, new revelation from the mail room of Heaven. 

Fast forward to late-evening.  I'm still feeling "blah,' and have taken more than 5000 mg of odorless garlic (which is a natural antibiotic by the way), as well as loaded up on Vitamin C, Zinc, and my daily multivitamin.  But, guess what, I still feel "blah."  While surfing through some of my favorite blogs, I came across one from one of my spiritual heroes.  I have never heard him preach when God didn't do a work in my heart.  I have never read his books without feeling that the ink was still wet on the page with a fresh word from God for my soul.  I am referring to Chuck Swindoll, former President of Dallas Theological Seminary, the voice of Insight for Living radio, and current pastor of Stonebriar Community Church in Dallas.

His blog post was "good news from a far country."  It was a "word fitly spoken" like "apples of gold."  Once again God had used this dear man of God to be a voice, not an echo.  I am taking the liberty to post a portion of his blog below.  I pray it will speak to you as it did to me.

"In the ministry, monotony and mediocrity often mesh like teeth in gears. One spawns the other, leaving us yawning, bored, and adrift.  In referring to monotony, I do not have in mind a lack of activity as much as a lack of purpose. Even as pastors, we can be busy yet bored, involved yet indifferent. Ministry can become tediously repetitious, dull, humdrum, pedestrian.  In a word, blah.

Look into the faces of fellow pastors when they’re not in the pulpit. Talk to other ministers on their day off. Those on the mission field are equally susceptible. Show me an individual who once soared, whose ministry was characterized by enthusiasm and excellence—but who no longer reaches those heights—and I’ll show you a person who has probably become a victim of the blahs.

A blah attack may sound harmless, but it can leave us in an emotional heap, seriously questioning if ministry—and at times, if life—is worth it.  Yet even during your drab and seemingly meaningless assignments of the pastorate, God is there! From your yesterday to your tomorrow—God cares. From the little involvements to the big ones—God knows. From the ministerial duties that will never make the headlines (which seem to be mere busywork), all the way to those things that gain international attention—God is engaged!

So the next time you feel those clammy, cold fingers of the blahs reaching around you, you can pray along with me: “From yesterday until tomorrow, You, O Lord, are there. You care!”

  (Chuck Swindoll, Insight for Living Blog, November 9, 2010)

I needed this word today, and I have also tucked it away for future reference.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Steve

MONDAY MEMORIES

I sit here this quiet, chilly morning contemplating the events of the past few days with an attitude of gratitude.  Of course, everyone knows that last week as a monumental week in the world of domestic politics.  On election night, as the results came pouring in, we watched as the GOP regained overwhelming control in the House, and narrowed the margin of control in the Senate.  Yet, when all the results were in, my mind pondered the same question, "Will this really make a difference?"  In my heart I want to believe that it will, but it my head something tells me that it won't, because we've heard and seen it all before. 

The issue is not political party, nor is it the answer to the problems in this country.  The issue is moral and spiritual purity that can only be regained if God, the One who has so richly blessed this great land, is put back in His proper place.  Until He is allowed back in schools, we will continue to have shootings, drugs, out of control delinquents, and low educational standards.  Until He is allowed back into the justice system, we will continue to murder millions of precious lives who have been "fearfully and wonderfully made" by their Creator.  We cannot separate the natural from the spiritual.  We cannot separate the economical from the eternal.  We cannot separate vision from values.  We "reap" what we have "sown," are sowing and will continue to sow. 

Had a good day in God's house on yesterday.  The house was near capacity, and God gave me liberty to preach a tough message, "The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly" from 1 Cor. 2-3 dealing with the "natural man," the "spiritual man," and the "carnal man."  I pray that the seed was sown on good ground, and that God will get the increase all to Himself. 

I learned a long time ago that I am not the Holy Spirit.  I cannot change hearts.  I cannot convert hearts.  I cannot challenge hearts.  I can only do what He has called me to do, and that is faithfully declare the "unsearchable riches of Christ," then allow Him to do what only He, and He alone, can do.  I pray that took place yesterday.

The battered and bruised Indianapolis Colts went down to the Philadelphia Eagles 26-24 last evening.  It was a game they should not have lost.  They are now 5-3, and unless some key players get healthy fast, this may be one of the worst seasons the Colts have had in the past 10 years.  While I am saddened, I do find some comfort in the fact that the Jaguars are 4-4 (and won't win many more games) and the Cowboys are 1-7.  Thanks be to God.

Today is a day of personal matters.  I have many things to do to prepare for life on the road over the next couple of weeks...oil change, brake inspections, tires rotated and balance, and wheel alignment.   Praying for "mercy and grace in time of need." 

I go out today with this thought in my hearts...."Without Him, I can't.  Without me, He won't!"

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Steve

A WEEKEND TO REMEMBER

What a weekend!  It began on Friday as I celebrated 16 years of marriage to the love of my life.  Nothing big.  Nothing fancy. We were just together for a movie and a Starbucks, but as the commercial says, "Priceless."  What other gift could I ever want besides her?  I pray, if Jesus doesn't come, He will grant us another 16 years of marital bliss, and I can become the bridegroom to my bride that He is to His bride.

Saturday we played host to the College & Career tailgate party for the Florida/Georgia game.  It was fun.  Not the game, but the sights and sounds of late teens, and early to mid 20 year olds.  They always bring something fresh, new, exciting and unexpected.  I must say, we have been blessed with some of the most dedicated, committed and faithful young people that I have ever been privileged to pastor.  Many of them are actively serving the Lord in various ministries of NBBC.  I am proud of them. 

Of course, Sunday speaks for itself.  I preached a message yesterday morning that probably wouldn't be heard much in the pop-psychology preaching of today.  In a day where we have succumbed to giving people what they want, we are producing a generation of weak-kneed, anemic, puny, malnourished, carnal Christians who don't even possess a working knowledge of the basic tenets of our faith. 

Thus, the church has become everything but what Christ intended for it to be.  As the great Southern Baptist statesman, R. G. Lee once declared, "We have become social clubhouses instead of being spiritual lighthouses.  We have become museums that magnify the saints, rather than hospital that minister to the sinners.  We have become a group of political organizers, rather than spiritual agonizers.  We have become keepers of the aquarium, rather than fishers of men."  It's time for God to clean house so the blind can see, the lame can walk, the deaf can hear, the captive can be set free, the bound can be delivered, and the lost can be saved. 

I sensed the Holy Ghost doing a deep work in the hearts of people yesterday, both seen and unseen.  I am grateful.  I have asked God to clean house in my life, because He doesn't deserve to live in a dirty house.  I have asked God to clean house in our church, because He doesn't deserve to be robbed of the glory that belongs to Him.  I don't want to be a living thief, do you?

Of course, October 31 is known to most as Halloween, however, to me, it is a remembrance of the bravery, courage, and sacrifice of a man named Martin Luther who, in breaking from the apostasy of the Catholic church declared that salvation is by "grace alone" through "faith alone" in "God alone."  Luther nailed his 95 Thesis to the door of the cathedral at Wittenburg, October 31, 1517, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. 

I closed last night with these words, "Many have said that they would be willing to die for their faith.  Jesus never asked us to die for Him, He only asked us to live for Him.  Soldiers are willing to die for a nation, while Christians aren't willing to live for their King."

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Steve