The $50 Lesson 06/16/2010
 
Can't help but repost this story.  No offense to Democrats.  I don't really like the Democratic Party or the Republican for that matter when it comes to these political games we play.  But on either note, hope you enjoy this story . . .

The $50 Lesson

I recently asked my friends' little girl what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be President of the United States . Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there. So I asked her, "If you were President, what would be the first thing
you would do?" She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all the
homeless people.." Her parents beamed.

"Wow....what a worthy goal," I told her. "But you don't have to wait until you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and
mow the lawn, pull weeds, and sweep my driveway, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house."

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?"

I said, "Welcome to the Republican Party."

Her parents still aren't speaking to me.
 
 
Time is an interesting phenomenon.  It's both limited and unlimited.  It's both linear and circular.  It's always beginning and always ending.  It's both temporal and eternal.  In between all the poles of time is the "in between."  The "in between" is where we are both figuratively and literally.  King David said that our lives were but a vapor in time when compared to the depth and length of time itself.  So in this vapor of time that we have, it is inevitable that we will be presented with defining moments, pivotal decisions, and ground breaking realizations.  It is the reaction to all three of these happenings that undoubtedly determine the quality of the time we have in time, or as we call it, life.

The interesting thing I've found is while many times we attempt to make defining moments happen, moments which define us sneak up on us quietly without warning.  While we attempt to make ourselves ready to make the pivotal decisions in life, we will, if we're not careful, make a wrong decision on the way to pivoting.  And while we attempt to make some ground breaking impact in this thing called life, it is without a doubt true that the only ground a person can absolutely break with 100% accuracy is his/her own.  Permission must be granted for all others.

So when is it time to move forward?  When is it time to make a choice?  When is it the right time to fight or the right time for flight?  When do you know it's time to draw the line in the sand and say no more?  The answer to all of the above questions varies with each individual, but one thing is for sure . . . you'll know when it's time.  Wherever you are in life and whatever you're facing, you'll know when it's time.  We can't plan time.  We can only plan the here and now and even that is passed by the time we plan. 

In my life, I see the times and I recognize the seasons.  And it's time for what God's promised.  And it's time to fight.  It's time to move forward.  It's time to worship unashamedly.  It's time to preach without qualms.  It's time to dream without reservation.  It's time to protect with all strength.  It's time for the visitation and the preparation for the visit will both define, decide, and bring to realization all that I am and all that is to be.
 
 
We've started something new at the church.  It's not entirely new I don't suppose.  We'll call it a shift.  Since we arrived we've set up Prayer Meeting.  One of the most foundational aspects of church growth and evangelism is prayer.  Those in the upper room in Acts 2 were praying.  In Acts 4 the church was praying and God moved.  Later on in Acts, the church was praying and Peter was released from prison by an angel.  The Apostle James go on to say in his epistle that the prayer of faith will heal and save souls.  Prayer is important and we put it in play almost immediately.

But as we continue to move forward in our vision of where God is leading us, there have been more battles, more betrayals, more hurts, more challenges, and more questions.  While prayer is the key, there comes a point where I believe we have to recognize that we're in a war and move into intercessory prayer.  That's exactly what we're doing at Perry Crossroads.  Each Sunday night at 6 PM we're having Intercessory Prayer.  We're moving forward into what God has for us despite any setbacks or confusion the enemy will attempt to cause.  If he's fighting us, we're doing something right and if he's fighting us, it's about time we fight back harder than ever.  Souls are in the balance.  Miracles are waiting for faith to unlock them. 

In addition to our Intercessory Prayer at church on Sunday nights, our cell groups are about to launch in June.  We'll be taking the gospel into the homes of Perry for fellowship, devotion, and prayer.  We're taking our city for God.  Come join us . . . You won't regret it.
 
Good to Get Away 05/04/2010
 
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My life had become like a Snickers commercial.  You know the one that says, "Wanna get away?"  The answer was a resounding "YES!!!"  Sometimes in all the planning, working, studying, and delivering at the church, you can get a little burned out.  We weren't there yet, but the candle had been burning at both ends for awhile.  So Billie's Valentine's present that she had to wait for to happen finally arrived and we took off to Charleston, SC. 

We had a great time to say the least.  We stayed on the beach in a little town called Isle of Palms.  We sailed to Fort Sumter for a history tour.  We saw the USS Yorktown up close and personal.  We spent time having fun at the beach.  We ate at one of our favorite restaurants, "Bubba Gump," and then took a stroll down historic downtown Charleston.  We saw the South Carolina Aquarium and visited a Sea Turtle Hospital.  Finally on Saturday, we drove to Columbia for a Carrie Underwood concert and it was probably the best show I've ever been to.  A new band called "Sons of Sylvia" opened up and they were amazing.  We got to meet them and take a picture with them and get autographs.  They were raised up in the Pencostal church and their dad is an evangelist.  When Billie told them I was a pastor, the lead singer kept hugging me and thanking me for what I do.  That meant a lot.  Carrie Underwood was phenomenal and I think she sings better in person than on the CD by far.  I've never seen anyone hit the notes she was hitting. 

We got home at about 3:!5 in the morning on Sunday and we were wore out, but it was well worth it.  Now when is the next get away . . . : )
 
 
Well it's another year of baseball and another reminder of just how special the Braves of the 90's and early 2000's were.  Playoff appearences were an every year expectation.  We tooled up our club to win the playoffs without any regard of the possibility we may not make the postseason.  For years, the Braves identified a need, found the solution, and put it in practice.  It's been a long time since the Braves have been in the playoffs and even longer since they sniffed a World Series and this year looks already like it'll be another year of watching October baseball from the living room for Chipper and the boys.

So what gives?  Last year the Braves almost made it to the playoffs.  They were putting together a great run but their offense was just too weak.  They couldn't pull it through.  The top offseason priority listed by the Braves' management was to improve the offense.  Opportunities to do so existed.  They came and they went.  They were either considered ludacris or too expensive.  So instead of getting the big cogs to fill the line up and to make another run in what is manager Bobby Cox's last year and possibly Chipper Jones' as well, the Braves settled for cheap solutions in players who were either extremely injured or more or less a role player.

How's that working this year?  Last place in the division through the first month of the season.  Almost dead last in the league with runs scored.  In the top of the league in quality starts by our pitchers with no wins to show for them.  Why?  Quite frankly, it's easy.  We weren't willing to pay the price to make the team better. 

My question to you is this:  You know you better than anyone else does.  Are you willing to do what it takes to overcome your struggles?  Are you willing to do what it takes, regardless of the cost, to succeed now?  Are you willing to sacrifice what is important to you for what is important to God?  We can keep offering up ourselves in ways that really doesn't cost us anything, and like the Braves, we'll have a few moments of excited, anticipation, and enthusiam.  Or we can choose to be like the dreaded New York Yankees who see a need and fix the need.  Yes I know.  The Steinbrenner's own the Yankees and they tons of money . . . How much money and resources would you say God has at His disposal just for you . . .
 
 
I think it's important to remember who Jesus is.  He is without a doubt the only Son of God.  He is the only way to Heaven.  His name is the only name by which man can be saved.  He is the only way to eternal life.  He is the only means of supernatural healing that exists.  When the Pharisees looked at Him and asked if He was God, Jesus simply said, "You're looking at Him."  He was completely divine.  But He was completely man.

He had to learn as we did.  The Bible states that He grew in wisdom and the Spirit.  As God, that wasn't necessary.  As a man, it was.  He hurt.  He cried.  He had feelings.  He was tempted.  He loved his mother.  He had close friends.  He knew what it felt like to be hated and talked about behind His back.  All of the man inside of Him didn't want to go through the torture that laid ahead of Him on the cross.  All of God in Him knew it was necessary to fulfill every prophecy and every bit of the law. 

Many times, when we think of Jesus, we think of three things automatically and stop with that . . . 1 - The Crucifixion, 2. The Resurrection, 3. A miracle.  And while all of those are extremely important and make up the substance of our faith and foundation of evidence, I challenge you to think of Jesus like the Bible paints Him completely . . .a friend that sticks closer than a brother . . . the elder brother.  The Apostle John said that if he had all the books and paper in the world, they wouldn't hold everything Jesus said and did in his brief 33 years on earth.  Let's not limit Him to a Sunday School lesson.  Let's let Jesus be who He said He was . . . everything to you and me.

Enjoy the video . . .
 
 
What a day Easter was!  Easter is always the highlight Sunday for any church.  On that particular day, you can expect large crowds of people that come to your church and crowds who don't.  Some are there just because it is Easter, as if they are doing God a favor of some sort.  Others come because their family members kept asking them.  Some came for the chance to wear pink to church . . .

Whatever the reason people come, it is still a big deal for every church and it was a very big deal for ours.  We did something a little different this year for us and had the choir do live music throughout the whole service with me coming up between songs to preach a little on what Jesus went through for us and of His resurrection.  It went great.  Seven people either gave their heart to the Lord for the first time or rededicated their lives to the Lord.  The presence of the Lord filled the place and God moved on many more.  We brought chairs into the sanctuary and set them in the foyer.  People were standing against the walls.  We had 205 Easter Sunday morning. 

God is good and He's up to something BIG at our church.  Hope you're ready . . .
 
 
Lee Greenwood’s most popular song “I’m Proud to be an American” states:  “If tomorrow all the things were gone, I’d worked for all my life.  And I had to start again, with just my children and my wife.  I’d thank my lucky stars to be living here today.  Cause the flag still stands for freedom and they can’t take that away . . .”

 In light of many recent activities by our government and the governments of other nations, I want to remind you on this Palm Sunday that come what may, freedom can never truly be taken from someone.  It can be infringed upon.  It can be diluted.  It can limited, but it can never be removed.  The reason is that freedom is not an American right.  It is a God given right.  And if prophecy and the Bible are true, and they both are, the end of days will bring great limitations to freedom and the rights that accompany it.  But Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe knew something about the author of the Bible when they stated that there are certain inalienable rights given to all mankind by the Creator:  life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Those three things were given to us because of Jesus Christ and His choice to enter into Jerusalem heralded as the Messiah while fully knowing that within a week, He would be mocked the King of the Jews.  Jesus is life.  He is liberty.  And He is the ultimate pursuit of happiness and no government decision can ever take that away.

 
 
 
I do my best not to be fanatical for anything or anyone.  I'm not a fanatical fan that burns off my favorite team's memorabilia if they trade or acquire someone I don't approve of.  No doubt, I may not watch them as much or express my disproval, but to burn things in efigy or to write all sorts of letters is not me.  I'm fanatical about my faith to a very great degree, still I always consider order and structure paramount entities connected with any fanatical worship or expression.  God is not the author of confusion.  And furthermore, I don't intend to call our President the "Anti-Christ" or to refer to Speaker Pelosi as the "False Prophet."  I'm not going to be so blatant and careless to say that America is now socialistic.  Having said all of this, I will however state a very carefully thought out observation after last night's passing of President Obama's healthcare initiative . . . If Patrick Henry gave his speech last night before the vote, the Democrats would have given him death instead of liberty.

I believe our healthcare system is flawed and completely polluted by snakes and weasels who have made their life's savings off of people with pre-existing conditions, terminal illnesses, and middle class workers.  I think it's pathetic to call our old healthcare system freedom when a bureaucracy of agents literaly held the life strings of millions of less than rich Americans who pay their taxes, go to work, and make this country what it is.  However, the answer to the problem is not the removal of freedom.  It is the enforcemenet of morality into that freedom. 

Our forefathers like Patrick Henry left England and eventually fought against England because there was a government religion.  There were government taxes that the people had no voice in.  There were laws being made that regulated one's freedom of choice in regards to living his/her life.  What happened last night when 219 Democrats voted almost unanimously against another party and against the will of a clear majority of Americans is clear.  Americans asked for liberty from the healthcare barbarians of the nation and they were given death. 

It is the beginning of sorrows.  The government will now determine whether or not you can get care if you are on their plan.  Despite a doctor's best efforts, the government czar can stop treatment.  Private insurance companies will now be competing against the government program which will make itself cheaper to drive out the competition . . . a federal monopoly if you will.  Americans who have no desire to have the government's healthcare but can't afford private healthcare will be fined and denied treatment.  This is not the America George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Abraham Lincoln fought for.  The Bible speaks clearly in Revelation 13 that there will come a day where people will be unable to buy or sell without "the mark of the Beast."  All fanaticism aside, this is a prophetic precursor to that event. 

States' rights have been trampled in the passing of this legislation and our country is now divided like never before.  American history has never seen more than half of the union's states prepare legal action against the federal government after signing a law into power.  America as we knew it and as many before my time knew it may very well be gone forever.  That doesn't mean we stop letting our voices be heard or that we sit down and do nothing.  What it means is that a few more Patrick Henry's need to rise up and cry out, "Give me liberty or give me death." 

What will happen and where will this lead?  Time will tell.  The only undeniable truth is that Jesus is coming and we better be ready.  The time for Christians to stand up is now.  We must be vigilant and not fooled.  In an attempt to not be fanatical, we may indeed be called fanatics.  But at the end of the day, if fanaticism means I stand for the freedom of Americans everywhere and remain steadfast and sure on the Word of God as absolute truth of life and liberty, then I'll glady accept the world's labor.  I will not deny that which I know to be right.  One congresswoman stated last night, "Freedom died a little tonight."  And it did.
 
 
Billie and I are completely overwhelmed at the love and appreciation that has been shown to us throughout last week and especially yesterday during the Pastor Appreciation Day service.  We'd like to thank everyon who took us out to eat last week or who gave us gift cards to eat.  Thank you to everyone who gave us cards and retail gift cards.  You completely blew us away.  Thank you to all who helped plan the week and day.  It really means a lot to us.  I'd like to say a very special thank you to "Mr. Miyagi" better known as Pastor Dewain Joiner for coming and surprising me and speaking for me on our day.  You guys are more than church members.  You're family and friends and I'm excited about where we are headed into the future.  Let's keep moving forward!