"I Can See Clearly Now..."

Last night our area was hit was some threatening weather.  I use the word "threatening" because it only looked bad.  In actuality it was wonderful.  There was quite a stellar show of God's fireworks as lighting brilliantly lit up the sky.  From the hidden flashes that illuminated the clouds to the sparking blue bolts that blasted across the sky it was awesome.  Almost as an encore the much needed rain fell after the lighting died down and this morning I awoke to the fresh aroma of a drenched but not flooded yard.  I don't know about you but I sleep so well when it's raining.  All these things together made for a wonderful night, but when the clouds were coming in it didn't look as if it would be so.

A few months ago this town was pelted with softball size hail that did a lot of damage.  Homes, cars, and property damage was in the hundreds of thousands.  That experience has made our community a little gun shy to storms.  I made sure to clean out the garage so I could pull one of our cars in and the other I parked under the carport of our church.  How happy I was when all the ugliness that was predicted never showed.

A lot of the time in life we fear things that never come.  We get upset about the possible things that could happen to us while forgetting the probable protection the Lord gives.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:27 "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (other translations say how will worry make you one cubit taller, but you get the idea).  Worrying about those things we cannot change is such a waste.

My dad always told me you prepare for the worst, but believe for the best.  That's a good way to look at life.  Buy life insurance but don't worry about dying.  Teach your kids how to live for the Lord but don't freak out if they're not perfect.  The list of examples here is endless.

The next time clouds look "threatening" to you get prepared but at the same time don't worry.  Do all you can do and then trust the Lord to do the rest.  No matter how stressed you feel just remember the Lord isn't wringing His hands about it.  He IS an ever present help in the time of need (Psalm 46:1).

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and remember YOU ARE LOVED!

Mirror, Mirror

Have you ever felt fat?  C,mon, you know what I mean.  One morning you get up and for no particular reason you feel like the Titanic.  Your clothes still fit, but there's just something you cannot describe and it causes you to feel much bigger than you actually are.  You put on your loose clothes because every time you pass the mirror you feel revolted.  As a result you go on incredible crash diets, you join a gym (3 year membership), and you set out to rearrange your entire life all because how you feel about yourself in that moment.  That's momentary self perception my friend, and it's a very dangerous place to dwell.

In Proverbs 29:11 the Word of God says "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back."  Now I have often used this scripture to preach on how we need to hold our tongue, a painful lesson I've learned for sure.  But as with so many things of the Lord there's another aspect to this, we need to learn how to hold our tongues about ourselves.

As a pastor I have had people tell me they were "unworthy" or "unqualified" to do something for God or His church.  They beat themselves so mercilessly for old mistakes and past sins.  Even though they may have recently had a "God moment" where they knew the presence of the Lord was there or God spoke to their heart about something no one else could know now they've put on those spiritual "fat clothes" and have deemed themselves too repulsive to be loved by God.  What junk!

1 John 4:7&8 says "Beloved, let us love one another for God is of love and everyone who loveth is born of God and knoweth God.  He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love."  That means love is God's defining characteristic.  Everything He does or will do is motivated from His love for you and I.  Another favorite scripture is 1 Samuel 16:7 where we are told that God doesn't look on the outward appearance (which can be deceiving) but instead He looks upon the heart.

This is why God would use a shepherd to be His king.  This is why God used a murderer to lead His nation to freedom.  This is why Jesus spent time with people His own disciples wouldn't even associate with.  God looks upon the heart and He sees you with all your faults, mistakes and past baggage yet He loves you anyway.

We must get past the momentary perceptions because everyone has a bad day.  Instead we should look and ourselves as the Lord does, through the heart.  If you need to change some things in your life just turn it over to that loving Father because as I often preach, "God doesn't demolish, He remodels."  When the heavenly Father looks on you He knows what needs changing, what needs to be fixed, and what needs to be removed.  Trust His love and what you see in the mirror may look a little different next time.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and remember, YOU ARE LOVED!

Thankful for Confirmation

What a wonderful evening we had last night at the 2nd Annual Men's Chili Cook-Off.  Last year we had 8 pots of chili and just barely enough to feed a good size crowd.  Last night we had 14 pots and even with a much bigger crowd (that our Annex could barely hold) we had plenty and then some.

Sometimes as a pastor I worry that I am not on the Lord's path.  I pray, study His word, try to be attentive to the voice of the Lord (that soft, quiet leading inside a Christian's heart - 1 Kings 19:11-13) yet I have times where I wonder "Am I doing the right thing?"  There have been many times of hurt in ministry; misunderstandings, rejection, betrayal.  I don't know why these things surprise me they happened to Jesus and are any of us more spiritual that He?  Of course not.  That's why I am so thankful for times of conformation.

We pastor First Assembly of God in McCook, Nebraska, to the best of our abilities.  Despite the fact that OUR gifts and talents are woefully lacking the Grace of God is obviously present in this church.  In the last year we have seen (at least) 13 saved, countless folks re-dedicated, 5 baptized in the Holy Spirit, and with last night 18 baptized in water!  In the last year we have added 14 new members and will add a few more in March.  The church has added at least 4 new ministries to meet the needs of a growing congregation and speaking of that the Sunday morning attendance is about 35 folks better than it was at this time last year.  No small thing in a town this size with several strong churches.  We have new young couples that are establishing themselves as leaders by working hard and rarely missing a service.  I must admit I am SO proud of this new generation that is taking the reigns of the church.

Is everything perfect?  Not even close.  People make up this church from the pulpit to the parking lot so there will always be problems.  Yesterday as I took the pulpit I could sense a spirit in the place that I knew would make it hard to receive what I was about to preach.  I delivered an old message that I felt God directing me to.  I have preached this message maybe 6 or 7 times in 5 churches and this was the FIRST where it wasn't received as it had always been before.  That made preaching it tough, but thanks to the grace of God I made it through.  After the service I felt drained but had so much to do I couldn't sit down and dwell on it.  That's a good thing too as the Bible warns repeatedly about the dangers of idleness and how it effects our thinking.

Later, as we prepared to baptize our candidates I looked upon that great Sunday night crowd, considered how we had almost doubled in contestants for our cook-off and thought "Lord, I may not do everything perfect, but I am so thankful you are building a church in SPITE of the people who attend there or the insecure pastor that leads it".  As I always say, GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!  It was a great evening.  Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and never forget You Are Loved!

Changes...

If you read my blog very often you may notice some posts are missing, let me explain.  In times past I have tried to use my blog as a place where I can preach a soft message that may encourage, convict, or praise.  A recent entry was taken in a way I never intended and so good intentions have left me with great disappointment.  I don't want this.

So, I will be changing the way I enter things here.  I know many of you liked the preaching but instead I will be just adding personal junk and memories hoping you will understand.

Until next time, YOU ARE LOVED!

Apostolic Giants of my Life

I haven't worked on this line in a while as Apostles (the fourth of the Five fold ministries from Ephesians 4:11) in my life is a very broad title.  When I looked up the word I found definitions that included: any important early teacher of Christianity, the Apostles of the early church, a missionary or leader of a religious mission, and so on.

So, since I still have the Prophets category to go, I will devote this group of "Giants" to God's special forces, the missionaries who have touched my life.

Dwain Jones - this man breaks the mold.  He shatters the sterotype of a "boring" missionary.  What a gifted speaker this man of God is.  Dwain can have you laughing and crying three seconds apart with the illustrations he has to share.  Bro. Jones has told me repeatedly he wouldn't be surprised if God called me to the missions field one day and so if he does, I'm ready Lord.

Mark Purkey - Mark is an Evangelist by call but he spends much of his campaigns raising money for highly effective crusades to Europe.  Mark is a fantastic evangelist but I included him with my "Apostles" section because of his love and concern for neighbors who aren't next door. 

Charles Holybee - this mild-mannered preacher may be unknown to many.  Bro. Holybee has served the Lord for years by pastoring while ministering in Oklahoma prisons.  This man is not puffed up, has no great budget, but is an awesome example of someone who is working for a reward not seen by mortal eyes.  If you ever read this Bro. Holybee I want you to know you are one of my heroes.

There are many, many, more I could add to this list but I won't for fear of a grevious ommission.  I do want to say that anyone who answers the call of God to go where there is no friend, no comforts, and no assurance of success you are a testimony to the world of the all surpassing love of God.  Thank you so much for all you do for the lost and the example you set for those who strive to serve the Lord.  God bless you all!

WWUMD?

Do you have any heroes in your life?  Now of course there are those who are famous and bigger than the everyday norm, some of mine are; Martin Luther, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..  But real heroes surround us everyday.  They are the firemen who rush into a blazing house to save those who cannot help themselves.  They are police officers who walk the line everyday to keep our society in a form of order and not chaos.  They are teachers who do not receive proper pay or respect as they provide the education that springs forth other heroes such as doctors, lawmakers, soldiers, and scientists.  Yes we have a lot of heroes to be thankful for.

But one of my greatest heroes was a man most have never heard of, Rev. Marvin K. McElhannon, my uncle.  My uncle Marvin went to be with the Lord in 2007 after sixty plus years of preaching the gospel.  He never pastored a large church, never wrote a book and his name isn't well known outside the fellowship of Assembly of God churches in Oklahoma.  Yet he will always be a hero to me.

When he was still a young man he lost his left arm in a silly everyday accident.  He didn't allow that to hinder a ministry that touched many lives.  When he passed the funeral program beautifully said "Who would have thought a one armed man could reach so far?"  That is why he is heroic.

As a pastor I often see many things I do not like.  People inside and out of the church don't always treat each other as they should.  They believe their motives are pure and so they go ahead with behavior that hurts others.  I know because this pastor has hurt others when I had nothing but good intentions.  We're all fallable (1st John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin we deceive ourselves").  On the other hand whenever someone hurts me I have a tendency to try and defend myself.  It may be normal but it isn't exactly saintly and it is a habit I want to overcome. 

In this regard I want to be like my hero, my uncle Marvin.  As a pastor in a small town he was the man!  He never offered his wisdom or even his opinion unless asked.  If someone said something hurtful or hateful he would try to ignore it, laugh it off, or bring a solid word of correction without any rancor and then he would forgive immediately.  That's worthy of imitating.

WWJD was a Christian campaign that had a lot of merit.  Before taking action we were encouraged to ask ourselves "What Would Jesus Do?"  Allow the moral and spiritual character we know from the Word of God to guide our decisions.  That works on so many levels, but I've found in ministry there are some situations and behaviors I cannot imagine what Jesus would say and do.  That's when I ask myself WWUMD?  What would Uncle Marvin Do? 

Please don't think this is some kind of idol worship, that I have elevated my late uncle to a god-like status.  Not at all.  Rather I use my memories of how Marvin would deal with situations and people as a guide when I face similar problems.  I remember how his close relationship and humility gave him wisdom.  God really values humility in His servants (Galatians 6:3 "The man who thinks he is something when he is nothing, deceives himself"). 

Already I see this paying dividends in my current pastorate.  I no longer preach on what I'm going through, but what I've already come through.  I am learning not to say a word when someone says something critical or ugly but sleep on it and try to consider what their motivation for such behavior was.  It's working. 

In 1st Corinthians 11:1 Paul said "Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ", and that's what we should all do.  If you battle the flesh (and we all do) to be all the Lord wants you to be remember an example of Christ from your life that can serve as your Paul.  A good example always directs us to follow Christ.  We learn what Jesus would do by seeing what they would do.  Who knows, maybe one day when someone is facing a struggle of their own they might ask the Lord what would YOU do in this situation.

Teaching Giants of my life...

This is part three of my post series on the men and women who ministered to me in my life, those "Giants" who invested their time and wisdom to disciple an honery kid who became a pastor.  As with all good series, this didn't start as such but had so many good points that I felt Ephesians 4:11 deserved a full look.  I want to remember my Sunday School teachers in the hope it may inspire todays teachers who have problem children they deal with each week.  Who knows, that kid that is a test for you each week could be your pastor one day (and then you can pay him/her back!).

In NO particular order...
Phyllis Jones - Phyllis is the first Sunday School teacher I remember (and just barely).  Although I had her for a very short time after we moved she remains in my heart.  The love and fuzzy memories I still possess for her should remind us all that even when we teach the very little ones we are playing an important foundational role in their lives.  Thanks Phyllis and all you other folks who teach the most tiring ages.

Betty Kelough - As a kid my parents moved me from the Texas panhandle to Okmulgee, Oklahoma.  It was hard leaving my friends and my church, but Betty made it better.  She taught us, entertained us, and she even introduced me to pizza! (PTL!) Whenever I hear people talk about a church that has cell groups I think of Betty because her class WAS everything cell groups try to be today.  She was a trend setter!

Danny Rhodes - Dan taught our SS class, taught at the local high school, and was even a coach.  You'd think this man would have had enough of us kids but he taught our class for almost 6 years!  He set an example of dedication I wish todays "tired" generation could learn from.  Thanks Coach!

Dianna Milligan - My mother in law was an AWESOME SS teacher.  When I was an older teen she took over our class and did such a great job even knotheaded boys listened!  Her class was fun and interesting, almost a Sunday morning youth group.  She had the unusual gift of making it seem like you had come to her home for a devotional and fellowship.  She was a crown jewell in our church's SS ministry.

Ronald Milligan - My father in law was also a gifted teacher.  Anytime he isn't teaching I think what a waste of talent.  One series in particular sticks with me and that was a study of the life of David.  What Ron didn't teach he intrigued me to go discover.  That's the best kind of teaching.

There have been several others I have seen and listened to as a Pastor, but these 5 remain giants in my limited life.  Thank you to all who have worked with so little recognition.  I know the Lord has taken note.