Tetralogy of Fallot

I had never heard the term Tetralogy of Fallot until our granddaughter, Raley, was diagnosed at 3 months of age. Tetralogy of Fallot is a serious heart defect that affects the heart’s ability to supply oxygenated blood to the body. In most cases Tetraology of Fallot requires extensive open-heart surgery in order to be corrected. Typically the surgery is done between the first 12 to 18 months, but in Raley’s case surgery was required at 3 months. Following her surgery, Raley spent the month of December 2007 as a patient in the pediatric intensive care unit at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, North Carolina. The first 72 hours after surgery were very intense, and we had to deal with a number of set-backs. But thanks to the skills of a very talented thoracic cardiovascular surgeon, Dr. Theodore Koutlas, a world-class medical facility, a dedicated medical staff, and most importantly the prayers of countless people around the world, today Raley is a picture of health.

Yesterday, Raley discovered a photo album of pictures her parents had taken of her when she was hospitalized. Our daughter Stephanie had planned to show them to her, at the appropriate time, and tell her what a miracle she really is. But, the curiosity of a rambunctious 2 year old spoiled that plan. So now she knows, and in her simple way of looking at it; she had a “hurt” heart, the doctor put a “Band-Aid” on it, and now she’s all better.

What if life’s deepest hurts could be healed with the simple application of a “Band-Aid.” Perhaps they could if we only had the faith of a child!

Blessings,

Jimmy

Sermon Planning

As I write this, I am spending the next two days away from the office in sermon planning for next year. By Tuesday afternoon, I hope to come away, not with detailed manuscripts or outlines, but at least with a text and a general theme for each Sunday in 2010. That doesn’t mean that the Holy Spirit and circumstances won’t intervene and cause me to scrape what I put on the preaching calendar these next few days for a particular Sunday in 2010. That also doesn’t mean that I don’t need your prayers for wisdom and guidance as I plan, write, and research week to week. As I stated, what I’m doing the next two days is very broad and general—it will give direction to where I feel the Lord is leading us in worship and preaching for the next year. The spadework will still be done from week to week.

Years ago when I shared with someone I was doing a similar thing for the year to follow, I was surprised by his critical remark: “Doesn’t that discount the leading of the Holy Spirit in your preaching?” Over the years I’ve thought about that particular remark, and if confronted today I would respond: “Then you don’t have much faith in the Holy Spirit!” I trust the Holy Spirit’s leading day to day, week to week, and year to year!

Blessings,

Jimmy

I Am A Missionary Too

Our church hosted Swaziland Missionaries Wayne and Barbara Myers this past week. It is always a joy to have Wayne and Barbara come to our area when they are on stateside assignment. Over the past 15 years our church has sent numerous teams to work with the Myers in Swaziland, so they are like family to us. You could never meet two more humble servants. On such visits, we usually spent a lot of time talking and recounting various experiences we have shared together on the filed in Swaziland.

Not only do I consider Wayne and Barbara friends, through the years they have become mentors to me. They have taught me a tremendous amount about doing missions and ministry, and not just in Africa. Early on I discovered from Wayne and Barbara that ministry which makes a lasting impact is built on strong relationships. Without exception, every church start the Myers have established in Swaziland has come from a relationship they established with a Swazi family or individual. Relationship building is a trans-cultural necessity if ministry is to be successful. People in any culture will not trust us with their deepest physical or spiritual needs if we haven’t taken the time to get to know them or build a relationship with them.

The Myers have also taught me the importance of staying power. With the Lord’s help, they have been faithful through lots of up and downs. I know from personal conversations that it has been discouraging for them to see young, bright, potential leaders they had personally nurtured fall by the wayside. I know that it has been disappointing to see projects, which required tremendous amounts of time and energy, not produce the results they desired. But through it all, the Myers remained faithful. It is so easy to become discouraged in ministry. Unlike other vocations where results can be seen and measured in tangible ways, some of the fruits of our labor will never be known till eternity.

Wayne and Barbara have also taught me the word missionary is synonymous with the word go. Wayne is constantly going over the next mountain, discovering that new place, carrying the gospel to homestead or group who have never heard. I have had the privilege of going to many of these places myself: Ntutwakazi, Tunzini, Maloma, Matsanjeni, places that are on no one’s map or radar except God’s. The first word, and the key word, in the Great Commission is “go.” For too long we have waited for people to come to us. God’s instructions have always been to go.

Lastly, my working with the Myers through the years has taught me that I am a missionary. In fact, my work with the Myers has taught me that if I am to be effective, that I must be a missionary. The day has long past in America where we can unlock the doors and turn the lights on at the church house and people come. If people are to be reached in our age, in our culture, then we must begin to think, act, and behave like missionaries. We need to study our culture, learn the “language,” and develop strategies to engage people in real and meaningful ways.

The mission field is now my backyard!

Blessings,

Jimmy

I made the switch. A few weeks ago my home computer crashed. My son-in-law convinced me to look at an iMac. I had been a PC guy for years, and had never given any serious consideration to switching. It didn’t take long to convince me, once I had the opportunity to play around with it at the computer store. Immediately I could tell the difference in the quality of the Apple products verses any PC the store had in stock. I was also impressed with how fast the Mac operating system loaded and the ease of use. All of the iLife software which came preloaded on the iMac worked together seamlessly.

Once I made the purchase and got the iMac home, I was up and running in a matter of minutes. Another neat feature of the iMac is that there is no cpu tower. Everything, including the hard drive, is built right into the display. Just plug it in, and turn it on. The display is a sharp, crisp 24 inch LCD monitor. The keyboard and mouse connects right to the back via a usb connection. There's even a wireless keyboard and mouse option available.

I've been so thrilled with the way the iMac works, that I recently switched my work laptop over as well. I'm now using a Macbook for the office. I purchased Office for Mac which is compatible with the Widows version of Office. Sharing files with a Windows based PC is no problem. I'm also using Parallels which allows me to run Windows on my Mac, for those Windows based programs I need to run. In particular, the Bible Study software I use is a Windows only system, Bible Works, but it works just fine using Parallels.

There’s one other thing I don’t miss about the PC, virus protection. The Mac, which is virtually immune from viruses, doesn’t need it.

Blessings,
Jimmy

The Southern Baptist Convention

A young friend recently asked about my thoughts concerning the future of the Southern Baptist Convention. Honestly, I haven't attended a SBC meeting since 1990 when the Convention met in New Orleans. That was the year the fundamentalists sealed control of the future of the SBC. Many refer to the takeover as the "Conservative Resurgence" which was suppose to save the Convention from the slippery slope of liberalism. I was in my first year of seminary (1979) when the pendulum began to swing in favor of the fundamentalists, and I remember hearing some rumblings on the New Orleans campus about Convention politics, but I really didn't start paying attention to Convention matters until the mid '80's.

I never really understood all the fuss about liberalism in the SBC. I attended a Southern Baptist college and seminary and never encountered what I would call a liberal professor. Most of my professors seemed to have a calling to teach, had a genuine concern for their students, and exhibited a true love for Christ. Perhaps among the many hundreds of college and seminary professors who taught in our institutions at the time there were a handful of liberals, but I never encountered one.

Thirty years have passed, and the SBC is in worse shape than ever. SBC churches baptized fewer people last year than in 1970, and for the past few years membership in SBC churches have began to show signs of decline. I realize that those who have supported the "Conservative Resurgence" would argue that things would be much worse if the "liberals" were still in charge. But that still does not change the fact that the "Conservative Resurgence" which was suppose to bring us back to our focus on evangelism and wining the lost to Christ has failed to produce.

I'm not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet, but here's where I see the future of the SBC heading:

1. I think the Great Commission Resurgence will fail to produce anything substantial. From what I read the GCR is an effort by some to "streamline" the denominational structure, including state conventions, so that more CP money can be used for missions and winning the lost to Christ. Although messengers to this year's convention overwhelming voted to support the GCR, I think the sticking points will come with implementation. I predict that state conventions are going to be reluctant to reduce staff and programming and that SBC entities are going to be unwilling to merge, etc. to make the GCR workable.

2. The SBC will continue to be divided by doctrine. Doctrine was never the unifying factor of the SBC. Churches which comprised the SBC cooperated together for the purpose of missions. Walter Shurden identified several "theological" strains that characterized SBC churches in the past. These churches were able to look beyond their theological differences and cooperate together for the cause of missions. The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message was the first confession of faith used by the SBC leadership as a creed. At the time, many thought it would settle doctrinal matters within the SBC once and for all. Missionaries and denominational leaders were required to sign the document. But the divide continues. With the rise of Calvinism in the SBC, those who hold to Landmark views have become increasingly more vocal. The divisions over doctrine will continue to widen.

3. The architects of the "Conservative Resurgence" and the old SBC guard will continue to wield influence. Although many of these leaders are beginning to age, I predict that they will not easily and willingly hand over the reins to younger leaders. The "Conservative Resurgence" was as much about control as it was anything, and those who took control are not about to hand over the leadership to others.

4. Younger SBC pastors (those under 40) will soon become even more disillusioned with the Convention. We see strong indicators of this even now, despite the fact that many younger pastors showed up this year in Louisville. Younger people have less ties to and little patience with denominational structures. Younger pastors will find more effective ways to network and partner for the purpose of missions and ministry.

5. The SBC will not disappear or even die in my lifetime. But the SBC will become less and less effective. The best days of the SBC are behind her.

Blessings,
Jimmy

The Kindle

I like gadgets, especially electronic gadgets. One of the latest gadgets to hit the marketplace is an eBook reader from Amazon called the Kindle. I first heard about the Kindle about two months ago from a colleague who owns one. I had not thought much more about it until this past weekend. I was in South Carolina for a wedding, and the father of the bride—who happens to be a good friend—had just gotten one for an early Father's Day gift. He allowed me to play with it—and viola I was hooked.

The Kindle is light weight, about the size of a book, and very portable. One of the strong selling points is the ability to download approximately 1000 books onto the Kindle which can be carried with you just about anywhere. I normally carry a stack of books with me on vacation, and now Amazon has made it possible to carry all of that reading material anywhere I want to go in one small portable device. Another selling point is the price of the books. Most Kindle books sell for $9.99 from Amazon. Of course the Kindle itself is a bit pricy, but the avid reader can easily justify the price of the Kindle via the savings in books and shipping cost; which brings me to another strong point of the Kindle. Books are downloaded instantly to the Kindle directly from Amazon through a wireless connection. There is no extra charge for the download, and the wireless device is built into the Kindle. The coverage area is nationwide, no international coverage, and though there are some weak areas (normally where there are few or no cell towers) I am assured that downloading is easy and effortless. So, if you are at the beach and run short on reading material, a book can be instantly downloaded with the click of a button—and you don't have to leave the beach!

I found the Kindle to be easy to use. There's even a way to "highlight," bookmark, and save clippings/notes for future reference. The Kindle is very readable, with adjustable fonts and a backlit screen. The rechargeable battery which powers the Kindle supposedly last for weeks before requiring a recharge. The Kindle has a built-in voice reader that will literally read the book for you as you listen. I have already figured-out a way to connect this to my car's audio system—I plan to let the Kindle read to me on future road trips where I am alone in the car.

I was concerned about the number of eBooks in the genres I like to read that might be available. A quick check of the Amazon website alleviated that concern. There are literally 1000's of books available.

Another concern has to do with the "life" of eBooks. I still have paperbacks from thirty years ago. What happens to eBooks I download to the Kindle when the format changes and new advances are made? For this reason I will probably continue to buy reference books and commentaries in a regular book format.

My own personal Kindle should arrive in a few short days. I'm already making a list of books to download. I'll be giving it a rigorous workout on an upcoming vacation. I'll share further observations once I've had a chance to check mine out thoroughly.

Blessings,
Jimmy

 

The Biggest Winner

I have been working on shedding a few pounds, getting in shape, and lowering my blood pressure. I have found that exercise really works in helping me achieve my goals, and is a wonderful way to deal with stress to boot. After 3 weeks at the gym I have been able to come off blood pressure medication altogether.

Yesterday, while working out on the elliptical machine, an idea came to me. Why not encourage the entire congregation to get in shape? I noticed several FBC folks working out yesterday morning. I had a conversation a few days ago with a church member who is participating in a "Biggest Loser" contest at work. Should not the church lend her voice to encouraging folks to live a healthier lifestyle?

The Scriptures have much to say about physical health. The one verse that comes to mind readily is 1 Corinthians 3:16—"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" I do not think many would question the connection between spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.

So, I have a rough plan. I will discuss in with our staff at our weekly staff meeting for their input. But I am thinking about preaching a couple of sermons on the importance of physical health and challenging our congregation to set some personal goals. Perhaps we can have some kind of "friendly" congregational contest. Maybe we can call it "The Biggest Winner." After all it is a win/win proposition. Stay tuned for details to follow.

Blessings,
Jimmy

How About a Little Respect?

I had a conversation with a colleague this week who had just completed his annual review with the lay committee in his church charged with reviewing the pastor's "performance." A couple of folks on the committee criticized the pastor's preaching, his pulpit style, and even called into question a few of his pastoral decisions.

My colleague has served this particular congregation for a number of years, is sound theologically, is a caring and committed pastor, and has impeccable credentials. In my judgment the congregation he serves is very fortunate to have him as their shepherd.

I think my friend's experience once again highlights the "junk" that most clergy-persons endure, which adds stress to an already stressful profession. I am not advocating that a pastor should have no accountability. I am not saying that pastors never make mistakes and are immune to slothfulness. What I am saying is that there seems to be an imbalance, and for many lay-persons nothing is "out-of-bounds" when it comes to critiquing clergy. Perhaps it is a loss of respect for clergy-persons in general brought on by failures within our own ranks (televangelists' scandals). Or, perhaps it is an attitude and spirit which prevails in a number of churches that "we own the pastor; we have the right to control him like a puppet on a string."

Let me pose some questions. What lay-person is qualified to call into question a pastor's sermon if it is theologically sound and biblically based? What lay-person can speak with authority about pulpit style, which is highly subjective and tends to differ from preacher to preacher?

I am not on a campaign to silence the voice of the laity or to diminish their role in the life of the church. Certainly the concerns of the laity need to be heard and addressed. But how about a little appreciation and respect for the person who shepherds the congregation? How about a little appreciation and respect for the person who is on call 24/7? How about a little appreciation and respect for the person who is there in the crisis, usually at the neglect of his/her own family, and faithfully delivers the Word of Truth weekly?

Blessings,
Jimmy

Superman

There is not a clergy person living who has not been ribbed about only working one hour per week. I have been in ministry for thirty years, and if I had a dollar for every time someone has said that to me, I could retire tomorrow. I hope I am not becoming cynical, but I am more and more convinced that there are large numbers of folks sitting in the pew each Sunday who actually believe that. Oh, maybe they believe it is a little more than an hour a week, but I do not think that the average parishioner has any appreciation for the workload and stress that most clery persons live with daily.

Most of us readily recognize the stress associated with other "helping" professions. We are not shocked or surprised when we call our physician and the receptionist says to us: "Dr. X is not in today, but you can see Dr. Z." We accept the fact that the demands on a physician are tremendous and if the good doctor is to continue to be a good doctor he/she needs some time away. I cannot count the number of times I have heard this line repeated by a patient the morning of surgery: "I hope the surgeon got lots of rest last night, I want him to be fresh when he is operating on me!" We readily see the value in that, yet we will allow our pastor to run ragged and expect him to be fresh when he feeds our soul on Sunday morning.

Why is it that most denominations require missionary personnel to furlough on a regular basis? Could it be that we see the wisdom in not leaving a missionary "out there" too long under the pressure of working in a "foreign" environment? We see the need to bring them "home" for a time of rejuvenation. Yet, we allow our pastors to go for years upon years stewing in the same pressure cooker and never think of giving them more than a week or two of vacation here and there.

Why is it different with clery persons? Perhaps it has to do with the nature of our work. Maybe folks have concluded that since our work is of the spiritual nature that those of us who are doing it are super spiritual people. After all, we have been called by God and God is on our side. Since our work is super spiritual and supernatural God has given us some kind of super human strength to endure.

Maybe it is because we clergy persons have too often portrayed ourselves as super-heroes as opposed to real people, with real weakness, real hurts, and real needs. I will be the first to agree that ministry is a calling, and the first to acknowledge that there are times and situations that I could not bear without the supernatural power of God. I will also be the first to confess that I am not Superman!

Blessings,
Jimmy

Sabbath

Over the past few weeks I have been researching Clergy Sabbaticals in hopes of selling our congregation on the idea of a sabbatical policy for the ministerial staff. Three great resources, all from the Alban Institute, are: Clergy Renewal: The Alban Guide to Sabbatical Planning by A. Richard Bullock and Richard J. Bruesehoff; Journeying toward Renewal by Melissa Bane Sevier; and a video, Why You Should Give Your Pastor a Sabbatical by Roy M. Oswald. My research has really pricked my spirit. I have been seriously convicted of my own sin.

The practice of a Sabbath (a period of rest and renewal) is taken directly from Scripture. Genesis 2:2-3 reads: "By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which He had done" (NAS). The Gospels are frequent in their depiction of Jesus taking time for renewal, prayer, rest, and worship. My practice has not been so unswerving.

Just today I tried to remember the last time I had taken a day off for the purpose of rest and renewal. I took a few days off last week to help my son-in-law complete a project in preparation for the arrival of their second child, but it has been months since I have taken a day for myself. If God, all powerful, all knowing God had a need for rest (as indicated by the passage above), what makes me think that I am immune? If Jesus, God incarnate, had a need for renewal, what makes me think I am exempt? My need was driven home further this week when I visited the doctor. I discovered that my blood pressure was abnormally high. As the doctor indicated, my family history is certainly a factor to be considered, but my failure to take care of myself is a culprit as well.

I think a clergy sabbatical is a worthy pursuit. I believe congregations should consider the benefit to both the clergy person and the congregation when thinking about sabbaticals. I certainly see the benefits of giving ministerial staff regular and periodic times away for renewal, rest, and reflection. But the one thing I have been convicted of this week is my own failings in this area. I have failed to set boundaries and maintain balance. I have allowed work to become an idol and my busyness to create a sense of pride.

I recently had a retired pastor tell me: "You are in the prime of your ministerial career." I think his assessment is right. I have certainly gained tons of experience and wisdom over the years. But I am also convinced that I cannot continue at the pace I have been going. I pray that our congregation will consider a sabbatical policy for the ministerial staff, but regardless of their decision, it is up to me to set boundaries for my own ministry, and times of rest and renewal. I have made a commitment to myself and my family starting now to take regular times away. I am going to begin by taking at least one day off per week. I need it for myself, and I am sure my congregation will benefit as well.

Blessings,
Jimmy

Mission or Missional?

I have served churches in South Carolina, Mississippi, and North Carolina. Every church I have served has prided itself in being mission-minded. In fact, this past weekend I overheard a member of my present congregation talking to a church guest about what a great mission-minded church FBC Washington is. When most people talk about a mission-minded church they are describing a church which prays and pays for missions. For example, at FBC Washington we contribute generously to our denomination's mission budget. We regularly take special offerings for mission causes; pray for missionaries and people groups; and even send out mission teams. I agree that like many churches of all stripes, we are a mission-minded church.

However, I am becoming more and more convinced that Jesus did not call us to simply be mission-minded; He called us to be missional. Yes, mission funding is important. Praying for missionaries and people groups in unreached places around the world is paramount. But at the very core of the Christian life is our calling to be the presence of Christ in our world. We are His hands, feet, ears, eyes, and mouth. Being the Body of Christ is not just about Sunday mornings. Living the Christian life is more than church attendance. Christ has called us to engage our broken world with His good news of hope and healing. Being the Body of Christ is about what takes place in our neighborhood, our community, our workplace, our school or university.

In my experience, we can be mission-minded and still inwardly focused. We can pay and pray for missions and missionaries, but still be primarily concerned about our comforts and our needs. Being missional means we have an outward focus. Missional takes seriously the words of Jesus who said: "You are to be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the world."

Blessings,
Jimmy

Jesus and Paint

I have been working on a project for more than eighteen months now—painting the outside of my house. I live in a brick ranch-style house, but the trim work needs occasional painting—about once every five years. When I first noticed the paint needed attention, I decided I would re-paint with a latex paint verses the old oil based paint I had been using. I knew this would require additional work, since latex paint cannot be used to cover over oil based paint without a primer coat. So, I decided to paint a section at a time, and to completely finish that particular section before moving on to a new section. It has been a slow process.

As I was preparing to paint a new section this past Saturday, I noticed that there were some places on a section that I had painted a few months back that were beginning to peel. I do not understand why the paint on this small, yet very noticeable area, did not stick. I am sure I gave this area the same attention as I did other areas. I began by washing the area down with bleach, letting the area dry, scraping off any old or loose paint, and applying two coats of primer and two coats of latex. For some unknown reason the paint did not stick and I had to re-paint it this past weekend.

My experience with painting parallels my experience with ministry in many ways. I have often wondered why Jesus seems to "stick' to some folk, while others, no matter how much attention you give them seem to never get it. I have also wondered why faith can be such a permanent part of some folk's life and for others it seems to only last for a season and then it peels away or fades. I remember a young couple in my seminary pastorate. They professed their faith, joined our church, and immediately got involved in every aspect of church life and ministry. But their commitment was short lived. After a few months their enthusiasm waned, their attendance ebbed, and church or faith was no longer a welcomed topic in conversation. This scenario has been repeated numerous times in pastorates ever since.

Paul seemed to have had such an experience with one of his converts. He writes in 2 Timothy for Timothy to "make every effort to come to me soon; for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica."

I guess I will never really understand why Jesus seems to "stick" to some while others take to Him like the place on the side of my house does to paint. But I am thankful for the lives He has touched and the transformation that has taken place in the hearts of those who have truly trusted Him!

Good Friday

Last week I sat with a family as the husband/father underwent heart bypass surgery. The patient, at least in my mind, did not fit the typical profile of a heart-bypass candidate. He is relatively young (just a few years older than me), active, exercises regularly, eats healthy, and basically does all the right things to take care of himself. When the surgeon came out to talk with the family after surgery (and the surgery was very successful), the surgeon said that my friend's problems were probably caused by genetics. In other words, something in his genes makes him more prone to coronary artery disease. The fact that he exercises, eats right, and takes care of himself was to his benefit, but in the long run there was nothing he could really do that would have prevented his problems.

Today is Good Friday, a commemoration of Jesus' death on the cross. I have often wondered why we call it Good Friday. In some traditions it is called Holy Friday or Black Friday. Black Friday seems more appropriate considering the events that historically took place. Jesus was betrayed by one of his own, falsely accused by the religious leaders, stood before Pontius Pilate, beaten and scourged, and ultimately sentenced to be crucified at the insistence of the crowd.

Perhaps the good in Good Friday is a reference to what Jesus did for me? You see, like my friend with coronary artery disease, I too suffer from defective genes. These genes are attached to my spiritual DNA. My disease has left me wounded, broken, and bruised by sin. And like my friend, no matter how hard I try, no matter what I do, I cannot fix the problem. Just as the good surgeon had to intervene in my friend's situation, so Jesus has intervened in my situation. He died on the cross to fix my sin problem!

There's an old hymn that reads: "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."

Thanks be to God!

Blessings,
Jimmy

 

Lent

Our church, along with others in the community, has been a participant in a series of noontime Lenten services for the past several weeks. I ran into a couple of Catholic friends this morning who have been attending the services, and they posed a friendly question: “Isn’t the observance of Lent sort of a new thing for Baptists?” I responded, “It is, but for a number of years our church along with many other Baptists have taken a serious new look at the Christian calendar and the various seasons of the church year.”

I recall that when I was a seminary student, more than twenty-five years ago, the Christian Calendar was rarely mentioned. I came away from seminary knowing more about our denominational calendar and special days of emphasis that I did about Advent, Lent, Epiphany, or Pentecost. In my earlier pastorates, my sermon preparation and worship planning was directed mainly by the secular calendar combined with special denominational days of interest.

Only in recent years have I preached a sermon on the Transfiguration or observed Pentecost or Epiphany. Two of the most meaningful services we now have in our church are All Saints Sunday and Maundy Thursday. During our All Saints service we remember loved ones who have gone on to be with the Lord during the year. We also ask members of the congregation who have lost someone significant in their lives to stand, and then we circle around them and pray.

Following the Church calendar is anything but rote, boring, or lifeless. Using the church calendar in worship preparation brings a healthy, balanced approach to the life of a congregation. New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, July 4th, etc., are all significant and should be observed and celebrated in the proper setting. As long as Hallmark Cards stays in business, there will not be any lack of promotion for these special days and events. Who, if not the church, is going to honor and promote the days and seasons of the Christian calendar?

Blessings,
Jimmy

Met Isaac; Missed Abraham

One of our assignments on a recent mission trip to Swaziland, Africa was homestead visitation. We were working in an area of Swaziland where there are few churches and where people have very little exposure to the Gospel message. The Swazi people are gracious and friendly, and readily welcome even strangers into their homes. In fact, they count it as an honor that someone would make the time to visit.

Our assignment on this particular morning, a Saturday morning, was to concentrate in an area where we were conducting evangelistic services in the evenings under a tent; invite people to the evening services; and to speak a word of witness if the opportunity presented itself. As several of us walked along a dirt path, we came upon a homestead where two young men were working in the yard. Our translator asked if we could visit, and willingly permission was granted. The older of the young men invited us into the house.

Once inside we discovered that this young Swazi spoke very good English. So, there was no need for us to go through the translator. We spoke directly to him and he to us, while the other young Swazi—whom we learned was a nephew—sat quietly in the background. As introductions were made, the young man told us his name was Isaac. We commented on the fact that his name had such biblical significance. Then he told us that his father’s name was Abraham and that he was a committed Christian and would be sorry he missed us—his father wasn’t home. He also told us about a sister in South Africa who was very sick and asked us to pray for her.

As the opportunity presented itself, we asked Isaac about his faith. He told us without hesitation that he was not a believer. We asked if we could share with him from the Bible, and he said: “Of course!” We shared a passage from John 10 where Jesus tells us He is the Good Shepherd who loves His sheep and laid down His life for the sheep. Some of our team members shared their own testimony of Christ at work in their lives. But in the end Isaac, who was never disrespectful or disagreeable, shared that he was not ready to make that decision. We didn’t force the issue, that’s not our style, nor do we believe it to be biblically sound. We continued our conversation, learning more about Isaac and his family.

As we prepared to leave, we asked if we could pray, and in particular pray for his sister in South Africa. Again, permission was freely given. As we departed Bert, our missionary host, asked permission to come again another day and talk some more. Isaac was more than willing to accept Bert’s offer.

That night at the tent one of the ladies who lived nearby, asked if we had visited in the area that morning. I think she saw our vehicle in the area and was simply curious. We told her we had, and without giving details we told her we visited with Isaac. She commented: “Oh, yes Isaac, he loves his women and his marula” (traditional Swazi beer). I will always wonder if Isaac’s love for the things of the world was the reason for his hesitation to follow Christ.

There is one thing for sure, Bert, our missionary friend, knows where Isaac lives. In fact, we marked his homestead with our handheld GPS and saved the coordinates. If I know Bert like I think I do, Isaac hasn’t seen the last of him. But more importantly, God knows where Isaac lives. Moreover, I trust he hasn’t heard the last word from Him!
Blessings,
Jimmy

Old Wounds; New Insights

I did a funeral last Sunday for a four week old baby. Funerals for children have always been difficult for me, but this one was particularly hard. The death of this child opened some of my old wounds. Karen and I lost our first child, Tara Michelle. Tara was born on Mother’s Day in 1980 and died two days later. When I drove up to the gravesite Sunday and saw the tiny, white casket my mind, heart and emotions took a trip back in time.

The death of this child reminded me of how helpless we feel when someone we love and care about is dying. In Tara’s case, we tried everything. She was transferred to a hospital with the finest neonatal unit around, but in the end there was little we could do but pray.

This child’s death highlighted once again for me my own limitations as a minister. Nothing I could say would be able to heal the hurt or take away the pain I knew this young couple felt.

Life is a gift. The value of one’s life cannot be measured by the number of days a person lives. The Old Testament character Methuselah lived 969 years, but the Scriptures record nothing of his accomplishments. It saddens me to see people who often live long lives, but in the end little can be said of the contributions they made.

I overheard a conversation a few mornings ago at Bojangles. Two older men, well into their 80’s, were talking over their morning coffee. One made the remark that he was selling all of his hunting and fishing gear. I gathered from the conversation that he had been an avid outdoorsman and owned quite a bit of gear. The old gentleman went on to say that he no longer had the energy to hunt or fish and he had no sons or grandsons to pass it on to, so he thought the best thing to do was to sell it all. Too often we simply spend our lives collecting things which matter little in the end.

Tara only lived forty-eight hours, but she was loved. In the end her lived counted; she made a contribution. I have shared her story in countless sermons and with numerous people through the years who have found themselves struggling with life’s tough questions. In the end, I don’t think it’s what you’ve collected that counts; I think it’s what you’ve contributed that really makes a difference. The words of Jesus really do ring true: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . .”

Blessings
Jimmy

John 12:20-33

Often we think we know a person when we really don't; we have a casual relationship or know them from a distance. I remember a professor from graduate school whom I had misjudged. He was an Alabamian and spoke with a slow southern drawl. I had him pegged as a country pumpkin with a Ph.D. who had landed a teaching post. Boy was I wrong! I took one of his classes and discovered he was one of the finest New Testament scholars I have ever known.

In John 12:20 a group of Greeks make a request of Philip to see Jesus. In response Jesus goes into a lengthy discourse about the hour having come for him to be glorified. In verse 32 he says: "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself."

The word glory (glorified) means splendor or radiance. When Jesus says it is time for him to be glorified, he is saying it is time for him to be seen in his splendor. In other words, Jesus is saying the time has come for him to be seen "at his best." We see Jesus at his best when he is lifted up--THE CROSS.

The Greeks want to see Jesus. Jesus says that in order to see him/understand him, we must see him in light of the cross. We will never understand Jesus apart from the cross. We may know him from a distance. We may see him as a masterful teacher and great prophet. But we will never know him, we will never experience his grace and love until we meet him at the cross.

Blessings,
Jimmy

My First Blog

I have created this blog, New Direction, in order to connect with persons who attend our Saturday Night Contemporary Service at First Baptist Church of Washington, NC. We begin May 2, 2009 in the Family Life Center of First Baptist.

The purpose of these services is to give persons a safe place to connect with Christ, in order that they might experience a genuine spiritual encounter with the Living Lord, and begin the journey of faith.

We have already assembled a contemporary praise band, and they are excited about this new venture.

I'll be bringing a relevant biblical message each Saturday evening focused on the needs of today's world.

This blog is a place where persons can post questions and responses to the weekly message.

Blessings,
Jimmy Moore