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