Trust Now & Trust Always

Sunday my sermon message centered on one point … “TRUST GOD NOW & TRUST GOD ALWAYS” … based on Jeremiah 17:7

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:7 ESV)

We are blessed when we trust IN God for the “right now” … but all the more when we don’t make God circumstantial trust (crisis time), but our trust IS the Lord in the “always.”  If we trust God for the now, and each time we do we will begin to develop an “always” trust.  I didn’t lay a guilt trip on anyone of not trusting God completely and fully all the time … because the truth is I sometimes flip like a coin in the air in the area of trusting God at times.  I sometimes lean on my own understanding.  I simply challenged all of us to trust God in what is happening in our lives right now … issues, pressures, people, etc.  Can you trust God IN the now?

I love how God confirms His word in His messengers, as today I receive an email from a friend who is out in the world on mission with God.  I can’t say where they are due to restrictive and protective reasons … but I can tell you that it was a concerning email as they told of how all their team was leaving the mission field due to Visa problems (try Master Card … bad joke!), burn-out, etc.  The email was a request to pray. Here are some snippets of their words …

All of these changes result in me being alone without a team … Our teams are our families here. My family is leaving … Please pray that the Lord would make the calling even stronger and clearer … Even as I see what appears to be a huge mountain before me, my cup overflows, and I know that once I get to the top, the view will be excellent. … Due to all of these changes, I am being asked to ‘grow up’ here a lot faster than was originally planned … I have faith that the Lord is in control, and that all of this is working toward His purpose for this nation. I am trusting Him to be my team, my roommate, and my friend.

After reading the email I was wowed & humbled by the fact that my friend is living the message I preached.  I was reminded again of God’s call to TRUST GOD NOW & TRUST GOD ALWAYS.  I ask you to do two things from this blog … (1) pray for my friend that God raise up a team for them, and (2) that you and I trust God more today.

Peace & Glorify~

Tuesday Stuff

It’s been a week since I blogged, so I thought I would spill out a few words on this Tuesday just about some stuff in general.

Week One … Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife & Fork … lost 8 LBS … trying to eat healthier and doing a exercise in the form of walk/run and stationary bike.  Though I am feeling a bit tired, I know things will turn around and I will soon be feeling better and healthier!

Communicating for a Change … reading or trying to finish reading this Andy Stanley book on preaching.  I can’t say I agree with everything he is saying, as I admit I am from another generation of preachers, but I am being opened minded to learn and appreciate the various styles of preaching.

Camp & More… July looks to be a busy month full of ministry at FBCC … I look forward to being a part of all the lives of the children and adults we will touch with the Gospel.  At the end of July I will be “CP” (camp pastor) at the Lamine Baptist Associational Camp.  I use to be a camp counselor years ago, but I have stepped up and will be camp pastor and hopefully have all the kids hanging off of my arm and legs!

Celebrate Freedom! … Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)  Stand free in Christ and Stay free in Christ!  America, bless God with lives that are changed and filled with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  Use your freedom of speech to tell a lost person about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Well enjoy this last day of June and embrace the month of July coming.  Let Christ reign in your hearts so that you reflect Him in all you do and say.

Peace &  Glorify~

Stop!

There is no doubt about it … I need to STOP some things and START other things, such as taking control of my health.  For a guy who had a heart attack and 4 bypass surgery 20 months ago I have not taken the best of care of myself … body wise.  I initially lost around 50lbs after surgery, but have gradually put it back on … that is 40lbs of it!  I have tried telling myself that things are okay so long as I exercise, but over the last 4 months I have essentially quick exercising.    There has always been the twinge of guilt in the back of my mind, when people ask, “How are you doing health wise?”  I believe they are asking me, “Why are you putting on the weight?”  as my reply to their initial question is … “I need to lose some weight.”    My retirement plan is through the Southern Baptist Convention group known as “Guidestone” and they send out a quarterly magazine, that I seldom look at, much less read … but when the Spring issue arrived it had a picture of Mike Huckabee on it with the words … “Mike Huckabee Weigh down” … “How one well-known GuideStone participant lost 110 pounds in 18 months.”  It caught my attention, so I read the article that spoke of  his weight loss and the book that he wrote, “QUIT DIGGING YOUR GRAVE with a KNIFE and FORK”  telling of his 12 STOP program to help gain better health (not just weight loss).  From the article I ordered the book used ($1 + 3.99 shipping) on Amazon and got it yesterday.  As I began reading I was motivated enough that I walked/ran 1 mile last night, as well as got up this morning to walk/run 1 mile, as well as eating sensible today, and hopefully everyday from here on.  None of this stuff is magic and its not easy … but I know I have to do something to sustain my health so as to take care of my heart, and ultimately my family … and that’s not just having a life insurance policy.

Here’s the run down of the 12 Stops …

1. STOP Procrastinating
2. STOP Making Excuses
3. STOP Sitting on the Couch
4. STOP Ignoring Signals from Your Body
5. STOP Listeing to Destructive Criticism
6. STOP Expecting Immediate Success
7. STOP Whining
8. STOP Making Exceptions
9. STOP Storing Provisions for Failure
10. STOP Fueling with Contaminated Food
11. STOP Allowing food to Be a Reward
12. STOP Neglecting Your Spiritual Health

Of course there is more to each STOP than just a phrase … but practical, common sense approaches that need to be implemented to bring about a healthier lifestyle of eating, exercise and living.  I am always hesitant to share about my “next” weight loss adventure because I have failed so many time in the past.  But here I am sharing as means of accountability and honesty to myself to admit that I need to change my eating and exercise habits so as to bring about a healthier life.  Well as one might say, “Wish me well!” as I head off to eat lunch … that is to STOP for a salad! 

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)  So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Peace & Glorify~

iPhone iFix

A few months ago I traded my Blackberry (pie) for an “unlocked” iPhone.  I think the term is “jailbreak” which means you can use it without an iPhone data package.  So all was fine, sim card in and iPhone on using it to my delight. 

Then I had heard that iPhone had released their 3.0 operating system that was full of wonderful delights that would thrill the soul of every iPhone owner.  I downloaded the iTunes 8.2 version (seems like the world has gone i, iMe & iYou), plugged my iPhone in and boom it informed me that there was a 3.0 OS that I could download.  My gut feeling was “WAIT! DON’T DO IT!”  But I did it anyway … and that’s when it put my iPhone back in AT&T JAIL .  The 3.0 upgrade activation notice my iPhone was out of jail illegally and sort slapped the cuffs on me and suggested (nicely) I needed a data package to complete the activation of my iPhone.  My first inclination was to unplug the iPhone hoping the upgrade had not taken effect.  Needless to say my iPhone and “i” were frozen in a mystifying state … one frozen in activation and me frozen in action wondering what to do.  I read and read on the Internet how to saw the bars and “redo” the jailbreak so it and me could run and call free.  As luck or no luck (not that I believe in luck) would have it I could not set my iPhone free.

What else could I do but called AT&T.  I never felt so close to my house phone as it and my ear were snuggled up to one another for about 2 hours talking to both AT&T and iPhone representative in a 3-way conversation.  I explained my situation that there was no illegal intent on my part for aiding and abetting a jailbreak iPhone.  They assured me they understood, and for safe measures I threw in that I was a pastor.  Hey I don’t usually do such, but I began to think about doing jail time for a illegal jailbreak iPhone!  Well as you can guess they had little sympathy on us “jailbreakers” and just went ahead and tightened the cuffs to lead me away to purchase an iPhone data plan. 

To make a long story short in “nevertheless” land … my iPhone is activated and I am a free, legal and responsible no longer “jailbreak” iPhone owner.  There are a couple lessons this whole iPhone iIncident has called to mind.  Let me iShare them with you.

- Know that the latest greatest isn’t always best.  Learn to be content.
- The greed monster of “gotta-have-it-now” isn’t usually want you need.  Learn to wait.
- Stuff never really makes us happy.  Learn to be real.

1 Timothy 6:8  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Peace & Glorify~

Thursday Photo

Thursday Photo consists of one of my “Studio K” photographs. 

Studio K = Kitchen
Background = Kitchen Wall
Lighting = Kitchen Stove Hood Light

“When you work on the low end of the light spectrum, you have to learn to work with what you have.” – Bob

Peace & Glorify~

The Cologne of Christ

I intentionally put on cologne to smell good.  Now I’m no “Sam Malone” who on the sitcom Cheers was the king of cheap cologne and who bathed in it.  I remember one episode where Diane Chambers says, “Good Lord, Sam, have you been swimming laps in that cologne of yours?”  Most of us like to smell good be it our bodies, cars or homes.  Have you ever thought what your life smells like? 

This morning in my “ITW” (In the Word) study time I read …

2 Corinthians 2:14-15  But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,  

You can almost “smell” the words Paul speaks … that God wants us to wear the cologne of Christ.  Might we learn to splash on Christ every morning before leaving the house so that we might smell like everlasting life among those we meet throughout the day.  Paul says we are the “aroma of Christ” … our lives are aroma diffusers both to God and others.  I asked a friend what he thought we should smell like as the aroma of Christ.  His reply was, I like the smell of coffee, but I think God is partial to “grilling.”  Yes, God likes the smell of a sacrifice (burnt offering) that produces a sweet smelling aroma.  Consider Paul’s words … And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)  Paul goes on to say that to some we will smell good and to others we won’t smell so good, but regardless “His fragrance is inevitably splashed upon us.” (Tom Norvell, Heartlight)  So let us intentionally with our living wear the cologne of Christ!

Peace & Glorify~

My Middle Man Micah Marries

It’s hard to believe this little boy of mine, Micah my middle son who once wore a cowboy hat, jeans, boots and road a stick horse into the sunset, drove off into the sunset on Saturday (June 6, 2009) with his wife, Jillian Mitchell to begin their life together as a married couple.  Where did the time go, as I once held this little guy of mine in my arms and tucked him in bed with the “pig brothers” (tickling fingers) soon to follow with giggles and snorts.  The time has gone far to fast as I once played catch with this little man of mine and teaching him to steal … that is second base and third and home if he was fast enough.  Oh how the time has vanished into the clouds as I watch this young man on the football field running touch downs and me running right along side him on the side lines yelling “Go Micah!” all the way.  And onto the tennis courts we stepped teaching him a game my boys and I love and to know that the most important point is always “the next one.”  Time flew and the day came he moved away into a college dorm, and there waving good-bye I cried thinking my little boy is all grown up.  But on this past Saturday, my little boy took another step of growing up to become a husband to love the woman of his life.  Time has come and time has gone, but the time to rejoice in my little boy is now as my middle man Micah marries.

And so I wish and pray them well, my son and his wife, Micah and Jill.  May you see all the blessings of God that rest upon you and be aware of His love and Word in  your life, for there you will live happily forever after. 

Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Peace & Glorify~

* Photo by Bob … that is me!