Excuses

We’ve heard the excuses that people give for not coming to church. Here is a pastor’s excuse for not going to athletic events. “Every time I went, they asked me for money. The people with whom I had to sit didn't seem very friendly. The seats were too hard and not at all comfortable. I went to many games, but the coach never came to call on me. The referee made a decision with which I could not agree. I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites -- they came to see their friends and what others were wearing rather than to see the game. Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home. The band played some numbers that I had never heard before. It seems that the games are scheduled when I want to do other things. I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up. I don't want to take my children to any games, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.”

The Old vs. The New Cross

A.W. Tozer once wrote: "Why do we build our churches upon human flesh? ... For we teach men not to die with Christ but to live in the strength of their dying manhood.... But if I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity.... The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it."

Our Strong Tower

Remember when you first came to know the Lord. The excitement, the vigor, the "I'll do anything for Him" period of your Christian walk? I do, but I've found that being on the "front lines" for the Lord gets a little tiring at times. It's after the continual bullets start flying that we start longing for peace, relaxation and a job in the "rear" somewhere where it's safe. It's not an overnight decision but one that is reached out of shear exhaustion. That's when we need to remember that He is our "strength and shield". He is our "strong tower"!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart exults and with my song I shall thank him." Psalm 28:7

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe." Proverbs 18:10

Faith

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God..." With that in mind, when we fail to enter the realm of faith in our prayer life and service to God, everything we do or accomplish remains in the realm of the flesh.

Back Azimuth Ministries

I have reached a point in my ministry where I am absolutely open to whatever the Lord's wants of me. I've been involved in pastoral ministry now for almost twenty years. If the Lord wills and I live another forty years, that means that I'm a little more than a third through my "active" ministry years. I've served Him as a music director, worship leader, associate pastor, assistant pastor, senior pastor, missions pastor, missionary and now a campus pastor. I've seen so many different sides of the ministry. I've been given a bird's eye view of the proverbial good, the bad and the ugly of it.

I'm simply at a place in which my planner is open for God to write in it anything He wants to. Right now, I'm teaching at the CCBC Peru and I really do enjoy it. I love being able to minister into the lives of these young people. I also love it here in Peru because the Lord has given my boys a place where they can serve, be loved and challenged in their spiritual walks. The Lord has surrounded them with people who are "truly" Christians. I couldn't help but put "truly" in quotes because I've seen so many claim to be so even though the fruit coming out of their lives smells absolutely atrocious.

I do believe that the Lord has given me the ministries of evangelism, edification and encouragement. However, I also believe that he has placed a tremendous burden in my heart for the church. She is a church that is beautiful on her best days and horrid on her worst. She is the church that Christ died, established and will return for. She is also a church that is constantly being challenged from within and without. It seems that bad doctrine is flowing like water between her pews totally unabated.

I had a student who made the observation that years ago, counsels were held when even the slightest hint of heresy was in the air. I.e. Jerusalem, Trent, Nicaea, etc... And yet today, for the most part, nothing is done about it. Our "tolerance" has spilled over into our religion.

That brings me to the new ministry that I believe that Lord is calling me to launch: Back Azimuth Ministries. Back Azimuth is a term that is used in orienteering. One of the reasons that it is used is to determine where you came from or your original point of origin or departure. It is used to see if you have gotten off course. All you need to do is take the current azimuth (bearing) that you are following, add 180 to it, and arrive at your back azimuth. That gives you the exact direction you came from so that your course can be adjusted if necessary.

I believe that the church needs to shoot a back azimuth from time to time to see if they've gotten off course. Thus, I believe that God has called me to supply the compass. I.e the Word of God through Back Azimuth Ministries. Please pray that He'll show me how to precede.

Sleeping in Church

If you were to lay everyone who falls asleep in church every Sunday from end to end...they would be more comfortable!

The "They" Family

Have you heard of the terrible family They, and the dreadful venomous things They say? Why, half the gossip under the sun, if you trace it back, you will find begun in that wretched House of They.

Texas Update

I've been in Texas since the 15th. My first stop was Calvary Baptist Church in Andrews. They are such a wonderful fellowship who have been involved in our ministry in Peru since day one. As a matter of fact, they were to first ones to come along beside of us. I really do love and appreciate them. I got to share on the Eternal Reality of the Rapture.

My second stop was at Calvary Christian Fellowship in Midland. They too have been really involved in our ministry in Peru. I got to share with them from 1 Timothy 2. Great group.

Tomorrow morning, Aaron and I are headed down to Corpus Christi. It's going to be about an eight hour drive, but we'll head out early so that we can make the evening service. Please keep us in prayer as we travel.

Speaking Schedule

I just added a calendar to my blog that contains my speaking schedule.

Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?

Just something to think about. Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? I never noticed this.... The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished.." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the folded napkin meant, "I'll be back!"