It has been a while now since my last blog. Someone asked me last week if I stopped blogging because the Rangers's lost the series. :-) Not hardly, but all those late nights up watching the Rangers and the time it took to recover from a broken heart made it difficult to write early in the morning. LOL :-)
The truth is that I love blogging, but that in the past couple of weeks it has been off my radar a little. Unannounced, I recently decided to spend more time studying in the morning rather than writing. This will continue for the next couple of weeks, but I intend to begin writing regularly again during Advent Season, which begins on November 27th. This coincides with the JESUS. emphasis which is a church wide campaign in First Baptist Church. In the mean time, I invite you to pray for the church as we begin to focus on the person and purpose of Jesus. It is my desire to lead the church through an intentional season of vision casting and preparation prior to our next 4-7 years of ministry. Notice the progression of emphasis that I have led the church through thus far. 1) FOUNDATION- Prayer as the Foundation of the church. 2) FOCUS- (JESUS.) focus on the person of Jesus and purpose of Jesus (JESUS.) in the church and later in 2012 following this campaign 3) FELLOWSHIP- What does the church do now?
The scriptures read in Proverbs 29:18a "Where there is no vision, the people perish." It is my hope to lead the church to a clear, concise and easily communicated vision. Remember, to fail to plan is to plan to fail. The process FBC is about to undergo is an intentional season of dreaming and planning. Please join with me in praying for this process and for the prayerful response of God's people. For all of you faithful readers, I wanted you to know what the plan is so that you will be aware of my intentions.
Peace In Christ!
CH
Monday, November 7, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Peanuts and Cracker Jacks?
Just yesterday I heard someone humming a favorite hymn of mine. You may have heard it before, but it goes a little something like this:
Take me out to the the Ball Game
Take me out to the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks.
I don't care if I ever get back.
For it's root, root, root for the Rangers.
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes. You're OUT!
At the old ball game!
It's an old favorite. Ok, it's not exactly in the Baptist Hymnal or any other hymnal for that matter, but according to real Baseball fans it's a song that must be sung. "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tizer which became the unofficial anthem of baseball. It was first played in a Major League Ball Park in 1935 and was soon after adopted by most Major League Teams and ball parks. The song would catch on and later become a 7th Inning Stretch tradition.
In the last ten years (since 9-11-01), another song has taken over the 7th Inning Stretch tradition. God Bless America is now a favorite for most ball parks during the fabled stretch. Some love it, and some think that God has nothing to do with baseball and have suggested just singing about peanuts and Cracker Jacks alone. Maybe I am not a baseball purist as I have long thought, but I like God Bless America at the ball park and I especially like it during the 7th inning stretch. Maybe God doesn't care who wins the games, but I believe that God is present there in the ball park as well as everywhere. Why not allow this to be one of those incarnation moments where God dwells among us? Why not seek God's blessing as a part of America's past time and encourage folk to sing God's blessings all the time? Why not allow the 7th Inninng Stretch to remind us that we are not done playing the game of life, but that the game may be coming to a close shortly? Many love the game of baseball as an escape and singing "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" reminds them of the joys of escaping the mundane of life. I suppose I am a realist who knows that eventually the peanuts and Cracker Jacks run out, that they don't fulfill you anyhow, and that the outs remaining dwindle to none and everyone must go home.
Maybe the 7th Inning Stretch will serve as a reminder that God has blessed America and that we should return to blessing God. "Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a New Song." (Psalm 149:1a)
Take me out to the the Ball Game
Take me out to the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks.
I don't care if I ever get back.
For it's root, root, root for the Rangers.
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes. You're OUT!
At the old ball game!
It's an old favorite. Ok, it's not exactly in the Baptist Hymnal or any other hymnal for that matter, but according to real Baseball fans it's a song that must be sung. "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tizer which became the unofficial anthem of baseball. It was first played in a Major League Ball Park in 1935 and was soon after adopted by most Major League Teams and ball parks. The song would catch on and later become a 7th Inning Stretch tradition.
In the last ten years (since 9-11-01), another song has taken over the 7th Inning Stretch tradition. God Bless America is now a favorite for most ball parks during the fabled stretch. Some love it, and some think that God has nothing to do with baseball and have suggested just singing about peanuts and Cracker Jacks alone. Maybe I am not a baseball purist as I have long thought, but I like God Bless America at the ball park and I especially like it during the 7th inning stretch. Maybe God doesn't care who wins the games, but I believe that God is present there in the ball park as well as everywhere. Why not allow this to be one of those incarnation moments where God dwells among us? Why not seek God's blessing as a part of America's past time and encourage folk to sing God's blessings all the time? Why not allow the 7th Inninng Stretch to remind us that we are not done playing the game of life, but that the game may be coming to a close shortly? Many love the game of baseball as an escape and singing "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" reminds them of the joys of escaping the mundane of life. I suppose I am a realist who knows that eventually the peanuts and Cracker Jacks run out, that they don't fulfill you anyhow, and that the outs remaining dwindle to none and everyone must go home.
Maybe the 7th Inning Stretch will serve as a reminder that God has blessed America and that we should return to blessing God. "Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a New Song." (Psalm 149:1a)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
You Gotta Believe Baby!
It is here! The World Series is coming to a Ball Park near you! The Rangers and the Cardinals will square off in this year's Fall Classic. It is tough to predict who will win, who will get hot and hit six home runs in a series (a la Cruz) and who will throw a shut out for nine innings. Baseball is unpredictable and that is why they actually play the games. For instance, with a month left in the season, the Cardinals were 9 games out of the wild card playoff birth and did not actually win a play off spot until the last day of the season when the Braves lost and they won. Yet two playoff series later, the Cardinals are playing for a world championship. That's why they play the games. The unpredictable can happen. The under dog can win. The big hitter can strike out. The slumping hitter can get hot. You never know what can happen when a team starts to believe in themselves and each other.
Let's hope that last year's World Series was simply an introduction for the Rangers and that this year's series is our first world championship! You gotta believe baby! That's a good motto! Most baseball players are typically superstitious. If something works for them, like wearing an old t-shirt under their jersey during a game, then they wear that shirt until it no longer works. If blowing a bubble before an at bat works, then they do it every time there after because it worked once. In the game of baseball you cling to that which works, but there is no substitution for believing in yourself and your team.
Philippians 4:13 reminds us that with God all things are possible. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." In order to meet our goals, fulfill God's mission and win in the game of life, what we may need most is a simple belief that we can actually do it! Of course, we do all things in God's strength. But note that ALL things are possible when we do them in HIS strength. God does fulfill His mission through us as we make ourselves available to be used by Him. But in order to meet our mission, we need to believe more in each other just as we need to believe more in our selves.
Let me offer you these words of encouragement in whatever opportunity or challenge you face today, "You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength." Suppose you lived each day fully believing in this verse. What sort of difference could you make?
See You at the ball game! You Gotta Believe Baby!
Let's hope that last year's World Series was simply an introduction for the Rangers and that this year's series is our first world championship! You gotta believe baby! That's a good motto! Most baseball players are typically superstitious. If something works for them, like wearing an old t-shirt under their jersey during a game, then they wear that shirt until it no longer works. If blowing a bubble before an at bat works, then they do it every time there after because it worked once. In the game of baseball you cling to that which works, but there is no substitution for believing in yourself and your team.
Philippians 4:13 reminds us that with God all things are possible. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." In order to meet our goals, fulfill God's mission and win in the game of life, what we may need most is a simple belief that we can actually do it! Of course, we do all things in God's strength. But note that ALL things are possible when we do them in HIS strength. God does fulfill His mission through us as we make ourselves available to be used by Him. But in order to meet our mission, we need to believe more in each other just as we need to believe more in our selves.
Let me offer you these words of encouragement in whatever opportunity or challenge you face today, "You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength." Suppose you lived each day fully believing in this verse. What sort of difference could you make?
See You at the ball game! You Gotta Believe Baby!
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Lord Is....
A good shepherd knows how to protect the sheep in the fold. A good shepherd carries the staff to drive, guide, redirect, and protect the flock. The crook in the shepherd's staff is a great hook for the sheep that has fallen into the cracks and crevices of the rocky terrain in a wilderness such as many found in Israel. A good staff is a must for a shepherd leading a flock.
As a pastor, I am always aware of the many blessings of a staff. I have been blessed to have a great ministry and support staff at First Baptist Church. As I lead the church, I understand that my role is at times to be out front leading the charge and showing the way (As if to say, "ya'll come on and follow me!"). However, there are times when the shepherd must lead from the back of the pack and guide the flock by gentle nudges in this direction or that. The ideal shepherding location is smack dab in the middle of the flock. It is here that the shepherd has the opportunity to be most intimate with his flock while some are out front showing the way and some are still behind finding the way. It is in the middle of the flock that the pastor can equip, empower and encourage the flock to go, rest or graze. It is in the middle of the flock that pastoral needs are met and wounds are comforted. It is in the middle of the flock where the shepherd pastor can raise up under shepherds to assist in leading and loving the flock.
Every pastor has to employ different leadership modes at different times, but the one constant is that the pastor must always be following the Good Shepherd in order to lead the flock. Every day I pray that I may walk more closely to the Good Shepherd so that I may lead the church effectively and but also because I earnestly desire to walk more intimately with the flock God has granted me to lead.
The best leaders are first good followers!
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside quiet waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He guides m in paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou hath anointed my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all
the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Amen
As a pastor, I am always aware of the many blessings of a staff. I have been blessed to have a great ministry and support staff at First Baptist Church. As I lead the church, I understand that my role is at times to be out front leading the charge and showing the way (As if to say, "ya'll come on and follow me!"). However, there are times when the shepherd must lead from the back of the pack and guide the flock by gentle nudges in this direction or that. The ideal shepherding location is smack dab in the middle of the flock. It is here that the shepherd has the opportunity to be most intimate with his flock while some are out front showing the way and some are still behind finding the way. It is in the middle of the flock that the pastor can equip, empower and encourage the flock to go, rest or graze. It is in the middle of the flock that pastoral needs are met and wounds are comforted. It is in the middle of the flock where the shepherd pastor can raise up under shepherds to assist in leading and loving the flock.
Every pastor has to employ different leadership modes at different times, but the one constant is that the pastor must always be following the Good Shepherd in order to lead the flock. Every day I pray that I may walk more closely to the Good Shepherd so that I may lead the church effectively and but also because I earnestly desire to walk more intimately with the flock God has granted me to lead.
The best leaders are first good followers!
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside quiet waters.
He restoreth my soul;
He guides m in paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for Thou art with me;
Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou hath anointed my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all
the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Amen
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The God of 2nd Chances
In the beginning, God created the whole world, the land and the sea, the sky and the trees; and He created humanity. We were created in God's own image, but our sin put a blemish on the beautiful perfection of His creation.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." John 1:1-2
Therefore, the Word, that was with God in the beginning, became flesh and dwelt among us in order to show us the way to a renewed relationship with God. This renewal is of God and not ourselves so no one can boast. It is by God's grace that we may find a 2nd Chance. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
One day last week, I was playing a round of golf and enjoying the beauty of God's creation in the hill country of TX. There were beautiful sand traps, perfectly placed water holes, tall grassy roughs and rippling greens. :-) Seriously now, the hill sides, trees, deer and birds were an incredible sight to behold. Such a wonderful retreat! As I watched one of my aweful shots carom off a rock and into the woods, I thought about God's grace and the beauty of the mulligan. That's who our God is, He is the God of second chances! That second shot was the same as the first but the outcome was different as the ball rolled up on the green.
Whenever someone gives Jesus their heart and follows Him as Lord and Savior of their life, God re-creates them. Isn't that something! If you know Jesus, you have been re-created into His image. That which was blemished has been made whole again. I was thinking about this the other day and I wrote this prayer below.
A Prayer of Renewal
Create In me:
Grace unto salvation.
Love for the unlovely.
Faith to move mountains.
Hope in the rising Son.
Courage to walk on water, even if alone.
Joy in the midst of sorrow.
Peace in trials.
Wisdom beyond my years.
Victory that can't be mustered on it's own.
Create In me Grace.
Amen
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." John 1:1-2
Therefore, the Word, that was with God in the beginning, became flesh and dwelt among us in order to show us the way to a renewed relationship with God. This renewal is of God and not ourselves so no one can boast. It is by God's grace that we may find a 2nd Chance. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
One day last week, I was playing a round of golf and enjoying the beauty of God's creation in the hill country of TX. There were beautiful sand traps, perfectly placed water holes, tall grassy roughs and rippling greens. :-) Seriously now, the hill sides, trees, deer and birds were an incredible sight to behold. Such a wonderful retreat! As I watched one of my aweful shots carom off a rock and into the woods, I thought about God's grace and the beauty of the mulligan. That's who our God is, He is the God of second chances! That second shot was the same as the first but the outcome was different as the ball rolled up on the green.
Whenever someone gives Jesus their heart and follows Him as Lord and Savior of their life, God re-creates them. Isn't that something! If you know Jesus, you have been re-created into His image. That which was blemished has been made whole again. I was thinking about this the other day and I wrote this prayer below.
A Prayer of Renewal
Create In me:
Grace unto salvation.
Love for the unlovely.
Faith to move mountains.
Hope in the rising Son.
Courage to walk on water, even if alone.
Joy in the midst of sorrow.
Peace in trials.
Wisdom beyond my years.
Victory that can't be mustered on it's own.
Create In me Grace.
Amen
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Dude With the Tude
I have been blessed to serve in a number of churches and in a variety of roles throughout my ministry and to witness an incredible number of Godly people with a love for God and a heart of service. There have been times where I witnessed the ugly side of the church; selfish attitudes, proud self promotion, flesh driven decisions, etc., but it is always the good in the church that keeps me coming back for more. I believe in the church, I love God's people and I thoroughly enjoy serving. Much of this I learned from my parents, but I have always found faithful servants in each church who have encouraged my heart to service. I found such encouragement from a dude with the right attitude.
In the first church I served as a Student minister, there was a man who served the church and did everything that it seemed no one else wanted to do. He took out the trash, worked with the 7th grade boys, helped with the audio ministry, visited the sick and the residents of nursing homes. Every time I turned around, this man was serving and picking up the slack. He always did so with a quiet, humble demeanor.
After witnessing this for a few months, I asked him about his humble service. The man stated, "I just want to be a dude with a Christ like attitude." He pointed out Philippians 2:5-11 as his favorite passage of Scripture and his daily MO. From then on I referred to Him as THE DUDE WITH THE TUDE!
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..........
In the first church I served as a Student minister, there was a man who served the church and did everything that it seemed no one else wanted to do. He took out the trash, worked with the 7th grade boys, helped with the audio ministry, visited the sick and the residents of nursing homes. Every time I turned around, this man was serving and picking up the slack. He always did so with a quiet, humble demeanor.
After witnessing this for a few months, I asked him about his humble service. The man stated, "I just want to be a dude with a Christ like attitude." He pointed out Philippians 2:5-11 as his favorite passage of Scripture and his daily MO. From then on I referred to Him as THE DUDE WITH THE TUDE!
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus..........
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Breaking the Chains
Have you ever felt like you were living in chains? Over the course of time, that's what sin, negative attitudes, selfish ambition, poor daily habits, and even tradition (especially valuing tradition above relationships) can do to you. In fact, you may not even know that you are in chains, but these links can hold you down nonetheless. A few days ago, I listened to a man in a conversation at church and was surprised by the number of people that he slammed through negative overtones and explicit criticism. After this conversation concluded, I wondered about the chains on this man's heart. I wondered if he was unable to experience the daily blessings of God due in part to his negative spirit that seemed to have become a chain on his faith.
Jesus stated to the Jews who had believed in Him:
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
Apparently, there were many who refused to believe in Jesus as the truth, as the messiah sent from God, and they only wanted to rely on their tradition. Anything otherwise, they would criticize. They were God fearing, but they were not God hearing! (8:47) Whenever God speaks, He may do so through a new voice other than the one of tradition and heritage. As children of Abraham, many of the Jews believed that they were covered, their sin was redeemed and their attitudes mattered not. This they believed was true simply because they were born Jewish. However, Jesus makes claim to be the Messiah and God Himself when He states, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!" (8:58) At this the people picked up stones in an effort to stone Jesus because He is making claim to deity. If only they had listened to the truth. If only their hearts had softened, their tradition had not been so deeply rooted that they were unwilling to change and their spirit had been willing to yield to what God was doing in their midst. Instead, their lack of faith and unwillingness to change (or even listen to the Lord Jesus) led them into the deep pit of pride and sin.
This would never happen today would it? Would anyone, including you and me, ever fail to listen to what Jesus wanted to do in our lives, family, church and community? Could you ever turn your heart against a movement of God simply because the change was too difficult to grasp? Could you ever pick up a stone in opposition to what God is doing and the messenger God has sent? Could you ever be filled with a critical spirit that tears others down instead of building others up? Is it possible that you are living in chains and don't even know it? Until we were separated from the chains, we do not know fully the power and presence of God in our lives.
A few years ago, I wrote this poem as a confessional during my personal daily devotional in a season where I needed to turn to God to overcome some things that were binding me. I pray the Lord blesses you with the same freedom that I experience through Him!
Breaking the Chains
One of these days,
I'm gonna break the chains.
One of these days,
I'm gonna walk away.
I'm gonna break these chains that bind me.
I'm gonna walk away and find me.
One of these days,
I'm gonna break the chains.
This is the day that I'm gonna break these chains!
This is the day that I'm gonna walk away!
Jesus I pray you break these chains that bind me!
Jesus I want to walk away and find thee!
This is the day I am gonna leave these chains!
Jesus stated to the Jews who had believed in Him:
"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
Apparently, there were many who refused to believe in Jesus as the truth, as the messiah sent from God, and they only wanted to rely on their tradition. Anything otherwise, they would criticize. They were God fearing, but they were not God hearing! (8:47) Whenever God speaks, He may do so through a new voice other than the one of tradition and heritage. As children of Abraham, many of the Jews believed that they were covered, their sin was redeemed and their attitudes mattered not. This they believed was true simply because they were born Jewish. However, Jesus makes claim to be the Messiah and God Himself when He states, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!" (8:58) At this the people picked up stones in an effort to stone Jesus because He is making claim to deity. If only they had listened to the truth. If only their hearts had softened, their tradition had not been so deeply rooted that they were unwilling to change and their spirit had been willing to yield to what God was doing in their midst. Instead, their lack of faith and unwillingness to change (or even listen to the Lord Jesus) led them into the deep pit of pride and sin.
This would never happen today would it? Would anyone, including you and me, ever fail to listen to what Jesus wanted to do in our lives, family, church and community? Could you ever turn your heart against a movement of God simply because the change was too difficult to grasp? Could you ever pick up a stone in opposition to what God is doing and the messenger God has sent? Could you ever be filled with a critical spirit that tears others down instead of building others up? Is it possible that you are living in chains and don't even know it? Until we were separated from the chains, we do not know fully the power and presence of God in our lives.
A few years ago, I wrote this poem as a confessional during my personal daily devotional in a season where I needed to turn to God to overcome some things that were binding me. I pray the Lord blesses you with the same freedom that I experience through Him!
Breaking the Chains
One of these days,
I'm gonna break the chains.
One of these days,
I'm gonna walk away.
I'm gonna break these chains that bind me.
I'm gonna walk away and find me.
One of these days,
I'm gonna break the chains.
This is the day that I'm gonna break these chains!
This is the day that I'm gonna walk away!
Jesus I pray you break these chains that bind me!
Jesus I want to walk away and find thee!
This is the day I am gonna leave these chains!
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