Our Time...

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered-how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” (Psalm 39:4-5)

The legendary retired NFL Coach Joe Gibbs told a story of one day when he wrapped up one of his 12-14 hour days that he commonly put in while coaching the Washington Redskins. He said he went to his boy’s room one night to kiss them good night but realized something-they were no longer boys but men. He had missed his sons growing up. The price he paid was very high and the price his family paid was even higher.

How much time each day do we spend doing things that don’t matter? The older I get and the more demands I have on my life the more I have guarded my time. This of course makes some people mad but I’ve learned through watching others mistakes and I am determined not to sacrifice my life or my families at the altar of other things that don’t matter.

A well meaning guy not long ago (this seems to happen a lot to pastors) approached me about helping coach a football team. It’s not that this wasn’t important it just isn’t something that I would need to do right now. When I responded by telling him that I didn’t have time he looked at me confused and said ignorantly, “You can’t be that busy being a youth pastor.”(I guess this person thought I play paintball all day with kids)While I know he didn’t know any better or know that I could easily book every night of the week I stood my ground saying what so many of us need to learn to say-“NO!”. Hear is a startling revelation. What if you said “Yes” to everybody that asked you to do something? Revelation…You have “0” time left.

We fill our schedules with long hours of work (which isn’t always necessarily bad as long as it’s balanced annd not neglecting), 2-3 hobbies, late nights, and doing other things that yes, may be fun but don’t matter any more for eternity than chewing gum. What about doing things that do matter? What about spending time with the one whom we will give account to? What about prayer? Most people (including ministers) spend maybe at best 15 minutes a day praying to the God of the universe! 15 minutes! Yet, we get mad when these ministers say no to something we ask them to do yet expect them to hear from God!? We spend 8 hours a week watching T.V. and 15 minutes a day with God?! Is that messed up?

What about our families? What about our greatest responsibilities? Our kids? Our husbands and wives? They have far too many times been put on the back burner to sports, “ministry”, and other things. We work so many hours a week and justify it by “providing” for them. Is it really providing for our family we are after or that “step-up” in society? That extra car? That bigger house? That larger bank account? That “extra” money? What if we took a cut in our lavish lifestyles so that we could spend more time with things (people) that won’t burn up instead of the things that will (houses, cars, etc.). As an author once put it, “Full-time job + Full-time job= something gets neglected (most of the times our families). Spend time investing in your families! Before you know it your young ones will be grown and out of the house! As a youth pastor so many times I have to do what mom or dad should be doing (taking them to eat, movies, spending quality time with them, etc.). We need to spend time “ministering” to our own kids before we “minister” to others! Amen? I can’t tell you how blown away at how quickly my little girl is growing up. Sometimes I go in her room at night and just stare at her and ask God to please help me make the most of my time with her! Because before you and I know it we will blink and our kids will be grown, we will have gray hair on our head, and our lives will be done. Then what? Only the things we spent time doing will stand the test of time.

Please guys, I encourage you to sit down and take a serious look at how we spend our time. Take a serious look at your priorities, your schedule, your motives, and remember our life is but a mist and vapor! I love you and have prayed for all of you today!

Back from Cruise

(left: Jodi and I taking pic of selves from boat; bottom is a pic of the beautiful waters of Cozumel, Mexico that we took from the cruise ship)








Jodi and I just returned from a much needed vacation! We went on our very first cruise where we went to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico! Dodging hurricanes! Swaying all over the place! Free Food! No cell phone or laptop! Now that's a vacation! What a trip!

We all need time to recharge and spend time with those closest to us-our family!

A Night at the Parents

So with the storm knocking out the power at our home (it gets very dark in the country) we have stayed the last few nights at my parents. It's kinda cool to be hanging out again in the home where I grew up (Not to mention free food!). My daughter Gracen absolutely loves my parents! Maybe it's because she can get away with just about anything or maybe she senses the love that they have for her. I'm sure it's a little of both.

It's kind of weird not having service tonight but that has allowed me to prepare for next week's service (although Jodi and I will be chillin on a cruise ship somewhere).

Tomorrow I have a meeting planning a "Fifth Quarter" Event with some of my volunteer leaders as well as some serious XBox Madden playing with some of our students. I'm sure it will cause for an interesting day!

Sleep Good!

A lesson from Jury Duty

Jury Duty. It is something that we all want to avoid and any time we get that summons in the mail we automtically start thinking of ways to get out of it. I got that little sheet of paper in the mail not long ago and was chosen to serve on a jury in an aggravated rape case. This was a charge that if convicted would put this person behind bars for the rest of his or her life. I sat in a court room for six long days to see and hear things I wish to never see and hear again as long as I live. Based on the evidence or lack of evidence that was placed before me I was to judge this persons actions. I can’t begin to describe the overwhelming burden that I felt on my shoulders and the accountability to God that I sensed. Feeling torn all week about a man who was charged with a hideous crime and on another hand thinking of the victims that were involved is enough to keep a person up at night. I can’t explain how humbled I was when Saturday came around to place our verdict. I then realized how incapable and unworthy I was to judge a humans life here on earth let alone an eternal verdict. What if we were wrong? What if we did miss something? All I know is one day there is a King who sits upon a throne and He will judge each and every one of our lives. This Judge will deliver a verdict that will be 100% accurate! Completely fair! No guessing! No questioning! Jesus Christ is worthy to judge our lives!

“Remember, we will all stand before the judgement seat of God.” (Romans 14:10c)

Breaking Ground

Wow! What an exciting night back we had in the student ministry at Family Church! With the new school year under way we had our very first complete "split night" for our Junior High and Senior High Ministries. It is our desire to keep these ministries seperate and last night was the first giant step of faith we took! Seperate worship, teaching, and breakout groups took place for the very first time! We had a great showing to start off the year and we are excited to see what God will do this school year!

Submerge Recap Service

What a great Family Service we had last night in the main sanctuary of Family Church as we had a recap night of last weeks 2008 Summer Retreat to Laguna Beach, Florida. The students as well as adults engaged in dynamic worship led by Johnathan and Victoria Worley, followed by cutting edge videos by Jay Curtis, and life-changing testimonies by Bekah Lewis, Seth Spillers, and David and Jordyn Crain. It never gets old hearing of lives that Jesus Christ has touched!

I pray the momentum will keep going strong as we approach the fall sememser of the year!

Is the Holy Spirit guiding your life?

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants." (Galatians 5:16-17a)

So how do you know that the Holy Spirit of God is guiding your lives? Because you say so? Because you go to church every time the doors are open? Because you know how to talk the talk so to speak? Have you ever heard someone profess that the Spirit of God is guiding their lives but something just doesn't seem to be adding up? Well, the way you can tell if someone is being guided by the Holy Spirit or not is the fruit or lack of fruit they will bear.

"But the Holy Spirit produces this king of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Wow, let's start with love. What is the God kind of love we are suppose to be walking in? It's found in the famous "Love Chapter" in I. Corinthians 13:4-5. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude." Okay, let's stop there. Have you been patient with people? With your wife? With your kids? How about kind? To people you work with? Have you been rude? What about sarcastic?

What about joy? If the Spirit of God is leading your lives there will be joy! Yes, joy even in the midst of storms. Have you ever been around someone that is always sour, negative, and just plain out in a bad mood? Is the Spirit of God truly leading their lives?

What about peace? I know Christians that have absolutely no peace in their lives. They are always stressed out, anxious, and are worried to the core! When the Spirit of God is leading our lives there will be the fruit of peace.

Patience. Have you ever prayed for that fruit? Well, don't unless you truly mean it! God will certainly give you patience but you must be tried with the things that will result in patience!
Have you been irritable towards others? Short? Cranky? When the Spirit of God is truly in control we will become more patient.

Have you become more faithful, good, and exercised self-control? What about more faithful to God's word? Your family? What about holding your tongue when you know you should? Self-control? When the Spirit of God leads our lives we should have more self-control over our tongues not necessarily more blunt! There is a time for bluntness yes, but there is a time to refrain as well.

Kind and gentle? Have you become more kind and gentle towards others this year? Or have you been harsh and rough around the edges? When the Spirit of God guides our lives we will become more kind and gentle with others!

So after reading this fruit check list so to speak how are you coming along? When the Spirit of God is leading our lives the fruits we read about in Galatians will be evident for all to see in our lives!

Re-cap this Wednesday Night!!!

We will have re-cap of last weeks summer retreat at Laguna Beach, Florida this Wednesday Night in the main sanctuary at 7 P.M.

Come out and hear dynamic worship, live testimonies, and awesome videos from the life-changing week we had!

Day 2

Last Night's Service and...Day 2

Last Night's Service

The Holy Spirit came BIG TIME during last night's service. I've never before seen our young people so engaged in worship than when they unashamadely lifted up the Lord last night! Our God is so big, so wonderful, and so holy how could we hold back even the slightest bit of our heart? A God like that deserves our all!

Pastor Kevin Bates brought a wonderful word which was recieved very well by our students. He talked about hunger and thirst for God. He talked about how we must empty ourselves out so that we can fill ourselves with the things of God! Its awesome to just sit back and watch God be God. You don't have to "hype things up." You dont' have to control or manipulate kids into coming to an altar. When we allow God to "do His thing" He is the one who does the drawing of the hearts and that is what will "stick"!

Day 2

We had some cool random relay games down by the beach this morning to help kick off our day. Our students have been split up into six different teams for the week which include Team Hurricane, Tsunami, Tidal Wave, Sting Ray, and Rip Tide! They relayed sandbags, water balloons, and an oil fish! (yes, it looks like it sounds).

Tonight my expectations of what God will do is very, very high! Please pray for us!

Day 1 Pics

We are here...safe and sound! (Day 1)

So after having a bit of bus trouble we finally made it to Laguna Beach yesterday! What great attitudes our students had as they patiently waited to switch buses!

After a few hours on the beach yesterday the students had NO problem warming up in some high-energy, upbeat worship during last night's service! It was intense and they sweat was pouring!

This morning we kicked it off with a few very creative games on the beach, some tug-of-war, and the beach blast game (recommended not to play if you get tired easily which I fall into). The food is scrumptious, the weather is great, ministry is happenin in small groups, and tonight we dive head first in! Our worship team will be leading us into some intense worship before Kevin Bates comes up and brings the word to this generation! I can 't wait!

Parents, your kids are doing great and are safe! No worries! :)

I'm having a bit of trouble downloading pics so I hope I can get that fixed soon!

Keep praying for us!

Beck

Submerge...Getting in Over your Head

Well...it's almost here. This years 2008 E3 Student Ministry Summer Retreat to Laguna Beach, Florida! This coming Sunday night over 113 students and youth workers will load up on a couple of Mayo Tour Buses for a life-changing week!

This week is all about challenging the students to live a life of full-devotion to Jesus Christ. My man Kevin Bates (Pastor of Life Church Winnsboro) will be bringin it each night!

Please be in prayer for our student ministry as we will spend five days of fun in the sun, games, relationships, and of course LIFE-CHANGE!

The way of the cross

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” (I. Corinthians 1:18)

“Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Philippians 3:17-18)

The cross. We see it hung around peoples necks as jewelry. For others they have them hung in their homes. It has been a fad in stores who carry them in different shapes, sizes, and colors. But is the cross really something appealing? The truth is the cross was where our Lord suffered, hung, and bleed for the sins of the world. He was and is the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world! That message, the cross, is what saves and transforms lives! For some churches it is still preached with passion but for others it is a faded teaching that is seldom heart anymore. The truth is the message of the cross is still as powerful today than when it was first preached! It still saves and transforms lives!

For centuries people have had a desire to know God or a “god”. Some cultures seek him in the moon, the sun, or in some other part of creation. Some people seek him in buddsim, islam, etc. But there has always been and always will be only one way to God-through Jesus Christ! So how do we get to Christ? By merley confessing? By just believing he exists? The truth is to come to Jesus you have to come by the way of the cross! There is no way around it! The cross represents death to sin and death to self!

In Mark 8:31-33, Jesus began to tell his disciples the terrible things that he would be faced with and even his death. In verse 32 it says, “As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.”
Verse 33 “Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Wow! That same voice still whispers in people’s minds and ears today, “You don’t have to go by the way of the Cross.” In other words Satan is saying, “You don’t’ have to die to your old way of life” “You don’t have to die to yourself.” “You don’t have to die to your sin!” You can confess Jesus and stil live how you want!” “You can still confess Jesus just don’t get radical and make changes.” “You don’t have to do what God’s word says, just do what feels good to you.” “Just don’t die!” “Don’t go to the cross”!

Satan was trying to distract Jesus and trying to get him to go another route but the truth is there was no other route! He had to go to the cross!

Jesus goes on to say in verse 34, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”

People want to go to heaven but they don’t want to repent of their sins! People want to know Jesus they just don’t want to “die”. But if we truly want to know Christ the way He wants us to know Him we have to go by the way of the cross! It is the cross or the message behind it that transforms us! It is what stops us from living for ourselves and gives us the power to live for him!

The way God sees it...

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord.'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

The more I study and read God's word the more I realize how differently His ways are than ours. God's views are so much different than the way the world would view things. So if it were up to us to choose people in whom God would work through how would we go about that? Would we choose the most skilled, gifted, talented, handsome or beautiful person? According to the way the Lord chose David that's not exactly how He went about it. You see He sees things man can't-he goes straight for the heart! With what man is impressed with God necessarily isn't! We look outwardly He looks inwardly.

"Now the Lord said to Samuel, "You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem...Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you which of his sons to anoint for me."...When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, "Surely this is the Lord's anointed!" But the Lord said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Now this happened to all seven of Jesse's sons but Samuel was a bit thrown off because none of them, as impressive as they looked, were the Lord's anointed.

"Then Samuel asked, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse replied. "But he's out in the fields watching the sheep and goats."

Wow! Jesse didn't even see it right to bring David in with the rest of the sons to even be considered! He was out tending to sheep and goats! Jesse obviously didn't see what God could see! Jesse saw a shepherd animals but God saw a SHEPHERD OF PEOPLE! God saw a warrior! God saw a giant killer!

"So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, "This is the one; anoint him."

Can you imagine David coming in smelling like sheep dung, hot, sweaty, and stinky? Yes, he was dark and handsome but this isn't why God chose him! Can you imagine the brothers reaction when they heard the prophets words, "This is the one"! Can you imagine what they thought?
"What!" David! "The guy that watches sheep?" "The guy that isn't trained? "The guy that isn't educated?"

Isn't that how people react sometimes? "God could never use this person or that person you don't know what they've done" "God could never use that person they don't use good English. God could never use this person they don't speak well in public."

You see, what the brothers didn't know is that David was in training. He learned to hear God's voice as he was peacefully staring at the stars at night while the sheep lay asleep. He learned how to worship God in the fields with his harp as he sat for hours as the sheep grazed. He learned courage, boldness, trust, and faith when he had to fight off enemies like the lion and bear! He was in God's school of training! Yes, no one else could see but God was at work in this young man's heart because He saw a King!

My prayer is, "Lord, help us to see things the way you see them. Help us see the potential in people that you see!"

Another arrow in the quiver!

One of the greatest joys I have as a father is to drive to my country home in the evening after a long day to be greeted by my two year old daughter on our front porch! There is just something about seeing a precious life that is so happy to see you! It just does something to a father's heart. I wonder if that is how God feels when we come to him so childlike?

Anyways, last Tuesday evening I drive home to just that scenario except this time my little girl was holding a couple of white sticks in her hand with her mother standing by. "I big sister daddy". "What's that you say baby?", I said as I took a closer look at her "sticks". Once I realized they weren't sticks but two pregnancy tests which were both POSITIVE I was filled with joy! So my wife of almost six years is now pregnant with baby #2.

Building a Godly family God's way is one of the biggest joys and responsibilities I have ever had as a man. What a joy to love, train, discipline, and encourage a family towards full devotion to Christ! This is something I will never outgrow.

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates." (Psalm 127:3-5)

The Gift of Peace

“I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.” (John 14:27-28)

As Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure from this world he told them about a gift that man kind has sought and still seeks-the gift of peace. You see He knew that fear, doubt, and uncertainty would try to creep in their hearts and minds. He was assuring them that He would send the Holy Spirit and that one day He would return! Many people seek this gift of peace through riches, material possessions, financial security, fame, popularity, power, etc. How come that so many of the people that have actually found these things mentioned above take their own lives, drink themselves to sleep every ngiht, and die over drug overdose? Peace eludes them because peace isn’t found in such things but only in a right standing relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said the gift of peace that I give you the world cannot give! When troubles strick or when trials come believers don’t have to be afraid because of the peace of knowing that God is in control! When 9-11 hit so many people were struck with fear, anxiety, uncertainty, but those whose trust is in Christ alone peace was able to reign in our hearts and lives. There is coming a day where people’s hearts will fail them because of fear and only those whose hearts and minds are guarded with peace will be able to stand strong.

Do you experience the peace of God in your life or have you looked for peace to come in other ways?

True Greatness...True Success

I will have the honor of ministering the word of God in my home church this Sunday morning on the title, "True Greatness...True Success. The Kingdom of God's definition of this compared to the Kingdom of this world is greatly different! Why not come and visit Family Church this Sunday morning or watch it on the Internet at www.familychurch.org (service is posted a few days later). Please be in prayer for the service.

Happy Mother's Day!

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” (II. Timothy 1:5)

“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciplies scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.” (Matthew 19:13-15)

I think the first verse of the passage above is so very powerful. “One day some parents brought their children to Jesus...” The first perception or impression children first have of God is from their parents. I guess that could either have a positive or negative effect upon the children based upon the parents lives and teaching. Would the children ever have come to Jesus if the parents wouldn’t have brought them to see Him? I know it’s the Lords desire for the “parents” to do it together but so many times it’s been the faithful moms. The “Lois and Eunices of the faith”. Mothers, thank you for bringing your children to Jesus! Everytime you lived out the life in front of your kids you were helping them see Christ. Every prayer you have lifted up on their behalf, every time you faithfully brought them to church, and every time you would teach them Bible stories coming up you were pointing them to Jesus. You single moms, thank yo for not giving up. Thank you, even after life dealt you a hard blow that you continued to walk faithfully before our Lord.
When the parents attempted to bring their children to Christ the disciples scolded them for bothering Christ but that didn’t stop them from getting to Him. Thank you mothers for not giving up when the world shouted at you to “give up. Let up, or cast discouragement on you for continuing to get your kids to Jesus. When the world would fight for your time, attention, and concerns you continued to press on for your family.
There are so many wonderful things mothers you have done for church, family, and your children! Thank you!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Beck

Set free!

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Think of how many people are out there that don’t have a revelation of John the Baptist’s statement about Jesus. “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” Think of how many people are out there that need to know that they don’t have to continue to live in their sins because Jesus came to take them away! They don’t have to continue to live in darkness! They don’t have to continue to live in bondgage, in addiction, or condemnation! Christ came to take those sins away! They were nailed with the rest of the sin of the world on the cross in which Jesus hung! Many people have information about Christ but what they need is a revelation about Christ and who He is! In Mark Chapter 8 Jesus asked, “Who do people say I am?” and they responded with people’s different answers and information about Him. It was only Peter in verse 29 that had a revelation of who Christ was! “Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” In another gospel in the Bible Jesus responded by saying, “Blessed are you Simon (Peter) for flesh and blood didn’t reveal this to you but my Father in heaven.”

You see when we come to know Christ and His power we have been set free and don’t have to sin anymore! We don’t have to! We may choose to, but we don’t have to! Why? Because we are no longer slaves to sin! Chrsit has set us free!

“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)

Has the Lamb of God taken away your sins?

"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free." (John 8:36)