After more than a month...

After more than a month of not having much to write about...I think I'm ready. That doesn't mean I haven't had something to talk about for a month. In fact, I just finished 5 weeks of sermons laying out what I believe God would have us focus on as a ministry. I am convinced that Jesus Christ called us to "make disciples." As a church we are going to be very intentional and strategic in our approach to making disciples and we are going to be motivated by excellence in all our efforts to the glory of God. It excites me to think about us sharpening our focus and keying in on the thing that brings God the most glory in the lives of his children - Christ likeness. We look and sound more like Christ as we mature - as we begin and continue to Worship God, Connect in the body, Serve the body and Grow in our understanding of God through His Word.

I'm convinced of another thing that we need to focus on at Haven...Prayer. I've been talking to several folks over the last few weeks about my burden for prayer at Haven. In seminary I was trained how to evaluate ministries by either their stated or unstated but assumed core values. One of the questions you would ask of a ministry being evaluated was ""Are they doing the things they say they value?" It wasn't enough to say you valued something if you were not doing it. In that line of thought, I was asking myself this question - "Do we value prayer at Haven?" The knee-jerk response might have been "Absolutely we value prayer; what kind of question is that." However, I wasn't asking if Haven believes prayer is good or if Haven believes that prayer is important. I know that every person associated with our church would agree that prayer is good and important. Yet my response was "No, we don't value prayer at Haven." My response did more to point the finger at me than anyone else. Someone has once said, "If you want to know what's important to someone, look at their checkbook register." Most folks don't use a checkbook so much anymore but I think you get the point. People spend their money on the things that are important to them. And in the same way, people spend time doing the things that are important to them. We don't spend a whole lot of time praying at Haven. Actually, we don't spend much time at all. Maybe you're praying on your own. That excites me but it doesn't let me off the hook as the leader of this local body. To my shame, I don't think I have done a good job leading Haven to value prayer. I've got to do better. I have resolved to strive for a stronger personal prayer life. I have also resolved to lead this ministry to focus on prayer. To a place on our knees before God asking Him to lead us and empower us to be and do all that He desires.

I'm trying to think of ways that we can focus more time in prayer in our worship services. As pastor, I've wanted to take time to lead us in times of prayer during our worship in song but I have allowed playing the drums with the praise team to hinder that. Not anymore. It might be odd for me to lead in prayer from a drum stool but then what could be more odd than a pastor who also plays drums on Sunday. The point is that we, as a body, need more focused prayer time on Sunday.

But I don't want us to simply stop at praying more on Sundays though. I want us to go farther to recreate a culture at Haven that says "we value prayer because we make it a priority." One way that I would like for us to begin making prayer at priority is by adjusting our Wednesday night program for the entire summer. For 13 Wednesday nights (every Wednesday in June, July & August) we will open the auditorium from 6:00 - 8:00 pm for prayer - no teaching - just prayer. During those two hours we want our folks to come and spend as much time as God leads. We don't expect anyone to come and stay the whole 2 hours. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure what to expect. I do, however, expect that God will hear us and answer us according to His perfect and holy will.

I can almost hear some of you (even my own wife) saying "What about our small kids; what are we supposed to do with them?" Honestly, I don't know. I haven't thought that far out. I think you can bring them and I think that they can watch as the family begins to value prayer in a new way. But, if that's uncomfortable I can surely understand. Who knows, someone might just pop up and say "Hey, I believe that God would like for me to commit to watching small kids on Wednesdays this summer while their parents have a chance to pray." We might even think of ways to get creative and take turns as parents. Either way, I want every family to be a part of this opportunity and we'll figure out the logistics together.

Maybe you're afraid that you'll be pressured to pray out loud. Fear not. This will be a time when you can come and go as you please with no pressure of any kind. Some folks might want to pray out loud. But you don't have to. We do want to encourage folks to pray together if they will. It would be wonderful if several folks got together as a group and just connected in prayer for the evening. But if you want to be alone that's okay too. If you want someone to pray with you or for you, we want to be able to do that too.

Here's the bottom line. I believe that God will honor our desire to make disciples. I believe that our process for discipleship is rooted in scripture and theologically sound. I believe that if God does not empower us that we will fall flat on our faces. I want Haven to succeed in ministry. I want Haven to be a sweet aroma in the nostrils of God. I believe that will only be achieved as we come humbly before Him in prayer. I'm excited about the fall but my dad use to say "Half the fun of being there is getting there." That wasn't always true then but I believe it's the absolute truth for us now. Let's be excited about being there but let's also recognize our need to get their bathed in prayer. Hope you're on board.

Something you must hear...

In the spring of last year I was given the greatest honor that Dallas Seminary could have offered me - to preach in chapel during Senior Preaching Week. For me, that was the mountain top experience of seminary.

This year my friend Bill Gressette was given this same honor. Bill is a "man's man." He's huge. He's a southern boy too - South Carolina born and raised. He's a Clemson fan and that proves that he too still possesses a depraved nature but I love Bill. Bill is the real deal. I took time to watch his sermon today and it was so much what I needed. I believe that every Christian would benefit greatly by hearing and heeding Bill's challenge. Please take the time to watch and respond.

Click here to watch.

Great job Bill!

Passion Week: FINISHED

RESURRECTION SUNDAY!

"Christ was resurrected from the dead (Matt. 28:1-15; Mk. 16:1-13; Lk 24:1-35; Jn. 20:1-18). He was a type of the offering of the first fruits which was offered the day after the Sabbath (Lev. 23:9-14; 1 Cor. 15:23)." H. Hoehner

He is alive! Sin and death have been defeated! Satan has lost! What God had planned before creation has come to pass and He stands victorious! On the cross He waged the war but in resurrection He has claimed the victory!
Are you a follower of Jesus Christ? Have you ever by faith accepted as true what the Bible has revealed about what God the Father planned, God the Son obeyed and God the Holy Spirit empowered? You can be his follower, a believer, like me. Click here to learn how you can, by faith, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.

Passion Week: Saturday

"As Jesus was lying in the tomb during the Sabbath, the Pharisees secured Roman guards to keep watch of the tomb (Matt. 27:61-66; Mk. 15:47; Lk. 23:55-56)." H. Hoehner

Passion Week: Friday

"Early in the morning, Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod Antipas and Pilate again (Matt. 27:1-30; Mk. 15:1-19; Lk. 22:66-23:25; Jn. 18:28-19:16). Jesus was then led to the cross and crucified at 9:00 a.m. and died at 3:00 p.m. and was buried later that day (Matt. 27:31-60; Mk. 15:20-46; Lk. 23:26-54; Jn. 19:1-42). Christ the Paschal Lamb (1 Cor. 5:7) died at the time when the Israelites were sacrificing their Passover lambs." H. Hoehner

Behold the Lamb.
See Him.
Watch the brutality.
Observe the inhumanity.
Hear those that hate - their curses, their jokes and jeers.
Feel with those that loved - the loss of a friend, the loss of a leader, the loss of a son, the loss of hope, the loss of all that they had believed...loss.
Yes we know the end of the story, but today...let us dwell on today.
Anger.
Hate.
Revenge.
Destruction.
Rebellion.
Rejection.
Pain.
Suffering.
Darkness.
Separation.
Sacrifice.
Love.
Grace.
Forgiveness.

Death...

"Love so amazing, so divine; demands my soul, my life, my all."

Passion Week: Thursday

"On this day, Jesus and His disciples prepare the Passover lamb (Matt. 26:17-19; Mk. 14:12-16; Lk. 22:7-13), and He and His disciples had their Passover meal in the Upper Room (Matt. 26:20-30; Mk. 14:17-26; Lk. 22:14-30; Jn. 13:1-14:31). Leaving the Upper Room, Jesus had a discourse with His disciples and offered an intercessory prayer in their behalf (Matt. 26:30-35; Mk. 14:26-31; Lk. 22:31-39; Jn. 15:1-18:1). They arrived a the Garden of Gethsemane, and it was here where Jesus suffered in agony (Matt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1). Later that night Jesus was betrayed and arrested (Matt. 26:47-56, Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12). During the rest of that night, Jesus was (illegally) first tried by Annas and later by Caiaphas with the religious leaders (Matt. 26:57-75; Mk. 14:53-72; Lk. 22:54-65; Jn. 18:13-27)." H. Hoehner

If you did not click on the scripture passages in bold, go back right now and read each of them. Don't listen to what I have to say until you first hear what God has said.


There are many different things we could focus on in all these passages. One, however, sticks out more than all the others to me. That scene is found in John 13. Jesus put on the attire of a servant and began washing the feet of His disciples. The King of Kings, the LORD of all creation, the God of heaven and earth took on the role of a slave and washed the feet of the twelve. Yes, there were still twelve in the room at that time. Yes, He took the feet of Judas and cupped them in His holy hands. Yes, He brought refreshment to the very one who had already made plans to betray Him. Friends, is a preview of the great grace of God to be demonstrated and offered at Calvary!

Before you drop off to sleep tonight try to remember that Jesus, on the night He was arrested, was allowed very little sleep. Already exhausted from agony in prayer Jesus began the final stages of His examination. See Him for yourself. He is the Lamb without spot.

Passion Week: Wednesday

"Wednesday, on the way to Jerusalem, the disciples saw the withered fig tree (Matt. 21:20-21; Mk. 11:20-26). At the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus had a day of controversy with the religious leaders (Matt. 21:23-23:39; Mk. 11:27-12:44; Lk. 20:1-21:4). That afternoon Jesus went to the mount of Olives and delivered the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:1-25:46; Mk. 13:1-37; Lk. 21:5-36). Two additional things occurred that day: (1) Jesus predicted that in two days He would be crucified at the time of the Passover (Matt. 26:1-5; Mk. 14:1-2; Lk. 22:1-2); and (2) Judas planned the betrayal of Christ with the religious leaders (Matt. 26:14-16: Mk. 14:10-11; Lk. 22:3-6). " H. Hoehner

One of the most difficult passages in the New Testament to wrestle with is the Olivet Discourse. Many hundreds of books have been dedicated to explaining this part of Matthew's gospel particularly. Someone will generally understand this passage through the filter of how they believe the Bible relates to us those events of the "end times." All true Christians believe that what Jesus revealed will come true just like He said it would. Yet not all Christians will agree on when those events will take place. They disagree because there are multiple approaches to the doctrine of End Times or Eschatology. I see this passage through Dispensational, Pre-Millennial, Pre-Tribulational lenses. What does all that mean? I was afraid you'd ask that. I'll try to explain.

Because I am Dispensational, I believe that God has and will deal with Israel in a special and unique way. The promises that God made to Israel were and are for Israel only. That doesn't mean that all followers of Christ won't enjoy some benefits of the promises but it does mean that I believe God never promised me any land. So I see that what Jesus is referring to in the Olivet Discourse has to do with Israel specifically and not the church. Incidentally in this passage, I also believe that in several places Jesus refers to the near and distant future without much indication of when He shifts.

I believe in a thing called the Tribulation. I believe that scripture clearly describes a time when God will pour out his judgment on the nation of Israel for rejecting their Messiah. I believe that the books of Daniel and Revelation (among others) also have much to say about this time as well. I believe that Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, is refering to events that will happen in A.D. 70 (when Jerusalem is destroyed by the Roman general Titus) as well as events that will happen in the time many refer to as The Great Tribulation. Because I am Pre-Millennial, I believe that the Tribulation will occur prior to Christ returning to rule on this earth for 1000 years, which is still in the future.

I believe in a thing call the Rapture. I believe that the scripture clearly describes a time when Christ will "snatch away" his church - those who have placed their faith and trust in His death and resurrection. Because I am Pre-Tribulational, I believe that the Rapture will occur prior to The Tribulation. Since I believe that Jesus is refering specifically to Israel in the Olivet Discourse, I don't believe that it has anything to do with the Rapture. I don't believe that 24:40-41, which talks about one being taken and one being left, refers to the Rapture. Some might disagree but I believe they will uncover many more problems to deal with if they try to see the Rapture in this passage.

Some dear brothers and sisters might read this post and disagree with almost everything I have written with the exception of the following: (1) they will agree that what Matthew wrote was inspired and inerrent; (2) they will agree that what Jesus said was and is true and that it will or has happened just like He said; (3) they will agree that Jesus will return to this earth someday and (3) they will agree that the Olivet Discourse "is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). That's the beauty of the body of Christ. In the essentials - unity. In the non-essentials - liberty. In everything - charity.

I walk away from the Olivet Discourse and see that God is in control, that God's promises are sure, that God must be approached on His terms no matter who your ancestors are and that God's judgment is eminent. God help us to see that Lamb that will be honored, one day, by all.

Passion Week: Tuesday

"On the way from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus cursed the fig tree (Matt. 21:18-19; Mk. 11:12-14) and then He went to Jerusalem to cleanse the temple (Matt. 21:12-13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45-46). The religious leaders began to seek how they might destroy Him that evening, and that evening Jesus left Jerusalem, presumably returning to Bethany (Mk. 11:18-19; Lk. 19:47-48)" H.Hoehner

Since I generally take Mondays off (from the office at least), Tuesday is the day when I try to get my week started and I often feel like I don't get much accomplished. For Jesus, however, on this Tuesday what might seem small to us (only 8 verses) was actually the opposite.

Consider first the fig tree. I'm no horticulturalist but based on what I have read on this event, it's quite a telling and fitting illustration of the nation of Israel (primarily their leadership). As I understand it, though it was not the normal season for figs, it was not improbable for the tree to have either late fruit from the Fall or early fruit in the Spring. The issue was this; on a fig tree, the full leaves that cover the tree always follow the fruit. The tree was "demonstrating" it's fruitfulness by presenting it's leaves. However, when Jesus arrived he found that the tree, like the nation of Israel, was barren of fruit. The tree was a hypocrite - like Israel's leaders. So Christ cursed the hypocritical tree - like Israel's leaders. The Jewish leadership was responsible for pointing the nation to Messiah. There's no way that they could have been mistaken about who Jesus was yet they refused to acknowledge Him as such. Examine the Lamb for yourself. He is true.

Lastly, consider the temple scene. And what a scene it was. This was the second time Jesus had taken strong action on those who turned the temple into a Farmer's Market (see John 2:13-16 for the first account). If you think of Jesus as this soft-spoken, mouse of a man, then you need to listen carefully to these verses. For the second time in just 3 years, Jesus is dumping tables and chasing people (and evidently animals) out of the house constructed for the worship of His Father. Jesus was not a weak man; He just chose his battles well. He refused to let "the house of prayer" be used for anything else. Did this man, Jesus, have the authority to do this? Examine Him. You will find that, indeed, He did. It royally ticked off the chief priest but they knew better than to try and stop Him. Examine the Lamb for yourself. He is without blemish.

Two thoughts: (1.) What does your tree look like? Are you displaying the leaves of fruitfulness only to be found barren of fruit? (2.) What is your motivation for religious activity? Is it possible that you participate only for what you stand to gain? Jesus, on that day, refused to allow those in the temple who were there for the wrong reasons.

God, help us this Tuesday not only to see and hear the Lamb, but to be changed by Him.

Passion Week: Saturday, Sunday, Monday

Over the next 6 days we will follow the events of the last week of Christ's life leading to His death and resurrection. The Chronology we will be following is that of Bible scholar Dr. Harold Hoehner from his book "Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ" (pages 90-93). Please keep your Bible handy or click on the passages in bold to follow along in the text.

"A few days before the final Passover, Jesus drew near to Jerusalem (John 11:55), arriving at Bethany six days before Passover (John 12:1), namely the Saturday before the Passion Week. That evening, Jesus was anointed at Simon the Leper's house (Matt. 26:6-13; Mk. 14:3-9; John 12:1-8). On the next day (Sunday), there was a great crowd that came to Bethany to see Jesus (John 12:9-11).

The next day, Monday (John 12:12), was Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-9; Mk. 11:1-10; Lk. 19:28-40; John 12:12-19), His visit to the temple (Matt. 21:10-11; Mk. 11:11), and then His return to Bethany. The day of the triumphal entry would be Nissan 10 when the lamb was selected for Passover. Hence, the triumphal entry was the day when Christ presented Himself as Israel's Paschal lamb."

We should not allow the proposal that Jesus' triumphal entry might have happened on Monday bother us. There is nothing theological hinging on a Sunday entry. It is simply the day traditionally recognized. The thing that we should allow to ring in our minds is that Jesus Christ came into Jerusalem in order to be God's perfect sacrifice.

In Exodus 12:1-6, as God was preparing His final judgment on Egypt, He gave the command and procedure for Passover. Each family was to choose a lamb on the 10th day of that month and examine it for 4 days to prove that it was pure and free from defect. Then, on the 14th day, the lamb was to be slain. Jesus Christ, God the Son, was selected by God the Father as a lamb without spot or blemish - God's perfect Lamb (Rev. 5:6-10). Then, over the next 4 days (Mon.-Thur.), He was examined. Examine Him. See, as you read, that He is pure and without defect. He is without one spot of sin. His worth is immeasurable.

God, help us to see your Son, God the Son, as the Lamb this week.

Writer's block & other odds-n-ends...

To be totally honest, I haven't posted in a couple of weeks because I haven't been impressed with anything to write. That's terrible I know. Truthfully, I'm not a writer anyway. I hear you - the one who's agreeing with that last statement. Be nice.

I thought it might be healthy to just be transparent and share some of the things that are on my mind. Maybe even help you know how to pray for me.

• Last Sunday night's Small Group Preview was a wonderful success! We still have 3 more weeks left (April 5, 19 & 26). Please plan to join us for the remaining sessions. I promise that you will be glad you did.
  

• On April 19, I will begin a 5 week series of sermons. Folks have seen, heard and even read on this blog about the four words Worship, Connect, Serve & Grow. What I hope to accomplish in this 5 week series is explain to our people how we, as a church, have a Christ commissioned responsibility to be a part of a discipleship process in which we both participate and labor. You can pray with me that God's will might be accomplished and that our people will begin mobilizing to that end.

• Today's Rett's birthday. He's 10. He's an awesome kid - tenderhearted, compliant, smart, loving and kind. I'm glad I get to be his dad.

• We've got drums at Haven again! Someone donated a brand new set of Roland V-Drums to the ministry. God is so good. Our praise team so badly wanted drums and we wanted them to have em but the budget said otherwise. I think we're really going to move forward in the area of music with this addition. Pray that God will send us someone who can play them on a regular basis. Until then, I guess I'll get to do it.
  

• HCA needs a new Administrator. We believe that God has this need well under control.

• You really need to read Pastor James' last post to his blog (click here). It's frankly wonderful.

• God is fully aware of us here at Haven. He knows who and what we need at every turn. I submit to His leading. I need your continual prayer to this end. We need God to send us some more strong believers. He has already begun to do this and I believe He will continue. I dream of a church where believers of all levels of spiritual maturity come together to participate and labor in the discipleship of one another as we are sharing our faith and the love of Jesus Christ in every arena of our lives.
  

• The Thursday morning small group, where I get to be a peer, is so HUGE! Not in size. There's only 7 of us. It's HUGE in its impact on my life. I am so refreshed by those men. That, is REAL COMMUNITY! Have I told you that you really need to read James' last blog post?

• My sister's married. That's kind of cool. It still sure hurt seeing the flowers on the pew where my grandparents would have been seated. God's still good though.
  

• Our family's going to have to move out of our house at the end of May. That's kind of aggravating. The home owner doesn't want to renew our lease. Do you reckon God already knew about this? Of course He did.
  

I guess I had more to say than I thought I did. I hope it's okay with you that I want to be transparent. No sense letting anyone think I somehow have it all together. I'm just a follower of Jesus Christ, called to serve Him with the gifts He has given me right here at Haven. Hope to see you this weekend.

"Biblical Mulligan?"

Before I get to the point of my post today I want to encourage those readers that don't attend HBC to go to our sermon page and listen to Matt Wiggins' message from a couple of weeks ago. You can access that sermon by clicking "here."

When I returned from GA I brought with me a horrible case of Bronchitis and Matt graciously filled in for me with very little notice. When I later took an opportunity to listen to the sermon, titled STAND, I realized that it was indeed what I needed at that very moment and, no doubt, what our people needed that day. I believe you will be greatly challenged and encouraged by listening...then go and do what God's word says - STAND.

Now, to the mulligan. If you are a golfer, you know exactly what a mulligan is. For those non-golfers, still living in their sin, let me explain. A mulligan is, simply, a "free do-over." Someone, somewhere in the world came up with this wonderful little device that allows a novice golfer to erase a bad shot and get a free do-over from the same spot. Depending on whom you're playing with, you may or may not be allowed any mulligans. Generally, the better the player the fewer the mulligans they want to allow during a round. Or they can get really spiritual and say things like "I don't use mulligans but you feel free to use as many as you like." What they're really saying is "I'm much better than you are but I want you to have fun." But I digress... My point is that a mulligan, in golf, is a chance to take another shot and forget the first one ever happened.

When I was sick last, I got off my planned preaching schedule. Because I didn't want to have to adjust several weeks I decided to address Joshua 8 here on the blog. In Joshua 7 we saw that Israel made a very bad "shot" at the city of Ai. Sin was in the camp which caused Israel's aim to be way off the mark. God had removed his hand from them and they suffered a great defeat. God revealed their sin and instructed them to remove it from the camp, which they did. Once the sin was dealt with, God was again ready to fight for Israel. Chapter 8 takes us right back to where Israel was before chapter 7 - facing Ai. You can read the chapter for yourself but I'll let the cat out of the bag by saying that God did, indeed, give Israel a great victory over Ai. My question is this, "Was Joshua 8 a "Biblical Mulligan?" Was this God granting Israel a free do-over? I don't think so and I'll explain why.

When I'm playing golf with "good friends" that allow mulligans, the bad shot never makes it to the score card. It never happened. No one ever knows about the first shot that went into the woods or across the street or into the the fairway of the next hole or that never made it off the tee box. That's the beauty of a mulligan - the bad shot never happened. This is not the case with God and His dealings with His children. Chapter 8 is not a mulligan. Chapter 7 happened. Thirty-six funerals occurred. One man and his children and all he owned were stoned and burned because of sin. Israels defeat was entered onto the score card of God's word. It's there to remind readers of the severity, effects and consequences of sin. Chapter 8 is not a mulligan. It is, however, a picture of the grace of God. Chapter 8 is Israel having a chance to do the right thing the right way but it's not a mulligan. Now don't take this thought to the extreme or misunderstand and think that God doesn't really forgive because He does. When God forgives, He truly forgives. When God forgives, He doesn't hold our sin on display or beat us over the head with it. God forgives - don't ever forget that. God forgave Israel and He honored their obedience in dealing with the sin in the camp. But every time they passed by that way they had to see the grave stones of those killed in defeat and the big pile of stones that covered Achan. We must not ever presume upon the forgiveness of God. We must never think that God's forgiveness allows us to intentionally take risky or bad shots in our Christian walk.

If I know I have a mulligan to use in a round of golf I will likely take a risky shot because I know I have a free do-over. I think a lot of Christians live that way. They love the fact that God is long-suffering, forgiving and merciful and they're willing to take bad shots because they believe God is a God of the mulligan. Don't deceive yourself friend. You take a bad shot and it will cost you. It might even cost you more than you were wanting to pay. Bad shots make it to the score card and they can leave big scars; scars that you will see every time you look in the mirror. The truth is you don't have any mulligans. You don't have any free do-overs. You do have a gracious God that loves you and wants you to avoid the consequences that accompany sin. And you do have a God who is merciful and forgiving and will pick you up when you mess up in a royal fashion. You have a God that will walk with you down the path a second or third or forth time, as many as it takes for you to learn what it is He's trying to teach you. But God's not giving out any mulligans. There is no free do-overs. They all cost. They all ultimately cost the blood of God the Son. So line up straight. Keep your eye on the ball. Don't try to kill it. Keep your shoulders square. Keep your feet still. Rotate your hips. Let the club do the work... See you Sunday.

Time sure swirls...

Wow, has it really been February 4 since I last took the time to write? That either means I'm lazy or I had a lot on my plate or a little combination of both. Time flies doesn't it? Time "swirls" may be a better way of putting it.

It's an easy and dangerous trap not to pay attention to some things as time swirls by. At the same time, it's equally as dangerous to try to be involved in everything swirling around you. Balance is the key isn't it? I don't ever want to use this venue as a personal sounding board but this week I came really close to seeing time just slow down to what felt like a stop. At least it felt that way to me. I would really like to share something very personal.

Everyone close to me is aware that this past week both of my maternal grandparents went to be with the Lord as a result of a car accident in Athens, GA. Ma-maw died on the way to the hospital and Pa-paw died 4 days later as his body just shut down from all the trauma. When I got the news on Tuesday, I honestly didn't really know how to feel. My world gets so fast sometimes that I just can't wrap my mind around sudden reality as it applies to me. In fact, I really didn't know how to feel until we were all at the grave side on Saturday looking at two caskets. And that's when it happened...time just kind of stopped. The grave site was off the beaten path away from noisy traffic and the hustle and bustle of normal paced life. For a brief moment I remembered the times I had with my grandparents in a similar place - in the woods mending a fence or looking for a calf, sitting on a porch at a place where there was no phone and not much of a TV, sitting around a supper table or casting a line in the pond. That's when it hit me just how much I was going to miss them both. They represented so much of who I am when I just slow down for a minute and enjoy the life God has given me. For that brief moment, time stopped swirling and the memories I have of two very precious people flooded in. I needed that moment. I need that moment more often. God reminded me right there that I can't do too much regretting the things I didn't say or do but I can makes some plans to slow down every now and then and enjoy those other precious people he has placed in my life.

Not as I say do...

Sunday in our series "A Brand New Focus" we looked at Joshua 4, specifically verses 1-8. In this chapter we found God instructing Israel to erect a memorial shrine (12 large stones from the dry river bed to be placed at their camp site) that would serve as a reminder of His power, ability and work in their crossing the Jordan river to enter the promised land. God's instructions were not only for the benefit of those who actually crossed but also for the benefit of those generations that would follow and ask what the stones meant. God's majesty would be passed down from generation to generation!

Verse 9, however, points us to something very telling about Joshua, the nation's leader. Verse 9 says, "Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day." Apparently, while the twelve men selected from the twelve tribes were retrieving their stones for the camp-side memorial Joshua was doing some stone stacking of his own in the river bed. Joshua didn't stand on the shore tapping his feet while others did the work he ordered them to do (actually God ordered it but I think you know what I mean). No, Joshua rolled up his sleeves and erected a memory of his own. Not to overshadow the memorial that God had ordered but, I believe, to demonstrate his commitment to his role as Israel's leader. A sort of "Do as I do, not as I say do" moment.

So this post actually has more to do with me than it does with most of you. I am keenly aware that, more often than not, I will not measure up to everyone's expectations of "what a pastor is supposed to be or do." I've embraced that reality and accepted that I can only do and be so much in vocational ministry without failing as a father and a husband. But that doesn't mean that I can't or won't get lazy and fall into the "Do as I say do, not as I do" trap. I am also keenly aware of that reality too. This is where you come in. I'm pretty sure that you want a pastor that demonstrates the kind of commitment to his role as Joshua did in this instance. That's the kind of leader that I want to be too. It will take a lot of work for me to be that kind of leader. It will take a lot of prayer and submission to God's leading. In fact, I doubt that I will be able to do it as consistently as I would like but that's why I need you. I need you to pray for me - daily if possible. I need you to realize that at the end of the day I am just a human being that wants what I want, when I want it and at any cost. I'm figuring that you can relate to that description. But as a follower of Christ, that simply isn't an option. I need you to pray that I will have the sensitivity and passion that Joshua had. I need you to pray that I will have the courage and endurance that Joshua had. I need you to pray that I will, more often than not, exhibit the kind of character and action that says "Do as I do, not as I say do."

Can I count on you to do that?

No Trust Without Obedience

This past Sunday in the series "A Brand New Focus" we paid close attention to the Trust of Rahab in Joshua chapter two. The week before we paid close attention to the Obedience of Israel's leader and the people.

In the sermon on Obedience I laid forth the challenge to "Embrace a lifestyle of Obedience." As a Christian, God is not going to make you obey Him. He's also not going to let you ignore Him either but that's a subject for another day. The challenge is that we constantly bring ourselves to the end of ourselves and constantly resolve to Obey - Embrace a lifestyle of Obedience.

Last week in the sermon on Trust I challenged the people to "Pursue a life of Trust." Drawing from the example of Rahab, who was a citizen of the pagan city Jericho, we can see Trusting God risks real physical danger, is based on who God is and what He has said and results in blessing. God wanted his people to trust Him like Rahab did and He wants us to trust Him in the same way today - Pursue a life of Trust.

Here's the thing though; you won't really Trust God consistently UNTIL you decide to Obey God. Many times in the Bible we see people called to Trust God. But, in order to do so they must do or not do something that God has said. Think about Abraham. God promised him and Sarah a son. Did Abraham Trust God? No. Not at first. He took matters into his own hands. It kind of makes the song "Trust and Obey" seem backwards and I think it probably is. First Obey, then Trust.

Occasionally I like to watch the reality show "The Biggest Loser." They bring together a dozen or so severely overweight people to help them get fit and the one who loses the most weight (percentage) wins. Actually, they all win because they are getting healthy and losing weight. My point is this, the coaches are not simply trying to help the contestant lose weight. They are trying to help the contestant learn what got them to the point they are and embrace a change in lifestyle that will naturally lead to greater health and weight management. Most people who struggle with their weight live a roller-coaster life in that area because they never embrace a new lifestyle. So they stay frustrated with their up and down weight. The same is true with Trust. I can Trust God today and Trust me tomorrow. Chances are great that I'll do just that if I don't first focus on Obedience. Obedience to God. Obedience to His Word.

For unbelievers, Trust does come first. An unbeliever won't Obey God until he first Trusts Christ. But believers won't really Trust God on a daily basis until they first learn to Obey God. How's your Trust? How's your Obedience?

Am I wierd because I get scared?

I'm teaching a Bible study on Wednesday nights to a few folks using Swindoll's book David. We just finished with the section of 1 Samuel that deals with David's victory over the Philistine giant. One of the neat things about that story is that the author never even hints that David possesses an ounce of fear. In fact, we see him explaining to King Saul how reasonable it is that he fight the giant because God already allowed him to destroy a lion and a bear that threatened his father's sheep. What we don't see in 1 Samuel is a frightened boy, with knees knocking, hoping that God will come through for him.

The same thing is true in the accounts of Elijah at Mount Carmel; Joshua at the walls of Jericho; Daniel in the face of lions; Peter and John before the high priest; Paul before every human judge he faced on his way to Rome and ultimately Christ, himself, as he faced his passion. Scripture is full of examples of those that have followed God's leading with what seems to be fearless resolve. Even if there was a measure of fear, the aurthors do not tell us.

I'm sure I'm alone in saying that I don't always possess the fearless faith of those biblical heros. Since I'm the only one who feels this way let me take a minute to explain. There have been, and are, times in my life when I know what the right course of action is. I have every intention of doing the right thing and most of the time when I get that far I follow through. However, the circumstances around doing the right thing might mean that some people I love could be upset with me or it might bring some measure of embarassment to me or it might cause some measure of heart ache or suffering. I know what to do but the prospects of all might go on around me makes me afraid or nervous.

In these times, it's hard for me to find real encouragment from the heros I mentioned above because, as bad as want to, I don't have that sense of "fearlessness" that they seem to possess. I was encouraged today in my reading from the OT book of Ezra. I was a day or so behind in my reading from a devotional guide I try to follow and it began in Ezra chapter 3. Ezra, in part, records for us the events that immediately follow the decree of Cyrus (King of Persia) for the Jews to be allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. When this group arrived they faced great opposition from those that were living in the land at that time (foreigners who were placed there by the Assyrians). Verse 3 really stood up and yelled at me. "They (the Jews that had returned) established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples, and they burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and the evening offerings." This verse really encouraged me. It says that even though they were scared to death, they still did the right thing. Now I can relate to that. It reminds me that I'm not as wierd as I thought I was.

Let me be real...I get scared! Can you believe that? I even sometimes get scared when I know I'm doing the right thing! That's okay. What's not okay is when I let that my fear keep me from doing the right thing. Let's stop thinking that because we sometimes get scared that we are, in some way, less spiritual than those who boast of their fearlessness. Let's be real with each other. You encourage me when I'm scared and I'll do the same for you.

As much as it pains me to admit it....

From time to time (more often than I like to admit it) I make verbal blunders. It's one of my many flaws that God uses to remind me of my utter imperfection. Then when you add to it the fact that what I say on Sunday mornings is recorded for the world to hear again and again and again, it makes verbal blunders much more humbling. I want to share with you a few blunders that I have made over the past few months so that you will know that I know I did it. I also want you to be sure that I appreciate those precious people who tell me when I use words that I think are words that aren't really words. Of course I may, from time to time, attempt to coin a word as my very own and I reserve that right. Let me tell you just a few things that I have blundered over just since being at Haven and this short list certainly isn't comprehensive:

1. On several occasions I used the word "irregardless" to express the thought of the word "regardless." I looked up the word "irregardless" and it is, in fact, in the dictionary. However, it is an improper combination of the words "irrespective" and "regardless." I think I've probably used the word "irregardless" for years and will probably use it again...but I'm sure going to try not to.
2. My recent sermon on December 28, focused on the three major Christological heresies of the 5th Century and how the Definition of Chalcedon helped frame how we are to understand "the Word became flesh." One of those heresies, Eutychianism, is credited to a man named Eutyches (U-tic-ese). However, I got tongue tied and repeatedly called him Eutychetes (U-tic-a-tese). Now chances are great that no one present had any idea of my blunder but I guarantee that there will be someone who listens to that message online and catches it. Sorry, Eutyches.
3. Just this last week (I amaze even myself), one of my sermon application points had to do with the fact that God will work whether I obey Him or not. If I chose to disobey then He will either work around me or move me out of the way - meaning that "everyone is expendable." However, what I said was "No one is expendable" and then proceeded to explain it as I described above. I know what expendable means and yet I wrote it, typed it and spoke it the exact opposite way.
   

So I share all this to say "I goof up, as much as it pains me to admit it." I say and do dumb or wrong things. Sometimes I do them on purpose and sometimes by mistake or accident. I need grace in big dump truck loads. It's not easy for most of us to admit our imperfections (though they are as clear as the nose on our face). But it sure is a good way of trying to maintain some measure of humility or at least reality. Why don't you try it for yourself this week? Admit to someone you trust some of the dumb things you have done lately. Maybe even be transparent enough to share some of the sin you struggle with and pray together about it. I think James 5:16 will give you more than enough reason to do so.

A brand new series..."A Brand New Focus"

Beginning this Sunday we will start a sermon series in the OT book of Joshua entitled "A Brand New Focus." I love the book of Joshua. It has a freshness that feels to me like the first day of a new school year. I always used to dread the first day of school after the Christmas holiday break like getting a tooth filled but I never dreaded the first day of a new school year. That brand new school year meant that all my failures and mistakes of last year were in the past and I was working on a brand new "slate." A similar thing is happening for Israel in the book of Joshua.

The inexcusable act of disobedience by the children of Israel at Kadesh-Barnea (see Numbers 13-14) had required a 40 year punishment. Now that's some detention! In the book of Joshua we find the children at the same point of their original disobedience but with a brand new opportunity to obey. The first time they focused on all the reasons why they couldn't obey and it cost them dearly. This time they will have "A Brand New Focus."

Of course, the nation will not always follow God's lead and we'll see that along our journey too. But the key is to catch a glimps of everything that is possible when God's people focus on God's plan, that never changed by the way, and begin to experience everything that follows obedience.

Hope you will join us in person or online as we journey through the book of Joshua with a challenge to gain "A Brand New Focus." Happy New Year!

Beginning with the end...

Everyone who knows me well knows that one of my greatest weaknesses involves the calendar. I forget dates - birthdays, anniversaries, etc. You know, those days that I forget that end up hurting the feelings of those I love. Of late I have employed a "reminder service" (my sister) to make sure I don't miss the really important ones. But that's not really what I wanted to write about today. However, I do want us to think about a calendar, but not the one hanging on your wall or sitting on your desk.

The calendar that I want to discuss is the one that many in the body of Christ have followed for centuries. Being raised Baptist resulted in me not knowing a whole lot about something very familiar to many within the church - the Official Church Calendar. Now our church had a calendar with coming events and annual meetings written in but that's not one to which I'm referring. I'm referring to the "Liturgical Calendar." It wasn't until my seminary days that I was exposed to the rich history behind the Liturgical year observed by many within the body. The Liturgical cycle is actually a three year cycle in which worshipers are exposed to every major doctrinal teaching of the church. It's actually quite an involved and detailed strategy. Developed in a time when the church was rapidly growing in numbers and the potential for heresy was great, the church wanted to guard against the corruption of the content of its worship. The end result was a complete guide to the content of worship for each Sunday and special day of the year to so ensure that even the weakest of parish leaders would be on target with the rest of the body world-wide.

In our day there are many in the body who still follow the "Liturgy" each week and there are many who do not. Denominational affiliation generally drives this choice. Haven Baptist, of course, does not generally follow the "Liturgy" because most Baptists see this as "too Catholic." In fact, I thought that myself until I was exposed to the original design of the "Liturgy." But this is still not so much what I wanted to discuss.

Many within the body of Christ are and have been observing the season called "Advent." For many of us, we assume that since the season of Advent is observed the four Sundays prior to December 25 then it must be about the first Advent (coming) of Jesus Christ as a baby. False. The season of "Advent" actually has to do with the future coming of Jesus Christ. "Advent," at least in the Western tradition, marks the beginning of the Liturgical or calendar year for the church. That is why I titled today's entry "Beginning with the end." For those who follow the liturgy, Advent marks the time that they begin the year focusing all attention on that event that all Christians should be eagerly anticipating - the return of the King. Just think about the Christmas hymn Joy to the World. It's not about the first Advent. "Let earth receive her King!" It's about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as King.

This year I have intentionally focused on the second coming during these four Sundays prior to December 25. The first week of Advent we finished the short series "Life as it Should be" looking at the promise of Christ to return in John 14. The next week we looked at the Certainty of His Coming from 2 Peter 3:8-15. Last week we looked at the Good News of His Coming from Isaiah 61:1-4; 8-11 (those can all be heard online if you missed anything). This week, Lord willing, we will look at the Joy of His Coming from Luke 1:47-55.

How real is the return of Christ to you? I mean how does that fact impact your life, the choices and the plans that you make? We're not going to forget about His first coming. Not at all. In fact, I want to extend everyone an invitation to come and be with us on Christmas Eve at 7:00 PM to specifically remember His first Advent. But until then, let's join the millions of other believers world-wide by focusing on that great day that all believers should anticipate - His return!

What about Evangelism, Prayer, Missions, etc.

Hopefully you've taken the time to read the last 5 posts beginning with "The Foundational Question" and working your way through the discipleship process anchor points that are "Worship, Connect, Serve & Grow."

A week or so ago I had a chance to talk to a person in the church who consistently encourages me. He brought up a great question. He said to me, "Kevin I'm confused as to why Evangelism is not the first step in the process that you've begun to introduce." GREAT QUESTION! I shared with this brother that I had obviously not done a good job explaining the things that we are to assume. I'll try to do a better job of that here.

Without question, sharing the gospel of Christ is the most foundational and primary objective of each and every believer. We are called as Christians to be always sharing our faith with those we meet. It is being assumed that every person associated with Haven Baptist Church is sharing their faith with their family, co-workers, neighbors, teammates and anyone else they may have in a circle of influence. Evangelism, therefore, is an assumed activity naturally taking place in the lives of every believing participant. Of course that is not to say that we will never have a Church-wide event or series of events that focuses on the unchurched. But, as a general rule, we are assuming that primarily people will come to Christ in your living room, at your kitchen table, in your garage, back yard, break room, on the golf course, basket-ball court and any other place where you might be when the Spirit of God is clearly opening the eyes of the unbeliever with whom you've take time to build a relationship. You would then have the privilege of introducing them to Christ and then bringing them with you to Haven to begin their journey of discipleship.

However, we too know that it's not always that easy. Sometimes people don't let you into their lives far enough to build that kind of relationship. For this reason we want to be more than prepared for you to bring your unsaved friends with you to church where they will have an opportunity to see and hear what it looks like to be a member of the body of Christ and see first hand what being a Christian looks like. Most Sunday sermons are not generally designed as gospel presentations as they are primarily for the encouragement of the body. But that is not to say that the Holy Spirit cannot begin moving in the hearts of someone because of a song that is sung that clearly expresses the gospel or through a sermon point that focuses on an aspect of salvation or just by the study of God's Word in general. What we want to be able to provide are opportunities for visitors to have their questions answered or at the very least experience an environment that is non-threatening where they will be willing to return and possibly ask questions. But we don't want to stop there. We want to provide opportunities for believers to become skilled in sharing their faith as well as train them with tools that they can use when they bring an unsaved friend with them to a worship service. We want to equip them not only to answer their questions but also help them plan a strategy for bringing up the subject for them.

The same concept is true for Prayer, Missions, Biblical Accuracy, Sound Theology - all of these, along with evangelism, are assumed as the connecting fibers of our whole discipleship process. So basically what you have is this - Haven Baptist Church is a group of believers in Jesus Christ who are passionate about sharing their faith and partnering with others who are doing that locally and globally, who are committed to prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, who defend the essentials of orthodox Christianity and who are actively seeking to obey the call of Jesus Christ to go and make disciples. We believe that maturing disciples are believers in Jesus Christ who begin and continue to Worship God, who begin and continue to Connect in the body, who begin and continue to Serve in the body and who begin and continue to Grow in their understanding of who God is as revealed in His Word. We are committed to pouring all our efforts and resources into making this happen using the most effective means possible.

Hopefully this better explains why such an important concept as Evangelism (and other very important concepts) is not identified as an anchor point in the discipleship process - it's assumed activity. But if this only makes the water more cloudy, please keep asking good questions.
More to come...

Grow

The last step is Grow. Don't mistake my use of the word "last" to lead you to believe that this step is where the discipleship process ends. In stead you should understand the 4 steps this way: Step one is where you begin and continue to worship; Step two is where you begin and continue to connect; Step three is where you begin and continue to serve; and Step four is where you begin and continue to grow.

It is in this step that the church provides opportunities for a disciple to go deeper in their understanding of who God is as revealed in His Word and understood throughout history. This step involves intentional focused study on specific issues of Biblical truth, theology, Church history and various other areas. These opportunities will be intentionally planned and scattered throughout the calendar year with two goals in mind - (1) effectiveness and (2) flexibility.

By effectiveness we mean that if people are going to commit their time to these growth studies or classes then we need to make sure that they are getting a rich and deep learning experience. By flexibility we mean that it is important to think about the complex lives of modern disciples and go out of our way to accommodate as many busy schedules as possible. For instance, one of the very basic but highly fundamental and essential aspects of Christian theology is the doctrine of the Trinity. Though the Trinity can (and will) be taught at the sermon level it will never be handled in great depth due to the constraints on a sermon. But this does not mean that we can ignore our responsibility to teach the deep things of God to the body. How we accomplish this task is found in the fourth step of the discipleship process. We would offer a growth class on the specific doctrine of the Trinity (effective) that has a starting and ending date and is offered at different times of the day, week and year (flexible). This will allow people to be intentional about their spiritual growth. In fact, with a little bit of forethought and planning we could provide a five (or more) year schedule that lists when each growth class will be provided so that individual disciples and families of disciples can schedule the classes at the most convenient time for them. Effective & flexible. Other growth opportunities may be geared around subjects like; Creation vs. Evolution, Resolving conflict in your marriage, survey of world religions, survey of Christian denominations, etc. The goal, though, is to provide opportunities for disciples who are worshiping, connecting and serving to go deeper in their understanding of who God is as revealed in His Word and understood throughout history.

Step 1 - Worship (begin & continue)
Step 2 - Connect (begin & continue)
Step 3 - Serve (begin & continue)
Step 4 - Grow (begin and continue)