The Little Things

Tonight is dance night for Cooper. For the past month we have been taking our daughter to Perry for an introductory dance/gymnastic class. Cooper loves it!! She runs and laughs and plays her little heart out.

Recently I have had to blow a few people and meetings off because of dance and I have caught some flack from some people for doing so. "Its just dance" some say while others say, "you can see her when you get home." But these people don't get it. I love to watch Cooper dance and play. It is the sweetest thing in the world.

I write this to say: Don't get so busy that you miss the little things in life that make life so wonderful. God gave us one life on this earth and most of us waste it with meetings and other activities that in reality just are not that important.

I can't wait for dance tonight!!!!

Thankful

I hope you guys are still reading this blog. Its been too long since I last typed out my thoughts. I have just been so busy with church and family so the blog had to be put on the back-burner for a while. However, in my time away from blogging God has been showing me some amazing things that have left this pastor thankful.

I have had opportunity to preach and teach in several churches, other than man own, and I find myself thanking God for Byromville Baptist. We are small but we are not dying. Ive been in some churches that smell like nursing homes and hospitals...the smell of death. I pass no judgement on these churches...I'm not blaming the leadership or the preaching...they are just dying. Being around death makes you grateful for life that's for sure.

I have also found myself being challenged greatly by God in are of thankfulness. God has revealed to me that being thanful is much more than saying the words "thank you". Being truely thankful is an attitude...it is a lifestyle. I am trying to live a life of thanfulness to God who has done so much for me though I deserve nothing at all.

Just Another Gripe

My heart has just been so heavy for the past month. I am so burdened for the body of Christ and now find myself even challenging the views, blogs, and conversations of some of my closest friends. Being at odds with people I don't know that well is one thing but to have some issue with a friend is another.

There is this movement out there for a "pure" church; filled with "authentic" worship and "passionate" preaching. Everywhere I turn, with people I know personally, in blogs, you name it; people are wanting church to be completely different. My issue is with the wording and the attitude. For example: Why does "authentic" worship always mean or at least is attached with contemporary music? What does passionate preaching mean? I know plenty of guys in old-fashioned churches that are passionate. How is non-denominational pure when Methodist or Baptist isn't? These are just a few questions that come to mind.

I also can't get away from this mentality that a pure church is one that breaks all ties with doctrine and the focus in only the Gospel. This attitude is what is keeping people trapped in spiritual immaturity. If all I do is preach the Gospel then where would that leave the people of my flock? The answer is hungry, void and immature. What some people in this new movement don't realize is that in context and all practicality the Gospel is for lost people outside the walls of the church. The Great Commission was not intended to be carried out in a worship service. Church is for saved people not lost people!!! My fear is that some are more "seeker sensitive" and even emergent than they realize.

I'm praying for revival of the Body. A revival in the love of theology and doctrine that pushes us to the end of ourselves and closer to Christ.

Grow Up

In the past few weeks I have become very overwhelmed about the lack of maturity in believers. I have talked with pastor after pastor that has expressed how difficult it is to get the young men in their churches to do anything. After preaching at a BCM service at Georgia Southwestern State University I see why. We have a maturity problem; men that refuse to grow up.

I was horrified last Wednesday at what I saw. It was like a watch an overglorified youth group. The leader got up and did announcements for trips and fun activities. They watched a funny video then they had almost 40 minutes of worship, which left only 20 minutes for preaching the word. (I preached 40 minutes and could tell some didn't like it). There were people there almost my age and one guys and gal that were actually older (age 30). Some of these kids are in their 20's and are still living at home, eating Captain Crunch and playing video games. The whole thing just makes me sick.

No wonder there are so many maturity problems in our churches. We dumb down the youth minitry send them to college where they still attend youth services at a BCM then they graduate and expect church to be the same way. Maybe thats why my generation is missing.

I could write for days and never say all I wish I could. I just wish people would grow up!!!

Church Plants

For the third time this year a good friend of mine has asked me to pray for him as he looks to start a new church. Is this becoming an epidemic or is God truly up to something great? More and more pastors are becoming great discouraged with the existing church. There is too much tradition, legalism, unbiblical leadership and power. The list could go on and on. A huge part of me understands where the church planting phenomenon is coming from. How wonderful it would be to start from scratch and begin to do church like they did in Acts.

Then I have this other side that is madly in love with the Bride of Christ; with all her problems and issues. There is a part of me that is still very hopeful that God can do great things int he existing church because there are still people in them that want to grow and see God glorified.

I honestly find myself at a crossroad on this issue.

Revival

We had a mini-revival last week with three of Byromville's former pastors. First let me say that its great for the current pastor to see that former pastors can come back and are welcomed with open arms. That says a lot for a Southern Baptist church. The preaching was great and the food and fellowship was amazing. People were laughing and talking and embracing each other.

However, I found myself wondering if people were really being moved by God. On the last night I got my answer. God used an 85 year old lady in my church to bring out revival in me. She came to the front and took me by the hand and in her own words told me that she wanted to do better. I was floored. This woman is 85 years old and holy! But she wanted more. God used her to speak in volume to me. The longings of the Apostle Paul to press on to know Christ more began to flood my mind. I was overwhelmed by the weight of God's presence at the front of our little church.

I certainly hope that if I make it to 85 I have the zeal of this lady!!

Baptist Preachers

I don't want to be a Baptist Preacher!!!! That sounds crazy at face value because I pastor a Baptist Church but let me explain something to you. When you hear the term Baptist Preacher what comes to your mind? I see a loud, red in the face, pulpit slapping, friend chicken eating, Sweat-Tea drinking, coat and tie wearing, 3 point sermon having, 30 minute preaching, seminary loving man. That's what I think about when I think about a Baptist Preacher and I don't want to be one!!!

I'm serious I have a big soap box to get on and I just can't help it. I met a fellow pastor today at a pastor's meeting. He was a young guy; more than likely 35 or 36 just by looking at him. He introduced himself to me and exclaimed that he thought he was a young pastor until he met me. Then he asked me something that to be honest I am tired of hearing. He said, "You go to seminary" with what appeared to be a very judgmental look as he gazed at me from head to toe. I simply said, "nope" and went on about my business. This attitude just erks me!! Did Peter go to seminary? How about John? Last time I read Acts the Bible said they were "untrained" men. They walked with Christ and did what he said. I have experienced, personally some stupid comments from Baptist leaders. While I was working on my 4-year I took some preaching classes. My professor marked off on my sermons because he said I was too comfortable up there. I put my hands in my pockets and walked around too much. I just took the deduction. A friend of mine who is in youth ministry preached at his church one Sunday. His pastor told him after the service that a baptist preacher didn't preach from a big hard-cover bible but a smaller bible that he could carry around. I know guys that spend more time talking about their seminary than they do their churches. Baptist are supposed to raise their hands in worship I heard.
Thats for the charismatics. The list could go on and on.

Now why am I ranting and raving? I love being a Baptist I really do. I love the doctrines and the structure of the church. But I don't like the program-driven mentality. I don't like the idea that we are to "do" church instead of "being" the church. I don't like how complicated and professional we have made the pastorate. If that's what it means to be a Baptist Preacher then I want a different title. I want to be a pastor of a Baptist church; not a professional but a wild-eyed crazy man that loves Jesus and His bride. I want to read my bible and do what it says instead of sitting around trying to make sure it lines up with the Baptist church. When I do get a masters I want to forget all about school and focus on the bride of Christ instead of bragging on my education and degrees. I don't want to feel like I have to only preach 30 mins and not a minute longer. I just long and thirst for the simple church of the Bible and not this monster that seminary and the convention have produced.

I guess it could be worse though. I could be a Methodist...just kidding.