Comparing a Church Model to a Business Model

Over the past couple of years I have heard that so many churches are closing their doors or losing members.  Why?  I believe it is due to churches hanging onto a church model that was successful in the 1950's and 60's but time has passed them by.  The approach was via rules and regulations along with fear of where are you going to spend you eternity and the thumb of the church pressing down on you with the passionate sermon ending.  At least it was that way where I grew up.

Everything was regulated by time and requirements of being a Christian.  The people with society is that from that time until today things have changed.  Business models that were a part of the same period had a similar approach.  You could get yelled at, cussed out, demeaned, and your measurement of success was in the drive of upper management to get numbers. And it was business as usual.

Today I think the church needs to look at current business models and understand that they need to update their approach to meet the needs of people.  Religion is on its way out and relationships are the drivers for people.  People are tired of sitting in a church and just seeing the requirements of religion and being yelled at from the front.

A comparison of how I feel church models and business model should be similar is:
The church Board and vision caster is like the board and CEO of a business
The pastor is the sales person for the company in that they are selling the Gospel and relationship for eternal life which does not include talking down to or yelling at your customer.

Let me stay on this for a minute.  When you buy a product at a store and a salesperson helps you.  What do they do that convinces you to buy?  Value and cost?  They use common words, illustrate how this will be perfect for you and excite you to desire the product.    The same is for the pastor speaking on Sunday.   I see wonderful people teaching accurately the word of God but do not use the principles of selling.  If you really look at the mega churches where campuses are springing up weekly then you will see a sales person in a pastor who selling the product of Jesus Christ.

OK, so I have turned several people off with the above comment but stop and think about it.  Listen to a message on line from so many of these nationally known churches. Whether it is in the message, tithing, small groups, special events, or any part of the church functions, those who grow use the business principles of marketing and sales to drive people to a relationship with the Lord.

Can your church take a model from business to reach those in your community?  Think about the reason why you should do this. . ."Making it hard to go to hell from your community."

It is not in taking attendance and counting the offering.

Romantic Games - Part 1

Men who know me, know that years ago I wrote a book on romance for men called. "Romantic Games Adults Should Play".  It was directed to men on building esteem in their wives through romantic games which showed an appreciation of them in fun games and are uplifting and not just sexually demeaning.

Since I have over 130 games in the book, I will give you some samples that can be used to build appreciation for your spouse.  

Romantic Games Adults Should Play offers creative, innovative ideas that help adults become "kids" without the "adult toys."  

Invisible Mirror, Mirror

Items Needed:    Hard Bar of Soap

          Write your love a message of how you love and appreciate your bride of a week or 40 years upon the bathroom mirror using the bar of soap, but take your fingernail and chip off the obvious flakes of soap. The mirror will appear almost normal. When your wife showers the next morning and steams up the bathroom, your love message will appear and be present for her as she towel dries herself.

          If you do not have a bar of hard soap, buy some eyeglass defogger or liquid windshield defogger. Pour a little defogger onto the cotton swab and write your love note on the mirror. It may take awhile to get the windshield defogger off the mirror, but the great part of it is the message is a reminder for your spouse each time she takes a hot bath or shower.

Mirror, Mirror

Version 2

Items Needed:  A couple of Dry Erase Markers

          This is one game that I do quite often and keep a couple of Dry Erase Markers in my bathroom drawer at all times.  Before your bride showers or baths, write your love message using the dry erase marker on the mirror.  I use the red one to make hearts and the other colors to write the message.  Then go off to work or any activity so it does not draw attention to you but is a reminder to your wife that you are thinking of her.

Make sure you NEVER use a permanent marker as you will have to find some solvent to get the marker off the mirror and “trust me”, you will be in trouble.

Now have fun building your relationship through this simple game.

You can pass this on to other men who need help in learning to be romantic!

Making Every Anniversary Special

When Lynnette and I were getting married, Lynnette had her mind on every aspect of the wedding.  When I asked her about the honeymoon, she said, "Just surprise me."  My reply was "Really?" 

So I set out by using the Internet to pull up places, hotels, rental cars, and events that would be part of our honeymoon experience.  I made a three ring binder and put the planned events of each day in a tab along with pictures, brochures, and possible alternatives, should we run into a roadblock of events. (like an event being closed on a given day or heavy rain for a given event- which has happened more than once in fourteen years)

On our Wedding day we stayed at an airport hotel and Lynnette did not have a clue as to where we were going. 

Keep in mind that Lynnette is a detail reader so I filled a three inch binder full of things to read.  Early the next morning, I went inside the airport and got our boarding passes all the way to our final destination.   Back then you could do that without the person being with you.

Lynnette had no idea where we were going as we landed in Atlanta.  As we walked the hallway looking at each departure gate, I said, "That would be a nice place to go".  Then moved on.  We walked by our gate and I continued to look at each gate.  Finally I turned around and went back to "our" gate to San Francisco/Napa Valley.  I just said, "This would be a great place to go" and sat down in the waiting area.  At that point I handed Lynnette the binder and for the next two hours she poured over each page with a smile and a kiss as we looked at each event for the entire honeymoon.

That was fourteen years ago, last week, and each year since then we trade being in charge of the anniversary.  Last year was Lynnette's turn and this year is mine. 

None of our friends knew the locations or what we are doing so the surprise trip reveal could occur one hour into the anniversary or as much as three hours into the anniversary. 

This year the funds are extremely tight, so I titled the trip, "  Fourteen years and Growing - The Free and Cheap Tour".  Our biggest expense was gas but we saw so many things of nature and destinations which are really inexpensive and was time spent with my bride.

I say all this just to encourage every man to mix up the celebration of your marriage by planning a surprise for your wife.   The three ring binder is a great way to please a spouse who likes plans and details.  If you are the detail person, then the binder can give you peace of mind that it will be a great anniversary. 

This year because of all the rain, we adjusted some days so we could avoid the rain periods.  Nevertheless, this has been a great 14 year adventure and I look forward to the next 14 years of adventures.

Plus I only have to plan seven of them. 

Now go bring back excitement and adventure into your relationship.  The memories WILL last for years and you will have a binder full of those memories to discuss later.

Reading from an ADHD person during biblical times

Many of us have read through the Bible numerous times and the Lord will show you new insights every time.  But when in college many years ago, I was challenged by Dr. Phillips to find other authors who wrote during the first century.  He said for me to look at the Book of Barnabas as it would be a book I would understand.  Humm he knew me well before ADHD was a name.

Recently, I looked again at the Book of Barnabas online http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/barnabas-lightfoot.html   and in reading the book was reminded that he was a lot like me.  He had an attention issue which is reflected in him jumping from thought to different thought from verse to verse in the book.

We hear of Barnabas 33 times in the Bible as he was first  introduced in Acts 4:36   Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”).  While the other Christians were in fear of Saul during his transformation to Paul, Barnabas encouraged them to "give him a chance" because Saul had met Jesus and that was good enough for Barnabas.

During the reading of Barnabas, which I could keep up with as he moved from thought to thought, one verse jumped out at me.  Barnabas had been talking about the old Jewish ways to forgive sin and was quick to say they were no longer pleasing to God since Jesus died and rose again.  (Love his creative way of saying things).  Yet this one verse does a quick summary of previous verses.  
Barnabas 2:10

Thus then speaketh He to us; The sacrifice unto God is a broken
heart, the smell of a sweet savor unto the Lord is a heart that
glorifies its Maker. We ought therefore, brethren, to learn
accurately concerning our salvation, lest the Evil One having
effected an entrance of error in us should fling us away from our
life.

When was the last time you brought a sacrifice to God?  Are you brokenhearted for those hurting or lost? When was the last time you cried during a praise or worship song?  When has your heart broken for others and not just for yourself?  As for the second part of this verse, when was the last time you glorified the Lord?

Maybe we can learn something from an ADHD person.  

By the way, in reading the entire Book I can see why it was not included in the Bible.  Barnabas is hard to follow as his thought process is all over the map.  But that's the way God wired him and he was a Great Man of God!

Lessons From a Four Leaf Clover

As a youth I had learned from my mother that according to Irish tradition, those who find a four-leaf clover are destined for good luck, as each leaf in the clover symbolizes good biblical truths for faith, hope, love, and the fourth is for good fortune for the finder.  The majority of the clovers you see outside have only three leaves which aligns with the Bible.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13

¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Good luck can be hard to come by if you’re relying on finding a four-leaf clover.  The estimated statistical odds of finding a four-leaf clover on your first try is 10,000 to 1.  So as a child my mother would send me out in the yard just before mowing and said for me to find her a four leaf clover.  

Barefoot I would slowly walk in the patch of clover to miss the honey bees (which stepping on them and getting stung was a common occurrence) and then get on my knees to study a small area for the elusive four leaf clover.  For hours, my mind was focused and occupied on the elusive clover.  Over time I found out that I could spot the one special clover faster as my eyes would scan the area and not just focus on one small area.

Last night in about ten minutes I found two four leaf clovers just outside our house from life lessons as a child.  

Here my Godly life lessons:

1. Watch your step as you move into an area that contains your goals to avoid pain and destruction.  But move forward and not jsut stand still.
2. Be patient and do not trample on things you are looking to receive-the same applies to people around us -(Old saying) "Be nice to thouse on your way up so they will be nice to you on your way down".
3. Widen your focus to look at an area you may not have previously traveled and not on just one small piece of life.
4. Know that God has placed many things in nature that points back to His word, if we only observe.  Go outside an absorb what the Lord has created.
5. Train your mind to observe everything around you and look for the best in everyone.
6. Slow down and take a period of time to communicate with God. 

Guess I still have those life lessons in hand but memories of my mother and her wisdom flooded back into my head as I looked for the four leaf clover last night.  For a woman with a high school education only, God gave her more life wisdom than many scholars who have degrees as long as their arms.  

Bet you know someone like my mother.  Thank them for their wisdom while you still can. 

What are our words coming to?

This morning, I heard famous baseball player David Ortiz use the "F" bomb at the pre-game of a Boston game this weekend.  Now during the speech he thanked a lot of people who helped with the capture of the bombing suspect.  The crowd cheered at his words and the FCC will not charge him anything for saying it to an audience of children and adults.  Yet I lost respect for this man.

So those people who influence your children and grandchildren believe that words that have always been "trash" words are just fine to say in order to make any point.

My Dad made a great point to me when he heard people use (what he called) curse words.  Funny how we have softened the term "curse" now to "trash" and will soon me totally removed as any term for words like this that are spoken which condemn God, others, or are sexually inappropriate for children who are learning to speak.

My father went on to impress in me that it is sad to see someone use those words because it indicates a limited vocabulary.  It tells others that they can not chose a valuable word to express themselves but have to rely on a slang word instead.  I took that to heart and on one occasion  I was extremely mad at my sister, which was often while growing up and recall walking away from her and going in the living room to get a dictionary.  Now I was young and just wanted a word to get back at her and relieve my frustrations.  I do not recall the word but I thumbed through and landed on a page.  I looked for the biggest word I could find and checked out how it was to be pronounced, not what it meant.  I then ran back to my sister and yelled out the word.  My puzzled sister did not know what to say, so I just yelled, "Look it Up!"

Throughout my career, I always used, as people would say, "Big Words" to describe my anger, hurt or frustration.  Then in one meeting at a location where I worked, my boss was in a conference room with a mixed group of people and he let out with, "blankity blank" words.  I spoke up and said, "_____, please find other adjectives to describe your frustration", to which the General Manger spoke and said, "I agree."  The boss apologized and said he would try to control his tongue.

Some men were with me when building a house and one man was talking to someone when I hit my thumb with the hammer.  I just yelled and said "ow, ow, ow".  The one just said, "why don't you just cuss and get it over with".  To which my friend said, "He wouldn't say, Sh__ if it was in his mouth".   I now know that it is not hard to find words that do not condemn God, others, or are sexually explicit.

So I encourage you to chose your words carefully because others are watching, both children and adults.   Others will do two things when hear a "big" word to describe your feelings.  First confused and then curious.  What makes you different.  I believe it is because I that the verse below to heart.

For me it is James 5: 12  - And since you know that God cares, let your language show it.  Don't add words like "I swear to God" to your own words.  Don't show your frustration by concocting oaths (like for God to Damn someone or something).  Just say yes and no.  Just say what is true and real.  That way your language can not be used against you (or eliminate your impact on others).

Books in Our Life

Matthew 20:28  That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served - and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage."

Some time ago a speaker at a large church in Chicago came to the front of the room and began talking about the impacts that affect how we live our lives today.  Lined up across the front of the stage were three platforms.  On each platform was a closed book..  As he spoke, he opened the first book and called it “our past”.  He tore out a few pages and tucked those pages in the book on the center platform called, “our present”.

So often we grow up by taking some of the worse or best times of our lives and carrying them on to our present lives.  It can shape us to make decisions that affect those around us.  Little things that drive Lynnette crazy come from events in my past that I have carried into the present.  Most of those I really want to forget, but they just creep back.

Soon the speaker takes pages again out of our past and places them into the third book, called “our future”.  He noted that he completely by-passed the present.

As we mature in age we are sometimes reminded of our failures.  Maybe we were not good athletic in sports.  Therefore when we become adults, we try to live our past though our children and push them to be the best at sports where we were not.   

Yet so often we take pages from our past and bury them into our future.  We try to be what we could not be as a child.  As the speaker noted,  “We make up whatever we need to say or do to “prove” we did not fail as a child." Other times our action are to prove they were right and give us an excuse for our lifestyle and actions.

You see for years as a young man, I was told about my failures as a child.  I can still recall my father saying that I was never going to be successful in life.  I can still recall, “You don’t have enough sense to pound sand down a rat hole”.  Or “Your about as smart as a hill of beans.”  Therefore a part of me pushed to change the past, prove him wrong, and make a better future so the past could be forgotten.  I'm still a work in process and have to analyze my reasoning for a lot of what is taking place in my life.

Jesus was one of the great parts of the past that belongs in our present life books, because He is to only one who can give us a great future book.  Even though I did not learn of His grace for me until later in life, I knew that His life and death is one of hope that takes every failure of our past and throws those pages away. It is me and Satan who reminds myself of failures and not God.

We don’t need to keep the pages of our past or present because we have some great pages in our future book.  

Many times it takes a conscious effort to give the Lord our past, but the new pages of your book includes eternal life and a close relationship with the Savior of the world.  With that in mind you can look at great relationships with family and friends that is free of reminding you of your failures.

Beware of People's Predictions

Who really believed what we heard? Who saw in it the Lord’s great power?

He was always close to the Lord. He grew up like a young plant, like a root growing in dry ground. There was nothing special or impressive about the way he looked, nothing we could see that would cause us to like him.   People made fun of him, and even his friends left him. He was a man who suffered a lot of pain and sickness. We treated him like someone of no importance, like someone people will not even look at but turn away from in disgust.

The fact is, it was our suffering he took on himself; he bore our pain. But we thought that God was punishing him, that God was beating him for something he did. But he was being punished for what we did. He was crushed because of our guilt. He took the punishment we deserved, and this brought us peace. We were healed because of his pain. We had all wandered away like sheep. We had gone our own way. And yet the Lord put all our guilt on him.

He was treated badly, but he never protested. He said nothing, like a lamb being led away to be killed. He was like a sheep that makes no sound as its wool is being cut off. He never opened his mouth to defend himself.  He was taken away by force and judged unfairly. The people of his time did not even notice that he was killed.  But he was put to death for the sins of his people.  He had done no wrong to anyone. He had never even told a lie. But he was buried among the wicked. His tomb was with the rich.

 But the Lord was pleased with this humble servant who suffered such pain.  Even after giving himself as an offering for sin, he will see his descendants and enjoy a long life. He will succeed in doing what the Lord wanted.  After his suffering he will see the light, and he will be satisfied with what he experienced.

The Lord says, “My servant, who always does what is right, will make his people right with me; he will take away their sins. For this reason, I will treat him as one of my great people. I will give him the rewards of one who wins in battle, and he will share them with his powerful ones. I will do this because he gave his life for the people. He was considered a criminal, but the truth is, he carried away the sins of many. Now he will stand before me and speak for those who have sinned.”

Can you believe that it was 2700 plus years again that these words were spoken?  And 700 years before they came true?  Isaiah had no idea what he was talking about but today we have the benefit to confirm that he was talking about you.

Are there any forecasts that you have that your children and grand children will learn like these?  Beyond the political ones we rant about weekly, know that Isaiah had every detail right.  So shouldn't we pay attention?  

Isaiah 53: 1-12 Easy Read Version

Not Just Another Good Friday!

As we look at Good Friday, please take a look at the bottom line of this day.

So I’d like for you to think about Jesus REALLY dying on the cross for your sins.

The Bible is full of symbols which are not literal but have a spiritual meaning to apply to our lives.  One such time, is the communion bread and cup, is a symbol of Jesus giving his body and blood for our sins.  We read about so many parables which are earthly stories with a heavenly meaning.  Therefore many of us think that this same symbolism applies to Jesus dying for our sins.   But let’s look at what happened.

As Jesus hung on the cross we know that at the moments before his death he cried out “My God!  My God! Why have you forsaken me?”  Now Jesus, being part of the Trinity had always been in God’s presence before the beginning of time.  We also know that throughout the Bible in the Old Testament, God could not be anywhere near sin.

Realize that it was at this moment that Jesus cried out, He literally had the sins of the world, past, present, and future placed upon himself.  At that moment God had to turn away from His son which is the reason for Jesus screaming in anguish. 

Image for just a moment that if God, law and order, compassion, and everything that comes from scripture was removed.  I fear for what the world would be like as murder, common sense, and everything that makes us human is gone.

 I ask that you meditate for a moment after reading this and know that His death was more than a symbol, that was not real, as you realize that Jesus literally died for your sins.   He loved you THAT much that His grace still abounds today for you in that He died JUST for you.   

God's law is still here and His Grace is waiting for each one of us!  I am thankful, how about you?

I'm Confused!

Here we are, approaching another Easter, and my mind is getting confused.  Now my wife says that happens often of being confused.

Yet it does not take a lot for me to think back to days gone by when Easter was a day when people paused to remember the foundations of Christianity and why it was the core of our beliefs.  We would go to a sunrise service and recall what it might have been like on that morning when death was defeated.  That was big stuff for young people but our minds were really on the breakfast afterwards with home baked goods waiting for us.  Then we would sit through (or sleep through) the Easter service and become excited about having a big Easter lunch and looking for the Easter eggs/candy.

Now eveyr aspect of the thought or message of Easter is being diluted to the point that one elementary school in Alabama has required that there will be NO mention of Easter, Easter eggs, and even the Easter bunny because of its "religious" meanings which "might" offend someone.  We never tied eggs and a bunny to the resurrection of Jesus.

The fact is that both the Easter bunny and Easter eggs is derived from legends of a reconstructed German goddess Ostara which made its way to the us in 1852 and had more to do about celebrating "Spring" and nothing to do with Easter.  

Therefore our educators should become educated to realities and not to just attacking one religion called "Christianity".

For years I have stopped calling myself a Christian as so many have a bad taste in their mouths for the religion called, "Christianity".

I am a Christ Follower who loves spending time chasing after the Lord and having a personal relationship with the one who gave his life for me.  Many people who are tired of religion (which I have been told that religion is the foundation of our country) but our society has turned the Christian religion into a big target that is damaging to our country.  To the people who are tired of religion, I'd love for you to learn about being a Christ Follower who makes mistakes daily but looks to the Lord for direction and inspiration each day.

Enjoy being real and not something religions want you to be.

An Active Mind

Do you ever have weird dreams?    I have them a lot but the one a couple of nights ago was one I reported to the doctor.

A few weeks ago I developed a lump on my shoulder and in three weeks it had grown from the size of a quarter to about four inches long and about an inch high.  So I made an appointment to have it removed yesterday.  Well the night before I had a dream that was so real in color that I remembered it when I awoke.

My dream was about the surgeon cutting into what he had called a tumor.  As he made the second cut through the skin, baby spiders started coming out from the mass.  The doctor jumped back and scooped a couple up only to see many more coming out.  So he grabbed a vacuum and began sucking them up until the mass in my shoulder was gone.  It appears that a spider had a nest inside my shoulder and laid all the eggs which were maturing.

I awoke thinking my shoulder would be flat but then I realized that it was a dream.  So I told the doctor about my active mind and he quickly said that if that were spiders in my shoulder he would make money writing about it.  Then as I laid on the table, I looked up and on the wall and there was a for real vacuum.  I noted it to doctor and he said, "We are prepared."

His only comment as he cut was, "I don't see any spiders."

How active is your mind when you sleep?  Do you have dreams that make no sense?  Do some dreams seem so real?  Are some of them repeat dreams?  I have an Excel spreadsheet of my dreams as some of them are so real as they are ideas which, Lynnette says are way ahead of their time.

Yet over the years I have learned to record them because many times something will happen and I think that sounds familiar.  Only to find the concept for real was from one of my dreams.

Read the Old Testament verse in Joel 2:28 and you what God does as He pours out His Spirit. (see below)  Now my counsel is to learn to write down your dreams.  Some may be from an active mind after you are asleep but some may be from the Lord and He wants you to be the messenger for others.  Never question the dream, just write it down then in your prayers each day seek the Lord to give you wisdom to know which are from Him and which are just from an active mind.   One of my dreams took two years for it to come true and I got a phone call from a friend confirming that it was taking place, just as I had dreamed it and another is in year seven since the dream but I am seeing God working towards this dream becoming a reality.  But that's another future blog.

Joel 2:28  - And that’s just the beginning: After that—

“I will pour out my Spirit

    on every kind of people:

Your sons will prophesy,

    also your daughters.

Your old men will dream,

    your young men will see visions.

I’ll even pour out my Spirit on the servants,

    men and women both.

Pied Piper of Today

Again as an ADHD person, my mind thinks of strange things that relate to what is taking place today in society.

If you have ever read the book Pied Piper of Hamelin you see several possible meanings to the story of a man in 1284 who had a magical flute (pipe) and was called to town to get rid of rat infestation.  When the towns people would not pay him for his successful eradication of the rats, he played his magical pipe to lure all the children away and devastate the town of Hamelin Germany.

In the 1960's life was much simpler in that we had a respect for our local, county, state, and federal governments because we did not know all the details of the lives of our politicians.  Our lives as youth were more concerned with being kids and not with the our social networks or the operation of our governments.  We did not have the internet, traffic cameras, and many of the "instant" gratification products like we have today.  Therefore it took some time to get information about California events or events in other parts of the world.  Ignorance was bliss.  Aww. . . the "good ol' days".

Our best information regarding what was happening locally sometimes came from the party lines of our telephones.  If you picked up the phone receiver quietly enough, you could hear people (sorry but it was usually two ladies in our neighborhood) talking about their neighbors or you.  I remember my aunt telling someone off who was talking about her as she listened in on the party line.  That ended up being embarrassing for her as her husband later made her go see each one of them to apologize.

Now back to the Pied Piper of today.  People today get the majority of their information by electronic means.  Interaction of opinions are done via Tweets and Facebook posts.  Instead of being a free thinker, we grasp at a written word to be truth then follow and embellish the words to others.  Any writer or politician can be charismatic enough to get a million followers on Twitter.  That's exactly what's happening to everyone today.  Our youth do not have a chance to be free thinkers which is really sad.

The words may not be true but if they meet the charismatic criteria it will draw people of all ages to follow that person to the destruction of themselves and others.  We just don't question why this piper is such a draw.  We blindly march in line with the millions.

One thing I like about the leadership in our church is that they challenge us "find out for ourselves" if the words they speak are true.  Now that makes me dig into the internet  for differing opinions and the Bible for confirmation of the words.  Yet it still comes down to what Pied Piper am I following.  It is the man or woman who stands on stage, on an internet video, on writings found on-line, or the man who loved me so much to give His life for me.

Electronic and social media are great and can be a vital tool for education and training but has to be tempered with some common sense.

This Pied Piper I have been following since 1961  has never lead me to destruction. ( I can do that very well on my own).  Therefore think about which Pied Piper you are following today?  Some of our leaders today make their money by leading you in the wrong direction.  Others do it for power of financial or political gain.

Just know that the Creator of the Universe will never lead you away from the truth and love for life.  A life that will last for eternity.

Who is your Pied Piper?

It's Just Not the Same

While talking to a friend the other day, we discussed the concept of multiple campus's for churches to reach those far from God.  The comment back, was, "I don't like them because the sermon is on  a gigantic screen which makes it so impersonal.  I like to look the pastor in the eye as he preaches to me."   My response was, "I appreciate your need to have the speaker be in front of you, but is that the normal for everyday life today?  Do you have a tablet or laptop I asked?"  His response was, "Of course."  So I replied, "Do you ever watch a program on line?"

His quick reply was, "I know where you are going with this and it's just not the same."

Later I got to thinking about what he said and consider that I am not the target for winning those far from God.  What does the next generation do in their daily lives? According to statistics, people watch more than an average of nine hours a day of video whether by TV, laptop, tablet, or from an APP on their mobile phone.  They are use to getting their news, social updates and so much more via video.

So when they see someone on a video screen, they are quite comfortable and at home.  This was proven yesterday at our church.  About 500 people were watching the message on the screen and were frequently talking loudly to the screen in response to the questions asked by the pastor.  Like any sports activity on the television (in which people yell at the screen) young people grow from experiencing a message through a video.

At the end, we had several people who gave their lives to the Lord, not from someone yelling at them from being on stage, or giving a sobbing story, but through the video, people's hearts were convicted to change their lifestyle and become a child of God.

Now for those who say a video is not the same as a real person in front of them, I believe that if an anointed message stirs your heart, then how the message is given does not matter.  The goal should be reaching this and the next two generations far from the Lord instead of having a certain protocol.

Nothing is the same as it was years ago when I was young, but know that "the Message will never change, but the method MUST change."  (Thanks Ron for the quote)

As a 76 year old Christ Follower told one of his friends who was questioning the contemporary  church, "I'll be happy to stand on my head if that will help change one life.  This church does things different from what I liked but I cheer each week when someone gives their life to Christ.  It may not be the same as when I grew up, but I see lives turning toward the Lord.  I love being a part of seeing that life change."

Can you handle the thought that church does not have to fit your mold in order to be effective?

Taking people for granted!

Yesterday a young man who has not been married less than a year to his bride was talking to me and I asked how his wife was doing.  She has some health issues and he had to take her to the emergency room on several occasions.  The doctors continue to try and find out what is causing her pain daily as he says by her side as much as he can.

In our conversation, he finished with saying, "I just don't know what I would do without her.  She means so much to me."    Now this a guy who was single for a long time but now in his marriage relationship has bonded with his bride more than people of 20 plus years who never stop and consider the preciousness of their partner.

This morning I stopped to think about what this young man had said, and realized how much I would be "TOTALLY" lost if something happened to my Lynnette.  We are the typical couple who get wrapped up in the daily grind of life situations and may times are both too tired to do much more that eat dinner, watch a show, and go to sleep.

So I ask you, are you in a tough place in life where you are working hard, taking care of kids, doing social things, church activities, or anything else but appreciating your significant other?  Then take a moment now to reflect a few minutes on what it would be like to be suddenly left alone.  As opposites attract, you significant other fills a void that is nearly impossible for you to fill.

Even though you disagree seldom or often and think you can do without that person, realize that a void has been created.  Even in a dating relationship you can harden yourself to loss but in those quiet times it hurts.  

Now reflect on potential losses, then make sure you simply take a moment and tell that person that you love and care about them.

They may be taken back or think you must be guilty of something, but make the effort to let them know that they are a special part of your life.  The reason is that when they are gone you can not tell them again to their face as the pain hits you broadsided.

In closing, never take people for granted.  Let them know that they are loved and appreciated. That includes your wife, children friends, and family members.

Lynnette you are so much appreciated and I never take you for granted.  I really don't know what I would do if I lost you!

Now it's everyone's turn to take a moment and verbally or in a note appreciate your spouse, friends and family because we are not promised tomorrow and tomorrow may be too late.

Funerals - Make me think!

OK this may be a little weird, but anyone who knows me considers that I am not outside the box, but I have thrown the box away.

Last night I went to funeral of  a man I've known for some time and love his entire family.  He was a little older than me but died suddenly of a heart attack.  The services were great and the services  reflected on his life well.  The receiving line had to include more than 500 people which will tell you a little of the impact this man had on people.

But, every time I go to a funeral I think, " I have from one second to xx years left here, is there something more I should  be doing today?"  Last week I saw an interview with a lady that died and came back as she said she was in heaven.  So I thought of the answer I would give if the Lord says, "Do you want to go back?"  My first thought would be I guess so because people will miss me.  But in really thinking hard about it, I guess my response would be, "If you have something more you want me to do, then I will go back. Otherwise I long to stay with you  Just tell me what it is you need me to do."

But then my mind jumped to "my" funeral.  Years ago I told my son that I want them to have a party when I pass from this earth.  I mean it.  His response was, "OK Dad we'll get the mortician to have you holding up you hand, palm up, in the casket."  He saw the curious stare and said, "We will need a place for you to hold the dip so people as they walk by can get some chips and let you serve them dip."   I laughed but then I thought what a way to go out by serving others for the last time.  Strange but my wife does not think it is would be received well.  

Nevertheless, I have a folder in my desk upstairs that has my desires for this final event.  One thing is that I do want a celebration.  One of the life I lived and how the Lord has been such a part of my everyday walk.  Yes, I would like refreshments served because of social media, the only time today that family and friends get together is at weddings and funerals.  You have food at weddings where people talk and remember the event and the couple's life before marriage, so why not at a funeral.  Catch up on the events of the living and the support of my remaining family.

I recall that as we went to the cemetery for my Mom funeral and were in the funeral homes limo, we pulled up to the grave site whereby the driver got out and the multiple horns on the car started blaring.  The driver could not get them to stop and was really embarrassed as we were all sitting in the back seats just laughing hysterically.  When he finally got the horns to stop and apologized profusely,  we told him not to worry, it was just Mom's way to tell us goodbye and that the horns sounded like trumpets by going out her way.

Lastly, I want great upbeat music that reflects who I am today and the music that changed my life with an invitation for all those attending to accept Jesus and to someday meet me in heaven.  I just want people to celebrate life and not death.

How about you?  Do funerals make you think?

How Can We Compete?

In our part of the country we see so many young girls from 13 to 18 who have dropped out of school  when they became pregnant.  I know of a lady in our area of Tennessee who just turned 18 and has three children by three different men.  She says she is very happy and plans on having more because the Federal Government gives her money each month for expenses.

Yet this is not an unusual situation.  You see in our schools that young men and women have no desire to improve themselves and desire to become a person who has pride in their lives.  Some will only get a job just long enough to qualify for unemployment and then do something to get laid off.  Others operate strictly on a cash basis which accounts for such a high drug problem in our area.

Last week I was in our local grocery store and there was a stack of orange leaflets at the checkout counter and, what looked like, a junior high girl was buying a candy bar.  She picked up one of the papers below and glanced at the information. Then  I heard her tell the cashier that she was going to get pregnant so she can get money so she would not have to work.  When I looked at the encouraging government sheet I see that a women who has 3 children will receive $42,643 per year and they then qualify for other government programs.

We all know churches and other social organizations who want to help young people develop skills and habits that gives them value in life and self worth.  But how can they compete with the government?  Instead young people are encouraged to be totally dependent on the government and not learn any values or relationships beyond the children they bear.

I want to see young people grow in wisdom, self worth, and desire to bring value to our lives.  The church is the answer but these people only want what they can get from others and think that they "deserve" everything, including their thought that salvation is theirs just because they went to church twice a year as required by grandma.  They do not look to the Lord for anything except to get mad at God when something does not go their way.   People talk about the mission fields in other countries but the real mission field is in our own back yards. The next generation of Americans is at stake.

I'd love to know how we can change the attitude of our next generation when these gifts which are false securities for love, life, relationships and security.  I have no answers here but just wonder how can we compete with a government who wants our young people to be the slaves of tomorrow.  Our young people do not see it coming that slavery is once again on the rise.

My heart breaks that the slave master is the US government which takes churches and individuals totally out of the picture.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Timely Message for us all

There has been so much written about the Connecticut school shooting that I do not want to be redundant.  But strangely a couple of weekends ago at our church, a talented film producer had put together a short film on the loss of the Innkeeper's family had to endure because of  his allowing the Savior to be born at his Inn.

What we do not realize is that millions of children two years and younger were killed by a mad man king just out of his fear of Jesus.  Have you ever thought of  those children lost to an insane king?  The best way to grasp this in light of the children lost in Connecticut is to know that they are playing in heaven along those millions lost over 2000 years ago.

Please watch this message and film as I know it made me realize the events surrounding the early years of Jesus.  Link on the link and have a blessed day of thankfulness for your children.  No matter what their age might be.

 Click on this link:    InnKeeper

Christmas Depression is Real

Experts say that Christmas time is the most likely time of the year to experience depression. They claim that the suicide rate is higher during December and early January than any other month and we need to understand that Christmas depression should be taken quite seriously. 

Depression right after Christmas day can be triggered by a multitude of things, such as losses, failures, finances, and loneliness as these elements are exacerbated this time of year. People who have had death in the family or have experienced divorce or the loss of a child are more prone to depression, especially during any holiday season.

It can be especially difficult to cope with a Christmas  depression because everyone else seems so joyous, and so for you to reach out feels more awkward.  We don't want to bring down those around us, we don't want to feel "different" or alienate ourselves, and we don't want to draw attention to ourselves either.  We tend to disassociate ourselves from our own feelings and ask ourselves self defeating questions.  We wonder what's wrong with ourselves and why we can barely drag ourselves out of bed and become functional human beings.  On top of our feeling sad and dysfunctional, we feel out of place everywhere  and somehow cannot validate our feelings.

Not all holiday depression has anything to do with loss or failure or death, or even anything obvious. Sometimes people tend to just get depressed around the holidays. Yet those without an obvious “reason” feel that they really shouldn't be depressed and are least likely to reach out for help. It’s as though people who have experienced trauma in their life have more of a “right” to experience holiday depression than those who appear to have everything that could need or want.  If you are a Christ Follower you become so critical of yourself and think, “I’m happy to celebrate the birth of Jesus, so why do I feel this way?”

The onset of Christmas depression can sneak up on you in numerous forms. You may simply start to feel more tired than normal or start sleeping through the alarm. You may have procrastinated on holiday shopping, even when those events that require your participation are only a few days away. You may start to feel randomly irritable, or snap at people without provocation. You may start to feel disconnected with the world and withdraw from those around you, even children. These are all signs that you are experiencing at least some form of holiday depression, and warning signs that you may need help in dealing with whatever is making you feel this way.

If you are alone at this Christmas season and you realize that you are coming down with holiday depression, reach out to someone by phone, whether it is a friend, a relative, or a professional, just call someone. This is so important. There is nothing to be ashamed of and there are plenty of people willing and able to assist you.  A bad moment (even a really long one that last several weeks) does not have to ruin a future. Unfortunately people who find themselves depressed and do nothing about it are prone to staying depressed, maybe for the entire winter or even consider checking out on life.  Living in depression can interfere with job performance, friendships, romantic relationships, parenting ability, self care, and even the ability to take care of the dog or cat. It can lead to losses of very important things if the depression becomes serious enough.

I know about this as I have experienced it in the past, so I encourage you to know the signs and do something about them by reaching out.  If you see someone else depressed this season, you should reach out to them.  Just let them know you care and offer suggestions for things to do to keep them away from depression.  Your friends need you and it’s not for money or just a passing, “Merry Christmas”.  

Even if you know first hand that you are loved by the Creator, do not feel ashamed that you are having these feelings.  They are real !  So one way to get you through this season of your life is to go help at  homeless shelter or food kitchen.  You will not feel alone when you see the appreciation on the faces of many who do not know that they have any hope. It is a great way to get through depressing times this Christmas!



Particularly this Christmas Season demonstrate your caring!

Reflections of Christmas this Morning

Luke 2:11 "This very day in David's town your Savior was born—Christ the Lord!"

As I start this special morning of Christmas, I sit here quietly staring at the lighted Christmas tree with mixed emotions. The emotions I am supposed to have are those of joy and peace and good will to all.

But before any of the presents are opened, I realize that there are some traditions that just cannot be repeated. As my mind flashes back to my childhood days, I recall getting up and running to the Christmas tree to see the Lincoln Log set under the tree with a log house already built.

Soon my mind flees to the Christmas mornings of my children when they would awaken to the whine a new puppy or some other special gifts. If they chose to sleep in too long on Christmas morning, I would go to the kitchen and begin to bake cinnamon rolls. Naturally, I had to make a lot of noise to wake them from their slumber. It is those joys of Christmas mornings that are now just memories.

As tears flow down my face, I think of the people to whom I can never again wish Merry Christmas because they have gone on to be with the Lord. If I keep this going, I know I will be depressed for the entire day. I truly can understand how depression around this time of the year can take place, especially if a person does not have a relationship with the Savior. Then I get a great Tran Siberian Orchestra CD and has the special  some "Someday".  Watch the DVD  TSO-Someday   And I started to cry again.

Even though all these events are in the past, the Lord gently reminds me that Christmas is not about me. I refocus on the Savior who gave up Heaven to communicate directly to me. He loved me so much that he gave everything for me.

During your quiet time this morning, thank the Lord for giving you this day to celebrate his coming to earth for a relationship with us. Thank Him for family, friends, and loved ones with whom we come in contact with each day. Give your children a hug and tell them you love them, no matter what their ages.

Call those who cannot be near you this Christmas. Since the Lord demonstrated His love for you, take the time to create new memories that reflect the Lord’s presence, even if it is banging on the pans to get the kids up to celebrate this day. When cleaning up all the paper and ribbon, pause for a moment to smile and remember that this was not about you, but about the Lord and the ones near you.

In that joy, you will find peace and love to carry you into the New Year.

Merry Christmas!

Then God Shows Up!

This past weekend I was witness to something that many of you who are involved in a Sunday service have experienced.

The Sunday service involved a lot of variations in every aspect of the service which included the Tech Team, Sound Team, Lighting Team, Pastors, Audience and Praise Team.  We were excited about what God was going to do as we arrived at 6:30 a.m. for our first service at 10:00 a.m.

Like we had experienced most weeks the rehearsal did NOT go well.  Timing was off and whatever could go wrong, went wrong.  Tension arose in the room and then our wise Worship Leader just said "Stop!  Let's pray."  Throughout the auditorium people were on their knees and bowing to ask God to show up and take us out of the problems and to move in and take over the services.

We finished rehearsal and thought that God was going to have to show up and remove our simple frustrations so that He could be glorified because rehearsal did not go well.

With the first drumbeat at each service God showed up!  I mean he really showed up.  Praise was everywhere, tears were flowing, and 41 people accepted the Lord in baptism as well as about that many more giving their lives to Christ and are now learning more about their decision and walk with the creator of the Universe.

In the service there were prayers for healing, for financial miracles, and for reconciliation. Before our eyes on stage we saw God show up in a BIG way.  It was no longer our performance but it was how the Spirit moved in each service.  We could have sung out of key and it would not have made any difference.

If you get out of the way in your life you will see where God shows up every time at just the right time.

But I will say it is hard to sing when tears are flowing down your face, so I know for sure that the Lord showed up in my life at just the right time.  I just had to get out of the way.

Have You Checked Your Box?

A few weeks ago I heard someone tell me that they were fasting.  It was at a meal and I heard the “pity me” story of what they were giving up in order to be obedient to God.

They quoted Daniel fasting and named a diet just for this fast like Daniel did.  I asked, “Why are you fasting?  Is it to punch your card for church that you completed a fast?  Was it to draw closer to God?  Was it to lose weight? (I’ve heard that before also)  What is the real reason for fasting?

Let’s look at Daniel 1: 1-16 to discover why Daniel and three friends began the fast.  Another fast,  is also  described in Daniel 10.  The bottom line was that Daniel did not want to defy Mosaic law and eat the food which was offered by the king since it was taken from gifts to idols.   So the purpose of the fast was to edify God.  Daniel did it without complaining and the result of the fast was God being glorified.

So many churches have cards in the back of the seats in which you check off a box to show an accomplishment or a commitment.   I grew up with boxes to check for Attendance (I had seventeen years of perfect attendance and the pins to show it), Bible reading, serving, singing, and the list goes on and on in many churches.  So for many people fasting is just another box to check.

Are you checking boxes for the Lord or are you giving, fasting, serving, and loving others because you are passionately in love with the Creator of the Universe and want to see the Lord glorified in and through your life?

Take a look at your mental attitude and why you do anything that helps someone else.  Are you just checking a box so you can be in approval before the Lord?  Or are you just doing these things BECAUSE you love the Lord? 

In everything you say and do, make it to glorify the Lord and not yourself.  It is tough to accomplish but when you work for the Lord you are not checking a box because all the boxes were checked when you gave your life to the lord and followed his Son as a Christ Follower.

 

So throw your pencil away and just get to serving, giving, fasting and loving others.  It pleased God when Daniel did it as he was blessed in everything that he did  and you will be blessed  when you do things without thinking about checking boxes.

Are you like a Pumpkin?

Are you like a Pumpkin?  Wouldn't you like to be?

Being a Christ Follower is like being a pumpkin.

God picks you from the patch, brings you in and washes all the dirt off you.  Then He cuts open the top and scoops out all the yucky and awful messy stuff inside.  He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, unforgiveness, and anger.  Then with His artistic hand He carves out a unique smiling face and puts His light inside of you (the pumpkin) to shine for all the world to see.

The only difference is that a regular pumpkin will rot in a very short time when carved by men.  Yet the pumpkin that God craves in you will never rot but shine in all situations and the light inside will never go away.  Even when life is rough and the darkness that we encounter daily, His light is still inside and can shine right through any darkest hour.

Now crave a pumpkin for your kids with a new attitude that gives light and not dark evil that the world wants you to celebrate.  Talk to your kids about this parable whereby you can show God's love while simply carving a pumpkin.

Hey God! Surprise!

In listening to a message yesterday the main topic was about Joesph and Forgiveness.  Now if anything could go wrong in a persons life it had to be Joesph.  In Genesis Joesph had dreams about ruling over his brothers and family to which his brothers came to hate him.  So they plotted to kill him but sold him as a slave into Egypt.  Then he was falsely charged with rape and jailed for 22 years.  During that time he still interpreted dreams for a baker, candlestick maker, and the Pharaoh which put him in into the Vice President position of the whole world.  It had been about 30-40 years when his first dream came true because Egypt had food and Israel was starving.  It was his brothers that came to beg for food.

 Yet do you think God was surprised when Joesph was sold into slavery, when he was wrongly thrown into jail?

If God was like us, he'd say, "On no, I had these great plans but now Joesph is heading to slavery.  What am I going to do?"  Or "He has been charged with rape and did nothing but run away.  Now what am I going to do?"  Instead God took the situation that took place on earth and made it into something that built Him up to be more than the God of Creation.

Joseph could have remained angry at his brothers and would have been justified to just send them back to their land.  Instead he forgave them, clothed them, and brought the entire Israel nation to Egypt to survive.  God's plan for the Israel nation to survive and thrive could not have happened unless Joesph had been sold into slavery and gone through what he endured.

Yet in our lives we often get angry at our experiences and blame God for family troubles, incest, job loss, and a number of other events that take place in our lives.  Instead we need to turn MORE to God and forgive those people.  Funny thing is that people who hurt us go on like nothing happened.  It is us who harbor the hurt and anger which in many cases will go beyond the grave of the other person.  So forgive yourself and then you can forgive others.  It is then that God can do something with your life.

Now the Pastor who was preaching this sermon chose early in his life a direction that included drugs, alcohol, sex, drug dealer, and pimp.  It was on a bed in a hospital that he recalled something that he was taught at an early age about the love of God.  His life had been hard and he had endured the childhood agonies we would never wish upon anyone including our family.  Yet God's plan had always been in place for this young man.  God was not surprised but overjoyed.

In giving his life to the Lord unconditionally, he was healed with no drug withdrawals and began a hunger for the best relationship possible with the creator of the Universe.  During this month of Pastor Appreciation I am proud to call this man my pastor and friend.

Chris Stephens walks the walk and talks the talk whereby he was dealt some bad hands like Joesph and yet the Lord continues to raise up his words, experiences  and life to drive people like me to improve my relationship with the Lord.

So today Chris,  thank you for being the man God made you so people like me can continue to learn how to give our lives away.

Oh ya,  God was not surprised 35 years ago in a hospital bed in Chattanooga so He will never be surprised at you and what you are capable of in your life.

There's at Least One Inside All of Us

In the past couple of weeks I have been exposed to some awesome talent in two young men.  These men are writing songs and the music for these songs.   I have heard some of their old stuff which was powerful years ago and now they are working a Christmas CD that will be published in a few weeks.

They put in long hours in the studio to take their creative juices and produce a fantastic sound.  As I heard one of those songs I found myself singing the chorus as it had a great message and rang true in my life.  One song, "I Wish it Was Christmas" held me in front of the speakers in the studio until the last note.

Now I can not write music, but over the years I have learned that everyone has a song within them.  Something you are thinking just keeps coming up in your head.  You should write it down.  As for me I gave something I wrote down years ago to the writer of this group to see if he can put music to the words.  I gave him liberty to adjust the rhyme but he is keeping the theme, "It's Not About Me".  

Beginning in 1998 I began writing a book on Romance.  It took me until 2004 to complete this 240 page book but "Romantic Games Adults SHOULD Play" has been copyrighted but never fully published.  For me, if it never does publish then so be that.  But I have sent the book to male friends of mine who say they do not have a clue on how to be creatively romantic to their wives.  The book elevates women to much more than objects where romance in a creative way which can be inexpensive and yet build esteem in their spouse rather than objects you see on adult sites. 

Your life experiences means that you have at least one book inside you also.  With electronics today you can jot down thoughts and put them in a file and then you can take a little private time to assemble them into a book.  People who may be experiencing an issue you have overcome would like to read how you conquered the issue.

I use this illustration often on the subject of using your life experiences for others.  Look at Acts 8:26-40  Philip met the eunuch who was having trouble understanding what he was reading.  The Spirit told Philip to go near the chariot yet he could have passed by and not  stopped.  But Philip had the experiences to help this man.  And did just that.  

Your experiences you have endured - both good and bad - are opportunities to help people who need you to get them from doing harm to themselves and others.  Do not hate what you have endured as the Lord WILL give you an opportunity to help someone who may not be as strong as you are.

So write that book that is inside of you and that song that is in your heart.  Everyone has at least one inside themselves.  Others will benefit long after you have left this earth.

Hold Us Together!

In today's world we are seeing so much anger between people and the love that our nation should have has turned to seeing relationships lost.  In listening to a caller on the radio this lady said that her father quite talking to her the day she said she had a different opinion about the political leader of the country.  She went on to say that her father told her yesterday that he was writing her out of his will unless she agreed to vote a certain way.  She's 28 years old.

What ever happened to FREE SPEECH?  I have heard recently of injury threats to local and state politicians which in most cases is just local talk but the reality is that we have lost our desire to be ONE NATION, under God.

Persecution is alive and well not only in the world but here in the US.  During this political season we accept words which we know are not true and learn to hate just because a political party of candidate says we are to hate.

There is a verse in the Bible that tells about what is taking place today.  Matthew 10:21 - “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.  Is that next?

There was a song I was listening to today which spells out what we need right now:

Jesus said,
It don't have a job, don't pay your billsWon't buy you a home in Beverly HillsWon't fix your life in five easy stepsAin't the law of the land or the government
But it's all you need
And love will hold us togetherMake us a shelter to weather the stormAnd I'll be my brother's keeperSo the whole world will know that we're not alone
It's waiting for you knocking at your doorIn the moment of truth when your heart hits the floor
And you're on your knees
And love will hold us togetherMake us a shelter to weather the stormAnd I'll be my brother's keeperSo the whole world will know that we're not aloneThis is the first day of the rest of your lifeThis is the first day of the rest of your life'Cause even in the dark, you can still see the lightIt's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
This is the first day of the rest of your lifeThis is the first day of the rest of your life'Cause even in the dark, you can still see the lightIt's gonna be alright, it's gonna be alright
Love will hold us togetherMake us a shelter to weather the stormAnd I'll be my brother's keeperSo the whole world will know that we're not alone
Now listen to the song:  Hold Us Together
There are storms coming, so how do you want to weather them?  Alone or with someone?  I think the answer is obvious.  But you have to start by not judging everything someone else says and love them where they are today.  

I thought that was Free Speech meant.