Breaking the chains that enslave us

So many people are in bondage. They are enslaved to a painful past, anger, self-destructive mindsets, sinful habits, ... On and on this list could go. 

But, it is not Jesus' desire for us to remain in bondage to what would destroy us. No! God gets no glory when His children are enslaved to anything other than Him, who showed us how much He cares for us on the Cross.

So is there a remedy? Is there some way to break free from the chains? Yes! A thousand times Yes! 

While sometimes we will need to enlist the help of others, our ultimate remedy is found in studying, believing and applying the life-giving principles found on the pages of God's Word.

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31-32 NLT)

My running/race goal for this year...

Go Commando Half Marathon
Race Route / Clarksville, TN

My sites are locked on Clarksville,

Tennessee on October 17, 2015! That's the location and day that I want to beat the 2 hour mark for a half marathon!


I've run in 3 half marathons so far. For various reasons, I approached each of those three races not fully prepared to run it. Either injury, or busyness or my inability to lose weight kept me from crossing the finish line in less than 2 hours (ave. pace 9'08" or faster).


Well, my only race goal this year is to beat that time in Clarksville. I'm presently doing well on weight loss (down to 204.6lbs this morning). I'm currently running slowly (aerobically) to lose weight and build my base before I begin a 16 week training plan on June 30th. I'm also doing body-weight upper-body exercises to trim my core and get it fit.


This is my aim. It could all come crashing down if it's pouring rain on race day or if I get an injury within weeks of the race (it has happened before). But, if circumstances cooperate and I'm able to adjust to whatever comes my way, I plan to be trimmer, fitter and faster on October 17th so I can experience the exhilaration of setting a PR (personal record) of a sub-2 hour half marathon in the city in which I was born.


I ran this race two years ago in October 2013 and blogged about it. You can read about my experience by clicking here.

The necessity of obedience in the life of a believer

It is clear in Scripture that the only way for someone to come into relationship with God is belief. 

John 3:16 makes this clear when it says: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (emphasis mine)

Yet, we see belief and behavior tied closely throughout the Bible. Someone who trusts in God for salvation is also someone who obeys Him.

John 3:36 makes this clear when it says: "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (emphasis mine)

Did you catch that? The one who believes has eternal life. The one who doesn't obey does not. That doesn't mean that our obedience to God's Word saves us. It simply means that obedience shows that we've truly believed. Someone who claims to have trusted in Jesus for salvation and yet does not pursue a life of obedience to Him is simply not saved.

Perfect obedience in this life is impossible. Between the three S's (sin, self & satan), we have forces inside of us and outside of us calling us away from the Lord. Yet, a true follower of Jesus will confess and repent of a sin when it is committed and get back on the road to holiness. In so doing, he shows that he is truly a child of God.

Obedience doesn't save us. It simply shows that we are saved.

Something every young pastor should do...

When I moved to Florida in 2006, I began to feel a little overwhelmed with ministry. I've learned since then that such feelings are good if they drive us to our knees and keep us aware of our utter dependence upon God.

I also realized that there were fellow pastors within driving distance who God had blessed with incredible ministries. While the size of their congregations was much larger than the church I pastored, I suspected that they had a lot of insight that I could use and in doing so bless the church I pastored. So, over the course of a few years, I set up a lunch meeting with each of the following pastors. I showed up prepared to enjoy the company and food but with a greater desire to learn from their experience. (If I remember correctly, most of them paid for the lunches even though the initial deal was that I would take care of it.)

Ken Whitten
Idlewild Baptist Church, Lutz, Florida

The first pastor I met with was Ken Whitten. He is the pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida. I had attended his church a couple of times with my family when on a "stay-cation." It felt so much like Bellevue Baptist Church where I had attended when in seminary in Memphis. I was not surprised when I heard that Pastor Ken had been on staff at Bellevue many years ago.

As we talked over lunch, we reminisced about our days at Bellevue (even though our times at Bellevue did not coincide) and our deep respect for Dr. Adrian Rogers. We talked about vision and leadership and some other pastoral/leadership competencies. But, what I really took away from my time with him was that a pastor needs to love his people, he needs to love the Lord, he needs to be passionate about the Gospel, and he needs to be excited about the future.

Will Rice
Calvary Baptist Church, Clearwater, Florida

Another pastor that I took out to lunch was Willy Rice. He is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida. The large church campus, the activity of a Christian school and a future sports complex testified to the fact that Pastor Willy was a leader. He didn't just preach - he led.

As we talked, I shared with him some of the struggles I was facing in ministry. I could tell that his mind was wired for visionary leadership. What I took away was that Pastor Willy was a man with a heart afire for reaching people for Jesus. And he knew that there wasn't much time left. He believed that people where capable of doing much more than they thought they were, especially when they cooperated together under caring, competent leadership. He was more than honored to be the man to step up and point the direction that God was leading.

Jim Henry
First Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida

Another pastor that I had the privilege of spending a few hours with was Jim Henry. He is the former Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida. I was invited with 5 other pastors to sit with Pastor Jim for about 3-4 hours. For those hours, we got to listen to him share some of what he had learned in his years of being a pastor.

While I filed my notes away (and can't find them!), I had quite a few take-aways from my time with Pastor Jim. He noted that if a congregation doesn't feel that their pastor loves them, he has greatly undermined what he will be able to do as their  leader and preacher. He pointed out that a church never gets too big for a pastor to care for his people and he gave very specific way that he tried to maintain a caring pastoral role for a church that had thousands attend on Sunday mornings. He noted that a good sense of humor is vital and a pastor has got to spend time with God before he can spend time with God's people.

Jay Dennis
First Baptist Church at the Mall, Lakeland, Florida

Finally, the pastor to whom I will be indebted the rest of my life is Jay Dennis. He is the pastor of the First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Florida. I was going through a particularly difficult time in my ministry when I called upon him. He gave me an hour and a half out of his incredibly busy schedule to listen and provide counsel. His encouraging, insightful words kept my head above water as circumstances were threatening to sink me. But, he didn't limit his encouragement to our lunch. He continued to text and e-mail words of encouragement to me long after our meeting. When my family showed up to worship on another "stay-cation," he gave me a huge hug and continued to speak words of encouragement and affirmation.

From Pastor Jay, I learned that to bring about lasting change, you've got to love the people you lead. You've got to be intentional about your care for them as you preach and as you meet with them one-on-one. That sounds easy enough but it is extremely difficult. Some pastors have warm personalities in the pulpit but aren't 'people persons' one-on-one. There are others who are very comfortable with people one-on-one but who are not warm in the pulpit. Pastor Jay is able to do both. That's why his congregation follows his ambitious leadership and continues to love him.

I wouldn't give anything for my time with these men! While it lacked some the benefits of a long-term mentor relationship, it provided for times to learn from these men and to see how they got to a place where God was using them in unbelievable ways.

If you are a pastor, especially if you are just getting started, contact other pastors that you respect that are 'farther up the road' than you are in ministry. Ask to take them out to lunch and show up with a list of questions where the answers will help you in ministry. Ask them ... and then sit back, listen, enjoy and bless your church by being a better pastor.

1 Mindset that Can Help Us Forgive

All of us have hurt others and been hurt by others. Unfortunately, it is an inevitable reality for everyone living on planet earth who interacts with others. If we have any chance whatsoever of reconciling relationships, we need to learn to forgive. 

I've been around people who cannot forgive and I see how angry and bitter they become. Eventually, their bitterness is no longer directed at the one who harmed to them. Their bitterness begins to affect every relationship they have. It affects the way they look at every circumstance that occurs to them. Given enough time, bitterness will etch its presence in every facial wrinkle making it clear to the world: "This person has refused to forgive!"

But, how can we forgive? When we are hurt deeply and especially when the perpetrator is unrepentant and refuses to make things right, how do we get past it?

One very helpful mindset that I have benefited from is knowing that there is coming a Day when Jesus will judge every single person (2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5). Since I know that a horrible wrong has taken place and I am forbidden to get revenge (Romans 12:19), I can find comfort in the fact that the Lord has taken notice. Whether in this life or on the Day of Judgment, He will fairly make things right. So, I'm free to forgive and let the offense go. Jesus will take care of it.

It would seem that the Apostle Paul also found comfort in this very thing . He wrote in 2 Timothy 4:14 - "Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds."

Did you see that? He acknowledged the hurt. But, he was also able to let it go and not allow it to grow roots of bitterness in his heart because he rested in the fact that the Lord would one day make things right.

Don't hang onto hurts. Loosen your grip on them and let them leave. Realize that the Lord is a just Judge and will handle it. You focus on forgiving and leave justice to Him.

Sermon (video): "Five Reasons to Grow in Discipleship"

Those who are on their way to Heaven are not simply those who have "said a prayer." They are those who have received Jesus' forgiveness and have given their lives to Him. They demonstrate their faith in Him as they continue to follow Him the rest of their days. This sermon points out 5 key reasons why we must grow in discipleship.

This sermon was preached at Westside Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky on Sunday morning April 12, 2015.

Sermon (audio): "Five Reason to Grow in Discipleship"

Those who are on their way to Heaven are not simply those who have "said a prayer." They are those who have received Jesus' forgiveness and have given their lives to Him. They demonstrate their faith in Him as they continue to follow Him the rest of their days. This sermon points out 5 key reasons why we must grow in discipleship.

This sermon was preached at Westside Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky on Sunday morning, April 12, 2015.

One reason why Jesus HAD to rise from the dead...

Which is easier - to forgive someone's sins or to simply speak words that physically heal a man who is paralyzed?

It would seem that telling someone that their sins are forgiven is easier since the act cannot be measured by the naked eye. Telling someone who is paralyzed to get up and walk ... well, when they don't get up and walk, it just shows how difficult (impossible!) it is to heal someone with just a word.

Some of the religious leaders in Jesus' day heard Jesus tell a paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven and they were shocked and appalled. They cried out that He was blaspheming because only God could forgive sins.

So, Jesus asked the question: "Is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'?" (Matthew 9:5).

Honestly, as difficult (impossible!) as it is to heal a man with just a word, it is even more impossible to forgive sins. So, Jesus essentially told those religious leaders, "Since you think that physical healing is more difficult than forgiving sins, I'll do the "difficult" thing and heal this guy. In doing so, I'll show you that I can also do the "easier" thing - forgive sins.

Matthew 9:6-7 "'So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.' Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!' And the man jumped up and went home!"

Jesus performed a physical miracle to show that He could easily do the spiritual miracle.

...which takes my thoughts to the cross...

What did Jesus do on the cross? He died to pay the sin debt of all who would believe. How do we know that He had the power to forgive the sins of everyone who looked to Him for salvation? He did the "difficult" thing and rose from the dead. In doing so, He showed that He had the power to do the "easier" thing and forgive our sins.

#StillCelebratingTheResurrection

Movie Review: "Do You Believe?"

I love what the producers of "God's Not Dead" and now "Do You Believe?" are doing! They are creating incredible movies that give Christians the tools to defend and live out their faith. Already, I cannot wait for their next movie!

I watched "Do You Believe?" last night with my family and some friends. I want to put in print, while its still fresh on my mind, what I loved about the movie! So, here are some of the reasons why I would highly recommend others to view this movie...


1. This movie masterfully interweaves many different stories into one beautiful masterpiece.

• At the beginning of the movie, the viewer is made aware that there are about 12 or so lives with stories to be told. It would seem at the outset that this is an almost impossible task. How can a 2 hour movie possibly allow you to develop any sort of relationship with the characters much less tell their stories and have it come to a compelling conclusion?
• The movie delivers! By the end of the movie, you have wept with the characters. You have celebrated with them. You may even feel like you have lost a friend as their characters exit the story or as the story comes to an end.
• But, it's not simply that the producers of "Do You Believe?" were able to connect the audience to the characters. They also made good on what they did so masterfully in "God's Not Dead" ... they interwove the stories so well that it was fascinating and yet not too complicated to keep up with.

2. This movie recognizes that life is hard and many things don't end well.

• Many Christian movies do the same thing that many movies of years gone by strived to do. They try to end the story with everything nice and neat. Everything works out perfectly as the hero "rides off into the sunset."
• Yet, stories like that are not true to life. We periodically enjoy them because they allow us to escape the difficulties and disappointments of life. But as those stories came to an end, we were brought back into the "real" world and realized there was very little to be gained from the story other than its entertainment value.
• "Do You Believe?" is true to life. It shows life as it really is (at least what it's like in a rough, inner city environment). But, the viewer sees that while those of us who live in rural America don't have to worry about crime as much, we are reminded that loneliness, despair, fear, anxiety, anger, bitterness and other such emotions are shared by us all. So, as the characters battle those emotions and the life circumstances that brought them on, the viewer is able to watch and learn. We get to see a true to life story in which various life scenarios live out their faith and see what happens to them.
• The viewers come to the end of the movie and are reminded that some who faithfully follow Jesus will experience joy and victory. Things work out! Yet, it is also possible that others who faithfully follow Jesus will lose their jobs or someone they dearly love will die. (Read Hebrews 11:1-35a - things work out for some people of faith; then read Hebrews 11:35b-38 - sometimes people of faith get nothing but difficulty.) Faith does not inoculate us from difficulties and disappointments. It does allow us to be strong and courageous in whatever comes our way. The movie makes this point wonderfully.

3. This movie calls upon viewers to put their faith to work.

• This movie speaks into a 21st century American Christian culture that is largely asleep. When we compare ourselves with others, we may look pretty good. But, when we compare ourselves to what God's Word says about Followers of Jesus, most of us fall far short of the mark. There is a reason why so few are getting saved in our churches these days.
• This movie resets the bar high where it should have been all along. In fact, at the beginning of the movie, a gentleman who is carrying a cross down a dark street approaches a pastor in his car. He asks the pastor if he is a believer. The pastor responds affirmatively and the question that is asked by the man with the cross hits the pastor (and those in the audience) like a gunshot ... "Well, what are you going to do about it?"
• So many of us love Ephesians 2:8-9 where it says we're save by grace alone apart from anything we do. Yet, the very next verse (Ephesians 2:10) tells us WHY we were saved ... "for good works." This movie calls followers of Jesus to live in light of verse 10.

4. The movie shows that one life lived for Christ can profoundly influence others.

• When we look at our ever darkening world, we cannot help but throw our hands up in defeat. We look around and see so much sin (including in ourselves) and we wonder what one person could possibly do about it. This movie shows how one act of kindness done in Jesus' name jars people to attention and causes them to reflect.
• In fact, this movie shows how counter-culture Christianity really is. Whether it is how a Christian responds when threatened with a loaded gun, an angry lawyer or an awareness of their imminent demise, this movie shows us that Christians who are informed by the Word will inevitably act in ways that are so different from the culture around us. And when we act in those unpredictable ways, it will almost always grab people's attention. Our message gains credibly when we behave this way. God is able to move powerfully in the lives of others when His children imitate the actions, words and attitudes of Christ.

5. The movie does not settle for a social Gospel but for a Gospel that changes lives for the present AND eternity.

• So much of the "good works" in Christianity today is simply doing the things that lost people can do. I mean, it's good to put shoes on people's feet, give them a warm meal and provide them shelter. But, lost people do this. Which begs the question ... If we are doing the same thing that lost people do, how can what we are doing be considered "Christian?" Don't get me wrong. It's GOOD to meet the temporal needs of those around us. But, if that is the extent of our actions, it's not a "Christian" work. It's just a good work.
• This movie shows that we must reach out to help others. But, in doing so, we must look for opportunities to share the Gospel. We must also make it clear that the reason we are doing what we are doing is because of Jesus. We have been captivated by His love and provision for us and we want to share it with others. Only what's done for Christ, in the name of Jesus, counts.

I could keep going but you get the idea. This movie was about real life stuff and real life Christianity. It is not only extremely entertaining, it is an incredible tool to help Christians grow in their faith.


If you haven't seen the movie, go watch it. If you have, tell others about it. We need to support movies like this and encourage the producers to keep pumping out more movies like this.


#pureflix #doyoubelieve

Sermon (audio): "The Four Points"

In 1904-1905, God used a man named Evan Roberts in an incredible way to preach a sermon (that came to be called "The Four Points) to spread the fires of revival. Within 6 months, over 100,000 people were saved!

 

This sermon does not seek to 're-preach' that sermon. It does, however, highlight the 4 main points that Evan Roberts addressed with a desire that the sparks of revival could once again be fanned into a fiery flame that would draw people to God once again.

 

Sermon was preached at Westside Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 29, 2015.