From Gimmick to Gimmick-

J. I. Packer said, "Certainty about the great issues of the Christian faith and conduct is lacking all along the line.

The outside observer sees us staggering on from gimmick to gimmick and stunt to stunt like so many drunks in a fog, not knowing at all where we are or which way we should be going. Preaching is hazy; heads are muddled; hearts fret; doubts drain strength; uncertainty paralyzes action....

Unlike the first Christians who in three centuries won the Roman world, and those later Christians who pioneered the Reformation, and the Puritan awakening and the Evangelical revival, and the great missionary movement of the last century, we lack certainty.

Why is this? We blame the external pressures of modern secularism, but this is like Eve blaming the serpent.

The real truth is that we have grieved the Spirit... we stand under divine judgment. For two generations our churches have suffered from a famine of hearing the words of the Lord."

GOD TEXTS THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1. no1 b4 me. srsly.
2. dnt wrshp pix/idols
3. no omg's
4. no wrk on w/end (sat 4 now; sun l8r)
5. pos ok - ur m&d r cool
6. dnt kill ppl
7. :-X only w/ m8
8. dnt steal
9. dnt lie re: bf
10. dnt ogle ur bf's m8. or ox. or dnkey. myob.

M, pls rite on tabs & giv 2 ppl.

ttyl, dbz

ps. wwjd?

Vine Fellowship- it's all about the children!

Crocodile Dock was a big hit this year at VBS. Our Children's Director, Brooke Hurt, led an enthusiastic team of workers during the week long VBS. Needless to say this was a high energy event as the video shows. Children had fun, ate, played, and gave their lives to Jesus!

Thank you Brooke and all, you are the best!


photography by David and Debi Kerr; videography and video by Jason Kerr

Not by Force, but by Birth

Big Enough to Read!

I can relate to this!

removed previous post as video was no longer available.

33 Minutes from Destruction!

Click here to be forewarned!

OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA By Lou Pritchett

Dear President Obama:

You are the thirteenth President under whom I have lived and unlike any of the others, you truly scare me.

You scare me because after months of exposure, I know nothing about you.

You scare me because I do not know how you paid for your expensive Ivy League education and your upscale lifestyle and housing with no visible signs of support.

You scare me because you did not spend the formative years of youth growing up in America and culturally you are not an American.

You scare me because you have never run a company or met a payroll.

You scare me because you have never had military experience, thus don't understand it at its core.

You scare me because you lack humility and 'class', always blaming others.

You scare me because for over half your life you have aligned yourself with radical extremists who hate America and you refuse to publicly denounce these radicals who wish to see America fail.

You scare me because you are a cheerleader for the 'blame America' crowd and deliver this message abroad.

You scare me because you want to change America to a European style country where the government sector dominates instead of the private sector.

You scare me because you want to replace our health care system with a government controlled one.

You scare me because you prefer 'wind mills' to responsibly capitalizing on our own vast oil, coal and shale reserves.

You scare me because you want to kill the American capitalist goose that lays the golden egg which provides the highest standard of living in the world.

You scare me because you have begun to use 'extortion' tactics against certain banks and corporations.

You scare me because your own political party shrinks from challenging you on your wild and irresponsible spending proposals.

You scare me because you will not openly listen to or even consider opposing points of view from intelligent people.

You scare me because you falsely believe that you are both omnipotent and omniscient.

You scare me because the media gives you a free pass on everything you do.

You scare me because you demonize and want to silence the Limbaughs, Hannitys, O'Relllys and Becks who offer opposing, conservative points of view.

You scare me because you prefer controlling over governing.

Finally, you scare me because if you serve a second term I will probably not feel safe in writing a similar letter in 8 years.

Lou Pritchett

Note: Lou Pritchett is a former vice president of Procter & Gamble whose career at that company spanned 36 years before his retirement in 1989, and he is the author of the 1995 business book, Stop Paddling & Start Rocking the Boat. Mr. Pritchett confirmed that he was indeed the author of the much-circulated "open letter." “I did write the 'you scare me' letter. I sent it to the NY Times but they never acknowledged or published it.

Copied as a public service announcement to my readers. DK

Another Tennis Ball use!

The Nike Hypermax NFW features a Tennis Ball felt upper with a White Swoosh, White midsole, and White ankle strap.

I may be getting me a pair of these new Nike- they have tennis ball felt on the uppers! Which color should I get - I don't want to be too obvious!

The ‘American Idol’ Pastor- Being Voted off the Show! Pt. 1

Pastor Mike Cavanaugh had some interesting quotes in a recent class I attended:

Pastoral Significance:

“It’s hard to feel significant as a pastor. We are constantly compared to amazing speakers, incredible entrepreneurs and holy, monkish people who pray more than we can. Our churches are compared to huge churches with massive budgets and incredible bands, and staffs as large as our whole congregations.”

Pastoral Criticism:

“Criticism is one of the things that really hurts. Amazingly, people will criticize their pastor in ways they would not speak of their worst enemy, and feel they have a right to hold an opinion on everything the pastor does. His professional life, his emotional life, the way he dresses, his choice of words, his kids, his personality, the car he drives, the friends he chooses- and the list goes on. It’s easy to feel like you’re a constant disappointment to people, that you are letting people down all the time.”

Pastoral Rejection and Betrayal:

“It’s painful to realize that people leave the church because they don’t like you. That you can invest deeply in a person but that they can still come to the conclusion that they should leave the church because of something they don’t like about you and often they don’t feel the need to even explain. They just stop coming.”

Pastoral Statistics:

-Fifteen to seventeen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.
-Ninety percent said the hardest thing about ministry is dealing with uncooperative people.
-The majority of pastor’s wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.
-Only one in ten ministers will actually retire in the ministry.

Is it any wonder some pastors walk off the ‘show’ rather than wait to be ‘voted off the show?’

I'd Rather Have Jesus!

Jesus deserves our sole attention. Nothing else should even come close to demanding our allegiance.

A young man was seated next to his girl in church one Sunday and his intentions were more upon her than upon the message. Leafing through his hymnal till he found what he wanted, he placed it in her lap and pointed to the hymn: "I need thee every hour."She took the hymnal and searched until she found the appropriate hymn to respond: "I’d rather have Jesus."

The song writer wrote:
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands
I’d rather be led by His nail scared hand

Nothing else should even come close to demanding our attention. We need to continue to fix our eyes and hearts on Jesus; He alone is truly the lover of our souls.

A song writer said it this way:
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace."

He has invited us into His life. How can we refuse?

I Was Naked! But Now….

Luke 8:26-27 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. NIV

Have you ever pondered the story of the Gadarenes demoniac? The disciples about lose their lives when travelling by boat with Jesus laying there asleep. He calms the troubled sea and they arrive safely to the shore. But it is out of the frying pan and into the fire- they are met by the rabidly raving Gadarenes demoniac. ‘Can’t we just relax for a little bit after what we just experienced?’ they ask themselves. But no, it’s another day at the office.

Jesus cast all the demons into pigs and they went belly up in the water and were drowned! The man was in his right mind (and hopefully clothed by now!). He followed God’s one step plan and took one step out of darkness into light!

The people from the nearby down were more frightened of what Jesus had done for this man than they were frightened by the demoniac. They ask Jesus to leave and he does so.

The delivered man wants to join Jesus but Jesus tells him to stay and preach what has happened to him. He does so, one man, one message. And the town believes and comes back to Jesus when he comes ashore.

We have so many messages that are ineffective and he only had one and it was effective.

Sometimes as pastors we communicate well but it is not effective nor what the people need to hear. Lord give us your message for meeting the needs of the masses!

Why Me, God?

We Remember and We Honor Our Heroes!

Today is Memorial Day here in the United States - it is a day we honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country.
Freedom is never free!

Another Use for Tennis Balls!

The Tennis Ball Chair!
Working on mine now! Do you want one?

Contents of Heart Cleansed!

When we were living in Pensacola, Debi's dad, Harry, had a janitorial business- 'Meticulous Cleaning.' (for those that know him it sounds like him doesn't it)

From time to time he would be called upon to clean a house where the occupants had moved out and left everything. Not too bad a job unless there was an unplugged refrigerator involved. One filled with rotting and putrid food left behind! How bad can that be you may ask?

Recently 7 individuals were taken to the hospital and 28 needed treatment for vomiting and nausea after an office worker in San Jose, California decided to clean out the office refrigerator. The AT&T building was evacuated by firefighters after someone called 911 due to the smell and the symptoms of the office workers. Authorities say that an office worker decided to clean out the refrigerator, which had been unplugged and was full of moldy food. The combination of the cleaning supplies used and the old food apparently caused many of the office workers to become ill.

There you have it, the stench can be unbearable!

I think of the things that are often found in our hearts. Pride, Sin, Rebellion, Anger, Greed, Malice, the list of Eph 4. 25-31! Often our hearts can be like that refrigerator- smelly, moldy, and toxic to those around us!

Only God can come to the refrigerator of our hearts (without a hazmat suit mind you) and clean the grossness of our hearts!

Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Eze 36:25-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Let's endeavor to keep our hearts pure and don't let junk build up in them!

Bridge Building for Those to Follow-

The Bridge Builder
(Will Allen Dromgoole)

An old man traveling a lone highway,
Came at the evening cold and gray,
To a chasm vast, deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide,
The old man crossed in the twilight dim,
The sullen stream held no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side,
And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Old man," cried a fellow pilgrim near,
"You're wasting your time in building here.
Your journey will end with the closing day;
You never again will pass this way.
You have crossed the chasm deep and wide,
Why build you this bridge at eventide?"
The builder lifted his old grey head,
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This stream, which has been as naught to me,
To that fair-haired youth may pitfall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim,
Good friend, I am building this bridge for him."

Pastor friend, are you just living for the now or are you laying the foundation for the future travellers?

Things to do with Tennis Balls

FLUFF LAUNDRY Put a clean one in the dryer with towels, comforters or down coats to fluff them right up.

CHILDPROOF FURNITURE Cut a tennis ball in half, or cut an X-shaped slit in it, and use it to cover sharp corners.

CREATE SLIDING FURNITURE Cut in half and place under the feet or corners of heavy furniture to move it without scratching the floor.

HIDE THINGS Got a ring or money you need to temporarily hide? Slit a tennis ball and insert the goods. Just make sure no one uses it.

GIVE YOURSELF A MASSAGE For a foot rub, place a ball on the ground and rotate the sole of your foot over it. Or put three tennis balls into a sock, knot it and use it to knead your muscles. Aaahh!

USE IT IN THE GARAGE to help park your car- Cut a hole in the ball and put string in it and hang it from the ceiling so you will know when to stop the car. Especially helpful if you have cluttered garage!

How do you use them (besides play tennis, duh!)? suggestions...?

Officially 60!!!!

Well, after many surprises- the Vine Fellowship church suprising me with a birthday party last week, girls at Starbucks singing Happy Birthday to me while giving me a free drink, my son Ryan making a surprise visit for Mother's Day and my birthday- I am now officially 60!

I thought Jesus would return before now! :>(

We celebrated Mother's Day/Birthday with the family at Rockfish then back to the house for Pineapple Upside down cake, some pool and then a movie.

Funny thing when I woke up this morning, I didn't feel 6o! Tennis tonight, we'll see!!!!

Thanks again to everyone who wished me well! I love you!

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful wife Debi! She is the best!
(shown here with Lina and Arleen-Debi's mom)

I am and shall ever remain 'a one woman man.'

Never Ever Shake a Baby!

"On Monday, April 20th, 2009, Noah, our five month-old son, was shaken by his daycare provider. Though the road ahead remains uncertain, and the tragedy of our story is undeniable, we have created Noah’s Road as an instrument of hope. Please share this website with your friends and ask your friends to share it with theirs. Help us harness the healing power of love and prayer to help our son – our heart and our breath – to heal."

Today my blog is a tribute to Noah and his fight for life and to his parents, Michael and Erin Whitmer, as they stand watch over their son.

http://www.noahsroad.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=81789982302

This Mother's Day I am praying for Erin, Michael, and Noah!

Please join with me!

Starbux Order--

I've done this before- haven't you?

Is There Anything Easy in Life?

Surprise! Gotcha!!!!!

It was a typical Sunday morning except we had set up the sanctuary for a church picnic. Lots of rain had forced us inside. But it was exciting!

I began the service as usual, opening song, I came forward and began to explain to guests the unusual setup, then prayed...and sometime during the prayer I lost control of the service. When I opened my eyes the congregation had on birthday hats and were blowing party whistles...Surprise! My 60th birthday is next week May 10th, Mother's Day. They decided to celebrate a week early!


So there I was totally surprised! I didn't see this coming! They pulled off the most amazing 'Gotcha' I have ever seen.

This had been in the works for 6 weeks or so, spear headed by my clever (howbeit somewhat deceiving staff), and the entire congregation knew it and kept it from me-the Silver Edition, my father-in-love Harry, the children, the animals- were all quiet about it.

They showed a video of my life-amazing how fast 60 years passes one by; my friend Danny Tice greeted me with kind words and then a tennis walker for future years of tennis; and my son Ryan spoke words that encourages a dad.

It was a great day with Texas BBQ, my wife's outstanding Potato Salad, cake, cupcakes, gifts, and especially, wonderful, encouraging, and supportive friends!

I think as I've gotten older I have become more trusting, naive, gullible, and easily deceived... or maybe I have always been that! I wonder!!!!

Blogger or Boog...?

Rap Chop!

We've all seen him. But this is really the only way to enjoy him! enjoy your day- thanks Ryan!

Satan Wants to Kill Your Church

Rev 3:1-2 Write this to Sardis, to the Angel of the church. The One holding the Seven Spirits of God in one hand, a firm grip on the Seven Stars with the other, speaks: "I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone dead. "Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there's life in you yet. But I wouldn't know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God's work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. TMB

Satan wanted to kill the Sardis church! Satan wants to kill your church and he’ll use people (even your friends) to carry out the dirty deed. He even wants to use you!

What are the tactics of the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy the church?

Kill Unity- He wants to set brother against brother. He wants there to be strife. Forget love! Join your favorite faction! Splinter into warring groups.

Kill Harmony- fight among one another (fighting fundies?); desire to be the one in charge; let your pride get the better of you and others. Allow him to speak accusations against others (especially the pastor) in your mind and then believe them.

Kill Humility- try to get and maintain the credit for everything; boast often of your accomplishments. Tell others how much better you can do it! Desire to be seen!

Kill Purity- live like the world and by their standards and just try to cover it on Sundays! If the righteousness of others condemns you then you are living an impure life! Scoff at the pastor stressing Holiness and purity.

Kill the Pastor- yikes!!!!!!

Jesus said He would build His church; don’t let Satan use you to try to kill it!

Drink On...

...coffee that is!!

Drinking coffee may do more than just keep you awake. A new study suggests an intriguing potential link to mental health later in life, as well.

A team of Swedish and Danish researchers tracked coffee consumption in a group of 1,409 middle-age men and women for an average of 21 years. During that time, 61 participants developed dementia, 48 with Alzheimer’s disease.

After controlling for numerous socioeconomic and health factors, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure, the scientists found that the subjects who had reported drinking three to five cups of coffee daily were 65 percent less likely to have developed dementia, compared with those who drank two cups or less. People who drank more than five cups a day also were at reduced risk of dementia, the researchers said, but there were not enough people in this group to draw statistically significant conclusions.

Dr. Miia Kivipelto, an associate professor of neurology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and lead author of the study, does not as yet advocate drinking coffee as a preventive health measure. “This is an observational study,” she said. “We have no evidence that for people who are not drinking coffee, taking up drinking will have a protective effect.”(note to self- glad I am already drinking coffee!)

Dr. Kivipelto and her colleagues suggest several possibilities for why coffee might reduce the risk of dementia later in life. First, earlier studies have linked coffee consumption with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, which in turn has been associated with a greater risk of dementia. In animal studies, caffeine has been shown to reduce the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, coffee may have an antioxidant effect in the bloodstream, reducing vascular risk factors for dementia.

Dr. Kivipelto noted that previous studies have shown that coffee drinking may also be linked to a reduced risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Glad there are many studies showing the great effects of coffee- not that it matters, I would still drink it! lol

Wretched Man That I Am!

Emotional hurt is the mirror that reflects back to us our true inner qualities and maturity or lack thereof.

We all encounter emotional hurt whether it is from family members, our spouses, friends, church members, employer, employees, etc. As much as we try to avoid such encounters, they are inevitable.

This emotional hurt can produce dark valleys for us to walk through. Sometimes we walk alone in them and at other times we may seek help. But most of the time it is walked out very alone! It is in those valleys that we are greeted face to face with self-knowledge; a discovery of who we are and how we are responding. Sometimes it is good, however sometimes it can be frightening! We may rejoice that we passed with flying colors or cry out to God in utter disgust with ourselves. Talk about the original reality show! And this is one we don’t want others to see.

We don’t often see our maturity in the good times but in the bad. It is here in the crucible of trials, testing’s, and hurt that character is revealed and made. It is here we see how we have progressed in our character and maturity. It is here we see whether we can take it or not. For some, this valley becomes the ‘breaking point;’ for others it becomes the ‘making point!’ The ‘making point’ is where we reevaluate, reshape, and reenter life from the valley with a new understanding of ourselves.

Ps 121TMB I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won't let you stumble; your Guardian God won't fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep. God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moon stroke. God guards you from every evil; he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, and he guards you always.

Remember, we can’t stay in those valleys very long. Embrace the lesson, climb out, and face life with a fresh understanding of yourself with God by your side!

Way We Hunt in Texas!?!

Life is good!

Heavenly Attitude!

I recently had a dear friend visit me. When he left, he left behind a note: “Thanks for your friendship! Your attitude about life and the way you treat those who have hurt you are a classic example of true Christian love!” Wow, he must have seen me on a good day, lol!

Life is about attitude!

I struggle like all to maintain a good attitude. Whether it is someone cutting me off in traffic, an inconsiderate church member ‘killing me softly’ with his words, a disrespectful staff member, a condemnation of the enemy, the list could go on and on… I try to recover by keeping a right attitude! Sometimes it takes me longer than others, but recover one must!

Charles R. Swindoll made this statement about Attitude: "This may shock you, but I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude is that `single string’ that keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me."

Col 3:2 Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ — that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. TMB

In all of this I try to remember to set my mind (attitude) on things above. It seems to help me keep that proper heavenly perspective in relation to things happening around me!

Post Easter Sunday Morning Blues!

One of my most often searched blog posts is It's Friday but Sunday's Coming- Of course it is searched for the most around Easter.

Ah Easter! The most important tenant of the faith- Jesus is risen indeed! What Pastor doesn't enjoy preaching on Easter? What Pastor doesn't enjoy the crowds! Oh, the thrill of all those people coming to hear you preach a powerful sermon and partake of the marvellous activities you provide!

But wait, did they really come to hear you, or be wowed? I noticed again this year a couple who I saw last year at Easter. They didn't come back after my most wonderful sermon and service last Easter and I bet they won't be back this Sunday either! They are quite comfortable with the yearly visit and maybe even know that they are inflating our numbers that day. I think I saw that wry grin on their faces!

We Pastors get overly hyped about Easter. It is the one time (maybe Christmas?) that the church is packed! And what do we do? We get excited, post the numbers and revel in the them. It's as if somehow our ministry success is validated that day. We have arrived at a 'plateau breakthrough' we tell ourselves! We will finally be listed as one of the top ten fastest growing churches in America, hey, how about the world! Yes 'It's Friday but Sunday's coming!'

Problem is, so is next Sunday! The Sunday after Easter is 'reality check' time! The hype has come and gone. Our adrenaline is waning. We try to approach the next Sunday with the anticipation of the last. And Sunday comes! Where are the crowds! Where is the excitement among the congregation and even among the staff. It is like the finish and aftermath of running a marathon- the high and then the emotional letdown. Everyone and everything is depleted. It could be called 'Post Easter Sunday Morning Blues!'

The Sunday following Easter is a letdown and disappointment to many pastors. Some actually go into a depression. I have read that some pastors take a vacation after Easter, but you do have to face reality eventually! There are more Sundays to follow.

What is the word for 'Post Easter Sunday Morning Blues' for pastors? It is to Continue:
Continue to stand firm
Continue to press on
Continue to hold on to your dreams
Continue to understand that your success is not measured by numbers
Continue to be thankful for that Easter Sunday, the souls saved, and the ministry to the saints
...and regardless of the reality of this coming Sunday- continue!

Continue to run the race set before you and don't give up. Pastor I am praying for you today!

Never Ever, Ever, Give Up to Your Dreams!

I am speechless and tearful!

Another Piece of Stupid!

There is a phrase, 'It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.' Loosely interpreted, it means to go ahead and do something and if it's wrong then ask for forgiveness! I recently did a big piece of stupid. Have you ever done a big piece of stupid? I had to write a note asking forgiveness to someone I had offended.

Thank you for asking about the paring note- it came at a very dark, hurtful, disheartening time in my life. I have since removed it.

I had been wondering for some time as my friends list was growing to over 400 people (on Facebook) about why some never wrote anything or corresponded on Facebook or ignored responses. I had been thinking about the downsizing for some time so that my responses could be honed to those that were interested. Your comments are duly noted and valid!

And then I took a hit- I admit my timing on this was way off and somewhat an immature attempt to cover my hurt. In hindsight I wish I had not done it- my wife and I made a pack that I will wait 3 days before writing anything or saying anything in situations like this. Good idea after the fact. You think I would learn but then I am reminded I am human and do have feelings like everybody else.

When I started deleting people I didn't know, etc. I got carried away and deleted some I shouldn't have. But there is no 'undelete' the deleted key. So I have to start the task of adding back people. Some may not want to renew with a vacillating 'clay feet' pastor.

Time will tell how big this big piece of stupid on my part will affect me and others.

Please forgive me for the offense it created for you. You know my heart and it is not in me to cut people off. You can please pray for the Lord to heal my heart and I will guard it in the future.

So I have been very candid with you...

There you have it! My confession and request for forgiveness. Fortunately it was well received and I am forgiven.

What have I learned?
1. Don't react, respond or do anything in the time of intense personal hurt and disappointment.
2. Guard your heart immediately after those offenses.
3. Don't retaliate!
4. Don't mess with Texas and Facebook! They are both big countries with intense loyalty.

Because He lives, I too can live again!

Happy Resurrection Day!

Matthew 28:1-10 NIV

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Pastors Need Tennis Rackets!

Five times Roger Federer has been honored as ATP Sportsman of the Year.

Roger was playing Novak Djokovic in the Sony Ericsson Open on April 3, 2009. And it was not going well! He was playing so terribly he had lost 27 of 28 points across parts of the second and third sets. He had fallen behind 2-0 in the third and final set when he dipped a forehand into the net.

Roger uncharacteristically slammed his racket to the court. Totally demolished it! It was the sign of an total implosion!

I play tennis so I can understand the frustration he felt! Thank God for rackets!

But what does a pastor do when the tension is mounting, the hurts occur, and feelings are running amok? I was talking to a pastor friend who told me of a terrible day in the pulpit- he didn't have it that day, he missed his second point entirely. For that one sermon he was off.

But, what does a pastor do? We have no racket to smash! We implode much to our own hurt!

Pastor friend, how do you handle the disappointments, hurts, bad sermons, etc.?

I would really like to hear from you in the comments.

You and Global Impact?

Discontented selfish Christians and churches never become great mission givers!

What is your global impact?

My New Computer!

Where do you get your Coffee?

While 37 percent of folks say they prepare most of their coffee at home and another five percent get their coffee at the office, a whopping three of five coffee drinkers say they buy prepared coffee at retail.

According to today’s American Express Market Brief, almost half of consumers go to Starbucks (29 percent), Dunkin’ Donuts (11 percent) or McDonald’s (nine percent) for their jolt of java. Other coffee venues are other chain coffee shops (four percent), convenience stores (three percent) and independent coffee shops (two percent).

Where do you get your Coffee?

The Top Priority- period!

High on God’s ‘To Do List’ is the evangelization of the world. His early disciples were counted on to tell others. After all, ‘How shall they hear, Rom 10.15’, unless we are the ones who go and tell them.

There is a legend which recounts the return of Jesus to glory after His time on earth. Even in heaven He bore the marks of His earthly pilgrimage with its cruel cross and shameful death. The angel Gabriel approached Him and said ‘Master, you must have suffered terribly for men down there.’ ‘I did,’ He said. Gabriel continued, ‘Do they know all about how you loved them and what you did for them?’ ‘Oh no, not yet, right now only a handful of people know,’ Jesus replied. Gabriel was perplexed, ‘Then what have you done to let everyone know about your love for them?'

Jesus said ‘I’ve asked Peter, James, John and a few more friends to tell other people about me. Those who are told will in turn tell other people, and my story will be spread to the farthest reaches of the globe. Ultimately, all mankind will have heard about my life and what I have done.’

Gabriel frowned and looked rather skeptical. He knew well what poor stuff men were made of. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘but what if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? Haven’t you made any other plans?’

Jesus responded, ‘I have no other plans. I’m counting on them.’

His early disciples adopted His priorities and devoted themselves to reaching their world. Christ counted on them, and they delivered. Have we done it as well?

We at The Vine Fellowship are serious about His priority- we support 15 missionary families around the globe. We do take seriously the top priority for Christ's church!

Satan Debate - a must watch!

The debate with Pastor Mark Driscoll and Annie Lobert versus Deepak Chopra and Carlton Pearson will air this Thursday March 26th at 11:30pm on ABC. Check your local listing as to airing time in your area.

Click here for preview. And then pray!

Still Love What I Do- Regardless!

Ecc 4:12 By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped. TMB

According to several confirmed sources across denominational lines:

Pastors:
-Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.
-Four thousand new churches begin each year, but over seven thousand churches close.
-Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
-Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
-Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
-Ninety percent said the hardest thing about ministry is dealing with uncooperative people.

Pastors’ Wives:
-Eighty percent of pastors’ spouses feel their spouse is overworked.
-Eighty percent of pastors’ spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession.
-The majority of pastor’s wives surveyed said that the most destructive event that has occurred in their marriage and family was the day they entered the ministry.

Pastors’ Marriages:
-Fifty percent of pastors’ marriages will end in divorce.

Pastors’ Children:
-Eighty percent of adult children of pastors surveyed have had to seek professional help for depression.

(These statistics came from across denomination lines, and have been gleaned from various reliable sources such as Pastor to Pastor, Focus on the Family, Ministries Today, Charisma Magazine, TNT Ministries, Campus Crusade for Christ and the Global Pastors Network.)

I just got off the phone with a dear Pastor friend (a son in the faith that I mentored). His heart was broken as an elder had died. This elder was a close friend and confidant. It was unforeseen and sudden. The pastor was trying to help the family with the funeral details, help his church deal with the grief, and doing all the right things. He is a great pastor- but he too was hurting! I have been there too so I knew how to encourage him and pray for him.

As Pastors, we juggle a lot of emotions- our own and those of others. We need one another when walking through those tough times!

Pastors, can you find a second and third?

GPS Problems!

I can relate to this- we changed the voice on ours to male British accent- seems the American female voice was getting a little testy and rude! lol!

Religion an Ugly Thing!

The ugliness of religion- "Too often, though, religion worships and serves that which has nothing to do with Him, worships money and serves politics, worships charisma and serves ego, worships intolerance and serves self."

A line from the movie Oh, God!, with George Burns as the deity and John Denver as the grocery store manager reluctantly recruited to spread The Word:

''I don't even go to church,'' says the manager.

And God says, "Neither do I.''

And neither are a lot of other people!

This is a revisit of an earlier post on the recent surveys about the attitude of people in US to religion, church affiliation. Read Leonard Pitts article.

Leonard Pitts Miami Herald article.

Pastors, we have our work cut out for us!

Sister Myotis on Thongs!

I may get in trouble posting this so soon after my last post. This is hilarious!

Pastors, please DO NOT try this on Sunday morning!

Butt Dust?? Yep, Read On---

The Sermon I think this Mom will never forget...this particular Sunday sermon...

'Dear Lord,' the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face... 'Without you, we are but dust...'

He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter who was listening leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little four year old girl voice, 'Mom, what is butt dust?'

Future Shock!!!

Must reads for Pastors as well as all:

David Wilkerson’s current prophecy.

John Piper’s response.

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2 more reports that are cause for concern for the future:

More Americans say they have no religion.

The coming evangelical collapse.

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Love this quote by Bern Williams - "Man never made any material as resilient as the human spirit."

Is 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Man's human spirit regenerated, renewed and dependant on God shall prevail in the day of calamity!

God, keep us trusting in You, yearning for You, passionate for You, and desperate for You!

Coffee Threat!

Don't mess with a coffee drinker and their coffee!

Mary-Kathryn -- Love her music!

Mary-Kathryn - Her songs are based on Scripture, she is a hit among New Agers, member of the worship team at her church, and married with 2 chldren, ages 20 and 16!

I Love her new album - Dreams and Visions. Check out her website-
Link to another YouTube video.

Interview on CBN. Song on CBN.

Mary-Kathryn – I’m working on a soaking album. Soaking music is music that is very contemplative. It puts you in a place that tunes out the world and brings you to a peaceful place. I’ve got three songs that are basically just scratch vocals and ideas. I hope to eventually have eight or ten songs to put on the album.

Looking forward to it also!

Logan's Understanding of God-

Young boy's understanding of God and hard times! Touching!!

Thank you Logan! God bless you!

Surviving the Recessions of Ministry

"It’s a recession when your neighbor loses his job, its a depression when you lose yours."

Recession is the buzz word of the hour- economic recession! Downturn in stock market, banks, jobs, personal income and investments and on and on.

But these are not the only areas of recession- we can experience recession in our ministries that are just as debilitating as the economic recessions.

Recession- the act of becoming more distant; act or action of receding; withdrawal-(1): social or emotional detachment (2): a pathological retreat from objective reality.

There is great danger in the recession that a pastor might experience. If it is not stopped it can lead to depression, detachment, and then to ultimate destruction!

Pastoral Recession occurs:
1. When your dreams and vision are slow in being realized!
2. When your finances are down or misuse of them.
3. When people disappoint you and abandon you.
4. When you experience a moral failure.
5. Feelings of being unappreciated.

If one is going to re-engage during a pastoral recession, one must:
(a) Adapt to what has happened.
(b) Appreciate what you can learn from it.
(c) Accept the opportunities it presents.
(d) Acquire support.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV ""But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Pastor friend, let's guard our lives during ministry recessions so that we stay the course of God's calling on our lives and maintain our care of the God's flock!

Top Of My Wishlist! For Your Consideration--

This is at the top of my wishlist- actually the model I want is the DeLonghi Magnifica EAM3500 Super Auto Espresso Machine. (The title on the YouTube video is wrong- this is the EAM3500 machine they are demonstrating in the video).

You can buy it for me new or refurbished (at a significant reduction)!

I am really not lazy, but this is a way too cool machine. A member in our church has one-- I am not coveting!

Group Sessions for Bloggers and Twitters

New way to communicate- no need of social or communication skills!

Oooops, I think I see me in this pic!

LOL!!!- the electronic cigarette?

The e-cigarette! After watching this clip and the 'Facts' aspect of it- it will make one not want to smoke nor buy this product!

el stupido!!!

disclaimer- by presenting this product on my blog 1)it is not an endorsement for smoking (I don't) 2)not an endorsement of this product (I didn't buy it) 3)I disclaim anything else I might be accused of!

Unappreciated!

The Cherish Sisters have a great song called Unappreciated. Click here to see the video. The chorus reads:

I'm feeling really unappreciated.
You takin` my love for granted, babe.
I don't know how much more,
I can take from you.
You don't do the things you use to do.
You don't even say I love you too.
and lately I've been feeling,
Feeling unappreciated.

The the song captures the cry of the human heart to feel appreciated. The lyrics are of a woman feeling spurned and unloved.

We all experience these same emotions in life. Spouses can take each other for granted. Children can be so unappreciative of their parents and parents can treat the children the same. At work, you toil and labor but yet there is no 'Thank You.' Even Pastors who pour their hearts and lives out day in and day out can struggle with the thanklessness. It is as though one is performing before a packed house and there is no response from the audience!

So, if one is unappreciated (as the song suggests) it begins to eat at the very core of your being. One feels unloved, separated, insecure, and rejected!

You do so much for so many, now you just want a little appreciation in return. Right? A 'thank you' or 'I appreciate you' would be refreshing water to your brittle soul. But, where do you turn when those words are not forthcoming?

Obviously to God! Your Heavenly Father appreciates you for all you do, and all you are. He has put you exactly where He needs you and you are fulfilling His purpose every day! When you understand that, you'll begin to find meaning in everything you do. He is the reason - others are just the (unappreciative at times) beneficiaries!

"He will not forget your work and the love you have shown…" Hebrews 6:10 NIV
"Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord" Colossians 3:17 NIV

Don't let somebody's response or lack thereof decide the level of your joy! They may not notice, but God does.

He records and He rewards. Count on it! He appreciates you today... and, by the way, so do I!

Raising Money or Raising People?

I preached on 'Rebuking the Devourer' this past Sunday. In light of the hard economic times the one area we can't cut back on is the tithe. By staying faithful with the tithe, God said He would reward one with 2 things: provision and protection! Mal 3:10-11.

This is a very humorous video of a very serious matter to God and to us. Hope you enjoy it.

God's plan for the tithe is not to raise money for a budget, but to raise His people for Provision and Protection.

Pastoral Landmines

In a day when church is so much about technique, bells and whistles, and the like I chose to teach at our staff retreat on Pastoral Care. Bottom line for the church is what takes place after Sunday! How are God's people treated and cared for. Are they left to fend for themselves or are there those that care for them in their times of need, which by the way, most often happen at other times than Sunday?

1 Peter 5:2-3 ...not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way. TMB

My teaching points:
1. Don't Lord it over them.
2. Treat them as you want to be treated.
3. Don't do anything to hurt them.
4. If you must confront, do it with tears.
5. Don't abuse them. How?

a. by yelling at them
b. by threatening them
c. by belittling and demeaning them
d. by speaking down to them
e. by criticizing them
f. by reconciling with them when you offend them
g. if they offend you, suck it up, forgive them, seek God's restoration and healing of your hurts. Don't retaliate!

6. Beware of Pastoral Landmines:

a. Talking about their children
b. Criticizing parenting skills and decisions
c. Criticizing their spouse.
d. Challenging their 'perceived' God's direction for their lives.
e. Talking openly and negatively about the church, church people, church staff, or the Pastor.

Can you add other 'landmines' to the list?

Blessed Man I Am!

Back to blog land after trip to Costa Rica for my son Jason's wedding to Lina. It was a great trip and a wonderful wedding ceremony. Here are a few pics of Costa Rica and of the Wedding.

Ryan, Charity, Lina, Jason
I was just meditating this morning on how blessed I am in this life. This scripture below speaks of my delight in my sons and their wives.

Ps 127:3-5 TMB
Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior's fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don't stand a chance against you; you'll sweep them right off your doorstep.

Thank you to all my family and friends that have had input into my children's lives. Thank you Debi for being the world's greatest mother to our sons and now their wives!

Failed Co-Mission

I am sitting here in Costa Rica on a balcony looking out to the Pacific with lush greenery, amazing Condos and homes spread around this beautiful resort, Reserva Conchal. Yet within miles of this place it still has much poverty and the need of Jesus.

It reminded me of the American church scene. We are building opulent ‘ghettos’ in the midst of suffering and poverty. We can hide out in our ‘resorts’ and soon forget why we are really here.

The American church scene is full of destruct, reconstruct, makeovers, get back to the basics, new models, new generation paradigms, build it bigger and they will come, have ‘rock concert’ performances and call it worship, etc. all trying to make the church better (?) and getting sidetracked in the process. Hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars are spent on conferences to teach us how to do it better, tear it down and redo it, criticize the current ones, establish new models, etc. Not to mention the countless man hours wasted getting to these conferences then sitting there dialoging about it all. There are even people who want to get paid to strategize, talk, dream and attend conferences. They want me to pay for a lifestyle of meaningless activity that falls short of producing any meaningful change for the Kingdom of God.

We have become a Mars Hill experience and are in danger of erecting a monument to the ‘unknown god’ because we have forgotten Him, His commands and His power. Forgetting that Jesus said He would build His church we have tried to contextualize it, homogenize it, strategize it, box it and then sell it.

My prayer is that all the naysayers will get off their big butts and get back to the stuff. If we don’t the world will still perish on our watch.

On My Way!! Costa Rica-

Debi and I, her Parents- Harry and Arleen, our son Ryan and his wife Charity are on our way today to Costa Rica. Jason is on another flight later on today. We will spend the week in preparation for Jason's wedding. He will be married to a beautiful girl Lina- http://twitpic.com/r3i9

I will be doing the wedding on Saturday, Jan 31, 2009. This pic above shows the facilities where the wedding will take place. I am pumped!

Also, I will down mega gallons of Costa Rican coffee while there. Life is rough! No good! No great!!!

This Baby Not Aborted!

President Obama should be thankful today that he is still here - the odds were against him - many declare this enough to abort a viable human baby. Life begins at Conception!

Tumbleweeds or a Sequoia?

I like this time of the year. It is a season of new things, new promises, new goals, and new determination. The church gets especially blessed as members make a new effort to attend regularly and many guests are attending looking for a church and a place to fulfill their new goals.

It is like the following Sundays after ‘Black Tuesday’ September 11, 2001. Attendance at churches spiked dramatically across the nation. We too had a great increase in attendance here at The Vine. Bible sales went up 28%. Many people had spiritual questions. But, it didn’t last! Why? Our sense of urgency didn’t last. President Bush did keep us from another attack. He sacrificed his popularity and Presidency on protecting you and me. I salute and honor him.

It will be the same again in a few weeks as our promises and goals fade. Soon we’re back to work, back to PTA meetings, soccer matches, carpooling, and yard work. Although we were sincere at the time about seeking God, slowly our motivation dissipates.

Do you know what makes tumbleweeds so susceptible to the wind? Tumbleweeds only put down one root, and that root is very shallow. So tumbleweeds are easily uprooted when the wind blows. Soon the tumbleweed is blowing wherever the wind pushes it, without any sense of direction or stability.

Contrast tumbleweeds with a tree, like a sequoia, that puts down lots of roots and these roots go deep. Even in the midst of strong winds, sequoias stand firm, because their root structure is strong and deep.

Is your spiritual life more like tumbleweeds or a sequoia? If you only have one or two roots in your spiritual life and these roots don’t go very deep, you’re more like tumbleweeds. And when the winds of life come, the winds of suffering and tragedy, or the breeze of business and routine, you’ll be easily uprooted. But if you have deep spiritual roots, you’ll find yourself standing firm no matter what comes into your life.

How deep are your roots? Are you more like tumbleweeds or a sequoia?

News You Can Use- and laugh at!

Is it just me or was this funny or what?

Wingsuit Base Jumping-

What are you doing today with your free time?

thanks Ryan--

Toddler Preaching!

This young guy is getting an early start- may not be able to understand him, but he knows how to hold a mic and has the moves!

--Amazing--

you can see the link here

Staying the Course!

The testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:3 NAS

I have been preaching a series on 'Staying the Course' here at the church over the past few weeks. It means that we need to start right, finish right, and abide in your calling. There is a fourth aspect that carries us on between starting and finishing and that is staying the course.

Many of you know that I have run 5 marathons- 3 Blue Angel Marathons in Pensacola, FL; Vulcan Marathon in Birmingham, AL; and the New York City Marathon. I know a little about endurance and staying the course.

Endurance means "staying the course." But endurance is only a word until you have to deal with a strife-torn marriage, the long road back from bankruptcy, divorce or illness, the rebuilding of your life, or the required preparation for success in any field. It takes commitment to keep going when friends fail you, discouragement whispers "give up," and doubt says "it can't be done." That's when endurance takes on new meaning. It becomes your anchor in the storm, your compass in times of confusion, and the head of steam that gets you up the next hill (ie. the many hills of the Vulcan Marathon!)

2 Ti 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. NIV

Staying the course is important for the Christian. We must complete our race! Paul told Timothy that he had run his race and was ready to receive the crown. So it is important that we finish well. But in the process we find there is an advantage for others who are watching us. There was not a single sidewalk in New York City Marathon that did not have people lining them cheering us on. They are encouraged as they watch our response to trials, disappointments, and the ability that we show them to stay the course.

Paul writes, "People are watching us as we stay at our post… working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness and honest love; when we're telling the truth… when God's showing His power; when we're doing our best setting things right; when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God… immersed in tears yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all" (2 Corinthians 6:3-10 TMB).

That's called "staying the course." We all are called to endure and stay the course.

What do people see when they watch you?

Abiding in The Vine in 2009

Ever have trouble with certain passages of scripture? Passages that maybe you wish God hadn’t put in the Bible? There are passages that can be very difficult to understand.

Case in point. “Anyone born of God does not sin.” (1 John 3: 9) When I became a Christian, the Holy Spirit entered my existence and began convicting me of sin. He showed me again and again, day after day; just how much was in my life that shouldn't be there. I was only saved about 6 months when I ran across this one. My world came crashing down. I was really bothered with this one!

I must not be truly saved! It must not have taken! Why, because I was still dealing with sin and this said ‘anyone born of God does not sin’ period! Or so I thought. Was John saying, OK, folks, I have my doubts about a few of you; some of you might not be saved. I'm pretty sure a few of you are really lost. In fact, here's how we can tell who are the phonies among you are: those of you who still sin, you're not saved?

I went to see a pastor about it, and he explained to me that the Greek verb was in the present tense and indicated "on-going" sin, and he showed me how other translations rendered the verse differently: "No one born of God practices sin (NASV)." "No one born of God will continue to sin (NIV)."

Oh, I thought, he's not talking about one sin. He's talking about on-going, continuous sin. Guess what? It didn't make me feel better. I still qualified for John's exclusion. I "continued to sin." I had been living the Christian life for six months, and I was still sinning every day. I thought, If no one born of God continues to sin, that rules me out. I must not be saved. I became convinced that my conversion didn't work. It didn't take!

I now understand when he says, "No one born of God continues to sin"—that's not a threat; it's a promise. He's not trying to make his readers doubt their salvation; he's trying to give them hope. He's saying: You belong to God, we've already established that. And since you have been born of God, you won't continue to sin. You can be free of its grip. “And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins.” (v. 5)

John tells us in verse 6: "No one who abides in him sins." When you're abiding in Jesus—the word abide means to remain or reside—you cannot practice sin. When you're abiding in Jesus, or as John also calls it, walking in the light as he is in the light, the Holy Spirit convicts your heart of every thought and action that comes between you and God. You cannot continue in that thought or action. Your new nature—the life of God that is in you—will rise up against it.

There's a difference between being saved and abiding in Jesus. You received salvation when you invited Jesus Christ to come into your life and forgive you of your sin. It's a one-time event; it's an act of God that you receive by faith. But that's not where the God part of our lives ends. It's where it begins. Those who have been saved are called to abide in Jesus.

What does this mean and how do you do it? Here's what it means to abide in Jesus: It means acknowledging His presence in everything you do, and yielding to His leadership at every turn. Brother Lawrence called it practicing the presence of God. Bill Bright called it ‘spiritual breathing.’ It's receiving God's presence in your life each day, each moment of the day. John says "no one born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him" because the seed that God has placed in your life will continue to grow, continue to mature, continue to blossom, until the image of Jesus Christ is fully developed in your life.

Abiding in Christ means that God has to be inside of us and we have to be inside of Him!

We are God's people. He has put His life in us so that we can experience power over sin and can be changed into the image of Christ.