Good Friday

It seems odd to use the words "Good Friday" as we remember and reflect on the day that Christ died for the sins of fallen humanity. The Word of God reveals that the last day of Christ's life on Earth was anything but good but it was a difficult and challenging day and way to die. But His death was good in this sense; it was good for those who would choose to believe the message of the Gospel. It was good for those who chose to accept eternal life and fully realize that there was a price paid for our redemption. It was good in the sense that it opened the door for fallen humanity to be restored to a right relationship with our Heavenly Father and re-claim our opportunity to be called the children of God. Because of Christ I can rejoice in the knowledge that He gave His life on my behalf. Christ died that I might live and live a life that would be blessed and strengthened through His personal presence in my daily journey on Earth. The Body of Christ must lift our voice in gratitude and thanksgiving as we survey the wondrous cross and realize that our Savior took our sins and nailed them to the cross.

 

We will celebrate a Good Friday service tonight. I always look forward to those services because they give us the opportunity to corporately reflect, meditate, and remember our Savior's willingness to die in our place. We must remember that Christ did not die for the sins that He had committed; He died for the sins that I (we) had committed and would commit as we travel the road of life. Good Friday’s come and Good Friday’s go, but how is it with your soul? Does the cross of Christ move you to emotion—are you a grateful and engaged follower of Jesus? If not, embrace and celebrate the Cross. Ask your heavenly Father to restore the joy of your salvation, or maybe, you are coming to Him for the first time in faith and trust. Surely, this man must be the Son of God—who came to save us and all of the inhabitants (both past, present, and future) of the world from their sins.

 

It is imperative that the church take time today to remember Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. Do not let this day pass without honoring Christ for the investment that He has made in your life. Listen to these words that an unknown author shares: "Make today a meaningful memory of what your master Jesus did for you. Linger long in reflection of the love that flowed down, and mingled with His precious blood. See His hands, see His feet; oh what love that makes your joy complete. You serve a risen Savior, who’s in the world today—He walks with you—He talks with you—He gave His life just for you. Good Friday is good—because Jesus is good—and His cross is God’s loving gift."

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).



Holy Week

This has been a week in which I have tried to take some extra time and personally reflect on the impact that the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ has had on my life. I desired to look at my life from a personal view and not just a ministerial view. I believe that if I allow Christ to work in my heart in a personal manner that it will make a very positive impact upon the ministry that God has placed in my life. I truly desire more than "professional improvement". I am in need of spiritual improvement in which my life is truly affected and strengthened through the presence of the Word and Spirit at work in my heart. Does anyone sense that same call in your heart? These challenging times are calling for a people who have made a firm and strong commitment to the Word of God and to that Word having a direct influence and impact on them and their walk with Christ. Pastor Sylvester Smith of Alabama wrote some words today that spoke to my heart concerning the abiding presence of the Word of God. I would like to share them with you. Take a moment and read them and allow the words to find "good soil" in your heart.

 

 

"You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:3-5 NKJ)

Eminent Baptist theologian, George Beasley-Murray regularly explained the meaning of abide to his students. "To lean back against something with all your weight is to abide. Sitting down with your back to a tree and letting yourself completely relax against it is to abide. Letting your body's full weight sink down into softness of a bed is to abide. Resting and sleeping confidently in the comfort of the bed is to abide."

I am reminded of the precious old hymn: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. There is joy in those everlasting arms. There is fellowship in those everlasting arms. There is peace and comfort in those everlasting arms. "Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms." It is the theme song of those who abide in Christ.

Evidently, this is not the first time Jesus has told his disciples to abide in him. In today's passage, he tells them: "You already are clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you."

And since he reiterates it here, we may understand his not-so-subtle hint to mean that our abiding in him must be a continual residing . . . an enduring commitment. Such instruction can almost be insulting. Why would anyone be cleansed by Christ's sacrifice on Calvary and not endure with him to the end? It is impossible to produce his fruit without a continuous connection in him.

Fruit is the product of the vine and can only be produced if the branch is firmly connected to the vine. The production of fruit continues only as long as the branch-vine connection endures. It is so profound yet so simple as to be easily ignored and forgotten. And yet, we can not produce Christ-like fruit except we abide in Christ.

Remembrance

I have been encouraging the congregation of New River Worship Center to use the period we call Holy Week as a time of personal reflection and remembrance. How long has it been since you took the time to read the story concerning the last week of Christ's life on planet Earth? Is it possible that we overlook the tragedy and challenges of the last week in the life of Christ as we hurry toward the celebration of the Resurrection? Don't misunderstand my thoughts; if Christ had not risen from the dead then our faith would be in vain. But we must remember that the sacrificial death of Christ paid the price for our redemption. We must never forget the price that was paid for our spiritual freedom from the clutches of sin and evil. This is a week to remember the awesome revelation of the love of God through Christ which was declared on that old rugged cross on the hill called Golgotha. 

Personal Reflection

Today is my father's 87th birthday. I wanted to use this means to send him a Happy Birthday from his family in Kentucky.

 

Dad, we are thankful that God saw fit to place us in your and Mom's lives and allowed us to have parents who loved and cared for us. We are truly thankful as we reflect on the blessings that God has provided for our family. Dad's life has many chapters in it and each of those chapters could provide a book in and of themselves. Dad is a WW2 veteran (infantry soldier in the European theatre), husband of over 60 years, father of six children, grandfather and great-grandfather, bi-vocational Pastor for many years as well as a committed Christian to the cause of Christ. Today we celebrate the contribution that he has made to the lives of so many people through the years. We hear the word "hero" used in many segments of our society. In my mind our Dad was a hero. He was a hero to me because I can identify three strong characteristics in his life. First, He has a passionate love for God. Second, he has a passionate love, care, and concern for his wife and family. Third, he has a passionate love, care, and concern for people. Is my Dad perfect? No, he is not perfect. Dad faced his own set of personal struggles such as health issues from his military service. He faced the challenges of raising a large family on a small salary which led to financial struggles from time to time. He faced the challenges of ministering to hurting people as him and my Mom served as Pastors for many years of their lives. I could recount many other challenges and I am sure that there are numerous challenges that I do not even know about that he has faced. But this is what I do know; the faith in God that my Dad has possessed and shared with others has been the source of his life and well-being. This type of faith was taught in his family through the teaching of principles but he also put those principles into practice through his actions.

 

Thanks Dad for being a great example to all of us and thanks for loving your family. I am blessed to be your son.



Compassion

  The New River Worship Team and I meet for prayer prior to our Sunday service. There are occasions when members of the group share a prayer request for themselves, for a family member or for one of their friends. I was reminded of a very important principle as we gathered for our time of prayer on Sunday. Two of the team members spoke of serious situations which either involved their family or a friend. Each of these situations needed someone who not only believed in the power of prayer but would also exhibit concern and compassion. These requests would require more than a casual prayer and more than a spiritual "tip of the hat" regarding the challenge that the individuals were facing. During prayer today I was reminded of the attitude that Jesus took toward people in need. The Bible declares that "Jesus was moved with compassion" as He observed the people around Him. I understand this to mean that Jesus felt this compassion from deep within His soul. It was more than a casual glance at the problem. It was more than a surface reaction that appeared for a brief moment and then disappeared. It was more than a religious act of kindness on His part. No, it was a true sense of empathy and heartfelt concern for those in need. Needless to say I was challenged to pray with compassion and not just with rehearsed words that I have used throughout my journey with Christ. Do we pray with a heart that is consumed with compassion? Do we pray with true concern for those requests that have been shared with us? Do we pray with faith and fervor as we intercede for others? When you pray always remember that there will come a day and time that you will be the person sharing the request.

The Riches of God

  Philippians 4:19, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (NKJV)

The Word of God reminds us of the riches of God that is revealed to us through Jesus Christ. We do not have to depend on our resources to meet our needs but we can trust in the power and ability of Christ to meet our daily needs. Jesus even taught us to trust God for our "daily bread." The Word of God reveals that God is more than just our "emergency" solution to the challenges that we face but He is present in our lives on a moment by moment basis. The Spirit is encouraging me to remind the family of God that we must reacquaint ourselves with the written Word of God. The written Word of God reveals the presence of the Living Word on which we build the foundation of our lives. The enemy of our soul does not want the family of God to delve into the Truth that is revealed in the Bible. We can find The True Light in the Bible. We can find guidance and direction in the Bible. We can find Peace in the Bible. We can find Eternal Life in the Bible. We must learn to treasure the Word of God. The riches of God can be found in the inspired and anointed Word of God. Will you take time to read the Word? Will you make time to read the Word? I believe the Word of God will contribute to your spiritual growth. I desire for the Word of God to make a difference in my daily lifestyle.

Servants

The approach of Passion week reminds me of the heart and desire of Christ. On several occasions He spoke of His desire to serve others. He spoke of His desire to seek the lost, look for those who needed a physician, and minister to those who were in need. He also set the example of servanthood so that His followers would emulate that attitude once He completed His mission on planet Earth. The Spirit reminded me about the need to live with a heart of a servant as I was praying this morning. It is easy to forget that we are called to serve. It is also easy to forget that there is a reward when we serve others. God rewards our lives with riches that may not be able to be counted in monetary terms yet they remain a permanent part of our lives. I read this brief yet challenging devotion written with the hands and from the heart of Chuck Swindoll. I would like to share it with you today.

 

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before him with joyful singing. (Psalms 100:2)

Servanthood implies diligence, faithfulness, loyalty, and humility.

Servants don't compete . . . or grandstand . . . or polish their image . . . or grab the limelight. They know their job, they admit their limitations, they do what they do quietly and consistently.

Servants cannot control anyone or everything, and they shouldn't try.

Servants cannot change or "fix" people.

Servants cannot concern themselves with who gets the credit.

Let's serve . . . in the name of Jesus.

Christ, the Carpenter

I was involved in a discussion with a retired carpenter today. He spoke of his enjoyment in taking pieces of wood and turning them into tables, furniture, and fancy trim for doors and cabinets. Then he took the time and relayed his greatest joy to me. He stated that his most wonderful enjoyment came from the feeling of leaving something in a better condition than when he found it. It was as though a light clicked on in my mind as he concluded his discussion with me. My heart went immediately to Christ, the earthly son of a carpenter. Christ specialized in taking broken people and re-assembling them into a person that would reflect the glory of God. He took discarded people and turned them into people that would learn to walk in their God directed destiny. It is no wonder that the song declares "Oh, what a Savior..." It is still true today that we have a Savior to celebrate. Christ the "spiritual" carpenter took a demon possessed woman and transformed her into a woman of sincere and heartfelt worship. Christ the "spiritual" carpenter took a tax collector and transformed him into an Apostle. Christ the "spiritual" carpenter took a thief on the cross and turned him into an adopted Child of God. He has taken each believer and transformed them into sons and daughters of God. Will you make time to honor and glorify Him for the marvelous work that has taken place in your life?

Reading the Bible

  The Spirit has dealt with my heart this past week concerning "spiritual malnourishment" among the family of God. I shared about that concern during today's message at New River Worship Center. I have not been able to turn loose of the thoughts that God has placed and continues to place in my heart. We are in great need of spiritual strength that can only come from God. I believe much of that strength will come upon us as we take up "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6). How often do we take up the "sword of the Spirit?" How often do we meditate on the promises that are  revealed in the Word of God? How much time do we dedicate to the reading of the Word of God? How often do we make excuses concerning our lack of reading the Bible?  Do we believe that God accepts our excuses as reasonable ones or have we convinced ourselves that God understands our limitations and our lack of commitment to the reading of the Bible?  It is time that we realize the promise spoken in Hebrews 4:12, "The Word of God is alive and powerful..." The Word of God was designed to make a difference in our lives and remember that the Word of God WILL MAKE a difference as we allow the Spirit to apply its principles to our individual lives.

Pastor's

Today is a special day for me to celebrate. I crossed a milestone in my life as I am celebrating my 60th birthday. That is not what I am writing about this morning but I shared that so that all of you can gain some perspective on my post for today. Almost 42 years of those 60 have been spent as a Minister of the Gospel. The majority of those 42 years have been spent as a Pastor and the other portion of those years I have served in the support role for Pastors (Regional Bishop & Evangelist). I am sharing that information so that you can recognize the appreciation and honor that I carry in my heart for those men and women who are serving in Pastoral Ministry. There are so many times that we recognize the faults and failures of those who serve among us and on many occasions we forget all of the good that they do as they faithfully serve God and serve their congregations. I ask that you take some time to recognize and affirm your Pastor today. An encouraging word can and will go a long way in reminding the Pastor that his/her work is making a difference in the Kingdom of God. I write that previous sentence from a life full of experience and I vividly remember those times when people took the time to ecncourage me.

 

I read this prayer a few days ago that touched my heart and spirit. I want to share that prayer for my Pastoral comrades today and remind them that they are not alone in this great struggle for the souls of mankind. There are people that are praying for you and for your Ministerial call to serve God and serve His family.

 

"This morning the Holy Spirit brought to mind my pastor. He faces so many decisions and burdens that I know nothing about. He has such great responsibilities and weighty decisions. He has personal family to care for as well as church family to shepherd. I pray that as he comes to you today...and every day...that you will refresh his spirit, enlighten his mind, and strengthen his body. I pray that you will grant him wisdom, anointing, and openness to receive the message you want to deliver through him and to deliver that message when and to whom you want it delivered. I pray for protection and blessing for my pastor's entire family and all the leaders of the church. Please keep them safe from all harm and evil...and lead them on to accomplish your plan for their lives, the church's future, and the Great Commission. In Jesus' name I pray, amen."

 

Let us remember to pray for our Pastors and spiritual leaders in our local communities of faith and fellowship!

 



Do You Remember When....

A wonderful praise/testimony was brought to the fore-front of my thinking last night as I was reviewing many of the Happy Anniversaries that have been shared with us over the past few days. God used those wishes to remind me once more that I am truly a blessed man. God has blessed Ann and I with a wonderful resource of family and friends through the years of our life here on this earth. He has provided us with a special extended family that has shown love, support, and encouragement as we have traveled this road of our lives (both ministerially as well as personal). We have been blessed with people who have chosen to "adopt" us as their family and they chose to "adopt" our children as their children. God has given us people who became "adopted" grandparents to our children during their formative years of childhood. The childhood of our children was spent at a distance from their paternal and maternal grandparents but God had that need covered as He sent people into our lives who helped fill that void. There are others of you who can shout, "Praise the Lord", as you review the voids that God has filled in your lives as He used people to be a special blessing to you.

 

I know that all of the bad and sinful people grab the headlines both in the print media as well as the electronic media BUT REMEMBER that God has blessed your lives with great people who have made a difference in your journey on Earth. Each of us should pause today and offer God a hearty and sincere thanksgiving for those individuals. You might need to take an extra step of connecting with them. Take some time to give them a call, send them a card, or make an effort to visit them. Each of us need a trip down memory lane from time to time so that we can relive and remember those marvelous blessings that God has provided in our lives. You will be blessed as you take the time to invest kindness into the life of someone and the recipient will be blessed as he/she realizes that their acts of kindness, love, and concern made a difference in your life.