If you are a Capstoner, remember that this Sunday's service (9/2) is at Darwin Wright Park at 10 am. That means WE WILL NOT BE AT AMSTAR! Inevitably, someone will show up at AmStar even though we've announced the location change a hundred times, posted it on our website, and even mailed a reminder. Don't be the one to show up at AmStar wondering where everyone is!!! Be at the park by 10. We'll have a time of worship, then baptism in the lake (always a great experience), then lunch, then games in the water and on dry land for the kids and grown-up kids. Bring some side dishes and some friends. Looks like the weather will be great and we'll have a great time.
Since it's Friday night, we're off to play cards with some friends. Yes, I'm a card-playing preacher....what can I say? Hopefully I'll win tonight. Last week I came in last........
Friday, August 31, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Randomness
- The attendance and excitement at our welcome party for our new student minister last night was great. Brent's going to do a great job and it's exciting to see our students and their parents get excited about our potential.
- Next Wednesday is my and Yvonne's 20th wedding anniversary (hard to believe!). Our HOME group gave us a generous gift so we can go out and they're having group at someone else's home. They are the best!
- Our next Cuba trip is October 26 - November 2. I booked the team's Atlanta to Miami airfare this morning and got it for less than half of what we paid on our last trip. God is good!
- Speaking of Cuba: Pray for the people and their government. The rumor mill has been hot in the past week that Castro is dead. I asked on our last trip what the people expect will happen once Castro's death is announced. They asked that we pray that they not have civil war. Having been twice to this impoverished country, it's hard to imagine them fighting each other and destroying what little they have. Pray for protection for these wonderful people that many of us have grown to dearly love.
- We're planning some amazing stuff for the church between now and the end of the year. There's so much potential at Capstone and I can't wait to see what God's going to do.
- God gave me a cool idea for a sermon series this morning. I've been feeling "draggy" the past couple of days and after some prayer and reading, it just came. God's really good at His job.
- Thanks for stopping by. I've really enjoyed writing again. I appreciate your comments and those of you who have said you're reading and enjoying. That means a lot!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Double Jeopardy
We’ve been studying Romans 8 for the past few weeks at Capstone as part of our “Identity” mini-series of messages. The common theme throughout the series (and it seems for many months) has been the issue of forgiveness. I guess God keeps taking us back to it because we need to truly understand it.
The Apostle Paul asks an interesting question in Romans 8:33: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?” In other words, does anyone have the right to bring charges against those who belong to God? Now I’m sure that all of us can think of charges that could be brought against us because of our pasts. But Paul says the answer to his question is “no one” because: “It is God who justifies.”
In other words, no charge can be made against anyone who has been justified by God. Who has been justified by God? Every Christ-follower. To be justified means to be declared righteous because of faith in Christ. Once you are justified by God, your past is gone, the slate has been wiped clean, and the charges for all your past sins can never be brought against you again.
You will never face double jeopardy.
Double jeopardy refers to a legal defense in the American justice system that says once a person has been acquitted of a crime, that person cannot be charged again with the same crime. Doesn't that sound a lot like the grace of God? Once every sin in your past has been forgiven because of Christ, you will not be charged again with those sins. They are gone – nailed to the cross and covered by the blood of Jesus – and those charges can and will never be brought against you again.
That's amazing! There’s incredible freedom in knowing that forgiven means forgotten in God’s book. Even if you are accused all day long by the enemy in your mind or by someone in your life, in Christ those charges do not stick because of the grace of God. You are forgiven and free --- that's your identity --- all because of Jesus Christ.
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul asks an interesting question in Romans 8:33: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?” In other words, does anyone have the right to bring charges against those who belong to God? Now I’m sure that all of us can think of charges that could be brought against us because of our pasts. But Paul says the answer to his question is “no one” because: “It is God who justifies.”
In other words, no charge can be made against anyone who has been justified by God. Who has been justified by God? Every Christ-follower. To be justified means to be declared righteous because of faith in Christ. Once you are justified by God, your past is gone, the slate has been wiped clean, and the charges for all your past sins can never be brought against you again.
You will never face double jeopardy.
Double jeopardy refers to a legal defense in the American justice system that says once a person has been acquitted of a crime, that person cannot be charged again with the same crime. Doesn't that sound a lot like the grace of God? Once every sin in your past has been forgiven because of Christ, you will not be charged again with those sins. They are gone – nailed to the cross and covered by the blood of Jesus – and those charges can and will never be brought against you again.
That's amazing! There’s incredible freedom in knowing that forgiven means forgotten in God’s book. Even if you are accused all day long by the enemy in your mind or by someone in your life, in Christ those charges do not stick because of the grace of God. You are forgiven and free --- that's your identity --- all because of Jesus Christ.
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31 (NIV)
Monday, August 27, 2007
Good Times
It's Monday morning and I think I've finally stopped laughing.
Yvonne and I spent Saturday evening at a "reunion" of all my closest friends from my teenage years. It's the first time that I have been with these people - all in one room - in twenty years. We've seen each other around town from time-to-time but had never gotten together to re-live it all...until Saturday night.
As I'm writing this, I'm sitting here trying to tell you about this gathering and realizing that there's no way for me to really explain our group. You just had to live it with us. Seriously, I'm trying to come up with the words and after I write each sentence, I erase it and start over because it just doesn't make any sense. Even though Yvonne enjoyed the laughter Saturday night, she didn't get most of it because she wasn't a part of it all back in the day.
We were a really tight group. We seemed to always be going somewhere. We took a lot of trips to the beach and to concerts and somebody seemed to always be dancing. We aimlessly rode around town --- yet it had purpose. We were always together at somebody's house doing something --- but never on Sunday. We worked at the same places and amazingly never got fired. We had our own language that even today makes me laugh so hard that I cry --- yet no one else gets it. See what I mean? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless you were there.
We were crazy teenagers and 20-somethings living it up and making memories to last a lifetime. Most of it was just silly nonsense and fun. Sure, we did some stuff we shouldn't have done. We made some mistakes along the way. But through it all, a deep bond developed that is amazingly still intact even after all of these years.
So, I'm thankful today for old friends. Being with everyone again made me realize that I regret letting those relationships slip away as time passed. I moved away and was gone for 16 years so I guess it was bound to happen. But even though many things have changed - now we have real jobs, kids and responsibilities - the laughter and the good times are still there. I hope there's more of that with the old gang in the days to come.
"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17
Yvonne and I spent Saturday evening at a "reunion" of all my closest friends from my teenage years. It's the first time that I have been with these people - all in one room - in twenty years. We've seen each other around town from time-to-time but had never gotten together to re-live it all...until Saturday night.
As I'm writing this, I'm sitting here trying to tell you about this gathering and realizing that there's no way for me to really explain our group. You just had to live it with us. Seriously, I'm trying to come up with the words and after I write each sentence, I erase it and start over because it just doesn't make any sense. Even though Yvonne enjoyed the laughter Saturday night, she didn't get most of it because she wasn't a part of it all back in the day.
We were a really tight group. We seemed to always be going somewhere. We took a lot of trips to the beach and to concerts and somebody seemed to always be dancing. We aimlessly rode around town --- yet it had purpose. We were always together at somebody's house doing something --- but never on Sunday. We worked at the same places and amazingly never got fired. We had our own language that even today makes me laugh so hard that I cry --- yet no one else gets it. See what I mean? Doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless you were there.
We were crazy teenagers and 20-somethings living it up and making memories to last a lifetime. Most of it was just silly nonsense and fun. Sure, we did some stuff we shouldn't have done. We made some mistakes along the way. But through it all, a deep bond developed that is amazingly still intact even after all of these years.
So, I'm thankful today for old friends. Being with everyone again made me realize that I regret letting those relationships slip away as time passed. I moved away and was gone for 16 years so I guess it was bound to happen. But even though many things have changed - now we have real jobs, kids and responsibilities - the laughter and the good times are still there. I hope there's more of that with the old gang in the days to come.
"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17
Saturday, August 25, 2007
A Moment of Silence
I enjoy going to a few Friday night Hanna high school football games each season. It's always funny to go back and see how some things have not changed since I was in high school. That woman who was cheering down the row from me --- she may be 25 years older now but she's still cheering just like she was when we were students. Amazing.
One thing that has changed is that there's no public prayer before the game. Right after the Hanna band played the national anthem (great job guys!), we stood for "a moment of silence." Does anybody really have any clue what the "moment of silence" is? All I could see that happened was that everyone looked down and got quiet. I'm not sure if people were checking out their shoes or the back of the person's head in front of them or counting how many peanut shells the guy beside them had dropped. As far as I could tell, the "moment of silence" had no purpose other than creating silence. The announcer thanked us for our silence (maybe he had a headache and it was for him?) and then we all sat down.
I missed the public prayer last night! I remember as a student hearing some local pastor pray for safety and a great time for the players and coaches. And when he finished, he announced that his prayer was in Jesus' name and everyone cheered! I missed that last night!
So I've decided to do what I did last night --- and I'm challenging you to do the same. Don't let the "moment of silence" be silent whenever you are at a public event. I'm not saying to shout and pray loudly and make a big scene (Jesus advised against that). But when that moment of silence at the next football game comes, ask God to be present and protect the players and fans and make the evening one that brings glory to Him. And when you finish, ask it all in Jesus' name. I can promise you that He wants to hear our voices rather than a moment of silence.
As I close, let's have a moment of silence for my alma mater's great loss (pause).......and to celebrate Westside's great win (pause).......43-13. Ouch!
One thing that has changed is that there's no public prayer before the game. Right after the Hanna band played the national anthem (great job guys!), we stood for "a moment of silence." Does anybody really have any clue what the "moment of silence" is? All I could see that happened was that everyone looked down and got quiet. I'm not sure if people were checking out their shoes or the back of the person's head in front of them or counting how many peanut shells the guy beside them had dropped. As far as I could tell, the "moment of silence" had no purpose other than creating silence. The announcer thanked us for our silence (maybe he had a headache and it was for him?) and then we all sat down.
I missed the public prayer last night! I remember as a student hearing some local pastor pray for safety and a great time for the players and coaches. And when he finished, he announced that his prayer was in Jesus' name and everyone cheered! I missed that last night!
So I've decided to do what I did last night --- and I'm challenging you to do the same. Don't let the "moment of silence" be silent whenever you are at a public event. I'm not saying to shout and pray loudly and make a big scene (Jesus advised against that). But when that moment of silence at the next football game comes, ask God to be present and protect the players and fans and make the evening one that brings glory to Him. And when you finish, ask it all in Jesus' name. I can promise you that He wants to hear our voices rather than a moment of silence.
As I close, let's have a moment of silence for my alma mater's great loss (pause).......and to celebrate Westside's great win (pause).......43-13. Ouch!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Thursdays
Thursdays are always interesting days for me. I try and spend the day totally focused on writing my sermon and bringing all the praying and thinking and studying together into its final form. If you've never prepared a sermon (which I'm guessing most of you haven't), it can be a challenging process. I do my best to listen to and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit as I write and think it all through. Sometimes it flows. Other times it's slow. Either way, by late Thursday afternoon, I'm always mentally fried.
Today was a good day in the Word and I'm really excited about Sunday's message. This is our third (and last) Sunday in Romans 8. I've been teaching verse by verse and have enjoyed the change in style and the in-depth study time I've had on this one chapter. Feedback from the church has been really good as well. The Lord has been teaching me about my true identity for most of the last year and I've enjoyed teaching out of my personal learning.
If you'll be at Capstone this Sunday (which I hope you will if you're close by), take some time and read Romans 8:31-39 beforehand. We'll worship and learn together this Sunday!
Thanks to all of you who pray for me regularly. I need it more than you know.
Today was a good day in the Word and I'm really excited about Sunday's message. This is our third (and last) Sunday in Romans 8. I've been teaching verse by verse and have enjoyed the change in style and the in-depth study time I've had on this one chapter. Feedback from the church has been really good as well. The Lord has been teaching me about my true identity for most of the last year and I've enjoyed teaching out of my personal learning.
If you'll be at Capstone this Sunday (which I hope you will if you're close by), take some time and read Romans 8:31-39 beforehand. We'll worship and learn together this Sunday!
Thanks to all of you who pray for me regularly. I need it more than you know.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Schedules
I started the day with one plan. God had another. My schedule was wide open. God's was busy:
- Staff stuff in the morning.
- Church member stops by to tell me I'm needed at the Hospice House at 3:30 pm.
- Lunch with friend.
- Car won't start after lunch so I have no vehicle to get to new crisis with church member.
- Take David's car to be with church member.
- Other church member calls to cancel 3:30 appointment at Hospice House. Good since I have no car.
- Back to office to jump start car in 100 degree heat. Not gonna happen.
- Take David's car to Wal-Mart to get new battery.
- Back to parking lot to switch batteries.
- David and I can't get screw out that's holding battery in. Off to hardware store for new tool.
- Get back to parking lot and Mike's there trying to get the old battery out.
- David and Mike replace the old with the new.
- Car starts --- praise God!
Thank the Lord for friends who are willing to serve (and who are mechanical...which I am not!!!) and for His plans that are far greater than mine! (I wonder if He knows that I still need to get done what I was going to do today??? Or, did I get done what I was supposed to do and that's the point of it all???) I can't wait to see what's next!
Privileged
One of the areas in our church that I'm most excited about is our student ministry. We have an incredible group of middle and high schoolers who are actively involved, who serve when there's an opportunity, and who really want to know Jesus more. I've had the privilege of spending the past eight months with them every week. I say privilege because it has been that. Most pastors don't have the opportunity to get to know their students the way I have. It has been difficult at times to be the student minister as well as do everything else I do. But it's been incredibly rewarding. I've grown to love these kids as if they are my own (and I guess in a way they are).
Brent Thomason, our new student minister, has a great foundation to build on as he begins here on Aug. 28. I'm excited about Brent because I believe his heart for Jesus, ministry and relationships is right in line with who we are as a church. It's going to be fun to see what God does here through Brent's ministry. Pray for Brent and his family and make sure that you personally welcome him as he joins us next week.
I got up tired today after being with the youth until late last night. But I got to the office, put on an old Fernando Ortega CD, and thanked the Lord for this good day that He has given me. I belong to Him today. He loves me with an indescribable love. He is at work and I look forward to being a part of it.
Hope you have a great day!
Brent Thomason, our new student minister, has a great foundation to build on as he begins here on Aug. 28. I'm excited about Brent because I believe his heart for Jesus, ministry and relationships is right in line with who we are as a church. It's going to be fun to see what God does here through Brent's ministry. Pray for Brent and his family and make sure that you personally welcome him as he joins us next week.
I got up tired today after being with the youth until late last night. But I got to the office, put on an old Fernando Ortega CD, and thanked the Lord for this good day that He has given me. I belong to Him today. He loves me with an indescribable love. He is at work and I look forward to being a part of it.
Hope you have a great day!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Identity
I have really enjoyed our Sunday mini-series called "Identity." It's been amazing to study God's Word in Romans 8 and find who we are because of Christ. I am walking confidently in Him through this day. I hope you are as well. If you're a Capstoner, remember to read the last section of Romans 8 (verses 31-39) in preparation for Sunday's message. Verse 31 knocks me off my feet: "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" He is for you and me today. That's powerful!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Why I'm Blogging
It's all about communication, right? That's what I hope to be able to do through this blog. Whether it's about Capstone, my family, what God's teaching me, or something totally off the wall, I'll let you into my world and what goes on there. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be encouraged or entertained along the way. I have no idea how often I will write --- probably not daily but I'm sure I will every couple of days at least. And I will continue until I get bored or you stop coming by....whichever happens first.
Back-To-School Memories
Well, it's back-to-school time here in good old Anderson, South Carolina. Yvonne and I went to TL Hanna High this morning to get Claire registered for tenth grade. It's really hard to believe that our little girl is starting her sophomore year of high school. It seems like just a few short years ago that we were walking into first grade with her and wondering where the time went. So, because I am remembering that today, I thought I would share the following story with you. It was written on August 17, 1998, Claire's first day of school, and was a part of a weekly email devotional I used to write called, "Monday Meditations." Hope you enjoy!
We sent our little girl to first grade this morning.
As it is for most parents, it was more emotional for us than it was for her. Claire walked right into her new world, a red backpack slung over her shoulder and a picture of her cats in her hand. She was ready for whatever this day would bring.
Me, I'm a bag of emotions. I'm joyful because she has reached a new chapter in her life, one she's anticipated for many months. I'm sad too because I realize that life as we've known it will never be quite the same. Claire's singular focus on her mom and me will now change: she'll have new friends and new ideas to explore, new words and phrases...and boys.
My mind was in rewind as we made our drive in to school this morning. I thought back to the moment she was born - how we had waited and waited on her to arrive. I can still hear the nurse saying, "Happy Birthday, Claire" as she handed me a little bundle that would change my life. I remember her cradle and her crib, late night feedings and baths in the sink. I remember her humming every time she'd ride in the car. I remember those precious baby sounds she would make. I remember her first step and being so proud of her because she did it!
I remember the day we dedicated her to the Lord and gave her back to Him. I remember her first words and rocking her until she fell asleep. I remember that first birthday party and first Christmas. I remember the joy of her running to me when I came home from work.
Each year of her life is filled with many, many precious memories.
She's taught me so many things. By watching her, I've realized that the smallest things (and so often the things that have very little earthly value) are the greatest treasures one could ever find. Rocks and feathers, leaves and flowers. Crayons and a blank piece of paper. Butterflies and red birds. Walks through the yard, singing as loud as possible. Friends and family. Time spent just being together.
But the greatest thing that I have learned (and am learning) from being Claire's daddy is how much God must love His children. When I think about the incredible feelings of love, concern and compassion I have towards my little girl, I get just a glimpse of how much my Heavenly Father loves me. He looks down on His children with an even greater love because He made us. He knows us inside and out. And He loves us completely.
I gave my little Claire to her Heavenly Father once again this morning. Her life is in His hands, as it has been from day one. I can trust Him with her life because I know that He wants the very best for her. I can trust Him with my life because He is my Father and I know He wants the very best for me as well. You can trust Him with your life because He is your Father and He loves you with an unmatchable love. He wants the very best for you.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1
We sent our little girl to first grade this morning.
As it is for most parents, it was more emotional for us than it was for her. Claire walked right into her new world, a red backpack slung over her shoulder and a picture of her cats in her hand. She was ready for whatever this day would bring.
Me, I'm a bag of emotions. I'm joyful because she has reached a new chapter in her life, one she's anticipated for many months. I'm sad too because I realize that life as we've known it will never be quite the same. Claire's singular focus on her mom and me will now change: she'll have new friends and new ideas to explore, new words and phrases...and boys.
My mind was in rewind as we made our drive in to school this morning. I thought back to the moment she was born - how we had waited and waited on her to arrive. I can still hear the nurse saying, "Happy Birthday, Claire" as she handed me a little bundle that would change my life. I remember her cradle and her crib, late night feedings and baths in the sink. I remember her humming every time she'd ride in the car. I remember those precious baby sounds she would make. I remember her first step and being so proud of her because she did it!
I remember the day we dedicated her to the Lord and gave her back to Him. I remember her first words and rocking her until she fell asleep. I remember that first birthday party and first Christmas. I remember the joy of her running to me when I came home from work.
Each year of her life is filled with many, many precious memories.
She's taught me so many things. By watching her, I've realized that the smallest things (and so often the things that have very little earthly value) are the greatest treasures one could ever find. Rocks and feathers, leaves and flowers. Crayons and a blank piece of paper. Butterflies and red birds. Walks through the yard, singing as loud as possible. Friends and family. Time spent just being together.
But the greatest thing that I have learned (and am learning) from being Claire's daddy is how much God must love His children. When I think about the incredible feelings of love, concern and compassion I have towards my little girl, I get just a glimpse of how much my Heavenly Father loves me. He looks down on His children with an even greater love because He made us. He knows us inside and out. And He loves us completely.
I gave my little Claire to her Heavenly Father once again this morning. Her life is in His hands, as it has been from day one. I can trust Him with her life because I know that He wants the very best for her. I can trust Him with my life because He is my Father and I know He wants the very best for me as well. You can trust Him with your life because He is your Father and He loves you with an unmatchable love. He wants the very best for you.
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!" 1 John 3:1
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