Mark 16:15-16
Guys, is it you or your wife who refuses to stop for directions when you’re lost? Even with the help of GPS and smart-phones, sometimes I still get lost. Crystal and I are known for taking shortcuts that end up being longer than the original plan. Our kids will tell you that. On a trip to the beach several years ago we took a shortcut that ended up being at least an hour longer than what we would have traveled if we had stayed on the interstate. Sometimes I think I’m smarter than my smart-phone. But sometimes I admit I’m lost and I’ll stop to get directions. The sad thing about that is, the number of times I’ve stopped to ask directions from the locals…and they don’t know how to get there either.
One of the best apps on my really smart phone is the compass. I use it a lot. Because I have preached in a number of places that aren’t on the map - GPS can’t find them. But out in the middle of Pickens county the compass is a savior. I may feel like I’m headed south, but the compass tells me I’m headed west. For those of us who are believers, the Holy Spirit is our internal compass. The Holy Spirit will always lead us in the direction of God.
Hang on to this idea… Whatever direction you’re traveling will take you where you’re going. Listen to that again… I didn’t say the direction you’re traveling will take you where you want to go – it will take you where you’re going - like it or not. The only way to change your destination is to change your direction. If you don’t like where you’re headed, turn around.
If I want to go west but I’m walking toward the east…regardless of my intentions – my direction determines my destination. In another blog I talked about INTENTIONS. I said, “Good intentions without hard work, effort, sacrifice, early mornings and late nights, are nothing more than good ideas.” Regardless of how much I intend to go west, if I don’t do what’s necessary I will never be where I want to be.
In yet another blog post I talked about ATTENTION. I said, “Whatever has your attention will drive you, guide you, and to some extent – control you.” I might say I intend to be a better dad…I want to be a better father – I want to spend more time with my daughter like going to a movie and getting a Starbucks – I want to…I intend to… But if something or someone else has my attention I will never be the dad I want to be and need to be. Whatever gets my attention determines my direction. My direction determines my destination.
Whether it’s being a better father, a better husband, or a better Christian…the sad news is that one day the door of opportunity will close and with it goes all my good intentions.
We’re talking about DIRECTION. Where am I going? If God’s will for me is west, why am I traveling east? This may sound elementary but let me explain how to change directions.
1- Stop. (stop doing what you're doing)
2- Turn around. (change directions)
3- Go. (pursue your dreams and goals)
Yes it’s that simple…but it can get complicated. Because changing directions means breaking bad habits. It may mean breaking with relationships. It means sacrificing – giving up things you wanna hang on to. It means growing up. It may mean swallowing your pride. It may mean admitting you’re wrong. But first you have to stop.
Let me be perfectly clear, I’m talking about going in the direction of God and God’s will. Let’s think about the Prodigal Son. He traveled to a far country which was a place he thought he wanted to be. Which is a perfect example of a sad truth. Sometimes when we finally get what we’ve always wanted we discover it’s not what we thought it would be.
In the far country, the Prodigal wanted to go home. He made up his mind he would rather be a slave in his father’s house than to be free in the far country. So he stopped - turned around - and went back. His direction changed – and so did his destination.
Where are we going? Jesus said simply, “Go” into all the world. It’s easier believers and church attenders to go to church – go to Bible study – go to a prayer meeting – go to a seminar – or go to a conference… But Jesus said go into the world. Are we going in God's Direction?
It's a narrow way and difficult to follow at times. MM
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Lance Lied
I am almost fifty years old. For most of my adult life I have been disappointed by preachers, politicians, and professional athletes who lied. Maybe I shouldn’t have put them on such a pedestal to begin with. But I did.
Lance Armstrong has evidently lied about his use of performance enhancing drugs. Who cares that he lied to me and millions of others? Who cares that he lied to fellow athletes, journalists who tried to get an honest interview, and reporters from ESPN, CNN, etc… What bothers me more than the lies to the world are the lies he must have told to his family…his children…his wife. And he not only lied to his family – he lied to himself. What a terrible way to live. I guess it could be said he was living a lie.
Before I get too prideful, too confident, and too full of myself – Let me be the first to admit that I am just as prone to lies, deception, and inconsistency as anyone. I thank God that over the years I have had people who didn’t mind getting in my face…getting in my business so to speak, and loving me enough to tell me what I was doing was wrong, dangerous, or just plain stupid.
Someone probably tried to talk to Lance Armstrong. There were those who probably warned him about the consequences of taking such drugs. But he didn’t listen. I wonder how many people have thrown away their “Live-Strong” bracelets since the news of his lying began to spread?
I can learn from this. I am a pastor of a church with over a thousand members. I preach and teach in churches across the southeast. I have an audience, much smaller than Armstrong’s, but an audience nonetheless. I must guard about being the least bit deceptive. Who knows, I may be a role model to some young fella out there who looks up to me. Who knows, there may be someone in my church who feels like I’m one of his only friends. Who knows who all I would disappoint if I became deceptive – and was eventually exposed as a liar…
Most of all I need to learn again the importance of being honest with the ones who love me the most – my wife and children. And I need to learn again the importance of being honest with the man I see in the mirror each morning.
Lance is gonna tell it all on Oprah. I wish he wouldn’t. I wish he would just issue a statement saying he lied and then go home and be a father to his children and a husband to his wife. The world doesn’t need to hear it all on Oprah.
Lance lied. And, we can learn from his mistakes....Don’t lie to God…Don’t lie to others…Don’t lie to yourself. And, if you do…please don’t go on Oprah and tell the world.
MM
Lance Armstrong has evidently lied about his use of performance enhancing drugs. Who cares that he lied to me and millions of others? Who cares that he lied to fellow athletes, journalists who tried to get an honest interview, and reporters from ESPN, CNN, etc… What bothers me more than the lies to the world are the lies he must have told to his family…his children…his wife. And he not only lied to his family – he lied to himself. What a terrible way to live. I guess it could be said he was living a lie.
Before I get too prideful, too confident, and too full of myself – Let me be the first to admit that I am just as prone to lies, deception, and inconsistency as anyone. I thank God that over the years I have had people who didn’t mind getting in my face…getting in my business so to speak, and loving me enough to tell me what I was doing was wrong, dangerous, or just plain stupid.
Someone probably tried to talk to Lance Armstrong. There were those who probably warned him about the consequences of taking such drugs. But he didn’t listen. I wonder how many people have thrown away their “Live-Strong” bracelets since the news of his lying began to spread?
I can learn from this. I am a pastor of a church with over a thousand members. I preach and teach in churches across the southeast. I have an audience, much smaller than Armstrong’s, but an audience nonetheless. I must guard about being the least bit deceptive. Who knows, I may be a role model to some young fella out there who looks up to me. Who knows, there may be someone in my church who feels like I’m one of his only friends. Who knows who all I would disappoint if I became deceptive – and was eventually exposed as a liar…
Most of all I need to learn again the importance of being honest with the ones who love me the most – my wife and children. And I need to learn again the importance of being honest with the man I see in the mirror each morning.
Lance is gonna tell it all on Oprah. I wish he wouldn’t. I wish he would just issue a statement saying he lied and then go home and be a father to his children and a husband to his wife. The world doesn’t need to hear it all on Oprah.
Lance lied. And, we can learn from his mistakes....Don’t lie to God…Don’t lie to others…Don’t lie to yourself. And, if you do…please don’t go on Oprah and tell the world.
MM
Monday, January 14, 2013
2013 Preaching Dates
February 17 First Baptist Church Revival - Milan, Tennessee
February 23 Belmore Baptist Men's Conference - Belmore, Al.
March 7-8 Trinity Baptist Young@Heart Retreat - Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
April 7-10 Eastside Baptist Revival - Jasper, Al.
May 5-8 Wilsonville Baptist Revival, Wilsonville, Al.
June 21 Shocco Springs Deacon Retreat - Talladega, Al.
October 28 Morgan Baptist Associational Meeting - Morgan, Al.
February 23 Belmore Baptist Men's Conference - Belmore, Al.
March 7-8 Trinity Baptist Young@Heart Retreat - Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
April 7-10 Eastside Baptist Revival - Jasper, Al.
May 5-8 Wilsonville Baptist Revival, Wilsonville, Al.
June 21 Shocco Springs Deacon Retreat - Talladega, Al.
October 28 Morgan Baptist Associational Meeting - Morgan, Al.
Paying Attention
Hebrews 10:24-25
One of the first things to get my attention in the first grade at Cotaco Elementary was a little blond-haired girl named Tammy. She was six years old. She was missing her two front teeth...and she rode the same bus as me. I thought she was the prettiest thing I had ever seen. She got my attention. I got on the bus every morning hoping she had saved me a seat. She’s one of the reasons I started wearing my dad’s cologne - English Leather. But evidently that’s a common thing. When my daughter Alyssa was in preschool she had such an effect on one of the little boys that, according to his mother, he started taking baths without being made to.
I remember when Crystal got my attention - and by the way, she still does. I was working with her sister at a bank in Hartselle and Crystal came in to see her sister. And when she did, I saw her. She was fifteen. I was nineteen. I remember thinking, “wow.” We didn’t start dating till three years later – but I remember making sure I was around whenever she visited her sister. She had my attention.
Whatever gets your attention will direct your life. I don’t remember my mother ever having to make me get on the bus in the first grade. I wanted to because I knew my little toothless friend had a seat saved for me.
Whatever has your attention will drive you. It will push you. You’ll do whatever you have to for the thing or for the person that has your attention. Whether it is your job, your children, your family, your hobbies, your interests, your church, or your relationship with God.
It's important for me to think about what has my attention. In this brief blog let me mention just a few things in ministry that get my attention. It's important for my church to know such things because the attention of the pastor often becomes the attention of the church he pastors. I have a real and definite conviction about making sure that I preach the Bible as the sole authority for our life. The greatest question we can ask when we face a difficult circumstance is, “What does the Bible say?” So, needless to say – the Bible has my attention.
Also, the simple Gospel message is important to me. I have a real conviction that the Gospel should be clear in our messages whether it is a song or sermon. The Bible is clear that the “Gospel is God’s power that saves.” Something amazing happens when the Gospel is presented clearly and with convictions. So, again – the Gospel has my attention.
Also, reaching the unsaved and unconcerned is a priority of mine. I see no reason why every event connected to the church shouldn’t be an evangelistic event. Everything from a preschool egg hunt to a Christmas communion service to a breakfast just for men. If something is happening at church, it should be perfectly normal and expected that we present the Gospel in some way. So, also – evangelism has my attention.
But most of all, Jesus has my attention. I really believe Jesus changes people. I believe Jesus makes a real and lasting difference in people’s lives who trust Him to save and forgive them. His birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and second coming is the only message we have. Everything we do as a church is built on one message – one person. Jesus. Jesus has my attention.
All that being said, I don’t believe we have to be boring to be Biblical. I believe we have every reason to be the happiest and most content people in the world. I believe our worship should be filled with anticipation and joy. I believe God speaks through His word - and we should listen as if we are the only one He’s speaking to. I believe we should be passionate about what we do as believers and as Christian leaders. I believe if we’re going to do something we should do it well or don’t do it at all. And we should do it to the glory of God. So, those things have my attention. Those are the things that drive me as a preacher. And, chances are those are the things that are defining the church I pastor.
In my last blog I talked about the word Intention. I said good intentions without effort, hard work, some early mornings and late nights are nothing more than good ideas. Many of us spend our life intending to do more for God. But too few of us ever do.
This week we are thinking about Attention. Whatever has our attention will guide us, shape us, and to some extent control us. That being said, what is guiding me, shaping me, and controlling me? Wouldn’t it be great if we gave the Word of God such attention? MM
One of the first things to get my attention in the first grade at Cotaco Elementary was a little blond-haired girl named Tammy. She was six years old. She was missing her two front teeth...and she rode the same bus as me. I thought she was the prettiest thing I had ever seen. She got my attention. I got on the bus every morning hoping she had saved me a seat. She’s one of the reasons I started wearing my dad’s cologne - English Leather. But evidently that’s a common thing. When my daughter Alyssa was in preschool she had such an effect on one of the little boys that, according to his mother, he started taking baths without being made to.
I remember when Crystal got my attention - and by the way, she still does. I was working with her sister at a bank in Hartselle and Crystal came in to see her sister. And when she did, I saw her. She was fifteen. I was nineteen. I remember thinking, “wow.” We didn’t start dating till three years later – but I remember making sure I was around whenever she visited her sister. She had my attention.
Whatever gets your attention will direct your life. I don’t remember my mother ever having to make me get on the bus in the first grade. I wanted to because I knew my little toothless friend had a seat saved for me.
Whatever has your attention will drive you. It will push you. You’ll do whatever you have to for the thing or for the person that has your attention. Whether it is your job, your children, your family, your hobbies, your interests, your church, or your relationship with God.
It's important for me to think about what has my attention. In this brief blog let me mention just a few things in ministry that get my attention. It's important for my church to know such things because the attention of the pastor often becomes the attention of the church he pastors. I have a real and definite conviction about making sure that I preach the Bible as the sole authority for our life. The greatest question we can ask when we face a difficult circumstance is, “What does the Bible say?” So, needless to say – the Bible has my attention.
Also, the simple Gospel message is important to me. I have a real conviction that the Gospel should be clear in our messages whether it is a song or sermon. The Bible is clear that the “Gospel is God’s power that saves.” Something amazing happens when the Gospel is presented clearly and with convictions. So, again – the Gospel has my attention.
Also, reaching the unsaved and unconcerned is a priority of mine. I see no reason why every event connected to the church shouldn’t be an evangelistic event. Everything from a preschool egg hunt to a Christmas communion service to a breakfast just for men. If something is happening at church, it should be perfectly normal and expected that we present the Gospel in some way. So, also – evangelism has my attention.
But most of all, Jesus has my attention. I really believe Jesus changes people. I believe Jesus makes a real and lasting difference in people’s lives who trust Him to save and forgive them. His birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and second coming is the only message we have. Everything we do as a church is built on one message – one person. Jesus. Jesus has my attention.
All that being said, I don’t believe we have to be boring to be Biblical. I believe we have every reason to be the happiest and most content people in the world. I believe our worship should be filled with anticipation and joy. I believe God speaks through His word - and we should listen as if we are the only one He’s speaking to. I believe we should be passionate about what we do as believers and as Christian leaders. I believe if we’re going to do something we should do it well or don’t do it at all. And we should do it to the glory of God. So, those things have my attention. Those are the things that drive me as a preacher. And, chances are those are the things that are defining the church I pastor.
In my last blog I talked about the word Intention. I said good intentions without effort, hard work, some early mornings and late nights are nothing more than good ideas. Many of us spend our life intending to do more for God. But too few of us ever do.
This week we are thinking about Attention. Whatever has our attention will guide us, shape us, and to some extent control us. That being said, what is guiding me, shaping me, and controlling me? Wouldn’t it be great if we gave the Word of God such attention? MM
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Good Intentions
Proverbs 3:5-6
Most of us have good intentions… We intend to lose some of the weight we gained over the holidays. We intend to pay down the credit cards for the charges we made while buying Christmas. We intend to do better and be better in the coming year. A couple of years ago, in January, I had good intentions of improving myself in every way I could. I printed off the slogan, "Do Better" including the scripture Philippians 3:14. I placed my printed off slogans everywhere...in my car, on my desk, on the mirror, etc. I had really good intentions of doing better and being better. But by February of that year my slogan had become something like, "Hang in there!" Can you relate? It's much easier to hang on than do better.
Intentions… Preachers have preached for years that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. That sounds a little harsh but it’s true. Your doctor might tell you the road to obesity is paved with good intentions. Your banker might tell you the road to bankruptcy is paved with good intentions. Your marriage counselor might tell you the road to divorce is paved with good intentions. Your high school teacher might tell you the road to failure is paved with good intentions. Truth is, we simply don’t go where we want to go with good intentions alone.
As well intended as most of us are, without work, effort, sacrifice, paying attention to details, sometimes doing things no one else will do, late nights and early mornings – our good intentions are nothing more than good ideas. Intending to do something…and actually doing something are miles apart.
How many of us can look back at a list of things we intended to do but never
did? Maybe it was losing weight…Or maybe it was not gaining it back. Maybe it was spending time with our children. Maybe it was writing a letter we needed to write or making that phone call or sending an email. Maybe it was an apology. Maybe it was forgiveness we intended to give. We meant to but we never did. Maybe it was reading our Bible more… praying more… or getting closer to God. Good intentions are nothing more than good ideas if we don’t do what we intend to do.
For well over twenty years, Proverbs 3:5-6 have been my life verses. I have enjoyed them, embraced them, battled with them, at times ignored them....but over the course of all these years, I have found these verses to be wonderful promises, a great comfort, and a source of strength and help. Years ago, when I first read these verses and believed these words were from God just for me,...and I was convinced if I would do my part, God would do His. My part was to trust Him with all my heart…and lean not on my own understanding… To acknowledge Him in all my ways and He would direct my paths. My life, so far, is living proof of these simple verses.
Trusting God has been the greatest adventure of my life. Look at verse 6. Build a fence right down the middle of it. One side of that fence is yours and the other side is God’s. You stay on your side and do your job, and God will stay on His side and do His job. You can’t do His job and He can’t do yours.
Do more than intend to trust the Lord. Trust Him. And he will direct you. Michael
Most of us have good intentions… We intend to lose some of the weight we gained over the holidays. We intend to pay down the credit cards for the charges we made while buying Christmas. We intend to do better and be better in the coming year. A couple of years ago, in January, I had good intentions of improving myself in every way I could. I printed off the slogan, "Do Better" including the scripture Philippians 3:14. I placed my printed off slogans everywhere...in my car, on my desk, on the mirror, etc. I had really good intentions of doing better and being better. But by February of that year my slogan had become something like, "Hang in there!" Can you relate? It's much easier to hang on than do better.
Intentions… Preachers have preached for years that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. That sounds a little harsh but it’s true. Your doctor might tell you the road to obesity is paved with good intentions. Your banker might tell you the road to bankruptcy is paved with good intentions. Your marriage counselor might tell you the road to divorce is paved with good intentions. Your high school teacher might tell you the road to failure is paved with good intentions. Truth is, we simply don’t go where we want to go with good intentions alone.
As well intended as most of us are, without work, effort, sacrifice, paying attention to details, sometimes doing things no one else will do, late nights and early mornings – our good intentions are nothing more than good ideas. Intending to do something…and actually doing something are miles apart.
How many of us can look back at a list of things we intended to do but never
did? Maybe it was losing weight…Or maybe it was not gaining it back. Maybe it was spending time with our children. Maybe it was writing a letter we needed to write or making that phone call or sending an email. Maybe it was an apology. Maybe it was forgiveness we intended to give. We meant to but we never did. Maybe it was reading our Bible more… praying more… or getting closer to God. Good intentions are nothing more than good ideas if we don’t do what we intend to do.
For well over twenty years, Proverbs 3:5-6 have been my life verses. I have enjoyed them, embraced them, battled with them, at times ignored them....but over the course of all these years, I have found these verses to be wonderful promises, a great comfort, and a source of strength and help. Years ago, when I first read these verses and believed these words were from God just for me,...and I was convinced if I would do my part, God would do His. My part was to trust Him with all my heart…and lean not on my own understanding… To acknowledge Him in all my ways and He would direct my paths. My life, so far, is living proof of these simple verses.
Trusting God has been the greatest adventure of my life. Look at verse 6. Build a fence right down the middle of it. One side of that fence is yours and the other side is God’s. You stay on your side and do your job, and God will stay on His side and do His job. You can’t do His job and He can’t do yours.
Do more than intend to trust the Lord. Trust Him. And he will direct you. Michael
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