Three Flees

1 Timothy 6:11

Remember that scene in Forrest Gump when he’s being chased by the boys on bikes?  Forrest’s legs are strapped with the braces as he tries to run and Jenny is screaming, “Run, Forrest, run!”  Sometimes the best thing you can do is run.  ...Times when running is not a sign of compromise but of commitment.  Sometimes you the best thing you can do is run.

Having been raised in the country I know a little about running.  I have ran from dogs, snakes, wasps, yellow jackets...and the man who owned the watermelon patch that night when I was sixteen when a few of us decided to enjoy a melon or two.  

The worst running I ever did was to run from God.  I did that for close to three years beginning when I was in the tenth grade at Brewer High School.  God was speaking to me at a young age about being a preacher.  I ignored Him...pretended I didn't hear the call...and ran hard and fast till I was nineteen.  I stopped running - got saved - and answered the call to preach.  That was the best running I ever stopped.

Running...You may have ran from your sister, from your parents, from the bully at school, or maybe even the cops - but you’d better learn to run from sin.  Run Forrest Run!

Paul talked about "fleeing."  It's kind of like running.  But, instead of fleeing sin, we’re fascinated with it.  Instead of resisting the devil we’re running from God.  Instead of getting out of Dodge we’ve gotten in over our head.  Paul told Timothy to flee.  Why don’t we?

In 1 Timothy 6:11 Paul said to Timothy, “Flee from these things…” Flee...  It means RUN…another translation of the Bible uses the word FLY.  You get the idea.  Paul is referring back to what he said about the love of money.  In verse 10 we see those folks as…People who love money too much…  These folks are never satisfied - Never content….Always thinking about how to make more, have more, and get more.  They love money too much and God too little.  People who leave their beliefs behind… In their greediness, they “stray from the faith.” They are no longer firmly persuaded in God, planted in His word, and pursuing His plans.  Consumed with having it all…they forget God.

People who lose their peace of mind… Their life is pierced through with many sorrows.  Why use the imagery of a sword and piercing?  Because the end result is that painful - A life that is built on riches more than God.  No sleep.  No rest.  No joy.  Paul said to run from all that.  Run for your life…  Why?  Because these things will “drown you” and “pierce you.” (vv9-10)   Run for your life. Don’t try to be reasonable – Run!

Here are Three Flees Paul warned believers about.…

• Flee Sexual Immorality 1 Cor. 6:18-19 “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.”  This is one of the few sins that has ripple effects that can last a lifetime.  King David was forgiven, but he never completely recovered from his date with Bathsheba. 
• Flee Lifeless Idolatry 1 Cor. 10:14-15 “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” While most of us don’t bow to images or idols – Too many of us have put God at the bottom of the list of priorities.  We believe Jesus is Savior – But we don’t behave like He is Lord.  Flee! 
• Flee Youthful Impurity 2 Tim. 2:22-23 “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” The foolish decisions we make when we’re young can haunt us the rest of our life.  “Lusts…” The idea is sinful – spur of the moment decisions – that become a ball and chain.  Thank God for forgiveness!

Friend, let's pray for one another today.  God help us to flee.  God help us to run just like Forrest Gump.  In the end, we'll be glad we did.  M

You Can't Run On A Treadmill In The Dark

…Well, at least I can’t.  I tried to a few years ago early one morning.  When we first got the treadmill we kept it in the bedroom because we were going to run/walk on it every day.  After it became a place to hang clothes and stack stuff we moved it to the garage where it now serves as a reminder of all the exercise we were gonna do.

Anyway, one morning, about 5:30 or so, I decided I’d run on the treadmill without turning on the lights.  I thought the light from the digital readout on the treadmill would be enough.  Don’t ask me why…I really don’t know why.  I just thought I’d run on the treadmill in the dark.  It didn’t work.

Somehow I got off track….tried to get back on…stumbled and fell…all over the place.  I fell on the treadmill, hit my head on the arm of the treadmill, landed on the belt of the treadmill, and got thrown off as if I was riding a bucking horse in a rodeo.  I hit the chest of drawers that was beside the treadmill and knocked off all the doo dads and pictures.  No, I didn’t have the emergency shut-off cord attached as I should have.  So, treadmill was still running while I was laying over by the bed at this time surrounded by debris looking like I had been hit by a small tornado.  All because I tried to run on a treadmill in the dark.

I faintly remember Crystal looking in on me asking if I was alright…shaking her head and closing the door.  I was alone and wounded and nobody cared.  (sniff, sniff)

All of this could have been avoided if I had just turned on the light.  I could have been running in the light.  In fact, this silly story could be a lesson for me and you in all aspects of our life.  We don’t have to run in dark, we can run in the light.  Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”  Think of all the pain I could have avoided that morning on the treadmill if I had just turned on the light.  Think of all the disappointment, heartache, and hurt I could avoid if I would only allow God’s word to light my path. 

There are days when I don’t feel like reading the Bible.  There are days when I don’t want to read the Bible.  There are days when I’m tired, lazy, sleepy, busy, etc…  But, I have learned to read the Bible, every day, whether I feel like it or not.  Because, God’s word really does light my path…it really does help me see where I’m going.

I have never ran on a treadmill in the dark again.  And, I have committed to never let a day pass without turning on the light of God’s Word.  Are you interested?  Won’t you join me in the commitment to read the Bible daily…and listen as God speaks through it.  MM  

Hugging Dad

Hugging Dad

My dad is 83 years old.  He’s as good a man as I’ve ever known.  He was a good husband to my mother.  He loved her till death did they part.  He still loves her – She’s been in Heaven since 2006.  He still visits her gravesite.  Still talks to her picture.  In the 51 years I have known him, there is nothing bad I can say about him.  I have him as a role model.  I’m blessed.  Can’t tell you the times I’ve been faced with a tough decision and silently I ask myself, “What would daddy do?”  He’s had that kind of influence on me.  I’m grateful for his example. 

Before Mother died, I called to talk to her most every day.  I seldom talked to my dad when I called.  Mother had been sick off and on for several years.  I knew she’d probably go before him.  She did.  I sure miss her.

Before Mother died I didn’t think my dad had much to say.  I found out different after Mother was gone.  There were times when we’d talk for an hour on the phone.  There were times when we’d visit that he’d talk and I’d listen for the better part of two hours.  He doesn’t have so much to say these days.  He’s had a rough year or so.  He’s lost several friends, at least five, in the past few months.  He’s quieter than normal.  Can’t remember like he used to.  Talks a lot about Mother. 

After Mother died I started doing something I had never done.  I started telling Daddy I loved him.  Up till that time I guess I thought he knew it and, besides, it was kind of a “guy thing.”  But, for whatever reason, I started telling him I loved him.  He began to say the same to me.  So, for several years, when I was leaving after a visit, I shook his hand and told him I loved him. 

One day, for whatever reason, I decided I should hug him.  Me and my dad had never been much on hugging each other.  But as I saw him growing older, and saw myself doing the same, I felt like I should hug him.  Maybe he needed it.  Maybe I needed it.  It was one of those “sideways hugs.”  You know what I’m talking about?  Kind of a “half-hug.”  I thought that was enough.  So, as I left his house I would give him a half hug and say, “Love you Pop.”

Here lately I’ve gone from the half-hug to putting both arms around him.  He needs it.  I do too.  I mean, when was the last time you really hugged someone you loved?  Mother, Dad, husband, wife, son, daughter, good friend?  So, I’m hugging Dad these days and telling him in no uncertain words, “I love you daddy.”  I have overcome the “guy thing” and realized there’s something more important.  It’s a “dad thing.”  I imagine he feels what I feel when my kids hug me.  Wow.  Sorry I’m missed out on that for so many years. 

If your mother and dad are still living – If it’s at all possible – Hug them.  Tell them you love them.  They need it.  You do too.   - M

2015 Preaching Schedule

January

11 Neel Methodist Church, Neel, Al. (1st church I pastored)

18 Men's Fellowship, Motes Cabin, Florette, AL.

24 Pastors Conference Soul Harbor Baptist, Somerville, AL. (AM)

24 Pastors Conference No Fences Cowboy Church, Falkville, Al. (PM)

25 Revival Day 19th Ave Baptist, Hattiesburg, Miss.

30-31 TRUE Couples Wknd, Grace Place, Hartselle, Al.

February

1-4 Belmore Baptist, Belmore, Al.

5-12 Guatemala

15-18 Mt Pleasant Baptist, Lexington, Al.

22 Revival Day East Highland Baptist, Hartselle, Al.

Wrestling With God

In my personal experience, wrestling with God has usually been about three things:  Something He wants me to do.  Something He wants me to say.  Somewhere He wants me to go.  For instance, God says, “Go” and I say, “No.”  God says, “Stay” and I say, “No way.”  God says, “Forgive” and I say, “Never.”  It becomes a constant battle between the flesh and the spirit described in Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

Years ago while a student at New Orleans Baptist Seminary I heard an illustration that I will never forget.  It was one of those mornings when I was half awake, half asleep, half dead.  I was always at the chapel service.  It wasn’t required, but I was there just in case the preacher delivered a message that I could borrow for the next Sunday, or in case either of my favorite professors was preaching.    Occasionally there was a guest preacher.  That was the case on the morning I heard the illustration I’ll never forget.  I hate to admit, I don’t even remember his name.  This is what he said; Inside each of us are two dogs.  Every day that we live these two dogs are constantly in a fight.  One dog is black and the other is white.  The black dog represents the flesh.  The white dog represents the Spirit.  Because we are constantly making decisions dealing with right and wrong, the two dogs are constantly fighting.  Then he said he could tell which dog was going to win the fight.  He said, “The dog you’re feeding will win the fight every time.”  “Whichever dog you’re starving will always lose.”  Then he asked, “Which dog are you feeding?”

The wrestling I am doing with God is about feeding the wrong desires and fooling myself that the end result will reveal I knew better than God.  Not only is there denial in these wrestling matches with God, there is also pride.  Prideful feelings that, even though I am struggling with God, I will eventually win. 

That simple story about the two dogs opened my eyes to the reality of spiritual warfare.  I remember beginning to be aware of the wrestling that was going on inside of me.  I began to be aware of what I was feeding my mind and heart.  I began to be careful what I was feeding the dogs, and in particular, which dog I was starving.  I have continued to wrestle with God and often against God since those days in New Orleans.  I imagine I always will.  If you’re wrestling with God or against God, don’t try to win.  Just surrender.

Finishing Strong

One of my favorite books is Finishing Strong, written by Steve Farrar.  The audience he addresses is men - husbands and fathers.  The gist of the book is found on the back cover.  Farrar writes, “When you look around, you realize very few husbands and fathers are finishing strong.  The man who hangs in there for the long haul with his wife, his kids, and his Lord is an exception these days.” 

I agree.  Just look around as Farrar said.  Look at our world and the men who lead it.  Better yet, look around your church, your family, and among your friends.  Look at yourself.  How many of us are striving to finish strong, to finish well?  How many of us are flirting with disaster, living too close to the edge?  How many are neglecting their family?  We see wives and husbands who are pursuing their own interests as if they’re not even married.  Homes have become nothing more than roadside rest areas where we eat, sleep, and shower. 

While I don’t want to get too sentimental, I feel compelled to remind us of the marriages that have gone before us.  I think of men and women who struggled together and stayed together when it would have been much easier to give up and search for greener pastures.  For me, I have such pleasant memories of couples that stayed married for life.  Couples like Rudolph and Arlene, Huel and Gladys, Jimmy and Zella, Robert and Mildred, Lester and Ethel, and the list goes on.  These are some of the couples who, when I was a kid growing up, were the “old people.”  They were old and they had old values.  Values that never changed because they were based on God and His will.  These couples finished strong.  God help us do the same.  How?  Farrar tells us how to finish strong.  He believes there are four things that will help any of us, who want to, finish strong.  He suggests:

Stay in.

Stay close.

Stay away.

Stay alert.

 First of all, stay in the scriptures.  Second, Farrar suggests, stay close to a friend.  Third, if you want to finish strong, you must stay away from people who pull you down and away from your values. Finally, according to Farrar, if you want to finish strong, stay alert to the tactics of the Enemy.  Let's pray for one another.  God help us Finish Strong.  M