Recently I went out early one morning to walk our puppy.  While this is a morning ritual which our family does something unusual happened on this particular day which is a great lesson for each of us.  Let me set the scene.  If you are not familiar with our yard, our house sits on a lot which in places is quite hilly.  Our lawn is quite plush in most places and is very attractive to me but that morning the beauty of the rolling hills coupled with the plush carpet of grass and heavy morning dew created a slippery slope.  As I exited the house in a hurry I grab an old pair of flip flops which had virtually no tread on the bottom.  Since our little Bella likes to cover the entire yard sniffing where the deer have roamed before taking care of her morning necessity we traversed flatland and hills.  As we started down a particular hill in my front yard, I suddenly found myself lying on the ground.  This was never my intent, my desire, or my aspirations that morning.  Yet the wet grass and the lack of tread on my flip flops created a dangerous combination.  The very thing I did not want to do, I did.  In fact, I am certain that if my humiliation were seen by any of my neighbors that morning, they enjoyed seeing a grown man take a tumble down the hill sliding along the wet grass.  (By the way, I jumped up quickly and acted like I planned it the whole time!)

Paul shares some very personal information in Romans 7 about some things in his life that he did not want to do but in the end did.  Within the latter part of this chapter Paul talks about the conflict/battle that takes place in his heart.  The crutch of the chapter falls in verse 15 where Paul states, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”  Can you relate with Paul?  I can.  How many times have I said why did I do that?  Why did I say that?  Why did I act that way?  Those words, actions, and deeds were not what I wanted to do!   

These actions are a slippery slope on which we tread created by a conflict within each us.  I recently read some statistical data which I found quite interesting.  It said, “A group of academics and historians has compiled this startling information: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace!”  Now from this bit of trivia we might assess that whenever there are at least two people there is the possibility of conflict.  However, the scripture gives us a different view.  In fact, according to the Word of God all that has to take place for conflict to exist is “one” person.  That is what Paul is describing in the previously mentioned passage.  We are at conflict with a force within us.  For the believer in Christ, we find that the new creation is in conflict with the old nature.  Why is this?  Paul aptly phrases the answer in Romans 7:24, “Wretched man that I am!”  The implication is that we are all deprived by our flesh and human nature but we do not have to stay that way.  He goes on to ask in the next sentence, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?”  He is asking the very question to which we all want to know the answer.  He is asking, “How can I win this battle?” The great part is that he does not leave us hanging very long for in the next verse Paul gives the answer, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

Our answer is Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately we are too closely akin to what happened to an elderly lady who became a victim to a scam artist taking nearly all her life savings.  When she called the Better Business Bureau afterwards to complain the organization asked why she did not call before giving her life savings to the individual.  Her response was, “I did not call you first because I was afraid you would tell me not to do it.”  Therein are too many Christians who fall victim to the allurement of the old nature.  We do not seek God’s advice or aid because we are afraid he will tell us not to follow the old nature. 

Jesus admonished us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”  Before we give in to the old nature seek God.  Before we lose the battle of wills seek God.  Before we do that thing we really do not want to do seek God. 

 Have a blessed day,

 

Pastor Ric

Gal 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

 

 

My God Is Bigger

One of the movies which ranks as a classic with me is Hoosiers which features a high school basketball team from Hickory, Indiana.  The story follows a coach who takes a group of boys from this small town in Indiana to the state finals in basketball.  After a stellar, but tumultuous season the boys arrive at the state finals hosted at a university arena in Indianapolis.  The setting and scene were something the boys of Hickory had never experienced before but through the encouragement of their coach were able to overcome their inhibitions and rise to victory on a last second shot to win the state title.  What makes this story so incredible is that, true to real life until 1997 in Indiana, there was only one state basketball playoff regardless of a schools size.  In other words, regardless of a school’s size or number of students all competed for the same title. 

This was the classic story of David versus Goliath where the underdog came forth as the victor defeating the heavy favorite.  Many might even look at this and say it is a great Hollywood story but is unlikely to happen in real life.  The truth is that this movie’s storyline is loosely based on the real to life story of Milan High School from the rural portion of southern Indiana.  While many of the characters and incidents were embellished and/or even fabricated, Milan High School won the state championship in 1954 against a formidable foe.  They overcame the odds by working together in great teamwork for a common purpose.  They were successful because they did not let the size of their school nor the way they saw their abilities handicap them.  They played with great determinism and passion.

As I think of this real life story of a team who did not allow their resources to limit their success, I ask myself whether we follow this example in what God wants to do through us.  I have often contended that the size of one’s vision is not limited to one’s estimation of their resources or themselves but rather their understanding of how big their God is.  Often there is a saying on Sirius/XM radio station The Message which says, “Don’t tell God how big your mountain is; tell the mountain how big your God is.”  Rick Warren is quoted as saying, “How big do you think God is?  The issue is not who do you think you are, but who do you think God is?  In your dreams for your ministry, don’t limit yourself by saying, “What can I do?”  Instead ask, “What can God do in this place?” 

When I think of First Baptist Florence I see so many things which God desires to accomplish through us.  I see a mission field next door in the University of North Alabama.  I see a potential ministry at UNA with the international students which God has brought to us.  I see a building waiting for us to develop it for use with the Initiative 305 ministry.  I see a community with only 50% who admit to attending church.  I see a great need for personal evangelism through relationship development.  I see an opportunity to reach a growing population of Senior Adults.  I see young families who need the stability of Jesus Christ in their homes. 

What can we do as one church in downtown Florence?  We can begin working one of these ministries at a time.  We can each step forward to work in an area of which we are passionate.  We can each take time to build relationships with people who are not involved in church or have a personal relationship with Jesus.  We can realize that God has gifted each of us with abilities and talents to function in the body of Christ.  We can step up and volunteer to be a part of these ministries.  We can say, “I will be willing to head up this ministry or that initiative.”  When we begin coming together for the common purpose to achieve these tasks then we will begin to see God work in our hearts and through our abilities to bring home the championship trophy for His glory and honor.  Let’s win this battle for our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Keep Bragging on Our Jesus,

 

Pastor Ric

Matthew 19:26 "…With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

A Little Help from My Friends

Whenever I leave for a trip Lisa and our children have always found a way to sneak notes of encouragement into my luggage.  Now I am not referring to a one note from each of them lying on the top of my clothes just inside the luggage but varied and many notes of scripture and words of encouragement all through the suitcase.  For instance, I might find one lying on the top that says, “I will miss you” and another buried deep inside that says, “I am proud of you.”  Then later in the week I might pull out a shirt and inside the shirt one says, “I believe in you” only to find one next to a pair of socks that says “God is going to use you this week.”  This tradition has been something Lisa started when we first got married and I would leave for trips in which she could not go.  Then when Raegan and Noah came on the scene she would add notes from them to accompany her notes before they could even speak only to teach them this time honored tradition as they go older. 

 

Why would she do this?  Because she loves me, cares about me, and wants to express that sentiment to encourage me.  We each need this type of encouragement and affirmation.  William Arthur Ward is quoted as saying, “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”  There are certain people God places in our lives who are encouragers and we need those people.  If you don’t believe that people need encouragement then listen to this old story about an elderly widow who was restricted in her activities, but was still eager to serve Christ by encouraging others. It seems the elderly lady, after praying about this, realized that she could bring blessing to others by using her God given talent in playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." She placed her phone number in the advertisement and waited to see what, if any, response she might receive.  Soon people began to call.  As she spoke with them and listened to their troubles she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and through this ministry of music she was able to help and encourage them.  This story goes to prove people are looking for encouragement and we have the opportunity to offer it in many creative ways, if we will take the time.

 

Unfortunately there are also many people who possess the opposite of encouragement.  They have the “anti-spiritual gift” of discouragement.  These are people Satan leads to discourage us through criticism, hateful words and tones.  The reality is that too many people are way too good at performing this task.  In addition, we are way too prone to let the negatives of what people say and do influence us too greatly.  For some reason we are geared to let the one negative carry much more weight than ten positives.  While we are appreciative of the positives we tend to linger on the lone negative.  As Bob Newhart told a patient who came to him in a sketch where he played a psychiatrist, “Stop It!”  We must stop allowing the negatives to drive our emotions and feelings of adequacy.

 

In closing let me encourage you to be an encourager.  We must be about the business of building one another up instead of tearing each other down.  Scripture charges us to “encourage one another and build each other up as you (we) are already doing.” (1 Thess. 5:11)  Paul challenged the church at Thessalonica to take their deeds of encouragement to a deeper level.  Why, because he knew the hearts of people.  He knew that it takes much more encouragement in a world of discouragement.  Times may have changed in many ways since Paul wrote this letter but one thing has stayed constant, people need lots of encouragement.  Take time today to send someone a note of encouragement.  Offer someone a random act of kindness, even do this to someone you do not know!  Take time to be an encourager but also rid yourself of any hints of discouragement which might linger in your old nature. 

 

Hey Church Family, God loves you and I do too,

 

Pastor Ric

 

Hurricane Preparation 101

Last week the occurrence of Hurricane Isaac brought back many memories of when my family lived on the Gulf Coast and faced the preparations and endurances of Hurricanes Ivan, Cindy, Dennis, and Katrina.  While the clean up for these storms was often intense and demanding preparing for them was also quite a chore. 

Whenever a storm begins to churn in the Atlantic Ocean with a potential destination of the United States the meteorologists spring into action with forecasts of where the storm appears to be heading.  This immediately prompts the local news stations to begin broadcasting reports of impending possibilities.  Regardless of the word possibility or probability widespread preparation launches.  People begin purchasing plywood, batteries, gas cans, staple food items, bread, bottled water, etc…  In addition, there is always a mad rush to fill all of one’s gas cans, generators, and vehicles with fuel.  These efforts to prepare have a near panic effect on people.  While some who sit back and think nothing is going to happen eventually will succumb to the mass purchasing and hoarding to be prepared “just in case.” 

Once the storm moves closer to the said destination many will begin to pull out old plywood, replace damaged pieces with new wood, and place over glass doors and windows.  Outdoor patio furniture, grills, planters, and all potential projectile objects are secured in garages and sheds.  And many times this is done in conjunction with neighbors to make the job more manageable and enjoyable.  Every last minute preparation is done to prepare property and family from the impending danger.   The last step of the preparation is to make a decision of whether to ride out the storm or evacuate.  If the storm looks as though it will be catastrophic in nature many choose to leave for a safer area.

Now here is the irony of the preparation, often the sun is shining and the temperatures are scorching.  As I boarded up my home in Mobile I would often think to myself, “It doesn’t look like any storm is coming!”  In fact, the weather often looked as though it was some of the prettiest days of the summer.  However, I knew according to the forecasters, that a storm of great magnitude was coming my way!  I must prepare for what is coming!

What would have happened if I had not heeding the warnings?  What would have been the potential danger if I had not done all the hard work, even though it looked as though nothing was wrong?  What could have happened to my family if I did not take the necessary precautions to protect them?  There could be a chance of survival!  I have heard of harrowing stories from those who weathered the brunt of Katrina.  However, there were also those who did not live to tell of their experiences. 

There is a vast correlation between the preparation for a hurricane and the preparation for the storms of life. First, we don’t always sense or see a storm coming.  However, we must prepare anyway.  Matthew 7 gives us great wisdom regarding the man who built his house on the rock.  Matthew’s account does not tell us when he prepared for the storms but we know that when they came he was ready.  Most likely he prepared before the storms arrived, when the sun was shining and all was good.  The time to prepare for the storms is not as they are upon us but before they come.  We must prepare when all is good, bright, and shiny regardless if we do not see the storms coming. 

Secondly, trust in the one who has the power to calm the storms of your life.  In Matthew 8 Jesus and His disciples were crossing the Sea of Tiberius in a small boat when a great storm came up on them suddenly.  The disciples cried out to Jesus fearing for their life.  “But He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful, you of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.” (Mt. 8:26)  Jesus has the power to calm every storm we are in or going to be entering.  Trust Him! 

Wherever you are today trust that God has the power and desire to protect and save you from whatever you face.  He also has the wisdom to guide you to prepare for the storms you will face so why not ask Him for wisdom for He gives to all liberally. (James 1:5)

Facing the Storms with the Master,

Pastor Ric