with Brian Tubbs
Personal Ramblings
Six Things Pastors Love to Hear From Church Members
023 days
When it comes to a post like this, I wish I were NOT a pastor, so that I could post it without any apprehension that it will be dismissed as self-serving. I’m going to have to take that risk, though, as I believe God has allowed me to learn some things over the last 5 years I’ve served as a senior pastor…a few of which I want to pass on through this note. Let me say clearly that, yes, I’ve been hurt at times in ministry, and perhaps some of that frustration will come through in this. I hope not, because I’m not writing this with that kind of spirit, but I’m human, so I welcome you to set aside anything that comes from my flesh.
The TRUTH is…I am blessed. I count myself VERY blessed to serve the church I now pastor as well as the previous congregation I served in Ohio. I have nothing but gratitude and love to convey to each of those congregations. Even the times I’ve been hurt pale in comparison to what I’ve seen and heard from others in the ministry. So many of my pastor friends have had far worse situations. I hope you’ll take it in the humble spirit it’s offered and think of these things in relation to your own pastor in your own congregation.
Here are six things every pastor wants to hear and loves to hear from members of the church he serves:
1) “I’m praying for you.”
Every pastor wants to know that the members he serves are lifting him and his family up in prayer. Spiritual warfare is real in ministry, and pastors need prayer cover. Many years ago, when I learned that a pastor I loved fell into sin, my first and painful realization was that I wasn’t praying for him. Pastors are human. They are susceptible to stress, anxiety, temptation, etc., etc. They need prayer.
Prayer is especially pertinent when it comes to grievances. We are quick to complain and slow to prayer. Christians spend a great deal of time, in fact, complaining and griping, and very little in prayer. When you’re upset about something in the church or something with your pastor, why not devote the majority of your time to prayer over the matter? And when it comes time to talk about the issue, rather than complain about it, follow Jesus’ prescription for church conflict in Matthew 18.
Pray for your pastor and let your pastor know that you’re doing so.
2) “Thank you.”
Sometimes, a simple thank you goes a long way. If your pastor preaches a message that touches your heart, why not thank him for it? After all, he spent many hours in prayer and preparation before giving that message. Why not thank him for that time and effort? If the pastor has helped you through a crisis in your life or was there for you when you needed it, thank him. Of course, it doesn’t have to be anything dramatic. It may simply be that you recognize he did something nice for the church or for someone else – or maybe you just want to acknowledge his overall commitment. It’s never wrong to let someone know you appreciate his or her efforts.
3) “We’re glad to have you as our pastor.”
You may not realize it, but even the most beloved pastors have a few disgruntled members in their congregation that would prefer they find somewhere else to pastor. And those are the voices, either directly or indirectly, that pastors tend to hear the most. Obviously, in some cases, pastors have disqualified themselves. In those cases, they need to be lovingly removed. But failing dereliction of duty or some kind of moral failure (see I Timothy 3), the pastor deserves the support of his congregation. And the congregation should show that support by encouraging him. It’s a biblical command, in fact, that we are to “encourage one another” in the church. Encourage your pastor.
4) “Did you take your day off this week?”
It is one of the Ten Commandments, and yet many pastors do NOT take a day off of work. In fact, I dare say that most pastors fail to truly set their work aside completely for at least one day a week. Not only is it a biblical command that they do so, but numerous medical and psychological studies will tell you that it’s healthy to take at least one day off of work each week. And labor unions have conditioned the American workforce to, in fact, expect two days off a week. This is the toughest challenge for me, because ministry is never done. There’s always another phone call to make, another meeting that I need to attend to, or another family that needs pastoral care. It never ends. I have to force myself to stop and take a day of rest. And it’s not easy. Yet, it’s healthy and it’s biblical…and essential for a solid family life. I hope your church is the type of church that not only allows its pastor to take a day off each week, but FORCES him to do so. 
5) “How can I help?”
A pastor is human. He can only be at one place at one time. He’s not always available. When he’s visiting with one family, he can’t simultaneously visit with another. When he’s in a close door, sensitive meeting, he can’t take a phone call, unless it’s a dire emergency. When he’s on a date with his wife, he should NOT take a phone call. And when he’s in prayer or in Bible study, he needs to guard that time, because those are the most important aspects of his job (see Acts 6). The pastor is limited in his time, his presence, his availability, and his energy. In his great book “The Disciple-Making Church,” Bill Hull makes the argument that churches are NOT supposed to center around pastors. He writes: “Can one man preach Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night; attend committee meetings, Sunday school socials, and denominational meetings; and still do all the counseling and administration of the church? No!” Hull makes the point that it’s not supposed to be that way anyway. The pastor not only needs help, but is SUPPOSED to get help. Why? Because the entire body of believers in each church is to do the work of the ministry, not simply the pastor (see I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and Galatians 6).
What’s more, the pastor does NOT have all the spiritual gifts, yet (deep down) many church members think that when God calls a pastor, He equips that pastor with all the talents, gifts, and abilities needed to meet the expectations of the church to which the pastor is called. It’s ludicrous…not to mention completely unbiblical. It’s not the pastor that is supposed to bear the burdens of everyone in the church. The church members are supposed to “bear one another’s burdens” (see Galatians 6). The pastor’s call is very specific, and God will equip the pastor with the gifts, talents, and abilities he needs to fulfill that specific call…a call that must be performed to God’s specifications, not the individual preferences or demands of every church member. Nevertheless, the myth that the pastor should be good at everything and meet every need persists. Bill Hull writes mockingly of such expectations, taking on the role of a disgruntled church member: “[The pastor] doesn’t preach as well as Chuck Swindoll, counsel like James Dobson, care for others the way MOther Teresa does, manage like Peter Drucker, and motivate like Ronald Reagan.” Some pastors are great at casting a vision and/or planning out their ministry and/or managing staff. Others are great at visitation, counseling, and hospitality. Others are supremely gifted in teaching and preaching. Some pastors are big picture oriented, while others are great at details. Some pastors excel in large churches, while others do great in small churches. Some pastors thrive in the associate, support role, but struggle as a senior pastor. Very few pastors are highly gifted in all of preceding areas.
Pastors are diverse in their personalities, gifts, talents, strengths, etc. Unfortunately, this is not always accepted by churches. Hull explains: “People will accept one another’s strengths and weaknesses, but they do not extend the same courtesy to the clergy. They look at the pastor’s strengths, and instead of thanking God for his gifts and allowing him to concentrate in those areas, they roundly criticize his nongiftedness and hound him to work on his ‘weakness.’ Few people could survive the ridiculous expectations churches place on their leaders. We stand them up in front and proceed to pick them apart.”
Rather than “pick apart” your pastor, help him. Get involved in the church and fill in the gaps. Don’t complain about the areas of weaknesses. Step in and support those areas. Ministry is a team effort.
6) “We love you.”
There have been some dark times in ministry…times of loneliness and, yes, discouragement. Times when I’ve felt like “What’s the use?” Just being real with you. And almost every time, God has sent a church member my way to encourage me and say those words: “We love you.” When the words are sincere, I can’t tell you how much they’ve meant to me. One time, after a week that I’d been slammed by one of my critics and was feeling pretty low, one of the deacons in our church reached over, gave me a one-arm bear hug and said: “Love you, brother!” That meant a lot to me.
Your pastor isn’t just your pastor. He’s your brother in Christ. And God wants His family, His children, to be united in love. You should love your brothers and sisters in Christ as if they were your real flesh-and-blood family. This should especially be the case in your church. God wants unity, harmony, and joy in His congregations….not gossip, slander, division, and petty squabbling. “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples,” declared the Son of God. “That you have love one for another!” Do you love your pastor? If not, you should. And, if you do, then tell him.
Let me close by saying I count myself blessed to serve a wonderful congregation in Olney, Maryland. I love them and they (at least most of them ) love me. I’m not writing this to send a message to them or my previous congregation in Ohio. I truly am not. I’m writing this, because it’s been on my heart to write something like this for months. After much delay, I felt God push me to do so. I hope it will give my readers a window into a pastor’s heart. That is the extent of my “agenda” (such as it is). And hopefully, a few of you will be encouraged to pray a little more for your pastor and perhaps take some of these ideas to heart.
God bless you.
The Faith of Ronald Reagan
028 days
This is a wonderful tribute to Ronald Reagan, with an emphasis on his Christian faith…
Since the President Referred to Christ, Can We Now Have a Christmas Party?
066 days
Is it okay to say “Merry Christmas,” now that the President of the United States publicly identified the December 25 holiday as being about the birth of Christ? Since our public schools tend to be among the most sensitive battlegrounds of political correctness and the censorship of anything religious, I wonder if it would be okay with the American Civil Liberties Union or the Americans United Against the Separation of Church and State for public schools to post the President’s Christmas message. Maybe that might be pushing it, so how about just calling their season parties “Christmas parties”? No, still too much?
Pardon my sarcasm, but the Christmas season always brings out the ridiculousness in our society. In order to avoid offending people who don’t believe in Christianity, our society (local schools, government agencies and offices, private businesses, stores, restaurants, etc.) will often bend over backwards to offend only those who consider themselves “Christian,” which, interestingly enough, describes the majority of the American population! “Merry Christmas” is out. “Happy Holidays” is in!
Well, this “holiday season,” the President of the United States publicly linked Jesus Christ with the December 25 holiday that still legally bears His name. He did so, while lighting the National Christmas Tree. So, if the President can do that before the nation, is it okay if we mention “Christmas” in our schools and communities? Hopefully, for most of you, the answer is yes.
Merry Christmas!
What a Father Punching His Son at a Youth Basketball Game Says About Parent Involvement in Youth Sports
167 days
Recent news about a Lakeville, Minnesota father punching his son after a youth basketball game has many people understandably shaking their heads at such a horrific display of child abuse. And while this tragic and shameful incident should cause us, as a nation, to consider the horrible reality of child abuse, it should also cause us to soberly consider the state of parent involvement in youth sports. If news reports are correct, this hot-tempered Minnesota dad is the natural outcome of a society full of hot-headed, overbearing parents in youth sports today. We shouldn’t be surprised. We should be sobered.
Youth sports are a great opportunity for boys and girls to get exercise, learn the importance of teamwork, develop important leadership and social skills, and discover much about themselves in terms of their gifts, talents, likes, and limitations. It should also be a place where they encounter positive role models and learn respect for authority. Unfortunately, many parents involved in youth sports make this increasingly difficult. Overbearing parents who push their kids to excel in sports, often beyond their kids’ maturity or physical capacity, have added tremendous stress and anxiety to their children and those around them.
In fact, overbearing parents can often be seen cursing officials at sports games, berating coaches in front of their kids (and other kids too, for that matter), screaming at other parents, and chewing out their own children for mistakes on the field. This kind of toxic influence is disheartening and, in some cases, destructive. How in the world can kids gain any kind of positive influence from this?
Years ago, I read a letter to the editor in a community paper that was written by a 15-year old referee in youth sports games. The teenage referee publicly expressed his sadness at how parents often conducted themselves. To be cursed out by a grown man or woman in front of dozens of spectators for an alleged bad call is not something any teenager involved in community service should have to go through. And it’s not something a child should have to watch his parent engage in. Yet this kind of thing is common.
Several years ago, I myself witnessed a father reprimanding his son for a poor performance after a football game. When the son defended himself, the father told him to “shut up.” I remember thinking, Is a ball game worth that? I recall my father having strong words for me when it came to issues of honesty or respect, but not about what I did on the ball field. Dad would never have chewed me out for making a mistake or having a bad day…in any arena of life, certainly not sports.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a big fan of politically correct, excessively egalitarian sports leagues that strip out all aspects of competitive achievement. I’m all for competition. It’s good for kids to learn to set goals, strive hard for those goals, and sometimes recognize that they will fall short. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with the idea of kids getting trophies just for being on the team. I think that’s also bad. Children should learn that it takes hard work, discipline, and solid teamwork to win at sports. And not every team can win every game. Sometimes, they will be on the losing team. There’s nothing wrong with that.
I also think parents should encourage their kids to be the best they can be. But there’s a difference between a child being the best he or she can be versus a child being the best of what the parents want him or her to be. Parents don’t have the right to impose their lives on their children. They may want their children to be star athletes with sports scholarships and all that, but they shouldn’t decide their children’s lifelong fate. My parents never pushed me to a specific career path. They wanted me to follow God’s call on my life, wherever that would lead. They focused on shaping my heart and teaching me important life lessons in discipline, integrity, and faith. With that in mind, my parents encouraged me to be involved in sports, even though they knew I had very little athletic ability. (I still have very little athletic ability). They encouraged me to do so, for the benefits of learning self-discipline, teamwork, physical fitness, and (frankly) being able to take a hit and get right back up again! Mom and Dad wanted me to do my very best in every area of life. They knew I wasn’t great at sports, but they knew youth sports would teach me some important lessons that I would apply in my life overall.
Allow me to cite a personal example of picking up life lessons in youth sports. I recall my days in high school football. While I never amounted to much in football, I remember the punishing hits I took in football practice and the times I wound up at the bottom of an unpleasant pile-up, and the coaches encouraging me to get back up again – and get ready for the next snap. At one summer football camp, I experienced a minor injury, which I saw as an opportunity to skip out of a few practice sessions (and thus postpone any additional pain). I wasn’t very good anyway. I knew it. The coaches knew it. And I figured I wouldn’t play anyway, so what’s the big deal? Well, it was a big deal. Looking back, I remember Coach Perdue taking time to give me a lesson in following through on my commitments. I had a made a commitment. I was part of the team. I needed to participate and give it my very best. While I unfortunately didn’t fully embrace Coach’s lesson that day, I did years later. In fact, lessons like that have stuck with me my whole life. They are important lessons for life. And they are what youth sports are all about.
Youth sports are great. And I applaud parents who encourage their kids to get involved and who faithfully attend games and practices to show their support. There are wonderful coaches and parents in youth sports.
Nevertheless, this tragic incident in Minnesota should give all parents in youth sports an opportunity to reflect. A child deserves to know that, no matter how many mistakes were made on the field or how much of a bad day he had, he can always count on coming home with a father and mother who love him unconditionally and will encourage him to get back up and, once again, do his very best.
Farewell Christopher Hitchens
468 days
Christopher Hitchens, one of the most outspoken critics of evangelical Christianity (and religion, in general, for that matter), died yesterday, December 15, of esophageal cancer. A powerful intellect with acerbic wit, Hitchens was both prolific and provocative. In fact, his entire public identity revolved around provocation. Matt Schudel of The Washington Post accurately describes Hitchens as a “sharp-witted provocateur who used his formidable learning, biting wit and muscular prose style to skewer what he considered high-placed hypocrites, craven lackeys of the right and left, ‘Islamic fascists’ and religious faith of any kind.”
My first brush with Hitchens came several years ago, when I explored some of my own doubts with Christianity. Having been brought up in a Christian family and placed in church at a young age, my decision to accept Christ as a pre-teen was more a natural outcome than turning point. Starting in my twenties, however, I began to experience sharp emotional and intellectual doubts about the faith my family and I had always claimed. In my early to mid thirties, I went on a spiritual and intellectual journey, willing to set aside my Christian beliefs if I could not find some logical and compelling justification for them. As part of this journey, I read, watched, and listened to several of the so-called “New Atheists,” including Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and (yes) Christopher Hitchens.
I became somewhat of a debate addict, watching recorded encounters between atheists and Christians. YouTube was a favorite place for me to go and watch these clashes. And I experienced mixed emotions as I saw Hitchens sarcastically and convincingly eviscerate standard Christian arguments that, in my youth, I had all too casually accepted. In the book of Proverbs, we’re told that “iron sharpens iron” and that “one person sharpens another.” I doubt Hitchens wanted to sharpen my faith, but that was the outcome. My journey through doubt led me to become even stronger in my faith.
When the Reverend Jerry Falwell, founder of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University, passed away in 2007, Christopher Hitchens displayed an animosity that can only be borne out of a bitter and hateful heart. By the time Falwell passed, I had already emerged from my period of doubt, though there remained a shadow of appreciation for some of Hitchens’ more effective arguments. That appreciation all but vanished as I watched Hitchens celebrate Falwell’s death and more or less dance on the man’s grave. Hitchens viciously assaulted Falwell’s character, intellect, appearance, and very soul. In one TV interview, the atheist Hitchens openly wished hell were real, so that Jerry Falwell could go there.
As angry as I was at Hitchens’ over-the-top antics and insensitivity to Falwell’s family and friends, I nevertheless glimpsed the hatred that propelled Hitchens onto his atheistic crusade in the first place. This was not a man with honest doubts about God. It was a man who, deep down, suspected the Judeo-Christian God may indeed exist – and hated the very thought, idea, and concept of such a God. Christopher Hitchens didn’t simply disbelieve God. He hated God and all of God’s followers. I believe it’s the same for many atheists, in fact. If you doubt me, I encourage you to read The Rage Against God by Peter Hitchens, younger brother of Christopher Hitchens.
I take no pleasure in the demise of Christopher Hitchens. On the contrary, I extend my sincere best wishes to his family and friends. I sincerely hope he read his younger brother’s book and that he and Peter had many talks since its publication. I hope that, by some miracle, God broke through the bitter walls around Hitchens’ heart. I hope that, as Hitchens entered the last days of his life, that he reflected on the loving message of Jesus Christ. After all, God did it before nearly 2000 years ago with a vicious anti-Christian named Saul of Tarsus. Why not Christopher Hitchens as well? We can hope.
An Appropriate Ronald Reagan Speech for Veterans Day
0103 days
In honor of Veterans Day 2011 (11-11-11), I would like to post this classic speech from President Ronald Reagan during the 40th anniversary observance of the Normandy D-Day invasion. Reagan’s soothing, fatherly voice and the rhythmic cadences of his oratorical style are very much on display here, especially as he tells of Private First Class Peter Zanatta and his daughter, Lisa Zanatta. Listen to this wonderful speech…
The ending of this speech always brings tears to my eyes. What a great tribute to World War II veterans and a great challenge to all Americans — even today.
Choosing Courage Over Fear: A Personal Lesson Learned From My Grandpa
0110 days
What is courage? Many years ago, my father explained that the answer to that question is to be afraid of something and yet to do it anyway. The occasion of that lesson was my explaining to him and my mother how I overcame my fear of heights (not once, but twice) to voluntarily take part in a rappelling exercise on one of my National Guard drills. I still remember how scared I was, when I did it. I’ve always had a bit of a phobia with heights. My dad looked at me and said: “That’s courage. Being afraid of something and doing it anyway.” My fear of heights, however, is nothing compared to the fear that Staff Sergeant James Gibson faced over 60 years ago when he stood down a German Tiger Tank (and won!) or when he charged into a squad of German soldiers, firing his rifle and tossing all the grenades that he had!
Yesterday, November 3, 2011, I had the honor and privilege of preaching the funeral for my grandfather, James Gibson. While I’m not sure any words from me can do his life and legacy justice, I’d like to try to add a personal lesson I’ve taken from Grandpa’s life — one that I didn’t share yesterday in my message, because it was so personal and specific. And because I needed some time to really sort it out. It’s a lesson that I hope will remain with me the rest of my life. There’s a lot more to Grandpa’s life than his service in World War II. Having spent years in the coal mines of West Virginia as well as in factories and in the Postal Service, Grandpa was the hardest worker I’ve ever known. He was also honest, upright, and thoroughly devoted to his wife of 68 years, my grandmother. All these things and more I tried to bring out yesterday, and I hope I did satisfactorily. But there’s a personal lesson that I want to share with you now.
My uncle, John Huffman, worked for 25 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs. In that capacity, he filed a claim many years ago for my grandfather for post-traumatic stress disorder. This gave my uncle a chance to interview Grandpa about his experiences, drawing out of him numerous stories of his time in World War II. I had heard bits and pieces of the stories over the years (from Grandpa and from my mom), but reading the transcript of these interviews a few days ago was the first time I had seen them all together in one place. It was a very moving experience. Uncle John said that Grandpa related to him that he and his friends went after the enemy “with abandon” (Grandpa’s words). They “threw themselves at the enemy,” ignoring and shutting down their fears. It was the way Grandpa dealt with his fear.
The conversation with John called to mind a story Grandpa related to my mother many years ago, which she of course passed on to me. According to the story, Grandpa’s platoon was pinned down in a house or barn and outnumbered. And the lieutenant, scared out of his mind, cowered behind a door. When a soldier asked Grandpa if he was afraid, he barked back: “Of course I’m sacred, but I ain’t gonna hide behind no door!” If I’m not mistaken, this was the same firefight in which Grandpa charged out of the house and attacked head-on a squad of German soldiers that had he and his men pinned down. As Grandpa related the story, the enemy squad surrendered….and did so, thankfully, before they realized Grandpa was completely out of ammunition!
There’s another account, during the Battle of the Bulge, where German tanks were running down our infantry men. Grandpa and one of his buddies decided enough was enough. Grandpa grabbed a fellow soldier, who had a bazooka and tried to get him to stand and fight. Terrified, the soldier refused. So, Grandpa took the bazooka from him, got a 5-second ‘crash course’ from the petrified soldier on how to operate it, and fired it himself at an oncoming Tiger Tank! His buddy, Johnny, then got on top of the tank and hurled a grenade inside.
Lest you think my Grandpa made these things up or exaggerated these stories to make himself look good, I’d like to point out two facts. First, Grandpa rarely spoke of his war experiences. It took years for some of these details to come to light. Second, the U.S. Army decorated him with two Silver Stars — one for each of the episodes I’ve laid out in this article. These exploits may sound like they are from a Hollywood movie, but they really happened! I could also talk about how my grandfather navigated his way through a minefield to rescue an enemy soldier or how he distinguished himself in other firefights, but there’s no need. The two Silver Stars, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart (plus all the service medals) are testament enough to his bravery and courage. James Gibson was the real deal….a true, bona fide American war hero!
Yet he was a flesh-and-blood human being. He admitted he was scared. He was afraid numerous times. In one instance, in particular, when his unit was bombed for several days straight and all he and his buddies could do was hunker down in their foxholes, he admitted to coming close to a nervous breakdown! Grandpa was a normal guy who was as scared as the next guy, but he made a choice to do something with his fears…something that made him a hero.
I will probably never face combat like Grandpa did. And I certainly don’t want anything I write here to sound like I’m putting myself anywhere close to the same level as Grandpa. I am unworthy to be mentioned in the same sentence with James Gibson. But I can certainly be inspired by him and I can certainly learn from him. And, so, in addition to my admiration for his marriage, his honesty, his character, and his work ethic, I am full of respect for his courage. And it’s a lesson I hope to take with me through the rest of my life.
Courage isn’t about having no fear. It’s about being afraid and doing what needs to be done anyway. For me, I have no need to fear combat death. But there are other things a person can fear. We can fear loss. We can fear death. We can fear rejection or criticism. We can fear uncertainty. We can fear many things about life. And if I’m to take Grandpa’s lesson to heart, my job from this point forward is to acknowledge my fears, and then to run past them with courage and do what needs to be done.
Thank you, Grandpa.
Make Your Life Count
0139 days
Life is fragile and brief. Though our church recently celebrated the life of an incredible lady who just turned 100, I’ve also attended the funeral of a newborn baby. As a pastor, I’ve been involved with families who have lost loved ones at all stages of life. And I myself have experienced loss, having buried both of my parents well before their time.
We have no idea how long we will have in this life. Will it be 70 or 80 years as Moses indicates in Psalm 90? Will it be more? Possibly, but it could also be less. I’ve had situations where people were diagnosed with a disease and were dead within weeks of the diagnosis! Sudden….totally unexpected. I remember when my father passed away…no warning….no anticipation. Just one heart attack and it was over. Only God knows how long we have.
Two things, however, are clear: 1) We will ALL face death one day. It’s the ultimate statistic….10 out of 10 people die. And….2) We only have ONE life, so we better make it count.
I don’t write this to trouble anyone. On the contrary, I want to encourage you to reflect on your life (whether you’re 15 years old, 30 years old, or 80 years old) and ask yourself these questions….
1) Are you right with God?
2) Do you know where you will spend eternity when your life on this earth comes to a close?
3) Are you right with your loved ones?
4) Are there things you’ve said or done for which you should apologize and seek forgiveness?
5) Are you carrying malice or bitterness toward others?
6) Do you need to reconcile with someone important in your life?
7) Are there goals or priorities that you know you should attend to, but haven’t?
Life is short and it’s fragile. It’s too short to ignore the likelihood that God exists. (If you’re an atheist or agnostic, you are – with all due respect – living in rebellious ignorance of the evidence that’s plainly there for alll to see!) Make sure you are right with God. There is no relationship more important than that one! And that relationship begins with Jesus Christ. Get out your Bible and read John 3 and Romans 10, and then ask yourself honestly and prayerfully if you’ve called on the name of the Lord and if you’ve been born again.
And life is too short to carry grudges, bitterness, malice, and anger toward others. Let go of any hate. Let go of anger. Be humble and gracious. Be forgiving. Do what you can to reconcile. If you’ve been terribly hurt by someone and need help getting through that, seek out the counsel that you need. There’s no shame in getting counsel. There’s only shame if you know you need help and refuse to get it. And if you’ve wronged someone. Make it right.
If, as you’re reading this, you are overwhelmed by guilt, debt, sin, suffering, etc., then start making a change right now. Get on your knees. Turn your life over to God or, if you’ve already done that, renew your commitment to the Lord. Start praying every day. Get into the Word every day. Get into church – and be faithful. Surround yourself with God-honoring, Bible-believing friends and seek out wise counsel. Set some goals. Work on your self-discipline. And ask God to help you out of the pit you’re in. And….look around to see who else you can help out of their pit.
Be an encourager. Be a blessing to those around you. Love the people in your circle of influence. Add value to them. Build them up. Be a conduit for the Lord. Let God channel His love, grace, and blessings through you to others.
Life on this earth is short, but it can be great. Give your life to God each day and make it count for Him. As the Word of God says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
God bless you!
September 11 — A Day for Prayer, Thanks, and Remembrance
0165 days
As we mark this 10-year anniversary of the worst terrorist attacks ever committed on American soil, it gives us an opportunity to do three things:
- Pray that God protect our country and guide our nation’s leaders.
- Thank those people (military, public safety, first responders, medical professionals, etc.) who work so hard to keep us safe and secure.
- Remember those who lost their lives on that fateful day ten years ago.
May we each remember to do at least the above three things on this 10-year anniversary. God bless you. And may God bless America.
NY Mayor Bloomberg Needs a Lesson in History and Decency
0166 days
As a pastor, I try to limit politically-related posts. I understand that God makes no distinction between Republicans and Democrats in His kingdom. I want to be a loving, supportive pastor to everyone in the church God has privileged me to serve, regardless of their political affiliation. And I want to be an encouragement to everyone who reads this blog, regardless of whether you consider yourself conservative, liberal, Republican, Democrat, Independent, whatever. Nevertheless, a political post on this day is called for, as I am frankly outraged for the many first responders in New York who are being excluded from the main New York City 9/11 anniversary ceremony and for Mayor Bloomberg’s decision to likewise exclude prayer and clergy. Mr. Bloomberg needs a lesson in both history and decency.
First, Bloomberg’s decision to exclude clergy and prayer from the 9/11 ceremony is out of sync with the Founders. While the United States government was established as a secular mechanism, the nation itself was not founded in an atheist framework. The Founding Fathers were all strong monotheists. They all, to a man, believed in the existence of God and the reality of certain moral constants that governed the universe. Overwhelmingly, they believed that the United States was kissed by divine destiny and uniquely blessed by God. Most went even further and endorsed Christianity as the best explanation for God’s presence in the world and His superintending providence over the U.S. The late (and liberal) Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas said it best: “We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being.”
The Bloomberg administration’s excuse for not having clergy or prayer at the 9/11 ceremony is the incredibly complicated task of having to represent all faiths in a politically correct and “sensitive” manner. You can bet that the Founders would be flipping in their graves to hear that excuse. Sure, the Founders believed in the rights of all religious faiths to practice without government coercion or interference, but most of the Founders had no trouble encouraging and/or permitting prayers from Protestant and/or Catholic clergy at public functions. That prayers from these mainstream faiths might make minority faiths uncomfortable didn’t stop them. Reasonable accommodations were offered to the minority faiths, but you can’t stop all religious expression in the public square simply because Americans don’t unanimously agree on their religious beliefs!
With respect to the New York ceremony, there are plenty of Christian or Jewish chaplains available in the fire department, police department, etc. that could lead prayer for the occasion. At the very least, one of these chaplains could make a statement framing the moments of silence as time for prayer. I realize that this arrangement might offend atheists, but too bad. The United States is not an atheist nation. Never has been, and hopefully
never will be. As George Washington, the father of our country, declared: “No people can be bound to acknowledge the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the united States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.” I will side with Washington against the atheists any day of the week – and twice on Sunday. Quite frankly, it’s troubling to me that, at a time our nation should be asking God for divine protection, we’re afraid to do so at public events for fear of offending those who don’t believe in God. And then some people have the audacity to get angry with God when tragedy does occur. Does anyone else other than me see a problem with this? Better to take Washington’s advice. Let’s call on that “invisible hand” to continue to guide us and protect us.
That Bloomberg would bow to political correctness and snub God and the clergy is not surprising. New York is not exactly a bastion of old-fashioned, conservative values. That he would, however, snub the city’s first responders is something else entirely. When I first saw this a few weeks ago, I thought it was either a hoax or exaggeration. Or I thought that it maybe was a misunderstanding or snafu….something that would be quickly taken care of. Apparently, it’s all true. Citing a lack of space, the mayor of New York City has invited only a few first responders to the main ceremony marking the 10-year anniversary of the World Trade Center’s destruction. These are the brave folks who risked their lives and health to save lives on that fateful day! Many of whom gave their lives and many more face health complications to this day for their courage! Not to mention that many of these first responders continue to serve the city, protecting and saving lives.
I’m certainly glad Bloomberg and the city want to honor the victims and their families for what happened in September 11, 2001. But there should be no separating the victims and their families from the first responders and their families. How can you say that a worker on the 57th floor was a victim but the firefighter who raced in to save him was not? Those first responders who saved people that day and tried to save others – and those who sorted through the debris in the days after the towers fell – are all victims too. And they are heroes. And they should not be excluded from the 10-year anniversary.
I’m sure the city is doing other events to try to honor these brave men and women. I’m not accusing Bloomberg of snubbing or ignoring them altogether. But I am taking him to task for his terrible judgment and insensitivity here. The ceremony from which they’re being excluded is the main, primary ceremony. It’s the one that everyone will be focused on, and it’s the one that should honor all the victims and heroes of that fateful day. And it’s the one that should also publicly and clearly beseech God for His divine protection.
