Don't Vote...Don't Complain.

I consider myself a student of public policy.  In fact, last year I earned a Master of Public Administration degree.  This degree included courses on public policy and its analysis.  I understand the importance of an election.  This post is designed to remind Christians that elections matter tremendously for several reasons.  First, elections matter because those elected are responsible for instituting their policies through legislation and executive orders. Second, elected officials are responsible for guiding departments (Dept. of Justice, Defense, VA, Transportation, Homeland Security, State, Energy and others) in how to interpret and regulate policies. This is how one administration can regulate the same policy in two different manners. The same law is on the books. The interpretation of that law differs based upon guidance from the administration. Third, elected officials are responsible for the nomination of judges. Too often we are not pleased with the rulings of many judges. The judges were placed on the bench by those we elected. 

Therefore, if you are going to be a person that complains about the policies of our nation then you must be a person that is concerned about elections. If you don't vote and don't care to stay informed then please refrain from complaining about Supreme Court rulings, same sex marriages, homosexuals in the military, the funding of Planned Parenthood, Government Healthcare or bloated entitlements.

Watching the Space Shuttle Launch!

There are several things on my "bucket list." I would like to drive the Mississippi Delta from Yazoo City to Memphis. I should have done this when we lived in MS. I would like to swim in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in the same day!

I have always wanted to see the space shuttle launch in person. Since NASA is discontinuing the program this might have to get scratched from my list.

I know everyone has seen the shuttle launch on television. It is a breath taking image. I have wondered if it is that powerful on television, what would it be like in person?

I think somethings are only experienced in person. Imagine if Moses would have experienced a burning bush on television, on his laptop, or his phone. There are somethings that God intends to be experienced in person. I would like to remind you that God will orchestrate amazing events to put you in the right place at the right time to experience what He has planned. We sometimes look at the events in our lives and scratch our heads wondering exactly what God has planned - and then - it all begins to make sense. We have that moment where the shuttle launches before us and we begin to understand why we are in the providential space we are in! The fact is we could have watched the events God had planned from afar and would have missed the beautiful details. Many things simply have to be experienced firsthand. Some episodes of our lives aren't intended to be DVR'd, but to be watched live and in person. I am thankful that God placed me in a position to watch this "shuttle launch" in my life!

Good with Gifts?

I do not think we need to go through a serious explanation of spiritual gifts. Suffice to say that each believer is given at least one spiritual or grace gift. I am not so concerned with attempting to explain to you biblical grounds for spiritual gifts. Instead I would like to compel you to ask if you are good with these gifts. The Holy Spirit has really been using this question in my life to analyze my motives and my stewardship. We often think about being a steward of what God has given us in the financial realm. Stewardship from a Kingdom perspective should deal with other things such as time, talents, and spiritual gifts. This all has propelled me towards asking if I am a good steward of the spiritual gifts I have been given?

Here is the important question - are you using your spiritual gifts for the building of the Body of Christ. The spiritual gifts are not given for the edification of yourself or for you to keep buried away like some prized antiquity in an Egyptian Museum. The Father, in His Sovereignty, blessed you with one or several spiritual gifts. His expectation is that you would use those gifts. I believe one of the reasons that the church is so dysfunctional is because 1) the majority of believers are not even aware they have a spiritual gift and 2) many of those that do know their gifts are not using them.

EVERYONE in the church must be keenly aware of their spiritual gifting and be willing to faithfully share those gifts for the building of Christ's Body - The Church.

I encourage you to take this spiritual gifts inventory. Also, here is a great resource from LifeWay that will explain the various gifts.

Brett Favre and Preachers...

A lot of people make demonizing comments about Brett Favre. Many criticize him for being a media hound or loving the limelight. People often say that Favre just doesn't know when to walk away. I think I get it! I think that Favre has something on the inside that drives him. He has some sort of internal drive that tells him that he must be on that field on Sunday taking snaps and completing passes for touchdowns. For Favre it isn't about the money, the success or the limelight. For Favre it is about the moment.

I am not saying that Favre's internal drive is the same unique call that a preacher has, but I think there are some similarities that help understand his past decisions.

A man that has been called to preach doesn't do so for the money, the fame, the success or the limelight. He does so because there is a God given internal drive that tells him that his mission is to open the Bible, study it, and then share with other humans that are on a divine pilgrimage. He preaches to convey truth, lift up Jesus, and because He must! It isn't something he chose, but something that God chose for him. In Book of Jeremiah, God says that He knew Jeremiah before He formed Him in his mother's womb. And, God says he consecrated him a prophet unto the nations. This means that Jeremiah, just as preachers today, have a call upon their lives that is from God! In other words, men preach because God told them to!

So you can continue to be critical of Favre if you like. But, strive to understand that the preacher is preaching out of a compulsion from God.

I have no greater struggle in my life that the balance between ministry, mission, and preaching. I have been in full-time ministry for over 11 years. I have about 1/2 of this experience in the local church and 1/2 of it in chaplaincy. I enjoy serving as a chaplain and know I am making a difference in the lives of people. However, there is always a deep and frustrating struggle when I am not preaching every Sunday. People who don't have the unique call to preach simply say - you get to preach once a month you should be happy! But, those that have the unique call fully understand. It is more than an opportunity - it is a spiritual burden.

So, even though I think Favre has been a bit flippant I empathize with him. He desires to be the one taking the snap and throwing the winning pass. The preacher desires to stand behind the sacred desk, open the Bible, and preach truth to sinners and saints. He desires to proclaim truth into the darkness and see the power of the Holy Spirit change lives forever. He desires to see men and women mature in their faith. He desires nothing more than - to preach!

You're Fired!

I have often said that college football coaches and pastors have a lot in common. It is funny when a pastor or a college coach is talking to another potential employer they must sort of hide the fact they are doing so. Additionally, when things aren't going right in the program the trustees or boosters can decide the coach just isn't the right fit. When things appear to be going wrong in the church a "board" of deacons or a personnel committee simply decides that the pastor is the "wrong fit" for the setting or for a specific congregation. In fact, I read that 34% all pastors serve congregations that fired their previous pastor or actively forced his resignation. Sadly, 23% of all current pastors have experienced forced termination.

I am getting sick of hearing about pastors being fired! I believe that I now know about 9 individuals that have been terminated from their ministry positions.

I realize that every minister isn't perfect. Don't get me wrong there are reasons to terminate pastors. I see the teaching of heretical doctrine, and illegal and immoral actions as clear grounds for dismissal. But, bad people skills, bad preaching, and poor leadership skills doesn't constitute putting a minister in the street.

I believe churches have been wrongly led into believing that they are a business rather than a Kingdom Institution. Therefore, if we can just get the right business leader with all the right talents then we will be successful. If it were only that easy!

Therefore, a lot of good men have been forced out because they didn't fit the mold.

I understand there are bad matches. But, this epidemic must stop. These terminations are destroying families and ministries. I am not an advocate of blaming everything on the devil. But, I can clearly see how the devil uses these opportunities to shift the focus off the Gospel and on to gossip. For example, rather than going through the process of mediation, reconciliation or conflict management - a church (or a select group of members) elect to terminate. The church then must go through the process of healing and searching for a new leader. This entire process shifts the focus of the church away from the Gospel. I wonder if pastors and congregations were in a partnership together attempting to advance the gospel if there would be so many forced terminations?

A journey...

WOW! It has been a minute since I have posted on my blog. I am feeling the deep need to reflect - so here goes. I sort of hate to reflect on some issues and allow the world to watch and listen. However, I do believe that my struggles aren't particular to myself. Therefore, they may help others.

First, I have been reflecting a lot upon my "call." I am reading a book entitled 45 Days To the Work You Love. This book has really prodded me towards the intense and often asked question about my existence. I have found the book so amazing that I have already given away three copies. "To Glorify God through the making and maturing of believers through the preaching of God's Word." I have been reflecting on this motto and mission a lot. Accomplishing it or not? Sensitive enough to it or not? Willing to sacrifice for it or not? Willing to make it central and paramount in my life?

Second, I have begun implementing an intentional plan to sand down some rough edges. I have realized that unless I have some pointed assistance in my life I will never accomplish the things God has established for me to tackle. Therefore, I have found a mentor. This is something I have resisted. I think my youthful enthusiasm had me fooled into believing that I didn't need any pinpoint guidance. Second, I have started reading in some subjects that I have neglected for many years. One of the these subjects is leadership. Since my experience in the U. S. Army I have believed that leaders are not constructed and developed, but instead born. This led to this wrong conclusion because I saw so many "great" leaders that seemed to simply be born to do so, and so many "bad" leaders that seemed to be beyond help. Therefore, I have simply neglected trying to become a better leader. I assumed I either had it or didn't. After investigating my own life and asking my wife and close friends what would make me a better minister and pastor I have been led to work on the following: resolve and leadership. By the way, their answers were painful, but worth every minute of discussion. I guess I should ask those that represent my former ministry position. I did inquire with one former church member. His answer is appreciated and will be taken under advisement. Third, I continue to work on a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in nonprofit management. These studies are helping me with strategy, leadership, and are making me a more effective public servant in my current ministry setting.

Why am I sharing all this with you? That is a valid and appropriate question. First, I want people to understand that you must continue to work on yourself. We all need to be better husbands, wives, moms, dads, co-Workers, and Kingdom Citizens. I think too often we feel like a ship that has been set out to sea and we are drifting upon uncharted waters. Often we need to pull out the map, observe the situation, and ensure we are "drifting" in the proper direction. Don't simply go through life without examining it and yourself. Second, I hope this prods you to simply THINK! Think about your existence, your place and role in and for the Kingdom, and how you can bring Glory to God through your passions.

My life has been dramatically challenged in the last couple of months. Over the last 4 months I have questioned the very purpose of the last 14 years. I have allowed "people and things" to creep into sacred places in my life and challenge my God given passions. I have allowed circumstances to overshadow my supernatural calling and equipping. The cloud of uncertainty is lifting. Passions are being restored! Purposes are being renewed! God is blessing regardless of perception! I am on the journey again!

Crossroads or stop signs...

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the past. Shana can tell you this is normally not a healthy thing for me. But, I think I have a much healthier perspective about the past than I use to have. Often in my life I have said I was approaching a crossroads. Crossroads are like Y's. There are several choices that include sitting there and doing nothing, pick a direction, and going backwards. We often use the idea of crossroads because it seems so "cataclysmic." It seems so pivotal to say, I am at a crossroads. Or, this church or that church is approaching a crossroads or critical moment. I guess it just sounds good.

I know I have been through some crossroads. I have been through a few decision moments and I knew that whatever I decided was going to change my life forever. I am understanding what a crossroads in your life really looks like!

But, the point of my writing is to let you know that the decision that is just beyond the horizon isn't always a crossroads. As we approach them we know that a decision is very near. We think they are crossroads. However, after we have passed through the moment and are on the journey again we realize that the decision point we were at was more like a stop sign than a crossroads.

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

The point is very simple: we are on a journey! This journey is with the Father, Son and Spirit. Many decisions are going to be crucial. But, approach them with God's help and with a prayer for wisdom and guidance. God already knows the plans He has for you and I. Our concentration must be on seeking the will of God in each situation. It doesn't matter if it is a crossroads, a Y, a stop sign, or yield sign. Follow Jesus and know that God's plans for you are good because they are from Him. He is perfect!