Buried with Him!

A couple of weeks before Easter a nine-year-old little girl, named Savanah, in our Missionettes program, came into the Bible Study class as we were closing to make an announcement. "I received Jesus as my Savior tonight," she boldly proclaimed. Immediately after service she asked, "Pastor, when can I be baptized?" Well, we arranged the timing with her parents, and this Sunday was the big day!

Thoughts of baptism brought me to back to Romans 6:1-4

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Depending on the church to which one belongs, baptism may be anything from a very formal service to a very relaxed and casual event. What really grabbed my attenttion this time was the picture of burial. In just about a month I attended three funerals, and all of them related to the same family. When death comes so close, it really brings life into focus. As a pastor, I have both had attended and officiated numerous funerals through the years. One of the most difficult moments is the burial. Why? I believe because it is so final.

In baptism, we are "buried with him." We identify with the burial of Christ. In those three days that Jesus was in the grave, some awesome things happened. One of those is referenced in Revelation 1:18:

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Whle Jesus' body was in the grave He was preaching to the "spirits in prison," and we learn that when Jesus rose from the dead not only was he seen but also many dead saints were seen who also were raised, according to Luke 16:19-28.

How does all this relate to baptism? Stay with me. In baptism we make a public declaration that our "old man" is not only dead but buried! But we don't stop there! If we stopped there in the baptism, we would drown our physical body as well. We also identify with His resurrection. We are raised in newness of life! In baptism we celebrate the power of the resurrection! We were buried with him by baptism, but we were raised to new life! Therefore, we no longer have to be slaves to sin. Like the spirits in prison, we have been set free from the bondage of sin and death! So today let me encourage you to live daily in the awesome power of His resurrection!

Is Jesus the Only Way?

While my son, Daniel, was at the farm last night to pick up a van for a Royal Ranger trip this morning. I met him at the warehouse. Then I received a call from a man in North Carolina that had found my phone number through some reasearch he was doing about holiness in the pentecostal church. He found it curious, as I do, that Christian Fellowship was listed on the Holiness Messenger website. It was good converstaion, and edifying, but wow, did we ever talk for a long time, and I still had one more project to complete before bed.

A young man who has been on a spiritual journey has some questions about faith, and I had a goal to put together some study questions, and hopefully some answers, to help him find the truth. One vital question whether or not Jesus is the only way to heaven? Popular answers to this question include the following:

"I'm basically a good person, so I'll go to heaven." "OK, so I do some bad things, but I do more good things, so I'll go to heaven." Surely God wouldn't send me to hell just because I don't live by the Bible." "Only really bad people like child molesters, rapists, and murderers should go to hell."

These are all common rationales among most people, but what is the truth? We live in a culture where the popular belief is that all truth is relative. Many believe that what is true for you is cool if you believe it, but that doesn't make it true for them. The idea is that rather than one truth, there are many truths, and all are equally valid if you just believe, no matter how contradictory.

Now, that may be the popular take on things, but this is really an extremely serious question. If the popular view is correct, then of course it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you believe it. Here's the problem. What if the "all-truth-is-relative" philosophy is wrong and Jesus Christ's claims are true? Then Jesus was not a lunatic, and to quote an overused expression, "there will be hell to pay."

Listen to what Jesus said in John 14:6.
I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.

Now, tell me. Does that sound exclusive to you or what?If we want to make room for some other belief systems here, we need to have this verse rewritten. It would need to read, "No one comes to the Father except through me or (insert whatever you want to believe in here.).

I just wanted to share with you today that WHAT you believe in really matters. In Acts 16:29 Paul and Silas were in jail, and the jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" To this they replied in verse 31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household."

After the crippled man was healed in Acts chapter three, Peter and John stood trial before and were called to give an answer. This is how they answered that day in Acts 4:9-12.

If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness
shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then
know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom
God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you
healed. He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has
become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else,
for there is no other name under heaven given to men
by which we must be saved."

There remains therefore no other way and no other name. There is no other provision for salvation but Jesus. Put your trust in Him today. Blessings.

"Fly the Airplane"

One of the things that flight instructors constantly drive home while they are teaching is this lesson, "Fly the airplane!" Most crashes take place because the pilot is distracted. In the midst of an emergency, they begin to focus on the instrument panel, or trying to find the problem, and forget to focus on the main thing, flying the airplane. Over and over filght instructors remind their students, "Fly the ariplane!" Hey, if you quit flying the plane, it's over!

In life we sometimes get distracted, by so many things. Sometimes there are emergencies, but often we can become distracted by mundane things, those everyday problems that nag at your soul. It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the distractions and forget the main thing, "flying the airplane."

I remember times in my life when the pressure was more than I could handle. There was more "outgo" than income and so many deadlines that I could not meet. These overwhelming pressures began to seem unsurmountable. When I just couldn't take it anymore, I went to my room to be alone with God in prayer. It was time to fly the airplane. The prophet Isaiah said it this way,

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles (Isaiah 40:31).

In that time alone with God my perspective changed. What looked impossibel to me was not impossible with God.

We often just need to correct our perspective and focus again on the main thing. Let me encourage you today. "Fly the airplane." Take all your stress and worry to God in prayer. Soar above the storms. Fly the airplane, and change your perspective. Have a blessed day.

"The One Thing"Billy Crystal and Jack Palance in City Slickers

In the 1990's movie, City Slickers, the character, Mitch, played by Billy Crystal, says to his wife, "I just feel lost." Unfortunately the three "City Slickers" don't find help in a local church but head out west looking for the meaning of life on a cattle drive. It's there that they meet the real- deal cowboy, Curly, played by Jack Palance. Listen to Curly's wisdom as he speaks to Mitch.

"None of you get it. Do you know what the secret of life is? One thing. Just one thing."
Mitch responds with this: That's great, but what's the one thing? Then Curly conludes, "That's what you've got to figure out."

In Mark 10:17-22 Jesus was asked a similar question.

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him
and fell on his knees before him.
"Good teacher," he asked,
"what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered.
"No one is good—except God alone.
You know the commandments: 'Do not murder,
do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give
false testimony, do not defraud,
honor your father and mother.'"
"Teacher," he declared,
"all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and loved him.
"One thing you lack," he said.
"Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad,
because he had great wealth.

What is that one thing? In the above account of the young, rich man, it seems at first that the issue is his money. He was clinging to his wealth. The real issue is deeper. The one thing was his heart. The fact that he couldn't let go of his wealth was just the evidence that his heart was not fully committed to Christ.

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he responded that you must "love the Lord your God with all your heart!" That's the one thing. Today I want to encourage you to fully surrender your heart to Christ. If you can fix this one thing, everything else will fall into place. Have a blessed day.

What's Hidden in Your Tent?

"Hey, what's the big deal, anyway? I'm not hurting anybody. It's my life, and I have the right to live it the way I want to. Why are you judging me?" Have you ever heard that kind of defense before? Well, I have heard it plenty. In fact most of us believe that many things in our lives are just nobody else's business. In America we have certainly underscored that with "rights to privacy." One of the big complaints about the Patriot Act is that it threatens our right to privacy. Supporters of the Patriot Act believe that it is necessary to limit the right to privacy in the interest of national defense in the war against terror.

In the seventh chapter of Joshua this issue comes into clear focus. Israel has just come from an awesome victory at Jericho. Now, the face a smaller challenge at a place calle Ai. In fact it is decided that all the armies need not go up against Ai, only about 3,000 men. However, the armies of Ai come out against Israel and defeat them in this first battle, killing 36 men and causing the hearts of the people to melt for fear. Joshua falls on his face before God crying out along with the elders of Israel. In Joshua 7:10-12 God answers Joshua.

The Lord answered: Stop lying there on the ground!
Get up! I said everything in Jericho belonged to me
and had to be destroyed. But the Israelites have kept
some of the things for themselves. They stole from me
and hid what they took. Then they lied about it. What
they stole was supposed to be destroyed, and now
Israel itself must be destroyed. I cannot help you
anymore until you do exactly what I have said.
That's why Israel turns and runs from its enemies
instead of standing up to them. (CEV)

The search all Israel tribe by tribe than family by family until they find a man named Achan. When he is found out Achan confesses in verses 20-22.

It's true," Achan answered. " I sinned and disobeyed
the LORD God of Israel. While we were in Jericho,
I saw a beautiful Babylonian robe, two hundred pieces
of silver, and a gold bar that weighed the same as fifty
pieces of gold. I wanted them for myself,
so I took them. I dug a hole under my tent
and hid the silver, the gold, and the robe."

Had Achan lived in our day, you could imagine his defense. "Hey, I didn't hurt anybody. The stuff was just going to be destroyed anyway. All I was doing was looking out for my future. Whay is this anybody else's business anyway. Can't a man have privacy in his own home?"
That defense would have sounded hollow in the ears of the families of 36 men who had died fleeing from Ai.

It may be that today you are hiding some secret sin, or some small compromise. You may think that it's not hurting anybody. You might even really believe that it is nobody's business but yours. The truth is that we all have a sphere of influence. Your life affects others. You are eiher having an impact for good or for evil. Even something as seemingly harmless as your online activities may be affecting someone you care about.

What is the impact of your life? Are you blessing others or are you hiding some forbidden treasure somewhere that could destroy you and others. May God bring us awesome revival as we impact others for His glory. Have a blessed day.

Healing for the WoundedSculpture of the Good Shepherd
who leaves the 99 for the one stray lamb

We are often too quick to judge others. Even when at first we feel so completely justified in doing so. I mean, they might even seem venemous in the way they lash out at you. They seem arrogant and angry. The truth is that underneath all that tough exterior is a hurting soul. Eveywhere I turn of late, I am seeing people who have been spiritually wounded. Then the enemy of our souls comes and builds a fortress around that wound. For some reason people think that if they just don't let anyone get near that soreness, that it can't hurt them anymore. The truth is that it continues to eat away like a cancer of the soul. Hebrews 12:15 records it this way.

See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Job even wrote about people dying in bitterness of soul in Job 21:25.

Another man dies in bitterness of soul,
never having enjoyed anything good.

This morning, perhaps you've been afraid to deal with that hurt from the past. Maybe you fear that it would open an old wound and would just hurt too much. Your first response may be, "No, don't go there!" Well, I want to encourage you, please don't let that wound spirit destroy you. Cry out for help. Do it now, while you have the courage to act. God is ready to heal you and forgive you. Yes, He is even ready to help you begin to forgive others. This can be a day of wonderful new beginnings!

The Hidden Story

This morning at church you might notice the lingering aroma of popcorn, reminding you of our Narnia movie night at the church last night. When the movie came out in theaters, there was a lot of talk on the news about it just being a fantasy and having nothing to do with Christianity. Well, I found an interesting little letter written by C.S. Lewis to a young girl just about a month before his death in 1963. He was answering her letter that asked if there would be any more Narnia books.
The letter reads as follows.

Dear Ruth,
Many thanks for your kind letter, and it was very good of you to write and tell me that you like my books; and what a good letter your write for your age! If you continue to love Jesus, nothing much can go wrong with you, and I hope that you may always do so. I'm so thankful that you realized the "hidden story" in the Narnia books. It is odd, children nearly always do, grown-ups... hardly ever. I'm afraid the Narnia series has come to an end, and am sorry to tell you that you can expect no more. God bless you.

Yours Sincerely,
C.S. Lewis

The truth is it is always good to go to the source. Of course the "hidden story" is the analogy to Jesus Christ having given His life in our place on the Cross. Just as Aslan lays down his life for Edmund, Jesus has paid for our sins at Calvary. Hey today if you are carrying a burden of guilt for your past sins, then come Christ in prayer. He is ready and waiting to forgive you, and He has already paid the penalty for your sin. Have a blessed day.

Trusting GodMy daughter Miranda

As the Wednesday evening Bible Study ended, I made my way to the altar to kneel and pray. I was feeling a great heaviness about Miranda's trip. It seemed as though my daughter would be traveling nearly half way around the world. It was difficult to let her leave for six weeks to Louisiana, but now she was preparing to leave for nearly three months! Getting her to the Atlanta Airport and making our way home took up most of the day, and saying goodbye to her at the airport was certainly an emotional moment.

As I prayed God reminded me that my wife and I had dedicated our daughter to Him. He is our loving Heavenly Father, and he loves her more than we do! I am remembering a line in song entitled "Fear Not My Child," that says, "I know how to care for what belongs to me."

Since there is a time and a season for everything, this is just a time for trusting God. We have this promise in Romans 8:28.

And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose.

I am certain that God has a purpose in her life, and that He able to keep what we have committed to Him.

Today, if you have worries or concerns, let me encourage you to give them God. He cares about what's happening in your life too. Why not commit it all to Him? Have a blessed day.

Day of ReckoningImage from www.apfn.net

Have you ever notice that sometimes we seem to wait until the last minute just hoping that the unpleasantness will go away! Unfortunately, it doesn't. Faithfully the day of reckoning comes each year. We gather our records, fill out the forms, and send our annual contribution to our dear Uncle Sam. For many of us in Georgia that day was April 17th this year. Yesterday, I dutifully went to post office before it closed to send my checks to the Federal and State Governments. It's amazing when you think of all the worry and fuss over this one day each year.

There is however a reckoning day day coming that is far more important than paying our taxes! Unfortunately there are so many people who are ill-prepared for that fateful day. Paul wrote about it this way in Romans 14:10-12.

For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.
It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.' "
So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

It is one thing to try find loopholes in the tax law, or find some way to avoid penalties here, but there will be no loopholes when we stand before the judgment seat of God. It will surely be a an awesome day of reckoning. Today let me encourage you to prepare yourself for that great day of reckoning before God. Come before God in prayer and find forgiveness and peace with Him. That great day is coming. and it may be coming sson! Maranatha!

Online Guidelinesimage from www.glendalespringscondos.com

Hey, it's a fact that there are more young people online today that ever before, and you can expect the number to keep growing. The internet can be a useful tool but with so many people online you know that there are also so many evil influences. Since so many of our Christian kids are online these days, I think it is important that we provide them with guidelines for when they're online. I came across this great list in a teen magazine. Now I know you've got to think I'm a little strange at 48 to be reading teen magazines, but I still have two teenagers at home, for whom I am responsible before God, and great group of young people at church who are graciously inviting me to be their friend too! Now here are these guidelines.

1. When your typing online, ask yourself this question, "Would what I'm typing now bring glory and honor to God?

2. If you put your profile online, would someone who doesn't know you think that you are a Christian after reading it?

3. If people are sharing gossip with you, is it because you are gaining a reputation for participating in it?

4. Hey, be really careful when clicking on links on other people's sites, because they may take you to inappropriate websites.

5. Remember, that what you are posting could be copied and posted by other people and used against you in the future, so don't type something you wouldn't be comfortable with having others to read.

6. Don't talk about someone else. They could be sitting next to the friend you are instant messaging.

7. Hold your Christian friends accountable if they use bad language or inappropriate comments or images, by gently challenging them to clean it up.

8. Is your screen name edifying to God? Part of one young lady's name read "Christianbabe." Would that be sending a contradictory message?

9. Remember that email message and instant messages can be misunderstood because your intent and emotions aren't communicated in printed text. Therefore it's better to save serious conversations for face to face encounters.

10. You might remember that there is software that tracks every email, every IM, and records every keystroke and website visited. Even more important, God doesn't need software to track your every keystroke!

Hey, I think these are some great guidelines for online, but let me finish with a couple of references from the Bible. First, our girl's ministry program has a code that they take from Philippians 4:8.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things.

Then as Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, he declared that there is a spiritual battle raging. He said,

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war
as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the
weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine
power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments
and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ.

What we say and do comes from who we are on the inside. So let me encourage you today to let Christ rule and reign in your life 24/7 online and offline. You'll be glad you did.

*Online guidelines adapted from Teen Virtue.

Hoyt's Legacy

Although I have known Hoyt and Pat for several years, I met his two sons, Billy and Clark, for the first time tonight. Visiting with Lisa, I learned that Hoyt also had two daughters! Well, I guess if you knew Hoyt Thomas, that's certainly not hard to figure. Lisa said that he had never treated them any differently. They were his girls, and had been for 21 years! Of course that also meant, he was Grandpa Hoyt too! He was the grandfather that her children had grown up knowing on her side of the family. The truth is Hoyt never really met a stranger. He flashed that winning smile and made everyone feel welcome when they were in his company. He loved life and enjoyed living it. I believe he exemplified what John wrote in John 10:10 where Jesus said,

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)

He certainly lived it to the full! He was one who got all the gusto out life. He loved Pat and the children dearly, and I've only come to understand recently how he felt about his grandchildren, but now that I know, you could see it in his eyes. There was only one love in his life that surpassed all the others, and that was his love and passion for his Savior. Hoyt loved to talk about God's word, and he loved to witness to the "wounded" Civil War re-enactors. His life was lived with such zeal that he will be sorely missed, but the impact Hoyt's life will be felt for generations to come if Jesus tarries.

It is however likely that Jesus is coming back much sooner than we think. So let me encourage you today to draw near to Christ and be ready. You never know when it may be you that God will call into eternity. Following Hoyt's awesome example let us purpose to leave such a legacy that all doubt might be erased we come to the gateway of eternity.

As we celebrate Hoyt's homegoing, tomorrow let me encourage you to make your relationship with God so sure, as to leave no doubts about your whereabouts. Have a blessed day.

Peace in the Storm

The weatherman reports some bad weather for the area including the possibility of tornados for our areas. There have already been reports of tornados in the Nashville, Tennessee area! Since recent Thunderstorms packing tornadoes and hail as big as softballs ripped through eight states, hitting Tennessee the hardest, striking five western counties Sunday and killing 23 people, including an infant and a family of four, this news causes us all great concern. Our prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, homes, and possessions.

Still I am remembering that Jesus was there in the boat with his disciples when severe weather struck in Mark 4:35-38.

Late that day he said to them, "Let's go across to the other side."
They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along.
A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening
to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping!
They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that
we're going down?"

His discples were afraid, just like we are when we face the awesome fury of life's storms, but they teach us an important lesson. First, they had Jesus with them in the boat. No matter where we go, we need to have Jesus with us! Since we can't always predict when and where life's storms may strike, having Jesus close by is indispensable. Secondly they thought to cry out to Him for help. Knowing Jesus is there is good but communicating with Him is vital.

Best of all, Jesus is listening. He heard their cry and responded.

Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea,
"Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea
became smooth as glass.

Hey, I just wanted to encourage you today. Whatever storm you may be facing, Jesus is listening and waiting for you to cry out to Him. He is there. Let Him speak peace in the midst of your storm. Have a blessed day.

Barber Shop Fellowship

Well today I finally made it back to the barber, and it was a great experience. Although the chairs are similar, I much prefer the barber's chair over the dentist's chair. I sat in both today for about the same amount of time.

Recently an elderly customer was telling me about the old barbershops in Dalton. He said that there used to be showers in barber shops. Men would come to the barber shop for their weekly shower, shave, and a haircut. They also caught up on the latest news (or town gossip) and could have their shoes shined. One of the best things about the barber shop was the fellowship.

My tri p to the barber today had some of that old time barbershop flavor except for the shower, the shave, the shoe shine, and the gossip. Besides getting an excellent haircut, my barber,Tom, and I enjoyed a great time of sharing our faith. Tom attends EMC where he is a lay preacher.
What began as just a haircut, ended with two brothers sharing testimonies of the faithfulness of God.

In Acts 2:42 Luke records that fellowship was a regular practice of those who came to Christ on the day of Pentecost.

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching
and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

It was such a refreshing time that I just want to encourage you to devote yourself to fellowship.
When you do you may see ordinary events become extraordinay as we walk daily in faith and fellowship together. Have a blessed day.

A New "Do" for Pastor

Monday night we had pizzas and four square at the church for our young people, and I had a blast. I certainly hope they did. Because I am getting my hair cut this Thurday, I thought it might be fun for them to help me move on in to the 21st century by choosing a new hairstyle for pastor. We suggested the Wavy but Grey look of Richard Grear (left) and the long and straight look of Elton John (right). Both got a laugh but neither won. Then we even tried the long look of Al Pacino (left again) and the short and frosted look (below to the right). Well, we had great fun, but they didn't choose any of these four! They chose the one centered below! I can't believe it! Can you? Maybe they chose that one because it is so impossible (short, dark, curly, hair on this head? I don't think so, but we can dream can't we?

Just in case you were worried, I don't think they will be doing any these looks with my hair. It's just not happening. Well, anyway, Monday night the laughter was good. The pizza was good, and the four square was intense.

As our evening came to a close we were reminded of how importatnt it is for our every day lives to reflect our relationship with Christ. We don't leave our faith at the door when church is over. We don't put it on and take it off like our Sunday clothes. God really wants us to serve Him with all of our heart soul and strength every day and in every area of our lives. From church to school or work, to our entertainment and even cyberspace, God wants our lives to reflect his holiness. So, today I want to encourage you again as you look at every area of your life to ask the question that Charles Sheldon made so popular in his book, "In His Steps," "What would Jesus do? " Peter wrote it this way in 1 Peter 2:21:

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

This is my prayer for you today that God will empower you to follow Christ's example and be an example of one who is doing what Jesus would do, following "in His steps." Have a blessed day.

The title of this book has become a popular phrase. "I've got your back," not only means that I'm looking out for you, but that I'm watching out for those things that might sneak up on you from behind. A good friend is always looking out for you. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 18:24,

there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Today I want you to know that you have such a friend in Christ Jesus. He is always looking out for you. As Christians we are most like Christ when we look out for one another. Today I want you to know that "I've got your back" is more than a catchy phrase or the title of a book. It represents an attitude that we ought to have as we watch out for one another. Hey, I've got your back.