Life of a Pastor Blog

Growth is an amazing thing! If you water the grass it grows, if you put money in savings it grows and if you put a bottle in a baby’s mouth, the baby grows.

It is hard to believe that Hannah is already five years old. As I look back over the last five quick years I am amazed at God’s creation. I am in awe that this little child could be nourished and growing in so many ways at one time.

When you watch a baby you see them develop in so many different areas in a short period of time. You cannot help but know that there is a God. Growth and development are a healthy part of bringing up children. If they did not grow, something would be wrong. If they did not learn things, we would worry.

In spiritual things, are we amazed at our growth in God or worried because we are lacking? Just as a baby develops different traits and learns at a rapid pace, so should it be in the believer’s life. We should be growing in the things of God.

II Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Are you growing in grace and knowledge? Our spiritual walk ought to be a journey of forward progress. The longer we are a Christian the more like Christ we ought to become.

Josh is going to turn 18 un April and he is three inches taller than me. He wears a size thirteen shoe and looks like a man. In 17  years he has grown from a little baby to a young man.

So it should be with our walk with God. Our knowledge of the Word should be more today than it was last year. Our prayer life should be more consistent than it was five years ago. We should all be serving in ministry somewhere if we are growing in grace.

I challenge you to make sure that you are continuing to grow in grace and knowledge. Evaluate your life and see where you might need to make some adjustments so that you might grow in your life with God.

God’s Word always has some interesting paradoxes that seem to conflict with the way that we often feel about life and its events.  As a part of my devotional reading, I am working my way through the book of Job.  In chapter 5 there is one of these interesting paradoxes…happiness and chastening. Those two words don’t belong in the same sentence.  Yet, the Scripture says, “Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.”

How can we be happy when we know that the Lord is correcting us or chastening us?  This happiness is birthed out of the relationship that we have with God.  The Word of God reminds us in another verse that the Lord chastens those He loves.  If He loves us, He will correct us.  Though chastening is never pleasant, it is a sign of God’s working in our lives.  In fact, it is a reminder of His involvement in us and through us.

His correction brings hope because we know that He loves us enough to shape us.  Though He bruises us, He still binds us up.  When we are wounded, He has hands to heal.  This loving correction is coupled with His compassionate desire to mold us into what He desires us to be.  He sees what we can become.  He sees us for the good and desires to work things “out” of our lives rather than allowing us to hold on to things that do us no good.

To find happiness in chastening means that we must have a right heart even when we are bruised.  His correction is meant to nudge us back to the right path.  When we tend to wander off, He allows things in our life to push us back to the good way.  This is where our heart must be open to His guidance and leading.  Our prayer should be, “Lord, what are you trying to show me through these things?  Where have I strayed and how can I get back to Your perfect plan?  Search my heart and see if there is any wicked way in me.”

Happiness is attainable in chastening as you learn to walk with God and follow His heart for your life.  Instead of becoming upset that you have to endure hardship, rejoice that you are loved enough to be corrected.  Thank Him for loving you enough to not let you stay the same.

Happy New Year to you all!  I feel blessed to have you in my life and I am thankful for the new year and what God has on the horizon for RFA.

I shared this post last year, as we entered a week of fasting for the New Year.  These are timeless principles that will help us focus during this week of fasting.

As we enter our week of fasting, remember that fasting is a time of discovery. Some might ask, “A time of discovery?” Any period of fasting allows us to discover the things we are dependent on and even addicted to. Just a half day into any fast reveals what you have become dependent on.

Our bodies begin to scream for food or caffeine, while others might be having withdrawals from TV or computer. When we begin to lay down our fleshly cravings and desires, we become ready to hear from God more clearly. Granted, for the first few days of a fast, many will not hear a lot because they are still going through the withdrawals, but the longer we fast the more prepared we are to hear from God. His Word becomes alive to us, His presence seems real and we sense His nearness.

I encourage you to press in and hang on. It will get better!

While we are fasting, it is a good time to search our hearts. Some questions that I use for a Spiritual Health Test may help you as well:

• Am I being honest with God and myself?
• Do I love God’s Word?
• Am I Praying Faithfully?
• Am I looking for opportunities to share Jesus’ love with others?
• Do I hate sin?
• Am I obeying the greatest commandment, to love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind?
• Am I looking for Christ’s return?

These questions will help you know where to start in changing your life this new year.

A couple of years ago I read an article from Family Life Ministries. It was on how to start family traditions. During this Christmas season, my prayer is that we all focus on the right things throughout this time. This article will help you focus on the right things and how to engage in these as a family.

Starting Family Traditions by Sabrina Beasley

It may sound strange, but Christmas traditions don’t have to be … well … traditional. You can start new activities that bring meaning to your holidays and build a legacy for your family. Perhaps you came from a family of non-believers, and you have never celebrated traditions that were based on Christ. Or perhaps you have found that your current traditions have no meaning for your family. This year, we have compiled 10 ideas for new traditions, some from FamilyLife and some from our readers.

1. What Does God Want for Christmas? The Christmas holiday is really just a part of the gospel story—God came as man in the flesh to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. His birth signifies God’s grace and love for His people. FamilyLife has developed an interactive nativity set that not only tells the story of the birth of Christ, but it also presents the gospel to children.

This resource, What God Wants for Christmas, can be used in your own family, in Sunday school classes, or as an outreach for neighborhood Christmas parties.

2. Use decorations to tell about the entire life of Christ. Christmas is a time that usually emphasizes the birth of Jesus, but decorations can also celebrate the remainder of His life on earth. In addition to the basic nativity set, angels, and stars, include crosses, verses that talk about the life of Jesus, and statuettes of Him while He was on earth.

3. Fast a meal. In America, Christmas includes a large focus on food. This year, during the week before Christmas, sacrifice a meal and pray during that time for the poor, hungry, and spiritually lost in the world.

4. Watch a movie that remembers the life of Christ. There are several good films that focus on the birth, death, and life of Christ. We recommend “Jesus of Nazareth,” the film, “Jesus,” or for mature audiences, “The Passion of the Christ.” Or for a change of pace, try “Ben Hur,” a movie that begins with Jesus’ birth and ends with His death, and tells the story of a man who was transformed by His love and forgiveness.

By watching movies that focus on other aspects of the life of Jesus, the Christmas celebration of His birth is put into proper perspective. This can be an excellent opportunity to talk to your children about why Christ had to come in the form of a child.

5. Share stories about how God has worked in your life. Have you ever told your children the story of your salvation? How about your spouse? While the family is together during the holidays, use the time to share your personal stories about faith, redemption, and life change. Also, reflect on the previous year and talk about how you have grown in your faith individually and as a family.

Click here for the rest of the article

You know its gonna be a good day when you go to Sonic to redeem your free Route 44 coupon and they give you another coupon for a free one.  Its like it was double free this morning.  For a man that’s addicted to Sonic’s Iced Tea, this was a confirmation that there is nothing wrong with my addiction 

In fact, I left Sonic this morning feeling like I had been blessed.  Thanks Lord for even the “small” blessings.  Its going to be a good day.

When three year old David got to church yesterday morning, his mother told me he had some new pet goldfish.  Awesome pet for a three year old.  Easier than a dog and certainly more tolerable than a cat…goldfish are a perfect fit for little David.  Patti, David’s mother, informed me that he named his two new goldfish, Pastor and Mrs. Sonya.  What an honor!

Honestly, that makes my heart feel good.  I want to make an impact on the lives of everyone.  Especially, on the younger generation, I want to touch their lives for the glory of Christ.  To have a goldfish named after me is possibly a sign of a deposit that I have made in David’s life.  I love this kid.  He is full of life and excitement.  He also has an incredible knowledge of vacuum cleaners.  He can name almost every brand and type.  Sharp kid and will certainly make a good husband some day.

By the way, I am glad they were goldfish.  I might have been offended if a cat was named after me

Hannah had her first Thanksgiving play at school today.  She was nervous to say her line but she did great!  Couldn’t tell she was nervous.

Sonya and I had the opportunity to get away for our 20th anniversary.  We had a great time in a borrowed convertible corvette (Thanks Mike and Donna).  Not sure if Sonya enjoyed being with me or the Corvette more  We went to Russellville to stay in the Prophet’s Chambers (Thanks Pastors Don and Susan Nordin).  The house was nestled in the mountains outside of Russellville.  Beautiful and quiet, the house allowed us to relax and enjoy a couple of days away from the busyness of life.  On the way home, we drove to Lake Dardanelle and to the top of Mount Nebo and what a beauty to behold.  It was an awesome getaway!

All the freedoms we enjoy in this nation came at a price.  The expense was paid by brave men and women who have served our country faithfully to ensure that our homeland is safe.  They have fought foreign wars to rid other nations of tyranny and to bring freedom to other lands as well.  These veterans have served within our borders to secure our land and to protect it from those who seek to harm us. 

For wages that are not comparable to the risk of their lives, these veterans have served faithfully out of a call to patriotism.  They make less than most of those who enjoy the benefits of our military’s sacrifice.  Yet, they serve proudly and humbly because that is what veterans do.

They have gone to foreign lands and left behind their families so that they could bring peace to other families in far away lands.  They have stared in the face of danger yet not showing fear.  With courage they become all they can be for a people who often take for granted the freedoms.

This group of veterans is often overlooked but they still cherish their service to our country.  Veterans, thank you!  You are my heroes!  You have exemplified the words of Jesus, “No greater love has a man than he who lays down his life for a friend.”  Thanks for being willing risk your life for our freedoms.

I would have never dreamed that time would fly by so fast.  20 years ago today, Sonya and I exchanged vows.  What an amazing journey!  We were 19 years old.  Too young to realize that we were “too young” to get married.

Through these years we have been through many valleys and we have even spent time on the mountaintop, yet through the years we have grown.  It has always intrigued me how God created such a thing as love and then gives us the capacity to learn to love and then to grow in that love.  Certainly, there have been challenges in our years together, but through it all we have grown closer.

Now, after 20 years, we say the things that the other is thinking.  We respond to one another, knowing what the other one needs.  As the years have passed by, we have learned what it means to become one.  God’s intention for marriage was that the two would become one flesh.  He didn’t say that would happen overnight.  Love is cultivated by sacrifice on the part of each spouse. It is learning to make concessions while also knowing that, sometimes, you receive much more than you deserve.

That is how I feel with Sonya.  I have received much more than I deserve.  She has made many concessions in this marriage that resulted in her becoming a pastor’s wife.  I wasn’t called to ministry until 2 weeks after we were married.  She didn’t sign up for life in ministry, but she has embraced it with poise, grace and sacrifice.  She has shared me with others in crisis.  She has graciously encouraged me to participate in ministry needs, even when it meant it would cut into family time.  Sonya has been a counselor to many and a friend to all.  She has ministered to people and served in ministry for the last 15 years.  Always willing to pick up the slack and be all things to all people.  She has kept silent, when it would have been much easier to “speak up” and defend herself or her husband.  God could not have created another “helpmeet” that would be able to walk in this life of ministry with me.

Taking that a step further: As we raise our 17 year old and 5 year old, she tries hard to balance ministry and her family needs.  Sonya is a wonderful mother to her children and will sacrifice everything to make sure their needs are met.  When we were married 20 years ago, I would have never dreamed that she would be so selfless and giving to her children and her church.

Cheney, I love you!  Here’s to another 20 years!

Do you need glasses? I always thought that when you turned forty (which is only a few months of for me) that you were officially over the hill. No one told me what to expect when I turned thirty. I noticed, however, something drastic change when I turned thirty. Everyday when I came home from work I had a terrible headache. Without fail, my head was exploding so of course I blamed it on the lack of caffeine. Then when that theory was shot down I thought, “Maybe I am studying and reading too much”. Then the thought hit me that maybe I ought to see the eye doctor.

Finally one day I decided to go to the eye doctor to see if I could get some reading glasses. The doctor laughed and told me, “You do not need reading glasses but all the time glasses. Your vision is not as good as it used to be.” I had vision impairment and I hadn’t noticed that my total vision was going bad. I never even realized it. The only way I could tell was by fixing my vision. After I got glasses I could read the road signs and everything else alot better.

This is the way it happens in our Christian lives. We once had a fire and vision for the Lord and His ministry but somewhere down the road our vision became impaired. Our vision is not as clear as it used to be.

Sad to say, many people once had great vision and dreams for their work for the Lord, but over the years it has faded. They once had great plans and goals of what they wanted to do for God’s Kingdom, but now they cannot see ahead.

It may be the case that they don’t realize that their vision is faded. It could also be that their dreams were crashed on the rocks and discouragement and frustration has impaired their vision. All they can see is their failure and can’t think of trying something new.

The fact is that God has a great plan for all of us, young or old. He has a plan for all of our lives and He wants us to carry His vision. Even if you have lost your vision, we can find a pair of glasses that will help us to see again. God has great things in store for us and He wants to give us 20/20 vision once again.

If your ministry was once flourishing but now you cannot seem to get the fire started, ask God for a renewed vision for your ministry. Without a vision the people perish. We must have vision or else we will die on the inside. Our ministry around us cannot live unless we have a vision for it.

If you have lost your vision, look for it. If your vision is impaired, look back to the days that you had vision and passion for what you did. Rekindle that flame and let God’s vision burn in you once again.

The enemy desires to block your vision because He knows that your ministry cannot go forward with your eyes dim. Satan desires to thwart the ministry of the Lord by discouraging, frustrating and making the people of God feel inadequate. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Go to the eye doctor (Jesus) and ask Him for a pair of new glasses to see His heart for you.

Do you have a problem judging others?

I find it interesting in life that it is easy to condemn others without regarding our own faults. If you watch the news enough, you find a host of people who are quick to point out the speck in one man’s eye and yet he cannot see the log in his own eye. If you think that I am referring to politicians you are right. (we are moving into election season after all)

This is not only a problem in the political world or the corporate world only. It is the problem of Christianity. If it was only exclusive to the world, the apostle’s would not have written about it to the church. In fact, I dare say that Christian people can be just as critical and judgmental as those of the world.

Now before you stone me, let’s reason together. In our spiritual pursuit, we look at our spiritual lives and think everyone should be just like us. In our denomination, our church, our Sunday School class, if someone does not act or believe like we think they should, they are wrong of course. We look down at others who have not been able to walk in victory like we have. God forbid if anyone fall from grace and then come looking for mercy from a Christian.

My grandfather once said, “Christians kill their wounded.” This is true, but Christianity is not all that bad.  All types of people and religions struggle with this, but there is a remedy. Giving mercy as Jesus instructed us.

Luke 6:37-38, “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

This text of Scripture has been somewhat misrepresented over the last couple of decades. We like to focus on verse 38 and think that if we give money then we shall get back good measure, pressed down, shaken together and our finances will be running over as men give into our bosom. This, however is taking it out of context. This text is on giving mercy and not judging others harshly. We are not to judge others lest we are judged ourselves. Jesus said, “The measure you use it will be given back to you.”

The harshness you and I judge others with will be the same harshness we receive in judgments. If we condemn others then we too will be condemned.

The promise here is to those who give and show mercy. Give mercy and it will be given back to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give mercy to you. If you will show mercy you will receive it. Love covers a multitude of sins.

Next, time you see someone trip up or fall in sin, don’t condemn them, restore them. If someone doesn’t behave or act as “good” as you do, do not judge them, pray for them. If they do not believe like you do, search the Scriptures for yourself and see if you might be the one that is wrong.

The ultimate judge is the Lord. I want to show mercy, so He will show me mercy.

Saturday afternoon, Sonya, Hannah & I went to Hobbs State Park and hiked the Sinking Streams trail.  It was beautiful!  The stream was pretty well dried up, but other than that, it was a nice hike.

Having said all of that.  It is my goal to be such a husband that I would be comfortable enough for Hannah to marry one like me.  To be such a husband that I am confident my son has seen an example of how to treat a woman.  It is easy to love a woman such as Sonya, my goal as a husband and a parent is to Love My Wife as Christ loves His church and to teach my children what true loving relationships are.