Monthly Archives: October 2009

These set of rules are for die-hard golfers.  These are the rules from a golf club in England during World War 2.  My favorites are rules number 2 and 6.

Golfers are known for their dedication to the game—even during war times. But perhaps the most astonishing evidence of the fact is a document headed "Temporary Rules—1940—Richmond Golf Club, Sudbrook Park, England." It reads:

1. Players are asked to collect the bomb and shrapnel splinters to avoid damage to  the mowing machines.

2. In competition, during gunfire or while bombs are falling, players may take shelter without penalty for ceasing play.

3. The positions of known delayed-action bombs are marked by red flags at a reasonable, but not guaranteed, safe distance therefrom.

4. Shrapnel and/or bomb splinters on the fairways or in bunkers, within a club’s length of a ball, may be moved without penalty, and no penalty shall be incurred if a ball is thereby caused to move accidentally.

5. A ball moved by enemy action may be replaced, or if destroyed, a ball may be dropped not nearer the hole without penalty.

6. A player whose stroke is affected by the simultaneous explosion of a bomb may play another ball. Penalty, one stroke.

—Garden City, N. Y. Golf Club

When I was a sinner, I could have sworn that our pastor picked his sermons based off of how I had lived that past week.  At times I was certain my parents told him what I had been up to.  He came every week with a message prepared just for me…and I left disgusted that he had the gall to preach to me in public instead of addressing it in private.

Then, I got saved and became a pastor.  Only then, did I realize that the Holy Spirit knows what is going on in every person’s life.  Therefore, He speaks, guides and directs me in what I should preach on Sunday morning.  If I am listening to the Lord, the message will be on target.  It will hit home with someone.

The moral of the story is that God knows where you are and what you need to hear.  He will direct someone to speak into your life to meet you where you are.

I read this poem today and thought it was good:

My pastor shapes his sermons
From A to final Z

In clear and forthright language,
And aims them straight at me.

And when he gets to preaching,

I look around to see
If there might be another

Deserving more than me.

But every soul looks saintly
Their hearts to heaven turn

While I, in my conviction,
Can only sit and squirm.

You know, I often wonder
If I should miss a day;

Would he, without his target,
Have anything to say?

-Author Unknown-

I just uploaded our latest growthhelps.com podcast.  The subject is How To Use A Reference Bible.  growthhelps.com is designed to give you resources to help with your spiritual growth journey between Sundays.  I encourage you to check it out as we continue to add more free resources.

Listen to today’s podcast here.

"If the invisible God could be seen, He would look like Jesus." -I. H. Marshall-

HT: Ray Ortlund

This weekend was a busy yet awesome weekend.  Saturday was our Fall Festival.  The weather was beautiful with a cool 60 degrees.  We had a great crowd from the church as well as some good numbers from the community.  We had an incredible showing of volunteers from RFA.  Thanks to all who helped coordinate the different activities and food.  We couldn’t have done it without you!

Sunday was Youth Sunday at RFA.  The youth and their sponsors led the service.  They did a fantastic job leading.  The worship was great!  The musicians and singers meshed real well as they led us into the presence of God.  Different ones revealed some of their God given talents by presenting poems, short stories, art, music and more.  It is amazing how God has gifted these young people with creativity.  Robyn, our youth leader, ended it all with a great encouragement from the Word.  She challenged the older generation to mentor and help shape the young people.  To not only invest in the youth ministry with finances, but to become involved in their lives.  She referenced Titus where the older should teach the younger.  The service concluded with the older generation praying for the RFA youth.  What a great service!

After church, we had a potluck dinner.  As a side note, why do they call it potluck?  Someone asked me that yesterday, I don’t know.    The food was good but the fellowship was the greatest part of it.  Yesterday was Pastor Appreciation Day and Sonya and I were blessed to say the least.  We received an overwhelming amount of love and encouragement.  All of the cards, gifts and kind words reminded us of how good God is.  We are thankful that God has allowed us to pastor at RFA.  Thanks to everyone for blessing us.  We love being your pastor!

After the potluck dinner, Sonya and I left for Tulsa.  The Grandparents are in town so we took advantage of that and dumped left the kids with them for a couple of days.  Last night, we enjoyed a nice quiet dinner at Outback (courtesy of a church member who gave us a gift card).  As married couples, I believe it is important to have time with one another alone, without the kids.  It is a great connection time without interruption or fighting children.  Time to enjoy each other’s company.

Thanks again RFA for such a wonderful weekend.  Because of you, our future looks bright.

Saturday morning is the only morning I drink my coffee at home.  If Hannah is awake, she wants some coffee too.  So, yesterday morning I made her a cup.

I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was 33.  In fact, Josh started drinking it before I did.  He was seven.  Hannah has got us beat.  She is three and already likes a good cup of Joe.

Here is a great article on tithing from Mark Batterson’s blog:

Continued our Ritual series this weekend. Talked about a 4000 year-old ritual called tithing that traces all the way back to Abraham. Honestly, I used to hate talking about money. Thought people would think it was a money grab so I was almost defensive about it. But the longer I tithe the more I love talking about it.

We need a paradigm shift. So many people perceive the tithe as an obligation. It’s an opportunity! Yes, Malachi 3 says you are "under a curse" if you are not giving a tenth. But what a promise! God wants to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing on you that you cannot contain.

Here are a few principles I shared this weekend:
1) God can do more with 90% than I can do with 100%
2) U cannot out give God
3) 2 be blessed beyond your ability u need to give beyond your ability
4) When u start tithing, your financial problems become God’s problem
5) The tithe is the only thing that keeps money from becoming your master
6) Tithing positions u 4 blessing
7) Tithing = Trusting

In my personal experience, tithing makes finances fun. It infuses me with economic optimism because I’m walking in obedience. I live in holy anticipation to see the way God is going to provide!

Yesterday while we were out shopping, I had a convicting and eye-opening experience.  As I was putting  Hannah in the car, I heard a man screaming vulgarities and making noises as if he was disturbed and frustrated.  I looked over my shoulder and hurriedly put Hannah in the car, just in case he did something crazy.  I rushed Hannah into her car seat and was about to call Sonya and Josh, who were still in the store.  I started the car and drove around to where this gentlemen had been and I witnessed a perplexing sight.

At the front of the store was this disturbed man talking to an older woman.  His whole countenance had changed and he seemed different.  This woman was engaging him in conversation but she mostly listened with a genuinely concerned intent.  She would speak to him and he would reply, while all the long, she looked him in the eye.  She had disarmed this man’s anger because she cared.

As I drove away I was deeply convicted.  Sometimes people just need an ear.  Our reactions are usually the same as mine.  Hurry and get away!  I know we live in a crazy world and anything can happen, but sometimes we can make a difference if we will only show the love of Christ.  What convicted me the most was that this woman confronted this gentleman.  An elderly, frail woman engaged an enraged man.  What would cause her to respond to him?  The love of Christ and the boldness of the Holy Spirit.

What would happen if all believers, with wisdom and discernment, began to minister to the hurting and angry?  Could we change the world if we all had compassion and concern for others?  I am challenged to look at people in a different way.  To see if we can touch more lives just by being willing to listen and showing genuine concern for others.

I am excited to announce a new website that we have been working on that will focus on spiritual growth throughout the week.  growthhelps.com will be a place that has various podcasts with short audio teachings that deal with different parts of the Christian life.  Our goal is to provide 4-5 minute segments that will talk about everything from prayer to Bible reading, family, work, ministry, finances and more.  There is also a resource page that has free e-books, Bible reading plans, prayer sheets as well as other free resources.

Keep in mind that we are in the beginning stages of rolling out this website but there are a couple of podcasts and many free resources already uploaded.  Everything on this site is free to anyone who can use it.  Tell your friends about it and keep coming back as we expand our website in the near future. 

Check it out at www.growthhelps.com

Let me know what you think!

Sunday afternoon, we asked Hannah what she learned in Sunday School.  She replied with a wide-eyed look, “We talked about Jesus walking on the water.”  Then she added, “And when I get bigger, I am going to walk on water too.”

Now, that’s faith!

Do you live your life with joy?

Some people’s concept of Christianity is that it is a religion of sorrow and no joy.  I can testify that when you look at many Christian people they look like they just sucked on a dozen lemons.  Where is the joy of the Lord?

John 15:11 says, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

Jesus gave us the Word of God so that His joy may remain in us and that we may have a fullness of joy.  If you are not a joyful Christian there is a problem somewhere.  You were meant to walk in the joy of Jesus.  It is the joy of the Lord that becomes our strength.  Are you walking according to God’s Word?  Are you living in His will? 

Those who walk in the ways of the Lord have at their access an abundance of joy.  It doesn’t mean that you do not have down times but it does mean that you can have joy even in  the worst of times.  Proverbs 17:22 says, "A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones."  There are many dry bones laying around the church house.  God desires that you have joy not dry bones.  A merry heart would do you some good.

No matter what you are facing in life, you can still walk with overflowing joy.  Jesus in facing Calvary, betrayal and denial, walked with joy.  He gave that joy to you!

So here it is in the nutshell.  You have to make the decision to be happy and walk in joy.  It is God’s will that you walk in His joy.  It is not God’s will or even His lot for your life that you live in misery.  Friends, what are your surroundings?  Are they joyful or are they sad?  Misery loves company.  If you want joy in your life hang around the joyful, not the lemon suckers.  Hang around with Jesus, not the enemy of our souls who has come to kill, to steal and to destroy.  Look to Jesus who has come to give you life and give it to the full.

Now I put a smile on your face and say, "In the name of Jesus, I will walk today with joy.  This is going to be the best day of my life.  I’m happy because I’m free.  I’m joyful because he made my eyes to see.  I have a merry heart because He saved me and the sadness has to flee."  Now go on and have the best day of your life!

Saturday afternoon, Hannah and I were hanging around the house.  Sonya and my mom were at the craft fair and Josh and my dad had gone to some museums.  It was just Hannah and I lounging around. 

She was laying in the chair as I was kicking back on the couch with my legs crossed.  I happened to glance over at her and she was trying to cross her legs.  I assume that it is difficult for a 3 year old to cross their legs (I don’t remember back that far).  She was trying hard to get her legs to obey when she finally succeeded.  She looked up at me with her legs sloppily crossed and said, “Daddy, why do you do this?” (Referring to crossing her legs.)  I simply replied, “Because it is comfortable.”  She was imitating me.

God created within every one of us the desire and the ability to imitate.  Children we often imitate their parents.  Amateurs try to be like professionals.  And as Christians we must desire to be like Christ. 

We have been given the pattern of a perfect life to live and we find that example in the Word of God.  God intentionally gave us His Word that we might know how to live and imitate Christ.  If that seems like a lofty goal, to be like Christ, we also have a great deal saints in the Scriptures who have lived for Christ.  The writer of Hebrews says we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and that we have them as an example as well.  The Apostle Paul told his followers, “Imitate me as I follow Christ.”

Friend, it should be our desire to be like Christ and to follow, not only His example, but the lives of all those who went before us.

Jon Acuff has a brilliant article on How To Enter Church when you are late.  Just a fore-warning, Acuff writes satire, so his humor is tongue in cheek.  He gives us a comical look at how late arrivers work their way into service.  Enjoy!

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you, lady who is making me late to church.”

I didn’t say that a few weeks ago when my wife stopped my speed walk to the sanctuary so that I could meet one of her friends after dropping off our kids in Sunday School. That probably would have been rude to proclaim, but that was what I was thinking. Standing there watching people stream in the open doors and fill up the seats, I could feel myself getting anxious.

“We’re going to be late. We’re going to be late. Oh the agony, so close but yet so far away. Any second now they’re going to close those doors and we’ll have to sneak in along the baseboards like some sort of rat or hamster scurrying for birdseed that the Acuffs may have left in the garage without thinking that a rodent the size of a small cat would find it, eventually get stuck on a glue trap, scream so loud you could hear it in the house and then get murdered by a grandmother across the street because you were at work and couldn’t come home.” (Whoa, that just got personal.)

And although we weren’t late that day, I know it’s going to happen. We’re going to show up behind schedule and need to sneak into church at some point, so I went ahead and wrote myself a guide on the best way to come into church late. Without further ado:

7 things you need to know about sneaking into church late …

1. Never come in during prayer

Rookie move. Strictly amateur hour. People often think this is a great time to come in, everyone has their eyes closed and no one can see you. Wrong. Lots of people have their eyes open and will see you. Plus, the people who do have their eyes closed have entered bat mode and have enhanced hearing. That’s lose, lose my friend. Never come in during a prayer.

2. Blame your kid.

If you’re so late you can’t sneak your kid into Sunday School and have to take them to big church, don’t miss that perfect opportunity to shift blame. As you carry them down the aisle to your seat, nod your head toward your child in a way that says, “This little guy made us late! What are you going to do though? I love this rascal. Kids will be kids.” Please note that this won’t work if your kid is in the habit of saying things like, “My dad caught up on all the college football scores this morning on ESPN and made us late to churchy.”

3. Pretend you’re a volunteer.

I’m not suggesting you wait until the offering is collected, grab an empty bucket when no one is looking and then come in late as if you’re an usher, but if that happens, it happens. You can also find someone else who is late and pretend that you’re seating them. Walk them down the row and point them to some empty seats, pat them on the back as if to say, “Just doing my job pal, try not to be late next week.” Then while people watch the person walk to their seat, you fade into the crowd and sit down. The bonus here is that you get to look helpful and holy in addition to finding a seat for yourself.

4. Wear black.

If you have to come in during prayer, it would help if you were wearing black and could act like you’re one of those magical stage hands who materialize out of nowhere and shift things around on stage while no one is looking. This might be a little extreme, but it wouldn’t hurt for you to keep a spare one of those little table and chair combos pastors are using in your car. When you show up late, just tell your wife, “Help me with this chair, we’ve got to put this in the sanctuary somewhere when we walk in.”

5. Don’t assume it’s best to walk in while people are singing.

Again, common mistake. Sure, the music is loud and everyone might be standing up which on the surface seems like a good time to walk in. But depending on how charismatic your church is you might have some physical worshiping going on. The last thing you want to add to the adventure of sneaking in to church is the need to dodge arm raisers. It only takes one person doing a quick unexpected double arm pound cake move to your diaphragm as you scoot down the aisle to realize you made a mistake. If you come in during a song, find a restrained section of the audience without any hand raising to sit in.

6. Army crawl if the sermon has already started.

A few weeks ago I spoke at a college that had rows of chairs that were elevated like a stadium. The stage was at the bottom and on the left side was a fire exit door a few feet from the podium. During the middle of my speech, I saw a shadowy figure coming through that door and essentially walk on to the speaking area with me. I was about 3 seconds away from launching a judo chop at what I assumed was a would be assassin when I realized it was just someone coming in late. If the sermon has already started, please army crawl in on your stomach less the pastor sweep your leg like a member of the Cobra Kai Dojo.

7. Aim for the meet and greet.

This is your golden moment. This is where the real magic of a late arrival happens. If you can time your entry to the meet and greet then you just look like any other church attendee that is walking along greeting people. Shake a few hands when you walk in, tell people you’re happy to see them and then sit down when everybody else does. Nothing to see here folks, just meeting and greeting.

Do those feel extreme to you? Perhaps, but then perhaps I just respect the sanctity of an already in progress church service more than you. I’ll pray for you. Is pretending to be an usher a weird way to respect the sanctity of a service? Perhaps. Maybe you should pray for me.

Those are my tips for coming in late to church, what are yours?

Have you ever been late to church?

What do you do when you’re late?”

"This is my endlessly recurrent temptation: to go down to that Sea (I think St. John of the Cross called God a sea) and there neither dive nor swim nor float, but only dabble and splash."

C. S. Lewis, "A Slip of the Tongue," in The Weight of Glory, page 187.

HT: Ray Ortlund

Have you ever wanted to take this kind of action?  This is actually one of those things that bother me…someone talking on the phone while I am waiting in line…not to mention talking so loudly we can here all the personal details.  My advice to those on the phone: call them back when you are in private! 

Sorry this cartoon just touched a nerve and after all, this is my blog to share MY personal opinions;)