Thursday nights always provide us with some drama because it is youth night at the library.  Last night, the crowd got out of hand and there were four police cars in the church parking lot.  A crowd of twenty youth gathered and there was some fighting going on. 

For a while, these things just frustrated me.  In fact, I was more than irritated.  After last night, my heart began to break for this generation of kids.  The future for this generation is not bright UNLESS Christ intervenes in their life.  The odds are stacked against many of today’s youth.  Broken homes, immorality running rampant, hostility, anger and hatred are a part of their every day life.  I have seen in the eyes of today’s youth, the hurt and pain of what they are enduring.  Beyond that I see a hopelessness in their eyes.

As I was praying for this generation of kids, I was reminded of when Jesus looked over the crowd in Matthew 9 and the Bible says He was moved with compassion for they were weary and scattered as sheep having no shepherd.  Jesus then called His disciples to touch their lives. 

We are called to reach the scattered sheep.  Young and old alike.  There are people who are hurting and desperate for love…unfailing love.  We are His disciples and Christ wants us to minister to this hurting generation.  Jesus tells His disciples in Matthew 10, after He has called them, “Freely you have received, freely give.”  We have received so much from Christ, are we giving away His life, His hope to this world?”

It is interesting to me how He says this after He has given His disciples a list of things they have power over.  “Heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, cast out demons.  Freely you have received, freely give.”  We have received the power to touch, we must give His power away.  I also, happen to think that many of these disciples might have been the recipient of these things Jesus described.

How many of us have been healed?  We must give it away.  How many have been touched by His power?  We must touch others because we have been touched.  The church, must not hoard the blessings of God, we must reach out and touch this generation.  They are not looking for us to be hip and cool.  They are looking for a church that embraces them with love, being genuine and walking in the power of God.  Freely you have received…freely give.

I have always been the type of guy who seeks wisdom from others.  In the multitude of counselors there is safety.  Throughout my 13 years of pastoral ministry, I have sought wisdom from many people.  I try to balance the types of people I seek wisdom from, so that I can get a good rounded answer.  I have been blessed to have mentors and friends who have been very helpful to me through these years of ministry.

Today I read an article that talked about seeking wisdom.  Here is some great insight from Ron Edmonson:

“The Bible is full of encouragement to seek wisdom.

Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. Proverbs 20:18

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Proverbs 4:5

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

I highly encourage you to seek wisdom.

The teachings on wisdom are like all other teachings within the Bible.  They should be understood within the context of the rest of Scripture.  Recently I was reading in the book of Isaiah and came across a verse that adds a spin to the issue of seeking wisdom:

You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you. Isaiah 47:13

I was reminded of three important principles regarding wisdom:

1. Gaining wisdom is invaluable, but we need to make sure we are listening to the right words of wisdom.
2. After we have sought wisdom from reliable advisors and we are left to make a decision, ultimately the responsibility to move forward in action is ours.
3. The wisdom we should seek first and foremost is from God.  Learning to know and hear His voice should be our number one goal in attaining wisdom.

Are you in need of wisdom?  Besides God, who do you go to when you need a word of wisdom?” –Ron Edmonson-

We just uploaded Sunday’s message HOSTAGE:Bitterness.  You can check it out online here.  Be careful, this message may change your life and relationships.

Yesterday, we concluded our Hostage series and I believe this has been a transforming series.  Our last message was looking at Bitterness.  Many people in today’s world are held captive by Bitterness and Unforgiveness.  It is something that will affect all of our relationships.  Because of bitterness we place walls in our lives to ensure that we will never get hurt again.  The truth is, however, that the Bible does not give us the permission to hold a grudge or to be bitter.

In our message we discussed how Jesus taught us how to handle our enemies.  What we found in His teaching is completely contrary to what this world tells us.  In fact, we can be sure that if Jesus tells us to do these things, they are indeed possible to do.  We must follow His steps and instructions:

1.  Love Your Enemies
2.  Do Good To Those Who Hate You
3.  Bless Those Who Curse You
4.  Pray For Those Who Spitefully Use You
5.  Turn The Other Cheek

None of these are easy.  In fact, these responses to our enemy are the most difficult thing a believer must do but that is what Jesus did.  He was beaten, mocked, accused, spit upon and crucified, yet He chose to forgive and love His enemies.  Christ exemplified these things and that is how we must respond as well.  No it is not easy, but God will help us.

In the Cheney Household, we recently upgraded from a crib to a toddler bed for Hannah.  Somewhere in the mix, Hannah forgot that the purpose of a crib or toddler bed was to sleep in it.  It seems that she considers sleeping in our room as the best thing going.  Honestly, the only time she uses her bed is at night, when I read her a bedtime story, and then she gets up and goes to our bed. 

Last night, Hannah and I went to her room for the bedtime story and she was a little upset.  Sonya had made Hannah’s bed and placed one of her baby dolls up by the pillows.  Hannah grabs the doll by the hair, throws her off the bed and proceeds to say, “Hey, that’s my bed, get off of here!”  Talk about territorial!

I wonder how many times that is our way of doing church.  As pastors we are guilty of saying, “That’s my neighborhood, that’s my church, that’s my people.”  We as pastors are often territorial!  As congregants, are we guilty of similar attitudes.  “That’s my seat, that’s my class, that’s my job.”

I am thankful for our church and the wonderful people who serve and worship together.  My prayer is that we will continue to be welcoming and fulfilling God’s heart for our church and community.  As pastors, we must guard ourselves from being more concerned with our church than God’s Kingdom.  We must work together to reach people for Christ!

This weekend we will conclude our hostage series.  We have looked many of the things that hold us captive in our lives.  I believe it has been a transforming series for many.

Last Sunday we talked about being held hostage by anger.  We looked at the things that make us angry:

1.  Impatience (Short Fuse)
2.  Bitterness
3.  Jealousy and Envy

We then looked at how to overcome anger:

Ask God for patience
Never speak rashly
Give time to cool down
Emulate Christ
Recite the Word of God

These things are sure ways to overcome our angry reactions and outbursts.

This coming Sunday we will be sharing about the topic of Bitterness and Revenge.  It will be a look at the root of bitterness and how to be set free from this captivity.  Don’t miss it!

I have been mulling over some tough issues that seem to be prevalent in our culture today.  It is centered around what we seem to value most in our society.  Even among believers, we tend to hold the wrong things in high esteem.

Recently, a cultural icon passed away.  He had a troubled life to say the least.  He was at the center of controversy and scandals for many years.  He never could seem to find peace in his life. Michael Jackson was what we idolize in America.  SUCCESS!  Was he a success in the way he lived or was he a success because he sold 750 million albums.?  Was he a success because he gave back so much to society or because he was the King of Pop?   What we see in Michael Jackson’s life, was a man who had a void to be filled but nothing, not even success, could fill it.

For years, the media portrayed him as a freak, a troubled man, but this week we paint him as the greatest entertainer since Elvis.  The response to his death paints a poor picture of what we value in this nation.

I am not at odds with Michael Jackson, nor would I hurl any accusations toward him.  What I am at odds with, is our society that idolizes the wrong things.  We idolize the troubled, while we never consider the unsung heroes.

Steve “Air” McNair, a leader on the football field.  Phenomanal athlete, all around good guy who was senselessly murdered.  His life was snuffed out in a horrific act of murder.  I was a fan of Steve McNair.  I think he was one of the greatest quarterbacks that played the game, but again, we have all kinds of great things to attest to about his life. Yet, we forget, the surroundings of the end of his life.  He was a leader on the field, but not at home.  Married, with four kids, but yet had a girlfriend.  We idolize him because of his athleticism but not because of his example to his family.

Again, I am not at odds with Steve McNair, but rather a culture that idolizes the wrong things.  What we have come to accept in society is heroes that are SUCCESSFUL in our eyes, but do those closest to them see the same thing?

I write these things because I believe we focus on the wrong things in our culture today.  Who are the real heroes?  Who are the true successes?  How come the unsung heroes are never highlighted on the news when they die?  Too many live life and then will only get there name in a newspaper when they are in the obituaries.

We will talk about how our celebrities are who gave 10 thousand dollars from their millions to the Needy, while a poor widow gives $50.00 a month, from her Social Security check, to missionaries.  We glamorize athletes who will visit a kid in the hospital, but do not consider the volunteers who work in the hospital on a weekly basis.  We read about all the great deeds of the famous, but what about the volunteers who feed the hungry, teach Sunday School, support missionaries, and go on mission trips.

Who will spot light them when they pass away? 

Why do we rent out coliseums to bid farewell to an entertainer but hardly consider the funeral of a serviceman or servicewoman who gave their life for our nation’s freedoms?  Why does a football veteran leave with such fanfare but a veteran of America leaves with a small group by his side?

I am not against the famous or any of that, I just wonder sometimes what we value most.  The sad truth of our present day is that many who have give so much back to our society, will receive little recognition in this life or in their passing.  I thank God for the many volunteers and servants of our nation’s communities who serve even without much consideration.

I pray for the Jackson and McNair families, for God to comfort them and strengthen them during these tragic times.  I pray for all the unsung heroes to continue serving and to do all things as unto the Lord.  And I pray for our society, that we would value all people, not just the famous.

Are you free?

The old song says, “Would you be free from your burden of sin? There’s power in the blood, power in the blood. Would you be free from your passion and pride? There’s power in the blood.” That is a question we must ask ourselves. Are we free from the burden of sin?

Today is Independence Day, a national holiday celebrating America’s independence from British Rule. It is a day that we can celebrate our freedoms. We are blessed to live in a free nation where we have freedom to worship and freedom of speech. It is a privilege to live in this great nation. I am thankful for a country that is a leader of the free world and has been a great sender of missionaries around the world.

However, there is another Independence Day celebration coming later in July. July 27^th is the day I celebrate my independence from the life of sin. Eighteen years ago on that day, I started a revolution and waged war against the sin in my life. I became victorious over the burden of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, today I can say that I have spiritual freedom.

The Bible declares to us that He whom the Son has set free is free indeed. I have been free now for eighteen years and if the Lord tarries I will be free for many more years. I have decided in my life that I will no longer be in bondage to sin. I have a written Declaration of Independence that can be found in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

If you have not made that Declaration of Independence from sin, today is your day! Make the decision to lay down the weight of sin and shame and take up the life that Christ gave for you. He wants you to be free!