Just Wondering?

All right, I need your help.  I’ve just started a new discipleship/accountability small group with 5 of our high school students.  They all reported a struggle to make time for a daily quiet time with God.  When you began the discipline of daily time with God, what were the factors that helped you?  What makes it easier for you to set this time aside?  What materials do you like to use?  Let me know and I’ll share it with the guys next week.

Maybe I’m Naive

OK, maybe I still want to believe that we live in a world where there is still a small amount of respect for God, but apparently I was too Naive.  Last night on NBC, Carson Daly spoke about a group of pastors who were protesting outside of a strip club.  They were chanting this wonderful little ditty:

“God’s not impressed by the size of your breasts!”

 Now while I don’t think this is the most effective way to reach these young women what really shocked me was Mr. Daly’s next statement.

 ”In this instance, I agree with the pastors, I think God is more of an A*# man.”

What Gall!  To make such a lewd statement about the God of the universe is just shocking to me.  Why God doesn’t fry us all, I’ll never understand.

Gotta Love Gilbert

Hearing Voices

I don’t know about you, but sometimes while going through life, I think one thing yet say another.  Most of the time I am very thankful for this little “filter” that God designed, but occasionally I would love to see just what would happen if I actually said the things I thought.  It might be interesting.

2:32 AM!!!

All Right, It’s 2:32 am and all the students at our all nighter are safely watching “Facing The Giants”.  We’ve done silly games, gross games, weird games, ate, ate again, ate once more, and had some really great Bible study times.  I have a great group of college students helping out as well as a couple of my Sunday School teachers, but the helper that has really meant the most to me tonight is a man named Oscar.  Oscar heard our Pastor mention that we needed a few more workers this morning during worship service.  He quickly held up his hand to volunteer.  Oscar is in his early 60’s and has struggled with some medical issues for several months.  His willingness to serve was such a blessing to me.  We were studying 2 Timothy chapter 2 and Oscar was able to share some of his experience from serving in the military with the students.  (you know, trust like a soldier, obey like an athlete, and work like a farmer)  His comments were so perfect for that moment, he may never really know what an impact he made on our students tonight, but eternity will stand as a testament to his faithfulness.

Wow!

OK, I know this may sound sappy, but I am amazed at how giving people really are.  I’m a Worship Pastor at a small church in Southern Illinois and the people I have the pleasure to lead are so GREAT!.  At a choir rehearsal this evening we had someone new come and join for the second week in a row…talk about an answered prayer.  Then to top it off, a member of the choir who had not been able to be with us for a while was able to come back!  Glory to God!  I am constantly in awe of those who give of their time week in and week out in a fairly thankless capacity in order to help lead others in worship.  Then after our family worship time I got to spend time with a couple members of our praise band.  We were not at full strength, ( We were missing 3 in fact ), but those guys helped me have a really great worship moment.  It’s in those times that I am so thankful for the brothers and sisters in Christ that God allows me to be in relationship with.

Proud Papa

Just a quick brag this morning.  Our daughter Caitlyn, who just turned 5 in November got to help lead worship at West Jackson Baptist Church last night.  Here she was in a sanctuary that seats a few thousand with several hundred in attendance and she wasn’t nervous at all.  Now daddy on the other hand was shaking in his boots, but as the music began to “Here I Am To Worship” she just smiled and belted out the opening verse.  What had started out as a way to allow her to be a part of what we were doing on the road turned into something amazing.  As she led out, people’s defenses were let down and they began to engage in worship in a way they hadn’t all week.  The innocence of a child singing about God’s willingness to meet us where we are was so real that people began to really open up.  I may have been listed as the worship leader for the week, but my 5 year old taught me what it meant to truly be led.  I guess it really is true…”a little child shall lead them”.

The Secret to Happiness?

An interesting thing happened to me today.  While spending time on the road in Tennessee I came to the realization that contentment is the key to happiness.  I’m not talking about the kind of Joy that comes from Christ, I’m simply talking about that happiness that comes from being content with your surroundings and situation.  I spent the last few days with a couple men that I greatly respect and admire.  In multiple conversations with them I was reminded that no matter what job I may have or where I might serve, the secret to my happiness is being content with where God has me for as long as he has me there.  I know, this is not a great revelation to many of you, but a lot of guys I know are always looking for the “next step”, that bigger church or fancier title.  I thank God that He has placed me where He has and that He gives me the opportunity to impact lives for Him everyday.