From the Pastor's Desk

Yesterday I started a new series focusing on end time events, especially those associated with the battle of Armageddon. Prophetic preaching is always different  and always leaves a challenge at invitation time. I trust our people understand the uniqueness of a series like this and focus on learning all that they can about what will happen. I know that we will be in heaven and the argument could made, why should we really care if we are already enjoying the bliss of all that heaven has to offer.

My first defense would simply be that God included it in the Bible, and that in itself makes it worthy to study.  I know that as a pastor you need to make sure you maintain a balance and that you don’t get so caught up with the hereafter that you don’t preach what is needed for the present. I have always emphasized on what I call  ” Shoe leather Christianity”, but yesterday I really enjoyed preparing and preaching the “Stages of Armageddon”.

When Jesus returns all the wrongs will be righted and He will be acknowledged King of Kings and Lord of Lords…….may that hope carry us through today’s disappointments.

If you missed the beginning of the series this past Sunday, you may click HERE to get caught up.

I am glad football season has finally arrived.  Sports-wise, it’s my favorite time of the year. I can sit down and watch any college football teams at any time. I can’t say the same for any other sport. I know Alabama should have a great year, but I don’t know if any team can get through the SEC schedule for 3 years in a row without a loss. One thing is for sure, the rankings at the end of the year won’t look anything like the beginning of the year. I don’t know why they even bother ranking teams until after about the 5th game. Of course Georgia is my favorite team in the Eastern Region, but Florida just has their number. I can’t believe with Coach Richt’s overall record that he is actually on the hot seat this year. But that is what college football has turned into. Win every game by a lot every year or else.

Hope to continue to work on the sidelines of the Samford home games. their first home game is not til the first of September. It’s the best seat in the house, and a whole lot of fun. I am excited about our Tabernacle Torches, and new head coach Wayne Dabbs. We were such a young team last year, and now we have a little bit more experience, and if we can survive a tough first part of the schedule, then we should be able to survive the season.

A December 12, 2003 article from the Associated Press contained the headline: “God Is Back in ‘God Bless the USA.’” The story was about the Pacifica High School in Oxnard, California. In the finale of a school program, a 200 voice choir was to sing Lee Greenwood’s patriotic anthem “God Bless the USA.” However, the program’s directors, fearing that using the name “God” might cause a problem or be a violation of separation of church and state, decided to change the words from “God bless the USA” to “I love the USA.” What they did not expect was the reaction and response they got from many of the parents.

When parents found out about the change, they made their anger known to school officials. Some withdrew their children from the program, while others wrote protesting e-mails to the school board and district leaders. For fear of a lawsuit, the school reversed its decision. The Associated Press articled stated, “Angry parents got “God” put back in Lee Greenwood’s patriotic anthem ‘God Bless the USA.’” School board President Ron Speakman said, “It was a misguided attempt to be politically correct, and it has been rectified.”

Since this happened in 2003 people in high places continue to try to eliminate God from our society as well as history and government. We need God’s people to rise up and with a loud voice let the leaders of our country know “enough is enough”. What made this country great is what will keep this country great. If atheist and agnostics want to ignore God then so be it but for those of us who want to acknowledge God and not just keep Him confined within the four walls of our churches we ought to continue to have the right.

If we continue to insist on the removal of God from any of our society that’s not religion then we will pay the price for turning our back on the very one who made America possible. It’s time for the Christian to find his/her patriotism again. Let’s begin this Lord’s Day of showing our love for both God and country and not being squelched by the God haters who are more enthuastic about their cause than we are about ours!

This morning starts our Vacation Bible School under the direction of Bro. Andrew. We have 41 volunteers ministering to a number of boys and girls who will be attending. Please pray that it would be a wonderful week of fun, Bible training and that several of these precious children that are attending will ask Jesus into their heart.We close out the week with some guest that will be here to provide Christian entertainment and to share the gospel message with the children’s families here for the closing service Friday night.

Platform remodeling is on hold this week for VBS but will soon be finished. Thanks to all that have made the project possible.

Hope that you are enjoying our summer series, ” No Guts, No Glory” as we tackle the spiritual disciplines in a Christian’s life.

As I sit down to write out a blog for this week, I think back on today’s events.

I saw a friend, a former member, at breakfast. I thought about the blessing this man was and still is today to my family, and I thank God for the people He has brought into my life even if it wasn’t to be for a lifetime.

I stood and prayed with Gloria and Kyle and thought about the excitement that a new-born (and especially the first-born) brings to a couples life. It doesn’t seem possible that it has been 29/26 years since Julianna and Jennifer came into our lives. The joys of being a parent are beyond counting.

I knelt and prayed with David and Sharon Owens. It’s rare that you see the kind of courage and faith that they have displayed through this battle with cancer. They are my spiritual heroes and I can only pray that I would be half as strong if God directed me down the same path.

I spent a few minutes with Bro. Andrew and Mrs. Amber after some out-patient surgery and wondered what I have ever done for God to have such wonderful people like them and all the other precious staff people here at GBT to come and work with us. Other pastors may have larger ministries but I don’t think it is possible for them to have better men and women to surround them.

And as I now study for this Sunday’s sermon, I think about the years that God has given me to minister and alongside of me a lady that became my wife 30 years ago today. She has been my rock and best friend through all the ups and downs. I would have surely quit several times if it had not been for her precious companionship and unparalleled wisdom. Thank you Pam for being with me every step of this awesome journey!

These are just some reflections from a heart of a preacher overwhelmed by the goodness of God and the continual opportunity to minister.

These last days of our school year keep everyone very busy. Between church and school, there is some activity just about every night.

Last night the Awana’s had their awards night. It was encouraging to hear about all the different boys and girls who had earned honors by working through their Awana books, including a lot of Bible memorization. I know it’s the Word of God that can make a difference in shaping and molding their thoughts and activities in daily lives. We are appreciative of the many adult volunteers who spend every Wednesday night teaching and having fun with the kids. It has been a real blessing to see those coming in through the outreach ministry. I could see the excitement in their eyes last night. Thank you Bro. Jim, Bro. Henry, and Bro. Jaime for offering the route on Wednesday nights these past few years. We will start our summer program with Mark and Patty Bell on June 2nd.

Next week we will move Coach Wayne Dabbs and his wife Lindsey from Murray, Kentucky to join our staff. The following week, Wayne will conduct his first spring football practice. He along with our coaching staff, Coach Keith and Coach Tim, will be a great asset to Tabernacle in molding and shaping the lives of our students. As you have opportunity and are out and about in the community, encourage enrollment here at TCS.

With summer comes opportunity for several work projects. it’s a time that we recondition our buildings after a school year of use and we will hopefully start on our platform remodeling. There are still decisions to be made before we begin, but we are hoping to get these decisions finalized by the end of May and perhaps start the work in June.

We concluded our Spring Revival last night. I think revivals are unique from this aspect: you spend weeks preparing, praying and anticipating and then in just a few short days the meeting is over. After a revival, I’m emotionally exhausted, not so much physically from long days but from the anticipation and hope that God will work in and through the lives of the members of your congregation (foremost including myself).

I thought Pastor George Grace approached revival from the most practical standpoint that I had ever heard. More than anything, he let the Bible show us what true revival really is.

• On Sunday morning, he talked about the subject of forgiveness (I still stand amazed at how many Christians believe they have an exemption clause to forgiving others).

• Sunday night he preached on the vital importance of the relationship between a husband and wife and how it affects revival in your heart.

• Monday night he emphasized the Christian being the salt and light and doing so by keeping the principles of the beatitudes found in the sermon on the mount.

• Tuesday night he talked about the process of transformation with the goal of being conformed to the image of God’s Son Jesus Christ. With conviction he pointed out clearly we, in the process, say no to God.

• On the closing evening, he shared with us what it takes to be a true disciple, pointing out the difference between simply professing Christ and going to the next steps of following Him. I like how he closed the message, pointing out that there are blessings in store for those who do even the smallest things for the cause of Christ.

Personally I would like to thank those in our church who were faithful, not only in preparing for revival, but attending and listening and applying the challenges. I believe time will tell just how effective the meeting was for our church. I have to believe that God was working in lives.

The CD’s from the revival will be available on Sunday. Contact the church office if you would like to receive one or all of them. You can also listen to them on our media page from our church website by clicking HERE.

I am in the office this morning trying to wrap up a few administrative matters before heading to New York Saturday with our senior class of 2010. One of the perks of administration has been alternating as chaperone’s with Bro. Dickson and getting to spend time with our seniors before they graduate and go their various directions. Throughout our ministry in Christian education that has spanned 30 years, I have had opportunities to go many places, and experience some wonderful times with great Christian young people.

Bro. Andrew and Mrs. Amber did a great job of sponsoring this year, raising money and planning an action-packed schedule for New York. I personally am looking forward to seeing the Statue of Liberty and biking in Central Park. Pray for safety for all involved and please be faithful to our services next week. I will try some blogging from New York next week to keep you updated about our trip.

Pam just got back from the doctor’s office. She has both an ear infection as well as a sinus infection. The doctor gave her a shot with an antibiotic and she had a reaction to that so she is here with me this afternoon in the office while I keep an eye on her.

We wrapped up ” Home Conference Month” yesterday with a message on settling conflicts in the home. Following the text from Ephesians 4, we shared the importance  of …..

• Being Honest…..speaking the truth in love
• Being Angry……and yet not sinning with that God-given emotion
• Being Kind…..keeping a ratio of 5 to 1 between positive and negative comments
• Being forgiving….willing to forgive and forget ( illustrated by one very corny joke )

We certainly hope that everything from sermons….. to the  retreat in Fairhope… to the DVD from Ken Ham …..helped make your commitment to your home that much stronger.

This month we get ready for revival. We are looking forward to seeing Pastor George Grace from Rochester, New York. It has been about 5 years since he last preached for us and I know that God will bless the revival if we will prepare ourselves. Pray hard that God will do  a real work among us that week.

Last week we had the opportunity to travel with our youth group to Boone, NC and ski in that area. In fact, my son-in-law David traveled with us and we were able to go up a day early and ski at  Beech Mountain before tackling Sugar Mountain with the rest of our group. Through the years it has been amazing to watch how the weather has always cooperated with our ski trip. Skiing in the south can always be unpredictable since our temperatures can warm up and the snow melt so rapidly. But for the last several years we seem to have caught the resorts at their peak ski seasons. This year was no exception as we enjoyed over a foot of snow and entertained for the first time in my life, blizzard warnings with gusts blowing over 60 miles an hour.

I appreciate the group allowing me to tag along each year. As you well know, skiing is one of my passions and to be able to do it with our own group is always fun.

I realize I haven’t blogged much lately. Hopefully things will settle down after the bout with the kidney stone and a busy missions month, and we will be able to keep you updated. Check back with our website to keep up with everything happening with our church.