Church News

I had full intentions of waiting until it was official, but word keeps leaking out. The pulpit committee from Midland Heights Baptist Church unanimously voted to recommend me to the church as "interim" Pastor. It goes before the church Sunday for a vote. I have been getting emails and phone calls telling me everyone is excited about the vote. Personally, I am too. I left The Spirit Filled Church about 2 years ago. I was looking forward to some rest. Next thing you know I was fully engulfed in ministries at Fair Haven Baptist Church as an Associate Pastor. I loved my time at FH. I love the people. I love the church. I love the youth. I love being ministered too. But, I have always been told, "If you are called to preach, you need to preach." I love to preach. I love the preparation, the study, the prayer time. There is nothing like the feel of a sermon that flows from the throne of God, and you "know" you are preaching the right message.

I am really excited to be a part of Midland Baptist. I have been filling in for a few weeks and they have a great core of people that are so sweet to me and my family. They are very loving and caring. They have a beautiful sanctuary, land with a pavilion and play ground, plenty of Sunday School rooms and a nice pastor's office (that needs to occupied). I believe the only thing they need to grow is the right man behind the pulpit. I pray I am that man.

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On the family front, Logan continues to be active and growing. Stephanie has still only gained around 6 pounds. She is excited about that. Lynna made the high school cheerleading squad and Leah has decided to play soccer.

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New church, a baby boy on the way, two talented daughters and a Proverbs 31 wife............I love being me.

Weekend Schedule

Just a quick update on the weekend. I will preaching at Midland Heights Baptist Church for their AM service. It starts at 11:00. I will also be preaching at Fair Haven Baptist Church for their PM service. It starts at 6:30.

Something so Simple

Luke 14:28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Long story short, Jesus started walking on the road with a couple of guys and they didn't know it was Him. He told them about Himself starting with Moses and the Prophets and the Law. They never caught on to who He was until they reached their destination and they sat down together to have a meal. Jesus revealed Himself in the everyday things, the ordinary things. I am so glad He does. I often tell the congregations that I preach to that I am a simple guy. I don't hold a doctorate degree from some fine institution. I just am a guy who looks (and finds) Jesus in the everyday tasks of life. I know this sound silly, unless you have experienced it, but I was cleaning Sunday school room and taking out the trash at church when I was made aware of God's presence in that very place. It wasn't a Star Wars, "Scott.....I am your Father" moment. It was just a "this big building is empty, it is quiet, and I, the creator of the universe, the Alpha and Omega, the Author and Finisher of your faith am right here with you. That is just how God works in my life. I began to sing to Him (good thing nobody was there). I prayed to Him. After I finished my duties, I found myself at the altar just talking with Him about my future. The future that is already history to Him. I got home and walked out on the deck with my Bible. The sun was setting and it was beautiful. I just wanted to soak in His presence one last time before "life" crept in.

Last night it happened again. I had just got off the phone with a pastor friend that I haven't talked to in a year or so. I grabbed a book and went back to the nursery where it is surprisingly quiet and guess who I found? I had such a sweet communion with my Lord right there amongst cases of diapers and little boys clothes.

It amazes me that God is waiting to spend as much time with us as we will give Him.

Baby (Great) News!

A few weeks ago, Stephanie and the girls and I went to the ultrasound to find out Logan was a "boy". We also found out there was a concern of a possible hole in the babies heart in the wall that separates the right from the left side. The doctor explained this to Stephanie while the girls and I were in the lobby. Stephanie later explained it to me. We didn't tell anyone because: 1. I didn't know how to answer the questions I knew people would ask and 2. I did not want the girls to worry about their little brother. The doctor sent us for another ultrasound today with a cardiac specialist. They confirmed a couple of things: 1. It is definitely a boy (see the arrow in the picture) and 2. Logan has a perfect heart free of any hole. The doctor did show us how the other ultrasound could have looked like a possible hole, but he could see better images and thought it look fine. It doesn't matter to me, if there was never a hole or the hole closed I will just give God the glory and thank Him for a healthy little boy. He is becoming quite active as I could see him pushing on my wife's stomach during the ultrasound.

Looks Like I will Not be Moving to TX

I have an unusual hobby. I go to http://www.sbc.net/ and look for churches in TX that need a pastor and if I meet their criteria, I send them my resume. Most of the churches want someone with a M.Div, which I don't have. Every once in awhile, a church comes along that just wants experience and a seminary degree, which I have both. Those are the churches that I send my resume to. I usually don't hear back from them, occasionally, I get a nice form letter saying, "Thanks, but no thanks." I got a letter last week saying, "They have my resume and along with 12 others, they would prayerfully consider me a candidate for Pastor". I will have to admit, I got a little giddy. I got another letter from them yesterday stating, "Thanks, but we are moving in another direction." I don't know that we would all move to "The Promise Land", but you just never know. Maybe one day, a church near Dallas will be looking for a tall, bald, good looking preacher-man to fill their pulpit, and I will be sure to send them a resume!
Sunday night we had a wonderful service at Fair Haven. We celebrated Palm Sunday by preaching 3 sermons. Bro. Charles preached on the place, I preached on the people, and Bro. Rob preached on the purpose, of Palm Sunday. Then we had the families come up to the altar and the three of us served them communion. It was a very moving service. God was in the house.

Just One Verse

Ever had a song play over and over in your head. It is usually a bad song, such as "Free Credit Report.Com". Well, instead of a song, I have a verse.

Mic 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?

I read this verse probably a month ago. It will not go away. It is powerful, insightful, and cuts me to the core. There are three parts to this verse. God is trying to tell a rebellious nation that they already know what to do (reminds me of my kids). God required three things, consequently they are still required today:

1. 
   
   To do justly


2. 
   
   To love kindness


3. 
   
   Walk humbly before your God

To do justly was a requirement in business deals. God expected people to deal honestly with one another. To be fair, but I want to take it step further and say God doesn't want us to play fair. Fair means I will be nice to you and respect you as long as I get your respect and you be nice to me. Since God tells us in the Bible to love our enemies, pray for those that use you, I contend He wants us to treat people the way we want to be treated, regardless of how we are being treated.

To love kindness, another word for kindness is mercy (KJV). Which is how I came to the conclusion above. We are a people that loves to receive kindness/mercy, but are not willing to give it. To love kindness means we love to give it out as much as we love to receive it. Mercy can be defined as what we often ask from the driver behind us, but are unwilling to give to driver in front of us.

To walk humbly before our God is pretty self explanatory. Humility is the opposite of pride. The Scriptures are very plain about humility.

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jas 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Jas 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

God tells us we should not think highly of our self. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

I often have to write things down in a note book or a blog, getting my thoughts outside my head usually helps me to "get it". Then, just like the song in my head, eventually I can move on. Now instead of lookin' fly and rollin' phat My legs are sticking to the vinyl and my posse's getting laughed at ............OH NO IT HAS STARTED AGAIN!