Thank You

As we look forward to 2012, I wanted to take a few minutes to say "thank you" to a few people.  Many people touched my life in 2011, so if I miss you for some reason I apologize in advance.

First, I thank God.  I thank God for all He has blessed me with -- beginning with the gift of salvation.  

I thank God for my family and friends (including my friends at A+B).  It has been a difficult year, but it has also been a wonderful year in so many ways.  I am so proud of Pam and excited about the way God has used her this year.  Many of you know about her role in the HC women's ministry and watching the babies on Sunday, but there are so many other things she does that impact the lives of others.  

Pam and I are so blessed that God has trusted us with Jonathan, Christian and Danielle.  We are excited to see each of them now as young adults, and are blessed that they still enjoy spending time with us and being a family.  

I also thank God for allowing me to serve Him the way I do.  I still have trouble sometimes believing that God would allow someone like me to serve Him at all.  But then again, I guess I am just one in a long line of God's misfits.  He has also shown me this year, maybe more than in any year before, that it is often the most simple acts of obedience that have the greatest impact.       

I thank God for my friend Tim, who was released from the hospital after many, many weeks -- just on time to spend Christmas at home.  I have been inspired by Tim's strength and faith throughout his ordeal.  It will be interesting to see how Tim's ministry unfolds in the future.  I have no doubt that God will use Tim's experience to reach people in even more powerful ways.

I thank God for my friends who have spent many Wednesday nights studying the Word with me.  I have enjoyed getting to know each of you better, and y'all really keep me on my toes!

I thank God for each of the men who have been getting together faithfully every Saturday morning -- and for those who will be joining us in the future!  We have only been meeting for a couple of months, but God has been stirring the hearts of the men in this group.  These are men who are hungry for the Word and for the things of God -- and I really believe God is up to something big.  How blessed I am to have been included!

I thank God for the good things that are taking place in the life of my Mom.  It has been a hard year, and she has a lot to deal with.  But, things are beginning to fall into place and she is handling everything so well.  Now, if we can just convince her to move to Texas!!

This might sound a little odd, but I thank God for Facebook.  I have gotten reconnected with so many people I have known through the years.  But one of the real blessings has been the number of people I went to high school with who turned out to be people of faith.  I knew that a few of my classmates were Christians back then, but had no idea about most  -- or at least where so many are as adults.  

I have had a chance to minister to a few of those folks (including through this blog), but virtually all of them have ministered to me -- whether they knew it or not.  I was truly taken aback by the number of people from high school who have encouraged me both by their faith and by their appreciation for God's call on my life. 

I thank God for my church family and for our pastors and staff.  Thank you Pastor Dan for trusting me and for releasing me to do the things at the church that God seems to be leading me to do.  Thank you Pastors Dave, Dusty and Sherry for your encouragement and your support.  What a joy it is to serve with each of you!

Thank you Pastor David (V.) for leading the mens' group.  Good things are happening because you listened to God.  Better things are yet to come.  Thank you Larry, Duncan, Stephen, Jon, David (E.), Mark, Jon (2), Frank, Phillip, Paul for your faithfulness and transparency.

Thank you Phil and Nancy (and many others) for your friendship and your support.  I thank God for new friends!  

There is so much more to say, and even more to be thankful for.  Don't get me wrong -- 2011 has by no means been perfect.  I have had my share of problems and challenges this year.  But this I know -- God is good!

May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; and may the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Happy New Year!

Ben's Message

Ben had a heart condition from birth.  He died a few days ago -- on Christmas day.  He was 18.  He had something he wanted people to know, so he made these two videos a few days earlier.  I really have nothing to add, except please watch them both ... to the end.

God bless.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmlTHfVaU9o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=a4LSEXsvRAI

Reginald Fessenden

Sometime around 1904, the United States Navy began transmitting time signals and weather reports on AM Radio.  These transmissions were made in the Northeast, with the intention of providing information to ships in the Atlantic Ocean.  At the time, AM Radio was a new technology, and this new technology was not yet capable of transmitting voice -- only Morse code.

Now imagine.  It is December 24, 1906 -- Christmas Eve -- and you are a ship captain somewhere in the Atlantic off of the Eastern seaboard of the United States.  You probably have family and friends at home, wherever that may be, who are at that very moment celebrating Christmas.  Maybe you have children or grandchildren who are wide-eyed and wound up in anticipation of Christmas morning.  But you are, for all practical purposes, alone.  Your world is cold and dark. 

Imagine that you are listening to the radio -- waiting for the periodic signals from the U.S. Navy.  You are waiting to hear tapping sounds that you will be able to translate into words to confirm the time or to get the latest weather report.  But tonight is different from other nights on the Atlantic.  Instead of the tapping sound of Morse code -- instead of dots and dashes -- you hear something unexpected and indeed unbelievable.  You hear music. 

First, you here "Ombra mai fu" -- composed by George Frederic Handel (who, of course, also composed what is known as "Handel's Messiah").  Then you hear "O Holy Night" played softly on a violin.  And finally, you hear a voice.  It is the voice of Reginald Fessenden, and he is reading from the Gospel of Luke:  "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will."  Luke 2:14.  He is reading from the account in Luke of an extraordinary and unimaginable day.  It is the day when in the City of David a savior was born into the world -- the Christ, the Messiah -- Jesus.  It is a day when mankind was given an undeserved gift from the creator of the universe -- a gift of hope and the gift of forgiveness.

Today we live in a world that is not unlike that night on the Atlantic on Christmas Eve in 1906.  Today, we find ourselves in a lonely, cold, dark world.  In fact, it is a world that seems to be getting colder and darker all the time.  For many all hope seems to be lost.

But, of course, there is still in the darkness a voice of hope.  And, it is just as powerful as it has ever been.

I hope that among the "happy holidays" this year people will hear voices wishing them a "Merry Christmas."  But not, as some might think, as some silly backlash against the secularization of Christmas.  I hope that "Merry Christmas" will lead to a deeper conversation about hope, about forgiveness, and about the gift of salvation.  It is my prayer that when we say "Merry Christmas" people will see from our expressions that we do not mean it as some trite greeting or farewell, but instead they will see it as a heart-felt desire for God's blessings in their lives.  I hope ...  no, I pray that this Christmas God will use your voice to remind people that He is with us; that He is Immanuel.

The Highest

If you are a partner at Heartland Church I hope you were able to attend the service today.  Our HC Kids knocked it out of the park with a great skit, followed by a song that was worthy of American Idol.  The mens' quartet was phenomenal -- as always (good old fashioned gospel!).  And, during second service one of our youth leaders baptized both his mother and his older sister.  How cool is that?

But, just a week before Christmas, the message today was not really much of a Christmas message.  There was no talk of mangers, wise men or even the miracle of the virgin birth.  There was no discussion of Advent or its meaning.  There was no talk about the true meaning of Christmas, or the obligatory outcry against its commercialization.

Instead, the message was about keeping the most important thing ... well, the most important thing.  It was asking us why it is, indeed how it is possible, that we can get more excited about winning a prize or seeing our favorite player win the Heisman Trophy than we are about the fact that God came to earth in human form and died on the cross for our sins.

The message was about being grateful for how blessed we are instead of feeling entitled.  It was about having an attitude of gratitude for the things we take for granted and have come to expect, and not just for the unexpected blessings.  And ultimately, the message was about having the right perspective.

A couple of months ago we started (or maybe restarted?) a mens' Bible study at HC.  (We meet every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. if you are interested in joining us.)  It is an awesome feeling to stand in the trenches  with other men as we struggle to understand what it means to put God first in our lives and then endeavor to live it.

Our Saturday mornings together and this latest message series have reminded me of a simple but profound realization I had a number of years ago.  As I was getting more involved in the church and more serious about my faith, I actually took the time to try to understand and count the cost following Jesus.  See Luke 14:28 - 30.

The more I began to understand the cost of truly following Jesus, the more I wanted to have confidence in my faith.  During this time, I read Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ", along with books and articles by other apologists to satisfy myself that there was a rational basis for my faith in Jesus.  In other words, I wanted to know that faith in Jesus was more than a good feeling.  I wanted to know that my faith was intellectually supportable.  I wanted to be sure.

And the reason I wanted to be sure was this:  I came to the realization that if the Bible was true, if Jesus really was the Son of God, if Jesus really died on the cross for our sins, if His way was the right way, and in fact the only way, then everything about my life had to change.  I realized that my attitudes had to change.  I realized that my relationships had to change.  I realized that my priorities had to change.  I realized that basically the way I looked at the world had to change -- that I needed to learn to see the world as God sees the world.

It seems like I have been working at making those changes for a long time now, but sometimes I think myself a slow learner.  Or perhaps I'm just too reluctant to loosen my grip on some of the things that putting God first means I need to give up.  I am sure I could come up with a pretty long list, but one of the things I have been too reluctant to give up has been "worry."  For example, I have been far too worried for far too long about what God's plan for my future looks like.  I have worried about what unpleasant things might be waiting for me around the next corner (despite whatever perceptions you might have, ministry, is not necessarily always either glamorous or easy!).

But, I am happy to say that I am getting better.  I am learning to trust Him more.  I am learning to look forward to the blessings that He has waiting for me around the next corner -- even if I don't quite know what they look like right now -- instead of fearing the hard things that lie ahead.  I am realizing more and more that the "unpleasant" things usually have a purpose.  I am beginning to see that those things I like the least about my new life in Christ are usually the things that help me grow, that make me more effective, and ultimately that strengthen my faith.

The bottom line is this:  I have a great family, a great career, and a great church.  But above all, I serve a great God!  I am incredibly blessed.  You are too.  





    

I Am Second ... or Maybe Third

Most of you are probably familiar with "I Am Second" but, if not, I highly recommend that you check out their web site.  You can find a link to the site on the right side of this page under "links to other sites I like."

The "I Am Second" web site includes a number of compelling video testimonies from people, some famous -- some not, who are trying their best to put God first in their lives.  A few of these people have faced relatively little adversity in their lives.  Most, though, at one time or another found themselves in extremely dark places -- in places where God alone could rescue them.

Lately I have been thinking a good deal about a number of people I know who at times seem to have a strong faith and know the Word of God, but at the same time do not seem to put themselves second or third.  These are people whose actions much of the time -- or even most of the time -- seem inconsistent with a Christ-centered life.  Not that I am by any means perfect.  As I have said before in this blog, just ask my wife!

One of the things that irritates me so much about people like this is that their actions have the very real potential to drive others away from the church and, more importantly, away from God.  When we profess publicly to be people of faith and yet our actions say differently, the potential for spiritual mischief is enormous.  It really is true that actions speak louder than words.

There is a great book out called "unChristian" that resulted from a survey of young people outside of the church.  Among other things, 85% of the young outsiders surveyed viewed Christians as hypocritical.  And, "hypocritical" is exactly what I am talking about.

But there is something even more disturbing to me about these professed Christians whose lives seem to be so out of sync with God -- and that is my reaction to them.  What I mean by that is my reaction is all too often to become frustrated, and worse, to become judgmental.  I find at times that I get so frustrated with the symptoms I am observing that I give little or no thought to the real underlying problem.

At times Christians act unChristian out of ignorance.  Sometimes even people who have grown up in the church are simply unaware that their actions and attitudes are not in sync with the Word of God.  It may be that they are fairly new to the faith, or it maybe because they attended a church that put too much emphasis on God's blessings and not enough emphasis on the responsibilities that go along with the Christian walk.

Sometimes Christians just lack self awareness.  Sometimes we don't have a firm grasp on how others perceive us.  Sometimes we spend too much time telling others how to act and not enough time modeling the Christian life ourselves.

But, much of the time when we see people acting in unChristian ways it is because they are struggling with some significant issue in their own lives.  Sometimes the worries of life -- the difficult job situation, the troubled marriage, the rebellious child -- cause us to lose focus and to act in ways that the Holy Spirit, if we took time to listen, would tell us are just wrong.

When we see our family and friends acting in unChristian ways or carrying unChristian attitudes we have several choices.  We can do nothing -- which is usually the easy thing.  We can be judgmental and condemning of their behavior.  Or, we can "deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray...."  This is where things get tough.

Going to our Christian brothers and sisters to talk about their unChristian behavior is a difficult thing.  It takes wisdom, it takes discernment and it takes guidance from the Holy Spirit.

I am not by any means suggesting that as a general matter we should be running around telling other Christians how to act.  In fact, I seem to remember a little story about splinters and planks that counsels against doing that.  What I am saying, I guess, is two things.  First, there is a time and a place -- a season -- for everything.  Sometimes we just need to speak into other people's lives, even if the things we have to say are difficult and unlikely to be well received (at least initially).

Second, we need to have a little grace for people.  You never know what is at the root of bad behavior or bad attitudes.  We often have no idea about a person's past life experiences or even painful things that are happening to them at that very moment.  And, of course, we do need to be mindful of our own imperfections.

By the way, if you enjoy this blog and are or want to be a regular reader I want to encourage you to become a follower or to sign up for my e-mail alerts.  Its easy to do, and then you won't have to stumble on a Facebook post to know there is something new!

God bless, and Merry Christmas!

THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

STOP!!

BE Still!

TAKE a deep breath.

Relax.

OK?

Here is a question for you:  what's the best Christmas present that you could possibly give to anyone this year?  While your thinking about that, here is my Christmas rant.

It seems to me that a normal part of the Christmas experience these days is the battle between Christians and those who want to kill off Christmas, or at least turn Christmas into a fully secular holiday.  Forgive me, but I am growing tired of this particular distraction/tradition.  Honestly, I get tired of reading story after story this time of year about this business or that school district taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas."  

Actually, come to think of it, the battle has really moved from there.  Now people are basically taking Christmas out of the vocabulary entirely.  It seems like everything these days is part of this nondescript, non-specific "holiday" season.  There are "holiday trees," "holiday parties," "holiday gifts" and, for you shoppers out there, "holiday sales." 

But, I digress.

We can get as excited as we want about the secularization of Christmas, but in the end the secularization of Christmas is just a symptom of a much bigger problem -- the secularization of America.  The problem is not politicians or political correctness -- it is that we are losing the battle for souls in this country.  

The problem is that the church has become ineffective.  The problem is that we have allowed generation after generation to have a casual relationship with Jesus.  The problem is that we have not pushed American Christians to truly put God first in their lives.

The problem is that most Christians in America are indistinguishable from their neighbors.  The problem is that we are viewed as hateful and hypocritical.  The problem is that the church has all too often lead with a message of condemnation instead of a message of the incredible love of Jesus.

The problem is that the church thinks that it can regain America by electing conservative politicians.  The problem is that we have forgotten that the real battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The problem is that the church has been ineffective in teaching the Gospel.  The problem is that we have allowed the message of the Bible to blend in with and be confused by popular philosophy and culture.  The problem is that many American "Christians" believe that there are many paths to heaven.

The problem is this:  that too many of us are simply unwilling to share our faith with unbelievers.  It may be for any numbers of reasons -- embarrassment, lack of confidence, laziness, feelings that we are unworthy, lack of preparation ... you name it.  

I think it is critically important for each of us to meditate on the true meaning of Christmas  -- on who Jesus is and why he came.  That should be something we think about 365 days a year.

But, I think its even more important that we not get so focused on our own celebration of Christmas that we lose sight during this season of why we are here.  The church exists primarily to prepare God's people for works of service for His Kingdom, and the primary work that we should be focused on is to make disciples of all nations -- including the United States.

During Christmas time, or any time of the year, there is one gift that we can give to other people that surpasses any other.  It is a gift that money cannot buy and that all of the power in the world cannot take by force.  That gift is the gift of Jesus Christ.  It is the gift of eternal life.  It is the knowledge that Jesus loves us so much that He sacrificed Himself for our sins.

It is the knowledge that no matter who we are, no matter what mistakes we have made and no matter how unworthy we feel, there is a God who loves us, a God who forgives us, and a God who will run to us when we are ready to turn to Him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-p5I1ySPhg&feature=fvst    

The Righteous

Thanksgiving is upon us, and Christmas is fast approaching.  It is a time for family.  It is a time of celebration.  It is a time for football.  It is also a time when churches make a special effort to reach out to those in need.


At Heartland Church, for example, we are sponsoring four different outreaches this year.  I personally think all four are worthy of our attention -- although there are obviously thousands of other worthwhile endeavors we could support.


If you are interested, you can find more information on our web site.  Briefly, though, the four outreaches Heartland Church is supporting are:


Christian Community Action.  CCA is, in my opinion, a great organization.  It not only helps out families that are in financial crisis, but as a condition to receiving that help, requires those families to be accountable and to prepare to take care of themselves in the future.


Casa Hogar.  Casa Hogar is an orphanage in Mexico that faces many challenges, not the least of which being that most of the kids there have special needs.


Treats for the Troops.  Last summer Heartland partners "adopted" 52 men and women in the armed services who are deployed overseas, agreeing, among other things, to pray for those men and women daily.  Our plan is to send care packages to those same service men and women for Christmas.


Operation Cares.  Operation Cares sponsors the biggest Christmas party for the homeless in America.  More recently, Operation Cares has taken its mission overseas and expanded its purpose, including building a school in Africa.


My purpose in writing today, though, is not to make another plea for each of these outreaches -- although if you are moved to support any or all of them that would be great!  Instead, I raise these outreaches to set up this question:  Do we, as a church or as individuals, do enough the other three quarters of the year?


I believe strongly in the idea that we are saved by God's grace through faith, and not by our "works."  In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes:  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ephesians 2:9.  And grace is a beautiful thing.  The gift of grace is both the ultimate result of the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the ultimate testament of God's love for us.  It is at the very heart of the gospel message.
   
At the same time, we cannot lose sight of the fact that God's expectation is not simply that we should be content in our salvation.  True faith propels us forward.  True faith results in a new creation in Christ.  True faith is both credited as righteousness and is transforming.


In the very next breath after Paul tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, he says:  "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10.


I think its great that the church, and Christians generally, take a special interest in reaching out to the lost, the hurting and the hungry this time of year.  Christmas can be an especially painful time for many, including people who are lonely or in difficult financial circumstances.


At the same time, neither the needs of people nor our responsibility to reach out to them are seasonal.  The word does not say "for we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works at Christmas time."


Just something to think about.


   


³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
   ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
   ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
   ⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
   ⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
   ⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
   ⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Matthew 25:34-46.

The Storms Will Come

This was a difficult week for several families in particular at Heartland Church -- a painful week.  It was a week of sharp contrasts.  It was a week where God's plan and purpose was not always clear and evident.  Weeks like this inevitably cause us to reflect on our own walk with God, on God's purpose for our lives and on how we choose to use the precious time we have been given.

For one family it was a time to say "goodbye" -- at least for now -- to a wonderful, godly woman.  Having recently lost my own father I understand, at least to an extent, this particular pain.  No matter how old they may be, I don't think we can really ever prepare ourselves for the loss of a parent.  What I cannot comprehend, though, is the pain of losing a spouse -- in this case a spouse of something like fifty-eight years.  

For another family it was a time to say "goodbye" -- at least for now -- to a wonderful, godly man.  This man was going away for a time because of decisions he made in the past.  Decisions he made before he understood who God really is.  Decisions he made before he buried his old self and began to live a new life for Jesus.

For both of these families, although it is not easy to see right now, I believe God has a plan.  

While he was in the hospital waiting on his wife, I had a chance to visit with this man who had managed to stay married to the same woman for fifty-eight years.  Think about that -- 58 years.  That's longer than I have been alive!

During our visit, this man told me a little bit about his own testimony -- about his own walk with God.  Despite what he was going through at the time, there was an amazing gentleness about him, an amazing calm and an amazing confidence in God.  Listening to his testimony was a huge blessing, and it was clear to me that God intends to continue to change lives through this man.

Although the context was strikingly different, I can say something quite similar about the man who is going away because of his past mistakes.  In what had to be one of the most stressful moments in his life, there was a remarkable calm and a remarkable trust in God.

This man's family has suffered through great difficulty and, make no mistake about it, more difficult times lie ahead.  They are innocent victims of what can only be described as incredible selfishness.

But, I do believe that God has truly changed this man.  I believe he is truly repentant, and that God has forgiven him.  I also believe that God intends to change lives through this man.  He has a great family, and they will survive this.  In fact, I really believe that some of his children will become world-changers.

In the pain of the moment -- in the closeness of the moment -- it may be difficult or even impossible to see God's hand in situations like these.  It might be difficult or impossible to see how God could take these circumstances and turn them into blessings.  But, He can.

There are, to be sure, other Heartland families going through difficult times.  These two just happen to be weighing on my heart tonight.

If you are one of those families, please know that our prayers are with you.  The storms have come before, and they will come again.  But, remember "that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

God bless.

God Is So Good.

This morning during our mens' Bible study I had the chance to reflect a little on the last ten years at Heartland Church.  Many of you know my story -- which, in part, is the story of a man being dragged kicking and screaming into the ministry.


As I have come to accept and cooperate in God's plan, though, I have been blessed in so many ways.  As an example, my marriage and family life are stronger now than they have ever been.  Just last night I was reminded yet again what a great wife I have!


One of the greatest blessings I get out of working at the church is being in a unique position to see the stories of so many other people unfold.  They are stories about the trials and victories in life.  They are stories where God is both the hero and the author.


During our last worship service, at some point I noticed a woman sitting by herself crying.  Her husband had gone to the front of the church to pray, and there she sat with tears running down her cheeks.


I asked her if she was alright, and she smiled.  She said she was just thinking of a moment several years ago -- back to a time when the church was still in Irving.  Pastor Dan had come to pray with this woman that day, and she asked for prayer for one thing -- that her family would be healed and restored.  This is how the story ends.  So, let's go back to the beginning.


Many years ago this woman worked with one of our Heartland partners (we call our congregants "partners" because membership implies privilege while partnership implies shared responsibility.  And, come to think of it, this is a perfect example of partnership in action!)  This woman was not a Christian, and our partner was witnessing to her at work.


Sometime later, long after the two stopped working at the same place, our partner got an unexpected call from this woman explaining that her marriage was falling apart.  Our partner invited this woman to come to church the next Sunday, and that was the Sunday when Pastor Dan prayed for restoration of the woman's family.


Unfortunately, the couple -- who had a young daughter at the time -- ended up getting a divorce.  It was obviously an extremely painful time for the family.  All hope seemed to be lost.


Fast forward to several years later.  The now ex-husband moved to Carrollton.  As it would happen, he moved into an apartment building that just happened to be right across the street from Heartland Church.  He had visited the church while we were in Irving, and decided to come by again on a Sunday since the church was literally across the street from where he now lived.  He was trying to put his life and his marriage back together.   At some point he convinced his wife and daughter to visit the church with him.


Once a quarter or so, we have an event called "Pizza with the Pastor."  Pizza with the Pastor is just what it sounds like.  It's a time for people who are new to the church to eat a little pizza and get to know our pastors a little better.


On this particular day, this family decided to share -- to give us a glimpse into where they were and the challenges they were facing.  A couple of our pastors took them aside and prayed for the family that day.  In the months to come, many more prayers would go out for the family as they struggled to work through what must have seemed like impossible obstacles to resuming their life together.


Not long ago this family attended one of the more important events we have at Heartland Church -- a child dedication.  This is a time when the natural family and the church family come together to dedicate a child to the Lord and to pledge together to raise that child God's way.


This child dedication was particularly special, as this couple, now remarried, was dedicating their second child to God.  To add insult to the enemy, the wife recently accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and savior!


On a personal note, I hope that this family knows how much I love them.  Our church family would not be complete without them.  They have been an inspiration and an incredible blessing in my life.


This is one story of God at work at Heartland Church.  There are many, many more.


If there is one thing I never have to ask myself, it's "why do I do what I do at Heartland Church?"  The answer is pretty simple -- it's because God is sooo good!

Gossip Girl

²⁸ A perverse man stirs up dissension,
      and a gossip separates close friends.
                                Proverbs 16:28


Let's start with the story of the revolt that took place while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments.  I am sure you know it.


<sup>While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the two tablets of the covenant, the Israelites were becoming increasingly anxious.  The next thing you know, Aaron was approached by the Israelite mob.  The mob demanded that Aaron make gods for the people.  As for Moses, the mob commented that they did not know what became of him.


Soon enough, Moses came down from the mountain to find the people dancing and worshiping a golden calf.  Not surprisingly, Moses got a little upset.  God apparently got a little upset too.  Ultimately, the party cost about 3,000 Israelites their lives. 


On first read, it might seem from the account in Exodus like the revolt against both Moses and God was spontaneous -- the mob suddenly appeared in front of Aaron and made their demand.  Clearly, it was not.  The mob was in alignment.  They knew what they wanted, and they had obviously been talking about Moses -- likely discussing where Moses had gone, what had become of him and whether he was ever coming back.   


The Bible, both New and Old Testament, is replete with warnings about the dangers of gossip.  The story of Moses and the golden calf hopefully reminds us of the obvious -- that gossip is divisive and destructive.  The gossip of the Israelites sowed seeds of doubt in the hearts of the people.  Doubts about who Moses was.  And, more importantly, doubts about who God was.


Gossip led to the people turning away from Moses and looking to Aaron for human leadership.  Gossip lead the same people to turn away from God and to the worship of a dumb idol -- a calf formed from gold.  Gossip is divisive.




19</sup> A gossip betrays a confidence;
   so avoid a man who talks too much.
                                       Proverbs 20:19


One of the things I find interesting about this story is that the price for the revolt was not just paid by those who started the it.  I mean, doesn't it seem like Moses could have just asked God who was responsible for starting this mess in the first place?  Wouldn't it have been enough to have made an example of that person (or small group of people)?


But, when you think about it, what is worse -- doing the talking or doing the listening?  


I will be the first to admit that there have been times in the past when I listened to gossip when I shouldn't have.  Nothing good ever came of it.


As a Pastor, there are times when I really don't have a choice but to listen.  Sometimes it takes time to figure out whether the person is raising an issue they really think I can help with or whether they are just talking to talk (or to vent!).  But, I have learned at least two things about gossip.  First, if for some reason you have to listen, it is never a good idea to repeat what you've heard.  Much of the time the potential impact of spreading gossip is obvious.  But, all too often gossip leads to destruction that was never imagined.  


Second, there are always at least two sides to every story.  Some people say there are actually always three sides to every story -- what the first person says, what the second person says, and what really happened.  That reality alone is a good reason never to spread gossip.




²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
   without gossip a quarrel dies down.
                                   Proverbs 26:20


At the end of the day, the best thing obviously is not to gossip at all.  And, when someone wants to spread gossip to you, the best thing is just to politely decline to listen.


You have no doubt heard the amateur philosopher ask the age old question whether a tree falling in the middle of a forest with no ears to hear it still makes a sound.  Well, no such philosophical question need be asked or answered about gossip.  If people don't listen, the fire goes out.  Actually, if people don't listen the fire never starts in the first place!


There are certainly times when it is necessary to speak about another person outside of their presence about unflattering things in their life.  It may be to try to get help for them or to help or warn someone else.  But, before you speak seek God.  Pray that God will tell you whether speaking is the right thing to do.  Pray for God to help you know who to speak to.  Pray that God will give you the right words and the right attitude.


And, by the way ladies, by the title I don't mean to suggest that gossip is a sin reserved for women.  I just thought "Gossip Girl" was a cute title!!! 

Spiritual Warfare II

Before we get too far, let me assure you that I am not one of those people who think that Christians should stay out of politics.  More to the point, I think that Christians, like other citizens, ought to exercise their right and obligation to vote.   


Now, I know, some of you are already thinking "what does this have to do with spiritual warfare?" Well, stay with me for a minute.


While politics have been an extremely polarizing subject in this country for years, we seem to be at a new high (or depending on how you look at it, a new low) since the 2008 election.  Love him or hate him, President Obama seems to be a figure who provokes a strong emotional response.  And, to be fair, it is probably also true that we live in a pivotal time -- our values, beliefs and priorities as a nation are changing. 


The national debate about our values, beliefs and priorities has at times gotten ugly, and all too often "Christians" have been in the midst of that ugliness.  It seems to me that it is hard to truly show the love of Jesus when your are slinging mud.  But, again to be fair, I think Christians have been both vocal and emotional because of the understandable frustration with a country that is surely drifting away from the Christian principles on which it was founded.


I do think that as Christians we need to put politics into perspective.  I think it is a mistake to put too much faith in the political process or in the potential for any one man or woman to effect meaningful change in our lives.  


If you are now scratching your head, ask yourself this:  What would have a bigger impact on this country?  (1) If every candidate on your dream ballot won; or (2) if true revival swept through America -- if the country suddenly decided to turn its face back to God?


We might also ask ourselves what all of our hand wringing and debate about the next election has accomplished?  If you voted in the 2008 election, you got one vote of the approximately 132,600,000 votes that were cast that day.  In the next election you will still only get one vote. 


Again, I firmly believe that we all ought to vote and that the next election is an important one.  I also think that as a general matter we should assess candidates through the lens of a Christian worldview.  That is, we should be asking ourselves which candidates, if any, support policies and views that are most consistent with "Christian values."  But I also believe that the real battle is not being fought in the voting booth, it is being fought in the prayer closet.


Maybe the time we spend debating about the next election would be better spent praying for our current leaders, praying for our country, praying for the nations and praying for God's will in our lives.  Maybe we should be praying for God to give us wisdom and discernment before we cast our votes in the next elections, and that He would raise up leaders in this country who are men and women after God's heart.  Maybe we should spend our time praying that our nation would turn its eyes back to Christ.


I just don't think that the ballot box, or the political system, or the candidates are the answer to the problem.  The reason is simple: at the end of the day the struggle is a spiritual one.






^"10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."   


Ephesians 6:10 - 18.

Spiritual Warfare

First, I just want to say thanks again for your support -- particularly for your prayers -- over the past couple of months. It has been a difficult time and, unfortunately for our extended family, the challenges continue.

In times like these it is natural for us, at least temporarily, to give more serious thought to things like our mortality, our priorities, and our legacy. It is sobering to think that some day each of our lives will likely be summarized in a relatively brief eulogy and perhaps a slide show of photographs from some of our more meaningful, or at least pleasant, moments on the earth.

Perhaps it is because this is the current subject of our Wednesday night class, but as I have thought through some of these issues in my own life it has occurred to me how each relates to "spiritual warfare." In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (KJV)

The fight that Paul talks about, of course, is not a physical one -- although Paul certainly had his share of unwanted physical altercations! Paul's real fight, and the one we all really face, is spiritual. For this reason, we are told to "[p]ut on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:11-12 (KJV)

As Christians, our legacy depends on how we fight this fight. And fighting the good fight largely comes down to our priorities.

During his "Christian phase," Bob Dylan (yes, that Bob Dylan -- guitar poet, voice of a generation, hippie guru) said in one of his songs (the title escapes me) "you either got faith or you got unbelief, there ain't no neutral ground". I totally agree that is true about faith -- you either have it or you don't -- and I believe it is largely true about our priorities. How we use our time, our gifts and our resources either serves God or it serves the enemy. I just don't see a lot of neutral ground there.

In this sense, the spiritual battle is inward.  It is about understanding who God is and what he desires for our lives.  It is about preparing ourselves for the fight daily through prayer and the study of His word.  It is about putting our study and meditation into action -- doing our best to live a Godly life and not a worldly life.

And, a big part of that inward battle is understanding that the enemy has so many weapons at his disposal.  Even the most innocuous of things -- television, an interest in sports, computers, or an interest in politics -- can be used to distract us, to mislead us and, ultimately, to destroy us.  It is not that any of these things, or the countless other things that the enemy uses, are inherently evil.  Just as our fight is not against flesh, it is not against television, sports, computers or politics.  It is against the dark forces that can use those things to do us spiritual, and sometimes physical, harm.

I am certainly not suggesting that we should give up any of these things.  I am just saying that God needs to come first.  Let's prepare ourselves for the fight, and not let the enemy use these "things" to take our focus off of the real prize.

Of Pastors and Teachers

We recently had a consultant speak to our executive staff about ways to manage church growth. This man had a number of interesting and helpful ideas and observations. He also had one idea, though, that did not sit particularly well with me. More importantly, this idea did not sit particularly well with Pastor Dan.

The consultant observed, correctly, that as the church grew PD could not spend the kind of personal time with our partners on an individual basis as he had in the past. Common sense tells you that is true. He then observed that PD will have to prioritize his time differently, which common sense also tells you is true.

And here is where the train fell off the tracks for me. The consultant suggested that the areas PD should leave to others included weddings, funerals and hospital visits.
This suggestion immediately reminded me of a story I had heard some time ago about a pastor from another church who announced to his congregation one Sunday that they should hope to never see him in their hospital room. This pastor said if anyone ever saw him in their hospital room it meant that they were dying, because he did not have time to make hospital visits for anything less serious.

This particular pastor is by no means alone. I have heard many pastors express the same attitude. In fact, I am afraid that there are many pastors out there who think that when their congregation becomes big enough that they can no longer personally do weddings, funerals and hospital visits it is a good thing -- it means they have arrived.

As an executive staff we have recognized for a long time that as Heartland Church grows Pastor Dan will not personally be able to make every hospital visit or officiate over every wedding or funeral. He cannot even do that now. So, we have prepared for that reality by spreading those responsibilities among all of our pastors.

The difference, though, is that instead of feeling a sense of freedom from being relieved of some of this responsibility Pastor Dan is pained by the thought. Why? Because PD truly has a pastor's heart. He wants to be there to celebrate the most important events in our partners' lives. He wants to be there when our partners get married and when their children are born. He wants to be there in their moments of crisis. He wants to be there when our partners are sick and in need of prayer or to bring comfort to grieving families who have seen loved ones go home to be with the Lord.

From what I can gather, Jesus spoke to some pretty large crowds. And maybe I missed it, but I just don't remember reading anywhere of Jesus telling any of these crowds that he no longer had time to minister to them individually, and that if they had any questions or needed prayer and healing they should see one of the twelve.

What I do remember is that after He gave His sermon on the mount large crowds followed Him. And yet, when a man with leprosy emerged from the crowd Jesus not only spoke with that man but healed him. I remember reading about disciples being surprised that Jesus would take the time to minister to a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well. I remember Jesus washing the feet of His disciples shortly before going to the cross.

I am not at all suggesting that pastors of very large congregations take on impossible burdens. There are obviously practical limitations on what one person can do. At the same time, I believe there are very real dangers when even the most "successful" pastors remove themselves from the flocks they serve.

First, there is the very real danger that the pastor will lose the ability to relate to the realities of life faced by their congregations. How can you effectively minister to people if you no longer understand their worries, their pains and their frustrations?

Second, success can be a very dangerous thing, and I think the problem is compounded when pastors decide that their time is too important to spend time with the people that God gave them to shepherd. I think the enemy often takes advantage of that situation, and convinces some pastors that their success is, well, their success.

Maybe it's just me, but arrogance in a pastor is just really hard for me to take. Jesus spoke often of the importance of humility and of having a servants' heart. I don't remember Him ever exempting pastors with large congregations from these critical virtues.

I apologize. This has become somewhat of a rant. But it is a subject that has been on my heart of late and it's one of the important reasons why I choose to worship at Heartland Church.  I hope you value your pastor's heart.




<sup>Luke 14:7-11


7</sup> When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ⁸ “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. ⁹ If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. ¹⁰ But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Dad

As many of you know, my earthly father passed away last Saturday.

Dad was born Thomas H. Crews (he became Thomas H. Crews, Sr. after my older brother was born) but was known to his friends as "Tom."  Dad was a complex man.  He came from humble beginnings -- a Louisiana boy -- but pursued and conquered the "American Dream."

As Dad was conquering the American Dream he found the game of golf.  Dad loved all things golf.  He played golf, he watched golf, he talked golf and he dreamed golf.  Dad would play 18 plus holes on Saturday and then again on Sunday.  Then he would watch golf tournaments on T.V., which he had been taping while he was playing.

For years we gave Dad golf stuff for his birthday.  But a day came when there was simply no more golf stuff to get him.  Once he had all the golf stuff there was we pretty much stopped giving him anything for his birthday.  It just seemed like there was nothing else we could give him that he would like.  Some of you probably think I am exaggerating.  I'm telling you the man LOVED golf.

Dad was far from perfect -- just like the rest of us.  He was impatient and could have quite a temper.  For example, going out to dinner with him at a restaurant required a seat belt and a strong stomach (not because of the food!).  If Dad didn't like the service or the meal (an all too often occurrence) the waiter or waitress (I guess now they are just called "servers") was going hear about it.  If Dad really didn't like the service or the meal pretty much everyone at the whole restaurant was going to hear about it!!  Sometimes those stories were funny in retrospect.  Sometimes they were not funny even then.  Again, some of you think I am exaggerating.

But Dad was also a very generous man.  He loved and valued family.  He desperately wanted the best for all of us.

Later in life Dad gave up part of his Sundays on the golf course and started attending church again.  My mother had become very active in the church, and I guess Dad figured if she was going to be that involved he might as well at least start attending too.  Somewhere along the way Dad and God got reacquainted.

Dad had grown up in a minister's home, but I guess over the years his focus drifted away from God and on to other things.  Not that there was a time when Dad didn't believe -- it's just that there was a long period of time where Dad really didn't give God much thought.  But in these later years Dad's faith became extremely important to him, and I think God changed him.  Dad became a more gentle person.  I don't think there was anything that he wanted more than for the whole family to have faith in Jesus.

It was not always clear what Dad was thinking, but I believe there were two things that made Dad proud of me.  The first was my wife, Pam.  I think Dad was shocked that a girl like Pam (beautiful, smart, ... did I day beautiful yet?) would be interested in a guy like me.  So, he encouraged us to get married quickly before she could change her mind!

The second thing I think Dad was proud of was my calling.  It's funny, but while I think Dad respected my career as a lawyer, I don't think he was particularly proud of it.  Dad never had nice things to say about lawyers.  But I do think that my ordination as a pastor meant a great deal to him.

In my last few days with him, Dad wanted to spend most of our time in prayer.  The first day, Pam and I prayed with Dad countless times during the day, and again when my aunt Jackie and cousin Beth arrived to visit him that night.  It was amazing how natural it felt to pray for my father and to see God comfort him.  I was grateful for this time together, and that God (and my time at Heartland Church) had prepared me for that moment.      

We live in a time when it seems like everyone wants to blame all their problems in life on their parents.  I don't think that's biblical, and most of the time I don't think it's fair.  We are supposed to honor our parents.

I have not been a perfect father for my kids, and Dad was not a perfect father for me, my brothers or my sister.  But Dad was a good man who loved God and who loved us -- and I would not trade him for anyone.

I love my Dad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx1inqsFmIU&feature=related

 
                                            Proud Grandpa

Right to left:  Dad, Mom, Uncle Morris, Aunt Jackie, Uncle Bill  

Under Construction

I had planned to write today about the second goal we have at Heartland Church for our partners -- which is "Invite and Invest". Invite and Invest is really the essence of the Great Commission, and I will come back to that soon. But, I think I want to talk about something else today.

It has been a difficult week, and sometimes challenging times lead us to, remind us of, or make more clear simple truths. This is one of those times.

As you might imagine, working in a church gives you plenty of opportunity to see both the best in people and the worst in people. When some of the "less positive" parts of someone's character come out Pastor Sherry will be one of the first to say that she tries to see beyond the present and instead to see God's finished work.

Seeing ahead to the finished work is not always easy. It is particularly difficult when the "less positive" parts of someone's character cause you pain personally. Sometimes it is hard enough to forgive -- let alone to see the potential in that person -- to see the person that God sees.

The fact is that we are all "under construction". Hopefully, we are all striving to reach the potential that God has given us -- although I recognize that is not always the case. Some people have never found God, others are standing still, and still others have hit some type of crisis in their life that may even have them moving backwards.

On the other hand, the world tends to think that people don't change. I don't believe that. People can change. I have seen it happen. God can change them. Ask the Apostle Paul!

Some of you may be wondering who was the inspiration for this blog. Well, it's not any one person. It's probably a lot of different people, including myself.

I guess I am just saying that the next time someone offends you, the next time you lose patience, the next time you decide that someone will never amount to anything, try to remember that they, just like you, are under construction. It may be that things will never change -- that's always possible. But it also might be that God has big plans for that person. It may also be that God put you in their path for such a time as this.

I Love My Church

If you attend Heartland Church you know that Pastor Dan is currently doing a series called "I Love My Church." Well, I love my church!! And, no, its not just because I am on staff!

I love Heartland Church for most of the same reasons our partners do -- the unbelievable worship, the excellent children and student programs, the insightful messages, and so on. But, let me mention a few things that personally stand out for me -- in no particular order.

1. I love our Lead Pastor. Pastor Dan will be the first to tell you that he is not perfect, which is one of the things I love about him. But, Dan loves God and he loves people with all his heart. To me, that is the best compliment you could ever give any man or woman. I will also be eternally indebted to PD for dragging me into the ministry -- although some days I want to smack him for that too! Enough said.

2. I love our staff. We have a great team that just wants to serve God with excellence. I am particularly indebted to our executive team -- Pastors Dan, Sherry, Dave and Dusty. God has stretched and tested me many times over the last three years. But, He also surrounded me with this group of incredible people (including my wife Pam, of course) who are determined to see God's purpose for my life fulfilled. What a blessing!

3. I love our congregation. Time and time again visitors tell us how welcomed and loved they feel while visiting HC. That feeling they have while they are with us is not an accident. The reason for it is simple -- our congregation genuinely loves people and does an incredible job of showing the love of Christ to everyone who walks through the doors of Heartland Church. On a personal note, I just want to say thank you to our partners for your support and encouragement, and for embracing me as a pastor at the church. You are a big part of the reason that I can't wait to get to church on Sunday mornings.

Let me say one more thing about why I love Heartland -- and its a big thing. We are a church that does not want anyone to settle for a casual relationship with Jesus.

Last week Pastor Dan focused in his message on the first of our four goals for our HC partners -- "Take Your Next Bold Step". Taking your next bold step is our way of asking our partners to diligently seek to know God's purpose for their lives and then to have the courage to submit to His will. For some, taking the next bold step may mean making a decision to put their faith in Jesus. For others, it may mean volunteering as an usher or working in the nursery on Sunday. For others, that next step might be becoming a full time missionary or going to Bible college or seminary. It might mean starting an inner-city ministry, working with the homeless or fighting human trafficking.

Heartland Church has been in Carrollton now for a little over a year and a half, and I think it is time for the church itself to take it's "next bold step" as well. In part, that next step for HC means expanding our parking and facilities to allow for our continued growth. And, I believe those projects are really important -- especially because they impact our ability to prepare the next generation to serve Him.

But, expanding the parking and facilities doesn't mean that much at the end of the day unless Heartland Church is able to impact the world around it. And, impacting the world around us -- in Carrollton and beyond -- is not just the responsibility of the pastors and the staff. It is the work of the Body of Christ; which means you. In other words, the simple truth is this: that Heartland Church cannot take it's next bold step unless you take your next bold step right along with us. We are in this thing together.

I hope you are ready Heartland partners. If you're not wearing them already, put on your seat belts!!

I love my church. How about you?