Caring for the Community

Over the last few years there has been a huge push to love the way that Jesus loves.  Books like "Crazy Love" by Frances Chan and David Platt's books "Radical" and "Radical Together."  The basics of the books is that by loving people the way Christ loves people they will see the love of the Father and become followers of Christ.

When I first read "Crazy Love" I was moved by it beyond words until I got to the fifth chapter.  In that chapter he began to use the reference at the end of Matthew 25 to say that our mission was to help our brother with physical needs: clothing, feeding, giving drink, and visiting in the prisons.  Any serious Bible student should understand the context of Matthew 25 is post tribulation after the second advent of Christ and He judges the nations for there activity with Christ's brothers, Israel.  But no one seems to take the time any longer to check on such things.  Now, I do believe that the scripture teaches us to be generous and to help our neighbor.  I just would use that passage as a proof text.

As I read "Radical" by David Platt, I noticed that he made sure to say that every instance in which the Church would help the community there was an opportunity to preach the gospel and see people respond to Christ's message of salvation.  This made more since to me in the fact that "It profits a man nothing to gain the whole world and loose his own soul."  Then as I read "Radial Together," and Platt put this concept of the love of Christ in its proper context of the Church I knew that this was some truth in which to cling.

The longer I'm in ministry the more simple things become.  God, life, people, and Church all revolve around one thing: relationships.  God is a relational god that desires to be in relationship and has built all life around relationships.  As we left Katie's game last night we drove by a Church at had made an elaborate light show for people to drive through.  I sure the light show was free, and I know it took numerous man hours to pull it off.  but I wonder, out of all that activity for the community how many lasting intimate relationship will be built that lead someone to the saving knowledge of Christ and encourages them to build the kingdom of God.  Activity as no value in itself it is not attached to some type of relationship.  All you have done is put on a free light show.  I liked the light show!!!  I thought it was cool.  But is that what we as the Church has been called to do.

New Season Church is about to have a big community day in which we provide food, clothing, and toys for the surrounding community.  I think this is a great idea to draw a crowd.  it is a great reason for people to come together.  But if we are not intentional in building new relationships with the people that come, all we will have done is provide food, clothing, and toys. I see so many church gimmicks that are done to make the church member feel good about themselves instead of accomplishing the work of the ministry.  Jesus was so effective because the relationships he built while he was here and the relationship he has built in my heart.  Let's give like Jesus gave! Let's love like Jesus loved!  But in doing so, Let's build deep meaningful relationships that will cause people to be more like Jesus.  God speed to you in whatever you do for His kingdom.

Borger Here We Come

This morning, the girls and I got up to get ready for our flight back to Borger to pick up the last of Katie's things and move for the final time.  For those of you that don't know, when we moved at the end of August to Georgia Katie decided she wanted to finish out her senior year of high school in Borger.  Who would blame her right?  Kellie had already moved to Atlanta to start school and Kim and I were pulling out of Borger after a great 12 year ministry at Fellowship Baptist Church.  On Halloween Katie hopped a plane to surprise us and it worked.  We had no idea she was coming.  We knew that she was struggling being away from us as we were being away from her.  But I was taken back, when in the middle of trick-or-treating she looked at me and said, "Dad I'm ready to move here."  We worked it all out the next registered her for school and she started the next Monday.  While we were in the counselors office getting her classes arranged to coach of the girls basketball team came to meet us and began recruiting Katie for he girls varsity team.   I was so glad because this was the one thing she was leaving behind in Borger: the comfort of her team.

Because the move wasn't planned she left her car and clothes and everything else in Borger (not to mention the airline lost her bag that was never found).  So we needed to fly back on last time to get all our stuff.  We decided we would take the Thanksgiving holiday to make the trip with the Church office closed and the girls out of school.  Kellie and I had a credit with Southwest so our tickets were paid and we just changed Katie's flight.  Kellie was so excited to go because she has has been dieing to see all her friends in Borger.  So tomorrow we will pack up all Katie's stuff in her car and Thanksgiving we will head to Arkansas.

Kim had already planned to fly to KC and take her mom to Arkansas to be with her family in Ozark.  So, we will meet up with her in Arkansas and have Thanksgiving dinner together.  I just love it when a plan comes together.  Then the girls and I will drive on to Memphis to spend the night and then home to Atlanta.

Choose Your Primary Care Giver

In just about any health insurance plan there comes a time that you must choose your "primary care giver."  At New Season Church we are about to enter into a new series if not a new campaign on stewardship.  As soon as you read the word stewardship, I'll bet you immediately started thinking about your responsibility to give to the work of God and do your part.  This would be a correct direction of thinking because the word stewardship is all about your responsibilities to God, your family, and the Church.  The problem with this thinking is it puts you in the drivers seat instead of just along for the ride.

In Matthew 6:24 through the rest of the chapter, Jesus says that in this thing called life you must pick your primary care giver.  There are basically two options in front of you.  The most popular doctor that people choose is money.  The interesting that about the doctor of money is that he has no brain and can't make a decision to save his own life much less yours.  So, he always turns the questions and responsibility back on the individual to make all the choices.  Therefore, when you choose the money doctor you are the one that's in control and in charge of your own destiny.   

The other doctor is the Lord God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the King of Kings, the Great Physician, and the Lover of our souls.  He has all the resources and all the know how to provide all the care we need.  Not only does he know the struggles your going through, but has already prepared for it.  He doesn't practice medicine He is the medicine.  Money is something he plays with.  He can put it in a fish's mouth or throw it in a mailbox.  He is not governed by it, but is the Governor of it.  When he directs your path you don't have to worry about anything.  You can have faith that God will take care of you.

So, why don't people choose him?  Why do we, the patients, think we know better than the Great Physician?  He has all the knowledge and all the skill to properly diagnose and set us on a path to recovery.  All we need to do is trust Him, believe Him, put our faith in Him, and everything will work out right.  When we put the responsibility on the Lord all we have to do is be obedient to his commands.  We don't have to manage the process because we don't even have enough understanding or information to make the right choices in the first place.  Obedience is our stewardship.  When the Lord says give, you give.  What the Lord says give, you give.  He will manage your money, if you will just turn it over to Him and follow is instruction.

(Brought to you by the offices of J.C., G, & H)