6 Days ...

So ... here we are ... 6 days away from launching a new ministry. I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I am so excited about this and know ... beyond a shadow of a doubt ... that this is where God needs me to be. Of course, the rumor mill is still churning out its fair share of meaningless platitudes. However, as Jim Carrey said in Liar, Liar ... "AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE!" (I think someone else said that too!!)

Anyway - if you are in the Inverness, Florida area this Sunday, July 13 around 10 AM and want to join us at the Inverness Community Center ... Please do so! We'd love to have you!

The End of an Era ... the Beginning of Another ...

Well, today was the end of an era for me. As a Pastor, you don't expect change, but you know that with God, anything is possible. That is true for me. I concluded a ministry this morning and have 4-weeks of well earned rest! Then, I'll begin a new ministry. The really cool thing is this ... I don't have to move anywhere!

God has given me the privilege of beginning a new ministry within this community. As this area grows, another Christian Church is going to be necessary and right now, the demographics are advantageous for that. The church I just concluded a ministry with became a church of particular comfort for many. The outreach and desire to seek those who were not like everyone else had long since taken over. My encouragement is my new ministry will be something brand new. It is exciting to see God work.

The only real unfortunate aspect of this for me has been those that we left behind. Many of them are so caught up in their own desires that they cannot see the forest through the trees ... they cannot see God's handiwork. I pray for them. I pray for you as you read this. I pray that God will touch you in such a way that you will reach out to him.

Have a wonderful week ...

Oh ... and GO TIGER!!!! What a golfer!

Neon

"Neon (Greek neos “new”), symbol Ne, colorless, odorless, nonreactive gaseous element that makes up a tiny fraction of Earth's atmosphere."

Colorless.....
Odorless ..............
Nonreactive gaseous element ....................
Makes up a tiny fraction of Earth's atmosphere.......

No wonder I missed it for so long!!!!!

God Never Lets Go

Several years ago, I had the privilege of spending time with David Crowder when he was a worship leader with Christ In Youth (CIY). I have watched as he has risen to superstar status in the recording industry and he is a remarkable writer. In light of events that have transpired in recent weeks ... both here at FCCI and around the world ... I thought I'd post what I believe to be one of David's most inspired songs. I hope it brings you encouragement.

David Crowder*Band - Never Let Go
When clouds veil sun

And disaster comes

Oh, my soul Oh, my soul

When waters rise

And hope takes flight

Oh, my soul Oh, my soul Oh, my soul
Ever faithful Ever true

You I know You never let go

You never let go You never let go You never let go
When clouds brought rain

And disaster came

Oh, my soul Oh, my soul

When waters rose

And hope had flown

Oh, my soul Oh, my soul Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul Overflows Oh, what love, oh, what love

Oh, my soul Fills hope Perfect love that never lets go
Oh, what love, oh what love Oh, what love, oh what love

In joy and pain

In sun and rain

You’re the same

Oh, You never let go

The Sin of Omission

Within the past Sunday's Sermon, I used a poem by Margaret Sangster that many asked about. Here is that poem. It is also found within William Bennett's masterful collection titled "The Book of Virtues"

The Sin of Omission
Margaret Sangster

It isn’t the thing you do, dear,
It’s the thing you leave undone
That gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flowers you did not send, dear,
And your haunting ghosts at night.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother’s way;
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle, winning tone
Which you had no time nor thought for
With troubles enough of your own.”

Okay Dave, Just for You!!

So I've been reminded that it has been a while, January 28th to be exact, since I posted a blog. SORRY!!! So I'll make an attempt to share some words of wisdom!

How about these words ... Never, never, never give up! Those are easy words ... those are profound words ... those are perfect words ... IF ... we actually abide by them. Last night was a good example of those words. There were 7.1 seconds on the clock. My beloved Lady Volunteers were down 46-45. Candace Parker - the perenial All American was not on the top of her game following a twice seperated shoulder in a previous outing. Alexis Hornbuckle hadn't even scored 1 point all night. Only 45 points for a team that is used to dominating the game seemed quite shallow. And, with only 7.1 seconds left and the Lady's on the lower standard of the score, it seemed as though LSU was finally going to a National Championship game.

The inbound pass went to Candace. With her long frame she easily took the ball down the floor in just 4 or 5 steps. She dished off to Nicki Anosike, who herself was having a rough night. The "easy" lay-up was not even close. But, Alexis grabbed the rebound and dropped in a bucket ... literally within the last second. As the ball went through the net and the clock stopped at .7 seconds, the Lady Vols were up 47-46 and all LSU could do was hope for a miracle ... one which never came.

7.1 seconds for most people is nothing. The first paragraph took me longer than 7.1 seconds to write. 7.1 seconds ... easy to give up that much time ... however, time is our most precious commodity. It is the one thing that doesn't change with inflation ... it is the same every day ... 24-hours ... 1,440 minutes ...86,400 seconds every day. In the grand scheme of things ... 7.1 seconds just doesn't seem to amount to much.

Just remember though ... it just could be the difference between going home and playing one more championship game. Don't ever underestimate the value of a few seconds. It could be the most important seconds of the game!

I Know It's Been A While

Greetings!
I know that it has been a while since I last blogged, but I've had a lot on my mind and figured it might all come out in one jumbled mass! However, today as I was reading one of my favorite fellow bloggers - his words really jumped out too me. So - I want to share them with you. This is from friend, fellow blogger and minister, Aaron Chambers ...

Monday, January 28, 2008
They Like Jesus But Hate The Church?

In a meeting I attended recently with some church leaders from around the country I heard this phrase spoken as a sample of how young adults view the Church: "They like Jesus, but hate the church."

Interesting.

And impossible.

If I understand New Testament ecclesiology we don't have the luxury of separating Christ and his Bride.

Jesus and the Church are one and the same.

When Saul was on his way to Damascus to continue his persecution of Christ's Church a blinding bright light appeared from heaven, Saul fell to the ground, and he heard a voice from heaven saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"Acts 9:4

Who was Saul persecuting? The Church.

Who did the Lord accuse Saul of persecuting? Himself ("Me")

What's the lesson? Jesus was taking the persecuting of his church personally. What you do to the Church you do to Jesus. What we do to--and say about--the Church, we're doing--and saying--about Jesus.

We can't like Jesus and hate the church. It's a false dichotomy (Jesus on one side-His Church on the other).

That's like saying, "I like Arron, but hate Rhonda (my wife)." Here's a little advice: Don't say that within swinging distance of my right arm. :)

How you treat my wife is how you treat me.

I understand the angst reflected in the statement ("I like Jesus but hate the Church"). Many young--and older--adults are frustrated with the legalism, traditionalism, and divisiveness they see in their congregations or the church as a whole. They love Jesus and want to see his Bride become all she can be, but I think they're . . . we're . . . going at it the wrong way.

In my opinion the best way to help the Bride of Christ (the Church) to become stronger, healthier, and more unified is simply to love her--and her Groom--even more.

"Amen and Amen!"