Recently someone said something that rubbed me the wrong way.  I have to admit it bothered me some.  And since it was on social media and I don't know the person all that well and it doesn't have life or death implications, I let it go.  But It made me think and steadied my resolve for what I do.  I don't want to quote the comment, because the comment isn't the point.  The point of this post is my philosophy of being a preacher and my reaction to the comment.  But so we can all be on the same page (because you don't live in my head), I'll give my own phrasing.  The comment suggested to preachers that if we weren't going to bring up a certain issue that has been politically public, then we didn't have a worthwhile message that Sunday.  I get the author's point.  The political issue is important and the gospel has a message for this issue.  However, after being offended about the post, I began to consider my first reaction and dwell on its implications.  Although I didn't respond (because contrary to popular belief social media is not always the best way to communicate your ideas and thoughts), had I responded, I would have said something like this.

​  "My Sunday sermon has a different aim and call than the singular issue you have presented in your post.  I do preach and teach messages on the issue you have brought up and I care about this particular issue.  However, I preach/teach to a congregation...weekly...sometimes more than once per week.  I preach and teach for the long view.  Currently my messages are helping shape our community to a path of Christ and have been for 5 years.  We look differently now than we did 5 years ago and I pray that through my preaching and teaching and leadership we will look even more different 5 years from now.  So I may not cover this particular issue this Sunday.  But I have before and will again and because I preach and teach weekly, my message this Sunday is still worthwhile because Salvation and discipleship is a process.  One-hitter sermons are powerful and can strike the audience in just the right places.  However, Jesus spend 3 years with his disciples and they saw much more than I will ever show my congregation.  At the end of the 3 years, they still didn't get it and after 2000 years we still struggle with Christ's concepts.  We may not get any issue right.  But hopefully through my preaching and teaching we will get Jesus!  And If we can get Jesus and His word and look more like him each day, then anything I have to say will be worthwhile...not because of me, but because of Him."

​The Long View is important.  I first heard this term in college.  The idea was that as preachers who may come and go and be employees of the church, many times the elders/leaders/long-time members/board of directors have a "long view."  They care about what happened before you came and will still be there after you leave.  I chose that day to be someone who can commit myself to a church, so that I can have the long view with the other leaders.

I once took students to camp.  At the camp every year the leaders of the camp would emphasize how this one week of camp would change students lives and that they would get more Bible in this one week than the rest of the year.  As a full-time youth minister I was offended by this remark and idea.  I worked hard all year long to teach my students the Bible and help them engage its concepts.  The camp has a short view, because they have these students for a short time.  Youth Ministers should have a long view, because they have these students all year and hopefully for multiple years.

If we are professional ministers, then we need the long view.  We cannot teach everything in one week, one month, one year, or even one decade.  We cannot lead and help shape others if we engaged a short time.  And if we are preaching and teaching for our churches well, then we are providing an involved well-rounded teaching of scripture, Kingdom, social justices, spiritual formation, missional living...essentially Jesus!  And we are doing this over the course of time.  I think it would be a mistake to simply preach reactionary to everything we see come through the news cycle or our civic, national issues.  These will continue to happen and it will be difficult, if not impossible to ground our churches in the foundations of Jesus.  When we ground our churches in Jesus, then the appropriate reactions will come and we can be there to guide and counsel when it doesn't.  And if your sermon calls for what is currently happening, then call for it.  While we can't be reactionary to every cause or issue, we certainly cannot hide behind generalized foundations and not speak out against evil.

Preach, Teach, Follow for the LONG VIEW!

As the new year began I begin to think about what my word for the year would be that would guide my life for 2017.  I was having a hard time focusing long enough to even meditate and think about what it should be and what God was whispering to me.  My wife shared her word to me and I said, "I don't know what my word will be this year or if I even will pick one."  
she replied, "Present.  Your word should be present."  
I quipped back, "What does that even mean?"
She gently said, "Present, meaning not being distracted and totally available when your home."
I said, "Oh."

Every year I don't want the word I'm given.  The word is always challenging and I'm pretty sure that I will fail at keeping it or its concept.  This year is no different.  This word was chosen for me around the second week of January and I have blown it more than I've followed it.  This will be an interesting year.

My goal is to be present when with my staff or my congregation.  fully present when I'm teaching or preaching.  Fully present when I'm home and with my family.  I am really good at being physically present.  I struggle with being attentive and emotionally present, especially with my family.  The unfortunate truth is that I give more, if not all, of myself to my church and leave nothing for my family.  I pray that 2017 will be a time of growth for me as I cultivate my relationship with God, my family, and my church.  I desire to be fully present, so God can use me in mighty ways.

This past Sunday we unveiled our new theme for 2017 and our new vision for our church. I hope to write about each piece of our vision in upcoming posts, but for now I just want to cover our theme; Cultivate.

As I thought about what we were doing as a church and were our blindside might be, the idea of discipleship came to me rather quickly.  The idea of discipleship comes in many different forms.  Some see discipleship as the practice of talking to others about Jesus and God's Kingdom (either the first time or for the millionth time).  In this thought, discipleship boils down to whether or not you find the courage, time, and commitment to share your faith with a stranger or close friend.  Some see discipleship as those that will be involved and work hard for their church.  In this thought, discipleship boils down to whether or not you find the courage, time, and commitment to give to your congregation to make it better.  Some even see discipleship as being learned, dedicated participants in God's Kingdom.  In this thought, discipleship boils down to whether or not you find the courage, time, and commitment to be a responsible, well-meaning, rule-following, student of Jesus Christ.

Discipleship is following.  Plain and Simple.  None of the following interpretations of Discipleship are wrong.  However, none are a complete picture either.  What we find in scripture through Jesus is that disciples are those that follow their master.  When you follow Jesus you will want to share your faith, serve your church, pursue righteousness, and have an outside focus.  Sometimes in American churches we either forget or downplay that last part.  To elevate that last part over and above the other three is also a misstep when speaking about or practicing discipleship.

The idea of Cultivate is to cultivate our relationship with Jesus and by doing so we become his disciples and grow in our discipleship.  When this happens there is an honest spiritual transformation that takes place.  That transformation  is a powerful Kingdom builder.  We are not simply transformed only to be changed personally, but so that the world around us can be changed too.  

When you follow the life of Christ through scripture he is constantly engaged with the Father.  He is constantly sharing the love of the Father.  He is invested in the lives of friends and followers.  He is practicing kindness through serving the least of those in his society.  And in the end He gives up his life because of these things he has practiced.  And because of His sacrifice, Satan is defeated and the entire world, past, present, and future is transformed.  

So our church will focus on the idea of that kind of dedication, service, growth, and transformation this year.  Come journey with us!

Jesus shares three stories in Luke 15 about lost things.  His point in these three stories is that to the woman every coin mattered.  To the shepherd, every sheep mattered.  To the father, every child mattered.  Jesus believes that what makes us all equal is the fact that God loves us all the same.  And not just humans, but all of creation.  Then there's that pesky parable in Matthew 20 about the vineyard workers and everyone receives the same wage whether they worked from beginning to end or just the last part of the day.  This has always been troubling to me.  Jesus wanted us to understand that there is no hierarchy in the kingdom.  We are all the same in Christ.  One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, whether slave or free, male or female, jew or greek.  These concepts from Christ himself, were challenged then and unfortunately are still challenged today.  The human condition prevents us from wanting the kind of equality that God describes in His word.

Every now and then God raises up a voice, one calling from the wilderness, to cry out and proclaim on behalf of God's vision, Jesus' mission, the Spirit's leading that all humans regardless of what make us physically, politically, religiously, and ideologically different are the same in Him.  God is the one and only God and that means that He loves ALL of His creation...equally.  Even if they don't love him back and even if they choose to not love whom He loves.  These voices, prophets of God, that are raised up are proclaiming God's truth and challenging us to love His way and find equality in Christ.

Today we celebrate one of those voices.  Martin Luther King Jr. was many things.  He was a black man during civil unrest, a preacher who quoted scripture, a great orator, a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, a peaceful protestor, an activist, and a...prophet.  I live in the south and I haven't seen this in years until just recently, but some southerners want to focus on his imperfections, his race, or spin the story into him just being a troublemaker.  MLK Jr. wasn't perfect and isn't our savior (Jesus is), but if he is defined as simply as a minority or a troublemaker, then he is in good company...Jesus.  The Pharisees were the white privilege of their time and worked with the Roman government to execute a prophet who was really the Messiah.  They didn't like his contact with the unclean and his dinners with tax collectors and sinners.  They didn't appreciate his grace extended to the adulterous woman and his condemnation of the rich exploiting the poor.  They found his theology blasphemous and stories inciting.  The Pharisees did not like the competition and the changes and found a way to rid themselves of this nuisance.  MLK Jr. in his day was thought of much the same.  And like Jesus, if you listen to his messages (which were drawn straight from scripture) all he wanted was equality for all races, colors, and creeds.  He wasn't trying to put a different race on top, but help the world, especially our country, realize that God made us male and female, male and female he made them in His image.  And during a time of civil unrest, that is a prophetic voice.

So today I not only celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. but all of those who have challenged the world to live God's vision for humanity.  Paul states it best,


"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death--
        even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father." 
-Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)

Unfortunately in our world, equality has not been grasped yet.  Some are still trying to equal themselves to God or actually take God's place.  Be careful of those who venerate the rich, while exploiting or oppressing the poor.  You won't find that directive in scripture. Jesus spends his life for the oppressed, marginalized, and those trying to pursue God with their whole heart.  My hope is that our country could lay down its pride enough to lift someone else above themselves. The heart of Black Lives Matter is not to forget or trample on the idea that All lives matter, it is that the black community has become that one sheep, that one coin, that one son that has been lost and needs to be brought into the fuller community.  The shepherd didn't forget his other 99 sheep and think they didn't matter.  The woman didn't forget her other coins and consider them worthless.  The Father didn't forget his older son and disown him.  NO!  In all instances the focus had to be moved from the whole of the group to the One in the group that needed to be brought to equality.  If we cannot get behind that idea and that message and be the voice for the one, then we are going to have a difficult time being a true disciple of Jesus.

So thank you Martin Luther King Jr. and your contribution to civil rights and more importantly your contribution God's Kingdom.  Thank you for allowing God to use you as HIs prophet!  You gave your life for a Kingdom message.

And I wonder, who has God raised up in this day to become the prophet we need to hear? 

We live in a day where we feel entitled.  You may disagree or not like that statement, but it doesn't mean it isn't true.  Much of this is being blamed on Millennials, but I believe it is systemic of our entire culture.  If we want something we should have it.  If we think the world should work a certain way, then it should.  And when we don't receive what we want or the world goes a "wrong way" in our opinion then we can instantly become indignant and quick to call everyone out that disagrees with us and if so inclined, demonize them.  I know that I am just as much a part of the problem, but this current culture is really crushing my soul.  I desire to be a part of the solution.  That's not a new year's resolution, that's a statement of faith.  One of consequences of this kind of culture is we hold tightly to what we can control and/or control certain standards, rules, traditions, and values.  This is happening in society and in the church at the same alarming rate.
 
This leads into a life of LEGALISM!  
 
Boy I hated to type that, but I think it must be said.  I read and listen to my liberal friends.  I read and listen to my conservative friends and on both sides each thinks they corner the market on what is right, just, and how one should live.  I'm not saying that there is not truth in them.  I'm saying that once we think we know exactly what has to be done or exactly how one should act, we are on a shiny wood floor in brand new socks.  
 
Nothing is black and white.  And we don't possess full knowledge or wisdom on anything.  Lawyers practice law.  Doctors practice medicine.  This means that they don't know everything and haven't seen every foreseeable circumstance of life or their profession.  I always say that ministers practice theology/ministry.  Just the same we haven't seen it all, no do we have infinite knowledge and wisdom regarding God and his people.  
 
What happens (on both conservative and liberal sides) is that we tend to practice theology by nailing down the "rightness" of scripture or the perfection seen in Jesus' example or what absolute truth is and how every tenet of faith must be defined.
 
As a pastor and theologian I can surmise what God may be saying through the text.  I can challenge God's people to a certain way of living.  I can stand up for those in the margins and be an advocate for all things good and holy.  What I cannot do is bury my very body and soul into my certain thoughts and feelings and interpretations where I forget that people are people, the world is broken, and there is always hope in Jesus.
 
THE ANTIDOTE TO LEGALISM IS GRACE!!
 
What I continually am reminded as I scroll through Facebook and feel outrage against a particular political party or group of people because they aren't doing Christianity the way I think they should is that by going there I am practicing religion...and I need to be practicing grace.
 
I grew up in a time where I was taught grace and how to receive it.  Now it's time I learn to not just receive that grace, but to extend it to others and practice it.  Honestly, I need to practice grace to those that infuriate me most and with those I love the best.
               
I don't need to lay down my convictions, interpretations, and values.  But I need to view those against people I disagree with through the lens of grace.  
 
Practicing grace doesn't mean that those who offend me or the gospel are exonerated from their behavior, but it means I become a prayer warrior for them first.  I practice the principle of best intentions if I don't know them well first.  I talk to the one who offends me and the gospel with love and care.  
 
Practicing grace means I don't always need to comment on every Facebook post and maybe I don't need to stir the pot either.  And when I communicate a conviction and there is an opposing side, grace says that I cannot assume that everyone who believes differently is inherently evil and not a Christian like I am.
 
Only grace will save us from the pit of certain legalism that we are seeing today.
 
Practice grace!

On this day in 2000

I began my first full-time ministry position.  That beautiful January day I was introduced and welcomed as the new Youth and Family Minister for the Clear Lake Church of Christ.  I had graduated a few weeks previous from Abilene Christian University with a degree in Bible with an emphasis on youth and family ministry.  The church there was patient and taught me a lot about what it means to be professional and what it looks like to do ministry every day of the year, not just the summers.  There are so many people from that time that I still have contact with and that we love dearly.  When I arrived at that church 17 years ago I was single and green.  I ministered at Clear Lake for 6 years, when I was called to a new place.  During my time there, Leah and I were married and began our life together.  The church celebrated us with showers and many attending our wedding. While I was there I had many ups and downs.  I realize more each year how patient that church was with me and am thankful for the experience.  It was hard to leave, but I am proud of my years there and all the things that with the help of great volunteers we were able to accomplish.  When we left, we left an extremely active youth ministry that was dedicated to allowing God to move them.  I left a staff that was hard-working and supportive.  We left a small group that was growing close and even to this day we remain close.

On this day minus 1 in 2006

I began my second full-time ministry position.  During our college years both Leah and I worshipped at the Highland Church of Christ.  I was year-round intern for the church for 3 and 1/2 years previous to moving to Clear Lake.  This ministry had a dramatic and emotional beginning.  Two weeks after beginning the group went to Winterfest in Dallas and on our way back we took time to remember and process the year anniversary of a major accident the group had had in 2005 which injured several students, a driver, and killed one student.  It was extremely dificult to walk into pain and expected to minister to them when I was not part of the group at the time of the accident.  Abilene and Highland were great for us as a family.  We strengthened relationships there and enjoyed a season of ministry that was healthy, encouraging, and challenging.  Leah and I grew leaps and bounds in our faith and hope that we were able to return some of that to the church and community.  During our 6 plus years in Abilene I was able to finish my masters of divinity and our twin sons were born.  We left behind deep friendships, fantastic jobs, and Smith drive where we brought our boys home from the hospital.  

Today

​We are grateful for our latest ministry adventure.  We are coming up on 5 years here and really enjoy the beauty and wondeful community of Conway.  Leah has just begun teaching full-time again at an excellent school.  I love seeing the growth our church is having.  The Spirit of God is in this place and we are humbled that He is using us for His mission.  We begin a new year thankful for where we've been, where we are, and where God will take us.  As I did in 2000, as we did in 2006, we will once again keep our eyes wide open for how God chooses to use us for His mission and His glory.

And truly thankful that we are not moving and beginning in a new place!  Conway is home and God is doing some amazing things at the University Church of Christ.