“we esteemed Him not…He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…and by His wounds we are healed.”

there are lots of different kinds of healing…the most spectacular i guess is physical healing…i’ve seen that a couple of times personally where someone is miraculously healed without explanation from doctors or any kind of treatment…met the family of a Miss America one time that carried x-rays of her legs one showing a leg 2+ inches shorter than the other and in a revival service as a teenager this girl was healed and eventually became Miss America…had a seminary professor that was diagnosed with cancer and after praying decided he would not undergo any treatment, doctors told him he just committed suicide and would die within a year, he taught for 20 more years, pastored a church after that and died in his 80’s…doubters can doubt but i’ve seen “stuff”…i believe God is still the healer!

there are em0tional healings…people who have suffered abuse at the hands of loved ones…people who have had lousy relationships…people who have been damaged by churches…recently had the privilege of doing a recommitment service for a couple that has been married 25 years, when they were young, they both went through a divorce, a local pastor told them if they went to pre-marriage counseling he would marry them, they did, he didn’t, they got married by a justice of the peace, for all those years the wife wanted a “pastor” to lead them through “religious” ‘vows, it was my privilege, they beat the odds in spite of a less than ethical pastor…the things that people carry into adulthood that keep them from being all that God has created them to be is amazing…it is amazing how we allow Satan to beat us down and condemn us…by His stripes you can be healed from your emotional baggage.

finally and assuredly there are spiritual healings…of the salvation kind…some of us were radically saved, i’ve written a little of this before but at the age of 16 i found myself at the local YDC, a pastor signed me out of jail, a journey over the next year led me to Christ, one of the least likely in my high school…some of you were saved at a young age and did not experience “sin” in its deepest pit, thank God for that…but regardless scripture tells us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” and “the wages of that sin is death.” we are saved from the presence, the power, and the penalty of sin…THAT IS EASTER! by HIS STRIPES, BE HEALED!

continuuing with the theme of the prophet Isaiah and the idea that we did not esteem Him. the prophet continues…”surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrow, yet we considered him stricken and afflicted…”

just imagine all that the cross did for you and i. dealing with the sin problem is huge and we make much of that and rightly so…but Jesus took to the Cross our infirmities and our sorrow…how many times do we carry those things…i am so thankful the scripture says to “cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you…” Jesus, God, Savior not only offers to carry our infirmities and our sorrows, He already has.

a lot of people ask a lot of questions…why is there pain, why is there natural disasters…why do good people suffer…why is there war…why is there disease…why do families and marriages fail…why is there crime…the simple answer is sin…when Adam and Eve sinned and sin was passed from father/mother to child and man was banished from the Garden of Eden and sin entered the world…all of these things disease, war, pain, sorrow, natural disasters were allowed to take their course…and Jesus took those things to the Cross also…

my sin was on that Cross with Jesus, my pain, my sorrow, my disease, the natural consequences of my action Jesus has already carried them. why do I pick them back up? this week my challenge to myself is not to carry a burden that has already been carried. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin has left a crimson stain, HE washed it white as snow.”

it is so easy to get caught up in ministry on Easter Week. i have already seen about 5 posts on facebook warning about this issue. i have really been focused this year in my praying and quiet time on the scriptures related to Easter. i began with the passage concerning the entry into Jerusalem.

i began this past week to focus on Isaiah 53. reading through this chapter once again it brings up questions that are tough for me to answer personally. like the description of his physical person: “he had no beauty or majesty, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him…we esteemed him not”…sounds to me like the rock star culture of our day…and listen i’m not condemning our society, the truth is that every society has had a “rock star” culture where certain people were the “desireables.” …but i guess because of the proliferation of the media it just seems worse to us…but would Jesus be who we “esteem” if he were here today in person? would we make fun of him because he was not attractive? would the “church” question his motives like the Pharisees and Sadducees of his day? would he be “attractive” enough to be on the stage at our men’s events or on Christian TV?

i think what Isaiah might be trying to say is that this guy Jesus…he is different…it was true in the prophet’s day…it was true when Jesus was here in person…and it is true today…he is different…the person who knows him should be different…i wonder, do i “esteem him not?”

far too often, friends, far too often…

i saw an old friend yesterday at Matt Hayes funeral. Rick was my youth pastor, back in the day. the day when i was young and stupid (some may say i’m just not young anymore ), naive, and idealistic. i had not seen Rick in over 15 years to have a conversation of any kind with him.

Rick gave me my first opportunity to really feel like i was doing some kind of ministry. i got to lead some in our college Sunday School Class, that seems so weird to say now. and we met twice a week to go to the local middle school and talk to kids. i think this was when i began to consider that i might be called to ministry.

yesterday i got to thank him for words of wisdom he shared with me and challenged me with as a young college student. i was complaining one day about how inconsistent my quiet time was and how i struggled. he said to me, “unless you learn to discipline yourself to get the rest your body needs you will never have a consistent quiet time.”  i was like most college kids, sleeping 3 hrs a night and trying to go to school, work, date, party, and wondering why i couldn’t have a quiet time. i took Rick’s advice to heart. i can’t say i meet daily, but i guarantee you i am much more consistent than i was the day Rick challenged me. Thanks Rick, you’ve made a difference.

here’s the scary part. he told me he’s been reading my blog. now i need to be more consistent in that. appreciate how God used you in my life.

BREAKING NEWS: American Church off the hook for sick & dying, now hoping for some widows & orphans legislation (via @XIANITY)

this is just the point. the church has given up or abandoned its responsibility starting in the late 1800’s. it started her decline. in the 1880’s the government took over schooling. in the late 1800′’s – 1920 it was a take over of social services and homes for children. in the 1930’s – the care of widows and orphans through social security. and if you remember historically the church has been behind every major reform. we willingly gave up our biblical responsibility to each of these “reforms.”

let’s admit it. if we were doing what we were supposed to be doing…being the church…giving 10% (instead of 30 -40% or more in the future to taxes)…the church should lead in schooling all children not just its members (delete property taxes, sales taxes)…taking care of widows and orphans (delete social security)…taking care of the medical needs for families (remember Baptist Hospitals and Methodist Hospitals, Presbyterian Hospitals in major cities all over America, delte health care reform)

imagine what your paycheck would look like if you got all those taxes back and only gave 10% to the church. i ran a church owned and operated home for children for 7 years as the associate director. we did more with half the money of ANY state run home. look at private schools – why do they consistently have higher test scores than public schools, it is not just that they a re selective in choosing the student, it is because they are not hampered with federal mandates. go into a well run retirement home run by the church and one run by the government, you will see the difference. i did chaplaincy at a Baptist Hospital – a world of difference between that and the government run hospital in the same city.

church…when you give away your God given responsibilities…it’s in there (the Bible) you lose control…you lose influence…you pay for it with higher taxes and less freedom…

let me share some interesting numbers. my apologies i know Southern Baptist…there are roughly 14 million who claim to be Southern Baptist (very rough).  the average income in America is around 19 thousand. a tithe of 19 thousand is 1900.00 per year. if every Southern Baptist tithed on the average income in America giving in JUST the SBC the income would be….drum rolls please – 26 BILLION, 754 MILLION DOLLARS!

let’s just dream – imagine the Methodist, Presbyterian, the 160 other Baptist denominations, Church of Christ, Nazarene Church, Episcopal Church, Catholic Church, Assembly of God, Church of God, do I have to continue? we spent the eighties trying to takeover the government with electing Christians and fighting over taxes…what if we tithed and took over the world with kindness…and the government didn’t need these programs and imagine doing away with Congress because the Church took care of the needs of America…there is more wealth in the church than any of us could imagine…

ladies and gentlemen that is jim akins and why we have a health care bill today that everyone is fretting over…give and it shall be given unto you…i wonder if the reverse is true…withhold and it shall be withheld from you (look at your W-2 or 1099) and you tell me?

Peace

Easter, Barna released a study that indicated that only 54% of church members could identify the reason for Easter…only 73% of the Evangelical Christian Church could identify the reason for Easter. that means, if you are not a mathmetician, that 27% of people in our mainline, evangelical congregations do not understand that Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, and the completed work of salvation for those who would accept Christ as Saviour!

that’s the bad news. the good news…on Easter Sunday there will be more people in church than any other day of the year. a chance to share the gospel with people that at least have some sensitivity to hearing the gospel. a chance to tell people that Jesus died on the Cross, carried our sin to the cross, and rose again with victory over sin and death, and that He did it for them. pastor, don’t miss that opportunity!

here at West Ridge we are praying for 10,000! or at least that is my prayer. i don’t think Brian will be upset at my praying toward that number.

there will be five opportunity to worship Easter weekend. Friday Night – a chance to celebrate Easter before you hit the road for Spring Break! Saturday night – 2 services. Sunday – 2 services.

in staff meeting this was part of our prayer: the need for 50 new volunteers in Pre-school, 40 new volunteers for children’s ministry, 12 – 15 new volunteers for facilities, and 85 new volunteers for the host team. 190 new volunteers needed for the weekend. 190 new volunteers to host 10,000 people or the opportunity for 5000-6000 new people to hear the gospel. if you have been waiting for an opportunity to serve, here is your time to make a difference. because i assure you that Brian will not miss this opportunity to share the gospel.

yesterday as we were praying i was convicted about criticizing people who only come to church at Easter. i will not talk negatively about them. because they are here…they will hear the gospel…and they just might have their lives changed for eternity…but most importantly for today…leading people on a LIFE CHANGING journey to FOLLOW Jesus Christ…great mission…don’t miss it.

i’ve been working and communicating with this guy. this guy is a member of WRC. this guy got caught up in a “porn sting” a few years ago and has spent the greater part of the last three years in jail. i want to make sure everyone knows this guy has never been accused of harming anyone. in fact an appeals court through out some of the charges as entrapment, but the internet porn accusations held. this guy will probably be released from jail in the next month. this guy needs 2 things (besides the obvious spiritual things) 1. a job, and 2. a place to live.

this guy has no money. so he will need a lot of grace in the early days of his release. he will be on the sex offenders list so he is limited in where he can live.

this guys works hard. he has been a fairly successful salesman for a roofing company. he has installed tv/electronic equipment and integrated entertainment systems in high end housing. this guy will be limited in where he can work and have little access to computers.

when he calls in a few weeks i will sign him out of jail. a pastor did that for me when i was 16. it changed my life. this guy is nearly 40 and is not in the best of health. but i will end up leaving him on the sidewalk unless there is someone out there that will have mercy on him and provide him a place to stay until he can get on his feet.

he will need a job from someone that understands that one mistake is not a life. i repeat he has never been accused of harming anyone.

are  you someone that can help this guy? i’m not sure who that would be. i believe that God has a plan for this guy. i believe there has got to be someone that will help a guy out. is that you?

there’s a new ON STAR commercial out there about how they can help you if your car is stolen. they can flash the lights, stop the engine, and of course direct the cops right to you. does not someone out there agree with me that this is pretty Orwellian?

i mean, whether you buy the Left Behind scenario or not, this is pretty big brother. do you really want the government to know where you are at all times? do your really want someone in who knows where to be able to control your car? and what if there is an end times conspiracy and they are putting these devices in your car and just not telling you? how would you get away from Carpithian (isn’t that his name in Left Behind)? 

or, what if this country was to be placed under Marshall Law or become a dictatorship? would you want the government to know your every move? to me this is plain scary. i don’t want that stuff on my car (truck).

i guess the question, is your personal safety worth more than your personal freedom. for me i don’t think it is.

…gotta go before they come to take me away….

quiet time the last couple of days have dealt with leadership issues. here’s my take on the issue, Leaders Lead. first, a leader has followers. Maxwell says something like this, “look behind you. if no one is following you are not leading.”

second, leaders take responsibility. i love sports. specifically i love college football. as i have noticed over the years the great college coaches take responsibility. i have heard Bear Bryant, Vince Dooley, Bobby Bowden, and others after a bad game say, “i’ve or we’ve got to do a better job of coaching.” there was a guy at UGA that responded to a question one time with this, “i’m not on the field, i don’t do the blocking and tackling, what do you want me to do?” needless to say he didn’t last long. leaders don’t throw others under the bus. don’t make excuses.

third, leaders communicate. i think that a huge amount of problems on church staffs comes down to communication. you cannot communicate too much. the leader doesn’t have to be answering questions or open up discussion but s/he must communicate. when there are changes being made and there is no communication then fear and anxiety begins to fester. when that happens then people start to talk and speculate (gossip) among themselves. even bad news from the right source can and will heal a lot of wounds.

leaders make the tough decisions without making excuses. don’t apologize for making the tough call. if the decision is bathed in prayer. if the decision comes after godly counsel. if the decision will move the organization along…make the call. i was umpiring a baseball game several years ago. some of my good friends were playing. a ball was hit up the middle. my friend made an unbelievable play on the ball and tossed it to the second baseman who turned and made a great throw to first base for an apparent double play that ended a rally. my call was that the second baseman failed to touch the bag, not even in the neighborhood as is often the case in the upper leagues. i called the man at second safe. my friends got quiet irate, a couple even cursed me. there was a wall between us, but i made the tough call. if you are not willing to make the tough call then don’t get into a leadership position.

finally, there are a lot of things i could say, but Maxwell, Covey, and others probably say it better, so i’ll just leave you with this, a leader has integrity. reading a book on persuasion. i like it. he talks about saying and doing the right thing. i was offered a job one time. it was a sales job. the fifth chapter of the training was titled, “how to lie to get in the door.” that is the truth. didn’t take the job. this guy makes the point if you’ll lie to get in the door, you’ll lie about your product and it creates distrust. live with integrity pastor. you have the most important product in the world – Jesus – abundant life – eternal life – make sure someone doesn’t miss the way to heaven because you went through the wrong door.

i love movies. last nite was the Oscars, glad to see Sandra Bullock won for Blind Side, but generally the Oscars bore me. i used to watch every year. i would even stay up until the wee hours of the morning to see the end of the show. but the movie industry and the music industry have so many “aren’t we wonderful shows” it gets on my nerves.

there’s the Oscars, the SAG awards, the Golden Globes, the People’s Choice. how many times do they have to tell each other that they are great? the same is true for music. how many times in the last six months have we heard that Taylor Swift is wonderful and Kanye West is a jerk for not thinking so. it just gets old to me.

i know it is important to be recognized by your peers. i have an ego like anyone else (sometimes even bigger i suppose) but that is the point, my ego is big enough that i don’t have to have someone constantly telling me how great i am. not that i don’t want you to think i’m great. but i can look back with satisfaction over the last 20 years, (just completed five with West Ridge Church) and see the churches that have started and knowing that i played a small part is satisfaction enough. don’t need to speak at the world’s largest conference, don’t need a plaque or statue, i need the peace that i am doing what God called me to do and in my heart feel i’ve got His approval. the question i keep asking myself, “is Jesus enough?” or do i need a golden statue to prove it? that may be idolatry.

as Sally Field’s said several years ago, “you like me, you really like me!” shame it took a statue for her to know that.