I was in a church when I was a kid about 12-13 and a pastor got caught running around with not one, not two, but three women. Left the church got a girl pregnant in another church. I remember thinking at that time, “if this is the way Christians are I don’t want any part of it.” It took me another 6 years to reengage and only then after I found some guys who I thought were the real deal. Those guys led me to places where I could hear and understand the gospel for the first time because I saw it lived and communicated. Anyway I moved away from GA for a long time. When we came back my wife and I were riding around with this real estate agent and he started telling me about his pastor and how he was running around with the secretary and such. Out of the blue I said I bet I know his name. I nailed it. 25 years later this guy was still pulling the same stuff on churches and women.  

Anyway at lunch the other day a name came up. All three of us had stories about this person and his reputation that he has left behind wherever he has gone. I don’t know how people keep trusting pastors like this. One time anyone can fall, but when it is repeated two or three times, it is time to remove guys from the pastorate.

There’s the judgement. Oh, well. Guys if you don’t have integrity then leave the ministry.  Don’t harm the name of Jesus, the church, your family, and destroy the faith of some young kid because you can’t keep your pants on in the presence of other women, can’t keep your hands out of the offering basket, or whatever it is that haunts you. My wife will tell you I’m no “saint” in the worldly sense. She can list a whole bunch of stuff in my life that is sin. But I tell you when it comes to church and public ministry I put all sorts of protection around me when it comes to other women and money.  If you’ve got any integrity you’ll do the same. If you don’t care about your name, protect the name of Jesus.

What voices do you allow to speak into your life? We all need someone that can speak into our lives, professionally and personally. I know too many pastors that only want to hear what they want to hear. And if they hear something different then the other person: doesn’t understand my (our) situation, hasn’t grown anything, hasn’t led anything, etc. etc.

Sometimes from the most unexpected places God has spoken to me. I don’t always want to hear it, accept it, or embrace it, but sometimes I need to hear it anyway. Who’s speaking but you’re not listening. That is probably says more about you than the ones you are listening too. Make sure you’re not listening for the right reasons.

This set me to thinking. Many people refuse to eat leftovers. I don’t understand unless it was a poor excuse for a meal the first time around. I’ve had a few of those. But I especially like soup that has had time to absorb all the flavors of the soup. And with the advent of the microwave leftovers can be pretty tasty.

But there is something about a newly cooked meal. The aroma of the kitchen. The heat generated by an oven cooking some biscuits or cornbread or maybe if you’re lucky a fresh dessert of some kind. Vegetables cooked to order. Mashed potatoes. Gravy. A good steak or roast. I am getting hungry as I type.

What started me thinking about this is how often do I give God leftovers. You know my quiet time is done after I’ve answered that important email. Or after I’ve made an important phone call. Or after I’ve watched my favorite TV program, football game, read the newspaper, etc. etc. etc. What’s your excuse.

Sometimes I like the leftovers, but usually they are best taken after a sweet time alone with God. I need to learn to give God the first place more often and not make Him take “a cold ‘tater and wait” as  my mom used to tell me and my siblings when the preacher came to eat at our house.

This book is really challenging me on many levels. Luck writes about how to make God’s dream a reality in your life.

Here is just one “If critics accused Jesus of consorting with sinners, they’ll just as offended by us.” Maybe, but probably not. They should, but most of us are pretty guarded when it comes to hanging around with people that do not look like us, think like us, or act like us.

How comfortable are you in a bar? Worried about who may see you? What will other pastors think? How about hanging around the camp fire with some hunters from North GA. spittin’ and chewin’ and throwing back a cold one? Does the conversation bother you (probably should bother you but not embarras you)? When was the last time an unbelieving family was in your home? Confession: it’s been a long time for me.

I’m open for ideas on meeting people not like me. I hope its not to late for me to relate.

I doubt that figure IF: 1. You start with SUPPORT. 2. You go with a TEAM. 3. You get sufficient TRAINING. 4. You are CALLED. 5. You go to the right COMMUNITY.  6. You go to WORK. 7. You go with the right PLAN. 8. You go before and after with PRAYER. 9. You get COACHING. 10. You don’t do anything STUPID, like ignoring these things!

Church Planting is hard, but rewarding. I’ve said before, I’ll say again, “Do the right things the right way, and God will bless.”

I heard from another guy at the meeting, I won’t divulge names, but he commented that the church he attends is about 14% ahead of last year’s attendance and 20% behind in budget. He said another friend is in the same situation. WRC numbers are almost the same as these. Attendance up, giving down. It is a rough economy right now. I’m thankful that God continues to supply “our daily bread.” and His promise is that the “righteous shall never go hungry.” I’m believing Him for these promises and provision.

We’ve got a big month coming up. WRC, partner churches, and community partners will be providing Christmas for about 1200 families in the month of December. I’m sure even more will show up for benevolence request. We do a lot of big stuff but this is as important as it gets. We get to touch a lot of people. We want to make Jesus famous! Can’t wait to see how God provides.

I know I have issues with time. I think I have written before that I am addicted to my watch and time. If I set an appointment I 98 times out of 100 will be there, unless I am contagious to you of course. When someone comes to me late here is what I am thinking: I was not important enough for the other person to arrange his schedule to meet with me on time, or some other person was more important, or maybe even worse if I am considering sponsoring, supporting, or contributing to a ministry that the person that set the appointment was just too scattered, unscheduled, undisciplined to do what he said he would do.

I’ve actually been getting a lot of this lately. People being late or not showing up and they apologize profusely but I have still wasted my time. Oh well, they were probably more important than me, had something or someone better to do. I guess I’m just out of “it.”

Then from the conference I went with our interns to Liberty U. for Church Planting Emphasis week. I had the privilege of speaking to three classes on Church Planting. I actually was the guest lecturer for one of the classes. Pretty intimidating speaking to a class of a guy who has written 60 books. But he affirmed my lecture so I guess that’s cool. I always enjoy the teaching in an academic setting like that. At one time I thought I might be a professor. I am one of those guys just short of a Doctorate. I’m officially ABD (all but dissertation). Which means I finished the coursework, took the tests and pased but never got the book written. Oh well. I enjoy being the guest.

Great CP class Saturday. Great comments from the guys attending. Good job talking about assimilation, volunteers, worship and technology. Kudos to Judy, Kevin, Steve, and Stephen.

And finally, on the election. Congratulations to Obama, and the African American -community. I know you will find that ruling is very different from getting elected. I pray for you and the other leadership of Washington. May God continue to Bless America.

Then there’s the side of the family for which I am named. Beer distributors, (rich but questionable), my father a drug addict and alcoholic, abusers, dubious characters…

Well when do you change your name? Brian is preaching on Identity right now. If you go back in my history there are not many people who did not think I would be dead or in prison by now. I was definitely following in my father’s footsteps. And then…somebody introduced me to Jesus. I am no longer who I was…not yet who I think God intends me to be…but on the journey. My identity is no longer the crazy drunk kid, the hell-raiser, troublemaker but a child of the King. Amazingly God sees me whole, complete, forgiven, white as snow. That’s what the Bible says.

Now do I still struggle with wondering if I measure up. Certainly, but when Satan attacks me with accusations I try to remember to answer him with the Scripture…God has forgiven me and remembers my sin no more and has removed it as far as the east is from the west.

Not a President, not a hero, but a Child of the King, adopted as a part of the Royal Family. That’s my identity today. What’s yours?  

While I am talking change. I am about to anger about 90% of the people I know both Anglo and African-American. But I am entitled to my opinion. You don’t have to like it. I also want to reiterate that these are my opinions and not endorsed by any group, church, or network. I also want to say I would not endorse anyone for president right now, I almost didn’t vote at all as I said in an earlier post.

That said…I understand the passion with which the Black community is voting. If the people of my race had been pretty much shut out of the political system for their entire history I can understand the passion for seeing one of my people elected. We as Anglos can make all the arguments about affirmative action and preferential treatment, but we have to admit that for the greatest part of American history we were the ones receiving affirmative action. And politically many African Americans have been shut out of the electoral process unless they were in majority black districts. It is what it is.

That said…I feel strongly that this is the wrong Black candidate. He has no apparent history of leading anything of substance. He has a poor attendance and voting record in both the Illinois senate and the U.S. senate. I wish the African American community would convince a candidate with a record of leadership to run: John Lewis of Atlanta, J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, Barbara Jordan of Texas, Doug Wilder of Virginia, these are people that whether you agree with them or not, have a record of achievement.

That said…I believe the election is in God’s hands. Paul says that in his letter to the church at Rome. Republican or Democrat, God is in control. A friend sent an email yesterday I don’t know whether it was original with her or she found it somewhere else but…The Bible still has all the answers; Prayer still works; Holy Spirit still moves among His people; God still hears our praises; There is still God anointed preaching; We can still sing praises; God still blesses; There is still room at the Cross; Jesus still loves you; Jesus still saves! Be encouraged. (thanks suzanne for the reminder).