Balancing Ministry N' Work

Those that know me well, know that I love celebrating Christmas and everything it really stands for. They also know that I don't start celebrating it until the day after Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong, I love my Savior, I love that His birth was the beginning of so many great things that changed me and saved my life. But for the past 40 plus years I wanted to celebrate one holiday at a time and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite. Good food, family, and friends and I did not want to skip over it, I want to enjoy every minute of Thanksgiving.  That being said, I think the world needs more Christmas.  Turn on the news and you will hear about people being shot, police officers being targeting, crime on the rise, and so much more. The hatred that is being spewed by one group of people because you don't agree with them, and the hatred that is being shot back. The tension is high due to race, violence, sexual orientation, religion, politics, and just about anythi...

I read the following at this link the other day. Link Like the apostle Paul, it is every minister's business to glory in his infirmities. The world says, "Pshaw! upon your oratory; it is rough, and rude, and eccentric." Yet, 'tis even so, but we are content, for God blesses it. Then so much the better that it has infirmities in it; for now shall it be plainly seen that it is not of man or by man, but the work of God, and of God alone. It is said that once upon a time a man exceedingly curious desired to see the sword with which a mighty hero had fought some desperate battles; casting his eye along the blade, he said, "Well, I don't see much in this sword." "Nay," said the hero, "but you have not examined the arm that wields it." And so when men come to hear a successful minister, they are apt to say, "I do not see any thing in him." No, but you have not examined the eternal arm that reaps its harvest with th...

Bethel Music sings a song titled ‘Pieces’. The chorus is “You don’t give Your heart in pieces, You don’t hide Yourself to tease us.” What it is telling us is that God gave us everything He has. His love knows no boundaries. His love has paved the way to eternity in Glory. When He created us He gave us His entire heart. Not bits and pieces, but the WHOLE thing! “He did not even spare His own Son but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?” – Romans 8:32 HCSB God gave us His only Son. What more could we ever need? Jesus died for us to pay the price of our sin. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, He paid our debt in full . Not some partial payment where we have to earn the rest. He paid all of it. He did not give us a piece; He gave us everything. If we look back in Genesis humankind was created to rule over the world. He gave us everything our eyes can see and even the stuff we cannot see. He has not held anything back; God did n...

I was blessed to be able to go to the 2016 SBC Pastors Conference. I was not able to see all of the speakers, but here are my notes from speaks I was able to listen to. It was a wonderful experience and I look forward to go to more of them in the future. Noah Oldham “But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” – 2 Timothy 4:5 Sober Minded Endure Suffering – Be series about everything, endure hardship. “ 7  For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 8  So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9  He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” - 2 ...

While working on an upcoming message in Galatians, I wrote something that has been sitting with me that I need to share.  “Jesus did not only make a deposit or down payment for your sins, He paid your debt in full!” Not a new sentiment at all, but something we need to remember. Too often people think they are to broken, to messed up, and to sinful for Jesus to want them. I have had more than a handful of people tell me over the years that they would be struck by lightning if they came to church. If we have to get our lives ‘in order’ before we can go to church or be accepted by Jesus Christ, what does that say about what Jesus did? Was Jesus’ sacrifice limited in a way that He could only atone for some of our sin? Did His death only pay for a partial redemption? Was His blood only a deposit on our entry into Heaven? Jesus went through hell on earth during His final hours. “But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquitie...

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord” – Jeremiah 17:7 HCSB Six years ago today I was laying on an operating table so the doctors could cut into my skull and remove that pesky Acoustic Neuroma brain tumor. I knew my life would change, but had no idea what that change would look like. While I do have lingering issues I know that God has been good to me and I continue to trust in Him. After the removal of their tumors, some have facial paralysis, debilitating headaches, and constant vertigo. I have an eye that waters now and again, occasional minor headaches, and balance issues. In 2013, 3 years post OP, I developed some issues that most likely stem from my tumor removal but the doctors cannot figure out the exact cause. I had to stop exercising, my driving range is limited, and I do get tired easier than I used to. I visited 4 hospitals, 8 doctors, 2 physical therapist, and tried a dozen or so different medications. I went on a full bl...

“4  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  5  Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.  6  Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  7  And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:4-7 HCSB In the Letter to the Philippian church the Apostle Paul is writing some words that still ring true and may even be harder to swallow today. When these words were written, you could still find people who sat under the teachings of Jesus. There were people who witnessed one of Jesus’ many miracles. You could even find people who spent time with Jesus after His resurrection. Their personal experiences and excitement would be contagious. You would have seen it in how they lived their lives, the faith they put into the unknown, and the peace that radiated ...

Sometimes it seems like the sky is falling. It feels like different problems are lined up one after another waiting to hit you. They say trouble comes in 3, but there are times when it is 3 x 3 or even more. The Hudson house was hit with one of those strings of troubles. House issues, one after another. Car problems, stacking on top of each other. We have been wondering if it is ever going to stop. One day as we were wondering how we could afford it all, we remembered that we are not alone. We remembered that God’s Got This! We were getting kicked in the gut, but remembered that He’s Got This! I don’t know what in this world is kicking you in the gut right now, but I am here to tell you that, He’s Got This! Isaiah 41:10 “ Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” You are not alone. Jesus is with you. He does not want you to be afraid. He will ...

“Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” – 1 John 5:14 We are very blessed. We have the ability to take our cares and concerns to the Creator of the universe. If we pray, Jesus is listening. “ 6  Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.   7  And the peace of God, which surpasses   every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7 Knowing that Jesus is there for us, should give us a tremendous amount of peace. He wants to hear from us. You find this simple message throughout Scripture. God loves you and He wants to hear from you. You will find verses that tell you to ‘Pray Constantly’ and others that tell you that if you are with just one other believer, that Jesus is with you. We also see that due to Daniel being a man of prayer that an angel appears to him. ...

At Clark Baptist we have been working through Matthew 24 where Jesus talks about the coming tribulation and His second coming. Jesus tells us so much in these chapters. He points to the signs of the beginning of the tribulation, what is going to happen during the tribulation, the signs of His triumphant return, and more importantly what we need to do. Yes, He is talking about His second coming but much of the message applies to those of us who are alive today. It does apply to those living through the tribulation but the message has a real life impact for you and me. Matthew 24:36-51 36  “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son —except the Father only.   37  As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.   38  For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.   39  They didn’t know u...