The Journey So Far.....

At the end of March, I resigned as lead pastor of the church that we planted in the Upstate of SC nearly 12 years ago.  I was three Sunday's shy of the 12-year mark.  While it caught most of leadership and members by surprise I left on good terms.  Many did not understand, or were hurt and I get that because unless you walk in these shoes it's really hard to appreciate this view or take.  Then and now, I remain at great peace.  It was the right call at the right time for the right reasons.  At the time I had no idea how emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausted I was.  The first two weeks I slept 8-9 hours a night!  For years I've only gotten 5-6 hours of sleep a night!  My body was affirming the decision we made in March.  It was obvious that I was carrying a heavier load the last 12 years than I realized.

During those twelve years I never had a sabbatical, or an extended break beyond vacation.  Small churches have limited resources and it just isn't possible.  Kudos to the churches that recognize the need for rest, rejuvenation, replenishment and extended professional growth/development opportunities for ministerial staff and budget it.  It's an investment that extends the life of the minister and ultimately makes the individual and church stronger!

In the last five of those 12 years we personally experienced:  two major surgeries for me; cancer and treatment that included chemo and radiation; two surgeries for my wife; the divorce of a child; euthanizing a beloved pet due to cancer; a 12 % salary cut; a child graduating from college and returning home; the suicide of a family member and a job change for my wife after nine years.  And this doesn't include the daily grind of the pastorate, or the normal every day family related stress we all experience.

I'm not writing this to illicit pity, or sorrow!  I am not "poor-mouthing" or trying to build a case for the saddest story.   Everyone I know is either coming out of a life battle, or entering one whether they realize it or not.  I have and continue to be extremely blessed.  Our story isn't the best, or the worst.   However, our story is a testimony to the grace, strength, comfort, correction and provision of a holy and grace-giving God!  At this point in our lives I can't imagine where we would be without Him.  He has sustained, provided, encouraged, protected and led us far beyond where we would be had we been on our own.  I have no doubt we would be rock bottom without Him.  And that is probably the entire point of this blog entry.  Through this season of transition we have been reminded that:

• God sustains.
• God provides.
• God shelters.
• God protects.
• God heals.
• God loves.
• God encourages.
• God comforts.
• God leads.
• God corrects, rebukes and disciplines.
• And God is there even when we think He has left. 

I don't know what He has planned for the next ministry/vocational season, but I know He is already ahead of us working and preparing it so it will be just right.  In the meantime I am going to be sharing some observations and lessons I've learned about the church and ministers in future blog entries.  I continue to wait, watch and pray.  

RIP Maya

Today America lost a national treasure.  Presidential Freedom Medal recipient and poet, Maya Angelou passed away at 86 years of age.  Rest in Jesus Maya!  Here are just a few of my favorite Maya quotes:

While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God's creation.

You can't forgive without loving. And I don't mean sentimentality. I don't mean mush. I mean having enough courage to stand up and say, 'I forgive. I'm finished with it.'

A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her.

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

A Weekend for Gratitude

This weekend our nation remembers and honors the memory of the valiant men and women of the armed forces who paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom.

Take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to stop, reflect and remember their selfless heroic acts.  Thank God for their service and pray for the surviving family members from the multiple wars and conflicts throughout our history.

Let's honor their memory by living lives of gratitude, humility and service.  Freedom is costly.  With great freedoms comes great responsibility!

An Open Gate

If grace is God's greatest gift to humanity then prayer has to be the greatest tool, or weapon for a Christ-follower's arsenal in the battles of life.  The writer of Hebrews reminds Christ-followers that we have complete and total access to the very throne of God in prayer.  Eugene Peterson translates it this way in The Message:

Now that we know what we have-Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God-let's not let it slip through our fingers.  We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality.  He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all-all but the sin.  So let's walk right up to him and get what he is ready to give.  Take the mercy, accept the help.   Hebrews 4:14-16

I think we often underestimate, or under utilize this access on behalf of others.  A prayer of intercession (on behalf of someone else) is a powerful privilege for Christ-followers.  God hasn't left us empty-handed when Jesus ascended to heaven following his resurrection.  Christ is at work as our High Priest giving us access to God in heaven.  We simply need to boldly approach Him as we pray for others.  Think of it like a farm gate, or massive castle door that's been busted open for us by Christ.

The old school used the phrase, to tarry in prayer.  It means to linger in expectation, to delay, to abide or stay in place.  What a great image.  Think of Jesus in the Garden on the night of his betrayal praying the prayer of his earthly life.  Sweating drops of blood.  He was tarrying in prayer to the Father.

When's the last time you told someone you would pray for them and you tarried for them?  Not a quick prayer mentioning their need/concern and asking God to act.  When's the last time you pressed into God, lingered and put everything else on hold to appeal to Him on behalf of someone?  My hunch is that many of us pray, but we don't really linger in prayer over others.  Who do you know right now that needs you to linger before God?

• Someone hurting physically, battling an illness, depression, etc.
• A friend going through serious marital struggles
• A family member in desperate need of salvation
• The co-worker battling an addiction
• The ministers and elders/leaders of your church
• A fellow student living in a dysfunctional family
• Someone enslaved and being sold in human trafficking 
• The politicians and authorities God has placed over you
• A neighbor about to lose her job

What would happen if just 50% of us (Christ-follower's) really went to the mat and tarried on behalf of these and others?  I don't think we've seen or realized the full impact of such a prayer effort in our world.  I know the world would look different if Christ-followers took our access to the throne of grace more seriously.  Every day, every hour, every minute we have complete and total access to the very Creator of human DNA.  So what are we waiting for?  Let's take advantage of our access and tarry awhile for others.  The gate is open because of Jesus, let's walk through it!

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

Thumbs up to:  Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for his bold stand for Christ.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bobby-jindal-raised-hindu-uses-christian-conversion-to-woo-gop-base-for-2016-run/2014/05/12/c446fa34-d989-11e3-8009-71de85b9c527_story.html

Thumbs down to: L.A. Clippers owner, Donald Sterling for opening his mouth and inserting his foot in a bumbled apology over racists remarks that bashed NBA great Magic Johnson.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/basketball/2014/05/13/shame-on-sterling-not-johnson/9051287/













Thumbs up to: 8-year-old Jazmine McEnaney for calling 911 and helping her Mom deliver her baby brother before EMS arrived.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/8-year-old-florida-girl-helps-deliver-baby-brother-article-1.1790450

Thumbs up to Kyle White, former U.S. Army Sgt., one of only 7 living Medal of Honor recipients.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/obama-awards-heroic-afghanistan-war-veteran-medal-honor-article-1.1790776

Thumbs down to the NCAA for continuing to delay the trial challenging their profit off the images/likenesses of college athletes.
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/10923259/judge-denies-ncaa-motion-ed-obannon-lawsuit

Thumbs up to this mother and son wedding dance that's gone viral on You Tube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s4A5dWdOqA

You Are The Work of His Hands!

Imagine looking into a mirror and seeing something insignificant, unimportant or irrelevant.  Some people don't have to imagine it because it's what they see every time they look in the mirror.  Their self-image (I prefer God-image) is zero to none for any number of reasons.  Perhaps they grew up in a dysfunctional home where emotional abuse was the norm during those critical, formative development years.  Affirmation, unconditional love and encouragement were AWOL in their family.  Others could be victims of social bullying.  Physical features, or behavior was targeted for so long they began to believe the lies being spread in social media or at school, work, etc.  However, some people come from fairly functional homes and have never experienced social bullying, yet they still have a poor God-image.  Maybe they had a divorce, or lost a job, experienced a business failure, or lost a loved one, but in the end it became too much and simply ate away at their view in the mirror.

A friend of mine lost over 200 lbs., the hard way and I remember being with her in public places when people she had known for years but hadn't seen her for some time wouldn't recognize her.  She would always say, "There is no limit to the scorn and shame an obese person feels."  While I need to lose weight I've never been in those shoes.  However, I know how it feels to be routinely teased about being bald as if it's fair game.  Yes the picture above is my beautiful bald head.  No physical feature deserves to be a target, or punching bag.  Those of us that have a physical challenge may not fold when friends, family, or others poke fun at our expense, but on the inside we are dying.  It hurts.  Imagine what that brand of humor must feel like for gays, people of color, or someone with disabilities?

No matter who you are and no matter your circumstance know this: When God sees us He doesn't see insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant creatures!  He sees the beauty of His creation.  He sees potential.  He sees someone "fearfully and wonderfully made."  He sees someone created in His own image.

Imagine God beaming with a big smile and looking down from heaven as He tells the angels, "Look at my child, Monty.  Oh he is a mess to be sure.  He struggles with insecurity, his weight, cynicism,  guilt over busyness and a workaholic past, not to mention his silent doubts about his ability to lead and be a godly husband, father and grandfather.  BUT, he's mine!  I created him in my image!  I gave him life.  His fingerprints are uniquely his and one one else's.  His smile and laugh are owned by no one else because I gave them to him.  Oh yes he has many flaws, but he's mine!  I love him so much I sent Jesus to rescue him from his fallen nature.  Despite his brokenness he gave his heart to Jesus.  And I washed him and rescued him from the snatches of hell.  He is mine!"

Guess what?  He sees you the same way.  God loves you just the way you are.  In the words of the late soul-poet, Rich Mullins, "You can't do anything to make God love you more and you can't do anything to make God love you less."

Stand up and face those mirrors with pride folks!  Not human pride, but pride in the glory of God who makes us so wonderfully and fearfully.  Don't believe the lie from hell that uses the culture as a barometer to measure our images.  It will let you down every time.  Use the only perfect yardstick there is to measure human-worth---the gracious, glorious, sovereign and loving God.

114 Days Away!

College football kickoff is 114 days away!  I'm just saying......

Chick-fil-A kickoff doubleheader:

Thursday, August 28th-Ole Miss v.s. Boise State

Sautrday, August 30th-Alabama v.s. West Virginia

World's Toughest Job - #worldstoughestjob - Official Video

This is great!