Thoughts from a Growing Church.....

Living in the Dip

2008-06-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

In recent weeks I have been doing a series on Habakkuk and what you do when God seems to be unfair. Habakkuk is one of 12 minor prophets in the Bible and though all give the people God's response only Habakkuk responses to God on behalf of the people. In chapter 1 Habakkuk cries "foul" when God informs him that He is going to use the more wicked Babylonians to bring judgment on Israel for their wickness. Habakkuk knows that the people should be judged but he believes that it is unfair that God is using Babylon who is evil to bring said judgment. In chapter two Habakkuk listens to God and writes down what God shares with Him and decides to trust in God. This is what we refer to as the dip, living in a place where you trust God but you just don't understand what He is doing. I mean you pray but rather than the answer coming it seems that things get worse. Living in the Dip.
How do you survive living in the dip? That is where chapter 3 comes in. In chapter 3 Habakkuk begins to praise God even though he can see any change. He says "though the fig tree is bare, and the stables are empty, I will rejoice in the Lord". The attitude of praise even in the mist of struggle is what brings Habakkuk through the dip. I have found this true in my own life. As I look back over 20 years of serving God I realize that He has brought me through enough of my yesterdays, for me to trust Him completly for my tommorrows.

How do you let her go?

2008-06-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

Saturday June 7th at 3pm I had to do one of the hardest things I guess any father hasever had to do. I walked my little girl (now 21) up the aisle and gave her to another man. The truth is, he is a good young man, a hard worker, loves Jesus and loves Ashley. But to be honest as a dad that really doesn't make it any easier when you walk her up the aisle and give her away, and Oh yea did I mention that I had to do the ceremony as well. When I watched her that day I kept thinking where has time gone. I mean just yesterday I was taking her to school for the very first time, and now I am walking up the aisle about to turn her over to another man. Where did all that time go? How did the little girl who had defined my life for two decades, all of the sudden grow up? How does a father turn over all that he has done for twenty years over to someone else? I mean when she is scared it is not me that she is going to come to. When she needs a strong shoulder to cry on, mine will not be the first that she looks for. When it comes to taking care of her I'm not the one responsible anymore. I know that her time has come and that she is ready for this new life. My prayer is that God will bless them in ways that they never imagined, but it still leads me to wonder, how does a father let her go? Stay tuned because I am about to find out.

New Style-Same Spirit

2008-05-28T16:01:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the church is losing an entire generation. Those between the ages of 19-30 to be specific. Now many churches have changed how they do things, by having a more contemporary style of worship. The music is model, upbeat, and non-traditional. The pastor is no longer the Senior Pastor but is now the Lead Pastor, and he has traded his suit and tie for bluejeans and a t-shirt. Now don't get me wrong i have nothing against any of these if it is reaching the lost for Jesus, but the problem is that even in the new style church we are losing a generation, just a different generation.
What if a church could be as Paul said "all things to all men"? What if we could reach every generation? If we could do church in such a way that it would reach across generational lines? What if we could reach "church people" and "non-Church people"? Well maybe there is a way that we can.
Here at the church we are beginning something brand new. You see I do believe that it is time that the church try new things to reach the unchurched people in our community. So starting June 14th on a Saturday night we are going to have what we call a Revolution Service. Yes we are going to have Christian Rock music to worship to, blue jeans and t-shirts will be the main attire, and we will be using more media than ever before. Our goal is to create a church experience for people that don't like church. In doing this we believe that we can draw a generation of people that would never come to church any other way.
At the same time we are not going to just change everything we do, just so we can say we changed. Sunday morning we have a somewhat contemporary style worship and that service will remain intact for our growing congregation. You see I truly believe that a church should be a place where everyone is being reached with the gospel. I ask that you pray as we step out on faith to add this service to our weekend experience.

What does the True Church Look Like?

2008-05-07T12:19:00.001-07:00

For the last several months I have been asking myself the question, What does the true Church suppose to look like? What is it that God see when He see the true Church? I have been sharing with my Wednesday night small group some of the discovery that I have had. Thoughts such as:
(1) The True Church is about being a Contributor not a Consumer.
In this Consumer driven society that we live in we find where many people have come with that same attitude to the church. They want to know what the church can do for them. What does the church have to offer me and my family? What can I expect from the church? If I become a member then what do I get in return? Sometimes I wonder if the church should advertise free toaster oven for every new member. I mean when the church become about us. I understand this if someone is not a follower of Christ. We want them to consume what we have because they need Jesus but for those that claim to have a relationship with Him there is something wrong. The church does exist for us but rather we exist for the world that needs Jesus. As members of the church we should be looking to contribute to the welfare of this world by sharing Jesus no matter what the cost.
(2) I has discovered that the church is a dangerous place. The message and presence of Jesus is the most dangerous that the status quo can run into. Because in the presence of Jesus there must be change. When confronted with the message of Jesus there is a call for change. The church is suppose to be a place where people are changing, and being transformed into the image of Christ. The church is not suppose to be a safe place where when you step in it is as if you have walked into a time warp and are back 50 ago. It is a place where change is happening and where people are maturing and growing in Christ everyday.
(3) The Church is suppose to be place of life and death. A place where Jesus is alive in everything that we do and the flesh is dying. A place where it is so important that everybody is happy but that Jesus is happy. A place that is not controlled by the will of men but the will of God. A place that is ruled by faith, where love is the answer, and where mercy is freely given. A place where people can always find the truth even when the truth is not popular. A place where Jesus is being lifted up in everything that is done.

These are the things I have discovered about the true church. There are more but time does not allow me to discuss them all.

Roadside Assistance

2008-04-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

For the last several weeks I have been preaching about blind Bartimaeus. Some things that I have brought out over the last few weeks:

(1) Jesus doesn't just stop because there is a need but He stops when there is someone that is crying out for Him. Jesus said "Ask and ye shall receive"..... "those that hunger and thirst, shall be filled". If we are going to receive something awesome from God then we have to be willing to cry out and get the attention of Jesus as He is passing us by (which is all the time).

(2) We will meet opposition from people when we cry out for more of God, and it is how we respond that will determining what we get from God. They told Bartimaeus to shut-up but the bible says that he cried the more. He got louder and louder. His need causes him to break social order, it caused him to be controversial, need can do that. He was blind, they were not, and so therefore he was not going to be stopped. If you are trying to get the attention of Jesus you can not be pushed away by the opinion of men.

(3) We do not always know when Jesus stops. Remember Bartimaeus is blind and so when Jesus stopped, it was a great moment in his life but the truth is that he didn't know it because he could not see it happening. Just because you can't see God working doesn't mean that He is not. He might have stopped in the heaven lies but you can't see it in the earthly. That is why we have faith.

(4) Sometimes God uses the same people that were rebuking you one minute to bring you to Him the next minute. Be open to what ever God wants to do in your life and to whom ever He wants to use to do it.

(5) You have to leave the thing that identified you with your former life. For Bartimaeus it was a beggars coat. For you it might be an attitude, it might be hurt, it might envy, but what every it is you have to leave it and move forward.

(6) Be direct with Jesus. If you have the faith to cry out and if He has to mercy to stop then know that He has the power to do what you ask. So ask and be plain. Tell Him what you want. Talk Crazy Faith to God.

These are just a few of the points that we have been talking about during the last several weeks on Sunday morning. If you would like to listen or download the messages you can at the church website.

82%

2008-03-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

That's right studies show that 82% of the friends and family that church members ask to church will attend church services if they are just ask to come. What a number, I mean that is saying that if I ask 10 of my non-church friends to come to church that over 8 of them will say yes and will come. When I saw that number I had to ask myself why is the church not full. I mean if 8 out of 10 people will come if only asked to then why isn't every pew filled up every week. The answer is because the church quit asking. We use to be good about inviting people to church but now days we have stopped. Maybe it is because we are so busy that we have failed to make close friends outside of the church. If that is the case then we should work harder to making sure that we know people that don't go to church. Maybe it is because we just don't want to do it, or we don't want people to see us in the church environment. The fact of the matter is that the church stopped trying to bring people into the house of God and if we are ever going to see the church grow then we have to begin to share the good news with non-church going friends and family. So get out there and invite someone to church this week.

Marching Into the Mission

2008-03-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

The World is a very large place, and so when we talk about missions it is easy for us to get overwhelmed by the mere magnitude of it all. I mean really how is someone in Decatur Alabama suppose to make a different in Kenya ,Africa? The truth of the matter is that when God specks to us about going into all the world that is exactly what He means. So many people think that all they have to do is give money to missionaries, which is important, and they have done all that God has required. What they don't understand is that God has equip us all to take the gospel into our world. I mean let's face it we all live in the world and so when He says go into all the world that is what He mean, GO. Go to your neighbors, go down the street, go to work telling them about Jesus. What ever you do just go. God never said that we had to go around the world but just that we had to go in the world around us. We are suppose to taking the word of God to a dying world that is in need of Him and the only way that can happen is if we go and do what God has called us to do. GO

What's God's Will?

2008-02-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

What is God's Will? This is a question that everyone ask in one way or another at some point in life. Through different periods of our life we ask what is right for me, should I take this job or should I stay where I am? Should I get married or should I stay single? Should I retire or should I work a couple of more years? Questions that have a great impact on our life. You in the church have heard it preached that God has the answers but the question is how do you know what those answers are?

To know the will of God there are two things that you have know: first you have to know the Permanent will of God. These are the things that God has will to happen that nothing will change. Ex. the second coming of Jesus is known by God and when He is ready for it to take place it will happen. To know God's will you have to be mindful of what He is up to in this world. Second you have to know the Moral will of God. This is what does God expect from you. You will never know the will of God for your personal life if you are living outside the Moral will of God. God's personal will for your life lies somewhere between His Permanent will and His moral will and the more you know about those then then more you can discern what God has for you. Finding the will of God is about knowing God. For more infomation on this subject you can go to the South Decatur Church website and listen to

Honoring a Great Lady

2008-01-18T07:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had to attend the funeral of my Grandmother. She was a great lady. As I stood there at the grave side I begin to remember all the memories that I had of her growing up, and I realized that the world could use more people like my Grandmother. Never in all the years that I knew her did I ever hear her speck a bad word about another person. She worked hard everyday, even days when she didn't feel like working. If someone came to house they were going to be welcomed and they were going to be fed a lot of food. She loved her family, and made sure that they knew every time she saw them. She was strong but meek all at the same time. She was always the first person up in the morning and usually the last one to go to bed at night. She never wanted anyone to go out of their way for her, but went out of her way for everyone else. I never saw her act selfishly, and I never saw her lose her temper. She was a lady in every way. She was strong willed but was submissive all at the same time. I remember setting at the table eating breakfast one morning. My Paw was sitting at his end of the table and my Grandmother at the other end. She was getting on to him for not doing what she thought he should have already done, when my meek quiet Paw looked up and simply said Sue (that wasn't her name to anyone but him) that is enough. It was in that moment that I saw her submissive side as she simply dropped the subject. She was a strong woman and she let her opinion be known, but she also knew when a person should let things go. Mary Norris was a person that we all can learn from and the World is going to miss her, I am going to miss her.

God Showed Up!!!

2008-01-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

For the last few months I have been so pumped about 2008. South Decatur's forty year anniversary (read prior blogs). Sunday morning was the first Sunday of 2008 and God showed up in an awesome way. I have to amid at first I didn't quit know what kind of service we were going to have. I mean there were allot of people out and when that happens you just don't know how people will respond. Praise and worship was good as always and the Choir did an outstanding job like they always do. I preached on going to the other side and then there was the altar service and it was there that God just blew the doors off the church. I mean people were lined up wanting more of God, and the presence of God was in the house. We prayed for people for hours and the glory of the Lord just filled the house. People were healed, filled and changed. It was awesome. There is nothing like it when God shows up.

Rate the Music

2008-01-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

This maybe be one of the best Jars of Clay CDs. I loved it! If you like this band then I highly recommend that you get this CD.

Things will be Great in 08

2007-12-29T13:33:00.000-08:00

The year of great things has come to us in 08. As we enter 2008 we enter into a time of great vision and expectation for what is to come. God is doing something in our world today. The Bible says "Where sin does abound, that grace does much more abound". God is doing awesome things in our world and there is no doubt that He is looking to do great things with those that will give themselves to Him. That is what our call is, to give ourselves to the Lord. To make a difference in our world and to impact those around us. So let's make 08 a great year.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-18T14:36:00.001-08:00

I would like to take a moment to just say Merry Christmas to everyone our there. I hope that you have a great time with friends and family over the holidays. Remember Jesus is the reason for the season.

Forty Years Old!

2007-12-04T15:43:00.000-08:00

Throughout the Bible we see where 40 years has a great deal of signficance. Forty years is a time of new beginnings and a time breakthrough. In 2008 South Decatur and myself will become 40 years old. I know that God is going to do something awesome as we celebrate this landmark time in our destiny. God has been moving in a mighty way but I see that there is going be something great that happens in 08. Throughout the last couple of years I have seen that God is moving us and preparing us for something, and I believe that the time has come for that to take place. 08 is going to be something great.

IGNITE

2007-11-19T08:50:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone........God is really awesome and He is moving in a mighty way here at the church. We are currently preaching in the 10:45 service on the subject of ignite. This is a series about what it takes to be used by God. Like everything meaningful in life there is a cost that has to be paid if one is going to be used by God. It is not enough to come to church and go through the motion and then have God use you in a mighty way. If we are going to walk in the anointing of God then you have to be willing to pay the price for that anointing. This series has help us here at the church take a close look at ourselves and ask the questions "In my life where I have placed God on my list of importance?" "When pressure comes, temptation how do I react?". Through this we have learned that our conviction and stance can not waver but must remain strong in what God has called us to do. If you would like to listen to any of these messages you can go to our website and listen at your computer, download, or listen on your Ipod.

Breaking the Barriors

2007-10-31T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Sorry it has been a while but my Internet has been down for the last seven days. Today I learned that we had a record breaking attendance for the month of October here at the church. We broke through to the next level in attendance in every area of our church. Sunday morning was higher than it has ever been, as was Sunday Evening, Sunday School, and Wednesday LIFE night. God is truly moving in our church and we are seeing great growth come from everywhere. I am so excited about what is going on and I know that it is going to do nothing but get larger and larger. New families are coming into the church each week and people are excited about being here. God is doing something but He is about to BLOW THE DOORS OFF OF THE CHURCH. I can feel the presence of the Lord in the house and I know that there is great things about to happen at South Decatur. The power of the Lord is moving in the church and people are given their lives to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is moving through every service. A lot is happening and I am so glad that I am a part of the movement of God.

Moving Forward

2007-10-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

WOW! What a great two weeks. As some of you may know last week was homecoming here at South Decatur, and it was awesome. We had a record number in attendance, and the service was incredible. Pastor Paul Meacham from Gordo, AL. did a great job preaching the Word and the altars were full (that's what it is all about). Everything went great and the only thing that could have been better was if we were in our new Family Life Center for dinner. Was a little crowed but we managed OK and everything turned out great.
Yesterday was a good day at the church. Our attendance was awesome and there was a great spirit in the church. We had a few guest with us and a large number in attendance. Our morning Bible Study (Sunday School) is really growing and Children's Church is moving forward. Overall we are really moving in the right direction. Sunday Night was a powerful service and God moved on people in the altar. Allot of churches are down on Sunday Night and some so much that they have stopped having service but we have a great number that come out and God always moves in the Sunday Evening service.
All and all the church is in great shape and we are moving forward in a mighty way. I am excited about what God is doing and even more excited about what He is going to do in the days to come.

Power Outage

2007-10-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

As a pastor I pay cost attention to movements in the church world, even more so in the Pentecostal church world. One thing that concerns me is the lack of teaching and preaching that is taking place on the Holy Spirit. As we look across the church horizon we see that many churches have traded the power of the Holy Spirit for the acceptance of men. We have traded the power of Pentecost for being politically correct. Pastor talk more about being culturally relevance than they do about being Holy Ghost filled. The house of God has turned into a Coffee shop, and the pulpit into the family den. Now don't get me wrong, I understand that the method of delivering our message has to change with the times, but have we worked so hard to break away from the traditional that we have thrown the baby out with the bath water.
I am a wide open, on fire ten miles from water preacher. That is who I am, I believe that God has anointed me to preach the Gospel with passion, to loose those that are in prison (spiritual, physically, and emotionally). In the ministry that God has allowed me to be a part of I have seen many people delivered from all kinds of addictions and sin. I have witnessed as God has delivered drug addicts, sex addicts, alcoholic and many more from their addictions. I have seen God cure cancer, heart disease, brain tumors and many more things, and the one thing that has been in all of these is the power of the Holy Spirit. In every case there was a move of God that stirred the hearts of men and women, and through that brought them to an altar where God moved in their lives. My prayer is that the power of the Holy Spirit will become real to each and everyone of you.

Rate the Music

2007-09-18T13:15:00.000-07:00

The New Casting Crowns Cd is very good. To me it was not as good as the first one but it very close. I really enjoyed listening to it, and would encourage you to purchase a copy.

Give Me More

2007-09-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hello all you bloggers....
I was in a conversation the other day with another pastor about how that his church was about to do away with Sunday night service. He made the statement that it was a sign of the times and that he felt before long all churches would do a way with Sunday night service. That got me to thinking, Do we really need less Church? Is that what people in the church think? I mean we say it is so we can spend more time with our family, but lets face it most people spend it on the golf course or at the mall, and when was going to church not a family affair anyway. DON'T GIVE ME LESS, BUT GIVE ME MORE.
I know at South Decatur God is blowing the doors off of our church and some of the most powerful services that we have is on Sunday Night. Our crowds are great and with the tremendous growth that we are seeing in the church these days there is no way we are going to get rid of Sunday night church. I have found when you have people that are excited about what God is doing and that spirit of excitement comes together with the Power of the Holy Spirit then anything is possible. God has blowing our church up, and it is awesome to see all the things that are happening.
Last week Pastor Lynn did her first Women's Conference here at the church and that girl brought the house down every night. I mean there were women in the altar crying out to God, and the Lord moved in people lives. Pastor Lynn preached truth and the truth set people free...... What God is doing at South Decatur is exciting and it is powerful, and it is one of those things where you just can't wait to come to church. During September we have had our "See Your At Church" campaign and we are seeing record numbers coming every week. We are getting ready for Homecoming 2007 October 7 and I really don't know where we are going to put everyone. If you are ever in the Decatur area then drop by and see for yourself.

How Time Flies

2007-09-12T07:41:00.001-07:00

I was looking at my children the other day, I have three by the way, and thinking how fast time has gone. I can remember what seems like just the other day bringing each of them home from the hospital. Now I am the father of three teenagers, though Ashley is about to be 20. Where has time gone? In the book of James he declares that "life is but a vapor", it is here today and gone tomorrow. As I thought about my children and how fast they have growth up, it once again made me realize just how every day is precious. The truth of the matter is that we have few days to make a difference in this life, and we shouldn't waste any of them. God has given us life, and in that life He has given us the ability to fulfill a destiny. I heard it said once that the average person lives to be 75, that means 75 Springs, 75 Summer, 75 Falls and 75 Winters, and that is all you have. Being almost 40 I realized that more than half of my seasons are gone, and I need to make the most of the second half. Life is a journey and we have to make the most of every step along the way. What are you doing to fulfill your destiny? What are you doing to make a difference in your life? How many more seasons will you have? Time is marching on and so take time today to make a difference.

May We Alway Remember

2007-09-11T09:37:00.001-07:00

It is hard to believe that it has been six years since the horrible events of 911. I can still remember driving to a ministers meeting in Montgomery, and hearing the events unfold over the radio. I remember turning around and making the 1 hour drive back to the church and pulling up to see the parking lot full of people who had come to pray. Sometimes it is easy for us that were not directly effected to forget all the things that happen, but for many there is no forgetting. Today we have troops fighting in a war that was started on 911. We have men and women that have lost their loved ones to the attack or the war that followed. With all of this still going on in our country we should take time to remember those that have fallen and pray for those that have to live without them.

See You at Church

2007-09-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Did you know that over 73% of the people survey said no one had ever invited them to church. That is the results of a recent survey that was done by Thom Rainer. As a pastor in church that concerns me as much as anything that I have read recently, because it shows that the church has lost it desire to evangelize on the lowest level. I mean let's face it, there is not allot of effort in inviting someone to come to church. I mean if you don't have enough excitement in where you worship as not to want to invite someone to come and be a part of the service then perhaps you are going to the wrong church. We have to be doing all that we can to bring people into the house of God so that they can come in contact with our savior Jesus Christ.
In September we have kicked off a "See You at Church" campaign. In this campaign we have challenged each person that attends our church to go out an bring some to the house of God. We have a goal of breaking our attendance record, and I am glad to say we are well on the way. You maybe reading this post and thinking, when is the last time I invited someone to church? Well, when was it? You can start today, and together we can make sure that every person has been given an invitation.