there

This past weekend, during our worship service at HRCC, I had the pleasure of delivering the message that begins a new series entitled, "Provision". If you were there, you may recall how I spoke about God instructing Elijah to go "there"; that place where God would meet his physical needs; that place where God could give him protection; that place to be alone with God; that place where the presence of God would be.......there.

I am still amazed at how Elijah must have felt when he was told to leave where he felt he was safe, comfortable, and secure. That had to be a very difficult choice to make; not in his original plans for his life; not what he thought God would want him to do; and, it was probably going to be an inconvenience for Elijah.

Do we ever feel like Elijah? We look at our life and we see where we are. Our basic needs are met. We are fed.... clothed.... have a place to stay..... comfortable.... we may be even doing what we think God wants us to be doing. Would we leave where we are if God said His provision was there; a place unfamiliar to us; a place where we might not fit in; a place that may expose us for who we really are; a place where God is our only source for any and every thing we will need; a place where God becomes the most important relationship we will ever have; a place where we feel His embrace each day; where He can comfort the sick, encourage the lonely, bring joy to the hurting, lift up the fallen, restore the marriage, defeat the grasp of addiction, and make us who He created us to be?

If we are not there, then we must still be here.....and according to Elijah....there is where God is...and where we need to be.

See you there.

elevator door

I was talking to a friend the other day and we got onto the topic of how Christians are to live their lives each day. I know most people understand that as a believer in Jesus Christ, we should be living a life that exemplifies who He is to us. We should live our lives in such a way so others will know that Jesus dwells in us. We are to be His hands and feet here on this earth; at the school we attend; on our job with co-workers; when we are with friends, or family. As a believer in Jesus Christ, our life is to be noticeable.

Anyway.....as we were discussing what this life should look like, he made a comment that caught me off guard. In our illustrations of how people might perceive their life as an example of Jesus, and all the ways they may think it should look; everything from tithing, to going on a mission trip to a foreign country.....he says that he wants to be the guy who holds the elevator door. The elevator door?!? How is that.......?

Then I saw what he meant. Too often we think a life that shows people we are a follower of Christ has to be something noteworthy, big, attention getting.....noticeable. I'm sure it can be, if our motives are right. But, to see the small gestures of kindness as being Christ-like....

Maybe we need to re-focus a little on what it means to live a life that shows we have Christ living in us. Maybe we've been looking too high on the "impressive" list. Maybe all people really need is for someone to hold the elevator door for them.

2-4-83

Twenty seven years ago I was blessed to see the birth of my son, Joshua....a beautiful baby boy, and now.....an amazing young man. I can rewind through my memory and see so many things that make up who Joshua is. Everything he is now, I have watched being developed as the days and years have slipped by.

There have been broken bones, school plays, Little League Baseball, Basketball, Wrestling, Track, Cross-Country, High School Graduation, College, MBA, Law School, and then there were the Church Christmas plays, Baptism, Caswell Youth Camps, Mission Trips. I have seen how all these events have been a part of making Joshua who he is, but more importantly....I have seen how God has shaped Joshua's life through all of this. Most people may not see God working in ordinary events of their life, but that is how these events become extra-ordinary.

Of all the things that I have witnessed in Joshua's life so far, I am most impressed when I hear people tell me what they think about Joshua. They may have been friends with Joshua growing up, or attended school with him, or maybe even competed with him or coached him, but they all have had good things to say about Joshua. And as a father......one of the best things you can hear about a child of yours......is not what others say about them.....it is how your child's life has impacted theirs.

That's when you know that their life is extra-ordinary........and God did that.

Happy Birthday Joshua. Your Mom and I love you and we thank God everyday for what He is doing in your life.

seem like 31?

Today is mine and Karen's anniversary. We have been married for 31 years. This morning, as we were headed to the gym to run, walk, ride, lift and sweat......Karen asked, "Does it seem like 31?"

My reply........"No."

It still seems like yesterday that I was standing at the front of the church watching the most beautiful woman in the world walk down the aisle toward me. Even now my eyes will begin to well-up when I picture it all again in my mind. Karen will tell you I had a hard time speaking at the start of the ceremony, and it was all her fault.

WOW!!! 31 years of sharing in a journey that only God could have orchestrated. His hand has been gently guiding us as we began our lives together; as we became parents and raised a family; as we have served in His church. God has blessed me beyond words with the one person that has been, and will always be......the love if my life.

"Seem like 31?......No......But, an amazing moment in time."

Happy anniversary, Karen. I love you.

spotlights

This past Saturday the Praise Team was rehearsing for our Christmas Service on Sunday at East Rowan High School. As we were going through a sound-check of the songs for the service, the spotlights for the stage came on. Talk about bright. Over the years, I have grown accustomed to them, and they don't seem to bother me that much. But, it is fun to listen to the response of others on the stage. The most common response being, "How can you see anything?" I know that people can feel that spotlights shining in their eyes can be distracting and make it hard to see people. And, at first, I probably felt the same way. But, I don't think that way any more.

The whole purpose of a spotlight is to make those of us on the stage easier to see. I know that sounds pretty obvious, but sometimes we need to be reminded that as worship leaders....we need to be seen as worship leaders. Spotlights have become a tool to help me focus more on worshipping and to remind me that I am being viewed as a worshipper. When that spotlight comes on, I have to ask myself.....am I a worshipper? Am I ready to lead? Am I ready for the responsibility of leading? Am I worshipping?

This is the Christmas season and worshipping God should be a top priority in our lives. It's all around us..... from stores to TV movies to sales papers..... Christmas is everywhere.... or is it? Have we become so distracted by the rushing around to get everything while it is on sale, or trying to fill every wakened hour cooking and preparing desserts for party after party, that we forget to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.....the birth of God's Son....our Savior?

Do we need to be reminded by a spotlight?

As believers in Jesus Christ....we are on a stage everyday. Is His spotlight making you a worshipper to everyone that sees you?

ornaments

The day after Thanksgiving is the day that has been set aside for decorating our house for Christmas; inside and out. I tend to view this as a project/job for the day. This process begins with the climb into the attic to gather the boxes and tubs of decorations. After everything is down and separated, then the decorating begins.

Once the tree is up and ready, I get to place the lights on the tree. After I get the lights working, and in the right place on the tree, then I will head outside with Joshua to begin decorating the front of the house. Karen will be busy inside placing everything in its place around the house, and then she begins to place the ornaments on the tree. Its a very tedious process, and she takes great care in how the tree looks from every angle. After all the lights and wreaths are situated on the front of the house, and most of the boxes are returned to the attic.....I get to listen to my favorite part of the decorating.

Karen will show me where she has placed the newest ornaments on the tree, and why she has placed them where she has. I know that she is wanting me to see where they are so that when I am ready to video our decorations, which we do each year on Christmas Eve, I will be sure to include them. What she may not realize is that when she shows me the ornaments, she is reminding me of special things that we have done during the year.

Our whole tree is made up of ornaments that are memories, and every memory is refreshed with every ornament. I enjoy looking at a decorated tree for Christmas, but what makes ours so special is that it reminds me of every blessing that God has given me and my family. I know that most people look forward to what Christmas may bring each year........but I like looking at our tree and remembering what Christ has brought.

think and thank

Today is Thanksgiving Day and I am sitting here going through everything that I am thankful for. Well, actually, I am trying not to fall asleep. That always happens after an amazing meal and a quiet house. A lot of people have been sharing with me what they are thankful for all week long; from the Thanksgiving Service at HRCC Sunday night to posts on Facebook. This is the time of year for thinking and thanking. And now, on this quiet afternoon, its time to think and thank.

First off, I am thankful for a God who gave His Son for me so that I could become one of His children. He has blessed me with Karen, a loving wife that is my biggest supporter and encourager. Her love is truly a blessing from God. I am also thankful for my family; Joshua, Kristen, and Marshall; my Mom and Dad; my brothers and sisters, and their spouses and children.

I am also thankful for the people of High Rock Community Church. They have made my journey of following God's call on my life exciting through all of their love and support. I am thankful for the staff of HRCC, the team that I work with that I now consider an addition to my family. And, to my brothers and sisters that lead worship each weekend with me, I am so thankful for the chance to worship with you all. Thanks to all of you for your prayers, support, love, and friendship.