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Archive for May, 2011

Children and Spiritual Progression

Posted in Family, Formation on May 10, 2011| Leave a Comment »

This past Sunday, part of the message I gave to our church family was one of the importance of training our children on spiritual matters.

Most parents realize and believe it is their responsibility to make sure their children are trained spiritually, but few actually take steps to do anything about it.  The majority of parents leave this task to the church.  The church is responsible to help and to partner with the parents, but if the sole source of spiritual influence is the church, then our children are in trouble.

Parents, it is time to be more involved personally with the spiritual progression of your children.  I know this is intimidating but start small.  Make sure to pray with them – and let them see you praying and reading in your own personal time with God.  Read scripture with them and discuss it.  Anyone can do it – it just takes time . . . quality time.

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Retirement? I Don’t Think So!

Posted in Church, Community, Leadership on May 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Last night I watched one of the most inspiring news segments that I have seen in a long time.  I am not sure where the story took place, but the coverage was about two softball teams.  Now you may be thinking, “What is so special about softball teams?”

Well, let me tell you.  These teams are made up of retirees.  The coolest interview was with a 93 year old man who still plays.  It showed him batting and running bases.  And there were shots of him fielding balls and throwing the ball into the infield.  When questioned about why he still plays, he said, “If you feel like playing, why would you just sit in a rocking chair?”

Way to go!  I hope I am still active at his age.  I doubt that I will be playing softball at 93 – I don’t really play now so I am not sure I will start.  But I can see maybe a friendly pick-up game on a basketball court (although, the wife has restricted my b-ball since that second knee surgery).

As I watched this inspiring man playing softball, I thought about all the retirees in the church.  You know who I am talking about – maybe you are one.  I am not talking about the folks of retirement age necessarily.  I am talking about those with a retirement attitude.  People who may have made statements like:  “I have done that for years, it’s time for someone else to step up and pull their weight around here.”  There is a lot of truth to that statement, for the church to function as God intended, it takes everyone doing their part.  But no where in scripture do I find the God-sanctioned retirement threshold.

So regardless of your age or years of service remember that God has a plan for you and that plan does not involve sitting and observing.  For God’s community to thrive, everyone has to use their God-given talents to further the Kingdom.

What will you do today to get up out of the rocking chair and get into the game?

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Don’t Forget Mother’s Day

Posted in Church, Community, Hope on May 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »

This has been a whirlwind week.  The boxes of books have been unpacked and most of the office has been set up.

My highlight so far this week was Wednesday night prayer meeting – it just felt right.  Everyone was welcoming and open.  I automatically felt like I was at home.  Thank you all for your love and encouragement.  I am looking forward to Sunday and being together as a corporate family, all in one room – I am excited!

But in the chaos of moving in and trying to get things set up, I almost forgot that Sunday is Mother’s Day.  A day we set aside to remember our mothers.  I encourage you to do something special for your mom this week.  Don’t forget to tell her how much you love her and what she means to you.

I also have a special request.  As I was driving to work yesterday, I was listening to the radio and one of the DJ’s pointed out that she had tried for years to have kids and couldn’t.  She shared that Mother’s Day has always been a painful time for her.  I had never thought about that fact – and how many that affects.  So here is my request, if you know someone who might not be looking forward to this day, reach out and encourage them.  Pray for them and ask God to bring joy and peace into their hearts, even in the midst of the pain they may feel.  Pray that God would make you sensitive to those who might be hurting.

That is what families do for one another.

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Blessed Real Good

Posted in Hope, Motivational on May 4, 2011| 1 Comment »

Have you ever received a phone call that just made your day?  Maybe it was unexpected and it was a good surprise or maybe the things the person said really gave you a boost.

Yesterday, I had one of those calls.  If you have read my ramblings here for very long, you know that I have referred to a friend of mine from Atlanta on a few occasions.  We met while serving on the same board and have had a connection ever since.  LaPinsky is a good friend – in fact, we normally greet one another by saying, “My brother from another mother.”  We don’t see each other much at all and we hardly ever talk, but I know that he is there for me and I pray he knows that about me as well.

At any rate, LaPinsky called yesterday just to say he felt God had brought me to his mind and heart to pray for me.  We talked for about ten minutes and then he did something that is characteristic of his caring nature – he prayed for me.  One of the things he said in his prayer brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart.  He said, “God, I ask that you bless Brian real good.”  You just have to know LaPinsky to appreciate that phrase.  He is one of the most articulate men I know.  He can put words together in such a way that would make some of the world’s greatest orators envious.  But every once in a while, he will break from the grammatical norm and say something down to earth and real.

That is one of the things I love about him – he is educated, brilliant and caring – but he is nothing if he isn’t real!

So today, I am passing on the inspiration I received from LaPinsky yesterday.  I am praying that God will bless each of you real good today!  And then for you to be a blessing to someone else.

Be blessed!

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Chaos In Boxes

Posted in Formation, Hope on May 3, 2011| 2 Comments »

This is what the office looked like yesterday when I arrived.  Unfortunately, it is also what it looked like when I left at the end of the day!  

But today – today, all those books are going on a shelf!

One of the things this process has reminded me of is that even though I have learned through the years to juggle multiple things at one time, I don’t function well in utter chaos.  I need some sense of order to stand on while facing the chaos.

Do you ever feel like your life is in utter chaos?  The house is a wreck, the kids won’t listen, your job is stressful – there is nothing stable in your life on which to rest – does that sound like your life sometimes?  Does it sound like your life today?

This moving stuff has caused me to remember that regardless of what is going on around me, I have to make time to slow down and spend time with God.  I have to make time to sit and be still – to be silent before God.

So today, if you feel like your life is spinning out of control – stop what you’re doing and read this.

God is in control!  Take a deep breath – you can do this with God’s help.

Now, where can I find a place to sit so that I can follow my own advice!

Be blessed!

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Day 1 – Boxes and Paint

Posted in Church, Hope on May 2, 2011| 2 Comments »

Today is the day! Day one of my journey as senior pastor of the First Baptist Church in Littlefield. While I am excited about the path before me, I am here in the wake of a very difficult, yet moving day yesterday in Levelland.

Last night, the church in Levelland hosted a reception for us in order to say good-bye. As person after person came by, hugged my neck and offered kind words of affirmation, the reality truly sunk in – my tenure at First Baptist Church of Levelland was over. But the blessing of our service there will continue in the hundreds of relationships we have forged over the past nine years. It has truly been a great ride!

Now, as this new chapter begins, I am staring at an office full of boxes and an unfinished paint job. My plan was to have the office set up before today, but, of course, that did not happen. So today will begin with a quick calendar check and then on to painting.

And so, the journey begins!

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