MOTIVATION MONDAY: TURN EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS INTO A JESUS STORY

Happy Monday, folks. I pray that you all had a wonderful weekend and you now find yourself ready to tackle yet another week. There is just something about Monday’s. I mean some people love them and some people hate them. If I’m honest, I’m kind of lean somewhere in the middle. It’s not that I don’t like Monday’s, it’s just hard to be motivated first thing on a Monday morning. So, I pray that today’s post will provide a little encouragement and motivation as you start this new week.

This past weekend left me with a lot of things to talk about when it came to sports. My Liberty Flames football team took down the Arkansas Razorbacks, UNC beat Virginia, Georgia beat up little ‘ole Tennessee, Alabama lost and sadly, the Houston Astros won the World Series. Now, I say this because if you know me, I could talk all day about sports. Most of you are probably like that too, in that you can have a long conversation about the things you really like. Maybe it’s music, art, books, movies or TV shows, but we talk a lot about the things we are passionate about.

According to a recent study, the average person has twenty-seven conversations per day and both men and women average about sixteen thousand words per day. That is a lot of words and a lot of conversations. However, when it comes to bringing up the gospel, we seem to shy away. For some, they break out in sweat, hives, sweaty palms and our tongues get tied and we find ourselves talking about everything but the gospel.

It’s almost as if the idea of injecting Jesus into our conversations causes anxiety and fear for believers and even some pastors. Too many times we try to over-complicate talking about Jesus. We are afraid of being too confrontational, argumentative or we feel like we have to be some deep theologian before we can share the gospel with others. Simply put, sharing the gospel has lost its simplicity today. But, it doesn’t have to be this way.

I want to challenge you this week to share a Jesus story with someone. What is a Jesus story? It is an opportunity for you to share a brief story about how Jesus is working in your life. You don’t have to share your testimony, although if the opportunity arises don’t let it pass. Sharing a Jesus story with someone can be as simple as encouraging someone who is going through a hard time, having issues in their life, etc. Look for ways to just turn everyday conversations into a gospel conversation or a Jesus story. Simply just be willing to be step out of your comfort zone, be obedient to the Spirit’s leading and share a Jesus story with someone this week. I promise you, it will make a huge difference for that person and strengthen your walk with Jesus as well.

After all, what do you have to lose?

Have a wonderful week and I would love to hear from you and your Jesus story moments.

MOTIVATION MONDAY: Finishing Is Better Than Starting

Happy Monday, folks. The other day I was reading through Hebrews chapters 11 – 12 and as I read it, I began to think today’s title, “Finishing is better than starting.” Now, this isn’t an original idea, in fact, it can be found in Ecclesiastes 7:8 of the New Living Translation. In thinking over what I wanted to say today, I kept coming back to this verse because it is very fitting for what we read in Hebrews 11 – 12.

But first, surrendering your life to Jesus is the greatest decision you will ever make, but that is just the beginning of your marathon life. As a Christian, our life is a race that we were created to run, but that run will not be an easy one. We will face obstacles that will cause everything in us to scream and quit. It is in those moments that we want to quit, that we push through the pain and stay focused on our goal of finishing well.

As I read Hebrews 11, I am reminded of so many faithful saints who endured to the end. Were they perfect? Not at all, but they were faithful even in their weakest moments. Think about it as you read that list in Hebrews 11. Abel had sibling issues. Noah loved wine a little too much. Abraham was a liar. Jacob was a deceiver. Samson, well not only did he love women but he loved himself a little too much! David, he struggled with all the above. But the one thing they possessed was endurance. It was their endurance that made their faith strong.

It is interesting that in the 40 verses in Hebrews 11, “By faith” is listed twenty-seven times. Those saints listed in Hebrews 11 passed away before Jesus came and they didn’t witness the fulfillment of the greatest promise. But, they are with Him now and they are waiting for you, cheering you on to complete your race. Many start a journey of following Jesus without a realistic expectation of the price required to finish their spiritual race. They fail to keep their eyes focused on Jesus and as a result, they get frustrated and they let that frustration destroy their passion for following after Jesus.

I will be the first to admit that my passion for following Jesus is not at the top of my list some days. There are things that I get upset and frustrated about, there are a ton of things that I fail at, but by God’s grace and mercy, He allows me to get back up and continue on. I may have scrapes, cuts and bruises from my decisions and choices, but my eyes are fixed on the healer. Finishing is better than starting, but we first have to start the race with a new birth in Jesus Christ.

We can learn a lot about endurance from those listed in Hebrews 11, but the most important thing we can learn is that it was the faith they possessed to follow after God and finish their race. Will you have the endurance to do whatever it takes to finish the race that God has set before you, so that all glory belongs to Him?

“Let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus…” FINISH YOUR RACE.

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY – October 28th

Hello Friday and welcome back to another edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. I missed last week’s edition due to the fact that I was getting ready for our youth lock-in last weekend. Yes, you read that right… a youth lock-in where we locked ourselves in the church with a group of students for the night, played games, ate a ton of snacks and slept on a hard floor. Oh, did I mention that we did that willingly! It was fun though and I am glad that we are able to provide our students experiences/memories like that. So, a lot of things have happened in the last two weeks, so let’s get started with this weeks FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

I. ANOTHER CROSS COUNTRY SEASON IN THE BOOKS

Last Monday, cross country came to an end and our girl came so close to breaking into the Top 20. She finished the season ranked 23rd and what a season she had! I have been so proud of her and the way she finished this season. After a rough start with colds and sickness at the start of the season, the last three weeks she was at her best and it showed. The fact that her last three meets she finished with times of 17:52, 15:45 and 17:14 is truly remarkable and it shows how hard she worked her tail off to get to those times. As an assistant coach, I could not have asked for more from her over these last few weeks. And as a parent I am overjoyed for her and the time and dedication that she put into cross country this season. Te best part is that she is determined to be a Top 10 runner next year as an eighth grader and I truly believed that she is going to meet that goal. Another area that I have seen the benefits of her running cross country as been in her soccer game this season. Because of the workouts that they have been doing in practice, I have seen how it has made her leg stronger on the soccer field. I love seeing my girl go “beast mode” on the soccer field! Quick side note, not only did she work her tail off in cross country, but she also worked her tail off in the classroom and brought home straight A’s on her report card! That is something that this dad knows nothing about! It’s hard to believe that the next time I get to write about cross country our girl will be an 8th GRADER… I’m not quite ready for that yet. 🙂

II. SLAYING THE 5K RACE

A couple of Saturday’s ago, we ran the Hickory Trick or Trot 5K and Jana and Gracie absolutely crushed it. Gracie, of course finished ahead of me, but just barely. She beat me by 4 seconds, but she still beat me! She finished in a time of 29:57 and finished first in her age group. The remarkable thing about that feat is that this is her third 5K this year and she has finished first in her age group every time. But the most exiting part of our race was seeing all the hard work that my wife has put in to get ready for this 5K over the last ten weeks. All those days of getting up early to go walk and run, even on days that she didn’t feel like it, but still got up, got dressed and went out and put the work in paid off. Not only did she crush her time but she finished third place in her age group! There are not enough words to express of just how proud I am of her! She kept telling herself that she just didn’t want to finish last. Not only did she not finish last, she finished THIRD in her age group and received a metal for her accomplishments. I’m looking for her to take me down in our next race in November!

III. KICKBALL SEASON IN REVIEW

This fall the Hickory Crawdads hosted their third season of adult kickball and it did not disappoint. This was our third year playing as well and the season came to an end last night. There were 16 teams that signed up to participate this season and we played five games with the top six making the playoffs. We finished in 4th but lost in our first playoff game this past Thursday night. Even though it was a tough loss, it still did not take away all the fun that we had this season. I would have preferred to win it all but finishing 5th out of 16 teams is not too bad either! I am not sure what next year holds, but I am thankful to the Hickory Crawdads for offering this once again. They put a lot of work into making sure that the season is a success and I am grateful for their time and energy that they put into it. Also, it was a lot of fun to be able to play kickball with some great friends every week too.

IV. SOCCER AND FRIENDS

“THERE ARE FRIENDS, THERE IS FAMILY, AND THEN THERE ARE FRIENDS THAT BECOME FAMILY.”

On Monday evening we had a soccer game and some of our youth girls came out to show their support for Gracie and Kennedy. Soccer is always fun, but it is more fun when you have your closest friends show up to support you and cheer you on. Thankfully, we got the win since they showed up, but even if we wouldn’t have got the win, Gracie and Kennedy would have been just as excited that to see them. That is one of the things that I love to see with our students and it’s how much they care about each other. When you look at the picture above, all those smiles are genuine! They love each other, they love being silly and goofy, but most importantly, they love being there for each other, encouraging one another and helping to point others to Jesus.

V. SAYING GOODBYE IS TOUGH

Last week our church lost a dear member and friend. Ms. Jonie was 96 years young when she went home to be with the Lord. As we got word of her passing, it did not take long for me to remember her and the legacy that she left not only with me, but so many others in our church. One of the things that I remember most about her is her big smile that was always wearing. She could be having the worst day ever, but she would still be wearing that smile. She had one of those smiles that could just light up a room as soon as she walked in. In fact, you probably know or have known someone like that. But it wasn’t just her smile, it was her personality too that made her presence so welcoming and loving. I have very fond memories of Ms. Jonie from all of our trips that we have taken with our senior adults over the years and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know her. My life is better because of it!

In fact, as I think back over the last 16 years, my life is better because of so many saints that I have had the privilege to know before they were called home for eternity. I have said before that ministry can be tough at times, but it can also be very rewarding. Having the opportunity to know so many wonderful people is one of those small rewards in ministry. I absolutely love working with my students every week, but I also love having the chance to spend time and get to know so many of our senior adults. To have the chance to sit and talk with them about life, their experiences and their love for Jesus is something that cannot be replaced. So many of them have been an encouragement to me and my walk with Jesus over the years and I am grateful for each and everyone of them. They remind me of why it’s important to be involved and connected with a community of believers. Life is going to be hard at times, Satan is continually tempting us and drawing us away from our first love in Jesus Christ. Our faithful senior saints have been a blessing to me and my family and that’s not something I want to take lightly. Who is someone that has been a blessing to you? Who is someone that has been a source of encouragement to you and helped you in your walk with Jesus? What was it about them that you remember the most? Saying goodbye is tough, but it is not the end for those who have trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Have you trusted in Jesus today?

Well, that’s it for this edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. Thanks for spending a few minutes with me and have a blessed weekend. See you next week for another edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

MOTIVATION MONDAY: RUN THE RACE

“Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us…”

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2, CSB

If you have been with me for any amount of time, you have probably heard me talk about (at least once) the analogy of the Christian life being described as running a race. This picture comes from the verses above in Hebrews, along with the apostle Paul using it frequently in his letters to encourage Christian’s to persevere, press on and “run” as if competing for a prize (1 Cor. 9:24-27; Gal. 2:2; Phil. 2:16, 3:13-14).

I don’t know if you consider yourself a runner or if the very thought of running makes you cringe. The idea of running doesn’t make me cringe, but I don’t consider myself to be a runner either. I guess I am more a work in progress, which is a perfect description of my Christian walk. The Christian life isn’t a sprint, let’s get there as quickly as we can. It’s more like a ultra-marathon.

In a marathon, if you tried to sprint the whole 26.2 miles, you will eventually burn out and crash. Instead, you work on pacing yourself, finding a good rhythm, keeping your eyes focused on what’s ahead. Most definitely there will be times that you will need to “press on” and dig deep when your body tells you to quit and you feel like giving up. This is where our training and endurance help us out. Well, in the Christian life, we are only able to run with endurance if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the one who sustains us and gives us the strength we need to continue on.

So, today, how is your race going? Are you fixing your eyes on Jesus or have you lost sight of Him? Have you focused too much on your weaknesses, stresses and anxiety and allowed them to overcome you?

If so, let me encourage you today, to forget what is behind you and press on towards the goal that Christ has called you to!

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY – October 14th

Hello, Friday and welcome back to another post of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. Today is Friday, October 14th and how excited are you that the weekend is almost here? But, before the weekend gets here, we have to unpack some of the things that happened this past week. So, without further ado, here is this weeks edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

I. OKTOBERFEST IS BETTER WITH FRIENDS

Last Saturday after our soccer game, we went downtown Hickory to OKTOBERFEST with some of the girls on the team. I will say that I was a little disappointed with the event this year, but it was good to at least have it back after a two year hiatus. It’s all about baby steps for all of us since the pandemic, right? Anyway, the best part of going downtown was walking to Oktoberfest and watching these crazy girls interact with one another. They had a blast as they took pictures, laughed, and even walked on the train tracks. While at Oktoberfest they all got airbrushed tattoos, went through a petting zoo, held a baby goat, fed some of the animals and ate plenty of snacks and food. I seriously think that one of our girls had at least three snow cones from Pelican’s Snowballs. Although there were not any rides, we still had a lot of fun walking around and enjoying the beautiful Saturday together.

But looking back on the day, the thing that I am most thankful for is the friendship that these girls have. They have a special bond with one another and it shows. They act more like sisters at times! But as I watched them interacting with each other throughout the day, I was reminded of what Solomon said in Proverbs 18:24, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (ESV) As I watch these “silly” girls interact with one another on and off the soccer field, I am beyond grateful that God has placed them in each others lives. In fact, we all need that one friend that “sticks closer than a brother” don’t we? Who is that person? Have you told them lately how much you appreciate them and that you are thankful to God for placing them in your life?

II. HARD WORK PAYS OFF

Michael Jordan once said, “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” This past week at our fifth cross country meet, Gracie did just that, she made it happen. She was finally feeling better, she worked hard during practice and she pushed herself until it hurt in her meet this week. The course we were running on is one of her least favorites, but didn’t focus on the course, but the outcome. We were so proud of her as she beasted it and finished her best time ever, a time of 15:45, good enough for 23rd out of 71. She was hurting coming towards that finish line, but she was determined, you could see it in her face as she ran those last few feet to the finish line. The best part was that as she finished the race and then saw her time, she is more determined than ever to try and beat her time at her last cross country meet next week. Even if she doesn’t, I am just so proud of her and all that she has accomplished this season.

But, I am also proud of my wife as she prepares for her 5K this weekend. For 8 weeks she has been getting up early Monday – Friday and walking and running. Between my wife and daughter, I am excited to see how well they are going to do this weekend. They may leave me in the dust and I quite alright with that. I have enjoyed seeing their progress and how far they have come and I cannot wait to see them run on Saturday.

Ready for the Trick or Trot 5K

III. GARMIN WATCH vs. APPLE WATCH

Recently, my Apple watch of 6 years recently “bit the dust” and left me frantically trying to figure out what to do. I wondered since my face plate just popped off if maybe I could get it repaired, but since it’s an out of date/discontinued watch, Apple wasn’t able to repair it. This was devastating news as I really enjoyed my Apple watch. It was very useful for a lot of reasons, but the biggest one was to help me keep track of my exercise and running sessions. However, I have several friends that use Garmin watches for their running and training, so I checked with them about the pros and cons of possibly getting one. Well, after much investigating, reading up on all the different Garmin watches, and looking at the pros and cons between Garmin and Apple… I decided to try the Garmin watch. After a month and a half I am extremely happy with my decision. I went with the lower end Garmin Forerunner watch and it seems to do everything I need it for. I do miss being able to play/connect my music through my watch, but that’s a minor issue. I really enjoy how it keeps track of your workouts/runs/walks and gives you a recovery time after each exercise. I like how I can load my information into Strava and get a deeper analysis of all my workouts. It’s very technical… a little too technical for what I need it for at times. Also, I have noticed that my anxiety has gone down some since I got rid of my Apple watch, surprisingly. Over all, I have not missed my Apple watch and I really thought I would being such an Apple type person. Gracie had to wear my watch during her last meet and she loved it too, so much so that she has asked for one for Christmas. (We will see, she better finish in the top 10 at her last meet and then I’ll think about it! ) But seriously, if you want to consider a Garmin watch for yourself, you will not be disappointed.

IV. PASTOR APPRECIATION MONTH

October is pastor appreciation month and I could not let this month pass without recognizing some of my favorite pastors. This list could actually be quite long, but I will stick to the few that have made a difference in my life. These are in no particular order, but first I am thankful for my pastor, Pastor Scott Frady. It has been a joy being able to serve/work with you for 16 years! I am thankful for your leadership, your advice, your wittiness and dry humor and I am thankful for the many times you let me just drop in and distract you from your duties and talk about baseball for hours on in. I don’t take a minute for granite and I blessed to be able to serve our church with you! I am also thankful for my youth pastor, Pastor Paul Weakland. Even though that may have been what seems like many moons ago, God used you to put me where I am today. The impact that you have had on my life isn’t taken lightly and I appreciate all you have done for me. Not only did you teach me how to love on students and care for them, but you showed me how to love and care for students. You showed me that ministry is messy and hard, but is so worth it at the same time. I am grateful that you gave me the opportunity to learn from you and to emulate you.

I am also grateful for two of my dearest friends, Pastors Kyle Lloyd and Dustin Lovelace. You guys have been my rocks, my go to’s and my partners in crime for a while now. I have enjoyed every minute, every conversation, every camp, every retreat that we have been a part of. I love seeing your hearts to serve God, I love seeing you serve your students and churches with passion and grace. God has definitely blessed us with the opportunity to work together and that is something that I do not take lightly. I absolutely love hearing you guys preach and share the Word of God with your students. I also love seeing you interact with your kiddos and loving your families. I know I don’t tell you guys often, but y’all are an inspiration to me and I am so thankful for your friendship!

Is there a pastor that God has used to have an impact on your life? Be sure to tell your current pastor(s) how much you appreciate them. I promise you that they do not hear it enough! Like I said earlier, ministry is messy, it’s difficult and at times extremely hard. But it is also hard on our wives and families. Too many times the people we are called to lead are the ones that we end up neglecting because we are leading and working with the sheep that God has entrusted with us. I know for certain that I could not do what I do without my wife. She is my biggest supporter, my biggest critic, my voice of reason and my number one fan! She makes doing ministry fun and I am so thankful for her and all that she does. I am also thankful for my daughter and all her support and help too. She loves going over to the offie and spending time there. I am thankful for her heart for others and how much compassion she has towards others… something that I know is a God thing and that she got from her mother!

V. ROOTED

Last Sunday, we finished a series entitled, ROOTED and I used the illustration of an apple tree throughout the series. The idea was that as believers, we are to be rooted in Christ. We are to let our roots go down in Him in hopes that we will become more like Him. I concluded with cutting into an apple and pulling out the seeds. There are roughly between 5-8 seeds in an apple. Well, if each apple produced just 5 seeds, that means in a lifetime that tree would produce roughly 37, 500 seeds. That’s a lot of seeds! But that is also a lot of seeds that could become trees that could produce more apples. I used this to share with them that if they just planted one seed (shared the Gospel) for every year until they turned 50, look at how many seeds they will plant.

12 years old, you could plant 38 seeds.

13 years old, you could plant 37 seeds.

14 years old, you could plant 36 seeds.

15 years old, you could plant 35 seeds.

The point is that just telling one person per year – planting one seed each year – you could make a big difference. How many seeds are you planting right now? See, when our lives are built on Jesus as our foundation, and our spiritual roots go down deep into Him, our faith will grow strong and tall in the truth and knowledge of Jesus Christ. As a follower of Christ, we want to tell others about who Jesus can be for them because of who He is to us and what He has done for us.

Who is someone that you need to share the Good News of the Gospel with today? We are simply planting seeds, we don’t do the saving, that God’s work, He just wants us to be faithful to plant the seeds.

Well, that is all for this week of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. I pray that you have a blessed weekend and we will see you next week, Lord willing for another edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY – October 7

Hello and welcome back to another FIVE THINGS FRIDAY! As we prepare to enter the weekend, I want to begin by asking you, what are you thankful for today? For me, I am thankful for longevity. As of October, I have been blessed to be at my church for 16 years. God has blessed me and my family with the opportunity to be able to serve Him in one place for so long. There are also a couple of other reasons that I am grateful for 16 years in one church. According to a recent survey (YMlink.com) the average stay for a youth pastor is 18 months to 3 years. The average tenure for youth pastors is anywhere between 8-11 years. As I begin FIVE THINGS FRIDAY, I am thankful that God has given me the opportunity to blow those two statistics out of the water. Not only have I been at West Hickory for 16 years, I have been in ministry a total of 24 years all together. I am beyond grateful for this and I would not change this experience for anything.

So, what are you thankful for today? That is what this weeks post is all about, thankfulness. So, without further ado, I give you this weeks edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

I. CROSS-COUNTRY MEETS

This may sound strange, but I am thankful for cross-country meets. To be more specific, I am thankful that I get the opportunity to help our cross-country coach every Monday during our meets. I am also thankful that I get the opportunity to help assist him with practices every now and then too. It’s fun to be there for the students, to help cheer them on and to see how much they improve from week to week. It is amazing to me to see roughly 60 students compete every week. But not just compete, but to compete in running two miles every Monday. As a middle schooler, I would have no desire to try and run two miles! I loved playing baseball and running bases after every practice. To run two miles is a huge accomplishment. Also, it is fun to watch the girls run since there are several of them that have played or play on our soccer teams. So, not only am I cheering for my daughter and Grandview, but I also want to see “my other girls” succeed!

Cross Country Meet at Newton Conover Middle School

See, being able to be at a church for 16 years as allowed me to help out and be a part of our middle school athletics. It gives me the opportunity to be a part of our community and that is something that I do not take lightly. Also, I just love being around sports and watching students compete. To watch them run every week reminds of 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only receives the prize. Run in such a way to win the prize.” (CSB) During the 1st Century, those competing in the Isthmian games, which was every two years, would compete to receive a laurel wreath. Not everyone got a prize! However, as Christians, our prize is Jesus Christ, so we run our race to live a life of dedication to Him and to be a witness for others. How is your race going today?

II. SOCCER SEASON AND THE JOYS OF COACHING

Okay, after 7 years of coaching soccer, I am still getting use to calling myself a soccer coach. I never thought that I would be that person, but I have come to find the joy in coaching the sport. In those 7 years, God has put some wonderful and amazing people in our lives. I am thankful for that and for the opportunity to be able to coach their daughters. I love seeing the friendships that have been formed along the way too. However, the biggest thing that I am thankful for is seeing our girls enjoy the game of soccer, but it’s not their life. They play for each other because they care about each other and they want to help each other be a better player. They push each other, they challenge each other but they also deeply care about each other. This season in particular has become more than just about soccer. The girls, just like us, have things going on in their lives.

“My coach said I run like a girl, and I said if he ran a little faster he could too!” Mia Hamm

It is a blessing to see them care for each other and talk to each other about things going on in their lives. I know that they are encouraging one another, but I have to say, it encourages me just as much. I am also thankful that when other teams see us play, they know that our girls are different. It really reminds me of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” (CSB)

As believers, we have the privilege and responsibility of representing Christ to others through the way we live. Our lives point to Jesus. So it’s important that we ask ourselves daily, “Is what I have on display right now going to lead people to Jesus or is it going to turn them away?” I am thankful that for many of our girls, they represent Christ to others and that is more beautiful than seeing them win a soccer game any day of the week.

III. KEEPING PROMISES… EVEN IF THEY HURT

A couple of weeks ago, I made a deal with one of my buddies over a college football game. My Liberty Flames were playing the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and my buddy and I agreed that if our team lost, then we would wear their teams shirt for a day. Well, unfortunately my Flames fell short and lost by one point. So, sadly a deal is a deal and I had to wear this hideous looking Wake Forest shirt for a whole day. I did take it off that evening because we had a kickball game and it wasn’t part of the uniform!

But as I wore this shirt throughout the day, I was reminded of more than just having to wear the shirt. I gave my buddy my word and I wanted that to mean something. In Matthew 5:37 Jesus says, “But let your yes mean yes and your no mean no. Anything more than this is from the evil one.” (CSB) We live in a world where our “word” does not mean anything anymore. I know that there are times in my life where I have fallen short in this area. But, lately, I have been trying to be consistent with this as I try to model it more each day . Jesus’ words remind me that our commitment to what we say is a direct window into who we really are. It is a mirror of our integrity. As a Christian, I want to do better. I want others to see Christ in me and that means letting my yes be yes and my no be no. I am not perfect in this area, but I am working on it. When was the last time you broke your word? Have you confronted the person you broke your word to and asked for forgiveness? This is something that must be done as we strive to show others that we are living to represent Jesus Christ in all that we do… in word or actions.

IV. OKTOBERFEST WEEKEND AND 5K’s

This may sound strange, but I am thankful for random opportunities in October. One of those opportunities is OKTOBERFEST here in Hickory, NC. This will be the first time since the pandemic of COVID-19 that we are able to have this event. I know for many, they like OKTOBERFEST for other reasons, but I enjoy it because it gives us an opportunity to be out in the community and connecting with people that we typically wouldn’t get the chance to have. Typical, our church has sponsored a booth during the weekend, but not this year. My family still enjoys going downtown and walking around seeing all the booths and vendors. We also enjoy the food too! Some of my favorite foods to enjoy are the kettle corn popcorn, funnel cakes the BBQ. I saw where Duck Doughnuts will have a food truck here for the weekend, so I am definitely excited about that! It is supposed to be a beautiful weekend and I cannot wait to get out and enjoy the festivities once again.

Also in October, we are signed up to run in the local Trick or Trot 5K. Be sure to check out the link to sign up and come run with us! We are going to use this 5K as a “warmup” to our runDisney 10K later next year. As of this week, it has been 8 weeks since my wife and I have been consistently training for our 10K. She has made better progress than I have over those 8 weeks! I may or may not have missed a few days, but she has been consistent and steady. With our daughter running cross country and her consistent training, they are going to leave me in the dust. We still have another week before our 5K, so maybe I can get into “race shape” before then!

V. LOOKING BACK ON 16 YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS

I stated earlier that I have been at our church for 16 years this October. That is truly amazing to me to sit back and think about that. I mean, think about all that has happened in the last 16 years. In that time I have witnessed four presidents serve our country (Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden). In sports, we have seen the Chicago Cubs win a World Series, my beloved Boston Red Sox win THREE World Series and the Braves winning it all last year (and maybe this year!) We have seen our world and our lives impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We witnessed a massive earthquake in Haiti that killed hundreds of thousands of people. We saw 33 miners rescued after being trapped for 69 days in a Chilean mine. I am sure that there are many more things that have happened in the last 16 years.

What is one of the biggest things you remember?

However, two of the biggest things I am thankful for in the last 16 years is the birth of my daughter and then her profession of faith to follow Jesus Christ and being able to baptize her. Those two things are super special to me and rightfully so. I am also thankful for the people and the students that have been a part of our lives and ministry during this time too. It’s weird to think that many of them are now starting their own families! It’s also special to work with my pastor who has been here for 17 years! That is truly remarkable to think about because it’s so rare today. The average time for a senior pastor at a church is 5-7 years. There have been ups and downs in that time. We have lost people that we cared deeply for and some too soon. We have seen God work in and through His people in beautiful ways. But as I look back on all this, the one thing that it shows me is just how faithful God has been. He has blessed us with a wonderful church family, friends and opportunities to be invested in our community. And I do not take that for granite.

However long God sees fit for me to serve him at West Hickory, my prayer is simply 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” (CSB)

Thank you for joining us today on FIVE THINGS FRIDAY and I pray that your Friday is simply the best. We’ll see you next Friday for another edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. Blessings.

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY – September 16

Hello, Friday and welcome back to another edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. This week as been much slower than last week which is always a good thing. Sometimes it’s good to not be so busy and to be able to sit down and unwind. But there were some fun moments that happened along the week and I will try to share those with you as we move along. If this if your first time with us, then we welcome you. So without further ado…

I. FALL SPORTS IS BACK

This past Monday our girl had her first cross country meet of the season and kicked off the official start to fall sports. I admit that I hate to see summer go, but there is something about fall sports that gets me excited. Fall sports seems to bring about a fresh start for everyone competing and participating in sports. Not only do we have the start of a new school year, but we get the start of a new athletic year as well. For us, this is cross country and we absolutely love to see our girl go out there and compete as a runner. Practices are sometimes hard and she is worn out when she gets into the car afterwards, but I am thankful for her dedication and leadership that she is displaying to the rest of her team even as a 7th grader. Each practice she encourages others even after she has already finished and that is something that is hard to find now days. I will go ahead and warn you in advance that you will probably see a weekly post about cross country for the next several weeks! But another thing that makes this year more fun is that she will be running against some of her friends that play on our soccer team together or have played together. As a coach it is always fun to see your players who go to different schools and to have the opportunity to joke around with them and still see how you have helped make a difference in their life. I seriously think that I was more excited about this first meet than Gracie was!

But another thing about fall sports is the start of a new soccer season at the YMCA. We have our first game this Saturday and I think I already have the pre-game jitters. Again, I am almost positive that you will be hearing about soccer too in the up coming weeks, so go ahead and prepare yourself.

II. BIG GAME THIS WEEKEND

Ok, so most people are not die hard college football fans and I understand that. However, I am one of those weird fans that I absolutely love college football. And this weekend is going to be an exciting one because my Liberty Flames travel to Winston Salem to take on the #19 Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Am I concerned that all the “professionals” are picking Liberty to lose by 16 points, not at all. For years the “professionals” have always underestimated Liberty. Also, Wake Forest has been known to choke in high pressure games and this is one of those games for them. It should be a fun one to watch, but this game does carry a little bragging rights with it. One of my buddies is a die-hard Wake Forest fan and we have agreed to a little fun wager. If Liberty beats Wake Forest, then he has to wear a Liberty t-shirt for one full day next week. If Wake Forest wins, then I will have to wear a Wake Forest t-shirt for one full day next week. We play on the same adult kickball team and I thought about telling him that instead of the t-shirts, we have to face paints the other teams colors during our game next week, but we aren’t trying to scare anyone! You will have to check back next week for the results to see who wears which teams t-shirt for a day.

III. SUNDAY NIGHT FALL KICK-OFF

Last Sunday we kicked off the start of Fall with a “slime war” and our students had a blast. We made slime and put it in 5 gallons buckets and then gave them blasters and they ran around squirting each other with all colors of slime. We may have had a leader or two covering them with a little powder paint too! It was a great way to help kick off the year as we focused on building unity as we welcomed our new students. But, the thing that I have absolutely come to love about our Fall Kick-offs is the challenges we get to hear from our seniors. This has been a tradition that I started at least 6 years ago and I absolutely love it! Having the opportunity to see and hear other students investing in each other is priceless.

This week we begin our new series ROOTED where we will help students understand what it means to be rooted in God’s love, God’s Word and their faith in Jesus. What are some things that you do with your youth groups to help build unity and enthusiasm? What are some studies that you have done that have been beneficial to the students?

IV. PUMPKIN SPICE CRAZINESS IS ALL AROUND

I have noticed over the last couple of weeks that this whole pumpkin spice thing has gotten majorly out of control. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good pumpkin spice latte as much as the next person, but there is no need to see Pumpkin Spice toothpaste, cereal, waffles, oatmeal, cookies, chips and before too long we’ll see pumpkin spice shampoo… actually it probably already exists. I guess over the last few years I have noticed how the whole pumpkin spice thing has really gotten out of control. Just yesterday, I saw 6 different flavors of pumpkin coffee. I understand people are getting excited for fall and I am in that category as well. I don’t know, is it just me? What is your favorite pumpkin spice food or drink that you look forward to every season?

V. A NEW CREATION

“Therefore, if anyone is inChrist, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, CSB)

Here lately, my daughter, Gracie has started making this snack called “Sugared Grapes” and they are very addictive and delicious. She makes them with Jello powder and then sets them in the freezer for about an hour and they are actually a really great snack. She made them for our church picnic a couple of weeks ago and before I could get any, they were already gone! They had eaten them all up, the whole bunch.

That’s a lot like what happened to you in Christ. Just like those grapes were gone, Jesus made your old nature vanish. When you accept Jesus as your savior, you become entirely new. There’s no trace or crumb of your old nature left in you. That old nature has been swapped for a new nature.

The sin nature is done. It’s gone. Now we have a new nature. And while we are still tempted to sin, our new nature desires to do the right thing. If we stay sensitive to what our new spirit desires, we’ll make godly choices. And when old habits of our old nature pop up, it’s just up to us to say no to those things.

So today, choose to thank God that He has made us fresh and new. Our spirit is recreated and free from sin. Determine to make decisions in light of that new nature. Choose to let that nature rule the things you think, say and do.

Well, that’s a wrap for this week. Thanks for reading and we will see you back here gain next Friday, Lord willing. Have a blessed Friday and a great weekend.

MOTIVATION MONDAY: The Whole Bible in 16 Verses Part 6

Well, Happy Monday, folks and welcome back to the another work week. No worries, Motivation Monday is here to equip and encourage you as you begin this week with our series THE WHOLE BIBLE IN 16 VERSES. If this is your first time reading MOTIVATION MONDAY, we welcome you and pray that this will be an encouragement to you. If you are a returner, then welcome back, friends.

One of my favorite book series is C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. Throughout the series, Lewis writes about a world filled with people like Peter, Susan, Edmond, Lucy, Prince Caspian, talking beasts (with Trufflehunter the badger being one of my favorites), Aslan the Lion, and walking trees. In Prince Caspian (The Chronicles of Narnia), Trufflehunter makes the following statement, “Narnia was never right except when a Son of Adam was king.” Throughout the series, Narnia’s best days were under the reign of Adam’s descendants. Even though Lewis’s stories about Narnia are fantasy, as believers in Jesus Christ, we know according to the Bible that the promised King is a true son of Adam, a son of Abraham, and as we will see today, a son of Judah.

“The scepter will not depart from Judah or the staff from between his feet until he whose right it comes and the obedience of the peoples belongs to him.” Genesis 49:10, CSB (Bold/Italics added)

Last week we looked at Abraham and how God promised (made a covenant) him that through him, he would become a great nation and that God will bless him and make his name great. Today, we see God’s promise carrying on through the line of Judah. God’s promise started with Abraham continued on with Isaac and then on to Jacob. As you read the Bible, we see that God keeps His promises even in the midst of the dysfunction that happens with His people. That is no more truer than with the line of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. God used Joseph to preserve Abraham’s line and you might think that Joseph would be the one that Jacob would bless with the royal blessing when he was on his death bed.

However, as he laid upon his death bed, he blessed each of his sons in a different way. But when it came to Judah, he was the one who received a royal blessing: “The scepter will not depart from Judah or the staff from between his feet until he whose right it is comes and the obedience of the peoples belongs to him.” Isn’t it ironic that Jacob would choose Judah? After all, Judah was pretty rough and had some questionable moments within his life time, but that’s the beauty of God. The first time we hear Judah speak was when Joseph’s brothers had thrown him into a pit and were trying to decide what to do with him. Judah suggested that instead of killing him, they sell him into slavery (Genesis 36:26-27). From there it only got worse for Judah. His first son died with no children. So, Judah’s second son married his brothers widow (as was custom), but he too died without children. Instead of allowing his third son to marry Tamar, Judah sent her away. However, she would later trick him into sleeping with her and she would have his twin sons… or grandsons too! True story and it would be hard to make this stuff up!

But, it was to this broken family line that God promised the scepter of kingship, the rulers staff. The descendant of Judah would not only be the king of Israel, he would also be a king over the nations. It will be through Judah that the covenant blessing will come into the world…

Pastor David Platt talks about it in this way, “Genesis 49:10 is a stout promise that was just made to Judah about Judah’s line, that through the line of Judah would come a king who’s scepter would rule and tribute would be brought to him. Not just any tribute, but the obedience of the peoples, the tribes, the nations.We take the gospel to the nations because to Him shall be the obedience of all peoples. Jesus is worthy of the praise of every tribe and tongue.That’s the language here, that all the nations. This isn’t just about the people of Jacob, or the people of Israel, the people of Judah. No, this is about all peoples one day giving their obedience to a king from Judah’s line. This is a clear promise, that takes us all the way from the first book in the Bible, to the last book in the Bible, when John looks, in Revelation 5, and he sees a vision of the lion of the tribe of, you guessed it, Judah. Bowing down before him is every nation, tribe, tongue, and people, every people group in the world.”

Just like it was true in Narnia when Trufflehunter says, “Narnia was never right except when a Son of Adam was king”, so it is today that through the line of Judah, Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It’s a beautiful thing to see how Judah’s blessing changed the world forever.

Thanks for joining us today and I pray that you have a blessed week. Next week we start to pick up the pace a little as we take a look at the sacrifices and law of Moses. See you next week.

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY

Hello and happy Friday everyone. Thanks for joining me today for FIVE THINGS FRIDAY. This has been a very busy and crazy week and I am not even sure where to begin. It has been a week flooded with high anxiety, emotions and at times, frustrations. So, this edition of FIVE THINGS FRIDAY may be a little different as I express my thoughts from the last week or two with things that I am struggling with in my heart and head. Without further ado…

JESUS: The ONE Who Holds All Things Together

Somedays it seems as if this world is spinning out of control. However, we know that it may seem that way, but the reality is that Jesus has everything still in control. This is where I want to begin today because it is highly important that we understand that everything that happens in this world is under Jesus’ control and power. In fact, Colossians 1:17 reassures of WHO is in control.

“He(Jesus) is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”

The image of our Savior, Jesus Christ holding all things together in an intimate, hands-on fashion is absolutely beautiful. And the idea that He delights in doing so, should be empowering. God didn’t simply create you and leave you to fend for yourself. He’s intimately involved in your day-to-day life. He has all things planned accordingly to His will… And we can trust Him with that. When I look around our world today, it is a complete mess, there are things that happen that I do not understand and probably never will. There are things that happen that make me scratch my head at times and wonder why God isn’t doing something about it. But, He is. He has all things worked out according to His plan, not mine or anyone else’s. It’s His plan and work to do as He pleases. It is my place to simply trust Him more in my fear and doubts. So, no matter how chaotic this world may seem, I can take comfort in the fact that the hands which were pierced for our transgressions are the same hands that fashioned the universe and hold all things together today and everyday. We don’t have to merely trust Jesus to save us when we die, but if we trust and submit to Him, we can trust He’ll help us maintain and sustain our lives today. It might seem like your world is coming apart, but don’t be afraid to put yourself in His hands. Not only is He capable of putting your life back in order, but He can be trusted to keep it together. 

THE TRAGIC DEATH OF ELIZA FISHER

Last Friday, Eliza Fisher went out for her normal early morning run around the University of Memphis, but unfortunately her run was interrupted as she was abducted and murdered. She left her home that morning simply looking forward to her morning run before returning home to her husband, her two young sons and the thought of getting herself ready for work where she was Pre-K teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School. However, that never happened and now her husband and two young sons will now go on without a wife and mother, all because one man decided that he was going to cause pain and affliction to someone he did’t even know. (I might add that he was a convicted felon too!) If I sound bitter about that, it’s because I am. I am tired of story after story of where our elected officials and Justice department refuse to do the job that they were elected to do. I do not care what political party you are a part of. I do care that we do not expect accountability with those that we elect to serve!

But I digress, this isn’t a political post. This is about Eliza Fisher and the support that her family will receive from their church community and many others. In fact, one organization runsignup.com set up a free virtual race for runners to remember and honor Eliza Fletcher. Eliza was a runner who competed in races, marathons, and even runDisney events and races. She was beloved by her friends and other runners who knew her. Since Jana and I have been running more regularly the last year, we have quickly come to realize that runners are not just “runners”, they are a community. Like the RV community, they share a tight and special bond with one another. So, it is amazing to see the outpouring of support from runners all over the country. The virtual race is set up from September 9 – September 18 and its goal is to encourage runners to finish Eliza’s run (#finishelizasrun).

Jana and I gladly took part in this as we got our morning run/walk in. However, it wasn’t easy for neither me or my wife, but for two separate reasons. At the end of the day, I should not have to fear for my wife’s safety if she chooses to go on a run/walk without me. She can handle her own I have no doubt, but we shouldn’t have to have those thoughts. In fact, just the other day, I wasn’t able to go with her and as she walking around our churches parking lot a random car stopped, backed up and tried to get her attention. Who does this at 6AM in the morning? Needless to say, she was startled by this and the more she reflected on it, the angrier she got. She should be able to get up in the mornings ready to go and conquer her day with a run through the neighborhood without feeling shame or fearful of her life. In fact, any person should be able to do this. But, we live in a fallen world that is corrupted with sin. That is why we need to trust in Jesus because even in the midst of chaos, He has everything under His control. In times of confusion, times of fear, times of frustration we run to Him and trust in His plan. In Philippians, Paul tells us to “not be anxious about anything”. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart…” I will be the first to admit, that these things are easy to remember but harder to accept sometimes. However, I know without a shadow of a doubt, that God’s ways and God’s plans are perfect and that is why I choose to trust in Him as my Savior each and every day.

THE PASSING OF QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND THE DEATH OF TRUE LEADERSHIP

Yesterday, the world was rocked with the news that Queen Elizabeth II had passed. She was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch and she did it with class and dignity. She sat on the throne for more than seven decades. That is truly remarkable as I think about what all has changed in 70 years. But the one thing that is most remarkable about her reign was the promise that she made as a young 21 year old. She promised the people of Britain that, “my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service.” That was a promise that she kept for more than seven decades. She was a rare example of someone who practiced servant leadership as she served Christ up until her very last day. Queen Elizabeth II put Christ at the heart of everything. That is truly remarkable for a world leader! She spoke often of Jesus Christ.

Reading from part of the queen’s first Christmas radio broadcast in 1952 at age 25, she asked her subjects to pray for her: ‘Pray for me that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making. And that I may be faithfully serving Him and you all the days of my life.’

The beautiful thing is that that is exactly what she did. She served her people, her subjects, and she served Christ, her God, all the days of her life up until her very last day.

As I think about her legacy, her faith and her leadership, it was focused on Jesus Christ. The heart that she had for her people was from knowing and following Jesus Christ. I know she wasn’t perfect and I am certain that she had her flaws, we all do. But she chose to live her life for Jesus Christ and it showed by the way she lead her country. She never cried like a toddler like so many of our American politicians do today. In fact, that is why we are in the shape we are because we have taken our eyes off of God and the truth of His Word. Instead of being accountable to God’s Word, repenting our sins, seeking forgiveness, too many of our “leaders” choose to pass the buck and not accept responsibility when things go wrong. Our leaders us their positions has one of power and control rather than one of service and devotion to their people. My heart breaks when I look at our country. We have become our own gods and we think that we above God’s Laws. May God have mercy on us and may we commit to pray for our nations leaders each and every day.

THOUGHTS ON MATT CHANDLER

Recently, news as come out that Pastor Matt Chandler of The Village Church is stepping aside for a time due to “inappropriate conversations” with another woman. Of course, when this news came out, many Christians (myself included) were left in shock. Matt Chandler has come to be one of the most respected preachers and teachers of our generation. So, to hear that a scandal had finally “caught up to him” was completely shocking. But, honestly, it shouldn’t be. I am a firm believer that too many pastors get put on a pedestal and then when they “fall short of God’s glory”, people lose their minds.

However, this situation is uniquely different. Chandler has confirmed multiple times that he is not stepping away for any idolatry or immoral issue with another woman. In fact, he is being “disciplined” for having a conversation through direct messaging (DM) with a woman that is not his wife. Now, the story goes that his wife, Lauren and the lady’s husband knew of the conversation going on. They both have confirmed that nothing sexual or perverted was being shared. But, the elders of the church are making claims that the conversation is inappropriate. Because of this the elders have asked him to take a leave of absence.

We do not know what all is going on and we may never know. We know that there is always three sides of the story (yours, mind and God’s). Whether Matt Chandler did anything immoral or not, this is a good reminder of why we need to guard our hearts with the truth of God’s Word and how careful we should be with our actions and words to others. This hits home for me because I do not always think about how my actions and words may affect someone else, especially someone who doesn’t know Jesus Christ. For anyone who knows me, you know that I have a tendency to speak first without thinking. This is a character flaw that I know I need to work on. I’m trying. In fact, my prayer is that every single day I am turning more and more into the person of Jesus Christ. I know that I will not be like Christ until the day that He calls me to be with Him. In the meantime, I want to strive to be more like Him with the time that He has given me here on earth. I may fail, I may succeed, but at the end of the day all glory goes to Him!

My heart breaks for Chandler, his family and those he has been called to lead. This is why it is so important for you to pray for your pastors daily. Don’t place them on pedestals for them to fall, but lift them up to God so that He can carry them and hold them with His mighty righty hand.

STRUGGLES WITH ANXIETY

If you have read FIVE THINGS FRIDAY before, then maybe you recall me sharing about my struggles with anxiety. It’s hard, it’s painful and it sucks (sorry if I ‘m not allowed to use that word!) It’s a battle each and everyday of constantly fighting all the noises going on in your head and you can’t make them stop. Some days are better than others, some days I feel like my head is about to explode because my mind will not stop. It’s a constant banging and clashing noise that not only affects my head, but my body as well. I know that my level of anxiety may not be as severe as some and I am thankful for that. However, it gets old having to try to constantly battle every thought and emotion.

I understand that some of the stress and anxiety comes from me. I have a tendency to put too much on my plate at times. I also battle with trying to please everyone, which does not help. Also, this may sound weird coming from a youth pastor, but that is why I said above that it is important that you pray for your pastors because you may never fully know all that they are battling and fighting daily. Over the years I have found ways to treat and cope with my anxiety when it shows up. Some things work well and others not so well. I know that one of the best ways to help reduce anxiety is to get regular sleep, but when sleep is one of the things that triggers your anxiety, that makes it hard. So, I have come accustomed to getting roughly about five hours asleep per night. (Six is a blessing!) Other ways that I help with my anxiety is through exercise, running, and journaling/writing down my thoughts and prayers. Ironically, I told my wife the other morning when we were running that for most people running is a good way to reduce anxiety, except for me. Most of the time my anxiety gets triggered while I’m running because I get a thought and then it just snowballs from that moment on. Just like with anything we all deal with, there are good days, there are bad days and then there are days from you know where. Lately, it has been those types of days. Bu tI don’t say this for sympathy, I say this to let you know that I am a work in progress. Each and every day I want to strive to be more like Christ. And even though anxiety is not a sin, I still choose to rejoice in those small victories where Christ conquers my fears and doubts and turns them to times of praise and adoration of Him.

So, if you struggle with anxiety today, I want to let you know that you are not alone even if you feel like it. I won’t even say that if you gave your life to Christ that your anxiety, doubts and fears would automatically disappear over night. They won’t disappear, but He will give us the strength to fight those moments as we place our eyes and trust on Him. Whatever is you are battling with today, lay at the cross, look to Jesus and trust Him.

Thanks for reading and I hope that you have a wonderful weekend. See you next week for another FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

FIVE THINGS FRIDAY

Hello, Friday and welcome back. If this is your first time reading FIVE THINGS FRIDAY, welcome and I am glad that you are here. This week has been a little weird, a little busy and a little relaxing. It has a been weird because the summer schedule has ended, so it’s that down time between summer and kicking off our fall activities and events. This little gap has always been a little weird or unusual for me, mostly because for so long I did not know how to handle “down time” and it absolutely drove me crazy. I have learned over the years to utilize this time with calendar planning and allowing my mind and body to rest and enjoy the moment. Now, sometimes that is easier to say than to do. Just like with this week since it was the first week back to school for so many students and teachers (including my own). But, as crazy as the week has been, I still like the excitement and joy of going back to school. I was never one that looked forward to going back to school for the work, but to see my friends and catch up on our summer adventures. What about you? If you are a parent, teacher or a student, how has your first week back to school been? Let me know and without further ado here is this weeks FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.

SCHOOL IS BACK

It is that time of the year where summer ends and the start of another school year begins. Even though summer doesn’t officially end until September 21, once school starts, summer is over, right? But the start of the school year brings excitement and anticipation. For students, it’s a new season and a new start. They get to reconnect with friends and maybe even make new friends! For teachers, the anticipation of a new school year starting always brings excitement to them. They look forward to seeing former students and meeting new students. But one thing that I love about teachers, is the joy they have as they decorate their classrooms with anticipation that this year is going to be different. Will their be struggles, issues and stress that come throughout the year, sure! But, at least for the first week they are excited about a new year! I know that teachers enjoy their summers and they deserve every minute of it. But,I am grateful for the ones that have a genuine love and joy to try and change a students life. That’s what good teachers do, they change lives! In fact, none of us would be where we are today if it were not for teachers! Will you please join me through the month of September as pray for our students and our teachers in our communities, our state, our nation and around the world? We must be vigilant each and every day to pray for them. For me, this year my prayer for my wife and daughter is Colossians 3:23.

“Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.”

SEE YOU AT THE POLE

See You At The Pole – September 28

See You At The Pole is a global day of prayer where students gather around their schools flag pole and pray for their school, their teachers and faculty and the start of a new year. This wonderful ministry has been around since 1990. I have come to love this ministry and I am thankful for the many ways that God has used SYATP in my own life and ministry. This years theme is AFLAME and comes from Romans 12:11-12. “Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.”

Check out the promo video here and I ask that you join with us in prayer on September 28. Actually, will you join with me in prayer starting today that God will use those students who love Him and want to make Him known to their classmates and teachers, that He will give them strength to stand for Him. I am excited to see God work in the lives of our students this year, but they need your help, your support and most importantly, they need your prayers. But also, we can encourage our students to go and make a difference by sharing the gospel with their peers or teachers, but if our students do not see us living this out as well, the impact will not be as great! So, how you sharing the gospel with people around you? How you allowing God to make an impact for the kingdom through your life, your actions and your words each and every day? If we belong to Christ, then we must be persistent in prayer with all zeal to see lives changed!

CURRENTLY READING

For about the last month I have been reading CANOEING THE MOUNTAINS: Christian Leadership In Uncharted Territory by Todd Bolsinger. This books follows the expedition of Lewis and Clark as they set out to discover a path to the Pacific Ocean. This book is all about adaptive leadership and is a must read for any church leader. It fits well with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic and how we as pastors and leaders must adapt a new philosophy of leading in a post-COVID society. So far, one interesting key point to me was this thought about leadership: “Understanding uncharted territory: the world in front of you is nothing like the world behind you.” That is a keen observation! As church leaders we cannot simply continue to do “church” the way that it has always been done. Now, most definitely we continue to preach, teach and share God’s Word! That must never change. This book has been quite interesting so far and I look forward to reading it and maybe even gaining some ideas of ways that I can begin to look at church ministry differently. For now, I have only made in a few chapters, but I will try to give a full review after I’m done.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK

Photo courtesy of ESPN

This weekend marks the return of college football and I am stoked about it! My Liberty Flames start the season off against Southern Mississippi. But there are a handful of games that are going tone worth watching this weekend: Oregon vs. Georgia, Florida vs. Utah, NC State and ECU, Ohio St. and Notre Dame, and App State vs. UNC. The App St./UNC game is going to be a great game and I will not be shocked if App St. comes away with the win. September is just a wonderful time of the year for sports fans. College Football returns, MLB is winding down and playoff teams are starting to heat up and make a run, the NFL will be returning, but more importantly, our middle school and high school athletics are back. Gracie (my daughter) is competing in cross country again this fall and we are super excited to go and watch her run. If you are a sports fan, which sports are you most excited about this fall? Do you prefer college football or NFL? Will you be attending any high school football games? Let me know!

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

This weekend is Labor Day weekend and for many it is the official end to summer. (Tears are starting to swell up as I come to the realization that summer is almost over.) I pray that you have a blessed weekend and a restful weekend. Whether you will be at the beach, the mountains or at home, I pray that you will enjoy Labor Day as an extra day of rest.

Thanks for being with me today, have a great weekend and we will see you again next week for FIVE THINGS FRIDAY.