The white teachers brought their white values into the school – values that negated my world entirely. The message was subtle, but it was clear to me: everyone I respected and loved was considered ignorant, irresponsible, and good-for-nothing.

This quote has me thinking: How am I communicating with other people? Do I have subtle messages in my tone or in my questions? Do I act like I have it all figured out and everyone around me doesn’t?

I’ve come to the conclusion that the majority of society needs to change how we communicate with one another. Sticks and stones and words can hurt. But love casts out all fear and pain. It’s why and how when we were children, and more innocent, a kiss on our hurt knee would make it feel better. Speak with love.

For one, God’s church that I pastor, East Nashville Community Church, has moved into a new building. We are now at the Kirkpatrick Recreation Center! This is a complete answer to prayer! It is what we were hoping and dreaming of doing!

And yet as wonderful of a time as this has been in the life of ENCC, there has been sadness. Kirkpatrick sits in the middle of a poverty stricken area.  In a one-mile radius of the building 40% of the people live in poverty. I lived down the street from this area for a time with a few ole friends, but I never really got engulfed into the community until now. Recently, I have been reading, studying, and experiencing as much about the situation of poverty as I can. Here are some things I’ve noted.

• Poverty is relative. If everybody around you is broke, and you’re broke, then not having things is not as big of a deal.
• Poverty affects all people groups and is in every country. I have to admit that it bothers me that some churches and people seem to care more for those in poverty in other countries than those in their community. It also bothers me that some people assume that when poverty is mentioned that it’s about a specific group of people. FYI – there are actually more Caucasians living in poverty in the US than any other race. (Soapbox: Let’s stop the stereotypes.)
• We cannot blame the people in poverty for being in poverty. Too many factors create it – factories close, racism, poor economy, sickness, etc. Interesting fact: many of those in poverty are much better off financially by taking government assistance in their living than working an hourly paid full-time job (even while earning minimum wage). Most places that pay per hour don’t offer subsidized insurances, etc. and insurance is expensive! For instance, when Alyson lost her job as a teacher and we had to think about paying for our insurance as a family, the monthly coverage would have taken two weeks of my current monthly paycheck. Thank God she got rehired!

The bottom line is that we as a community and a society have to do better about taking care of those around us. We don’t have the stuff we have because we are great at whatever we do. We have what we have because God has blessed us with certain abilities, families, etc. Let’s not forget that we are where we are because of God. Now…

Let’s take care of ALL His children.

Today I read this quote by Mia Hamm about her soccer team – “I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.”

I can’t help but wonder what life would be like if Christians took this same approach to living.

What do you think?

I’ve been amazed at how hard working to plant a church, holding down a full-time job, and being a husband is all at the same time. I am pretty sure that before I found myself doing all this, I was certain that working multiple jobs wasn’t that big of a deal. As a kid, it’s what I thought grown-ups did – at least it’s what my parents did.

The truth of the matter is working several jobs isn’t that bad. It just means that I have to sacrifice certain things of less importance so I can concentrate on the things of more importance. But isn’t that what we Christians are to be doing anyway? Here’s what Romans 12:1-2 says.

The things that I have sacrificed lately so I can be a better husband and pastor is:

TV to spend more time with Alyson; time so I can work out and be healthy to continue being with Alyson and the church; social networking to be more present with those around me; car radio to get my phone calls finished by the time I get home to Alyson; and some friendships that were draining me so I can give more to others.

What have you had to sacrifice lately so you could be better at something else?

Sometimes I have a hard time sharing my faith. I know I’m a pastor, but I’m just keepin’ it real with you. I want people to like me, and often times that means keeping my views to myself. I’m good at sharing Jesus from the pulpit and in my actions, but articulating Jesus in everyday conversation is sometimes down right scary.

There’s a fine line in sharing your testimony though. Sometimes for me I have felt as though I needed to share it early on in a friendship, and other times it has come much later. I know I will take some flack for that, by some of you readers, but I have learned to let the Holy Spirit dictate and lead me into a conversation about Jesus and not my interest in putting another notch on my belt for winning a soul to Christ. Does that make sense?

I mean, I love to talk about Jesus, but I believe theres a time and place for everything.

Anyway, I saw this little video earlier today, and have laughed my head off. Don’t know about you, but I’m glad this guy isn’t for real. I would get knocked out every once in awhile… Would you?

Click here to view the embedded video.

As my heart breaks for the families of those deaths, and for all the other individuals that are being negatively affected by the flood, I’m reminded how helpless we all truly are without Christ. I don’t know the individuals that have died. I don’t know a lot of people (yet) that have been devastatingly affected by the flood. I do know that their families need to feel love in this moment. I do know that these families need to feel compassion. I do know that all those who are losing things dear to them in this mess are needing mends to their broken hearts.

This brings me to the point of this post. As I’ve sat here reading Twitter and Facebook this morning, I see how so many churches and individuals are beginning to call their congregations to help in these situations. I have even done that for ENCC. However, we need every Christian at all times to be willing and ready to proclaim Christ and share His love and compassion to all they meet. NOT JUST IN TIMES OF CRISIS!

I’m reminded of Matthew 9:35-38. Read it here.

So here’s my question: Why is it that takes tragedy to get most churches and Christians to act the way they should all along?  Thoughts?

As I thought about Palm Sunday and the last week of Jesus’ life this week, I continued to realize how fickle people are. As the Scripture comes to a close, what jumps off the page at me is the fact that everyone seemed excited and happy and joyous that Jesus the King, the Messiah, was riding into town.

I can picture the people all sitting around on their couches and hearing a bunch of noise in the streets and rushing to their windows and doors to see what’s going on. At least that’s what Alyson and I do when we hear kids screaming or adults yelling and laughing in our streets; we get up to look and listen.

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, all the people took notice. Matthew tells us “the whole city was stirred and asked `Who is this’?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

The problem with Palm Sunday is that the excitement of the crowd faded. When Good Friday rolled around, many of the same voices that shouted “Hosanna!” were then shouting “Crucify Him!” Their love for the Lord was shallow and based entirely on their hope of what exciting things Jesus could do for them.

Here’s the deal: Lot’s of people got in behind Jesus on the road to the throne, but they wouldn’t follow him on the way to the cross. They would wave palms before the coming king, but they wouldn’t obey the Suffering Servant. If we aren’t careful we will find ourselves in that same trap of fickleness of only being loyal when it’s convenient.

These are my Palm Sunday thoughts. What are yours?

WANT TO BE A REBEL? Here’s how!

Read the Bible. (Old and New Testament)

Love people. (That includes everybody)

Give generously to the church and good causes. (It does make a difference)

Live within your means. (Stop spending money you don’t have)

Be humble. (Don’t act better than everyone else)

If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?

I think that most of us, including myself, would answer with a resounding, No! However is Jesus who and what we really think of when we think of Heaven? When we move past the Sunday school answer we think we have to give, do we think about Jesus or do we think about seeing mom and dad or grandpa and grandma, or something else?

In Luke 23:43 when Jesus was on the cross, he said to the guy next to Him, today you will be WITH ME in paradise.  The more I read that story of Jesus on the cross and the more I read that verse, I’m 100% convinced that paradise isn’t paradise without Jesus. Or better yet, “with Jesus” is paradise.

Lord, deliver us into your presence. In Jesus name, Amen.

Watch this video and let me know what you think of the images that show up. Even as I watch it this morning, I’m sort of baffled that someone knew how to make these or for that matter would make these. Some are creepy, some are pretty cool. You decide which are which…

So what do you think?

Click here to view the embedded video.