An Encouraging Word

The year was 1993 and we had just moved into our new home as the Pastor of First Baptist Church, Indianola, MS. Within a week of moving, my wife informed me that she had seen a snake in the back yard. I went out to investigate but it slithered into a large woodpile and disappeared. Being the man of the house, I did not want her to know that I was scared to death of snakes. So I said to her, “Honey, it is a harmless little reptile. But I will be sure to kill it if I see it again.” She was going to Walmart that day so I asked her to buy me a hoe. If she would buy me a hoe, I would have it ready when the snake came out of the wood pile. She was so proud that her man was going to kill the snake for her.

About a week went by and one Saturday afternoon we were in the backyard when we saw the snake. Lisa screamed, “Kill it, kill it!” I knew the time had come. I would kill the snake and be my wife’s hero. I would make her proud. So I kept my eyes on the snake and said to my wife, “Did you buy me a hoe?” “Yes” she said, “it’s in the storage room.” And I said, “Get it for me. I’ll keep my eyes on the snake while you get the hoe.” And when Lisa put the hoe in my hand, it felt much lighter than I expected. I had wanted her to buy me a six foot hoe and instead she bought me a six inch hoe! Now here I am about to do battle with a five foot snake with a six inch hoe!  My confidence was draining quickly. The snake slithered away and we never saw him again.

As I look back on that incident, I came to the conclusion that many of us are trying to fight a five foot snake with a six inch hoe. When Adam was in the garden, he fell victim to the serpent. Every day in our lives, the serpent is after us, and many times he tricks us and deceives us. We must learn how to fight the serpent in our lives. God gives us many tools to help us fight the serpent. He gives us the Bible, prayer, church, friends, faith, and common sense. But most of us don’t call upon God for help. We use our own intellect and strength to fight the serpent and most of the time we lose. It’s like fighting a five foot snake with a six inch hoe.

As we look into our scripture today, I want you to examine your battles with the serpent. Think about the times when you have resisted the serpent and the times when he has enticed you into sin. I encourage you not to fight the serpent on your own power or you will surely lose the battle. But when you rely on God and trust in Him, you can be better prepared to stand your ground when the serpent comes your way.

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

An Encouraging Word

I was visiting with a couple recently who is struggling in their marriage. It was obvious that they loved each other yet both of them were frustrated and unhappy. As we continued to talk about their situation, it became obvious to me that the issue was money. One was a saver and the other was a spender. I asked a few pointed questions and soon discovered that this married couple had over $10,000 in credit card debt in addition to car loans, student loans, and a mortgage that is more than the value of their  home.

On the outside, they look like a successful family. They have a nice house, two new cars, and three kids.  But the stress of unpaid bills was taking its’ toll on their marriage. They were buying things they did not need with  money they did not have to impress people they did not like! Sound familiar? It should. The family above could be many in our church today.  

 Our culture measures success by the size of your house and the make and model of your car. With credit so easily available, we no longer have to wait until we can afford it, we can buy it now and pay for it later. And while the standard of living in America has surged in the last 50 years, the moral and spiritual standard has plummeted. We have in essence exchanged spiritual and moral values for material possessions and worldly success. The result is described best by Jesus in Matthew 16:26 when He says, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”

This Scripture, spoken over 2,000 years ago, is just as applicable today. Men are neglecting their families chasing money and attempting the climb the ladder of success. Women are forced to (or choosing to) get a career in order that they can maintain the standard of living that they have become accustom. So the cycle continues. The standard of living continues to increase, while spiritual and family values decrease.

Some call it the rat race of life. It is a cycle that once begun, is hard to stop. It is a never ending cycle of working  and buying and working and buying some more. It reminds me of a song by Simon and Garfunkel many years ago. One line of lyrics say, “Like a rat in a maze, the path before me lies. And the pattern never alters, until the rat dies.”    As I shared this song with a friend he said, “The problem with the rat race is that even the winner is still a rat!”

In Ecclesiastes 5:10, the Bible says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income.”  As we enter a new year, I want to encourage you to examine your life and see where you are in the rat race. As you look back on the past 10-20 years, how has your standared of living increased? How has your spiritual life increased? Could it be that you need to make some changes? Could it be that your priorities need to be adjusted? I encourage you today to make God and family your priority over money and possessions. When it comes to the rat race, the many people say that the one who dies with the most toys wins! Pastor Ralph Hall told me last week he heard it a different way. He said that the one who dies with the most toys is still dead!

 

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob  

An Encouraging Word

            Are you crazy?  That is what they said about the Apostle Paul.  He was once a fine upstanding citizen and a leader among the Jews.  But now he has been arrested because of his faith in Jesus Christ.  He was asked to appear before King Agrippa and Governor Festus to give his defense.  Standing before the King and the Governor of Judea, Paul told them how he was well educated, successful, and a prominent Jew.  And one day as he was on the road to Damascus, He had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.  And since that day he has been proclaiming the message that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and the way to salvation.  He told King Agrippa and Festus that they should repent of their sins and turn to Christ and they can be saved.  When Festus heard Paul say this he said: “Paul, you are insane.  Too much study has made you crazy!”

            Are you crazy?  That is what they said about Eric Liddell when he refused to run in his Olympic race because it was held on a Sunday.  He was the hero of Scotland.  He had qualified for the Olympics and was a favorite to win his event.  But when the race schedule was posted, his race was scheduled for Sunday morning.  Being a devout Christian, Liddell had a conviction that he should not compete on a Sunday.  His countrymen called him crazy.  He was willing to give up a gold medal and a place in history to follow his spiritual convictions.  When his teammates and the royalty of England could not persuade him to run, they said: “Eric, you are crazy!  You are giving up everything because of your God!”

            Are you crazy?  That is what my supervisor said to me the day I resigned from my job as an accountant.  I had finished my degree in Accounting and had worked at this CPA firm for two years.  Although I was doing well in the eyes of others, I was miserable inside my heart.  I knew deep down God wanted me to be a Pastor, not an accountant.  I knew what I needed to do.  I needed to quit my job, enroll in seminary, and begin the five year process of preparing to be a Pastor.  When I shared my plans with my supervisor he said: “Rob, are you crazy?  Do you realize what you are giving up?  What you are doing doesn’t make any sense.”

            Are you crazy?  Has anyone ever said that to you?  If they haven’t, maybe they should.  The Bible says that if you live a life of faith, the world will call you crazy.  The Bible says that if you live for Christ, the world will not understand.  The Bible says that if you live your life committed to Jesus Christ, the world will call you a fanatic who doesn’t live in the real world.

            May I encourage you today to be “crazy for Jesus?”  Don’t settle for being normal.  Live your life with passion, conviction, and zeal.  If the world calls you crazy, you can know you are in good company.  May I encourage you today to know what you believe, why you believe, and so live your life in such a way that others will call you “crazy for Jesus!”

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

An Encouraging Word

“She loves me; she loves me not.”   I was a ten year old when I was smitten with Lynda Catlett.  I wasn’t sure if she had the same feelings for me.  I picked up an apple and started twisting the stem and saying, “She loves me; she loves me not.”  When the stem broke on “she loves me” I was certain it was true love.  I asked her to be my girlfriend and we were eternally united in true love for about three weeks and then I was back to “she loves me not.”

When I decided to become a Pastor, a friend warned me that being a Pastor is a perilous profession.  Perilous not because our lives are in danger like the Biblical prophets of old.  No, we aren’t nearly that brave.  Nor is it perilous because we are destined to poverty.  I may not be rich, but I’m doing just fine financially.  Being a Pastor is perilous because deep down I want to be liked by everyone all the time.  And as hard as I try, I’ve learned that this is a perilous goal for a Pastor.

Pastors are people.  We have families, struggles, feelings, and needs just like everyone else.  We have good days and bad days.  On the good days we are on top of the world.  On the bad days, we are on our knees.  Sometimes I want to get an apple, twist the stem and say “they love me; they love me not.”

                        The worship went well; they love me.

                                    The air conditioner broke; they love me not.

                        The sermon was good; they love me.

                                    The music was too loud; they love me not.

                        I visited the hospital; they love me.

                                    I didn’t speak to someone in the hall; they love me not.

                        The offering was up; they love me.

                                    The service went too long; they love me not.

                        Attendance is up; they love me.

                                    I missed a church social; they love me not.

                        I lay out the vision; they love me.

                                    I tell them I need their help; they love me not.

                        I preach a short sermon; they love me.

                                    Too short a visit at the hospital; they love me not.

So that’s my story….what about yours?  Have you ever felt that way?  Have you ever experienced similar emotions in your life?  In your relationships?  In your family?  In your friendships?  At your workplace?  “They love me; they love me not.”

 Wonder if God ever feels that way about us?

“And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me…”

Isaiah 29:13a

May I encourage you this week to so live your life in such a way that God has no doubts about your love for Him!

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

A Little Fellow’s Dad

I may never be as clever as my neighbor down the street,

I may never be as wealthy as some other men I meet;

I may never have the glory that some other men had,

But I’ve got to be successful as a little fellow’s dad.

There are certain dreams I cherish that I’d like to see come true,

There are things I would accomplish when my working time is through;

But the task my heart is set on is to guide this little lad,

And to make myself successful as the little fellow’s dad.

It is that one job I dream of, it’s the task I think of most,

If I’d fail that growing youngster I’d have nothing else to boast.

For though wealth and fame I’d gather, all my future would be sad,

If I failed to be successful as that little fellow’s dad.

I may never get earth’s glory; I may never gather gold,

Men may count me as a failure when my business life is told;

But if he who follows after is a Christian, I’ll be glad,

For I’ll know I’ve been successful as a little fellow’s dad.

            Copied

I first saw this poem about 15 years ago after my second son was born.  It was then I got down on my knees and asked God to help me be a Godly example for my sons.  Fifteen years later, my oldest son is now graduating from High School and my younger son is entering the tenth grade.  My, how time flies.  Yet my prayer is still the same.  More important than anything I accomplish as a Pastor or a Community Leader, I want to be successful as a dad.  More than anything else in this world, I want to pass on my faith and values to my sons in such a way that I know they will walk with God long after I am gone.

As we celebrate Father’s Day at Green Valley Baptist Church, I want to pray today for dads.  I want to pray that we will do everything in our power to live a Godly example for our children to follow.  For when all is said and done, there is no worldly success that is greater than being a successful dad.  May I encourage all of you who are “Dads” today to renew your commitment to Christ and ask God to help you live your life in such a way that your children will walk with God long after you are gone.

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

The Power of Touch

One of my favorite memories of childhood was the family vacations we took each summer. Growing up in Mississippi, our family had a pop-up camper that we pulled behind our Chevrolet Impala and made trips each summer to the mountains, the beaches, and everywhere in between. My favorite vacation was a three week journey up the East Coast to Niagara Falls and then back through Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee back home. Five people in a Chevrolet Impala was enough to make a memory! Being the middle child with two sisters, the back seat was always crowded. My big sister LaNell had the right side. My little sister Barbara had the left side. That left “Poor Robby” to lie down on the “hump” in the floor board or under the back windshield on top of the speakers.

On the long trip lying in the back of my two sisters, I sometimes would get bored and let my feet dangle around their ears or shoulders just to show my love for them. Purely accidental, on one occasion I rubbed my feet down my big sisters neck while she was trying to sleep. She didn’t notice at first but when she opened her eyes and saw my feet she screamed “He touched me!”

I learned that day about the incredible power of touch. There is something about the human touch that has power. This power can be negative if someone is touched in the wrong way. Yet this power can be positive if touched in the right way. Can you remember the first time you touched the hand of your spouse? Can you recall when a Christian friend gently touched your shoulder in a time of crisis? This is the positive power of touch.

In Mark 5:21-34, the Bible describes a sick woman who touched the clothes or the outer garments of Jesus. When she did this, immediately she was healed. What I learn from this story in the Bible is the incredible power of touch. As you read this Scripture, I hope you will see the power of the touch of Jesus in our lives. Second, I hope you see the power of our touch in the lives of others. Once we have received the touch of Jesus, we have the ability to pass that “touch” or “power” on to others. I want to encourage you this week to look for people who could benefit from your “touch.” We come across people every day who are in desperate need of a “touch.” Most of them will never ask for it, but deep down you know they need it. As you go through your week, I want to encourage you to receive the touch of Jesus and even more, to let others receive your touch in such a way that they will see Jesus in you.

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

An Encouraging Word

            Many years ago a man was visiting Niagara Falls on vacation. While he was there, the great Charles Blondin was attempting to walk over the falls on a tightrope. A large crowd quickly gathered to watch him perform this dangerous feat. The crowd started cheering for Blondin and encouraged him to commence his walk across the falls. Before he began, Blondin turned to the crowd and shouted, “Do you believe I can do it?” The crowd responded, “Yes, we believe! Yes, we believe!” With the encouragement of the crowd, the great Blondin walked across the falls to the applause of the people.

            On his next attempt, Blondin planned to cross the falls while pushing a wheel barrel. He again asked the crowd, “Do you believe I can do it?” And the people cried out, “Yes, we believe! Yes, we believe!” Blondin skillfully maneuvered the wheel barrel across the tight rope to the other side of the falls. The crowd went wild.

            Blondin returned yet again to speak the crowd. This time he had a wheel barrel and a blindfold. He told the crowd he was going to push the wheel barrel across the falls on a tight rope while blindfolded. Blondin looked to the crowd and said, “Do you believe I can do it?”  The crowd responded, “Yes, we believe! Yes, we believe!”  The tourist was standing on the front row. Blondin looked him in the eyes and said, “Do you believe I can do it?”  The tourist replied, “Yes, I believe. I believe!”  Blondin said to him, “Well then, will you get in the wheel barrel as I push it across?” Suddenly, this man wasn’t sure if he really believed.

            Do you believe in Christ? I mean, do you really believe? Most people say they believe in Christ but like this tourist, their belief is superficial at best. Simply saying you believe means nothing. The Bible says that even the demons believe in God. So what does it mean to truly believe in Christ? It means to totally trust your life to Christ. It means to turn from your sin and your old way of life and place yourself completely under the control and power of Christ. Very simply, it means to crawl into the wheel barrel and trust completely that Christ will carry you to the other side. That’s what it means to believe.

            So let me ask you again, “Do you believe in Christ?” If you have never trusted your life to Jesus Christ, I want to encourage you to do that today. I am praying for you today that you will truly understand what it means to “believe” in Christ.

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

An Encouraging Word

“It was the Christian thing to do.” Those were the last words I heard her say. Her name is Bessie. That’s all I know. She said she lives somewhere in my neighborhood. She rang my door bell at 8:00 pm last week. She had my billfold in her hand and asked me if it was mine. She had found it fifteen minutes earlier in the parking lot outside CVS drug store. She opened it, saw my address on my driver’s license, and came directly to my house.

I didn’t even know my billfold was missing. I had run a quick errand minutes before to CVS and I must have dropped it getting into my car. When she handed me my billfold, I hugged her and said “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” In my billfold was over $100 in cash, two credit cards, and many other items of great value to me. She didn’t have to return it. No one would have ever known. I was a total stranger to her. She could have kept the cash, charged my credit cards, and thrown the billfold away. But she didn’t. She looked up my address, drove to my house, and returned my billfold to me.  I offered her a twenty dollar bill for her kindness but she refused. She wouldn’t take anything. As she walked away she simply said, “It was the Christian thing to do.”

It was a random act of kindness. I so want to thank her again or do something nice for her as she has done for me. The kindness she demonstrated to me means more than you can ever imagine. I hope to run into her again someday but it happened so fast that I don’t even know if I would recognize her. If you know her, please let me know. I desperately want to do something for her to let her know how grateful I am for what she did for me.    

As I think about Bessie, I am reminded that we have opportunities every single day to show kindness to others. It takes so little of our time and so little effort but it can mean more to that person than you will ever know. I want to encourage you this week to look for ways to show kindness to a stranger. I want to encourage you this week to do something for someone else without getting anything in return. Show kindness to a stranger. It’s the Christian thing to do.

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

An Encouraging Word

Have you ever had a dream or a goal in life that you desired with all your heart but it just wasn’t meant to be? You strived and strived but the doors kept closing in your face. You don’t know why God didn’t allow you to have it, but you do know that it wasn’t in His plans. When I was in college, my one dream was to become a successful Christian businessman. I promised God I would honor Him, I would serve Him, and I would give Him all the praise and glory if He would allow me to be a successful businessman. I had plans to be a positive witness within the business community. My motives were pure. My dream was noble. But it just wasn’t meant to be.

I graduated in accounting and quickly got a job with a CPA firm. It didn’t take long to figure out that I wasn’t a very good accountant. I was an auditor and we would go into businesses and go over records and try to find mistakes that people had made. I didn’t like that. I didn’t want to find mistakes. I wanted to encourage people and not discourage them. I had a partner named Woody who loved to “question costs” and find mistakes. He was a good auditor. He had an auditor’s mindset and I did not. After two years of trying to pursue my noble goals, God made it clear to me that I was not going to make it as an auditor. Through a series of events, I found myself using my vacation to go on a mission trip and was asked to preach a Sunday sermon at a church in Jamaica. I was a nervous wreck but agreed to give it a try. Once I finished that sermon, I knew without a doubt that God wanted me to be a preacher. I went home, quit my job as an accountant, and entered seminary to train to be a pastor.

When I look back on my life, there was nothing wrong with my desire to be a Christian businessman. That was a good goal. And although it was good, it was not God. Two simple words: Good and God.  At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between them. In reality, there is a world of difference. The difference is settling for good when God has something much better waiting for you. What I learned from my life is this: Never settle for anything less than God’s very best for your life.

As you think about your dreams and goals in life, I want to encourage you not to settle for good, but to strive for God. There are a lot of good things you can do with your life but there is one plan that God has designed specifically for you. It doesn’t matter if you are age 15 or 75, God still has a plan for you. And if you settle for good, you might possibly miss out on Gods very best for your life. I love the words of God in Jeremiah 29:11-13 when He says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

Two Days at Lake Tahoe

An Encouraging Word

            Last week I spent two days at Lake Tahoe. It could possibly be the most beautiful place in the world. Early on Monday morning, I left my house in Las Vegas headed to Lake Tahoe. As I sat at a traffic light, I found myself breathing the exhaust of an industrial truck while listening to the sounds of sirens all around. When I made it on the freeway I saw congestion yet again. There was an accident ahead and traffic was at a standstill. With no place to move, I found myself staring at the X Rated advertisements on the billboards and the back of the taxi cab in front of me. The Las Vegas airport on a Monday is indeed a popular place as everyone from everywhere is desperately trying to board a plane home. The crowds are large. The lines are long. The people are on edge. And everyone is in a hurry.  After what seemed like an eternity of hustle and bustle I finally boarded my plane for the 60 minute flight to Reno.  

            As I drove up the mountain to Lake Tahoe, everything seemed to change. The emptiness of the desert was replaced by beautiful trees. The smog was replaced by mountain air. The chaos was replaced with calm. The frenetic pace of Las Vegas was replaced with the slow serenity of Lake Tahoe. The hustle and bustle of city life was replaced with the slow moving ripples of the lake. The noise and congestion of traffic was replaced by the sounds of birds chirping and the wind blowing through the trees. As I looked out of my window at the beautiful snowcapped mountains and crystal clear lake, I paused for a moment and thought about the beautiful world God has made and how different Lake Tahoe is from Las Vegas.

            It also caused me to think about Heaven and how different it is from earth. For many of us, our lives are much like the city of Las Vegas on the day I left for Lake Tahoe. It is noisy, congested, busy, harried, and filled with pressures. We enjoy much of it and we struggle through the rest. Yet as I reflected on the beauty of Lake Tahoe, I was reminded that this world is not my home.  For not to long from now, I am boarding a flight to heaven. And when I arrive, the emptiness of this world will be replaced by the beauty of Heaven. The chaos will be replaced by calm. The frenetic pace of this life will be replaced by the slow serenity of the presence of God. The noise and congestion of traffic will be replaced by the harmonious singing of the angels. The X rated billboards will be replaced by the beauty of the river of life. The hustle and bustle of my Las Vegas life will be replaced by presence of God on the streets of gold in the New Jerusalem.

            As you wake up in the morning and begin your week, I encourage you remember that this world is not your home. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are on a Journey of Faith bound for a better place. God has a ticket with your name on it and is waiting for your arrival. Where is your destination? It’s even better than Lake Tahoe. It is the Kingdom of God!

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob

An Encouraging Word

            Last fall I went on an Adventure Sport Mexico Deep Sea Fishing Trip with thirteen men from our church. This was not for the amateur or faint of heart. This was for men who possess courage, bravery, a sense of adventure and a lot of money!  I met our guide when we arrived and he asked us “Why are you here?” To which I replied, “To catch fish.” That was the beginning of a great adventure. The next morning I put on my fishing clothes, gathered my fishing equipment, and climbed aboard our first class fishing boat.

            We were fishing for Marlin, Sail fish, and Tuna. By the size of the hooks and the bait we were using I knew we were going to catch some “big” fish. The anticipation was mounting as we traveled over 30 miles from the shore. We spent nine hours on the sea that day. We listened to our captain tell stories about all the great fish he had caught. We even shared some stories of our own. It was a great three days spent with good people in a beautiful setting.

As I returned to Las Vegas, I told Lisa about our trip. She knew I was hesitant to go on this trip and was delighted to hear I had enjoyed myself. She then looked to me and asked a question I will never forget. She asked, “Do you have any regrets about the trip?” I thought for a moment and replied, “Yes I do. I wish I had caught a fish!”

            In the Bible, Jesus tells us that we are to be “Fishers of Men.” If Jesus were to ask you why you are here on this earth, you could say, “to catch fish.” That’s your purpose in life. So how do you accomplish this? You put on your fishing (church) clothes. You familiarize yourself with your equipment (Bible). You even go once a week and listen to your guide (Pastor) talk about the intricacies of fishing. And through this process you develop deep friendships, share great fishing stories, and have a lot of fun. But when life nears its end and someone asks you if you had any regrets, you may reply, “Yes I do. I wish I had caught a fish!”

            What I learned on my Adventure Sport Mexico Deep Sea Fishing Trip is that there is a big difference between “going fishing” and “catching fish.” I pray you will remember why God placed you here on this earth. He wants you to be “fishers of men.”

When your time on earth is over, and your fishing trip is done;

Did you catch a lot of fish, or just have a lot of fun?

God put you here for a reason, He has a job for you to do;

He wants you to catch a lot of fish, and don’t stop until you do.

Life is like a vapor, a mist that is in the air;

Before we blink it is over, and we’ll meet with God up there.

And you will stand before the Righteous Judge, who will ask you what you wish;

I hope you do not say to God, ‘I wish I had caught a fish.’

Be encouraged,

Pastor Rob