Losing Our Freedom Little By Little

Allan and Debra Hirsch in their book on discipleship named, Untamed, begins their book with this parable.
One day long ago in a Middle Eastern country their lived a white skylark. This skylark enjoyed flying high and swooping in joyous loops about the sky. One day as he swooped near the earth he heard a merchant cry out, “Worms! Worms! Worms for feathers! Delicious worms!” The skylark circled the merchant. He looked at the worms and they were some of the most juicy and delicious worms he had ever seen.
Unbeknownst to the skylark the merchant was the devil.
The skylark became interested. So the merchant motioned the skylark closer. “Look at the delicious worms. See the lovely worms I have”. Cautiously the skylark came closer. He did realize he was hungry. The skylark said to himself, these are the best worms I have ever seen. “Two worms for one feather” said the merchant.
The skylark was unable to resist. After all, he had many feathers. So with a swift motion, he pulled out his smallest feather and gave it to the merchant. “Take your pick my little friend…any two your hearts desire.! The skylark promptly snatched up two of the plumpest, juiciest worms and swallowed her meal with delight. Never before had she tasted such wonderful worms. With a loud chirp she leap into the air and resumed her joyful flight.
Day after day the skylark returned. And always the merchant had wonderful worms to offer: black ones and blue ones, red ones and green ones, all fat and shiny and iridescent. But one day, after eating her fill, the skylark leapt again into the air—and to her horror, she fell back to the ground with a thud. She was unable to fly!
At once, with a shock, she realized what had happened. From eating the delicious worms she had grown fatter and fatter; and she had plucked her feathers one by one, first her body, then her tail, and finally her very wings had grown balder and balder. Horrified, she remembered how slowly and imperceptibly, day by day, it had been harder and harder to fly, and how she had told herself it was no problem. She could always stop before it was too late.
Now suddenly, here she was, trapped on the ground. She looked up and saw the merchant looking at her. Was that a small sly grin spreading across his face? He grabbed the now helpless bird, and put her into a cage and walked away laughing.
We are reminded, you can’t make bargains with the devil. Tragically, like the skylark, little by little we give up our freedoms in Christ, only to end up in a cage made of a thousand little compromises. Not only had Christ made us free, but He has given us the power to maintain that freedom.
The Hirsch’s say that we have to learn to think differently about discipleship. We must attack the underlying problems of becoming like Christ. We have not changed the way people think and believe about living for Christ.

More About Burn Out

This is another excerpt from my presentation on the Exhausted Leader at the Baptist World Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii at the end of July 2010.

Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands.
You may be on the road to burnout if:
• Every day is a bad day.
• Caring about your work or home life seems like a total waste of energy.
• You’re exhausted all the time.
• The majority of your day is spent on tasks you find either mind-numbingly dull or overwhelming.
• You feel like nothing you do makes a difference or is appreciated.
The negative effects of burnout spill over into every area of life – including your home and social life. Burnout can also cause long-term changes to your body that make you vulnerable to illnesses like colds and flu. Because of its many consequences, it’s important to deal with burnout right away.
We must trust that God has the power to see us through our exhaustion. We must trust God that He can give us faith when it is low.
Our God has the power to see us through our fiery furnaces. Our God has the power to see us through our lion’s den. Our God has the power to walk us through our Red Seas, provide manna in the morning, provide meat for the wilderness, provide conquering power for Jericho’s walls. Our God is able to see us through.
Burnout on the other hand is about not having enough. Being burnout, exhausted means we feel empty and devoid of motivation. People who are exhausted often don’t see any hope of positive change in their situations. But God has the power to change every situation.

The Service Test

Christ Seeks Those Who Serve Others .
Matthew 25:34 (New International Version) 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Let us take a fresh look at this important parable of Jesus. It is a parable of power because He proclaims a prophetic look at the future. The King is going to come back. He is going to separate the sheep from the goats. The King is able to talk to the sheep. The sheep understand the King has a kingdom. The sheep understand the King is judging their behavior and their actions. The sheep have helped some people who were even the least in the kingdom.
Who would you say are the least in the kingdom? In the kingdom of this world, the least are the poorest, the powerless, the picked on, the bullied, the hungriest, the ones destitute, the ones homeless, the sickest, the loneliest, the weakest, the stranger, the immigrant, the youngest, the neediest and those who needed basic services.
The sheep recognize that they have been created to serve others more than themselves. Church, I want to let us in on a secret. The church was not created to spend all of its money on itself. The church was created to bless others. The King rejects the group that kept its money and goods to themselves. The church can not spend all of its time and money on itself. The church must go into the hedges and highways and find those hurting and hungry and compel them to come to the feast. Simply put, we must not be stingy with our time and money. We must be givers.
The sheep gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, shelter to the stranger, clothing to the naked, and visited the sick and imprisoned and gave them encouragement. It must be obvious, that the service test is given through the year and through our lives. It is not just at the end of time, but through out our time that we must pass this test.

Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention

The Lott Carey Foreign Mission Baptist Convention is being held in Columbus, OH. The picture documents an initial payment to Habitat for Humanity for construction of temporary housing in Haiti. This will help get people out of tents and sheets into dwellings. Lott Carey Convention has helped form the African American Baptist Collaboration. The goal is to raise $50,000,000 (Fifty million) dollars over the next ten years to help rebuild Haiti.
Tonight, Dr. David C. Forbes, Sr. challenged the convention to be on mission for Christ. A church not on mission is not a church, he said. Something worth thinking about.

More Spiritual Boot Camp

We must learn to keep learning, keep growing and keep developing our skills and information. It’s similar to boot camp. Here’s what one man said about his experience at Marine Boot Camp.
Recruit Training, in the United States Marine Corps, officially comprises three definitive phases. First Phase concentrates on orientation, study of military subjects and physical training. Second Phase includes marksmanship training, combat exercises and long hikes. Third Phase is service week, final polishing and, finally, graduation.
But in the mind of the recruit, the three phases are different.
In the recruit’s mind the first phase is regret, “what did I get myself into”. Folks are yelling at me. I can’t do anything right. I don’t know if I can make it one more day.
Then, the recruit gets mad. I’m not going to let this SOB Drill Instructor get the best of me. They are defiant. They have engaged the drill instructor in a mental duel. They will push themselves to make it. They will not allow themselves to quit. Then somewhere along the way, their mind set changes.
Here is how one Marine put it:
“One day the recruit is astonished with the sudden realization that he has executed a command, perfectly and with relative ease. His mind engages in further introspection. He notices the transformation of mind and body. Gone is the deep-seated defiance, replaced with absolute confidence. He has achieved the "can do!" attitude, which he will have for the rest of his life.

Third Phase has begun. The recruit now struts, proud and tall. Graduation, wearing the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, and being awarded the title "Marine" are realities.

He minimizes his own participation. All credit is given to the drill instructor. All earlier attitudes give way to one of genuine deep respect and hero worship. "If I ever go into combat, I want him as the leader."

The former civilian will be forever a Marine and the drill instructor will live within his mind.”

William McDowell - I Give Myself Away

This song is so meaningful. As an act of worship, I give myself away. Why? So God can use me. Wow!!!

Pastors and Leaders Burnout

This is an excerpt from a presentation I did on the Exhausted Leader at the Baptist World Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii, not too long ago.
“So pastors, lay ministers, missionaries, and other Kingdom workers burn-out. They drop out. They fall exhausted on the road. It is time to take some strong measures to restore emotional health to these important people. As I look around, and as I counsel many pastors in my office, I can see that something radical must be done to change things. I don't think I can do much to change the way people perceive the job of their ministers and layworkers. I wish I could. I wish there were a way to make people more aware of the fact that a pastor works very hard.”

Meeting God in Worship

There are times when words alone can not express the heart's experience of worship. That is how I felt Sunday. Our children's praise dancers had just finished an upbeat praise song. They had pulled people out of the pews to dance with them in the aisles. Then they danced to Israel Houghton's Alpha and Omega. They waved their colorful flags in slow motion over the congregation. I was transfixed by how the presence of the Lord filled the sanctuary. Indescribable but worth communicating to you who read this blog. Moments like this come suddenly and bless. Thank you Lord.

Israel Houghton & New Breed - Alpha and Omega (acapella)

This song blessed my soul today. Our children's praise team caused tears to come to my eyes as they danced to this song.

Has Hate Corrupted the Church?

Has Hate Corrupted the Church?
by Julie Clawson 08-05-2010
As a writer with a public blog, I’ve become used to getting hate emails. Sure, some people might leave offensive comments on a blog, but the real vitriol gets reserved for emails. From the sick and twisted ones detailing what sexual violence I need done to me to cure me of my feminism to the reminders that I will one day burn in hell because of my association with the emerging church, I’ve become used to the church’s odd way of demonstrating “love” to one’s neighbor. But when I look at the two posts that have far and away garnered me the most hate mail, I find it difficult to not be disturbed and heartbroken for the church.

http://blog.sojo.net/2010/08/05/has-hate-corrupted-the-church/

Boot Camp for the Mind

Why do people come to church? I believe one reason is to change their thinking. We have so many Christians who come to Christ but keep old belief systems. Here is an excerpt from my sermon: Mindset Boot Camp.

The Word of God wants to change your belief system. The Word of God says, greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the World The Word of God says, I am more than a conqueror. The Word of God says, I can speak to the mountain and it will move. The Word of God says, I have the power to tread on serpents and scorpions. The Word of God says, The devil is under my feet. The Word of God says, when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord will lift up a standard against him. The Word of God says, when the wicked came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an army encamp against me My heart shall not fear, though war may rise against me, in this will I be confident. The Word of God says, when I go through the flood, it shall not overwhelm me, when I go through the fire, it will not consume me.
The Word of God says, God is my rock, God is my redeemer, God is my deliverer, God is my battle axe, God is my strong tower, God is my leaning post, God is my judge, God is my Savior, God is my bridge, God is my manna, God is my water in dry places, God is my wilderness keeper, God is my all in all.
The Word of God wants to change your belief system. In the sick room, God is my doctor. In the hospital, God is my healer. In the court room, God is my lawyer. In the workplace, God is my promotion. In my finances, God is my banker. In my family, God is my father and mother. In my weakness, God is my strength. In my distress, God is my helper. In my grief, God is my comforter. In my tests, God is my miracle worker. In my tribulations, God is the lifter up of my head.
What do you believe? I believe, I can Do all things through Christ.

The Baptist World Congress 2010

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Baptist World Congress in Honolulu, Hawaii. Some 4,000 attendees from 105 countries met for worship, fellowship, inspiration and study. I made a presentation on The Exhausted Leader during one of the focus groups. You can get more information from www.bwanet.org.

Serving Others Honors Christ

This is an excerpt from a sermon I wrote before I asked our church to do a week of community service this past spring.Still holds true today.

Matthew 25:40 (New King James Version)40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Look at this text closely. The King says, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren you did it to me. What is the it? Inasmuch as you served a warm meal you served a warm meal to the King. Inasmuch as you gave somebody shoes, you gave shoes to the King. Inasmuch as you provided a warm bed, you gave the King a warm bed. Inasmuch as you provided a helping hand, a warm embrace, a generous hug, a loving smile, a chance to relax, a place to readjust, a season for repositioning, a place for prayer, a cool glass of water, you did the same to the King.
EMILY DICKINSON:
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain.
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.

Marks of an Exceptional Church Lesson 1

The Marks of An Exceptional Church Lesson 1
Pastor’s Bible Class
Calvary Missionary Baptist Church
August 5, 2010

An Exceptional Church Demonstrates Exceptional Purpose
Scripture: Philippians 2:1-18

Introduction

What are the marks of an exceptional church? When a church wants to go beyond average, what does it look like? When a church wants to go beyond better to become the best it can be, what does that look like? In this letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul gives us some benchmarks and principles of what an exceptional church looks like.

What is the mission and purpose of the church? Obviously the mission is to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20) and the Great Command of Jesus Christ (Luke 10:27). Here in this passage the Apostle Paul sheds more light on the kind of church that seeks to be exceptional. The kind of church we seek to be, exceptional.

I. An Exceptional Church Demonstrates Exceptional Unity of Purpose. (Phil. 2: 1-4.)

A. Paul makes a special appeal for unity of purpose. He uses the IF-THEN argument…

1. If you have any consolation in Christ. (The mutual encouragement they share in Christ.)
2. If you have any comfort of love. (The mutual love they share for each other.)
3. If you have any fellowship in the Spirit. (The mutual partnership they share in the Holy Spirit.)
4. If you have any deep feeling for each other. (The mutual concern that comes from the heart. The mutual experience of life together.) The bowels were considered the seat or heart of the emotions.
5. Then, be likeminded. (Share the same purpose.)
6. Then have the same love. (Share the agape love for each other.)
7. Then be on one accord. (Share the same unity that was in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. See Acts 2:1).
8. Then be of one mind. (Share the same goals, the same thoughts, and the same attitude toward mission.).

Questions: What kind of mindset makes for an exceptional church today? What kind of feelings should an exceptional church share today? What makes a church go from being average to being exceptional?

B. Enemies to being an exceptional church. Warnings from Paul.

1. Let nothing be done through strife. What is strife?

Read Gen. 13:8. What was the context of this situation?
Read Prov. 13:10. What does this say about strife?
Read Phil 1:15-16. What was taking place in this passage? Does this still happen today?

2. Let nothing be done through vainglory. What is vainglory?

3. But we should do ministry with Lowliness of mind. What does this look like in the church?

Read Romans 12:16. What does that tell us about relationships in the church?

II. Christ is our Exceptional Example. (Phil 2: 5-11.)

A. Let this Mind or Attitude Be in You.

1. How would you describe the mind or attitude of Christ?

Read. Phil. 2:7. What does it mean that Christ made himself of no reputation?
Read Phil 2:8. Describe the obedience of Christ. How does that look like in the church?

2. Many times we must go low before we can victorious. Share a time when you survived a humbling experience. How did God bring you up?

B. Let This Obedience Be in the Church.

Read Phil 2:9-11. What will be the outcome of Christ obedience?
How is this obedience an example for an exceptional church? How can a church model this type of obedience?

III. The Picture of Exceptional Ministry. (Phil. 2: 12-18.)

Who is at work in and through the church? (v. 12-13).
How does the church do ministry together? (v. 14).
How does the church minister in this present generation and culture? (v. 15-16).
What should cause an exceptional church to rejoice? (v. 17-18).

Pastor's Corner Feb. 28, 2010

Pastor’s Corner
Here’s a thought:
“The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.”(Socrates)
Thanks to all Calvary members who supported the F.W. Adams Banquet last night. This Sunday our Sunday School presented their Black History Program. We appreciate all the teachers, students and staff who worked so hard to do a wonderful job.
This Sunday we celebrate African Heritage Dress day during morning service. After Church this morning we will share in a Unity Feast (potluck). The menu is: Fried and Baked chicken, Macaroni and cheese, corn, green beans, bag salad and salad dressing. Will you help bring a dish? Please stay for the afternoon service as we will make new history at Calvary by ordaining new deacons. We ask our Combined Choirs to sing, and our ushers and health unit to serve.
Our Deacon Ordination Service will begin at 3:00 pm.
Thursday Nights at 6:00pm our Adult Bible Study has been on Prayer. We will meet in March on Thursday March 4 and 11. We will not meet on March 18 (due to our Leadership Conference) and March 25 (due to Antioch Leadership School).
Remember, we have begun Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study from Noon until 1pm. Please attend if you are able.

Additional Announcements

Our next Financial Peace University Class will begin Tuesday March 2 at 6:30pm. Please sign up with Sis. Ernestine Johnson.

Calvary Spring Leadership Conference—March 18-21. Dr. Robert Charles Scott (pastor of Central Baptist Church) will be the preacher.

Calvary is invited to Men’s Day at Oak Grove Baptist Church, 3040 Hickory. The Male Chorus is asked to sing and Pastor Goatley will bring the message.

Pastor's Corner for Jan. 31, 2010

Pastor’s Corner
Here’s a thought:
Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe. (Gail Devers)
What do you believe about yourself? What do you believe you will do this year. This is the end of the first month of 2010. Today we dedicate and install our officers and leaders for the year. We must believe God wants us to accomplish our divine purpose. We will make it if we work together. Will you join the journey?
Today we welcome Rev. Sam Anthony to the pulpit. Pray with Rev. Anthony as he preaches our Dedication Service today.
On Thursday, Calvary is sponsoring a Prayer Service for the Healing of AIDS. Rev. Kevin Anthony of Resurrection Temple will bring the message. We will have special representation from other churches. We ask our combined choirs and ushers to serve. There will be the AIDS quilt and free AIDS testing available. Please invite your family and friends.

Obama Talks With House Republicans

Well I guess it's clear now. Our president will need to find his Ronald Reagan strategy to deal with Congress. The funny thing is, The Democrats did this to themselves. Yes, Republicans won the Kennedy seat in Massechusetts. But Dems could have passed health care reform by now. There is a lack of leadership and statesmanship in Washington across the board. Why is that? Each party realizes the country is in a time of transition. The country is pretty split. Conservative idealogy is losing ground, But more liberal idealogy hasn't persuaded the rest of the country either.
So our president meets with House Republicans. Mainly a cordial conversation. I hope somebody on both parties will become courageous enoough to move past this hyper-partisanship to real problem-solving.See here.http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/01/29/obama-debates-with-republicans-at-gop-house-retreat/

Pastor’s Corner
Here’s a thought:
Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time.” (Anonymous)
Persistence is something we all need. So it’s a new year. What goals do you have? Where do you plan to be three months from now? Where do you plan to be six months from now? Kevin Surace is an entrepreneur who is reinventing the drywall and window business by making it more eco-friendly. He had to build the company from scratch. Along the way he has rescued some closed plants and put people back to work. It isn’t easy. One former colleague said,”Kevin knocks on doors, and if that doesn’t work, he knocks them down.” Persistence, what doors do you need to knock down to get where God wants you to be?
Remember this afternoon at 3pm, Sis. Blondel Rall will be giving her initial sermon. The Combined Choirs are asked to sing. Our ushers are asked to serve. Please support Sis. Rall.
This Thursday will be our First Fruits Service January 28. We will have the service with Oak Grove Baptist Church at 7pm. Rev. Alexander Haskin will bring the message. On Friday we will have a Healing and Deliverance Prayer Service at 7pm. Both Services are here at Calvary.
Remember Calvary School of Ministry and Leadership has begun. It is not too late to sign up, see Sis. Felecia Hinton-Ramey or Pastor Goatley.
Remember, we have begun Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study from Noon until 1pm. Please attend if you are able.

Additional Announcements

First Fruits Offering
We ask all members to give a special Sacrificial Gift equal to your first day’s pay or your first week’s pay. This dedicates all of your income to God for the year. Your First Fruits gift is a way to say thank you to God for what you will receive in the coming year. You can give it during the month of January.

Fasting and Prayer
We ask each member to fast and pray during Consecration Month. Please fast on Fridays (check with your Doctor if you have medical concerns). Please fast one meal, four hours or daylight till dusk. Give up a meal and give that time to meditation and prayer. We ask each member to pray at least 30 minutes a day. You can split it up anyway that works for you. So you have it. Pray ½ hour a day and fast on Fridays.

Dedication of Church Officers
Please turn in your roster of officers for your auxiliary to Sis. Ola Pennington by this Sunday. We will dedicate our church officers on Sunday January 31 during the morning service.

Remember to see Sis. Evelyn Bumpers or Bro. Billy Hall for your F.W. Adams Banquet Tickets. Cost is $25.00

Please Support the Wings of Love Gala, sponsored by the Calvary Community Development Corporation on Feb. 13. See a member of the ministry for a ticket.

Getting Started Again with our Haiti Giving

It has been awhile. My desire to communicate to you all is very important. As a pastor of an inner city church, we are always in need of resources. However, I am amazed at the generosity of those in need of help themselves. It reminds me, we are never so poor that we can not give to others. As pastor, I requested that we give toward the Haiti disaster as a church family to a ministry which already has networked churches in Haiti. We will be giving through the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Missionary Convention. Our goal was to give $1000. On the first Sunday we as a church gave over $480 toward that goal. I am so honored to lead this wonderful congregation. Our first payment has already been sent. Naturally, everyone can give through the Red Cross, by texting "Haiti" to 90999. They will need all the help they can get. Let's all do our part.