When A Church Got a Pastor at a Yard Sale

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I’m not much of a yard sale person, although I readily admit one can find some tremendous deals at a yard sale. I remember the last yard sale we had; the temp was below freezing and the chill factor below zero. We advertised to begin at 7:00am and at 5:30am when I raised the garage door to move the stuff out, people were already standing in line. By the end of the day we offered everything on tables for “one low, low price.” I never realized someone could find a useful purpose for the stuff that had become “clutter” in my house. The old saying is true, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

Last week marked my one-year anniversary as pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Macon. What does that have to do with a yard sale? Read on.

I left my last church in what would be considered a “forced termination.” I wrote about how that felt back in a couple of October blogs. Suffice it to say, I felt I had been thrown out with the trash and that ministry would no longer be an option for me. Thankfully, by the grace of God, I was wrong.

I am thankful for the support, unconditional love, and encouragement that came from my family, both immediate and extended. I also realized how blessed I was with a great number of friends. Looking back, I am most overwhelmed by the providence and plan of an intentional God. Things panned out the way they did because HE had HIS PLAN.

The brave people of Bellevue took a chance on me when other churches passed me over due to my circumstances. I guess those other churches weren’t willing to bring home a “yard sale pastor.” I am thankful that God brought my family and me into the Bellevue family. We have a wonderful church family whom we love dearly. I am so glad they were willing to find treasure in another church’s trash.

I share this with you because I hope it will be an encouragement to you. No matter how difficult a blow life has delivered you, nothing can snatch you from God’s hand and His plan for your life. In fact, He may have allowed that painful circumstance in your life for the sole purpose of moving you on to something better He has in store for you. So don’t lose heart. God is not finished with you. In God’s eyes you are NEVER trash and you are always His TREASURE.

I recommend the following Bible verse for your reading and meditation. You need to know just how God feels about you and what He promises for your life.

Zephaniah 3:17

Romans 8:28, 31-39

Philippians 1:6

Sunday Sermon – The Hope of Easter

What if the Resurrection had not actually happened?  What if Jesus was a hoax?  What if the story was actually fiction?  We considered that Easter Sunday.  Take a look for yourself.

 

The Hope of Easter
1 Corinthians 15:12-20

 

If the resurrection had not happened:

  • God is not who we say He is (v 14-15)
  • Life is pointless. (v 17a)
  • We are helplessly sinful. (vs 17b)
  • There is no hope for the afterlife (vs 18-19)

 

BUT!!!!!

  • Jesus IS alive
  • Life has purpose
  • Forgiveness is available
  • Heaven is obtainable

Friday Flashback – March 25

Articles and Blogs

4 Ways to Cling to the Lord – Sam Storms on Crossway.org

7 Simple Steps to Refresh Your Prayer Life – John Piper

Cohabitation and Church Attendance Factor into Likelihood of Divorce – Aaron Earls

Worth Repeating

“Faith is acting like something is so even when it is not so in order that it might be so simply because God said so.” – Dr. Tony Evans  @drtonyevans

“God’s ultimate purpose for you is not limited by today’s present reality.” – Louie Giglio @louiegiglio

“A pessimist is somebody who complains about the noise when opportunity knocks!”
— Oscar Wilde      (from Twitter feed of @ikereighard )

“Until I learn to master myself, I cannot learn to be a servant of others. Lord, teach me how to do both.” @DrDavidLAllen

“You will never meet a pessimist who regularly spends time with God…because connecting with our Creator always changes our perspective.” @BenWallis79

 

Another Look

 

No Leftovers This Easter

During a Tuesday visit to the Temple, Jesus observed a magnanimous display of sacrifice.

As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “I tell you the truth,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” – Luke 21:1-4

Jesus watched lots of people parade past the offering box that Tuesday. Some left large, substantial donations, others brought what they thought to be a sufficient amount to assuage their conscience and help them feel good about themselves for fulfilling their religious duty.

A dear woman obviously of meager means offered what seemed to some a pittance, to others one so insignificant that she shouldn’t have bothered, and to still others an embarrassment. However, of all the worshipers that day, she caught Jesus’ attention, not for the size of her gift, but for the size of her sacrifice. Everyone else that day brought what they could spare, but she brought all that she had.

What do we bring to Jesus? Our spare time? Our left over money? What is left of our brain at the end of a day? Whatever open spots we might find on our calendar? We have mastered the skill of giving up just enough to look good to others and feel good about ourselves, but Jesus knows what of our treasures (possessions, time, talents, relationships, attitudes, among others) we hold back for ourselves.

Let’s reassess our priorities this Easter season. After all, Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Let’s give Him “all we have to live on” from every area of our lives.

Sunday Sermon Flashback – Good News for a Change

Yesterday at Bellevue Baptist Church, our choir and worship team presented a wonderful worship experience through our Easter cantata.  Unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to post the music here, so please enjoy this encore presentation of Last Year’s Easter Sermon – my first sermon as Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church.

Plan to join us next Sunday, Easter Sunday 2016, as we celebrate our risen Savior.  Our theme is The Hope of Easter.  I hope to see you there.  Sunrise service is at 7:30 a.m. followed by breakfast.  Sunday school is at 9:15, and our Easter Worship Celebration is at 10:30.

Flashback Friday – March 18

Articles and Blogs

 

A Call for “Drive-by” Praying – Chuck Lawless

3 Ways Disrespect Poisons the Presidential Race – Michael Hyatt

 

Worth Repeating

“If you sacrifice principle trying to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one.” – John Wooden from @SportsMotto

“If ‘whosoever will’ can’t come to your church & be welcomed into the family, you don’t have a church, you have a society of Pharisees.” – Michael Catt from @MichaelCatt

“Take heart! You are just one encounter with God away from an entirely different life!” – Richard Blackaby @richardblackaby

“Character matters because you bring who you are into everything you do.” – Carey Nieuwhof

 

Another Look

shut up

Ps16@2

When Good Is Bad

The devil is not stupid.

Most followers of Jesus that I know would never fall for the devil’s temptation to do something really bad. At least not at first. The devil’s usual strategy is to DISTRACT us by getting us so busy doing GOOD things that we have little time or energy left for the BEST things. Then when we have neglected the BEST things long enough, we begin to tire of doing the GOOD things and before we know it, we have slipped and done a BAD thing.

In his letter to the Philippian church, Paul began with the prayer that he had been praying for them. He prayed that they would grow in their discernment so that they would be able to determine what was not merely good, but EXCELLENT. (Philippians 1:9-10)

In a recent video blog, I shared a story from a book by John Avant about a General during Operation Desert Storm who had to choose to do something excellent over something good. You can view the vlog here.

Let me encourage you to regularly take the time to evaluate both your priorities and your pursuits. Do you let the urgent crowd out the important? Do you spend an inordinate amount of time greasing squeaky wheels?

My prayer for you is the same as Paul’s prayer for the Philippian Christians, and it is the same prayer I regularly pray for myself. I pray that God will cause our knowledge and power of discernment to grow so that we can be more intentional about doing the EXCELLENT things in life.

I get tired of chasing jelly jars, putting out fires, greasing squeaky wheels…whatever euphemism you wish to employ. May God grant us an ever-increasing ability to intentionally and passionately pursue what is EXCELLENT.

REFLECT:

With what activities and priorities does the devil distract you so that you miss out on the most EXCELLENT pursuits?

Specifically, what is one thing you will do TODAY to be more INTENTIONAL about growing in your knowledge and discernment?

Sunday Sermon – One Year Later

Looking back at the sermon I preached when called to be pastor at Bellevue, March 22, 2015 and considering where we’ve come in the last year.

 

“The BEST is YET to COME!”  Why can we believe that for our church?

We can believe God will do greater works because…

  1. The PRESENCE of God is with us (vs 4-5)
  1. The POWER of God is working for us (vs 6-8)
  1. The PLAN of God is guiding us (vs 9)

 

What is OUR ROLE? (vs 4-5)

  • COMMITMENT – Be strong
  • PARTICIPATION – Work
  • FAITH – Fear Not

Faith looks:

            UPWARD not self-ward

            FORWARD not backward

            OUTWARD not inward

“If you’re going to pray for RAIN, you better take an UMBRELLA.”

3 Positives:
strong core leadership
exciting atmosphere
effectively inviting others

3 Challenges:
don’t panic
look FORWARD
stay focused on the mission

MP9

My challenge to you today:  take ONE STEP FORWARD

 

 

Flashback Friday – March 11

Articles and Blogs

Inject Your Prayer List with Life – P.J. Tibayan on www.desiringgod.org

4 Reasons to Remember Your Creator in the Days of Your Youth – David Murray

Why It’s Wrong to Take the Lord’s Name in Vain – from Crossway Publishers

Your Single Most Important Habit – David Mathis at www.desiringgod.org

10 Misconceptions About the Church – Brad Bridges

Reading the Bible to Meet God – Barnabas Piper

 

Worth Repeating

“If you would support the teachings of Jesus, make certain that in the process you also reflect the character of Jesus.” – Richard Blackaby  @richardblackaby

” Your most important work is always ahead of you, never behind you.” -Stephen Covey seen on Twitter @davidjeremiah

“Lord, paint upon the eyeballs of my soul the image of thy Son.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“Don’t mistake a crowd for a church. You can build a crowd by personality. But you can only build a church by the Word.” – Tony Merida – from Twitter his account @tonymerida

 

Another Look

faith-feet