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Transparency... I have been in fulltime Pastoral ministry for twenty-two years. I'm currently pastoring my fourth church having spent the majority of my ministry, a little over sixteen years, at one location. Like most Pastors, I don't regret committing my life to the call of Jesus to serve His people, but I often wished I would have done better, reached more, failed less and succeded more in the things I felt Christ calling me to. I can't say that it has been easy or that it was always rewarding but yet I don't regret it at all. I have seen lives forever changed, missionaries, pastors and ministry leaders come from these years of service to the Kingdom of God. 

I have been hurt, offended, wounded so deep that I thought how could I possibly go another day. I have watched my wife and children weep because of the actions and words of those who claimed to love us. Ministry, NOT EASY, but worth it. Don't allow the struggle to cause you to retreat or withdraw into a mask of life. Don't pretend, be real even when you are struggling. There is a joy that arises from obedience, a passion to pursue because you know there can be no victory without the battle.

I remember twenty years ago as I came into the IPHC as a twenty-four-year-old young man. My wife and I were attending a conference in Columbus Ga where Bishop Tony Miller was speaking. One statement over those three days has forever stayed with me. "God has called us to help people get from point A to point B. We must be a bridge and every good bridge will be walked on". 

I long to serve Jesus as an open book. People need to see that we live where they live. We are real, broken, forgiven disciples of Jesus. There is no greater freedom than being who Jesus has called you to be. Be open, honest, real, and genuine. There is an old saying, "People don't care how much you know till they know how much you care." Consider your position, both naturally and spiritually.  Natural authority gives opportunity but without God's appointment spiritually it will be a colossal waste of time. I still believe God is looking for transparent people to rewrite their stories for the world to see. Choose today to be transparent, to be real so that you too can lead others to the Amazing Grace of Jesus Christ! All are valuable, important and precious to Jesus. So, don't quit! God has a plan for you and all that He has called you too. 

The Aroma of Worship

John 12:3-8 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

For anyone who encounters
 the resurrection power of Jesus Christ, there is a desire for deep worship created. Like Mary, it draws us to His feet, to sit before the King, and share our heart of gratitude for all that He has done. It was her brother Lazarus who Christ raised from the dead and It was Jesus who conquered the grave for you and I. We were once dead in our sin, but now through Jesus Christ, we are free for all eternity.

For a moment Let's consider her act of love. She took the spikenard an amber-colored essential oil derived from a flowering plant of the valerian family which grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India. Today, the idea of this special oil's travel to you and I don't seem like much, but In Mary's day, it was not a gift to be wasted. All commentaries and research that I find say that its value was that of a Years Wage. Wow, can you imagine? Lets for a moment stop, close our eyes and picture our year's income. Most of us struggle at times with obedient giving, but to write that check, a years wage, puts things in a whole different perspective. Judas had only love for himself and his own selfish gain. Mary had encountered the unselfish love and resurrection power of Jesus. It's that love that compels us to surrender. It's that love that causes one to be willing to give it all away and follow Jesus.  I pray today that we too will return to His feet and thank Him for all that He has given. His gift of Salvation is priceless. We can not earn it, but at His feet, we can receive it.

Days Like Today

Today, like many days in the ministry, was quite busy. There were planning sessions mixed with vision and adjustments, along with fellowship over lunch with two other Pastors who serve in our area. We shared stories of our successes, experiences, and yes even perceived failures. It was a day of accomplishments that has ended with a strong sense of gratitude. My wife and I made a trip to Piedmont Hospital for a visit with a twenty-two-year-old young woman who should be officially added to the liver transplant list tomorrow. I was moved by her tenacity, her smile and unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. Though her skin may have a touch of jaundice, and her eyes appear weary from the pain of infection that has attacked her body, she smiles and presses on. She reminded me that we are never alone. In all our trial and tribulations, just as in our best days, Jesus is always with us. Throughout all these years of serving the Lord, I have found there will be days that end great, but there will be plenty that will not. Is God weak? Does He not care about our struggles? James said,

James 1:2-4 TLB2 Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, 3 for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.

It is days like today that remind me of what true success is. Trusting Jesus Christ through each season of life is a priceless opportunity. There will be times that we will feel as if we are calling from the roadside like blind Bartimaeus or pressing through the crowd to touch just the hymn of His garment, as the lady with the issue of blood. There will come seasons of trusting His promise, like that of the widow woman who fed the prophet first. If I could encourage you in something, It would be this, Know that God hears, sees and cares about what you are facing. He will meet your need if you will just trust Him.

Matthew 6:33

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

The Fork in the Road A Path of Surrender.

The other day my daughter and I were driving on a back country road.  Honestly, some would not have even called it a road, maybe a glorified path. As we went around a sharp curve, we  came upon a fork in the road. The only choice was right or left. I couldn't help but think how terrible it would be to come upon on this spot at night. It caught me off guard, even in the daylight hours. I wonder how many times in life we arrive spiritually at that same location. We are traveling along fine, when out of no where there comes that unexpected curve, or better yet, a fork in the road. Now what, do I go left or right? There are no signs that give direction, and I have to make a choice. Even to sit still is a choice. Joshua said to the children of Israel, "Choose you this day whom you will serve."  
Joshua 24:14-15

Recently I found myself in that same position. Everything in me said take this path, but the Holy Spirit said, "John, don't go that way. Here is the path that I have for you. I had a choice to make. Do I go with my natural instinct or do I follow what I feel the Lord leading me to do. Maybe you say, that's easy John, you better obey the Lord. I agree that God's way is right, and I know that faith and obedience is the choice that I must make, but nothing about it is easy when your carnal man is fighting to have his way. 


There are times where God allows us to reach a place in life, a fork in the road, where we only have two choices, one is clearly wrong and the other is clearly right, but what about when they are both morally right but only one is His will. That was where I found myself. I had to choose to trust Him. His way seemed harder and the other was easier, both under most circumstances would have been OK, but God said, "John only one of these have I chose for you." 


I must admit, I toiled over the decision for sometime before I said, "Lord I cant do it. Please give me the strength to obey."  Then Jeremiah 29:11 came to life. The faith to follow Jesus is found in surrender. That moment in life when you say, I cant Lord. Please help me. It is then that He says, I was waiting for you to ask.  Call on Him and trust Him. He will never fail you. The bible is full of promises to ensure our success in serving Jesus. 
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Proverbs 12:25 |  1 Peter 5:7 | Philippians 4:6-7

I believe it is in these seasons of Life where we get to see the manifest power of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus cares about you and wants to transform you into all that He has destined you to become. Will you give Him everything today? Your Life, past, present and future, if so, you will never face another fork in the road without the Holy Spirit to guide you into God's plan for your life. 

The Million Dollar Question

What do you want to do with your life? That is the million dollar question that we all want the answer to.  For over twenty years, I have preached the Gospel, and served in pastoral ministry. What if I quit? What if the answer to the question was different than the one that I have been living for so long? Yes, I just wrote that and you are reading it. If you are honest you've been there too or maybe you are there now. The truth is, I have no desire to know the answer. I love the story that Christ is writing concerning my life. Has it all been perfect, have I always heard and followed His voice perfectly, NO. I believe the answer to the million dollar question is found in Jesus Christ. We get one shot to live this journey called life and their is no greater path than a life led by Jesus Christ. There will be times that we will walk on water and there will be times that we sink, but whether on top of the water or while sinking, HE will always be there.

Psalm 23:1-6 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I learned a long time ago that my life, and what I wanted to do with it, would never be better than when it lined up with His perfect will for me, whatever that would look like. I cant say it enough, If you want the right answer, ask the right question. God who do you say that I am? If you are struggling with what to do with your life let your answer begin with the one who holds all the answers to life. God made us a promise that with Him we are never lost but found. He will order your footsteps and give you a life worth living. The best part, It will never end! When this short whisper of life comes to an end the journey of eternity with Him will begin. I hope that as you read this you will make the choice to allow Jesus to become your definition of life. What should I do with my life? Choose Jesus!

John 4:13-14 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I will never be good enough, so He was good enough for me.

While we were still sinners Christ died for us. The idea that Jesus would die, to redeem us from sin, even while we were still in sin, is beyond human understanding. He gave His life in divine exchange so that I might live.

Romans 5:8
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I often think of the Sunday morning that I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ. I was seventeen years old, broken and filled with anger. There seemed to be a precedence that had been set for my life. My biological father had spent most of his life running from one thing to the other. It seemed as if were headed in the same direction. I longed for stability and a since of accomplishment that could only be found in Jesus Christ. The morning of my encounter with Jesus did not start pretty. It was one filled with anger and rage just an hour before my young wife was to go to church, without me as usual. Somehow that morning, I ended up at church with her. It was a day divinely appointed by God. If I were to return to that little church, I believe I could take you to the spot where the old me was left behind forever. In my office today on my desk is a little laminated card from my Pastor that serves as a reminder of the day that Jesus invaded my life and set me free from the bondage's of sin. My heart sings tonight that old song from my childhood, "Oh how I love Jesus, Oh how I loves Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus because He first loved me. 

All of these, twenty six, years later I walk into the pulpit on Sunday morning looking out for that young man that God has afforded me the opportunity to love. What a honor to know that His blood still redeems, and His grace still saves. If you are reading this, and don't know Christ, I invite you to know Him. He loves you when no one else can, or will. He knew you before you were ever formed in your mothers womb, and He cares for you, so much that, He gave His life so you might be free.  

Titus 3:5 
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

We will never be good enough, so He was good enough for us. 

Prayer: Jesus I am a sinner. I believe in your love and mercy. Forgive me Lord. Wash me in your blood and change me forever. I lay down my life and ask you to save me. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and I will serve you all of my days. Amen

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Slow your roll. Jesus is waiting.

Some days seem to rock on smoothly. Some seem to be filled with challenge and controversy, but at the end of the day to whom we have given the most intimate time to will define how all the pieces will fall. The reality of life's responsibilities, work, serving our families, ministries, all of these sometime catch up with us. Is it possible that Satan, like the thief that He is, is just waiting for us to be so consumed with all the task at hand, so that we are no longer vigilant.  I learned a long time ago that busy does not mean productive. 

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 

God longs for us to sit with Him, to slow our roll through life, and spend time at His feet. 

Luke 10:38-42 
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  

My encouragement to you is this, acknowledge what is distracting you. Identify what looked like a blessing but was really a distraction and return to what is most important. Spend time at the feet of Jesus.  At His feet we are humble, looking up and fed by the Master of the Universe. 

At the feet of Jesus our perspective is forever changed.  

Matthew 11:28-29 
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.