Call me goofy, but I just love those Geico® commercials with the cavemen. One of my favorites is when the caveman, sitting in his therapist’s office, calls his mother and puts her on speaker phone. So many issues…so little time. Who thinks up this stuff?

As I ponder the caveman’s dilemma, I am reminded of another kind of “cave” man. Have you ever known a person who has an issue with just about everything? He gripes and complains constantly and voices his utter contempt for this and that. A new acronym aptly describes such folks; the are CAVE people. CAVE people stands for Citizens Against Virtually Everything. As a matter of fact, I have a great example of a CAVE man in action.

I don’t know if you keep up with the legislative session, but I’m mesmerized by House Bill 408 relating to the regulation of barking dogs by certain counties as a nuisance. What’s gives? Apparently Montgomery County submitted this issue for consideration by the Texas House. The nuisance of barking dogs is a really big deal! But wait, it gets better. Do you realize not only do we have citizens against barking dogs, but complaints are weighted based upon the level of barking. For real! If a dog barks and it is deemed nuisance, be sure you can describe the level of annoying barking. Would you say the barking is current, intermittent, or constant. This is true – you just can’t make up stuff this ridiculous! I can just hear the CAVE man calling with his complaint, “Yes, I’d like to report a barking dog nuisance.” The dispatcher asks, “Sir what level of barking would you like to report: current, intermittent, or constant barking?”

You may laugh at this example, but are we really much different with our petty negativity? Through Christ we should be completely different! First Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Our joy comes from the LORD and is not based on the circumstances of our mortal existence. Even if the dog barks constantly, find the joy. Pray for God’s strength to sustain you through the barking, and thank him for ears to hear that barking. Instead of acting like a CAVE man, stand upright and shout for joy to the LORD!

Brenda Shuttlesworth

Are we Selfish or are we Servants?

...Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant ... For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:43, 45

Selfishness vs. Servanthood... When the war is waged in our lives, we side with selfishness. We major in "me." We have this me, my, mine attitude in our lives and forget about others. We want someone else to serve us, to give us the massage, the pedicure, the shoulder rub or even the positive words of encouragement. We don't want to serve anyone else because we think of servants as weaker than, less than, or below us.

But Jesus Christ, God's only son came to this earth to blow the doors off of our pre-determined ideas of servanthood. He taught us that serving is the way to freedom, the way to God's heart. And he modeled true servanthood by performing the ultimate act of service.

When we accept what he did for us, when we bow the knee to Christ, we become armed in the battle against selfishness. God instills in us the character quality that Jesus showed every day of his life - servanthood.

When Jesus walks into the doors of your life, he places the person of the Holy Spirit inside of your heart. And the Holy Spirit is the one who helps you battle against selfishness - he gives you the strategy, the way to win, the way to serve with an honest heart. He gives you the opportunities to serve through your actions and words.

This week, when you feel the pull of selfish thinking and are tempted to make comments to others that benefit you and you alone, remember the act of service that Christ performed on the cross. Remember that Jesus himself came, not to be served, but to serve. We are challenged to uplift the name of God and His church and if we do and say things for our benefit then we take on a selfish attitude.

Justin Holcomb

What does your Sign Say?

A priest and a pastor from the local churches are standing by the road, pounding a sign into the ground that reads:

The End is Near!

Turn Yourself Around Now Before it's Too Late!

As a car speeds past them, the driver yells, "leave us alone, you religious nuts!"

From around the curve they hear screeching and a big splash.

The priest turns to the pastor and asks, "Do you think the sign should just say, 'bridge out'?"

I've been thinking lately about how often we probably do confuse those around us. We give messages that we think might be easily read, but are not. We assume friends and acquaintances have a place of worship to attend, but do we invite them to ours? Many times we think we can make it through the day without spending time with our Lord. We seemed to do okay yesterday and the day before that, and maybe even the day before that day. We are too busy. Too much going on. We just don't have time. God's Word says, "To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:1-2,4-5)

For our hope to be exhibited all day long, we must visit Him each day. Don't assume people know you are a person of faith. Exhibit it by your actions and share it in your conversation. Be clear about what you say and what you mean. Paul has great advice in Colossians 4:5-6, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Tom Tillman

Associate Pastor, Music & Worship

From What Is to What If

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What if?” I believe it is safe to say you have. I have. Everyone has at some time in life asked the question, “What if?” You may find yourself at a point in your career, your walk with the Lord, your family, or any other area of life pondering the question, “What if?”

In order to realize the positive benefits of asking the “what if” question you must begin with a true analysis of “what is.” For many people asking “what is” can lead to a disastrous outcome. Frequently people jump to making accusations and blaming others for their difficult circumstances or present problems of life. But each of us must begin by, first, analyzing “what is.” And this is best accomplished by allowing time for reflection and introspection. In Matthew 7:3-5, God’s Word says, “And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.” As I identify the “what is” of my life, I begin to understand how the lack of faith and disobedience of yesterday results in the frustration and confusion of today. From your heart cry out to God the words of the Psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). Allow the Spirit of God and His Word to lovingly and accurately reveal the “what is” status of your life.

Next you must ask the question “what if?” This is where you do a little divine daydreaming. In your ministry ask, “What if I trusted God to…?” In your marriage ask, “What if I loved my spouse the same way Jesus loves His church?” In your parenting ask, “What if I invested more time and energy into loving and leading my children instead of focusing on building a career?” But in each area consider your ability only to the degree that you realize “apart from [Jesus] you can do nothing” (John 15:5). It’s not about you. It never has been and never will be. Life changing, eternity impacting results occur when we recognize and appropriate Ephesians 3:20 which states, “[God]…is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” The “what if” life is a life of faith. It is a dependency upon the Lord’s ability to do what only He can do. And God promises to act in ways that unimaginably surpass our most amazing thoughts and expectations.

So right now, take time to let God show you the “what is.” What is the status of your walk with the Lord, your ministry, your relationships, and so forth, and are there issues God is leading you to deal with? After you address these items, conclude this time by asking God “What if?” God has faithfully brought you this far, and He has so much more He wants to do in and through you!

Dr. Dale W. Talbert

Good Laugh

Ha…Ha…Ha…Ha!!!!!!! When is the last time you had a good laugh? Was it so long ago you can’t even remember? Was it today? I hope so. Have you ever just taken some time to think about laugher? No. Me neither; until today. So join me. Stop reading and take some time and just think about laughter.

Now, what did you come up with? Was it positive? I have a hard time thinking of how it could be negative (provided you are thinking of you laughing and not someone wrongly laughing at you). I was thinking that laughter is a gift from God we often overlook. His word does say, “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Psalm 126:1-3 KJV

Have you ever just started laughing because of the great things the Lord has done for you? Me neither, but I have enjoyed some great laughs. Laughs that made me thank God for His joy and life abundantly lived.

So maybe this week you will have a moment of laughter that will not only be a blessing to you but also to God. I had one just a short time ago as I was asked to be a bit crazy as “Cowboy Mike” during our academy’s western day. After acting silly, juggling, performing tricks and just plain silliness I was walking by the playground and a sweet child yelled to me, “you’re weird.” It was great. It made me laugh again. That laughter was a blessing from God. A time of cleansing. A time of rejuvenation.

So, join me this week and let’s laugh a little more than normal. I think it will do the both of us some good.

God bless you as you laugh,

Mike

Planting Proper Seeds

For they [Wisdom's words] are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Proverbs 4:22 (NIV)

Early one spring when I caught my annual gardening fever, I hired someone to till the vegetable patch while I went to the feed store to purchase seeds. While there I momentarily entered a world of yesteryear as I overheard old-timers chat about their crops while the younger men loaded fertilizer on their pickup trucks. Women traded pickle recipes and swapped flower stories as their children poked fingers into the baby chick cages. I left the feed store with enough seed to sew a Midwest crop. After the planting season, I put the surplus seeds in a cupboard and forgot all about them.

Time passed and I didn't plant a garden for several years. Then one spring I decided to grow my own vegetables again. This time, though, I remembered the seeds in the closet. They looked the same as they had years before, but I feared they were too old to use. If I planted them they might not come up. I called the feed store and the owner said the seeds were probably still good. "They'll keep the kernel of life in them indefinitely," he said. So I planted the seeds. Sure enough, they produced a crop as bountifully as the year when I bought them.

Life had remained in the seeds until they were placed in the proper environment that would cause them to sprout and grow. Even though I had forgotten them and dust covered their packet, they did not die while I busied myself with other interests. If Wisdom's words are planted in our hearts, they may lie dormant for years before we ever call on them. But when we need truthful guidance, they will surface to lead us in God’s way.

Help me, Lord, to glean wisdom from your Word and plant it in my heart.

Alice Thomas

Do You Worry?

Do you worry about things? What if prayer could change things? Would you pray more?

Prayer sometimes changes things. More frequently, however, prayer seems to change the person who prays. In the case of King Hezekiah, prayer changed things. God told Hezekiah that the time had come for him to die, but Hezekiah prayed that God would extend his life, and God gave him fifteen more years to live.

In the Apostle Paul’s case, prayer did not change things. Paul prayed three times for an affliction, but his condition remained the same. Paul’s attitude, however, changed toward the “thorn” in his flesh as he discovered new insight into the sufficiency of God’s grace.

We as humans are basically selfish; therefore, our prayer requests are often selfish. We desire God to change His plans for our benefit. What we must recognize is that while God does not promise us a problem-free life, He does promise to walk through our problems with us. If we allow Him to do so, He will transform us ever more into the likeness of His Son Jesus Christ. Sometimes situations do need to change, but very often it is our own heart that needs changing.

The cause of our worry is not the real problem from God’s perspective. Rather, it is the fact that we worry.

“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 RSV

Have a great day, and don’t worry.

Chad O.

Do You Know Where Your Children Are?

“It’s ten o’clock, do you know where your children are?” I don’t know if you remember that question, but growing up I knew I better be running off to bed if I heard that question. Every evening right before the 10:00 p.m. news, we heard the same question, “It’s ten o’clock, do you know where your children are?” That public service announcement served as a reminder to parents to be involved in their children’s lives, but it also prompted children to be respectful of their parents. Sometimes kids can run amuck and worry their parents silly!

Well, it’s way past ten o’clock as I write this devotion, and I do indeed know where my “children” are. My son is sound asleep, the dog is snoozing, and my husband is sawing logs. I wonder: how would God respond to this same question. “It’s ten o’clock do You know where Your children are?” What would His answer be relative to His dearly loved children? Sure, He can find us; but, are we aware of His great love for us and His burden for our well being? I think that PSA is a two-way street: the parent needs to know where the children are and the children need to respect the parent enough to keep them informed. Both parents and children need to be intimately involved in each other’s lives.

Stop and think about these questions. How often do you rush out the door on Sunday morning screaming, “Have you seen my Bible?” all the while feeling a little guilty at even uttering such words? Wiping the dust from the cover, you run out the door and head for Sunday School. You sit down to eat as a family (I know, I know, this is a novel idea for some) and soon realize you’ve not uttered so much as “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food” in days. Seems like the only time you open your Bible lately is when the preacher says, “Turn with me to…” Sunday morning. What about communication with God? I’m not talking about those pleas for urgent needs (better yet, wants) from God, but true heartfelt praise, adoration, intercession, repentance, and petitions.

Let’s face it: if we’re honest, we’ve all probably been at that point at one time or another in our lives. First John 3:1, reminds us, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” What a privilege to be called and to be treated as God’s dearly loved children!

If the angels in heaven were to ask God, “Do you know where your children are?” how do you think he would respond? Stop right now and thank God for being your heavenly Father. Thank Him for his unfailing love for us. Then, dust off that Bible if you must and take a look at how many times throughout His Love Letter to us that He reminds us that He’ll never leave us and never turn His back on us, no matter what. God is good…all the time!

Brenda Shuttlesworth

Minister of Administration and Church Ministries

“Simplicity”

Luke18:18-30

Have you ever moved into a new home? What's the most common complaint in getting ready for such a move? "How did I accumulate so much stuff?" Most of us have too much stuff. Too much stuff can be a problem for each of us. The more things we accumulate the more our freedom is restricted. The more stuff we have the more it demands our attention. The more attached we get to our stuff the harder it is to hear God’s voice.

I have been caught lately in the trap of having too much “stuff” blocking my communication with my savior. This week I was brought back to the realization that slowing down and simplifying things is when I see God the most vividly.

As I was reading this week in my quiet time I noticed a different tune in a very common story. Luke 18:18-30 gives us the story of the Rich Young Ruler. It’s a story of when a rich guy asks Jesus what it will take for him to inherit eternal life. Jesus’ response is for him to obey the commandments, which the young man responded saying he had, but then Jesus told him to go and sell all of his possessions. The young man had to turn and walk away because he was rich.

Jesus' call to travel light may be a call to simplify our lives--to become more carefree--so we can regain a sense of who God is and wants to be for each of us. In order for us to reach this place in our lives, though, we need to slow down and push the “stuff” to the side.

Summer vacation can be a great teacher about a more carefree life. I love to go to the beach for vacations. The times where you can walk on the sand for miles, or just sit outside and get lost in the sound of the waves. You almost feel like you’re all alone. It’s during these times that I experience God's grace through the simplicity of life. Life at home involves food, shelter, meals, planning, bills, doctors, dentists, work, giving advice, camps, laundry, cleaning, social arrangements, telephone calls, etc...

Life in our society is based on the premise of ever-widening circles of contact and communication. It involves family demands, community demands, and work demands. Our mind reels sometimes. It is not a life of simplicity but a life of multiplicity if we're not careful. It can lead to fragmentation rather than unification. If we're not careful it can destroy our soul.

We have been guilty of becoming so busy that we lose sight of God. My challenge for each of us is to try and simplify things in our lives so that we can truly follow after Christ daily. Let’s go to the beach together!

by HIS grace,

justin holcomb

Be Still

Several have commented on the video that played in worship a few weeks ago called "Be Still". This is a great way to start everyday. Enjoy.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I've been trying to get your attention . . . but you've been distracted. I want you to stop . . . stop thinking, stop planning, stop worrying about your marriage, taxes, cars, the news, your job, money, relationships, sports, the stock market, what's on tv, your future, your past, your kids, your education, your weekend, your wardrobe, where you're going to eat after this.

None of that compares to what I have to tell you, but you have to listen.

Be silent . . . be calm . . . be still . . . . and know . . . . that I am God.

Tom Tillman

Associate Pastor, Music & Worship

What Do You See?

Not long ago my wife, Kim, took our three children to the optometrist for eye examinations. Any trip to the “doctor” is usually a little unnerving, but since there would be no shots given this trip, the kids didn’t complain. It turns out that Brayden’s vision was just fine while our girls needed corrective lenses. So after a few days had passed, Madison received her new contact lenses and Mallory her new red glasses. The following morning as we pulled out of the driveway bound for school, Madison said, “I can see the pinecones up in the tops of the trees.” That was a strange thing for me to hear, because I have always been able to see them. At first I felt a little guilty. I did not realize there were any problems with their vision, and then I remembered my parents telling me of a similar situation with my brother many years ago. It is a good idea to have your vision checked. You might be surprised by what you see.

Chapter nine in the book of John tells the story of a man, blind from birth, who came in contact with Jesus. The Lord made some mud, placed it on the man’s eyes, and then sent him to the Pool of Siloam to wash it off. John 9:7 says, “So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” God has given you friends, relatives, and neighbors that are struggling in some manner with their “spiritual vision.” As a Christian, you are able to see and enjoy the blessings and the purposes of God while they seem to struggle for any glimpse of hope and meaning in life. My prayer for each of us echoes that of the early believers - “O Lord…give your servants great boldness in their preaching” (Acts 4:29).

This week, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). We might just be surprised by what we see.

Dr. Dale W. Talbert

Associate Pastor, Christian Education

Lost?

Have you ever been lost? Driving the wrong way or in a forest without a clue as to which direction you should walk? Just last summer Brooke was in Houston visiting some friends that worked at Camp Ozark with her and she was attempting to drive back North to Conroe. I think it was the exit sign for Kemah that gave her a clue that maybe her North had quickly become South. Fortunately cell phones have long been a staple for us and with an anxious call to me (and between muffled laughter) she was able to be calmed down and headed the right direction.

I am preaching a sermon series that I have entitled: “Is Jesus Lost?” I am certain many of you first think about salvation when you hear the word “lost.” That is not what I am referring to. In Luke chapter 2 we read the story of Joseph and Mary traveling back home from Jerusalem and discovering at the end of the first day’s journey that Jesus was lost. It is a great story as three days later the exasperated parents find Jesus in the Temple being about the Father’s business.

So, I ask again, is Jesus lost? Do we know where He is in our lives and in our churches? Or have we been about a journey filled with faithful people, walking in unison as a large group and not able to recognize if Jesus is with us. Are we so busy doing the church thing (Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were in Jerusalem celebrating the Passover) that the head of the church is not even around?

Maybe this is a little harsh. Can I at least encourage you to ask for yourself, is Jesus right there with you in your journey. I am not talking about whether Jesus left you, but have you walked away from Him. There have been times in my life that I have substituted other people in the place of Jesus. Other times I have said that Jesus was right there and when I looked at “my” Jesus, He was different than the one I know in scripture.

Just some thoughts to pray through. I need to go make certain I know where Jesus is in my journey today.

Mike Davis

Is Your Refrigerator Running?

A few years ago I answered my ringing telephone to hear a youngster ask, “Is your refrigerator running?” I knew the call was a prank, but I played along. “Why, yes it is,” I answered with great drama. “Then you’d better catch it,” the young fellow quipped as he chuckled and hung up abruptly.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his antics. I did similar things when I was his age. A group of us boys used to call the drug store and ask if they had Prince Albert in a can. Old Mr. Pace, the friendly druggist, would play along. “Yes we do,” he would answer politely. “Then you’d better let him out,” we would reply with a roar of high-pitched laughter as we hung up the phone. That old joke doesn’t seem nearly as funny now as it did back then, but Mr. Pace probably had as much fun as we did with this gag. (Mrs. Pace was a different story. If she answered, I hung up as fast as lightening. Some folks do not appreciate ten-year-old boys.)

Childhood doesn’t last forever. Life changes and we move on. We are blessed if the Lord allows us to grow up and grow older. Hopefully, most of us will grow older with grace, regardless of how we define “older.”

The Bible says gray hair is a crown of splendor. Each experience of life adds a new dimension to who we are and what we will become. Our years can bring new aches and pains (and new doctors) into our lives, yet those same years can bring God’s glory as we face new challenges and opportunities.

A group of senior adults was caught by a police officer ringing doorbells late at night and running away before anyone came to the door. When the officer asked them to explain they said, “These are the kids who used to do this to us years ago. Now that they are all grown up, we are just getting even!”

I am glad I grew up. I am also glad I haven’t yet grown old. I still have a sense of humor and wonderment about life, even if I also have a few extra pounds and pains.

Life is a wonderful gift, regardless of the number of years we have been given. In spite of life’s difficulties and seeming “unfairness” we can still give God all the praise and glory He is due. We can age without becoming “old.”

Believers can be thrilled with life even when life is not thrilling. I am grateful the Lord has allowed me to “mature,” but I will confess that every once in a while I am still tempted to ask someone at the drugstore if they have Prince Albert in a can or ring a doorbell late at night.

Grow up but never grow old.

Pastor Walton

U is for Unique...

An old fable tells about some animals that started a school. They had classes in swimming, flying and running. The duck was a good swimmer but had to drop swimming in order to practice running – at which he was not very good. Soon he became just an average swimmer. The rabbit was the best runner but broke his leg trying to fly. The eagle was tops in flying class but became waterlogged when he tried to swim. By the end of the school term, none of the animals were very good at any of their subjects. They tried to do everything, instead of developing the God – given gifts they had all along.

Take a minute right now and Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.

Who has spiritual gifts? Why does God give each one spiritual gifts?

When you became a Christian, God made you a part of the body of Christ and equipped you with gifts for a ministry. God “gives them to each one, just as he determines.” If you still have your Bible open, skip down to verse 11 in (1 Corinthians 12) and read it. We see here that it is very important that we develop our strengths and allow God to transform our weaknesses. I know I have to.

Don’t try to be like anyone else. God made you uniquely you. Ask God to reveal your spiritual gift(s) and your ministry within His body. Time will tell if it is really your gift and what you can do to improve on it

Will you give Him your very best? If you take two fingers and can feel a pulse on the other wrist, then you need to be serving others and making a difference in this lost and dying world.

Chad O.

Minister to Children

Carpe Diem

I’m always on the lookout for a newsworthy story, a good quote, or video clip that makes a point. One of the scenes I love is in Dead Poet’s Society. Have you seen the movie? It’s a few years old, but Robin Williams plays a teacher at an exclusive boys’ boarding school. In true Robin Williams style, he turns out to be no ordinary educator. He captures the boys’ attention through his unorthodox methods, and in so doing fuels their quest for knowledge.

Early in the movie, we view day one of school through the eyes of these boys on the brink of manhood. School is typical: the Latin instructor drones through the conjugation of verbs, with students lazily echoing his words; their math teacher attests that everything in the world hinges on advanced mathematics and that these boys will be nothing without math; and science brings threats that late assignments result in failure – you know, zero tolerance and all that stuff. Then, they enter English literature class but find no teacher. Even after the tardy bell rings, still no instructor. At that moment a relaxed Robin Williams enters the room whistling and urging the boys to follow him into the hallway.

After coaxing the boys into the hall, they stand before the wall of history. Photos from years gone by of young men, not all that different than themselves, adorn the walls. Staring at these photos, their teacher urges them to lean in toward those pictures, this is their heritage. In that moment, he whispers these words, “Carpe diem.” Over and over again he softly echoes, “Carpe diem.” Although one boy knew how to translate these ancient Latin words and could even quote Horace’s age old poem, no one really knew what it meant to “seize the day.”

Carpe diem! Seize the day! What does it mean to seize the day? I think it has something to do with making the most of every opportunity. In fact, Paul often used the sentiment of carpe diem. Galatians 6:10 says, “…as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people…” I am struck by the phrase, “as we have opportunity.” What is an opportunity? Opportunity has to do with taking advantage of a particular time or occasion. From a prison cell, Paul urges us to take advantage of every opportunity, to make the most of every occasion (see also Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5).

Is every opportunity a good one? Not necessarily. Some occasions feel like a real challenge, but we can choose how we react to any situation. Seize the day! If things are really not going your way and you’re waiting for God to turn things around in your own life; seize the day. Don’t wallow in self-pity; make a difference. Turn the attention off yourself or the negative events of the day, and focus on others. When we reach out to others, a window of opportunity opens through which God my breeze upon us unexpected blessings. Who knows what tomorrow brings? In James 4:13-17 the half-brother of our LORD says that if we know the good we ought to do and choose not to do it, then that is sin. Did you hear those words? If we know the good we ought to do and choose not to do it, then that is sin. Wow! Each day is packed full of opportunities, so seize the day!

Brenda Shuttlesworth

Minister of Administration and Church Ministries

Our Mission Field

Have you ever heard a missionary share stories from their personal adventures and found yourself excited about the thought of a mission trip, or seeing lost people come to know the Lord? Being able to look at the pictures, or thinking of exotic locations and seeing hundreds coming to know our Savior makes us thankful that there are people overseas reaching the lost. The problem with this kind of thinking is that we never get up and experience it. We know that Mathew 28:19 tells us to go into all the nations. We even know that this is called the great commission. Shoot, half of us can even quote it. So are we doing anything about it?

I know that most of you that are reading this are thinking that this is a little heavy, but I have a real challenge for each of us so bear with me. The challenge is two fold. The first half of this is to recognize our attitude towards missions. If you are someone who goes on, or has been on many trips then you understand how important it is to have people committed to praying for the trip or supply financial aid. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing either of these things, but there is no way to understand the meaning of missions if you never go and share your story with those that may be hurting. While the stories are great and fun to hear God has called each of us to have our own stories of times when we shared and showed Christ’s love to others.

The second half of my challenge is to recognize that the mission field is all around us. This is a thought and concept that was new to me until I became involved in the ministry. I was the student pastor at a church that was reaching over 200 students every week most of which were unchurched and coming from broken families. While I was sharing with the students how much God loved them every week I was struck with the thought that we as a church and group were completely missing our mission field. While the goal of churches is to draw people through the doors, I noticed that there were even more individuals in the cars dropping off the students. The youth were coming because they knew that it was a fun environment where they could hang out with their friends and of course they were being challenged to know God in a real and personal way. But the parents? They were dropping their kids off because they knew that it was a safe place, and if their kids were in church then they weren’t getting into trouble.

The saddest thing that happened, in my opinion, was that we, as a church, never recognized the importance of our own parking lot. We brought in missionaries to speak, sent out visitation teams, and even built a steeple so that we could be seen from further away. But our parking lot was filled with families who had no church home or assurance. While most people would say that it’s the youth pastor’s job, I would say otherwise. Yes, we spoke with and met each parent personally and we sent out mailers but everything was geared toward their students.

As I now sit back and examine people and churches I realize the importance of each of us recognizing our call to be missionaries; whether it is in a foreign country, in our backyard or in our parking lot here at the church. The great commission calls each of us to make disciples, not just the preachers and teachers, but every one of us who can call Him our Lord.

So my challenge is for us to not become so comfortable that we rely on others instead of just stepping out in the parking lots and being missionaries. There are families that drop their children off because it’s a safe place but I know that church is more than a building. It’s a life lived in worship to a savior that is beyond description. So instead of finding our seat early, why don’t we meet our neighbors at the window of their cars with an invitation for them to join us for worship. Shoot, it would be amazing if one of the stories you had was of a time when you led someone to Christ in the parking lot instead of inside the church.

Justin Holcomb

Time with Him

As we begin a new year, let's look at what God's Word has to say in Psalms 119:97-104:

Oh, how I love your law! I think about it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for your commands are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insights than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your decrees. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. I have refused to walk on any path of evil, that I may remain obedient to your word. I haven't turned away from your laws, for you have taught me well. How sweet are your words to my taste; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.

God's Word is where each of us can and must turn to each day. In a world of change and uncertainty, the Bible is and always has been our source of daily bread that will guide us throughout each step of this new year and beyond. Every year, you are most likely encouraged by your church or someone of Christian influence to read your Bible everyday, spending a quiet time with God. I realize it's hard to make that commitment everyday, but let me encourage you to do so! Find a devotional source to guide you through scripture and then spend time following in prayer for God's guidance throughout the day. I promise the way you handle all that life throws your way will change dynamically when you are walking with our Lord everyday. If you don't have a devotional guide, read a Proverb that correlates with the date (on January 5th, you would read Proverbs 5). Follow that with 3 chapters of Psalms (every chapter in Psalms is very brief except chapter 119 which we read from today). We have devotional guides at the church. Make it one of your highest priorities this year to spend time with God everyday! And as your new years resolutions fade, everyday is the perfect day to start spending time with Him.

Tom Tillman

Associate Pastor, Music & Worship

Get Me Out of This Mess!

Memorial Day I kicked back with a new book, The Prodigal Comes Home, by Michael English. I’ve enjoyed Mr. English’s music for years and known that personal struggles have plagued his life for well over a decade. You see, I like to see God use our hurts, disappointments, and mistakes to ultimately shape us into the creations He can use for His glory. Ultimately, this book chronicles one man’s journey toward spiritual healing. At one point, the author said that all too often we pray to God to get us out of one mess right after another. He went on to add, “But don’t we often do that? Ask God to take control only after we’ve held the reins of our lives in our greedy hands until it’s too late? Why is it that we recognize only too late that God’s rules…are given because He loves us and wants to protect us? If we prayed more for obedience, knowing the greatness of His love, we’d have to pray a whole lot less for deliverance.”

Instead of praying, “Lord, get me out of this mess!” we really need to learn to communicate with God. In order to fellowship with God, I think we need to get to know him better; and, to know Him better, we need to spend time with Him. In this hustle and bustle world, time is a precious commodity, but doesn’t God deserve our undivided attention?

Jesus lived a life of balance. Not only did her serve passionately, He also spent quiet time alone with His Father. He went off by himself to pray. He got away from crowds to pray. He withdrew to recharge His spiritual batteries. I would suggest to you that our time alone with God ultimately shapes all other spiritual disciplines in our lives.

Are you afraid to be alone with God? I think many of us are simply because we don’t’ know Him very well. Richard Foster, in his book, Celebration of Disciplines, asserts, “There is the freedom to be alone, not in order to be away from people but in order to hear the Divine Whisper better.” When we hurriedly read the Bible and pray out of necessity instead of opportunity, we miss the blessing of building a relationship with our Creator. One of my friends said it like this, “Solitude is the freedom to be alone with God in order to hear Him better.” Giving God our undivided attention is a cherished privilege.

God’s Word echoes constancy in the midst of chaos: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3) God is God and remains on the throne. Is He on the throne of your life? I challenge you to live like you believe verse ten of that same Psalm, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Be still: concerning your past, concerning your present, and concerning your future. Know: believe in God, yield your ways to His will, and serve Him. I am God: God reveals that He is our refuge, our helper, and our conqueror.

The next time you get ready to cry to God, “Get me out of this mess!” stop, be still, spend time with the Father, know that He and He alone is in control, and that only He will use your brokenness and pain for His ultimate glory. God is good…all the time!

Brenda Shuttlesworth

Minister of Administration and Church Ministries

Stone Catchers

Well before sunrise a couple weeks ago, I ventured to the Westin Galleria in Houston. Have you ever traipsed through the Galleria before the shops open? Talk about a strange feeling: long quiet halls, darkened stores, no jewels in the windows, void of shoppers. My intent was not to wait for stores to open but to represent our church as she was recognized by the Texas Council of Community Mental Health Mental Retardation Centers with the Frank M. Adams Community Volunteer Organization of the year. We received a beautiful framed photo and article, along with a lovely award to commemorate the occasion.

Just after the presentation, a well known journalist and author shared his struggles with effective treatment for his adult son who suffers from a major mental illness. Personally, he spoke of growing up a preacher’s kid in Oklahoma and concluded his comments with reference to his favorite Bible story: the woman caught in adultery. In John 8, the colorful account of a woman caught in the very act of adultery unfolds. Who can resist such scandal - the speaker said this story kept his attention like no other!

The intent of this excursus emphasizes the building conflict between the Pharisees and Jesus. As their fear of Jesus’ growing following stretched to paranoid proportions, they questioned him about the penalty for breaking the Mosaic Law. The religious leaders really wanted to set a trap and have Jesus fall right into it, but Jesus addressed their piety. Jesus said in verse eight, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

By showing mercy, Jesus turned the tables on the punitive religious leaders. Their intent was to throw stones, while Jesus stood between the accusers and the accused. One by one, the men dropped their rocks and retreated. Isn’t it interesting that the older men acknowledged their shortcomings first and that the less mature guys were more reluctant to admit their own inadequacies. Slowly but surely, all the accusers dropped their rocks and left the scene.

The speaker concluded with a comment that rings in my ears. He said, “We need more Stone Catchers and a lot fewer Stone Throwers.” While forcing the accusers to look inward, Jesus stood ready to catch any stones hurled. What about you: do you point fingers of blame and throw stones or do you try to find the good in people and situations? I don’t know about you, but I want to be a Stone Catcher, not a Stone Thrower!

Brenda Shuttlesworth

Minister of Administration and Church Ministries