Activist Or Evangelist?

My most recent blog post was quite controversial, to say the least, so I thought it would be a good idea to shift gears a bit.  One does not take a position on the subject of same sex marriage, and the response of the church, as I recently did, without the awareness that your iPhone battery will not last through the day of posting!  I have heard anything from "Attaboy!  Couldn't have said it better" to "God has turned you over to a reprobate mind, son!" 

As a result, I have been searching my motives, my dreams, and my opinions regarding social issues over the past few days.  The problem with me is: I know me all too well.

I know me...

I know God...

I also know the vast difference between the two.  When I feel the extended hand of God inviting me to be used to bless His kingdom in some small way, I often hesitate.  Why?  Glad you asked.  Because I know me.

When others comment on my 'gift' of communication, I smile inwardly, because I know me.

What do I know?  I know my inconsistencies. I know my faults.  I know how easy it is for me to seclude myself from the very people to whom I am called to communicate.

I know my heart.  I know the weak areas of my relationship with God.  I know the weak areas in my Biblical knowledge.  I know me...

I know my potential.  I also know my lack of achievement.  I know...

Yet, this morning, the Spirit of God awaited me.  As the sun began its ascent above the horizon, and as the wheels of my vehicle began to roll toward the church, God waited...  Patiently...

He has waited on me all of my life.  He has waited on me to lay aside my dreams to follow His will.  He has waited on me to break free from the peer pressure and demands for success placed upon me by society.  He waited on my surrender.

That is all He wants from us!  

With the first words of my prayer this morning, His Spirit overwhelmed me, and reminded me, not only do I know me, but I know Him. 

The God whom I know is patient, kind, faithful, forgiving, merciful, just, and loving...

His love knows no limits...

His grace, with which he lifts me from sin, has no maximum capacity, and could never be overwhelmed...

And, in prayer, He reminded me, "I know you."  Not only does he know me, but He knows us all.  Sinner, saint, white, black, straight, gay, or whatever other societal title we choose to label each other with, God knows us...

Just as I know Him by His name, Jesus, He knows me by mine.  So, just as God does not communicate with the heterosexual, traditional marriage supporting crowd as a whole, neither does He think of the homosexual, same-sex marriage community as a whole. 

He knows them as individuals.  Rick, Karen, Sandra, Alex, or Dan...  Gay or straight...  God knows us all by our names. 

Regardless of the nature of our sin, God not only knows us as individuals, but desires to communicate with us on an individual basis. 

In our efforts to stand for what we believe, we must be careful to avoid alienating those with whom God has called us to share His love.  

I can already here the cracking of knuckles as individuals stretch their fingers in preparation to type out a response to the effect of, "Someone has to stand for what is right!  Someone stand up for what you believe!  That's why there's no revival in the land and also why the world is in the shape it's in!"

Respectfully, this is not our world to fix. It is our world to reach.  Jesus has not called us to ACTIVISM. He has called us to EVANGELISM!

Or, in the words of a song we sang when I was a kid, "This world is not my home...."  How many of us repair a home which belongs to someone else?

If we reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we will change lives. When we change lives, we will change our world. 

Should Christians Boycott Starbucks?

Over the past few days, there has been quite a media buzz surrounding comments made by Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, at a recent Starbucks shareholder meeting, regarding the company’s position on same sex marriage.  As a result, the social media world has been on fire with anything from rousing cheers of support to threats of boycott, etc.

Here are a few of the responses I have seen online:

“What a hero!”

“Thanks, Starbucks!”  

“Admirable” 

“Well done!”

And:

“Don't think I will purchase anymore!”

“Won't buy another think ... not another drink, not another bag of their coffee, K-cups... nothing.”

“Not another ground...”

Much of the Christian uproar stems from an article written by Joe Miller.  Below is a quote from his article:

"At the Starbucks annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday, CEO Howard Schultz sent a clear message to anyone who supports traditional marriage over gay marriage: we don't want your business."  Restoring Liberty - Joe Miller

You can find the story, with quotes from Schultz at Forbes.com

To summarize, Schultz responded to a critical investor who blamed recent sales performance on the company's stance regarding gay marriage. I paraphrase, "we got you a 38% return. I'd you don't like that, sell your shares and invest on another company." 

Starbucks has never hidden their support of the gay rights movement. We all bought coffee then.  Schultz did not state that Starbucks does not want the business of those who support traditional marriage.  He simply replied to an investor that, if he thought he could get a better return, then he could sell his shares and invest elsewhere.

Nothing to see here.  Bottoms up, folks...

Let me be clear, I support traditional marriage between one man and one woman, and believe, according to Scripture, that all intimate relationships other than this are outside the parameters of God’s plan for our lives.

However, in the interest of fairness, there are members of my family who probably disagree with my viewpoint of marriage (and a multitude of other Biblical, social, and political issues), but I still attend the family reunions, birthday parties, and Easter egg hunts.

There are likely members of my local municipal government who oppose my viewpoint, but I do not boycott curbside trash pick-up or street lights.

Home Depot supports gay marriage, but lumber, paint, and carpet really make my house a more pleasant habitation.

Google supports gay marriage.  I can see which search engine brought you to this blog post; don’t lie! :)

Apple supports gay marriage.  I like my MacBook and iPad.

Microsoft supports gay marriage also, so you Windows users in the back of the room can pipe down!  Ha!

Do I agree with Schultz and Starbucks’ position on the issue of same sex marriage?  Absolutely not.  Will I boycott their business?  Absolutely not.

They sure do make good coffee. In fact, I am starting a Bible Study at one in a few days. I honestly hope they do well in business, because they provide a great venue for me to study and teach the Bible.  Many people who visit Starbucks need God in their lives.  I know God.  Winner, Winner!

Christians, the message that you want to share with society is not, “I will take my ball and go home!”  

Rather, the message should be, “I strongly disagree with you on this issue.  Here is why.  Would you like cream & sugar?”

There is a better way than boycotting for Christians to stand their grounds.  (See what I did there?)

Did I mention this blog was written while sitting at Starbucks?

Feel free to comment below.

Quilt Box Faith - A Tribute To The Life Of Nelda Vickery

Recently, Kim, the boys and I visited Nonnie in the hospital...

We plowed through the normal interrogation immediately...

“How are you feeling?”

“Are you hungry?”

“Are you in pain?”

“Do you need anything?”

“Are the nurses treating you well?”

“Are you treating the nurses well?”

After these questions were satisfactorily answered and solutions presented, she began to interrogate us about the things that meant so much to her.

“How are the grand kids?”

“How is the church?”

As conversation progressed, we began to talk about her life, her childhood, her faith, her battles with sickness, etc...

Nonnie, in her soft little voice, began to tell us of a most intriguing story...

Names such as ‘Aunt Mert’, ‘Bobby’, ‘Memaw Carrico’, and ‘Buster’ entered the conversation, adding a pleasant potpourri of intrigue to the already peaceful room...

Realizing the significance of the moment, I grabbed my phone and began recording her account of Aunt Mert and the quilt box...

As a child, between the ages of five and ten, Nelda would make her way down the lane to the log cabin where Aunt Mert lived.

She said, “At the time, Aunt Mert seemed really old, but she was only in her 50’s, so she wasn’t that old at all!”

During these visits to Aunt Mert’s log cabin, Nonnie learned to make quilts...

But most importantly, Aunt Mert, and the other ladies present, taught Nonnie how to pray...

Around the quilt box they would pray...

And pray...

And pray...

Daily...

Without ceasing...

Quilting became unimportant...

Quilting became the excuse to gather around the quilt box...

Quilting became the call to prayer...

Nonnie described it this way, “Sometimes we would quilt, but most of the time we would just pray, and I always loved to pray, because God would touch me in such a way...”

As the evening progressed, we enjoyed sharing the narrative of her heritage...

Tales of cousins and uncles, serving their country in foxholes overseas, writing letters back home informing those huddled around the quilt box, “I have received the Holy Spirit in my foxhole.”

This should come as no surprise, because moments spent in prayer around the quilt box, have the power to direct the arm of God to operate in the midst of chaos on the other side of the world...

Nonnie fought sickness for many years...

Severe kidney and bladder disease 

Epileptic Seizures.... 

Diabetes...

MS...

I can remember, when I started attending family functions, Kimberly told me that Nonnie had once had all of these sicknesses...

It was hard for me to comprehend at first, because she was in such good health at that time...

In November of 1972,  Nonnie, alone, flew to Masonic Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, for further treatment for the MS, where a local pastor picked her up at airport to transport her to the hospital. 

The local Minneapolis church had been unable to secure financing to build a new church building...

However, Nonnie's room mate at the hospital was the wife of a prominent Minneapolis banker. When the banker came to visit his wife, Nonnie, in her inimitable way, started working on the banker.  

When the banker went home, I'm sure Nonnie kept working on the banker's wife.

And I’m sure...

That when the lights went out in that hospital room, Mrs. Banker’s wife could hear Nonnie praying...

It probably sounded like this, in a soft voice just loud enough for Mrs. Banker to hear, “God, you see this precious lady, Mrs. Banker.  You know how her husband in in a position to help your church.  If it is your will, let her husband help this church secure financing.  In Jesus name, amen....   ....  ....  Did you hear that, Mrs. Banker?”  

Wherever Nonnie went, she took her quilt box...

Soon, as a result of Nonnie and her quilt box faith, the banker funded a loan for the Minneapolis church, and the Gospel moved ahead...

Testimonies like this do not require high degrees of education, political connection, or economic stability.  

They simply require quilt box faith...

So...

Before sickness began to battle her body...

Before MS came...

Before the first Epileptic Seizure...

Before the kidney & bladder disease...

Before the diabetes...

Before the sickness could arrive...

Before she learned how to visit doctors offices and hospitals...

Nonnie learned to visit the quilt box...

In fact, while admitted to St Luke's Hospital a group of doctors got together to confer on diagnosis...

One doctor was overheard saying, "This woman is going to die..."  

He was correct...  

He was just 40 years early in his prediction...

Nonnie beat it all...

Beat the severe kidney and bladder disease...

Beat Epilepsy...

Beat Diabetes...

Beat MS...

Came home from beating MS and started beating Brenda and Cecilia...

In 2010...

She was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy...

Sat down in her recliner...

Started talking to Jesus in these words, “Jesus, it is not your will for me to have this Bell’s Palsy.  Please heal me.”

After a moment, she asked Papaw...

(Because, the things she could not convince Jesus to do, she would make Papaw do.)

 “Sing some songs about the power in the Blood of Jesus.”

As Harvey began to sing, the muscles in her face began to relax and cease their contractions...

No old log cabin...

No dusty quilt box...

But she still had her quilt box faith...

Can't figure it out???  Neither can I...

It is not my duty to figure it out...  

It is my privilege to believe...

Thursday night, Ryan and I had the privilege of spending the night with Papaw at his house...

(Until that night, I thought I could make eggs and toast, but Papaw quickly informed me otherwise!)

As I sat down on the couch to prepare for a night of fitful sleep, i noticed a magazine on the coffee table...

On the cover of the magazine was a title of an article...

‘How to beat Parkinson's’

I smiled and chuckled to myself as I thought...

“Parkinson’s you are late to this quilting party!”

Nonnie beat you too!

If Nonnie could speak to each of us today, she would simply say, “If you haven’t already, find yourself a quilt box.”

Why?

The moments at the quilt box established her love for God and her faith in Jesus Christ...

That same faith is available to you...

Available to all of us...

I leave you with the words of Paul as he wrote to Timothy...

2 Timothy 1

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 

4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

Quilt box faith does not have to be exclusive to Nelda Jean Vickery...

But...  

She was so good at it...

I’ll let her tell you herself...

Goodbye, Nelda Jean...

Your candle burned out long before your legend ever did...

Don't Worry About It!

Don’t Worry About It

Recently, Kim and I have spent much time in prayer and discussion regarding the future of our family, ministry, and church.  These topics became more prevalent in our conversations after reading the book ‘Radical’ by David Platt (which I used as the springboard for a sermon series at The Crossing).  

There were a couple of points from the book that really hit home with us, in addition to some specific things which I felt God speaking into our hearts on a personal level. Both of them dealt specifically with our trust in Him.  Specifically, one of these subjects of divine discomfort are as follows:

Either we believe in a literal Heaven and Hell as the Bible teaches or we don’t.

Our position in this debate, will determine our action either positively or negatively for the kingdom of God.  If we do not believe in a literal Heaven or Hell, then we need not take any action at all.  However, if we do, then we must examine our hearts closely in the light of God’s Word to determine not only if we are living a life free of sin (To the best of our ability.  Nobody is perfect, right?), but also if our motives, intentions, and actions are pleasing to God.  Are we doing all we can to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  

Platt describes this as “Taking back your faith from the American dream.”  During our marriage, Kim and I have experienced the economic pendulum's entire range of motion.  Some moments where we knew our trajectory carried us upward in the direction of success, and other moments when we had the inescapable awareness that we were on the way down to the buffet of spam and rice.  We’ve had our share of both.

Thankfully, the last few years have been years of great blessing in our family.  I have been successful in my secular career, we have been in good health, and our kids do not seem to frighten to other children.  We were in full pursuit of the American dream.  New house, new car, new clothes, etc.  

However, when I closed the garage door of our new home, sequestered myself from the world, and laid my head on my pillow, God was waiting.  He was waiting on me to slow down.  He was waiting on me to listen to His voice.  

In the darkness, as I began to hear the still, small voice of God, the startling rays of clarity began peeking over the horizon of my comfortable existence.  When our thoughts, agendas, desires, life goals, and actions are not in line with God’s plan, the calm, soothing tone of God’s voice can wreak havoc in the heart.  His voice was not so much loud and threatening as it was convicting as we begin to recognize where our hearts have been directed.  In my heart, a divine discomfort began to grow.  Though at times I tried to ignore it, inevitable change began to stalk me like a lone wolf following its prey.  I was aware of its presence, but could never see it clearly when I looked for it.

While this was ongoing, Kim and I decided to take a few days off.  We loaded our bags with flip flops and sunscreen and boarded a cruise ship.  As we unpacked our bags in the stateroom, toured the ship, and made our first pass by that 24 hour self serve ice cream machine, I realized that God was on that ship.  Yes, God cruises on Carnival cruise lines!  He was there.  He was waiting on me to slow down.  He was waiting on me to listen to His voice.  While I was in full pursuit of the American dream, God was in full pursuit of me.

While I was in full pursuit of the American dream, God was in full pursuit of me.

At one moment on the voyage, God spoke to me with that calm, yet disturbing voice once more, “Either you believe that I am Jehovah-Jireh, your provider, or you don’t.”

At this point, we began to listen to God more intently.  We began making plans to adjust our lives to follow God into His true plan for our future.  

In November 2012, I was invited to speak in a couple of sessions at Worship Arts Collective hosted by The Pentecostals at Royalwood.  God was waiting on me there also.  He was waiting on me to slow down.  He was waiting on me to listen to His voice.

One of the sessions was titled ‘Parallels’, a class providing information on how to navigate the challenges of bi-vocational ministry.  Not many people showed up for my class, so, for the benefit of the session’s audio recording, I said things like, “If you have an empty seat near you, please slide over to the middle of your row to make room for those standing in the back.”  When distributing my handouts, I informed both of the attendees, “If there are not enough copies, share with your neighbor, and I will email a copy to ALL of you who did not receive a printed version.”  Hey, I am a church planter.  Empty rooms are nothing new to me!

As I began to speak, I realized that God had me speaking to an empty room because He did not want me to think I was speaking to anyone other than myself.  As I plowed through my notes, and I listed to my own voice echo against the empty chairs, God’s presence filled my heart in a powerful way.  It was a God moment.  

To the two people who attended my class out of pity, I apologize, but me and God had a thing going on during that class, and you just happened to be along for the ride!  

I preached to myself as I spoke the the empty room, “No one will dispute the power of a locomotive engine.  However, if one desires to impede the productivity of the train, or prevent the train from getting to its destination, it is not necessary to attack the engine, overturn each individual boxcar, or remove the wheels from them all.  One must simply damage the tracks on which the train travels.  The tracks must remain perfectly parallel, or disaster occur.  Remaining on tracks no longer parallel will ultimately lead to destruction.  If you attempt to propel your life on uneven tracks, you will crash in a manner that will damage yourself, your family, and your church.”

While teaching this session, I realized that the tracks of my life were no longer parallel.  My secular career was moving in a direction that no longer mirrored God’s plan for our ministry.  At that moment, I knew change was eminent.  Immediately, I began to doubt and question how we would survive if I did not have my career any longer.  

The evening session of the Worship Arts Collective was a concert by various artists and conference clinicians, including the Christian band, Royal Tailor.  As they took the stage and began to sing ‘Freefall’, I knew I was in another God moment.  The lyrics of this song wrecked me, and I began to weep in the presence of God, as I realized He was in control.  Thanks, guys, for such an anointed song.

Fast forward four months:  I have resigned my secular job, and will be focusing my time at The Crossing.  

Throughout this process, Kim has been my rock.  She has been the one who has kept me grounded and, during, my moments of panic, told me, “It’s going to be ok.  God is in control.”  I am so blessed to have her!

Well, this week she experienced HER moment of panic!  All of the normal questions echoed in her beautiful head.  “How?  What if?  When?”  So, she proceeded to the one place we all should go when we are in panic mode:  Starbucks.

As she entered, Starbucks and began to browse the sandwiches and fruit, a stranger walks to the cashier and says, “I want to purchase whatever this lady is ordering today.”  Kim smiles and responds, “Thank you, sir!”

His response is another God moment.  Instead of responding in the manner we would all expect (‘You’re welcome’, ‘No problem’, etc), He looks at her and says with confidence, “Don’t worry about it!”  He then turns, does not pick up a coffee of his own, and walks out of the store.

Boom!

God goes to great lengths to tell His children, “Don’t worry about it!”

He does this so eloquently in the Gospel of Matthew 6 

24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

God did not design us to be solution oriented.  He created us to be God oriented.  If you and I will seek God before we seek our own solutions, not only will our hearts be fulfilled, but our lives will be fulfilled also.

As we close one chapter of our lives, and, with pen in hand, begin to write the next, God has a way of reminding us...

“Don’t worry about it!”