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March brings several noteworthy events to light. If you ask me what is March’s biggest event, I would say March Madness and the NCAA Men’s Tournament! March Madness gets its name for the surprise, upsets, and craziness of the games played. There is the well-known March Madness Bracket, where everyone tries to guess who is going to win not only the Final game of the tournament, but every game that is played. Of course, Las Vegas gets into the scheme of things as the promote betting for a completely PERFECT bracket, as well as games played leading up to the Final. No one has had a bracket as far back as I can remember. 

Another event that happens and has been extended to a two-week period, right here in Galveston- the Mardi Gras. Now there are all kinds of theories about how and what the event is all about. Something it has to do with pagan rituals and the like. I looked up the words Mardi Gras – and it means Tuesday Fat. There is another theory which ties it to the Catholic Church and Lent. Supposedly Catholics were to give up sex and meat for Lent. Now Lent is the period of time before Easter. Of course, Easter is celebrated across the globe, with many different connotations attached to it. Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It’s a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. In Western churches it begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides a 40-day period for fasting and abstinence (Sundays are excluded), in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry.

You may be asking why he is telling us all this information. Easter or as believers refer to it as Resurrection Sunday is THE BIGGEST EVENT in history! While believers may not participate in the holiday of Mardi Gras or Lent observance, it is significant that so many people do. 

Now Mardi Gras is a very festive event, it is also a bit scary especially if you are in New Orleans and walking down Bourbon Street! [I have done this!] The Fat Tuesday is widely known for extravagance and excess in the base nature. Since Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, and the 40-day fasting, there is one last day to get all the partying done before hand. I remember as a child going to elementary school that we always had fish on Friday, clueless that it got its meaning from No Meat on Friday.

While many of us will not observe Lent, there is some challenge to us all from the intended meaning. We are to be penitent about our sins, remember our baptism and desire to walk the way Jesus walked. I know the GBA churches are beginning to gear up for Easter with pageantry and sermons series that will culminate with the Resurrection of Jesus. However, I think it behooves all of us to prepare ourselves not just for Easter, but each day and week for His soon Return. Easter should not be a time where “we clean up our act,” but when we prepare ourselves to engage a world that is really open to the Gospel during this Easter time. I am always amazed how the world wants to deny the facts of Christianity, then turns around and validates it by their observances. Let’s tell the World the TRUE MEANING of Easter!

Blessings

Dr. Jim

2023!

I know that we are beginning a New Year with this newsletter, and most all of our churches have navigated through the Christmas schedule – which is always hectic at best. But while we are pressing forward to a new calendar year, I’d like us to slow down just a bit and remember what Christmas was like, even maybe a little simpler. To some of you this will sound like a nostalgic flashback. To others it will not make any sense except possibly an old man just remembering. 

I still think of Christmas with a Norman Rockwall type of scenery. Since I was raised up north in Missouri, I was more familiar with the snow on the ground, people sloshing through the weather to do their last-minute shopping for presents. Instead, I am wearing short sleeves and short in December. I guess I just haven’t caught up with the reality of 80 degrees in the winter down here! In our house we had wood burning stoves as our heat. I could walk outside and smell the wood smoke as it spewed out of the chimney. We would play outside until the breath we breathed out froze on our scarfs and coats. Of course,there was sledding down snow packed hills and the seasonal snowball fights. 

Growing up most of our decorations were done inside the house. My mom would bake for what seemed like months. She would make peanut brittle, peanut butter balls, divinity fudge, sugar cookies with homemade frosting. We had a big fat Styrofoam Santa that was filled hard rock candy from Brach’s along with the ribbon candy. As kids we would eat out of Santa until almost February, but by then some of the candy had stuck together into blobs, but that didn’t matter we ate it anyway. 

One Christmas Eve we always went to town and visited my dad’s parents. It was there that we got to open our first gift from grandma and grandpa. One year we all got New Testaments, but one time I got a homemade tied quilt with cowboys and horses stitched in it. I still have it hanging in our spare room. Back home before bedtime, we got to open another gift from under the tree. We always knew what it would be – New Pajamas! We would look good for pictures on Christmas day. Come Christmas morning the kids would always be up early scurrying through the gifts under the tree; trying to be quiet until mom and dad got up. When we did finally open all the gifts, we had things like etch-sketch, board games and some toys. My mom always made sure that Christmas came to our house. Probably because it was not always affordable for her growing up.

The biggest meal of the year, which is saying something was Christmas dinner. Mom usually got a 25-30 lbs. turkey! We had relish trays with stuffed celery and cream cheese, pickles, and of course black olives. Mom had to buy at least three cans, because one can would be gone before the tray hit the table! Now we never put the leftovers in the refrigerator unless absolutely necessary, that way we could pick and eat for the rest of the night. 

But there was always something that really made me get in the mood for Christmas, it was the Christmas musicals at Church. Christmas didn’t officially start until that happened. It was cold outside and warm inside, there would be a pie and punch after the program. The sanctuary was filled with parents, friends and grandparents, all jockeying for the best view and picture. One never knew if the program would be a hit or a disaster. It seemed like every year something would go wrong, but that is what made it so special. Seeing all the graded choirs singing, then the big people sang their cantata. I was able to do the “Official start of Christmas” this last Sunday at Nassau Bay. I guess that is what prompted this theme.

In the book of Isaiah 37 we find that Sennacherib the King of Assyria has made threats against Hezekiah and the people of Judah, to destroy them. Sennacherib sends his messengers with a mocking message to Hezekiah about how dare he trust in the LORD GOD to deliver him from the great Assyrian army. The message gloats about how that the many lands that he had conquered and that their gods were powerless against him. The message continues to rebuke and insult King Hezekiah, portraying him as a false prophet and liar about how GOD would deliver Judah. The messengers of Hezekiah tell the Assyrian messenger Rabshakeh to speak in Aramaic so the people would not hear the blasphemous message, Rabshakeh then boldly yells in Hebrew for all to hear, deriding King Hezekiah and his faith that GOD would deliver Judah. Talk about adding insult to injury! Now the Assyrians and King Sennacherib have a pretty solid case. hey have subdued many nations, conquering almost with ease those who fought them. Hezekiah had sought help from Egypt, but even Sennacherib insults Pharaoh.

Then in Isaiah 37:15-20, King Hezekiah goes to the House of the LORD and “Prays.” He prays a very simple but urgent plea to GOD to deliver Judah from the Assyrians. Then Isaiah the prophet sends word to King Hezekiah – “verse 21; because you have prayed to Me about . . . . . this is the word of the LORD spoken against him. The chapter goes on to reveal the plan of GOD against the Assyrians and how GOD would in fact deliver Judah, in fact there would be no battle in Judah. The battle happened within the Assyrian army – 185,000 soldiers were killed in one night by the angel of God. Sennacherib leaves to Nineveh with his tail between his legs so to speak.

Why is all this important? We have been inundated by one crisis after another for over 18 months. We have politics, media, pandemic and wars and rumors of wars overwhelming us. It is difficult to remain upbeat and hopeful.

I said something last year that has been brought back to my memory often. I prayed to God that we [the Church, Bride, Body of Christ] would stay in the pandemic until we learned what we were suppose to learn. It is no secret that the CHURCH and church have been declining for years. We have become more like the world, than the world like us. Sunday mornings have become more of a youth camp experience then a holy worship to God.

The cultural context has become “all about me” and my personal rights and comfort. Christianity has lost the cultural war, really big deal, the “World has always done the World, and is extremely good at it.” We are to be salt and light in the world, to expose the “darkness” not embrace it. The pandemic has caused many to leave the church, I believe they were really just waiting for an excuse, and got one. In the political realm, we have lost confidence in our leaders to have OUR interests in mind. Our allies have lost respect and confidence in the ability and wiliness of our leaders to honor time honored treaties. There is a great divide between people of all ethnicities, and it grows more everyday. Homosexuality has been rammed down our thoughts and we have become weary with fighting against it. Well known christian artists and leaders are leaving the faith disillusioned or for moral failure; pastors are leaving the ministry is droves.

My question is “when will we return to the HOUSE OF GOD and PRAY? The scripture is filled with incidents that when the people prayed, God delivered. Praying prayers of specifics, not some heartless generic prayer. If God is willing to respond to the King of Assyria in Jonah’s day and cause a 100 yr. revival using a carnal prophet, and he is willing to answer Hezekiah “BECAUSE YOU PRAYED” will He not honor the fervent prayer of a righteous man – James 5?

Have we come far enough in our trust in men, armies and our own self-sufficiency that we will finally and humbly pray to the Father in Heaven to deliver us from the tyranny of the world and evil? Then join me and declare a fast, call the elders together and PRAY, PRAY WITH FERVENCY, PRAY WITH UNITY, PRAY CONFESSIONALLY, PRAY REPENTANTLY – BUT PRAY!!! Our God is waiting to hear HIS PEOPLE PRAY, so HE may show forth HIS power and glory.

Have we learned anything yet?

Christianity is about dying

Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for sinners. He went to calvary to die my death- His death dealt with my sin and sins. As a believer and follower of Christ, Galatians 2:20 tells me to follow Him- dying to self, fleshly desires so Christ would reign through the Holy Spirit in me.

All other religions Baha’i Islam Hindu Buddha it appears is directed to eliminate the problem either through their death or to negate them through mind elimination

Christianity is about restoration of relationships with God, man and creation

The cross dealt with sin and sins to erase the strife and source of separation from God whereas In Other religions the goal is to gratify, satisfy or actualize oneself

covid- 19

With the return back to the church buildings is there more interest in taking care of the church- pastor – or the sheep? The time during the virus appeared to be more about keeping the sheep/church giving and corralled. The hurry about coming back to the building is corralling- sheep thrive in the open pastures under the care of the shepherd. For there the sheep are “organic church” not hemmed up sheep. The concern should be for the health and welfare of the sheep/people not to re-corral the sheep again. The church has thrived being let loose during this virus, why are we in such a hurry to pen them up again?

I was going to post a blog with my take on the corona virus- I discovered that I really don’t know what my take is on it. I’m distraught about the global impact it has had and lives affected and infected by it.

Many say it was caused by a blunder in the laboratory others say an attempt by God to get our attention. Who’s attention? The worlds or the Churches? I’ve even heard that this is Gods way of getting old churches to move toward more modern relevant services.

I don’t know how this will all turn out in the end. All I know is what I’m going through as a believer in Jesus Christ. I could easily make myself frenzied by concluding this is the end of the world. This wouldn’t help – I still would have unanswered questions.

I see the worse in humanity as it binge buys for fear of not having – that or driven by the media hype. So what will I do? Encourage those around me and try to be a calming spirit to those in fear.

I’m going to keep believing and trusting in Gods plan as it unfolds. Many saints have gone before me/ pray many after me as well. The saints before me are the testimony I need to be found faithful in my day so that those that come after me will likewise have someone to point them to Jesus and give testimonies of the grace and mercy of our Sovereign Lord. All this to say Jesus is Lord. Romans 8:31-39

Who can separate us from the love of God? nothing absolutely Nothing!!

Mountains and Mole Hills
In ministry pastors and ministers are encouraged, almost challenged to make sure they don’t lose perspective of what is most important. Clichés such as “Don’t sweat the small stuff; and everything is small stuff.” Another one would be “Keep the Main thing the Main thing.” These all sound well as long as everything is going well. When a revitalizer or minister finds himself in a negative environment it is difficult to remember that we were “suppose to drain the pool; all the while fighting the alligators!”
While I lived in Illinois, I encountered a nemesis, really a pest! It seems that my aggravation would come from a little creature called a Mole! I would wake up in the morning and stroll around our two acres and notice these ugly places where the ground had been bulged; better known as Mole Runs. I then would try to set traps and various other means in an attempt to catch this little varmint. I found that if you wait long enough, the little critter will move and then I would pounce on its slightest twitch of the ground with a shovel to dig it up and expose it to the bright sun! Needless to say, the mole usually escaped my tenacious tactics to rid my lawn of these pests.
I say all that to give an illustration in ministry about making a mountain out of a Mole Hill! Yes, I have dug up great mounds of dirt to try and get rid of a pesky little rodent. If one is not careful you can actually do more damage than the mole does.
When there is a negative environment within the church, we have a couple of options. You could approach it with vigor and relentlessness to rid yourself and the church of the problem – but in the meantime do more damage than good. Like my mole problem, I had to understand that my issue was not the damaged lawn, but that which lie under the surface. Too many times we get so focused on the negative “surface” that we fail to take into account there is something bigger at work. Again, “Don’t make a mountain out of a Mole Hill.”
In dealing with a problem, first Identify what the real problem is, don’t assume you know what the cause of the conflict is all about. We do not wrestle against flesh and blood [Ephesians6:10-18]. We often attribute the cause of our frustration is what we see; yet often it what’s we don’t see below the surface at work. In Church Revitalization it is imperative that proper diagnosis be made. If there is misidentification of the SOURCE of the problem, you are going to waste effort and resources fighting against the wrong culprit. Identification of the ROOT is necessary, for if we just treat the surface animal; the animal will have the ability to come back and repeat the destruction and havoc it did previously.
Secondly, Simplify the issue. We just make circumstances and personal issues bigger than they really are. I may think that my lawn is overrun with Moles and that the entire yard of grass will be destroyed. Now, there is a possibility of a lot of damage when a negative conflict arises – but the revitalizer must make sure He isn’t the one making the mess. Simplifying an issue often takes time and further investigation. For example, I had to talk to other people who had moles – yes there are people that are battling the same pesky varmints we are fighting! How did they deal with them? Do I focus on eliminating the Moles and thus dig up my own yard trying to get them; or can I eliminate them by taking away what is attracting them to my yard. Moles eat grubs; get rid of the grubs and the Moles will move to another area – Oh, yeah, your neighbors won’t like you – but you will be free from the pests. Now that really isn’t very Christian is it – because all we did was pass our problem off to another “church”, so we really didn’t deal with the problem, we just made it NOT OUR PROBLEM anymore. To work through a negative situation, break it down into simple stated facts. Deal with what you know, not what you have been told. Make the problem manageable. Eliminate the ‘We and they; Us and them” language. Once you identify the various parts of the problem, simplify each prong and address the necessary action to resolve it. Which brings me to the third point -Rectify the problem.
Rectify is used in electricity. A rectifier is used to change an alternating current [A/C] into a Direct Current. [D/C] A lot of tools and other electrical equipment uses D/C, not A/C. It is rectified [changed] so that the power is useable. I think you get the point, if there is a problem environment, CHANGE the problem to a positive. By rectifying a problem use turn the negative into a positive; which then can be useful in Kingdom work. How do you go about rectifying a problem? Know what you are dealing with up front; know what you need as a result or resource; then take leadership and managerial steps to switch the unusable into the useable. Obviously, one will have to experiment at times to get the best out of a bad situation. Rectifying takes more work that eliminating the problem. We all have people that have great skills and talents, but often seem like a pest or worse an adversary when you and I try to do the work of the ministry. Don’t shove the problem off to another church; deal with what you have been given. As a point – you may be the one that needs to be rectified!
Finally, after taking the bull by the horns so to speak, you then can move to a Glorify position. God sends us people to be used for His kingdom. Our struggle often is we don’t know how to use what we have been given. I did find out that the pesky Mole was good for the yard, it aeriated it and ate all the grubs that would destroy my lawn. In conflict, there is the possibility that God meant it for Good what we thought was bad. I was a pastor for 22 years; there were many times that I would erupt over a small issue. I could explode inside with rage about how someone was unwilling to accept that I knew what I was doing – “Work with me here” seemed to be my lament. Scripture tells us that “Iron Sharpens Iron;” could it be that we have become dull and the Lord needed to send a sharpener? In the end by dealing with a negative situation, God gets the Glory. Neglecting or refusing to address the problem will only increase our frustration and desire to “Kill the Mole.”