It's almost Christmas. I am probably much like you, in that this is a very busy time of year. I'm finishing up teaching and looking forward to a break. I'm just getting past probably the busiest time of the music ministry year - musicals, special services, and more. As usual, the stores remember me from years past as the guy who waits until the last minute to finish his Christmas shopping. All in all, a fairly normal year.
But this year in particular, God is reminding me of a large number of people who are suffering at this time. The holidays are not always a positive time for many, for a variety of reasons. But my heart goes out to several families I know who are either suffering the loss of loved ones or are dealing with life-threatening illnesses right now. Some of the family losses have occurred just in the last week, where tragedy has struck or long-term sickness and disease has claimed the life of a family member. Plus, there are families I know who are struggling with financial concerns, job losses, family relationship stress, and much more. My prayer for these families is that God will minister to them in a powerful way this Christmas season. That may or may not take the form of more gifts under the tree. It will most likely take the form of comfort, encouragement, peace and joy.
I, too, struggle at times during the holidays. I can get too busy with all my responsibilities. I also miss my parents who went home to be with the Lord seven years ago. I miss being able to spend time with my brother and his family. But God has blessed me beyond my greatest expectations. He is providing for my needs and giving me everything I need, most importantly a relationship with Him. The joy He gives outlasts anything else.
No matter if you're extremely happy about the holidays right now, or if you're struggling just to make it through today, the same God is on His throne and ready to encourage you. The focus of Christmas is on Christ, our Lord and Savior who was wrapped in human flesh to pay a ransom for us. Let the world say what it wants, but those who know Christ also know the truth. To God be the glory for His indescribable gift!
Pastor Randy
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Your Great Name
Every now and then, as a worship leader, I like to share the lyrics of an awesome worship song. Here are the lyrics of a great song by Natalie Grant, "Your Great Name". It's one I hope to lead in worship at Wakefield in the near future.
What an awesome testimony of the name of Jesus. As I reflect on these lyrics, I'm reminded of the account in Acts 3-4 about the arrest of Peter and John. One of the key parts of the biblical text involves Peter's response when the Sanhedrin threaten the prisoners and tell them to stop speaking about Jesus. Peter response in Acts 4:20: "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." There was something powerful about the name of Christ that was undeniable, both by the Sanhedrin and the people who observed what was happening.
Enjoy the words of this song and reflect on the power that is found in the name of Christ.
Lost are saved; find their way; at the sound of Your great name
All condemned; feel no shame, at the sound of Your great name
Every fear; has no place; at the sound of Your great name
The enemy; he has to leave; at the sound of Your great name
Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of Your great name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of Your great name
The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of Your great name
Sick are healed; and the dead are raised; at the sound of Your great name
Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
Redeemer, My Healer, Lord Almighty
My savior, Defender, You are My King
Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
Pastor Randy
What an awesome testimony of the name of Jesus. As I reflect on these lyrics, I'm reminded of the account in Acts 3-4 about the arrest of Peter and John. One of the key parts of the biblical text involves Peter's response when the Sanhedrin threaten the prisoners and tell them to stop speaking about Jesus. Peter response in Acts 4:20: "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." There was something powerful about the name of Christ that was undeniable, both by the Sanhedrin and the people who observed what was happening.
Enjoy the words of this song and reflect on the power that is found in the name of Christ.
Lost are saved; find their way; at the sound of Your great name
All condemned; feel no shame, at the sound of Your great name
Every fear; has no place; at the sound of Your great name
The enemy; he has to leave; at the sound of Your great name
Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of Your great name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of Your great name
The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of Your great name
Sick are healed; and the dead are raised; at the sound of Your great name
Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
Redeemer, My Healer, Lord Almighty
My savior, Defender, You are My King
Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and man
You are high and lifted up; and all the world will praise Your great name
Pastor Randy
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Don't Forget Thanksgiving
I am not the cook in the house. So I do the shopping, which I did the last couple of days leading up to Thanksgiving. The crowds were out in full force this week. Some were buying food to prepare for Thanksgiving. But a lot also seemed to be scouting out the turf for the other pending day this week - Black Friday. Every year, the retail world takes a little more time and focus away from Thankgiving. Some stores will be opening as early as midnight tonight. Plus many stores and malls put their Christmas decorations up weeks ago. Even a few radio stations started playing Christmas music last week.
Hey, world, don't forget Thanksgiving. Even if you don't consider yourself a "religious" person, I'm sure you can come up with an endless list of things you're thankful for. If nothing else, most people will spend time with family for Thanksgiving. But even if you can't be with family today, I can't believe there's nothing you can be thankful for.
For the believer in Jesus Christ, there's even more to be thankful for. His love for us, His grace that strengthens us each day, and His mercy that offered the sacrifice we needed for our sins. The Bible says He has given us every good and perfect gift. Even our next breath and the beat of our heart is a gift from Him. We should be thankful, not just on Thanksgiving day, but all year long.
There's nothing terribly wrong with Black Friday - as long as it's not an idol in your life. As long as the things you are tempted to buy aren't your god. If we put Christ first, then everything else should balance out nicely. Remember Matt. 22:37: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." I encourage anyone going shopping tonight or tomorrow morning to meditate on this verse first, then go with God's leadership and His peace about what you should or shouldn't do.....or buy.
I encourage us all to pause and give thanks. For if we give thanks to the One who made us and who deserves our worship, then I believe Black Friday will be put in its proper perspective.
Pastor Randy
Hey, world, don't forget Thanksgiving. Even if you don't consider yourself a "religious" person, I'm sure you can come up with an endless list of things you're thankful for. If nothing else, most people will spend time with family for Thanksgiving. But even if you can't be with family today, I can't believe there's nothing you can be thankful for.
For the believer in Jesus Christ, there's even more to be thankful for. His love for us, His grace that strengthens us each day, and His mercy that offered the sacrifice we needed for our sins. The Bible says He has given us every good and perfect gift. Even our next breath and the beat of our heart is a gift from Him. We should be thankful, not just on Thanksgiving day, but all year long.
There's nothing terribly wrong with Black Friday - as long as it's not an idol in your life. As long as the things you are tempted to buy aren't your god. If we put Christ first, then everything else should balance out nicely. Remember Matt. 22:37: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." I encourage anyone going shopping tonight or tomorrow morning to meditate on this verse first, then go with God's leadership and His peace about what you should or shouldn't do.....or buy.
I encourage us all to pause and give thanks. For if we give thanks to the One who made us and who deserves our worship, then I believe Black Friday will be put in its proper perspective.
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Things I Think
At home today with Matt, who sure seemed sick this morning but somehow made a miraculous recovery, right after watching a little TV. You'd think that I would have figured this out by the fourth child....oh well.
Anyway, here's the current version of "Things I Think". Some random thoughts in the head of me.
1. So thankful that N.C. State decided they didn't need Russell Wilson any more this year. I realize that the situations at N.C. State and Wisconsin are not identical, and Russell probably wouldn't be a true heisman candidate here. And I know that State has battled through a number of key injuries this year. But it was a mistake to let Russell go. You don't just let go of a guy who was clearly the team leader for several years. And he made it clear in interviews that he didn't want to leave. In light of State's performance so far this year, this will ultimately never be forgotten by State fans who don't forget anything.....not that that is a good thing, mind you.
2. My daughter, Kelsey, just turned 18 last weekend. I'm so thankful for her and how I see God working in her life. She's done great things for the Lord already, and He's going to do great things through her going forward. I love her more everyday.
3. Referencing #2 above, Kelsey wants very much to go to UNC-CH next year. The idea of paying my money to Carolina is more than I can bear. Not sure what will happen in the Bridges' home when State plays Carolina......
4. God is turning up the heat in certain areas of my life recently in a major way. One of things I'm reminded of during this is that God know best how much we can handle. I don't think I could have survived some of this 10 years ago. But God has grown and matured me over that time, and now it's time for Him to put His finger squarely on certain areas of my life. Praise be to Him!
5. What in the world did I do before Facebook? This application has made it so much easier to do ministry and keep in touch with people. I know it can be dangerous on many levels if not done well, but I am thankful for it and how God has allowed me to use it.
6. When times get difficult, and I wonder if I'm in the right place, God continues to reaffirm that He has called me and placed me right here. Ministry can be extremely difficult, but God's grace and mercy is always consistent and on time.
7. I love my wife, Felicia, more today than ever before. I was reminded today of the day we got married. I cried when I saw her enter the doors of the sanctuary. I so want to be a godly husband to her. Many times my pride and selfishness gets in the way. But God gives more grace.....it's only by His strength that I can be the man Felicia needs.
Pastor Randy
Anyway, here's the current version of "Things I Think". Some random thoughts in the head of me.
1. So thankful that N.C. State decided they didn't need Russell Wilson any more this year. I realize that the situations at N.C. State and Wisconsin are not identical, and Russell probably wouldn't be a true heisman candidate here. And I know that State has battled through a number of key injuries this year. But it was a mistake to let Russell go. You don't just let go of a guy who was clearly the team leader for several years. And he made it clear in interviews that he didn't want to leave. In light of State's performance so far this year, this will ultimately never be forgotten by State fans who don't forget anything.....not that that is a good thing, mind you.
2. My daughter, Kelsey, just turned 18 last weekend. I'm so thankful for her and how I see God working in her life. She's done great things for the Lord already, and He's going to do great things through her going forward. I love her more everyday.
3. Referencing #2 above, Kelsey wants very much to go to UNC-CH next year. The idea of paying my money to Carolina is more than I can bear. Not sure what will happen in the Bridges' home when State plays Carolina......
4. God is turning up the heat in certain areas of my life recently in a major way. One of things I'm reminded of during this is that God know best how much we can handle. I don't think I could have survived some of this 10 years ago. But God has grown and matured me over that time, and now it's time for Him to put His finger squarely on certain areas of my life. Praise be to Him!
5. What in the world did I do before Facebook? This application has made it so much easier to do ministry and keep in touch with people. I know it can be dangerous on many levels if not done well, but I am thankful for it and how God has allowed me to use it.
6. When times get difficult, and I wonder if I'm in the right place, God continues to reaffirm that He has called me and placed me right here. Ministry can be extremely difficult, but God's grace and mercy is always consistent and on time.
7. I love my wife, Felicia, more today than ever before. I was reminded today of the day we got married. I cried when I saw her enter the doors of the sanctuary. I so want to be a godly husband to her. Many times my pride and selfishness gets in the way. But God gives more grace.....it's only by His strength that I can be the man Felicia needs.
Pastor Randy
Friday, September 9, 2011
9/11: Remember Where You Were?
So it seems like a lot of people are recalling exactly where they were on 9/11 this weekend. I suppose since Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the terror attacks on our nation, it's good to reflect. Although I would rather reflect on how God has worked in my life over the last ten years. Nevertheless, it is a point in time that I, too, will never forget.
I was working at IBM that day. It was early that morning, and I was participating in a PC upgrade going on within my division. I was breaking in (not literally!) my new laptop PC and was having some problems with it doing what I thought it should do. So I wandered down the hall to one of the conference rooms where some PC support people were held up, helping people like me with their PC problems.
When I arrived at the conference room, there was already discussion about the first plane hitting the first tower in NYC. I think we were all in a state of shock over the events that had just taken place. I didn't get to stand still in shock for long. My wife, Felicia, called me on my cell phone while I was standing in the conference room. She was staying at home with our children at this time, a blessing from the Lord that I will always praise Him for.
She asked if I knew what had happened in New York. She was very upset and concerned about what this meant, and more importantly, what might happen next. She pleaded with me to come home, and I agreed. I took my new PC back to my office, locked everything up, and went straight home. Our family watched along with the rest of the nation that day as the events in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania took place.
My prayer then was for God to provide, protect, and deliver us. My prayer today is much the same. But I also pray that God will remind us to cling to Him in the same ways we did on 9/11 and the days after that. It seems that when things look desperate, we run to God. But after a while, when the dust settles, we return to ourselves. May we run to God again and not return to ourselves. If we do, not only will our own lives be changed forever, so will our nation.
Pastor Randy
I was working at IBM that day. It was early that morning, and I was participating in a PC upgrade going on within my division. I was breaking in (not literally!) my new laptop PC and was having some problems with it doing what I thought it should do. So I wandered down the hall to one of the conference rooms where some PC support people were held up, helping people like me with their PC problems.
When I arrived at the conference room, there was already discussion about the first plane hitting the first tower in NYC. I think we were all in a state of shock over the events that had just taken place. I didn't get to stand still in shock for long. My wife, Felicia, called me on my cell phone while I was standing in the conference room. She was staying at home with our children at this time, a blessing from the Lord that I will always praise Him for.
She asked if I knew what had happened in New York. She was very upset and concerned about what this meant, and more importantly, what might happen next. She pleaded with me to come home, and I agreed. I took my new PC back to my office, locked everything up, and went straight home. Our family watched along with the rest of the nation that day as the events in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania took place.
My prayer then was for God to provide, protect, and deliver us. My prayer today is much the same. But I also pray that God will remind us to cling to Him in the same ways we did on 9/11 and the days after that. It seems that when things look desperate, we run to God. But after a while, when the dust settles, we return to ourselves. May we run to God again and not return to ourselves. If we do, not only will our own lives be changed forever, so will our nation.
Pastor Randy
Sunday, September 4, 2011
From the Inside Out
A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing You praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
In my heart, my soul, I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing You praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
In my heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
In my heart, my soul, I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
Staycation
So, as a result of our plans getting changed, we are doing a Bridges staycation this weekend. It's still a relaxing time so far, and we've gotten to do pretty much whatever we wanted to do.
We enjoyed a great service at Open Door Baptist Church this morning. And a wonderful NRCA family bought our entire family lunch at Moe's. We're now preparing to watch a couple of movies at home, assuming Redbox participates. It's being difficult right now.
This has served as a reminder to take some time off every so often. For family time as well as to rest. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Pastor Randy
We enjoyed a great service at Open Door Baptist Church this morning. And a wonderful NRCA family bought our entire family lunch at Moe's. We're now preparing to watch a couple of movies at home, assuming Redbox participates. It's being difficult right now.
This has served as a reminder to take some time off every so often. For family time as well as to rest. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Pastor Randy
Friday, September 2, 2011
Everybody is Different
As a teacher, I get to see many interesting things in class and around school. One of the most interesting things is to observe how God has made all my students differently. Over my six years in teaching, I've noticed that God knows best how to blend people together, from different backgrounds and with different gifts.
Take today, for example. I'm giving my first test of the school year. As I watch the students take the test, I see some who are very detailed in how they approach it. They are neat and organized, check their work carefully, and stay focused right until the end. Then there are others who are a little more laid back in their approach. They work through the test, but their work is not as organized. They are familiar with the material, but they are looking to finish quickly and move on to something they would rather be doing. And there are a few who seem to get distracted during the test. You can just look at their face and wonder what they're thinking about at that moment. Fortunately, the distraction usually only lasts a couple of minutes, then they are on their way back to working through the test.
All of these students should do well on this test today. Most of the material was a review of what was covered last year. However as the material gets more difficult, each student will need to focus more and more on the task at hand. That's part of what I must teach them this year. We can't only focus on math concepts, we must also develop good study habits that will translate to success in the future. For this class and others they will take. And we will learn this together with God guiding us all the way.
The Christian life isn't much different. God made all of us with different qualities and characteristics. We all have things we do better than others, or things that we enjoy more than others. But God has a way of blending that all together, particularly for believers who are united by one Lord, one faith, one baptism, even if we aren't united in other ways. In addition, God uses those gifts and talents He's given us to prepare us for the tests we all face each day. Good study habits for the believer, in God's Word and through prayer, will prepare us for those tests as well as living a holy life unto Him.
May I continue to be a good student of the Lord. And a good teacher that leads other to know Him more.
Pastor Randy
Take today, for example. I'm giving my first test of the school year. As I watch the students take the test, I see some who are very detailed in how they approach it. They are neat and organized, check their work carefully, and stay focused right until the end. Then there are others who are a little more laid back in their approach. They work through the test, but their work is not as organized. They are familiar with the material, but they are looking to finish quickly and move on to something they would rather be doing. And there are a few who seem to get distracted during the test. You can just look at their face and wonder what they're thinking about at that moment. Fortunately, the distraction usually only lasts a couple of minutes, then they are on their way back to working through the test.
All of these students should do well on this test today. Most of the material was a review of what was covered last year. However as the material gets more difficult, each student will need to focus more and more on the task at hand. That's part of what I must teach them this year. We can't only focus on math concepts, we must also develop good study habits that will translate to success in the future. For this class and others they will take. And we will learn this together with God guiding us all the way.
The Christian life isn't much different. God made all of us with different qualities and characteristics. We all have things we do better than others, or things that we enjoy more than others. But God has a way of blending that all together, particularly for believers who are united by one Lord, one faith, one baptism, even if we aren't united in other ways. In addition, God uses those gifts and talents He's given us to prepare us for the tests we all face each day. Good study habits for the believer, in God's Word and through prayer, will prepare us for those tests as well as living a holy life unto Him.
May I continue to be a good student of the Lord. And a good teacher that leads other to know Him more.
Pastor Randy
Monday, July 11, 2011
Something You Don't Normally See
I must confess that I don't follow baseball that much. In fact, I was just thinking the other day that I don't recognize most of the names of the players anymore. I can remember the names of some from the past, names of men that are either in the hall of fame or will be one day.
Even though I don't follow the game much anymore, I do still enjoy going to the ballpark when I can. There's something about watching a game live that totally beats watching it on TV. I've been blessed to visit several MLB ballparks, most special to me being Wrigley Field many years ago.
Anyway, if you follow baseball at all, you know that Derek Jeter of the NY Yankees just hit his 3,000th hit this week. Derek's hit was extra special because he hit a home run to push him over the top of this important goal. But what has made this event even more noticeable is the story surrounding the fan who caught the ball - Christian Lopez.
According to news reports, Christian returned the ball to Jeter the same night he caught it. Rather than keep the ball and sell it to the highest bidder, he returned it. After all, it certainly belonged to Jeter. Some reports even said that the Yankees managment asked Christian how much he wanted for the ball. There are more stories than I can count from the past of how people have taken opportunities like this to cash in big. In fact, some reports estimate that Christian could have received hundreds of thousands of dollars for the ball. Many baseball fans have taken the chance to call this move unwise. Why not sell it and cash in?
The Yankees also showed some class in this event by offering Christian several balls, bats & jerseys signed by Jeter. They also offered Christian and his family some sweet seats for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.
But I think the award for class clearly goes to Christian Lopez. Way to go for going against the culture and what the world would say is right to truly do something unusual. It reminds me that as Christians, we are to be people that say & do things that are not always consistent with the world we live in. We do that because we love God and desire to follow His leading in our lives. In a similar way, we will often be told we are different, strange, weird, offensive, intolerant, etc. But obedience is always the goal.
I pray for more "Christian's" in the world. Those who are willing to stand up and do what's right, even when the world doesn't understand.
Pastor Randy
Even though I don't follow the game much anymore, I do still enjoy going to the ballpark when I can. There's something about watching a game live that totally beats watching it on TV. I've been blessed to visit several MLB ballparks, most special to me being Wrigley Field many years ago.
Anyway, if you follow baseball at all, you know that Derek Jeter of the NY Yankees just hit his 3,000th hit this week. Derek's hit was extra special because he hit a home run to push him over the top of this important goal. But what has made this event even more noticeable is the story surrounding the fan who caught the ball - Christian Lopez.
According to news reports, Christian returned the ball to Jeter the same night he caught it. Rather than keep the ball and sell it to the highest bidder, he returned it. After all, it certainly belonged to Jeter. Some reports even said that the Yankees managment asked Christian how much he wanted for the ball. There are more stories than I can count from the past of how people have taken opportunities like this to cash in big. In fact, some reports estimate that Christian could have received hundreds of thousands of dollars for the ball. Many baseball fans have taken the chance to call this move unwise. Why not sell it and cash in?
The Yankees also showed some class in this event by offering Christian several balls, bats & jerseys signed by Jeter. They also offered Christian and his family some sweet seats for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs.
But I think the award for class clearly goes to Christian Lopez. Way to go for going against the culture and what the world would say is right to truly do something unusual. It reminds me that as Christians, we are to be people that say & do things that are not always consistent with the world we live in. We do that because we love God and desire to follow His leading in our lives. In a similar way, we will often be told we are different, strange, weird, offensive, intolerant, etc. But obedience is always the goal.
I pray for more "Christian's" in the world. Those who are willing to stand up and do what's right, even when the world doesn't understand.
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Body Piercings.....and Religious Freedom
Please allow me to get on my soap box for a moment.......
This last school year, there was a story about a Clayton High School student who wore a nose stud to school, which clearly violated the school dress code. The school suspended her four times for failing to remove the nose stud, and her family contacted the ACLU, who filed a lawsuit against the county school system. The girl apparently belongs to the Church of Body Modification, a little-known group that encourages piercings and tattoos as a path to spiritual enlightenment, according to the N&O.
This week, the school system settled the case with the ACLU. The school system agreed to rewrite it's policies to allow exceptions to be made in cases like these. They also have to pay $15,000 in court costs and fees for the ACLU. And the student's record will be wiped clean of this incident and the suspensions.
What really got me was the comment in the N&O from the ACLU: "We are very happy...because the policy is changed and protects the religious rights of students and their parents...". Here's the problem with all of this. First, the school ultimately gave in and settled because they do not have the money to fight this battle in court any longer. Clearly the ACLU has plenty of money and resources to carry this out to completion to serve their agenda.
Second, the ACLU is also one of the leaders in threatening school systems for saying prayers, using the name of Jesus Christ, or using any other sort of "religious" language in school graduation ceremonies. In fact, recent stories have confirmed that they and others believe this language and activity forces religious views on others. In effect, they are restricting the ability of students who want to affirm their religious views from doing so, consistent with their rights as Americans.
I'm getting very tired of the double standard that exists in our culture. It's systematic of the relativism and tolerance that we face every day all around us. But I'm also reminded that the Bible tells us that if they persecuted Christ, then we can expect no less. I wonder what would happen if a Christian student wore a Jesus t-shirt to school, or wanted to pray during recess with a few other Christian students, or maybe wore a cross nose stud to school. I already know of situations much like this in the past that were not well received, all under the idea of "separation of church and state". There's a Greek word for that....baloney!
Christians must stand for what is right, what honors God. There are times that might require direct protest. But most of all, it requires a growing trust in the Lord and obedience to His Word. Ultimately this isn't my fight, it's God's. He expects my obedience, and by His power, I will strive to give Him that every day. We must let Him fight our adversaries, and trust Him to bring the best results consistent with His will.
Our job is to live a faithful witness for the King. As I've calmed down a little while writing this, I'm reminded of two verses that keep me sane when I read stories like this:
1 Cor. 11:1 - Paul says, "imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."
Ps. 19:14 - "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."
Lord, teach me to trust You in everything. Show me the fights to fight, while always trusting Your strength. And let my testimony be used by You to draw all men to Yourself.
Pastor Randy
This last school year, there was a story about a Clayton High School student who wore a nose stud to school, which clearly violated the school dress code. The school suspended her four times for failing to remove the nose stud, and her family contacted the ACLU, who filed a lawsuit against the county school system. The girl apparently belongs to the Church of Body Modification, a little-known group that encourages piercings and tattoos as a path to spiritual enlightenment, according to the N&O.
This week, the school system settled the case with the ACLU. The school system agreed to rewrite it's policies to allow exceptions to be made in cases like these. They also have to pay $15,000 in court costs and fees for the ACLU. And the student's record will be wiped clean of this incident and the suspensions.
What really got me was the comment in the N&O from the ACLU: "We are very happy...because the policy is changed and protects the religious rights of students and their parents...". Here's the problem with all of this. First, the school ultimately gave in and settled because they do not have the money to fight this battle in court any longer. Clearly the ACLU has plenty of money and resources to carry this out to completion to serve their agenda.
Second, the ACLU is also one of the leaders in threatening school systems for saying prayers, using the name of Jesus Christ, or using any other sort of "religious" language in school graduation ceremonies. In fact, recent stories have confirmed that they and others believe this language and activity forces religious views on others. In effect, they are restricting the ability of students who want to affirm their religious views from doing so, consistent with their rights as Americans.
I'm getting very tired of the double standard that exists in our culture. It's systematic of the relativism and tolerance that we face every day all around us. But I'm also reminded that the Bible tells us that if they persecuted Christ, then we can expect no less. I wonder what would happen if a Christian student wore a Jesus t-shirt to school, or wanted to pray during recess with a few other Christian students, or maybe wore a cross nose stud to school. I already know of situations much like this in the past that were not well received, all under the idea of "separation of church and state". There's a Greek word for that....baloney!
Christians must stand for what is right, what honors God. There are times that might require direct protest. But most of all, it requires a growing trust in the Lord and obedience to His Word. Ultimately this isn't my fight, it's God's. He expects my obedience, and by His power, I will strive to give Him that every day. We must let Him fight our adversaries, and trust Him to bring the best results consistent with His will.
Our job is to live a faithful witness for the King. As I've calmed down a little while writing this, I'm reminded of two verses that keep me sane when I read stories like this:
1 Cor. 11:1 - Paul says, "imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."
Ps. 19:14 - "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."
Lord, teach me to trust You in everything. Show me the fights to fight, while always trusting Your strength. And let my testimony be used by You to draw all men to Yourself.
Pastor Randy
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The NRCA 7th Grade Team
Another school year is almost in the books. Tomorrow is the "official" last day for teachers. It's been a great year in many ways. I believe that this year's 7th grade students are some of the best I've worked with. Many of them have displayed awesome Christian character throughout the year. Many have worked very hard and will be rewarded for their efforts in the awards program tomorrow at school.
But I think I'll remember this school most for the great team I've had the pleasure to work with. The team includes Bill Cook, Tim Gardner, Chris Rivera, Ioan Oros, and Amy Lilly. I know I'm biased, but I think our team was the best in middle school, and maybe all of NRCA. We complemented each other's strengths and weakness very well. We worked together and helped one another often. We were there to encourage each other when difficulties arose.
I lost count of the number of parents and students who commented favorably about our team and the work that was done this year. And perhaps the most exciting part of this is that we'll all be together again next year. I believe God will continue to do great things through this team.
So, to Bill, Tim, Chris, Ioan & Amy - thanks for a great year. Enjoy your summer. And let's keep our eyes on Jesus as we get the pleasure to do it all again in August.
Pastor Randy (aka, Mr. B.)
But I think I'll remember this school most for the great team I've had the pleasure to work with. The team includes Bill Cook, Tim Gardner, Chris Rivera, Ioan Oros, and Amy Lilly. I know I'm biased, but I think our team was the best in middle school, and maybe all of NRCA. We complemented each other's strengths and weakness very well. We worked together and helped one another often. We were there to encourage each other when difficulties arose.
I lost count of the number of parents and students who commented favorably about our team and the work that was done this year. And perhaps the most exciting part of this is that we'll all be together again next year. I believe God will continue to do great things through this team.
So, to Bill, Tim, Chris, Ioan & Amy - thanks for a great year. Enjoy your summer. And let's keep our eyes on Jesus as we get the pleasure to do it all again in August.
Pastor Randy (aka, Mr. B.)
Monday, May 2, 2011
My Mom
Tomorrow, May 3, 2011, is the seven year anniversary of my Mom's leaving this world to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ. I still miss her, but I am more thankful than ever for her testimony and legacy for the Lord that lives on.
I had a chance to share part of her story with someone today, which reminded me of the anniversary tomorrow. But in light of the events of the last 24 hours, it also reminds me that when we die, we have only two possible destinations - heaven or hell. The Bible is clear - only those who have trusted in Christ will go to heaven. It doesn't matter how many good deeds you've done. It doesn't matter who you know, or who your parents are/were. You can't give enough money to the poor. There isn't an escape clause. We will all face the judgment. Only those covered by the blood of the Lamb will live with God forever.
In many ways I envy my Mom and Dad, who know the joy of sittiing at Jesus' feet, experiencing complete worship that we'll never know here. My day will come, in His time. For now, He has called me to continue fighting the good fight, living and speaking the name of Jesus. And that's just what I'll do. May it be true of me what the Bible says about the early apostles in Acts: that when people saw them, they knew the apostles had been with Jesus.
Pastor Randy
I had a chance to share part of her story with someone today, which reminded me of the anniversary tomorrow. But in light of the events of the last 24 hours, it also reminds me that when we die, we have only two possible destinations - heaven or hell. The Bible is clear - only those who have trusted in Christ will go to heaven. It doesn't matter how many good deeds you've done. It doesn't matter who you know, or who your parents are/were. You can't give enough money to the poor. There isn't an escape clause. We will all face the judgment. Only those covered by the blood of the Lamb will live with God forever.
In many ways I envy my Mom and Dad, who know the joy of sittiing at Jesus' feet, experiencing complete worship that we'll never know here. My day will come, in His time. For now, He has called me to continue fighting the good fight, living and speaking the name of Jesus. And that's just what I'll do. May it be true of me what the Bible says about the early apostles in Acts: that when people saw them, they knew the apostles had been with Jesus.
Pastor Randy
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
My Tornado Story
Yes, you heard it right. I survived a tornado in our neighborhood last Saturday. Many have asked for details, especially after they saw me on the WRAL news. I thought I'd briefly summarize what happened and what God has shown me.
First, let me say a huge thank you to those who have prayed for our family through this time. Your prayers and encouragement have been an important part of getting through the last several days. And for those who came out to help last Sunday afternoon, a really big thank you goes to you! Scott Holdsclaw, Waug, Holly, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Waugaman....and what seemed like millions of strangers who just showed up and started working....thank you so much.
So, Felicia and the girls were at Triangle Town Center during all this. Turned out to be a great thing, because if any of our cars were in the driveway, they would have been crushed by trees. Of course, Kelsey's car weathered the tornado fine. Figures - it's a tank anyway. The boys and I were at home. I was doing church work at my desk, and the boys were playing games & reading. I had been monitoring the weather via my iphone most of the day while working. My brother-in-law called and said he heard on the news that a tornado had touched down south of Raleigh and was headed our way. I turned on the TV and watched the weather for about 15 min or so. Then the power went out.
I looked out the window only to see the winds picking up quickly. Within minutes, I could hear the tornado coming. Not a train sound, which you always hear about. Just a loud roar. It was upon us. The boys and I dropped to the floor in the living room by the couch, with no time to get to a safer place. I reassured the boys that God would protect us. As the tornado hit, I could see out the windows by the door. I believe I saw a swirling wind as it quickly snapped the bradford pear tree in our front yard. I think for one split second I had a thought that we might meet the Lord in that moment. But there was no fear with that thought, only peace.
The whole thing was over faster than it had started. Within about a minute, or so it seemed, the winds began to die down and a strange calm replaced the storm that had just passed. The rains continued strong, but I went to the door and looked outside. The first thing I saw was that the house right across the street, only about 50-100 feet from my front door, was gone - only the slab foundation remained with some debris on it. It seemed the storm had picked up the house and blown the pieces into the surrounding houses and street. That tree of mine I mentioned earlier - it was on my neighbor's car. Sorry neighbor. I'll spare more the details of the destruction, but you can check out some of the pictures on my facebook page.
Our house only had some more cosmetic damage - missing shutter (which I found in my neighbor's yard), missing roof shingles, a few holes in the roof, lots of trees down mostly in the back yard, missing siding, torn parts off the front of the house, damaged mailbox, some missing funiture and a grill, etc. But compared to my neighbors, we were certainly blessed. Several of them had to abandon their homes that Saturday until things could be stabilized. One family still hasn't been able to come back yet. And the house across the street that was destroyed had no one living there. The lady had moved out weeks ago.
We are continuing the recovery process this week. It will probably take a while, especially since there are so many others who are suffering more than we are. But that's ok. Now, what did God show me through all of this? I felt a confirmation of my faith in Him with the peace that came in that moment when the tornado hit. He reminded me that our possessions are given to us to use for His glory, and they can be taken away in a split second. He reminded me that our time on this earth can end in a moment, including at a time when we least expect it. He's shown me again that He is even bigger than a massive storm like this one. And He can protect us even when destruction is going on all around us.
But He's also reminded me of the awesome ministry opportunity in our neighborhood. There is little spiritual fruit that we've observed here. This is our mission field. We will be held accountable. It's time to invest in the people here. I praise Him for His provision for us through this time. As I said on WRAL, I praise the Lord for allowing me to live another day. I pray that I will be effective in using the time I have left for His glory and His purposes.
Pastor Randy
First, let me say a huge thank you to those who have prayed for our family through this time. Your prayers and encouragement have been an important part of getting through the last several days. And for those who came out to help last Sunday afternoon, a really big thank you goes to you! Scott Holdsclaw, Waug, Holly, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Waugaman....and what seemed like millions of strangers who just showed up and started working....thank you so much.
So, Felicia and the girls were at Triangle Town Center during all this. Turned out to be a great thing, because if any of our cars were in the driveway, they would have been crushed by trees. Of course, Kelsey's car weathered the tornado fine. Figures - it's a tank anyway. The boys and I were at home. I was doing church work at my desk, and the boys were playing games & reading. I had been monitoring the weather via my iphone most of the day while working. My brother-in-law called and said he heard on the news that a tornado had touched down south of Raleigh and was headed our way. I turned on the TV and watched the weather for about 15 min or so. Then the power went out.
I looked out the window only to see the winds picking up quickly. Within minutes, I could hear the tornado coming. Not a train sound, which you always hear about. Just a loud roar. It was upon us. The boys and I dropped to the floor in the living room by the couch, with no time to get to a safer place. I reassured the boys that God would protect us. As the tornado hit, I could see out the windows by the door. I believe I saw a swirling wind as it quickly snapped the bradford pear tree in our front yard. I think for one split second I had a thought that we might meet the Lord in that moment. But there was no fear with that thought, only peace.
The whole thing was over faster than it had started. Within about a minute, or so it seemed, the winds began to die down and a strange calm replaced the storm that had just passed. The rains continued strong, but I went to the door and looked outside. The first thing I saw was that the house right across the street, only about 50-100 feet from my front door, was gone - only the slab foundation remained with some debris on it. It seemed the storm had picked up the house and blown the pieces into the surrounding houses and street. That tree of mine I mentioned earlier - it was on my neighbor's car. Sorry neighbor. I'll spare more the details of the destruction, but you can check out some of the pictures on my facebook page.
Our house only had some more cosmetic damage - missing shutter (which I found in my neighbor's yard), missing roof shingles, a few holes in the roof, lots of trees down mostly in the back yard, missing siding, torn parts off the front of the house, damaged mailbox, some missing funiture and a grill, etc. But compared to my neighbors, we were certainly blessed. Several of them had to abandon their homes that Saturday until things could be stabilized. One family still hasn't been able to come back yet. And the house across the street that was destroyed had no one living there. The lady had moved out weeks ago.
We are continuing the recovery process this week. It will probably take a while, especially since there are so many others who are suffering more than we are. But that's ok. Now, what did God show me through all of this? I felt a confirmation of my faith in Him with the peace that came in that moment when the tornado hit. He reminded me that our possessions are given to us to use for His glory, and they can be taken away in a split second. He reminded me that our time on this earth can end in a moment, including at a time when we least expect it. He's shown me again that He is even bigger than a massive storm like this one. And He can protect us even when destruction is going on all around us.
But He's also reminded me of the awesome ministry opportunity in our neighborhood. There is little spiritual fruit that we've observed here. This is our mission field. We will be held accountable. It's time to invest in the people here. I praise Him for His provision for us through this time. As I said on WRAL, I praise the Lord for allowing me to live another day. I pray that I will be effective in using the time I have left for His glory and His purposes.
Pastor Randy
Thursday, February 17, 2011
"I am the Lord"
I’ve recently entered a study of Exodus in my quiet time. Today, I worked through chapters 5-6. I’m sure you know the story well. Moses has been called by God to go to Pharaoh and free the Israelites from bondage. I can completely relate to how Moses felt about this. He doesn’t believe he is up to the task that God has called him to do.
Moses gives almost every excuse in the book. I can’t be the one You want to use (Ex. 3:11). But they will not listen to me (Ex. 4:1). I can’t say the right words (Ex. 4:10). Lord, why don’t You send someone else (Ex. 4:13). And then, when the first meeting with Pharaoh didn’t go well, Moses was at it again. Lord, why did You send me (Ex. 5:22). Lord, You haven’t done what You said You’d do (Ex. 5:23). Does any of this sound familiar? When you read these passages, God always responds to each of Moses’ complaints or excuses.
Then I read God’s response to Moses starting in chapter 6. God says something that, to me, is incredibly important: “And God spoke to Moses and said to him: ‘I am the Lord.’” In chapter 6 alone, I count five times God says this: “I am the Lord.” This simple statement affirms everything about who God is, how He works, and that He can be trusted to make a way. Even in the most difficult circumstances.
This is the same God we are commanded to worship in spirit and truth. I believe if we are surrendered to God, then it will be displayed in how we lead in corporate worship. Surrendering demonstrates our trust in Him to do awesome things in our worship….because He is the Lord. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Absolutely not! The lost can be saved, lives can be changed, hearts can be reconciled to Him, impossible situations can improve, sickness can be healed, and much more.
God isn’t going to ask us to do things we can do in our own strength. That means when we’re following His direction, we’re acting in His strength, in His provision for us. Remember – He is the Lord. Let’s commit to lead worship in His strength & provision, not our own. If we do this, I think the truth in Ephesians 3:20-21 comes to life: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Pastor Randy
Moses gives almost every excuse in the book. I can’t be the one You want to use (Ex. 3:11). But they will not listen to me (Ex. 4:1). I can’t say the right words (Ex. 4:10). Lord, why don’t You send someone else (Ex. 4:13). And then, when the first meeting with Pharaoh didn’t go well, Moses was at it again. Lord, why did You send me (Ex. 5:22). Lord, You haven’t done what You said You’d do (Ex. 5:23). Does any of this sound familiar? When you read these passages, God always responds to each of Moses’ complaints or excuses.
Then I read God’s response to Moses starting in chapter 6. God says something that, to me, is incredibly important: “And God spoke to Moses and said to him: ‘I am the Lord.’” In chapter 6 alone, I count five times God says this: “I am the Lord.” This simple statement affirms everything about who God is, how He works, and that He can be trusted to make a way. Even in the most difficult circumstances.
This is the same God we are commanded to worship in spirit and truth. I believe if we are surrendered to God, then it will be displayed in how we lead in corporate worship. Surrendering demonstrates our trust in Him to do awesome things in our worship….because He is the Lord. Is there anything too hard for the Lord? Absolutely not! The lost can be saved, lives can be changed, hearts can be reconciled to Him, impossible situations can improve, sickness can be healed, and much more.
God isn’t going to ask us to do things we can do in our own strength. That means when we’re following His direction, we’re acting in His strength, in His provision for us. Remember – He is the Lord. Let’s commit to lead worship in His strength & provision, not our own. If we do this, I think the truth in Ephesians 3:20-21 comes to life: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Pastor Randy
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Christian Persecution....and Chick-Fil-A
Well, now I've certainly heard it all. Hang with me as I get on my soapbox for a moment.
You're probably heard the story of a CFA restaurant in Pennsylvania who provided food for an event recently. The group that was meeting apparently supports strong marriages, and does not approve of gay marriage. CFA's president stated that the restaurant owners were only providing food for the group's meeting, just like they do for many others. Their provision of food was not a specific endorsement of the group's ideals or beliefs. Needless to say, the airwaves and blogs are hot with criticism of CFA over this, including direct attacks on the restaurant's organization itself, which is based on biblical principles.
I have one thing to say to those who would use this as an opportunity to burn up the wires: get a life. If you don't agree with what a company believes, runs its company, or who it gives food to, then just don't go there anymore. It never ceases to amaze me that these people, who speak/preach in the name of tolerance, obviously don't have a clue what the word "tolerance" means. Apparently their definition of tolerance is that everyone should tolerate what you believe completely, and if you don't, then you're being intolerant. Go check your dictionary and then come talk to me.
When it comes to Christians, it seems we are the only ones that it's ok to be intolerant towards. CFA is a privately held company that is certainly free to run it's business as it desires, as long as it's according to the law. If I don't like something they stand for, then I can go somewhere else. But this isn't surprising, since God's Word tells us that we will be persecuted, just like Jesus Christ.
I applaud CFA for their business practices, as they have done nothing to my knowledge that causes me to question them. They are making a stand for Christ in a world that is growing more and more intolerant of Christian beliefs and practices. And I believe our persecution isn't going to get better - only worse.
So, in addition to standing firm on my own beliefs, I'm going to......eat mor chikin.
Pastor Randy
You're probably heard the story of a CFA restaurant in Pennsylvania who provided food for an event recently. The group that was meeting apparently supports strong marriages, and does not approve of gay marriage. CFA's president stated that the restaurant owners were only providing food for the group's meeting, just like they do for many others. Their provision of food was not a specific endorsement of the group's ideals or beliefs. Needless to say, the airwaves and blogs are hot with criticism of CFA over this, including direct attacks on the restaurant's organization itself, which is based on biblical principles.
I have one thing to say to those who would use this as an opportunity to burn up the wires: get a life. If you don't agree with what a company believes, runs its company, or who it gives food to, then just don't go there anymore. It never ceases to amaze me that these people, who speak/preach in the name of tolerance, obviously don't have a clue what the word "tolerance" means. Apparently their definition of tolerance is that everyone should tolerate what you believe completely, and if you don't, then you're being intolerant. Go check your dictionary and then come talk to me.
When it comes to Christians, it seems we are the only ones that it's ok to be intolerant towards. CFA is a privately held company that is certainly free to run it's business as it desires, as long as it's according to the law. If I don't like something they stand for, then I can go somewhere else. But this isn't surprising, since God's Word tells us that we will be persecuted, just like Jesus Christ.
I applaud CFA for their business practices, as they have done nothing to my knowledge that causes me to question them. They are making a stand for Christ in a world that is growing more and more intolerant of Christian beliefs and practices. And I believe our persecution isn't going to get better - only worse.
So, in addition to standing firm on my own beliefs, I'm going to......eat mor chikin.
Pastor Randy
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Living in Fear
My life has been a series of ups and downs, probably much like anyone's. I can remember great victories throughout my time on the earth. I can also remember some incredible lows. Plus there are many areas of my life that God has shaped over my many years on earth (no, I'm not going to say how many years....).
But one thing has been an incredible weakness for me at times through it all - fear. Some who know me well might say, no way, really? Yes, fear. Sometimes it's fear over small things, sometimes it's fear over large mountains in my way. Sometimes it's just the fear of the unknown. What I've realized is that God knows this about me, and He has ways of pushing me out of my comfort zone frequently. I always recall the story of the mother bird, who at some point has to push the baby bird out of the nest to encourage him to fly. Well, I'm a large baby bird, and God has pushed me out of the nest at times. Actually, there have been times He has not just pushed - He's suplexed me out of the nest. Professional wrestling fans will understand what that means....not that I'm condoning that sport.
In particular, there are a few things that are especially difficult for me. Those are the things that I see God working most intensely in me to get me to trust Him. I'm reminded of some great Scripture on this. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." This tells me that my fear didn't come from God, so I know who it did come from. The only fear related to God is the "fear of the Lord" spoken in Proverbs 1, which tells me how to worship Him. In fact, if I practice the "fear of the Lord", then my other fears are likely to subside, even vanish in His power. Psalm 46 tells us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear." The end of that passage says, "Be still and know that I am God." Man, that's good stuff!
Then there's the idea of faith. Fear and faith have a lot of trouble coexisting in the same place at the same time. The Bible is rich in encouragement about faith. One of my favorites is Hebrews 12, which reminds us to keep our focus on Jesus Christ, not the things around us, and certainly not our sin or the weights that slow us down. This passage follows up the reminder in Hebrews 11:6 that "without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)". I think it's often those sins and weights that take our eyes off God and lead to fear. It's like Peter walking on the water. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was ok. As soon as he looked to the waves, he fell. One way that encourages me is to stay faithful in my time in the Word and prayer. It helps me to look at everything with His eyes, not my own. And that helps eliminate human fear.
I was reminded today that as I live in the will of God, I do not need to fear. Anything God does or allows in my life is for His glory and my good. Plain and simple. My life is bigger than me. It's not bigger than God. As the song goes I teach to the children at church: My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.
Pastor Randy
But one thing has been an incredible weakness for me at times through it all - fear. Some who know me well might say, no way, really? Yes, fear. Sometimes it's fear over small things, sometimes it's fear over large mountains in my way. Sometimes it's just the fear of the unknown. What I've realized is that God knows this about me, and He has ways of pushing me out of my comfort zone frequently. I always recall the story of the mother bird, who at some point has to push the baby bird out of the nest to encourage him to fly. Well, I'm a large baby bird, and God has pushed me out of the nest at times. Actually, there have been times He has not just pushed - He's suplexed me out of the nest. Professional wrestling fans will understand what that means....not that I'm condoning that sport.
In particular, there are a few things that are especially difficult for me. Those are the things that I see God working most intensely in me to get me to trust Him. I'm reminded of some great Scripture on this. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." This tells me that my fear didn't come from God, so I know who it did come from. The only fear related to God is the "fear of the Lord" spoken in Proverbs 1, which tells me how to worship Him. In fact, if I practice the "fear of the Lord", then my other fears are likely to subside, even vanish in His power. Psalm 46 tells us, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear." The end of that passage says, "Be still and know that I am God." Man, that's good stuff!
Then there's the idea of faith. Fear and faith have a lot of trouble coexisting in the same place at the same time. The Bible is rich in encouragement about faith. One of my favorites is Hebrews 12, which reminds us to keep our focus on Jesus Christ, not the things around us, and certainly not our sin or the weights that slow us down. This passage follows up the reminder in Hebrews 11:6 that "without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)". I think it's often those sins and weights that take our eyes off God and lead to fear. It's like Peter walking on the water. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he was ok. As soon as he looked to the waves, he fell. One way that encourages me is to stay faithful in my time in the Word and prayer. It helps me to look at everything with His eyes, not my own. And that helps eliminate human fear.
I was reminded today that as I live in the will of God, I do not need to fear. Anything God does or allows in my life is for His glory and my good. Plain and simple. My life is bigger than me. It's not bigger than God. As the song goes I teach to the children at church: My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do.
Pastor Randy
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