Time to Prepare

February 20, 2012

As I entered the grocery store last Friday, I found myself wondering what holiday they would be promoting.  For several weeks, I had been greeted with Valentine’s merchandise.  However, since Valentine’s Day had now passed, I expected to encounter a new holiday layout.  The display I found upon entering had generic merchandise, so I assumed they were between seasons and went about my weekly duties - that is until I turned down the seasonal candy aisle.  I am not quite sure what I expected to find, perhaps some type of chocolate shamrock, but I can tell you that I did not expect to find what I found.  I could not believe my eyes.  On February 17, the aisle was full of … Easter candy!  Could it really be time to prepare for Easter?

After I overcame my initial shock, I realized that Easter is just around the corner.  In just a little more than six weeks, we will celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I have to be honest with you.  I am not yet prepared for Easter.  Perhaps you find yourself in a similar situation.  The good news is that we still have time.

As we look forward to Easter, I encourage you to begin preparing your heart by participating in one or both of the following spiritual disciplines.

    * Read the Bible – If you are already involved in a Bible reading plan, keep it up!  However, if you are not, take the next six weeks to read through at least one of the Gospels.  If you are a slow reader like me and can only handle about a chapter a day, you can actually read through Mark (16 chapters) and John (21 chapters) between now and Easter and still have a few days left over to catch up on what you might have missed.

    * Pray for the Lost – Christ came to seek and to save that which was lost.  As we prepare to celebrate His victory of sin and death, let us be faithful to pray for those who are not yet participating in that victory.  Pray specifically for family members, friends, or neighbors who may not know Christ.

God rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  If we will faithfully prepare our hearts for Easter by focusing on Christ, I believe God will bless us in ways we cannot imagine.  Let us prepare to celebrate the victory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ this Easter!

In Christ,

- Nate

The Bottom Line on Wisdom

Last Sunday, our church completed a study in the book of Proverbs that we've been involved in for several weeks now. Proverbs, along with Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon, is in a group of books referred to by Bible scholars as "Wisdom Literature." I've always loved the book of Proverbs, because I find in it just that--practical wisdom for dealing with daily life. It provides understanding, knowledge and insight for helping me to know how to deal with things both big and small--from matters of eternal significance to matters of daily business.

In our time of walking through the book of Proverbs, I have used the following as my working definition of "wisdom": It is the right application of God-given knowledge and understanding for the purpose of bringing about God-desired results. As I have refreshed my knowledge of Proverbs during our study, I have been reminded of how important God's wisdom is in our lives--that it is not an optional matter for us, but rather something that is vital for living a life that is pleasing to God.

I have been reminded as well of how God's wisdom impacts so many areas of my life, including the handling of my relationships, my finances, my work life, my physical, mental and emotional health--and especially my eternity and my relationship with Him. Proverbs even offers wisdom for knowing what kind of people to avoid and how to keep myself from trouble (and what to do to get myself out of trouble when I don't follow that wisdom at first). Did you know that Proverbs even has something to say about how we deal with our pets (see Proverbs 12:10)? God's wisdom reaches into every area of life that we will open up to Him!

The bottom line on wisdom for me is that I desperately need it in every area of my life, and I love receiving it from God, putting it into action and watching for the God-desired results. I love seeing God's wisdom proven right in all of the areas of my life, knowing that His plan in every situation and circumstance is the best plan.

So, if you're struggling right now, trying to figure out what God would have you do in your life to bring about His best results, go and seek out His wisdom. Pray for it; seek it through His word; and live out what you discover. You'll find, as I am finding, that God's way is the best way.

In Christ,

-Scott

Right Man, Right Place, Right Time

February 6, 2012

The biblical character Nehemiah has always fascinated me. Although he served in the court of a pagan king, he was a man of God--one who knew God and knew His word. Likewise, although his position in the king's court was a humble one (he was the king's cup bearer, which meant he tasted the wine before the king to ensure that it wasn't poisoned--talk about expendable!), Nehemiah turned out to be an impressive leader.

As we began our in-depth study of Nehemiah last Sunday night, I invited everyone to note some traits of this man that set him apart as someone uniquely suited for the task God had prepared for him. In addition to being godly and knowledgeable in regard to God's word, Nehemiah was a man of passion and a man of prayer, and it is my belief that those two traits fed one another.

Let me explain: As a man of prayer who knew God, Nehemiah was tuned in to the very heart of God. This close bond led Nehemiah to be passionate about the things that God was passionate about, so that his driving force and his motivation were fueled by those very things. As a man who knew God's word, He had special insight into the way God thinks about things and the way He does things. This insight led Nehemiah to an understanding about what God wanted to accomplish through him. And that led him to pray even more!

Although he knew what God wanted him to do, Nehemiah didn't jump the gun and run ahead of God. If you read Nehemiah's story, you'll find that about four months lapsed between the time he discovered the need that God would use him to fulfill (the rebuilding Jerusalem's wall) and the time he approached the king to ask for his help. What did Nehemiah do in those four months? He "mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven" (Nehemiah 1:4). After this extended period of spiritual preparation, when God's timing was right, Nehemiah approached the king with his request to go to the land of his ancestors and lead them in the recovery of their city. God granted him success, and the king sent him on his way with what he needed to do the job.

What great lessons we can learn from Nehemiah! He was the right man, in the right place, at the right time--and God was able to use him powerfully because he was ready and prepared when that time arrived. O Lord, teach us to prepare ourselves, that when your timing is right we will be ready to do what you ask of us!

In Christ,

-Scott

Behind the Scenes

January 30, 2012

Isn't it fun when you get to be an "insider" somewhere? Don't you love being able to "see behind the curtain" and have insight into what's going on that is not available to the general public? Oh, it doesn't really matter what it is--it could be anything from a local high school sports events to the halls of Congress--we as humans just seem to love having that insider's knowledge.

Sometimes as a pastor, I have an inside track on things that are going on that few others know about. Some of those things are good; some are not so good. It may be the secret pain a family is going through, a publicly undisclosed illness that someone is fighting, the struggle of someone caught in a habitual sin or the quiet anguish of emotional or even mental distress that someone is dealing with. On the other hand, it might be the wonderful hush-hush news of a new pregnancy, the exciting behind-the-scenes negotiating over a new job or the anonymous deeds of a Good Samaritan to which I have insider access.

All of this is to say that there is a world of hurt and misery--but also a world of grace and ministry--that's out there that many people walk by each day and miss entirely. It's a world that some of us know about and keep discreetly quiet about for the sake of the privacy of those people involved. However, without breaking any confidences whatsoever, I want to say today to those of you who are suffering in silence to be encouraged. God knows your heart and He knows your needs. I also would encourage you to inform godly people about your circumstances and receive help, prayer and kindness from them.

To those who quietly and anonymously do good deeds in the name of Christ, I want to say to you that there are those of us who see you and who take heart at the way you reflect Christ through your actions. You may never receive any accolades in this life--which is fine for you, because you're not seeking any--but your Father knows and will reward you for your kindness and compassion to others. What you are doing for others, you are doing for Him.

Regardless of our level of access, isn't it good to know that our God knows our secret needs and meets them, and that He knows our secret deeds of grace and kindness and rewards them?  I certainly think so!

In Christ,

-Scott

Just One Thing...

January 23, 2012

The sporting world received the sad news on Sunday that Joe Paterno, the long-time head football coach of Penn State University and the winningest football coach in NCAA history, passed away from complications due to lung cancer. Paterno was 85 years old when he died, and doubtlessly was living an existence in the last ten weeks of his life that no one ever would have thought would befall this coaching legend.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've heard the story: One of Paterno's former assistant coaches was accused back in the fall of molesting young boys over a period of years--a horrific crime that Paterno had been made aware of some years ago. According to reports, Paterno at that time did not reveal this news to the authorities, but rather chose just to inform his athletics director. In the long run, things were kept quiet, until the accusations found their way to a grand jury and the former assistant coach was brought up on charges.

When all of this was found out, Paterno and all others who knew about the allegations were summarily dismissed from their jobs. Since then, much has been said about the legacy of this coach whose record up to this point had been virtually spotless. It seems that in an instant the coach who many felt had the best reputation in the business tumbled to a place where his name will live in infamy. And to think that it just took one thing to do all of that damage; just one thing to wipe away in the minds of many people all the good he had done for years and years. How tragic.

This happens in life sometimes. We've all seen it. That person we love and admire, the one whose good works shine so brightly, is suddenly brought low because of one evil thing. But it doesn't have to be that way. In fact, for all of those whose reputations have been soiled by one bad thing, there are many more whose lives have been a source of blessing and inspiration to others because of one good thing. The lesson I want to learn and follow in all of this? We should guard our lives carefully, combatting evil at every turn and seeking to do good at every opportunity, because others are watching (God is watching!) and it really matters when all is said and done.

With that thought in mind, let's commit, then, to live our lives according to these words of Scripture: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" - Romans 12:21.

In Christ,

-Scott

A Rock and a Soft Place

January 16, 2012

You've most likely heard the saying that describes someone as "caught between a rock and a hard place." The meaning of this old adage, of course, is that this person has gotten himself into a predicament in which his options in either direction present hardship and difficulty, with no satisfactory solution apparently available.

I often talk with and counsel with people whose lives might be well described as being "caught between a rock and a hard place." Sometimes I've felt that way myself in life! As I was doing some reading and pondering of Scripture last week, however, the thought occurred to me that we as believers could better be described as being "caught between a rock and a soft place."

Let me explain: First, we're caught not in the sense that we have fallen into and become entangled in something, but we are rather caught in the sense that God in His grace has "caught" us in the midst of our freefall and has given us a safe landing ("I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." - Isaiah 46:4). That's a good thought that provides us with a sense of security.

But what about the "rock" part of it? Who wants to be caught on a rock in any way, shape or fashion? I do, for one--but only if that rock is a foundation stone, a place where I can find firm footing regardless of all else around me that might be shifting and shaking. We're told in 1 Corinthians 3:11 that the only true foundation like this is Jesus Christ! For me, it's good to know that there's something (Someone!) on which I can base my life that will never move and never fail. Like the psalmist David, I praise Him as the Rock of my salvation.

Now, what about the soft place? Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." It's great for me to know that my Lord is gentle and humble and that He offers rests rather than further struggle. It's also encouraging to hear from Him that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, in the midst of a world that is often hard and heavy.

So forgive me if I, for one, rejoice in and take courage from the fact that I am "caught between a Rock and a soft place." It's exactly where I want to be.

The Path Before Us

January 10, 2012

Every Tuesday morning, we hold staff meeting for our ministerial and support staff at the church. We spend the first half an hour or so praying for people whose requests we've received or whose needs we are personally aware of, and then we get into the business at hand, evaluating what we've already done, planning for what we are going to do, working on outreach and also giving attention to "inreach," a term we use for taking care of our church family.

One of the things we do to keep us all on the same page is a review of the upcoming six weeks of the church calendar. As we do our review, we make sure that everyone is aware of their responsibilities and that all the "i"s have been dotted and all the "t"s have been crossed.

This morning, as we were reviewing the calendar, I cheated and started looking ahead. Perhaps this is a function of age, but I was shocked at how quickly we will fly through the upcoming months and in no time at all be on the cusp of summer. Rather than feeling daunted or intimidated by this, however, I felt a rush of excitement as I considered what lies ahead for us as a church this year.

Considering the exciting things that God did in and through our church in 2011--the vast number of people involved in missions, the new volunteers working in ministries, the mass of children involved in VBS, the outpouring of families at our Fall Festival, the wonderful celebration of our 125th anniversary--I look forward with great anticipation toward what He will do in and through LPBC in 2012. I have every reason to believe that it is going to be awesome.

All of the things I mentioned above, however, didn't just happen spontaneously last year, and the things that will happen in 2012 will not just occur on their own either. Truth is, God works in and through us, but He simultaneously expects us to give full attention and effort to the things He's called us to do. I believe that God has big things for us in 2012, but with big blessings come big responsibilities.

I hope as you look at the calendar--and even more so as you spend time with God hearing from Him what it is that He wants you to do--that you won't be intimidated either, but rather that you'll be excited as you anticipate the path that God is laying out before us.

In Christ,

-Scott

A New Thing

January 3, 2012

When the prophet Isaiah recorded these words of God, he was delivering a message to Israel from God Himself telling of days to come that would be filled with renewal and restoration. God's people, as a result of their own sin, were being held in bondage, and the Lord's words to them in Isaiah 43 were words of hope and comfort, reminding them that He had not left them alone and that they would not be in bondage forever.

It might just be that some of us need to hear words of hope and comfort as we step into this new year--words reminding us that God is not through with us, that He has not cast us aside, but rather that our Father in heaven is keenly aware of what we are facing and stands ready to do "a new thing" in our lives that will surprise and amaze us, things that will bring us restoration and renewal as well.

I love when I read this passage, however, that God does not speak about what He intends to do, but rather speaks about what He is already doing. In saying this, He reminds us that His work is springing up around us all the time, and He simultaneously challenges us, asking if we are aware of what He's doing. Personally, I am deeply challenged by this declaration: First, I am challenged about whether or not I have my eyes open to see God at work. Could it be that I am not perceiving what God is doing because I'm not really looking for it?

Second, I am challenged in regard to my response to God's work. Am I struggling against Him, putting out the Spirit's fire even as He seeks to do great things in and through me, or am I cooperating with Him and His great purposes to see His work brought into fullest bloom in my life?

Our God is a God of the new. He enjoys refreshing and reviving His people. Let's pray and hope for and expect God to do great things--new things--in and through us in 2012!

In Christ,

-Scott

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

December 19, 2011

Christmas is almost upon us, and the kickoff of 2012 will follow soon thereafter. As this time advances toward us, it means a lot of different things to a lot of different people: for some it means that there will be much celebrating, joy, fun and adventure in the days immediately ahead. For others, it means that there will be time for that no-often-enough interaction with family members who we only get to see and spend time with a handful of times each year.

Still others will see in the next few weeks opportunities for reaching out to others and ministering to others from the abundance of blessings with which they have been blessed. At the same time, there may be those who are in need of a blessing from another person. Some people will be looking toward the New Year and all of the possibilities that it represents. Others may see nothing but challenges lying ahead for them.

Regardless of your outlook on the coming days, and regardless of your expectations, I would like to offer my Christmas and New Year's blessing and prayer for you and your family:

In these days of holiday and celebration that lie just ahead, may God grant you and your family a deep and abiding sense of His presence. In turn, may His presence fill your heart with peace, joy, and hope, that your spirit may be lifted and that you may in turn lift the spirits of others. May God fill your life with His grace, that your paths may be straightened, that your struggles may be lessened and softened, and that your needs may be met.

May He guide you clearly with His Holy Spirit, and may His guidance always bring you comfort and strength on your journey. May He give you assurance, that you will walk in confidence through the good days and the bad. May He protect you from the enemy, and may He always make clear the path of escape in times of temptation and trial.

Ultimately, may God draw you close to Himself, that you may experience the full measure of what it means to be His child. And may you, in turn, let others know that they can be His child too.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

-Scott

All Else Is not Enough

December 12, 2011

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means, 'God with us.'" - Matthew 1:23

Sometimes, I wonder if we truly understand the significance of the incarnation. As people who live with the benefit of around 2000 years of Christianity behind us, and as those who are firmly and deeply placed in the heart of the Bible Belt, I just wonder if we are aware down in that deepest part of us just what it means to have had Jesus born to us.

God with us. That's what it means--and what an amazing concept it is! With the birth of Jesus, the human race experienced the visitation of the divine into our realm. With the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we all experienced the intervention of the divine into our lives and into our eternal destinies.

And yet, I still wonder if we truly understand the significance of having God with us. Jesus said that anyone who drank the water He offered would never thirst again (John 4:14). He also said that whoever ate the bread that He offered would never go hungry (John 6:35). He came to fill the deepest and most vital of all our needs--the need to connect with God, to be saved from sin and self and to receive hope for this life and for the next--and yet I'm still not sure that we understand.

In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis wrote, "All that we call human history--money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery--[is] the long, terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy."

And yet, He came here to do just that--to give us life, and life more abundantly. As you ponder the incarnation this Christmas, let God remind you that all this world offers is not enough. We needed then, and we still need now, Immanuel, God with us.

In Christ,

-Scott

The Peace of Christmas

December 5, 2011

 The above words, written by the great American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, flow beautifully and have a powerful lyrical quality to them. Penned on December 25, 1864, and later set to music in 1872, Longfellow's words have inspired many generations of people, reminding them of the declaration of the angels following the announcement of Jesus' birth in Luke 2:14--"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Taken at face value, these words sound refreshing and celebratory. When one looks at the story of Longfellow's life and the happenings of the times in which he wrote them, however, they take on a whole new quality:

Written just months shy of the end of the American Civil War, as our nation was in its worst state ever, these words came from the heart of a man who knew and daily walked in significant pain and struggle. You see, Longfellow had experienced tremendous tragedy in life--the loss of his first wife following a miscarriage, the death of his second wife from severe burns (he was also terribly injured trying to put out the flames that took her life), the crippling of his oldest son in the War, and constant pain due to a severe neurological disorder.

The Christmas after his second wife's death in 1861, as he struggled to father five children, he wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays." On the first anniversary of her death, he wrote, "I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace."

Considering the life and times of Longfellow when he penned these words, they become all the more meaningful and inspiring to me--and I hope to you as well. May the God of all peace be with you and your family this Christmas season!

In Christ,

-Scott

'Tis the Season

November 28, 2011

Attention everyone: The season for giving is officially here. The spirit of generosity is in the air, Christmas bonuses are beginning to filter into bank accounts, and, in response, organizations are asking for donations.

Coming off what is being hailed as the largest Black Friday ever for retailers, I think we can safely say that we are in the Christmas season! That means a lot of things for me each year, among them the fact that I will receive by mail, by phone, by email and in person dozens of appeals for donations from a variety of organizations in the coming weeks--including secular help organizations, Christian relief ministries, missions organizations, schools I have graduated from, and a wide variety of other organizations dedicated to a plethora of causes.

Now, I'm no Grinch. I would love to help fund every worthy organization that asks. Like most, however, I have limited expendable income and have to prioritize my charitable giving (beyond my tithe, of course!). If you're interested, here are some of the main guidelines I follow in making my choices about giving:

1. Is there a Kingdom purpose at the heart of the organization's mission? There are tons of great groups out there doing good work. For me, however, it's important to be sure that the spread of the Gospel is central to what the organization seeks to accomplish.

2. Does the organization have a good track record of stewardship of its resources? If I don't have access to personal knowledge of how an organization spends its money, I look for the endorsement of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), a group that holds its members to very high standards.

3. Is this an organization to which my family and I can be connected? It's important for me to feel a sense of connectedness to an organization I am funding. Is there a way for my family and me to get personally involved in the work? Is there someone who can keep in touch with me and update me on the work and its results?

You may already have your own guidelines as well. If not, feel free to borrow from mine. Above all, pray about your giving, because there is great joy and satisfaction in feeling the sense of God's guidance as you give!

In Christ,

-Scott

Acts of Gratitude

November 21, 2011

Thursday, November 24, is Thanksgiving Day, a holiday that pretty much all of us hold dear for one reason or another. For some it's the food associated with the holiday, for others it's the traditional football games that happen throughout the weekend, while for others it's the time off from work, the time spent with family or on leisure activities, or just the opportunity to stop and focus on being thankful for all we have been given.

Over the years, I have heard it said many times around Thanksgiving that it is important for each of us to have an "attitude of gratitude"--for each of us to have a grateful heart that responds with thankfulness at all times. I agree with this philosophy, and think a pretty airtight case can be made for it from Scripture.

However, one thing that I have not heard as much about is the stress that the Bible places not just on feeling thankful, but also on acting thankful. Take, for instance, the story about the ten lepers found in Luke 17:11-18. You may remember that in this story Jesus heals all ten men, but only one of them comes back afterward to say thank you.

Now, I'm sure that all of them were grateful--I mean, they had been healed of a disease that at the time was incurable and that was horribly disfiguring and led to a life of ostracism from society. Sure, they were all grateful, but only one of them acted upon it by going back and thanking Jesus for His kindness. As I thought about this story in recent weeks, I was struck by the thought that many times I may feel grateful, and yet I may not necessarily show it by acting grateful.

As a result, I have decided to make a more concerted effort in my life to act out my gratefulness by spending much more time thanking God and thanking others. It's not that I've not been grateful in the past--I just need to do a better job of expressing it. What about you? Do you need to do a better job of turning your attitude of gratitude into acts of gratitude? I can't think of a better time of the year than now to do just that!

Happy Thanksgiving!

In Christ,

-Scott

How Will You Vote?

November 14, 2011

Every year, during the first three weeks of November, Liberty Park Baptist focuses on the issue of stewardship. Over the last several years, I have offered a simple definition of stewardship: "Stewardship is what you do with what God has given you." I'm sure that there are far more elaborate, theological definitions out there, but I'm a simple person, and I work much better with simple definitions.

On Sunday, we took time to look together at Luke 19:11-27, in which Jesus tells the parable of the ten minas. This story might be unfamiliar to you, although, if you read it, you'll find it to be similar in many ways to Jesus' parable of the talents, which is found in Matthew 25:14-30. It does, however, have some unique distinctions from the parable of the talents as well, and it was one of those unique points that I found highly intriguing.

Unlike the parable of the talents, in the parable of the ten minas Jesus begins by talking about a man of noble birth who travels to a distant land to have himself appointed king and then to return. When the man travels to this place, his subjects--who hate him--send a delegation after him to declare that they don't want this man as their king. Jesus resolves that aspect of the story in the next verse, declaring, "The man was made king, however, and returned home."

As I read this story, it was so clear to me that Jesus was not just telling some random story, but rather was telling His own story! He was the man of noble birth who traveled to a distant land to become king and then return home. He was the one who was hated by his own people and the one about whom it was declared that they did not want Him as king. And He was the one who became king regardless and returned home!

Why does Jesus include such a beginning to this story? What bearing does it have on this parable about stewardship? I believe the answer is clear: Jesus tells this part of the story to remind us that, at the very heart of things, stewardship is really a matter of lordship. Jesus, the One who is and will be King of all, regardless of what we think or how we vote, gives us the opportunity to follow Him personally as Lord right now and to experience the great blessings of being a part of His greater plan and His wonderful work. So, in regard to His kingship in your life--how will you vote?

In Christ,

-Scott

Commemorate and Celebrate

November 7, 2011

I enjoy learning--especially when the new knowledge comes as a bit of a pleasant surprise. That's what happened to me on Sunday, as we were celebrating the 125th anniversary of our church. The learning moment happened for me when our Pastor Emeritus, Dr. Jim Bruton, was giving a brief talk about our story as a church. It was a surprise because I expected that moment to be just a historical presentation, but I received so much more.

Dr. Bruton began his talk by asking why it is that we celebrate such things as church anniversaries. He answered his own question by referring to God's interactions with His people in the Old Testament, noting that on many occasions God called Israel to remember what He had done for them by commemorating and celebrating His deliverance and support of them as a nation. Dr. Bruton further iterated that such times of remembrance always had the intention of bringing renewal to God's people.

As I thought about what Dr. Bruton was saying, I reflected on my own thinking about anniversary celebrations and such over the years. In the past, I have often thought that such commemorations were at best a fun distraction, and at worst a huge waste of time, money and energy. Dr. Bruton challenged my thinking on all that, highlighting for me the biblical significance of these times in the life of God's people in the present in addition to the past.

And on Sunday, I saw firsthand how God can use a time of commemoration and celebration in the life of a church. Sunday was like a breath of fresh air--a time of remembrance, a time of fellowship, a time of rejoicing, and a time of renewal. And for me, a time of instruction as well.

So now, I look forward with great anticipation to our next time of commemoration and celebration as a church, knowing that it will--like Sunday--be a time of honoring God for His work, a time of rejoicing and fellowship, and a time of renewing our hearts and refocusing our minds intently on the vision that God instilled in us as a congregation for the present and future.

In Christ,

-Scott

1886 - 2011 (and Beyond)

October 31, 2011

The year 1886 was a big one. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated, Coca Cola was first sold from a small pharmacy in Atlanta, Karl Benz (no, his first name was not Mercedes) patented and drove the first automobile with a modern, gasoline-powered engine, and the great Apache Chief Geronimo surrendered, ending the last major US-Indian war.

That same year, a church was started as an outgrowth of a Sunday School that had met in a family home on the eastern side of the city of Birmingham, Alabama. This new congregation chose for itself the name East Birmingham Baptist Church, and about a year later changed its name to Woodlawn Baptist Church after the area in which it would settle and thrive for many decades.

Many who are now reading this article know the rest of the story: The church prospered and grew to become one of the largest and most prominent churches in the state of Alabama, a mega-church of its era. As the community began to experience decline in the second half of the 20th century, however, the church suffered as well, losing hundreds of its members.

After exhausting all efforts to reach its surrounding community, the congregation made a leap of faith in 1994 and relocated to a new, just-budding community, taking on the name of its new home by calling itself Liberty Park Baptist. Now, in our 125th year as a church, we continue on as we began in 1886--firmly planted in our community, serving and reaching others for Christ, always looking ahead to see what God has for us to do.

As we celebrate our 125th anniversary as a congregation this Sunday, my prayer to God is one of deep thanks for His many years of faithfulness and for the many ways that He has allowed this church to be deeply involved in His kingdom work throughout our history and into the present. My prayer for the future is that this congregation will always be true to its roots and to its God, seeking always to please Him through who we are and what we do.

In Christ,

-Scott

A Wonderful Visit

October 24, 2011

Today, I had a wonderful visit from three friends. Don Anderson, a former member of Liberty Park who now lives in Montgomery, came by for a visit and brought with him Fidel and Adelpis Rivas, who are members of Iglesia Bautista Betania (Bethany Baptist Church) in Bolivar City, Venezuela, where Fidel also serves as a Minister of Worship.

The common bond that connects all of us together goes back to August 2005, when a group from Liberty Park Baptist went to Bolivar City on a mission trip. This group included a medical team (Don was one of our pharmacists), an eye glasses team, an evangelism team, a children's ministry team and a women's ministry team. Their assignment was to assist Bethany Baptist in reaching its community for Christ--an assignment which they carried out well, seeing several hundred people come to Christ in their time there.

The reason for today's visit was to allow Fidel to hand deliver a letter to me from the pastor of Bethany Baptist and to update me on the health and status of their congregation. In a word, they are doing great! Their church has grown to around four hundred members, they have started three new churches, and they have continued our team's strategy of outreach, using medical personnel within their own congregation to hold medical clinics, through which they reach people with the Gospel.

God was kind to bring such friends to my door on a Monday. Their visit reminded me that the work we do is vitally important on a Kingdom level and that it has repercussions that reverberate long after we have departed. To all who served on the home and away teams for the 2005 Venezuela mission: I deliver greetings to you from your friends at Bethany Baptist Church in Bolivar City.

To all who may be considering going on mission: Go. Be a part of something outside of yourself that is bigger than yourself. You may not know until eternity the extent of the impact of your willingness to go--although God just might arrange a visit from a friend someday like this one, just to give you a glimpse.

In Christ,

-Scott

Radical Love

October 17, 2011

It's impossible to spend much time studying the New Testament without running into the many directives from God that call us to love others. We are told, "love your neighbor," "love one another deeply," "live a life of love," and that our "love must be sincere." We are even told--from the mouth of Jesus Himself--that our love is to be of such character that we are to love our enemies. This is not your run-of-the-mill kind of love, but a radical love.

You've most likely heard of this command before, but have you ever really let it sink in? "Love your enemies." On a purely human level, such a demand defies common sense. How can I love my enemy? Doesn't the very idea that he's my enemy preclude any sort of love for him from me? And yet, there it is in Scripture, in red letters. Jesus says, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28).

Wow. That pretty much paints me into a corner in regard to this matter of love--that is, if I indeed proclaim to be an obedient believer. To do less than this is to tell God "no," to be openly defiant and to act as if I can pick or choose which of His commands I think are legitimate and which I think are not.

And yet, here's the problem, if I do want to be obedient: God commands me to enact a type of love that is preemptive, that is one-sided, that carries with it the strong potential for rejection and that places me in a vulnerable position in regard to my enemy. On a human level, it is completely counter-intuitive, does not make sense to me and is all but impossible to carry out. What am I to do?

Thankfully, God does not leave me to figure this one out myself. Instead, He has provided me with examples of this kind of love (Himself, Jesus Christ), He has given me instructions for carrying out this kind of love (in the Bible), He has empowered me to live in this kind of love (through the work of the Holy Spirit) and He is willing to work in me to develop this kind of love as I seek to grow in Him. Without Him, it would be impossible, but through Him--the one who gives us strength--we can do all things.

In Christ,

-Scott

Passivity vs. Intentionality

October 10, 2011

The longer I live, and the longer I serve as a minister in churches, the more I am convinced that most Christians take a passive approach to their lives rather than being intentional about applying their faith in every circumstance. What am I talking about? Let me answer by providing some examples:

Someone is faced with a difficult choice regarding how to handle a damaged relationship with another person; a family needs to make decisions regarding their finances; a young person has to make a call on whether or not to date someone who is not a believer; on the job, a person has to choose between crossing some ethical boundaries where he can make a financial windfall or doing what's right and receiving nothing while others cash in. These are just a few scenarios, but you get the picture.

Now, in each of these circumstances (all drawn from real life), the believer can a) spend lots of time in prayer about it, apply scriptural principles to the situation, make decisions that he/she feels will be pleasing to God--in spite of the cost or consequences to self--and live in the joy of having been found pleasing to God (the intentional route); or b) make a list of "positives" versus "negatives, follow his/her feelings, make a decision according to what they feel benefits them the most and continue to live life oblivious to God's guidance and pleasure/displeasure in the matter (the passive route).

I believe that we too often choose the second route, disregarding the spiritual processes we need to go through to make godly decisions and giving ourselves credit for "doing the right thing" because it benefits us or "feels right"--all the while failing to concern ourselves about pleasing God, seeking to live out His plan in our lives and participating in His greater plans in the world.

The next time you are faced with a difficult choice or situation, ask yourself the question, "How will I handle this--will I be spiritually passive, ignoring God in this matter, or will I be intentional, seeking God's will, following God's plan and trusting Him for the outcome?" And then be intentional.

In Christ,

-Scott

Christ Alone

October 3, 2011

Over the last few weeks, we have been studying through the book of Colossians on Sunday nights. It has been a rich study thus far, as we have looked intently into Paul's deep theological statements concerning the person and the work of Jesus Christ. On Sunday night, we studied Colossians 2:8-3:4, noting the strength of Paul's convictions concerning Jesus' deity ("in Christ all of the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form" - Colossians 2:9) and His saving work that has been applied to us.

Something that stood out clearly to us was that everything Paul said about our salvation was always placed in the sphere of our relationship with Christ-- 1) we have been given "fullness" in Christ, 2) our sinful nature has been "circumcised," or cut away, by Christ, 3) we have been buried with Him through baptism, 4) we have been raised with Him through faith, and 5) we have been made alive with Him.

It doesn't take a genius to see that the common thread in all of this is Christ! In fact, Paul warns the Colossians against falling for any "hollow and deceptive philosophy" that is based on human thinking, human traditions or the principles of this world rather than being based on Christ. For Paul, there is no salvation outside of Christ. His stance, of course, is no surprise; it is completely in keeping with all of the revelations concerning salvation and faith in Christ found throughout the New Testament.

Now, I know this stance is not the most popular stance in the world--it never has been--but it's the heart of what we believe: that salvation is through Christ alone. Sadly, it's lack of popularity has at times pushed Christians to compromise their message for the sake of getting along with everyone (see Joel Osteen's 2005 interview with Larry King and his subsequent apology). The issue of salvation through Christ alone, however, is one matter on which we absolutely, without question cannot compromise. To do so is to jettison the very heart of our faith and the core of the Gospel.

Instead, let's remain true to the words of Jesus Himself, recorded in John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." That's good enough for me.

In Christ,

-Scott

Am I a Jerk?

September 26, 2011

I am often intrigued by what I read on bumper stickers, t-shirts and marquee signs--you know, the little one-liners that stick with you and make you laugh, encourage you or even make you think. A while back, I saw such a bumper sticker. It said, "Jesus Loves You--Everyone Else Thinks You're a Jerk." Now, I have to admit that, on the face of it, I found that bumper sticker to be simultaneously disturbing and funny--disturbing because of its irreverence, yet funny because I certainly didn't expect that second statement to follow the first!

At the same time, I also found this silly bumper sticker to harbor some hidden profundity, because it pointed to a truth that sometimes gets past us--that, while we may feel that our relationship with God is fully intact and functioning properly, our human relationships can easily fall into sinful dysfunction that brings with it both difficulty and anxiety. There are times that, while Jesus certainly loves me, everybody else thinks I'm a big jerk.

This truth brings to mind the biblical understanding that our human relationships really do matter to God (try to read through the Bible without running into stories and instructions about our person to person relationships--you can't!). It reminds me that how I deal with others is not just a matter of my opinion about them and theirs about me, but rather a matter that is addressed by God Himself and that has consequences in regard to my relationship with Him.

Now, I know that I can't control what everyone thinks of me, and I can't make everyone like me. There are some folks out there who will just dislike me because I am me. I can't help that. What I can help, however, is how I deal with people in all of my human relationships--family, friends, neighbors, strangers and enemies alike--and I can do my part to ensure that I am acting toward them in the love that I am called to live in as a believer.

Sure, there may be some folks in the end who think that bumper sticker refers to me, but I want to be able to say when it's all said and done that I did my best even to make that person my brother. Because, while I cannot control what someone else thinks or does, I can certainly control myself. And I don't want to be a jerk.

In Christ,

-Scott

Cleaning Out the Closet

September 19, 2011

There's something very cathartic about cleaning out one's closet. I experienced this sort of catharsis recently, as my family got a bunch of stuff together for a huge yard sale. Although the results were wonderful, I have to admit that it was difficult to make decisions about getting rid of things. Some of the things in my closet (and in my basement) held sentimental value (not family heirlooms; more like favorite hats); others fell under the "just in case" category. Still others were things that, for whatever reason, I just had trouble giving up, not because of any value they held--sentimental or real--but just because I struggled to let them go.

And yet, on the other side of things, post-yard sale, I have to confess that it feels wonderful to have a far less-cluttered closet and basement. In fact, the feeling of spacious openness and cleanness that I have experienced in the aftermath of it all has inspired me to jump on some other clutter-related projects that I've been putting off for quite a while.

Standing in my far-less-cluttered basement after the weekend, I pondered the spiritual parallels. I thought about those times when I have gone before God and just spent a significant amount of time opening up the "closets" of my life (and even the "basements"!) and clearing out the spiritual clutter. I thought about the spiritual catharsis that comes from such times, as I am able to look upon the far-less-cluttered areas of my life and to enjoy the spacious openness of my heart and mind that has come about as a result of the time spent cleaning things out before Him.

I also thought about the difficulty I sometimes experience in letting some things go as I deal with God--although I know that they had no real value in my life. And yet, once I have let it all go and cleaned it all out before Him, I find myself grateful for having done so and inspired to tackle even larger "spiritual overhaul" projects in my life.

Have you ever had this experience of "cleaning out the closet" before God? Have you ever felt the relief and the freedom that come from being spiritually clutter-free? Have you experienced the wonder of forgiveness, renewal and restoration that comes from letting go of the things that no longer belong in your life?

In Christ,

-Scott

I Will Never Forget

September 12, 2011

What an emotional weekend it was for our nation! As we commemorated the tenth anniversary of the terrible tragedies of September 11, 2001, we relived those horrific moments when we saw the planes sail into the Twin Towers and then saw the aftermath of the planes that crashed into the Pentagon and into the field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania.

Many of us were taken back mentally to that place where we were when we first became aware of all that was taking place. We remembered what it felt like to be a nation in shock. We also remembered, however, what it felt like to be a nation that gathered itself up and pulled together in a deeply powerful fashion, crying out to God as one and steeling ourselves with a resolve that would carry us through that difficult time.

One of the memories that stands out to me stems from the Wednesday night prayer meeting the day after all of this had occurred. At that meeting, I spoke with a lady named Sue, who seemed to be distressed about something. Assuming she was dealing with the same emotions that we all were struggling with, I engaged her in conversation, only to find out that her struggle was quite different--she was wondering, in that moment, how she as a believer could show obedience to Christ by loving her enemies, as Christ had commanded in Matthew 5:44.

I was fascinated to watch over the next few months as Sue--a retired paralegal, divorced mother and grandmother--began to feel an overwhelming call to express this love of Christ by going into the heart of the enemy's home and serving sacrificially. Leaving home, family and even her dog, she joined an organization that worked with women in the mountains of Afghanistan, educating them and ministering to them in Jesus' name. She spent the next few years there, sending me an occasional email about her trials and her triumphs, until all non-governmental organization employees and volunteers were forced by the military to leave the country.

While I will never forget September 11, 2001, and all that occurred that day, I will also never forget people like Sue, who fleshed out for all of us what the love of God really looks like when put into action.

In Christ,

-Scott

All Over the World

September 2, 2011

Last Wednesday night, we had the wonderful opportunity as a church to hear from a man named Manny Fernandez, who is the founder and leader of an organization called World Link Ministries. Manny shared with us about the work that their organization has been doing in Cuba, where they have seen a massive church planting movement blossom, with thousands of people coming to Christ as a result. As he shared with us, I was struck at how this wildfire-like spread of the Gospel resembled what occurred in the early days of the church as recorded in the New Testament.

Simultaneously, I was reminded about similar movements that are going on worldwide, where hundreds of new churches are springing up every year in nations that we would consider to be less than hospitable to Christianity--Muslim nations, Communist nations and secular Socialist nations, for instance. Sometimes, as a citizen of a nation that was founded in and steeped in Christianity, I look around and see how difficult it is to lead people to Christ or even for the church itself to gain an enthusiasm for spreading the Gospel, and I am amazed at the incredible way that faith is exploding in places where there is little freedom and where professing faith in Christ can be a dangerous thing.

Then I am reminded that God's work is not limited to conditions that we would find conducive to the spread of the Gospel, but rather that He seems to take great pleasure in tearing down walls of resistance and or growing His church in the midst of persecution. That being the case, it becomes incumbent upon those of us living with the luxuries of freedom and abundance of resources to see that we are doing all we can to support and foster the work of God all over the world. As I think about our role in this matter, and of the joy that we can receive from our participation, I am reminded of Paul's statement in Colossians 1:6:

"All over the world the Gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth."

All over the world. Those words are just as true today as they were two thousand years ago.

In Christ,

-Scott

Deep Love, Unbridled Enthusiasm

August 29, 2011

When I woke up this morning, the temperature outside was in the 60s--nice and crisp, cool, with low humidity--perfect weather for college football. Yes, I will openly admit it: I am a huge college football fan, and I have been waiting with rabid anticipation since January 11 (the day after the National Championship game) for football to start back. With the season kicking off (pun intended) this weekend, I, along with millions of others, will be glued to the television, radio, computer or other media device to catch the opening salvo of games.

As I thought about the draw that college football has for so many of us, I began to ponder what it is that fosters such enthusiasm in us for our teams that we support as fans. I mean, what is it that motivates us, regardless of age, status or place in life, to wear our team gear, paint our faces our team colors, put flags, stickers and other decorations on our vehicles and to spout off endlessly (and often mindlessly) about the virtues of our own team over all others?

I decided after much thought that this enthusiasm is just an overflow of something that's deeper down in each of us that supports a team. In fact, I think this enthusiasm is simply a result of the deep love that we have for our school and our team. This deep love fosters our unbridled enthusiasm.

Like many of you, I have heard preachers from the pulpit ask why it is that we can muster up so much enthusiasm about football while simultaneously finding ourselves unable to get much excited at all about God. I think I have an answer: Love fosters enthusiasm. We are nuts about our teams because we love them. Even when they're losing, we would  go to our grave waving the flag of our school, cheering all the way.

It's my contention that we would have just as much (or more) enthusiasm about the things of God if we loved Him at least as much as we love our football teams. Honestly, we should love Him far, far more. When we do, there will be no need for preachers to try to "whip up" our enthusiasm by cajoling us, indicting us or inciting us. It will just be there. So, as you start pulling out all your gear to get ready for the big season, ask yourself this question: "Do I love God this much?" It's a question worth asking.

In Christ,

-Scott

Our Gospel Imperative

August 19, 2011

The image was startling to me. Taken by one of our church members on a mission trip to Guatemala, it was a picture of a small family--mother, daughter and son--kneeling at a place of worship. The  place of worship was among some old, Mayan ruins in Guatemala, and that family was kneeling to worship and to offer a sacrifice.

With their hands clasped in front of them in prayer, this small family was making an offering to gain the favor of some deity unknown to our team, all three of them courageously kneeling in the open, with no concern for who might see them or what they might think about their actions. As I looked at this image, however, I found this humble act of piety to be profoundly disturbing, as a single, distressing thought pervaded my mind: "This dear family is worshiping something that is nothing, and they have placed their hope in something that can give them no hope."

In that moment, as I stared at the photograph, I was reminded of the imperative of our mission to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth, making disciples of all the nations. It's not about numbers. It's not about our glory and accomplishment. It's not about being the biggest, most powerful and most dominant religious group on the planet. What it is about is making known to others the message of a God who loves them, a Christ who died for them and a hope that awaits them in this life and in the next.

This is our Gospel imperative, and as we accomplish this task, we honor and glorify God, who desires to draw all to Himself, that they might receive grace and mercy from Him, and in doing so find eternal life.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'”  Romans 10:14-15

In Christ,

-Scott

Finding a Moral Compass

August 15, 2011

Over the last week, those of us who have been keeping up with it have been startled at the violent nature of the riots in England's two largest cities, London and Birmingham. Along with the looting that is typical of such riots, there has been a great deal of physical violence as well, including some deaths that have gained worldwide notoriety--particularly the cold-blooded killings of three young Pakistani men who were run down by a speeding vehicle while trying to guard merchants in their neighborhood from looters.

An article in Sunday's New York Times noted that Britons are startled by the riots and have been left wondering why so many normally law-abiding citizens would fall into such unlawful and mindless modes of behavior as mob violence, looting and even murder. In a speech about the riots, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron decried the "slow-motion moral collapse" that has taken place in his country over "these past few generations" and called on Britain to find its "moral compass."

As I read and pondered this article and speech, two thoughts came to my mind: First, I find it fairly easy to answer the question of why the riots occurred. Whatever the immediate spark that started the inferno, the people simply fell into the default mode of acting out of what the Bible refers to as our "sinful nature," our basest of instincts. When there is no prevailing and overriding authority in our lives that prevents us from falling into that mode, or when we rebel against that authority, we do mindless things that hurt ourselves and others. Just look at the normally upstanding man with a wonderful wife and three small children who will leave them for another woman. This is what happens when we succumb to our sinful nature.

Second, I also noted that the matter of finding one's moral compass is not all that difficult either. That is, it's not difficult unless you as a society have become so secularized that you have jettisoned, or at least marginalized, all religious thought and influence from your society. The answer to finding a moral compass is found in establishing a moral foundation, which clearly find in the authority and influence of God in our lives. Whether or not the people and leaders of Britain understand and accept that remains to be seen. Pray for them.

In Christ,

-Scott

Growing Up Ain't Always Easy

August 8, 2011

It's true. I suppose there may be some people out there for whom growing up has held no struggles or problems, but those people are certainly few and far between. For most of us, growing up--that is, going through the process of maturation that leads one to become a competent, useful and functioning member of society--is fraught with pitfalls, missteps and "learning moments." In spite of all the struggles, those who apply effort, learn from their mistakes, gain wisdom along the way, keep moving forward and persevere through the hard times usually end up doing okay.

The same can be said for our spiritual growth. The road to spiritual maturity is often filled with bumps, potholes and even occasional breakdowns along the way. If, however, we submit ourselves to God's way of doing things--more and more as we go--we find spiritual victory and maturity that eludes those who just muddle their way through on their own terms.

In our routine existence, a wise person comes to value guidance and even seeks it out from family, friends, mentors and available resources that can provide him some "how-to" information for living life in everything from the mundane to the important--everything from how to write a check to how to make out a will. The blessed man is the one who has many such resources available to him. The wise man is the one who makes use of all these resources as well.

In regard to our spiritual maturity, it's also good to have resources and networks of mentors and supporters available to help us grow and develop. The most invaluable resource, of course, is the Holy Spirit, whose guidance is always there. Also of utmost value is the Bible, which provides us with God's plans and directions for maturing. Starting this Sunday at LPBC, we'll be looking at God's plan for growth laid out in 2 Peter 1:3-11. I hope you'll join us in person or catch the messages online as we explore the "Eight Steps of Spiritual Maturity." Growing up may not always be easy, but it can certainly easier when we follow God's directions!

In Christ,

-Scott

To Be Emptied Out

August 1, 2011

In Luke 7:36-50, there is a beautiful story about a woman who did something very profound and beautiful and powerful. This woman, whom Luke describes as having led a sinful life, approached Jesus as He was eating at the home of a religious leader and stood behind Him, weeping. Her tears fell on the feet of Jesus, who was reclining at the table as was the custom of the day. As her tears wet His feet, she wiped His feet with her hair and kissed them.

She had also brought with her an alabaster jar of perfume, which she then poured out on Jesus' feet as well. The fact that the perfume was in such an expensive container hints that it was an expensive perfume, a fact that is noted in the telling of this story in the other Gospels.

For some folks, this story might sound a little odd--a little creepy, in fact! When truly understood for what it means, however, it's an amazing story. One thing that must be understood is that this woman's act of pouring the perfume on Jesus represented for her the giving of a highly-valued possession as an expression of her love for Jesus as her Lord and Savior. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus also notes that it represents a preemptive act of anointing His body for His coming burial following the crucifixion.

Perhaps more powerful--at least to me--is the accompanying act of wiping Jesus' feet with her hair as her tears fell on them. When His host objects to the woman touching Jesus, He notes that His host did not do Him the courtesy of providing water for the washing of His feet when he entered the home, yet this woman was washing His feet--which would have been dirty and grimy--with her own tears and hair. This act represents an emptying of self--far more difficult than emptying a jar of perfume--that reveals a deep humility in her life.

Imagine what it might mean for the Gospel today if we all would be willing to be emptied out for Christ--poured out, as it were, as an offering to Him, for His use. Might the world be changed by a group of believers humble enough to be wholly committed to Him? I think it would.

In Christ,

-Scott

Delays, Difficulties and Disasters

July 25, 2011

Over the last several weeks, as we have had several of our church family members away on international mission trips, I have written a number of articles dealing with a variety of matters concerning missions. Over the last weekend, another issue surfaced that I would like to address in that our Bolivia mission team, which was supposed to arrive back home on Saturday, experienced a flight cancellation that pushed their return home back to Monday.

Now, this delay was not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, and it was not really even that unusual in terms of experiences on the mission field. In fact, such delays--along with other difficulties and even the occasional outright disaster--are almost expected, to the extent that we tell people that one of the number one things they'll need to carry on a mission trip with them is flexibility!

While such experiences might seem highly undesirable and worth taking great effort to avoid, some of the greatest stories in our church's recent missions history have come from God's resolutions to our mission field problems (Due to space restrictions, I can't regale you with the stories here, but just ask me sometime when you have a couple of free hours, and I'll tell you about them). Our experiences in the delays, difficulties and disasters have taught us that God is in control, that He is not unaware or caught by surprise, and that He uses times like these to display His creativity and power in ways that we would not have even imagined.

Seeing God at work in such times is a true faith-building experience, and those of us who have seen it firsthand come away deeply changed. Among the ways that it has changed me is that I have learned that the God who takes care of these things on the mission field is the same God I have at home, and that He can handle my delays, difficulties and disasters here, too. Likewise, I have learned that the faith in and dependence upon God I have displayed on the mission field is called for when I go through such experiences at home as well. I'm still working on applying that lesson, by the way...

May we all learn to trust deeply in the God who reigns over our delays, difficulties and disasters!

In Christ,

-Scott

Are You Aware?

July 18, 2011

Remember to Pray while They're Away!

July 11, 2011

As I mentioned in a previous article, this summer is a huge one for missions involvement at Liberty Park Baptist Church. Last week, a group of seven of our members was in Peru on a medical mission trip. Last Saturday, a dozen of our members spent the day helping to rebuild Alpha Ranch, a Christian foster home for boys that was destroyed in the April tornadoes. This Saturday, we have another team leaving for Santa Cruz, Bolivia to do medical work and help start four new churches, and that team will be home for only one week before another team leaves for Guatemala to help in the construction of a medical clinic.

While these teams area away, our greatest responsibility as their church family is to devote ourselves to the task of praying for them. In response to this call to pray, LPBC has for years practiced the "home team" concept--that is, while we have a team away on the field, we have another team at home that commits to meet every night to pray for them. Additionally, we provide prayer guides that let people know the team's daily agenda and how to pray specifically for them.

In spite of our efforts, however, it's sometimes easy for us simply to forget to pray daily for our teams. Life interferes, things come up, we get busy with all we have to do, and, next thing you know, we've forgotten to spend significant time lifting up the team in prayer. That being the case, I want to encourage you to make every effort to set yourself up for success in this matter of prayer.

One suggestion that I heard several years ago that has helped me is to use mental association with ordinary things I see on a daily basis to remind me to pray. For example, the countries our teams are going to are Spanish-speaking countries. So, when I see a Mexican restaurant, I remind myself to pray. Bolivia produces lots of potatoes, bananas and papayas. So, when I eat any of these items or pass by them in a grocery store, I remind myself to pray. In Guatemala, our team will be building a medical clinic. So, every time I pass by a "doc-in-the-box," I remind myself to pray! I'm sure by now you see how this works, so let me challenge you to come up with your own ideas that work for you--just don't forget to pray while they're away!

In Christ,

-Scott

Consider This...

July 5, 2011

Coming off another great Fourth of July celebration, I am back in the office with a jumble of thoughts about America rolling around in my head in no discernible order. I thought I might share them with you--perhaps to provoke some thinking and discussion; at the very least to get them out of my head...

First thought: According to those who keep a tally of such things, the U.S. has about 4.6% of the world's population, yet more than 30% of the world's wealth. What does this mean, that God has blessed us so strongly with such financial wealth? To me, it means that we have a responsibility to be faithful stewards of that wealth, employing it to spread the Gospel and to assist those in need. If we do not, does He take it away?

Second thought: U.S. media--television, movies, music, newspapers, etc.--is a worldwide phenomenon. Material produced in America is craved by people in almost every nation of the world and is routinely translated in their languages. Additionally, other aspects of American culture--from food, soft drinks and clothing to cars, hairstyles and language--are routinely imported into the cultures of other nations. What if, however, the world soaks in the worst of who we are, yet never sees the best of who we are? What, then, is our cultural footprint?

Third thought: In the late 1600s and early 1700s, the colonies that eventually made up our country were only about 18% Christian, according to the best stats available. It was the First Great Awakening, in the 1730s and 1740s that made us a Christian nation. It was the Second Great Awakening, 100 years later, that solidified our national character. Will there be a Third Great Awakening at some point? Will it be in my lifetime?

And finally: At 235 years, our nation's age is a mere drop in the bucket, historically speaking. When people speak of America in 200 more years, will they speak of her greatness in past tense, or will she still be a Christian nation, a light to the world? These are my thoughts; go discuss amongst yourselves.

In Christ,

-Scott

A Christian and a Patriot

June 27, 2011

Before I write another article, we will celebrate the 235th birthday of our nation. As is the norm, my family will join with a larger group of family and friends to observe the July 4th holiday with the eating of much food, the enjoyment of each other's company and, most likely, the exploding of a bunch of fireworks. In the midst of our celebrations, however, we will also take time to pray a prayer of thanksgiving, recognizing that the freedom we are enjoying is a gift from God--one of our "inalienable rights" with which we have been "endowed by our Creator."

In recognizing that deeply important truth, we will stand with America's founding fathers, whose writings clearly denote their firm belief in the Divine origin of the foundations of our nation. Although there are many naysayers and rewriters of history today who desire to divorce the founding of our nation from its roots in the Christian faith, it is clear from the statements and writings of our forebears that our beginnings are deeply rooted in our faith.

Having lost that argument, some who would like to see our nation become a secularized republic are now beginning to ask in a very public way what relevance our beginnings have to our present predicaments and goals as a nation. In so doing, it appears that their assumption would be that the building can stand on its own without the support of its foundation. I would argue, as did many of our founding fathers, that when faith is severed from the public domain, all that we hold dear as a nation will begin to erode.

I encourage and challenge you in this season of celebration to do some reading about our founding as a country. My guess is that you'll walk away from it a convinced Christian Patriot, a stance which flies in the face of much of today's thinking, yet a stance right in line with those whose wisdom shaped this nation.

In Christ,

-Scott

It's Time to Go!

June 20, 2011

Over the next several weeks, our church family will be in an interesting state of affairs. Beginning July 2 and continuing through August 6, we will be saying "Goodbye" to a large number of people--the largest number, in fact, that have ever left from this church to go on mission in the span of five weeks.

The first group we will say "Goodbye" to will be leaving Saturday, July 2, headed to Peru. Along with several nursing students from Samford University, they will be involved in medical missions and church planting, and plan to arrive back in the States on July 10. Meanwhile, a group will be heading back up to Shoal Creek on Saturday, July 9, to help with the restoration of the Alpha Ranch foster home for boys--part of the ongoing tornado relief efforts in which we've been involved.

On Saturday, July 16, the largest group from LPBC will be departing for Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where they will be involved in medical church planting work. They will arrive back home on July 23, just one week before our next team will leave for Guatemala, where they will be involved in construction on a missionary medical clinic and  will also do some medical fact-finding work. They plan to return home on August 6, less than one week before school starts back for Vestavia students!

In the midst of all this (July 11-15), we'll be sending some of our older students off to Mission Fuge, where they will also be involved in mission work, worship and Bible study.

As you can see, it's going to be quite a busy time, and a lot of people will be coming and going from week to week. We will be saying "Goodbye" (and "Welcome home!") quite a bit. And we will be doing a lot of praying too. What a wonderful summer of going with Christ! Please pray for our teams as they prepare to go!

In Christ,

-Scott

A Tough Job

June 13, 2011

Being a dad is tough. That's one thing (but not the only thing) that I've learned about being a dad through my nineteen-plus years of being a father to both a son and a daughter. Now, I'm not taking anything away from moms here--their job is equally as difficult, and sometimes more so. It's just that I can't speak from experience in regard to being a mom, so you'll just have to bear with my one-sided perspective.

Back to the dad thing: Growing up as a kid, it seemed to me that my parents always knew exactly what to do in every circumstance. Having a great dad who provided loving discipline for us, many father-son adventures, strong guidance and a godly example, my assumption was always that he and my mom (who is a great mom too!) could do no wrong. If there was such a thing as a parenting handbook, I would have assumed that they knew it backward and forward and followed it with great prudence to the most infinitesimal detail.

Now, with almost two decades as a dad under my belt, I fully acknowledge that the task is great and difficult, and that my parents must have just been blessed with great, godly wisdom. I pray for that kind of wisdom daily, knowing that my words, my actions, my decisions, my discipline, my example--pretty much everything about my life--will have a profound impact on the lives of my children. And, as a part of the "fraternity of fathers," I commiserate with fathers who often feel inadequate to the task, guilty about our failures and anxious about the lives of our children.

That's why it is comforting to me to know that I have a perfect heavenly Father who doesn't leave me to handle this task all alone. Instead, He walks through this fatherhood thing with me, providing wisdom and guidance through His Spirit and through His word, encouraging me and helping me along the way. More importantly, I know that He is the heavenly Father of my children too, and that He loves them even more so than I and that He is active in their lives as well. These thoughts set my heart at peace and remind me that while the job is tough, my resources for doing the job are infinite. Happy Father's Day, gentlemen.

In Christ,

-Scott

Markers of Health

June 6, 2011

At the end of our worship service last Sunday, we had the wonderful opportunity to pray for one of our college students--Danielle DuBay--who will be spending most of her summer at Lake Shasta, CA, as a student missionary with the North American Mission Board. As I considered her missions involvement this summer, I also thought about other college students from our church who are working at Christian camps or serving as ministry interns or who are otherwise participating in a variety of ministry endeavors.

I thought about what a significant marker it is of our church's health that these young people, who really could be doing anything with their summer, have chosen to make their time away from school count for Christ. From there, I naturally began to consider other significant signs of health within our congregation that remind me that God is working in wonderful ways through our faith family. I thought about such things as missions involvement by adults who have never done anything of the sort before, about healthy families that are living out God's plans for them, and I thought about the spiritual growth I have seen in the lives of so many individuals in recent years. And most importantly, I thought about people who have made decisions for Christ.

As I pondered these matters, I began to think about the fact that the same principle of looking at the "health markers" of a congregation can be applied on a personal level. What I'm referring to is that each of us has certain aspects of our lives we can take inventory of and examine to gauge our spiritual progress. Some of these would include matters like prayer, the study of God's word, our involvement in ministry and missions efforts, and to what degree our everyday lives are reflecting Christ-like values, attitudes and behaviors.

I encourage you to take some time this summer to do a little spiritual inventorying and to assess where you stand in regard to the great spiritual health markers laid down for us in Scripture. You just might find some wonderful evidence of God's work in your life that you were not aware of before!

In Christ,

-Scott

Recharging the Batteries

May 27, 2011

Taking a break is important. Early in my ministry I did not realize that, and I jumped into two years of full-blown, wheels-up, hard-charging youth ministry without so much as a few days off. Two years into it, however, I began to experience some of the symptoms of what we often call "burnout." My pastor at the time suggested that I take a week and go on vacation--away from phones, ministry responsibilities and everything--and unwind, relax and rejuvenate. I followed his advice, spending some time down in Panama City, FL, with my family, and I learned through that experience the value of getting away.

Such times are not without biblical precedent. In the Gospels, there are multiple examples of Jesus getting away from the crowds and going off by himself to pray. Constantly surrounded by people who were seeking help and healing, even Jesus felt the need to take a break and recharge spiritually and in other ways as well.

Additionally, it is worth noting that "rest" is a valued commodity in Scripture, with multiple examples of people praying for rest and descriptions of a God who offers rest for our souls. It's also worth noting that this "rest" is found within the sphere of our interaction with God, not in our all-out enjoyment of the world. It's not that the two are mutually exclusive, but it's important to recognize that in our taking a break from everything else, we don't take a break as well from God--after all, He is the One who is the ultimate Recharger of our batteries!

As we are breaching the wall of summer, I know that many of you will be taking a break or two (or more), getting away from the daily grind, taking time off to enjoy trips and activities with family and friends. I encourage it. But let me also encourage you to make sure that you don't take a break from the things of God.

Instead, take Him along with you, so that He can do His great work of recharging you spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. After all, since He's the One who made you--He is the One who knows how to take care of you!

In Christ,

-Scott

VBS--the Mission Field Comes to Us

May 23, 2011

As believers, we have been tasked by Jesus Christ Himself with going into all the world and telling others about the Gospel, with the goal of leading them to become disciples of Christ (see Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8). From its inception, the church has taken this mission to heart, sending missionaries out to accomplish this task, incurring great expense and taking great risks to deliver the Gospel to people who have never heard it and who, otherwise, might never hear it.

Imagine how great it would be, however, if the people who needed to hear the Gospel came to us and sat quietly while we shared it with them--how awesome would that be? I think it would be pretty incredible! That's one of the reasons I am such a huge fan of Vacation Bible School. It is unlike any other thing we do as a church, in that it brings into our building for several hours a day--for five days--hundreds of children who are eager to hear what we have to say. For this reason, I strongly encourage our church members to volunteer to serve in VBS, and I personally support the effort through my own involvement.

As we gear up for the summer, preparing to send mission teams to work in our own community, in our state, in other states and in a variety of other countries, my hope is that we will kick things off properly by first giving strong attention to the mission field that will come to us Monday through Friday, June 6-10.

The opportunities that VBS presents are multi-fold: First, we get the opportunity to teach the very young children the basics about God's love for them. Second, we get the opportunity to love on these children and to express God's care for them in practical ways. Third, we get to make connections with families that may need help in a variety of ways. Fourth, we get to talk to the older kids about faith in Christ and to give them the opportunity to make a decision to receive Him in faith. And these are just a few of the opportunities that come our way through VBS!

Knowing all this, will you be willing to be a part of this great effort? If so, sign up at www.libertypark.org/vbs!

In Christ,

-Scott

The Power of the Spoken Word

May 16, 2011

In the midst of all that has gone on in the last three weeks--storms, relief work, a mission trip, end of the school year, etc.--there was an event that was held in Birmingham's Southside area that was amazing in its impact on all involved. Although it did not garner as much attention as some of the other things going on, its relevance to this time in the life of our community was profound. What I'm referring to is the Bible Reading Marathon--a public reading aloud of the entire Bible--that occurred on the front steps of the historic Southside Baptist Church, beginning at 6pm on Sunday, May 1st, and concluding at 11:30am on Thursday, May 5th.

Originally, the Bible Reading Marathon was the heartfelt burden of Sheila Wright, a member of Liberty Park Baptist, who, after hearing of similar events around our nation, approached me about doing this in our own city. That was more than a year ago, and at that time my response to her was that our staff would support her and assist as we could, but she would have to take the lead in organizing and carrying out the event.

Sheila did just that, gathering around her a team of ladies who connected with other churches and groups to organize this event that proved to be a tremendous blessing to all involved. And what a group it was! There were doctors and housewives and professionals, there were children and homeless individuals. There were people of different nationalities, reading in their native languages (one Korean and one Kenyan, who read in Kiswahili!), and there were even college students who, in the middle of their final exams, took time to read.

One woman, whose entire home--except the bathroom that she had huddled into--had been blown away by the tornado that week, stood and read from the book of Jeremiah. She was an example of the power of the spoken Word and its impact on our lives, even in times of tragedy and suffering and loss--perhaps especially in such times! There are many more stories to tell--and I would encourage you to track down Sheila Wright or Ninfa Austin and let them tell you in person.

But we should not be surprised. After all, God Himself said in Isaiah 55:11 that His Word does not go out and return to Him without accomplishing the purpose for which it was sent! Amen!

In Christ,

-Scott

I Am Guilty

May 9, 2011

I am guilty. I admit it. Unashamedly. "Guilty of what," you ask? Guilty of boasting; straight-up, chest out, loud enough for everyone to hear--that kind of boasting. "Boasting about what," you ask?

About this: In the days since the devastation of the tornados that wreaked havoc on our state on April 27, I have seen the Body of Christ being the Body of Christ unlike any other time I can remember in my forty-six years of life.

As I have been out with others doing relief work, I have seen firsthand the vast number of believers who have stepped forward, compelled by their faith, to do everything from the hard, back-breaking work of removing debris, to preparing and handing out food, providing medical help, and even counseling one-on-one with victims.

I have also seen those who cannot go physically step up in other ways--writing checks for disaster relief, providing material goods for others and--most important--praying for victims and relief workers. It has truly been a sight to behold, a testimony of God's work through His people.

And about all this, I will boast--not in the proud, arrogant way that we usually associate with undue pride, but in the way that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 1:31, where he writes, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." That's the kind of boasting I'm doing.

And I would imagine that I will have continuing opportunities for boasting in the Lord, because I know that our work is not even close to being done. In the weeks, months and even years to come, there will be much for us to do as we move from recovery to rebuilding. Already the projects are beginning to be planned for this next phase, and I cannot wait to see how the Body will respond!

And in that regard, go ahead and count me as guilty in advance, because I will certainly be boasting in the Lord!

In Christ,

-Scott

God Beyond the Storms

May 2, 2011

"I don't think words can fairly express the level of devastation." This was the assessment given by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano after viewing the destruction left in the Birmingham area by last Wednesday's tornadoes. With more than 230 dead across the state and hundreds more missing, and thousands of homes destroyed, this disaster has proven to be a unique one in the history of our state.

Over the weekend it was gratifying, however, to see people of faith mobilizing to help their neighbors--supplying needs and helping the recovery through manual labor. LPBC was a part of that effort, with volunteers going out daily. Due to the level and the scale of destruction, these efforts will be ongoing for months if not years to come, and we as a faith family want to remain mobilized to help. That being the case, let me encourage you to help out in these ways:

• Pray - People are hurting in ways that most of us cannot imagine. Now is the time to pray for these victims in an ongoing fashion.
• Give - Donations are needed right now by all relief organizations. As Alabama Baptists, we are blessed to have one of the best. To give to the Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief fund, make a check payable to Liberty Park Baptist Church and write "Alabama tornado relief" on the memo line. We will ensure that 100% of your donations go to help tornado victims in Alabama.
• Provide material goods - There is a tremendous need for just about anything relating to daily life--food, water, clothing, diapers, toiletries, etc. LPBC is serving as a receiving site for such items and will place them in the hands of groups that are in direct contact with victims, including the Birmingham Baptist Association, Mission Birmingham and Samaritan's Purse.
• Go - Groups are going out from the church almost daily; some formally organized, some just going out and finding places to help. If you would like to go, call the church at 969-1236 to find out where we are sending teams, or Google "tornado relief volunteer sites" to find places where you can go and help.

A 125-Year Legacy of Faith

April 25, 2011

Take note of the date that this article is being written: April 25, 2011. This is an important date in the life of Liberty Park Baptist Church, because it was on this date, back in 1886, that our church was founded as East Birmingham Baptist Church.

Originally started as a mission church by the legendary Ruhama Baptist Church, East Birmingham Baptist traced its roots to a Sunday School that a woman named Tirzah Wood (Mrs. Morgan Green Wood), had started in her home just years before. As the Sunday School grew, and as the surrounding Woodlawn community (named for the Wood family) grew as well, members of Ruhama saw the need for a church there and took the necessary steps to start the new congregation.

Later, the church was renamed Woodlawn Baptist Church after its community, and the congregation began a long and wonderful pattern of growth that was to last them for decades to come, resulting eventually in Woodlawn Baptist becoming one of the largest and most influential churches in the state of Alabama.

As the church entered the later decades of the 1900s, however, it began to experience tremendous decline. Although it continued to work to reach its neighborhood, the church made the difficult decision in the early 1990s to relocate to what would become the Liberty Park community, planting itself in the new neighborhood with the goal of ministering to its new residents.

Today, Liberty Park Baptist Church—125 years old on this very day—exists as a congregation intent on leading people to become mature, fruit-bearing disciples by leading people to know Christ, to grow in Christ and to go with Christ. Due to the proximity of our anniversary to Easter and a variety of other upcoming special recognitions, we made the decision to postpone our “birthday” until the fall, when we can celebrate properly. But today, we take note of our “real” birthdate, and we thank God for what the legacy of faith that is Liberty Park Baptist Church.

In Christ,

-Scott

An Easter Addendum

April 21, 2011

This Side of the Resurrection

April 18, 2011

Have you ever wondered what must have been going through the minds of Jesus' disciples between Friday evening, following Jesus' death, and Sunday morning, when they found out that he was alive again? We can't know for sure, but I imagine that there must have been a mix of thoughts and emotions, a swirl created by the struggle between the surreal notion that Jesus would actually rise from the grave versus the reality-fed understanding that such things just don't happen.

These men, however, had already experienced in their time with Jesus many things that fell outside of the realm of normal human experience. They had seen the sick healed, they had seen thousands miraculously fed with what started out as just a handful of food and they had seen the dead raised to life--even one who had been dead for four days. Such experiences must have fed their hopes, yet there still must have been the nagging reality in their minds that the man who had accomplished all these things was now the one who was dead.

But hadn't Jesus said to them that he would suffer all of these things, be put to death and then be raised to life again? Indeed He had, not only to the disciples (Matthew 16:21 and 20:17-19), but also to the Jewish religious leaders, declaring that if they tore down the temple He would rebuild it in three days (John 2:19), speaking figuratively of His resurrection.

So there they sat, waiting to see if it was all true--if He really was the Messiah--or if it was just a bunch of conflated hopes and brash words, spoken in the defiant heat of the moment by a zealous religious reformer who had paid the price for his insolence.Very soon they would know, because the moment had arrived; this was it.

We of course, know the end of the story, and we celebrate that Jesus did indeed rise from the grave--victorious Lord, redeeming Savior, glorious One. Isn't it great to live on this side of the resurrection, knowing and celebrating that Jesus is alive?

In Christ,

-Scott

A Cause for Celebration

April 11, 2011

This Sunday we will begin the celebration of Holy Week, a name used for centuries to describe the days extending from Palm Sunday to Easter. As we start our Holy Week celebration this year, we will do so by participating in the Lord's Supper together, in recognition of the death of Christ on the cross.

I don't know about you, but for me the Lord's Supper is always a powerful thing. It carries with it a whole set of remembrances and emotions that emanate from a very deep place within my soul. I am always drawn in by the somber nature of the event, traveling in my mind back to the upper room where Jesus met with His disciples to share the Passover meal together prior to His death, burial and resurrection, as Jesus equated Himself with the Passover lamb, whose blood was shed to redeem God's people.

Likewise, I am drawn to the events surrounding the cross--Jesus' appearances before the High Priest Caiaphas and before Pontius Pilate. In my mind I watch as Jesus is beaten and abused by the soldiers, and I see Him walk the hill to the Place of the Skull, where he is then nailed to the cross and hung up as a spectacle for a bloodthirsty crowd.

I also hear in my mind the words of Jesus as He hangs on that cross--His plea to God for His tormentors to be forgiven, the agonizing cry of forsakenness, His redemptive interaction with the thief hanging next to Him, His final triumphant declaration that His work was finished.

As we move closer to the day that we recognize Jesus' death, I encourage you to set aside some time to walk in your heart and mind through the story. Re-read the Gospel accounts of that day. Find time to be alone and to imagine yourself there and to consider what you would have experienced. Think about the deep love of Christ that drove Him to become the sacrifice for our sins. And think about the victory that Jesus' blood has brought to all who receive Him. That's cause to celebrate.

In Christ,

- Scott

I See You...

April 4, 2011

…I really do. When I am preaching on Sunday mornings, I see you from the pulpit. I see when you’re wide awake and locked into what’s going on, and I see when you are sleeping. I see when something has made you laugh that uncontrollable laughing-in-church laugh, and you feel like your head is about to explode. I see you—I really do.

Now, I’m not saying this to make anyone feel self-conscious; I’m just stating the facts. And the fact is, there are Sundays when I wonder how many lemons had to be drained dry to obtain the faces that I see out there. It’s true! You ought to join me up in the pulpit some Sunday morning and take a look for yourself. It just might change your whole outlook on the need for a renewed sense of joy among God’s people.

Truth is, joy is supposed to be part and parcel of who we are as God’s people. In 1 Peter 1:8, we are reminded that we as believers are to be filled with “an inexpressible and glorious joy,” and in Philippians 4:4, Paul calls on Christians to “rejoice in the Lord always.”

Once again, let me reiterate that I’m not writing this to make anyone feel self-conscious on Sundays when I’m in the pulpit. No, I’m writing this to let you know that I see something on a weekly basis that perhaps most people are not even aware of—the symptoms of joylessness on the faces of God’s people. I also want you to know that I’m writing this because I want to encourage everyone to begin doing something about restoring the joy of our salvation.

With Easter almost upon us, I cannot think of a more appropriate time for believers to renew and express their joy than on the day we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. In fact, I want to challenge you to begin working on it now, so that by Easter you’ll be experiencing a renewed sense of God’s great joy in your life. Begin by being intentional about rejoicing—even when you don’t feel like it. On top of that, pray that God will do a powerful work in your inner being, renewing the joy in your life. I look forward to seeing the results!

In Christ,

Get Ready

March 28, 2011

This past Sunday, we as a church began our focus on Easter. Now, lest you think that this is a bit premature, let me remind you that Easter is only about four weeks away! Are you surprised to hear that? I know it's a little shocking to think about it, but the truth is, we're steaming in that direction pretty quickly.

As we began to talk about Easter on Sunday, one thing I encouraged our congregation to do was to begin to prepare spiritually for the coming celebration of Christ's resurrection. Such a thought might sound a little odd, but I have to confess that I have a little bit of a chip on my shoulder when it comes to this most important of holidays in the Christian calendar.

It is, by the way, the most important of holidays for us. I know we go all out for Christmas, but if you look at the history of the church, you'll find that this is a relatively modern phenomenon. Historically, the greater emphasis for Christians has always been on Easter, because this holiday represents for us the resurrection of our Lord, without which, as Paul put it, "our faith is useless" and in the absence of which "we are to be pitied more than all men." Indeed, without the resurrection, Paul notes that we are still lost and dead in our sins!

That being the case, believers have for centuries observed the forty-day time of preparation for Easter called Lent. During this time, Christians are called upon to fast in preparation for the celebration of Christ's resurrection. Many people pracitce Lent today, although most evangelicals do not. Regardless of what you might think about the observance of Lent, I think the intent of preparing onself spiritually for the celebration of Christ's resurrection is a fantastic idea, and so I have begun to prepare my own heart and to encourage our church family to do the same.

What about you? Are you ready for Easter? Are you preparing your heart for the celebration of this deeply powerful and meaningful time in the life of every Christian? If not, take the time to get ready!

In Christ,

-Scott

Not an Accident

March 21, 2011

My family and I spent most of last week in Washington, D.C. on vacation for spring break. While there, we had the blessing of staying with friends--General Ron Burgess and his wife, Marta--who showed us wonderful hospitality.

Although I had been to D.C. several years ago, this was the first trip to our nation's capitol for the rest of my family. As you might imagine, there is much to see there, and to take it all in would have required a couple more weeks than we were able to take off. We did, however, get to see a great deal relating to our nation's history, and I was reminded, as we viewed exhibits and learned more about how the United States of America became the nation she is today, that so much of that history can only be explained by God's providential guidance.

There are so many points in our history when, if just one small thing had happened differently, we might never have made it as a nation. As I reacquainted myself with many such historical facts, I noticed how these wonderful "circumstances" seemed to pile up. At one stop, as I was reading about an occurrence of this sort in a Revolutionary War exhibit, I overheard two boys talking about one of those moments when things just fell together perfectly for George Washington's army, so that they were able to route the British and turn the tide of the war. After reading about it, one of the boys blurted, "Lucky!"

I remember thinking to myself that our nation's place in this world is far more than a matter of luck. In fact, it is difficult to walk away from such a historical setting with anything less than a feeling that God has guided the development of the U.S. and has given us our role as a superpower for His own purposes. I think one of those purposes is that we might serve as a lighthouse to the nations, carrying the Gospel to every land.

This is not to say that we are God's perfect instrument as a country. No, we are far from it. Our standing in the world, however, is not an accident, and as Jesus said, "to whom much is given, much will be required." My prayer is that we will fulfill all the purposes for which God created us, sustained us and elevated us.

In Christ,

-Scott

For Japan

March 14, 2011

Thursday morning brought news of an unprecedented earthquake and tsunami that had hit the island nation of Japan with devastating force. As video and pictures from the various news agencies rolled in, they told a story of an unfolding tragedy, the proportions of which are still yet to be completely known. In one area alone, reports from Japanese authorities tell of as many as ten thousand people missing and feared dead.

Meanwhile, Japan's nuclear energy industry has added new problems to an already-horrific situation, as multiple nuclear power plants have had systemic failures, bringing concerns of nuclear meltdowns and radioactive contamination. This, of course, also means a loss of electricity-generating capability which, combined with the loss of drinkable water and food resources, multiplies many times over the tremendous human suffering.

It is in times like these that we as believers in Christ feel a particular call to action. First and foremost, we feel a call to pray--to pray for the people of Japan, particularly those who are injured and those who have suffered loss; especially for those who have no hope for tomorrow or for eternity. We also feel a particular call to pray for disaster relief workers, many of whom will be from Southern Baptist teams that have been well-trained and carry with them the compassion of Christ and the message of Christ. We also feel called to pray for our missionaries and for Japanese Christians--not only for their safety, but also that through this tragedy they may have opportunities to share the Gospel with people who are hurting and hopeless.

Now is also a time for believers to give. The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has set up a relief fund (http://imbresources.org/index.cfm/product/detail/prodID/3352) as have many other Christian relief organizations, and I encourage you to give generously to help alleviate the suffering.

Now is the time for us, the Body of Christ, to reach out to the people of Japan.

In Christ,

-Scott

Getting What I Deserve

March 7, 2011

"I deserve this!" How many times in your life have you said something like that? Perhaps you were saying it because you had lost 10 pounds and wanted a little treat because you had been so good. Maybe it was because you felt like you had a promotion coming to you after years of service, or maybe you had saved up some money and wanted to buy yourself something nice.

Regardless of our motivation, it seems that there are times in life when we feel that we deserve something in particular, and in such times we can become mighty indignant when we don't receive it. Such was the case with ancient Israel, as is recorded in Malachi 3. In verse 13, God says that they have been saying "harsh things" against Him. The gist of what they have been saying against God is that they don't feel that God has given them what they think they deserve for serving Him, and, as a result, they have decided that serving God is "futile."

Their criteria for judging the value of their service to God can be seen in verse 14, where they ask, "What did we gain" by serving God? That's a pretty bold question that reveals their criteria was solely based on what they felt they stood to gain from their obedience.

It's easy to sit back and judge those ancient Israelites, but how often do we find ourselves doing the same thing? We feel that we deserve special consideration or blessings because of the time we have put in, because of the faithfulness we have shown, or just because we are Christians and we show up at church! And yet, in an ironic twist, our demand for what we deserve--what we feel that we have earned or are entitled to--negates the very grace of God! His grace is not about what we deserve, but is rather about what He mercifully chooses to offer us, in spite of our lack of being deserving!

So, next time you're tempted to demand of God what you deserve, be careful--you just might get what you ask for. Better to go with God's grace.

In Christ,

-Scott

Competent

February 28, 2011

One of the verses in the Bible that I have found intriguing for many years is 2 Corinthians 3:5. In this verse, Paul is writing about himself and his co-workers, noting that in and of themselves they lack the competence to accomplish what they are accomplishing. The reason they are able to do what they are able to do, Paul declares, is because they have a competency that comes from God Himself.

As a minister, this thought has always resonated with me, because I know that what I am seeking to accomplish in my work can only be brought about through the intervening work of God. I can try hard, and I can summon up all my skill, abilities and energy to tackle a task, yet I know that without God's hand in it, all my efforts will ultimately bring nothing of eternal value.

For that reason, I find it necessary as a minister to place all I do in God's hands, asking for His guidance, His empowerment and His results. In doing so, I am assured that every success that I have comes from God and will yield eternal fruit.

But hey, this isn't just a deal for ministers! What about you? Have you been feeling incompetent in some area of your life lately--In your career? In your relationships? In your dealings with God? If so, there's a great scriptural recipe that anyone can follow that will bring God's guidance and empowerment into your life.

It's found in James 4:10, and it simply says, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up." Amazingly, a simple submission of oneself to God is all that is required to experience this uplift of God in one's life--an uplift that yields competency in all areas of life. Now, this does not necessarily mean that you will become this person with super powers or anything, but it does mean that you will certainly find success in doing those things that God had gifted you to do and assigned you to do.

Competency from God--I highly recommend it!

In Christ,

-Scott

Human Interest

February 21, 2011

Over the past few weeks, we as a congregation have been looking at passages in the Bible that give detailed, practical advice for living. As we've looked at these passages, one thing that we've noted is the vast amount of biblical material that focuses on our human relationships.

In fact, if you spend much time at all studying the Scriptures, you can't avoid that God takes a tremendous amount of interest in how we live in regard to one another, letting us know that if things are not okay in our human relationships, things cannot be okay in our relationship with Him. Jesus even takes it so far as to let us know that if we come to God's altar with an offering, and there remember that someone has something against us, we should go and resolve the matter, and then come back and make our offering to God (Matthew 5:23-24).

Truth is, the Bible addresses almost every human relationship you can think of: It talks about husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, daughters and sons. It speaks to our dealings with our "faith family"--our brothers and sisters in Christ, detailing how we are to treat each other and respond to one another. It gives advice for dealing with our neighbors (which Jesus defines more broadly than just the people who live in your neighborhood), and it even addresses how to treat the strangers and aliens who live among us.

Beyond that, the Bible addresses our relationships with the downtrodden in society, outlining our responsibilities toward the orphans and widows, the poor and the sick, the oppressed, and even those who are imprisoned. And it doesn't stop there. We also find in Scripture what we need to know even for dealing with our enemies and those who persecute us, learning that our goal should not be to seek vengeance but rather to make our enemy into our brother!

And the above is just a sampling. There's much, much more. So, let me encourage you, as you deal both with the people you love and the people you don't love so much, to go to God's word to find what you need for making those human relationships successful in God's eyes

In Christ,

-Scott

Opinion-nation

February 14, 2011

I once heard someone say that opinions are like belly buttons--everybody has one. I'm not sure that quote is accurate. If 46 years of life and 26 years of ministry have taught me anything, it is that everybody is FULL of opinions!

As a pastor, you can imagine that I hear a lot of them, especially on Sunday mornings: for one, the sanctuary is too hot, for another it's too cold; for one the music is too traditional, for another it's too contemporary; for one we stood too long, for another we didn't stand long enough; for one the sound is too loud, for another it's too soft (it really is like this, by the way!). But I truly don't mind--I've come to understand that it's just part of the territory that comes along with being a pastor, and people feel a need to have their say.

On a broader level, I've noted that we are a nation of opinionated people, voicing--often loudly and dogmatically--our opinions about everything from our favorite sports team to our preferred political party. We hold our own opinions in high regard, and we're often willing verbally to grind all opponents into the ground who might dare to differ with us, even about the most menial of matters.

And yet, there are opinions that do matter. The one that stands out to me the most is the one that Jesus forced people to take a stand on when he declared, "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters" (Matthew 12:30, Luke 11:23). When Jesus made this statement, he forced people to step off the fence and to take a position on Him one way or another.

As I read that statement, I realize that, beyond my opinion on this one issue, little else matters in the grand scheme of things. All my other opinions take a distant back seat to this one. How about you? Where do you stand on this Jesus person? Are you with Him or against Him? If you claim to be with Him, are you gathering with Him or are you scattering?

Your opinion really does matter!

In Christ,

-Scott

Unprecedented

February 7, 2011

We are living in an unprecedented time in many ways. From technology, to the medical field, to interpersonal communications, we are seeing things now that we have never seen before. The same is true for the world of Christian missions. At no other time in the 2,000-year history of the church have we seen days like these, with so many streams of change coming together to create such great opportunity for reaching the world! Let me share with you a few things that reveal what I mean:

Volunteer missions - It used to be that missionaries were career people who had left home and family to go to a far away land with a different culture and a different language. Once or twice a year you might see a missionary at your church, sharing slides and information from strange lands and asking you to give. Now, with the explosion of volunteer missions that has occurred in the last few decades, the missionary you encounter could be the guy bagging your groceries, or your doctor, or your mechanic or a housewife--or your grandmother.

Resources - Perhaps more than ever, vast resources are available to help in mission work. In addition to monetary resources, the resource of knowledge has boomed as the internet has provided us with amazing interactivity and up-to-the-moment knowledge of what's going on around the world. Even on an interpersonal level, the missionary "pen pal" of the past has been replaced by the Facebook friend of today, able to provide daily reports of the work being done and of accomplishments, opportunities and needs in the field.

Access - At no other time in the history of the world has the church had such access to almost every corner of the globe. From Communist countries to Islamic republics, we are seeing Christian "beach heads" spring up in almost every nation of the world, intent on reaching every people group with the Gospel.

None of this is to say that we are by any means where we need to be in regard to missions. Most of the people on this planet are lost, and we are not even keeping up with the birthrate in reaching them. But I am encouraged as I see God moving among his people to reach the world in an unprecedented way. Let's pray that the missions work of today continues to snowball into an avalanche that reaches the world for Christ.

In Christ,

-Scott

Talk Radio

January 31, 2011

Lately, there's been a lot of talk out there about talk radio. First, there was the Sheriff in Tucson, AZ, who blamed the murderous shooting spree of Jared Loughner on right wing rhetoric, a la Rush Limbaugh, and then there was the cacophony of media voices that chimed in either to agree with the sheriff, to disagree with him, or to disagree with him while still saying that what's on talk radio is harmful to the country.

Now, I'm not writing this to debate the merit of talk radio or the lack thereof. Truth is, I am a big fan of talk radio. Be it political, sports, religious or humor--I just can't get enough of the stuff. I will even find myself in any given week listening to everything from conservative political talk to public radio and everything in between. I just really enjoy being exposed to a wide variety of ideas and rolling it all around in my head and thinking about it.

But that's not really what I'm writing about either! What I really want to talk about is something that happened to me over the weekend, when I turned off the radio and drove quietly down the road. At first, the silence was excruciating. I was accustomed to noise, and I needed something to cancel out the quiet. I was also accustomed to thinking about what I was hearing, and now my mind seemed to have nothing to grab hold of, wandering about aimlessly with no ideas to ponder.

That's when my mind took me back to a time several years ago, when I was in school and my car radio had gone out. I had no money to repair or replace it, so I drove to school and back each day in silence. In those moments, my mind turned toward God, and He and I had wonderful conversations. I gained new insights, found new sermon and ministry ideas, and I always exited my vehicle spiritually refreshed. That's what happened to me on this particular day--as I sat in silence, my mind connected with God, and we began to interact.

It was an awesome time--about 35 minutes--as I carried on this wonderful internal conversation with my Father. I think I will turn off the radio more often now--not necessarily because I object to what I am hearing, but because, on that day, I heard something far more valuable from someone I need to know better.

-In Christ

Scott

God, Us, and the Bible

January 24, 2011

Have you ever wondered what role the Bible plays in our relationship with God? That’s an important question, because we live in a day when many people seem to think that the Bible is irrelevant, and that they can have a great relationship with God while totally ignoring His word. I would argue that without God’s word, it is near impossible to have a relationship with Him at all. Here’s why:

First, God’s revelation of Himself and the way to salvation in Him comes to us through Scripture. Now, the Bible does say in Romans 1 that God reveals His character to us in nature as well, but it also says in Romans 10:17 that the faith relationship comes through hearing the words of Christ. So, in terms of the foundation of a relationship with God, it is clear that the Bible is of vital importance, taking us beyond “knowing about Him” and leading us to truly know Him.

Second, the Bible is an essential part of our ongoing conversation with God. Once again, it is true that God will sometimes give us knowledge, guidance and wisdom through just the interaction that we have with Him in prayer, but the greater part of our interaction with Him happens as we combine prayer and study of the Scriptures. In that mix, the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and minds to grow us in any number of ways, ultimately drawing us closer to God and fashioning us into His likeness.

Third, the Scriptures make us aware of God’s great plans for us beyond this life, leading us to place our trust and our hope in Him to an even greater degree. We don’t have to wonder, with anxiety, if we will be granted access into heaven, but rather, through the encouragement of the biblical record, we can live with assurance and expectation.

Fourth, the Bible gives us clear information concerning God’s work in the world, and it instructs us as to how we may be involved in His work. Even more so, it lets us know that God wants us to be involved in His work. I hope you’ll take some time to consider these ideas this week, and I hope they will motivate you to grow your relationship with Him by digging into His word.

In Christ,

-Scott

God's Approval Rating

January 16, 2011

When I was a young minister, in college and in my early 20s, I was a youth minister at a church in the western part of the Birmingham area. It was a small church, but it had a lot of potential to reach the surrounding neighborhoods, and we had a young and enthusiastic staff to lead the church in doing it.

As the youth minister, I had decided early on that the best thing I could do was first to lead students to faith in Christ and then to mentor them in their newfound faith by teaching them the basics of what it meant to be a believer and to live as a follower of Christ. I knew that the best way for me to do this would be to embed them deeply into God's word. That being the case, in addition to my regular Bible teaching times with them on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, I developed a discipleship group for those who wanted to go deeper.

Our discipleship group met on a weeknight, and we sought to grow at an accelerated rate in regard to our knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures. In order for that to happen, we based our approach to the Bible on three pillars: First, we memorized Scripture. Whatever we happened to be studying that week, everyone in the group memorized it, and we all quoted it together when we met. Second, we would take that week's passage and dissect it, learning the definitions of words we didn't know, exploring ideas that we found intriguing, and we would try to pull every last ounce of truth out of it that we could. Finally, we would apply the passage, asking questions like, "What does this have to do with me," and "How can I put this into practice in my life?"

In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul urges the young Timothy to find approval in God's eyes by learning how to rightly handle the word of truth--the Bible. If God were to base His approval of you on how deftly you handle His word, what kind of approval rating do you think you'd receive from Him? If you don't think it would be that great, maybe you can simply do what our youth group did more than 20 years ago--begin to memorize, analyze and exercise God's word. It just might change your life!

Word to the People

January 7, 2011

In 2011, Liberty Park Baptist is celebrating something we’re calling the “Year of the Bible.” In my previous article, I described how this came about, but I left out one very important item: At the beginning of this whole process of thinking about and developing the idea of the “Year of the Bible,” I was reading an article online that mentioned that 2011 is the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, and that's what really started the ball rolling in regard to this emphasis. 

This anniversary might not be all that significant to you—after all, most evangelical Christians these days don’t even use the KJV Bible anymore due to the fact that it was written in language (Elizabethan English) that is extremely difficult for the average person to read and understand today. Back in 1611, however, the KJV Bible reflected the language and grammar of the day, making it thoroughly readable to the person of that period.

Briefly, let me explain to you why the KJV Bible is powerfully significant for us, even today: Prior to its publication, there were other English Bibles widely available to the public, but many of them were riddled with translation errors, some very grievous. Other versions were filled with marginal notes that promoted a particular theological or political bent, while yet others were so full of intricate illustrations that they were too expensive for the average person to purchase. Most Bibles of that period were also based on the Latin Vulgate, the official Bible of the Catholic Church, rather than earlier Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.

In response to these issues, the translators of the KJV Bible based their work on the oldest Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, left out all illustrations and marginal notes, and worked diligently to correct the mistakes in previous translations. Because the quality of their work, the KJV Bible became the de facto Bible of the English-speaking world by the mid-1600s, and it remained so until the latter part of the 20th century. So, as we celebrate our “Year of the Bible,” we do so as beneficiaries of the work of others who labored to bring God's word to His people. And for that, I am truly thankful!

In Christ,

--Scott

2011--The Year of the Bible

January 4, 2011

It's 2011, and we have officially launched the "Year of the Bible" at Liberty Park Baptist Church. Now, if you know anything about LPBC, you might think it a bit odd that we would call any specific year the "Year of the Bible." After all, we focus on the Bible all the time at LPBC, and all we do is founded upon Scripture and scriptural principles. In fact, you'd have to look high and low to find anything we do that is not infused with the Bible. So why call 2011 the Year of the Bible? Let me explain:

Last year, I was reading an article in which it mentioned that 2011 would be the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Version of the Bible. That got me thinking about the emphasis we place on the Bible as a congregation, and as I was thinking I started to consider that, while we ask our children to memorize Scripture through AWANA, and some of our students as well are working on Scripture memorization, we as a church don't really ask our adults to memorize Scripture. That bothered me.

About the same time, someone sent me an email telling me about a book entitled 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know By Heart. Soon thereafter, our Minister of Education, Stephen Shelton, approached me about an idea that he had to lead the entire church in reading the Bible all the way through in a year. As all of this bounced around in my head, I started talking with our staff about it, and we all were in agreement--in the coming year (2011), we should focus as a congregation on making a concerted group effort to read the Bible through and to memorize Scripture.

Now that 2011 has arrived, the plan has been hatched. In our weekly publications, announcements, and on our website, you'll find weekly memory verses as well as a daily Bible reading plan. The website particularly is helpful, providing links to the Bible passages on the internet. So will you join me in making 2011 the Year of the Bible?

In Christ,

-Scott

An Indescribable Gift

December 20, 2010

Sometimes a gift just takes your breath away--you know, that gift that is unexpected, perhaps even extravagant, shocking in its value and powerful in its impact. I love being able to provide moments like that for my family at Christmas. When Beth and I had only been married a few years, and our children were younger, it was fairly easy. I would take a lot of time, really do my research, shop around to find what I needed and the best price for it, and then do crazy things like skip lunch for several weeks to save up money to buy it.

Now that I've been married for more than twenty years, however, and now that my kids are older and much less susceptible to the "shock and awe" factor, it's much more difficult. As a husband and father I confess that it saddens me a little bit, especially as I think about those wonderful Christmas mornings when I could tell by the looks on their faces that I had nailed it.

I have to wonder, as I approach this Christmas season, if God as our Father experiences a similar sadness when we, as His children, fail to be amazed anymore by His wonderful, extravagant, valuable gift of Jesus Christ. I don't know the answer to that, but I can tell you that I don't want Him to have to feel that way because of me. Instead, I want Him to see in my heart the overflowing joy that the Apostle Paul displayed in regard to Jesus Christ as he exclaimed in 2 Corinthians 9:15, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

As you enjoy Christmas this year, take time to consider the extravagant and unexpected gift that God has given us in Jesus Christ. Re-read the story of God's amazing and powerful grace. You might just discover in the process that God's indescribable gift still takes your breath away!

In Christ,

-Scott

The Worth of the Soul

December 13, 2010

I always tell people that I started going to church nine months before I was born. That's my way of saying that my participation in church is something that is deeply imbedded in my life. I believe that there are great advantages that have come with that rich heritage of faith, laid down by many generations of my family, but there are also the occasional downsides I run into as well.

One such downside I have identified centers on the fact that, having heard the great songs of the faith most of my life, I often find myself not really paying attention to the words and what they mean. In fact, there are times I realize that I have never really comprehended the words of a song and that now, as an adult, I "discover" a song for the first time, although I have most likely heard it thousands of times throughout my life.

That happened to me this week, as I read the lyrics from the song, Oh, Holy Night. The words that particularly struck me were these: "Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, 'til He appeared, and the soul felt its worth."

As I read those words, I thought about how true and powerful they are. I am often concerned over the number of people who, it seems, do not realize their worth in the eyes of God. That lack of realization is evident in how they live, in the attitudes they hold, and in the things they allow into their lives and in which they participate.

And yet, in the coming of Christ at Christmas, we discover that God's regard for us is so great that He sent Jesus to us, who took on flesh and became God with us--and who died in our stead to give life to us. I hope that this Christmas will bring you a renewed understanding of your soul's worth to God.

In Christ,

-Scott

God's Christmas Presence

December 6, 2010

Long before the birth of Christ--some 700 years before--the prophet Isaiah spoke these words: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Later, in Matthew's recollection of Jesus' birth, he reminds the reader of Isaiah's prophecy, adding the explanatory note that "Immanuel" translates from Hebrew into the phrase, "God with us."

With that declaration, the most mysterious, wonderful and scandalous idea in all history is proclaimed: the Incarnation. That God--the Creator, the Divine and Most Holy One, the Most High, the Origin and Sustainer of all--would condescend to come to us, taking on our form and dying on our behalf, is a mystery to all. To those who believe its truth, the mystery is wonderful. To those who do not believe, it is scandalous.

The Apostle Paul said that the story of Christ is "a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). I think Paul's analysis holds up today as well. For some, the whole idea is a stumbling block; for others, it is foolishness. But for those who have trusted in this Immanuel, it is the power and wisdom of God!

As you encounter others this Christmas, you will find some from every camp. Pray for those who do not understand God's presence with us that we celebrate at Christmas, and watch for opportunities to tell them about His love and offer of salvation for them. He came to be "God with them" too, and desires to make His presence known in their lives. Share your faith. Share the power and the wisdom of God. It just might be their best Christmas present ever!

In Christ,

-Scott

Beyond Your Christmas List

November 29, 2010

It's that time of the year again--the time when we all start getting serious about finding those special gifts for the people on our Christmas lists. For many of us, it's also the time when we think about how we might be a blessing to others beyond our Christmas lists through charitable giving. If this describes you, let me make a few suggestions for you in regard to how you might direct your giving this Christmas:

First, consider giving to a Christian missionary organization. As a church, we give annually to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, 100% of which goes to provide resources for missionaries in foreign lands. There are many worthy organizations doing great work as well, so find one that you are passionate about and help them out.

Second, give to a relief agency that meets physical/material needs. Two great examples are Samaritan's Purse and World Vision, both of which provide a Christian witness as they meet those needs. Interestingly, both of these organizations have Christmas "catalogs" through which you can "purchase" things like livestock, water wells, clothing, and food (check them out online). What a great project it would be for a Bible Study group to take up a donation at their Christmas party and buy a cow for a village in Africa!

Third, provide Christmas gifts or meals for a local family that is suffering financially this Christmas. If you know of such a family, you might want to just help them directly. If not, organizations like the Birmingham Baptist Association and the Salvation Army provide avenues for assisting others on the local level.

Space prevents me from going on, but just know that Christmas takes on a whole new meaning when you choose to help others beyond your Christmas list!

In Christ,

-Scott

The Science of Gratitude

November 22, 2010

With this being the week of Thanksgiving, I decided to do a little reading on the subject, specifically searching for scientific research that focuses on the affects of gratitude on the human brain. I had hoped that I might find a few things here and there, but was shocked to find that there is actually a great deal of research on the subject, most of which points to the necessity of sincere gratitude for a person's health and well being.

I don't know why I was surprised; in recent years, scientific research has on many occasions "proven" what the Bible has taught for thousands of years--things like the vital nature of forgiveness for the success of our relationships, the importance of fellowship and community in our lives, the negative impact of uncontrolled anger, the positive impact of a caring and nurturing environment for our children...and I could go on and on.

Point is, the scientific research that is out there regarding gratitude shows that the individual who chooses to practice sincere gratitude actually experiences a change in brain chemistry and the development of new neurological pathways that have a calming effect on the life of that person. Interestingly, these same studies show that faked gratitude has a negative effect on brain chemistry and does not produce new brain circuitry--only the real thing has such an impact!

With all this in mind, I have two questions for you to ponder as we approach Thanksgiving: Have you made the conscious decision to become a person of sincere gratitude? Have you decided stop complaining about your burdens and start counting your blessings instead? Give it a shot. It will change your life from the inside out!

In Christ,

-Scott

The Other 90%

November 15, 2010

Over the last couple of weeks at Liberty Park Baptist Church, we have been focusing on stewardship, which we have loosely defined as "what you do with what God has given you." As we've looked at the subject, we have examined it in terms of our time, our talents (which we defined as the things that make you uniquely you) and our treasure--a threefold division of life that has been often used by believers to talk about the totality of life and biblical stewardship of it.

As we go into this last week of our stewardship emphasis, our focus will narrow in on the last part of that trio: our treasure. Usually, when we think of our treasure, we automatically think of our paychecks. That's a good place to start, but there is really so much more to it than just that. This point came home to me a couple of years ago, when I first heard a presentation from The Alabama Baptist Foundation entitled, "Stewarding Your Stuff."

In this presentation, it was noted that 90% of a person's net worth is tied up in assets outside of his or her bank account--and yet, when it comes to stewardship, it is usually only that 10% that we consider. The presenter went on to talk about our responsibility as believers to be good stewards of all that we own, encouraging us as listeners even to think in terms of what will happen with all our stuff when we die, encouraging us to consider how we might reconstruct our wills to benefit God's work when we pass from this life. 

Have you ever thought about what it truly means to be a good steward of all your stuff--not just your paycheck? When I consider what could happen with the work of God around the world if we all were to commit to being good stewards of the other 90%, I'm blown away. What if it started with us?

In Christ,

-Scott

Before you go...

November 8, 2010

When someone passes away, and I am called in by the family to perform a funeral, it has been my practice through the years to sit with the family and hear from them about the life of the person who has died. Family members will usually relate to me basic biographical information, including date/place of birth, important dates such as when the individual received Christ, graduated from high school and college, when he was married, etc.

Once we get past the basic facts of that person's earthly existence, however, the stories begin to come out--stories about family, stories about victories and struggles and failures and adventures, and humorous stories that bring smiles to everyone's faces. I enjoy these times, when the real person is revealed beyond the bare facts, and I always come away wishing that I had known that person as they did.

Every once in a while, as these stories are being told, I find myself hearing of who this person was and what he accomplished, about his life and how he spent it--and I think to myself how amazing his life could have been if all of his experiences, abilities, talents, passions and drive had been focused in on things that made an eternal difference. I find myself wondering how many lives could have been changed for eternity if he would have committed all of what made him who he was to God's great purpose of seeking and saving the lost.

That being said, let me encourage you--who are still living--to think in those terms as well. All that makes up who you are--your experiences, your talents, your abilities, your giftedness, your passions--if you were to place all of them at God's feet for His use, what might He--with the creative power that brought the universe into existence--do with it all?

In Christ,

-Scott

Time

November 1, 2010

In an article in the February 25, 1966 issue of Time magazine, the author looked ahead to the 21st century, doing his best to gaze into the future and describe to his readers what America would be like in the decades to come:

     By 2000, the machines will be producing so much that everyone in the U.S. will, in effect, be independently      wealthy. With government benefits, even non-working families will have, by one estimate, an annual income of      $30,000-$40,000 (in 1966 dollars!). How to use leisure time meaningfully will be a major problem.

Sounds like he nailed it, right? Don't you find yourself daily tied up in knots of anxiety over how to use your boundless hours of leisure time in a meaningful way? Wait--you say you don't have boundless hours of leisure time? If not, then you're pretty much like the rest of us.

Like everyone else, you find that the above prophecy is way off, your life being better described by the forward-looking Christian writer George Barna. In his 1990 book The Frog in the Kettle: What Christians Need to Know about Life in the Year 2000, Barna noted that in the 21st century time would become our greatest commodity, superseding money as the most precious "currency" of our lives.

His thoughts could not have been more prophetic! Now, in 2010, we live as a people whose time seems to be completely consumed. That being the case, the stewardship of our time has become one of our greatest issues of obedience in regard to our Christian walk. As you consider how you spend your time, can you say with confidence that your time is being spent in a way that honors God and gives attention to His priorities?

In Christ,

-Scott

Christians and Politics

October 25, 2010

With the mid-term elections coming up next week, the usual discussion has been brewing about the role of Christians in politics and the influence (or lack thereof) that we wield in supporting candidates and shaping policy. In a recent article I was reading, one author took the approach that the church itself is under greater threat than it has ever been before, due to the proliferation and acceptance in our nation of things that we have historically opposed, and he pushed for greater-than-ever involvement of evangelicals in the realm of politics.

The second author in the article asked the church to question whether its efforts in politics, going back to the moral majority of the 1980s, had actually borne any fruit. His argument was that it had not--politicians are just as corrupt as ever, our society appears to be in a state of quickening moral decline, and things generally are looking bleak for the church. His opinion was that the church should abandon any and all efforts to affect politics and should rather focus on converting the hearts and minds of individuals one at a time, with the goal of bringing about socio-political change through internal transformation of lives.

As I read these two pieces, I thought that both men's arguments had merit. It occurred to me, however, that they had created a false dichotomy between our societal responsibilities and our calling to reach people with the Gospel. Truth is, we as believers are to be busy in both regards, seeking to reach individuals for Christ, while also serving as "salt and light" and "a city set on a hill" in the midst of our society.

To abandon either is to abandon an aspect of who we are and who we are called to be. So I say be a witness, seeking to lead others to Christ, but also be a responsible member of society, voting according to our God-given values outlined in Scripture. Stand up for Christ interpersonally AND in the voting booth!

In Christ,

- Scott

"I reached out for God"

October 18, 2010

Seldom in the history of the world have so many people around the world been so focused in on and excited about something as they were on Tuesday, October 12, as 33 Chilean miners were rescued from a collapsed mine where they had been trapped for 69 days. From more than 2,000 feet underground, they emerged, via a metal capsule, a mere 21 inches in diameter, that was slowly raised through a bore hole of about the same width.

As the miners emerged, stories began to pour forth about these men who had survived this harrowing ordeal. Among those that I found intriguing was the story of Mario Sepulveda, the second miner to be rescued. Excited to be alive and free, Sepulveda could be heard shouting victoriously before the capsule even reached the surface. As he exited the capsule, he handed out souvenir rocks to his rescuers, giving them all a good laugh.

What I found intriguing, however, was what he said when finally corralled by reporters. In describing how he dealt with the mental anguish that accompanied being underground for so long, unsure if he would ever see the sun again, he said, "I was with God and with the devil. And I reached out for God."

What an amazing metaphor for those times when we feel we have been trapped deep underneath layers of "life" from which we doubt we will ever escape! In such moments, we also face choices that will impact us and those around us, perhaps for years--even generations--to come. On the one hand, we have God's way, while on the other we have that of the devil. I encourage you, as you stand in those in-between places, to reach out for God. He's there, and He loves you.

In Christ,

- Scott

Path and Destination

October 11, 2010

Most of us have difficult time thinking about our own mortality. Even for people who are pushing the edges of the actuarial tables, our physical demise always seems to be something that is “out there”—something that we know is an eventuality for us, but at the same time something we never really consider to be imminent. Perhaps that’s why so many people walk through life without giving much thought to the fact that for us all death is an impending reality, unless Christ returns first.

Such an approach to life makes it easy for people to wander through their existence with no thought to where they are headed or to what they will leave behind when they exit from this life into eternity. That being the case, too often we fail to consider the path we are walking and where it will take us when we get to the end of it. I am convinced that many people have some idea of where they want to end up ideally—both in this life and in the next—yet the path they are walking is completely out of synch with where they want to be.

On Sunday, I challenged our church to ask themselves this question: “When I get where I am going, where will I be?” At first blush, this question sounds like one of those Buddha-like esoteric, philosophical questions, but in truth it is a very practical question, because it gets to the heart of what we’re doing with our lives and what the consequences will be.

What about you? Have you given thought to where your present path is leading you? Are you okay with the destination that awaits you? If not, I urge you to evaluate the path of your life in light of God’s direction as revealed in Scripture, and make all necessary corrections. You might be surprised what a better path God’s path is for your life!

In Christ,

- Scott

Eureka Moments

October 4, 2010

When was the last time you had a real "eureka moment"--you know, one of those instances in which you have just discovered something deep and profound? I'm talking about those times of discovery when you are so taken aback by what you've learned that you just have to sit down and be amazed for a while, and then you feel that you have to go and tell others about what you've learned.

For many of us, it has been a good long while since we've had a discovery of that import, and perhaps more so in regard to matters of the spirit than anything else. Especially for those of us who grew up involved in church, things that are spiritual in nature can become very old-hat, and we can easily fall into a phase of existence in which we don't even consider that there is anything new to learn, concluding, much like Solomon, that there is truly "nothing new under the sun."

Knowing that this is a danger that can result in spiritual cynicism and malaise, I challenged our congregation on Sunday to focus this week on learning at least one new thing from God. I don't know if anyone will actually take me up on it or not, but I have every confidence that God will be teaching us, regardless. The question is, will we be spiritually positioned and prepared to receive and understand what He's communicating to us?

I want to encourage you to open your spiritual eyes and ears to listen and learn from God. What might He be trying to teach you right now?

In Christ,

- Scott

Intentional Acts of Agapé

September 27, 2010

Several years ago, there was a movement of sorts that was being promoted around the U.S. that revolved around the idea of people performing "random acts of kindness." I remember at the time thinking that it was a great idea--doing nice things for people in a completely unexpected, unplanned fashion. I even performed a few random acts of kindness myself, and it was always fun to see the happy yet perplexed look on the face of the person who was the target.

After a while, however, I remember thinking that it was all a bit too random for me. I enjoyed it, but the whole end of it seemed to just be the brightening up of someone's day. I felt a desire to do something less random; something that had as its desired result connecting a person with the love of God (a.k.a., agapé). After all, God's love is not random in its connection with us. On the contrary, John 3:16 reveals  God's love is targeted ("For God so loved the world"); it is revealed through an intentional act ("that He gave His only begotten Son"); and it has a definite desired end ("that whosoever believes might not perish but have eternal life").

Don't get me wrong--random acts of kindness are great; I still enjoy doing them from time to time. However, as I walk through life, desiring to know and to connect with God's great purpose of drawing people back to Himself, more and more I desire to perform "intentional acts of agapé," acts that reveal God's love to others and point them back to Him. What about you? When was the last time you performed an intentional act that displayed the love of God to another individual? When was the last time you did something that directed another person to your Father?

In Christ,

-Scott

Bucket Lists

September 20, 2010

Back in 2007, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman co-starred in a movie entitled The Bucket List. The gist of the movie is that the two main characters, played by Nicholson and Freeman, have both been diagnosed with terminal illnesses and, after spending some time together in the same hospital room, develop a "bucket list"--a list of things they hope to do before they die--and then the become great friends while accomplishing the items on their list.

I was thinking about bucket lists just the other day, and I wondered what sort of things I would place on my own list if I took the time to develop one. I know one item on my list would be that I want to go "noodling." In case you don't know what that is, "noodling," also known as "grabbling," involves catching catfish barehanded by putting your hand into holes where large ones reside, letting them clamp onto your hand, and them pulling them out, holding onto them by the bottom lip (theirs, not yours). I fully realize that I am most likely in a very small minority of people who would have such a thing on their bucket list, but hey, it's what I want to do.

On Sunday, I challenged our congregation to develop a bucket list--not like the one mentioned above that would involve noodling, but a "spiritual bucket list" that would include the things you would want to accomplish in connection with your relationship with God before you step out of this life. Things like developing a regular prayer life, memorizing 100 Bible verses, leading someone to Christ, going on a mission trip to a foreign country, etc. You know, the kind of stuff that really matters. What about you? If you knew that your time was short, and you were called to put together a spiritual bucket list, what would yours include?

In Christ,

- Scott

Peaks, Valleys and Plains

September 13, 2010

When I was a kid, my family took a trip out west, driving the family van to California and back over a three-week period. As we traveled, I was amazed at the vastness and beauty of our country, and also by the variety of landscapes that we saw. As we made our way out west, we stopped in Colorado to "climb" Pike's Peak, and on our way back east we stopped in Arizona to view the majestic vastness of the Grand Canyon. I remember being awed by the grandeur of such places.

While those landscapes were appealing to me, however, I was not so fond of the vast plains out in the Midwest. In fact, I remember being bored to tears by the miles and miles of flat, featureless grasslands (remember, this was before iPods and videos). This week, I was thinking that life is like that sometimes. It has its peaks and its valleys, but then it also has its long, flat stretches of featureless terrain--and it's often in those boring plains of life that I have the most trouble in regard to spiritual things.

You see, the appeal of the peak times in life is obvious, and, while no one would ask for the valleys in life, at least they're still "interesting" and keep our focus on the important things. But in the vast, boring stretches of life I find my mind and heart wandering sometimes, and it's often much more difficult to focus on God than in either the peaks or the valleys. That's why I have to remind myself time and time again, that the God of the peaks and of the valleys is also the God of the plains--and I have to make every effort to meet Him there.

What about you? Have you pushed God out to the corners of your life so that He's just the God of the peaks and the valleys? If so, I encourage you to resolve with me to stick with Him as we travel through the plains.

In Christ,

- Scott

One Month to Live

September 7, 2010

 What would you do if you knew that you only had one month to live? That's an intriguing question, yet it's the type of question that we seldom contemplate, particularly due to its focus on our own mortality. Questions like that also tend to be a little too hypothetical for us, as long as we're healthy and things are going well. But what about it? What would you do?

Would you curl up in a ball and wait for the end to come? Would you go on a wild, libertine tear, living out the saying, "Eat, drink and be merry; for tomorrow we die"? Would you spend your last days in prayer, surrounded by your friends and loved ones, seeking God's graciousness as the end approached? Would you travel? Seek to complete your "bucket list"? Give everything away? Spend all your money on excessive and riotous living? What would you do?

In all honesty, it's a little difficult to know without actually being there. You can, however, have a plan. In fact, you can have a plan that you actually start living out now, so that whenever your number is called and your time on Earth is up, you can exit from this life with no regrets.

On Sunday, September 12, our church will begin a study of "One Month to Live," a book written by Kerry and Chris Shook. We'll be examining some challenging questions and looking for biblical answers as we seek to develop plans for our lives that will bring transformation--so that whether we have one month or many years to live, we'll be able to say with all honesty and integrity that we lived and left with no regrets.

In Christ,

- Scott

The Things that Don't Happen

August 23, 2010

"My only explanation is that God intervened. We thank God for what did not happen." That's a quote from Pastor Jay Wolf of Montgomery's First Baptist Church following an accident last Saturday involving one of their church vans. The vehicle, carrying 14 people on a student ministry daytrip to Lake Martin, rolled over three times as a result of a tire blowing out, destroying the van and ejecting some of the students--one into the oncoming traffic lanes on I-85--before coming to a rest.

I received the news from my wife on Saturday morning, soon after the wreck had occurred, and I waited to hear what was sure to be tragic news of those who had been terribly injured or even killed. Having served on staff at Montgomery FBC for four years, I was familiar with many of the passengers in the van, including their student minister, Stuart Davidson, who had to be cut from the wreck using the Jaws of Life. I shuddered to think about the sorrow that I expected to unfold and overwhelm the people of that church as the reports came in of lives lost and of others hanging by a thread due to injury.

But it was not to be. Amazingly--miraculously--what should have been by every law of nature a horrifically tragic accident turned out to be an occasion for rejoicing, as news began to trickle out that none of the injuries was life-threatening and that only three of them would even require hospitalization. As a result, Sunday morning's services at First Baptist turned into a time of thanksgiving and of recognition of God's divine intervention in the lives of His children. From afar, I thanked God along with them! I am reminded, as I continue to be amazed at the unlikely outcome of this incident, that God does so much in our lives that we won't even know about until we meet Him face to face. Aware of this, I thank God for the things that do not happen.

In Christ,

- Scott

Conduit or Catch-all?

August 16, 2010

In our worship services on Sunday, Micah McElveen, founder and president of Vapor Sports Ministries, challenged us in regard to God's blessings in our lives, asking whether we are "conduits" for those blessings or a "catch-alls" of those blessings. As I later pondered Micah's question, I thought about the powerful distinction between these strikingly opposite ways of thinking and existing. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject:

It appears that it is basic human nature to be a catch-all--not just in regard to God's blessings, but in regard to life in general. We as a species are very self-oriented, and, although we have our moments of altruism, we generally want to gather up for ourselves all that we can and hold onto it tightly. Such an approach to life was exemplified in a bumper sticker I once saw that read, "He who dies with the most toys wins." For many of us, as God pours His blessings into our lives, we soak them up, hoping and even praying for an ever-increasing flow. In essence, we become spiritual hoarders, gathering up and holding onto every little scrap that God gives us.

The opposite approach to life is to become a conduit--that is, to become a pipeline through which God's blessings flow to others. This approach is selfless in orientation, which can lead a person to ask, "But what about me?" The ironic reality, however, is that the blessings that come from being a conduit actually exceed the blessings that come from being a catch-all. It's a hard concept to grasp, yet once grasped, it's an amazing way to live. Perhaps the grasping of this approach is helped by the counterpoint to the above bumper sticker I also saw that read, "He who dies with the most toys--still dies." So why not share? Why not become a conduit rather than a catch-all?

In Christ,

- Scott

Back to the Routine

August 9, 2010

It's often difficult after a "mountaintop" experience as a believer to settle back into the normal routine of life without feeling some sense of loss. That's what many of us experienced recently upon our return to "real life" following a mission trip to Bolivia. Among the comments I heard (and sometimes made) reflected on the fact that, while on a mission trip, you're able to spend all your waking hours with the single-minded focus of working for God, with no distractions and no diversions. When you return home and get back to the routine, however, it seems that you have to schedule time to serve God, while everything else takes precedence.

Unless you're ready to go live in a monastery or a convent, however, that's just how life is, and the challenge for the believer is learning to serve God and be completely surrendered to Him in the midst of and in spite of everything else that's going on. That's why, since I've returned from Bolivia, one of my prayers has been that God will teach me how to wake up every day with an attitude of the heart that says, "Lord, how may I work for YOU today," rather than a hear that says, "Lord, how can you work for ME today?"

I know full well that not all of life can be lived on the mountain. I also know, however, that the God of my mountaintop experiences is the same God of my valleys and of the broad, flat plains of my life as well. My hope is that, as we learn to become more attuned to serving Him no matter what the level of life we are presently experiencing, we will find a richness of life that makes the routine much less routine.

In Christ,

- Scott

When God Shows Off

August 2, 2010

I am not a newbie to the mission trip thing. I've been involved in missions locally, regionally, nationally and globally, and I've been blessed every time. But this Bolivia trip that a bunch of us just returned from was something different from anything else I've experienced. The meshing together of the team (which came from multiple churches), the eagerness to serve, the dependence on God, the joyfulness of our fellowship--all of it was just beyond amazing. 

I'm not the only one who felt that way. Time and time again, I heard even the seasoned missions veterans say that this trip was unlike anything they had experienced. Beyond the things mentioned above, however, were the times that we got to see God at work. It seemed that every time we turned around, something was happening that only had a God explanation to it (you'll have to talk to individual team members about the stories, because space does not permit here--there are many).

As the week rolled on, and we saw God do several wonderful things, some of us began to refer to these occurrences as "God showing off." We didn't mean it in a negative way, but rather just that God was revealing Himself to us in unique and unexpected ways, displaying to us His glory, His knowledge, His power, His creativity and His redemptive heart. Now that we're back (thanks for your prayers!), my prayer is that God will continue to leave our eyes wide open so we will not miss it as He continues to "show off" right here at home.

In Christ,

- Scott

Greetings from Bolivia

July 26, 2010

A Dent in the Darkness

July 19, 2010

When I was a kid, I remember the times we would have a missionary come to our church to talk about the work being done in a variety of exotic locales around the world. I also remember being involved in Royal Ambassadors, or R.A.'s, a Southern Baptist organization for boys that was designed to teach them about missions.I remember thinking that the life of the missionary was something that was completely foreign to me, strange and almost unimagineable, and that I could never see myself doing anything like that at all.

And yet, on Friday I will be leaving with a group from our church to go to Bolivia to serve for a week as a missionary--something I never would have envisioned way back then. This is not the first time, however, that I've gone on foreign and domestic mission trips, and certainly not the first time we as a church have sent our people. In fact, what I could not have imagined just a few years ago has now almost become routine, as thousands--maybe tens of thousands--of American Christians go around the world annually as part-time missionaries to the ends of the earth.

Yes, it's an amazing time in which we live, one in which Average Joe Church Member can go across the world to serve others and to tell about Christ. It's amazing, and it's encouraging too. It's my hope and my prayer, that as more of us go, that we will really begin to put a dent in the darkness. Pray, give, and go.

In Christ,

- Scott

Christ Followers

July 12, 2010

Over the last few years, I have noticed--sometimes with amusement--the great name changes that have been going on in churches across America. For example, everyone used to have Sunday School, but now we have small groups, life groups, Bible study fellowships, Bible fellowships, and Sunday morning Bible study groups--all of which are still Sunday School called by another name.

Other examples of the renaming trend abound as churches these days seek to distinguish themselves by coming up with creative names for just about everything. Ministers of Music have been re-titled as "Worship Pastor," "Worship Leader," "Pastor of Music and Worship" or (my personal favorite) "Associate Pastor of Worship, Media and the Creative Arts." Worship services have been given creative names such as "The Oasis," "The Well," "Focus," and "Alive."

I even saw a video recently in which a man pointedly identified himself as a "Christ follower." It's not the first time I have heard this terminology used, yet I found it intriguing, because he seemed to employ it for the purpose of distinguishing himself as something beyond just a regular "Christian." Now, as confusing as it might be, I'm not opposed to using different names for who we are--after all, the Bible calls us many things, including Disciples, Believers, Christians, Saints, Children of God, Followers of Jesus and Followers of the way, to name a few. I am concerned, however, that some appear to put more stock in the external of a name than on the internal transformation that should result from a sincere walk with Christ.

So, as the renaming craze continues, let's not forget that what we call ourselves is far less important than who we really are. Be who HE has called you to be (Ephesians 4:1).

In Christ,

- Scott

Far Better than I Expected

July 6, 2010

On Sunday afternoon, I drove down to Dadeville, Alabama to spend the 4th of July at the lake with my in-laws and some friends. When all was said and done, a group of 23 folks had gathered to celebrate with lots of food, frivolity and fireworks. Needless to say, it was a bit crowded, considering that my mother-in-law's lakehouse is a small, two bedroom house with only one(!) bathroom.

I have to confess that on my way down there, following our Sunday service, I was steeling myself for what I thought might turn out to be a miserable time, thinking I would just wait it out--perhaps lie in the lake on a float, tie a rope to my leg and drift far away from everyone--until most everyone went home and left just the few of us there who were spending the night and staying the next day.

As I arrived, I tried mentally to shake off my curmudgeonly attitude and put on a happy face. Yet, to my surprise, within a matter of minutes I found myself truly having a great time, and I got to see God at work that day too.

Let me explain: A friend of ours who we have known for many years (my wife has known her since she was a baby; I have know her since she was a teenager and even performed part of her wedding) was there with her three small children. Her marriage has recently disintegrated, and she and her kids are on their own. As she tried to deal with her kids, I saw a family envelop them and through their actions live out the love of Christ to them. I saw multiple daddies play in the lake and fish with the children. I saw several mommies help them with their meals and snacks and generally watch out for them. I saw grandmothers and cousins interact with them lovingly and joyfully, and, at least for a day, allow them to set aside the rough time they're going through and just have fun at the lake, surrounded by love.

That night, after everyone had left, I told my wife, Beth, that what I had initially dreaded I ended up truly enjoying. In fact, I had to confess that I had a great time with all three of the little ones--especially with little three-year-old Anna, who latched onto me and let me carry her around and play with her in the lake.

I was reminded through all this that God has a way of opening up such opportunities to us and that He often does it when we least expect it and aren't even in the proper frame of mind for it. I thank God that He enhanced my July 4th experience this year by opening my eyes to the needs of the people around me and by allowing me to see such a wonderful display of love and grace through my family and friends. All in all, I have to say that my July 4th turned out to be far better than I had expected.

I hope your 4th was great too.

In Christ,

- Scott

An Old Friend's Birthday

June 28, 2010

Hellos and Goodbyes

June 28, 2010

I have always said that in ministry you only have one first day and one last day at a church, and that both are extremely important. On Sunday, we experienced the rare convergence of the two, as we welcomed Wesley (our new Student Minister), Nicole and Jacob Braswell and said goodbye to Craig (our Minister of Music), Lynsey and Lula Biondi. For me as a minister, it was fascinating to watch how it all worked, as our congregation ran the emotional gamut from beginning to end in just a matter of a couple of hours.

What I saw on Sunday was quite pleasing to me. I saw a church with a heart big enough to extend a welcoming embrace while simultaneously tearfully embracing a friend who is departing. Because I study human actions and interactions closely, I know that this is no small thing. On the contrary, it involves an emotional pendulum swing of immense proportions, requiring vast resources of love. That amount of love is difficult to summon up when drawn from the small pool of of our humanness. When drawn from the vast, even infinite resources of God Himself, however, there is more than enough to go around, with much left over. That is what I saw on Sunday.

It's often difficult to gauge someone else's experience, or even their perception of their experience, but my hope is that the Braswells felt loved, embraced and accepted on their first day here. And, I hope that their ongoing experience with their new LPBC family is one of continual love and support in the years to come. As Wesley leads our Student Ministry, my prayer is that he and his family will find life and ministry at LPBC to be fulfilling and meaningful.

I also hope that the Biondis will look fondly upon their time here for years to come, keeping up with us and maybe even showing up from time to time to say hello. As they go, they do so with our gratitude, our friendship and our prayers. We will be interested and invested onlookers as we wait to see what God will do next in their lives. I have no doubt that it will be something big and unique that surprises us all.

I thank God that my LPBC family is one that makes first days and last days very special. Because you allow God to shine through you, you also make many of the days in between wonderful days to be remembered.

In Christ,

- Scott

Stick the Landing

June 21, 2010

I'm not a gymnast--never have been, never will be. I'm not a huge gymnastics fan, either, but I'm a fan of competition and a loyal fan of "my" teams, so every once in a while, maybe when the University of Alabama gymnastics team has been competing for a national championship (they have six of them in gymnastics!) or the USA gymnastics teams have been competing in the Olympics, you'll find me watching a gymnastics meet (guys, stop laughing--you know you watch it too).

Many years ago, as the USA gymnastics team competed in the Olympics, I watched as one of our gymnasts performed a dismount from whatever he was on, flew through the air with all sorts of spins, twists and flips, and then landed squarely on his feet, all to the approving roar of the crowd. The commentator enthusiastically yelled, "He stuck the landing!" Now, I had never heard this phrase before, but I immediately knew that to "stick the landing" meant that the athlete had landed on his feet perfectly, without so much as a wobble to one side or the other. My common sense also told me that this was a good thing, considering the alternatives of hopping around and looking silly or falling and breaking something.

Sometimes in our lives it seems that we are like that gymnast in mid-air, spinning crazily. Yet, unlike the well-trained and skillful gymnast who is aware of his position and his intended path to the ground, we're not really sure what's going on or what's going to happen when we land. In times like these, I've learned that it's always good to do some serious praying about your situation and your response to it, and to practice patience and encouragement in the midst of it, always looking for God's guidance and hoping for and anticipating what God is going to do next. That way, when it's all said and done, you're sure to stick the landing.

In Christ

- Scott

Go and Teller

June 14, 2010

I saw a video last week on YouTube.com that blew me away. The video was by Penn Gillette, of the comedy/illusionist duo Penn & Teller, and it was truly something I did not expect. Before I explain the video to you, you need to know that Penn Gillette is an avowed atheist, highly critical of Christianity and strongly derisive of anyone who believes in God.

In the video, Gillette tells about how after a show, as he was signing autographs, he saw a man off to the side, obviously waiting to speak. The guy was familiar to Gillette, because they had used him as an audience volunteer the night before. After everyone left, the man approached Gillette and, with complimentary words about the show, presented Gillette with the gift of a small Gideon New Testament.

Here’s where I expected Gillette to begin to deride and belittle the man, but instead he was genuinely grateful, stating that, while he doesn’t believe, he can’t respect anyone who truly does believe in a heaven and hell and yet doesn’t bother to tell others about it. His statement was, “How much does someone have to hate others to refuse to tell them about something so important?”

Powerful and challenging words from an atheist. Someone once told me that folks are far more willing to listen than we are to tell. So let’s go and tell.

In Christ,

- Scott

P.S.  You can watch the video I'm talking about by clicking here.

Pray for the Harvest!

June 9, 2010

By the time you read this, we will be halfway through our 2010 VBS. I know that many of you committed to pray for VBS each day during the week, and my sincere hope is that you have kept that commitment, because the success of our VBS each year depends on our prayers!  Ways you can specifically pray can be found on our website at libertypark.org/vbs.

There is another aspect of VBS, however, that goes beyond the Monday through Friday schedule and requires our prayers as well - the VBS follow-up. Each year, as we have kids make decisions for Christ, and as we encounter families that are unchurched, we have a responsibility and opportunity to reach out with the love of Christ to confirm those new decisions and to work to bring those families into our fellowship.

Gearing up for VBS!

June 2, 2010

There are two things of great importance in the life of our church that are happening in the very near future, and I want to take some time to talk about them both. First, Vacation Bible School is almost upon us, with all of its energy and effort slated to spring into action June 7-11. As always, we have been gearing up for months for this huge evangelism opportunity that comes our way every summer, and our leaders, teachers and workers are toeing the start line, ready to take off.

As with pretty every year as well, however, we are still in need of more workers. Now, I’m confident that God will move a variety of individuals to step up and serve, as He does each year, but it does make for a little anxiety heading into the stretch without a full slate of workers. If you’d be interested in serving in VBS this year, please contact our Children’s Minister Lyn Henderson and let her know. Even if you can’t work the entire week, it would be great to have you when you’re able.

In recent years, the folks at LifeWay who put together our VBS material have done an awesome job of developing interesting themes, putting together solid teaching, and developing the theme with great music and other elements. This year is no exception. Our theme for VBS 2010 is Saddle Ridge Ranch: Roundin’ Up Questions, Drivin’ Home Answers. As you might guess, it’s a cowboy/western theme, which has Craig all excited (if you’ve ever seen the set of longhorns in his office, you’ll understand what I mean, him being a natural-born Texan and all).

Regardless of the theme, however, we always know that what will be central to the whole VBS production will be the Gospel. Year in and year out, whatever theme is used, the heart of VBS is always focused in introducing children to the idea of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. As a result, no other tool in Baptist life (or in our church’s life) comes anywhere close to reaching kids like VBS does. With that in mind, please commit to pray for our VBS this year—especially that the hearts of children will be opened up to the great truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Now, the second thing of great importance that is coming up in the life of our church is not quite as life-changing is VBS can be, although it will be more all-encompassing in its impact on the entire church family. What’s happening is redevelopment of our church’s communications, all the way from our church website to our Sunday morning bulletin to our weekly newsletter.  Beginning Sunday, June 6th, we will be making some wonderful changes to give our communications not just a new look, but a new approach to help us communicate better as a congregation.

As a staff, we have been working on this communications overhaul for many months, in cooperation with some of the top professionals in the church communications business, and we’re excited to be bringing these new developments to you soon.

Until then…

In Christ,

- Scott