Faith to Follow

 They were a motley crew. Rough around the edges. Some easily angered. Hard working. No non-sense. Salt of the earth kind of people. Blue collar workers. Earning a living by the sweat of their brow every day. Simple folk. 

That is what makes it all the more surprising they were handpicked for an important assignment. While others would have looked right past them, they were recruited for an assignment that would change history. They were given a choice. Stay in the status quo or start down the path of risk and adventure. Play it safe or throw caution to the wind. Choose safety, security, and boredom or choose discomfort, danger and excitement. 

If this group had chosen to play it safe, we would never have heard of any of them. What a simple choice to follow by faith led them to fame beyond anything they could have imagined. It was not an easy path to follow. It was a path filled with peril. In fact, some of the group did not survive. To be honest, most of them lost their life on the mission including their captain. 

What group am I referring to? You can read about them for yourself in Matt 4:18-22. The recruiter and captain of the mission was Jesus. The small band He recruited became known as the disciples. They chose to follow Jesus by faith. They left everything to join Jesus on His mission. 

Thousands of years later Jesus is still recruiting unlikely people to live on mission for Him. To surrender everything. To die to their own personal dreams in order to embrace God's greater dream. To pack their bags, loosen their tent pegs, to willingly give up the safe and familiar in order to follow Jesus into the risky unknown. Sometimes that means a change of job and cities. Other times it means a change of citizenship in a foreign land. It might require further education in preparation for service. It might lead to forsaking family in order to follow. Jesus still recruits people to follow Him by faith. 

Even if He never calls you to relocate that does not mean that He does not call you to follow Him by faith. It might be to start a ministry that you never even considered until He called. I have seen that with my own eyes. People retired from their professional lives in order to be in full time service for Him at their local church and in their local communities. It is following that requires faith. It leads to a life of fulfillment and grand adventure beyond belief. 

It all starts with faith to follow. The raw courage to say yes to Jesus' invitation to follow Him. To choose faith over fear. To choose trust over the tired routines. To choose belief over living with blinders on. I am not saying that following Jesus is always easy. It was not easy for the disciples. Most died violently in the cause of Jesus. One betrayed Jesus and committed suicide. They lived an adventure. They witnessed miracles, saw people transformed, helped start a revolution, and helped spread a movement around the world that is still going strong today. All of that started with faith to follow. Faith to accept Jesus' invitation. Faith to obey. Faith to walk away from security. Faith to embrace the adventure of the unknown. 

Could it be that Jesus is calling you? Recruiting you for His mission? Could it be that you feel a stirring inside, a restlessness, a yearning for something more? Could Jesus be kindling faith in you to follow? Let the adventure continue. 

Unexpected Consequences for Following

 This blog will not relate to everyone. It is intended for a very specific group. Those who heard God clearly call them to do something. Those who summoned the courage and stepped out in faith to obey God. They expected a certain outcome. What they got for their obedience was not what they had in mind. 

We naturally think that steps of faith will be rewarded with success. That is not always the case. I think of missionaries William Carey and Hudson Taylor who both followed God's call to minister overseas. Both suffered watching their wives die on the mission field. That was an unexpected consequence of their obedience. Taylor also buried two children on the mission field. Not what he had in mind when he surrendered to follow God to China. 

I think of Elizabeth Elliot, who married Jim, a devoted follower of Jesus. God directed them to serve in Ecuador. The thrill of following God, learning the language, and taking Jesus literally to reach with the gospel to the whole world led them down an adventurous path of making contact with a savage tribe of cannibals in the interior of the jungle. Plans were made for a weekend trip to take the gospel to this tribe. To make face to face contact with them. Previously their contact with this tribe had been from the safety of an airplane flying over the tribe and dropping things into the village as gifts. Friday and Saturday contacts with a few members of the tribe were positive. Elizabeth awaited the Sunday afternoon report by radio. It never came. Jim and four other men were killed and found days later. That was an unexpected consequence of following Jesus. 

We find an unsettling story of obedience and unexpected consequences in Exodus 5. Moses obeyed God by going to Pharaoh and demanding that he let the Israelites go worship. Pharaoh got angry and called the Hebrew slaves lazy. He refused to give them straw for making bricks but required the same quotas as before. The Hebrews were beaten and treated more harshly for Moses' obedience. They turned on Moses and said, "You have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight." 

That was not what Moses thought would happen. Moses returned to God in prayer and asked the question that has been asked millions of times through the ages. Why? Why did God bring harm on the people. Why did God send Moses he wondered out loud. Moses even accused God saying, "You have not delivered the people at all." Unexpected consequences for obedience. 

Following God requires faith. Obedience leading to unexpected consequences requires greater faith. The deeper question is if we will follow, obey, and trust God when we do not understand what He is doing. When things turn out not the way we expected. 

Does God know what He is doing? Of course, He does. He works and weaves His plans in ways too high for us to comprehend. In Moses' case, God hardened Pharaoh's heart in response to increasingly severe judgments until Pharaoh drove the Israelites from the land. Moses could not see that in Exodus 5. You may not be able to see what God is doing in your situation. 

Elizabeth Elliott could not understand as they recovered her husband's body. She trusted God anyway. So much so that she continued her husband's work. She actually lived in the village of those savages and personally led her husband's murderer to faith in Jesus for salvation. Nobody expected that. They expected the grieving widow to return to the safety of the United States. Following God will lead to some unexpected consequences. 

The ways of God can be baffling. The unexpected consequences of obedience can be devastating. Do any of us have the right to accuse God of wrongdoing? I have had to learn that following God by faith does not always lead to success in the eyes of men. I have failed repeatedly, felt humiliated, and embarrassed at God's ways when things did not turn out like I hoped. God used those moments to strip my pride. To demonstrate that I love Him more than I love the applause of men and my reputation. 

Let's face it. Some missionaries are going to be martyred. Not every church is going to grow into a mega church. Not every class is going to outgrow the room. Not every faith step is going to lead to financial prosperity. Some ventures of faith are doomed to fail. Not every prayer for healing results in healing down on earth. What are we to do? Shrink back. Play it safe. Consider the odds of success before obedience. 

Hebrews 11 is one of the more famous chapters of the Bible. We love those faith stories and the ways God intervened miraculously. We love the stories of Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Moses. What about those in verses 36-38 who were scourged, chained, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two, and put to death with the sword? Unexpected consequences for following requires faith too. It is those stories and the stories of faithful suffering saints who inspire me the most. 

May God build our faith to trust Him when things do not turn out like we expected. May our faith triumph when following God leads to some unexpected consequences. 

Stroll Down Memory Lane

 God allowed me the privilege to spend a little time in a town where I previously served as pastor today. I had the chance to reconnect with my former secretary at that church. I had the chance to hire her. It was one of the smartest decisions God directed me to make. She was and is such a blessing. I had the chance to sit and visit with her and her husband for over an hour. 

It felt a little surreal walking around the refurbished church facilities. Around every corner and in each room a memory surfaced in my mind. So many memories. So much of God working in that place. I vividly remembered the interview in that church and the invitation to come in view of a call. I recall the attendance board that day. I also recall the attendance board on that last day had quadrupled from our first Sunday because of the mighty work of God. I recall my last sermon in that church when I wept like a baby in the pulpit. It has been some time since I was last in this neck of the woods. 

We recalled some good times and not so pleasant times. We caught up on family members. Out of respect I left not wanting to hog all their time. It sure did this old pastor some good to sit with people I still love and enjoy. The fellowship did not end there. 

I scheduled a lunch appointment with a man from that church that Brenda and I are very close to him and his wife. We ate slowly and talked a lot. We laughed, joked, talked about serious health issues, the church, and Spring Creek. We both agreed the fellowship was way better than the food. 

With a little time to kill before my next appointment I drove to the local library where I whipped out this computer and jotted down some thoughts. Thoughts about wonderful memories. Times of great triumph. Also, times of some agonizing defeats. Souls were saved. The church grew in dramatic fashion, we embraced God ordained mission opportunities, and we also dreamed together about God's preferred future. We enjoyed a very sweet and fruitful ministry there. God moved us a long time ago. A part of my heart lingers with those wonderful people. 

Paul exhorts us in Phil 3:12-14 to forget what lies behind us. I do not think he meant for us to forget the meaningful people from our past. We have a wide path of former parishioners to remember fondly. People who loved us, served us, blessed us, encouraged us, and dreamed God's dream with us. People I cannot forget. They have a new pastor who is doing a wonderful job. I applaud him. 

Many people come and go out of our lives over time. Some of them make deeper impressions than others. The ones I got to see today made huge impressions on Brenda and I. These are people who are worthy of praise, honor, and our fondest memories. People we still love. What a joyous blessing to get to reconnect with a few of them today. I enjoyed my stroll down memory lane. 

Revolution

 We need a revolution. I am not talking about the violent overthrow of the government. I am referring to a spiritual Revolution. Jesus is the ultimate Revolutionary. He is our leader. He can transform lives, families, churches, communities, culture, and countries. He did it in the past. I hope and pray He will do it again. 

God sent Messiah to the manger. The Revolution began. From the manger Jesus became the miracle worker. He taught the multitudes with power and authority. The crowds hung on His every word. He loved, touched, healed, showed compassion, and helped the hurting. The crowds swelled and so did the opposition and anger of the religious rulers. They planned to put a stop to the Revolutionary. 

Satan must have beamed with smug satisfaction when Jesus was arrested. He must have strutted proudly when Jesus hung on the cross. Thinking the Revolution ended with Jesus' death. 

Satan shouted in triumph when Jesus breathed His last on the cross. He danced in glee when they buried His broken and battered body in the tomb. The devil did not realize that the Revolution was only just beginning. Death could not keep him. The grave could not hold him. Satan could not stop Him. Up from the grave He arose a mighty victor over His foes. 

Not long after the resurrection God sent the promise of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. While those disciples prayed and waited God infused them with power beyond anything they had ever known. Cowards became courageous warriors for the Revolution. Soon they filled Jerusalem with the teachings of Jesus. 

Satan did not stop. He stirred up fierce persecution of the followers of Jesus. All he did was ignite a movement as the gospel messengers spread throughout the region and eventually the world. The movement swelled through the ages. It engulfed England in the 1700s. The Revolution ignited across the colonies in the 1700s as well. Another great outpouring fueled the Revolution all over again in prayer meetings that led to spiritual awakening in the 1800s across the United States. God engulfed Wales in 1904 with more Revolution. Even late into the 19000s on campuses like Asbury College, Wheaton College, Howard Payne University, and others the Revolution flamed again. 

Just when things were darkest. When hope seemed extinct. God did it again. He reignited His Revolution at Asbury University again. The flames spread across the nation to other universities. He poured gasoline on the raging fire with the true story movie Jesus Revolution, recounting the story that swept the nation saving hippies in the early 1970s. The Revolution continues to this day. Each of us has a part to play. To prayerfully, forcefully, and powerfully overthrow the kingdom of darkness with the weapons of prayer, gospel witness, and Bible preaching. The Revolution continues. May we not shrink from the battleline in fear. May we shine the light of Jesus in this pitch-dark world. There is more Revolution to come. [Acts 4:29-31]

Confusion

 My mind is cluttered with confusion, 

An unwanted and unwelcomed intrusion, 

Sleep escapes me through midnight, 

Mental gymnastics make me sit upright, 

The mind whirling like a tuned machine,  

Unable to stop working so I can sleep in, 

So, I pound the keys on this keyboard, 

To work through my confusion galore, 

In these still moments God is also awake, 

Reminding me He will never ever forsake,

He quiets the mind with timely words divine, 

Soothing my thoughts leading to the sublime, 

He is not the author of confusion tonight, 

It comes from the adversary the devil's delight, 

Our eternal foe who works his fiendish deceit, 

Jesus died to bring his crushing eternal defeat, 

What Satan meant for evil these long hours, 

God gives refuge to me in His strong tower, 

God will clear the fog of thoughts troubled, 

His peace will return poured out doubled, 

God is faithful proving He is trustworthy, 

Believing sleep to return these hours so early.

95%

 I just read a stinging statement made by pastor and author A.W. Tozer decades ago. "If the Holy Spirit were withdrawn from the church today, ninety-five percent of what we do would go on and no-one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, ninety-five percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference."

Which one of the 95% do we fall in? I wonder if God withdrew the Holy Spirit from our worship gatherings, Bible studies, and programs if we would even take notice. How much of it would continue on business as usual. I try to be sensitive to the Spirit of God in worship. In what I preach, in how to conduct the invitation, in worship. Many times I feel Him grieved. Often I sense Him quenched from doing more. It breaks my heart. 

I wonder if others notice. Do teachers? Does the worship team? Do the deacons? Do the ushers? Do the parishioners? Do the youth? Do the senior adults? Do the intercessors? We plan and program things to death. We need the Spirit of the living God to flow among us, comforting, convicting, calling sinners to salvation, and stirring cold indifferent hearts. We need the Holy Spirit to breathe life on what we do on Sunday mornings. I fear some of our gatherings are religious rituals devoid of passion and power. What a tragedy. 

We should long for God to blow the breath of the Holy Spirit into the sails of His church to move us through the waters of this age. We should long to be tenderhearted and sensitive to His leadership in our services and response to Him. We should aim to be submissive to His leadership in our daily lives. I long for God to move in us, through us, and among us. This world will never be transformed without the Holy Ghost. We try. We plan, program, and promote. What we need to do more is to pray, petition, and plead for Holy Ghost anointing and empowering again. 

Luke 4:1 tells us Jesus was full of the Spirit before being tempted by Satan. In Luke 4:14 He retuned in the power of the Spirit. We read about the role of the Holy Spirit from Acts 2 throughout the rest of the book. In Acts 4:31 the disciples were filled with the Spirit after a prayer meeting and spoke the word of God with boldness. Paul even testified in Acts 16:22 that he felt bound in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit played a prominent leading role in the early church. The Holy Spirit is relinquished to supporting role in God's unfolding drama today if He has any role in the cast at all. Could that be the reason we are not nearly as effective as the early church at transforming culture? 

May we be of the 95% who wholly lean on the Holy Spirit to move in our churches. May we submit to His leadership. May we cry out for Him to move among us as He did in the days of old. We sure need Him to do what He did in the past again. 

Why Not

 Do you give your best? Do you try your hardest? Do you offer Jesus your best devotion? Do you serve Jesus with reckless abandon? Do you worship Jesus with all your soul? Do you offer Him your absolute best all the time? Those are sobering questions. Meant to jolt the mind out of our religious doldrums. 

We are busy people. Life spins on the fast cycle. We are rushed, hurried, and frazzled much of the time. Some have too much on their plate. They do not do any of it well. Especially service for Jesus. 

It is easy to hold out. To pull back offering less than our very best. It is tempting to do good but not our best. I can honestly say I have not given Jesus my best. I know I am capable of so much more. To write more, read more, study more, witness more, shepherd more, and pray more. I can try to make excuses. None of them hold water. They are empty. 

Do I give Jesus my best? Do you give Jesus your best? Those are tough questions. They are not the toughest this day. The toughest question is why not? Why not offer Jesus our best? 

The hideousness of our sin is often forgotten amid the comfort of our lives. We forget our sins sent Jesus to a cruel cross. A blood red cross. An agonizing cross of torture and excruciating pain. We forget our depravity. The depths of our hostility toward God before getting saved. We forget that when we needed a Savior, Jesus gave His very best. He gave us His all. His very life. 

I cannot answer the reason I do not give Jesus my best. I want to. I even intend to. I get lazy. I make excuses. I procrastinate. I choose comfort and ease more than service to my King. Two quotes are haunting me today. One has come up repeatedly over the past two days. In sermons. In books. It hangs in my office and I have not even looked at it in weeks. Missionary C.T. Studd said, "Only one life t'will soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last." That statement bites into my soul like a pit bulldog. The other statement made by Henry Varley is, "The world has yet to see what God can do in, for, and through a man wholly yield to Him." D.L. Moody heart that statement and took it to heart. He determined to be that man. I recall times in the past when I did the same. Somewhere I lost my way in a maze of responsibilities. I grew weary and offered half hearted devotion preferring an easier path than offering my absolute best. That is what Jesus demands. All of us. Our whole lives yielded to Him. Our lives on His altar. That is ultimate worship and service. Our very lives are our best offering. 

I'm 56 at the time of this writing. My days are numbered. As a young man I always thought I had more time. I could put off things needed to be done today until tomorrow. The thought surfaces that I am not sure how many tomorrows I have left. I would be utterly ashamed if I died suddenly and the body of work I sent ahead of me was not my best. I must amend my ways while there is still time. 

There are no more excuses. We all are mandated to give our best to Jesus. Our best financial offerings. Our best worship. Our best love. Our best effort. Our best service, our best devotion, our best sacrifice, and our best use of time. 

Why not give Him our best? He deserves it. We will be rewarded for it. Why not quit making excuses? Why not turn the television off and open our Bibles? Why not get up a littler earlier or stay up a little later to pray? Why not choose to worship fully like we never have before seeking to pour out the sincerest praise from our hearts? Why not open our shut lips to give gospel witness for Jesus? Why not trade our lackluster lukewarm living for fiery passionate zeal for Him? Why not? He deserves it.

Discouraged

 He did not see me watching from afar. His countenance betrayed the turmoil of his soul. I had to find out what troubled this man. I pulled up a seat and started a conversation. At first, he seemed reluctant to open up. In time, he let his troubled heart spill out like a toppled glass filled with milk. Pain gushed out.

The man suffered from deep discouragement. He laid out of a long list of trials and trouble. He battled health issues he could not overcome. He felt overworked, under compensated and under appreciated. He faced multiple financial trials. He confessed to feeling like he failed his family because he could not provide for them like he felt he should. Things were not going well for him at work. Everywhere he looked he felt surrounded by hopelessness. 

The man confessed to being born again and a devoted follower of Jesus. He went on to confess that he often felt discouraged because it did not seem that Jesus helped him in all the trials he faced. He said he prayed about these things so much he did not have another prayer to pray. 

I listened intently. I had to admit that many of his questions and the sources of his discouragement were not easily answered. From my vantage point it seemed the man was devout, not perfect, but devout. He knew the word of God. He said he prayed. Many of the trials only seemed to worsen after decades of praying. He had a church home where he said he served actively. He even taught a Bible study. Few people knew his private pain. 

Still he was deeply discouraged. The weight of that despondency sank on him like an oppressive weight. I thought I saw his eyes moisten as we talked. He fought back tears but I could tell he was on the verge of breaking down. This was not a time for Sunday school answers, worn out cliches, or happy talk. This discouraged brother needed some hope. Not a motivational talk. Not a sermon. Just words of truth filled with the hope that only God can give. 

I sat silently in prayer for help and contemplation before speaking. What could I say? Pray more. Read your Bible more. Trust God more. All of those things may have been true, but those were not what this discouraged disciple needed. I prayed some more waiting on God to reveal anything that would help this wounded warrior. 

In a flash of inspiration I muttered, "Jesus gets you. He got discouraged also." I recounted multiple times when the disciples were filled with unbelief, missed out on learning opportunities, could not minister to people effectively, and when the crowds doubted Him. I recalled when Jesus prayed sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. He asked God if it were possible to the let the cup pass from Him." 

Think on that for a moment. Jesus left heaven coming in the form of a baby. He lived perfectly. Never a defiant act as a child. Never a bad attitude. Never a temper tantrum. Not one act of disobedience. He did what He was supposed to do every time He was supposed to do it. He loved people nobody else would love. He worked in His public ministry to help people. He prayed fervently. He worked tirelessly to heal late into the nights. He traveled widely so more people could hear His good news. He broke down cultural customs. He defied the religious authorities. He faced repeated showdowns with the demon possessed. He poured His life into a dozen men. One was about to betray Him and the other eleven would abandon Him. And it all came down to facing the fact of the crucifixion. Jesus gets being discouraged. IF POSSIBLE LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME.

Only Jesus did not dwell there. He may have entertained it briefly, but He chose to believe in God preferred path. NEVERTHELESS NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE! Some of the greatest roads of blessings lead down God's preferred paths of pain. Ask Moses. Ask David. Ask Elijah. Ask Job. Ask Jeremiah. Ask Jesus. Ask the disciples. Ask Paul. 

We all may grow discouraged from time to time. That does not mean that we have to stay there. We can choose joy. We can choose faith. We can choose perseverance. We can choose hope. All of those things God readily supplies amply for those who want and need it. 

I cannot tell you that discouraged brother walked away completely free. I do think he walked away with a different perspective. Jesus can replace discourage with His courage. His courage is enough to get us through to victory. 

Not Good Enough

 There are multitudes of people who do not feel like they are good enough. They don't feel like they measure up to others. They feel inferior. People who try hard but do not succeed. People who love so much but receive so little love in return. People who are different than others and feel the pressure to not be who God made them to be. 

This happens with personal appearance. Many are not one of the beautiful people. Not slim, not tan, not handsome, nor beautiful. Some people are homely looking. They will go to extremes to try to change their appearance for acceptance. They try fad diets, workout equipment, cosmetics, cosmetic surgeries, and even weight loss surgeries all in hope of feeling like they are good enough to fit in. Even when the body changes the psyche sometimes does not. Some people do not feel they are good enough in physical appearance.

Other people are not as intelligent as peers. They struggle to grasp complex concepts. They make poor grades in school while others seem to breeze through their course work effortlessly. The smart people get accolades while the less academic performers get overlooked and eventually by passed for the best paying jobs. 

Some people try hard but do not succeed. They may make the team but seldom play and do not excel as an athlete. The lack of success can weigh heavily on the mind. Such people feel like losers in athletics and losers in life. They try. They work harder than others around them to no avail. They are told over and over again they are not good enough. Their performance does not meet expectations. They are lacking. Sometimes this pattern follows them into the work force. They may live their whole lives feeling like a failure and a loser. They get passed up for promotions in favor of people who seem to have the golden touch. 

Maybe a person's personality is different and puts them at odds with the majority of society. Perhaps they are socially awkward, too intense, too weird, too quiet, too shy, too loud, or a dozen other things. They do not fit in. They are always on the outside looking in. People may never mouth the words but their actions shout, "You are not good enough!"

Have you ever felt any of that? I am betting several have. You know the sting of being told over and over again you are not good enough. You carry deep wounds from feeling you will never meet the expectations of those around you. You live under the cloud of not measuring up. The humiliation of repeated failures haunts you. 

I just want to remind you that in Jesus, you more than measure up. He loves you. He accepts you, embraces you, and desires a close relationship with you. He celebrates you because He created you. He knows you better than you know yourself. While all people have a sin nature, He is willing to forgive. Ready to redeem. Faithful to forgive. 

He also created you with purpose. Intelligent design. The day He made you is the day He blessed planet earth with you. Nobody is like you. You are His one of a kind masterpiece. You are uniquely designed with wonderful skilled craftsmanship. You don't believe me? Read Ps 139:14-18. Go ahead and open your Bible and let your eyes rest on Ephesians 2:10. Interpret those verses for yourself. Apply the truths to your own heart and mind. In essence you can hear the message echoing all the way from Heaven, "I love you. You have infinite worth to Me. I designed you. I carefully crafted your personality, passions and person. I created you to love and to glorify Me. Through the shed blood of Jesus, you measure up. You are more than good enough. Never forget that. You are good enough for Me. Because of that you are good enough for anyone. Live in the freedom of who I created you to be."

Thank You

 Spring Creek Baptist Church is a great group of folks. Loving. Generous. Kind, Servant minded. Hard working. Prayerful. Willing to walk out faith. Hungry for God's word. Open minded. 

Over the past three and a half years Spring Creek has blessed the Edwards family numerous times and in numerous ways. They are stepping up for us again in a HUGE way again this weekend. Taylor, our oldest son, is getting married tomorrow. They planned for an outdoor wedding, but the weather did not cooperate. I watched a group of people work long into the night last night to decorate transforming oru gym into an elegant venue for the reception and get ready for the big event. Several reconvened today to finish up before the rehearsal dinner tonight. 

How can Brenda and I really ever express our deep gratitude for people who go above and beyond to show love? They support our family. Just saying thank you is not enough. My vocabulary hinders me from expressing the depth of our feelings. We love this flock. We have loved each flock we served. Spring Creek is special. Maybe it goes back to my serving as youth minister at this church 33 years ago. Maybe it is because they are just great people. Perhaps it is because Brenda and I feel at home at Spring Creek. We got married just two months after we started serving there over three decades ago. We cut our teeth in ministry with some of these same folks. God has added wonderful people to us over the past three years. They have endeared themselves to us too in a short time. 

So many pastors begrudge the people they serve. I admit I did that also a long time ago. It is different today. Spring Creek lets me be me. I do not have to jump through hoops. I serve with deacons who are real servants. They delight in serving. I also serve with women who rally the troops in times of need and bereavement. They continually find ways to bless our family too. They make us feel wanted and hard for us to ever want to leave. We can never repay all that they have done and are doing for us. 

They even willingly share me with TCA as a coach and at times a substitute teacher. They do not begrudge the time I devote to ministering to students. It is a delight to shepherd this flock. Spring Creek is a special church. I am both humbled and honored to serve them. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you to a flock who has my love and devotion. It is not much, but it is all that Brenda and I have to give. 

Chapel

 TCA met for chapel yesterday morning. It became evident right from the beginning that God meant business and so did the students. The worship was intense. Of all the chapel services I have attended at the school this one had the sincerest worship. Students singing from their hearts and not just their minds and mouths. It had to be extended a little. The praise team lingered in worship longer than the prescribed order of worship. 

The message was powerful taken from Hebrews 12:1-4. God spoke to people. It really got interesting when I looked down and the allotted time for chapel had passed and the speaker was still going. I would say 98% of the student body responded by going to the altar. I saw a senior guy literally running to the altar as the first one. Dozens upon dozens followed close behind. They packed the altar area so much that people were kneeling three and four deep. Some were backed up in the aisles a few paces. 

An hour and a half into the service the majority of students were still praying, repenting, going to one another to mend fractured relationships, and praying for one another. Several students came to me to pray for personal needs. We cut into classroom time. Some were released as God got through with them. Some lingered longer even as administrators and teachers tried to get the students to wrap things up. 

At an hour and 45 minutes many were still seeking God. One person lay prostrate on the ground. From my vantage point I could not tell if it was a guy or girl. The head of the Bible department sat down next to the student on the floor to minister. A girl from the worship team went back on the stage and grabbed her guitar. She turned her back to those left and sat on the floor strumming her guitar in worship. Another girl from the praise team followed by one other student went up and sat next to her singing. 

One girl came to me to apologize for being grumpy to me in the mornings. I prayed for her and told her I loved her. God burdened me for one student who has strained relationships with her parents. I saw her at the front sitting on the floor. I knelt behind her putting my hand on her shoulder asking God to heal her heart. Another guy asked me to pray for him because he was carrying unforgiveness toward someone. We prayed asking God to help deliver him. 

I can't say for sure how long the last students remained. It had to have been pushing close to two hours. God gave me the opportunity to pray for one of our administrators. It is tough trying to balance God's repeated moves and academics. We prayed for wisdom and discernment to know how to go forward. 

God is not done. Next week our students will go on mission trips to Greece, Mexico, TN, OR, and Tyler, TX. They will spend the whole week ministering and giving their lives away. Following that week is our Spring Break. It will be two weeks before we regather as a student body. May God fan the flame during that time even stronger than the flames burn now. Pleae pray toward that end with me and that it spreads all over the county and the nation. 

The Box

 God continues to move on the TCA campus. Last Friday a routine devotion for the track team turned into an all-out movement from God. The devotion started around 2:40 p.m. Less than thirty minutes later the adults left the room and the students prayed together, repented of sin, challenged each other and worshiped. This lasted until 4:00 p.m. Most left at that time, but a small remnant stayed for another hour after that. 

The head of the Bible department started a study for students. He has 24 desks in his room. 51 showed up that day. Other grade levels are holding their Bible studies during lunch. 

Yesterday, some moms hosted a prayer emphasis day at the school. Around 2:30 p.m. these moms requested a box similar to the box used in the weight room prayer meeting over a week ago be brought into the foyer. Parents, students, faculty and staff were all invited to sit on the box and be prayed for. I got to be a part of the prayer team. That prayer time lasted until around 5:30 p.m. We had a few lulls in our prayers, but for the most part we prayed for around two and a half hours. Deep prayers. Spirit inspired prayers. Moms prayed. Teachers prayed. Administrators prayed. Coaches prayed. Even students prayed. Bonds were formed. God was moved and glorified. 

Person after person sat on that box. Fervent intercessions were lifted. It was powerful. Encouraging. Exhausting as people poured their souls out to God. Some volunteered to sit on the box. Others were encouraged to take their seat and receive the blessing of God. A few reluctantly sat down for prayer. Pride is a stubborn thing.  The God of the box offered hope, peace, vision, counsel, and the lifting of heavy burdens for those who took a seat. I thank God for the work He did on that box. May it continue for the glory of His name.