The Last Service of 2006

It was a rainy morning, one that anyone would want to spend in bed; however, it was also the last Sunday of 2006, the Sunday that every believer would want to spend in church. I must admit that on my way to my office, I did wonder which would win-the bed or the church; thankfully, many chose the latter and for that I am very grateful, especially in light of the fact that I spent quite a bit of time preparing the message, one that I believed to be timely for each of us. I can only pray that the Holy Spirit encouraged some of you to make the suggested evaluation, to identify the "clutter" that distracts you, and to throw at least some of it "overboard." Furthermore, I sincerely pray that throughout the year, as you find yourself "clutter prone" you will use the ten "focus facilitators" to remind you of what is really important and to, thereby, keep you focused on living in undistracted devotion to Jesus.

For those of you who (for whatever reason) were unable to attend, I want to encourage you to get a copy of the ten "Focus Facilitators" and spend a bit of time meditating upon them. Hopefully, you will find them beneficial, as you journey through 2007.

Here's to a "clutter-less" 2007! (Or maybe I should make the toast this way: Here's to a focused 2007!) In either case, I trust that you will be able to live every moment in the fullness of undistracted devotion to Jesus!!

Blessings in 2007!
Your Pastor

What Time is It?

It is Saturday and Sunday is coming! Hopefully, you are as eager to gather as I am to preach. My text is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, where we read these very familiar words: "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-"

For some reason, I can detect the sweet aroma of predestination in this passage--an appointed time for everything! Wow! A time for every event under heaven! Double wow! Everything happens at the "right time" and this is good news--very good news, especially when you know who is behind it all.

Realizing that I cannot interfere with God's timing (don't even desire to!), I do wonder this:What time is it? Obviously, "time" will tell but that doesn't satisfy me because it will be after the fact. I am asking Him to give me a bit of a "heads up" for those of us who are committed to the part of the Body of Christ called Grace Christian Fellowship, even though I know He probably won't do it (He insists that we walk by faith, you know).

Until He does (which will probably be never), I offer the following: In order for us to be prepared to live the more abundant life that He offers us (wrapped in all kinds of packages), it is in my opinion TIME FOR US TO THROW OVERBOARD EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS OUR LIVING IN THE SIMPLICITY AND PURITY OF DEVOTION TO CHRIST.

Like it or not, one of the days (at the right time), a special kind of limo (aka hearse) will arrive to take our physical bodies to their graves, which on the one hand will be good--like, very good; on the other hand, however, if we have refused to rid our lives of the aforementioned "clutter," we will have missed so much of what God has provided here on this earth for our enjoyment and pleasure, and that won't be good (at least, not in my opinion).

It is my prayer that each of us will embrace 2007 not only determined to rid our lives of the clutter that controls us and distracts us, but also motivated to live every minute out of undistracted devotion to Jesus.

Looking forward!
Your Pastor

New Year's Eve

Please consider this your "engraved" invitation to spend New Year's Eve with your pastor and his wife at their residence. I hope you know me well enough to know that the dress code is not casual, but very casual. There is an admission price and it is this: FINGER FOOD, so please bring the "finger food" of your choice, along with whatever you might like to drink (we will have plenty of plates, cups, utensils, etc.).

Please feel free to arrive anytime after 8:30 PM (I will give you directions via email). It will be helpful if some could carpool, as we live in a cul-de-sac, consequently, parking is somewhat limited.

We are looking forward to having you in our home and to bringing in the New Year with each of you!

Blessings,
Your Pastor

Planning for 2007

Obviously, I am guessing but here goes: if there could be some way to avoid some of the difficulties you experienced during 2006, especially those that came as the result of poor planning, or poor choices, you would do so. Yes, I do believe that God is sovereign, and I continue to believe in predestination, and I am holding firm to the belief that man's will is free but only within the parameters of God's providence; however, I also believe that the freedom I have within those parameters allows me to be a poor planner, which is a foolish choice within itself. In other words, this aforementioned freedom allows room for me to act foolishly, and when I do, it also allows me to suffer the consequences of my foolishness.

Now, I said that, so I can say this: take some time in the next day or two to look back over 2006 and ask yourself this question: What are the consequences I suffered in 2006 that were the result of making the foolish choice of refusing to plan? Then ask yourself this question: Is this "foolish choice" a pattern in my life? Then ask yourself this question: How would my life be better-lived in 2007, if I chose to do a bit of planning before I enter into it?

It is my sincere prayer that we, as a church family, will choose to live this New Year out of the riches of the wisdom of His Word.

Expectantly,
Your Pastor

The After Christmas Syndrome

Unless you are different from most, you are now "enjoying" the "After Christmas Syndrome." Actually, it is a "bitter-sweet" syndrome in that on the one hand, you are so glad the rush is over, but on the other, you, well, you feel depressed--an unexplainable depression.

Whatever you do, please do NOT lose heart, as this "depression" will pass, much like seasonal allergies. Before you know it, you will be busy setting goals for the New Year and eagerly anticipating their fulfillment. Who knows all that God has prepared for those who love Him?

Try to let the past be the past and press on toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Look forward to spending more time with Him, to being an avid student of His Word, to fellowshipping with other believers, and to giving away more and more of your life.

See the next several days as being days of transition, as you leave 2006 and prepare to meet 2007 with gusto!

My entire family is gathering at my youngest brother's house in Warner Robins today, where we will eat Sonny's barbeque and laugh and tell stories and share pictures and who knows what else. Thankfully, we have managed to continue to be very close to each other, even after all of these years. (see if you can find me in the 1958 picture)

Blessings to you,
Your Pastor

Merry Christmas!

Now, do you believe in Santa Clause, or not? Someone told me the other day that if I did not believe in him, I would not get anything, so I decided to renew my belief in him! As you can tell from the picture, I have no proof, as of the writing of this article, because I am waiting for my grandchildren to arrive to open presents. So far, I have seen no evidence of him in my behalf but I am continuing to remain filled with expectation!

Anyway, I hope you are having a great day today, enjoying your children and your grandchildren, if you are so fortunate as to have any.

By the way, have you noticed that Fox News has been airing Rick Warren almost non-stop since last night, maybe even the night before. I am certainly not a Rick Warren fan but I am thankful that Fox is brave enough to take the risk of giving Christianity it rightful place during Christmas (I only wish they had aired John Calvin but one doesn't always get everything he wants!).

Speaking of getting what one wants: I really hope Santa brought you what you really wanted, but even more importantly, I hope you have received from Jesus the greatest of all gifts--His love and forgiveness!

Merry Christmas!
Your Pastor

Today's Service

From everything I could see (and feel), our experience today was well-worth our while. Unless I missed it, everyone was in the spirit of Christmas and eager to celebrate His birth.

It is very important to me that you know that I truly appreciated your presence today. I know that each of you had many things that you could have done today in preparation for tomorrow, but you chose to attend GCF, and it meant much to me. I can only pray that it meant as much to you.

Ralph Whitehead will be 77 tomorrow and that is hard to believe. To be sure, he doesn't look or act his age. The truth is I have never known a harder working man than Ralph, even those much younger than he. Where he gets all his energy is beyond me. We all love you Ralph, and wish you a very blessed and happy Birthday.

As an added blessing, today Jeff and Christy (I hope I spelled her name correctly) announced their upcoming wedding! It will take place on the beach at Jekyll Island in early June and I have been invited to officiate! Now, this should be fun!! Annis and I have already placed the dates on our calendars and we are really looking forward to the experience.

Please remember to keep Jeff's mother, Marilyn Forte, in your prayers, as she undergoes a MAJOR surgical procedure on January 2 in Spokane, WA. This will be quite a complicated procedure, as she will not only have some by-passes done, but she will also have a valve repaired, along with an aortic aneurysm repaired. Remember: PRAYER MATTERS!

I do have this reminder for you (at least for the one pictured above): Santa Clause is supposed to arrive sometimes early in the morning, so whatever you do, try to straighten up you act a bit, or you might get that proverbial "sack of coal!" Time is running out, so act quickly!

Blessings to you and you celebrate His birth!
Your Pastor

It is Saturday and Sunday is Coming!

Good Afternoon,

I trust that this finds you well and eagerly anticipating tomorrow's worship service! Yes, I know that it will be Christmas Eve and you will be busy with last minute details, even so, I REALLY hope you will be present.

My sermon topic is this: "What Really Happened on That First Christmas Morning?" Yes, I know that you already know the answer, but I am hoping to put a slightly different slant on the usual "pat" answer. HINT: On that first Christmas morning, the virgin, Mary, gave birth to a baby boy, who would become the strangest man who would ever live-a true radical!

I really am looking forward to seeing you in the morning!

Blessings with much love!
Your Pastor
PS: Please don't let the beautiful desert pictured above precipitate overeating on Christmas Day!

Always Being Ready

Although we are in the midst of celebrating the birth of Jesus, the most unselfish person ever to live, the One who came to forgive and to love, the One who came to redeem sinners, we must never forget that we are also living in very perilous times--times not too different from the days of the early church, especially the days in which Paul lived. I do not think we believe this but in the twinkling of an eye, things could change--dramatically change--and life, as we know it, would never be the same. There is an enemy who hates us and that enemy will do whatever it takes to destroy us! Yes! I am very thankful that I know that there is no enemy who can destroy us, but that does not mean that we will always enjoy the kind of life we presently enjoy. Peter knew this, which is why he warned: "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith,. . ." (1 Peter 5:8-9a).

Now, I am not trying to throw a damper upon the Christmas spirit; instead, I am merely attempting to remind you that you and I have been called to a very high calling--to be His witnesses in this world--and that without regard to the cost.

So, having said that, I offer this: "But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame" (1 Peter 3:14-16).

Always be ready to explain to another the hope that the birth of Jesus gives to you!

Blessings,
Your Pastor

Grandchildren

Good morning to each of you!

Hopefully, you completed all your "last minute" details yesterday, and you are, now, resting and waiting for the Big Day--Christmas--however, for some reason, I am having a difficult time believing that you have. My doubting is probably somehow related to the fact that I had the privilege of entertaining my grandchildren, Sydney & Caroline, for a good part of yesterday, and in doing so, we visited several of Macon's shopping centers, and in each case it appeared that the entire population of Georgia had the same idea. Why does the entire world wait until just before Christmas to prepare for what we have known about for at least a year. I just do not get it! Thankfully, my mission had to do with entertaining Sydney and Caroline, so I could observe the mass confusion from a distance, and was I ever glad!

Anyway, through a series of events that really have no relevance to what I am attempting to share with you, over that past several days, I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with my grandchildren--Sydney & Caroline--and we have had lots of fun. Actually, "fun" wasn't the best choice of words because we did much more than have mere fun; in fact,we bonded in a way that we had not heretofore done. They are growing up through some very difficult times in their lives, and in doing so they are experiencing more (much more) than their young minds can assimilate. They have already experienced more significant loss, than I have in my entire lifetime. Yes, I know that God will use these present experiences in their lives for good He really does cause all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose!)but I also know that they probably do not grasp that just now. Enter Granddaddy!

I want to preface what I am about to say with this: as much as I love the privilege of being their granddaddy, by the end of a day with them, I am worn out, even to a frazzle, and looking for the relief team! Enter Mama or Grandma, and the sooner, the better!!

Having said that, let me proceed with what I want to say: while the rest (apparently) of the world has been busy racing from one store to another, fighting crowds of people, standing in long lines, I have been lazily spending some incredibly wonderful "time" with two of the most precious people of earth, my grandchildren. We have laughed and played all over Macon (I have pictures to prove it), why we even managed to have a blast getting a few surprise gifts for some very special people in their lives (yes, I did spend some money but I did not stand in one long line), and we have eaten in too many restaurants to mention (the only one I refused was Applebees!). At the end of these long days, I was (to be sure) tired, but I was also very blessed and very thankful for such a wonderful and treasured Christmas Present--one I will never forget!

I am praying that He will sneak up on you, as He did me, and surprise you with such a wonderful gift--one that all the money on the planet cannot purchase!

Much love,
Your Pastor

Christmas Eve

I am looking forward to seeing each of you at 10:00 AM this Sunday--Christmas Eve 2006! What an incredible time to gather together to celebrate and to give thanks for the Gift of all Gifts--Jesus! It is my prayer that this will be a very special season in your life--one that you will always remember as being among the best.

We will not meet on Wednesday, December 27 for our usual Bible study; however, we will resume the first week in January. I trust that you are planning on being a part of this group, as we meet to study His Word.

Keep checking this blog for announcements, prayer requests, reminders, and any other grace matters.

Blessings to you as you celebrate His birth!

Love,
Mac