The Official Information Site for GCF Members

To all the card-carrying, bona fide member of GCF, I have a favor: would you please let me know how often you read this blog. Since I am using it as the information site for the church, I want to be sure that you are getting the info.

Thanks very much!!

Your Pastor

A Special Prayer Request

Douglas & Valorie Chance called to tell me that their next door neighbor's son, Gabe Grimsley, 13, was killed last evening while driving his 4-wheeler. Douglas & Valorie were very close to this young man and, consequently, are very saddened. Please remember to pray for Gabe's family, as well as for Douglas & Valorie.

Blessings to you,
Your Pastor

Today's Service

Among other things, it was not sprinkling; it was raining (maybe even cats and dogs!) but it did not rain on our gathering together today. I can't speak for everyone, but I don't think anyone was sorry they "weathered the weather" to get to our service today.

As I hope you know, the message was entitled "The Normal Christian Life" but I don't think anyone came away knowing what "normal" really means, other than the fact that it does not mean what the church-at-large wants us to believe. To be sure, the normal Christian life is not the "apple pie in the sky" kind of life that many would have us believe. Even a casual look at Paul's life reveals this (his having received 39 lashes five times says something!)

From what I have been able to see and to experience, the church needs an Acts 16 "earthquake" to wake it from complacent notions about the Christian life.

Regardless, when we see Him it will be worth it all and that is for certain!

Your Pastor

A Church Loses its Pastor

As most of you know, I have been involved with death since I was a mere child and could barely see over the embalming table; consequently, I have attended many funeral services--far more than most. I really wish I had kept a journal, for the sole purpose of making a record of everything I have witnessed in this profession. Believe me, I have seen much!

Today, I attended the funeral of Pastor Rannie Gaultney, and in doing so I saw something that I had never before seen, at least not in the way I saw it today. In September of 1979, I was ordained into the gospel ministry at Horeb (can you believe it?) Baptist Church in Talbot County, Georgia. Interestingly, Rannie was the pastor of Horeb at that time and, consequently, he not only served on my ordination counsel, but he also played a major role in the service itself. As you might imagine, he holds a special place in my heart.

This is what I saw (in a different way than I have ever seen it before) and it really touched my heart: a congregation grieving the sudden loss of their pastor. Watching the tears fall from their eyes; listening to their broken hearts; realizing their sense of helplessness; hearing their deep-seated hope for their tomorrows; and listening to their expressions of confusion and pain really gripped my heart.

Right now they are in shock and justly so, but tomorrow will come and decisions will have to be made, not the least of which is who will be the next pastor. Rannnie founded this church in 1983, and has served as its pastor since then; consequently, this will be new ground for them to travel. They will need our prayers and love and support.

Rannie said on many occasions that he would never retire from preaching because he believed that when God was finished with him, He would retire him, and his words proved to be prophetic. Rannie went to sleep the other night and the next time his eyes opened, he was in Heaven--the place He has longed to see for more years than a few. This is good--very good! Wonderful! Par Excellent!

Let us not forget, however, that there is a small group of people in Taylor County whose pastor is no longer among them and they miss him, and they will miss him tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and the next day. Somehow, God designed it that way, or so it seems.

I am privileged to have known Rannie and to have been his friend, but I am even more privileged to be your pastor.

Pensive,
Mac

Sunday's Sermon: The Normal Christian Life

Continuing our study of the Holy Spirit, it is my intention to address the following topic this Sunday morning: "The Normal Christian Life." To be sure, I have no idea what "normal" anything is, but I do know that what the church has presented as the normal Christian life is as far from the truth as I am from one of the black holes in outer space.

I also know this: without the Holy Spirit, there is no Christian life--normal or otherwise.

I also know this: if the church started presenting the normal Christian life in a manner that portrays truth, rather than in a manner that attract crowds, most would think twice before "signing on" as a Christian.

It is, to say the least, strange to see how the "normal" is being portrayed as the "abnormal" and the "abnormal" is being portrayed as the "normal."

I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Your Pastor
PS: I enclosed the picture to give you an idea of what a "normal" garage looks like!

A Prayer Request

My granddaughters' paternal grandfather, Russell Ray, died about an hour ago, after a lengthy battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Although they were able to tell him good bye, this will be a significant loss for them, as they loved him very much and he certainly loved them.

I would appreciate your praying for them, as the Holy Spirit places them upon your heart. Of course, I also ask for your prayers for Sandra (his wife) and for Craig (his son), along with the other family members.

Thanks,
Your Pastor

Some Secrets Just Cannot be Kept Secret!

It is probably best not to tell everything you know, especially when most of it is has to do with yourself; even so, I am going to take the risk. The picture you see here was taken in 1958, when I was sixteen years old. The people in the picture are (l-r) Bobby Bell, Diane Powell, Hollis Goodroe, Mac Goddard, and Annis Brunson. I think most of you know Annis rather well by now, and I think you also know me (or you think you do) but the rest you do not know. Recently I sent a copy of this picture to Hollis, who at the time was my best friend. We grew up together and I mean together. We spent time together--lots of time. We attended school together--all 12 grades! We spent hours in the very spot where this picture was made; the kids today would call it "hanging out." I have no idea how many RC Colas and Moon Pies we consumed in this place--the local drug store.

Interestingly, Hollis responded to my email that had the picture attached, with the following: "I can not place that scenario at all. I recognize everyone, you guys and Diane Powell and Bobby Bell. But I neither remember the situation nor the setting. Oh well."

I found that hard to believe; nevertheless, I reminded him and in doing so I am sure I jogged his memory. Anyway, what he did remember was quite interesting, so I thought I would share it with you: "But talking about how long we have been friends. The Goodroes moved to Reynolds in the summer of 1946. We have pictures of my 4th birthday party in Reynolds; by that party I had met you and Jimmy Windham. We had all played together. That would mean that we have known each other for 60+ years. The weird thing is that I can remember a lot of things from my very young childhood. For example, I can remember things we did together before we ever started the first grade. I remember quite a few things that happened in kindergarten and I remember the first day of Mrs. Ogburn's class very vividly. I remember talking to Rebecca Mims that day and Gene Brunson and you, and being concerned about how mean and tough Mrs. Ogburn was going to be. You told me she taught your Dad many years earlier."

Now for the secret that I suppose I need to tell you but please promise not to tell anyone--please. Cross your heart and hope to die? OK, here goes with the rest of Hollis' story: "It was not long before Mrs. Ogburn had my desk on one side of her, yours on the other, and Gene's in a similar proximity. I remember telling Mom that Mrs. Ogburn moved our desks close to her 'cause she liked the three of us better than the other students. I don't think Mom bought that but at least I tried to put a favorable spin on it, I suppose."

Until now, no one has ever known that I was one of my first grade teacher's pets, so much so that I got to have my desk right next to hers!

Remember your promise!!

Your Pastor

Still Pondering My Birthday

You know, some things are so good that you just want to savor them for a while and my 65th birthday party is one of them. My journey has been quite a trip to say the least, one that has led me across many miles and many people and many experiences. I have seen the worst of life and I have seen the best of life, not to mention all the rest of life. In the process, I have learned much about people--very much. Some of what I have learned is good--very good--but some of it is not so very good.

I have learned that God created us for relationship not only with each other, but also with Him, and this is good--very good. However, I have also learned that relationships are difficult--very difficult, and this is not-so-good. As someone said to me today, "You have to love some people from a distance" and the truth is this is true.

I have also learned that the church should be the safest place on earth, and this is good--very good; however, I have also learned (the hard way) that the church is probably the least safe place on earth, and this is not-so-good.

I have also learned that Jesus lives in every believer, and this is good--very good. However, I have also learned that His abiding Presence doesn't always manifest itself in every believer, and this is not-so-good.

I have also learned that nothing can be compared to the Christian life--absolutely nothing--and this is good--very good. However, I have also learned that I can sometimes feel that the "Christian life" is a farce (something absurd or ridiculous), especially when someone I truly love decides to abandon our relationship, and this is not-so-good.

I have also learned that when I find myself in that kind of "place," God won't let me remain there for very long, and this is good--very good! He has His own ways of reminding me that He still has a "people," a remnant to be sure, nevertheless a people of His own choosing. He has His own ways of reminding me that nothing can be compared to the Christian life--absolutely nothing.

Just for the record: the kind expressions of love and commitment that you extended to me during my Birthday Party is a fresh example of His ways being carried out in my life. You reminded me that I do have a Divine "calling", that I am loved, that the church is worth dying for, and last but not least, you reminded me of the tremendous privilege it is for me to be called "your pastor!"

As "icing on the cake," my grandchildren were able to share this experience with me, and I am willing to bet that they will never forget the experience, nor will the ever forget the incredible love you extended to me (talk about children's ministry!).

Blessings and much love,
Your Pastor

Obedience or Idolatry?

He grew up in a society that was almost as pagan as the one in which we live. Idolatry was rampant, even in his own family. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River (Euphrates), namely, Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods’” (Joshua 24:2; parenthesis mine). The truth is, Abraham had probably never even heard of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus. Instead, he had probably been well indoctrinated into the same pagan notions his parents embraced, and was, therefore, very much an idolater. He was probably fully convinced that any religious persuasion other than the one his father, Terah, embraced was heresy.

Interestingly, however, Abraham’s religious persuasion was not a deterrent to God’s purposes. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him through all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac (Joshua 24:3). Even though God knew that Abraham and his family worshipped other Gods, He took him from beyond the river Euphrates (the place of idolatry) and led him through all the land of Canaan and multiplied his descendants through Isaac. Awesome!

That reminds me of just how glad I am that God is big enough to open our eyes (even when we don’t want Him to do so) and show us The Truth. It also reminds me of just how thankful I am that God doesn’t wait around for us to make the first move toward Him. It really reminds me of just how thankful I am that God does as He pleases—regardless!

What really happened was this: Abram (Abraham) and his wife, Sarai, were living in Ur of the Chaldeas, far removed from any notion of following God anywhere, when God called Abram. The call was clear: Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).

In my opinion, that was quite an order! Even so, the Scripture is clear concerning Abraham’s response: So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. And Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. And the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:4-7). I think we could conclude that Abram obeyed God and it paid big dividends!

Did you notice the way the Scripture describes Abram’s response? I really like it! And they set out for the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5; emphasis mine). I wonder what would happen, if more of us would “set out” in obedience to God’s call. I am convinced that more of us would find ourselves enjoying the pleasures of God if we, like Abraham, simply “set out” in response to His call. Notice that Abraham didn’t even know where he was going; he just “set out” in obedience!

Think about what must have been going on in Abraham’s mind as he built the altar to the Lord. At one point in his life, he had no idea who God was; however, at this point he is obeying God and being blessed by God. Thus far, Abraham had been obedient to God, and God had done EXACTLY as He had promised to do.

However, I want you to notice this: Abraham would not settle for ANYTHING less than God’s best. By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:9-10). Somehow, Abraham knew that this was just a shadow of what was to come; he knew that the best was yet to come. As a result, he never planted his feet firmly on this soil. Instead, he lived in tents as an alien (a stranger) in the land of promise. Why? The Scriptures make it clear: He was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God!

Have you ever noticed that obedience to God, especially “set out” obedience, moves your focus from what you can see to what you cannot see? Have you also noticed that obedience to God never allows you to be satisfied with what you can see? Somehow, you are always being moved from glory to glory and from faith to faith!

Most of us need to “set out” in obedience to the God of Abraham, especially since the call has already come. Truthfully, anything less is idolatry.

My 65th Birthday!

I have no idea how I got so 0ld so fast but I did--regardless! For those of you who missed it, I want to tell you that I had one heck of a birthday party last night at GCF; one of these pictures should be evidence a plenty!

After we all gathered and had a sumptuous meal (and I do mean sumptuous), Greg Elrod rang some kind of bell announcing that the "party was about to begin" and begin, it did. Immediately, Debbie Bluhm rolled in a nice new wheel chair with a covey of black balloons attached, all for my "comfort and pleasure." Then gift-giving time arrived and man what gifts--even an overnight stay at Henderson Village with meals, wine, and massages! You talk about cards--I got some doozies, as well as some, shall I say a bit more pastoral (I will let you guess what that means!). Why I even received an invitation for dinner for two (rib eye or salmon), especially prepared by one of our in-house chefs! Listen, I could go on and on but let me just tell you that I had a grand 65th birthday party!

I will always treasure the precious birthday letter Little Darlin' sent me! I really do love that girl! She is the treasure, to be sure.

Let us not forget the birthday cake! Have you ever tried to blow out that many candles, especially the ones that will NOT blow out, while everyone is laughing at (not with) you? I tried my best NOT to spit on the cake while attempting to blow out the candles and, evidently, I succeeded because the cake diminished in size very quickly!

Oh, there is one more thing: one of the older men (actually, the oldest man) gave me a card that mentioned something about cleavage. If anyone has any idea what THAT is about, I wish you would tell me, as I hate to be so uninformed.

To all of you who made it possible by attending or by preparing (or both), I want to express my sincere thanks; you made my 65th birthday very special--one I will never forget! Now I am on the road to mile marker #70!

By the way, if you will notice, I am wearing strange "head pieces" in both these pictures. Just for your information, one of these pictures was taken on February 15, 1958--my sixteenth birthday--only 49 short years ago! As you can see, Annis looks much younger in this picture than she does now. I guess living with me for so long as aged her a bit--

Thanks so much for your love and support!

Your Pastor

Faith's Resting Place

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church, he makes it very clear that faith’s resting place should be the power of God and not the wisdom of man. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5; emphasis mine).

In other words, Paul was telling the saints of the church at Corinth that he purposed to do nothing, even in his message or in his preaching, to influence them to believe that true faith has anything to do with the wisdom of man. Paul was fully convinced that the faith that rests on the wisdom of man can produce only what man can conjure, and, consequently, it is really not faith at all.

Paul confirmed this in chapter one: For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God . . . (1 Corinthians 1:21). In other words, when all the wisdom the men of the world can put together, has accomplished all it can possibly accomplish, it will not have accomplished even one eternally significant thing—not one will have come to know God. It is so very true: The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25). Man has NOTHING about which he can boast!

If your faith is resting on the wisdom of men, then all you will ever see is what the wisdom of men can accomplish. You will never see what true faith in God can accomplish—the works of the Spirit.

Obviously, this is true, not only for an individual believer, but also for a local assembly of believers. If any local assembly of believers places its faith in the wisdom of men, all it will ever see is what the wisdom of men can accomplish. To the eyes of the world, that might be much; however, to the eyes of those whose faith is resting on the power of God, it is nothing more than the pitiful and shameful fruit of man’s labors—works of the flesh.

To be specific, if this local assembly rests its faith in the wisdom of men, believe me, it will see only what the wisdom of those men is able to achieve and that is not what any of us want for this church! Surely each one of us wants to see the sovereign and strong hand of God move amongst us in ways that we have never before seen. At the very least, we want to see Him continue to do the things He has been doing since before the foundation of the world: call into being that which does not exist (Romans 4:17); raise the dead (John 11); heal the sick (Luke 6); give sight to the blind (John 9); cast out demons (Luke 8:26-39); equip the saints for the work of service (Ephesians 4:12); and above all, draw men unto Himself (John 12:32). These things never happen as the result of the wisdom of man; they happen only as man allows his faith to rest on the power of God.

The faith that rests on the wisdom of man is really not faith at all because its end is to see what man can accomplish; consequently, most of what we call faith is really not faith at all.

All Things are Lawful! Are they now?

You probably know this by now, but I really do love the way Paul (the apostle) writes, and I especially like the way he communicates what he writes. He has a way of slipping in the most unlikely comments at the most inopportune times. I guess I should not be surprised because he did make it very clear that he was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I do not suppose anyone would be, however, if he truly believed the gospel that Paul believed, and Paul believed it so strongly that he refused to compromise—regardless of the consequences. As a result, he can come up with some of the most unorthodox comments. He must have been on a mission to irritate the religious people of this day. Whether or not he was on such a mission, he certainly did irritate them! Please join me as I take you on a brief tour of some of his unorthodox comments:

(1) Grace to you and peace (Romans 1:7).

(2) The kindness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4).

(3) There is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11).

(4) He is not a Jew who is one outwardly (Romans 2:28).

(5) There is none righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10).

(6) Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).

(7) Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account (Romans 4:8).

(8) While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

(9) Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20).

(10) Sin shall not be master over you (Romans 6:14).

(11) We have been released from the Law (Romans 7:6).

(12) Apart from the Law sin is dead (Romans 7:8).

(13) I am no longer am I the one doing it (Romans 7:20).

(14) There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

(15) God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28).

(16) For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ (Romans 9:3).

(17) I will have mercy on whom I have mercy (Romans 9:15).

(18) He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens who He desires (Romans 9:18).

(19) Let love be without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9).

(20) Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another (Romans 13:8).

Although the list could go on and on, I will stop with these; however, I do so only because I want to highlight this one: All things are lawful for me (1Corinthians 6:12). Can you imagine anyone having the courage to make such a statement, especially to a group of Christians who have been thoroughly convinced that keeping the law is the way to please God? Well, whether or not you can, Paul did it. As you know, many of the Christians in the Corinthian church were deeply involved in various sins and they were so, even though they knew better.

In the midst of this epidemic of sin, Paul arrives in town and, right out of the chute, he announces that all things are lawful for him. He must have been crazy! I can only imagine what the leaders thought. Whatever else they might have thought, they certainly thought that the epidemic was about to become pandemic. This crazy man had just announced that all things were lawful for him, and if you read on a bit further you will find that he said almost the same thing again—All things are lawful (1 Corinthians 10:23). This time he omitted the word “me” and simply made it all-inclusive! All things are lawful—period! Had he gone “mad”?

May it never be! He knew what most never know (apart from the Law sin is dead), and he was simply putting into practice what he knew to be truth. He knew well that the only hope the Corinthian church had of overcoming this epidemic of sin was for them to be released from the Law. He knew that the Law is the power (strength) of sin, and he knew, just as well, that he had to release them from that power.

Most evangelists would have come into town and immediately purposed to put the people under the Law by telling them that God would never be pleased with them as long as they continued to live such reckless lives. They would have heaped judgment and condemnation upon them, rather than upon their behavior. The result would have been tragic! The epidemic would have, indeed, become pandemic.

Paul was much too wise for such foolishness. He pointed out the sin, to be sure, but he also made it clear that not one of the sins could separate them from God or from His love. Talk about unlikely comments at inopportune times!

Think about it! There is an epidemic of sin running wild through the church, immorality is rampant, and Paul’s fix is this: Everything is lawful!

All I know to say is this: God’s ways are definitely not our ways.

Your Pastor

Jesus the Outlaw

I can still remember anticipating the response of the listeners. I knew I would have their attention as soon as I announced the title: Jesus the Outlaw. I must admit that, although I sincerely believed the message was true, and I sincerely wanted the listeners to hear it and to believe it, I also enjoyed (even back then) irritating religious people. As you can imagine, the looks on the faces of the listeners revealed their concern. What man in his right mind would accuse Jesus of being and outlaw? I had their attention and the religious were irritated!

The truth is I was thoroughly convinced that Jesus was an outlaw; after all, He intentionally violated so many of the laws the Jews held sacred. He refused, at least in the minds of the Jews, to keep the Sabbath Day holy; He had the audacity to heal the sick on the Sabbath; He touched the unclean, even lepers; He forgave sinners, even adulterers and encouraged others to do the same. There is no wonder that the Sanhedrin was out to get this outlaw. He simply did not conform to the cultural norms of the Jewish community. It was obvious that He was a renegade. He was marching to the beat of a different drummer. To use the words of Brennan Manning, He lived in wild abandon to His Father, His Abba.

Although the Pharisees made it clear that Messiahs do not break laws concerning the Sabbath, touch lepers, or forgive adulterers, Jesus made it just as clear that this Messiah does WHATEVER He pleases, WHENEVER He pleases, AS LONG AS it pleases His Abba. After all, He is Lord of the Sabbath, Lord of healing, and Lord of forgiveness. In fact, He is Lord—PERIOD! Whatever He does is precisely that in which His Father delights. He always knows which rules are for following and which rules are for breaking. He knew then, and He knows now!

The truth is, Jesus was (and still is) too bizarre for most people. His behavior is too radical. Following Him is too dangerous. Following Him can lead only to what appears to be a premature death. There is no wonder that most of those who were following Him left Him. Who would want to follow an outlaw? Who would want to follow a man who always marched to the beat of a different drummer? Who would want to follow a renegade?

To be honest, I believe there is a remnant, a group of believers who, like Paul, sincerely want to continue with Him. I believe that God has a people who are far more interested in experiencing Jesus than they are in understanding Jesus. I truly believe that God has a people who are far more interested in following Jesus than they are in following the religious rules of our culture.

Has it dawned on you that, although Jesus repeatedly told us to follow Him, He never once told us to follow His rules? He did say this: If you love Me you will keep My commandments (John 14:15). You see, loving God and loving one another are the fruit of being His children; they are not rules we must learn to obey. His call is to follow Him, not His rules!

I really do believe that God has a people who truly desire to live in wild abandon to Jesus. Are you one of them? I can tell you one of the true indications that you are: you are struggling to abandon something. What are you afraid to abandon? Your comfort? Your religion? Your riches? Your career? Your reputation? Your theology? Your parent’s expectations? Your security? Be honest!

Remember this: The rich, young ruler could not abandon his riches and he, therefore, missed out on knowing the true riches of living in wild abandon to Jesus. The Pharisees could not abandon their religion and they, therefore, missed out on knowing the joy of living in intimate relationship with Jesus, an intimacy that only wild abandon could produce.

By the way, this was Jesus’ prayer: And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent (John 17:3). Did you notice how clearly He stated that eternal life has to do with knowing Him rather than understanding Him? Did you notice that for Jesus, relationships were far more important than doctrine?

Until we are willing to live in wild abandon to Jesus, we will never truly know Him; instead, we will spend our lives trying to understand Him. To say that another way, until we choose to live in wild abandon to Jesus, we will be nothing more or less than modern-day Pharisees—hypocrites. Rules will be far more important than relationships and doctrine will always take precedence over relationships. Unfortunately, most of us have spent our Christian lives learning what we cannot do (the rules of our religious culture) instead of celebrating who we are in Jesus. Come on! Take the leap into wild abandon to Jesus--the Outlaw!

A Saturday Evening Meditation

“The Cross is rough and it is deadly, but it is effective. There comes a moment when its work is finished and the suffering victim dies. After that, the pain is forgotten for joy as the veil is taken away – and we have entered, in actual spiritual experience, the presence of the Living God” (A.W. Tozer).

As I read those words by Tozer, I was overcome with thanksgiving for Jesus and for the truth that He endured the cross—crucifixion—for me! He endured the horror, the shame, and the pain that should have been mine. He was beaten, stripped naked, nailed to a Roman cross, and left there to die—for me. “He Himself bore my sin in His body on the cross, that I might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds I am healed” (1 Peter 2:24; personalization, mine). How incredibly wonderful and grace-filled!

Although it sounds a bit strange to the ear that cannot hear, I was crucified in Him; i.e., the man that I was in Adam was crucified in Jesus when He was crucified. That Adamic man no longer lives; He is dead—graveyard dead! However, I must reckon it so if I am to live as a new creation in Christ Jesus and this is where the difficulty lies. Experientially knowing this death is very difficult because my flesh is so unbelievably strong, or to say that another way and to use the words of Jesus: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). In other words, my flesh will fight to the finish!

Tozer is correct: The Cross is rough and it is deadly, but it is effective; God designed it so! There does, indeed, come a moment when its work is finished and the suffering victim dies; God sees to it! However, when the new life comes, the veil that blinded us from truth is taken away and our pain is replaced with joy because we have entered the presence of the Lord, in actual spiritual experience.

Although His work is finished, He will not finish with me until He gets me home. I wish I could tell you that He has finished with me and I can now see clearly through the veil that once blinded me to truth, that my pain has been replaced with joy, that I have entered into His presence in actual spiritual experience; however, I cannot. I wish I could tell you that my flesh has finally died but you would know the truth. About all I can tell you is this: I know that His work is finished; I know that the joy is much brighter that it used to be; and I know that I am very glad that He promised to get me home before dark!

Your Pastor

All that God has Prepared for Those Who Love Him

Most days, I stand amazed at God's provision for the human race, for both the just and the unjust. As hard as it is to believe, He graciously provides for those who cannot find so much as a kind word for Him, and He does so knowing their ingratitude, but for those who love Him, His generous provision goes far beyond our wildest imaginations, exceeding, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think.

Listen to these words from Paul's letter to the Corinthian church: "...but just as it is written, 'things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.' For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words" (1 Corinthians 2:9-13).

Think about this: you have received the Spirit who is from God--the Holy Spirit--in order that you might know the things freely given to you by God! In other words, God has given you the Holy Spirit and for this good reason (among others): that you might know (be made aware of, receive, embrace, accept, put to use) the lavish outpouring of gifts that God has provided for you.

Now, I do not know about you, but this verse stirs within me the kind of eager anticipation I remember having as a child on Christmas Eve; I could barely wait until daybreak to open the gifts. Obviously, those childhood gifts cannot compare to all that God has prepared for those of us who love Him, but that memory sure does burn at "white heat" as I meditate upon this passage. I can tell you this: I was never disappointed then and I am, certainly, not disappointed now! His provision is simply too good to be true, especially when seen in light of our just deserts.

Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has man's heart even begun to grasp all that God has prepared for those who love Him! Thankfully, one of the gifts that God has given to us is the Person of the Holy Spirit, the ONLY one who knows the thoughts of God, the ONLY one who can cause us to know--to really know--the things we cannot see, hear, or comprehend!

I hope this whets your appetite for Sunday's message!

Your Pastor

Irreproachable Blamelessness

The following is a quote from Mike Mason's book, "The Gospel According to Job" (p. 22): ". . . being 'blameless' is not quite the same as being 'guiltless.' Objectively these two conditions are identical; but they are attained through different routes. If someone is guiltless, it simply means that he has done nothing wrong. If he is accused of wrong, then he is accused falsely and that is all there is to it. But if someone is blameless it means something far more mysterious: it means that no matter how horrible his offenses may have been, all the charges against him have been dropped. Absolutely no blame attaches to him, because the very one he offended has exonerated him."

Obviously, none of us can pass the "guiltless" test, regardless of how impeccable our behavior might appear or of how hard we try. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God and this we cannot deny; simply put, each of us has flunked the "guiltless" test, even sweet old Aunt Guinevere! I guess you could say that each of us belongs behind bars.

Thankfully, this "coin" has two sides and the other one is called "blameless." This side of our proverbial coin allows us to face our guilt without judgment and condemnation, and that is good news!

Think this over carefully before you reject it: If you are a believer (a Christian), you are blameless--eternally blameless--and there is nothing you can do about it. You see, the One you offended has exonerated you by not only becoming guilty of the very sins you commit against Him, but also by His being punished for them! Wow! This is some incredible deal: He becomes guilty of the very sins we commit against Him, He is, then, punished for them, and we in turn get off scot free! No more living behind bars for us! Go figure!

All I know is this: "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not take into account" (Psalm 32:2). Like Abraham, "in hope against hope" I believe, and even that is His gift to me, the gift that allows Him to cancel my debt and declare me BLAMELESS! Hallelujah!

Like Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver

Most of what the Bible has to say about the tongue is very negative and, unfortunately, most of what we experience from the tongue is very negative. This is not because more negative words than positive words are spoken (although there probably are); it is because one negative word can erase (negate) many positive words (every one of us knows this, and we know it quite well!).

There will not be one person who reads this, who can say with any integrity, that he has no problem with his tongue, certainly not "yours truly." The truth is the Scriptures make it very clear that no man can tame the tongue and I assume that includes you and me; however, I am willing to bet that every one of us would like for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do with our tongues, namely tame them.

Today, I saw something in this very familiar passage that I do not remember seeing before (see if you can see it): "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover'" (Mark 16:15-18). [Send me a comment if you see it! Or at least an email!]

If you see it, you might wonder, as did I, why we so often miss the obvious.

Why don't we all begin to pray that our words will be like "apples of gold in settings of silver"?

Your Pastor

The Tongue: A Restless Evil & Filled with Deadly Poison

To be sure, there is much in the book of James that even the best-of-the-best of theologians have a difficult time understanding; however, there is a portion of it that is very clear and unmistakably true: "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Behold the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity, the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison."

I well-remember the teaching I received beginning in my early teens about that huge screen, upon which everyone's life story would be revealed on judgment day. I can also remember the fear and shame that would settle upon me when I would stop long enough to consider that every idle word I spoke, even every thought I had, would be exposed for all the world to see and hear.

There was something strange about this teaching, something very strange and it was this: those of us who received this teaching were far more concerned about our words (and our thoughts) being revealed to the entire world on that dreaded "judgment day" than we ever were about the effect they were having on the lives of others--"then and there."

Somewhere along my journey, I came to understand that God burned all the video of His children's behavior problems and, consequently, no one would see anything, which, to be quite honest, was a tremendous relief! To be sure, it made me appreciate Jesus much more!

Interestingly, with that problem out of the way, I had to face that to which this heretical teaching had blinded me: the fact that all that terrible film has been burned--past, present, & future--does not change the fact that no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison; a fire set on fire by hell; a fire that sets on fire the course of our lives.

Both fresh and bitter water do not come from the same fountain, at least not at the same time.

I am praying that the words of our mouths (what we say) and the meditations of our hearts (what we think) will be acceptable and pleasing to Him, especially mine.

Your Pastor

In Loving Memory of My Friend

In loving memory

of

Michael Bruce Crawley

October 9, 1954—February 1, 2007

“Hippo” was born in Butler, Georgia to the parents of Henry Thaddeus Crawley and Mary Louise Neisler Crawley, both of whom preceded Him in death.

He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Sara Newsome Crawley of Gray; one sister, Mary Louise Crawley of Athens; two brothers, Colonel Charles Crawley (Susan) of Tampa and his twin, Will Crawley of Reynolds. Mike is also survived by two step-daughters, Carol (Jay) Brown of Macon and Susan (Tim) Holloway of Gray, along with 2 step-grandchildren and 1 step-great grandchild.

“Hippo” was employed by the Medical Center of Central Georgia for some 26+ years, and, as was evidenced yesterday (2/3/07) at the Memorial Service held there in his memory, his life significantly impacted almost everyone it touched during his employment.

While at the Emory Hospital, it became obvious to “Hippo” that his days on this earth were quickly coming to an end; however, it also became obvious to those of us who knew him well, that he had one last desire and we knew what it was: to return to his beloved friends at the Medical Center and bid each of them “farewell.” God graciously granted him his last request and hour after hour, doctors, nurses, technicians, secretaries, administrators, chaplains, and only God knows who else, tearfully passed by his bedside, until it was obvious that there was no one left to come. The farewells having been expressed, he knew it was time to “pack up his things” and go Home.

Today, a large crowd will gather in his beloved hometown of Reynolds, and we gather because he also significantly impacted our lives. There is, however, another side of this proverbial coin, and it is this: it was the people of this community, most of whom have long-since died, who gave Mike his roots and, yes, even his wings!

To be sure, life will go on but it will never be the same, and it will not because, well, I think you know why.

A Little Toehold of Goodness

Some stories are just too good not to share and this is one of them. It was written by Danny Westneat of the Seattle Times and forwarded to me by our own Annie Ladner.

The man's face looks like it got in a fistfight with life. His eyes are red, the sockets sunken and dark. He's missing a front tooth. He's drinking from two pint glasses of beer simultaneously, which he refills from a pitcher. He says it's his 37th birthday. Every now and then he lets out a whoop. But he's so drunk it sounds like he's being strangled. He's alone at the bar, so I slide onto the stool next to him.

Another man, bearded, bespectacled and wearing a cleric's collar, elbows up on the other side. After some chitchat about his birthday, the drunk leans into to me and slurs: "What's a priest doing here? Am I dying?" Yes, you are, I'm thinking. Instead I say: "He's not a priest. He's a Methodist minister. He's ... well, actually, he's a regular here."

The drunk isn't listening, so I wander off to watch the action at the pool table. Another Methodist minister is there, shooting stripes and solids against a tall, fast-talking blond man who goes by the name Dogboy.

A few months ago, this minister was the talk of the bar when he won $105 playing pull-tabs.

What are these ministers doing here -- at the SoundTrack Bar and Grill in Interbay, near the Ballard Bridge? Where earlier this year there was a police drug raid? And a shooting in the parking lot? And where tonight a working girl is sweet-talking any man who strays near the bar's side door?

"Where would Jesus hang out?" shrugs Pastor Rick Reynolds, the one with the spectacles. "Jesus ran with the hookers and the tax collectors. It's the opposite of where most church people say we should be going."

Reynolds is a street minister who runs Operation Nightwatch, a group providing food and shelter to the homeless. Most nights, it also dispatches ministers to wander Seattle's streets. To help out if someone needs it. But mostly just to be out there, a comforting presence in the night.

Reynolds chooses to do this in bars. It's easier to get to know people in a bar. The city's dives are jammed with what he calls "the pre-homeless -- people who are about to be homeless but won't realize it until closing time."

For years, Reynolds has worn the collar to some of Seattle's seediest taverns. Like the SoundTrack. Kelly's at Third and Bell downtown. The Red Front in the International District.

"There used to be 120 little drinking holes in and around downtown Seattle," Reynolds says. "You know, real places where working-class poor and neighbors and slumming rich would come and hang out together. Now they've almost all gone upscale."

He's not there to convert people or preach, he insists. Nor is he there to drink (though he goes outside with the crowd for the occasional smoke).

If someone asks for a prayer, he obliges. Other times, folks get hostile at the sight of the collar; the last thing they want in their den of sin is a sermon. So he shoots pool, or plays darts. He keeps coming back. Mostly he sits and listens. Sometimes that's enough. Like once when he sat with a drunk, jittery guy who saw the collar and confessed he had no faith. But the drunk went on, eventually talking about how he was getting too old to be hanging out with drug dealers and hookers. And then admitting he had a 10-year-old kid asleep at home. "He suddenly looked up and said 'Nice to meet you' and walked out," Reynolds said. "He left two-thirds of a beer on the counter. I haven't seen him back here since."

There are no breakthroughs the night I'm there. Nothing budges, at least not visibly so. The man with the missing tooth refuses Reynolds's offer of a bed at a shelter. He stumbles out. The other minister (the pull-tab playing one), Dave Bishop, gives a copy of the New Testament to the working girl. She tucks it away, scarcely pausing in her work.

Later we offer shelter to two men sleeping in a doorway. No thanks. We stop by another bar, now closed, to see if anyone huddled outside wants to get off the street. Nope.

Reynolds has been doing this since 1982. Does he ever feel it's futile?

He shakes his head.

"Having an entire night of superficial conversations with inebriated or drugged-out people may not seem very productive," he allows. "But being here is what's important. "We're not trying to change the world. We're just trying to be a little toehold of goodness."

What I can't stop thinking about is how we go through an entire year arguing about big issues, or agitating for big changes, yet in the end it's the humble, small stuff that sustains us. Like Reynolds. He doesn't say he's going to end homelessness or vanquish poverty. He's a "little toehold."

Imagine the patience and commitment and love it takes to dedicate your life to that.

The truth is this is the very thing to which we should dedicate our lives and if we should, the larger, apparently-more-important things would take care of themselves.

Your Pastor

A Committee Meeting

I have never liked committee meetings; there is something about the word "committee" that causes my stomach to flutter, not to mention what the thought of an actual meeting does. I think the Southern Baptist Convention invented them, or it might have been the Northern Church of the Nazarenes, regardless, it was a mistake. There must be a better way to get things accomplished in the church than by the use of committees; nevertheless, it is my understanding that GCF had one last night that was quite exciting.

Travis had previously agreed to gather some folk around him for the purpose of determining how we can move forward with our worship/music. Well, this group met last night after our LEFTOVER time and from what I can understand, it was a very positive meeting. Apparently, each of them left energized to find the Holy Spirit's direction. You might imagine how this excites me!

Just for the record, those in attendance were the following: Travis Almand, Larry & Joanie Adams, Dudley & Debbie Bluhm, Syd Kiser, Greg Elrod, and Annis Goddard (I hope I didn't leave anyone out!). Now that you have their names, please begin to pray for them, as they continue their search, and I might add, let them know how much you appreciate their willingness to take on this opportunity.

A rose called by any other name is still a rose (or so someone said) and in much the same way, a "committee" meeting called by any other name is still a "committee" meeting, but mercy how I hope we can coin a new word to use in its place--something like "opportunity" meeting, or "eager beaver's" meeting, or BLOG meeting, anything but "committee" meeting!

Regardless of what we call the meeting, I am thankful for the willingness of this group to take on this privilege, one that will benefit each of us!

Your Pastor