Pastor Jeff's Thoughts

Nearing the end

2010-02-25T10:34:00.003-06:00

Today is Thursday, February 25 and it's my last day on the ground here in Vancouver. It's hard to believe that my time here sharing the Gospel with the world is drawing to an end. I have tried to make some notes of people I've met and all the countries they represent but I know I won't be able to recall it all. But, God knows all the seeds that have been planted and those who will be in Heaven as a result of our obedience in being here and sharing the Gospel.
I do want to share with you about an encounter I had Wednesday night with a young man named Tavi. He was a really engaging young man who was more than willing to share about his beliefs. After having an entertaining conversation with him about the Canada hockey team, I switched the conversation to spiritual matters. That's when it got really interesting. He was raised Hindu but had abandoned his parents faith and had crafted his own, unique belief system that doesn't involve a personal God but rather a force. So, I asked him about Jesus and what he though of him. He gave the typical line of Jesus being a prophet. That's when I asked about Jesus being God. He quickly said "Jesus wasn't God" to which I challenged him about Jesus saying that he and the father was one. He didn't know what to do with that and stumbled through a simple response of "well, I don't know about that, you might be right." I could tell that he was really thinking about what we had talked about. He had to leave as he got a phone call so I gave him the Jesus Pin and tract and asked him to think about what we had talked about.
There is no such thing as a "typical" evangelism encounter. Not here, not back home. Each and every time we are obedient to share the love of Jesus Christ by telling the greatest story of all time, God will use it in unique ways for His glory.
Pray for Tavi that God will continue to reveal his truth to him and that he will respond to Jesus' love.

Winter Games + Jesus

2010-02-22T11:18:00.002-06:00

It has been a couple of days since I have posted much of anything other than a quick tweet from time to time. It has been a very busy couple of days and the opportunities to share Jesus has been tremendous! I am so blessed to be here for "such a time as this". I only have four more days to be on the ground and telling the story of God's love for mankind shown through His son, Jesus Christ.
There are several things that make sharing the Gospel at the Olympics so unique. One is the vast number of cultures and countries that you will engage for the Gospel. I have lost tract of all of the people I have shared with from various countries but needless to say, it's been a lot!
I know that today will bring a number of opportunities to engage people with the Gospel and I pray that I will be alert, aware, prepared and bold to share the truth in love with all those I encounter. That is not so unique to sharing the Gospel at the Olympics. No matter where you are today you too need to be alert, aware, prepared and bold to share the truth in love with all those you encounter. Let me encourage you to make the most of every opportunity you have with each and every person you engage with today.
The other special thing about being here is the blessing of sharing with old friends and making of new ones. There really is a special bond with those you serve with "in the trenches". I am grateful for these men and women who are here to share the love of Jesus with the world. There are top notch men and women of God.
The window of opportunity is closing with each passing day here at the Winter Games. My desire today is to make the most of it for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be all glory and honor.

Vancouver Day 3

2010-02-18T08:27:00.003-06:00

It's early in the morning and I am excited about what God has in store for today. This is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be in it!
I wish I had the same mindset everyday but the truth is, I don't. I know everyday is a gift from God. Why do I feel like I have be somewhere somewhere special or doing something special before I get excited? Everyday is a gift from God and He's just waiting for us to unwrap it and make the most of it.
I claim today for my Lord. I want to be used by Him wherever and to do whatever He has in mind. I pray for opportunities to meet people who need to hear about Jesus. I ask for boldness to share the truth of the Gospel in love and the sensitivity to really hear those I share with today.
Make the most of today, no matter where you are or what you're doing - it's special.

Vancouver test blog entry

2010-02-16T09:16:00.003-06:00

This is just a test to see if my blog will post to facebook.
This is only a test,
Had this been an actual blog entry you would be reading something much more interesting than this.
I do, however, hope to share some of my Olympic ministry thoughts here though so check back.

Coffee for Mom

2009-10-14T13:06:00.004-05:00

One of the things my mom really enjoys is coffee. Not the fancy Starbucks with added stuff - just straight forward, black coffee. She likes to drink it all day long. She will drink instant coffee if she has to, but she prefers to "real" stuff. I am trying to go by and visit her daily at the nursing home where she is on hospice care. We are blessed to live just about 4 miles from where she is now residing. While my mom is a coffee fanatic, I am not. I love the smell of coffee beans freshly ground, but all in all I don't care for the taste or smell of coffee, especially when it is old. There is a QT Convenience Store located between my house and mom's nursing home. I decided yesterday morning to stop by and get the biggest cup of coffee they have. She was thrilled when I brought it to her yesterday. Not being a particularly sharp guy, I decided to repeat this gesture today with much the same response - a big smile and a grateful thank you.
While I was reflecting on this today, I realized how the small things matter. The small things that we can do for others can have a significant impact on them. These small gestures are not intended for our benefit, but rather for the benefit of the one we are serving. Granted, we receive a blessing from the service by giving, but that is not the focus - the other person is.
Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
I hope that I can continue to bring mom a cup of hot coffee for as long as I can. In the process I hope I can not only learn more about serving her, but also show her the love of Jesus Christ.

Stories from the Street - Old Co-workers

2009-10-12T15:20:00.002-05:00

Great Commission Resurgence

2009-06-23T20:24:00.002-05:00

At the conclusion of the first full day of the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention a few things stand clear. We, as God's people with the distinct history of being Gospel-centered, can be a rude bunch. However, by in large, there is a genuine desire to be faithful to the name of Christ and to making His name known. The single most talked about topic this year is the Great Commission Resurgence. This document put forth by Dr. Johnny Hunt, SBC President, is a call to Southern Baptists to return to the heart of the Gospel. To read more go to
http://www.greatcommissionresurgence.com/.
I have read the document, listened to the discussions and most importantly prayed about it's point and purpose and I have to say that I am in complete and full agreement with it. Let me encourage you to read it for yourself, pray about it and ask any questions you might have.
For some this may seem distracting and off point. The fact is our denomination, and often times, our churches, have been distracted and off point for years. You need not look any further than the sobering data released this morning from LifeWay Research that states if we, as a convention, continue the trend we've been on for the last 50 years, we will be a convention with less than half of what we are today, for evidence of our loss of focus.
It is my hope, and prayer, that the Great Commission Resurgence will be a rally cry that our convention, churches, ministers and members can get behind. Not so we can be bigger churches and build bigger buildings, not so we can be a more positive influence in the communiy, not so we can win "our" political point of view in the public discorce, but so we can be Kingdom focused in ALL that we do. And as a result of glorfying God with our re-focus, we can be all that God desires us to be in our families, our churches, our communities, our regions, and around the world.
Will you join me in committing to this Great Commission Resurgence?

Show Me What I'm Looking For

2009-06-11T09:23:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had a song "haunt" you? I first heard Carolina Liar's song, "Show Me What I'm Looking For" a few weeks ago. From the first moment I heard the lyrics, they pierced me to the core. While I admit to knowing little to nothing about the artists that comprise the band, the song is nonetheless a powerful, soul-searching song that, in my opinion, is a desperate cry to God Himself. Look at the lyrics:

Wait, I’m wrong
Should have done better than this
Please, I’ll be strong
I’m finding it hard to resist
So show me what I’m looking for
CHORUS
Save me, I’m lost 
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you 
I’ll pay any cost 
Save me from being confused 
Show me what I’m looking for 
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord
Don’t let go
I’ve wanted this far too long
Mistakes become regrets
I’ve learned to love abuse
Please show me what I’m looking for
CHORUS
Save me, I’m lost 
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you 
I’ll pay any cost 
Save me from being confused 
Show me what I’m looking for 
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
CHORUS
Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Just save me from being confused
Wait, I’m wrong
I can’t do better than this
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

I find the chorus especially haunting:

Save me, I’m lost 
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you 
I’ll pay any cost 
Save me from being confused 
Show me what I’m looking for 
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

Again, not knowing a single thing about the group or their intentions in writing the song, I find that these lyrics speak to the heart of a generation of people who are lost and are desperatley looking for and longing for meaning. They know they're lost, they are willing to pay any cost so they can find some authentic purpose to life. In this song, they even cry out to the "lord" that they've been waiting for him.

I hope this song continues to haunt me and that God will use it in my life as a reminder of the people in my path everyday who are quietly living their lives, while on the inside the are screaming these lyrics to the top of their lungs. I pray God will allow me to shine the light of Jesus on these so they won't have to be lost anymore.

Stories

2009-06-09T13:40:00.002-05:00

I'm excited about our Summer Sermon Series, "Stories" that will begin this Sunday, June 14. "Stories" will explore the stories that Jesus used, parables, to teach his listeners and us today. Through the use of the power of stories Jesus shared great truths and significant theology. The interesting thing about stories is the power that they have on us. We remember stories. In the 21st century we experience stories best through media - namely tv, movies and even music. Think of the latest movie you've seen and the story that it told. I recently watched Schindlers list for the very first time. I will never forget the story of this man and the people he sought to save from the vicious evil that was Hitler. The powerful images, while difficult to watch at times, are seared in my mind and make more real to me the reality of the enslavement, torture and senseless deaths of millions of Jews.
While we have been conditioned to expereicne most of our stories through media, God has long used the power of stories to tell His great truths. The fact is, virtually every one of Jesus' parables are known by even those with a limited knowledge of the Bible.
I am hopefull that through this series we will each discover not only the truth of Jesus' teaching but also the truth of the story God is wanting to write on our hearts and through our lives.

Memorial Day

2009-05-21T10:58:00.000-05:00

I just fininshed writing this for our Sunday worship guide:
As we gather for worship this morning, we recognize that it's a "holiday" weekend. For many this is just a long weekend. Since it's Memorial Day, it's the official beginning to summer with the opening of swimming pools. Are you ready for summer yet? Before we rush past this "holiday" we need to remember what Memorial Day is really about.
Since the Civil War, our nation has set aside the last Monday in May as a day to honor those ho paid the ultimate price for our freedom by laying down their lives. Take a few moments to think of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others who have died in service to our county. May their sacrifice be a reminder to each of us that freedom is not free.
We can't think of the laying down of lives without the words of Jesus ringing in our ears. In John 15:13 we read of Jesus teaching His Disciples about love. He said "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
It was our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who set the example for us all of the price that needed to be paid and His willingness to pay it. May you understand fully the significance of the sacrifice of those who have died to pay for our freedom - both the solider and, most significantly, our Savior.

In The Beginning...

2009-05-21T10:08:00.000-05:00

New to blogging, take two!
I haven't blogged "officially" as Pastor of Cross Keys Baptist Church.
I think it's time to change that. My goal in blogging would be to write whatever it is that God has laid on my heart. It may be an extension of a sermon that I need to share or a reaction to a news article or passage of Scripture. In the end, I hope to use this blog to better communicate with those in my church and others who care to know what one little man has to say.