‘It’s Always Something’

As a cast member on the original Saturday night Live, Gilda Radner created a character named “Roseann Rosannadanna” who typically was involved in television editorials that made no sense. Every time “Rosannadanna” appeared she would end her skit with the line, “It’s always something.” This was her father’s favorite expression about life. She chose this famous catch-phrase; a phrase she made famous as the title to a book she wrote detailing her funny yet painful walk through one of life’s ‘something’s’. In the book she details her story; a story of her struggle against cancer and her determination to continue laughing.

She makes a statement in her book that has stuck with me. She says, “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.” I think we all have that desire for a ‘perfect ending’; we want life to make sense. We desire to have a full understanding of why things are the way they are. But life is about not knowing and about taking each moment as she said and making the best of it.

The one thing that seems lacking in her expression of what life is about would be faith. As believers we don’t know what the future holds either but we don’t have to know because we know the One who holds our future in His hands. The poem of our life won’t rhyme and has an unclear ending to use Radner’s description of life. We know this because in John 16:33 Jesus said “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Tribulation is defined as “grievous trouble; severe trial or suffering.” Some reading this are there right now. Others are about to go through this many of whom are unaware that a “severe trial or suffering” is on the horizon. And still others are coming out of this trial, the proverbial clouds are breaking and they can see the sun again. This is what this blog is about! As believers there will always be something as Radner says; something that will test and yet strengthen our faith as we go through it. But trust me, if you don’t stop and sit amidst the clouds feeling lost; if you will keep on walking the clouds WILL break and you will see the “Son” again. And when you do you will find the Son is right where He has promised He always will be, right there with you. Keep the “Son” in your eyes because it is always something.

The big 'catch'

Yesterday as I watched my beloved Dallas Cowboys (stay with me even if you are not a Cowboys fan) lose a heart-breaker I have to admit I was filled with a wide range of emotions. I was exhilarated that they made it to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs yet frustrated by the reversal of a call at the end of the game. If you saw the game you know it was 4^th down and time was running out on the Cowboys. Tony Romo threw a deep pass down the sideline that Dez Bryant caught at about the 1 yard line (it really WAS a catch but maybe that is another blog). The cheers around my big-screen soon turned to great frustration over an obscure rule that allows for a player to catch the ball, take 3 steps, extend toward the goal line, and when he hits the ground if the ball comes loose it is not a catch.

So last night I am stewing a little bit over the game and the Lord shows up and busts in on my pity-party. Is it just me or does He do the same to you? Never mind, I already know the answer. I am sitting there oblivious to what is now on the big screen thinking to myself “That was a catch. How could they say that was not a catch?” It was then that the Lord barged into my thoughts with a thought of His own. He reminded me that the greatest catch one can make is by being a fisher of men. What I had watched on television that afternoon was a game. But what happens with the souls of men and women will last an eternity. Slowly in my mind the Lord replayed the faces of the four girls I had the awesome opportunity to baptize yesterday. The whole world was tuned out at this point; just me and the Lord. It was then I heard His voice as clearly as I have ever heard Him as He said, “Son, now THAT is a catch! Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (and women, boys, and girls).

The Co-Operative Program and why I believe in it

Four reasons I believe in the Co-Operative Program (CP)?

1.      Missions – I do not know of any other better way to ‘do missions’ than through the CP. Many churches fund individual missionaries and those missionaries every few years have to come home to drum up support. But through the CP our church, working with many other churches, are able to fund 4,816 missionaries through the IMB who never have to return to the states to raise support. Our IMB missionaries saw 114,571 baptisms last year! Many of these missionaries serve in the 10/40 window; that part of the world that is highly unreached and where many people groups are unengaged for the cause of Christ. They are serving in some of the most hostile places to the gospel in the world. By giving to the CP we also support about 6,000 NAMB (North American Mission Board) missionaries. This number includes church planters, chaplains, student missionaries, and others. There is no other way for Eastwood to support 10,500 missionaries outside of the CP. If just 1,000 KBC church members gave $3 more per week, this would result in another $1 million for missions and evangelism though the CP.  

2.      Kentucky Baptist Convention Ministries – The various ministries of our Kentucky Baptist Convention could not and would not happen were it not for the CP. This past week I heard of an affinity evangelism event planned by our Baptist Campus Ministry (Tommy Johnson) at WKU involving 700+ sorority girls. Of these girls in attendance it was reported that about 250 gave their hearts to Christ. Evangelism and discipleship is happening across so many of our Kentucky higher education campuses through the work of BCM leaders funded primarily through CP. The work of the KBC evangelism and mission’s mobilization team is HUGE and it could not happen apart from CP. We read often of the high percentage of churches that are plateaued and declining and the number is staggering. The KBC is trying to turn that tide through their church revitalization and church consulting ministries. I know of a number of churches that are moving in the right direction because of this effort that would not happen apart from CP. Serving on the board of Sunrise Children’s Services (formerly Kentucky Baptists homes for children) for the past year has afforded me the opportunity to hear first-hand about the great work helping hurting children and their families through Sunrise. Much of their work would go undone were it not for CP. Many students are blessed with scholarship and aid at our Baptist institutions of higher education, our kids are being saved and called to the gospel ministry at our Kentucky camps, our KBC Women’s Missionary union is blessed financially by the KBC, the work of our state Baptist paper, and so many other efforts across Kentucky happen because we give to the CP.

3.      Seminary Education – as a Southern Baptist graduate of one of our six SBC seminaries, I have had a large portion of my education paid for by Baptists across our convention. By giving to the CP we are today helping educate about 16,000 future church leaders as well as missionaries to the world. There are untold thousands, maybe millions, which will be reached by these who are preparing right now to take the gospel to then ends of the earth. The future pastors of your church and mine are likely being trained at one of seminaries right now and much of their education costs are covered by the CP.

4.      An ethical voice to the world – The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC is dedicated to addressing social, moral, and ethical concerns, with particular attention to their impact on American families and their faith. They also provide print resources that offer scriptural responses to the moral and ethical problems of our culture. They are our voice to politicians regarding issues of importance to people of faith. They help educate us concerning the moral and ethical concerns of today that we might sound an intellectual voice of reason to our nation and world that has morally lost its way.

There are other reasons I believe in the CP. The hope here is to motivate some and educate others about the great work that goes on when we give to the CP. I am proud that our KBC has led the way in committing to a 50/50 split of all CP dollars given. Not only did our state convention commit to this split on a timeline well ahead of most all other state conventions, almost a decade earlier than the timeline that was originally laid out and approved, this has already been achieved. I am today a Southern Baptist by conviction. I grew up in a largely unchurched home with little church background outside of “Protestant” Easter services on whatever Army post my dad was stationed at. So when God called me to ministry I had a large number of denominations to choose from and I chose Southern Baptists because of what they believe and how they practice what they believe. While I am a Southern Baptist by conviction, I am a Kentucky Baptist by calling. I am grateful to the Lord for the day He saved me, the day He called me to the gospel ministry, the day He committed my heart to the work of Southern Baptists, and the day He called me to serve in the Kentucky Baptist Convention.  I am proud to serve alongside the people of Eastwood Baptist Church who are committed to sacrificial giving through the CP.

What a journey

I texted back and forth with my good friend Brent Austin tonight after the annual meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention came to a close. I thanked him for the fact that some 10 1/2 years ago he, and the pastor search committee of five, had enough confidence to recommend to Eastwood that they call a man from the hills of Tennessee to be the next pastor. Ten years ago last month this journey began and I am sure it has taken many of us who call Eastwood 'home' to places we never expected to go.

Many of you my Eastwood family have been on mission with God literally to the other side of the world carrying the Good News of Jesus to a lost and dying world. You probably had never given thought to ever going to East Asia or Africa or Europe and yet that's exactly where God has taken you. Others of you 10 years ago did not know Eastwood existed much less that the Lord would call you to join the church or come on staff at the church. And yet that is exactly what God did.

I too never imagined I would pastor a people as loving and compassionate as you. Don't get me wrong, I had pastored three great churches prior to coming to Eastwood, but there just something special about the relationship I have with you church family. Please hear my heart and know you are loved! Thank you to many in leadership, who when the topic of KBC leadership first came up as a possibility, you had faith in me and encouraged me to allow the Lord to open this door if it were His will. And Eastwood staff ... I am such a blessed pastor! You guys are incredible! Unless the Lord takes me on to glory, I hope He allows me to finish out my journey as a pastor not just of any church but of this church and I pray each of you are by my side as we serve the Lord in this place.

To my Kentucky Baptist Convention friends. Thank you for the trust you have extended by allowing me the opportunity to serve this year. In reflecting today, I thought of men like preacher Morrison in our church who pastored faithfully for about 50 years in Barren County. Guys like he and so many others who served faithfully for so much longer than I have and I'm sure because of their life and ministry experiences make them more qualified and deserving to hold this position than I.

Yet seemingly this is what God has called me to do this year and so I venture into unchartered territory for me. I am able to approach these days with confidence. Confidence not in my skills but rather in the God who has called me and the wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ He has surrounded me with. God has blessed our state convention with capable and godly leaders at our convention office and it will be my privilege, even if only for a season, to work alongside of them to make the name of Jesus known across our commonwealth. What a journey ...

'Broken Hallelujah"

On my way to the office today I was listening to Christian radio and I heard a song I have heard many times before. It’s a song titled “Broken Hallelujah” by a group called The Afters. As I listened again to the words, I realized this is where most of us live. We all have likely had those ‘mountain top’ experiences of faith where God has moved incredibly in our lives and like Peter in Matthew 17:4 where after Jesus had been transfigured on the mountain he said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” It IS good for us to have those times but alas the valley calls. We could never know what the mountain top looked like where there never any valleys. As life goes by it seems as though the valleys are deeper and darker and the mountain tops seem to be a little less frequent; the questions seem to come much quicker than the answers and we hang on to our faith as everything else seems to get stripped away.

If confession is good for the soul, I need to admit that my faith is often a lot more like Job’s than it is Peter’s on the mountain top. In Job 1 almost everything Job had was stripped away; his children, his wealth in his livestock, and soon his health would leave him as well. At the end of chapter 1, after all of this trouble has come into his life, I think we read his ‘broken hallelujah.’ Job has heard that his children perished in a storm and he demonstrates his grief by shaving his head and tearing his robe. But then the scripture clearly says “he fell to the ground and worshipped.” Do you think worship was easy here? Do you think Job really felt like worshipping? As praise is a part of worship do you think praise flowed easily from Job’s lips? I think all Job had to offer the Lord that day was a ‘broken hallelujah.’

The words to the song go like this: “I can barely stand right now. Everything is crashing down, and I wonder where You are. I try to find the words to pray. I don't always know what to say, but You’re the one that can hear my heart. Even though I don’t know what your plan is, I know You’re making beauty from these ashes. I’ve seen joy and I’ve seen pain. On my knees, I call Your name. Here’s my broken hallelujah. With nothing left to hold onto, I raise these empty hands to You. Here’s my broken hallelujah.”

That’s where I am living today; not in an absence of faith, but with a ‘broken hallelujah.’ There was a day that I would have felt less than spiritual to admit that praise was not an easy thing; that it did not readily flow from my lips. But I have watched too many pastor friends, out of feeling an obligation to be the epitome of spirituality to their people, set up a straw man for those same people; a man that when the winds of life blow is easily swept away. There are a lot of things I do as a pastor and I am SURE that not all of them are good. But one thing I try to be is transparent.

I know some of you reading this are on the mountain top right now with the Lord and like Peter, you tell the Lord “it IS good for us to be here.” But many others are in the valleys that invariably accompany the mountain tops and for you today your praise to the Lord is a ‘broken hallelujah.’ Here me when I say there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I think a part of our faith walk is having those days when we find prayer difficult and praise unlikely. If that’s where you are I think affirming what Job did is enough. Job 1:21 records Job’s words as, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” … a broken hallelujah.