Sunday Morning Blues

I should be in the bed but here goes...“So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.” Ephesians 6:11-13 (Msg)

I have been fighting this one for months now. These last weeks have been a constant push for me to share something that is almost certainly more painful than I would like to admit. Leadership is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my life. It has almost been like a starker. As far back as my memory can take me, I didn’t know it at that time but I was born to lead. I can remember back to elementary school I was always picked as captain of everything. I remember being chosen as captain of our inter-class sports tournament – it was my first remembrance of how difficult it was to be in leadership. It was the championship game in basketball it was a close game the entire school was in the gym and it was the fourth quarter. I was dribbling the ball down the court and realize that everybody hadn’t played I called time-out and with great objection from my classmates I took myself out of the game in order for the last player on the bench to play. We lost the game [and the pizza party for the winning team] and there were some very anger sixth graders (and we all know how cruel they can be.) I took it and I remember that later on that semester when I received my report card there was a note from my teacher Ms. Linda Lockman [never over look the impact you can make on a person I’m 44 years old and I still remember her name] acknowledge my deed by writing a note to my parents about how I cared enough to make the other students feelings priority rather than the win. Leadership has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

What has been pushing me is the many sacrifices a leader has to make. My thoughts this week at the National Baptist Convention Mid-winter board was simply about that. With the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Birthday, the inauguration of President Barack Obama, our National Baptist Convention election and in a few weeks our State election. Let me first start with what we all know there are some leadership privileges – that’s a given but there are far more sacrifices. I remember when I started in ministry some 25 years ago, I was almost ashamed at what people would do for me as a preacher, could hardly even except a compliment on a sermon. Let’s just suffice it to say I take any kind word now. So we can agree on the leadership privileges but let me share with you that there is a side of leadership that most will never know, the painful and heart staking sacrifices that come with it.

Many leaders are very lonely – many leaders walk alone, sometime emotionally and even time physically. In leadership you have to take people not where they want to go but where they need to go and every relationship around you will at some point be strained by that. You remember the scene as Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the shout of praise and worship, only to be spit on, cursed at, and killed by the end of the week.

For the sake of time let me just drop just a few of the struggle and a short solution that I will later elaborate on this week.
Leaders hurt, cry and become depressed and disappointed but Sunday is always coming
Leaders are people too that others think they can say and do whatever they want to
Leaders live their life on that perpetual stage, always under the microscope
Leaders have very few close and intimate friends (if any) because everybody wants something
Leaders have a great struggle in balancing leadership at home and at work

Leaders children normally grow up resenting the fact they were raised by a leader
Leaders wake up ever morning with the weight of leadership on them
Leaders are frighten 99.9% of the time if they are following God
Leaders have bad days, hurt, become depressed, discouraged and tired
Leaders hardly ever, ever, ever take time for themselves because they are always leading or preparing to lead or praying about leading
Leaders do have hearts and they do get broken, bruised and burdened

I could go on and on but even writing this is painful but I want to share two very important things: (1) if you have someone who has become a leader in your life take time to encourage them. A kind word or deed could make all the difference between the success and/or the failure of that leader. (2) give them a hug and acknowledge that you care and are very thankful that God has put them in your life. (3) and I know I say two things but finally pray for your leader whether you happy with them or not – just pray.

Hope this has been helpful but I have to be honest this has been more for me than for you. Thanks for reading.

National Baptist Convention Mid-Winter Board Meeting

This is the very last night of the National Baptist Convention Mid-Winter Board Meeting held at the Baptist World Center in Nashville Tennessee. It has been a very cold trip [14 degrees] other than that the trip has been very informative. During the board meeting the length and breadth of the convention business is discussed. The business meeting was held up a day in order for our National President to attend the swearing in of our 44th U.S. President then it was business as usually. Meeting, discussing, sermons and offering were the schedule.

This year is an election year for the convention, thus there was much discussion about the upcoming election. Who would be eligible to run for president? Which churches was eligible to cast vote during this election.

Now that we’ve handled the National convention business, we have to turn right around and do the same thing for our State Convention. This is also an election year for the State of Oklahoma. We will be soon gathering to do the very same thing locally. Be in prayer for our convention.

I didn’t give my outline for last Sunday so here goes. Why The Church Ought To Pray For President Obama…“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)

1. The Responsibility of my Prayer! 1 Timothy 2:1 (NIV)
2. The Recipients of my Prayer! 1 Timothy 2:2a (NIV)
3. The Result of my Prayer! 1 Timothy 2:2b (NIV)
4. The Reason for my Prayer! 1 Timothy 2:3c (NIV)

Inauguration of President Barack Obama

"A time of Celebration not Gratification."



Just some personal thoughts:



The timing of Dr. King's dream and the presidential inauguration...WOW



President Obama speech was timely and I think sets the tone for the great work ahead.



First-Lady Michelle Obama was elegant and so proud of her husband.



Their daughters Sasha and Malia just was simply adorable.



Hightlights for me was...

1. The swearing in

2. The farewell walk with the Mr. & Mrs. Bush

3. The parade walk as they held hands waving

4. Can't wait to watch balls



Our prayer go out the Edward Kennedy who collapsed today during luncheon.

Last Night In Houston TX

During day three of “Giving Blood” preaching conference Dr.Len Sweet shifted the focus of the preacher from the Gutenburg era of wordsmithing to the Google era of the image smith.

Kay Arthur taught how to “find” the Word of God that was hidden in the House of God using a text from Josiah.

Dr. Paul Walker thrilled the crowd with a comprehensive but compact training session on how to preach a Bible series.

Dr. Kaiser wrapped up a full 90-minute session on expository preaching that had the audience on the edge of their seats with a profound statement: “Preach the Word like it is going out of style...because it is!”

This was a long day of study but if you know me well there are two things that when I’m out of town I try not to miss: (1) increasing my vision by visiting some of the major ministry in the city. Of course Houston has so many from Dr. Ed Young Sr., Dr. A Louis Patterson, Dr. Ralph Douglas West, Pastor Joel Osteen, and the list could go on and on. I was blessed to visit the Solid Rock Baptist Church and spent time with their visionary Dr. Ross Cullens. Dr. Cullens about two years ago purchased a Garden Ridge Building and has transformed it into a magnificent model for ministry. He highlighted a café that leads into a banquet hall, a new worship area, huge gathering areas, a health club and the future worship area that hasn’t even be started yet. What struck me the most is that this church has a history of being business and kingdom builders. Interesting enough as we where breaking bread together I was sharing with him about a conference I attended where I met a pastor name Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin Potter's House Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville Florida http://www.potters-house.org/. Whose church owns a mall, a credit union and several other major pieces of property. Long story short he not only knows him but married one of his staff members. I was simply blessed again to met a leader with a vision that becomes so BIG that it can’t be confined within the walls of the church building. Oh, by the way they have a party room that would rival any dream place to have your child’s birthday party with private room, mother’s room, father’s room equipped with flat screen television to view football on Sundays afternoon and jumpers everywhere. Not to mention Cullens can preach.

Well, bet you thought I had forgotten about (2) but I didn’t and it’s shopping. I’m not often impressed but today I was – and before this it was in DC. I simply don’t spend money for the sake of it maybe a little wiser in my old age [not too sure,] When I shop now I have to see something that I just can’t live without – this can’t be just another suite or another pare of shoes. I had made some strong decision about my wardrobe for ’09 and was doing good until Pastor Jeff Mitchell [that’s right I’m calling names] and Pastor Cullens set me up. I should have stayed in the car but Pastor Cullens had to go in and pick up two suites they had for him and encouraged me to come along to look. Now I don’t fault Pastor Cullens because he doesn’t know me that well but you would think that a friend of over 25 years would know you well enough to protect you. Let’s just say that I didn’t fall off the wagon to bad.

This evening I’m taking the time to finish up the message for our 9am experience and on the trip back I’ll be reviewing the outline for the 1045am experience. Sunday afternoon I have been asked to sharing the closing prayer at the City-Wide Dr. Martin Luther King Service. Busy weekend and an even busy next week be in prayer – was told today that sheet-rockers are working. God is an awesome God!!!

Away @ Preaching Conference

Today, I'm attending the North American Conference on Biblical Preaching entitled "Giving Blood" How to preach to save lives. The conference equips pastor to 1. To Maximize Quality

2. To Minimize Time

3. Multiply Results



The conference features Dr. Kenneth C. Ulmer, Dr. Kay Arthur, and Dr. Walter Kaiser.



Dr. Ulmer taught on "making the message memorable." where he focus on two thoughts, that if you want to make the impression that God's Word should you have to picture it and plant it. He was simply awesome and helpful.



Dr. Arthur taught on "how to preach through a Bible book." I have several of Dr. Arthur's books but this was the first time I heard her in a service. Amazing and very challenging are the two words that come to mind. Her passion for sharing the word was refreshing. I pray that God will deepen my love four His word. Dr. Arthur said that we should never be guilty of mutilating Word of God in order to mutilating people.



Dr. Walter Kaiser taught on "preaching all 66 books of the Bible." Dr. Walter Kaiser focused on expository preaching . He said in expository preaching you begin with a text. Stay with a text and end with a text.



The conference is being held at the beautiful Grace Church host pastors Steve & Becky Riggle. Website http://www.grace.tv/. God has truly given them a vision to accomplish. It is an extremely well ran and organized ministry.



This has been along day that has attached itself to along week. Blessings on you!

It’s ALL About Vision

“I will climb up into my watchtower now and wait to see what the Lord will say to me and how he will answer my complaint. Then the Lord said to me, "Write my answer in large, clear letters on a tablet, so that a runner can read it and tell everyone else. But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” Habakkuk 2:1-3 (NLT)

Over the last year I have been asked by the President of the Baptist Minister’s Assoication Dr. J. A. Reed Jr. [my childhood pastor] to lead a monthly inhouse training. Each month I share on what I think are some very important subjects. Over the next two or three months I’ll be teaching on vision. One of the challenges that leaders and pastors have is to cast the God-Giving Vision.

A lot of Pastors have great vision. But they never see their God given vision become a reality because they never learned how to communicate to their congregations. Many great God-given dreams die in the vision-casting stage.

If you’re a member of a church, a leader in your local church or even a Pastor this will be helpful in sharping your skills. Here are seven things that you need to know when sharing your vision.

Tell them WHO you are. What’s your church about? What makes your church different and unique? When you’re communicating vision to your church, you’ve got to help people see how your church is unique.

Tell them WHERE you are going. If you don’t know where you’re going, nobody else will, and nobody’s going to follow you. To communicate vision, you’ve got to communicate where you’re going.

Tell them WHY you are going there. People will have a hard time following you to where God wants you to go if they don’t understand the motivation behind it.

Tell them WHAT it feels like to be going there. You’ve got to let people know they’ll find significance by investing their time, talent and tresure in seeing God’s kingdom expand.

Tell them WHAT people can do. You’ve got to help them see that their individual ministry contributes to the progress of the whole.

Tell them HOW you’re going to do it. Share with your congregation how you’re going to move forward. It’s going to help the vision become more reachable in the minds of your congregation.

Tell them WHAT the rewards will be. Tell your church what the benefits will be for fulfilling the vision that God has for you. Jesus tells you, “well done good and faithful servant”? That’s the most important reward we’ll get from doing what God calls us to do.

I pray that God will bless you and enlarge your vision and you seek to do God’s Will! Enjoy the New Pictures. Continue to pray for the entire building process. Thank you.

It Will Happen!

The New Church [NE 23rd & Coltrane] is moving at an amazing pace. God has given us favor with weather and speed. As you can see by the pictures they have begun on the outside. The entire inside is framed (hope to get picture soon on inside progress). They have begun the layout for the parking area. Favor is that by this time last year we’d had nearly two weeks of ice, homes and our church was without electricity. Yesterday it was nearly 70 degrees and today it should be the same. What a mighty God we serve.

This weekend we will host an open house for prospective buyers for our current location. I covet your prayers that God will inspire some church or ministry to have the vision to reach one more for Jesus. I’ve discussed with church staff that’s what it’s going to take for some pastor or leader to have a desire to do more than what is comfortable and risk it all for God. That’s what my prayer is that God will continue to push me, along with the Greater Bethel Church family to risk it all for Him. So that He can get the glory and the praise for what He does.

What is God asking you to put on the line?

What is God waiting to do in, to and through you if you trust Him?

"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" "Yes, Lord," they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you"; and their sight was restored." Matthew 9:27-30 (NIV)

The Message Translation says “It happened. They saw.”

This is YOUR Year!

Happy New Year

The New Year is here. We’ve made it! Between last Sunday and this Sunday I’ve preached both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. New Year’s Eve I was privileged to preach in the 28th Annual Prayer Bowl at the Fairview Baptist Church [my home church] Dr. J.A. Reed host Pastor. It’s funny because I’ve grew up attending the Prayer Bowl and now for the last 8 years I’ve been preaching in it [who would have ever thought it.] The Prayer Bowl is probably the biggest single event next to the Simultaneous Revival in the City of Oklahoma. For the last 12 years I’ve been preaching New Year’s Day at the Mt. Sinai Church of God in Christ. I inherited this preaching spot from my predecessor Dr. C. C. Cooper. Dr. Cooper has aged into his 70’s and Dr. Levi Lenley would allow him until his retirement. Dr. Cooper was a legend; he was a quartet singing and an outstanding soloist. He was a C.A.W. Clark type when it came to preaching. I’m always glad to see the end of the year come and I’m glad to see them come to an end. The Old Folks use to say that how you end the year is how your year will be…that’s scary. With both Christmas and New Years being on Thursdays that has made for very challenging sermon preparations, putting my back against the wall for the out of the ordinary Friday – Saturday preparation.

The holidays have been slow and I’ve really enjoyed it. Spending time with those that are important is such a luxury. With the demands of the ministry it’s very difficult to find time to do this on a regular. That’s another thing that I’ve added to my list of things to work toward. Someone has said “to live life with no regrets,” so I’m going to work to make relationship a priority.

My New Years’ message is entitled “Trusting God will make 2009 your best year ever” Proverbs 3: 5-6. (1) Trusting God’s Care 5a. (2) Trusting God’s Purpose 6a. (3) Trusting God’s Will 6b. Even though this is a promise, it is a conditional promise. If we will do our part, God will do His part.

Construction project is going fantastic. I’ve heard horror stories from many of my pastor friends about project move too slow. I’m afraid the building is going to be ready and we not be. My prayer is that our church family will get on the fast track and get in step with what God is doing. He has given us favor and we ought to respond by stretching our faith. This is our [the Greater Bethel Church] year. Everybody connected with this church is going to realize expediential growth and favor. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in, to, and through this church.