Celebration Time

Today, we began the celebration of our 8th year as Senior Pastor of the GBC. WOW! What a ride its been. I've had the privilege to serve this church for over 17 years as part of the pastoral team. I've literally grew up right before a small group of our present members eyes.

Today we had one of my closest friends Pastor Racilus Douglas in as the guest preacher. Pastor Douglas is one of the greatest communicator that I know, we grew up together, so its hard for him to take my comments serious but he simply bad.

This week I will be attending the EK Bailey Conference on expository preaching in Dallas, Texas with my wife. I'm excited about the time away alone with Jan and to get a time of revival and refreshing. We'll travel back for a special service for Jan that they are calling "The First Lady Night," this is about the third year for this service and I'm very proud of the work our church does not to miss how valuable she is to our ministry.

Next Sunday my father-in-the-ministry Dr. J. A. Reed Jr. will come to bless our congregation. There are many in our church that look forward to hearing Pop [There's not to many preach that love preaching as much as he does.] He's been such a blessing to me and my ministry that words could not even begin to express my gratitude. I still remember the phone call he made to the Late Pastor C.C. Cooper as he talked about releasing me of my duties as youth pastor of the Fairview Church become the assistant-to-the-pastor of GBC. Now 17 years later I'm celebration 8 years as Sr. Pastor. Glory to God!

Marriage Conference

Tonight we began another marriage conference! I believe this is our tenth (10) or eleventh (11) year hosting Partners for Life. It has been challenging as well as rewarding. We are honored each year because it has continued to grow, with new couples as well as returning couples. It is a pleasure and a blessing to be able to be transparent during these times. It is both helpful and healing to both the attendee and to Janice and I. I can’t help but thank God each and every year for the privilege to do what we do. Looking back on the turbulent years, only God knew what would become of us. But here we are nearly 20 years later, high school sweethearts serving in ministry together and God has chosen to use us to build stronger marriages.

God always has a plan and a purpose for everything. He has taken all the ugly and nasty details of our marriage and turning them into a ministry. So in the morning we’ll begin this year’s journey to encourage, strengthen and bring hope to each and every couple. Father, thank You for being so wise and patience, You had every right and reason to give up on me. You have guided my life in ways I never thought possible. Help me to stay focus. Protect me from my enemies. I will always praise You for the gift You have given me in Janice. Help me to be as good to her as she is to me. Amen!

CONGRATULATIONS SON

There was another first in the Gaddis household, our oldest Son graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma. We’re proud of him! I know that it was tough for him with basketball and a wife and children, he did a remarkable thing. He’s my son and that more than he can handle at times. I’m pushy and very strong willed and he’s tough as well which doesn’t always make for a happy relationship. He almost never agrees with me and is determined to do thing his way. I’ve never really told him but he’s just like his daddy. I think that’s why he irritates me so much. I want what’s best for him and his idea as to what’s best is a lot different that what daddy wants.

I remember taking him to work with me many Saturday afternoons, he wanted to be just like me. I would pick my briefcase up and he would get his and jump in the car and head to the office. He would say “when I grow up I want be a preacher just like you.” Nothing does a father’s heart prouder than to hear a son utter those words. Well, my prayer is that one day God will grant that prayer but the prayer has become my prayer rather than his. I’m not saying I would want him to become a preacher [that’s God’s call] but it would be a blessing to have him working along side his mother and me in ministry. What an awesome thought!

He’s a good kid and I’m believing God to help him to grow and mature into a great man of God. He’s married and he and his lovely wife Shay and together they have blessed us with two adorable little girls who has stolen Big Poppa’s Heart. I couldn’t have picked a better daughter – she’s a beautiful woman and a gift from God. The other day was one of the proudest days for us as we saw our first son walk across that stage, wearing that black robe and hear the announcer call his name as a graduate of the UCO Class of 2006.

Congratulations Son – I Love You!

23 Years of Ministry

On Thursday, May 4th I quietly celebrated 23 years in ministry. It was an unusual day because I reminisced by thumbing through the memories that have been stuck back in the recesses of my mind all these years. Isn’t it strange how the human mind works, there are times when you can’t even remember where you put the car keys and then there are time you can remember things you didn’t even know you even took in mentally.

It was a Wednesday evening at the Fairview Missionary Baptist Church, we where gather in what we called at the time the “fellowship hall” a small gathering room. The regular prayer warriors are being pressed by those who have only come to see what this boy is going to do “will he pass or will he fail,” that the question on every ones heart. What they didn’t know was that was also the question on the boy’s heart as well. Barely 18 years old, shy and timid [wearing a lavender sport coat, white shirt, pants, shoes and a “juicy curl”] he stands behind the pulpit reads Proverbs 3:5-6 and asked the question “Where is your faith.”

NOBODY BUT GOD ! I could not tell you what I said in that message that night but one thing has always stayed with me…I didn’t understand it then but now it is an all too familiar feeling. It is the Spirit of God working through this frail vessel. God has given me the privilege and honor to preach in many places and there have been times when I’ve only been a spectator. I wish I could profess that this happen every time but if I did I would be lying – not because the Spirit is not willing but there have been time over the life of my ministry “frankly” that the flesh has been weak.

I’ve grown so much during the 23 year of ministry and would like to just rehearse some of the names of people that I thought about during my quiet refection on my years of ministry. My childhood pastor Dr. J.A. Reed Jr. who took a chance on me and has been with me all the way and I affectionately call “Pop.” My uncle Elder James Booker who has always been one of the most spiritually men I know. The late Dr. H. B. Charles Sr. who God used to answer every question I had as I ended the four year struggle with accepting my call to the ministry. My friend the late Dr. C. C. Cooper who saw in me, sowed into me, and pulled out things that I didn’t know was there [I miss my friend]. He took me under his wing in the twilight years of his life and taught me about ministry and marriage. My long time friend Pastor Jeff Mitchell, who for many years struggled together with me as we both tried to figure this thing out. I can’t forget my counselor Dr. A. G. Woodberry, who is a wealth of knowledge in both life and ministry. The Fairview Church family who I owe [literally I should pay them], there are some names I could call that would consistently attend during the evening services that we had the opportunity to practice. The Greater Bethel Church family that allowed me to grow first as a preacher, then a teacher and then a pastor – God worked together for the good. The BEST for last, my wife Janice who have endured every sermon, lesson, lecture, country church, long drive, long hours and always being the last to leave…she is the wind beneath my wings.

Father, thank you for just using me, I am honored to participate in your work and realize that for many of those 23 years it was in spite of me. But today I say “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give. All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow, Make me Savior wholly Thine, Lord I give myself to Thee. All to Thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all. In Jesus’ Name! Amen.

MY ADDICTTION

Today is Monday and for the second Monday in a row – I'm not scheduled for any meetings and so my day off is really a day off. I know that sounds strange but I realized that even my day off isn’t really a day off. I’ve conditioned myself to think of Monday as my one day off a week but even my Mondays have been working days but today I’ve just decided to simply do very little in the area of work. I promise my very understanding wife that I would take her on a date today and we chose a movie, this should be a great time. Watching movies is one of my favorite things next to taking my grandbabies to “Chuck E. Cheese's.”

Over the last few weeks I’ve had to fight off this very familiar mood that if I’m not careful leads to a big bad attitude. I have this “addiction!” I’m totally addicted to churches, over the last seven or eight years I’ve studied churches. Not necessarily the preaching of the pastor but the structure, operations, ministry, beliefs and strategy of particular churches nationally and locally. I’m seeing a trend that I struggle with. Why are many of the newly started ministries apparently moving ahead of the churches that have been around?

As a pastor that is dedicated to his assignment and people, I sometime “admitting so” am guilty of desiring and sometime maybe even on the verge of coveting. Not in a sense that I’m hating on anyone – matter fact as part of my research I pray for the Pastor, the leadership and members of those church. I admire the work I know that it takes for churches to do what they do. I understand the dedication and commitment that leadership must have to move and grow a church and most importantly I am aware of the ministering heart of a congregation that grows through evangelism. So you might be asking so what is your problem? My issue is why can’t we get there. Why can’t we step up become passionate about ministry and ministering? Why do we always have to settle? Our children deserve a safe, wonderful and exciting place to learn to love God and His church. Our teenagers deserve a place of acceptance, care and love; and a place to discover themselves and God, an alternative place to hang-out and be themselves. Our people should be introduced to the latest tool that can and will enhance our worship but more importantly help reach those who we bring to our worship experiences.

Now, let me be clear on this none of the above mentioned is the end-all, they are simply tools that would help in reaching the lost. The message of Jesus is the only thing the church ever needs. It is not about completing with the world but it is about equipping the church to reach the community.

We’ve made progress don’t get me wrong. I’m just a bit impatience [and that’s the understatement of the year]. God is working on me and I praise Him for the work He has done and the progress I see in myself. I simply want the BEST for our congregation.

I know that this is not a complete thought but I really don’t know if I have the complete answer. I’m working my way through this it’s been a very long time and I don’t know if I’ll ever have the entire answer. I’m trusting God!

Revival Time

It’s Saturday and for the most part I’m trying my best to take a day to rest. Janice is exhausted; she has been a jewel this week, arranging meals for many of my friends who are visiting the city, gather volunteer to serve them in the spirit of excellence that we strive to do everything. As well as hosting our evangelist wife Stephanie Carter and our special guest Dr. Sheila Bailey (the wife of the late Dr. E.K. Bailey who had a great impact on my ministry) along with all of her normal responsibilities at home and at church. I’m blessed to have such a special lady by my side, she is my Queen. God did something special for her by giving her some very unsuspected one on one time with Dr. Bailey, there are some pastor’s wives who would have given anything for that, but God did it for Janice. Father, thank you for unsuspected blessing!

Our Easter Celebration was just that it was a celebration. There always seems to be an extra air of anticipation during our Easter services. I was thinking about it and think that it may be due to the amount of people who are working during our Easter’s services and our normal weekend experiences; the number almost triples to put off Easter. People volunteer they are excited and they invite their family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. My assignment was to share a message of hope for a better life. I was happy with the message for the most part but would have like to nail the invitation a little better. It’s tough because the crowd is so large and there are so many distractions during such an important time, but many gave their lives to Jesus Christ and many stepped forward to unite with the church.

We had Easter Monday off as a congregation but I had to pick up our evangelist Rev. Bryan L. Carter, Senior Pastor of the Concord Church of Dallas TX (who succeeded Dr. E.K. Bailey). Pastor Carter is a homeboy for OKC, funny thing is that I didn’t know him when he was here. God took him all the way to Dallas before we became friends over the last 4 or 5 years I’ve seen him grow and mature as a preacher and now as a pastor over one of this nation’s most influential ministries. Pastor Carter is a special person, blessed with a special wife in Stephanie – this couple is destined for great things in ministry. They are simply good people and I’m always excited by young couple working together as a team in ministry. Pastor Carter opened up our City-Wide Simultaneous Revival Tuesday morning and set the tone for the week. It was our first-time participating in the Revival and it was an honor to have our evangelist be asked to speak in a joint service. He preached all week, our congregation responded great. They connected with him from the first service, he’s a great preacher with a big heart and a humble spirit. God spoke through him and deposited some heavy stuff. Corporately we need to hear from God, it was my prayer for this revival that God would show us what we need to do for His vision to come to past in our church. God used this young man speak to us. Then our one on one time was encouraging, it’s hard to find the time with so much to accomplish in a day to carve out time but the revival afforded us a great excuse to hang out. We both seem to have needed that.

Last year during the revival the Lord placed on our hearts to be a blessing to many of my friends who come to town during the revival and my friends who bring them. So Janice and I opened our home two evening to serve dinner and have some good fellowship. This year since we participated in the revival we just served dinner at the church, the dinners were fantastic (Special thanks to Lo, Teresa, Angela & Mendel). This is a special time because many of my friends in town our schedules are so full that we only see each other in passing and the dinners give us some uninterrupted time together. My friend, Pastor Jeff Mitchell of the Tabitha Church, we started preaching together and have been friends forever, brings Pastor Kevin Willis of Riverside Church in Memphis TN and my Pastor Dr. J. A. Reed bring Pastor H B Charles of Mt. Sinai in Los Angles CA. Pastor Willis is a great preacher, I admire his preaching ability and he preaches with as much energy and anointing than anybody I’ve ever seen. Pastor Charles is a special person, in my option he is one of the greatest preacher I’ve ever heard but what makes him that is that he is one of the greatest people I know. Every year we manage to carve out a few hours in between his preaching and it’s like we talk everyday – I appreciate his friendship and every time I’m around him I want to be a better preacher and person.

Well, I’m going to try to kidnap my wife for a few hours this evening to spend some special time together and show her how much if love and cherish her.

Father, I Thank You!

WOW! I knew it had been a long time but I didn’t know that its been over two weeks since my last BLOG. Busy, Busy, Busy – is the theme of my life. I’ll start with the most important news, our third grandbaby came Friday morning. Saniyah Raye what a sweet name. Sharonda did good! Just looking at that little gift from God makes me love Him even more. Simply because He has spared me, loved me and forgiven me. I don’t deserve His grace and mercy but I thank Him for being so loving and kind to me. I’m thankful for my family: my unbelievable, talented wife, my children who I experimented on my sons are handsome and my daughters are queens and then my three babies (grandbabies) each one has stolen my heart. Father, Thank you for your gift to us Saniyah and what a gift she is!

In the morning we will have the biggest celebration of the year Resurrection Sunday! I’m learning much about leadership and one of the most important lessons is sometime you have to let go. I’ve always been afraid but I promised the Lord that when He brought people around who would care for His work as much as I do I would walk away. Well, I think He has spoken big time. It’s time for me to move to the next level of leadership. It’s going to hard but God has done His part now I’m going to do my part. Father, Thank you for what You’ve done and what You shall do in and through our church. Help me to recognize your voice and be willing to move to the next level of leadership. Spoil the plan and the tricks of the enemy, that your name may be glorified.

Earlier today we did our annual Easter outreach and I was greatly encouraged by the attendance. Not only by the number of those attending but the fact that there was more on the corner that I pastured eight years ago. With the exception of just a few – all of them are people that I’m the only Pastor they have ever had. What an exciting time we had 1,000 contacts in just over one hour. We’ve set a goal next year for 2,000 or 2,500. We prayed for Kingdom growth not just necessary our local church but that those who we contacted would come to the Kingdom.

This is day six of our spiritual journey of 40 days of fasting and prayer. God is going to do something special through this. I’m hearing stories and testimonies already. Father, bless your children as we concentrate ourselves before You; through fasting and prayer. We want more of you and less of us. Show us your way that we may please you. Amen!

The Power of Memories

I know that this seem a bit odd but I'm just getting the hang of this blogging thing by haven't gotten as fancy as other by accessing my blog through my smart phone. So tonight I'm posting two different thought but they where about two days apart.

Have you ever thought about the power of memories? How sounds, music, smells, conversations and situations instantly bring back a flood of memories. Have you ever had one of those butter cookie and it reminded you of elementary school? Memories are powerful. Have you ever been walking around and a very familiar smell captures your attention and you’ve spent the rest of the day trying to figure out why? Memories are powerful. Have you ever been surfing radio station in your car and a particular song hit your ears and the year just faded away. Memories are powerful. There are some conversations that will leave you breathless about past situations. You will began to feel the same emotion, remember everyone involved and even sometime remember things that even surprising to you. Memories are powerful.

For many their memories seem to be stuck on the bad episode of their lives. Memories of past failures, mistakes, decisions and friendship can haunt you. Memories are powerful. Bad memories will stalk you down. No matter how much you don’t want to deal with them – just like “Freddy Krugger” (Movie: Nightmare of Elm Street) during the night and during the day. How you handle memories are crucial, two scriptures come to mind Ephesians 2:10 and John 13:7: “For we are God’s masterpiece.” (Eph. 2:10a); “Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I am doing, but you will understand later” (John 13:7) How are we to correctly deal with our bad memories 1. Embrace the Master’s big picture; 2. Cooperate with the Master; 3. Accept the Master’s unique process and 4. Appreciate the Master’s work.

Over the last few weeks I’ve been going through the files of my life, take an inventory of sorts. Taking a look at the turns and the detours that my life has taken and I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m thanks for so many people that knowingly and unknowingly have greatly influence my life.

The Sweet Spot

Where is the sweet spot? I believe that it is somewhere in between Sweet and Sour, Hot and Cold, Pain and Peace. It’s sorter like that moment right before daybreak as you lay beneath the covers of your bed and there is a gentle rain falling outside, there is a little chill in your room (you know that because you’ve been there so many times before) but beneath the covers you are comfortable. Right then you realize that there isn’t another place you would rather be than in sweet spot of comfort in your bed.

The more I grow in my walk with my God the more I realize that praying for everything to be perfect in my life isn’t what God wants for me. I believe that what is more honoring to Him is for me to have faith enough to trust Him and desire more of Him than anything else. Romans 8: 28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” It is the sweet spot that I long for. During my most chaotic, frustrating and sometime depressing days, I’m not looking for God to fix everything because I know that some things are good for me. I just want to find the sweet spot of God’s peace.

Transitions Are Tough

It’s Sunday evening, I’m exhausted from a very long week, trying my best to put my brain in neutral. That’s real tough for me because I’m always working, even when I’m not I am. So I thought I would just write down a few things that are spinning out of control in my mind as a way to possible relax.

This was a huge weekend for our church. We gathered over 60 or so leaders in a rented auditorium to unveil and cast the vision for leadership for our church. I was very pleased with the way the lecture went, I have the tendency to preach but this time I didn't. I really just shared what God placed on my heart as His leader. I feel that I established what it is that God is leading us to do, but because it was so radically different from what we’ve done for so long, I’m not really sure whether or not those who have been in leadership the longest received it. I’ve often described myself as the Joshua that has taken over the leadership from Moses. Of course Moses and Joshua had totally difference leadership styles and missions but what do you do when you’re Joshua and you still have some of Moses’ folk. I’m stuck between honoring Moses’ folk and leading the new Joshua generation. I know it is imperative that we move forward into the promise land there is not a doubt in my mind. The vision is clear, the need is apparent and the provision is near. My prayer is that God will open up their hearts in order that they might simply hear His heart and collectively without any casualties that we can cross over together.

Our worship experience was just simply awesome! The children lead out in worship by providing a jubilant and energetic ministry through the choir and the dancers. The fourth Sunday is one of my favorite Sundays mainly because of the children’s ministry. Just watching the young people leading out reminds me of how as a child my childhood pastor Dr. J. A. Reed Jr. gave us an opportunity. Many childhood memories are tied to the children’s and youth ministries at Fairview Baptist Church. Watching our young musicians grow and develop is a beautiful thing to see and today they really looked like they enjoyed singing. I love seeing children worship without any ambitions. As adults we sometime think too much, children just move, clap and dance holding nothing back from God. As adults we sometime think it doesn’t take all of that but we ought to worship God the way He dictates, demands and deserves because we know how good He is.

The sermon was a God-sent. Just seems like this whole year I’ve been being help more through the preparation and the presentation of my own messages than any other time. I’m growing, I know because it painful. I’m sticking with it and I’m not going to give up. We have some wonderful people, caring people and praying people. It seems to me that even their embraces are ministry too me. It is almost as if some of them see through the pastor, teacher, and leader and sees me. There is times when I want them to talk to me not the pastor, not the teacher, not the leader but just me. Sometime I’m the most broken person in the building and nobody knows it. The word today was “There is hope for your hurts” Romans 15: 13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I pointed out that we each can have hope because 1. His presence is watching over me, 2. His purpose is working in me and 3. His place is waiting for me.

That’s enough for now. I’m going to grab me a bowl of ice cream, watch a movie and relax.

It’s Thursday, March 16, 2006 and it almost seems like the week has been nothing but one big blur, sometime I don’t know if I’m coming or going. I’m catching myself becoming very irritable, just the smallest things will send my blood-pressure up the roof. My schedule seems to grow every hour, appointments, letters, articles, lessons, phone calls, emails and hospitals not to mention the hours and hours of preparation for the weekend sermon. There is not only the pressure to perform but there is the pressure of people, everybody wants time members, politicians, sales people, staff, meetings, appointments, angry people, sad people, confused people and then at the end of the day after being literally drained and exhausted somewhere between the office and home you have to whisper a prayer and catch your second, third or forth wind [depending on what day it is] and be daddy, big papa and husband, handyman, teacher and possibly a million other things as needed. Now don’t misunderstand me I’m not complaining what I’m doing is being honest about my life as pastor-teacher, leader and husband. While my journey has been tough and I’ve discovered that I can’t accomplish all that is placed before me without God’s help. 2 Cor. 12:9 (NIV) says “But he [GOD] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” God’s power is made perfect in my weakness. Just the fact that I’m still standing is a testimony of His power resting on me. “Father, I thank you for your strength and power. You are great, awesome and have never broken a promise. When I am weak You, Lord are strong. Thank you for your presence in my life. Amen!”

A lesson from a day with the Grandchildren

I spent the day with my two grandchildren today, Janell and Terry. I took them to see Sesame Street live (Super Grover-Ready for action.) Janell loves Elmo and Terry loved the lights and the sounds. I was sharing my experience with someone and they said “if I knew grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first” (I think I heard that before but it was very intriguing this time.) It hit me like a ton of bricks, I wondered why in my case along with many others that grandchildren seem to be more fun. Well, a few things came to mind: number one, I’m older. When we started our family we were 18 and 19, having no idea what to expect. Number two, I’m more settled. Raising a family and trying to find yourself and a career can cause you to miss a lot of things. Number three, They aren’t mine. Some kind of way this must work its way into equation. I love my grandchildren wouldn’t do anything to hurt them but my children accuses me of spoiling them and that might be true. But here’s my defense when they were growing up I was struggling financially and now I’m in a better position to do for the grandchildren things I couldn’t do for them.

So here’s my point to all parents, slow down and enjoy your children because while I love spending time with my grandchildren in my 40’s it come with a sense of missed opportunities of spending time with their parents. If I could turn the clock back I would have changed more diapers, took the responsibility for more feeding and baths, helped with more homework, made more school plays and attended more parent-teacher conferences (maybe even been a “homeroom father - can’t wait for my first grandparents day.) It’s not that I was a bad parent, I just would have done more. In hindsight I missed some opportunities to make some memorable moments with my children.

Nothing is better than spending time with grandchildren but what would make it better is knowing that you spent all the time you could with their parents.

Have a great day and I’ll see you’ll soon!