King David.
He is known as "the man after God's heart."
He nailed Goliath.
He led the Israelites to capture Jerusalem.
In today's vernacular, "he was the man."
But even those who are popular have flaws.
David made a mistake with bathsheba. Then, he tried to cover it up. So, it's over for David, right? No hope for him?
As ESPN commentator Lee Corso might say, "Not so my fast, my friend!"
The Bible says that although David sinned, God forgave him.
In II Samuel 12:13 Nathan the prophet said to David, "The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."
Whoa!
That's amazing grace!
David committed adultery and then tried to cover it up yet he was forgiven!
When we sin we can think that it's over for us. Don't misunderstand me... I'm not trying to minimize sin. What David did was wrong. When you and I sin, it's wrong. However, God forgives. PTL, God forgives!
Today, is there anything that you have not confessed to the Lord that you think God might not forgive? If so, come clean. Give it to the Lord. There is nothing that lies outside the realm of God's forgiveness!

What are you investing your time in? Is there a project you are involved in or an organization you are affiliated with?

In his book The Confidence Factor, Tom Mullins quotes the late Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. Lombardi said, "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."

I like good quotes and that is a good one.

So, what cause are you devoted to? Everyone is devoted to something. Some are devoted to making themselves happy. Some are devoted to laziness or selfishness. So, everyone is devoted to something.

I encourage you to evaluate your life and make sure you are investing your time in a good cause.

Of course, of all the noble things a person can do on this earth, a life lived for Jesus Christ is very worthy.

Someone has said, "Only one life, it will soon be past; Only what's done for Christ will last."

We all need to make sure that the things we are investing our time in is worthy and will last.

I am not a "detail" man which means, I'm not a "direction" man. But, I'm not alone. In his book Facing the Giants Max Lucado writes, "I can get lost anywhere. Seriously. Anywhere. The simplest map confuses me; the clearest trail bewilders me. I couldn't track an elephant through four feet of snow. I can misread instructions to the bathroom down the hall."

I can identify with Max. Especially that last sentence. Recently, I was going to the rest-room at a high school baseball game. I saw a sign that read "men." So, I walked in. Whoops! Wrong door! Several high school girls were standing there looking in the mirror. I quickly backed out. I took a second glance at the sign and realized that I evidently missed the first two letters of the sign because it read "women."

All right. No harm done. It was an accident.

So, I went to the next door and.... you guessed it... yep, it was STILL the women's rest-room. Well now, I'm flustered. I'm embarrassed. And to top that off, our team is getting hammered so I'm a little aggravated.

So, I walk past the concession stand and ask "Can someone tell me where the MEN'S rest-room is?" One lady, sensing my frustration and embarrassment said, "It is a little confusing." Ok, that made me feel better. They were happy to tell me that the men's rest-room was on the other side of the concession stand. As I approached the door, I looked at the sign twice to be sure it was the men's room.

If you are "directionally challenged" you struggle reading maps, following directions, etc... My general approach to getting anywhere is get in the vicinity and stop and ask someone.

Just as we need directions in driving we need directions in life. The Bible provides those directions. Psalms 37:23 says, "The steps of a man are established by the LORD; And He delights in his way."

So, let the Bible be your road map in life.

Our family Easter picture, made on the steps of our beautiful new sanctuary. From left to right, that's Megan Eller, Robert's friend, Robert, Will, then, second row, Sarah, my beautiful wife, Holli, and me.

For three years I have been priviledged to serve as chaplain for the Paulding County High School baseball team. The team and coaches visited our worship service on April 15, 2007.

Technorati Profile

In the first "Crocodile Dundee" movie (I don't remember the exact name) Mick Dundie's girl friend is attempting to explain to him how people handle their problems in America. She is explaining that people often go see a therapist.
Mick has never heard of a therapist and asks what that is.
She explains that a therapist is someone you go to discuss your problems.
She then asks who they go to in the outback of Australia to discuss their problems.
Mick responds, "our mates." "Mates" meant friends.
Most people have some "mates" they can take their problems to or they have family members they can talk with. But let's imagine that we don't have either. What then?
In I Samuel 30:6 the scripture says of David, "Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."
Focus on the last sentence of that paragraph; "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." David had no where to turn and in a moment of great need, David strengthened himself in the Lord.
What does that mean? It means reminding ourselves that God loves us, God is with us and being strong in the Lord.
There is nothing wrong with seeing a therapist and everyone needs "mates" and family they can talk to. However, every day, we can do what David did.
Today, "strengthen yourself in the Lord." Know that the Lord loves you and is with you.

I like continuity. I was reminded of that this past weekend.
Last Friday night, my son's high school baseball coach resigned. He is moving to North Georgia to be closer to family. You can't blame him. It's a good move for him.
However, he will be missed.
My son will be a senior next year so, we are faced with a senior year with a new coach. That's not always a pleasant thing.
For some of you who might read this, you might question "What's the big deal about the baseball coach resigning?"
Well, this is the deal... I guess there is a sense of security in knowing people and my son has spent three years with this coach. Now, he has to learn a new one. Also, baseball is our "home away from home" from February through April each year. There are people that we see only during baseball season. Our coach refers to it as our "baseball family." He's right. It is like a family. The family is about to be shaken up some and that bothers me.
It hit me recently that what is taking place is the end of an era. We will have a baseball team next year. But there will be a different coach and there will be some different parents around. Changes happen in life. You have to move on.
So, one era is about to end and another is about to begin. It's going to work out although right now, I'm a little sad.
I'm reminded of one of my favorite verses, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

It was a troubling week in the United States of America.
It began last Monday morning when a young Korean student took the lives of 32 people at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va. He was described by those who knew him as a “loner” who rarely spoke to anyone. For some reason, he snapped and took the lives of 32 innocent people.
Then, Thursday morning, across the country in Yuba City, California, officials locked classroom doors, lowered shades and kept 12,000 school children inside on Thursday after a man threatened to go on a killing spree. The idea for the killing spree supposedly came from the massacre at Va. Tech. The man said he intended to make the mass slaying “look mild.”
Then, Friday, a man walked into Houston’s Johnson Space Center, killed his supervisor, shot a hostage and then, killed himself. What was the motive? He was upset over his job review.
So, it was a tough week. It was a week in which many of us find ourselves asking, “Why are these things happening? Why, all of a sudden, are we having so many school and work-place shootings?”
Some of the incidents are of the “copy cat” nature. Law enforcement officials use this phrase to describe someone who sees an incident on television and “copies” that somewhere else. Some of the incidents that take place fall in that category. Officials say that some of those are carried out by people who want media attention.
But not all of these are of the “copy cat” type. Many of them are carried out by people who seem to be angry and want revenge. Maybe it’s a student who feels they have been “picked on” by their peers. Or, an adult who feels mistreated in the work place or didn’t get the promotion they desired. Or, maybe its a domestic dispute that erupts in violence.
What concerns me is that evidently there is a layer of anger under the surface in our country and at times, now, the manner in which people are dealing with their anger is by taking the life of someone. Instead of dealing with our problems or issues constructively, we are lashing out in anger by using guns.
Anger is a normal human emotion. Even the most calm, patient person has experienced it at some point. The scriptures say that Jesus got angry. When Jesus saw the carnival like atmosphere in the temple he was moved with righteous indignation and ran the money changers out of the temple (Matt. 21:12-13) So, it’s not wrong to be angry under certain conditions.
And, there are times we may get angry when it’s not justified. However, it’s how we handle our anger that is important.
The scripture encourages us to “be angry but sin not.”
The scripture also says “Do not let the sun go down on your own anger” (Eph. 4:26). Yet anger can consume us if we are not careful.
Also, as a church, we need to be aware of people who appear lonely or hurting and try to reach out to them with the love of Christ. All of us know people who are hurting. We need to share the love of Christ with them or just say a kind word to them.
There are troubled people in our world and troubled people need the love of Christ. Try to help a troubled person this week in Jesus name.

What happened at Virginia Tech?

This past Monday, the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history took place on the campus of Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va. A senior Korean student, majoring in English went on a rampage that led to the loss of 32 lives. By now, most of you have seen the tragedy on television numerous times.

When the news broke of this shooting, my first thought "Not again." This type of thing has, unfortunately, happened too often in our society which has led some to believe that some of these incidents are "copy cat" which means someone saw one shooting on television and decided to try to the same thing for attention.

Obviously the young man who went on the rampage had significal psychological issues. Some had attempted to reach out to him but to no avail. From what I've read, he felt disenfranchised which led him to experience bitterness.

What do we learn from this?
1) We are reminded of how fragile life is.
2) Tell those close to you that you love them.
3) Make certain of your eternal destiny. Make sure that you know Jesus as your personal Savior.

We need to be much in prayer for the Virginia Tech family as they cope with this tragedy.

Last week one of the major news stories of the week was the uproar that ensued over radio commentator Don Imus comments about the women’s basketball team from Rutgers. I don’t intend to repeat those comments in this post.
I have never been a regular listener of Don Imus. Occasionally, if I have been in a public place and the TV happened to be on MSNBC I have listened to him, but that’s been the limit of my exposure to him. However, from what I’ve read about him he was one of the original “shock jocks.” That means he built a following by saying crude things on the air. He said things that perhaps some were thinking but none would say.
But about two weeks ago he went too far. He made a comment that has since been played and re-played and it touched a nerve. The result was MSNBC pulled Imus show and CBS did as well.
Imus has since met with the Rutgers women’s basketball team and apologized and they have reportedly accepted his apology. Nevertheless, the uproar continues.
This story captured the headlines for a good solid week. And it’s led to other issues in society being addressed. What do we learn from this?
My first thought upon hearing about the comment was that these “shock jocks” live on the edge to build a following and often, living on the edge gets them into trouble. The thing that built their career can also bring it down.
But secondly, it made us aware of the reality of the times in which we are living. In the past several years I have adopted a personal creed that you have heard me repeat. It is, “Accept people where they are.” I think we have to do that to reach people for Christ.
The Imus comment helped us see, again, where we are.
We are in a culture where words that weren’t spoken a few years ago are now routine.
We are in a culture where many people do not seem to understand what we once referred to as “manners” and “decency.”
We are in a culture that doesn’t seem to want to be corrected when it’s wrong.
We are in a culture that seems to be bent on “personal expression” of every kind.
We are in a culture where people seem to resist any type of authority.
We are in a culture where many do not seem to want to accept responsibility for a mistake they have made. The problem has to lie with someone else. It can’t be their fault.
We are in a culture where people are skeptical of those in positions of authority.
We are in a culture where much of the programming on television is questionable at the very least.
Yet, the church is called upon to minister to people in this culture. How do we do it? Do we retreat? Do go into our cave and hide there and talk about the culture but fail to try to change it?
No. We don’t do either. We have to engage the culture. That’s the only way to change it. It’s not a pretty sight. The things you hear may turn you off but, if we are going to reach people for Christ, that’s what we have to do.
Someone has said regarding our current times, “These are not the best of times but, these are the only times we have.”
We must share the love of Christ in these times.