Enjoying The Privileges

Every year when The Martin Luther King Holiday comes around I get a normal response when asked: "Do you work tomorrow?" For the past 20+ years my response is the same, "Yes, I work tomorrow". And they respond as usual..."Really, man you should take off! Don't you know what this day means?"

I respond I know what this day means..."It means I have to go to work!"

My response is not neglecting the rich heritage of African Americans but it is to enjoy what they've fought and died for over the years. If you have the privilege of taking off on this day then take off. And if you have the privilege of going to work on this day then go to work. Either way, it's a privilege we can enjoy because of what those before have given of themselves to bring to pass privileges that many of parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and so on have not been able to enjoy because time would not permit.

My grandfather said to me once in one of many conversations we shared together, "Boy, the best way to make me happy alive or dead is to make sure you enjoy the privileges that Doc King(that's how my grandfather referred to Martin Luther King), and so many others have fought for in this world...equality".

It is my sincere hope and prayer that my grandfather is smiling down on me as I enjoy the privilege of going to work with equality.

Enjoy the privilege of working or at home as a reminder that these privileges came with a cost!

Blessing of Uncertainty

For the past 1 year or so, I've been living in a shadow of uncertainty. What is a shadow of uncertainty you ask? My answer, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. This is the worse place to be in. But, I made it my aim and my goal to live as if my tomorrow was today which is to say I see myself in my tomorrow while living today. That's what faith is...the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

The world I live in was turned upside down for many and various reasons for which I take blame for some and others I cannot control. The uncertainty had me feeling lost, abandoned, frustrated, stressed, and lonely. However, I couldn't sit there die (so to speak). So I made up in mind to change my response to the situation by living the best way I know how despite of the uncertainty. Much like those in biblical times...

Noah kept building an ark for a flood he only heard was coming.

Abraham moved from his country to go where he didn't know where he was going

Ezekiel preached to dead dry bones uncertain if life would be restored

I think you get it now...

There are times in life when you're uncertain of tomorrow. Uncertainty is not a reason to quit but a reason to live. It's not a reason to sit down but a reason to get up. It's not a reason to say no but a reason to say yes. Uncertainty is not a friend of failure but friend of success.

There are so many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand. But one thing I do know about tomorrow. I know God is holding my hand.

Don't trip about the uncertainty of life's tomorrow. Live in your tomorrow today.

Be blessed!

Don't leave, Church Isn't over

As a teenager before leaving the house my mother would give me a pep talk. She would say stuff like: "Clint, don't be in those streets acting a nut." Or, my grandfather would say to me; "Clint, you got Smith blood in you don't do nothing that will bring shame to the Smith name". It always bugged me because I thought to myself (and sometimes said it openly), I'm not a kid, I don't need these pep talks before leaving the house.

Now that I'm older with teenagers, I see Tracy doing the same thing. Before Aysia or Myles leave the house she will give them a pep talk and their reaction was my reaction when I was growing up, 'I'm no kid, I don't need these pep talks before leaving the house".

There is a similar reaction among Christians in worship services. The preacher can't say the word "Amen" quick enough before people start walking out of the worship service. However, the worse thing a believer can do is to leave before the "Benediction".

A benediction is a declaration of blessings from God upon His loved ones. In laymen terms, it's a spiritual pep talk from God to us saying, when you leave this house don't be out in those streets acting like you don't know who Jesus is.

Benedictions are sometimes found at the close of some New Testament epistles (e.g., 2 Corinthians 13:14 and Ephesians 5:23-24). Benedictions, though brief, offer words of assurance or precepts designed to bring joy, peace, comfort, and security to those who place their trust in God.

Benediction is the final blessing on God's people before they enter back into a lost world filled with many temptations and challenges.

There are many benedictions recorded in Scripture. Here are a few examples, starting with one of the most well-known:

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26).

“The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore” (Psalm 121:7-8).

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

“Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13).

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).

I want to encourage you to please don't leave a worship service before you receive the final blessing ( or covering) over your life as you enter back into a lost world.

Get yo final blessing first!

Don't Look Back

One Christmas year as a child, my brothers and I longed to have bikes for Christmas. So we made our list for Santa with the #1 item on the list being a bike. It seemed like it took years for Christmas to come. We waited and waited and waited for Christmas. Well the time had come, we set out cookies and milk for Santa hoping he would bring our bikes through the chimney (well the front door cause we didn't have a chimney).

We went to bed early on Christmas Eve with hopes of waking up seeing our bikes under the tree. We sprung up at 5 am, ran to the tree and there they were our bikes. We didn't care about anything else under the tree at the time just the bikes. We opened the rest of our presents quickly so we could put on clothes to go outside and ride.

We were having a blast riding up and down the street. Then we heard our names being called to come in for breakfast. We kept riding like we didn't hear anything. Then our names were called again and again. The last time our names were called came from Pop so I looked back and right when I turned my head my brother stopped in front of me and I crashed the back of his bike, bent frame, and bent the wheel. We had to carry the bike home. I wrecked my brothers bike because I looked back rather than looking forward.

As we've come to 2013, I want to encourage you to not look back at those things that can cause you crash the destiny that's in front of you. Your tomorrow looks much brighter than your yesterday. Your past may explain you but it doesn't excuse you.

Move forward in Jesus name!

A Christian View on Suicide

In recent days we have seen an increase of media reported cases of suicides among high profile individuals who many people admired and still admire to this day. At first report of a suicide or murder suicide (where a person murders others and then themselves) it sparks debate among people whether they are Chrisitan or not of that person's eternal destiny.

Just recently, I read a post of a friend that asked a question: "Is suicide an unforgivable sin?" which again sparked debate of approx 36+ comments of people trying to understand what seems to be a hard pill to swallow, a person taking their own lives and happens to them next.

I will admit up front that I am not a professional counselor on this issue so I will not be offering any suggestive advise as to how to handle individuals contemplating or have experienced such a tragedy. I can (and will) only say what the bible says to help us understand God's view on the topic.

As I write this introduction on a Christian View About Suicide, I will do my do-diligence to insure accuracy of biblical teaching on suicide. This is not an easy topic to write on nor is it an easy topic to understand. Therefore, I will allow the Holy Spirit to saturate our hearts and minds for understanding.

What does the bible say about suicide?
First understand that, according to Scripture, suicide is not what determines whether a person gains entrance into heaven. The bible views suicide as equal to murder, which is what it is self-murder. The bible views suicide as a sin just like any and every other sin. The command given to Moses in Exodus 20:13 validates the belief that suicide is sin when it says: "Do not murder". This is a command to not murder others nor yourself. The bible is clear that suicide is a sin. However, the mistake many of us make is categorIzing the severity of the sin from others. I guess we can categorize certain sins to scare the Hell out of us but lets be careful of doing so. We murder in so many ways, like, lying is murder because it kills a person trust of what you say. Slander (gossip) is murder because it kills a persons character. Adultery kills the vows/sanctity of marriage. In short, sin is sin no matter what sin you commit. As well, sin is deadly according to Paul's writing to the Romans: "The wages of sin is death but the of God is eternal life".

Are there biblical examples of people committing suicide? Yes. The Bible mentions six specific people who committed suicide: Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), Saul's armor-bearer (1 Samuel 31:4-6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). Five of them were wicked, sinful men (not enough is said regarding Saul's armor-bearer to make a judgment as to his character). Some consider Samson an instance of suicide (Judges 16:26-31), but Samson's goal was to kill the Philistines, not himself. The Bible views suicide as equal to murder, which is what it is—self-murder. God is the only one who is to decide when and how a person should die.

To be continued...

National Day of Prayer 2012

Today, May 3rd, 2012 is National Day of Prayer. This is a special time in the life of our government, society, families, and Christian community. It's ironic that our government would take prayer out schools but still set a special time of prayer for us to observe as a country. Wow, I'll take it!

When I pastored First Goodwill, I looked forward to spending this day with the church and other sister churches as we came together in prayer as a body of Christ. I still look forward to this day of prayer time. I'm under the belief that if you don't pray any other day (which is bad if you're not praying in the first place) you should pray today. If our government thinks enough of prayer to give it a special day surely as a Christian you and I should make it a priority today.

1 Timothy 2 is a favorite passage of
mine for this day...

2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to bthe knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man1 Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time...8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.

Enjoy National Day of Prayer!

He's Too Long

A few weeks ago during a meeting session at the church, I admitted that at times I can be long winded during a preaching/teaching opportunity. For which a response came back; "Yea, you were long but I chalked it up as you being a preacher!" We all laughed cause it was funny the way the person said it.

Since that time, I've been asking myself, Am I really a long winded preacher?" I will say in recent days I am more time sensitive by watching the clock or being aware of the late hour when being put up to preach.

I've also heard guys speak of the congregations retention ability during the sermon presentation that after about 20-30 minutes people checkout of the message and don't hear anything else you have to say. I dint think thats it for a few reasons:

1). A many of folk can sit in front of the TV for hours watching their favorite shows and can tell you everything about it the next day if not days/wks later and don't leave out one detail.

2). I just believe people listen to want they want to ... Period.

3). We can listen to an entire CD and memorize the lyrics with no problems.

4). Some guys (preachers) are just plain old boring. I will admit I fell asleep on some guys because they were too long and boring.

5). People stay up way too late and then come to church asking God to speak to their tired restless mind. It ain't gone happen and if it does call it a miracle.

I think you get my point.

A person's retention ability is not the problem but a symptom. A follow up question then is this, what is the problem? My answer, who knows but them.

While I am aware that an effective sermon does not have be long as much as what maybe considered a short sermon can be deemed ineffective.

Here's the issue that I've been toying with in my head for weeks.

Am I a longed winded preacher or a concerned preacher who wants to insure God's people are fed regularly and consistently?

When approaching this topic from the stands of consistent preaching, I realize I can be both long and short winded as long as I am consistently interpreting the text accurately.

Preaching is like cooking a good meal. There are some meals that require long preparation time and there are some meals that are cooked quickly (right out of the box) and the final result is satisfied eaters.

My ultimate goal and mission in ministry is to insure that God's people are satisfied with what I prepared for them to digest whether short or long.

At the end of Amen, I want them to walk away and say that was good for my soul.