Archive for the ‘Blog Posts’ Category

Yesterday the news was filled with information about tax day. Very few people in America could miss the fact that this day symbolizes the obligation that we have to support our government through taxes.   I saw somewhere where one poll said that74% of the American people felt that some of our tax money was being wasted.  No one likes to pay taxes because many times they are uncertain of the results. Like many people, I had to write a check this year.  It wasn’t a big one, but I had to write one just the same.  That’s not a fun thing to do, but the Bible is very clear that we are to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.  That means we are to fulfill our responsibilities even though at times we may be in great disagreement with some of the policies of our government.

The scripture also says that we are to render unto God what is His.  I am looking forward to Sunday for a number of reasons.  I am excited about the opportunity to be with God’s people.  I am anticipating the Lord doing something in the lives of people as we proclaim His word.  I am expectant that God will do something in the hearts of people as we proclaim the truth of His Word.  I believe people will be encouraged as they are a part of Bible Fellowship, discipleship classes and various other ministries.  I am looking forward to giving.  I give on a regular schedule.  I use the draft method that takes it out of my bank account the first of every month.  I like that because it puts the Lord’s work in first place.  But I also like to give on the Sunday after tax day.  There is nothing spiritual about it, it’s just a good reminder to me that just as I render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,  I need to render unto God that which belongs to Him. I have no question but that the money is going to be used to touch the hearts and lives of people and to share the gospel here and around the world.

I have had several opportunities this week through our ministry and other ministries we support to see the impact that our giving has for the cause of Christ.  There is a lot that I am looking forward to this Sunday, but one of the best things is the opportunity to give.  I refuse to look back and complain about what I had to do and instead I am going to look forward and be grateful to God that He lets me be a part of His work.

Today   the film Letters to God opens at Spartan 16 here in Spartanburg. It is a story of how a little boy, his family and friends handle a case of terminal cancer through their commitment to Christ. I had an opportunity to see the film and I highly recommend it.  It deals effectively with how a walk with God can impact those who are dealing with cancer and those that surround them. It gives a very clear presentation of the gospel and it serves as an opportunity to start conversations about the importance of a relationship with Christ.

Most people have either experienced cancer or had someone close to them experience cancer.  This film is extremely applicable to the times in which we live. I would encourage you to see the movie and to encourage others to see it as well during this opening weekend.

This provides an opportunity for Christians to make a statement with our entertainment dollars. That does not happen very often. Not only will you be able to see a good film that will be a great asset in your witnessing conversations, you will also be able to send a message to the motion picture world about the type of entertainment we would like to see.  We cannot complain about what is out there if we are not willing to personally support that which puts Christianity in proper perspective.  This film serves as an opportunity on a number of levels. You will find the film to be powerful, challenging, and encouraging. I certainly hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity. You can find more information at the website www.letterstogodthemovie.com.

On the Saturday before Easter, I had to go to a number of different places.  I was wearing a shirt that I had gotten as a door prize at a golf tournament.  It was a shirt that had on the sleeve a logo for Wofford basketball.  Everyone in this area was excited about Wofford being in the NCAA basketball tournament.  Everywhere I went, someone mentioned my shirt. People shared with me about how they had watched the game and about how they had followed Wofford. They asked me if I was a Wofford graduate or if I had gone to Jacksonville for the tournament game.  They assumed that I was a dedicated Wofford fan.  Don’t get me wrong.  I was certainly supportive of Wofford’s team and they had a great year, but I am not a Wofford graduate, and while I follow their athletic program, I wouldn’t be considered a rabid fan. The people I encountered on Saturday assumed that because I wore the label, I was completely committed to the Wofford basketball program.

Easter Sunday is the highest day of church attendance for the entire year.  People come to church on that day that never come at any other time.  I think it is safe to say that many of us come wearing a label trying to look religious or spiritual, and we hope people will assume we are right with God.

As followers of Christ, we must be more than just a fan.  It has to be a part of our life.  Sunday we had a tremendous celebration of Easter.  But in order for that celebration to be complete, we must do something with it.  People have to see that we love the Lord on other days besides Sunday.  They need to hear it in our conversation; they need to see it in our actions; and they need to discover it as they see our priorities.

Wearing a label, wearing a shirt, is not nearly enough.  We serve a risen Savior, and in the aftermath of Easter, we need to let the world know in every way that Christ is the answer.

Each and every Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Easter season is a time when we give special emphasis to this event that is above all others. The world in which we live treats this as a religious holiday. More and more we see it as a separate observance that has little connection to other parts of our lives.  This is the result of compartmentalization. Rather than letting our relationship with Christ impact our entire lives, we tend to keep it in a religious box.

For those of us who are followers of Christ, the resurrection means that we can have absolute certainty about our future.  That knowledge impacts every relationship, every expenditure, every vocational decision, and every personal decision.  When you have a personal relationship with the living Christ, and therefore you know where you are going to spend eternity, it gives you a new perspective about every decision that you make.

No doubt this weekend you will be around people who, while they may be religious, do not have a relationship with Jesus.  What a great time it is to share what God has done in your life. It is a time to make the resurrection more than a religious observance.  It is a time to be a part of making it a reality in the lives of others.  Death is dead. We serve a risen Savior. I am looking forward to the celebration on Sunday.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “I am come that you might have life and have it to the fullest.”  The Christian life is about just that, living life to the fullest.  Here at First Baptist North Spartanburg we are talking about have a L.I.F.E.  Each of these letters stands for a critical part of the Christian life.  If you are seeking to live as a follower of Christ, then there is going to be evidence of these four areas in your everyday living.

The “L” stands for “Living Successfully.”  There are so many around us that are only surviving at best.  Living  Successfully means that you know who you are in Christ and that you have a personal relationship with the Lord.  This involves spending time with Him and incorporating Biblical principles into your everyday life.  This has an impact on your priorities, your relationships, your time, and your resources.

When you are walking with Him, your faith is something more than what you pull out on religious occasions.  It helps you be a better spouse or parent.  It gives you the strength to meet the challenges of the day, and it helps you be productive with the time and resources that God has given to you.  Spending that time with the Lord each day in His Word makes a tremendous difference.

Most of us try to live life our way and then we try to use our own ideas to fix the things that don’t work for us.  What we need to do is to seek His will in every area of our life.  We have a lot of people that are trying to do that right now.  It is exciting to see the strides that are being made.  “Living successfully” is available to everyone that will make Christ the Lord of their life.

If you have been trying to do it your way, it is probably not working for you.  Try making the adjustments that draw you closer to Him and see what God will do.