A Life Lived Fully

Yesterday I had the privilege to take part in remembering an awesome woman of God. Mary Edgar is one of my heroes of faith. I can remember when I started attending youth group at El Bethel, how she would sit in services on Sundays, and--no lie--pray the entire service (mostly in tongues too, I think). She had such a passion.

But her story is so much more than that.

Though she came from a small town (or really out in the woods from a small town), she had a global impact. During her lifetime she went on 20 missions trips. She also had a passion for teenagers, serving with our District's Youth Camps for over 30 years. The stories I've heard (which probably come nowhere near accurately describing the impact of her life) of how she would pray and cry and laugh with people all over the world amazes me.

Sometimes, we buy into Satan's lie that we cannot do anything to change the world. We feel unusable. But, no matter where we're from, no matter how badly we may have screwed up in the past, no matter who are family is...we can still be used by God to bring healing to a broken world.

Maw Al did.

And if a woman from a little church outside a little town with no formal ministry training, can make such a GLOBAL impact, then surely you and I can too.

May her memory live on forever in our thoughts and deeds.

My First Award

Well, I received my first "blogger award" the other day from Codie. There are a couple of rules involved with this one though:

1. You have to write about 7 things that you love.

2. You have to give the award to 7 other people.

Unfortunately, most of the blogs I read are from people who have no clue who I am--mostly pastors from across the country. Of the people I do know, who I could give the award too, Codie already stole them. So, I guess I'll have to settle for rule #1.

1. Jesus, my Lord

2. My wife, Amanda

3. My baby. We don't know if it's a boy or girl, but either way I love them with all my heart!

4. The Office. Best Comedy Show Ever.

5. Chinese and Mexican food

6. Football

7. Basketball

8. Ministry

9. Nerdy TV Shows (Discovery, History, etc.)

10. Car Washes (just kidding; I absolutely abhor car washes)

100th Post

Well, I've finally reached my 100th post. I know it's supposed to be a big deal...giveaways, great thoughts, etc., but I've been suffering from bloggers' block recently, so this will have to do:

District Council 09

As a member of the Assemblies of God, I am a part of a larger network of pastor's and believers. Each year people from all over our District (Alabama) gather together for several days of worship, teaching, and business meetings :(. This year's council was much different than any I have ever been to. And I must say that I am proud to be a part of the Alabama District Council of the Assemblies of God. Here are some reasons why:

• Electing Ken Draughon as District Superintendent (his role is similar to the pastor in a local congregation). Ken's a great guy, has a very successful track record--both as a pastor and as World Missions Director, and seems to have a very progressive outlook (he's on facebook for crying out loud:) I've gotten to know him a little through a program called NavNet that he mentors. Really looking forward to the new direction he'll give to our District.

• Forming a Self-Study Team. I know this seems trivial, but in a state where I would argue MOST pastors are not forward-thinking, to agree to form a team to see if what we are doing is working, AND if it's not, to figure out how to improve...it's a pretty big deal.

• Apollos and Timothy. I know Alabama is not really know for it's education system (at least not in a good way). But both of these initiatives are designed to help pastors (who don't get paid a lot) pay for the rising costs of college and continuing education. According to my sources, we are the first (or at least one of the first) districts to offer anything like this (as much 100% payment of student loans or continuing education costs). Imagine that...Alabama leading the way in education :)

There are some exciting days on the horizon for our fellowship of believers. I look forward to a newer, deeper partnership as we strive to reach a lost and broken world.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Susan Boyle Sings on Britain's Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 @ Yahoo! Video

...Do not consider his appearance or his height...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16.7

Oh, Easter

Easter weekend should, without a doubt, be the biggest weekend in Christianity. I'm afraid that in America Christmas and the materialism that comes along with it has overshadowed Easter. Nonetheless, it's huge. People are somehow drawn to the spiritual nature within and around each of us like they are not through the rest of the year. People make their yearly pilgrimage to a local church...hopefully to open arms and hearts and to hear a message of sorrow, hope, joy, humility, generosity, loneliness, power, meekness, etc.

As a pastor, Easter is a huge weight of programming, planning, prayer, anticipation, stress, and so forth. The amount of hours that are invested in the Easter Egg Hunt -and- the Easter Celebration Service are beyond belief. It is, however, a great joy to see the light in people's eyes, to see people touched/transformed/saved, and to see families have hope again.

Maybe we don't give Easter enough attention, maybe we do. But no matter what, if it recalibrates our spirits to line up with our Redeemer's once again, then it was worth it all.

I Remained Silent

*In a world of injustice, what will you choose to do?

FIRST THEY CAME

attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

An early supporter of Hitler, by 1934 Niemöller had come to oppose the Nazis, and it was largely his high connections to influential and wealthy businessmen that saved him until 1937, after which he was imprisoned, eventually at Sachsenhausen and Dachau concentration camps.