Lost - Wrapping up the Loose Ends

This week began with the series conclusion of the tv show, "Lost". After six seasons of confusion, the show kind of ended the same way - lots of questions. I wasn't really disappointed in the end, but kind of wanted more. The show certainly was very entertaining, but the spiritual indicators were lacking.

Hollywood is filled with this non-offensive tolerance (except toward Christianity) when it comes to religion and God. Thus this show ends with most of the cast walking off into the light together. Stop the film!!! Come on now - let's get back to reality. The light!!! Give me a break!

Let me assure what the Bible says, (John 14:6) "Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me." In the show, Jack was a good guy who did a lot of good things - but we must remember that good is not good enough. A relationship with Jesus is what determines our eternal destiny.

We must be reminded that our view of God can be influenced negatively from Hollywood, books we read, and other things if we are not careful and stay grounded in His Word - the Bible! Don't forget we wrap our "Lost" series this weekend at South Pointe with a final look at Jonah's life. Hope to see all of you there!
Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

"Do Something"

As a pastor, I often struggle with how some people within churches do nothing to serve the Lord. You know the old saying, 20% of the people do 80% of the work. For years I believed that was a myth, but it seems to be close in accuracy.

The Parable of the talents in Matthew 25 makes a good case for why it important to utilize our gifts instead of burying them. Certainly, this text can be viewed from a financial basis, but I also see the truth of it from a point of spiritual giftedness. We know from the Bible, that as a Christ-follower we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. We are also gifted after we are saved! The question is, what do most of us do with our spiritual gift?

Churches certainly provide ministry opportunities that make it easy for us to serve and use our spiritual gifts, but it is not the only place -(remember we are the church - it is not a building) to use your gift. This may go against popular pastor opinion, but God can use you outside the church atmosphere to serve and grow the Kingdom! Yes- it is true! However, for most of us that is not the issue - it is simply doing something at all.

For those who attend South Pointe or any church? Are you a spectator or contributor? Do you simply receive and not give back? Jesus gave it all for us and we have an obligation to serve Him and use the gifts He has blessed us with. This is not challenge for you to serve out of guilt, but from the stirring of the Holy Spirit in your life.

All of us as Christ-followers have one of two choices to make -

1. Bury our gifts and do nothing

or

2. DO SOMETHING!!! for the kingdom!

What do you choose?

The First 100

Have you ever done something crazy? Last week, I jumped out of the comfort zone and it was a blast. A new Chick-fil-a opened near my house and they were having a "First 100" promotion giving away free chicken for a year. I called my brother-in-law, Todd who lives in Spartanburg to come join me on my quest. Here are the rules - Chick-fil-a selects 100 people that have to stay on property for 24 hours before it has its grand opening. If you do that, you win. The catch was this - 170 people showed up at 6:00 a.m. to win. Therefore, the dreaded lottery was put in place and 100 were chosen. Todd was picked #1!!! I couldn't believe it! I was sweating it our for awhile, but was selected #50!!!

Todd brought a tent and sleeping bags and we set up camp in the parking lot. It was an absolute blast! They fed us free Chick-fil-a all day. We played all kinds of games - Check out this link for a suprise video of one game I participated in.

http://monroescoop.com/new-chick-fil-a-in-wesley-chapel-offers-free-food-for-a-year-contest-video-highlights/

It was a rough night trying to sleep. Temp was 46 degrees and it was a little noisy, but we survived. We got up at 5:15 a.m. lined up and walked in to the store around 6:15 a.m. to the sounds of pots and pans and cheers as we received our 52 coupons for a #1 combo valued at $310.00. It was a great time and something Todd and I will never forget especially as we eat 52 sandwiches for free this year.

Check out the victory pics to the right -

Chase for the "bat"

As most of you know, I love baseball! Always have! I loved playing as a kid and even love playing softball as an adult. I am also a big yankees fan! In the year 2000, I was introduced to this game called fantasy baseball. It was a little difficult to understand how it worked, but I once I got started I loved it.

There were 9 other college buddies that started this league that we call, "The Fellas". Five of the guys ended up being pastors and a great competition began. We called it the chase for the bat. The winner of the league gets to keep the bat for an entire year. One of the neat things about the league is the way it helps keep all 10 guys in contact with each other for almost 6 solid months. There is a lot of junk talk, trades, and much more as we have a blast keeping up with our players.

Needless to say, the bat is back home this year safely in North Carolina. I had a great team last year and won it all and I hope I can defend my title. The 2009 championship was my 4th title since we started in 2000.

So here's to my boys; the Fellas - Meetze, Mac, Ruppe, Big Daddy, Rice, Perrin, Bridges, Breshears, Priddy! I love you, but I can't wait to beat you this year for title #5! Go yankees!

How bout the ACC? Yeah - Right!!

As a diehard tarheel fan, last night was a big bummer. As much as I love UNC, I can not stand Duke. And that really is the way it should be, I would expect nothing less from my fellow Blue Devil comrades. Flashback one year ago - The Heels were cutting down the nets in Detroit - and now this year has the "Dookies" doing the same. Sounds like a bad dream doesn't it? As tough as this year was for the heels, the only thing worse that could have happened was the "dookies" winning it all.

Oh well! Go ACC! Sorry - I can't go there. Partly to blame is the NCAA committee (my fingers shutter at the word - from previous churches) basically giving Duke the easiest path to get there and then the other giants falling around them. I tell you what; if that last three from Butler had done down, I think I would have run around the house like a kid at Christmas. No what if's though...Duke is the champion and the biggest rivalry in college sports gets a little more blood to add to the mix.

Congrats...sorta! Can't wait for football season - somehow I don't see many dookies saying the same thing!! :)

April Fool's Day and Biscuits!

Did anybody get any jokes pulled on them on Thursday? April fools day has a lot of history in my family. One of the most memorable was when I was 14 years old, had braces and head full of curly hair, not to mention glasses. My mom cooked a real nice dinner and our family of four was sitting at the table enjoying a nice dinner when all of sudden everything broke loose. Mom had put some cotton in the biscuits and I took big bite of one and had cotton stretching about 1 foot out of mouth. It was a big hoot...needless to say my braces didn't really care for it as it took a while to clean it out of them. We still have a good laugh about the biscuits on April fool's Day!

Speaking of biscuits, we will have about 200 of them on Easter morning at South Pointe in Pageland. Plan on getting there early for some good fellowship as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ! It is going to be a great day of worship and I promise there will be no cotton is these biscuits!!! :)

Happy 93rd Birthday!

Today is March 23rd, 2010. In the year 1917, Max White was born. He would turn out be my grandfather. He served in the army and fought during WWII. He has always lived in Virginia and was my best man in our wedding 16 years ago. (Check out the pic)

Max was the only grandad I ever knew. Grandaddy Qualls died before I was born and there were many times because of health issues that I thought Grandaddy White would not be around long, but he endured.

Grandaddy White taught me to fish. We did a lot of pier fishing at Virgina Beach. I absolutely loved getting up with him at 4:00 a.m. and going to the Waffle House for breakfast and being on the pier for the sunrise. We caught so many fish over the years. Grandad would always take my sister and I to the candy store and then to the local 7-11 for a slurpee! What great memories!

I remember his surprise 85th birthday where Kim and I flew in to make the party. My son, Benjamin made the trip as well from the comfort of inside his mother's belly. Ben was born 2 months later. The look on grandad's face was priceless when we got there that day.

The highlight was seeing my grandad come to know Jesus when I was 10 years old and seeing him baptized. I think the Lord for working in his life and giving me 38+ years with the best grandad in the world! Happy Birthday Grandad!! I love you!