You Can't Change the Laws of Physics When You Want To

I was driving down the road the other day when I noticed I was behind a car with a Darwin fish emblem and several NASA bumper stickers. It really started me to thinking about the Laws of Thermodynamics. Now, understand that my knowledge of physics is limited, but I do remember that the second law of thermodynamics basically states that things have a tendency to deteriorate into disorder. For example, take the teacher out of a well-organized classroom for fifteen minutes, and I guarantee you that the students will not turn into a well-tuned symphony. Or place an old rusted-out Buick in the middle of a field and leave it, and it will not turn into a shiny new Ferrari. So why then does a "scientist" who understands that this is a constant in our universe believe in the theory of evolution? While the concept of the survival of the fittest may be appealing to some, there is very little that is Christian about it. Additionally, the idea that single-celled organisms just mutated into some primordial form of life only to eventually evolve into a human being just blows my mind. The next time I have an opportunity to talk to someone who believes in evolution, I'm going to take them into my backyard, and I'm going to show them my oak tree, and then I'm going to ask them, "How long is it going to take for this oak tree to evolve into a new dining room table and chairs?" Without the Creator, there is no creation!

The Most Important Thing

Following a conference I attended last week, I began to think about the question, "What is the most important thing we do as a church?" Of course, most people would answer that question with, "Whatever I'm involved in." And there are lots of important things that we do: witness, teach, fellowship, minister, etc. But as I thought of all these things, I came to the conclusion that the most important thing we do as a church or as a Christian is worship. Now immediately, someone will come up with the question, "Corporate or private?" You know as well as I do that there are those amongst us who believe that they don't need the church to worship. I can do it all by myself, thank you very much. In my opinion, asking that particular question is like asking, "Which is more important: oxygen, water, or food?" Well, they say you can go without oxygen for a matter of minutes, water for a matter of days, and food for a matter of weeks, but the end result is that without them you die. The same thing is true about BOTH corporate and private worship -- without them, you die. No, you don't die physically and you don't lose your salvation. But it is a lot like this plant we bought for our back yard. It is a beautiful plant with green and yellow leaves and pink flowers. At least, it's beautiful as long as we don't forget to water it every day. Sure as we do, we walk outside and it is limp, lifeless, and ugly. But add a generous helping of water, and in a matter of minutes it stands up straight and tall and beautiful again. Without both corporate and private worship, Christians become limp, lifeless, and ugly. Without worship, we cannot witness, teach, fellowship, or minister because worship is where we connect with God and with each other. In John 15:5 Jesus said, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If any man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing." Remaining/abiding in Him is the definition of true worship.

One of Life's Biggest Problems

Today I write about a problem plaguing our churches. Sometimes I think it is a scourge set free on the world by the technology industry. At other times, I feel it is the bane of every church's existence. To what am I referring? Cell phones! Yes, cell phones. Have you been there? Right in the middle of the worship service and boom! You hear the James Bond theme or the Alabama/ Auburn fight song or some other equivalent. It happened just last night in our church while I was trying to pray. I think I know who the evil culprit is (in case you haven't figured it out by now, this is all tongue-in-cheek so whoever you are who owned the phone that went off last night don't think I am out to get you). Please understand that I am very sympathetic. It's happened to me before, and if it hasn't happened to you, it is because: a) you haven't joined the 21st century and purchased a cell phone; b)you have a cell phone but like so many others you won't turn it on; c)you are smarter than the majority of the population and turn it off when you enter the church; or d)you just haven't owned the phone long enough or you don't go to church often enough. Here is my point: given time, it will happen to you. I think that if Murphy was still writing his laws, that would be one of them. So, recently I have come up with what I think are the most innovative solutions for when it happens to you.

• Stare straight ahead and pretend that you don't hear it
• Turn to your neighbor with a horrified look on your face as if it is their phone
• Do like one lady (Tina Burton) I heard about who kicked her purse under someone else's seat
• Dig frantically for the phone and when you find it, answer it in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, and say, "Why, yes, I would be glad to share with you the plan of salvation."

Please know that all of these are not original with me, so thanks Sonya, Wayne, Peggy, Jill, Laura Ashley, Jeff, and Peggy.

Summertime

Hey, sorry I haven't posted much lately. I thought that the Summer was supposed to be a little slower pace, but not this summer. It has been great, though. I have thoroughly enjoyed the things we have been doing at Southside -- especially the Prayerwalking. I know I have blogged about this already, but it has truly been a great blessing to me personally to join with so many of our church members just to walk our neighborhoods and pray for people. I think it has been a blessing to our neighbors as well.

Anyway, I was just thinking about what makes summer time so special. It isn't the heat -- at least not for me. I like the cool (not cold) days of winter. It isn't all the yard work -- our Lord knows I don't care for that. Besides, you have to worry about the grass dying and your neighbors getting upset with you. Maybe it's the longer hours of daylight that just gives you that extra boost of Vitamin D or whatever it is that helps us feel better. Or perhaps summer just reminds us of being out of school and the freedom of childhood. The other night as we sat on the back porch watching the lightning flash, we listened to the neighbor's children playing late in the evening. They were having lots of fun until Mom called them in to get ready for bed, and instantly they protested: It's not that late. We aren't dirty. Can't we just play a few more minutes. And suddenly, I remembered what it was like to be a child again. Do you remember those days? I hope so.

Following the Rules

Let me ask you a question -- do you follow the rules because you want to or because you have to? That question, of course, assumes that you do follow the rules. Now if you are like me, you say it's because you want to, but is that really the case? Answer the following questions honestly and see:

• When you see a policeman on the side of the road, do you immediately hit your brakes and look at you speedometer?
• When a policeman gets behind you, do you become nervous and set your cruise control?

Chances are, if you answered either of these questions with a yes, like me, you might have some work to do. The other day, as I was traveling down a stretch of road with a 30 mph speed limit, I noticed a policeman right behind me. My heart began to beat a little faster. My palms became a little sweaty. I constantly checked my speed and my rearview mirror. And then it hit me. Why should it matter whether or not a policeman could see how fast I am driving? Isn't the speed limit the speed limit regardless of who is watching? And what about other areas of my life? Do I do certain things only because someone expects me to? Or do I take God's Word to heart and do everything "as unto the Lord"? You know, the good news is that God is gracious, and even when I mess up and don't follow the rules, He isn't waiting to turn on the blue lights and write me a ticket. But I sure don't want to be guilty of taking that grace for granted. After all, it was my sin that sent Jesus to the cross. And yours, too.

Prayerwalking

Have you ever done it? It has been one of the greatest blessings of my ministry. This summer, we transformed our Tuesday evening visitation into Family Ministry Night. People of all ages are involved in going into our community and praying for the people who live here. We walk and we pray and we talk to people who are outside. It must be connecting with our people because we are averaging about 18 people every week. We are leaving doorknockers/brochures at every home and talking to people. It has been great. I talked to a man last week who said he just needed prayer for better days. What an opening to talk about Jesus! Tonight we talked to two precious ladies. One was living in a neighborhood (since a teenager) that was rapidly changing around her. She doesn't know whether to stay or find another place to live, and she wanted prayer for wisdom. Another lady needed prayer because she was raising three granddaughters because her son is in prison. With the economy in the shape that it's in, she's having great difficulty paying the bills. Another man was genuinely touched by the fact that someone had come to pray for his neighborhood. We may never know if we have impacted anyone else's life, but it has impacted me. Sometimes it is too easy to isolate yourself from the world and not see the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our neighbors. Jesus said that the fields are ripe, ready for the harvest. That statement is as true today as it was then. I'm proud to be the pastor of a church with people who are willing to labor for the Lord.

By the way, if you missed Celebrate America, shame on you. It was great. You should go ahead and put it on your calendar for next year.

Whew!

The drama has been written. The decorations have been hung. The songs have been rehearsed. And now it is time for it all to come together. Tomorrow we will gather as the body of Christ called Southside Baptist Church with a few hundred of our closest friends in attendance all for the purpose of...? The first thing that pops into our heads, of course, is to "Celebrate America." After all, isn't that what all the hard work has been about? And for all who have been involved in the preparation for this great event, please know that I am extremely PROUD of what you have done. I know that it is going to be one of the greatest patriotic presentations in Decatur, Alabama this year. I cannot wait to see the pageantry, to hear the songs, and to witness the drama. But what I have had to pause and remind myself of several times and what I want to remind you of today is that the purpose of all the hard work and all the money spent is to GLORIFY GOD! We come together tomorrow to recognize the blessings of our Holy Father upon this great nation, but let us never forget, as the Psalmist tells us, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!" The reason the United States of America is the greatest nation on the face of the earth is that He has blessed us. So while we honor our veterans and we recognize our elected officials, let us come together to worship and praise the One who truly deserves it all.