We Will Miss You

She was a "one-of-a-kind" lady. She always smiled. She was always ready to "go." In fact, she would tell you, "Don't ask me if you don't really want me to go." And then when you did, she would simply say, "Let me get my purse." She was a small woman, but she was full of spunk. You knew that from the sparkle in her eye and the stories of mischief that were shared. Also because a few years ago she threatened her full-grown nephew with, "I'm going to turn you over my checkered apron and play who'd of thought it." Apparently, she had lots of funny sayings. Only days before she died, she said she looked like "a Tennessee mule walking on ice." But most importantly, she never let anyone leave without telling them, "I love you." In fact, the last words she spoke to me was, "I love everybody." And she did. And everyone loved her, too. That was evident by the hundreds of people that came out to the funeral home in spite of the rain. It was evident by the number of people that gathered around her hospital bed at a moment's notice when we thought she was passing. She never had any children, but she had a LARGE family. A family that was blessed by her life and inspired by her death. We were inspired because we knew where she went. She had finally made the trip of a lifetime that outshined that long-awaited Alaskan cruise that she never went on. She went home to see the two men she loved best: her Savior and her husband. Goodbye, Mrs. Sallie Clemons. We will miss you for now, but we will see you again.

Memorial Day

The unofficial first day of summer. The start of beach season. Not only is Memorial Day misunderstood as the kickoff to vacation time, but also it's significance is missed by many completely. From "remembering" people who have died in the past year to honoring current veterans, it seems that most Americans have no idea what it's all about. Here are the facts: Memorial Day started out as "Decoration Day," a day to honor Union soldiers who died during the Civil War by putting flags or flowers on their graves. (Perhaps this is why hundreds if not thousands of church members skip church on Sundays in May to go to Decoration Days around the world to put flowers on graves of loved ones.) After World War I, the holiday was expanded to include all soldiers who have died in any war. So while we need to remember our beloved dead from the past year and all years past, and while we need to honor our veterans, let's get back to the true meaning and remember that the blood that was shed by our military men and women has purchased freedom for people all over the world. Thank you to these men and women. Thank you to their families. We will never forget your sacrifice.

I Have an Office?

Wow! I really do have an office. In fact, I have two offices. I have an upstairs office and a downstairs office. My upstairs office is large, comfortably furnished, and nicely decorated. My downstairs office is more like a study. It's not as nice as the upstairs office, but it has a private bathroom with a shower -- it's perfect for a quiet place to study or talk to some of my senior adults who have difficulty with the stairs. It's great to have two offices, but in the last 8 days, I think I have spent about two hours there. I just want to say that it's not because I'm goofing off. It's the same reason I haven't posted on here for a while. Our church family has been hit hard with grief in these last 8 days. I've preached at four funerals and attended two others. All six of these were somehow connected with our church family. So if you read this, please pray for these families who are grieving over the loss of their loved ones. But at the funeral I attended today, the pastor made a statement that really summed it all up. Here it is: "When Randy was born, he cried, but all around him people were smiling and laughing. On Saturday, when Randy died, everyone around him was crying, but Randy was smiling and laughing because he went home to be with Jesus." What an amazing thought.

Stress Relief

Three funerals in one week. Two in one day. Someone asked me how I deal with the stress, so I thought I would share my secrets. By going to a great high school band concert -- great job Drew, Whitney, Emily, and the rest of the Hartselle band students. By watching a Little League baseball game -- good games Cole and Matthew. By the prayers of God's people -- thanks Southside family. By listening to a man who tragically lost his father comfort his sisters -- "blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted," Mitch. By spending time with my staff laughing and eating sandwiches -- you are the best. By talking to my daughters or their husbands on the telephone -- thanks for being there, guys. By walking with my lovely wife around our yard looking at the beautiful flowers God has given us -- thank you, my love. By walking with the God of all comfort who "supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory." My brother constantly reminds me not to neglect that most important aspect of my spiritual life -- and he calls me his mentor. Thanks, Rick, for listening and for understanding. You're the best big brother I ever had.

Pet Peaves and Powerful Pleas

Have you ever listened to how the media words things? Sunday, I was listening to Fox News as they were talking about the tragic death of the man attacked by a shark in California. I know the family is grieving, and I would never make light of that fact. But immediately after the reporter finished his story, they began to talk about the number of “unprovoked shark attacks.” Why do you need to say “unprovoked”? How many shark attacks happen because somebody jumps in the ocean, swims up to a shark and punches him in the nose? Do you go down there and yell underwater, “Your momma wears combat boots?” I mean really. Who provokes a shark attack? Oh, I know there are those idiots who love the adventure of chumming the water and swimming among the sharks. Perhaps the experts call that provoking the sharks; I call it serving up an appetizer.

I had the privilege yesterday of speaking to the Muscle Shoals Association Pastor’s Conference. They are a great bunch of guys over there. Thanks, Mark, for the invitation. I met an active duty chaplain who served a tour of duty on the ground in Iraq and now is on his second tour stateside. He seemed like a great man whose heart was broken over the horrible tragedies he has witnessed since the war begun: broken bodies, broken families, broken lives. On top of it all, his son has just completed his tour in Afghanistan as a Green Beret. Not too long ago, this young man was in a humvee that hit a roadside bomb that obliterated the front end of the vehicle and sent him and his team flying through the air. By the grace of God, none of them were injured seriously. But this father’s heart was evident as he asked for prayer for his son and all the others involved in this war – not only that they would come home safely but that they could make the adjustment back to civilian life. “Dear God, may it be just as he prayed.”

Am I Making a Difference?

No, I am not having a pity party. No, I am not looking for compliments. I think sometimes we all need to do a little introspection to see if we are really making a difference in this world because isn't that what we are supposed to be doing? I read the Sermon on the Mount that way. We are the salt of the earth -- flavoring, preserving, changing the world. We are the light of the world -- illuminating the darkness of sin and pointing to salvation. The apostle Paul says that we are ambassadors of reconciliation -- bringing the lost world to Christ. We are supposed to make a difference in people's lives. We are to be change agents. Am I making a difference? Have I helped to "change" anything? As I look back over my almost 30 years of preaching and 23 years as a pastor, I have seen lots of things change. I've seen people saved. I've had the privilege of baptizing the very young and the very old. I've seen churches grow dramatically and not so dramatically. I've seen churches go through difficult times and experience the fires of revival. I've sat by bedsides of dying saints and offered comfort to families of people who didn't know where their loved one would spend eternity. I've walked with people through marital crises and family struggles. I've visited people in jail, in prison, in mental wards. I've cried for joy and wept in sorrow with my church family. There aren't many aspects of ministry that I have not experienced over the years, but I have come to this conclusion. I have not changed a single person. I do not have that ability. If my ministry has affected any change, it is because of the power of Christ working in me and through me. It is because the Chief of Change has used me as an instrument in His hand to make a difference. My prayer is that I will always be yielded to Him that He might make a difference in a world that desperately needs change.

Revival -- What a Lift!

We just finished four nights of revival services at Southside, and it was a great time. Dr. Edwin Jenkins and Ryan Leffel from FBC Athens served as our evangelist and music minister. It was great preaching and great music, especially last night. There was an air of expectancy last night as the Celebration Choir from First Baptist came to sing. Dr. Jenkins preached a powerful message on spiritual birth, and at the invitation, one of our young men walked with his friend to the altar where his friend accepted the greatest birthday gift of all time -- eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. I honestly cannot tell you what thrilled me more: to see the young man profess faith in Jesus or to see the young man encourage and walk with him down the aisle of the church. That one decision made it all worthwile, but the truth is, the success of the revival is still up in the air.

How do you measure the results of a revival? Some would say by the number of people attending. Others would say it is about the decisions. Perhaps even a few would say that you measure its success by the love offering taken. So how did we fare? Our attendance was not good. We should have done a better job coming out ourselves but also of inviting people. Our love offering was good, but not great. Having been on the receiving end of love offerings, maybe I expect too much. But we did okay. As for decisions, there were several recommitments made for which I am grateful. Most importantly, the young man accepted Christ because of the urging of his friend. But in reality, the success of our revival will not be known for some time as we see if God has truly changed/awakened our spiritual passions at Southside. Are we ready for the fire of God to fall on our lives and on our church? I hope so.