Let the children come

September 28, 2016 students around the country shared their faith in the national “See you at the pole” (SYATP) event. This is a time for students, teachers and faculty, parents, siblings, and community members to gather around the school flag pole as the students lead a time of prayer for their school, their country, and themselves.

               This year I was able to attend the event at Grandview School. It was a humid and foggy morning, and we stood in a circle while students took turns reading passages of Scripture from the Psalms. Then the students led an accupella “Amazing Grace”, and then we prayed together, a prayer that one of the students had written, which lifted up our turning from God, and asked his forgiveness on our schools, families, nation, and world. After this a student asked if there was a pastor there who would like to say something…so of course I did! And Dave Blevins, pastor at Telford Grace Brethren Church, also gave thanks for the students and the freedoms on which we stand.

               Then I went to work. And this year’s SYATP was over. But not really.

(Patty Broyles, Reagan Haney, and Carla Weems pray at the pole. Photo courtesy of Melanie Barnett. Minor photo used with permission of Tara Haney.)

               This picture is of a Kindergarten student who got to school after the 7:40AM SYATP was over. Let’s be honest, most of our schools, even most of us, would have been sympathetic with her for sure, but we would have said something like, “I’m sorry you missed it, honey. You can come back next year”.

               Thankfully that is not what happened September 28 at Grandview. Coach Carla Weems and Patty Broyles took time out of their morning, and let this student, Ragan Haney, pray at the pole.

               Maybe that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children” (Matthew 19:14 NLT).

                  We usually talk of these verses in terms of the innocence of children, the trusting nature of children, and the reality that in the culture in which Jesus lived, children were not high on the social standing ladder. This makes sense, then, for the disciples to try to send them away. They are probably running down the dirt road after them, yelling “Jesus, Jesus”, kicking up dust all over the place, and maybe even (hold your breath)…wanting Jesus to play a game with them! And it was these children’s parents (Matthew 19:13) who had brought them to Jesus to be blessed. The nerve of these parents, right?

              So the disciples told them to go home. Get lost. Be seen and not heard. Be quiet. This is important adult stuff here. Come back next year. But Jesus said, “Let them come to me!”

               Sometimes we are just too busy. I know you all have important adult stuff to do today and important adult decisions to make today. But I pray that God would show us the more important opportunities to stop and encourage, love, and pray with these children that are in our lives.

               Maybe Carla and Patty heard Jesus say, “Don’t you dare tell her to go away…you let her come to Me!”

And thankfully they did.

And I pray that we will also.

God bless you Reagan, Carla, and Patty. And thank you for all being used by God to remind me of this today.

Hikers on the Path

On Labor Day my wife, our youngest son, and I went hiking up to Rock Creek Falls. We had never been there before, and we weren’t prepared for it. The hike was much steeper and a little longer than I had thought. We weren’t dressed for it. We didn’t have the right things with us. One bottle of water per person on a 90 degree day on a 4 mile hike wasn’t enough. And, with the exception of Anthony, we weren’t physically capable. It had been many years (and a few pounds ago) since I had really been hiking with Heather. It used to be something that I did frequently. I have always enjoyed being in nature, and in particular being around water. Nowadays I enjoy the ocean water while I am sitting in a beach chair, so a trip to a waterfall sounded like a great idea.

               When we arrived at Rock Creek the first person we talked to about the falls told us that it was a “level 4” hike, only about a mile or so, but definitely not an easy little walk. It seemed like she looked the three of us up and down and came to the hiker-superior-knowledge-estimation that there was no way we were gonna be able to make it to the waterfall, this was going to be too hard for us.

               Along the path we met many other people. Some of them just nodded to us in passing, but most of them spoke to us.

               “It’s still a long way to the falls”.

               “It gets even steeper”.

               “It’s harder as you get further up”.

               “You don’t have a chance. You might as well turn around. There’s no way you can make it”. Well, actually nobody said those words exactly, but they might as well have.

               We did meet a mother of three who was hiking this trail with her children. She was probably a little more in shape and a little more prepared than we were. She offered us some water, and gave us some crackers, which Heather, Anthony, and I shared together sitting on a log at the base of the falls.

               Yes, we did make it.

               As we got a little closer to the waterfall we passed a man with a Eurpoean accent who simply said “not far now”.

               Then a couple we talked to told us “it’s worth it when you get there”. As sweat was dripping off of me a woman said, “it’s so much cooler there, the temperature feels great.”

               My point is that we passed a lot of people on the path to the falls, most were discouraging in their comments to us. Maybe they were having a bad day. Maybe they were as hot and sweaty and tired as I was. Maybe they didn’t have any words of hope to share with a weary traveler who was just trying to get up the mountain that they were coming down off of.

               You’re going to meet a lot of people during your lifetime. Many of them you won’t ever even see again. So there is a tendency to think that perhaps these meetings are inconsequential, but I don’t think so. I believe that every person you come into contact with is created in the image of the same God who created you. I believe that every person you speak to deserves to know the love of Jesus because He died on a cross for their sins just like he did yours. I believe that our faith should be visible in some tangible and evident ways to most everyone we meet, especially when we can offer some words of hope.

               We are all walking this path together. Not the path to Rock Creek Falls, but this path of life. We are going to pass a lot of people that are hot and tired and sweaty and unprepared for the mountain they are climbing. I know we don’t have all the answers, but maybe we can offer a word of encouragement and a pack of crackers. That might be all they need to keep on climbing.

Surrendered

A rich young man asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered him, “Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” (Paraphrase of Mark 10:17-21)

               Over the last couple of weeks, millions of us have been watching the Olympics, some to the point of binging on every medal ceremony. This year the USA won the most medals of any country competing, and also won the most gold medals. One reason for this is for sure, Olympic athletes don’t quit, they don’t give up. But today I want to talk to you about surrender. But not a surrender of quitting, or a surrender of giving up. But a surrender of letting someone else take over. I know, that’s not a popular thought for us as Americans. What would we do if our Marine Corps lay down their weapons that they have been defending us with and surrendered? But I am talking about a surrender, not to an earthly ruler, but to the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Ruler of the heavens and the earth. I am talking about a spiritual surrender. A surrender that not bring slavery or defeat, but a surrender that brings life and victory.

               Let me tell you about my friend David. I’ve only met David once, but we are brothers. Even though I am a 43 year old middle class white guy and David is a 60 year old black man from the streets of Memphis, we have a common family thread, our heavenly Father.

               I met David downtown Johnson City, and he gave me permission to share his story, because after all, David said, “if God can forgive and cleanse me as messed up as I was, there’s sure enough hope for you too, cause God loves us just the same.”

               David’s story began in Memphis, leading a life of crime and assault, a life that led him eventually to numerous felony charges, including murder, and a long sentence in the Memphis prison system. When David was released he came to East Tennessee looking for a change, knowing that if he kept on the same road he would be back in prison and/or dead. So David was reading the Bible on a bus one night. He said he read several verses about people weeping, but he realized it wasn’t just crying that this was talking about. This weeping was a deep soul wretching cry of anguish. David felt the move of what he later realized was the Holy Spirit, and then and there on a Johnson City bus he gave his life to Christ. You can surrender anywhere, church buildings are often the least frequent place this really happens.

               This brings up David’s favorite word, he told me: Surrender.

               To live a life for Christ and in Christ and with Christ you have to surrender. Not give up. Not roll over and quit trying. But surrendering your wills and wants to Jesus and allowing His will to guide you. Surrender your life, so that you can start to live the abundant life that Jesus has in store for you (John 10:10)

               David’s face and soul lit up when he told me about his new life with Jesus. It was a contagious excitement. It is a testimony and faith that will bring others to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus. And it is very real. There is nothing Sunday-School generic about David and how he talks about his relationship with Jesus. Jesus is the very air he breathes.

               I know that we’ve all got some areas of our lives that we talk about surrendering to God. Maybe these are finances or relationships or past regrets we want to “give to God” but somehow keep hanging on to for some reason.

               It’s not about surrendering some “part” of our lives to Jesus, it’s about surrendering our “whole” lives to Jesus. Until we go all in, we are not in at all.

               Today would you join me in surrendering it all to our blessed Savior? If you want to surrender and somehow just can’t seem to let go, then call or email me, and let’s jump into this abundant life with Jesus together. It’s only when we surrender that we actually begin to live.

m-vaughn@comcast.net

423-833-2909

               

Just a man

I had a lot of help with this week’s column. I had asked in a Facebook post, “what’s your favorite Bible verse?” I got a bunch of responses, and I wanted to share some this week. If you don’t have a favorite verse today I want to encourage you to find one. It’s not one that will be your favorite for your whole life probably, many people I know have different favorite verses at different times in their life. That’s ok  I think it’s important though because it helps ground you, encourage you, and keep you balanced…and if anybody ever asks what your favorite verse is you have an answer!
Here are some the of the social media responses I got to that question:
• Debbie & Barbara- Proverbs 3:3-6
• Allison- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
• John- Isaiah 40:31
• Heather- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 & 1 Peter 5:8
• Scott- John 3:17
• Rhonda, Patsy, Robert, Carl & Carla- Philippians 4:13
• Lisa- Matthew 7:7
• Ronnie- Psalm 23
• Patsy- Philippians 4:11
• Kyle- Ephesians 3:20-21
• Karen- I John 4:21
• Cindy- Isaiah 41:10
• Diann- Matthew 11:28-30 & Zephaniah 3:17
• Kelly- Jeremiah 29:11
• Joe- Exodus 14:14
• Robyn- Psalm 46:10
• Jerry- Luke 9:23
• Conner- Ephesians 4:32
• Amber- 1 Peter 1:8 & 1 Peter 5:6-7
• Carla- Psalm 19:1-4
• Julie- Luke 18:8
• Michael- 2 Corinthians 5:17
• Lisa- James 1:5

Take this week and read these verses. See if you can memorize a few of them and pray for the person who submitted them.
I would say that my favorite verse for my life right now is Romans 12:2. It says “don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature” (CEB).
But as I was reading in the book of James last week I came across a verse that is my new favorite right now. I am pretty sure it’s always been in the Bible, but I never really read or noticed it the way that I did when reading recently. The verse is James 5:17. Now, James has some really great practical advice on day-to-day living, right-living as a result of right-faith. But James 5:17 says this: “Elijah was a person just like us”.  Wow, right!!
OK, so maybe you were thinking that my new favorite verse would be a little more interesting, maybe a little more profound. But this one is pretty profound if you think about it for a minute. Let me help get the verse in context with a little Elijah perspective:
• Elijah shows up in the Old Testament as a prophet of God to challenge King Ahab
• Elijah prophesied that a severe drought would come to Israel
• Elijah is fed by ravens to keep him from starving
• Elijah is used by God in a miracle to provide food for a widow and her son
• Elijah confronts all the pagan priests on Mt Carmel to a divine show-down
• Mentored Elisha to succeed him
• He was taken to be with the Lord without dying by means of a fiery chariot
Wow. What a life! Elijah was THE MAN! He was so good and holy. We could never measure up to Elijah. We could never be as good or as holy as Elijah. We do that with those Old Testament prophets don’t we?  (And sometimes we do it with friends, family members, or even –Lord help us—preachers). Whether it’s Elijah, Moses, Joseph, Sampson, Abraham, Jeremiah, Job, Hannah, Sarah, Gideon, or even King David, the man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), we think of them in regards to the miracles and epic faith. For sure, these men and women are examples to us! But not every part of their life, they made mistakes too (lots of them)!
Elijah was just a man. A man that even after seeing God’s miraculous provisions, even after hearing God speak to him, even after seeing God show up in mighty and profound ways, even after all this---he was a man who once hid in a cave out of fear and depression. Of course it’s not just Elijah, all the others listed above had their past, and their past regrets.
Just like you, and just like me. And just like Elijah. Just like Elijah you can experience times where you are humble and willing and can be used by God in mighty ways. Just like Elijah you can have times where you are scared and down and hiding in cave.
But here’s the Good News: Jesus came to offer forgiveness of sins, eternal life in the presence of God, and the freedom and strength to live our lives here on this earth growing in holiness and maturing in faith and grace. And the same God that Elijah prayed to and heard from, is the same God you are praying to and hearing from.
Just remember: “the prayer of the righteous person is powerful in what it can achieve” (James 5:16b), not because of the one praying the prayer, but because of the One hearing and responding to the prayer.
If you would like to share your favorite Bible verse with me or if there is something I can pray with you about let me know at: m-vaughn@comcast.net.

Be of Good Cheer

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

            This is a verse from John 16:33 in the New King James Version translation. I normally don’t read or preach from the KJV on a regular basis, but most of the Scripture that I memorized as a child was in this translation, and I love the poetic beauty especially of the Psalms in the KJV. This verse, also, is great to read and compare.

Here is the same verse in the New International Version (NIV), which is the most widely used translation today in the United States:       

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

            One big difference is the KJV says “be of good cheer” and the NIV says “take heart”. Other translations may say “be encouraged” or “don’t lose heart”. Anyway, you get the picture. All the different translations say the same thing basically, it’s just how the Greek word “tharseau” can be translated in different ways.

            I like the “good cheer” translation. I want to be of good cheer. And sometimes I am…when things are going good. But that isn’t really what Jesus was talking about here, actually that isn’t what Jesus was talking about here at all.

            Those “things” that He had been talking about before this verse was the fact that He was going to die. But even though he would die and not be physically with His friends anymore, they would be better off because the Holy Spirit would come to be with us (and in us) forever. So in the end this was going to be a good thing, so be of “good cheer”!

            This verse makes me look at my life, am I of Good Cheer only when things are going good (or at least what I think going ‘good’ looks like)? Do circumstances take away my Good Cheer? Do other people take away my Good Cheer and put me in a bad cheer-mood? Do finances, my job, my kids, traffic, illness, marital issues take away my Good Cheer?

            If so, then I don’t really have Good Cheer the way that Jesus was talking about it.

            Take a look at John 15:11 in the New Living Translataion: Jesus said “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

            Joy and Good Cheer are not a result of our circumstances, they are a result of Jesus. We don’t have Good Cheer because of the situation we find ourselves in, we have Good Cheer because of who (Jesus) has walked into our situation. We are not dependent on other people or other things to bring us joy and cheer, no more than we are at the hands of other people or circumstances to put us in bad-cheer. That is what Jesus was saying.

            Sometimes things in life are wonderful, be of Good Cheer! Sometimes things in life turn to crap, be of Good Cheer!

            It isn’t about what we are going through, it is about who is going through it with us.

            So be of Good Cheer my brothers and sisters, whatever you are facing today is NOT going to overcome or overwhelm you, because Jesus has already overcome it all for you.  Face today with strength, love, grace, and passion. And smile! Smile because you are of Good Cheer!

God-Moments

Father’s Day weekend was all about books for me. I want to say a big THANK YOU to Joel and Maryann at Mauk’s in Jonesborough for hosting a book signing party for me and allowing me to set up and sell my book, The Great All-American Dad Misconceptions. Also thanks to Officer Dennis for bringing us all free ice cream from JJ’s! (If you haven’t had the ice cream from JJ’s you need to—it’s amazing J)

               But more than just signing and selling books, I got to talk to some people about life. A woman whose son is terminally ill, a caregiver looking after her husband through many long term illnesses, a family who recently adopted two children, and many others who were just coming in shopping enjoying a beautiful day in our beautiful town.

               These were special moments. Moments that I would not have been able to experience had I not been scheduled for a 10-2 for a book signing.

               And then on Father’s Day I received a gift of a new journal. I kinda like to write and read a little, so this was a perfect gift for me. But the gift came with a rule from my wife: ‘don’t use this for your to-do lists, use this to write what is on your heart’. Wise words from a wise woman.

               I do like my to-do lists. I live by them. They keep me on track and help make sure I do what I need to do when I need to do it. I have plenty of to-do lists.

               But this new leather bound journal would not be for that, it would be for something different. But what I wasn’t sure. I already had a journal for my meeting notes and a journal for working on writing ideas and inspirations for my next book. I decided that this new journal would be my “God-Moments” journal.

               Every day I will write down ways that I experience the active presence of God in my life in a different way. Every single day. And a different way every single day. I am doing this to be intentional in what I am looking at, or perhaps intentional in the ways in which I am looking at things; people, circumstances, events, etc. I am doing this because I want to experience the presence of Jesus more fully through the eyes of the Holy Spirit in my ordinary day-in-day-out up-and-down life.

               I think that if we look for God we will find God.

               “If you search for Him with all your heart and soul you will find Him”- Deuteronomy 4:29

               “If you look for Me wholeheartedly you will find Me”- Jeremiah 29:13

               And Jesus said, “ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”- Matthew 7:7

               God-Moments. We all have them, and sometimes we even realize it. But more often than not I think we don’t. Not that we are intentionally ignoring the presence and working of God in our lives, but we are just busy. Or maybe like me you have too many to-do lists or too many things on your to-do list. Maybe we miss God because we are too busy doing things. Maybe even things we think we are doing for God. That’s why my favorite Bible verse over the past couple of years is Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”.

               God-Moments. I want to wake up every day looking for them. Interesting things happen then, when you are intentionally looking for the goodness and the mercy of God in things…you actually see them. And your focus, when it is on God, is not on other things that have been slowing pulling you away from Him.

               Maybe you’ll want to try this with me. You don’t need a new leather journal, but some way to write them down is helpful, that way you can go back and read over the ways God was with you when you need these reminders. Maybe you could share some with me too, I would love to hear how you see God this week.

Band Together

               Last week my mentor and friend Richard Looney gave me a small box of books. I love books, and he knows that. One book has captured my thoughts this week. It is Mike Slaughter’s “The Passionate Church”. I recommend you read it (and then I recommend you read “The Great All-American Dad Misconceptions” by yours truly….wow, that was a shameless plug wasn’t it J).

If you read much about Methodist history you will encounter the terms “societies”, “classes”, and “bands”. These are terms for how groups of Christians were organized in worship, discipleship, and spiritual growth. These terms also are old. These practices were centuries ago. And not many people read much Methodist history unless they have to for a seminary course.

               You’re probably thinking, “where is he going with all this? I just wanted a quick funny little devotional read”. Hang with me a minute. This might not be too quick, or too funny, but I think there is still something there.

               If you’re not familiar with those terms I listed in the first sentence, the condensed definitions could be that a “society” was a group that comes together once a week to worship, pray, read Scripture, sing songs. This is sort of like our modern day Sunday morning worship service.

               The “class” was a smaller group that came together once a week to do a more in depth study of Scripture with prayer. This would be similar to what many churches have as a Sunday night or Wednesday night Bible Study.

               The “band” was a small group of 3-4 people that met together once a week or so for a different purpose. The band was either all men or all women. The band focused on spiritual accountability and discipleship growth of the small group of members.

I pastor a church, and sometimes the temptation is the bigger the better. We are really good at counting numbers. But I need more. I need to grow deeper rather than just bigger. I need to know that there are a few men to stand with me and ask hard questions like “how is it with your soul” or “what temptations are you facing right now” or even “what sins have you committed since we last met?”[i]

               Those are just questions we don’t ask outside of a committed very small group of people we really trust.

               I don’t know how all this “band” small group stuff would work today, but I’m willing to give it a try. So I have. I have stepped out and asked a couple of guys to begin one with me. Yep, right here in Telford, TN.

               And they aren’t other pastors. They are just men seeking to follow Jesus, just like me. I hope that I don’t ruin their high and lofty ideology of perfect pastors… because I’m not one.

               There were many men that I could have asked to start with. But it had to be a small group to begin. There were many men that I wanted to ask, so I just prayed, “God please show me a few men tonight you want to start this with me”. And He did.

               I believe that if we ask God to show us things that He does. I believe that if we ask God to speak to us He does. I also believe that our vision and hearing is not all that great sometimes.

               Pastor Andy Stanley said, “something happens in circles that doesn’t happen in rows”. Something deeper can happen in smaller groups that does not happen in the pews on Sunday morning. It can be a deeper dive from the Sunday morning themes and topic, or it can be a different direction. But something does happen in the circles.

               We become “doers” and not just “hearers” of the Word.

               I don’t know for sure where our Telford band is going to go. That’s the organic beauty of it. I hope that this time next year the four of us are all meeting in small bands with other men and that there are bands of Telford women meeting to turn the world upside down with the excitement of living of a life following Jesus.

               So pray for me please. Pray for the band I am meeting with. And pray that if God wants to “band” you together with some others that you are open and available for that.

               Let’s go deeper, because this is really what matters.

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[i] Mike Slaughter, “The Passionate Church” (Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2016) 37