Posted by Pastor D | Posted on 09-04-2010
Category : Lessons, Uncategorized, example
Talk about honesty. Who out there would admit that they have a thing for dropping the ball. Obviously, it is not a point of pride or bragging, but it is what it is. I have looked over my life and have said to myself I have had some great ideas and made some great starts that did not pan out exactly as planned. Do you ever look at life and say “whatever happened to…?” I am not sure what that would be for you, but many times we are great starters and not the best finishers and do not exercise the best follow through. I can see that has been an issue for me over the years. I can count on my hand things I have started, but have dropped the ball on. I say this in an effort to be transparent and to get better to where this is no longer a problem. The most recent thing has been in ministry where I knew there was follow through needed and I seemed to drop the ball a lot eventually causing things to be benched and revamped. The whole thing about dropping the ball is that it was in your hands to complete the play and butter fingers makes its way in and then the play becomes incomplete. I dare not say I am the only one who has been a ball dropper, but I might be the only one to say it. At least today 
… My plan is to get much better. My family and future depend on me not being a ball dropper. The future of ministry for me depends on there being great follow through. I look at examples of non ball droppers and see what their lives have amounted to and I am inspired.
At least for me, dropping the ball happens with preoccupation and business with other things that have nothing or much to do with completing the play. By the time I get back to the original plan the ball has been dropped and the other team is now in possession. I look back on my ball dropping regretfully because it represents so many failed opportunities. I am inspired, however when I look to the future and see what it looks like to not drop the ball. So, today was my confessional blog entry. Are you a ball dropper?
There is a show that I watch called Human Target, which is a pretty good show by the way. The recent episode was about the Princess of Wales. There was a negative twist in the plot, but one of the lines said was, “I am protecting the crown.” There was anger over some things the princess was doing and the thought was that she was disgracing the crown. The premise behind protecting the crown is that there is a reputation there that must be maintained at all costs. This is an idea that does not just stay in the monarchy, but makes its way into several sectors. In the mafia or La Cosa Nostra there is an ideology that no one is above the family. What each person has to do us uphold the family. In New Jack City it was said that “No man is above the crew.” This is what it is all about. It is the responsibility of each person to do whatever possible to uphold, uplift and maintain the rep of the crew, gang, mafia, monarchy or family.
As beleivers we have the exact same responsiblity. Everyday and in everything we need to do what is withn our powers to porect the crown. The crown that was worn as Jesus died on the cross and the crown that He wears as king. If we wake up every morning with it on our minds that we are protecting the crown I wonder how our actions, thoughts and words would vary and change. There has to be an understanding that we are representing a kingdom. With this in mind we understand that it is not about us as individuals. Most time our decisions are all about us rather than the crown that we are protecting. This needs to change. This is something I remind myself of everyday because I want to do a good job for the crown.
Posted by Pastor D | Posted on 19-03-2010
Category : Lessons, Uncategorized, example
A while ago my daughter was pretty sick and did not feel well at all. As with any sickness there is a prescription that comes with it. You know, medicine. My children, especially my daughter does not enjoy medicine. She goes bananas when having to take certain medicines because she says like all kids “they are nasty”. With this particular time of not feeling well we gave her something a friend recommended we give her. She did not like it and our response to her was “You’ll hate it, but it works.” This is something we learn in life and in medicine. Often times the things that help us the most hurt the worst and are not pleasant. It does not mean that things that are pleasant are not helpful. It just means that it is sometimes the uncomfortable things that help us the most. In this day and age we have sought to make everything palatable that needs to help. That logic does not always work. We take children’s vitamins and make them gummy. Really?!?! Do not get me wrong, the medicine does not need to taste like dirt, but can you naturally make something healthy like a vitamin taste like a Skittle? I think you can kind of see where I am going. Let’s not immediately shy away from the things that are not beautiful, fragrant and palatable. Let’s face it, sometimes the good stuff hurts. See ya’ later…
Posted by Pastor D | Posted on 22-02-2010
Category : Lifestyle, example
The other day as I was putting my kids to bed on Valentine’s night they said, “Daddy what is the next special day after Valentine’s Day?” I said to them, “Tomorrow is just an ordinary day.” As soon as I said that it was like God smacked me in the head and I had a light bulb moment. What came to me was that, “There is no such thing as an ordinary day.” That was simple, but monumental. Even with all of the various things life throws our way there is nothing ordinary about any of the days of our lives. Many times we allow the things we are in to determine the ordinary nature or extraordinary nature of our days. This is not the determining factor. What makes our days worthwhile is the fact that it was given to us byt the Lord. The bible says to use, “This is the day that the Lord has made.” Seeing as the Lord made each day is has an intrinsic value all its own. What needs to happen then is that we need to prepare our hearts to meet our un-ordinary days. Everyday that we wake up in the morning needs to be one where we wake up on the right side of the bed. Drama may have carried itself over to the next day, but what do you take over to the next day? We are told in the bible that everyday bring new mercies. How cool is that? I love the fact that God gives us reason and incentive to have a great day. Now, you decide… What kind of day will you have? Peace
Two weeks ago an earthquake hit the island of Haiti in an enormous way
Several died and were displaced in only a small portion of the day
The earth shook for seconds at 7.0 and repeated the shakes through waves of aftershocks
The goal was to demolish the buildings remaining that weren’t knocked
To the ground by the first earthquake the dawned on the island
A peculiar site has been amidst the suffering to see those still smiling
Songs being sung in the streets and hymns in the midst of what used to be churches
Hands on neighbors being bruised as they dig through endless rubble searching
Looking for loved ones and those that may be alive
Text messages from those crushed say that we are still alive
Desperation in the atmosphere as needs multiply
The streets, cemeteries and landfills are occupied with those who have recently died
Where can hope be and how can there be a light at the end of the tunnel to see
It all seems so bleak for the residents on the streets Haiti
A county ravaged already by so many different things
However, I hear the peculiar sound of people beginning to sing
They sing songs of hope and thanksgiving that rise from the rubble
There are people holding onto hope who have not been made to fall even though they stumble
Trouble has come to the island nation
The air has been occupied by tears, screams and utter frustration
But again I hear music in French, Creole and even English
The question that rises is how can they sing this
Can’t they see the devastation and tragedy all around
They sing from a hope that survival brings when songs abound
Not enough water or food or shelter present in the area
But the songs keep those there from entering into hysteria
Out of all of the tragedy seen and brought on this country
The cry has come “will someone do something”
Will someone help and send relief to our people because we need it greatly
Will someone join us in signing a song for Haiti
We do not forget Haiti two weeks in or months down the road
Our commitment is to hang for a while and make sure you grow
You do not cry alone because our heart breaks with you
Even though we are not experiencing what you are going through
Just in case you read this and have not shown love lately
Take time to sing a song, a song for Haiti
Posted by Pastor D | Posted on 22-01-2010
Category : Amazing things, Community, Connections, Cultural Relevance, Formation, Lessons, Lifestyle, Uncategorized, evangelism, example, how ya' livin', random acts of kindness, witness
What can I say? Everyone loves a hero. Would you agree? I hope so. The heroes that we have today are not the ones we see featured on the image above. No tights, capes, superhuman strength or underground caves with bats as friends. No, the heroes we have today deal with larger hurts and crisis situations and their response is no less awesome. It is even more awesome. The help they gives does not come by way of super power, but they come by way of love, a concern for people and relationships. If I had to point to a hero for the here and now (totally subjective, you may choose someone else) it would be my buddy Pastor Shaun King. He is the lead pastor of Courageous Churchin downtown Atlanta. They recently celebrated their one year anniversary. In that one year they did far more than several churches that I know of with more members and bigger budgets. There is a heart that beats within Pastor Shaun that aches and breaks for God’s people. Here is a quick rundown of some of the major things Pastor Shaun and Courageous Church have done within the year.
- Supplied toys and school uniforms for the children of Stanton Elementary School (2 Christmases in a row)
- Started Hope ATL to assist with supplies, money, shelter, demolition and etc for the 2009 Atlanta flood
- Positioned Courageous Church and those within his reach to respond huge to the Haiti Earthquake
This has shown itself by way of money, sending neurosurgeons, coordinating rescues and numerous other things.
Do not get me wrong. I am not necessarily promoting a man or doing any kind of idol worship. However, I do recognize the calling on his life and appreciate his heart for God’s creation. Truth be told when we see things on television happening in other countries or even on our own street corners we get very apathetic. Sometimes we shed a tear and sometimes we do not even do that. In the final analysis we do not do anything. There should be something in us that jumps when we see tragedy whether it is over the seas or across the street. God created us to have a concern and a desire to help people who are in need. I so admire this hunger, thirst and yearning to help “the least of these.” If you were to ask Pastor Shaun he would not make a big deal of it because these heroics (and this is what they are) are commonplace to him. This is who he is. What he does, how he leads and how he loves inspires me. It calls be to be a better church planter, pastor and believer.
If you want more info on Pastor Shaun and Courageous Church, check out the following;
www.courageous.tv
www.shauninthecity.com
www.hopeatl.com
www.theywilldie.org
