Why Write a Blog?

Why do I write a weekly blog?  What of significance do I have to say?  Believe me, I pondered these questions before I took pen in hand one year ago.  “Back in Jefferson” is one year old.

One of my “loves” is writing.  My training drives me to use a journalistic style that couples fact with creative writing.  I hope you enjoy my weekly contributions.

So, why do I write this blog?  At 62 years old, I find myself asking the hard questions.  Statistically, I’m at the two-thirds mile marker in my life.  I have crossed paths with realistically hundreds of people, who have touched my life in ways too numerous to recount.  I am who I am because of the Lord, my family and the lives I have encountered over six decades.  Many of them have finished their earthly sojourn and heaven waits to reunite us. 

Highlights to date include:

·     My boyhood years in Jefferson (specifically Sheffield Township).  I grew up at 2832 Maple Road.

·     A quality education in the Jefferson Area School System (the buildings may be gone but the benefits of a “Grade A” education still impact my life.

·     Wonderful parents, who did their best.  Both came to faith in Christ and I’m anxious to see them again!

·     Four grandparents who loved me and poured into my life as a boy.

·     Six siblings – they’re all different, but precious in their own right.

·     Countless cousins, aunts, uncles and friends who brought joy to me (still do!)

·     My salvation and call to preach on August 4, 1970.

·     Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri where I earned my Bachelor’s Degree and met my life partner.

·     Lori Owens, my wife of 42 years and my best friend.

·     Four kids who make me beyond proud.  Sarah, Adam, Zach and Hannah, your dad adores all of you.

·     Six grandkids I don’t get to see enough, but who in long-distance fashion make me a gloating grandfather (Papaw).

·     Liberty University, where I earned my Master’s Degree and where I grew exponentially in my Bible knowledge.

·     Cathedral Christian School in Birmingham, AL, where I taught high school English for three years.  Several of my former students still keep in touch.

·     Five churches, where I learned not only how to pastor but how to be a Christian:

         Faith Assembly of God, Kernersville, N.C

         Leeds Assembly of God, Leeds, AL

         Burton Assembly of God, Burton, OH

         First Assembly of God, Wadsworth, OH

         Cross Community Church, Elyria, OH

·     Working for Crossroads Hospice and now Harbor Light.  Being a hospice chaplain is both stressful and glorious.  I appreciate this sacred trust!

·     Working alongside Pastors Jim and Jennifer Wilkes at Journey Church in Fairview Park.  Their passion for church planting moved Hope Community Church from a dream to a home, located at 573 Goodale Road in Jefferson.  Pastors, I owe you a debt of gratitude.

·     Two missions trips to Kenya with a third one on the radar.  A trip to the Holy Land with a second one coming up in late September.  Can’t wait!

·     The privilege of co-pastoring Jefferson’s newest church – the joy of seeing people who are far from God finding new life in Christ.  I am blessed for sure!

Why do I write a weekly blog?  What’s inside me begs expression.  I’ll let you determine if my experiences grantß me the right to write!  I, of course, don’t have all the answers but I love asking the questions!  My blog, as you perhaps know, covers a lot of different topics.  I hope I have given you something to think about over the past twelve months. 

More to come! Invite your friends to check it out.

Two Women

In Philippians 4:2-3 Paul very succinctly deals with an apparent squabble between two women in the church: 

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Synteche to be of the same mind in the Lord.  Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help those women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in this book of life.”

Evidently, the fallout between these two women was serious enough for Paul to address in the manner he did.  The apostle knew that such dissension could bring church division.  Unfortunately, as sick as it may sound, some thrive on drama.  Their lives are drama-driven!

Details are sketchy but we do know that both women were leaders in the church at Philippi.  He further recognized that both women needed a third party to help them move past their disagreement.  They needed an arbitrator.  Yes, saved people at times refuse to die to self when engaged in relationship battles.

I read this brief passage and I think back to times of church division in my pastoral ministry.  Unfortunately, some pastors believe the solution rests solely on prayer and that’s a good starting place.  Many times, however, such contentions need to be confronted firmly and with tough love.  When disagreements escalate beyond resolution, church leaders must take corrective action.  Such was the case with Euodia and Synteche.

At Hope Community Church I keep my ears to the ground when it comes to church conflict.  The enemy (Satan) wants nothing more than to divide the work of God.  He has a bag of tricks. One includes individuals becoming offended or at odds with one another.  Following are precautionary issues that I look for when two or more individuals experience relationship fallout.

Please note:  Men too, experience interpersonal conflicts.

1.  Obviously, whatever their bone of contention, Euodia and Synteche were causing church-wide unrest.  Two people in conflict may subsequently try to make their problem a church issue.  This I guard against tenaciously.  They talk to others in the church to build a case in their defense.  In Proverbs 6:19 the author relates one of seven things that God hates is “one who sows discord among the brothers.”  This is not about taking sides; it’s about two people owning up to their own sins, and relationship failures.

2.   Paul knew that Euodia and Synteche, because of their widespread influence, might look for others to join them in their “cause.”  Nothing good ever comes from taking up the offenses of others.  Did you know that all of us carry influence?  And did you know that we use our influence to either hurt or bless the cause of unity?  Don’t pick up offenses!  Instead, pray for restitution among the quarreling parties.  And whatever you do, please be careful not to add fuel to the fires of contention.  Be a peacemaker not a troublemaker!

3.  We say that Hope Community is a “No Drama Church.”  In other words, we ask people to not make their private issues public.  Of course, we want to pray for the needs of people, but we insist that personal issues be taken to the Lord in prayer on a confidential basis.  The church lobby, small group, or social media is not the place to perpetuate drama.  Some individuals talk too much and tell too much. Daily drama sucks the life out of people and gives the enemy constant access into their situations.  I personally despise it when believers use Facebook to air their dirty laundry. Such posting brings reproach on the gospel.  Don’t give the devil opportunity to implode your drama.  Are you a “Drama Queen or King?”  Then abdicate your throne today!

4.  Euodias and Synteche were leaders in the local church.  Paul knew that leaders often disqualify themselves from effective ministry when they engage in church division, on-going drama or taking up others’ offenses. That’s why he tells them to “be of the same mind in the Lord.”  Leaders and people in general often forget that negative perception can disqualify them from future ministry opportunities.  Are you a leader?  Ask yourself, “How am I perceived by others?”

5.  Something in human nature rallies us to immediately take sides when others experience fallout.  This is dangerous.  Always remember:  there’s one side, the other side and then the right side.  Individuals who determine to get involved in the offenses of others always seem to search for weak links in the church – immature, emotionally broken people – to perpetuate their offenses.  We at Hope Community keep our eyes peeled for such shenanigans. This is what we refer to as “dirty pool.”

6.   Finally, all of us are subject to relationship fallout.  Paul’s direct appeal to Euodias and Synteche suggests that we are never beyond correction when emotions and actions escalate.  We must at all costs protect the integrity of the gospel. Damage control always becomes necessary when believers refuse to righteously resolve their issues.  At Hope we watch and pray against such goings-on and are determined to confront anything that hurts the forward momentum God has given us.  

Pass Me Not

Do you have a favorite hymn?  I grew up singing hymns in church.  Do you know what I remember about many of them?  They were set to music that was strangely timed and high on the scale.  We either sang from the rooftop or in the basement!

In retrospect, many of the hymns were written from a second person point of view.  In short, lyrics often spoke of some attribute of the Lord’s character, His nature and His goodness.  Many of them were experiential in content, eliciting emotional responses.  We mostly sang  ABOUT the Lord.  In my opinion, the Southern Gospel genre of music closely follows the pattern and emotionally driven impact of the hymns.

Such was and is the case of the famed hymn, “Pass Me Not” by Fanny J. Crosby.  When I came to Christ in 1970, this was the hymn of invitation that accompanied the altar call.  I cried and cried as the words of that song pierced my heart and readied me to accept the Lord:

“Pass me not O Gentle Savior.

Hear my humble cry.

While on others thou art calling,

Do not pass me by.

Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry.

While on others thou art calling, do not pass me by.”

This hymn, coupled with a sermon on the Rapture, elicited a strong emotional response inside me that catapulted me to an altar, where in my heart I asked the Lord to not overlook me.  The convicting power of the Spirit was strong and hit its mark.  When I fell on my knees, I cried profusely without noticing those around me.  Mine was a very emotional conversion.  Not only was I saved that night, but I was also called to preach.

To this day, I am openly moved to tears when I hear the hymn, “Pass Me Not.”  I personally believe that many of us prefer the music that accompanied the era of our salvation.  For me, it was hymns, certain choruses, select Southern Gospel artists, the Gaither’s, Dallas Holm, the Imperials, Evie Tourquist, Sandi Patty, etc.  It seems I worship freely and uninhibitedly when their music plays! 

While most of the hymns sang ABOUT the Lord, a lot of contemporary music sings directly TO the Lord.  And this is fine, too.  I refuse to draw battle lines.  Both genres are valid and both deserve respect across generational timetables.

What touched my heart at a given time in a given place and for a given purpose may or may not ring effective for you.  However, let’s put aside our preferences long enough to realize that the Holy Spirit knows how to capture our hearts! 

Whether it’s “Pass Me Not” or a contemporary guitar-driven song, let’s invite His presence into our times of worship and magnify Him for WHO He is – He’s wonderful!