Tuesday, August 31, 2010

“Night Cometh!”

But, from whence cometh Labor Day?

In 1863, an eleven year old boy, Peter McGuire, was shining shoes, cleaning stores, and running errands to help his mother feed his six siblings.  His father, a poor Irish immigrant, had enlisted to fight in the Civil War.  To say the least, Peter learned how to work very hard at an early age.

Later in his life, he barnstormed the eastern half of the United States on behalf of workers, many of whom were children, to get salaries comparable to their labor.

Peter and laborers in several cities planned a holiday for workers on the first Monday in September, halfway between July 4th and Thanksgiving.  The first Labor Day parade was held on September 5, 1882.  Soon the idea spread across the nation.  In 1894, Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday.

Labor Day is one of my favorite holidays.  No one buys gifts or decorates their house or yard.  We have the day off with no particular agenda.  It’s a great day to clean out the old garage or sort your socks.

A lot of folk use it to squeeze out the last vestiges of summer and cook hamburgers at the beach or lake. 

Sunday I want to think with you about work, your life’s work, and the importance of working.  You may have noticed that time goes by very quickly.  The last thirty-five years, since I first lived in Tampa, have disappeared like a morning mist.  Oh, I can look back and see some of the things we did in those years.  But, they’re GONE!  Did I waste a lot of them---of course!  All of us are guilty of wasting time.

Time is one of God’s best gifts to us.  All of us get the same amount.  What we do with it is our gift to God.  If we spend it on ourselves and in chasing futile dreams, we may find ourselves empty on the Day of Reckoning.  Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness!”  The Bible reminds us that “the days are evil” and that we should “redeem the time!”

Jesus told his disciples that “night is coming, when no one can work.”  (John 9.4).  It may be nearer than we think.

Love you,

Dan

Monday, August 23, 2010

“Admiral Noah”

When was the last time you heard a sermon about Noah and the ark?

Let’s look at this ancient story Sunday.  It is probably the one Old Testament story that most people have heard about.  Hoping to build on what you already know, I want to walk with you through this epic account of God deciding to destroy in the sixth chapter what he created in the first few chapters of Genesis.

Why are we still intrigued by what happened to the ark?  (Is it still moldering up on Mount Ararat somewhere?)  Shouldn’t we be more concerned about why God made his grim decision?  Are there any parallels today in our society that might make God wonder if we’re ever going to get it?

Corruption and violence were the twin terrors that tipped God in the direction of wiping us off the face of the earth and starting over.  Notice any corruption or violence out there?  Are you involved in any of it?  Have we seen so much of it on TV and in the movies that we have become immune to its sadness and cruelty?  The Bible says, “The heart is desperately wicked, and who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

I often wonder how God can continue to put up with us.  There was a time, Genesis Six says, when God gave up on our getting better by ourselves.  In a breath-catching move, he volunteered to rescue Noah and his family and made them the incredible offer of being in covenant with them to start a new world!  What an awesome God!

We are in recession right now because of corruption in the areas of high finance and mortgage lending.  I doubt if anyone could pinpoint who is to blame.  That’s not the issue.  We church people are corrupt enough to make God cringe.  We sometimes treat each other terribly.  We all need to repent and turn from our wicked ways.  When you get outside the church, the world is exceedingly s-c-a-r-y!

Sunday would be a good time to come sit in the Father’s house and do some deep and significant thinking.

See you there!

Dan

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

“How to Avoid Being Miserable”

Sunday I am preaching from I Thessalonians 4.13-18.

The sermon is “Whatever Happened to Grandma?”

Ever been tempted, when you began reading a big book, to turn to the last page and see how it turned out?  You wouldn’t pay the high price of a first-run movie ticket and wait until the last five minutes to go into the darkened theater, would you?  You want to see the whole thing, don’t you?  You want the drama and the suspense of the story as it gradually unfolds. 

But, the Bible tells us how everything is going to turn out.  The Gospel has a happy ending for those whose names are written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life.”

Paul wrote I Corinthians 15.  It is the greatest treatise in the world about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Paul lays a series of subjective phrases, one by one, on the table, “If Christ be not raised  . . . .”  Finally, he says, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”  The King James Version puts it this way, “ …we are of all men most miserable.”

However, as Paul declares with authority and clarity in the very next verse: “But Christ HAS been raised, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

If your Grandmother, like mine, was a Christian believer when she died, she is with Christ right now and will accompany Him when he comes for all believers.  That’s how things turn out.

But, don’t take my word for it.  Sunday, I’ll show you what Paul said.

After all, I don’t want you to be miserable.

There’s no need.

Blessings,

 

Dan

August 9, 2010

“Righteous Indignation”

That’s exactly how I feel.  At least I hope that’s what it is.  I know pure old anger is not acceptable in a Christian’s demeanor.  But I am outraged by the deaths of those ten missionaries in Afghanistan. 

Accused of being “spies” and for trying to “convert people to Christianity,” they were lined up and gunned down by the Taliban.  It’s not the first time this sort of travesty has occurred, and it won’t be the last.  But radical Muslim folk can’t take advantage of our Freedom of Religion and build mosques in a free country while persecuting unto death people who, in Christ’s name, are simply trying to render medical help to those for whom hospitals and drugstores don’t exist.

In Murphreesboro, Tennessee, the populace is up in arms about the building of a mosque in their community which borders Nashville.  I am sure their pique is exacerbated by the proposed $200 million, thirteen story mosque to be constructed a few blocks from the 9-11 ”ground zero” in New York City.  (Do you think the Muslims would allow us to build a megachurch in Mecca?)

Folks, there is no “Father God of Love” in Islam.  Mohammed was a violent, immoral man whose third or fourth wife was a thirteen year old girl!  Even the Muslims can take you to his grave site.  He is still quite dead. 

But Christ is alive!  He animates his living Body, the Church!  He leads us as the Head by means of Holy Spirit, which I reminded you Sunday, is the “Present Spirit of Christ.”

Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and the world!  We must awake the great army of Christian witnesses in our churches all over the world.  We are in a battle to stay free and alive.  Since 1945, we have not had so great a threat to our peace as that posed by Islam.

Hold on a minute!  I know there are millions of moderate Muslim people who denounce the Taliban-like tactics.  I am not trying to impugn the good guys.  But, I honestly don’t know what they are doing to stop this awful blood-letting by the bad guys.

Evangelist Bill Fay is coming Sunday to share with us how we can “Share Jesus without Fear.”  Join me in prayer that God will shake us Sunday!

What do you think?  Would God again use a pagan nation to either wake up or punish His people who have forgotten Him and are AWOL from the Kingdom?  I pray it is only a wake-up call . . . .

I really love this Bayshore Baptist Church!

Dan

Thursday, July 29, 2010  12:10 pm

“Quick!  Spell G-O-D!”

I hear and read a lot these days about “Being a Great Commission Church.”  I’m pretty sure I know what that means.  A church aspires to follow the Great Commission that Jesus gave us in Matthew 28.16-20. It’s a very good idea!

I also notice that every church---even Bayshore---has crafted a “mission statement” that sums up their specific purpose for being in business.  It states the goals and lays out their hopes of accomplishment.  Another terrific idea!

However, you could look and look and look and not find a better mission statement than the Great Commission.  Everything is spelled out very specifically: Go everywhere.  Make disciples.  Baptize them.  Teach them to do what Jesus taught his disciples to do.  Rely on the Presence (and Power and Authority) of Christ for the whole journey.

I tell you, folks, when you get right down and examine the Great Commission, it’s very embarrassing to realize that we don’t do or even talk very much about what He said in it.

We don’t make disciples very well.

We baptize very FEW people!

We teach a lot of things, but I am not sure all of it is what Jesus said to do, especially in the Sermon on the Mount.

We really like the idea that Jesus will “never leave us nor forsake us”--FORGETTING (Are you hearing this?) that Jesus promised his abiding presence to those who were doing the discipling, baptizing, and nitty-gritty teaching about obedience.

Oh yeah, he promised to be with those WHO WERE GOING!  (Duh!)

Going.  Go.  First two letters in God’s Name.

Interesting . . . .

Dan

(If you’ll come Sunday, I’ll try to clear all this up for you!)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 4:45 pm

“The Gospel According to Tom”

We live in a fallen world.  In the wake of Tom Morris’ passing, you may want to read the book of Job again.

The easy part of doing Tom’s memorial service will be sharing what he meant to Bayshore Baptist Church---collectively and individually. 

I am not going to try and play the part of cool-calm-collected cleric.  Although I haven’t been around Tom on a daily basis in many years, I felt like we always picked up right where I left him and Vicki in 1975 and after their 1971 wedding.  During the process of calling me to be interim pastor, Tom was kind enough to call me often and keep me informed about what was going on.  I feel like I have lost a family member.  Truth is, we all have---all of us in the Bayshore family!

He now knows the victory!  We are still in the valley.  Our tears are falling; his are being wiped away!  He ran fastest.  He finished first.  We will see him again.

On Sunday, I want to bring a message from Zephaniah 1:1-7. With Tom’s death fresh on our minds, I believe it is a good time to focus on eschatology (doctrine of Last Things).  Are you ready to meet God?  Are things right between you and your Heavenly Father? 

The “Day of the Lord” teaching in both testaments is not something we can relegate to dusty seminary libraries and dull lectures.  There are signs.  There are predictions and warnings.  Jesus didn’t leave us clueless about His return.  A great many of his parables are about his return someday.

If Tom’s sudden and unexpected passing pushes us to reevaluate our commitment and draws us closer to Christ and His church, he will not have died in vain.

 Dan

 

Tuesday, July 13, 2010 3:38 PM

Did you know that Jesus had more to say about money than any other subject?  There are 700 verses in the New Testament on that topic. 

That fact is even more interesting when you realize that Jesus probably never carried any money around.  When someone asked him if they should pay taxes to Caesar or not, Jesus asked someone if he could borrow a denarius (Roman coin) in order to examine it.  He didn’t have any money on him!

I doubt if he ever had another paycheck after he walked away from “Joseph & Son Carpenter’s Shop” in Nazareth!  Do you reckon Jesus tithed?  I think so.  He just didn’t want us to stop with tithing (Matt. 23.23).

I am the bravest man in town!  I am going to preach on tithing in the middle of a recession that seems determined to take a “double dip!”  In fact, I am even telling you that I am going to preach on that subject.  I must be loose in the noggin somewhere to do such a thing.

No, I just want to put the emphasis where Jesus did.  If there is anything the followers of Jesus need to learn, it’s how to handle our money, how to think about our possessions, how to avoid worshiping Mammon!  “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions,” Jesus asserted.  We in American haven’t quite learned that lesson yet.  “Beware of covetousness!” he exclaimed.  We’re still scratching our heads about that one.  What was He saying?

Bring your Bible and one friend.  Pray hard for Tom Morris.  Ask God to speak loud and clear to your heart on Sunday.  This may be your week!

Blessings,

Dan

Tuesday, July 06, 2010 4:48 PM

 I have been touched by the tender love and compassion that you have shown to our dear brother and sisters, Tom, Vickie, and Julie Morris.  You have respected their need for quiet and privacy and have lavished on them the good cooking of our church families.  Thank you for your sensitivity to their predicament.  Thank you for the load of prayer support that is sustaining them now as Tom begins treatment for his illness.  Let us continue to ask the Father to use medical science and our prayers to effect healing for Tom.  Let us claim healing mercies on their behalf!

The exultant spirit of our worship Sunday defied the July 4th-diminished attendance.  Another new member!  The rousing strains of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”  The happy children waving our nation’s flag.  It was a glorious day to be in the Lord’s presence!

I want to draw your attendance this coming Sunday to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Do you know exactly how Jesus died?  I know you are aware that he perished on a Roman cross, but how did he die?  What specifically extinguished his life?  Come and learn the horrors of execution by crucifixion.  You will never again look at a cross the same way.  It is the absolutely most painful way humans have devised to take another person’s life.

Someone could find the forgiveness of their sins if you would stop right now and call them to invite them to come with you.

(Well, go on and call them!)

‘Love you ‘zackly like you is!

Dan

Monday, June 28, 2010

After three Sundays preaching and working at Bayshore again, I am about to shake the surreality of it all!

God has graciously given us eight new members already! 

I have been floored and humbled by your loving, positive response to my coming back among you to help shepherd this great church.

Let me tell you what you’ve got going for you.  Our facilities are absolutely gorgeous!  The location is perfect for growth.  The history of the church is rich with evidence that God will guide us into significant growth, both numerically and spiritually, if we pay the price of discipleship.  We have the resources in people power and in financial ability.  God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  The silver and the gold are His!  He will send the resources to do what He leads us to do.

My wife, Marilyn, arrived from Dallas safely Sunday afternoon late.  I feel I am all here now!  She will be singing in the choir (along with me) and visiting prospects with me each week.  Those of you who have not met her will find her to be approachable and loving, someone you can talk to.

Sunday is July 4th!  Come help us celebrate our nation’s 234th birthday.  The choir will sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic!”  My message is “One Nation Under God!”  My text is I Peter 2.11-17.  Your job is to show up with a friend!

God loves you just like you are . . . and so do I!

Dan