Here I am, Lord!

Yesterday, December 1 was the first day of Advent but it was also a day of reminiscing for me. I an my parents attended Heritage Baptist Church, of Wake Forest, NC for Sunday morning worship. This is our home church and where I was ordained in May of 2011. It was good to be home and my parents and I were glad to have been in attendance where we decorated the Christmas tree with chrismons. After I arrived back to my home in Roanoke, VA I and a couple of my youth attended the ordination of Cathy Harris to the Gospel Ministry at my church, Rosalind Hills Baptist Church, in Roanoke. At the beginning of my Sunday I physically revisited the place of my ordination and at the end of my Sunday I revisited my ordination spiritually. To say it was an amazing day would be an understatement. I do not have the words to describe except to say I was truly fed by the Holy Spirit through the two service. I want to take this time to thank some people for making yesterday a day that I will not forget, for many reasons:


The Reverend Cathy Harris: thank you for being obedient to call of God on your life. Because of your obedience I was called back to 1998 when God first told me that I would follow the path of ordination. You reminded me of my commitment to God and those I serve and why I gladly sacrifice much for the sake of the gospel. God bless you. I am so blessed to know you and have you in my life.

Rosalind Hills Baptist Church: Thank you for being a church that recognizes and affirms the gifts of those who are called regardless of gender. Last night (December 1) I never felt more at home since joining in October of 2012, as I did last night. I am thankful that I yielded to the Holy Spirit and joined the church. You are my Bethel in this season of my life.

The Reverend Nelson Harris: Thank you for being a man of God who is obedient to the Lord's command and supporting your wife in ministry and recognizing her gifts for ministry. Your presence reminded me of those men in my life who have affirmed and encouraged me in ministry: my father; Randell Henderson, my pastors through the years; Rev. Jack Coffey, Rev. Ken Altom, and the Rev. Jimmy Allen. The cause for women in ministry is only helped by the men of God who will stand with them. Thank you.

The Ordination Council: Thank you for taking time out of your life to sit down and hear Cathy's testimony and her call to ministry. Thank you for recognizing what she has felt and approving her for ordination. Your commitment to Rosalind Hills and Cathy reminded me of my ordination council and how they listened to my story and makes me grateful that they saw the call God had placed on my life and approved me for ordination. You truly exemplify how the Body of Christ is designed to work.

It is always good for us to look back at those times in our life that have had a significant impact on us and our walk with the Lord. Yesterday allowed me to do that, to revisit that initial call in 1998 and May 15, 2011 when I was ordained to the Gospel Ministry and what I said to God.

Once again I say to God's call, Here I am, Lord!











God bless you all this Advent Season!

"Adults! Put your EGO aside!"

 

 

Train up a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not depart from it.

                                     - Proverbs 22: 6 NASB

 

 

We are well acquainted with the Steubenville, Ohio rape case because of Social Media. Social media can also be said had a role in the conviction of two teenagers for the rape of a young girl. What I want to talk to you today about is the what I heard on the news last night. A grand jury has indicted 4 adults in relation to the investigation of the rape in 2013 as well as another one.

 

 

Where are the adults, responsible adults whoa re entrusted with the care of our children when they are in school? When teenage boys, young men and older men alike think they can use any girls or woman for their own sexual gratification in our culture today we need adults to stand up, speak out and advocate for children and women around the world. When coaches and principles place sports above a person's humanity these crimes will continue to happen.

 

God has entrusted us to care for the children of this world and these 4 adults have failed. Many more adults around the world have failed the children in our community. I believe it all comes down to ego. They value themselves higher than anyone else's. They will do what ever it takes to save face, protect that which is most valuable to them even if it is at the expense of another person. We cannot expect anything to change, or our children and teens to learn how to respect one another if we the adults do not demonstrate and live out love and respect for ALL people, our neighbors. Minors were charged in this case and convicted and now 4 adults have been charged.

 

As a person who works with teenagers I tend to have more patience and tolerance for their behaviors than I do adults. Now understand that if a crime occurs or I suspect one I will report it. But the reason I show children and teenagers more grace and patience is because they are still learning and growing. Their brains are still developing and cannot be fully conscience of the decisions they make. We as adults know better, or should. We cannot as easily make an excuse for our behavior when our brain is fully developed. Whether you have children or not all children are looking to us as their example and with the behavior of the four adults I now am understanding the actions (though not condoning) of those teenagers that were involved in the rape.

 

If we want children to learn to respect and value others then we have to do the same. It is not enough to teach it we must live it. To train up a child in the way of respect we must respect each other.

 

As a Christian I want to speak to my Christian readers and point out one more area where our ego's can get in the way. The most important thing we can do when raising children is to let them come to Jesus, allow them to encounter God and be moved by the Holy Spirit. At times we ourselves can be a hindrance and stand in the way of the children coming to Christ. We think we know better, we think we should shelter them. But we don't know better, we need to admit them and allow our belief in God and the son Jesus Christ to guide our behavior. When we do we will step aside and allow Jesus to lead the children and us. I don't know a better example for what I mean than a post a friend made on Facebook last night. Take time to read it below:

 

 

Travel changes who we are - if we allow it to do so. Timothy travels with us everywhere, and I have been privileged to watch how formative travel has been in his life. Last week he stood by the graveside of JFK. He also heard a gun salute to another fallen soldier, whose graveside service was occurring simultaneously. Last week Timothy stood between an adult Asian immigrant and me, and together the three of us peered intently at the original document of the US Constitution. The adult Asian immigrant looked at my son with tear-filled eyes and whispered, "Look! Look! Isn't it incredible?!" Last week homelessness had a face to it. Timothy saw homeless children of God sleeping in boxes on street corners. He saw their dirty clothes and blankets. He saw them search through trashcans for discarded food. He smelled their humanity. He was spoken to by them. He assembled a bag of snacks (granola bar, banana, raisins, applesauce, Doritos, Welch's fruit snacks, and bottled water) for the homeless man who slept across the street from out hotel. He watched me give the food to the man. He saw the man every night. Timothy was changed, and so was I.

 

 

 

 

This was written by my friend Kheresa Harmon.

 

This is how we train up our children. This is how we let our children come to Jesus. Nothing is more important than this. For Jesus told us this.

 

 

 

But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me;

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."


 

-Matthew 19:14

 





The Solution

Last week I wrote a post on a problem I believe effects all of us and that is perfection. I want to answer that post with a solution, have you.

I have been hearing a new song on the radio. I really love the rhythm and the message and finally yesterday I said, I need to know who sings this song. So is my custom I pick a line from the song, plug it into youtube and up pops the song and artist and the video that goes along with it. Take time now to watch the video. The lyrics are below the video.

You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love
Or you can start speaking up
Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do
And they settle ‘neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down
By the enemy
Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing
Bow down to the mighty
Don’t run, stop holding your tongue
Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

Innocence, your history of silence
Won’t do you any good
Did you think it would?
Let your words be anything but empty
Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you.

 

 

 

The question: How do we let go of our need to be perfect?

 

 

Answer: Be brave enough to tell our story.

 

 

If you are anything like me you think about a lot more things than you actually say and you would never dare tell your story, thoughts or opinions, or if you do it is only in select circles, safe circles.

 

 

I read a blog post today by a friend and it is a part of a month long series titled, "What you meant for evil God meant for good", based upon Genesis 50:20.

 

 

Do we have the courage to share our story or will we hide it away? I have learned that there is freedom in telling my story and invite you to do the same.

 

 

Let's be brave and speak out.

 

 

 



The Problem

So much has been going on in our world and in my own life that I have really be pondering the following question:


What is wrong with humanity?


I have come up with a preliminary answer. Please know by no means is this the final answer or event he only answer but I thought I would answer my own question and invite others to share their thoughts and other possible answers to the above question.


Answer: We think we can and/or should be perfect.


If we think that we can and/or should be perfect then we assume that of others and inevitably place to high of expectations on others.


Ever been disappointed by a family member or friend? You know that feeling. You getting angry first, then self-righteous and depending on how you handle difficulty you either write that person out of your life or you realize you place that person on a pedestal of perfection that they could never meet. You acknowledge your expectations were wrong and you readjust your view of the person and the relationship continues to grow.


I am only 41, old enough to know some things (No longer green) but not old enough to claim all wisdom in matters of life. But I think my answer to my own question may have some validity.


When I look back at my life (Choices, behaviors and relationships) and reflect on the stories friends, family and co-workers have shared with me I have to believe that we are to hard on ourselves, we expect to much of ourselves and in turn expect to much of others.


When I think of perfect I think of God and yet scripture says Jesus did not view equality with God to be something to grasp for. What? Wait! Jesus is God in Flesh and he didn't think equality with God was something to be grasp? Maybe he was on to something. Why do we even think we can be perfect? Why do we expect everyone else to be perfect, to make no mistakes?


When I write this you must know that I myself struggle with this very thing. As I meet more people and listen to their stories I find that my need for all things perfect and orderly is not just exclusive to myself. If God, who created us sees us as good why is that not enough for us? Can we learn to see ourselves as good people? Can we learn to see others as good people?


1 Timothy 4: 4 -5 says:

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. (Word is synonymous with Jesus here)


I hear a lot of talk about how God will destroy creation if we do not return to biblical teachings and principles. What I am fairly certain of is if we continue to relentlessly place expectations upon ourselves and others then we will destroy ourselves. God want need to do a thing.


Maybe that is why God came not as a wrath filled, vengeful god but as a child born to poverty and with a message of unconditional love. Maybe?


If the problem is that we are trying to be perfect when it is impossible then I think we need to look at ourselves through the eyes of our Savior and those around us through his eyes as well.

My Best Friend

Kathryn Jones Swearingen is my best friend. We met in the summer of 1988 in a drivers Ed classroom. The odds of this occurring really are slim but with a providential God it is not. See Kathryn went to a private school and I went to public school. Just like my sister, my parents paid for us to take drivers Ed classes in a private class rather than through the public school system. Back then the school program had a poor record of adequately training teenagers to drive and pass the NC State drivers exam. Because of my parents choice and her parents choice we met. That was the beginning of our friendship. During the past 25 years we have shared so many experiences, both good and bad, and through it all our friendship has grown stronger and deeper. When I think of our friendship I remember things that Kathryn has said and done. During the early years of our friendship she shared with me that anyone who did not take the time to get to know me, they were missing out on a great friendship. I knew then that our friendship meant as much to her as it did to me. In 2002 she was my guest at the Campbell Divinity School Graduate dinner. Her going with me was a huge affirmation that I was on the right track. Making the decision to go to Graduate school was always a scary thing even up until the final semester. Her presence was such and encouragement. She did something else at the dinner that I will never forget, she thanked the school for being their for me and being a place that I enjoyed attending. Her words that night helped me see God in a bigger way. In 2011 she and her then fiancé, Blake Swearingen, came to my ordination service. When we met in 1988 I could have never imagined May 15, 2011 but having her there on that special day was once again affirming of my life choices and the importance of our friendship to each other. But in November of 2011 she said something that took me right back to that day she said I was a very special person. She shared with me over dinner that Blake and her wanted me to officiate their wedding. Why does this mean so much? All of these things mean so much because we do not share a common faith, but none the less my friendship with her has brought me to two realizations:

1. God's love extends to all, regardless of where they are in their journey on earth
2. Kathryn is the closest thing to God I have here on earth.

Kathryn accepts me for who I am, loves me without condition and has always been a faithful friend. These are all the things God is to me.

God loves and accepts me just the way I am and works through my uniqueness to proclaim the Gospel, they same is for you. God loves me and us with out condition. I know this because God, my creator, chose to come down to earth, walk in human flesh and die on the cross for me and you. He did this for ALL of us. Lastly, God has never left my side and never abandoned me. In this life I have had people and institutions fail me, we all have but God, the God of creation is faithful always, to all of us.

Who I am as a person and as a minister is greatly influenced by Kathryn being in my life and I do not believe it is any accident that we met. When I think about our friendship I wonder if God teaches me to love and see creation as he does or if Kathryn, and who she is points me to God, to see God in a fuller way. I think it is a bit of both.

Within my belief system I see God, the creator of everything, as a relational God. God chooses to work in concert and cooperation with us. Through relationships we engage in the work of God whether we know it or not. We do so because we are living by example. Jesus' ministry was ALL about relationships. When we develop relationships we are living by example, God's example. Through us working with others we see God in a bigger and fuller way and those we have relationships with point us back to God. All in all we become better people, caring people, compassionate people.

Just as Kathryn is my best friend, God is my best friend.


Some pictures from over the past 25 years (including the wedding on October 18, 2013):

A friends wedding

Alive After Five



Beach Trip

Pink Floyd Concert



The Wedding

My 2nd Jump!

On Sunday, October 20 @ 8 am I went to make my 2nd tandem jump. Click here to read about the first one. What I did not know was there would be a video to share. On Friday, October 18 I officiated the wedding of my best Friend, Kathryn Jones and her fiancé, Blake Swearingen. Kathryn's gift to me was paying for a video to be made of my jump so here it is. But please stay tuned for a post later this week on "Best Friends"







I am definitely a jump junkie now and plan to take the classes next year and learn to jump solo.

Sex Trade 101: Part 2

Today's post focus's on the children who are victims of the sex trade around the world. The most important thing I believe you should know is that the UN considers any girl or boy under the age of 18 engaged (even “willingly”) in prostitution is technically a trafficked victim since the international community deems a minor not old enough to make the choice to sell themselves for sex.

It is also important to know that many adults who are in the prostitution business were in it before they became a legal adult in the eyes of  American law. So while we may view their situation differently than minor children we can see them as victims who are in need of rescue. Read the image below and learn some statistics of the sex trade right here in America.

 

 

 

Sex Trade Facts

• Human rights investigations have discovered that minors can be typically sold an average of 10-15 times a day, 6 days a week, totaling between 9,360 and 14,040 sex acts a year. The girls received none of the money.   (Source: Shared Hope International)

• According to the California Child Welfare Council, kids as young as 10 are being peddled for sex every day in Los Angeles County ... the average life expectancy of children who enter the sex trade is seven years. This means, on average, a child forced into prostitution at age 12 will be dead by 19.            (Information collected from the Daily Breeze)         

If you have not joined one of the Investigative Teams supported by The Exodus Road please consider. Click here to read more about the program and how you can help make rescues possible. When rescues are made from funds from The Exodus road they are either:

• an actual trafficking situation (ex. raid with police of a locked brothel) or
• sexual abuse to an underage victim (ex. pedophile abuse).

Thank you for following my blog and learning more about Modern Day Slavery. Together we can end this.