“Get Low”

Friday

Psalm 39-41

John 12:27-50

Psalm 39

⁴ “Show me, Lord, my life’s end     and the number of my days;     let me know how fleeting   my life is. ⁵ You have made my days   a mere handbreadth;     the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath,     even those who seem secure.^[b]

⁶ “Surely everyone goes around  like a mere phantom;     in vain they rush about,  heaping up wealth     without knowing whose it will finally be.

⁷ “But now, Lord, what do I look for?     My hope is in you. ⁸ Save me  from all my transgressions;     do not make me the scorn  of fools.

“Get Low” is the title of a movie based on a real live event.  In 1938 an East Tennessee man named “Bush Breazeale” decided to have his own funeral while he was still alive.  He made no pretense that he was dead.  He had a casket built and sat by it as people came by.  He apparently wanted to make some things in his life right.  This passage of scripture encourages us to “Get Low” and visit our own funeral.

We are encouraged to contemplate the shortness of our lives and live accordingly.  Last Sunday was my last Sunday at Christ Community Church and I felt as if I were able to attend my own funeral.  Like real funerals, it was a bit skewed to the positive aspects of my life.  As I contemplate the end of my life it makes me look soberly at some things I want to change.  I still have character flaws that plague me from time to time and too often I live as if I have forever to go.  Last Sundays service was a reminder how short the 19 years I have spent at Christ Community Church really were.  I watched slides of my self at various sizes and shapes.  I saw myself with a bear and mustache, just a mustache, and clean-shaven.  I saw my children as babies and wondered where the time went.

This morning I’m taking a “time out” to get low and think about the end of my life.  We are invited in this Psalm to do three things.  1) Remember the shortness of your life.  It doesn’t take much contemplation to realize that surely this can’t be all that there is.  Help me live with eternity in mind.   2)  Don’t get caught up in the rat race for wealth.  The money grab distracts from the real purpose of life which is to prepare for eternity.  Finally, we are invited to ask to be saved from our transgressions.  Don’t let your mistakes, sins, and failures, be the defining moment of your life.

Today let’s get low and remember our death so that we can finally begin to live.

 

Confessions of an Educated Fool!

Friday

Psalm 15-16

John 9:1-23

     John chapter 9 is an interesting contrast between the “know it all” pharisees and an ignorant blind man.  The Pharisees had all the degrees behind their names and they had read all the latest books, but they were powerless  when it came to figuring out how a blind man had received his sight.  In contrast, the blind man has no theological credentials and he got kicked out of the church because he wouldn’t condemn Jesus for healing him.

     This passage speaks to me because I am preparing to go to an new church in a new city where I am supposed to come in as the so called “expert.”  I have had the privelege of ministering for nineteen years in a wonderful church and it has been my privelege to witness the spiritually blind receive their sight.  I have watched people with no background in faith become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  If anybody understands how this works, I should.  I have been blessed with one of the greatest theological educations available.  I received my bachelors degree in Biblical studies from Wheaton College which is sometimes called the “Harvard” of Christian education.  I received my Masters from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary which is one of the largest and finest seminaries in the country.  Many of my professors were considered the leaders in their field.  To top that off I received my doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary which is the birthplace of the church growth movement.  If anybody should know how to grow a church I should.  Honestly, however, I don’t have a clue.

     Its a little intimidating to go to a new church where the expectations are high.  Certainly, they are going to be expecting results.  Sadly, I come with few answers.  I understand a little about “planting” and “watering”, but I am keenly aware that only God can make it grow.  Its no wonder the Apostle Paul who was arguable the most well educated Christian of the first century considered his education as “dung” compared to the greatness of simply knowing Jesus.

      I am a great fan of education only if it leads us to complete dependence on Jesus.  Oh I know certain techniques that might help increase numbers and offerings, but that’s not what a Jesus church is all about.  If the blind aren’t seeing, we are just spinning our wheels.  My desire is to see life transformation happen.  I must confess that I am concerned about the landscape of Christianity these days.  So called experts on tv are filling people’s heads with knowledge that makes little difference.  They can explain to you the finer points of the book or revelation in ways that impress the common person watching from their living rooms.  One of the phrases I have had to get comfortable with is “I don’t know.”  My understanding of how events will unfold in the last days is shady at best.  I don’t know how to grow a church.  I don’t know how God knows everything before it happens and yet we are still free to choose.  Calvinists can explain it all.  Many from the “free will” group also have answers for everything.  I’m not so sure.  I’m just an educated fool.

     There is a contrast in these passages between the pharisees who keep saying “we know” and the blind man who doesn’t know.  The blind man only know one thing.  Once he was blind but now he sees.  Is it possible that God can use our ignorance more than our so called knowledge?  For the last nineteen years at Christ Community Church its been my privelege to lead people to Jesus and I watched the spiritually blind see and the spiritually lame walk.  Pray for me as I go to Knoxville.  I don’t know what I’m doing.  They will discover that soon enough.  They may be looking for answers from me, but all I have to offer is a testimony.  Maybe God is not looking so much for our ability, but our availability.  Maybe the purpose of all of our education is to lead us to end of ourselves and total dependence on him.

There’s a Miracle in the House!

Friday

Psalm 64-Psalm 70

John 6:1-21

Today I am reflecting on the John 6 passage.  I haven’t read the book, but I’ve only read the title, There’s a Miracle in Your House by Tommy Barnett.  Tommy Barnett is the founder of the Dream Center in Phoenix and Los Angeles that ministers to thousands of people who are homeless, bound by addictions, or coming out of prostitution.  I’m told that the premise of the book is the story of The founding of The Dream Center and how he spoke to his congregation about how the miracle was not outside of them, but it was right in their house.

     Jesus asked Philip where they were going to buy bread to feed five thousand people.  Philip tried to imagine where they could ever come up with the money to feed all those people and where they might get it.  Jesus already knew that the miracle was not on the outside, but right in their midst.  A little boy with five loaves and two small fish was all that would be needed.

      I’ve been reflecting on the Christ Community miracle.  In the last nineteen years we so God do so many amazing things and we witnessed a beautiful sanctuary built for the glory of God.  Where did the miracle come from?  The miracle was in the house.  I’ve watched as people gave their talents to the Lord and put them together what God could do.  I saw amateur musicians and actors come together to put on productions that Branson would be proud of because the miracle was in the house.  Our church was not built on millionaires giving or selling candy bars.  God raised up this church because the miracle was sitting right in the house.  Thanks to all the people of Christ Community who continue to give their bread and fish and God continues to multiply it.

     I’m writing this to encourage myself about the next venture in our lives.  Our family is going to a church in Knoxville where expectations are high.  I’ve honestly lost sleep wondering how God is going to grow the church in Knoxville.  Where are the resources?  There are fifty people waiting for us to come and I’m keenly aware I have no bag of tricks to bring.  This morning I want to say to Bethesda Christian Fellowship that the miracle is in the house.  I had the opportunity to have a conversation a little over a year ago with the pastor of James River Assembly of God church in Springfield Missouri.  It is one of those huge churches with upwards to ten thousand members that sees scores of people get saved weekly and their ministries are broad reaching.  The pastor told me that when he came there were fifty people.  He said but they were not just any fifty people.  These folks were ready to do whatever it took to see God do something amazing in their city.

     These were the kind of people who I met at Christ Community Church nineteen years ago and these are the kind of people who I’ve already met at Bethesda.  Jesus is in our midst and he takes what little we have and multiplies and feeds the multitude with leftovers for those outside our walls that still need to be fed.  Christ Community Church as we begin this next phase our journey of finding a pastor to lead us and we may be wondering what the future holds, remember that the miracle is in the house.  Bethesda Christian fellowship as we wonder together about the future, remember that miracle is in the house.  For all of you readers in other places who may be wondering about your present circumstances, Jesus already knows what He is going to do.  The miracle is in YOUR house!

He Still Turns Water Into Wine

Friday

2 Samuel 8-9

Psalm 60

John 2

     I was very glad to see that John chapter 2 was assigned to me.  It is one of my favorite Jesus stories.  I recently traveled to Cana and visited a church supposedly build over the sight where this first  miracle of Jesus took place.  As you might imagine, it is a very popular wedding church.  And of course, the vendors outside are still selling wine that comes from Cana.  The gospel of John is sometimes called the Book of Signs because there are seven signs in the gospel that all point to something greater.  This is the first sign story in John.  Because it is a sign we need to realize that there is more going on that a wedding reception gone bad.  We are given a hint of the significance of the event by the opening words of John 2, “on the third day”.  This detail adds nothing to the story.  The significance of the third day is that in symbolic Biblical numerology, the third day is always a day of God’s fulfillment.  This story actually foretells the third day resurrection.

    If you can imagine with me, this is not just a wedding that’s lost its steam.  It symbolizes anything that seems to have lost its joy (wine).  It could be a job that has become tedious or a marriage that has grown stale or a church that has lost its vitality.

     Mary gives one of the best pieces of advice in history.  “Whatever he tells you to do, do it.”  I have been taking that advice throughout my walk with the Lord and it has caused me to do some things that were sometimes painful, but always for my good.  I’m not one who talks freely about the Lord talking to me, but throughout the years there have been a few whispers that have directed my life.  Here are a few of whispers that have revolutionized my life.  “Go to Wheaton College.”  That decision equipped me for future ministry.  “Marry that woman” This whisper about Melanie linked me with the woman who would be my partner in ministry and mother our children with excellence.  “Leave your denomination.”  This whisper was the most painful, but it placed me into my calling as a bridge builder in the body of Christ.  “Go to Murphysboro.”  This whisper made no sense in the pattern of our lives up until then, but we ended up seeing miracles, signs, and wonders, that continue to this day and brought us immense joy.  “Keep the school open”.  When we came to Murphysboro, it was recommended that we close the school because it was very small and a drain on our budget.  Keeping it open led to the salvation of many souls and a top flight education being given to scores of young people including my own grateful children.  “Go out onto the highway and find some property with a roll to it.”  That decision led to the building of one of the most beautiful houses of worship that I know of.  Recently I received another whisper,  “Go to Knoxville.”  Once again, this doesn’t make sense from a human perspective, but I am going with the confidence that every whisper of Jesus has led to water being changed to wine.

   My encouragement to you this day is that if your life has grown stale, Jesus is in the room.  Whatever he tells you to do, do it and the rut you are in can be broken.  Your best days can still be ahead of you.   Jesus saves the best wine til last.

They Smell Like Fish

Friday

1 Samuel 23

Psalm 54

63

Luke 22:47-71

Peter Disowns Jesus

⁵⁴ Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest.   Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

⁵⁸ A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

⁵⁹ About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord   turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

To me this is one of the most gripping stories surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus.  Jesus is arrested and taken away and Peter follows from a distance.  Peter finds himself in a predicament.  He has told Jesus he would follow him to the end, but now it is clear that if he follows too closely, he might experience the same fate as his master.  Therefore,  he distances himself.  When people distance themselves, they want to appear to the one they are following that they are still following, but to the crowd arround they want to appear that they are not following.   When President Clinton lost the governorship of Arkansas after already serving a term, he describes how people distanced themselves from him.  People who wanted to be his best friend before now wouldn’t walk across the street to be seen with him.  Peter finds himself in this place.  Jesus is now damaged goods.

“If I stay within Jesus’ eyesight, maybe he will think I’m following,”, Peter thought,  ”but I must stay far enough away that outsiders won’t know I’m with him.”  But the people around weren’t fooled.  There was something “fishy” about Peter.  A servant girl looks at him and says, “this man was with him.”  Was it his complexion that made her think this?  Or maybe his eyes were swollen from crying about the events that were unfolding.  We don’t really know, but somehow this girl sensed that Peter had been with Jesus.

And then the lies began.  I don’t know him.  Another man suspected that Peter was “one of them.”    “No I’m not”, Peter lied again.    I imagine Peter saying it loud enough for the people around to hear, but quiet enough that Jesus might not hear it.  Maybe it was his Galilean accent.  There is something to that accent thing.  My trip to Israel revealed that 11 of the 12 disciples came from Northern Israel who were the country folk and looked down on by the sophisticated crowd in Jerusalem.  Interestingly, the only disciple that was from near Jerusalem was Judas.

An hour passes and people’s eyes have been peering at Peter across the fire until one man blurts,  “Certainly, this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”   And then came the third lie.  This time he acted like he didn’t even know who Jesus was.  “I don’t know what you are talking about.”  The words hadn’t come out of his mouth and the most famous rooster in history crowed.  He crowed for all of us who have ever distanced ourselves from Jesus.  He crowed for everyone who wanted to appear as if they were a disciple in front of Jesus, but who were ashamed of him in front of the world.  The killer line for me is that “the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”  It was a look that spoke volumes.  For me the look said, “Remember how you said you would follow me?”  The look also said,  “I know you are denying me.”  I think the look may also have said,  “I love you in spite of your denials.”  But as I meditated on this, it seemed I could hear in that look, “You can’t escape me,  you smell like fish.”  By this I don’t mean that Peter literally smelled like fish, but the ancient symbol for Christianity was a fish.  Peter who was a fisherman often smelled like fish because he was around fish all the time.  In Christ, if we spend time with Jesus we can’t hide the fact that we associate with him.  We may try to hide it, but the imprint of Jesus should make an irrevocable impression on who we are.

Those people who were intending to implicate Peter for his association with Jesus were giving him a huge compliment as well as to all of us who daily spend time with Jesus.  They in essence were saying of all of us-They smell like fish.

Cherish

Friday

1 Samuel 13-14

Luke 19:28-48

Luke 19:⁴¹ As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it ⁴² and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. ⁴⁴ They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls.   They will not leave one stone on another,   because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming   to you.”

Jesus is beginning his final week in Luke 19.  He weeps over the city of Jerusalem because they didn’t recognize the time of God’s coming to them.  My congregation has heard me preach on this passage on several occasions.  There are two words for time in greek.  One is “chronos”  which means the ordinary passage of time.  The other is “kairos” which is a special time of God’s visitation.  Another way of saying it is that chronos is ordinary time, but kairos is extraordinary time.  Jerusalem was condemned and ultimately destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70 because they missed their speical time of God’s visitation.

From the time of Jesus coming to this earth until he returns again we are living in a very special “kairos” moment.  Jesus calls it “the year of the Lord’s favor.”  It means that God is not mad at us.  His grace has been poured out on us with the gift of His son Christ Jesus.  Because of the continued presence of Jesus on earth through the Holy Spirit we are living in the best time in human history.  God’s grace and mercy are being freely given to us.  Jerusalem, however, missed it.  They didn’t cherish their time.

As many of you know, a few weeks ago I accepted the call to pastor a church in Knoxville Tennessee.  Something amazing happened from the moment I knew.  I started cherishing things that I had taken for granted.  Time with my friends has become so much more precious.  I find myself wanting to visit with my parents more often because I had so often passed them by because they were just three houses away and I could always see them.  Barbecue nachos from 17th St. Barbecue are always wonderful, but now I relish them with the thought I will not taste them much longer.  I had the most wonderful home group in my memory on Wednesday night, because I was so cherishing each of the group members and our time together.

This whole experience reminds me to cherish the incredible moment in time in which we find ourselves.  This is not only the era of high gas prices and a troubling global economy, this is the day of God’s grace.  Each of us have the opportunity to boldly approach the throne of grace and cry “abba” (daddy) father.

Today let’s spend less time complaining about the world situation or issues in our personal life, let’s cherish this moment.   The God of the universe came down to our level and invites us to be his children.  He has surrounded us with brothers and sisters in Christ.  He has been better to us than we deserve.  Cherish it!

Finishing Well

Friday

Judges 16-18

Luke 15:11-32

     I remember the day when I learned that a comedy is more than something that is funny.  A comedy in literature is a story that ends well.  A tragedy is a story that ends poorly.  In todays reading we have both a tragedy and a comedy.  Sampson, the hero of Israel is rendered weak and impotent by  a fragile woman.  The Prodigal Son who we are introduced to as a rebellious nere do well is reinstated to sonship.  It is easy for all of us to rest on our laurels, but what matters most is how we finish.

     All of our accomplishments in life can be nullified by a tragic finish and all of our failures can be redeemed with a noble completion to our journey.  As most of you know, I recently announced my departure from my beloved congregation in Murphyboro.  It is been an amazing story filled with  twists and turns, exhilarating highs and devastating lows.  My preoccupation now, however, is simply to finish well.  This has been a time of intense grieving for me and I have been inundated with a flood of warm well wishes.  Still at the end of my time there are the predictable few who still make it their business to try to get one fresh stab in before they are left to seek out new victims.  The temptation, frankly, is to finish poorly and unleash a firestorm of pent-up responses.  I have been thinking lately, however, that we can accomplish great things by the life-giving words that we say, but our character is primarily formed by what we don’t say.

    Ever wonder what Jesus was tempted to say?  Even on the cross he is sending life-giving messages.  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  When given an opportunity to confront his attackers he chose not to defend himself.   As I end my time here I want to finish well.  I hope that all of you whom I know realize how deeply I love you.  I also pray that you will forgive me of any shortcoming either intentional or unintentional.  I fully and freely forgive all who have harmed me either intentionally or unintentionally.  As I come to the end of my time as pastor, I want to finish well.  If there is anything anybody who needs to clear up or clean up anything with me, I am available.  Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord and your faithfulness and friendship to me.

     Why not join me in the task of completing our stories with dignity?  No matter how good or how bad life has been, let’s commit to making our last chapters, our best chapters.  Let’s finish well!

An Open Letter to Christ Community, Murphysboro Christian Academy and All My Friends

Preaching in 1993, my first year

Kristiana giving her all!

Murphysboro Christian Academy and our church for ten years

Our beautiful house of worship

All shapes and sizes

Man we looked good

Jammin with Gina on an MCA Sunday

Amazed Director, Counselor, Founder of Community Life Concepts, Children's Ministry Leader, Creator of the Welcome Center, Best First Lady Ever!

We love you!!!!

Baptizing with Doug Cherry, one of my best friends in ministry

Easter Sunday 2012

I am writing these words with a  grateful, but heavy heart.  Today I am resigning as the Senior Pastor of Christ Community church in Murphysboro in order to accept the call to become the Lead Pastor of Bethesda Christian Fellowship in Knoxville Tennessee.  This has been the most difficult decision of my life.  In recent years I thought I would retire from this church, but God had other plans.  The reason the decision has been difficult is because with every fiber of my being I love Christ Community Church and Murphysboro Christian Academy.  There are bigger churches and schools, but there are none better.

Murphysboro and Southern Illinois are the only places my children have known as home.  This has been the most wonderful place to raise our family. In August of 1993, Melanie and I and Natalie drove into Murphysboro  with a few belongings and truck load of dreams.  Kristiana and Noah were born at St. Joseph’s hospital.  My kids were saved, baptized, filled with the Holy Spirit and given a wonderful education because of the ministry of this church.  Murphysboro Christian Academy has helped shape my children’s lives.  All three of my children would describe MCA as the best educational and character formation environment of their academic lives.  Whatever sacrifices  you may have to make to place your children in MCA I guarantee you that it will be worth it.  We are moving to a city where the least expensive Christian schools are around $7,000.00 a year.  I will make whatever sacrifices necessary to have Noah in a Christian high school.  While our church has been very generous to us, Melanie and I have never owned a new car or even had a bank account to speak of.  We have invested our lives and our finances in the kingdom of God and it is returning benefits that money can’t buy.  My daughters wish they could be here to express their love and appreciation for you, but they could not be here due to school obligations.  They will have the chance to say good-bye in the weeks ahead.

Christ Community Church surpassed all of our dreams when we came here.  The volunteers of this church are the most talented and loving people of any church I am aware of.  This is a friendly church and a great place to call home.  At Christ Community we have majored in worship and the ministry of the Word.  It has been my pleasure to baptize hundreds of people in my time here.  I’ve probably performed a hundred weddings and preached at almost as many funerals.  My goal when coming was to love our little congregation and perform weddings and dedicate babies and be a small friendly loving church.  God had other plans.  Big plans.

In the first year we changed the name of our church from First Pentecostal to Christ Community Church.  Both our church and school quadrupled in size over the nineteen years.  I have led the church through five building programs in these years and we went from a small church on 16th and Poplar to a beautiful church and school valued at over 4 million dollars.  One cannot put a dollar value, however, on the impact this church is making.  For over ten years my wife directed Amazed performances to sell out crowds and hundreds gave their lives to Christ at these events through the years.  What value can one place on the missionaries that have been raised up or the people like Pastor James Clardy that were sent out from here to extend our ministry to other places.

I suppose one thing that I feel best about is the racial diversity of Christ Community.  Our all white church started celebrating the Martin Luther King holiday 19 years ago and I wondered if we would ever see a diverse church in Murphysboro.  Without forcing the issue, it has developed naturally and today we have a beautiful blend of people from many backgrounds.  Easter Sunday felt like a culmination of all the things we had tried to accomplish through the years.  There was great worship and singing.  Melanie brought some of her dramatic production to the service as well.  Many were baptized and saved and the dance team outdid themselves.

So how could I leave such a great church at such a wonderful time?  I can only leave for the same reason I came-the clear call of God.  Last November while minding my own business planning a great 2012, I received a  phone call from a church in North Knoxville Tennessee.  Their beloved pastor had died after a four-year battle with Mesothelioma.  They had been without a pastor for almost a year and were now ready to begin the search for a new one.  They knew of the reputation of Christ Community Church and wondered if there was any way I would consider coming.  My next words were dangerous-”I’ll pray about it.”  I did pray about it and agreed to at least come and visit on a Sunday and preach for them since I already had a previous engagement scheduled to speak in February at a Pastor’s conference at Whitestone which is a beautiful resort near Knoxville.

On a rainy Sunday in February I preached there and Melanie and Noah and I had a good experience, but I honestly doubted that I was being called away from Southern Illinois.  A strange thing happened, however, while we were in Knoxville.  Donna Sanders wrote this post on facebook  to Melanie and I the very day after the Sunday we spent in Knoxville, Donna writes, “Melanie.  When I was praying his evening about my problems, I believe I heard from the Lord a message I am supposed to share with  you and Pastor Phil.   I forgot how to cc him and you at the same time. I hope that this will encourage you both.  We missed you guys this sunday.  I believe the Lord told me this: You are both struggling with painful decisions.  Go with what feels right no matter how painful it seems.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8.  Have a good evening.  Love you guys.”

We agreed to let the church in Knoxville  know by April 1.  One Sunday after church in March, Elder Russel laid her hands on me and started speaking God’s Word over me.  She said “strength, strength, strength, transition, transition, transition.”  Was God transitioning me away or was there a transition in my ministry here?   The more time I spent back in Murphysboro, the more I felt like I couldn’t leave this church that I love so dearly.  There were too many people here that depended on us and we still have a wonderful ministry in the church and school, I thought.   Melanie often hears from God before I do and she felt we were to go, but I did not have a peace about it so we said “No” to Knoxville and happily continued my ministry in Southern Illinois.

All was well until I went to Israel.  While I was in the holy land, God started speaking to me from almost the moment I landed until the time we left.  On the first night, I wrestled with God like Jacob wrestled with the angel, because I felt God opening the door to Knoxville again.   I didn’t want to leave my home and church that I love so much.  After a fitful night I stopped wrestling.  The whole second day in Israel I felt engulfed by the Presence of God.  God gave me peace joy and excitement about beginning a new chapter in our lives.  I still felt the pain about leaving dear friends, but I had a real peace that everything was going to be all right with Christ Community Church and Murphysboro Christian Academy and everything was going to be well with our family as well.

I can say that Melanie and I and Natalie, Kristiana, and Noah have accomplished the task that God laid out for us here.  I feel great about the future here just as I do about our future in Knoxville.  Today we have the finest elders and church board that I have worked with in nineteen years.  One reason I wanted to stay at Christ Community  was to have the pleasure of ministering alongside these guys.  Bill West and Lloyd Roberts have been like Aaron and Hur and have walked with me through all of the joys and pains of the pastorate.  Lance Carr who is on our board was my friend in grade school and we have become best friends again.  He is a licensed minister,  with a head for business and a heart for God.  Chester Hood has been a church leader for many years and he is making an outstanding trustee.  He is also a man of God and a very good preacher.  Dean Pearson has one of the sharpest administrative minds I know and has been a friend to pastors through his lifetime in church work. He’s also making a great head usher.   He couldn’t be here today, but he sent me the warmest letter of support.

Working with my godly and extremely competent parents has been one of the great blessings of my life.  Dad is the simply the best pastor I know and my mother is a business woman, teacher, and prayer warrior, with a gift of hospitality.  My parents aren’t going anywhere and they are going to help guide the process of a pastoral search.  You can expect to see our overseer  Rick McNeely quite often  as well.  Rick and my father and Paul Russel have several networks of ministers to draw from and we believe that God is already preparing just the right person to lead both the church and the school

It is incredibly hard to leave my staff.  We are an  extremely tight-knit group.  Karen Smith has been with me for these entire nineteen years and provided the music to the move of God that we witnessed in this city.  Gina Noble is the finest school principal I know.  Nobody works harder, cares more, or prays more for our young people.  She is the epitome of excellence and the school is in great hands.  Darren has provided the artwork, and visuals that have brought the messages of God’s Word in ways that we can visualize.  All of my staff are among my closest friends and will always remain that way.

In closing here is my request of you:

1)  Stay loyal to the church and school and step up at the time your church needs you the most.  Ask not what your church can do for you, but ask what you can do for your church.

2)  Continue to give generously to the Lord through the church.  This church needs everyone who calls this your home to do their part.  Keep giving to the One campaign to keep the ministries of this church flourishing.  I am keeping my commitment even after I leave.  If you aren’t tithing or have stopped,  start again.  Not only will the church be blessed, but God promises to pour out his blessings on you if you will.

3)  Pray for God’s person to lead this church.  Get behind our overseers and elders as they lead our church through this transition.

4) Finally, pray for Melanie and I as we embark on this next chapter in our ministry.  Know that we will always love you and will be as helpful to the church as we can be during the transition and will be happy to serve in any way that we can in the future.  We will be here through the last Sunday of May.

I have often told you the story of my friend Kathy who died on the mission field.  One of the last things I remember her saying was, “Christians never have to say good-bye, they just say “see you later.”  So with tears in my eyes but hope in my heart I say, See you later!

In Christian love,

Pastor Phil

The Secret of Downward Mobility

Judges 1-3

Luke 12:32-59

Luke 12:     ³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “

Following Christ is not for wimps.  How many books on the shelves do you see about Downward Mobility?  Modern Christianity has jazzed up the gospel to make it more palatable for Capitalistic Christians.  Jesus, however,  in these passages suggests that we need to have the courage to be downwardly mobile.  I have a great life, but I have to tell you its been downwardly mobile.  19 years ago, my wife and I left promising careers to pastor a fledgling church and we have watched it flourish through the years.  From an economic perspective we don’t have much to show for it.  Our church has been generous to us, but we have always kept ourselves behind the eight ball, by giving sacrificially, and putting our kids in costly Christian schools.  We’ve never driven a new car and don’t really understand what a savings account is.  We have been socking it away in an account that is recession proof.  Thieves can’t steal it and its value only increases.

It takes courage to make the sacrifices necessary to put solid values in y our families.  I can truly say that I would not trade a dime for the rewards I have gained from the perceived sacrifices we have made.  My son Noah is getting ready to graduate from Murphysboro Christian Academy.  He is my third child to receive his entire education in a Christ-centered environment.  Every one of my children are involved in ministry and are world-changing Christians.  Would you trade a new car for a rebellious child?  Would you trade diamonds for a life without hope?  People do it every day?  Raising children for Jesus is not rocket science, but it does require a willingness to be downwardly mobile.  The only way up in God’s kingdom is down.

“Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone?”

The Via Dolorosa

Friday

Joshua 4-6

Luke 9:18-36

Luke 9:  ²²And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. ²⁵ What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Having just returned from the holy land, the sites we saw and the experiences we had are still fresh in my memory.  I suppose nothing impacted me more than walking the Via Dola Rosa or The Way of Suffering.  This is said to be the same path that Jesus took when carrying his cross for his own crucifixion.  The way of the cross is not a national park. Much of the way is lined with shops.  It has no sense of holiness with shopkeepers stopping the pilgrims asking them to purchase their wares.  Others blast loud Islamic prayers to try to drown out the prayers of the pilgrims who are walking the path.

I was the designated song leader on the trip and I started singing “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” as we walked the path.  The street was crowded and it was intimidating to sing with all the noise of the merchants.  I was self-conscious and wasn’t sure I should be singing while I was so clearly surrounded by so many people who were muslim.  At one point I stopped thinking that maybe I was being inappropriate.  Our Arab Christian guide asked if I would start singing again.  “This is beautiful” he said.

I am struck with how much this is like our daily lives.  Jesus asks us to carry our own crosses everyday in a world that is often hostile to our faith.  It is easy for stop our song and attempt to fit in due to the opposition.  As we celebrate Good Friday we have a choice.  We can cheer Jesus on for how well he carried his cross or we can pick up our own cross and follow him.  They way of the cross leads right down the street you live on.  It isn’t a national park and it isn’t reserved for Sundays.  Jesus tells us to take it up “daily”.  The irony is that as we carry our own cross, we find ourselves, but if we put it down in order to gain the world, we lose our very selves.

• Must Jesus bear the cross alone, And all the world go free? No, there’s a cross for everyone, And there’s a cross for me.
• How happy are the saints above, Who once went sorr’wing here! But now they taste unmingled love, And joy without a tear.
• The consecrated cross I’ll bear Till death shall set me free; And then go home my crown to wear, For there’s a crown for me.
• Upon the crystal pavement down At Jesus’ pierced feet, Joyful I’ll cast my golden crown And His dear Name repeat.
• O precious cross! O glorious crown! O resurrection day! When Christ the Lord from heav’n comes down And bears my soul away.

Not my will, but yours be done!

Gethsemene