Span of Control...

The military and public service agencies use a practice called the span of control. The span of control of a agency is how many personnel can be effectively managed by one supervisor. The fire service lists the span of control between 3 and 7 firefighters.

OK, let's put this thought into spiritual leadership. If a supervisor can only effectively manage 3 to 7 people then how can a pastor manage or lead a congregation of 300 people without help? He really can not, this is the bottom line. A pastor can teach his congregation and help them with life's problems. He can follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and help people find their way to salvation through Christ. He can share what's on his heart but can he effectively lead 300 people by himself? I say no. The church has a purpose to reach those who are without Christ and they have a responsibility to offer a place where Christians can fellowship with others. The church needs to disciple it's members so they will go out into the world and witness for the Lord. If the pastor teaches 3 to 7 members of the church how to lead others to the Lord and then those 3 to 7 witness to 3 to 7 more and so on... then guess what? We are now winning the lost. I think going to church is important but it's not the most important thing we do. Going 3 days a week to church does nothing for the Kingdom of God if you are not willing to take what you've learned in church and put it into action. My question to you is what are you doing when you leave the church doors? Are you talking to your friends, family and co-workers about the Lord? Are you studying the Bible so you know what to say when you witness to others?

The Lord has been dealing with me to do more. This blog is one thing I can do. The internet can be used to reach others for God. My strong desire is to encourage and help people who are struggling with the "Storms of Life". We know the internet is used for evil purposes and it can destroy lives, so why not use it for God. Another thing I can do is live a life that is pleasing to God (I'm getting better at this but I have a long way to go) and walk through doors that God opens and witness for Him.

I believe we all have a purpose in this life. I know that I must do everything I can to help others find the Lord. When we stand before our maker one day I do not want you to look me in the eyes and say... why didn't you tell me???

Reflections...

I met my wife in 1976. During the 1970's and 1980's I traveled singing and playing the guitar. One night in June 1976 I was visiting my wife's church. While singing during this Sunday night service, she caught my eye. I was smitten by her beauty but was able to finish my songs and give my testimony. After the service we talked briefly before I had to load my equipment into my bus. I returned to her church on Wednesday evening to try to talk to her more. We started dating and in December 1976 we got married at her church.

We have been married now for 31 years. I love her now more than ever. We have had some tough times like many couples but our love has survived all this world has thrown at us. As I get older I realize just how blessed I am to be her husband. We now have 2 great children, a wonderful son-in-law and daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters that I love dearly.

My son is in the military and is going to school. He owns his own business and is a good provider for his family. I am so proud of him. His wife is a teacher and is one of the sweetest persons I have ever known. I love her very much.

My daughter is a registered nurse and loves children. She has a very sensitive spirit and it shows in all she does. She loves animals and would take care of all the strays in the world if she could. I am very proud of her. Her husband is a great loving guy. He is a good provider for his family and I'm very happy my daughter married him.

I love my sweet granddaughters and look forward to watching them grow.

I am blessed. I love my family.

Twas the night before Easter...

First picture the night before Jesus was to be crucified. Christ knew what he had to do. He knew he had to die so we could have a way to be forgiven. Jesus was God but in the form of man. He felt pain like we do but the pain he endured was more than most of us will ever know. Imagine how you would feel if you knew that tomorrow you would die a horrific death. I'm sure Christ had all of these feelings (again he was a man and felt the anguish of his calling). Imagine how you would feel knowing that you loved the people you were dying for but they hated you.

Now picture this, our Lord Jesus laying dead in a tomb. The next day he would rise from the dead and all of Heaven would rejoice. Jesus did not stay in the tomb. He rose, he conquered death and he is alive today. One day we will see him face to face, the King of Kings, our Lord and savior.

Now picture that...

I wish I was there...

I was born in Lexington, Kentucky but when I was about a month old my family moved to Florida. My mother died when I was five and when I was nine my dad re-married and moved us back to Kentucky. I got married in 1976 and in 1977 we moved to Florida. After 13 years in the sunshine state with two children we moved back to Kentucky. Now we have been in Kentucky for almost 20 years and guess what? I miss Florida. :)

So why am I so hard to please? (Good question) Why can't people just be happy with what they have and where they live? It's kind of funny really, when I lived in Florida I missed Kentucky and now that I'm in Kentucky I miss Florida. I enjoy the different seasons in Kentucky but miss the beach in Florida. The truth is we seem to never appreciate what we have until it's gone. Enjoy what you have. Look for the good in what God has blessed you with. Trust the Lord to know what's best for you. Life is too short for regrets and desiring things you do not have. God can use you where you are. He loves you, he wants you to be happy. Love life, love family and love yourself. We don't know what tomorrow holds so do your very best to enjoy today.

A cup only holds a cup...

If you were a cup, what would be in it? If you were a cup, how full would it be? Our body and mind is like a cup, it only holds so much then it's full. If you are full of joy then there will be no room for sadness or despair unless you pour out a little joy. If you fill your mind with things that are pure and holy then there will not be room for things that are less than pure or evil.

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12:43-45 These verses in Matthew tell us what can happen when we do not fill our mind and bodies with things that are pure. When I was reading my Bible one night in the bunk room of a fire station I read these verses. I prayed and said to God, "Lord I am not possessed by demons so what do you want me to learn from this." As clear as someone speaking audibly to me I believe the Lord told me that when a person becomes a Christian they are forgiven and the vessel that once held a lot of impure garbage is now empty. If you do not fill this vessel with the Word of God and things that are pure, there will be room for satan to enter in again and and fill what room is left with junk.

Snow - Fun for Some - Not so Much for Others...

Winter snow is beautiful but even with something so pretty, pain and sadness can occur. These photos are of Scott County, Kentucky and were taken today. As with snow often things can appear on the outside as beautiful and good for us but later turn out to be anything but. A job offer, that new car or even people or relationships can turn ugly quick. A job offer may turn out to be less than rewarding. A new car may become a financial heartache. People who seem nice on the outside may only want a relationship with you to use or abuse you.

How do we avoid things that appear pure and beautiful but are not. Often we can just trust our gut and we will be fine. But, with things or situations that are considered big decisions we should seek God's direction. He will help you make the right decision. If you feel uneasy about what to do, then use caution and put it off for now. God will give you peace, without that peace... STOP, do not move forward. Trust the Lord, he will never let you down.

Is Tithing (10%) for the Church Today?

I am touching on a sensitive subject here, tithing. Is this something we should be doing today or is this practice under the law? Galatians 2:16 says "yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified." Tithing is not mentioned in the New Testament so where does it appear in the Bible? It appears in the Old Testament, Malachi 3:10 says "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Is tithing is part of the law? Yes, we do not live under the law but under grace. Colossians 2:14 says "having canceled the written code (the law), with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." Galatians 3:10-13 says "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, The righteous will live by faith. The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, The man who does these things will live by them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Many people live in bondage over tithing. Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." So do we give to the church or not? Yes, but not as tithing but as an offering. God is more concerned about you, not your money. God wants a relationship with you. If we are still under the law then why aren't we still sacrificing animals and giving grain. We are not under the law but grace. He was sacrificed for our sins and so we could live a life free without bondage.