Black Friday Madness

I am not bragging, as a matter of fact I might be a candidate for psychiatric help, but I was among millions of other people out at 5:00 the day after Thanksgiving to take advantage of "super savings." I know that there are many people who thrive at moment like this, I'm just not one of them.

I had my short list of things to buy. I actually came home with two of them. You see when a man shops it is a mission. Game plan, strategy, and eventual conquest. I was whipped before I entered the second store. A man should not try this alone.

I was not alone, however, because I did see a well known "blogger" and a denominational employee out as well. Helps to know that I am not the only crazy one. I surrendered early and went to Chic-fil-a. Short line, coffee and biscuit. Now there's a plan. I then went back to my daughters and spent time with the grandboys.

In our present economic situation in America people are definitely looking for bargains. I didn't take an economic situation for me to look for a bargain, I enter a store looking for the "four letter word" SALE! Today, I saw intense faces, frustrated shoppers, perturbed patrons. I saw people laughing and even some crying (but I'll get over it). I saw people dressed in what looked like pajamas, others that must have been asleep when they dressed and then there were those who must have heard that there would be awards given out for weirdest dress.

Unfortunately, I heard that in Long Island, New York today a Walmart employee was killed in a stampede as shoppers entered the store. In Buford, GA two men fought over a TV and a lady was injured. The police were called in to the situation.

I believe I am going to begin my 2009 shopping in January. I figure if I buy one gift a month I wil be through by Thanksgiving 09. Otherwise, I think I will do the rest of my shopping on line.

Fireproof Your Marriage

Beulah Baptist Church in Douglasville, GA was the site of our first FYM Seminar. Pastor Wayne Bray and the fine staff of Beulah did an excellent job in preparation and implementation of the weekend. We used the material published by the wonderful people at Outreach Ministries as our curriculum. The weekend consisted of four sessions on Saturday and two on Sunday.

We are constantly amazed at what God is doing with the movie among the faith community. Small groups, seminars, weekend retreats are springing up everywhere. Couples are doing the Love Dare and lives are being changed.

Glory be to God.

How To Pray For Your Pastor

I have heard people talk about their pastor and even criticize or question their pastor, but I want to suggest a novel idea...even a scriptural idea: Pray for your Pastor. Your criticism may have some credence, but pray for him. The talk may be justified, but pray for him. The questions may have some foundation, but pray for him.

As a matter of fact all the talk, questions even criticism are out of order especially when we fail to pray. Any so-called believer who would talk about, question or criticize their pastor without being in the habit of praying for him is walking on very shaky ground.

R. A. Torrey writes in his book The Power Of Prayer, "Any Church may have a mighty man of God for its pastor, if it is willing to pay the price and that price is not a big salary but great praying."

Paul writes to the church at Thessalonica and points out a very important work for the body. He says that we are to “recognize those who labor among you.” Now one could argue that could be any member of the body until Paul says, “and are over you” or “have charge over you in the Lord.” A few verses later he says, “pray without ceasing.”
I want to give you some biblical principles on praying for your pastor.

First of all, PRAY FOR THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER IN HIS LIFE. Pray that he will have a heart that longs for God. Not a growing church (God will take care of that). Not recognition and not even success in man’s eyes, but a heart that longs for God. David said, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" (Psalms 42:1, 2) In Psalm 63 he goes on, "O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." (Psalms 63:1) Beloved, your pastor will have a word for you when he has time to spend with God.

Second, pray that he will have a heart that hears God. The prophet Isaiah wrote, ”Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21)

Third, pray for a heart that is helped by God. Pray that he will be a humble man. Now it is not your job to make him humble, that job belongs to God. It is your job to pray that he have a humble spirit. Peter writes, “...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” (1 Peter 5:5b-6)

Then pray that he will have a teachable spirit and a servants heart. Pray for specific needs in his life and ministry. Be specific not general. Pray: “Lord, let my pastor spend quality time with You, being with You on a daily basis. Teach him how to enjoy You, to see You in all Your beauty and glory, to have a real sense of how wonderful, how awesome You are. Teach Him daily new truths about Yourself so in turn he can share with us what You are showing him. Let his heart be quick to respond to whatever You say to him.”

A part of God’s call on his life is a call to prayer. “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4)

Pray according to God’s will.
Pray: “Help my pastor to put prayer and the ministry of the Word at the forefront of all that he does. Help him not to let other things squeeze these vital parts of his life. Show him how to delegate some of these less important activities.
Note: Throughout my ministry I have always had people that thought they knew what I should be doing, but it always surprised me that they never knew what they should be doing.

Pray about his walk with the Lord
"Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight. Consider too, that this nation is Your people." (Ex. 33:13)ed

Pray for his family, and for the management of his time. Pray that he fear God and not man and that his ministry be fruitful

Finally, remember the seriousness of our praying for our pastors, "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; (1 Samuel 12:23).

S. D. Gordon once said, "We can do more than pray after we have prayed, but we cannot do more than pray until we have prayed.

I am convinced that many churches that are meandering in mediocrity, changing pastors every few years and thinking that unity is when everybody finally comes in line with their ideas need a revival of prayer regarding their pastors.