Waiting with the Lord

This summer has hit and as the heat rises so has the activity at the church and the Thomas household.  We have just finished our Vacation Bible School at the church and now we are taking VBS to the community.  Each night this week we are going to one of the housing developments and having fun with the children.  On the first night there were around 60 children and 20 adults.  These activities are wonderful and we are certainly enjoying serving the Lord through these ministries.  On top of these ministries life at the Thomas house has become a little stressful.  We are only 5 weeks away from Becca Paige being born.  On top of the rush to get the house and nursery ready, the last sonogram revealed a cyst attached to Becca.  The problem is that we have very little information about what this could be.  Needless to say we are feeling the stress of life.  As we wait to find outwhat the issue with Becca really is and continue in the ministries of the church, waiting with the Lord is our only option.  I don’t think we are waiting for the Lord, but rather with Him.  I know he is going through this with us.  He understands the uncertainty and fear we are experiencing.  When the stress levels in life begin to rise, I know that we will do better by realizing we can simply wait with the Lord.  He is the one who gives us strength when we are weak, encouragement when we are down, and hope when we feel hopeless.  I am thankful we can wait with Him.

The Flight to Africa

After my wife and I became convinced that I should go to Sudan, the trip preparation began.  I needed around $7000 and since my money tree was not blooming this proved to be a problem.  This was an obstacle I could not simply overcome; however, the Lord stepped in and the trip was eventually paid for by many friends and family.  The support I received both financially and spiritually from my friends and family gave me confidence in my decision and I was ready to go.

In order to get to Nyamlell, Sudan we had to spend about 26 hours on a plane.  This was not fun.  On the flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi, Kenya the lovely gentleman sitting in front of me needed to recline for the whole nine hours.  My knees were firmly planted under my chin for the duration of the trip.  In all christian love, I wanted to remove the man and place him in the cargo hold.  Finally, we made it to Nairobi. 

That night, before flying to Sudan the next morning, the reality of where I was going truly hit me.  I began wondering what I had done.  What have I done to my family?  What would happen if I did not make it back?  Who would take care of my family?  All of these questions raced through my head.  And then God gave me an answer.  Matt and I had been talking about a sermon series on Peter, so I decided to read in 1 Peter.  Chapter 1 verse 8 says this “You love him even though you have never seen him.  Though you do not see him now you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious inexpressible joy.”  At that moment I knew God was right by my side.  I was not convinced nothing would happen to me, but I knew that even if the worst happened God would take care of everything.  God will always give us assurance of his presence when we need him.  I was certainly glad He was traveling with me.

Celebration of life

This past week I had the opportunity to participate in the funeral services for one of our church members.  This lady was truly a special woman who influenced many people throughout her life.  Funeral message’s are never easy, but giving a message for someone who loves the Lord is a joy.  I love the fact that through the sadness and tears the Lord offers us a new hope.  A hope found in Christ who has overcome death.  The world offers many forms of false hope; hope of success, financial prosperity, and security.  The world cannot offer any type of hope in the face of death.  From the world’s perspective death is the end.  I am thankful that through Christ death is not the end, in fact death is a new beginning.  As Christians we should celebrate the lives of those who pass away and rejoice knowing they are enjoying a new start, a new life with Christ.

Preparing for Sudan

My friend Matt McGowen asked me a simple question one day.  He asked me if I knew anything about Darfur in Sudan, Africa.  I said Iknew a little but not really.  From that point we both began to learn more about this horrible situation.  A few days later Matt said that he found an organization that went to Sudan and he was planning to go.  I was glad for him, but that was about it.  Well, the trip he was planning on fell through and it was going to be about six more months before he would be going.  He then asked me if I would consider going.  My first thought was the convenient christian response of “I’ll pray about it.”  I didn’t thing I would ever really go to Sudan.  Why would I want to go to a country where seemingly more people die than live.  I know my wife would get a life insurance check, but I am pretty sure she would rather have me; I know I sure need her and my girls.  However, God has a way of overcoming our doubts and fears.  Over the next few weeks my wife and I did pray about this opportunity and slowly God changed our hearts.

There is such joy when we allow God to change our hearts.  My family began to have a burden for the children of Sudan. I knew God wanted me to go to Africa into the middle of a country which has been torn apart by violence and hate.

Excited to be at FBC Sweetwater

Yesterday after our morning  service we had a business meeting which presented a wonderful opportunity for our church.  Over the past few months we have been working towards a renovation project of the old sanctuary building which was built in 1924.  This renovation will be very extensive and costly.  We will basically have to gut the building and start over.  As a staff and church we realized that this is a difficult time to be building, but the condition of our building was a definite hinderance to moving forward as a church. 

Over time churches can easily fall into the trap of looking only at where they have been and where they are; especially churches that have been in existence for many decades.  The tendency is to remember the most successful days of the past and wish that they were happening in the present.  Many times, because of tradition and habit a church will stop looking forward.  Unfortunately, when a church stops looking forward the future will not look bright.  If a church does not plan to be active and alive ten years down the road, the chances are they won’t.

First Baptist Church in Sweetwater, TX took a huge step yesterday and began a plan to ensure being an effective tool in God’s Kingdom for years to come.  We will not be effective because we will have a new building, but because we are trusting God and following his lead.  God will honor our faithfulness to him and I know God has plans to use our church to reach the Sweetwater community.  I could not be more proud of our church and their willingness to not only seek God’s will today but also to look to the future at what God will do.  Please pray for our church as we seek God’s will in all we do.

giving everything to God

On Sunday I used Luke 20:45-21:4 as my sermon scripture.  This passage speaks about the widow who gave everything she had to the Lord.  Many times we focus on the financial aspect of this passage.  We contrast the widow’s sacrificial gift with the routine gifts of the wealthy.  While pastor’s clearly love to talk about money, (actually those are the most difficult and brutal sermons most pastors preach) I think there is much more to this passage than a financial focus. 

I think Luke is contrasting the religious leaders in chapter 20 and the widow in 21.  The religious leaders had created a religious system that was all about them.  Most of what they did, even acting holy, was for their own benefit not God’s.  Jesus called them out on this and they attempted to kill him, and they succeeded for three days.  The actions of the religious leaders pointed people’s focus on them, while the widow’s actions pointed people’s focus on God.

I think that our religious system in America can easily become like the religious system in Jesus’ day.  We can easily appear to be faithful followers of Christ by going to church, volunteering at an event or two, and then giving a check here and there.  However, appearing to follow Christ is not what God looks at.  God wants us to give him everything.  If that sounds extreme, well it is; just as extreme as Jesus giving his life for us.  As Christians we need to be willing to give everything to Christ.  Our abilities, our talents, our desires, and our finances should all be given to God to do with as he pleases.  Don’t get caught up in your appearance as a Christian give everything to Christ and others will see Christ through you.

My trip to Sudan, Africa

I am creating this category to write about a mission trip I took to Nyamell, Sudan in Eastern Africa in January of 2008.  Our group helped serve in an orphanage in Nyamell, Sudan.  We were in Southern Sudan, but only 10 miles from Darfur.  New Life Ministries was the name of the orphanage and there were about 400 orphans when we went.  Nearly every one of the children have experienced the death of their parents, many times right in front of them.  Some of the children have been victims of sex trade and other unspeakable evil.

Over time I hope to write about my experiences and I ask you to pray for these children and those who are ministering to them.  Even in the midst of such sadness and brokenness God is still transforming lives.  God is bringing hope to those who have no reason to hope.

We still limit God

Last night our church celebrated together as part of our Connecting Generations capital campaign.  We are currently seeking God’s will about completely renovating our oldest building built in 1924.  The building is not in good shape and is becoming dangerous.  A massive overhaul is needed.  Of course, this takes money and a commitment from the church.  We are into the last two weeks of our campaign which will help us know how much money will be committed over the next three years.  A celebration banquet is a wonderful time to celebrate what God has been doing and look forward to what God will do.  The banquet was held at TSTC and was a perfect evening.  The food was great as well as the program.  Jonathan’s gift of singing blessed our time together.  Rick Rhodes spoke about the influence First Baptist Church, Sweetwater has had on his family.  His words were encouraging and uplifting.  Tula Mae’s talk about her experiences in the church was nothing less than inspiring.  She shared her heart with us and we were all blessed.  The evening culminated with announcing the total amount of money pledged to this point.  Throughout the evening the excitement built to this point and then with the amount pledged the excitement overflowed.  I believe the excitement was not just about a monetary amount, but rather how great God truly is.  As a church we realized that God’s plan for this church and the new building is much greater than we can imagine.  Even in our faith in God we still tend to limit Him.  God is ready to work in new and exciting ways in Sweetwater, Texas.  I am so excited about the part we will play in serving God.

The Day After Easter

I don’t know about you, but the day after Easter needs to be a day of rest.  Last week was full of events and services that all culminated with a celebration on Sunday morning.  Energy was building all throughout the week.  Our Palm Sunday service went great and set the tone for a wonderful week.  Last Sunday night we simply read through the events of Passion week.  On Wednesday our youth celebrated a traditional Passover meal.  Our Good Friday service directed our focus to the cross.  Then on Sunday morning our focus was drawn to the power of the resurrection and a new understanding of the cross.  The time, energy, and emotional toll taken from last week can truly be felt on the day after Easter.

However, even though I feel emotionally and physically spent, there is a comfort and strength within me.  Today, the power of the cross and resurrection are more real to me than ever before.  On the first Easter Sunday when Jesus burst forth from the tomb his presence filled this world with power and love.  We have the privilege of living in that love today.  I am experiencing a joy in my exhaustion that can only come from Christ.  I think that today I will rest in the power of the resurrection and let the love and power of Christ fill my soul again.