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| Caesars Head Bench Mark |
Get Away
My original plan for us was to go to certain locations and
allow God to speak to us through the words in Psalm 61. We were going to settle
this account with God, TODAY. Suzanne was tired of ministry. She had said told
me a few times in the past months that she was “done” with ministry. In my mind
I was so frustrated with the attempts to develop relationships with churches
and people to get involved with as well as operate our ministry that I didn’t
want anything to do with people from church any more. We were running on empty.
As we sit down to breakfast I give Suzanne a hint into my plans
for the day. For me and her to get alone
with God. After breakfast we drive toward Greenville, South Carolina, remember
I was formulating a new plan. We drive a familiar road toward Travelers Rest,
South Carolina. Then it came to me. I turned toward a location called “The
Pretty Place” located in the foothills of South Carolina and the base of the
Western Mountains of North Carolina, a wilderness area of South Carolina with spectacular
views and a quiet place for Suzanne and me to get alone with God.
As we drive up the steep, windy road toward my destination I
am excited to reveal my plan to my bride and partner in ministry. As we get to
the summit we come to the Caesars Head State Park, a 3,200 foot overlook that
stands north of Greenville, South Carolina with views as far as the eye can
see. We park the car and walk out to the ledge of Caesars’ Head, no one else is
there, its 8:30 in the morning. The mist glides over the valley below us and
the sky is filled with wisps of clouds.
The first thing Suzanne notices is the wind blowing through
the trees in the valley to our right. Across the valley is Table Rock, a sheer
cliff face monument 6 miles across the Mountain Bridge Wilderness . It’s an
amazing view. This is exactly how I want to start our journey as we repent and
listen to Gods voice.
As we are standing on
the massive rock formation I take Suzanne’s hand and begin to explain my
purpose for this trip. “We have come along way together” I tell her, tears fill
my eyes and hers. “Since we’ve come to Asheville it’s as if we have a target on
us and many people who we thought were our friends, including Christians, has
taken aim as if we are somehow the enemy.” I explain to her my plan for our day
together. “This is a line in the sand for you and me. Today we are going to
give everything we are and everything we do to God, in service for Christ,
right here and now or we need to quit our ministry and just find a church,
settle in and quietly attend each week.”
This is not an ultimatum to God, rather a time of
rededication and renewal of our minds and attitudes toward the God we serve and
the path Christ has called us to. I read the Outline of my notes from Psalms 61
to her. It is difficult for me to get the words out without my emotions welling
up but I read her the words I wrote, “Hear me God, listen to me!”
The Rock is my strength
As we stood on the geological Bench Mark at Creasers Head I
read to her my version of Psalms 61. The rock we stood on overlooking that
valley, 3,200 feet in the air, I explained that Christ is our rock and
foundation, immovable and uncompromising in His love for us. We need to
recommit our lives right here, right now in serving our Lord Jesus Christ. Lay
out all of our hurts, frustrations, bad feelings, anger and our disobedience on
this place. Just as the wind blows in the valley below us, it comes from the
East and blows through the trees towards the West and it’s gone. So are our
cares if we will let them go and place them in at the foot of the cross and
give them to Christ. Now!
From this lonely place, I call to you God, I’m tired of
trying to do it my way. Suzanne and I agreed that it was time to stop striving
and time to let God take control and lead us forward.
Psalms 46:2-3 says; “Therefore we will fear not, though the
earth do change. Verse 3 goes on to say, … Though the mountains tremble with
the swelling thereof.”
I translate that to say, God is faithful in a crumbling
world. Suzanne and I have seen our world crumble. Our finances and even our many
of our relationships have crumbled all while doing Gods will here in Western
North Carolina.
As we continue our conversation we walk through a narrow crevice
that leads to a trail. The stone rises above us on both sides and is only wide
enough for us to pass through sideways. Again, I take the opportunity to share
this example of being hemmed in by stone walls on both sides as an example of
how we try to do ministry under our own power. It’s a narrow path and limited
to our understanding, however, when we release our plans and let Christ have
control the plan is now in His hands and we just need to make ourselves
available to be used for His purpose.
Sit in Gods space
What is so unique about this time on Caesars head is that we
are completely alone. A family comes by with their children for just a few
minutes but they continue on the trail. There are no distractions, for the next
thirty minutes we are alone at the summit. We stand there and pray, recommitting
our lives to Christ.
*Just so you know- The
parking lot is about 100 feet away and it is full of people getting ready for
hikes and visiting the State Park. However, we are alone; no one comes to the
Lookout where we are.
Again I reveal to Suzanne my plan for the day is to get
alone with God, as we go about this journey.
We head down to the gift shop and talk to the Ranger for a
few minutes and then we depart for our next destination. As we drive towards
Greenville Suzanne sees a sign for “Boiled Peanuts”. She doesn’t have many
vices but boiled peanuts are one. We stop at a road side store circa, 1975 to
find out if this is what she is looking for. The owner gets Suzanne a sample of
his recipe and she is in heaven. We continue down the road and she eats boiled
peanuts for the next 15 minutes as we travel through Travelers rest, SC.
Lunch is next on the agenda. Find something we haven’t done
in a while. I get lost in Greenville for a few minutes but we are back on the
road and at our next destination in short order. We end up at Red Robin.
Make Me a Leader By Example
I open my outline again and we begin to talk about our
family. Because of the situations we have been in, our ministry is in full view
of our children; they have always gone with us. Rodeos, horse shows, concerts
and even our church plants, our two children, Devin and Clay, have seen us at
work in this ministry. They have also seen how people treat us, the good and
the bad. Welcome and betrayed. As Suzanne and I sit there in this noisy burger
joint we talk about our attitudes around our children. Many times my anger has
got the best of me when friends have let me down or my plans didn’t turnout the
way I wanted. Even Suzanne admitted that she is ready to stop any kind of
ministry service and just take care of our family.
This is the most troubling of all the topics I had planned
for today; being a leader for my family, by my example. Too many times my
temper has not been the example of a good and patient Father or a Christ filled
man in service for God.
We make a decision to allow Christ to lead us, not to push
our way through His will, which is easy to do when you are as tenacious and
driven as we are. One thing I’ve learned is planning is good, counting the cost
is wise but you can’t out work God. You can keep on going like the Energizer Bunny;
God will just stop and wait for you to trip over yourself as you spin out of
control. Then you get the message and you gather yourself up and get back to
the plan, His plan, not mine.
Remember the conference with Jonathan Falwell? On the last
day he discussed a few points about how “Victory” is accomplished in our lives
as we go about living out Gods will. They are taken from the example of
Ephesians 6:13
·
We Stand on Truth (lots of lies around us)
·
Embrace Righteousness (Protection)
·
Embrace the Gospel of Peace (Christ living in
us)
·
The Shield of Faith (deflect doubt)
·
Helmet of Salvation (protect My mind)
·
Word of God (our Playbook)
Live It
Got the picture? This isn’t just another speaker at a
conference. I don’t want to take notes; I don’t have to take notes. I don’t need
the Outline! The guy next to me is typing emails to his wife and he isn’t
listening to the message, why should I? My job is to come in make the sound,
video and lighting work; give the guest at the Cove a top shelf experience for
their personal spiritual lives, not mine. This is not my life, I’m ok. I don’t
have a dog in this hunt. WRONG.
My pen is moving and putting words on the outline pages.
Gods in my head, he’s in my heart, that’s why he’s in my head.
So, how do we accomplish this victory from a battle of
posturing in the church, or friendships gone wrong, or failure in ministry?
Realize it’s not mine to control. The plan is clear.
1.
Confession – a powerful tool. Keep short
accounts with God.
2.
Submission – I choose to submit to Gods plan for
my life. Submitting to Gods way for me.
3.
Action – Never fear what Satan can do to me when
I am in the will of God. I have to do it, Gods will for my life is my plan.
4.
Live It!
Stop Trying To Control
This is the plan I shared with Suzanne as we sat and ate our
burgers. After we ate we visited some shops and continued to talk about how we
move forward. We prayed at the table, amid all the noise of a busy restaurant,
yet the time with God was without distraction including a renewed purpose and
spirit in the two of us.
We finished our day with walking and talking through some of our
favorite shops, Costco and Publix. And with that we turned and headed for home.
One last stop to make.
As we drove back up the mountain, toward home, in front of
us was the North Carolina State Line sign, I pulled off to the side of the road
and stopped in front of the sign.
“This is our line in the sand”, I said to Suzanne. “Here is
where we leave the past, all the hurts and regrets. We leave it at the foot of
the Cross and start all over. This time with God in full control.”
My paradigm here at the NC State Line was a corny
illustration but appropriate. We got out of the car took our picture at the
state line like two tourist seeing the mountains for the first time. It wasn’t
the first time rather a restart of what Christ has been preparing us for since
we started in 1999. A whirlwind of ministry in all those years. Now we stand
before God broken, used up but not finished. We are both fighters. Here is
where we commit to serving God under His will and control. Just like our day
started with one set of objectives and ended up totally the opposite of what I
had planned. A great example of Gods will and our ability to let Him guide me
to where He wants me to be. At the NC State Line.
Now it’s a line in the sand, a fresh start. God makes all
things new through Christ.
It’s your turn. Are you tired of seeing things fall apart
when your best efforts a met with trouble and defeat. It’s time to allow Christ
to take control for your life and give everything you do to the plans He has
made for you. They are plans to prosper you and to make you into the kind of
person Jesus wants you to be. That’s how we were made. Right now ask God for
forgiveness, let him know you are a sinner. Believe that Jesus Christ died for your
sins. Let Jesus know that you want Him to take control of your life right now,
today. Now let your life be an example of Christ in your relationships with
your family and you friends. It’s not complicated.
Pray every day; talk to God as if you are talking to a
friend. Read the Bible, it Gods word to you and it’s a powerful message in a
world that is always changing, yet Gods word doesn’t change, build a foundation
on His plan. Get involved with other Christians that can build you up and help
you grow in your faith.
I hope you enjoyed our journey. It was a day that changed
our lives and our perspective about how we view our relationship with God. We
had let it get out of hand. If you would like to talk about how Christ can make
a difference in your life send us a note or email me and we would be happy to
share what we can on your journey with Christ.
