New Year New Yawn

Could you watch it? The memorial service from Tucson, Arizona of the January 8th shooting at a political gathering that killed six people, was televised yesterday. I couldn't watch it. It was on the TV but just couldn't bring myself to listen or see the images. A very tragic event.

Instead I went outside and watched my son and his friend sled down our hill. The joys of my family are made in memories every day. My daughter who is bored from the snow-days just wanted to get out of the house, so we put dry clothes on and went to the mall to walk around. Living in Asheville is challenging because our two children grew up with neighbors right across the street to play with. Not so where we live now. But I am proud of the way they have adapted to the area despite the cultural differences.

Strength comes in various forms. During an open house at my daughters school one of her teachers commented as I walked through the door "You're a large, tall man, I wouldn't mess with you". It was a funny comment because I don't see myself that way, but it helps with the guys that want to date her. My philosophy has always been that our family draws on our collective strength and we draw strength from our faith in God.

My wife is source of great strength and inspiration with a strong faith. The snow continues to fall, the temperature will be well below freezing but the sun is shinning and the best is yet to come.

Have you heard

The other day I came across an announcement for a message entitled "wake up call for Gods people". It made me think, "are Gods people asleep?...yeah, pretty much." If we lived our lives as true Christ followers would we need a clever marketing strategy, book and cd series to wake us up.
Micah 6:7 "Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
What do we do to make things right with God? Do we increase our activities at church, enroll in a new committee, teach another class, become more involved in the church, tithe more? NO! Instead get on your kness and ask for forgiveness of the pride, the hatelful way you have treated people, for not standing up for what is right, for keeping silent when you should have spoken out, for putting your own agenda before Gods. The church, you and I, are not to be political machines in our worship. How are you and I different in Christ?
Matthew 3:8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Pride and self-importance don't bear repentance instead it looks more like "what's in it for me." You may not act like it on the outside but the heart reaveals true motives.
Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil, that you may be saved. How long shall your wicked thoughts lodge within you?
Keep reading, it gets' better. If you and I are to make disciples and share the life changing message of Christ in this world our lives must reflect Christ in us. The "wake up call" may simply mean getting your life in perspective to Christ. Before Christmas I read the story of George Washington at Valley Forge December 24, 1777. The story moved me and I told everyone in my family to read it before Christmas. It reminded me that men have taken a stand for whats right despite the overwhelming odds against them. Today we have forgotten what it means to stand-up for the right. Boldness is viewed as an undesirable trait. Yet these men stood in the face of great opposition and it proved victorious.
Have you heard that God loves you and wants to know you. Only through a repentant heart will you have access to the Creator and Father of Jesus our savior. Have you heard that your mistakes, pride and willful disobidience can be forgiven if you will ask. If you know Jesus as you Lord but have fallen into the trap of doing it your way repent ask Jesus to search your heart get right with Him and begin to live a life filled with the power of the Holy Spirit residing in you. Have you heard? Now tell someone.

Holy Day

Thanksgiving was awesome this year. Another fried turkey under my belt... literally. Last year was our first year to try fried Tom and everyone agreed, it's the way to go. So once again, we took the family out on a deer hunt, Suzanne stayed at home to prepare the fixins'. This was Devins first hunt and she enjoyed it very much although not a deer was to be found we still had a great time. Earl, our GPS Outdoors ministry leader took point as our trail guide alone with his daughter Fiona.

We spent about 3 hours in the woods then made our way back to the house. This is my time to cook, turn on the gas, light the burner, get the oil to temp and gently lower the 13.5 lb Tom into it's final resting place. 45 minutes later a golden bird is lifted onto our Supper plates for a tasty meal.

This year the whole family agreed that we needed to find the tallest tree we could get into the front door for our Christmas. So off we go to the Farmers Market and Suzanne our cheif negotiator goes to work. Suzanne is good, I mean she could have talked the gunmen off of the clock tower. The first tree vendor we come to has some very tall trees but for our needs it has to be thin and tall. So the owner takes us to a tree standing up against another tree and the light shown down, this was the one. No more looking around, stop, make sure it's wel shaped and let the negotiator loose. Suzanne begins her magic, I mean it's an art, we work as a team but she's the lead. She makes her offer, looking the owner square in the eyes, he counters, she makes one more offer and walks leaving me to explain. The two of us, men, now have a choice to make, I either exchange cash with the owner or we both walk away with our ears pinned back. We drive away with a 14' Christmas tree from the hills of Avery County. Her work here is done.

Christ is at the center of everything our family is and does. No one, nothing and no circumstance will ever change that. God can change a life one day at a time it's only our stuborn pride that truely hinders God from working through us and in us. Church leader, pastor, deacon, elder or member, if you put your pride aside and let Christ truley have first place in your life you will never be the same.

On the Road

We enjoy almost everything cowboy. I will be the first to admit that I don't work as hard as most cowboys I know. Some of the cowboys I know put in tremendous hours that no accountant gives overtime too. It's time in the saddle, so to speak.

This past weekend my family and I had were invited to hold Cowboy Church for the North Carolina Single Action Shooter Society State Match better know as Uprising at Swearing Creek in Salisbury, NC.

I gathered the whole family for this outing, besides Clay, my son, loves to stay in hotels, it's just something he has always liked to do and trust me he experiences everything possible when he gets there. We even brought Fletcher, our cowdog, along. You can't have Cowboy Church without the dog.

It's an experience to go out as a family to a new town. Especially when you're only gone for a day. As light as we tried to pack, including sound system for cowboy church, we still loaded the car down. So we loaded up the truck and moved to Bever... I mean headed for Salisbury. Once we got to town we dropped our luggage and headed for the range, (gun range) to check out where we going to put on Cowboy Church. One of the things I like about SASS is that know matter where you go you always run into friends from some other event. And we did just that in a matter of oh about 2 minutes of being on the range. We ran in to 4 people we had seen at the Del Rio Wild West Days in Tennessee. Plus a leather maker we met at the High Country Cowboy Shoot in Asheville.

I'll tell you right now I believe in my heart that this is how God wired me. Being on the road with Cowboy Church. It just makes me happy to see people that I met or that came to a Cowboy Church we put on somewhere else in the US. If I had my way I would do this every month in a different location.

Sunday morning comes (turn the clocks back) and we set up for cowboy church and 25 people show up. Suzanne, my wife, has been part of the service line up since I asked her to do a short devotional each week at drive-in church here in Asheville. And sure enough the ladies that were there got right in to it. We sang some songs and heard Gods message.

After the service we decided to go get a bite to eat and then go back to the final shoot-out. We said our good-byes and pointed our ponies west toward Asheville and reigned in another trail drive'n, hat tippin', church in the dirt.

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to share your message through ordinary lives, lived in extraordinary days, following an awesome God.

The Church Disfunctional

Another-one bites the dust. A recently hired youth minister here in Western North Carolina is out of a job. Although the details are sketchy the fact is he is gone. I know about some of this churches process because I had spoken to the search committee about the youth minister position and after they hired this young man this spring they assured me that they had found "Gods man" for the job. Yikes!

The church is losing youth by car loads. They are tired of the drama and politics of the "church tradition" and just don't want to deal with it in church. So they don't come to church. In this blog I'm going to put some thoughts out and I hope you respond with your views on this delima facing our churches today.

Let's look at a two areas affecting church growth in today's generation. The is first is structure and the second is format.

No one will admit it but it is widely known that if you make the wrong person upset in the church it could mean your job as a staff member is short lived. Why is this happening? The church staff should run the church operations not the congregation. Churches here in Western North Carolina are about ten years behind the worship styles in other cities. This may be upsetting to those of you who think that a piano and organ are the only acceptable forms for worship. If this is the case then I would submit that the worship styles in many churches is thirty years behind. If you walk into any Red Brick church in this area you will understand what I am saying. The music is driven by a 50 or 60 year old choir director and being accompanied by a piano or organist. And the music being played is from the Hymn Book. The young people that are there are dying from boredom. This is the thirty year gap I am speaking of. If the staff were to understand the need to reach today's generation and make the necessary changes to the worship format the church council would call an emergency meeting and discuss the future employment of their pastor, and choir director. And afterwards they (pastor, music minister, youth minister) may not have a job.

A youth minster will not be allowed to operate any program that would reach today's youth without upsetting the church body, if that church body is made up of traditional or older members. Don't get me wrong a mature church body is needed to pass on the knowledge of the scripture and relationship with Christ. A church stuck in a 1975 style it is not growing. Don't believe me, just look at how empty churches are today or just go and try to sit through a service. Most services are boring and cold. There are very few churches that are really reaching young families.

It's time to make room for the next generation and stop threatening to stop tithing if it doesn't go you way.

Second is format. Let's look at the youth ministry. Many churches youth format is lacking in depth and substance. So a youth minister begins to format a weekly program to fit the community. Well meaning church members begin to criticize the program and next thing you know your youth program is over and families are leaving. The youth ministry will never succeed like this. If the church body voted the minister in then they should be smart enough to know that it takes time to work out a new position. The opposite usually happens, the youth minister, at least here in Asheville, is gone within a few months of hire. This is not because of the youth minister causing problems, it is usually a result of the church body and staff feeling threatened by new formats and programs.

It is sad to see so many churches dying on the vine because they won't allow the staff to do their job. We have started 4 Cowboy Churches and even in the Cowboy Church this has been something we have faced. The cowboy churches here in North Carolina are just duplicates of the churches the pastors come from. Same old music and format. So how are we going to bring in young families, those that don't attend church now?

It is my observation that we need to update our delivery. The message doesn't change but the way we get it out needs to. Duplicating the church of our youth is not reaching the family of today. The baptist convention will say the same thing and everyone in attendance will nod their heads in agreement and whisper to their neighbor, "yes brother", but after they get back home and someone suggests changing the worship format you'll be the first one to assemble the search committee for a replacement staff member because someones on the way out.

If your church is losing members or not growing it's time to think about who the problem is. You'll either grow or make excuses for the short fall.

Yeah, I'm talking to you!

Invisable

"Membership has it's rewards", one business quotes to entice consumers to use it's services. Recently I have had some interesting conversations about membership in a church. And the responses I get are as varied as the number of people I have spoken too.

Does church membership equal rewards, earthly or eternally? Since I began my journey as a church planter I have encountered some, well-meaning, misinformed, yet educated men who have tried to set me straight, as it were, on how to "do" church, (cowboy church). Some have said, "if it doesn't meet on a Sunday then it's not church", others have said because we have church at a rodeo arena or outdoor venue that it is not church. I've been told that it's more of a "service" but it's not church. Most of these guys are career pastors with a salary and retirement plan. Most have never gone out and planted a church without a full time income to back them. It would be safe to say that most would not even venture into that arena for fear of losing their car or home.

So back to membership. If a church requires membership to participate in it's activities or voting power in which color the carpeting will be, or will the pastor be here next week or not, does this entitlement into the hallowed halls of church life provide a proper setting for christian service or social posturing?

Look at the following example. Recently I ran into a friend who is familiar with our church planting efforts here in Western North Carolina. To which our conversation began on the lack of vision residing in many of the nearly empty pews in the established church venues. In order to fulfil their desire to worship the Living God they go to a large church where they find comfort in just going in to worship and then leave with out making contact with another person upon entry and exit. Now what I know of church is the exact opposite of that experience. Church should be a place of sharing and carrying one anothers burdens. Instead church, in many eyes, is a social networking location of the popular and posturing population.

Any wonder why church is not meeting it's intended mission in our communities. Each week an email from the NC State Baptist Convention Worship consultant fills my in-box saying the same thing, maybe a little nicer but he is going around and hawking church services to observe their worship style or lack of and then sends his thoughts through the world wide web on how our churches are missing the mark in worship.

Like my friend who shows up each Sunday to the Mega Church, (because it's easy to be as face in the crowd), only to get fed and leave without any other contact save than that of the Holy Spirit. Do you get the picture yet? This is the coming generation of leaders in our churches. Why is the picture of so many of our churches filled with members only? I'll never forget Mark, the pastor of Victory Baptist here in Asheville said to me when I brought one of my ministry leaders and best friends to church one Sunday, Mark took me to the side and said,"You may not want to bring visitors with you right away until people get used to you being here." No kidding, this pastor was afraid of new people coming in and upsetting the "membership". Yikes!

Does membership have it's rewards in church? Where will the leaders of the church in 10 years come from?

Matthew 15:8 "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
Matthew 15:9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"

The Lord desires your authentic worship. John 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

The one membership that counts is the Grace of Christ and the salvation from our sins He gave us from the cross. Bring your worship and that is the membership with eternal rewards. Popular and posturing have no room in Gods Kingdom, His arms provide plenty of space for your worship, come as you are. Allow Christ into your heart to make you into the kind of person He wants you to be

Church Signs

Have you ever driven by a church and read the marquee. Some have quaint phrases or some profound message in a single sentence. Does it make you wonder, "who writes this stuff?", or "wow! I never knew that!", better yet, "what?!". Do you think Jesus carved a plaque for the front of his house with some deep thought from the writings of Moses, so that everyone who walked in would know he knew the "Book"?

It makes one think, doesn't it. Is there a book somewhere with these phrases listed by month and day, topic or doctrine? Maybe there is one for Southern Baptist, Mega Baptist, Methodist, or some variation of your denomination. What would the sign read if were layed out by the facilities neighbors, former members or past employees? Should churches even have a sign out front that is able to be changed daily or even weekly? Some mega churches have billboard size signs that splay it's activities for all that pass by.

So next time on your way to church think about the signs God is trying to get you to read. I'm not talking about words on a board but the words God is speaking to you each and every day through the life you live.

Look at this verse, Jesus said, Matthew 12:39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."

The people that put signs out for you to read may be as wayward as the passer-by. If you want the true word read the Bible, learn Gods word from the source. God may be putting signs in your path right now, the way you respond to His prompting is make Christ first in your life. Then you will be able to understand the signs that you pass by each day and determine which ones matter and the ones that mean nothing.

Don't be distracted by words on a marquee read what really matters. Gods words is a sign of His love for you and I. That's a sign worth a second look.

Trail of Tales

When we first moved here to Asheville to start Land of the Sky Cowboy Church I did it with much prayer and discussion with my family and other ministry leaders in the Cowboy Church community. We didn't just decide one day to do it, we planned it and followed specific steps to plant a church. As we began our new work here in Asheville it became apparent that many of the people in leadership in the cowboy church community here in North Carolina and Asheville were not as willing to help as we thought or even as they had said. This began to play out with posturing and rumors being said about me.

It's a well known fact that the other cowboy church here in Asheville has been very distant towards us, even as we have tried to reach out and bridge any misconceptions or hurt feelings. In 2009 I even tried for a few weeks to meet with these pastors and cowboy church leaders to arrange a meeting only to be totally rejected, I have the emails to show for it. Reaching out we only got our hand slapped for trying. Not what I was expecting nor has any of it been Christ like or even biblical. It resembles something like high school where you have to walk on egg shells and not make someone upset or you won't get asked to the prom. We've been rejected by groups because they said we were not "church like enough" and rejected for not being "cowboy church like enough". All the time asking for help and leaders to be a part of the ministry.

So lets go to 2009, we are meeting in Madison County, NC and a cowboy church that is located 45 minutes west of us begins a partnership at a rodeo just 2 miles from where we are meeting, the same county. I call and ask the [astor of the other church if we could help out since it is right in our back yard, we get a resounding no! At the same time a rumor begins that me and someone in the rodeo committee have had words with each other. I call the pastor of the other Cowboy Church that the rumor is coming from and ask why this is being said, the pastor confirms the rumor and I try to tell him that me and the person he says that I have had an argument with have never met. It never happened. So I take it one step further I go to the person who I supposedly had an argument with and even he says that we have never had words or argued before. Strange, I think to myself, why are people trying to do this to me and my family. Still no one asks us to help at the rodeo that is just a few miles from our Cowboy Church. It's almost like a competition not ministry.

The reason I say these things is that the rumors and misinformation continue against us. Since then the cowboy church that was coming into our area has now begun to meet right where we were meeting. And not once did these people from this Cowboy Church ask us to get involved or help out in any way. If we are brothers in Christ were is the unity. It only seems like discord and rivalry.

Well just recently I got a call and was told that the pastor of the Cowboy Church that has now set up shop right next to where we were is telling everyone that I have lost my ministry license. The part that strikes me is that now matter what happens this church is doing everything they can to try and start rumors. It is sad to hear and it grieves me because Christ is not in any of this, it's the posturing and personal agendas that are in the front row.

We have asked other ministry leaders to step in and assist with these challenges but everyone has a hands off approach, no one wants to get involved even when it is in direct opposition Gods word. This has had a profound effect on my family personally they have seen things that I never thought we would experience in any ministry especially the cowboy church. Personally I've never seen anyting like this. Where ever I've messed up I'm willing to take responsibility for but this has gotten so far out of hand it's almost childish. In a word my family has seen the dark side of ministry. Please keep us in your prayers, we can't change people or years of tradition but God can break hearts and change lives. He knows the inner workings of all of us and in the end God desires that we come before Him humbly and with Christ in our heart.

Sunday Buckout

A few weeks ago a neighbor told me about a Buckout (practice bull riding) in Woodruff, SC. He said it was a small place but that it was attracting some good riders. The buckout was at Raymond Buckners' ranch just north of Greenville, SC. I decided to look him up and find out a little bit more about his event. He and I spoke a couple of times over the past few weeks about bringing cowboy church and announcing for the Bull Ride.

Just before I talked to Raymond I met a man by the name of Peter Finch who was interested in doing a documentary about Cowboy Churches. We met one day while I was shopping at Jacksons Western Wear, one of my favorite places to hang out in Asheville, he was talking to the owner who put him intouch with me, all while we were just standing there in Jacksons. A chance meeting, I don't think so. Peter shared with me his vision about wanting to do a documentary on cowboys and cowboy church. As we began to talk we both realized that we had alot in common. I tell you that because no sooner had Peter and I met that this opportunity to do a Cowboy Church at this buckout opened up.

Finally I was able to get there over to the buckout this Labor Day weekend. They buckout every Sunday at 5 PM in the summer. Iin addition to Cowboy Church Peter showed up with a video crew to document Cowboy Church and the buckout. I'm not sure but I think it was more than he bargined for. Because at one point I looked over at Peter and his other camera man and both of them had grins from ear to ear. They were having a good time.

For our first cowboy church at the buckout I thought it went very well. There were about 25 people there and 9 riders. Once things settled down we had an opportunity to talk with each of the riders and others that were just there to watch and they all said the same thing. "We want Cowboy Church here each Sunday!" Peter asked me to interview a few of the bull riders and ask there experiences, kind of the "why do you do something like that?" question. One theme began to emerge and it was about their personal faith in Christ, the relationship each one of those young men had with Christ was unique yet they all spoke of their experiences as a tool to witness to their friends.

1 Peter 3:15 says it best; but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Be able to share the Good News is very different from actually putting the truck in DRIVE and heading out on the highway to go do it. God showed me an opportunity and I had no other choice but to answer. No agenda or personal gain, just the call.

If you're ever near Woodruff, SC on a Sunday call me up and I'll give you directions to the Buckout Cowboy Church

Leadeship

The other day someone mentioned to me that a local church was looking for a new pastor and that I should ask the search committee for an interview. The pastor of the church she was talking about had suddenly quit before the Wednesday service and he had only been there a few months. About 2 weeks before I happen to hear someone else talking about the same church and a recent interim pastor that had preached a couple of Sundays. They had mentioned how much they enjoyed the pastor that was filling in the void left by the younger pastor. The person also said, "I wish we could get him to be our full time minister". The only problem I saw with their request was that the interim pastor they were talking about was almost 90 years old and no one would relate to this pastor but the older members. How would that attract younger families?

So back to the original conversation with the individual that mentioned that I should apply at this church. My response was probably taken the wrong way but my reply was this, I said, "that church wouldn't want me!" Any more when I see a red brick building it makes me turn away because most of those congregations are running the young ministers off because they don't want a pastor to reach the young families that live in the communities around them, they want church to be like it was when they were young, 40 years ago.

Why do I keep coming back to the red brick church? Because there is so much pain and turmoil behind those walls. It's on my mind because God has put it there and I've got to address it. Now I'm not some influentional member of a denominational board or even looked upon for advise from church leaders but if I were I would be telling the older generation of the church leaders to wake up or get left behind. But no one is asking my opinion.

That opinion, by the way, is not only mine but the voice of so many crying out in our communities around us. If we go out and reach people for Christ, invite them to church and then drop them into 1974 it is not going to last. Those families won't stick around for very long. Recently I was having a conversation with a pastor that was afraid for his job, he was the pastor of a very volatile small town church, he had tried change with the church and almost got fired, so he bowed to the pressure and went back to the way it was. But he told me that he was afraid to try anything new because if he invited some of the young families around the church he didn't want them to come in and leave. So do you see the delima, a pastor afraid of new people because of his churches tradition. He is also afraid of losing the big tithers because they have threatened him with withdrawing their tithe. Wow!

Who will go!? Maybe someone who is reading this has an answer to reaching the young families today with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Someone with influence, fearless in the face of tradition, yet humble in the delivery of the saving message of our Lord and Savior. A new generation of the church, not the organization of Christians doing the business of the church which usually leaves in it's wake a path of disappointment and conflict, but a movement of Christ followers moving with the Holy Spirit leading and guiding their every move. This requires integrity, trust, strength and the ability to stand up for the cause of the Cross. Savy!

Red Brick Church

Do you think the church of 2010 is relevant today? You know the one, a red brick building that's been there since "19 something", and each Sunday there are 10 or 20 cars in the parking lot that could park 50 or 60. It's the one you remember from your childhood, the organist and pianist played each week and hymns were sung with every ones face buried in a songbook. It's "church from 1974".

If you walk in that church today it looks like, sounds like and operates like it is 1974. There may be 4 young families there only because they are related to someone in the church. The rest of the congregation is slightly older than retirement age. Does this sound familiar yet? This church is run not by the pastors leadership but by a few local families and if the pastor or staff do anything that doesn't fit into the "1974" model he may be a sermon away from getting kicked out. Another unemployed, young pastor. Seem familiar?

I'm not writing this to upset anyone but rather to hear your feedback.

The New Testament Church which Christ ordained is very different from most churches that are operating today. I see churches dying on the vine every day and the congregations that are the stewards of theses churches letting them fade into the past by not embracing the communities within their ministry. A lack of real leadership and vision.

Would Jesus accuse us of being "graves full of white washed bones"? Ill equipped to reach the communities around us.

Recently Earl (GPS Outdoors) and I were camping and ran out of fresh water. Since we were next to a large river we refilled our canteens with the cool, clear, rushing water within easy access of the camp site. Now, did I drink this water directly from the stream? No! If I did Earl would have to carry me out (not an option) or end up being air lifted out. It's a pretty river but not for drinking. Instead we used a water purification system to make this water drinkable and quench our thirst. The same may be true of many of the congregations today. Hearts are hard and proud. Only one person can wash us clean and purify us. Jesus. Do you hear what I'm saying?

God doesn't like proud or hard hearts. That's our will. How will He work if the church is an institution more concerned about individual feelings and traditions or how long this family has been in this church? Many of these places are almost empty today, I know I've been in them and the congregation sits distant and with arms folded not wanting to hear "that kind of music or a message like that"! Alot of church administration today is like trying to drink that water from the river, it may look good; cool and clear, but if you try it without being prepared it'll make you sick.

So tell me, what do you think? Where is Gods word of salvation in Christ going to be preached? That's His will. Can the Red Brick Church survive?

Is It In You

God, at times, can seem so far away. Understanding His plan for our lives seems complicated. The church establishment seems to create more questions than answers. Let me help you clear up some of the confusion.

First ask God for forgiveness of your sins. You may think that's corny or not cool but you've got to do it. Second believe that Jesus Christ is Gods only son, it's ok if you have questions but the only way we have access to God is because of what Christ did for us on the cross. Jesus provides that access for you and me. Third say it; Jesus I want you to live in my life, come into my heart, make me into the kind of person you want me to be. To have Christ in your heart you have to say it yourself, no one can do it for you. He'll change you from the inside out.

Seems too simple doesn't it but God says if you want to have eternal life you first have to know His son Christ Jesus. All your talents and all that you live for are because of who God made you to be. If you are wondering who God wants you to be just ask Him, he will show you, it's in a book called the Bible. You can do it. Get around other people who believe it, they can help. If you have questions about where people that believe in Jesus are just ask me and I can help point you to Bible believing Christ followers.

Don't put it off, do it today.

Two Cigars

Leadership is not something to be taken lightly. A true leader not only manages their position with which they are entrusted, the rights with which the position entitles one to, but by example always raising the bar. I've had many examples of leaders in my life some were my supervisors others coworkers and some working side by side on projects. Even though some had the authority to lead they fell short of being an example of leadership. I would guess that their short fall in ability was due to lack of experience maybe even fear. But they still maintained a posture of leadership. Some leaders just take charge when given the keys to the office and plow ahead with out a real plan other than they have the authority to order others around. Then there are those with who have the title of leadership is bestowed upon them and they have the ability to move people to action and everyone seems to jump into action at their request. True leadership is an art form, a delicate balance of politics and personalities. So begins our story.

Recently I was feeling beat-down needed a way to get my head back in the game. Do you know what I mean. It's time to power-up. So who do I share this with? Earl, my friend and ministry partner with GPS Outdoors. He had just finished an over night hike on Friday and Saturday. I told him how I felt and the next thing I knew we were planning an overnight hike into the Pisgah National Forest South Mill River. It's a trip he has done many times just not with me.

We held Drive-In Church on Sunday morning, then we all went to breakfast and planned our trip which would depart by 3:00 PM that day. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this but it was already in the works and we were going camping. It's a 7 Mile round trip hike along South Mills River. Note; I haven't been hiking in 20 years.

Earl came on over to the house and even brought a Backpack for me and so I packed it up and kissed Suzanne, my wife and the kids good-bye. As we were pulling out Suzanne told Earl, "have him back by dinner Monday night" and off we went.

We got to the Trail Head, donned our equipment and headed out on the trail. Trust me when I say I needed to reboot and this trip was going to be the maintenance I needed. Even my daughter told me "Dad, you're always On!" She meant that I'm always working in ministry in some form and it was time to put it down for a while. So here I am on a mountainous trail not exactly in the best shape of my life physically and I'm hiking into the Western North Carolina wilderness. It's not Mount Everest but still... you know.

It takes us about and hour and a half to hike to our camp site. Once there we begin to setup and get settled in for the night. It's a beautiful location right on the river. Earl and I go after some firewood and begin cooking dinner. As we start cooking Earl unveils a pack of steaks and two tinfoil wrapped potatoes. Then it happens Earl realizes that he forgot the grill for the steaks. With out even hesitating he cuts off some Maple branches and makes something that resembles a tennis raquet. This becomes our grill. With the potatoes in the coals of the fire and the steaks hoovering about the flame all we could do is wait.

With the steaks done and the potatoes unfolded we then realize that we don't have any plates, so we put the steaks on the foil the potatoes were cooked in and get ready to eat. I took a moment to say the blessing over our meal and then put the feed bag on. I didn't even bother to cut my steak, I picked it up and to a bite and wow, it was perfect. Earl always says food tastes better when your camping, he was so right. It was one of the best meals I've eaten. It was the kind of meal that you savor every bite.

As we were finishing up our meal Earl reached over and handed me a cigar with a lighter in the other hand and he said, "this is how we end this meal". Now I'm not a smoker but this was an exception. I lit my cigar and Earl lit his and we stood there below a clear, star filled sky, on the bank the river rushing by and enjoyed the solitude of the wilderness. Now that's how you clear your head.

We sat by the fire until it was embers and then we turned in for the night. As we were putting the food away we saw a small creature come into our camp near our tent and then it decided to buzz by giving me quite a start.

The next morning I got up and spent some time with God and in His word. After Earl got up we read Proverbs 27:17 and it was just what we needed to start our day. We put our fly rods together and headed up the river. Since I have never been fly fishing Earl took some time to show the mechanics and then let me try it for myself. Once I got the motion I was fly fishing! Wow!, it's fun. We continued up stream for about an hour and a half. At one point I was throwing my line down stream and ended up having two Brook Trout hit my line. Each fish was only two inches though, they went back to swim another day. We had decided to head back to camp and as I was navigating the river one wrong step sent me off my feet and head first into the river. As refreshing as that was I still had to hike out. So we went back to camp, changed into dry clothes and then headed back to the trail head.

Our hike out was at record pace but I wanted to see if I could keep up with an experienced hiker like Earl. At one point on the trail Earl asked if I wanted to stop and rest I said "if I stop now I won't want to pick my pack up" so we headed back to the trail head were the car was parked.

As we reached Earls truck and we finished our hike side by side, just the way we began.

Lie'n Around

It's funny what happens in the life of a pastor. We work for little pay, or at least I do, put up with churhces that have us come and speak to their congregations but somehow forget to send us an honorarium that we agreed upon. It causes stress on me because I don't want to be a bill collector but I end up having to ask churches to pay me what we agreed upon. Then they don't want to pay.

Then there are those that think a pastor is the kind of guy they can walk over with no consequence. If I disagree with someone then I must not be the kind of pastor I should be. Recently I heard "you call yourself a preacher?" This came from a man who claimed to be law enforcement because when I challenged him to produce his credentials he refused. He did it to intimidate me but it didn't work so he has to find a way to get back at me, kind of like two boys on a playground. He may not do that again.

Does being a pastor and doing Gods will mean being a passive man and letting people walk over you.

As a pastor I have a family to care for bills to pay and try to lead people in worship. The problem lies with the human condition. Just because you claim to be someone doesn't mean that I automatically accept your claim. During a recent incident someone got involved in a conversation I was having on the phone. A lady just walked up and got in my face. So, I asked them to please mind their own business. But they continued to get involved. It was really weird. Since that happened all of a sudden I hear back that I cursed people out. Wow! It never happened but someone started the rumor. So not only does someone poke their head into my business now the same person has to make up a lie to make it sound better for there purpose.

I'm amazed that the same people will be in churches this Sunday, sing hymns, pray and look at you and smile. But God is not present. Maybe it's just Western North Carolina but our hypocrisy has no boundary.

Our move to Asheville has been difficult over the past 3 years. The church planting experience has been met with many obstacles. As I have been studying and going deeper into scripture I discover that this is nothing new. The Bible says expect trouble doing Gods work. It feels like I've been beat-up and then kicked while I'm laying on the ground. If you know me, one thing you'll soon discover is that I don't quit and I will question your authority. The Bible tells me to test the spirit and many of the men I come in contact with have a questionable spirit.

It's not pride or arrogance but knowledge that drives me to feel this way. The knowledge and power of God being bigger than all the darts and lies that come my way. The Bible warns of slothfulness as a way to ruin. What I have experienced while here in Asheville is not a physical laziness but a mental slothfulness. Double minded Christians or people claiming to be but only having a convenient relationship with Christ. If it fits their agenda then they make it fit into Christ. Instead of Christ changing, the attitude is I'll make Christ fit into my life.

Yeah we all make mistakes, pastors included, but I have yet to understand the Christian just waiting to strike at the first sign of weakness. My spirit feels like a long dusty trail, little rest and even less food and water. Green pasture seems like a distant horizon.

MERGE

2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us we are to be ambassadors for Christ. One of the goals for our young men and women is to be changed by Christ. We trade our wants and desires for who Christ wants us to be. The best way to learn this is to see it in practice. Better yet, go out and get your hands dirty working at who Christ want us to be.

So as we are on the path God has called us to, we help others MERGE into the life He has planned for us. I’ll put it this way, allow God to come into your heart and He will begin to change you mind (your old way of thinking), your sinful ways and you will see a change in your life.

You trade the road you are on for the one God wants you to follow; MERGE. Bible knowledge is good to have, Sunday School can provide deep insight, Preaching from the pulpit can stir you and a Wednesday night group can provide encouragement for your week but nothing preaches like experience. Putting it into action. Not just a casual relationship or book knowledge of Christ but changing our path for His.

MERGE will seek opportunities for our youth to put into action the lesson and values Christ wants us to share with those around us. You learn it then pass it on, teach it to someone else. It, the Good News, becomes part of their life, MERGE.

Virginia is for Cowboy Church

Traveling is something I have always enjoyed. So when we started planting Cowboy Churches it only seemed natural that I would travel as a Cowboy Pastor, better known as a "Circuit Rider". With that said the latest journey took me to Virginia to visit with Ray and Linda Bell who live in Roanoke, Virginia.

I met Ray Bell in 2007 just after we had moved to Asheville to start our Cowboy Church. The area we had begun to plant our Cowboy Church in wasn't as reseptive as we had hoped. Ray and I had spoken on the phone a few times before but never in detail. So after a lengthy phone call one day the next thing I know Ray and Linda were driving up our driveway here in Asheville. Now there is the kind of friend you want to have around. Ever since that day Ray and I have spoken often. During the next couple of years we talked about visiting the Cowboy Churches in Virginia and finally we planned a week long visit in March.

Originaly I had planned on bringing my whole family on the trip but because of all the snow days here in Asheville they had to stay home and make up a school day on Saturday. I arrived at Rays home in Roanoke on Friday and his wife Linda served up a great meal. After dinner we were all talking and catching up when Linda looked at me and said 'you look tired", and with that I headed back to the hotel.

Saturday we began our journey to Mount Jackson, VA. which is about 2 hours north of Roanoke. Ray and Linda work very hard to make sure all the elements for these Cowboy Churches is ready to go and their number one concern is for those that attend these churches. The Cowboy Church in Mt Jackson is held at a Pasa Fino Ranch called River View Farms. This place is beautiful. While we were setting up Ray got a call that one of the team members that helps him setup had broke down on I-81. Ray threw me the keys to his truck and said go pick them up and bring'em here. So off I sped. Luckily they weren't too far away and we got back to the ranch in plenty of time to get everyting ready. The service is held in English and Spanish, I like that. We had supper and Ray turned the service over to me.

After the service we had to return to the scene of the "grime" of the broke down vehicle. A few of the guys from Cowboy Church were already at work, they got it fixed and we were on our way. We finally got back into Roanoke around 12:30 AM, it was a long day but everyone was still excited about the service.

Sundays Cowboy Church was held at the Moose Lodge near Roanoke. I met some great people there. After the service we went outside and a few of the members tried their had at my cracker whips. It was a lot of fun.

With Monday off I followed up on a few details on the up coming rodeo here in Asheville.

Tuesdays Cowboy Church we traveled to Blacksburg. The service is held in the Music Barn which is a famous Bluegrass Music Venue. The walls of the barn are covered with Bluegrass and Country musicians that have played there over the years. This was a great place for Cowboy Church I really enjoyed the people and the atmoshpere. After the service was over we all went out for Frosties and then I hit the road back to Asheville. I was ready to get back home to my family.

One thing is for sure, the Cowboy Church of Virginia is a ministry that is reaching the Cowboy community for Christ. Ray and his teams are committed and spend a great deal of time making sure everything looks professional and that the message of the Gospel is clear. This group deserves the "Tip of the Hat" for all that they do for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Preachin or Practicin'

There is a verse that recently caught my attention. Jeremiah 12:5 "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?

"How will you compete with horses?" We've had groups that said they would help support our work but no one ever shows up to work. Others have just out-right made up lies about us and yet the same men will stand in the pulpit and tell their members to "not quit" and yet they have told me to "give it up". Yet when I read this verse in Jeremiah it all makes a great deal of sense to me. The same opposition has been experienced by the heros of the Christian faith long before I was ever called to service for Christ.

Many of the church planter blogs I read have faced the same situations and do they quit, no! They are not called by man, they are called by the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean that I am above anyone, only that God has called me to a purpose and I won't stop no matter what others say.

When Suzanne and I began our church planting mission we knew of the pit falls of church planting. It was a commitment we both spent much time in prayer about. Early on we made up our minds that our church plant would reach the unchurched, not the "swapped church." Now to qualify this let me explain. Many of the successful church planters that I know, you know, the ones that begin with 50, 100, 200 people. The majority of these members are from another church in the area and not unchurched. The planter mearly swapped people from one church to another. Are they really reaching the unchruched?

Thats the challenge in church planting, if you want to support the work you need people and those people need to tithe to support the staff. Then on the other hand if you are really going to reach to unchurched it will be a challenge to support that new work because people that haven't been raised in church take time to understand what it means to support Gods work. How does a church plant survive? Is a successful church plant a group of rechurched people with 150 each week in attendance or a room with 15 or 20 who have found Jesus, turned their lives around and that now have a personal relationship with their Savior that wasn't there before. The Southern Baptist would rather see 100+ strong with money coming in. How do I know this? It has been said to me.

It's hard with only 15 or 20 people showing up each week, but you know what, those that are showing up are comitted and will tell you their relationship with Jesus is new and strong. That doesn't look good on a monthly report. The Bible I read doesn't teach that, it teaches instead a mission of going to the lost and preaching the good news.

Yeah, we have faced opposition and I have learned that instead of saying "why me?", I say "why not me?". Thats a hard thing to face and even put up with when Christian leaders are the ones causing the opposition. God didn't call me to the paved path, He called me to the wilderness where people are and they need to hear the Good News in a practical way. That's how people come to know Jesus it's through a personal relationship.

Would you like to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? You can ask Jesus in to your life right now. First you must admit you are a sinner, sin seperates us from God, ask God to forgive you of your mistakes. Next believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept the gift He gave us of forgiveness, finally confess your faith in Jesus as your Savior. Ask Him to take up first place in your life. Now call us or email us and let us know of your decision and we will help you on you journey. If you live in Western North Carolina come over and visit with us, we would like to meet you and help you in your personal growth in Christ.

These are challenging times for us all. It helps if we have someone we can turn too, a friend that understands. God will never let you down, He wants to know you and has a plan for your life.

Showdeo

Now for something completely different. This video was captured at the 2010 Saddle Ridge Ranch VBS Preview at Ridgecrest Conference Center Friday January 8, 2010. We don't take ourselves very seriously. But it is all for Gods glory. Thanks to the staff at Lifeway for letting us be a part of the Saddle Ridge Ranch Coral. Enjoy

Shine'n Boots at the Rodeo

Here is a video I set up during the Southern Finals Rodeo in Asheville, NC Saturday night November 14. The Ag Center was packed and this video condenses 45 minutes of shining shoes into about a minute and a half. We shined shoes from 6 PM until 10:30 PM Saturday evening. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did being there shining all these boots. Earl (Trail and Outdoor Ministry Leader) is in the white hat and Gene (pastor) is wearing the black hat. All together we shined about 125 pairs of boots over the 3 day finals event. Look for us at a Rodeo - Shining for Jesus.

Fried Chicken and BBQ'd Bibles

OK I just can't resist this. Did you hear the one about the preacher that was burning Bibles, oh wait it's not a joke this one is real.

My wife and I moved to Asheville to start a church two years ago. As I would invite people to our services one question was prevalent in the responses I got. "What version of the Bible do you use?" This usually lead them to say well if it's not King James then I'm not interested. This statement would come from those who went to church and those who didn't. This seems to be a classification here in Western North Carolina; if you don't preach from a King James 1611 then you're a heretic. There is even a WKJV radio station here in Asheville. Every pastor that preaches from the KVJ has to translate his text it for anyone to understand it. Does their use of stories and illustrations make them a heretic for not only preaching scripture or in a manner befitting of the Kings English? Sorry I'm off the point.

Jesus came to break down the barriers between us and God and yet even today we, as Christians, put the same barriers up in the path of those who need to hear it. Are we worshiping a version of the Bible? If so it is a stumbling block to the world around us. The best translation of Gods word is how you live it each day. It's the story of how your life has been changed because of His word working through you and in you. And just because you don't look like me, dress like me, talk like me or read like me doesn't make you less capable in Gods eyes. KVJ, NASB, NIV, HSB or YOU and ME. Gods word lives in those who believe in Christ through faith. Everyone has a story to tell, some about heaven and some about hell but everyone has a story to tell.

Don't be angry or discouraged by the misguided attempts of man to reach to God, trust in the one way and that is by faith. What is comes down to is this. Ask Jesus into your life, and let him make you into the kind of person he wants you to be.